tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76148517281599893412024-03-19T23:25:41.041+11:00Recess timeJust like recess at school this Recess will largely be taken up with sport (cricket), with the occasional discussion about TV, Movies, Politics, Faith and other random topics. So welcome to the various ramblings from the recesses of Rhys S's mind.
If you want a shorter and more frequent peek into these recesses, check out @Recess75 on Twitter.recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-73849692989543346552015-06-29T07:34:00.001+10:002015-06-29T07:35:45.403+10:00Ashes 2015: Aussie selection questionsIt is almost time again for the Ashes. Yes, hard to believe, but due to the importance of England's preparation for the recent World Cup (which they still bowed out of early), the schedule has been rejigged to give us our third Ashes series in just over two years. The Aussies go in as theoretical favourites, but have an ageing team that has not travelled well in recent years. recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-6876717453513027052014-07-21T07:20:00.001+10:002014-07-21T21:50:47.412+10:00South Africa's tainted win.The record books will show that yesterday South Africa pulled off a rare win in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, the history books will record a tainted, controversial win. South Africa set up the win with a burst of wickets in the third session of the third day, with Steyn leading the way. After play that day, Philander was charged with, and pleaded no contest to, ball tampering in recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-87887426349589641412014-06-25T19:15:00.001+10:002014-06-25T21:27:10.615+10:00Prior cannot do it aloneDear ECB/England selectors,You may have noticed that England are not doing so well after a prolonged relatively good period extending from about 2005. As a concerned cricket fan, I would like to help you out with your selections for the India tour, since you seem to have made so many bad choices recently. The main issue I want to point out is that you are expecting far too much of recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-81064885041211779502014-06-12T09:07:00.000+10:002014-06-12T09:07:10.426+10:00Mankad sins:the Senanayake controversy.
Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake committed the ultimate in cricket sins in the match against England on Tuesday. Ever since he "Mankaded" Jos Buttler, controversy has raged. However his sin was committed two overs earlier.
Imagine if you will the following circumstance: the bowler bowls, the non-striker starts to head down the pitch, the batsman hits it recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-53188766367160753182014-03-14T17:07:00.001+11:002014-03-14T22:06:08.177+11:00Let's replace T20 with S7Looking at the scores for the last two international matches I had a great idea. England and the Windies scored about 330 runs in a T20 over night. Just before that the Aussies and the Proteas scored almost half of that in a "S7"- a T20 shortened by rain to a 1 hour slog-fest. A match about 1/3 the length resulted in about half the runs. Perhaps we need to move to S7 recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-83302738849057081142014-03-04T16:10:00.001+11:002014-03-04T17:24:14.272+11:00SAvAUS 2014: Ghost of Cricket PastAs the teams take the field for the fourth day at Newlands, one of them will be haunted by the Ghost of Cricket Past. Or perhaps more accurately, the Ghosts of Cricket Matches Past. The first such ghost will be the last Newlands test between these two nations. Captain Clarke score a 150 that most who saw it agree was his best innings to that date, one of his best ever. recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-13484090954046757002014-03-02T16:12:00.001+11:002014-03-03T07:34:38.246+11:00SAvAUS 2014: Newlands day 1On the first day of the final test, Warner's bat proved to be more eloquent than, if just as belligerent as, his tongue. His century in double quick time finally gave him significant first innings runs after more than a year of being largely a second inning specialist. It also gave Australia the ascendency in The Decider, as this test is being called. Clarke started the good dayrecess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-88104503929154016712014-03-01T10:50:00.001+11:002014-03-01T10:51:45.404+11:00SAvAUS 2014: Third Test Preview (plus)Well it is time for the last match of the series: the decider. The South Africans bounced back in PE, as only they could. Steyn lifted that little notch from almost-at-his-best to at-his-best, Morkel did his best Johnson impression (WWJD- what should Johnson do) and the Australian batting showed just how brittle it was- 10 wickets for under 100 (if you ignore the runs from the openingrecess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-69105849664028920732014-02-22T08:01:00.001+11:002014-02-22T08:19:25.412+11:00SAvAUS 2014: Wrong, againWrong, againIt seems that cricket is determined to prove me wrong this last couple of weeks. It started when I felt that the Aussies couldn't keep up their dominant displays against a team of the quality of South Africa. I even tipped South Africa to take a close series when I did the series preview. Then Centurian happened. The best team in the world was blown away by Mitchell recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-10355551295317136692014-02-16T10:46:00.001+11:002014-02-16T14:10:36.250+11:00SAvAUS 2014: Centurion WrapIn my series preview, I noted that it was hard to tell where the Australians were in the world pecking order. After all, they had only played the English since their resurgence: an English team that has lost Trott, Swann, Prior, KP and their coach in the last few months. While this was seen as a consequence of Australia's dominance, the loss of both players and matches could have beenrecess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-44014282945537617802014-02-15T10:43:00.001+11:002014-02-15T10:43:53.565+11:00SAvAUS 2014: Smith, Warner and the NSP
Another good day for the Aussies, led by Johnson, Doolan and Warner. De Villiers did well again before falling to Johnson while trying to push the pace as he ran out of partners. However the only other highlight for the Proteas was the opening spell by Steyn, in which he dismissed Rogers and looked threatening. Their fielding was well below par - to give Warner one life is badrecess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-27947414245013152592014-02-14T16:57:00.000+11:002014-02-14T16:57:07.472+11:00SAvAUS 2014: Smith, Lyon and Johnson
Day two was a day of wickets. In a day shortened by a storm, 12 wickets fell, all within the space of 192 runs (from first wicket to last). Steyn ended up with four for the innings, a very good return for someone who was sick for much of the first day. De Villiers also rates a mention as the only batsman to look really comfortable on a pitch where batting seemed a bit of a recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-43166114007353596932014-02-13T16:27:00.001+11:002014-02-13T18:38:48.306+11:00SAvAUS 2014: The Rise of SmithShaun Marsh is, rightfully, getting a lot of plaudits for the first day of the test at Centurian. However it is Smith's performance that is really pleasing. For the third time in four tests Smith has put together a good first innings score, each time having come in with Australia in a bit of trouble. If he can get another nine runs today, it would be his third century in those recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-62695977979452833092014-02-11T09:02:00.002+11:002014-02-12T20:29:04.009+11:00SAvAus 2014 series preview
Another Australian international cricket summer has finished and the focus shifts to South Africa. England have headed home with very little to cheer about. The Aussies are riding high having won all three formats convincingly, and are set to take on the top nation over the next few weeks. The recent win by New Zealand over India puts Australia very near if not actually in therecess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-6808265577349519382014-01-07T16:41:00.001+11:002014-01-07T16:41:42.731+11:00English Report Card
(For the Aussie Report Card click here)
It is hard to say where it all went wrong for England. They have been outplayed in every area of the game. Their batsmen scored a thousand less runs than the Aussies (2158 vs 3189 including extras). Their bowlers took 23 fewer wickets (77 vs 100 including runouts), and they only took 20 wickets in Sydney where the Aussies were recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-89677962838439971152014-01-06T10:55:00.001+11:002014-01-06T13:17:41.837+11:00Aussie Report card
The Aussies have made a clean sweep: 5-0. It was against the prevailing wisdom, and against the result of the last series only a few months earlier. It was not just the wins, but the extent of the wins. The closest match was won by 150 runs after the Aussies declared at the end of an over in which Bailey equalled the record for the most runs in an over (28). Then there recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-24335456943357031082014-01-03T06:14:00.001+11:002014-01-03T06:50:32.559+11:00Sydney test previewThe Aussies are trying for a clean sweep- the second in three home Ashes and only third 5-0 scoreline in Ashes history-, and to jump to number three in the world. The English are playing for pride and to keep the third place on the test rankings (for which they need a win here). So a quick look at the teams:AustraliaOnly a couple of injury worries would see the team change. recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-19308996980558831832013-12-24T11:48:00.000+11:002013-12-24T11:48:52.645+11:00Boxing Day Preview
The Ashes are over for this edition, England has handed them over. However, try telling the packed house at the MCG on Boxing Day that this is a dead rubber. So what should the two teams look like going into this match?
The Aussies
The Aussies are unlikely to change a winning formula, unless there is an injury. Gone is the rotation policy that might have cost Harris a recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-73714791199696237462013-12-22T14:57:00.000+11:002013-12-22T14:57:38.515+11:00Swann Dive
It must have been a while since a concerted effort to hit a top class bowler out of an attack has been this successful. There has been an unmistakable aggression from the Aussie batsmen as they have taken on Swann. And now three tests later, he is not only out of the attack, he is out of cricket, announcing his immediate retirement in the middle of a series. The Aussie team recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-22901908978113104602013-12-18T22:40:00.000+11:002013-12-18T22:40:03.620+11:00Big Mitch's henchmen
I made a comment in an earlier blog post that the difference between the sides was Mitchell Johnson. In many ways I stand by that comment. His batting in the first innings in Brisbane was a key, almost as much as his bowling in the first three innings of the series. However he did not win the Ashes alone. He had help. In particular he had two henchmen that recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-11580285142052423952013-12-11T07:03:00.000+11:002013-12-11T07:03:47.670+11:00Don't be fooled
The Aussies are 2-0 up, and in the box seat to regain the Ashes. England have been pulled apart for a combined loss of 599 runs. Given that Perth has been Mitchell Johnson's favourite ground over the years, it is not inconceivable that the urn could return to Australia in the next week. It is not impossible, however unlikely, that 5-0 could be the score line at the end of the recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-34950752136950983322013-12-07T10:09:00.001+11:002013-12-07T10:15:43.837+11:00Cricket PessimistNormally an mild optimist, cricket seems to bring out the pessimist in me. Take this test for example: There seems to be an assumption in some sections of the media that now the Aussies posted 570, England will roll over and collapse. It may happen, after all, Mitch got Cook early with a beauty. And the English may still have a scar or two from the 'Gabba test. On the recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-44880827081723736932013-11-30T21:20:00.001+11:002013-11-30T21:20:57.853+11:00BeautyBeautyA reflection on the occasion of the Graduation Service of the Disciples of the Cross, Melbourne, 29 November 2013I gazed upon the faces sat upon the stage:Diverse they were in culture, ethnicity and age.And yet it seemed to me, to my great surprise,That each was deeply beautiful to my beholding eyes.From skin a deep rich brown, to those who are quite fair,Different shapes of nose and recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-19654993353187969692013-11-24T10:19:00.001+11:002013-11-24T12:09:47.459+11:00Ashes Match-ups 1: A tale of two seamersHe was the best of bowlers, he was the worst of bowlers. Actually both the Aussies and the English have a bowler like this. And this series might depend on which one of these does better in this series. Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Broad can both be their teams most destructive bowler on their good days. They can also leak runs at a rapid rate on their bad days. They recess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614851728159989341.post-17504458595251671332013-11-23T09:53:00.001+11:002013-11-23T09:53:23.277+11:00Over excited I have read some ridiculous commentary on yesterday's play. Yes, it was the best day's play from the Aussies in around a year. Yes, England collapsed like a post-Hussey Aussie team. Yes, it was good to see big Mitchell and Nathan Lyon do well. But the match (let alone the series) is far from won. England have made a habit of bad starts to series in the last couple ofrecess75http://www.blogger.com/profile/11902211386971656215noreply@blogger.com0