JM96*

That's Johnny Miller 96 Not Out to you son!

Born in Eastbourne, under the manic gaze of David 'Billy' Cotton. Initially just a cut and paste job, with the infamous "Best thing to come out of Eastbourne since the A22" strapline. It soon spread the length and breadth of cricketing Britain, standing firm against the reactionary cricket press. At one time it sold more copies per month than Wisden Cricket monthly and The Cricketer. The home for a more irreverent style of cricket journalism, which fairly soon migrated over to the broadsheets. Tim de Lisle, Gideon Haigh, Matthew Loukes, Alastair Maclellan and Andy Franks all contributed regular pieces for JM96*.

Banned from a number of county shops (Well Essex and Yorkshire at least), JM96*'s final hour was undoubtedly the Devon Malcolm cover which featured the White Ignorant Stupid Despicable Evil Nazis cover line as commentary on the Henderson/Wisden Cricket Monthly race case that had just been settled.

JM96* was years ahead of it's time, they were the champions of two divisional county cricket, increased number of overseas players and 20/20 cricket. Sometimes controversial, often funny and always passionate about cricket. Johnny Miller was the home for all who loved the game, sometimes played it but were amused and annoyed at the same time about the pomposity of the county commitees.

Sadly JM96* faded away under new ownership and a new banner 'Inside Edge'. However, there are still pockets of resistance and the spirit of Johnny lives on in the Barmy Army, Monty Panesar and of course The Jardine Report! So, do feel free to chip in anytime...

This is no laughing matter

Shoaib to miss ICC World Twenty20


According to various reports Shoaib Akhtar has been withdrawn from Pakistan's squad for the World Twenty20 because of a genital infection.

The fast bowler, 33, was due to join the 15-man squad for a six-day training camp last week but was advised to rest.
"We have pulled him out of the World Twenty20 on the basis of a medical report," said a spokesman for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Pakistan have asked the International Cricket Council if they can name a replacement player for the tournament.

A PCB press release stated that a medical board had assessed the paceman, that he had undergone electrofulguration - a surgical procedure to destroy tissue by electric current - and will be reassessed in the first week of June.

Breaking News - Symonds Out, Ponting Snubbed!

Despite the vocal support of Ricky Ponting English all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been left out of the Australia squad for the upcoming Ashes Tour.

Injury prone Shane Watson and dibby dobby medium pacer Andrew McDonald have been included to fill the role of all-rounders.

The five-Test series starts with the First Test in Cardiff from July 8 and finishes with the Fifth Test at The Oval in late August.

Australia hold the Ashes courtesy of Ricky Ponting's side's win at home in 2006-07, to regain the urn after a 2-1 defeat in England in 2005.

Symonds' omission must be seen as a snub for captain Ricky Ponting, who yesterday had offered his support for Symonds, saying he was "a great guy to have around a team" and that wouldn't be surprised if he figured in the selectors' plans.

The 16-man Australian Ashes squad:

Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Simon Katich, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Andrew McDonald, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Graham Manou (who?), Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Stuart Clark, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Hauritz.

Jardine's Verdict: A strong Australian squad maybe. World beaters definitely not. Ashes winners? Maybe not. The prospect of old Brett Lee bowling into the wind with Mr "not as good at Cricket as he used to be" Hussey fumbling in the covers must give some encouragement to England.

Ponting to pick a Pom

Australian Captain Ricky Ponting has given his seal of approval for controversial English all-rounder Andrew Symonds to be named in the Australian Ashes squad later today.

Symonds, the injury prone Shane Watson, incumbent all-rounder Andrew McDonald, frequently overlooked Brad Hodge and outsider Callum Ferguson are thought to be battling it out for the last two spots in the 16-man touring party to be named at 11am EDST.

Ponting said he wouldn't be surprised if Symonds was the selectors' choice. Which is certainly throwing down the gauntlet to his selectors.

Ricky Ponting was not quoted as saying, "He has had his share of bottles over the last 12 months, obviously the well-documented stuff off the field". He did however say in The Australian, "He's worked his way back into domestic cricket pretty well and played well for us over in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. He's a great guy to have around a team. There is no doubt about that and obviously the selectors are going to have some tough decisions to make in the coming hours I guess."

Ponting, unsurprisingly didn't think Symonds' off-field problems would be held against him. Australian sporting culture is currently overloaded with tales of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct and Ponting’s approach is in line with the majority of senior administrators thinking. Surprisingly though he also didn’t think that Symonds’ lack of runs at first-class level would be held against him either.

In a rather pathetic and predictable start to hostilities Ponting yesterday took a swipe at his England counterpart and said it was important to keep Andrew Strauss quiet.

Strauss played a key role at the top of the order in England's 2-1 series win four years ago. Since taking over the captaincy, Strauss has scored 597 runs at 59.70 in seven Tests against the West Indies compared to a career average of 43.96.

Jardine’s Verdict: The inclusion of Symonds in the test squad wouldbe a strong indication of the Australian mindset. It will also be a marked change in selection policy from the tried and tested picking the best XI to the not so proven picking your best mates. We should all know soon.

Jardine’s Touring 16: Ponting (Captain), Clarke (VC), Haddin, Hughes, Katich, M Hussey, Hilfenhaus, Johnson, Lee, Siddle, Hauritz, McDonald, Clark, Symonds, North, Manou

2nd Test - Review

James Anderson finally delivered what we all suspected he could (namely a sustained spell of quality swing bowling) as England beat West Indies at the Riverside by an innings and 83 runs to tidy up a 2-0 series win.

England needed seven wickets at the start of play and despite morning showers bowled out West Indies for 176 in the third over after lunch. Anderson ended up with 4-38 and excellent match figures of 9-125, while Tim Bresnan (3-45) claimed his first Test wickets.

With the Wisden Trophy regained in emphatic style, England will be heartened that they have won both Tests by such convincing margins with the first Ashes Test against Australia just seven weeks away.

The opening hour of the final day proved frustrating for England, featuring two interruptions and just 7.1 overs of actual cricket, but the rain was actually beneficial to the bowlers as it added some spice to the wicket, providing both swing and a bit of extra pace.

Doubts crept into the minds of the West Indies batsmen, England got the ball rolling with wickets from a couple of loose deliveries. Firstly, Anderson served up a short ball wide of off-stump, but instead of launching a full-blooded cut shot, Lendl Simmons opted for a tentative waft and simply provided Scott Borthwick, a substitute fielder at backward point, with catching practice. Borthwick claimed a second easy catch to finally give Bresnan his first Test wicket when the Australian Nash guided a ball travelling down the leg side to square-leg. Bresnan's second wicket came in more authentic style when Denesh Ramdin, facing only his second delivery, edged a well pitched-up away-swinger to third slip.

However, Anderson’s best was still to come. Having embarrassed Jerome Taylor with a series of outswingers which the batsman missed, he decided enough was enough and uprooted his off stump with an inswinger.

To be honest, none of the lower order were likely to resist Anderson for long and Sulieman Benn frankly did well to last 12 balls, before a superb ball swung through his defences to make a mess of the stumps.

Chanderpaul only survived 10 balls after the interval as Anderson, maintaining an immaculate line and length, found the outside edge and Paul Collingwood - retaining the gloves while Matt Prior recovered from a badly-bruised finger - clung on to the catch.

The end came moments later as Fidel Edwards smacked a boundary off Bresnan but then skied a catch high to the second substitute fielder, Karl Turner. Positioned at fine leg, the youngster made no mistake - and England now go back up a place to fifth in the rather pointless ICC Test rankings.

Jardine's Verdict: A fine start to the summer but a lot more to do to retain The Ashes

Second Test

It don't mean a thing if a it ain't got that swing

A comfortable victory in the second test... more to follow just as soon as we finish this last bottle of Champagne

The Sign of Four Runs - Arthur Conan Doyle

Thanks to Frank Keating in the Guardian for reminding us all today that the Scottish sleuth author played first class cricket. Conan Doyle played 10 games for MCC between 1900 and 1907, averaging a respectable 19 with the bat. He was said to "hit hard" and bowl "slows with a puzzling flight". Playing against London County at, of all places, Crystal Palace he had the great WG caught behind and despite a rather Pringle-esque bowling average he once took 7 for 61 against Cambridgeshire.

Not the Bell end?

England have recalled Ian Bell and Ryan Sidebottom for Thursday's second Test against West Indies at the Riverside.

Bowler Sidebottom is recalled at the expense of spinner Monty “monty” Panesar while Squeaky Bell is also included in a 13-man squad after making two centuries this season. Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan, who made their Test debuts in the emphatic 10-wicket win over the tourists at Lord's, retain their places in the squad.

Onions in particular impressed in the first Test, taking seven wickets, including 5-38 in the tourists' first innings, while Bresnan bowled just seven overs and had little chance to shine but he apparently makes a mean strawberry daquiri and impressed at the Canasta table after the 2nd days play.

Bell has not featured for England since he was rightly dropped after England's humiliating innings and 23 runs defeat by the West Indies in Jamaica three months ago. But the short and temperamentally suspect 27-year-old has been rewarded for excellent early season form which has seen him score centuries for the MCC and Warwickshire.

Monty "Monty" has lost his place as England's first-choice spinner to his old Northants team-mate Graeme Swann, the leading wicket taker in Test cricket in 2009.
"Monty Panesar is unlucky but it was always highly unlikely that we would play two spinners at Chester-le-Street," said Geoff 'Rusty' Miller, Chairman of selectors and occ. off-spinner.
________________________________________
England squad: AJ Strauss (captain), AN Cook, RS Bopara, KP Pietersen, PD Collingwood, IR Bell, MJ Prior (wicketkeeper), SCJ Broad, TT Bresnan, GP Swann, JM Anderson, G Onions, RJ Sidebottom.

Jardine's Verdict: An interesting decision to recall Bell for the 2nd test when he had already hit a brace of tons before the 1st test, more concerns about Collingwood? Sidebottom's recall will also add a bit of pressure on Bresnan in light of Swann's potential as a test all rounder.

Jardine's XI:
AJ Strauss (captain), AN Cook, RS Bopara, KP Pietersen, IR Bell, MJ Prior (wicketkeeper), SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, G Onions, RJ Sidebottom.

Poll Results - 3

Who will top score for England at Lords?

Strauss (0%)
Cook (0%)
Bopara (100%)
KP (0%)
One of the others 0 (0%)
Extras (0%)

Day 3 - The housemates are back in the bar

England strolled to a comfortable 10-wicket victory over the West Indies inside three days at Lord's to win an opening Test for the first time in 15 attempts.

It was the first time in seven matches that England had taken 20 wickets in a match - the last occasion coming in the fourth Test win over South Africa in August of last year. The fine bowling performance left England needing just 32 for victory and Strauss and fellow opener Alastair Cook secured the win after 6.1 overs.

Following a one-hour morning rain delay, the visitors had been reduced to 80-5 in their second innings, still needing a further 145 runs to make England's openers strap on their pads one more time.

Ramdin (61) and Nash (81), both centurions in the Test series between these teams in the Caribbean, dug in, before finally falling to an impressively hostile Broad. Surprisingly still only 22, Broad was quick to realise the short-pitched ball had become more of a threat than fuller-pitched deliveries.

Man of the match Swann, meanwhile, matched Broad's three-wicket haul - by removing Shivnarine Chanderpaul cheaply for the second time in the match before completely confusing two tail-enders.

Thursday's hero Graham Onions’ first over contained a loose leg-side dwelivery that Simmons lazily flicked at and Cook snaffled the catch. Strauss then immediately introduced his arch nemesis Swann, who promptly removed Chanderpaul. Starting the match ranked the best batsman in Test cricket, the front on left-hander lasted a mere six balls in the whole match.

Smith fell in the 40s for the second time in the match when a swinging delivery from Onions, smashed his stumps. Wicketkeeper Ramdin drove and cut Onions for consecutive boundaries during a 100-run partnership with Nash .

Strauss had tried umpteen bowling changes, and brought on Broad to begin a spell just before tea from the Pavilion End. And it was Broad who finally found a way through Ramdin, with a ball that jagged down the hill. The final session opened with a couple of crunching drives from Jerome Taylor before he tried to heave Swann across the line and was lbw, then Sulieman Benn was promptly bowled by the off-spinner. Broad was by now bowling with great venom and accuracy, and Fidel Edwards lasted just three balls before splicing a vicious throat ball to Tim Bresnan, who awoke from his debut test slumber to take a good catch in the gully.

Nash was pretty soon the last man out, upper-cutting Broad to Alastair Cook at third man. In glorious evening sunshine, Cook and Strauss had few problems in reaching their minuscule target. Cook hooked Taylor for a sumptuous boundary and drove him for another, before Strauss's cover-drive off Edwards finished off proceedings.

Jardine's Verdict: I fine start for Flower, Onions and Bopara (at 3). Whilst the Windies were pretty woeful it was nonetheless a great start to the summer.

Poll Result - 2

Who is the best currently available England all- rounder?

1. Phil Defreitas (66%)
2. Geoff Miller (30%)
3. Tim Bresnan (3%)
4. Andrew Symonds (0%)

Day 2 - Ease & Onions

Graham Onions enjoyed a dream debut in the first Test as England's bowlers tore through a dejected West Indies on a chilly, overcast day at HQ.

Having reached 99-2 in reply to the home team's 377, the Windies were blown away 152 all out. Onions took three wickets in an over and wound up with a marvellous 5-38. With five fit bowlers and the clouds remaining in place, Andrew Strauss enforced the follow-on and James Anderson removed Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan to leave West Indies 39-2, and still trailing by 186.

England began on 289-7, optimistically targeting 400. Thanks to Swann's unbeaten 63, and Ravi Bopara 143 - England almost made it. Swann bossed the strike in a 93-run partnership with Bopara, opening with some handsome drives through the off-side off both Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor. His maiden Test half century arrived in style with a hook for six off Lionel Baker before Bopara drove Taylor uppishly to cover. Fidel Edwards, who had endured some awful dropped catches on Wednesday, finished with 6-92 for his second-best figures in Test cricket.

England started badly and bizarrely with Chris Gayle giving Stuart Broad some real tap. Whilst at bthe other end, Strauss gave spinner Swann the new ball (We know he’s good but, surely not in that good nick?)

Finally, Chris Broad’s son got Gayle with an inside edge with the score on 46.
Sarwan played comfortably until Junior tempted him into driving at a wide one and Matt ‘The Cat’ Prior made no mistake with the catch.
The Windies were relying on Devon Smith to hold the innings together but Strauss brought back Swann who had dismissed Smith three times in the Caribbean and again had his number here, with a ball that went straight on. The next ball saw the departure of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, this time to a quality off-break which the batsman edged to Collingwood at slip. In trouble on 99-4 at tea, that was nothing compared to what was to follow. Australian Brendan Nash looked ill-at-ease against Swann, and it was no surprise when he also fell to a Collingwood slip catch, this time taking low to his left.

Onions was by now hitting the deck hard, and in a sensational sixth over he took three wickets. Lendl Simmons fended an outswinger to Strauss at first slip. Taylor bottom-edged to Matt The Cat and then Benn's nick was taken by a diving Swann at third slip. Denesh Ramdin was dropped by the other debutant Tim Bresnan off the returning Broad, but he fell lbw in the next Onions over.
Onions had picked up four wickets in seven balls and so nearly had a fifth - but Collingwood dropped last man Baker in the slips. That should have been 130 all out, and England missed a run out chance to finish off the innings on 139. However, on 152 Onions won another lbw decision to wrap up the innings

Strauss enforced the follow on and although Smith lived to fight another day, Gayle departed for a duck with an edge to third slip and Sarwan made just one before playing Anderson onto his stumps.

Jardine’s Verdict: All in all a good day at the office and if the weather holds and the pitch retains a bit of movement things look positive for the revamped England. That being said this is only Day Two of a long summer and there is plenty more to be done before we can entertain thoughts of giving Australia a real run for their money later in the season. The Windies will surely not be as lacklustre again and until Chanderpaul is safely back in the hutch any result is still possible.

Day 1 - Bop while they drop

Ravi Bopara staked a solid claim for the number 3 Ashes birth with a maiden Lords Test century as Engalnd profitted from some abysmal West indian fielding to end the first day of the summer on 286-7.

Jardine's Verdict: A fine knock by Bopara against a spirited but slipshod West Indian team. So, a good start for him at three but on balance you would expect most of the world's number 3's to knock off a ton against Edwards, Taylor, Benn & Co. That being said the other England batsmen looked a bit rusty, with the exception of KP who recieved an absolute jaffa from Edwards.

Don't worry that's them out of it!

Australia have included controversial English all-rounder Andrew Symonds in their 15-man squad for the World Twenty20 in England, which starts on 5 June.

So, we can write them off. The rest of the squad is...

Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, David Warner, Shane Watson

Jardine's Verdict: On paper a strong squad. In reality? They are no longer invincible despite the emergence of the prodigously talented Mitchell Johnson. Michael 'Mr Cricket' Hussey is a liability and Symonds is drinking his way through the wine list in the last chance saloon. Brett Lee, out for too long, too slow and a surely only picked on history not form. David Warner the new 'Slogging Sensation' is too hit and miss and the lack of a steadying slow bowler is their real achilles heel.

Boycott turns traitor

Permanently bitter professional Yorkshireman Geoffrey Boycott insists England are in no shape to reclaim the Ashes from Australia this summer.

Boycott has concerns over the England captaincy, the batting order, the lunch menu, the parking spaces, the lack of Yorkshiremen in the team and what he sees as an inability to get the maximum out of the players available.

"England are not in great shape," the former rather unsuccessful England skipper and turncoat told BBC One's Inside Sport.
"Can they win the Ashes? No, I think they will draw if anything, and the Australians will retain them."

Boycott pointed to England's winter of discontent, where they struggled on and off the field, as a major reason for their difficulties. The stereotypical Tyke, who made made 108 Test match appearances for England, highlighted the fall-out from the Stanford Super Series and Kevin Pietersen's resignation as captain as particularly damaging. The irony of having a disruptive, selfish player in the England dressing room was surprisingly lost on the self styled 'Sir' Geoffrey.

Boycott believes the issue of captaincy has yet to be resolved, despite the appointment of Andrew Strauss, who was voted England's player of the year on Monday for the second time in his career. "They've got Andrew Strauss who is quite a nice lad - he will do a decent job - but I'm not convinced he is a natural captain. It's a gift, to look after 10 other people and also to still look after your own game and play well, and at the same time be thinking two steps ahead of the game. When you're captain you can't just wait for things to happen. The great captains are thinking ahead." Thinking of how many runs they are going to accumulate Geoffrey? This is the Geoff Boycott who was once deliberately run out by Ian Botham in New Zealand, when batting for his average rather than the team.

Jardine's Verdict: Never known for his subtle approach. Tired old Geoffrey has done it again, putting the boot in on the eve of the first test of the year. Whilst some of his observations are not the wild rantings of a lunatic they are done with only one thing in mind. Promoting Geoffrey Boycott. Once again "Sir" Geoffrey has put himself in front of his test team. Thankfully nobody takes the old codger seriously any more!!

Introducing the future 20/20 World Cup Winners!

India

In the meantime England have announced their 15 man squad. We know, we all said the same thing. Where is Phil DeFreitas?

James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood (capt), Andrew Flintoff, James Foster (wk), Rob Key, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Eoin Morgan, Graham Napier, Kevin Pietersen, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright.

Jardine's Verdict: Well, as hosts we do have to submit a team to fulfill our fixtures and that is exactly what we've done. Not a chance