In the final of our Top 5 Cricket specials (although to be fair, the first three were Top 10's...), we're going to look at the five most entertaining wicket keepers/batsmen.

We decided to cut it back to five because, in all honesty, the words exciting and wicket keepers haven't always gone hand in hand. Only in the past decade have keepers emerged as more than just the guy who catches the ball - he is now relied on to score runs with the bat, and often in quick fashion.

Gone are the days when they we're kept in the side as a low order batsmen. Now, it's all about becoming an entertaining batsmen who also happens to keep wickets - and they don't come more entertaining than the five we're about to look at.

Here we go:

5. Ridley Jacobs (West Indies):
Tests: 65 games, 2577 runs, 28.31 average, 47.8 strike rate; 207 catches, 12 stumpings
ODIs: 147 games, 1865 runs, 23.31 average, 70.06 strike rate; 160 catches, 29 stumpings

Jacobs definitely rates as one of the most entertaining keepers that we've ever seen. Jacobs was a powerful striker of the ball, using his massive frame to hit the ball to all areas of the ground. You would think a man of his stature would be less effective with the gloves, but as his records show he was agile enough to take a fair few stumpings during his career. Jacobs was also involved during Lara's massive 400 runs world record - the two compiled a 282 run partnership as Lara went on to make history. Jacobs may not have scored as many runs as some of the others have, but we were certainly entertained by the way he went about it.


4. Mark Boucher (South Africa):
Tests: 111 games, 4372 runs, 29.94 average, 49.88 strike rate; 406 catches, 19 stumpings
ODIs: 272 games, 4329 runs, 28.86 average, 84.50 strike rate; 378 catches, 18 stumpings

Boucher is the world record holder for Test dismissals by a keeper, and second only to Gilchrist in the ODI standings. As far as wicket keepers go, he is definitely among the best - if not the best. He is also a very important part of South Africa's batting line up, coming in down the order where he can score runs at a very quick rate. He may not be as explosive with the bat as our top three players, but he is certainly one classy player - in both forms of the game.

3. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand):
Tests: 37 games, 1790 runs, 31.40 average, 64.29 strike rate; 104 catches, 9 stumpings
ODIs: 138 games, 2637 runs, 28.66 average, 90.24 strike rate; 155 catches, 13 stumpings

McCullum is fast becoming one of the most entertaining players in the game today. His no-nonsense attitude makes him a danger for any bowler, and he is proving that he can score runs anywhere in the batting lineup. His lack of a solid defensive game may cost him at times, but it's his attacking style that makes him worth watching. He also carries his aggression with him when he keeps, and it certainly keeps the opposing batsmen in their place. The great thing about McCullum is that he keeps improving his game all the time - if he's already an entertaining player now, we can't wait to see what he'll be like in a year or two.

2. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka):
Tests: 76 games, 6356 runs, 54.79 average, 55.85 strike rate; 153 catches, 20 stumpings
ODIs: 230 games, 6777 runs, 35.66 average, 74.42 strike rate; 209 catches, 59 stumpings

Without a doubt one of crickets most exciting batsmen - and he carries that form in both versions of the game. Sangakkara began to struggle when given the captaincy, but once he got rid of that burden he returned to the form we've come to expect from him. His abilities with the bat are outstanding, and as Black Caps fans we've become accustomed to Sangakkara scoring runs against us - as probably most teams have. They really don't come any more entertaining than Sangakkara.

1. Adam Gilchrist (Australia):
Tests: 96 games, 5570 runs, 47.60 average, 81.95 strike rate; 379 catches, 37 stumpings
ODIs: 287 games, 9619 runs, 35.89 average, 96.94 strike rate; 417 catches, 55 stumpings

Could there be anyone else at number 1? We don't think so. Gilly is the greatest opening batsman in ODI history, and definitely one of the best number 7's in Tests. You only have to look at his strike rates to know he didn't waste any time out in the middle. He liked to put on a show, and that's what he did time after time, after time. Gilchrist revolutionised the way wicket keepers played the game, transforming them from part-time batsmen into run scoring machines - and in doing so, made sure that there was no place in cricket for wicket keepers who couldn't bat. As for his keeping skills, he holds the record for ODI dismissals, and is second only to Boucher in Tests. We certainly hope they don't manage to find a replacement of his caliber in Australia. But really, how could they? There can only be one Adam Gilchrist.

Most sports have at least some element of risk involved for the participants. Others border on the edge of insanity.

This week's Top 5 is all about those sports which cause the most injuries - and the ones that can be the most lethal when things go wrong.

Here we go. And, by the way - don't try these at home...

5. Cheerleading

We know what you're thinking, but cheerleading is one of the front runners in terms of serious injuries. With around 20,000 reported injuries in the United States alone, this sport is not for the faint hearted. When you consider some of the ridiculous positions these girls (and the 'odd' guy) put themselves in, it's no wonder there are some extremely serious injuries. Anytime you flip someone high into the air, you've got to expect that at some point they're going to land flat on their face. Or worse...

You might think cheerleading is for dainty little girls, but no - you've gotta be tough (and a little crazy...) to partake in THIS brutal sport.

4. Cave Diving
There are a million things that can potentially go wrong when you decide to go cave diving, which (for those who don't know what that is) basically means swimming in underwater caves. As far as we're concerned, anyone who swims in caves filled with water has serious issues.

Firstly, there's the problem of faulty equipment, which can prove to be lethal if your air supply runs out and you're 100m below the surface. Secondly, and probably the most dangerous part, is that you're in the sea - which means SHARKS. And any sport that involves sharks has to be considered dangerous (and just plain stupid) in our opinion...

3. Golf
Another sport that people innocently think nothing can go wrong with. Don't be fooled by the tartan pants and funny little hats, though - this sport can be lethal.

Apparently around 4000 people die each year while out enjoying a round of golf, not to mention that 5% of all lightning fatality's occur on the fairway. When you're out on the course, it's not bad enough you've got to watch out for other people's balls, but you've also got to watch out for lightning - making this enjoyable pastime a lethal sport.

2. Mixed Martial Arts
A sport that involves another man trying to knock you out? Yep, we think it's dangerous, too.

While MMA might be considered brutal, there are actually a lot of rules to help keep the fighters safe from serious injuries. But that doesn't mean injuries don't occur - far from it, in fact. When you've got another guy whose objective is to either knock you out, or submit you via some maneuver designed to break your arm, serious injuries are going to be a fact of life.

Still - we think we'd take our chances with some fighter than we would a shark or a bolt of lightning...us aside, though, we think MMA has to come in at #2.

1. Base Jumping
Before we start - if you do this, you're nuts.

Base jumping has to have the most amount of risk involved in any sport. If you're falling towards the earth at a million miles an hour, and your chute doesn't open, there's nothing you can do except watch your life flash before your eyes. Although to be fair you'd probably be too busy screaming and filling your pants to notice some precious memories from your childhood...

If everything DOES go right, it's probably one of the greatest thrills you could experience - but that doesn't change the fact that when things DO go wrong, they go wrong in a spectacularly bad way.

Call us chicken, but we'd prefer our feet planted safely on the ground.


Head to the forum, and give us your thoughts!

Photo Credits (Flickr) - terren in Virginia (cheerleaders), Rescue Dog (base jumper).

Whether playing side by side, or in opposition to one another, siblings often create the toughest competition for one another. Or, they team up to become tough competitors.

This week, our Top 5 takes a look at the best siblings in professional sport - whether on the same team, or going head to head in direct competition.

5. Brett and Glenn Stewart (Manly Sea Eagles)
The Stewart brothers have developed into two of the most lethal players with the Manly Sea Eagles over the past few seasons. Brett is one of the best fullbacks in the NRL, and has a flare for scoring trys - including the most in this years NRL competition, with 19. Younger brother Glenn is the workhorse of the two, playing in the forwards, although he's capable of playing in the halves too.

Both have been named in Australia's World Cup squad after an excellent year with the Sea Eagles and, while Glenn is yet to play State of Origin footy, we don't think it will be long before he steps up along side his older brother.

These two brothers are definitely two of the best in the business.


4. Zinzan and Robin Brooke (Auckland, All Blacks)
The Brooke brothers are two of the best players to ever play for the All Blacks, and played 120 Tests between them during the 1990's (Zinzan 58, Robin 62). Not only were they both an important part of the All Blacks during the 1990's, but both played for Auckland during it's dominant reign on New Zealand rugby.

Both Zinzan and Robin were natural leaders, and both were players who lead from the front. Zinzan captained the Blues to the 1996 and 1997 Super 12 titles, while Robin went on to captain them in 2000 and 2001. There have been few brothers in rugby who have dominated the game like the Brooke brothers did.


3. Georgina and Caroline Ever-Swindell (Rowing)
New Zealand's 'Golden Girls' of rowing. They became Olympic champions at Athens winning the double sculls Gold medal, and successfully defended their title at Beijing - winning by literally the smallest of margins to reclaim the Gold.

Their win at Beijing was something truly special, especially considering that their build-up to the games had been somewhat unsuccessful. Heading into the medal race most people had counted them out, and thought it was an achievement that they had made it that far. By the end of the race, though, we doubt there was a New Zealander sitting in their chair - everyone was up, leaping up with excitement. The 'Golden Girls' had done it again.

Georgina and Caroline have since announced their retirement from the sport, choosing to go out on the ultimate high.

2. Venus and Serena Williams (Tennis)
These two are two of the biggest tennis stars of the past decade, and there's not much separating the two. In the eighteen official matches between the two sisters, Serena has the slightest of edges - winning ten of the eighteen over her older sister.

Both have won nine Grand Slams each, while Venus has 37 Career Titles to Serena's 32.

No doubt the girls parents have a tough time picking who they want to win, especially when they meet up against each other...

1. Peyton and Eli Manning (American Football)

In 2006 Peyton Manning helped lead the Indianapolis Colts to Super Bowl XLI, where he became the MVP in the Colts 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears. The very next season his younger brother, Eli, helped lead the New York Giants to the Super Bowl title, where he too won the MVP award.

Both stars have the quarterback position in their blood - their father Archie played for the New Orleans Saints, Houston Oilers and the Minnisota Vikings during the 1970s and 80s. It's no wonder they've gone on to become two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL today.




You can just imagine how fierce the competition must have been in the backyard of the Manning household...friendly game of footy, anyone?










(Photo's by Bwana and Joseph Hoetzl - Flickr.)

Every sport has that one moment that shocks the sporting community. Some sports (we won't name names, will we rugby league?) seem to have these moments every other week.

So, we thought we'd take a look at the Top 5 infamous moments in [recent] sporting history.

5. Ben Johnson - (drug cheat)

The 100m sprint final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics became one of the most controversial moments in Olympic history. It was supposed to be an epic battle between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis, who was odds on favourite to win Gold. But, in a stunning turn of events, Ben Johnson ran a 9.79 seconds race to claim the Gold, while Lewis could only watch on in disbelief.

But that was only the beginning of the controversy. Johnson returned a positive urine sample, containing Stanozolol - a banned substance. Three days later he was disqualified, and his Gold medal and world record time were stripped.
We know there have been a lot of athletes caught taking steroids, but back in 1988 it was nowhere near as common as it is today. Johnson getting caught and stripped of his medal was extremely shocking for it's time, and for that reason rates as one of the top infamous moments in sporting history.


4. Trevor Chappell - (the 'under-arm incident')

This 'incident' is one of the most disgraceful moments in cricket history, and one that all New Zealand cricket fans will never be able to forget or forgive.

New Zealand needed six runs to tie the match, and Trevor Chappell was about to bowl the final ball - it doesn't get any more tense in cricket. Astonishingly, under the instruction of his brother Greg, Trevor bowled the ball underarm and along the ground, effectively making it impossible for Brian McKechnie to hit over the boundary. At the time, an underarm delivery was not considered illegal - but WAS considered outside the realms of good sportsmanship.

What made the whole event even more bizarre was that McKechnie was charged with misconduct after he threw his bat away in disgust.

Unfortunately for Trevor, his whole career will forever be overshadowed by the 'underarm incident'.


3. Tonya Harding - (anything to win)

Ahhh, the vicious sport of figure skating. Or at least it was in 1994, when Tonya Harding conspired with Jeff Gillooly to attack Nancy Kerrigan, her competition.

Jeff and Shawn Eckardt, a friend, allegedly hired Shane Stant to attack Kerrigan at the US Figure Skating Championships in Detroit. Stant did just that, attacking her knee and forcing her to withdraw from the competition - which Harding went on to win.

Harding protested her innocence at first, but later plead guilty, and was given three years probation, 500 hours of community service and fined $160,000. It just goes to show - some people will do anything to win.

The lesson here? Don't mess with figure skaters.


2. Hanse Cronje - (match fixing)

In 2000, South African cricket captain Hanse Cronje was found guilty of match fixing, and given a life ban from all cricket. It was major fall from grace for one of South Africa's greatest batsmen.

Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Strydom were also caught up in the scandal, but the brunt of the fallout came down on Cronje.

He was allegedly caught trying to pay off his team mates to under perform in certain games, and conspiring with Indian bookmakers to fix the outcome of matches.
The effects of the scandal were felt throughout the cricketing world, as more and more players were believed to be involved in match fixing. But for Cronje, his whole career was tarnished, and his name would be forever linked to the match fixing scandal.

In 2002, Cronje died tragically in a plane crash. It's unfortunate that such a talented cricketer will only be remembered for his match fixing, rather than his batting.


1. Mike Tyson - (ear nibbling)

We all remember the day Tyson took a chunk out of Evander Holyfield's ear - it's one of the most infamous moments in sporting history.
It was the second fight between the two heavyweights, but it wasn't destined to last long. At the end of the third round the referee stopped the fight (because of the bitten ear), which Tyson claimed was in defence of Holyfield's head butting. Nice try Tyson, but we all remember you were getting beaten - and biting Holyfield's ear was your way out of the fight.

Tyson's boxing license was revoked - only to be reinstated one year later.

Fortunately for Tyson, his name couldn't get anymore tarnished - his whole career reads like a 'most infamous moments' list.

Top 5 time again, and this week we're looking at the Top 5 Greatest Sporting Comebacks.

We're talking about sportsmen coming back from career ending injuries, or coming out of retirement to shock the world - not teams coming back from twenty points behind to win in overtime.

Here are the inspirational stories that make up our Top 5:


5. Randy Couture

On February 4, 2006, Couture was beaten by Light-Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell, in what was his second loss to Liddell by way of knockout. He announced his retirement immediately following the fight, and at the age of 43 many people felt it was time.
But, after a few months of retirement, fans were shocked to hear that Couture was making a return to the UFC, and was to face the Heavyweight Champion Tim 'The Maine-iac' Sylvia for the title at UFC 68.
At the age of 44, many felt he could not compete with the much younger Sylvia. But within the opening minute of the first round he had knocked Sylvia down, and from there on he controlled the fight. He would go on to win the Heavyweight title for a third time, truly cementing his place in the Hall of Fame.
After defending his title against Gabriel Gonzaga, Couture fell out with the UFC over contract problems, and walked away from his contract. It appeared, again, as though Couture's career in the UFC was over.
However, a second comeback is on the horizon, as it has been announced that the 45 year old Couture will return on a three fight deal. It will start with a heavyweight fight against Brock Lesnar, with the winner going on to fight the winner of the Nogueria vs Mir fight to become the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion.
This guy is the comeback king, and for a guy to be dominating such a physical sport in his fourties is truly amazing.


4. Magic Johnson

Magic was one of the NBA's greatest stars of the 1980's, but in 1991 his career came to an end when he announced he had HIV, and that he would be retiring. He made a brief return in 1992 at the All-Star game, but was forced to fully retire after fellow NBA players protested at Magic playing with the disease. This time, he would be retired for four years before making one final return for the LA Lakers in 1996, where he played 32 games.
While his final return to the NBA wasn't the longest comeback, the fact that he never gave up, despite the fact that he was suffering from HIV, makes his comeback something special. Most people in his shoes would give up and walk away, especially considering that in 1991, when he first announced he had the disease, HIV was relatively unknown.

It takes something special to comeback from a situation like that.


3. Muhammad Ali

In 1967 Ali was stripped of his boxing license and his Heavyweight title after he refused to serve in the United States Army - which was engaged in the Vietnam War.
In 1970 the New York State Supreme Court ruled that Ali had been unjustly refused a boxing licence, and granted him a license to begin fighting again. After beating Oscar Bonavena, Ali was to fight the undefeated Joe Frazier for the title. Frazier would go on to win the first of their three fights.
In 1974, Ali fought George Forman for the title - a fight no one expected Ali to be able to win. But he did just that, and in doing so reclaimed his title after seven long years. It was one of the greatest upsets in sports history, and definitely one of the greatest comebacks.


2. Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu is one of the greatest All Blacks of all time, and in his prime was the greatest attacking weapon in all of rugby. In 1996 Lomu announced he had nephritic syndrome, a rare kidney disorder, and as time went on it became clear that it was taking a huge toll on his body.
In 2003 Lomu was undergoing dialysis three times a week to help combat the disease, but the dialysis was doing damage to the nerves in his legs and feet. He needed a kidney transplant, or he could die.
July 28, 2004 - Lomu had the transplant performed, and from that moment on his eyes were set on returning to rugby - nothing was going to stop him.
In 2005 he was selected for a Martin Johnson Invitational XV, and his dreams were becoming a reality. He had returned from a life threatening disease to play the game he loved. He was signed by North Harbour that year, and was also given the chance to play for the Cardiff Blues during the off season.
While he never returned to his best form, and his dreams of making the All Blacks again would never eventuate, his comeback from a kidney transplant is a phenomenal story. He never gave up, even when everyone around him was saying it could never happen.

What a legend.


1. Lance Armstrong

This is one of the greatest comebacks of all time. To be diagnosed with testicular cancer, and go on to make a full recovery, is a massive achievement in it's own right. But to go on and win a record seven Tour de France titles is incredible. Lance Armstrong is a true inspiration - not only to sportsmen who have suffered setbacks in their career, but to everyone.
And it isn't over for Armstrong yet, either - he has announced that he's going to be racing in the Tour de France next year for the first time since 2005, making it his second comeback.

Astonishing.

All these sportsmen are inspirational. They came back from either serious illness or retirement to reclaim their place at the top of their sport.

It's stories like these that make sport so exciting, and so inspirational to all of us - on and off the field.

In this week's Top 5, we're looking at the five greatest sporting rivalries.

It doesn't matter what sport you watch - there are always a couple of teams or countries that clash, and want nothing more than to beat their arch rival. It's these clashes that produce the greatest games to watch.

In this Top 5, we've gone with team/country rivalries rather than individual rivalries - which will be a whole different Top 5.

So, here we go:

This fierce rivalry dates back to the 1960s, when the Boston Celtics dominated the NBA, defeating the Lakers six times in eight years to claim the NBA Championship. The rivalry came to represent the working class Celtics, up against the Hollywood-lifestyle Lakers.
The rivalry really began to heat up in the 1980's when both sides were on top of the NBA pile, and the two sides renewed there battle for supremacy.
What made the rivalry during the '80s even greater was the individual player rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson - it helped to re-popularise the NBA, which, due to poor crowd numbers, was struggling financially at the time.
The rivalry between the two disappeared during the 1990s, when basketball was dominated by the Chicago Bulls, and one Michael Jordan. But in 2008, the world was reintroduced to the greatest rivalry in basketball history. The Celtics and Lakers met in the final for the first time in 21 years, with the Celtics clinching the series in Game six.

Could it be the rebirth of the famous rivalry? Only time will tell.


The Ashes is one of the greatest rivalries in all of cricket. Since 1882, Australia and England have battled it out for the famous 'Urn'.
The two sides have met in 64 Ashes series, usually consisting of five Test matches, with Australia winning 31 and England 28 (five series have been drawn).
Australia have dominated the Ashes over the past twenty years, with England's best result coming in 2005 when they defeated the heavily favoured Aussies - only to lose the following series 5-0.
As far as rivalries go, the Ashes series is amongst the best, and some of the greatest moments in cricket history have come from this great competition.





This rivalry is one of the oldest in sports history, and is considered one of the greatest in American sports.
The origins of this rivalry go back to 1920, when a young Babe Ruth was sold by Harry Frazee to the New York Yankees. This sparked the beginning of the Yankees rise in baseball, the downfall of the Red Sox, and the famous 'Curse of the Bambino'.
It would be 86 years before the Red Sox would win another World Series, while the Yankees would go on to win 26.
In 2004, the Red Sox beat the Yankees in the American League Championship Series, before going on to win the World Series. The rivalry between these two famous teams has since flared up again, with the Red Sox returning to the winning ways, and once again becoming a dominant force in baseball today.



State vs State, mate vs mate - it doesn't get any better than that, as the country boys from Queensland take on the city slickers from New South Wales.
The intense rivalry between these two States produces the greatest, most anticipated rugby league games of the year.
Once the players pull on their respective jerseys, it's war. It doesn't matter if your club team mate plays for the other team - during the State of Origin series, he's your enemy.
You only have to look at some of the fights to know that the players will do anything to beat the other State.
Queensland has the edge over New South Wales, winning 17 of the 29 series, and has dominated the past three years. But, such is the intense rivalry between the two States, that there is never an easy win for either side. These games are truly some of the most brutal in all sports - how could you not love it?





Rugby, cricket, league, netball - anything between these two countries. When it comes to sports, it's simple - we don't like them, and they don't like us.
When it comes to rugby, it doesn't matter how badly Australia have been playing - they always save their best when it's time to face the All Blacks. The same, too, can be said for the Black Caps.
Ok, so in league we struggle to beat the Aussies - but watch out when we do, because nothing annoys the Kangaroos more than losing to the Kiwis.
There's no greater victory for a New Zealander than one over the the Aussies, and vice versa.

And, no greater rivalry in sport.

It's that time of the week, and this week we're looking at the Top 5 reasons why cricket is a more difficult sport to play than baseball.

In both baseball and cricket, the batsmen has to physically run to score (home runs and boundaries aside). The fundamental difference, though, is that the cricketer has to do HIS running with the weight from all of his pads. We're talking leg pads, thigh guard, helmet, arm guard, gloves, box (that's a cup, to all you Americans), and, of course, the bat itself - all of which make running a difficult task.
In baseball, the batsman just hits the ball and makes a mad dash for first base - usually only wearing his helmet and box. And his uniform, of course. The maximum number of times a batter would have to run off one hit in baseball is four times - from home plate - home plate. In cricket, the batsman keeps batting (and running) until he's out - and that could be one run, or 300 - all the while carrying the weight of his protective gear.

Trust us, it ain't easy going.

There are twice as many ways to get out in cricket than there are in baseball, which means a batsman has to be constantly on guard.
In baseball, there are five ways to get a batter out - a strikeout, groundout (running a batter out), forceout (when a batter is attempting to steal base), flyout (getting caught) and tagout (tagging a batter between bases). That means there are only five things a batter has to be aware of when he's stepping up to the plate.
In cricket, there are ten ways a batsman can be dismissed. Getting bowled, caught, LBW (getting struck on the pads in front of the wickets), stumped by the wicket-keeper, hit wicket (accidentally striking the wickets with your bat), hitting the ball twice, obstructing the path of a fielder, handling the ball, or being timed out (taking too long to get out to bat). The batsmen need to keep all of this in mind while trying to score as many runs as possible.

Try doing that when you've got someone bowling at you at 96mph (154kph).



Not only do cricketer's have to contend with the rules of the game, they also have to contend with different playing conditions that can have a dramatic affect on the game. An overcast day, for example, can change the way a game will be played by giving the ball more 'swing' through the air, making life tough for the batsman. Playing all day in the hot sun can drain a player, especially if he's out batting all day. A lot of cricket is played in the Sub-Continent, where temperatures during games regularly soar into the 40s (around 110 deg. F). Remember all that gear from point 5? Yeah - it makes us sweat, too.
But it's not only the weather that can have an effect - the pitch conditions also have a major impact on a game. The groundsmen can prepare a pitch to be fast, slow, offer something to the swing bowlers, or give the pitch some turn, which helps out the spin bowlers.
And then there's the outfield. If it's dry and fast, the batsmen won't have to run as much - but the fielders will. If it's damp and slow, the batsmen have a long day of running ahead of them.

The conditions don't play nearly as big a part in baseball as they do in cricket - just ask a cricket side that's had to field for 3 straight days in India.


Why do baseballer's wear catching mitts? Is it that hard to catch a baseball in your bare hands?
We don't think so, especially given that a cricket ball is heavier than a baseball. A standard cricket ball weighs between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163 grams), while a standard baseball weighs in at 5.25 ounces (142 and 149 grams).
A cricket ball is also smaller (22.4 -22.9 cm circumference) than a baseball (22.9 - 23.5 cm circumference), which means cricketer's are catching a smaller and heavier ball, without the use of gloves - and they still make incredible diving catches.
If they can do it without the use of gloves, why can't baseballer's?



We've already mentioned the fact that batsmen have to run with pads. But, they also have to deal with batting for (if all goes well) extremely long periods of time, varying pitch conditions (which, during a 5 day Test, can change every day), and facing up to world class bowlers.
A batsman in cricket can't just walk out and smash the ball - if you try, you'll be out in a second. And then it's the long (trust us - it's looong) walk back to the pavilion. Also, batters in baseball bat once per innings, just as they do in cricket - but they don't face nearly as many deliveries as a cricketer does. Oh, and they can be walked to first base, too. How nice.
And the bowlers - they don't have the luxury of standing in one spot to deliver the ball. Fast bowlers run in, on average, 25 yards (22m) every delivery. In a day where a bowler sends down 15 overs (with 6 balls in each over), they've run 2250 yards (1980m). And it's not just a jog, either - every ounce of energy the bowler has goes into each delivery. Need we mention the 5 days in the Indian sun, again?


Both batting and bowling require a lot of patience, perseverance, guts, and a huge amount of skill - and for that reason, we believe that cricket is a much, much harder game to play than baseball.

These two videos show cricket from two perspectives. The first clip shows the effort, passion and intensity that goes into every single action in a cricket match. The second clip shows the speed and skill required to catch a cricket ball - without a glove.

(Apologies for the extra-long intro to the first clip - feel free to skip it.)

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It's Top 5 time again, and with the Olympics heading into the home stretch we thought we'd give you our Top 5 'Weirdest Olympic Sports'.

There are a lot of different sporting events at the Beijing games, and some of them are slightly odd.

Well, 'slightly' is a bad word - really, they're borderline as to whether or not they should even be at the games.

So, here's our Top 5 'Weirdest Olympic Sports':

As an artistic display, it's amazing what these girls can do. But let's be honest - it's slightly bizarre, and almost humorous. It's dancing under water, right? And while we're not doubting their skill, we can't get over the fact that, well...it's dancing under water.
Next thing you know, there'll be ballroom dancing, and possibly even break-dancing, at the Olympic games. As far as Olympic sports go, this one is just plain weird.

This is the one where the rider makes the horse walk funny, right? It's kind of like synchronised swimming, but with a horse. And no water.
The horse struts around the field for a few minutes, lifting it's legs in various, slightly awkward looking ways. Kind of like it's walking on hot coals, really.
Like synchronised swimming, it probably takes an awful lot of talent from the rider. But for the spectator, it's like watching a horse walk around a paddock with pins in it's feet.
Is it really a sport? We're not sure - but we are sure it's weird.



When we originally watched a highlights package of handball, it actually looked like a lot of fun. And then we watched an entire game.
Weird? Oh yes. There doesn't seem to be any structure to it - the players run down one end, try to throw the ball into the goal, and then run back down to defend, without even bothering to try and get the ball off the opposition. It's just so (too..?) chaotic.
If anyone can explain the rules of handball to us, please do - but until then, handball's staying in the weird column.


At what point did walking become a sporting event? And then, even more mind-boggling, an Olympic event? And walking the way they do - you know what we mean, right...?
We've never seen anyone walk that way down the street, so why do they call it walking at the Olympics? It's not walking - it's trotting, or something.
Further more, at what point does someone decide they want to be an Olympic walker? 'Mum, look - I discovered I have the most amazing talent today!'
It's quite possibly the most unflattering sport out there - and indeed, one of the weirdest.




We have to put this at number one, purely for the fact that even having a trampoline at the Olympics is weird - let-a-lone people jumping on it as an event...
Trampolining is something that kids do when their parents tell them to go and play outside. Granted, the 'athletes' do some pretty amazing flips (and other things, too, but we're not that familiar with the trampolining lingo) - but it would be better suited to a circus show than the Olympics.
Still, kids the world over can rejoice in the fact that if they fail at rugby or soccer, they can always take up bouncing on a trampoline. You never know - they might even reach the top of the athletics world.

And our Top 5 Weirdest Olympic Sports list, too.

It's that time again, sports fans - our weekly Top 5, and this week we've decided to give you our Top 5 reasons to watch the Olympics.

So far, the Beijing games have been a fantastic spectacle - and they're only going to get better when the track and field events start.

So, here are our Top 5 reasons to watch the games:

It's not every day you get to watch the greatest athletes from around the world compete at one sporting event - in fact, it only happens every four years. For that reason alone, it's worth watching.
For the brief time the Olympics are on, the world seems to stand still (with the exception of the Russians...) to watch their country's finest try to win Gold.
Four years is a long time to wait, so make the most of the Olympics while they're on, we say.

Ok, so this one is mainly for our New Zealand readers. But we Kiwis take our sport very seriously, and although we don't win as many medals as we'd all like, we take great pride in supporting our New Zealand athletes.
This year we have a great chance of winning a few medals as well - five of our rowing teams have made their finals, Valerie Vili is going into the shotput with a real chance of winning gold, and don't be surprised if a few other teams make their mark on the games.


The great thing about the Olympics is that there are a whole range of sports to watch, that we don't usually get to see. Although admittedly we wouldn't usually even bother watching half of them, there's something about the Olympics that makes us want to watch these different sports. We're talking about things like synchronised diving, gymnastic events, volleyball and handball (which we think is a great sport, by the way), plus a whole range of different sports - we don't have enough time in the month to list them all...


One of the greatest events at the Olympics (and one of the shortest, too), the 100m Final is one of the most talked about, and watched, events.
It's crazy to think that athletes prepare for four years to race in an event that last around ten seconds, but what a ten seconds they are!
This year's race is shaping up to be one of the best yet, with the current World Record holder, Usain Bolt of Jamaica (9.76 sec), going up against Tyson Gay of the United States, who has a fastest time of 9.77 seconds. If both these men can make it through the heats, which they should, then the final will definitely be worth watching.


The "Baltimore Bullet" is arguably the greatest Olympian of all time, and definitely one of the most exciting athletes to watch. So far at these games he's won five golds (400m individual medley, 4x 100m freestyle relay, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x 200m freestyle relay), all under the World record time. He still has three events to go (200m individual medley, 100m butterfly, 4x 100 medley relay), and if he can win Gold in all three he will surpass Mark Spitz's record of seven golds at an Olympic games. Phelps has also become the record holder for the most Golds ever won in Olympic history, with eleven.
At this stage, we cant see anyone beating him in his last three events - or even coming close, for that matter.
If you only watch one competitor at the Beijing games, then make it Michael Phelps.













So - there are our Top 5 reasons to watch the Olympic games. But to be honest, there are hundreds of reasons to watch. Let us know what you think of the Games so far, and head to our forum for some in depth talk about the Olympics.

See you there!

It's Top 5 time again, and this week we thought we'd continue along the lines of Rugby vs. American Football.

We know this will probably create some controversy, but we want to give you our Top 5 reasons why we think rugby and rugby league beat American football - hands down.

Of course, that may not be the case at all - but this is what we think, based on the research we've done on the topic lately.

Let the debating begin!

In American football, there are separate teams to handle the offence and defence, and even a 'special team' to take care of the goal kicking. Seems like a lot of people doing the same job that fifteen players (or thirteen in league) do in rugby!
In rugby, everyone plays offence and defence - from the biggest guy on the field to the smallest, no one can avoid making a tackle. Because of this, all players have to be ready to run with the ball, which means everyone needs to have a certain level of fitness - there's no room for 300 pound guys who can't run.
There's no one in rugby (or league) who can just stand there and block, like American footballers. You do that in rugby, and you're going to find yourself sitting on the bench real quick.

Rugby and rugby league have a far greater following around the world, and aren't confined to (virtually) one country like American football is. Further more, the two forms of rugby are growing internationally, which means a lot more people are watching and playing rugby than ever before.
American football is predominantly centered in the United States, and although it's played throughout Europe, it doesn't really have the following that rugby has in that region.
We don't deny the fact that in the States it dominates the sporting calender, but outside of USA - well, it hardly exists.

There can be no argument on this one - when it comes to goal kicking, rugby and league kickers are far more skillful than their American football counterparts. When a touchdown is scored in American football, the goal kicker lines up his shot at goal from right out in front of the posts - it doesn't matter where the touchdown was scored. Ok, so we understand that the kicker has to contend with the opposition trying to block him - but in the end, all he has to do is kick it straight.
In rugby, the goal kicker takes the shot at goal in line from wherever the try was scored - it doesn't matter if it's out in front, or from right out on the side lines. Therefore, it's not just a case of kicking it straight - they have to contend with the wind, and the angle of the kick, and they still have the opposition trying to charge down their kicks.

This one's pretty self explanatory as well - there ain't no pads in rugby or league.
We know that pads are a necessity in American football, based on the way they tackle - and that without them, there would be a lot of serious head injuries. But in rugby, and especially league, they don't wear massive shoulder pads or helmets, and yet they can still get tackled (and tackle) just as hard. Not only that, but they have to contend with rucks and mauls (and getting rucked off the ball), and they don't have the pads to protect them.

We're not talking about who tackles harder, because we can't deny the fact that American footballers hit extremely hard, and that some of their tackles are damn impressive. What we're talking about is the fact that in rugby, there is much more to tackling than just stopping the opposition dead in their tracks - the tackle is only the beginning of the battle. Once the tackle is made, you have to contend with the opposition trying to secure the ball, while trying to turn it over for your team. You've got players from both sides driving in trying to get the ball back on their side, and we won't even start on rucking.
It's such a vital part of rugby, and it keeps the game flowing from one phase to the other - rather than stopping every time to reset for the next play, like they do in American football.
While they may say they hit harder, at least they get to stop and catch their breath after every tackle.

There's no such luck in rugby.


Now, we don't want people to think we have some vendetta against American football - that's not the case at all. In fact, we actually love watching the NFL!

We're just trying to show you why we think, after looking into it fairly thoroughly, rugby is a greater, more skillful game.

Of course, we'd love to hear your thoughts on the debate! Head over to our forum, and say your bit.

Last Saturday Nick Farr Jones was inducted into the Australian Rugby Union's Hall of Fame.

Jones thoroughly deserves the recognition - he was one of Australia's greatest halfbacks, and was captain when they won the 1991 World Cup.

A Hall of Fame is a fantastic way to honour the greats of the game, and we can't understand why New Zealand doesn't have a Hall of Fame for our players.

Doesn't make sense, does it? We are, after all, the greatest rugby playing nation of all time, and we have a long history of true rugby greats.

We think it's time the NZRU set up a Hall of Fame to honour our best players, and here's who we think should be the first five players inducted.

Dave Gallaher is best known for captaining "The Originals" on the first tour to Britain, France and North America in 1905. In a total of 35 games, including 5 Tests, "The Originals" only lost the one game - a 3-0 defeat to Wales. Gallaher led from the front, playing in 26 (including 4 Tests) of the 35 matches. He was an extraordinary leader, and had a great eye for the game.
Gallaher went on to fight in the First World War, despite being exempt from service due to his age. Apparently, he altered his date of birth so that he could volunteer. He died during the battle at Passchendale, and is today honoured by New Zealand and France, who play for the Dave Gallaher Trophy. Gallaher is a member of the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

Lochore was named captain of the All Blacks after playing in only six games, including four Tests. He would remain captain until his retirement in 1970, although he did come back to play a one off Test in 1971. After his playing days were over, he moved into coaching, and was the coach of the All Blacks in 1987 when they won the inaugural World Cup. He has also been a manager of the All Blacks, and is currently a selector.
In 1999, Lochore was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame, and in the same year was knighted for his services to rugby.

Sean Fitzpatrick is one of rugby's greatest ever players, and his haul of 92 Tests is still a New Zealand record. In 1992 Fiztpatrick was named captain of the All Blacks, and remained so until his retirement in 1997. Fitzpatrick was a part of the Auckland provincial side that dominated New Zealand rugby during the 1990s, and was a member of the Blues during the first two years of the Super 12. Fitzpatrick set the benchmark for captains all over the world, but honestly - there are none who come close. Fiztpatrick is a member of the International Rugby Hall of Fame, and the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Lomu is without a doubt rugby's biggest superstar. He was elevated to fame for his efforts in the 1995 World Cup, where he scored seven trys in five games, including running down Mike Catt in the semi-final to score one of his four trys that day. From that moment on, he was the biggest name in the game.
Lomu's love for the All Blacks kept him fighting through his kidney disease, and although he never returned to the All Blacks after his transplant in 2004, the fact that he went on to play for North Harbour and the Cardiff Blues is incredible.
He scored 43 trys for the All Blacks, 15 at the 1995 and 1999 World Cups (a record), won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1998 (sevens), and in 2007 was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
Simply put, the guy is a legend.


They don't come any tougher than Pinetree, that's for sure. Meads has come to represent what being an All Black is all about - or, at least, what it should be about. His feats on the field are legendary. There wasn't an ounce of weakness in his body - he even finished a game with a broken arm. His response after that game sums him up - "At least we won the bloody game"
Meads was named the New Zealand Player of the Century in 1999, and is a member of the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
The All Blacks could certainly do with a few more players like Pinetree...



These are only five of New Zealand's greatest All Blacks - we could go on and on if we wanted to. The point is, it's about time the NZRU started our own Hall of Fame.

Then again, there aren't too many All Blacks who wouldn't make the list.

In this week's Top 5, we're looking at the Greatest American sportsmen - which virtually picks itself when you look at the legends that hail from the good old US of A.

Seeing as we're from New Zealand, we don't get to see a lot of American sports (we're limited by what they show on ESPN...), so forgive us if we've left someone out.

But then, you won't argue with our picks anyway, will you?

What can we say about Tiger? The guy truly is one of the greatest golfers of all time, and has certainly been the most dominant in recent history - not to mention the highest money earner in golf. During his career so far, Tiger has amassed 65 PGA Tour wins and 14 Major Championships, and is second only to Jack Nicklaus on 18. Once he's back from his knee injury, we're sure he'll surpass Nicklaus's record. The golfing world better make the most of his absence, because once he's back, we're sure he'll continue where he left off.

Winning.

Jesse Owens is a true legend. Not only in the athletic world, but amongst all sportsmen. He dominated the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, winning four Gold medals on the track - 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay. "So what?", we hear you say, "A lot of people have won more than that!". But what makes Owens great was the fact that he did this in front of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany, where they were claiming Aryan superiority and black inferiority. Owens became one of the game's great heroes, and was well received in Germany despite the colour of his skin. His record of four golds at one Olympics was held until 1984, when Carl Lewis broke it.





'Babe' Ruth is considered the greatest Baseball player of all time - and he didn't need the assistance of steroids, either. From 1914-1935 Babe revolutionised the game, helping to raise the games popularity during the 1920s. During his twenty-one year career, Babe became a master of hitting, and his record speaks for themselves - .342 average, .690 slugging percentage and 1.164 on-base plus slugging. In 1936, Babe was one of the first five players inducted into the Hall of Fame for his services to the game, and in 1969 (the year of baseball's 100th Anniversary) was named the greatest baseballer of all time. He will probably be best remembered for his famous point to the outfield before hitting a home run, but as far as American legends go - he's definitely amongst the best.





Jordan is without doubt the greatest Basketball player of all time, and his impact on the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s tells the story. Six NBA championships (1991, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98), five MVPs, two Olympic golds (1984, 92), fourteen All-Star appearances - and the list goes on. Jordan has done it all, including a brief stint at Baseball and a Hollywood movie (Space Jam). Everyone wanted to 'Be like Mike', and it's no wonder. The guy was a freak on the basketball court, and the things he could do left other teams in awe of him. We think this quote from Magic Johnson says it all - "There's Michael Jordan, and then there's the rest of us".

Enough said.




He could 'float like a butterfly and sting like a bee', and would mentally breakdown an opponent before he even stepped into the ring. With a record of 61/56/5, with 37 wins by way of knockout, you can hardly argue with him being at number one. He was one of the greatest performers outside of the ring, and the greatest fighter in it. On October 30, 1974, Ali fought George Forman in Zaire. It was the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle', and was the first time we saw the rope-a-dope. He took everything Forman had, waiting patiently for Forman to tire himself out - and by the eighth round, Ali was ready to unleash. Which he did. He lost only five fights in his entire career (to Berbick, Holmes, Spinks, Norton and Frazier), and in 1999 was named the 'Greatest Sportsman of the Century'.



How can we argue with THAT?


Honorable mentions - these guys were close (oh, so close...) but didn't quite make it:

Lance Armstrong, Carl Lewis and Joe Montana - almost, guys.

Remember, sports fans - we'd love to here your Top 5 if you think you can do better!

Here in the Attic, we love nothing more than debating all things sport.

Completely subjective things - like, the greatest sportsman ever, the greatest comeback of all time - that sort of thing.

So we thought we'd start a weekly Top 5 - there have been literally hundreds of debates in the Attic, and it's only fair to share the results of those debates with you! As we said, these arguments are purely subjective. We're not claiming to be 'right', and the Top 5's we come up with are based on our view of the topic.

If you think we're wrong - tell us!

We start with the greatest Tri Nations clashes, seeing as this year's Tri Nations has kicked off with such a bang.

Here's our Top 5:

Ok, so it may have only been played last Saturday, but this game was one of the real greats. It was one of the toughest games we've seen in a long time, and right up to the final whistle, either side could have walked away with the win.
With less than ten minutes to go, the Springboks were down to 14 men when Matfield was sent to the bin for a high tackle. It looked as though the All Blacks had the game sewn up, until a piece of pure magic from Janurie gave the Springbok's an incredible 30-28 victory.

This Test came just three weeks after the All Blacks had beaten the Aussies in that 39-35 thriller in Sydney, and was just as entertaining (other than the fact the All Blacks lost, of course). The Wallabies took a 12-nil lead early on, and looked to be in control of the game - until Christian Cullen sparked, and scored a double to put the All Blacks right back in the game. The All Blacks led 23-21 in the final minutes, but with the Wallabies hot on attack Craig Dowd gave away a penalty, which gave the Wallabies a chance to pick up the win. Step up the unlikely hero, John Eales (not known for his goal kicking abilities) - but, cool as you like, he slotted it down the middle. An unbelievable end to an amazing Test.

This was the first ever Tri Nations match, and really could not have got off to a better start - for the All Blacks, at least. The weather was appalling, with heavy rain and a very cold southerly. Despite the weather, the All Blacks opened up the Australian defence, crossing the line six times. They played a near-perfect game, and kept the Wallabies to just two penalty goals. This game marked the beginning of the greatest competition in international rugby, and it has never looked back.

This Test was another try scoring bonanza for the All Blacks. The backs carved up the Wallablies, and finished the day with seven trys to the Wallabies three. Joe Rokocoko dotted down for a hatrick, while Howlett, Umaga, Carter and Mauger all chimed in. What makes this performance even more impressive was the fact that the week before, they had thrashed the Springboks 52-16 in South Africa. One hundred points in two Tests, against their two biggest rivals. The Wallabies would get their revenge at the World Cup, but at that moment the All Blacks were untouchable.

This choice was easy, and it's no surprise given that this is considered one of the greatest Tests of ALL time. In front of a record 110,000 screaming Aussies, the All Blacks opened up with an early 24-nil lead in only eight minutes. The Wallabies hadn't even touched the ball. It looked over before it had even started, but the Wallabies began an incredible fightback, and at halftime the scores were even 24-24. The second half was just as entertaining, and when Jeremy Paul crossed the line towards the end of time, it looked as if the Wallabies had pulled off the greatest comeback of all time. Cue Taine Randell, setting up Jonah Lomu, who beat a George Gregan tackle to score the winning try. Final score - 39-35 to the mighty All Blacks.

This really was the 'Greatest Test match EVER', and rightly sits as number one on this week's Top 5.

Click on the title to read our Top 5...

...Greatest Sporting Comebacks

...Greatest Sporting Rivalries

...Reasons Why Cricket Is A More Demanding Sport To Play Than Baseball

...Weirdest Olympic 'Sports'

...Reasons To Watch The Olympics

...Reasons Why Rugby Beats American Football

...Greatest All Blacks Ever

...Greatest American Sportsmen

...Greatest Tri Nations Clashes

Want to have your say on one our Top 5's? Head to the Attic's forum, and say your bit.