Let’s face it, as I look through the two teams and how they have performed during this two-match series, one has to seriously think about why the ICC aren’t seriously thinking about splitting the test teams into two divisions. No one wants to see cricket that is horribly lop-sided, and it can’t be good for the development of New Zealand cricket to be dealt such heavy defeats.

Here are the rankings out of ten for the players in the series in batting order.

AUSTRALIA

Shane Watson – 5 – It is so hard to really give a player a ranking off one game, but Watson played well when he got the chance, making a brisk 65 in Australia’s crucial second innings in the second test. He bowled very little, and given that he only played one match, must have a tired body after a long Southern summer.

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Well…I’ve been putting this off, hoping that I wouldn’t really have to admit that this was an issue that needed addressing on this site. But, I’m afraid I’m bursting at the seams, and need to have my say on the Michael Clarke and Lara Bingle fiasco. So, here goes…

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It was certainly interesting to read Peter Roebuck’s article on the problems of political influence in Zimbabwean cricket the other day, in light of Australia’s decision to elect former Prime Minister John Howard as it’s representative at the ICC. As far as Peter is concerned, political interference in the Zimbabwe Cricket board has resulted in a plethora of hideous ramifications for that country’s players and overall cricket system. Now, no one is suggesting that John Howard in any way represents a similar threat to the Australian Cricket Board or the ICC, particularly when he will become President in 2012, but politics and sport generally do not mix well, and thus we can certainly take Zimbabwe as a cautionary tale.

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Check out the highlights of the ODI series between Australia and the West Indies. World Cricket Watch will have highlights of all five games in the series.

5th ODI