Seems that the supply for pink cricket grips is arriving in stores around about now. I’ve spotted some at Owzat-Cricket for the reasonable price of £3.49. I’ve used owzat before so I can recommend them as a shop, but I won’t be buying one, as I still think they look wrong!

Right, that’s the last word on this blog about pink cricket grips….. maybe…

I read a great interview / profile with Paul Nixon in the Sunday Times today, which they have also placed on their website. Paul Nixon Interview Here. Having read it, it gives a sense that he is one of the genuine guys who just goes out to play cricket to the best he can at any situation, and I think he comes really well out of it. I particularly like how he explains he isn’t a sledger. Apparently:

“I am not a sledger, I don’t do that. All I do is drip-feed negativity into a man’s brains. Whether you use physical stuff or technical stuff, you play with their minds.”

He he, negativity- sledging, its all the same if you ask me!

There are then some great examples he’s used in Australia in the winter about talking to Clarke and Symonds amongst others. It also explains how much of a nutter he seems with regards to training! It really is a great interview and I suggest you go and read it. Paul Nixon Interview Here

With the England team seemingly unsure about which wicket keeper to use at the moment, if Paul Nixon has a good world cup there should be no reason why he can’t continue in the role in the test matches this summer. There are plenty of candidates out there as I’ve explained before, particularly Matt Prior who has been scoring some good runs in the England ‘A’ Tour at the moment. But if ‘Nico’ is the one in possesion of the gloves, then he should be given the chance for the summer should he not?!

Think of the most ludicrous cricket result of recent times, and then think again. According to the coach of the Scottish side, they are planning to extend the Aussies losing streak by beating them in their first game in the world cup..

Please guys, I’m all for speaking confidently to try and help your sides motivation, but saying you’re going to beat what is still a strong Australian side with a bunch of amateurs… well if the players start to believe that then they could be in for a big big surprise.

Their coach said:

“”We don’t fear anyone at this World Cup. The last month’s fixtures in one-day cricket all over the world have been interesting to say the least and we won’t be losing any sleep over playing the world champions.”

You don’t fear anyone?! Please, stop, my sides are hurting!

Oh yeah, the coach of the Scottish side is actually Australian! Anyone think he’s just trying to make a name for himself so he can get a job in a proper cricketing country?!

With just over a month before the latest version of the brilliant Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 is released – I read this preview which will give you a taste of what to expect. They talk about the Xbox360 version, but it is relevant for PS2 owners as well. It certainly makes me want to play it now! Although real names do not exist in some of the areas on the game (licensing problems), you can still play in the official tournaments with all your favourite players!

I’ve loved the previous versions of this game, which is much better to play than EA Sports’ offering. Suffice to say, I’ll be pre-ordering this so that it arrives on my doorstep on release day. The best price I can find pre-ordering is with Game, who offer free delivery also. £39.99 on the Xbox 360 or £29.99 on the PS2.

And if you don’t want to buy it straight away, hopefully I’ll play it a bit and come back and tell you how brilliant it is again!

After Australia lost their fifth game out of six, they have finally been overtaken at the top of the one day rankings for the first time since they were introduced in 2002.

Australia are still favourites at the bookies to win the World Cup, and although they havn’t turned into a bad team overnight, it would take a brave gambler to put money on them at this point in time. Truth be told, they did well with the bat in the last game against NZ, but if you can’t defend 336 then surely something is wrong (apart from the shape and size of the ground at Auckland which looked tiny!)

South Africa will feel confident going into the world cup, and they are my tips to win it, but there are many sides that come the knockout stages could spring a surprise. One things for sure though, I’m really looking forward to it this year. All this watching cricket makes me want to start playing as well. Still, nets start in 10 days!

Well, my post earlier in the month about pink cricket grips got a fair bit of traffic – it seems that I don’t appreciate the craze though, everyone seems to want one!

I’m pretty sure that they only want them as they’ve seen them on the tele, as they still look stupid, but each to their own. Paul Collingwood it seems only put one on his bat to try and lose his bad run of form and it worked for him! Andrew Strauss was given some by his sponsor Gray Nicholls – the same people who sponsor Hayden and Symonds – and Colly took one of the spares and put it on his bat.

I believe that Gray Nicholls are bowing to public demand and releasing these properly – but don’t just go out and buy any grip as many people are making the most of the current demand! I will put out a post as soon as I find a reputable shop selling the proper pink grips for you all. The season isn’t starting just yet anyway so there is no rush!