Posted January 26

The masterly stage management of the Sri Lankans stole the weekend cricket show and it made for great theatre. They were just waiting for those thick Aussie umpires to show their hand. They then took the whole deal right to the brink in making their point over Muralitharan and his bowling action. After play resumed they put Murali on at umpire Emerson's end and then more trouble started when he refused to allow the bowler to run in between him and stumps.

Now this is standard courtesy for an umpire who must stand in a position requested by the bowler. Not Emerson, the man who, along with his two cronies, persists in calling Murali for chucking. No matter whether there is any difference in one delivery or another or that a panel of the world's top authorities has cleared the guy. The same stickler for the laws as he sees them then twice made major blues. He failed to use the third umpire for an obvious runout that he summarily declined, then went "upstairs" for an obvious not out. He was clearly confused.

So must be the Australian Cricket Board. How could they put umpires like McQuillan and Emerson on a match with Sri Lanka? At least Hair, who wrote that awful book about the chucker in a blatant case of exploitation, finally withdrew from standing with Sri Lanka.

The players know the other two for what they are: so proud to be Australians!

You have to hand it to Ranatunga. The guy has always been a needler who pushes his case to the ultimate, but how otherwise would he have brought his modest country to the World Cup crown? The Aussies should admire him because he outsmarts them.

McGrath stood in the way of another Lankan win with his excellent seam bowling. If he stopped being such a loudmouth he would earn more respect. Personality and charisma alleviated Merv Hughes' disgusting onfield behaviour. McGrath has none of that and should concentrate on taking wickets. Our own John Reid had to fine him for his obscene and abusive language. Bogo wouldn't do that without just cause.

Dame Debbie

Even I didn't imagine how Debbie Hockley would dominate the final of the State Insurance national women's league. A score of 141 from 129 balls in a 40 over innings followed by 3 for 11 from her seven overs! It was amazing that she could score so heavily whilst facing only slightly more than half the total deliveries. She is truly superb and gets better every year. What an asset for next year's World Cup!

Shell Cup battles

Today will determine the semifinalists but the venues are creating another battle for Sky TV are due to screen one semifinal live on their Friday Night Cricket. Obviously that will rule out the grounds without lights: Hamilton, Eden Park, Basin Reserve. It will be interesting to see the outcome but it is vital for cricket that Sky is able to go ahead. The numbers of spectators is sparse at the Shell Cup this year because the event was held over until the Indians left.

New Zealand Cricket is known to be concerned at the fall in crowds for Shell Cup but they cannot have it both ways. The local associations scored $20,000 each from the Indian tour, much more than they would budget for Shell Cup.

The Island Game

Amongst the many forms of cricket is kilikiti, the Pacific Islands version. A big tournament was held in Henderson earlier in the month over two weekends with teams playing for total prizemoney of $60,000. It is a really fast and exciting game with three sticks for stumps, a three sided bat and a three cornered ball rolled from rubber tree sap. This tournament was played on a time system with the first team having 30 minutes to bowl as many deliveries as they can, and the second team having to bowl the same number. There will be a national tournament next year with the aim of an international tournament later at the Los Angeles Velodrome.

See? I didn't even mention MaX!

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