“They turned up here today expecting to win…” former England captain Nasser Hussain unabashedly declared immediately after Pakistan’s unexpected 14-run win over the home team at Trent Bridge yesterday. Hussain can finish his own sentences and, given the choice before the game, he’d probably have opted for “… because they …
Read More »Confessions of a World Cup addict: who against England?
“Often the bridesmaid,” a television commentator summed up England’s performance in the 11 World Cups so far contested, “never the bride.” The comment put a broad smile on my lips. And immediately afterwards, a disturbing thought in my mind. It wiped the smile completely off. Although the evidence, in my …
Read More »BC Lara’s great GOAT debate: St John’s(x)2, sobering up Sydney and stunning Edgbaston
Antigua, 375, April 1994 & 400, April 2004: Scaling Everest… because it is there “Awesome.” For Geoffrey Boycott, the former England opener, a single word suffices. “Amazing,” Ian Botham concurs. “One helluva innings.” “[I]ncredible physical stamina,” gushes David “Bumble” Lloyd, “a beautiful technical innings. Memorable. Magnificent.” It is April 2004, …
Read More »Root of the matter: Shannon Gabriel apologises, reveals what he told England captain
“The pressure was on and England’s captain Joe Root was looking at me intensely as I prepared to bowl, which may have been the usual psychological strategy with which all Test cricketers are familiar. “I recognise now that I was attempting to break through my own tension when I said …
Read More »Gabriel, Belfon and homophobia: why T&T must improve, but international media can stuff their condescension
The West Indies Cricket Team’s Test series win over England, secured earlier this month, was their first triumph over any team above Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in seven years. The West Indies had not defeated England since 2009 while, to find a similar margin of victory over our former ‘colonial masters’, …
Read More »Windies won, yes, we won! Best changes tune after 5-wkt win and a Brylcreem sandwich
Spflflflflflflflflflflflflflflflflflfllflflflflllllllllllll! Oh, I beg your pardon; that was my last mouthful. Even with a liberal coating of Brylcreem, hair doesn’t taste too good—although, given a choice, I’d take it any day over KFC. And cold turkey. And boy, am I ever glad I got rid of my maroon Richie Richardson …
Read More »Can West Indies no-hopers spring a surprise? Not a chance, says Best
Glorious uncertainties notwithstanding, If Jason Holder’s West Indians save the Second Test against England currently in progress at Headingley, Leeds, I shall eat my hat and shave off all my hair. If WI win it, I shall eat all the hair as well. After the major cutarse the home side …
Read More »Media Monitor: Whoa, whoa, woe! West Indians wince as WI walloped
“The loudest sound in current West Indies cricket is the sigh people emit when they talk about the old days.” That’s a quote from Jarrod Kimber, whose 2,300-word story about the dark day/night test that the Cricket West Indies XI failed abjectly contains a kind word or two—although you might …
Read More »Simmons to West Indies: To kneel or not two-nil
Columnist Earl Best looks at the chances of Denesh Ramdin’s men drawing level with England in the three-Test series, which the tourists already lead 1-0: Pride, the old saw tells us, goes before a fall but there’s no adage that I know of which tells us when pride comes back. …
Read More »India favoured for Champions Trophy; ICC finally gets its way
Were you, brother and sister international cricket fan, responsible for organising the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy tournament in England, where would you stage the final? I want you to answer honestly, not just to give me the answer you think I want to hear. At Lord’s, right? For me, it …
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