Is it because the Tiges are done for the 2011 AFL season?  Or maybe because I caught an over or 2 in passing of the Eng V India Test at a Foxtel sales desk in a QLD shopping centre?

I have never been a big fan of the “hit and giggle” of the Twenty20 form of the game, but have found myself even looking forward to the new Big Bash comp!!!!

So the question is …. which Melb based team to support? There is the MCG based Melbourne Stars, captained by Cameron White and sporting one of my fave Victorians Peter Siddle. 

On the other hand there is the Etihad Stadum based Melbourne Renegades captained by Andrew McDonald with a delicous pace attack and the long-suffering Brad Hodge in toe.

And the winner is????????????????????????????????????????

The Melbourne Stars

The fact that the stars are playing at the home of cricket and that the Renegades have imported a controversial ball tampering all rounder sealed the deal.

… for now ;)

The Australian dominance of world cricket is definitely over!  It seems every time I blink they have lost another game.  Whats going on?  Is this a temporary form slump? or some dead wood?  Or maybe the other cricketing nations have not only caught up to the Aussies, but have overtaken them, and are turning back and flicking us the bird?

Last night the Aussies succumbed to Pakistan in a Twenty20 match in Edgebaston.  This on the back of a 50 over series loss to the old enemy England. 

There looks like one more Twenty20 game against Pakistan for the Aussies to “right the wrong”…. but players like Michael Clarke need to stand up!

The main concern will be if the Aussies can return home and wrestle back the Ashes urn in November.  I am starting to have my doubts that they can.  Lets hope that they use the upcoming couple of Tests against Pakistan to get back into the groove and do us proud.

The Aussies defeated Pakistan by 34 runs in their firsts match of the Twenty20 World Cup. Watson clubbed 81 off 49 balls while David Hussey scored 53 of 29. Nannes and Tait both claimed 3 wickets each off their 4 overs.

Nice start to the comp….. but …errrr ….. still can’t shake the feeling that Twenty20 is not the best format of the game for judging a quality cricket team.

Australia has suffered a 1 run defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in a practice match prior to the Twenty20 World Cup in the Windies. 

There may be concerns centred around the aussie spin attack (Smith and Hauritz) who failed to take a wicket.

hmmmm….. or is this just a case of the randomness of the smallest form of the game?