Politics and Cricket: Separate or not?

[Beny]

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/...361361,00.html

To report cricket these days, it is becoming increasingly desirable to possess degrees in law, politics and economics. A smattering of knowledge about the game, which allows the correspondent to differentiate between the leg-spinner and the googly, is now an optional extra.

[Zainub]

I'm disapointed , Simon Jones should have played instead of Alex Wharf.

England bowled alright, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 195, Goughie took 3 wickets, Giles and Whard 2 a piece, Anderson 1, and a couple of others were run out. Elton Chigumbara top scored with an entertaining 52 of 56 balls before holding out to Collingwood off the bowling of Jimmy Anderosn. Dion Ebrahim was second best with 45 of 125 balls before being bowled off the pad off the bowling of Ashley Giles.

In reply England have so far progressed to 23/1 in 7 overs. Vikram Solanki was the man out caught by Panyangara off the bowling of Doughlas Hondo. Bell is not 10, and Vaughan has just got off the mark

[Mike_Hock]

I agree, I would have liked to have seen Jones given a game as he needs as much cricket as poss if he is going to feature in SA.

Bit of a loose shot by Solanki by all accounts. Can't see him getting many more chances if the likes of Bell Peitersen and Prior get scores on this tour.

[Zainub]

I'm not a big Solanki fan, so I always think my opinion of him is biased, but there you go again...he's made 7 and got out.

England going a bit slowly though 49/1 in 14 overs.

[Zainub]

England are closing in on victory. They are currently 158-3, Vaughan was eventually out for 56, Bell is not 68 and Pieterson has just got going with 4 runs to his name, at drinks England require another 38 runs with 7 wickets and 13.0 overs remaining...shouldn't be a problem.

Good positive sign that Bell has got some runs.

[Zainub]

Bell moves on to 75, 26 more to win, if he and Pieterson can calculate things out sensibly, Bell could get a 100 on debut here...

[Zainub]

Wasn't to be, Bell stayed on 75, was caught behind of Taylor. England lost a wicket after that Collingwood needlessly run out for 1, but England still cruised to a comprehensive win by 5 wickets in 47.4 overs. Pieterson finished not out on a well made 27 and accompanying him was Geriant Jones who made 6.

Disapointed to see the low level of interest in this game, I know that a lot of you think this tour shouldn't have taken place, and that's alright if you want to think that but the fact is that now England are there and playing a few games of cricket, they should be supported, Zimbabwe were, there was a decent crowd that came into watch the match, and the atmosphere was aliright too.

[R W S]

Good to hear that a cricket match was played today without any reported 'off field' problems. I've just seen Solaki's dismissal on SkysportsExtra - ugly, he played one of those 'inside out' shots and shovelled a simple catch to mid off. Bell played well for his 75 - although again his dismissal was lazy, a tired attempt at a late cut straight into Taibu's gloves. Collingwood's run out was unecessary.

Our natralised South African got off to a steady if unspectacular start to his international career and scored the winning runs.

After all the shenanigans of recent days this was about as good a performance as we were entitled to expect. Three more to go and then we can put the whole sorry saga behind us (for a while at least).

M***** was nearly 300 km away in Bulawayo. I hope he stays away from the cricket.

[Zainub]

About Solanki, I can't help say enough I'm not the biggest of his fans, but he's just one of those player, you know, that kind that when they're on they really are entertaining to watch, and they win you games, but when they're not, they look horrible and all those technical defecencies start becoming visible.

My problem with Solanki hasn't been about technique really, I just think he's too, well, too much of a mixed bag player, and at times his shot selection can be woeful. He's improved just slightly in that respect, but he's still too much a hit or miss player for my liking, and I would have never had him in my squad in the first palce, not the least with so many other talented young players all waiting to have a go. I can't see Solanki being a part of England's 2007 world cup squad, I just can't.

[Beny]

Slightly off topic here!!