We begin the new year with previews of some significant tournaments. Andrew Nixon (@andrewnixon79) joins Russell Degnan (@idlesummers) to run the rule over each team in WCL2 (0:15) and make predictions we'll come to regret. The Asian T20 Cup is also starting soon, with a smaller tournament, but as important as ever (10:15). There are also matches for the EAP team in the Australian Country Championships (12:45), and a tri-series in the UAE for the world cup qualifiers (except the UAE) (14:00). Russell than interviews the authors of a relative rarity: a book about associate cricket. Peter Miller (@thecricketgeek) and Tim Wigmore (@timwig_cricket) discuss their book Second XI: Cricket in its Outposts, how it came about, what it contains, and the challenges and opportunities in writing professionally about associate cricket. (15:30). There is news from the ICC with particular relevance to the USA, and from Nepal (38:40)

Second XI is released on January 19th. Other authors include Gideon Haigh, Sahil Dutta and Tim Brooks. Pre-orders are available. There will be a launch party at The Fentiman Arms in Oval on February 5 (@7pm to 9:30ish) where the authors will sheepishly sign copies.

Direct Download Running Time 44min. Music from Martin Solveig, "Big in Japan"

The associate and affiliate cricket podcast is an attempt to expand coverage of associate tournaments by obtaining local knowledge of the relevant nations. If you have or intend to go to a tournament at associate level - men's women's, ICC, unaffiliated - then please get in touch in the comments or by email.

Cricket - Associate - Podcast 16th January, 2015 06:36:09   [#] [0 comments] 

3rd Test	Australia	v	India
Pre-rating	1239.2		1088.9
Form	-13.9		-31.6
Expected Margin	Australia by 125 runs
Actual Margin	Match Drawn
Post-rating	1232.0		1092.7

In retrospect, Australia didn't need so many runs.

But nor did they need to win; nor did they need to give India a sniff; nor would they necessarily have prised out another four wickets with another dozen overs (a couple with the new ball notwithstanding).

They would have won anyway, had they been capable of holding a catch. Statistically a set batsman scores around his average from any point in their innings. Ergo, dropping a catch adds their average to the total; dropping five adds about 200 runs; and that was the difference between winning and drawing.

The difference between drawing and losing is largely in the opposition's hands. India began day five in a position to attack: take three quick wickets, spend all day chasing 300 odd. Marsh, whose 99 was more important than he'll probably get credit, was the only batsman standing between them and a gettable target.

But India were flat. The fielding lacked intensity, the bowling wasn't being scored off, but nor did it look threatening. They left Harris and Marsh to work singles and wait. And Australia's batsmen were happy to do so. It was a disappointing way for a match to dribble out, but as noted in the preview, India are nothing if not patchy, particularly early in the day. Kohli's almost manic intensity will be a welcome change if he can lead his team to apply it constructively.

The exception to this was Rahane, whose fieldng was so vigorous, and his desire to be involved, to talkk to his partner while batting, and to guide his team to a draw impressed in a way that the tv footage can't pick up. He batted almost as long in his second innings 48 as his first innings 147, and if his new captain has come of age on this tour, then his younger counterpart has shown he'll make a valuable lieutenant.

2nd Test	South Africa	v	West Indies
Pre-rating	1300.5		862.5
Form	+9.7		-26.3
Expected Margin	South Africa by 269 runs
Actual Margin	Match Drawn
Post-rating	1293.6		869.0

Rain had the final say in this match, and there is not much to write about; only 17 wickets fell just over 200 overs of play. The one important thing was that Brathwaite and Samuels both scored tons for the West Indies, taking them ast the follow-on, and leaving no doubt as to the direction of the match. An upset in the final test could push South Africa off the top of the official test standings, but there seems little chance of that.

1st Test	New Zealand	v	Sri Lanka
Pre-rating	951.0		1050.1
Form	+38.4		+16.3
Expected Margin	Tied Match
Actual Margin	New Zealand by 8 wickets
Post-rating	968.0		1042.1

The lack of depth in Sri Lanka's batting continues to haunt them, especially when Sangakarra fails. Karunaratne's 152 in the second innings threatened to create a threatening target, but with only Mathews pair of 50s in support, they ultimately just didn't have enough runs.

On the other side of the ledger, McCullum continues his incredible year, this time peeling off 195 in 134 balls, while Boult and Southee have established themselves as one of the pre-eminent new-ball pairs with their movement and control. It took a big effort to back up after enforcing the follow-on, but a 300 run first innings lead is a lot to come back from. New Zealand are almost at the 1000 mark for the first time in more than a decade, and with a young team, they'll be fascinating to watch for a few years at least.

Rankings at 2nd January 2015
1.	South Africa	1293.6
2.	Australia	1232.0
3.	Pakistan	1106.1
4.	India	1092.7
5.	England	1084.7
6.	Sri Lanka	1042.1
7.	New Zealand	968.0
8.	West Indies	869.0
10.	Bangladesh	594.6
12.	Zimbabwe	559.8
9.	Ireland	594.8
11.	Afghanistan	587.6
13.	Scotland	430.3
14.	Namibia	383.4
15.	Kenya	276.4
16.	U.A.E.	257.3
17.	Netherlands	182.4
18.	Canada	147.9

Shaded teams have played fewer than 2 games per season. Non-test team ratings are not comparable to test ratings as they don't play each other.

Cricket - Ratings - Test 2nd January, 2015 20:08:52   [#] [0 comments]