Since its return to International cricket, South Africa has been known as the ‘choker’ of world cricket. That is that when the pressure is really on and the chips are down they fail – finding ways to lose. However, when it comes to one-day cricket it really should be England that should be kept away from small toys and gas ovens. Last night’s debacle in Antigua was the latest in a long line of embarrassing vital matches for England. This time it has cost the England players a cool $1m each. Stanford’s Superstars played excellent 20:20 cricket. They bowled, fielded, caught and batted with real professionalism and passion, neither of which was evident in England’s pitiful display.
There is a strong choker pattern in England’s last three big ‘must win’ matches; they were annihilated in all three:
20:20 for 20 Nov 2008: Eng 99, SS 101-0 (12.4 ov)
World 20:20 Sept 2007: Eng 135, Aus 136-2 (14.5 ov)
World Cup 2007: Eng 154, SA 157-1 (19.2 ov, yes it was a 50 over match)
Amusingly the 20:20 for 20 was supposed to be a way for England players to make some ‘serious’ money to make up for their absence from this year’s IPL. That is why the side did not include 20:20 specialists, the ECB only wanted England players there, whether they deserved a place or not.
Sunday 2 November 2008
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3 comments:
i somehow feel its fitting eng lost...coz of all the side shows which were running and ecb was drawing flak for...now they can sit and think of future $tanford $erieS...which had eng won would have been bit difficult...
I thought the best bit was at the end when they just had to sit in their hut and watch the West Indians celebrate. No stupid spin platitudes 'we will learn from this', 'we must take the positives', 'look forward' etc.
Doesn't help with a South African at the helm LOL.
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