February 2009

Live Cricket Blog: West Indies v England Day Three

Ed Hawkins / 28 February 2009 / Leave a comment

After England's batsmen posted a massive first-innings score yesterday, can the bowlers press home their advantage? Ed Hawkins is in place to bring you the action as it happens......Read more »

Live Cricket Blog: West Indies v England Day Two

Ed Hawkins / 27 February 2009 / Leave a comment

It was very much England's day yesterday with heavy scoring by centurion Andrew Strauss and opening partner Alastair Cook. KP will try to build on this lead, Strauss will have a good think about when to declare and Ed Hawkins...Read more »

Cricket Bets: The most bizarre Test matches in history

Andrew Hughes / 26 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Those who witnessed the second Test between the West Indies and England being abandoned two weeks ago may think that was the only time in Test history it's happened; they'd be wrong. Andrew Hughes talks us through the most bizarre...Read more »

Live Cricket Blog: West Indies v England Day One

Ed Hawkins / 26 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Fidel Edwards and Daren Powell saved the last Test in the "darkness" and secured a draw but it's a new Test and a new chance for England to win, even though they are without Andrew Flintoff. England have won the...Read more »

Flintoff is as good as anyone in the world with the ball, says Paul Nixon

Ralph Ellis / 26 February 2009 / Leave a comment

As Matt Prior and now Tim Ambrose share wicket-keeping duties out in the West Indies, betting.betfair.com caught up with another in the form of Paul Nixon to talk declarations, Andrew Flintoff and doing your bit for charity....Read more »

Test Match Betting: South Africa v Australia First Test

Andrew Hughes / 25 February 2009 / Leave a comment

There's no doubt in Andrew Hughes' mind as to who is the better team here and the betting agrees with him. The First Test is at The Wanderers in Johannesburg, a venue that very often tends to produce a result...Read more »

Matt Prior: Being a good husband and father...and being England's wicket-keeper

Ralph Ellis / 24 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Ralph Ellis is all for the "new man" concept but wonders whether on this occasion Matt Prior shouldn't be behind the stumps in the West Indies rather than by his baby's cot......Read more »

Test Match Betting: West Indies v England Fourth Test

Ed Hawkins / 24 February 2009 / Leave a comment

England will feel more like the last Test was lost than drawn and the question is how they will now recover from it. Ed Hawkins talks us through the stats and the betting....Read more »

Allen Stanford: Giles Clarke is no more guilty of being conned by Stanford than anyone else

Frank Gregan / 23 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Frank Gregan wonders whether the Stanford debacle hasn't inadvertently helped to conceal the fact that the England cricket team isn't that good. And those jumping on the bandwagon in pointing their finger at Giles Clarke should remember that the ECB...Read more »

Live Test Match Blog: West Indies v England, 3rd Test, day five

Ed Hawkins / 19 February 2009 / 1 Comments

Good news for England: they have a whole day to take seven wickets and that doesn't include Chris Gayle who is out. Bad news for England: Chanderpaul and Sarwan are at the crease and Flintoff probably won't bowl. Ed Hawkins...Read more »

County Cricket Betting: The retirements, the returns and the resilient Chanderpaul

Andrew Hughes / 19 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Since Durham celebrated their first ever win in the County Championship a lot has happened in the world of county cricket including the retirements of Graeme Hick and Darren Gough and the appointment of Peter Moores as Lancashire coach. Andrew...Read more »

Suffering Windies may be lambs to the slaughter

Ralph Ellis / 19 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Stanford disaster has affected some of the West Indian squad directly and England look likely to profit, says Ralph Ellis....Read more »

Live Test Match Blog: West Indies v England, 3rd Test, day four

Ed Hawkins / 18 February 2009 / 2 Comments

Yesterday was all about England spinner Graeme Swann, who took 5-57 to put England in a commanding position. Andrew Strauss chose not to enforce the follow-on and will aim to score quickly to ensure his side have plenty of time...Read more »

Live Test Match Blog: West Indies v England, 3rd Test, day three

Ed Hawkins / 17 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Centuries from Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss have put England firmly in the driving seat but they will have to work hard for wickets on what is clearly a good batting pitch. Ed Hawkins reports live from the ground....Read more »

Cricket Betting: The Bell tolls for Ian but he can have no complaints

Andrew Hughes / 17 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Andrew Hughes humbly admits to have been wrong about Ian Bell, who despite huge potential and flawless technique just hasn't stepped up to the plate since being given an extended run in the team. We have all been guilty of...Read more »

Live Test Match Blog: West Indies v England, 3rd Test, day two

Ed Hawkins / 16 February 2009 / 2 Comments

Ed Hawkins was stationed in the Recreation Ground stands to keep you updated on the second day of action in Antigua......Read more »

Cricket Betting: Insipid Windies attack there for the taking

Frank Gregan / 16 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Sir Viv Richards' West Indies team terrified opposition with a combination of superb batting and devastating bowling and the great man deserves a more fitting monument than a stadium built on sand, says Frank Gregan....Read more »

3rd Test Match Live Blog: England v West Indies

Ed Hawkins / 15 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Andrew Strauss has just scored his second century against the West Indies to put England in a commanding position on day one of the Third Test. Betting.betfair.com's Ed Hawkins got the short straw of having to fly out to the...Read more »

West Indies v England 2nd Test Betting: England arrive in their own "hell"

Ed Hawkins / 13 February 2009 / 1 Comments

Ed Hawkins tells us why Antigua is most people's idea of heaven but the England cricket team's idea of hell, as Andrew Strauss' side attempt to recover from their First Test thrashing....Read more »

Cricket Betting: Player referrals will change the game forever

Andrew Hughes / 11 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Being on the wrong end of a dodgy decision is annoying but do the ICC need to turn cricket on its head by emasculating umpires? If players are happy for the men in the middle to make the calls then...Read more »

Cricket Betting: Now is not the time for change

Ralph Ellis / 10 February 2009 / Leave a comment

England's crisis has come about because of a lack of leadership and instability so the selectors must stick by Andrew Strauss, says Ralph Ellis....Read more »

IPL Auction: Shrewd business makes for intriguing contest

Andrew Hughes / 08 February 2009 / Leave a comment

From the high-profile auction to the moment the winning runs are hit, the IPL is a glamorous celebrity event and masterpiece of marketing which has captured the imagination of the cricket world. Andrew Hughes reports on this year's bidding wars......Read more »

Cricket Betting: 'England heads must roll'

Frank Gregan / 08 February 2009 / Leave a comment

A furious Frank Gregan offers a novel approach to dealing with the England cricket team after their humiliation against the West Indies....Read more »

West Indies v England Live Blog: How the collapsed happened

Ed Hawkins / 07 February 2009 / 1 Comments

England crashed to a humiliating defeat in the first test against the West Indies and, as ever, Ed Hawkins was on hand to bring you the action as it happened. Read how the sorry tale unfolded......Read more »

West Indies v England Live Blog: Day Three

Ed Hawkins / 06 February 2009 / 1 Comments

West Indies were short odds-on shots to take a first innings lead on day three of the 1st Test and they managed it. Read how they did so with Ed Hawkins and join him on day four for more in-running...Read more »

West Indies v England Live Blog: Day two

Ed Hawkins / 05 February 2009 / Leave a comment

West Indies closed day two in Jamaica 158 runs behind England with nine wickets in hand. Here is how Betfair blogger Ed Hawkins saw it and don't forget he'll be back from 3pm for the day three action......Read more »

West Indies v England Live Blog: Day one

Ed Hawkins / 04 February 2009 / 1 Comments

It's day one of the first Test in Kingston and Ed Hawkins is on hand to bring us live updates as Andrew Strauss bids to get his tenure as England captain off to a winning start. You can email Ed...Read more »

Sri Lanka Cricket: M&M partnership of Murali and Mendis is one of the sweetest ever

Andrew Hughes / 04 February 2009 / Leave a comment

The deadly Sri Lankan M&M spinning partnership is creating terror amongst the world's greatest batsmen. The arrival of Mendis is a huge breath of fresh air to spin bowling and may just give Murali a new lease of life says...Read more »

The Betfair Contrarian: Why England won't win the Test Series against the Windies

The Betfair Contrarian / 03 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Having predicted the demise of England against the Stanford Superstars in the Stanford Twenty for 20, the Betfair Contrarian is back on cricket duty and confident that England won't get much change out of the West Indies either, in the...Read more »

West Indies v England 1st Test: Poor pitch, poor sides but then there's Chanderpaul...

Ed Hawkins / 03 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Ed Hawkins looks ahead to the First Test at Sabina Park and a pitch that promises to deteriorate. Neither of the sides is necesssarily to be trusted with your money but one man you can trust to score heavily is...Read more »

Cricket Betting: England's confidence is misplaced

Frank Gregan / 02 February 2009 / Leave a comment

As you gaze out of your office window upon a winter wonderland, spare a thought for the poor souls who make up the "Barmy Army," says Frank Gregan....Read more »

Test Match Betting: Harmison the player, Harmison the man

Andrew Hughes / 02 February 2009 / Leave a comment

On his day Steve Harmison is one of the most lethal fast bowlers in the world. On another day his line and length is erratic, his head drops and he's a liability. Andrew Hughes looks at the reasons behind Harmy's...Read more »