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April
: A month of high cricket action and drama
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- Richard Jenkins
Rarely has a month in any sport been as momentous as April for cricket, which has seen records tumble, foundations crumble and old assumptions swept away by the tide of legislation and international pressure.
On the field batting has never seemed better and all the international teams played on the same day. Thoughts of a golden age and resting on laurels got swept away with .The EU legislation that effectively allows free movement of players from and within EU states and allied states. Brian Lara single handedly swept all before him in 13 hours and 400 runs, but conversely papered over the gaping cracks in WI cricket and perhaps serious questions should be asked now about the 2007 world cup which will be held in WI and USA in order for a competitive team and tournament. England also set bogeymen to bed, winning an overseas tour and winning in WI 3-0 for the first time.
Zimbabwean cricket lurched closer to extinction yet continues to amaze with it’s persistence and belief in the face of overwhelming adversity. Pakistan and India showed the world they could compete and what a sublime contest and play from both sides. Both teams can be proud in the knowledge that on their day, they can be world-beaters. New Zealand and South Africa fought hard to, with both sides looking world class.
Bangladesh and Zimbabwe fought the clash of the Titans and Zimbabwe came out on top, but Bangladesh are improving all the time. Sri Lanka pushed Australia, but ultimately they fell on the floor, with Australia looking still the best in the world. In England the first class game got underway and arguments about infrastructure echo on.
In the rest of the cricket world the ICC competition got underway, which grinds seemingly endlessly on until November. So what does the future hold? Well an action- packed cricket summer sees England finish in WI, Zimbabwe continue against SL, Australia will follow to Zimbabwe without Macgill, New Zealand go to England as do the West Indies, Sri Lanka go to Australia. And those are just the series I’m aware of.
I found the crystal ball in the garden shed, lying amongst the Kylie magazines and Beefy Botham posters, and I picked it up. Once I had regained consciousness, the fog parted, revealing that the cricket this summer will be excellent ,with a few world records tumbling (200 in a ODI) and surprises (1000 first class runs before the end of May for Rob Key and a new England Skipper in ODI‘s) along the way.
I really must clean out that shed, those petrol fumes really give me jip.
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