Cricinfo turns 20

Cricinfo my customary goto source of most cricket news and records for the past 15 or so years has turned 20.

During this time it has evolved from a volunteer to a large corporate (ESPN) organisation which has shifted its hub to the subcontinent by adding rather than diminishing its scope. It also has provided generally given at least some space to divergent views of many of the burning issues of the times .

Its record section provides great coverage and analysis of international Test, ODI and T20 and
much domestic top tier cricket: to see just how well, compare its site to Cricket Australia's substandard one (eg its "live" coverage of matches).

Anyway, congratulations to Cricinfo.

England too good for Australia in all departments: Champions Trophy ODI

"England draw first blood after pacemen shackle weakened Australia" says the headline on
this report . It looks, from, what I saw of the match, to be an accurate summary.

I missed most of the England innings as I was at "Shane Warne the musical " ( well worth seeing if you get the chance).

When Australia batted Warner was lead footed, Watson looked solid (though not forceful) for a while, and Hughes seemed to be playing himself in, albeit uncomfortably, but lbw Root when he chose the wrong ball to move up a gear.

Bailey to many people (inc me and Warne - in the commentary box, not onstage)'s surprise was the best of a modest bunch.

Without the injured Michael Clarke ( an unfortunate but increasingly likely possibility) Australia will find it hard to qualify for the finals: they need to beat NZ & SL to do so. Maybe the squad should be augmented by some of the better performing Australia A team which is playing in the UK cricketing backblocks at present (read Brad Haddin and Peter Siddle, both of whom scored 100s this week against Scotland).

England 6/296 (50ov, Bell 91, Bopara 46*, Trott 43) def Australia 9/221 (50ov, Bailey 55, Faulkner 54*, Anderson 3/30) by 48 runs: Champions Trophy Group A match at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Scorecard