Adam Parore, ex-New Zealand cricketer, has come out today and said that Australia will be easier to beat than Sri Lanka. New Zealand did win all three matches in the Trans-Tasman Championship but that was an entirely different stage. A stage where only half the regular Australian team played as the rest caught a breather prior to the World Cup. This *is* the World Cup and I can assure you that things are drastically different than 2 months ago.

The funniest bit is that exactly a week ago Parore was writing that New Zealand needs to dodge Australia. So which is it Adam?

Screenshot from the New Zealand Herald.

Now Playing Worst To December [?]
by Sugarcult
on Palm Trees And Power Lines

I just made my Editorial Debut on The Corridor - a very successful cricket blog run by Englishman Will Luke who also happens to work for CricInfo. Pretty healthy company to have I might add.

I’ve been a frequent visitor there for quite a few months and have enjoyed skirmishes with a few of the resident poms and kiwi’s.

My debut can be read here: South Africa smash and grab

I’d like to offer much thanks to the owner Will, the other Australian writer Scott, and the many people who regularly visit the Corridor.

Enjoy!

Now Playing All the Same [?]
by Sick Puppies
on All the Same - Single

I have uploaded some new photos from our visit to the beach. We started out picking up crocodile jellies of unusual size; the second photo shows one that is only half-eaten. We switched to Jamba Juice Nerf Football, a terrific little thing that’s fun to throw with it’s twisty-curvy grip. The action shot of Nevan jumping off a rock wall and catching the pass mid-air is sensational. He made the grab. He’s a nutcase, always trying to do something to test his agility. Takes after his dad.

Shiloh and I then snapped some glamour shots for MySpace purposes and then moved to the beach to mess around in the sand and surf. Sort of. The surf wasn’t that great. And it’s cold this time of year.

Enjoy! http://www.mike250.com/gallery/v/year/2007/march/

Now Playing Savin’ Me [?]
by Nickelback
on All the Right Reasons

Who doesn’t miss the Calypso Kings of the 70’s and 80’s? Those somewhat high pitched squeals when all 11 players went up to celebrate a wicket. Tall lanky buggers all giving each other high-ten’s. They were brilliant, belligerent, astonishing; but don’t think for a second that they weren’t arrogant and did not strut their stuff. They did.

They they deserved to. They earned it and used it. You don’t think their whole aura and dominance weren’t used as a scare tactic? Those burning eyes, those snarls whenever things didn’t go their way; Holding, Roberts, Marshall, Garner, Ambrose. We loved it.

The West Indies were dominating because they had snarl. They were arrogant. They knew they were great and made sure you knew it. Australia are dominating because they are ruthless. They’re just fine with ending careers, thumping and making a mockery of bowlers and batsmen world over. They’re fine pointing out who they’re targeting pre-series and targeting them.

If you don’t feel like reading, skip down to the 7th paragraph to see my point.

Easily the most anticipated game of the World Cup to date occurred between Australia and South Africa on Saturday at St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. Current world rankings have South Africa at 1 and Australia at 2. A top of the Pool A table clash with more than just pride at stake, the opportunity to advance to the 2nd stage with a crucial 2 points head start. Australia are defending World Cup Champions and were initially favourites to win the whole thing.

Throughout January and February we smashed England and New Zealand into submission during our annual tri-nations ODI competition. Finishing the preliminaries with a record of 7-1 (having already whitewashed the Ashes, our priority, our number 1 goal) was pleasing to say the least. I would have forgiven Australia for taking a step back in the ODI’s, brought in some youngsters and played with the line-up a bit.