Posted January 22

The final in the one-day series with India was an incredible night, for it left me quite incredulous. How can a game turn so blatantly on a crass decision by an umpire? That was the effect of Umpire King's failure to give out Chris Cairns, but it resulted in such a spectacular and intimidating display that no doubt he will be forgiven. But why shouldn't an umpire be equally as accountable as the players?

You have to recognise Cairns' extraordinary abilities. He played a series of shots unlike any other: tennis shots, one handers, inside outers, you name it. Interestingly it turns out to be the 13th fastest ODI century, not the fifth as the media lead us to believe.

Still it was the fastest ever by a Kiwi beating Chris' own effort also against India in 1995 of 84 balls. It's a pity he is such an enigma, capable of such great things but every so often disappointing. I like his bowling, for he always has the potential to out anyone.

Rankings

Clearly we are level with India at least, probably in fifth place. Ignore those clowns that keep saying we are bottom.

Carlton & United Series

Now this is providing some fun! A great win by only seven by England the other night and then the Aussies beaten again, this time by lowly placed Sri Lanka. They are having a helluva time on their tour with all the abuse of Muralitharan, who has been cleared by countless committees and experts as not a thrower. Just because some self-seeking umpire who has written a book, seeking to exploit the issue, still says he throws.

If you ever want to see Mr. Cool in action watch Sri Lankan captain Ranatunga. That was a huge effort of control and wisdom when he steered his side through in Hobart.

West Indies at Lowest Ebb

The game in the Windies is under serious threat because they have lost their role models in favour of USA basketballers and athletes. They see these all the time on TV and the old escape hatch, cricket, is no longer the one road to emancipation for an impoverished West Indian. The money the cricketers have been holding out for is peanuts compared to the earnings in professional sport in the States. With the cricket team pouring constant humiliation on itself the natural trend is toward other, less embarrassing sports.

South Africa Riding Crest

They still have their problems, mainly the political aspect of selecting black players. Even coloured will help, for the need to be seen to encourage non-whites is almost manic in South Africa. What a world we live in!

Eden Park Again

Our own backyard is hardly tidy as long as we have Eden Park's disgrace of a scoreboard. I have made many complaints to admin about the lack of a light for the fielders, a failure to record the number of balls bowled, an absence of basic information regarded as mandatory anywhere else. The excuse? We have to change the software and it's too expensive. Can it mate. I have to change software all the time here because if I don't I don't keep up. That's where Eden Park is - back in the dim, invisible ages.

Own Backyard

Back at Cornwall we have an electronic scoreboard you can read, and it keeps up to date. This is at a club where we can't charge for admission (there were 32,000 mugs putting up with Eden Park) and where we hosted the England under 19 team on Thursday. A fine lot of lads, currently holding the Youth World Cup, and promising future stars under the guidance of Mike Gatting and John Abrahams. A test series coming up.

State Insurance Cup

This contest has reached finals stage with Canterbury meeting Auckland over the weekend at Rangiora in the women's interprovincials. Debbie Hockley with two centuries again starred in the 50 over series and as our Cricketer of the Year we can expect more from this true professional. Next year the World Cup is here and we want to win it!

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