So England’s hopes of qualifying for a major international tournament look in as much doubt as it has done since defeats away to Norway and Holland in 1993 left England almost without hope of qualifying for USA ’94.

But is it really any surprise? Well no not really. This was always a tougher grouper than so called experts/rent-a-quotes would have you believe. Not quite on the level Scotland had to deal with but certainly tougher in terms of strength in depth than anything Eriksson had to deal with before. But this is not an anti-Eriksson rant, far from it.

Read the rest of this entry »

When Pakistan resume their fourth innings on 108/1 on Thursday morning, they need the small matter of another 349 further runs to claim a record breaking victory against South Africa in Lahore

If anyone can achieve this it’s the mercurial Pakistan cricket team. Unbelievaly fantastic on some days to painfully awful on others, they have the ability to score at the required 3.8 runs per over.

Read the rest of this entry »

So New Zealand have been dumped out of the 2007 World Cup and a nation is in mourning. For the people of these rugby crazed islands, whose global identity is built on their prowess in the 15 man game it is nothing short of a national tragedy.

As they desperately grope around in the gloom cast over the national psyche for answers it is understandable that they look for someone to blame. Like losing a loved one to tragic circumstances, sinews stripped bare to the raw emotions bring out a primeval desire for retribution.

Read the rest of this entry »