Let's not forget: It's a team game

As pointed out by Wickman on a previous blog, nothing much seems to get past Shaky Isles skipper Daniel Vettori. For those unaware, he previously opined that cricket was all about "posting a total" (to a blog perhaps?) and then "defending it". This is a roundabout way of saying: "we need to get more runs than the other team in order to win". He's a wily fox....stroking that beard and all.

Fresh on the back of this zinger, is his explanation for NZ's success in this tournament.

"Basically the reason we have come so far is because we've had team performances," said Vettori, a day before he leads his side out against Australia at Centurion.

Wickman Junior likes this reasoning, but is slightly perplexed about why this would not apply to every other country in the Champions Trophy. Surely, they are all playing in teams of 11 Daniel? Perhaps he is suggesting that other sides are not actually teams at all, but rather individuals who happen to chuck on similar coloured shirts and are lumped together? Is there an option for country's to just put forward one all rounder perhaps instead? Wickman Junior is imagining Ravi Bopara batting, bowling, keeping and fielding all on his own. Maybe it could make all the difference in future? But at the moment, it would appear that the "team" structure is still the way forward.

Wickman Junior