So a week can be a long time in the sporting world and I must first start with my apologies as last week in my blog I stated that it would definitely be either Sri Lanka or South Africa that won the Twenty/20 World Cup and of course as cricket followers will know it was the mighty Pakistan that beat both of the tournament favourites to lift the trophy.
Pakistan, who of course were beaten by England in the Group Stages, beat South Africa in the Semi Finals and then Sri Lanka in the final with both games. Shahid Afridi was the star of both matches for Pakistan scoring over 100 runs and taking 3 key wickets in the two games. A player that definitely peaked at exactly the right time and allowed the Pakistanis to win the trophy and dedicate it to their former coach Bob Woolmer who sadly died during the 2007 World Cup.
Elsewhere there was better news for England in the women's game as they England Ladies team beat New Zealand in the final of the Women's World Twenty20 competition to make them double world champions after capturing the 50 over World Cup earlier this year. They did not have it all their own way though as in the Semi Finals Australia made a formidable 163 from their 20 overs only to see England knock the runs off, whilst losing only 2 wickets, with 3 balls to spare. Following those 2 big cup wins they are surely now a candidate for Sports Personality Team of the Year.
Elsewhere the Ashes Training Squad was announced yesterday and there weren't really any surprises this time, unlike 4 years ago when England called up a young Kevin Pietersen to replace Graham Thorpe. This time both Michael Vaughan and Steve Harmison were left out of the squad, as Michael Vaughan has not scored big runs in the county game so far this year and Steve Harmison has been outclassed by his Durham colleague Graham Onions. There is still a lot of time and cricket to be played and we cannot rule out these two performers from playing some part in the ashes but as of right now they have a lot of work to do with their counties first.
The big talking point of the squad was the fact that Ian Bell was called back in to the reckoning after a solid start to the season with Warwickshire and has scored consistently well averaging 64.50 after 7 matches. Although with the number 3 spot supposedly wrapped up with Ravi Bopara maybe the best way that he can get into the Ashes 11 is by taking Paul Collingwoods place and moving back down the order to bat at number 5.
With the weather gorgeous and the Wimbledon coverage starting on the telly I must bid you goodbye and hope that you enjoyed this weeks blog, so until next week I bid you farewell.
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