James Pattinson is the younger brother of England bowler Darren Pattinson.  Darren played only once for England in 2008.  After being born in Grimsby his family moved to Victoria, Australia where his younger brother, Darren was born.

James looks likely to surpass older brother Darren’s international career as he began what looks likely to be a successful international career, as he helped Australia thrash New Zealand in the first test at The Gabba.  He took no less than 5 for 27 that reduced New Zealand to a mere 28 for 5.  James Pattinson’s debut included an amazing three wickets in his maiden international over.

New Zealand went on to make 150 all out, leaving Australia only 19 to win with a day to spare. Winning the match comfortably they now lead 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

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2011 Cricket World Cup

Sadly I missed the live coverage of the dream tie between India and Australia, but managed to catch most of the highlights on TV.

The Australian’s looked to be in decent enough form throughout the majority of the game, but India always looked to be in control of the match, barring a few slapstick moments with the bat when two or three of them seemed intent on getting run out.

India’s win put an end to Australia’s incredible run in the World Cup competition which they have won on the last three occasions, they were also beaten finalists previous to that in 1996.

India now face one of  the nations who were originally going co-host the Cricket World Cup, Pakistan in what promises to be another thrilling game of one day cricket.

In today’s third quarter final tie South Africa collapsed dramatically from a comfortable 108 for 2 off 24 overs, to 172 all out.

Some inspired bowling from New Zealand oversaw the collapse with McCullum 24 for 3 and Oram 39 for 4, skittling the South African batsmen who could manage to add 64 runs between them during the final 20 overs.

New Zealand are the dark horses for me, they may not have the same ability in all levels as the remaining teams in the World Cup, but they have so far done everything they have set out to do in a business like manner.

They will now face the winners of the last quarter final to be played on Saturday between Sri Lanka and England.

2011 Cricket World Cup

In terms of sheer excitement the 2011 Cricket World Cup in South Asia has delivered by the bucket load over the last couple of weeks of group stage matches, some of the most recent highlights being another heroic comeback from England against the West Indies, when their backs were firmly up against the wall and facing elimination from the group.

Following that breathtaking match, Pakistan defied all odds and ended Australia’s World Cup dominance with a stunning victory by 4 wickets to upset the holders and on Sunday India crushed the West Indies spirits with a fantastic 80 run win.

There will be more thrills and spills to come during the knock out stages of the tournament over the next fortnight as the best eight teams in the world do battle for the ultimate One Day International prize, with India and Australia providing the battle of the giants on Thursday March 24th from Ahmedabad, the winners of this match will certainly be the favourites to win the 2011 World Cup.

England will face a tough test in their quarter final clash against 1996 champions Sri Lanka who were runners up in Group A, with the chance of a semi final encounter with the winners from New Zealand v South Africa at stake.

The full 2011 World Cup Quarter Final fixtures:

Wednesday March 23rd – Pakistan v West Indies, Mirpur, 08:30

Thursday March 24th – Australia v India, Ahmedabad, 09:00

Friday March 25th - New Zealand v South Africa, Mirpur, 08:30

Saturday March 26th – Sri Lanka v England, Colombo RPS, 09:00

The semi final games are scheduled for Tuesday March 29th and Wednesday March 30th, with the final to take place in Mumbai on Saturday April 2nd.

2011 Cricket World Cup

A minutes silence was observed before this game in memory of the victims of the earthquake in Christchurch on Tuesday, but any hopes of giving their country some happier news was quickly dashed as bitter rivals Australia demolished the New Zealand team in their second Group A match of the tournament.

Putting New Zealand into bat first, fine bowling from Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait quickly put Australia in control and had the Kiwi’s struggling at an astonishing 73 for 6. Nathan McCullum led a spirited recovery but New Zealand were finally all out for 206.

The current World Cup holders Australia then put on an outstanding show with the bat, openers Shane Watson (62) and Brad Haddin (55) put on a first wicket stand of 133 to set their team on course for victory.

It took just 34 overs for the Aussies to secure the win by seven wickets, a real confidence booster if it was ever needed. Australia have won the last three World Cup’s and this latest win takes their unbeaten run in the competition to 31 games, their last defeat back in 1999 in Pakistan.

Australia 207-3 (34 overs) bt New Zealand 206 (45.1 overs) by seven wickets

World Cup -  Group A – Nagpur

However with England winning the toss in Adelaide and choosing to bat first they set the Australians a reasonable target to chase, scoring 299 for 8 from their allotted fifty overs.

Jonathon Trott once again showed just how important he is to the the England team with a match winning performance of 102 runs from 126 balls before falling to the bowling of Hussey, with England on 224 for 5 at that stage.

When Morgan fell just three runs later England fans could have been forgiven if they expected a spectacular collapse, but Collingwood (27) and more so Yardy (39no), ensured that at least Australia would have to put up a fight to claim the fourth ODI match in a row.

The return of the prodigal son, in the shape of Anderson, will have boosted the confidence in the England camp but his return of 2 for 57 paled into insignificance as batting hero Trott continued his one man show, claiming the crucial wickets of White and Hussey to record bowling figures of 2 for 31 from his allocated 7 overs.

It was a great day for the Warwickshire batsman (and bowler) who has been crucial to the England team this past year or so.

Whether England have turned the corner in this ODI series remains to be seen, it would be an almighty achievement if they could win the next three matches to win the series, but they are still the underdogs and cannot afford to lose focus.

Australia v England fourth ODI in Adelaide

England beat Australia by 21 runs

Australia: 278-7 (50.0 overs)

England: 299-8 (50.0 overs)

paul collingwood

England T20 captain Paul Collingwood has his sights firmly on creating a new international World record of eight consecutive wins when he leads the T20 team out in Adelaide on Wednesday in the first of two matches against Australia.

The England team started their brilliant run in the T20World Cup in the Caribbean last year, culminating in a seven wicket victory over the Australian’s in the final.

Having retained the Ashes last week with a 3-1 series win, England are on top of their game and will feel that anything is possible in any format of the game, it has after all been a sensational year for our cricketers with the Ashes and World Cup victories.

Selecting the eleven to play in Adelaide may present more of an headache for Collingwood than he would like, but in their current mood everyone in the squad will fancy their chances with bat and ball as well as in the field.

Collingwood has suggested that Ian Bell may well be recalled for the T20 matches having found his form once again in Australia, despite last having played in the short game three years ago.

It is a luxury that the captain can easily live with and he said “It’s going to be interesting in the next couple of days what side we go in with. It’s good to see guys that are waiting in the wings are in great form.”

Australia meanwhile will be captained by Cameron White with only Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson retaining their places for the T20 games.

Brett Lee and Shaun Tait will spearhead the bowling attack for the Aussies with fast bowler James Pattinson likely to make his debut.

Retiring Paul Collingwood was given the honour of leading England out on the final day of his test career and was given a day to remember by his team mates as they made short work of the remaining Australian batsmen in a rain interrupted session.

However it is captain Andrew Strauss who must be given credit for his leadership qualities at test level and it is his name that will be added to those of Sir Len Hutton and Mike Brearley as only the third England captain to win Ashes series both home and away.

Alistair Cook picked up both the Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards for his contribution in amassing 766 runs over the five matches.

It is difficult however to single out one player from the England camp as everyone concerned with the team has given their all in a spectacular performance over the series in which team work and excellent leadership qualities have been key to the team comfortably retaining the Ashes.

A lot has been said about the poor quality of the Australian selection, but it is a team in transition and one that needs to build a rapport within the group of players in the squad, which they will surely manage if they hope to regain their place at the top of international cricket.

England however have been in stupendous form for sometime now at all levels and are performing more as a team than at anytime I can remember, they have deserved the win in Australia and will represent tough opposition during their heavy schedule heading into the World Cup.

Fifth Ashes Test, Sydney (day five):
England 644 beat Australia 280 & 281 by an innings and 83 runs

paul collingwood

Having struggled to make his presence felt with the bat in the current Ashes series, it is no real surprise that Paul Collingwood has mad the announcement that he will retire from Test cricket at the end of the final days play in Australia.

The 34 year old Durham player will continue to represent England in limited overs cricket where he captained the team to their first limited overs tournament success at last years World T20 in the West Indies.

As one of the finest fielders of his generation Collingwood still has plenty to offer at international level and will be a key player in England’s World Cup campaign which gets under way next month.

His recent form with the bat has been disappointing by his own standards and Collingwood will retire from Test cricket having helped England to their first Ashes win on Australian soil in 24 years.

Having already secured the Ashes series England have put themselves in a perfect position to end the series in style, at close of play on day four the visitors led by an innings and 151 runs – well on course for a crushing 3-1 victory in Sydney.

Matt Prior had earlier surpassed Ian Bell’s score of 115, taking 118 runs from just 130 balls to become the third England player in that innings to make a century. England ended the innings on 644 all out, giving the Australians a mountain to climb, a job that became progressively harder as the day went on with England’s bowlers decimating Australia and closing on victory.

Fifth Ashes Test: (day four)

Australia 280 & 213-7 v England 644

Cook who started the day on 61, enjoyed a stand of 154 with Bell as he surpassed some of the England greats of the past, making 189 runs to take his aggregate to 766 and in doing passing the likes of Boycott, Edrich, Gooch and Compton in the Ashes record books.

Bell hit his first Ashes century, making 115 before falling to Johnson in the penultimate over, after surviving a couple of close calls on the way.

He was first given out when caught behind on 67 but the decision was reversed on review and then on 84 he was dropped by Smith. To his credit Bell was quick to regain his composure and himself enjoyed a stand of 107 with Matt Prior who ended the day 54 not out.

There appeared to be little fight from the Australian’s who endured another of those days where nothing seemed to go in their favour, much to the disgust of the home fans in the packed Sydney Cricket Ground.

At stumps England led the game by 208 runs and are in a perfect position to win the Ashes outright in Australia for the first time for 24 years.

Fifth Ashes Test:

Australia 280 v England 488-7 (stumps, day three)

Having put on 78 without loss, the England batting order was demolished by a devastating display of swing bowling from the returning bowler Mitchell Johnson, keen to make amends after being dropped for the second test.

His bowling figures of 6 for 38 say it all really as England collapsed for an all out figure of a measly 187 runs. Only captain Andrew Strauss (52)and Ian Bell (53) making anything over 50, while Johnson was responsible for the wickets of Cook, Trott, Pietersen and Collingwood in the space of about twenty runs. Pietersen’s heroics with the bat in the second test now long forgotten as he went for nought in Perth.

At the end of play on day two of the third test Australia had put themselves into the driving seat on 119 for 3, Finn having taken the wickets of Hughes and Ponting, while Tremlett claimed that of Clarke.

England will need some sharp bowling to contain the remaining Australian batting order, with Watson (61) and Hussey (24) set to resume at the crease.

An early show of bowling superiority tomorrow morning could change the complexion of the game and the way the wicket is I don’t think we should expect any big run scoring innings for either side. Overall this third Ashes test is teetering in favour of the Aussies, but there is still a lot of cricket to get through yet.

Third Ashes Test, Perth (day two, close):
Australia 268 & 119-3 v England 187