Results for tag: ODI
Posted by:
mvaughan
on Jul 10, 2012 at 08:09:28 AM
The ODI format is under threat. We know this because players, journalists and coaches keep saying that and because the ICC continuously tinker with the rules and format of the 50-over game. It's a sign that they're trying hard to better a format that is clearly not perfect and is increasingly coming under scrutiny. We've had Graeme Swann saying he doesn't really enjoy it anymore and Kevin Pietersen retiring from limited-overs international cricket because he didn't want to play it anymore, even though it meant it was the end of his international T20 career as well.
Me? I'll be honest when I say that it's my third favourite format. Test cricket is the game in its purest form and a good Test cricketer was what I dreamt of being when I started out many moons ago. And T20 is great, too. ...
Posted by:
mvaughan
on Jul 4, 2012 at 09:25:02 AM
There seems to be some rather confused thinking in the Australian camp just now. They lost narrowly in the 1st ODI and might have well have won had Matthew Wade not got run out when he did. Yet that defeat let to wholesale changes. They were obviously unfortunate to have lost Pat Cummins to injury and I've no problem with Mitchell Johnson being brought in but I think they should have stuck with Clint McKay as Brett Lee's new-ball partner. Those loose deliveries and no-balls from Johnson first up put Australia under the cosh from very early on. George Bailey was shifted down the order for the second match, Steve Smith was dropped and all in all there were just too many changes in terms of both tactics and personnel.
One thing they need to address is how to play Graeme Swann better. The...
Posted by:
mvaughan
on Feb 13, 2012 at 09:50:07 AM
I've said already that I don't expect this ODI series to be any easier for England than the Test series was. It will be played on the same pitches, a lot of the Pakistan players will be the same and spin will still be the name of the game. You can read my thoughts ahead of the whole series here.
But the one big different element England will have to contend with is Shahid Afridi. Say what you like about him: that he's too erratic, too excitable, too much of a risk-taker or too flamboyant. But he's also one of those players who has the ability to single-handedly win a match for you. He seems to do it less and less with the bat these days, which is ironic because it was as an explosive opener that he first made his name. He' still got the potential to guide his team home with a few flashes...