03.29.07
Posted in Sport at 9:52 am by Guy
Now, you will very seldom see any swearing on this website not any blasphemy. I’m going to steer clear of the blasphemy, becfause at the end of the day it is only a game. However, I have one question for all of you:
What the fuck were South Africa trying to pull last night?!!!!!
My shattered nerves. Were they goofed? Graeme Smith said that a few of the boys were chugging on some cancer sticks towards the end, but was it weed, and was it the blokes who still had to bat (scuse the pun)?!?!??!?!
Cruising along at 160/2 chasing a paltry 209, Kallis set on 60-odd, and all of a sardine [cough, cough] South Africa once again collapse. At this level of the game, the difference between winning and losing is often in the mind. These guys spend their lives practicing, honing their skills, training, wotking on fitness, etc, that there is so little to choose skills wise between the top guys. Sure, some players are more talented than others, and there are those ’special’ players who appear a grade above the rest, but in generla there is very little to choose between the top sides in this years world cup. So, if South Africa are genuinely the worlds best one-day side, adn are serious contenders for the world cup, they are going to have start learning to be more ruthless. Quickly. The proteas have this knack of never quite finishing the opposition off, not slamming the door shut, not hammering in that final nail. As opposed to the Aussies of course, who’s natural instinct is too kick whilst one is down!
With Bangladesh and Ireland making the super 8’s, and with England not at their best, you have to think that regardless of the ultimately narrow win last night, South Africa will be one of the final 4 contesting the semi-final. The Windies look eratic, and are likely to drop points again, and the kiwi’s haven’t been truely tested yet. This is not the point though. As South Africa have found to their detriment in previous World Cups, once you reach a reach a knock-out siutation, there are no excuses, no second chances, no time to reflect. It’s win or get on the plane, and I’m afraid South Africa don’t have the bottle at the moment.
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03.27.07
Posted in Sport at 10:02 am by Guy
With our impending trip to the Caribbean, I’m afraid the crciket stories are going to be unrelenting in the next few weeks. And with that I can proudly unveil our official tour logo, as professionally designed and drawn by Ms Leanne Smith…..
So, look out for it on the telly during the following games:
April 13: Australia v Ireland
April 15: Bangladesh v Ireland
April 17: South Africa v England
April 19: West Indies v Bangladesh
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03.20.07
Posted in General at 18:01 pm by Guy
I rather innocuous topic, which most Brits can’t avoid on a daily basis. Not that I slagging off the Brits, because well, the weather is closely linked to the work that I do, and those of you who know me have no doubt been bored to death on at least one occasion by my affinity for the subject, and that of ‘climate change’. All of you have seen the ‘barrage’ (haha) of photo’s of the storm which has hit the EP and KZN coastline in the last few days. Some of them are absolutely spectacular, and its worth heading over to Kevin’s arbitrary thoughts to view his extensive collection of pics (Ta Dave).
I won’t bore you with the details of the science behind the event, but there are a couple of things that I have heard and read over the past few days which are worth clearing up. For instance, it’s not a ‘Tsunami’! So everyone just relax, a Tsunami is tidal surge typically caused by movements in the earths crust below the oceans (earthquake, volcanic eruptions, etc) displacing significant volume of water and hence a ripple, or increased surface swell, results. The waves battering the KZN coastline have been caused by a low pressure weather system and uncharacteristically high tides caused by movements of the earth, sun and moon, combining to produce the increased offshore swell.
Also, the photo’s being emailed around with the capsized ship, actually relate to an incident in Antwerp (although there are reports it may have been Rotterdam) in which unbalanced container loading caused a moored vessel to keel over. The pictures are not of Durban harbour, although the ship did begin its course in West Africa, but that’s as close as the connection gets!
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03.18.07
Posted in Sport at 21:31 pm by Guy
T minus 25 days until we hit the world cup cricket in the West Indies. The West Indies blog has been picking revcently as the tour members scour dictionaries for new superlativces to describe the excitement. The tournament is now 7 days old and I thought I’d round things up.
There have been a few suprises thus far, most notably that of Irelands victory over Pakistan yesterday. This, on St Patricks day no less, sent the Paki’s packing as they make an early exit from the competition. Pakistan are certainly the most volatile cricketing nation in the world, but with a batting lineup including Younis Khan, Mohammed Yousef and Ul-Haq, however weakened the bowling lineup is, a loss to Ireland is unacceptable. It has been an incredible tournament for Ireland who also dramatically tied with Zimbabwe on Thursday. Ireland now have a real chance of qualifying for the next stage, and we may well see them in Barbados - more celebrating with the paddy’s! Fine by me.
Other big guns all won in week 1, including Sri Lanka, West Indies, New Zealand, Australia and, most importantly, South Africa. India, however were humbled yesterday by Bangladesh. The big talking point in week one has to be Hershelle Gibbs, and his world record 6 sizes in one over. Setting aside the fact that the Netherlands are not the strongest crciketing nation, this is a feat that has never been achieved in over 100 years of international cricket. Only the legends Sir Garfield Sobers and Ravi Shastri have ever done it before in first-class cricket. Gibbs’ feat was a mixture of majestic stroke making, brute force and an eye for the ball that I think is unchallenged worldwide. There has never been any doubt about this man’s natural ability, but over and over again (think SA’s victory over Aus at the Wanderers) that he is a cricketing genius.
At this stage its still difficult to work out which teams we will be watching in Barbados, although based on results thus far and future fixtures ending according to the script, it is likely we will see the West Indies twice, Aus, SA and Ireland. Doesn’t get much better than that! Also, a West Indies South Africa semi final in St Lucia is not impossible.
All this put into prespective in the last few hours by the tragic news that Bob Woolmer has died suddnely. Bob Woolmer coached South Africa from 1995 until after the world cup exit in 1999. He was born in India, but payed test cricket for England. The cause of his death is unknown at this stage, and the tributes has started pouring in for a well liked figure in the game.
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03.11.07
Posted in General at 23:01 pm by Guy
A mate of mine spoke to an operator at Thames Water last week. The operators name: Lee King.
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03.09.07
Posted in General at 10:40 am by Guy
Inzamam-Ul-Haq, undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in the world, but also notoriously fat and slow, and must hold the world record for being run out the most times in international cricket. Check the T-shirt out:
Beautiful. Perhaps just scratch the last line.
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03.07.07
Posted in General at 22:46 pm by Guy
Time is flying at the moment as Tony and I continue to find our feet in our new roles as ‘The Directors’. So far, everything is going really well, and we only hope that we continue building from strength to strength.
The wedding plans are also keeping us (well Sarah mostly, to be perfectly honest) busy as we attempt to book our favourite chapel, reception venue, photographer, etc.
I have also started hitting the pavement on both foot and two wheels in an attempt to reach my former glory as an elite athlete……. lol. Rog and I took the decision, over rum no less, to postpone our plans of a half ironman this year. Time is in short supply at the moment, and if/when I give it a go, I would like to commit the time to training and work hard. Besides, at 29 I’m well short of my prime. We are however, running 16 miles on April fools day as part of the Kingston Breakfast run, so I am trying to get in at least half decent shape for that.
Speaking of rum, the ‘West Indies Tor’ London group gathered at the Fox and Grapes on Sunday for some lunch and a few rums. There are six of us travelling from the capital of the universe and it was about time everyone got acquainted. That, and it is about time we started gettign into the sun and rum spirit. It was good to see my friend Captain Morgan again, although the trademark restless nights sleep and fierce nightmares followed.
Oh, and Liverpool qualified for the quarter finals of the Champions League, along with Chelsea and Man U. My bet is that Liverpool draw Man U on Friday lunchtime. Haha for Arsenal though as they crashed out. Someone has lost a very crucial bet on that game and will now have to eat my stokies. WHAHAHAHA
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