h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Where's the gloating at England's dismal performance then?

When you have followed the NZ cricket team as long as I have you do not gloat on day 2 of a Test Match. Pleasantly smug would be a good description of my current feelings. The big Test match is tonight in Auckland when we whip the Aussies at rugby.

I suppose that's wise after the outcome in the first test, although the result was probably a bit of a lottery given the nature of the Edgbaston pitch. Seems to me as if NZ are an underated side at the moment, after all you nearly beat South Africa in that one day series.

I hope your correct in your rugby prediction. I had the good fortune to be at Twickenham to witness a great Engalnd victory against Australia a couple of years back. Well, OK, a draw. Still, it was enough to silence the Oz contigent of the party - he even declined to go to the pub after the game.

A quiet Aussie!!! Surely one of the great oxymorons. One of the problems with our cricket team is some of the players find the change from 1 day to test match mode, difficult.

My Ozzie friend was a little quiet after Tim Henman beat Mark Phillipousis (or if not him some other Australian) at Wimbledon last year too. Odd that...

I think the complaints about players not being able to adjust between the 1 day game and test matches is pretty much universal. At least the press in England's normally has someone commenting every few months about how the counties should be playing less one day and more championship (4 day) games.

The Aussies have been experimenting with 2 different teams recently. With only about 90 people playing 1st class cricket in NZ it is not really an option for us.

Is it really that few? How many domestic teams do you have? I'd have thought that 90 was enough of a pool to be able to pick out a few specialist one day players who wouldn't take part in test matches.

Six. A few of the players from the world cup have gone home and been replaced by people allegedly better suited to the longer version of the game. We have been playing well against the county sides and the team is reatively young so maybe there is hope for the future. But, trust me, never back NZ to win in cricket. My wallet has suffered too many times.

A friend of mine backed 'em to win the world cup, I think mainly due to the ridiculous odds they were offering (I think 25-1). He was getting quite excited at one point.

What happened in the rugby? I'll assume that when I next get to look England, will have lost the second test. It's just a Lords thing.

NZ 34 Aus 15.

I had a sore head this morning. Still too early to celebrate the cricket.

Though it is becoming harder to be humble

A comprehensive victory, excellent. I take it there was no Heineken left for breakfast then?

I wonder if England can be saved by the rain, I think that's our only hope.

As I understand it the only clouds ovrer Lords were caused by the Nat West hot-air balloon. Have restocked the Heineken supplies. NZ A v Aus Barbarians has just started on local TV. This rugby game is in effect a contest between the two B sides. Watching and drinking is ruling my life. New batteries in TV remote mean I can be on-line and watch at the same time. Hopefully the cricket will not go on all night (day) NZ 3 Aus 0 after 10 minutes.

I've just checked out the weather forecast for London, and it doesn't look good. Well, I suppose it does for people in London who either want New Zealand to win or don't give a toss about cricket. Enjoy the rest of the beer, rugby and cricket. I'm off to find some beer of my own.

NZ A 40 Australian Barbarians 17

Almost gloating. Will wait to see how the cricket goes first though.

No doubt it full gloat mode now then. Damn that weather. I haven't even bothered to see how comprehensively we were beaten.

Nine glorious golden gloated wickets. Humbleness is virtually impossible

I don't want to know, I just don't want to know.

NZ v Derbyshire, 28/7/99. NZ 369, Derbyshire 239. The roll continues.

Things in the balance at Leicestershire today, NZ made a promising start by skittling 'em out for 125 but now the batsmen are struggling on 26-4.

Young Daniel Vettori comes to the rescue with 112. A Kiwi who's mother added steel to his father's basic genetic Italian urge to surrender when the going gets tough