Cricket this late in May just doesn't seem right. The last Test in 1999 finished on April 7, the last Test in 2003 finished on the May 13, yet here we are just about to start the first Test in 2008 on May 22. It's not the IPL's fault; that wasn't around when the scheduling was done. And I'm reasonably confident this tour is not an extension of last year's World Cup. Whatever the reason, I'm slightly addled by this late start. I suppose that's what cricket in the West Indies in May and June and matches starting at one in the morning can do to you.
Given the late starts, I won't be much of a presence around here during the wee hours, but if you are not also sanders lape then get stuck in. If the last two tours are anything to go by, there will be plenty of cricket to watch around breakfast time. My only concern are those dreaded hours between three and five when I often wake up anxious about the state of play, wondering whether I can resist the bloody temptation to come downstairs to watch the telly.
What do you reckon of our chances? Silly question. I know how notoriously edgy we are at the AGB, always looking for trouble. My brother recently said to me that he couldn't believe how pessimistic we are. I reminded him the Pat and Carrot are prone to bouts of optimism, but he looked skeptical. Plus, he's really just like the rest of us: old enough to remember the eighties and reluctant to revisit them. Still, nothing lasts forever, and with the retirements of McGrath, Gilchrist and especially Warne we can all smell the writing on the wall.
It's fortunate we are playing the Windies. No! Don't worry. I'm not going there. If we were playing a better side, say the Indians in India, I'd be very worried, but I haven't seen half the Windies players and am only moderately concerned about an ambush.
Ambushed by who? (I suppose that's an age-old military question.) With the four Windies quicks averaging in the low thirties at best, it's not exactly Holding, Garner, Ambrose and Marshall. And even though one of their spinners is called Juggernaut, we shouldn't have too much to fear from their tweakers.
Hopefully we are ready to bat. There's been a long layoff for some, T20 for others, and injuries and absentees have thrown the lineup around. From over here it doesn't seem like the best preparation. Katich, Jaques, Ponting, Hodge, Hussey, Symonds, Haddin is not the best ever lineup, either, but nor is it dreadful. Every one of those batsmen would have played a lot of Test cricket for other countries, and not just Bangladesh. Hopefully Ponting can get back into the runs.
As for our bowling. Lee was fabulous against the Shrees and India. Johnston was very good in patches. Clarke was down on pace but was still naggy. Roy can roll his arm over, but I hope he bowls mediums because his offies are rancid things. Although MacGill has been injured he can certainly bowl, and despite it being a long time ago, he was better than Warne in the West Indies in 1999. Warne only had one arm, though.
I just hope I don't wake up tomorrow with Straya all out for bugger all, or the Windies none for 300.