Can the Blackcaps Be World Number 1?

Amidst all the attention on the All Blacks, Super Rugby and the World Cup, it's another New Zealand sports team that is making a quiet yet impressive rise from the ashes.

The Blackcaps, for so long criticized and cast aside as also-rans by the media, have carried on their impressive form from the summer which seemed all so long ago and won only their 2nd test series in the West Indies in their history and their first test series overseas against a side in the top 8 since well the West Indies in 2002.

Not only that, the Blackcaps are doing it in some style with the deepest bowling stocks we've probably ever seen. The Blackcaps can call on the likes of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner along with allrounders Jimmy Neesham and Corey Anderson. There's also young Adam Milne, Mitch McClenaghan, the ill-disciplined Doug Bracewell and the experienced Kyle Mills if need be too.

We're looking good with the slower stuff too - Mark Craig has emerged as a handy all round option down the order and had a superb debut to his test career. He complemented Ish Sodhi very well - Sodhi is making big strides in his cricketing career.

As for the batting, there's still a lot to be worked on particularly with the opening partnership. Tom Latham has emerged as a long-term prospect for one of the opening batting positions but it remains to be seen who will join him - Hamish Rutherford is probably the best option long term over Peter Fulton but Rutherford's form hasn't been good so should selectors persist with him?

Elsewhere, Kane Williamson has emerged as a rock in the New Zealand batting lineup complimented by the more aggressive Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum, while Jimmy Neesham and Corey Anderson look set for battle royale over the allrounder position in the middle of the batting order.

It is easy to forget that for all of Jimmy Neesham's centuries, he was actually in the side for "regular" Corey Anderson.

What now for the Blackcaps? They can look forward to a break before their next commitment against South Africa in October at home before Sri Lanka visit and then the World Cup.

They can also look forward to a further rise up the rankings as a result of this series win - they should move ahead of the West Indies and could possibly even go ahead of England and Pakistan - England lost to Sri Lanka and Pakistan haven't played much this year. Therefore, the Blackcaps could find themselves in 5th behind Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and India.

Can they get to number 1? Probably not, but they could come really close and that series against Australia - day/night test notwithstanding - the following summer will be one to watch if the Blackcaps can maintain this upward momentum under coach, Mike Hesson.

Even if they don't, it's a ride that Blackcaps fans have been waiting so long for and are right now savouring every moment of.

Suarez, Carney, Vincent - Who's Worst?

The last couple of days have seen the worst in sport.

We've seen a biter, a urinator and a cheat.

All have confessed their crimes - yes the biter finally came clean.

But out of Luis Suarez, Todd Carney and Lou Vincent, who is the baddest of a very bad trio?

Luis Suarez

Crime: Biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini in the shoulder

Punishment: Banned from football related activity for 4 months and from international football for 9 games
Initial Reaction: "It happens in football. My mouth collided with his shoulder."
Apologized: Yes, Luis Suarez has actually apologized.

The crime of biting a fellow player itself is bad - what makes this worse is the fact that it is not the first time that Suarez has been caught biting a player - indeed he has done it in every football club/association he is firmly connected with now, i.e. Ajax, Liverpool and Uruguay. Will he ever learn? Well as some other athletes show, they just never learn.

Todd Carney
Crime: Urinating into his mouth and being caught on photo

Punishment: Sacked by the Cronulla Sharks
Initial Reaction: "It was meant to be a joke. My friend set me up."
Apologized: Well, not really. He didn't front up to the Sharks management about the photo.

Like Suarez, Carney has been caught out three times in his career now but the most frustrating thing is that all his indiscretions have all taken place off the field, and have nothing to do with his talent as a rugby league player, but rather the distractions that come with it. Carney seems not to have learnt after being sacked previously by the Canberra Raiders and Sydney Roosters and after this third sacking, no NRL club in their right mind would want him in their side, and he will definitely struggle to get a work visa to play in the UK. A sad story but maybe not as sad as this next one.

Lou Vincent
Crime: Match-fixing
Punishment: Banned from the Blackcaps, and soon to be handed a life time ban by the ECB
Initial Reaction: Lou was remorseful but most of the activity was around his wife and the focus moved towards Chris Cairns
Apologized: Just did.

Vincent is really the odd one out in this trio - a seemingly nice, decent, down-to-earth Kiwi bloke who just wanted to play cricket for club and country. Vincent's career itself went pretty well, starting off with a ton on test debut and being consistently in the Blackcaps for a good 8 years. Vincent eventually disappeared off the scene but still featured prominently at club level and on the Twenty20 scene. Alas, little did we realise that there was more to his disappearance with match fixing allegations emerging this year and after thorough investigations, resulted in virtual life time bans from the sport. Vincent was heading towards the end of his career anyway but his name will be forever tarnished for his association with the dark side of the sport. A tragedy really.

2014 World Cup - Europe Rules (Just)!

The 2014 World Cup hasn't been the most memorable for the UEFA zone, i.e. Europe.

Now-former world champions, Spain crashed out in dramatic circumstances and were shortly joined by so-called giants Italy, England and Portugal along with Russia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina - the latter three not so surprisingly.

After South America's big day on Saturday, it was time for the rest of the world to show that they could compete with their Latin counterparts with the Netherlands, France and Germany flying the flag for Europe - no offence, Greece and we'll see what happens to Belgium and Switzerland.

As it was, the flag seemed to lack puff early on, struggling to flutter against stiff opposition from Central America and Africa.

The Dutch were very lucky to get a win against a very unlucky Mexico and rising star keeper, Guillermo Ochoa in normal time after nearly melting down in the Fortaleza heat - the ineffective van Persie was replaced by the fresh Klaus Jan Huntelaar who scored the winning penalty awarded after Robben's controversial and much talked about dive.

About that, Rafa Marquez probably didn't do himself any favours with his feet but Robben's dive was a bit much even if it looked like he took a tumble. While we would love to see an end to divers, the fact is, solving the problem is like answering the question to how long is a piece of strong - it will require a significant cultural change in world football which is something that many apart from the English and Australians aren't keen to embrace at the moment.

As for the Dutch's big EU brothers, the French and Germans also needed a bit of luck - and reliance on their superior depth and fitness compared to their African opponents.

Nigeria and Algeria started brightly and showed more organization than any other African side who has gone this far. Ultimately, they faded away as many had expected with their goalkeepers, Vincent Enyeama for Nigeria and Rais M'Bohli for Algeria pulling off save after save to keep their sides in the game as the French and Germans made shot after shot on goal.

Ironically, it was an error by Enyeama that would lead to the French breakthrough and would be the straw that broke the camel's back. Lille's Enyeama probably got a bit too familiar with the French crowd, coming out far too early to allow Pogba to head home his first goal of the tournament. Griezmann's shot came off Yobo to make it 2-0 - a bit flattering for France as Nigeria held their own for much of the game but will still have to go home after the 2nd round.

We'll see more of these German fans

As for Algeria, they surprised many, by outplaying Germany for much of the game and keeping Mario Goetze quiet all night. Algeria should be considered along with Costa Rica, one of the surprise packages of the tournament, for playing some great organized, counter-attacking football, and deserved their consolation goal right at the end. In the end, German resistance and depth took its toll on the North African side who will head home as heroes.

So the Dutch go through to face Costa Rica in the quarterfinals in Salvador - at night thankfully - while the French take on the Germans in the afternoon before the big South American derby between Brazil and Colombia on Friday night.

Costa Rica are still alive - thank God!

At least the Europeans won't have to worry about opponents used to the heat - and one wonders if they along with Brazil might have received the wake-up call they needed.

The goals may have dried up a bit but the drama is still as fresh as ever.  

Lou Vincent Confesses!

"I Am A Cheat"

After months of speculation and investigation, former New Zealand cricketer, Lou Vincent, has confessed that he is a match-fixer.

Speaking on TV3's 3rd Degree, Lou Vincent admitted to match fixing during his years playing cricket at the highest level for New Zealand, Auckland and Sussex.

Vincent who has been banned by New Zealand cricket, is expected to be banned for life overnight by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The full statement of Lou Vincent's apology is below (courtesy of TVNZ).

My name is Lou Vincent and I am a cheat.

I have abused my position as a professional sportsman on a number of occasions by choosing to accept money through fixing .

I have lived with this dark secret for many years, but just months ago I reached the point where I decided I had to come forward and tell the truth.

It's a truth that has rightly caused uproar and controversy in New Zealand and around the world.

I have shamed my country. I have shamed my sport. I have shamed those close to me. For that I am not proud.

I lost faith in myself and the game .I abused the game I love. I had to put things right.

Speaking out. Exposing the truth. Laying bare the things I have done wrong is the only way I can find to begin to put things right.

The time has come for me to now face them like a man and accept the consequences, whatever they may be.

I could not live with my wrongdoing any longer, and after meeting my future wife Susie, after learning what unconditional love really is, I felt strong enough to tell her what I'd done, and she has helped me take the painful steps to telling my parents, my wider family and then the authorities.

I am proud of those I love. Especially my immediate family and friends Their strength, support and forgiveness has enabled me to address some deep and uncomfortable issues in my life.

I can finally look my children in the eyes and tell them that honesty is the best policy, even if it feels like the hardest of things to do at times.

I now believe in myself as a person again and do not wake up every morning hating myself.

Today is the day I offer my deepest apologies to the public and cricketing world, to the loyal fans, to the dedicated coaches, staff and all players past and present.

I apologise to and thank the ACSU for their help and support , which is out there for all players and it has helped me a great deal . Chris Morris and his legal team, and all associations that have handled this sensitive situation with professionalism and respect .

The people who know me know I am vulnerable. But they also know I am not stupid and that I know what is right and what is wrong.

I do suffer from depression but it is absolutely no reason or excuse for all I have done wrong. I used to think mistakes were the actions of bad people. I now know even good people can make the worst of mistakes. My Actions ,I will regret for the rest of my life.

For sport to prosper, it is up to the players to police the game, because they are the ones that will ultimately lose out if they allow themselves to be used as pawns to make money.

No one should ever be put in that position. And no one should ever allow themselves to forget what sport is about and let money rule their decisions.

The decisions I made were wrong. Players must be better than that. Above reproach. For the fans. For the sport.

For the first time in a very long time I feel positive about the future because I am finally becoming the man I wanted to be. I have to face up to my wrongs to make them right.

I have kept my head down for too long now. This is my time to man up to my mistakes and today I can stand with a better conscience because I know I'm doing the right thing.

It is entirely my fault that I will never be able to stand in front of a game again. It is entirely my fault that I will not be able to apply my skills in a positive way to help future cricketers.

But it is entirely possible that I can use this moment to convince others not to be tempted by wrongdoing. To do the right thing for themselves, for their families and friends, and for the sport they love.

I accept my punishment.

Bauer Watch Is Back!

Yeap that's right, Bauer Watch is back because Jack Bauer has made Garmin-Sharp's final Tour de France team - his place was confirmed this morning with veteran rider, David Millar out of the final team.

This despite a documentary team originally set to follow the 37-year old Scot around France in this year's race.

Greg Henderson is the other Kiwi in this year's field.

On the British front, Millar and fellow Brit, Bradley Wiggins, will not take the start of the 101st Le Tour in Leeds this weekend with last year's winner Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish the only Brits competing this year.

Anyway stay tuned for updates - they may not be as frequent as last year as I'm going on holiday to Malaysia on 16 July and won't be back till 1 August - on Jack Bauer's progress - and let's hope he finishes the race this time and stays away from another big crash!