St.Johns, Antigua
Second Test played to a draw at Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
After Australia set West Indies 372 to win on the last day of the second test at Antigua the W.I. team
went on to finish at 266-5 finishing the Second Test in a draw.
Australia first innings : 479-7 declared. Katich 113, Clarke 110, Ponting 65 and Brett Lee 63 not out.
Jerome Taylor took 3-95
Second innings : 244-6 declared Jaques 76, Symonds 43 not out, Hussey 40 and Ponting 38
Fidel Edwards 2-28 and Taylor 2-33
West Indies first innings : 352 Chanderpaul 107 not out, Serwan 65, Marshall 53 Bravo and Taylor 20
Brett Lee 5-59, Clarke 2-20 and Johnson 2-72.
Second innings 266-5 : Sarwan 128, Chanderpaul 77 not out, brett Lee 3-51
The Third test will played at Kensington Oval starting 12 June 2008

Are these the words Shane Warne was saying this morning after the surprise announcement of Stuart MacGill’s retirement from Test cricket.
After arriving back in Melbourne today, he said he was very happy in retirement and had no intention of returning to Test cricket, but did add ” unless it was special circumstances ”
Warne also stated his team’s win in the IPL 2020 competition was way up there with his many cricket highlights and that this form of cricket was here to stay, but every cricket player should put playing for his country to be the ultimate goal.
Cricket Australia’s Terry Jenner said only “the 708 wicket-test great would qualify for a comeback that broke all protocol “. He saw referring to the fact that Warne is not a contracted player.
Australia now seems likely to continue with spin part timers Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds, the only other players on the horizon seem to be South Australian Dan Cullen and Beau Cusson, neither of these players are contracted to the ACB.

A cricket final that had everything. The very last ball required to decide the winner, a crowd
on the edge of their seats and two teams determined to win. This form of cricket is exciting
and very popular and has everything for the sports fans. Big sixes, run outs, great bowling and great fielding. The entertainment provided at the venues stirred the crowds and had them fully involved in every game, no matter which side was on the field.
The final started with fireworks and finished that way, a fabulous night.
The royals have proved that they knew what they were doing when it came to buying talented cricketers. Shane Warne and Shane Watson proved to be exceptional buys, not to mention the young talent that has emerged because of IPL 2020. Cast as walkovers and chastised by officials for not spending enough on players, look who’s smiling now. GO ROYALS !!
What happens next season ? With talk of more and more money to spend, will teams be able to retain their players?
Once again congratulations to the Rajasthan Royals and Shane Warne, great win.

Image via Wikipedia

Second Test, Antigua (close day four)
West Indies vs Australia
Australian fast bowler Brett Lee tore the West Indies batting line up apart, taking 5 wickets for five runs off 18 balls. Lee was helped by some very questionable umpiring decisions, but the damage was done. The West Indies were dismissed for 352, still 127 runs behind.
Ponting’s Australians now have a chance to push for victory on the fifth day, something that had seemed impossible just hors before.

Now that the inaugural IPL series is over and the victorious Rajasthan Royals, led by their Captain and Coach, Shane Warne, are still celebrating. The least expensive team in the series ( $3 million) showed all others how to play the game. A great victory.
What next ? There is a lot of talk around about who will be starting 2020 teams and who will be playing where, but it seems that nothing is settled. The West Indies, backed by billionaire,Allen Stanford, is well on it’s way to get 2020 up and running. It has been reported that he has proposed a competition between West Indies and a side from Great Britain.
Is the future 2020WI or 2020GB ? Whatever happens this form of cricket is here to stay. With great cricketers like Shane Warne leading the way, it looks like a long and profitable future.

Michael Clarke’s ton in the second Test in the West Indies was for his fiancee, Lara Bingle,
after the loss of her father. A tearful Clarke looked to the heavens and dedicated his century to
Graham Bingle, who died three weeks ago.
With the Second Test in the balance , Australia declared at 7-479, as Clarke again contributed with his
left arm spin bowling taking 2-7 off seven overs. West Indies reached 3-125 at stumps.
It was a great effort from the “Captain in Waiting”.

Mathew Hayden vows to be fit enough to return to all forms of cricket.
Stating on his arrival ” I am here to play for as long as I can”
Returning to Brisbane after being ruled out of the West Indies tour and will be seeing a specialist in Melbourne to assess the damage to his achilles tendon. Hayden, 36, believes the injury could be the result of how long he has been in the game at the highest level and his strenuous training routine. Until he receives the results he will continue to believe he will be returning and will plan accordingly.
Hayden will be attempting to make his fourth Ashes tour next year.

Image via Wikipedia

Australian Casey Stoner is on the podium again, after finishing second to Valentino Rossi, at Mugello.
Valentino, “the King of Mugello” has been untouchable at this track for the past six seasons. Starting from pole, Rossi took the lead from Casey Stoner on the forth lap and set about creating a gap between himself and his rivals.
The Fiat Yamaha rider, won with a comfortable margin, making it Mugello win number seven. Stoner on the Ducati Marlboro bike finished on the podium at Mugello for only second time in his Grand Prix Career. The second helps him make up ground on the MotoGP standings, he is now in fourth place, but has narrowed the gap between himself and Jorge Lorenzo. Number two in the world championship Dani Pedrosa, was the third rider to finish on the podium.
Next week the Spaniard will be looking for victory on his home soil at Catalunya.

GoDaddy sponsored Indy driver Danica Patrick, described by co-drivers as “super bitch” seemed to be trying to live up to her nick name at the Indy 500 last weekend. The female firebrand has said in the past that she needs to beat men, belittle them and make them feel small. An incident with Ryan Briscoe, when he briefly lost control of his car as he and Patrick were leaving pit road on lap 172, set Patrick’s temper into overdrive.
His right rear tyre bumped her left rear tyre, sending her into a spin. Neither car could continue after the accident.
She was intercepted, as she marched down pit road, to confront Briscoe, by Charles Burns the Indy Racing League’s head security officer. Race winner Scott Dixon said after the race, “Milwaukee is the type of place where tempers can flare”.
Patrick said after the race ” I don’t regret my instincts and emotions, nor can I change them very easily” Brian Barnhart, an IRL president who is the 500’s chief steward, said he won’t try to quell her spirit.

Australian golfers are showing the way in major International tournaments. Goggin, Strange and Webb all leading after the first round of tournaments in the United States.
Mathew Goggin played a brilliant seven under par 65 at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, to lead the Memorial tournament.Tasmanian Goggin needed only 22 putts in his first round lead. Scott Strange birdied seven of the last nine holes for a 63 at the Wales open in Newport. The 31 year old West Australian Strange played the last nine holes at Celtic Manor in 28 strokes to lead Italy’s Edoaro Molinari.
Karrie Webb’s 65, which included five birdies and an eagle, gave her a share of the lead with Korean Kim In-Kyung at the LPGA’s Ginn Tribute in Charleston, South Carolina.

It’s the Warne and Watson show.
Both these players have been stars of the IPL tournament.
Playing in tonight’s final they will be a great inspiration to the Rajasthan Royals.
Best luck to the both teams.