Old rivals prove Test cricket deserves praise

FINGERS crossed our domination of England continues this weekend.

No doubt the interest in the one-day series will be high but I’d like to discuss the Test series quickly, again.

Not all that long ago people were once again predicting the demise of Test cricket.

Changes needed to be made, they said.

Eventually we saw the introduction of that awful pink ball and day/night Tests - personally I hate it but I digress.

I believe the recent Ashes series showed exactly why Test cricket will never go out of fashion.

Even the dour Boxing Day Test had its merits in the form of England captain Alastair Cook’s marvellous knock of 244 not out.

Cricket is about the contest between bat and ball but too often one can easily dominate the other especially in the shortened forms of the game.

Twenty20 and one-day cricket can be over in the blink of an eye - Test cricket isn’t like that.

There is always hope in Test cricket - hope that your strike bowler will tear through the opposition after an extended stay at fine leg.

Hope that your night watchman will stand tall alongside your top order to help secure an unlikely win.

Hope that the next session will be better than the last that is why Test cricket will never die.

Geitz is back

I want it noted I did predict Laura Geitz would make her mark on the netball scene this year.

Okay I didn’t predict she’d be back as a training partner with Australian Diamonds but I stand by my prediction on January 1.

Even as a training partner Geitz will have a positive impact on the Diamonds nothing trumps her experience.

From all account Geitz is a passionate and committed athlete and that is always bonus.

Hopefully she impresses enough during training to earn a Commonwealth Games call up.