Cricketing action

Since there's not much cricket international cricket happening, hope you folks are following the travails of Zaheer Khan at Worcestershire. Currently playing a match against Somerset, where he took 4 for 100 of his 25+ overs (the best figures for the side) including the scalp of Tresco, and was exceptionally miserly in his first couple of spells (must've been tonked by tailenders towards the end, but I didn't follow that part).

Ofcourse his performances there, even if they turn out to be very good, should be treated in the right perspective. Bowlers having good time there (Rana Naved from Pak last year, or Mushtaq Ahmed every year) don't necessarily return to international cricket with an improved value. But it would surely mean a good workout for Khan, some improved confidence, and a better chance of making back to the national squad, especially if we have to rotate the current lot of pacers (we have a hectic season, especially in ODIs, coming up).

And speaking of rotation, wonder where Nehra and Balaji are? Nehra was supposed to have a county stint himself? Thats his only realistic chance of proving match fitness, unless he would want to wait for the start of the domestic season back home.

That reminds me(don't ask how) that Bond-less New Zealand are taking on SA in the only real international action happening around. And for a change, they've had a pretty decent start with the bat. Oops...first wkt down at 50...umm..I won't speak more of this ;-)