Martin Crowe has given the latest annual Cowdrey lecture at Lord’s. As well as the usual ill-informed critque of the throwing laws, he has also complained about Zimbabwe and Bangladesh still being included as test playing nations.

Zimbabwe I almost agree with him on, but his case for Bangladesh rests on the fact that they have registered just one win in 44 tests. Guess how many tests New Zealand played before their first win. That’s right, it’s 44. Their first win came against the West Indies in their 45th test match.

Idiot.

Via Cricinfo who report that Ponting now thinks that Bangladesh do deserve test status, after he said in February that they didn’t.

Strangely he changed his mind when talking at a press conference in Bangladesh.

Last year there were 3 instances of Ponting changing his mind.

Prior to the ICC Trophy, he sent a letter to the participating teams wishing them good luck and saying that he looked forward to playing them in the World Cup. Later, he said that the World Cup wasn’t the place for those teams.

When the super-subs and powerplays were introduced, Ponting said that they were a good idea. He soon changed his mind. He did the same over the issue of the Super Series.

He says one thing, and then when the people who might be annoyed by what he says aren’t within earshot, he says another. He’s a hypocrite.