England 1, Australia 1, & the Orange Cap
England successfully chased 294 against Kiwis.
Australia successfully defended 286 against the Windies.
I was wrong.
But I was right about this - The 2009 Ashes are going to be very competitive!
And I was also right about England, Ross Taylor, Tim Ambrose, and Monty Panesar in Sportsfreak's tipping competition for bloggers.
As a result of which the Orange Cap remains with me for this week as well.

Thank you again Sportsfreak.
Thank you Daniel.
Thank you Andrew.
Thank you Ross.
Thank you Monty.
& Thank you fellow bloggers.
Strauss took the game away from the Kiwis, while the Windies blew their only chance of beating Australia at home.
I really doubt the Aussies will give the hosts another sniff.
It has been quite a come back for Andrew Strauss. His last few tests innings over 2 tests, all against the Kiwis at home and away, have produced 50+ scores. That includes 2 match winning centuries.
Vettori, for some odd reason, couldn't repeat his 1st innings heroics and allowed England to reach the score for the loss of only 4 wickets.
Sportsfreak tells me that Vettori isn't as effective in the 4th innings of matches. Thats quite surprising for a spinner.
The Windies batting line up folded in front of Stuart Clark and Co.
Those Glenn McGrath video tapes that Clark has been studying have proved to be quite helpful. A 5-for in the 2nd innings and 8 in the match for a man of the match performance.
He looks like a duck running up to bowl - I have no idea how he picks up all these wickets.
The Aussies will run away to a 3-0 victory now. They usually give the opposition a chance once in an entire series. If you miss that you can be sure of a handful mauling.
With Hayden and Clarke returning, its going to be tough for the Windies.
For the sake of my Orange Cap, I hope the Kiwis can turn the tables as I have predicted a 1-1 result for the series in the overall tipping competition.
Till then, I will march around cricket blogs wearing my Orange Cap.
Australia successfully defended 286 against the Windies.
I was wrong.
But I was right about this - The 2009 Ashes are going to be very competitive!
And I was also right about England, Ross Taylor, Tim Ambrose, and Monty Panesar in Sportsfreak's tipping competition for bloggers.
As a result of which the Orange Cap remains with me for this week as well.

Thank you again Sportsfreak.
Thank you Daniel.
Thank you Andrew.
Thank you Ross.
Thank you Monty.
& Thank you fellow bloggers.
Strauss took the game away from the Kiwis, while the Windies blew their only chance of beating Australia at home.
I really doubt the Aussies will give the hosts another sniff.
It has been quite a come back for Andrew Strauss. His last few tests innings over 2 tests, all against the Kiwis at home and away, have produced 50+ scores. That includes 2 match winning centuries.
Vettori, for some odd reason, couldn't repeat his 1st innings heroics and allowed England to reach the score for the loss of only 4 wickets.
Sportsfreak tells me that Vettori isn't as effective in the 4th innings of matches. Thats quite surprising for a spinner.
The Windies batting line up folded in front of Stuart Clark and Co.
Those Glenn McGrath video tapes that Clark has been studying have proved to be quite helpful. A 5-for in the 2nd innings and 8 in the match for a man of the match performance.
He looks like a duck running up to bowl - I have no idea how he picks up all these wickets.
The Aussies will run away to a 3-0 victory now. They usually give the opposition a chance once in an entire series. If you miss that you can be sure of a handful mauling.
With Hayden and Clarke returning, its going to be tough for the Windies.
For the sake of my Orange Cap, I hope the Kiwis can turn the tables as I have predicted a 1-1 result for the series in the overall tipping competition.
Till then, I will march around cricket blogs wearing my Orange Cap.
that looks like panesar's cap.... he has lodged a complaint!
for wi and nz it was ridiculously predictive...
cricket was deprived of its much deserved thrilling moments...
and you are right about oz...now they wont give them a chance...
actually its hayden who defines the character of oz team now...
You're kidding about the Ashes being a close contest, right? Hmm.
Orange is a stupid colour anyway.
Panesar helped me to the cap Scorpi ;-)
I agree SP.
Yep, kidding MF... the way the 2 tests ended yesterday, it seemed like a logical conclusion abt the Ashes but if the English don't pick their game up, i doubt it would be competitive.