http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/ en-GB Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:41:37 +0000 http://www.typepad.com/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/07/fraser-and-br-1.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/07/fraser-and-br-1.html Morning Angus, Well that turned out to be a couple of days in Dullsville by the end. With Test cricket under threat globally it was not what was required as an advertisement for the game - South Africa effectively patting... The Nightwatchmen Stephen Brenkley Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:32:46 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/07/fraser-and-bren.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/07/fraser-and-bren.html Well, Gus, this is what we have been waiting for, isn't it? With due respect to the New Zealanders, the series that starts today against South Africa is what truly counts to England's players, camp followers and fans alike. It... The Nightwatchmen Stephen Brenkley Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:22:24 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/06/hansie-where-di.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/06/hansie-where-di.html By Henry Deedes As Stephen Brenkley writes this morning, the ghost of Hansie Cronje still casts a dark shadow across the whole of South African cricket. But whenever I think of Cronje, and the terrible decisions he chose to make... The Nightwatchmen Henry Deedes Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:30:26 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-5.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-5.html England are the Comeback Kids. They looked to have no chance of winning the Second Test on the third afternoon but by the fourth had done so by six wickets. Such are the marvellous vagaries of Test cricket. The improbable... The Nightwatchmen Stephen Brenkley Tue, 27 May 2008 10:02:24 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-4.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-4.html It would perhaps be wrong to say that Old Trafford is one of the most beauitiful grounds in the world. But for this morning at least the threatened rain has stayed away and it looks therefore as pretty as a... The Nightwatchmen Stephen Brenkley Fri, 23 May 2008 10:04:15 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-3.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-3.html The loss of too many overs to bad light and rain ensured that the First Test ended in a draw. England, as is their wont, could take many positives from the game - the batting of the captain, Michael Vaughan,... The Nightwatchmen Stephen Brenkley Tue, 20 May 2008 09:56:46 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-2.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-2.html By Stephen Brenkley It may be of some consolation to Brendon McCullum that he has become the first man to be out twice in the nineties at Lord’s without making a hundred. But not much. He deserved the landmark which... The Nightwatchmen Stephen Brenkley Thu, 15 May 2008 18:14:00 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-1.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-1.html By Stephen Brenkley The last thing New Zealand wanted to do after arriving at Lord's on an overcast, drizzly day was to lose the toss. Of course, in the nature of things they lost the toss. England, with other kinds... The Nightwatchmen Stephen Brenkley Thu, 15 May 2008 16:12:00 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-z.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/05/england-v-new-z.html Well, here we are at Lord's, first day of the First Test against New Zealand. And in a cricket world where Twenty20 is king, where there is talk of untold riches, of the need to change, of the urge to... The Nightwatchmen Stephen Brenkley Thu, 15 May 2008 10:13:32 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/04/cricket-revol-2.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/04/cricket-revol-2.html By Stephen Brenkley At last, after a week and eight matchs the Indian Premier League got the combination of ingredients it craved: a big crowd and a close, high scoring game. Chennai Super Kings, having scored 208 for five, edged... The Nightwatchmen Stephen Brenkley Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:46:32 +0100