We don't like cricket... but we don't love it that much, either!

With the recent Ashes series over, the sport of cricket is buzzing with popularity, so it’s no real surprise to see the Wii get its first ‘proper’ cricket game. Codemasters have taken it upon themselves to create Ashes Cricket, but have they done enough to faithfully recreate the sport on the Wii? We put on our mitts and pads and found out for ourselves...

Probably the first thing to set down here is that, no, Ashes Cricket does not take advantage of the Wii Motion Plus – those expecting a truly accurate experience may well walk away disappointed at the lack of true realism. You’ll still be swinging the Wiimote all over the place, just without any true degree of realism. Playing as one of several international teams, you’ll bowl, bat and bowl some more around some of the world’s most famous clubhouses.

Ever since he claimed six wickets on debut for Yorkshire at Scarborough in 2006, Adil Rashid has been the coming man of English cricket. The only wonder is that his advance has been so relentless yet composed. For all that England's selectors have attempted to ease him through gently, knowing full well how priceless a top-class legspinner will be to their long-term goals (never mind a legspinning allrounder), Rashid has already shown enough gumption to suggest there's no point in shielding him from the limelight any longer.

Later this month, England's Test squad for their winter tour of South Africa will be selected, and there is a growing belief that Rashid will be named as one of the two specialist spinners, alongside Graeme Swann and ahead of Monty Panesar, whose heroics with the bat in the first Test in Cardiff cannot disguise the erosion of confidence he has suffered with the ball.

Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid, who is being trained by former Australian leg spinner and now coach Terry Jenner, hopes he can emulate another Jenner protégé Shane Warne.

adil rashidTwenty-one-year-old Rashid wants Jenner to help him become England's  answer to Warne.

Rashid said: "I've been to see Terry twice in Australia  and he has been a big influence on my development. I spoke to him two weeks ago. He was in England coaching at Yorkshire and I had a chat about my performances and where I am at the moment."

Jenner spotted Rashid six years ago at one the Brian Johnston Memorial Trust coaching clinics.

And Rashid said: "It's a friendship. I have worked with him since I was 15. I grew up with him and from talking with him I learn about myself and the game. I talk to him about my development and my game.

"To bowl leg-spin you have to learn the basics. Alignment and head position are the key for bowling consistently and getting a shape and spin," Rashid said.

Rashid has also picked the brain of Warne - the greatest leg-spin bowler in the history of the game.

"As I was growing up I watched Shane Warne bowling on TV and he was my role model."

Australia all-rounder James Hopes  admitted the tourists were worried about the rookie leg-spinner.

http://cricket.rediff.com