UNINTERESTING CLASHES

I haven't blogged for more than a week. Since then, Bangladesh have begun the international part of their English summer, West Indies have lost once again to South Africa in an ODI and an ODI series, and India has been humbled by Zimbabwe in their first meeting in years.

The West Indies - South Africa ODI didn't produce much to write about... as has been the case with that entire series so far. And despite Zimbabwe's shocking win over India at Bulawayo, that match also did not have too many critical game-changing moments. In fact, the most surprising aspect of that match was the clinical and efficient way in which Zimbabwe chased a stiff target of 286. India may have fielded a completely new triple-pace attack... but that is no excuse for allowing a chase of 286 with 10 balls to spare.

Bangladesh had a horrible Day 1 at Lord's with Johnathon Trott (another South African!?) registering his personal best score. They came back with their performance on Day 2... dismissing Trott for 226 and England for 505. But what would have pleased them the most was their batting performance where they reached the end of day's play with just 2 wickets down.

Though Bangladesh are 237 for 7 currently with bad light having suspended play and look close to being bundled out for a sub-300 score yet again, one has to take note of the progress that they have made in their cricket over the past few years... certainly since their last visit to Lord's.

Yesterday was a good day for the minnows... Zimbabwe and Bangladesh (with West Indies as a noted exception). Tomorrow, as India takes on a new-look Sri Lanka in another uninteresting clash, I'd rather place my attention once again on the England - Bangladesh Test... if not the Turkish Grand Prix or French Open Grand Slam Tennis!