Notes from slip

Otago’s resurgence in the Plunket Shield was awfully short-lived.

Otago surged to a nine-wicket win over Canterbury in Alexandra last week.

What, why, when, where, how? So many unanswered questions following Otago coach Dion Ebrahim’s resignation this week.

Here is a question that occupied far too much of my time this week — how many New Zealand male cricketers have scored at least two list A centuries and taken at least two list A five-wicket bags?

Is this Neil Wagner’s last test? The Black Caps left-armer will turn 38 in March.

Any day the Volts get a win is a good day.

People like Shamar Joseph have a lot to answer for. 

The ICC is trialling a stop clock in ODIs and T20s in an effort to speed up the pace of play in international cricket.

Bugger. The Black Caps were bundled out of the World Cup by a classy Indian side. They were just too good and most of us knew that going in. 

It still hurts that former Otago all-rounder Nathan Smith decided his cricketing future was better served playing for Wellington.

"Rare public joy in Kabul after Afghanistan’s World Cup win over Pakistan" read the headline on the Aljazeera website.

I have just one wish for what will be my 20th season of covering the great game for the Otago Daily Times — a successful Plunket Shield campaign.