Monday, 18 February 2013
Blogathonrunner: Women's Cricket - Where it was, Where it is and Wh...
Blogathonrunner: Women's Cricket - Where it was, Where it is and Wh...: The Blogathonrunner is going to tell you blog readers a story. Once upon a time, the Blogathonrunner, whilst back packing around the globe...
Women's Cricket - Where it was, Where it is and Where it's going to.
The Blogathonrunner is going to tell you blog readers a story.
Once upon a time, the Blogathonrunner, whilst back packing around the globe, stumbled across some cheap sporting entertainment taking place at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, otherwise known to the world as the MCG. Yes that day, about 11 years ago to be precise, the Australian Ladies were taking on their New Zealand counterparts in a One Day International Cricket match on the hallowed turf of the MCG. For people who know the Blogathonrunner, they know she is willing to give anything a go at least once. I've seen Synchronised Swimming for heaven's sake. So off i trekked to the MCG to learn a little bit about women's cricket.
Now you must forgive me blog readers, the events of the match have mostly sadly faded from my memory, largely due to the fact i'm 11 years older, and i struggle to remember what occurred last week, let alone 11 years ago. I do recall a few pertinent facts about that day however.
1) One man and his dog wasn't far off the number of fans actually watching this match. Of course i was there but i didn't have a dog. That's still quite an eery atmosphere in the vast cavern that is the MCG.
2) The ladies struggled to hit a ball past the boundary ropes, and the only times the ball went in the air it mainly went to a fielder who caught it. Certainly do not recall a lady coming close to hitting a six that day.
3) If the cricket ball managed to reach the outer echelons of the cricket field, there wasn't a fielder who could throw the ball directly to the wicket. It required sometimes a relay team of three for the ball to eventually get back to the wicket area.
I'll be brutally honest blog readers. It was a match that didn't inspire all that much. Put it this way, if that product had been put in front of TV Executives, I think they would likely have said, i think we'll stick to the fly fishing.
As i need no reminding blog readers, we are all 11 years older, but it seems that TV Executives are taking a significant interest in the product we call Women's Cricket now, not least, during the past few weeks, with the Women's ICC World Cup taking place in India.
So what has changed. When not being stuck in front of her computer doing her day job, the Blogathonrunner did occasionally pop on her TV these past few weeks and took a look at the breed of female cricketers a la 2013. Let me tell you something blog readers, the Blogathonrunner was pleasantly surprised.
Going back to the beginning of the tournament, I watched some of the highlights of the match between the West Indies and India. I was sitting there having a coffee, when all of a sudden my eyes popped out of my head. A young West Indian lady by the name of Deandra Dottin, hit 4 sixes, yes 4 sixes, off the Indian bowlers. It kind of initiated a reaction in me a long the lines, "Hello Deandra Dottin, who on earth are you and where did you come from?" In other words i sat up and took notice. This lady is clearly an entertaining cricketer and sixes are her currency, a bit like her male West Indian counterparts such as Christoper Gayle and Kieran Pollard. In fact, after further investigation i find she holds the world record for the fastest ever T20 100 off only 38 balls.
The ladies hitting the sixes has been a personal highlight of this World Cup. Now they haven't been sixes hit from Lords to the Oval as some of their male counterparts often attempt, but the point of the matter is techniques of the female batters must have improved tremendously over the past 11 years in that they are actually hitting them. It also gets the fans excited about the women's game. They will want to find out about the Deandra Dottins of this world.
One of the slightly concerning things that have been brought up during this World Cup is the striking professionalism of some teams such as the Aussies, England and the Kiwis, in comparison to others. If you look at Australia, England, and New Zealand during the tournament, they have a set out a plan to execute the skills of batting, bowling, and fielding to best of their ability, and for the most part they did. If you look from a financial perspective, it wouldn't surprise me if these 3 teams are the ones who have received the most investment to improve the women's game to where it is now.
Now there is no denying that the West Indies team has some major talent in their ranks and on their day they look like they can beat anyone. If anyone saw the final of the tournament yesterday however, they would realise that when it comes to performing and executing every skill on a cricket pitch when it really counts, the Australian team were light years ahead of their opponents. I mean yesterday one of the striking differences was the fielding. I actually couldn't find enough hands to count the number of times the West Indian ladies misfielded the ball during the final, probably costing about 20 runs. Hopefully, the West Indian ladies will have learnt a valuable lesson from their Australian counterparts yesterday, the fact that hitting sixes does not win you matches. It's the whole package of batting, bowling and fielding that does that for you day in day out for the most part, something the Aussies, English and the Kiwis know about because professionalism has taught them to work at the whole package.
So what to the future of women's cricket. Well the Blogathonrunner would say that is largely down to the investors and promoters of the Women's Game. There is no doubt Women's Cricket is now a product that can potentially be sold to the world. There have been some extremely entertaining games during this World Cup. That coupled with promoting the emerging personalities in the game such as Deandra Dottin or Elise Perry means grounds could be filled with five to ten thousand men and their dogs in the not too distant future, if the game is promoted in the right way. What the Blogathonrunner would like to see in a four years time is that all countries have invested in their women's cricket teams, to ensure they are trained to the best professional standard possible. With the West Indies's performance during this World Cup, there are some encouraging signs that there will be more emerging nations in the not too distant future, and you never know that may just lose to England in the next World Cup final. Hey, i may be a sports fan in general, but i still want my home country to win.
Once upon a time, the Blogathonrunner, whilst back packing around the globe, stumbled across some cheap sporting entertainment taking place at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, otherwise known to the world as the MCG. Yes that day, about 11 years ago to be precise, the Australian Ladies were taking on their New Zealand counterparts in a One Day International Cricket match on the hallowed turf of the MCG. For people who know the Blogathonrunner, they know she is willing to give anything a go at least once. I've seen Synchronised Swimming for heaven's sake. So off i trekked to the MCG to learn a little bit about women's cricket.
Now you must forgive me blog readers, the events of the match have mostly sadly faded from my memory, largely due to the fact i'm 11 years older, and i struggle to remember what occurred last week, let alone 11 years ago. I do recall a few pertinent facts about that day however.
1) One man and his dog wasn't far off the number of fans actually watching this match. Of course i was there but i didn't have a dog. That's still quite an eery atmosphere in the vast cavern that is the MCG.
2) The ladies struggled to hit a ball past the boundary ropes, and the only times the ball went in the air it mainly went to a fielder who caught it. Certainly do not recall a lady coming close to hitting a six that day.
3) If the cricket ball managed to reach the outer echelons of the cricket field, there wasn't a fielder who could throw the ball directly to the wicket. It required sometimes a relay team of three for the ball to eventually get back to the wicket area.
I'll be brutally honest blog readers. It was a match that didn't inspire all that much. Put it this way, if that product had been put in front of TV Executives, I think they would likely have said, i think we'll stick to the fly fishing.
As i need no reminding blog readers, we are all 11 years older, but it seems that TV Executives are taking a significant interest in the product we call Women's Cricket now, not least, during the past few weeks, with the Women's ICC World Cup taking place in India.
So what has changed. When not being stuck in front of her computer doing her day job, the Blogathonrunner did occasionally pop on her TV these past few weeks and took a look at the breed of female cricketers a la 2013. Let me tell you something blog readers, the Blogathonrunner was pleasantly surprised.
Going back to the beginning of the tournament, I watched some of the highlights of the match between the West Indies and India. I was sitting there having a coffee, when all of a sudden my eyes popped out of my head. A young West Indian lady by the name of Deandra Dottin, hit 4 sixes, yes 4 sixes, off the Indian bowlers. It kind of initiated a reaction in me a long the lines, "Hello Deandra Dottin, who on earth are you and where did you come from?" In other words i sat up and took notice. This lady is clearly an entertaining cricketer and sixes are her currency, a bit like her male West Indian counterparts such as Christoper Gayle and Kieran Pollard. In fact, after further investigation i find she holds the world record for the fastest ever T20 100 off only 38 balls.
The ladies hitting the sixes has been a personal highlight of this World Cup. Now they haven't been sixes hit from Lords to the Oval as some of their male counterparts often attempt, but the point of the matter is techniques of the female batters must have improved tremendously over the past 11 years in that they are actually hitting them. It also gets the fans excited about the women's game. They will want to find out about the Deandra Dottins of this world.
One of the slightly concerning things that have been brought up during this World Cup is the striking professionalism of some teams such as the Aussies, England and the Kiwis, in comparison to others. If you look at Australia, England, and New Zealand during the tournament, they have a set out a plan to execute the skills of batting, bowling, and fielding to best of their ability, and for the most part they did. If you look from a financial perspective, it wouldn't surprise me if these 3 teams are the ones who have received the most investment to improve the women's game to where it is now.
Now there is no denying that the West Indies team has some major talent in their ranks and on their day they look like they can beat anyone. If anyone saw the final of the tournament yesterday however, they would realise that when it comes to performing and executing every skill on a cricket pitch when it really counts, the Australian team were light years ahead of their opponents. I mean yesterday one of the striking differences was the fielding. I actually couldn't find enough hands to count the number of times the West Indian ladies misfielded the ball during the final, probably costing about 20 runs. Hopefully, the West Indian ladies will have learnt a valuable lesson from their Australian counterparts yesterday, the fact that hitting sixes does not win you matches. It's the whole package of batting, bowling and fielding that does that for you day in day out for the most part, something the Aussies, English and the Kiwis know about because professionalism has taught them to work at the whole package.
So what to the future of women's cricket. Well the Blogathonrunner would say that is largely down to the investors and promoters of the Women's Game. There is no doubt Women's Cricket is now a product that can potentially be sold to the world. There have been some extremely entertaining games during this World Cup. That coupled with promoting the emerging personalities in the game such as Deandra Dottin or Elise Perry means grounds could be filled with five to ten thousand men and their dogs in the not too distant future, if the game is promoted in the right way. What the Blogathonrunner would like to see in a four years time is that all countries have invested in their women's cricket teams, to ensure they are trained to the best professional standard possible. With the West Indies's performance during this World Cup, there are some encouraging signs that there will be more emerging nations in the not too distant future, and you never know that may just lose to England in the next World Cup final. Hey, i may be a sports fan in general, but i still want my home country to win.
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Blogathonrunner: Shocked and Saddened By Such A Tragedy.
Blogathonrunner: Shocked and Saddened By Such A Tragedy.: Oh how life can change in the blink of an eye. The events that have occurred today with Oscar Pistorius being charged with the murder of hi...
Shocked and Saddened By Such A Tragedy.
Oh how life can change in the blink of an eye. The events that have occurred today with Oscar Pistorius being charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, means whether he is found innocent or guilty of such charges (and that is for a court to decide), he will for the rest of his life have to face the consequences of his actions being responsible for the death of his girlfriend.
The reports of events in South Africa have sent shockwaves around not only Pistorius's home nation, but all four corners of the globe. Pistorius has made a monumental contribution to raising the profile of Paralympic sport across the world. To most he has been seen as a true gentleman and ambassador for his sport, and has proved that disability should not prevent you from achieving your goals by competing in the Olympic Games last year. The fact is Pistorius is a global superstar in sporting terms. I needed no further proof of this after witnessing him win the Paralympic T44 400 metres title in the Olympic Stadium last September. The roar that erupted when his name was announced over the tannoy left you in no doubt just how popular an athlete he was amongst fans.
The harsh truth of the matter however is the fact that we all have to separate our opinions and knowledge of Oscar Pistorius, the sportsman, that we as sports fans have known and loved, and focus on the tragic facts that a young lady in her prime has had her life cut short in horrendous circumstances and Pistorius is charged with her murder.
Jim Rome of CBS put it very succinctly on Twitter today. "I don't know what Oscar Pistorius did or didn't do. But I know this: we really don't know any of these guys. And should never think we do".
It can only be hoped, although i have my doubts having seen some media reports today, that Pistorius is tried in a court of law based on the facts of today's tragic events alone. If he is found guilty of murder, he must face the consequences with a likely custodial sentence. If he is found innocent of the charges, well as i mentioned before, he will still have to face the tragic consequences of his actions on a daily basis for the rest of his life probably.
For now our hearts should go out the family of Reeva Steenkamp. RIP
The reports of events in South Africa have sent shockwaves around not only Pistorius's home nation, but all four corners of the globe. Pistorius has made a monumental contribution to raising the profile of Paralympic sport across the world. To most he has been seen as a true gentleman and ambassador for his sport, and has proved that disability should not prevent you from achieving your goals by competing in the Olympic Games last year. The fact is Pistorius is a global superstar in sporting terms. I needed no further proof of this after witnessing him win the Paralympic T44 400 metres title in the Olympic Stadium last September. The roar that erupted when his name was announced over the tannoy left you in no doubt just how popular an athlete he was amongst fans.
The harsh truth of the matter however is the fact that we all have to separate our opinions and knowledge of Oscar Pistorius, the sportsman, that we as sports fans have known and loved, and focus on the tragic facts that a young lady in her prime has had her life cut short in horrendous circumstances and Pistorius is charged with her murder.
Jim Rome of CBS put it very succinctly on Twitter today. "I don't know what Oscar Pistorius did or didn't do. But I know this: we really don't know any of these guys. And should never think we do".
It can only be hoped, although i have my doubts having seen some media reports today, that Pistorius is tried in a court of law based on the facts of today's tragic events alone. If he is found guilty of murder, he must face the consequences with a likely custodial sentence. If he is found innocent of the charges, well as i mentioned before, he will still have to face the tragic consequences of his actions on a daily basis for the rest of his life probably.
For now our hearts should go out the family of Reeva Steenkamp. RIP
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Blogathonrunner: Everyone Must Be At It - Doping That Is
Blogathonrunner: Everyone Must Be At It - Doping That Is: Doping - It's a funny word really. I mean it amuses me purely because it resembles the name of one of Snow White's Seven Dwarfs. In realit...
Everyone Must Be At It - Doping That Is
Doping - It's a funny word really. I mean it amuses me purely because it resembles the name of one of Snow White's Seven Dwarfs.
In reality doping is not a joke however when it comes to the world of sport. In fact the doping skeletons have an uncanny knack of coming out of sporting closets at regular intervals, the beginning of this year being no exception.
We've had Lance "Everyone was doing it so why not me" Armstrong finally revealing to Oprah the truth behind how he finished in front of everyone else at seven Tour de France events by stocking up internally with more drugs than a pharmaceutical company stores. Of course, in this case, USADA, the US Antidoping Authority, had to prize open Armstrong's closet with a hammer, by hounding Armstrong and his fellow team mates for numerous years before the doping skeletons were finally unleashed from the closet.
Similarly it's taken a year long investigation by the Australian Crime Commission to discover that the use of prohibited substances is apparently widespread amongst elite athletes in Australia. During the "we will hunt you down" scare tactics employed by Australia's Justice and Sports Ministers at the well publicized press conference last week, interestingly no reference was made to any incidences of doping in a particular sport. So what are the Australian sport viewing public meant to think when they are told doping is widespread amongst elite athletes?
I tell you what statements like that create -suspicion. Did that athlete finish a race so far in front of other athletes and had time to have a cup of tea, before the rest finish, simply because he/she is a brilliant athlete or because they ingested a cocktail of drugs on a regular basis?
This is the ugly, non amusing side of doping scandals. The minute a sport is involved in a doping scandal, virtually all athletes are tainted with same brush. Indeed everyone must be at it heh!
Why are the positives never accentuated when discussing doping in sport? I reckon we should congratulate all those athletes who believe in working and training hard to be the best possible athletes they can, and don't turn to a mad scientist to achieve their goals. I'm keeping the faith. Anyone else?
In reality doping is not a joke however when it comes to the world of sport. In fact the doping skeletons have an uncanny knack of coming out of sporting closets at regular intervals, the beginning of this year being no exception.
We've had Lance "Everyone was doing it so why not me" Armstrong finally revealing to Oprah the truth behind how he finished in front of everyone else at seven Tour de France events by stocking up internally with more drugs than a pharmaceutical company stores. Of course, in this case, USADA, the US Antidoping Authority, had to prize open Armstrong's closet with a hammer, by hounding Armstrong and his fellow team mates for numerous years before the doping skeletons were finally unleashed from the closet.
Similarly it's taken a year long investigation by the Australian Crime Commission to discover that the use of prohibited substances is apparently widespread amongst elite athletes in Australia. During the "we will hunt you down" scare tactics employed by Australia's Justice and Sports Ministers at the well publicized press conference last week, interestingly no reference was made to any incidences of doping in a particular sport. So what are the Australian sport viewing public meant to think when they are told doping is widespread amongst elite athletes?
I tell you what statements like that create -suspicion. Did that athlete finish a race so far in front of other athletes and had time to have a cup of tea, before the rest finish, simply because he/she is a brilliant athlete or because they ingested a cocktail of drugs on a regular basis?
This is the ugly, non amusing side of doping scandals. The minute a sport is involved in a doping scandal, virtually all athletes are tainted with same brush. Indeed everyone must be at it heh!
Why are the positives never accentuated when discussing doping in sport? I reckon we should congratulate all those athletes who believe in working and training hard to be the best possible athletes they can, and don't turn to a mad scientist to achieve their goals. I'm keeping the faith. Anyone else?
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Blogathonrunner: Too Cool For School!
Blogathonrunner: Too Cool For School!: Watching the Brazilian footballers taking on England at Wembley yesterday was an enlightening viewing experience. The way they were passing ...
Too Cool For School!
Watching the Brazilian footballers taking on England at Wembley yesterday was an enlightening viewing experience. The way they were passing the ball at times around the Wembley turf, you could easily be mistaken for thinking they were imagining themselves out for a stroll and a kick around on Copacabana beach, except on this occasion it was North West London and at least 20 degrees colder. They were just simply "Too Cool For School" or too cold.
What was blindingly obvious last night watching the England v Brazil match however, was the fact Brazil never got out of first gear the entire match, whereas England were playing in fifth gear, full throttle, be prepared to be tackled if necessary mode from the first whistle to the last, and ended deserved winners. You almost wanted to stick atom bombs up the bottoms of some of the Brazilian players and say "Run, for heaven's sake".
Could this be the reason that lies behind Brazil not being a successful international side in recent years? This idealization of style over substance, is something that needs to be addressed if they don't want to be embarrassed when the World Cup party heads to their nation in a year's time. Yes they've had the likes of Pele and Ronaldo, the footballers too cool for school, but they've also had the class nerds and work horses such as the Cafu's of this world. Interesting Cafu played in three World Cup Finals and won two. I wonder how many Brazilian players playing yesterday, will be saying that at the end of their careers.
What was blindingly obvious last night watching the England v Brazil match however, was the fact Brazil never got out of first gear the entire match, whereas England were playing in fifth gear, full throttle, be prepared to be tackled if necessary mode from the first whistle to the last, and ended deserved winners. You almost wanted to stick atom bombs up the bottoms of some of the Brazilian players and say "Run, for heaven's sake".
Could this be the reason that lies behind Brazil not being a successful international side in recent years? This idealization of style over substance, is something that needs to be addressed if they don't want to be embarrassed when the World Cup party heads to their nation in a year's time. Yes they've had the likes of Pele and Ronaldo, the footballers too cool for school, but they've also had the class nerds and work horses such as the Cafu's of this world. Interesting Cafu played in three World Cup Finals and won two. I wonder how many Brazilian players playing yesterday, will be saying that at the end of their careers.
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Blogathonrunner: The Sporting Weekend - The Good, Bad and Damn Righ...
Blogathonrunner: The Sporting Weekend - The Good, Bad and Damn Righ...: For the sports loving couch potatoes amongst us, this weekend was a veritable feast of events spread across this impressive globe of ours. ...
The Sporting Weekend - The Good, Bad and Damn Right Baffling.
For the sports loving couch potatoes amongst us, this weekend was a veritable feast of events spread across this impressive globe of ours. And then there was Beyonce!
The sporting world amazed and baffled me in equal measures over the weekend and probably a lot of active participants in the weekend that was as well.
There were firstly the things I simply didn't get.
The Super Bowl
Let's get one thing straight the Blogathonrunner is not the greatest fan of the annual American Football jamboree, but still appreciates that it is a skillful, athletic contact sport and as sporting dramas go, the one that was played out between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers was a classic one.
I ask you this question though blog readers. Did the founding fathers of this sport envisage a national competition with an end of season endurance battle between two teams lasting five hours with a pop concert at half-time?
When watching a major sporting event taking place in a different time zone the Blogathonrunner takes several things into consideration. Firstly, a simple matter of do i actually like said sport? Secondly, is it a matter of national importance, with my fellow countrymen and women competing. Finally, am i really willing to trade a valuable commodity that is sleep in order to hopefully look like a smiling zombie when i attend work the following morning. What the Blogathonrunner does not account for is arguably 75% of the sports event viewing experience consisting of advertisements, or in the case of watching BBC coverage of the Super Bowl in Monday morning, Mark Chapman having to fill probably more time on our TV screens than he's ever done in his entire media career.
American Football you have a long way to go to truly increase your fan base by simply one person. If you could guarantee i'd be in bed by 2am, i may just be willing to do a deal with you.
Have the Penalty Boxes and the Rest of Football Field Swapped Places?
Demba Ba of Chelsea FC fame got slightly more than he bargained for from Fabricio Coloccini when Chelsea took on Newcastle at the Stadium Formerly Known as St James's Park, on Saturday. Primarily a broken and bloodied nose. Not forgetting that his team mates in his absence managed to lose the match as well. Ouch all round I would think.
His beloved manager (I say this tongue and cheek of course) Rafa Benitez, may well have had a valid bone of contention to pick with Harold Webb, the referee during this match.
If Coloccini had unintentionally squelched Demba Ba's nose with his foot anywhere outside the penalty box, a Webb's whistle would go straight to his mouth and Chelsea would have a free kick. Coloccini whether unintentionally or not would most likely be on the borderline between a yellow and red card (an amber one shall we say) as well. Yet the kicking nose incident occurred in the penalty box on Saturday and neither whistles or cards were even brandished. I've seen players be sent off for kicking players below the waist. Is kicking above the waist not considered dangerous or simply a foul?
It's like referee's minds work completely differently at times when a player enters the penalty box. They think oh crikey i actually have to make a decision that may have an effect on the actual match. Oh sorry i forgot! Referees are actually paid to do that.
I did get some things however this weekend
Never let it be said representing your country doesn't mean anything to tennis players.
Yes if you think the Super Bowl was an endurance event this weekend, try telling that to Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic and Stan Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland, who slugged it out for over seven hours, with the Czech eventually winning to earn their Davis Cup team a measly one point in the tie. What was rather more impressive was the fact Berdych and Wawrinka were back exchanging tennis playing pleasantries the next day for another four sets, with Berdych being conqueror and consequently the Czech Republic being tie winners.
In this often mercenary world of sport, it's lovely to see that playing for your country means so much to some. Djokovic is another fella with this endearing attitude. Of course he credits his involvement in the Davis Cup winning Serbian team in 2010, as the thing that catapulted his career to where it is now.
Athletes from other sports, namely England footballers, could do well to follow such an example.
The Classic Proof History Does Not Win Matches.
The Italian Rugby Union team are never going to be the All Blacks of Europe by any stretch of the imagine. One thing they did prove on Sunday during their Six Nations match against the Rugby Charmers of France however, if you play to the best of your god given ability and to your strengths and have the will and determination to want it more than your opponents, sometimes that is enough. Brava Italia!
Bravo to Sebastian Chabal's, known to many French Rugby Fans as the Caveman for his comments on twitter. Rude but valid "Oh Merde!"
Finally the depressing. We learnt yesterday that apparently possibly 680 football matches played across Europe were rigged in some shape or form, including a Champions League game in England, rumour has it involving Liverpool.
The Blogathonrunner grew up loving sport. It is the best drama in the world because you should have no idea what the hell is going to happen. If i wanted my sport scripted, i would have switch over to Downtown Abbey!
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