The Googly

The Googly - slip, sliding away...

ShinyMedia — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:46:43 GMT

After a good couple of years today is the day that we reach the end of our road (for now). I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of putting my own thoughts onto this blog and reading the many musings by the learned other writers and those of your good selves in the comments.

Sreesanth weeps like a prom queen with a ripped dress whose boyfriend has done one with the class slapper

ShinyMedia — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:47:25 GMT

Cricket Snapshot: The next big thing?

ShinyMedia — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:44:03 GMT

Billy Godleman flicks into the leg side (wearing a very silly jumper)

Thunder Downunder: Last Hurrah

Glenn Quinlan — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:23:15 GMT

Obviously the crew at the Shed aren't the only souls upset at the closing of the Googly on the eve of the northern international summer. Sreesanth's pink Punjabi pyjamas has caused his feminine side to shine and upon hearing of the council decision to condemn, demolish and redevelop the dungeon he couldn't hold back the tears when his boyfriend told him the sad but inevitable news.

The Googly: the final countdown...

ShinyMedia — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:01:12 GMT

As you may have picked up from some previous posts by mimi and The Tooting Trumpet things here at The Googly are winding down as the blog heads into a state of temporary retirement at the end of April.

Allen Stanford: "Twenty20 could be bigger that football"

ShinyMedia — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:53:05 GMT

Allen Stanford is a very clever man, or at least I assume he is, as you don't become a multi-billionnaire if you have the brains of a Kookaburra bat. However, he has said some things today that make me question his intelligence, if not he sanity.

Best wishes to Googlyers

Gary Naylor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:56:16 GMT

Following Mimi yesterday, The Trumpet bids his readers a fond farewell on this St Georges Day. I owe great thanks to fellow scribblers, Mimi and Nestaquin, and, especially, our editor Lee Calvert, who gave me this opportunity in return for...

Cricket Snapshot: The glorious British Spring..

ShinyMedia — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:41:17 GMT

Really cheers you up, does it not?

IPL: Sehwag tonks 4 6 4 6 4 6 off Symonds

ShinyMedia — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:34:49 GMT

Grass roots cricket is the place to be

Clare A. — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:55:50 GMT

p> This is my farewell piece here for the Googly and it's hard to know where to begin or what to write. With only one piece left, I wondered whether to continue with the off-stage antics of Shane Warne - thinking the tram-crash fest in Melbourne last week - or whether to write about something closer to home.

I've chosen home because I'm sure you all know about the other thing! So last weekend I went to our season opener. A triangualar tournament of Twenty/20s between Lossie, Elgin and Fochabers. What a day to open the cricket season. Minus about 10, no-one there but me and the prettiest ground in the north-east looking dreadful because all the trees are still in full winter mode.

A ground that delights in being situated beside the Spey and lined on all sides by lovely trees was left looking like a 12 year-old's football playground at the side of the A96!

IPL first weekend verdict - still not as good as it thinks it is

ShinyMedia — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:37:38 GMT

So what are we to make of the first weekend of IPL action? I have been asked by a commenter on my Friday post if I have changed my mind about the league. The short answer is no.

Michael Vaughan wants to bat at three for entirely nonsensical reasons

ShinyMedia — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:30:23 GMT

Michael "Michael Vaughan" Vaughan is agitating for a shift in the batting order following his piss-poor 20.50 average in New Zealand. Apparently, it's because he was opening that he batted like he was wearing an eye-patch on both eyes, and he prefers batting and three, and Strauss likes opening. Problem solved. Or not.

Rob Key is back! and Adil Rashid gets some good news as well

ShinyMedia — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:18:10 GMT

King Cricket's chubby obsession, RWT Key, has started on the international comeback trail by getting himself named in the England Performance Squad. This means that the ECB can give him a contract at any time during the year, which is a possible double-edged sword for the big fella.

IPL Highlights: Chennai vs Punjab

ShinyMedia — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:05:59 GMT

IPL Hiighlights: Kolkata vs Bangalore.

ShinyMedia — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:03:10 GMT

Here it is, in all its McCullum bowler-mangling glory...

The IPL starts today, as I try to stifle a yawn..

ShinyMedia — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:12:32 GMT

There are a host of previews, match facts and profiles all over the cricket media - traditional and online, -regarding the Indian Premier League's first match today as Bangalore take on Kolkata.

Cricket Snapshot: The youngster

ShinyMedia — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:59:24 GMT

Lancashire's young prospect Oliver Newby displays a unique delivery stride. It didn't really help though as Surrey reached 537-5 at a packewd Oval (!), with centuries for Ramps, Butcher and Usman.

The Cricket Lexicon

ShinyMedia — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:15:00 GMT

More from the greatest book never written.

Harmison (n) - an item that looks like it should be the best thing you've ever owned, but constantly disappoints. "With it's limited battery life and poor 3G connection, this iPhone has turned out to be a complete harmison" Steve Jobs, 2007.

Michael Vaughan: "We all want to play in the IPL, and no-one, not even the ECB can stop us. Mwahahahahahaaaaaaa!"

ShinyMedia — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:05:04 GMT

The England captain Michael Vaughan has made it very clear that every player in the England set-up not only wants to play in the IPL, but will do in the next two years. It seems he is about as impressed with the ECB's new Twenty20 ideas as a newlywed groom whose wife has just passed out on the wedding night after too many Bacardi Breezers.

It's the Cold War all over again, but with cricket instead of nuclear bombs!

ShinyMedia — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:19:41 GMT

Two worlds collide, rival nations
It's a primitive clash, venting years of frustrations
Bravely we hope against all hope, there is so much at stake
Seems our freedom's up against the ropes
Does the crowd understand?
Is it a East vs. West, or man against man
Can any nation stand alone?

Never have more insightful words been spoken of the Iron Curtain than those above by Survivor in the epic Burning Heart. Now it seems the rubble of the great east-west divide that so dominated world politics (until some students got drunk and pulled a wall down in Germany) looks as though it is settling on cricket.

Quote of the Week: Steve Harmison

ShinyMedia — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:39:54 GMT

"We have a culture in England where we kick people when they are down. They like to have a pop at someone and at the minute it's my turn."

India vs South Africa: the standout performances

ShinyMedia — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:31:49 GMT

In case you hadn't noticed, this was uploaded by Yuvraj.

The VOTE! Are India moving into the elite?

ShinyMedia — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:25:50 GMT

With an eight-wicket thumping of SA in the third Test, are MS Dhoni's team finally showing the kind of mettle that can take India to the best side in the world?

West Indies rediscovering the "blackwash"?

ShinyMedia — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:15:21 GMT

Okay so it's only an ODI series, but it has been a very long time since West Indies were on the brink of a blackwash of any kind. After watching their games until very recently I had nothing but a hollow sense of regret and sadness for the Brazil of cricket - the team that is supposed to not only win, but win in a style that makes us gasp, makes us wish we were born in Antigua so we could be part of it, make us wince at the aplomb with which they dispatched their craft and their opposition.

Video: Chanderpaul's amazing finish to beat Sri Lanka

ShinyMedia — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:05:35 GMT

After the Windies innings had crumbled yesterday, they needed 10 from the last two ball. Step forward Shiv Chanderpaul - the rescue specialist. Innings round up here.