Another of Danielle's Boring Obsessive Rants About Cricket, part 498: in what other sport could you lose by 98 runs and still have salvaged your team's pride with an almost unbelievable record-breaking batting performance? I am driven to keeping up with this via written web updates and teeny-tiny highlights packages on Sky Sports News, but this is still pretty miraculous.

Clearly given the green light with only one wicket remaining, Nathan Astle completely demolished the English attack and broke every record possible in the process. He moved from 100 to 150 in 20 deliveries, and completed the fastest double century of all time off only 153 balls, surpassing Adam Gilchrist's recent effort by a mere 60 balls. Only the late Sir Donald Bradman scored a double hundred in fewer minutes.... Perhaps the most staggering statistic was a six-over period by Hoggard and Caddick when Astle, with a little help from the runner-assisted Cairns, hit 96 runs.

Oh, and here's another of Danielle's Boring Obsessive Rants About New Zealand, part 1,300,387 in an ongoing series: Auckland is apparently the sixth-best city to live in, quality of life-wise, in the whole world. And I will be there in less than three months, touch wood. I won't have a *job* or any prospects or any money or anything, but I'll be there! In the bosom of my mad family! Joy!