We are surprised?

All I am going to say on the subject of the Proteas going down to New Zealand is.... don't tell me you are surprised.

Prior to the tournament I warned that there was a problem with the makeup the side and the South African brainstrust have nobody to blame but themselves.

In my humble opinion Faf Du Plessis and Imran Tahir were probably the only players in the side to really enhance their international credentials while AB De Villiers and Hashim Amla did their bit. For the rest it was a pretty average performance.

I'm not blaming Robin Peterson completely but he came in at number 8 with 128/6 on the scoreboard. If he and Faf had stayed together - as the allrounders in the side - they could have done a run a ball and gotten us home. Instead he scored zip.

JP Duminy and Johan Botha at 5 and 7, can't be getting out for 3 and 2 respectively.

We can go back to the England game which we tossed away when the pressure was put on us. Duminy (0), Peterson (3) and Morkel (1) didn't keep their heads.

I go back to the point I raised pre the World Cup - we were not building a team for this competition designed to peak in March 2011. One moment Lopsy was going to add variety to the attack, the next he didn't play any big name cricket. At the same time Wayne Parnell was supposed to be the answer to our number 8 allrounder problems and then we decided we didn't need to fill this critical role.

Why invest all that time in Ingram and Miller if they weren't going to be part of the bigger picture? We could really have used an extra batter especially with AB doing the keeping duties.

I'm just looking on Twitter now and seeing all of the sympathetic messages that "winning isn't everything" etc.... KAK - a lot of effort has been put into this side and their goal was to be primed for this event. In short somebody has to take responsibility for this and its got to be the Proteas brainstrust - we can't accept this result.

Betting with my head not my heart

Don't get me wrong, I am a patriot when it comes to backing South Africa and will always back the boys with my heart. But if I have to gamble with my head then I don't see on balance of probability how the side last night can win the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

The squad
Graeme Smith (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras, capt)
Hashim Amla (Nashua Dolphins)
Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors)
AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans)
JP Duminy (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras)
Faf du Plessis (Nashua Titans)
Colin Ingram (Chevrolet Warriors)
Jacques Kallis (Chevrolet Warriors)
Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans)
Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors)
Robbie Peterson (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras)
Dale Steyn (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras)
Imran Tahir (Nashua Dolphins)
Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Chevrolet Warriors)
Morne van Wyk (Chevrolet Knights)

SA won't win the Cricket World Cup

South Africa will not win the ODI World Cup with Wayne Parnell batting at number 8 in their line-up. I am watching this game against India at the Wanderers and it reminds me a bit of the T20 game they played recently - what should have been walk-in suddenly gets complicated if you lose your top 6.

Don't get me wrong. There is no question that Parnell is a talented cricketer and a fabulous prospect for the future but for the sake of balance in the side we cannot have him coming in when there is a high pressure situation. I appreciate that with Jacques Kallis not around the side is a little unbalanced but without a specialist allrounder coming in down the order and with Van Wyk and De Villiers sharing the keeping duties we are lacking depth.

Without being nasty, David Miller also needs to start showing some brains as well - you need a number 6 who is going to take you home not somebody who is going to blast a couple of balls and then get himself out with 50 runs still to be gotten. In two of the last three games he has smashed a six and then promptly picked out a fielder in the deep.

For those interested in taking a punt on the World Cup, here are the odds as they stand (supplied by Voltbet.com):

India - 7/2
Australia - 4/1
South Africa - 11/2
England - 5/1
Sri Lanka - 5/1
Pakistan - 8/1
New Zealand - 16/1
West Indies - 25/1
Bangladesh - 40/1
Zimbabwe - 200/1
Ireland - 250/1
Netherlands - 350/1
Canada - 350/1

Want to open a sports betting account and get in on the action? Click HERE and open an account with Sportingbet now.

Had to happen

What is the difference between Ricky Ponting and a Funeral Director?

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The Funeral Director doesn't keep losing the Ashes!!!!!!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Love it.

Time for Robin to go

I hate criticising individual cricketers but the continued selection of Robin Peterson for the Proteas absolutely baffles me. I understand the concept that he brings some variety to the attack being a left arm spinner, who supposedly can bat a bit and not a bad fielder but the stats don't lie - he doesn't fulfil these roles in the national side.

Batting:
T20 - 6 games, 43 runs, average of 14
ODIS - 38 games - 153 runs - average of 12 (Booster by 4 not outs)

Bowling:
T20 - 8 wickets at an average of 15 and an economy of 15.25 from 6 games
ODIS - 21 wickets, 53.19 and an economy of 4.76 from 38 games.

He has taken 11 catches in those 44 games.

England proved a few years back that you actually need some specialists - genuine allrounders not bit players who might get lucky on the occasional day. As Peterson has shown 44 games into his career that he is not getting lucky!

If you want somebody to fill that role then stick JP Duminy in at 7 or 8 and push another batter into the side like Andrew Puttick. A number 7 or 8 in ODI / T20 cricket still needs to be able to bat and at the moment we don't seem to be rushing to find somebody to fill that role.

We need to work hard at balancing our ODI side ahead of the world cup because as it stands, we can't expect people beyond number 6 to carry us through the tight games

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R1500 risk free first punt

Sports betting is growing in popularity in South Africa with a number of new players coming into the market. One of the big challenges we have noted is that many would-be punters are reluctant to make that first step and actually open an account and make their first bet.

The team from Sportingbet have an interesting promotion on the go at the moment. If you open an account with them and make a losing first bet, they will refund you up to R1500 of your first bet. That's not a bad deal, especially if you can land a really good call at your first attempt.

You can punt from as little as R8 a bet and the interface is very user friendly.

You can sign up by clicking HERE or on the banner link below:

The decider

Well after an absolutely fascinating series of test cricket between South Africa and India we come down to third and final test at Newlands to decide us a winner. The Indian team really came back hard in the Kingsmead test and that will have given them a lot of confidence coming into this third test, especially with Singh having demolished our tail in the first innings.

I'm still comfortable with my bet that South Africa will win the series but I expect India to make a real game of it. They're certainly not going to be any kind of pushover.

The match odds are in favour of the home side with Voltbet offering 13/10 and India at 10/3 while Sportingbet have priced it closer at 11/8 for both sides.

Our picks for the best batters in the first innings are as below:

SA
Jacques Kallis - 7/2
Graeme Smith - 15/4

India
VVS Laxman - 6/1

(Batter odds supplied by Sportingbet)

C'mon SA!

WANT TO TAKE A PUNT ON THE THIRD TEST? Open a sports betting account by clicking HERE

Nickname trivia

Which former Australian cricketer is affectionately known as "The Keg on Legs"?

We'll give you a hint - he's a batsman...

Boxing Day cricket is going to be awesome

This Boxing day has got to be serving up some of the most eagerly awaited Test cricket action we have seen in years and if you haven't yet put some moneydown and want to open a sports betting account then click HERE (you can bet from as little as R8).

The Ashes (4th test)

I would give my left nut to be at the MCG tomorrow when 90000 people turn out to support either the Aussies or the Poms with the Ashes sitting at 1-1. Therehas been a bit of verbal, there has been a bit of controversy and there are a few injury concerns going around at the moment.

Taking a look at the betting:

On the outright win:
SportingBet are offering Australia at 7/5 while England are at 2/1

Voltbet are offering Australia at 10/7 while England are on offer at 15/8. 9/4 for the Draw.

Personally I just think home ground advantage and a fired up team is likely to play in favour of the Australians. I've also backed Michael Hussey (4/1) andMichael Clarke (9/2) as the top run scorers for the Aussies in the first innings and knowing how Kevin Pietersen thrives on pressure games I've backed him asthe top English run scorer (4/1).

It is going to be an absolute thriller!

South Africa versus India

India really need to do something to get onto the score sheet and if there was a venue where they'd fancy themselves it would be Kingsmead. Personal feelingthough is that the home side just packs too much firepower at the moment. The Indians showed a bit of heart in the second innings at Centurion but I can't say the instilled any fear in our bowlers.

Sportingbet is offering evens on South Africa to win the test match while offering India at 9/2. 6/4 on the draw
Voltbet is offering 11/10 on South Africa and 9/2 on India

I've also backed Hashim Amla as the top run scorer at 9/2

Should make for a cracking couple of days of cricket!

Video - Herschelle Gibbs

For those who missed it, last month Herschelle Gibbs created quite a stir with the release of his book "To The Point". Lots of sordid tales of cricketers behaving badly, but also plenty of insight into what really happens on a cricket tour and some insight into who Herschelle Gibbs really is.

I came across this video interview with him and thought it might give another side to this world-class cricketer.



If you want to order the book online you can order it HERE

Test cricket is fun!

There are two absolutely awesome test matches on the go at the moment and both are proving absolutely brilliant adverts for test match cricket.

Australia fighting back against the English
The Ashes always come with an added edge but when the Aussies are on the back foot, the home crowd is asking tough questions of their players and the English players (firmed with some good old fashioned South African blood) have their tails up... THIS is what test cricket is all about. Really enjoying the fact that Australia are bouncing back and putting the poms back in their place.

South African versus India
I was a little worried when the first day nearly got wiped out by rain but the South Africans stepped up to the plate... and in between that Jacques Kallis FINALLY got his double hundred. Not sure that the Indians have the bowling attack to make themselves overly competitive this series but they sure as hell are not standing back on the batting front!

Damn this test cricket is exciting....

Crazy cricket bet

Two absolutely massive cricket matches kick off tomorrow and one has to believe that if the stage were ever set for a Test match cricket advert then it will be centred around tomorrows' matches.

I have actually taken a rather "wild" set of bets around these games and I'd like to think I'm in with quite a good chance despite what all the nay-sayers think.

Perhaps the most intriguing game is the match up between Australia and England in the third Ashes test. Who could ever have imagined that Australia would be on the ropes and staring down the barrel of a home series defeat? Certainly not I... which is why I have backed the Aussies to bounce back and not only win the third test but actually over-turn the 1-0 deficit and win the series.

My thinking is simple. Aussies at home - losing stings and much like South Africans they hate to lose and are at their most dangerous when their backs are up against the ropes.

Closer to home - and rain permitting - the South Africans kick off their test series against the Indians. India have proven to be a real handful under the watchful eye of Gary Kirsten but playing against South Africa in their own backyard is no easy ask.

I've backed South Africa to win both the first test match as well as the series.

So there we go. Aussies to overturn their loss and bounce all the way back to beat the poms and SA to kick off their series winning exploits with a win in the first match.

If you also want to take a punt on the cricket please click HERE and open an account.

Cricket SA versus Herschelle Gibbs

This whole story between Herschelle Gibbs and Cricket South Africa (CSA) is really a little bizarre.

Obviously there was going to be some fall out after the release of his autobiography but it doesn't seem like it has been handled very well.

On Friday the news headlines are all trumpeting that Gibbs has been dumped by CSA but then they send out the following press release trying to "clarify" the situation.

Still looks about as clear as mud to me. So he can play but he can't play?

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) today issued an apology to Herschelle Gibbs (Gibbs) for, on 3 December prematurely issuing an inaccurate media release regarding the termination of its contractual relationship with Gibbs.

The following correctly reflects the agreement concluded between CSA and Gibbs:

Following amicable discussions, and in the best interests of South African cricket, CSA and Gibbs have announced that they have agreed to terminate Gibbs’ National Cricketer Contract by mutual consent.

“It has been agreed that this is the best way forward for both parties,” commented CSA CEO Gerald Majola.

“On behalf of CSA I would like to wish Herschelle all the best for his future and to thank him for the contribution he has made to the successes of the Proteas over an extended period of time,” he added.

“Herschelle represented our country for 14 years with distinction and I don’t think any cricket lover will ever forget the magnificent innings he played in the famous 438 game against Australia.”

Gibbs remains eligible for selection for the Proteas, and has requested CSA to issue a “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) to allow him to play in a Twenty20 competition in New Zealand later this month. CSA has agreed to do so.

Gibbs said, “I’d like to thank CSA, my team mates and especially the public for the unbelievable support over the years. The fans have been incredible and they all rock. I look forward to entertaining everyone on the world stage.”

Neither Gibbs nor CSA will comment further on this matter, the content of the agreement concluded between them, being confidential.

The greatest "sledges"

When hefty Zimbabwean chicken farmer Eddo Brandes kept on playing and missing to an increasingly frustrated Glenn McGrath, the Australian had had enough and decided a bit of verbals were called for: 'Oi, Brandes, why the hell are you so fat?' Quick as a flash, the answer came back: 'Because every time I shag your missus, she gives me a biscuit.' Few games have such a rich history of sledging as cricket, with the Australians famed masters of the art.

This collection, featuring contributions from talkSPORT's own Darren Gough and Ronnie Irani as well as many other cricket stars, brings together the best examples from around the world. To be effective, sometimes the sledge can be funny, as when Andrew Flintoff urged Tino Best, who was struggling to lay a bat on the ball, to 'mind the windows' at Lord's. Best immediately charged down the pitch to attack Ashley Giles' next ball and was stumped. But sometimes an element of real menace can do the trick, as when Malcolm Marshall commented to a struggling David Boon: 'Now are you going to get out or am I going to have to bowl round the wicket and kill you?'

Buy this book online now for R136 by clicking HERE or on the book cover.

Taking The Mickey

Mickey Arthur was one of SA’s longest-serving and most successful coaches. In 2008, along with the national team, he created history when the Proteas beat both England and Australia on their own turf. Beating Pakistan away from home the year before, set in motion an unprecedented journey to the number one ranking in both ODI and Test cricket. Since the world ranking system was introduced to international cricket, Australia has been the only other team to achieve this feat.

In 12 tours ‘down under’ spanning almost a century, South Africa has never managed to win a Test series in Australia. But Arthur, captain Graeme Smith and the rest of the team overcame incredible odds to chase a total of over 400 in the first Test in Perth. They faced what seemed certain defeat in Melbourne to win again and take an unbeatable 2-0 series lead. South Africa became the top ranked team in test cricket, finally unseating the mighty Australians who dominated for years. Soon after, they repeated this feat when they became the top ranked ODI team.


But behind the scenes, things weren’t always progressing smoothly. Whereas Arthur would do anything for the team, his uncompromising approach to administrators and refusal to be dictated to by men he believed were ‘out of touch’, was beginning to count against him. Not surprisingly, the Proteas failed to live up to the heights of 2008. They suffered the ignominy of a first round exit from the Champions Trophy at the beginning of the 2009 season. Soon after, they had to win the final Test of a four-match series against England to salvage a draw.

But there was nothing ominous about the players’ collective form and spirits were high as the squad prepared for a tour to India. The tour was for all intents and purposes a Test match ‘world championship’ between the two nations ranked first and second in the world. A week before the team’s departure, Arthur ‘resigned’. He was given no choice. A press conference was hastily called in his home town of East London and Smith flew from Cape Town to appear alongside him and quash rumours of deterioration in their personal relationship. Arthur never elaborated on the reasons for his untimely dismissal.

You can buy the book online from Kalahari by clicking HERE or on the book cover.

The Extraordinary Book of SA Cricket

The Extraordinary Book of South African Cricket is the perfect gift for any cricket fanatic. Following up on their tremendous success with The Penguin Book of South African Sports Trivia, Kevin McCallum and David O’Sullivan have trawled the South African cricket archives and put together a collection of behind-the-scenes tales, curiosities, trivia, quotable quotes, famous pranks, amazing-but-true scorecards, great triumphs and embarrassing blunders.

You can buy the book for R104 from Kalahari by clicking HERE or on the book cover.

International Cricket 2010

International Cricket 2010 has the most authentic and intuitive cricket gameplay you've ever experienced; featuring a range of innovations to deliver the definitive videogame representation of the sport.

Officially licensed by the ECB (England and Wales Cricket board) and Cricket Australia, IC 2010 includes official players, stadia and kits, for an authentic cricket experience.

Next-generation graphics, a stellar commentary team including Jonathan ‘Aggers’ Agnew and Shane Warne, and Hawk-Eye technology combine for a slick TV style presentation.

IC 2010 will take interactive cricket to the next level.

You can buy this game online for Xbox for R365.70 by clicking HERE or on the game cover.

Sachin Tendulkar - Biography

‘He’s a god in India and people believe luck shines in his hand . . . It is beyond chaos—It is a frantic appeal by a nation to one man.’— Matthew Hayden on Sachin Tendulkar In the twenty years that he has been in the public eye, Sachin Tendulkar has been explosive on the cricket field and just as reticent off it. He was barely fifteen years old when he first wrote his name into record books with a stupendous 664-run partnership with his childhood friend Vinod Kambli. A few months later, he struck his first century in first-class cricket.

At seventeen he became the second youngest man to make a hundred in international cricket, and after that there was no looking back. Today, Sachin is widely regarded as the world’s finest batsman, with impeccable technique, an incredible array of strokes, and maturity far beyond his years.

In this biography of the hero of Indian cricket, sports writer Gulu Ezekiel mines interviews, press reports and conversations over the last two decades and more to create an accurate and sympathetic account of the man and his first passion: cricket. He tracks Sachin from his childhood when he first caught the bug of cricket, through his early performances in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments, and follows him on his meteoric rise to international stardom.

Buy this book online from Kalahari for R120 by clicking HERE or on the book cover.

Herschelle Gibbs bio looks fun

There have rarely been few cricketers as precocious as Herschelle Gibbs and that's why I was quite excited to see that his autobiography is about to hit the shelves. Should make an awesome Christmas present.

It releases on 1 November and you can buy it from Kalahari for R160 or click on the book cover.

To the Point: The No-holds-barred Autobiography:
There's something about Herschelle Gibbs - a certain quality that has endeared him to cricket fans in South Africa and around the world.

Despite the frustrating on-field inconsistencies of this towering talent, and the messy and very public off-field personal troubles that have tracked him through the years, Gibbs remains one of South African cricket's best-loved sons.

In his own, very frank, words, Herschelle Gibbs chronicles the ups and downs of his personal and professional life, and describes what it's been like to be part of the Proteas for the past fourteen years, through the controversies of its various captains, coaches and administrators.

To the Point is of course, a spicy story of excess - women, alcohol, money and plenty of runs - but it also reveals a warm and generous man who wears his heart on his slevee.

Slow Death: Memoirs of a Cricket Umpire: Memoirs of a Cricket Umpire

I came across this book earlier today and I thought it would make a fantastic gift for any cricket fan. The fact that it is a South African author, publisher and features a South African cricket icon makes it even better!

Rudi Koertzen is one of world cricket's most experienced and respected umpires. In a career spanning 29 years, he has stood in 100 Test matches and 200 One Day Internationals. (To date, he is the only umpire to have stood in 200 ODIs.) The slow and deliberate way in which he raises his left arm to give a batsman out has given rise to his nickname, Slow Death, which gives this memoir its title.