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The first Stanford 20/20 for $20 million match was emphatically won by the Stanford Superstars who fully deserved their win and prize money. By comparison England was a sorry sight and delivered a non performance that did not do themselves or the occasion justice.

The match has another four years to run on a five year contract so lessons must be learned from this year’s tournament. The team that represents England should follow the example of the Stanford Superstars team and mirror that set up in exactly the same way.

Instead of sending the England cricket team playing in official kit, a much better idea would be assembling an England Superstars team. This would be selected from the England one day side with specialists from the English twenty20 cricket scene. The England Superstars would also play in their own kit for the duration of the series.

Before the squad was selected for the Stanford series, there were numerous calls for certain players who have excelled in domestic twenty20 cricket to be included. These calls were ignored and instead players whose playing style is not conducive to this form of the game found themselves included instead.

The match itself should be treated as nothing more than entertainment. If the players are uneasy at the huge sum of money involved for the winner, they can always choose to make a sizable donation to charity if they prefer.

The Stanford series will never rival the Indian Premier League but it will revive the cricket scene in the West Indies region. It was not too long ago that the area provided some of the best players and teams the game has ever seen before it sadly fell into decline. This renewed interest in cricket brought about by Stanford can only be a positive thing for the sport itself.

For more articles related to cricket please visit Cricket Blog for the latest news and comment from the test, one day and twenty20 cricket scene.

The author is a vastly experienced writer and sports journalist with a keen interest in cricket, football, financial trading and sports investments you can see some more of his work by visiting Cricket Trading System where you will find some comprehensive cricket trading techniques for use on betfair.

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A golden cap might be more appealing than a baggy green one.

The Australian test squad has turned to choosing inexperienced players not properly tested at international level. However this apparent problem does not seem to be affecting the ODI or T20 sides. A trend appears to have emerged for players to look to the shorter forms of the game for representation, rather than the traditional centrepiece of international cricket, test cricket.

The emergence of cricketers such as Australia’s new T20 ‘sensation’ David Warner is clear evidence of a trend that is affecting Australia’s cricketing landscape. The ‘Rock and Roll’ nature of the shorter forms of the game are incredibly alluring for young sportsmen, and this is certainly having an effect on the amount of players concentrating on this form of the game. It wasn’t that long ago that the first split between test and ODI players began to take place.

Following the initial split in the World Series Cricket the national teams merged, until ODI specialists such as Michael Bevan emerged. These days it is not unusual for almost the entire team to be changed depending on the format. As a result certain players are realising that if they focus on one particular format they are more likely to be picked.

ODI specialists in the current set-up include the likes of Cameron White, Dave Hussey, Luke Ronchi and Nathan Bracken. Bracken is perhaps the most interesting of these examples. He is currently the leading ODI bowler in the ICC rankings and has 142 ODI wickets at a tick over 21. However he has only represented Australia at test level 5 times. There is no doubt that certain players benefit from focusing their attention on one form. Of course the other factor in this equation is the fact that a player’s likelihood of making a career out of cricket is greatly advanced by steering their skills into the limited overs versions of the game.

As we have seen recently, test selectors are loathe to regularly changing the test squad. Players are given often far too long to show themselves, a trait that is not found in ODI or T20 formats. Therefore, as an emerging star one would assume that the shorter forms are more likely to provide an opportunity for regular income.

Further to this is of course the T20 phenomenon. Players such as a David Warner or perhaps a Shaun Tait are now seen as predominantly T20 players, and thus are likely to garner much interest in the IPL and ICL auctions. These competitions mean big dollars, far greater than a State or English County contract.

The results of these shifts in cricket are already becoming clear in the availability of quality players in the respective national squads. The test team has looked very light on in quality depth. However, the ODI and T20 squads are brim full of players immediately suited to the bash and crash style of play. Warner and Tait have already been mentioned, but throw in Bracken, Hilfenhaus, Shaun Marsh and State players in waiting Michael Klinger and Chris Rogers, and you can see a trend emerging. I’m not sure if any of these players, perhaps Hilfenhaus excluded, would seriously be threatening a test place at this stage, however they are already experienced Australian representatives in the limited overs forms.

The ‘Baggy Green’ is seen as the Holy Grail, but the ‘Golden Cap’ is emerging as just that…a snug fitting Golden cash cow.

David Siddall is a cricket and sports writer who is planning the demise of the Australian Test team in the upcoming Ashes Series. For more cricket articles and compelling content go to World Cricket Watch.

http://www.worldcricketwatch.com

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Indian tail enders holding up

Zaheer Khan is keeping things tight at the moment. He got to his 50, but Anil Kumble has now been adjudged LBW. Shane Watson confidence is up. The Aussie bowlers are toiling this morning, lets see how long it will be before the last wicket is down.

Indian innings come to a close

Finally the Australian bowlers finished off the Indians for 360 as the Aussies head into their second innings with a lead of 70.

A fantastic performance by Zaheer Khan, after claiming 5 wickets, top scored for the Indians with 57 not out. This is his second best batting performance.

Ponting may be disappointed with such a slender lead. Some are predicting due to the conditions of the one year old pitch at Bangalore, Australia’s second innings might not exceed 200.

An exciting start as Zaheer Khan is getting the new ball to move.

At lunch Australia has the upper hand

Australia declared their second innings at 228 for six and with a first innings lead of 70, set the Indians a target of 299.

There are only two possible outcomes for this match and the Aussies are determined to win. The Indians on the other hand will have to rally to secure a draw.

Well the Aussies can smell victory as India heads into lunch at 41 for two.

Number two bowler in the world Stuart Clarke, paved the course for an Aussie win, when he dismissed Virender Sehwag for 6. Ricky Ponting took a magnificent catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Rahul Dravid for 5 of Lee.

The Indians need a miracle to win this one.

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