This will hurt me...

I don't care about one day games, I really don't. I didn't even know that England won the ODI series last year until after the World Cup final! But I had a quick look this evening and noticed Gilchrist opening. How odd, I thought he had retired, I saw that Haddin was named in the squad. Pop online (thank you wireless broadband), and a quick look at Cricinfo, and yes indeed, it is confirmed that Haddin is playing as well. What is the point? Two keepers? Voges was 'on standby', why not play him? He can bowl a bit and is more than handy with the bat. Why wouldn't you reward someone who has done well in the Gillette/McDonald's/FAI/Mercantile Mutual/ING/Ford Ranger cup? What did David Hussey do wrong in the 20/20? Cameron White? Any of these can bat at a pace and contribute with the ball. But you go with a second wicketkeeper? It just seems plain stupid. I can see it if you're on an overseas tour with a limited squad, but at home you'd rather a makeshift ...

I can't stand Michael Clarke. Australian Captain? Pfftt!

Fingers crossed that BLee or Johnson have a strain or something, and that the Hilfenstud will get a run in the first test. Likewise, I hope that Hogg gets picked over McGill.

They should have stuck with the full WC squad, if Gilchrist, Ponting etc are too buggered to go to NZ, they shouldn’t be going to the WC. Otherwise, they should have rested everyone and sent over a B team. They would have done a lot better than the shower of shite currently in the side. And what is the deal with Shane Watson? Who has he got photos of? Why is he even remotely considered an international prospect with the ball? For the life of me, I cannot figure this one out. Answers on a postcard please...

I was set the challenge to find some statistical evidence of NSW bias in the selection of Australian Test cricketers. I can’t seem to find a state-by-state breakdown of Test players, and couldn’t be arsed going through every one, so I’ve had to find a different way to establish it. I decided to have a look at state players who have amassed significant figures at the first class level, but did not get much of a run at the higher level, and see how players from NSW compared with players from elsewhere. I’m not claiming that each of these players SHOULD have got a greater run in tests, merely comparing how much of a go high run-scorers and wicket-takers have received in test cricket. Personally, I found the results surprising, and believe that they tend to support some sort of institutional bias towards NSW representatives. Even considering the factor of being the largest state with the most cricketers, I think that the statistical breakdown establishes a pretty convincing argument that p...

I worked this out in early December, and have decided to post it here now because it's all very sparse. Brett Lee’s test bowling: 1–10 tests: 930 runs for 48 wickets @ 19.37 11–20: 1166 r 32 w @ 36.43 21–30: 1283 r 32 w @ 40.09 31–40: 1481 r 42 w @ 35.26 41–50: 1342 r 42 w @ 31.95 51–55: 583 r 17 w @ 34.29 His first 15 tests Lee had conceded 1523 runs for 65 wickets @ 23.43 . Since then, he has conceded 5262 runs for 148 wickets @ 35.55 . For a total of 6785 runs for 213 wickets @ 31.85 . As a comparison: AJ Bichel: 1870 r, 58 w @ 32.24 . DW Fleming: 1942 r, 75 w @ 25.89 . JN Gillespie: 6770 r, 259 w @ 26.13 . (First 35 tests @ 26.24 ; Second 36 tests @ 26.03 ). MS Kasprowicz: 3716 r, 113 w @ 32.88 . GD McGrath: 11787 r, 549 w @ 21.46 . PR Reiffel: 2804 r, 104 w @ 26.96 . Other bowlers and their averages who’ve played around the BLee era (albeit with far fewer games/opportunities): J Angel, 46.30 ; NW Bracken, 42.08 ; SR Clark, 17.39 ; SH Cook, 20.28 ; AC Dale, 31.16 ; BP Julian, ...