Saturday 12 July 2008

I'm unemployed get me out of here

All I seem to do do these days is watch cricket. If it's not Twenty20 it's County Championship, one day-international or test matches. It's symptomatic of my current lack of employment, and frankly so is this blog. I seriously doubt whether I will have time to offer you the benefit of my non-wisdom on all things sporting once I'm gainfully employed again.

Anyway let's get on with it shall we? England continue to pummel the South Africans at Lords. Having been let down badly by their much vaunted pace attack, the Proteas proceed to bat like Haydock Cricket Club. They close the day following on at 13 without loss, having been bowled out for 247 in their first knock. Monty Panesar helps himself to 4 for 74, with Stuart Broad taking 2 for 88, Ryan Sidebottom 2 for 41 and James Anderson and Kevin Pietersen picking up a wicket apiece. South Africa are still 333 runs behind and relying on the English weather.

If Warrington's win over Bradford in Super League last night was low quality, get a load of Hull's scratchy success over Wakefield at Belle Vue. It's an error strewn advert for going out walking your dog, livened up briefly by Craig Hall's length of the field effort which put Hull 26-12 up with just over five minutes left. Brad Drew replies late on but Hull hold on for a 26-18 win which just about cooks Wakefield's playoff goose.

Catalans Dragons are still only a point behind St.Helens and Leeds at the top after narrowly beating Harlequins in the south of France. Leading 14-0 at half-time the home side look to have thrown it away when Quins fight back to level at 26-26. Yet the Dragons are awarded a penalty on the final hooter, and from the one play permitted following the kick for touch they score through Clint Greenshields to seal the win. Lucky, lucky bastards. Luck, luck, luck, luck, luck, luck, luck.

Cycling won't go a way, with Mark Cavendish winning his second stage in three days in the Tour de France. Cavendish is first across the line in a sprint finish, just ahead of Germany's Gerald Ciolek. Overall Kim Kirchen retains his six second lead from Cadel Evans, with Stefan Schumacher third. Britain's David Millar remains in seventh place, one minute and 14 seconds behind Kirchen.

Dwayne Chambers is a blog all on his own, but for now I'll restrict myself to telling you that he has won the right to represent Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics on the track. The cheating, lying, pretend rugby league player romped home in the British trials 100m event in Birmingham in 10 seconds flat. Now all he has to do is win his legal battle against the British Olympic Association bye-law which prevents those found guilty of doping offences from representing Great Britain at an Olympic Games.

I haven't been this keen for a legal challenge to fail since Jeffrey Archer appealed for parole.

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