A Kiwi writes...

There is a new entry in the cricket blogosphere. Iain O'Brien, the Wellington and New Zealand seamer, has started writing his own blog and, refreshingly, it seems he is hosting it himself rather than through the New Zealand governing body, which explains the various spelling mistakes and grammatical non sequiturs that make it quite charming. Hopefully this will also mean that the copy won't be too sanitised (we want to hear all those stories about Jesse Ryder getting pissed and doing something stupid, Iain).

As an example of how O'Brien doesn't pussyfoot around diplomatic niceties, this quote from his spat with Ricky Ponting at Adelaide is worth reading:

"When I got Ponting out yesterday it was reported that I gave him a send off.  Well, not quite true.  I did say 'you've missed out here' to him.  He didn't quite hear me and asked me, not so politely, what I said, so I told him again.  He then broke out the 'four letter word box' to me and the rest of us and got a chorus [from us].  Just something from nothing that in the context of the game, means nothing.  A reporter wants to make a big deal out of it and it's news!  That's how it works!  So there you have it, happy!!??"

Or this about his bowling tactics to Brett Lee:

"I was going to hit the deck real hard, make his life as tough as possible. I just wish I could bowl at 90mph all the time, or even some of the time.  My 84mph just isn't enough to put the sh*ts up batters to often.... Now this plan is either ballsy or dumb.  I'm not sure yet, but probably both.  It worked though, I got him to flash at one and Rossco, at first slip, takes a screamer."

Or this on Jamie How's defensive style:

"The way he blocks the ball is as sexy as a cricket shot can be.  There just ain't no way past that."

Or more prosaically, this opening sentence:

"NZ v Aust - Gabba - Day Three ... and we're in the sh*t"

Good stuff, Iain. Keep it up. Beats the "taking positives" claptrap we get from Belly and Colly and Harmy and the rest of the gang

Comments

[Johnmc]

I liked his description of Adelaide - sounds like a player with the traditions of the game close to his heart. Wonder how many can say that

"The grandstands are not huge concrete structures that over shadow the impose themselves on the park, they are the size that we all wish they would be. That's not to say that we don't want to play in front of crowds in excess of 45,000 people, but grounds like this should be embraced and held as sanctuaries to the cricketing world. I am honored to be able to train here and, tomorrow, play here. This is a treat, a real thrill."