The associate and affiliate cricket podcast is an attempt to expand coverage of associate tournaments by obtaining local knowledge of the relevant nations. If you have or intend to go to a tournament at associate level - men's women's, ICC, unaffiliated - then please get in touch in the comments or by email.

Andrew Nixon (@andrewnixon79) joins me for a packed news show. We discuss the fall-out from World Cricket League Division Three, the Dutch tour of Namibia and the U-19 World Cup qualifiers in Asia. In the news: we overview the start of the European season, Afghanistan's bid for associate status and the USYCA's choice of affiliation.

Direct Download Running Time 40min. Music from Martin Solveig, "Big in Japan"

Idle Summers 19th May, 2013 00:19:24   [#] [0 comments] 

2nd Test	Zimbabwe	v	Bangladesh
Pre-rating	554.9		598.9
Form	-17.1		-10.3
Expected Margin	Zimbabwe by 28 runs
Actual Margin	Bangladesh by 143 runs
Post-rating	546.0		604.6
Series rating	671.3		479.3

After a dominant win in the first game, the (relative) strength of Bangladesh's middle order came to the fore, with Shakib, Mushfiqur and Nasir Hossain each scoring two fifties in the match; while Robiul Islam continued his fine tour, taking 5/85 in the first innings. Zimbabwe only saw two contributions of note, 87 from Chingumbura and 110* from Hamilton Masakadza, leaving them 143 runs short. Nevertheless, they had the best of the two games overall and will be pleased to have recorded victories against a side that is on a (slow) upswing themselves. Brendan Taylor remains their only batsman of real class, but there is some talent in the bowling, and they are young. If they could only lower themselves to playing weaker opposition in order to get out on the park more often, we might see some of that talent develop.

2 Tests	England	v	New Zealand
Pre-rating	1220.4		871.8
Form	-15.2		+13.2
Expected Margin	England by 224 runs

England generally play well in New Zealand, and the lack of a positive result - unless escaping with a drawn series when deserving of a loss counts as a positive - was both a surprise and a potential sign of trouble in what remains a new era. Pietersen was missed, as perhaps, was Strauss's influence, even if his batting was well covered. Swann will return for this series, but otherwise England remain a slightly raw side, with a bowling lineup that has very good days, but a fair share of middling ones.

New Zealand have a young and promising bowling attack that allows them the opportunity to win if the batting can score enough runs. They did so at home, but, notwithstanding the similarity in conditions, it would be a real surprise if they can produce the same performance in England. A rain-induced draw, or an English victory by 9 wickets - as predicted - ought to be within their grasp though.

Ultimately, England survived the New Zealand leg because their batting depth makes them a hard side to bowl out. If the rain stays away, the sort of low-scoring early-summer series normally served up in May means this might again be a crucial factor. New Zealand have some decent batsmen of their own down the order and if we are lucky we'll see a pair of teams willing to scrap for small advantages.

Rankings at 16th May 2013
1.	South Africa	1324.6
2.	England	1220.4
3.	Pakistan	1120.9
4.	Australia	1110.0
5.	India	1096.3
6.	Sri Lanka	997.9
7.	West Indies	963.8
8.	New Zealand	871.8
9.	Bangladesh	604.6
11.	Zimbabwe	546.0
10.	Ireland	547.7
12.	Afghanistan	545.5
13.	Scotland	427.4
14.	Namibia	423.8
15.	Kenya	298.3
16.	U.A.E.	228.8
17.	Netherlands	208.7
18.	Canada	141.3

Shaded teams have played fewer than 2 games per season. Non-test team ratings are not comparable to test ratings as they don't play each other.

Idle Summers 16th May, 2013 21:20:37   [#] [0 comments] 

Like a Torch; City Square. Taken May 2013

Melbourne Town 16th May, 2013 20:28:10   [#] [0 comments] 

The associate and affiliate cricket podcast is an attempt to expand coverage of associate tournaments by obtaining local knowledge of the relevant nations. If you have or intend to go to a tournament at associate level - men's women's, ICC, unaffiliated - then please get in touch in the comments or by email.

Deutsche Welle journalist and Cricket Germany batsman, Andre Leslie (@andreleslie) joins Andrew Nixon (@andrewnixon79) and myself. We talk about the World Cricket League Division Seven, cricket development in Germany, particularly the difficult aim of promoting cricket in the local media, and discuss his hopes for European Division One in July. In the news: we note the proliferation of tours to full member nations, and chat about the distribution of TAPP funding and ICC priorities.

Direct Download Running Time 41min. Music from Martin Solveig, "Big in Japan"

Idle Summers 25th April, 2013 00:24:11   [#] [2 comments] 

1st Test	Zimbabwe	v	Bangladesh
Pre-rating	539.6		607.6
Form	-17.9		-9.4
Expected Margin	Zimbabwe by 16 runs
Actual Margin	Zimbabwe by 335 runs
Post-rating	554.9		598.9

In many sports, as you mature as a player, you realise that the way to win is not to beat them, but to let them beat themselves. And vice versa. Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh two years ago by grinding them down - they played a competitive match against Pakistan doing the same. Led by Brendan Taylor's 171 (324) and 102* (146) they worked up a competitive but not great score. They lacked that bowling on the second day, conceding 1/95 off 25 overs. But Jarvis 4/40 and Masakadza 4/32 destroyed Bangladesh on the third morning, taking a scarcely credible 9/32. From there, notwithstanding concerns about Bangladesh's recent batting efforts, a win was inevitable. Bangladesh again failed to produce even a half-way respectable total. They are better than that, even in unfamiliar conditions, and need to find a workable approach in the few days available to them. For Zimbabwe, a welcome win after successive slips in their ranking, and a very comprehensive one that wil give them a lot of confidence.

I-Cup Match	Namibia	v	Netherlands
Pre-rating	425. 3		206.9
Form	+30.1		-2.0
Expected Margin	Namibia by 109 runs
Actual Margin	Namibia by 82 runs
Post-rating	423.8		208.7

A evenly poised match throughout, only, finally, going the way of the home side when Tom Cooper was dismissed just after tea on the final day. The Netherlands went into the match needing to win and got a nearly perfect start; ven der Gugten (7/68) taking out the top order. Namibia swung the game back their way via van Schoor (110) and Burger (71) but lost late wickets and made only 276. Netherlands, by contrast, started very well, reaching 1/157 (Cooper 83) before a slow-motion collapse left them 14 runs short with only one wicket in hand. The final pair put together 31 to take first innings points, but Namibia kept coming. The depth in their batting - they carry seven or more all-rounders into many games - meant that even though Baard top-scored with only 85, they still worked their way to 336, a defendable total, with a day to play. Cooper (109) was again the best player, but he had little support and Scholtz 5/58 became the decisive and final contribution in the match. The win means Namibia are well placed to make the final, with a game against Afghanistan providing the perfect opportunity to move into second. Netherlands can, in theory, still make the final, but would require everything to fall their way. With direct world cup qualification a real possibility their focus will rightly be on those four matches.

Rankings at 24th April 2013
1.	South Africa	1324.6
2.	England	1220.4
3.	Pakistan	1120.9
4.	Australia	1110.0
5.	India	1096.3
6.	Sri Lanka	997.9
7.	West Indies	963.8
8.	New Zealand	871.8
9.	Bangladesh	598.9
12.	Zimbabwe	554.9
10.	Ireland	547.7
11.	Afghanistan	545.5
13.	Scotland	427.4
14.	Namibia	423.8
15.	Kenya	298.3
16.	U.A.E.	228.8
17.	Netherlands	208.7
18.	Canada	141.3

Shaded teams have played fewer than 2 games per season. Non-test team ratings are not comparable to test ratings as they don't play each other.

Idle Summers 24th April, 2013 02:22:49   [#] [0 comments]