Will anyone believe him?

Andrew Flintoff attempts to assuage the fear that playing in IPL will render him unfit for the Ashes.

"Playing for England is the ultimate and that's what I want to do. I have missed a lot of cricket over the last few years. I obviously want to play as much as I can especially for England.

"I have played in the Ashes before and I know the euphoria that comes from playing in it, so I am not going to do anything that jeopardises it."

Given his history, his determination to play in the IPL next month is not only putting a question mark over his commitment to play in the Ashes but also painting IPL as the villain.  

So it is hard to believe when he says he is committed to playing in the Ashes.

Cricket News Online Live.com

Niranjan Shah has the last word.

The BCCI in a sudden decision withdrew Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik from the master’s game between the players' associations of Australia and New Zealand as Hamish Marshall, an ICL player, is part of the squad.

While Heath Mills, Chief Executive of the Players' Association, is understandably taken aback, our man Niranjan Shah, manager of the Indian team for New Zealand remains unfazed.

In fact, contrary to his nature he refused to comment and dismissed the matter as inconsequential by saying, “This match is not important. Why should I comment on it?”

Image by afloden

 

Is it necessary to put down other formats?

For all its own excitement and popularity, it is the kind of emotion that cricket's newest, shortest format, the 20/20 fad that Stanford and others decree as the game of the future, cannot match.

Anyone who is interested in cricket knows that the formats are as different as (pardon me for using a cliché’) chalk from cheese. It is obvious to most that each of the formats has their own charm, intrigue and pleasures.

So why do these ‘cricket pundits’ (in this case it is the venerable Tony Cozier) have to pass snide comments on the other formats to build up Test cricket. As far as I know, these ‘cricket pundits’ are always mourning the passing of a very much alive Test cricket.

Either they are exhibiting their intellectual snobbery or they are hoping to precipitate the demise of Test cricket by writing premature obituaries.

Now, I leave it to you to decide which one is the true reason.

Beefy goes overboard

Sir Ian Botham has branded Sir Allen Stanford "the new Kerry Packer" after pumping at least £75million into West Indian and English cricket.

Botham without doubt lost his self-control at the sight of the 20 million dollars and presently must be ruing the day he said it.

Hat Tip: Cricket365

Image from Telegraph

 

Can New Zealand afford to win?

Poised to boost earnings through lucrative broadcasting rights for the five-week tour, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said the sheer volume and passion of Indian fans around the world made this tour three times more valuable than any other.

Imagine if New Zealand were to win the series, the payouts for the next series against India maybe dismal.

Against this background, do you think the New Zealander’s can afford to win the series?

 

The naive ECB

Each passing day throws more light on Stanford’s shady connections and fakery. Significantly, the details of how he hoodwinked the ECB and its Chairman Giles Clarke are keeping this writer entertained.

As new details emerge after Stanford’s alleged $8 billion fraud, the extent of his fakery becomes more obvious. It has left many wondering how a man who once falsely claimed to be related to the founder of Stanford University was able to fool so many people — and persuade the leaders of English cricket to abandon their usually cautious attitude to business and grab at his millions.

The sight of the snobbish ECB writhing in embarrassment and the delight of seeing Giles Clarke for once stuck for way to ‘spin doctor’ this situation is cause for mirth.

In a way, one is happy that politicians and not self-centred fools like Giles Clarke run the BCCI.

Image by Mark Berry

 

Liquidate the WI Cricket Board?

This may sound extreme, but after numerous faux paus and the current notoriety it has gained through its association with Stanford, liquidating and reconstituting the WI cricket board may be the right way to revive cricket in the troubled Caribbean islands.

If you are worried about who will govern WI cricket in the interim, remember:

There is no shortage of competent international liquidators and if the West Indies brand is to be protected, then maybe Deloitte & Touché, PriceWaterhouse, Ernst and Young, or some such eminent firm, be asked to manage West Indies cricket in the interim, until competent individuals emerge to protect our image and safeguard this noble sport, that still means so much to so many.

‘Marvellous’ Richie to retire

If there was anything I loved about Australian cricket, it was the thrill of watching Richie Benaud helm Channel 9 highlights. You can say he epitomized cricket commentary. There was nothing superfluous or gushing, but along with Channel 9’s innovative technology, the highlights was an enlivening experience.

Needless to add, I will surely miss his pithy comments and insights.

Hat Tip: Mike Norrish

Cricket commentator Richie Benaud announced he will retire in 2010, thus ending nearly half-a-century of broadcasting which made him an icon in the sport.

Benaud was the captain of Australia in 1958, and claimed 248 wickets in 63 Tests, while hitting three centuries.

Some of his signature comments:

• Good morning everyone
• Captaincy is ninety per cent luck and ten per cent skill, but don't try it without that ten per cent
• There were congratulations and high sixes all round
• Laird has been brought in to stand in the corner of the circle
• And it's time for a glass of something chilled
• Marvellous!
• Two for twenty-two (a reference to the comedy series The Twelfth Man in which humorist Billy Birmingham sends up the accent Richie uses to say "Two for twenty-two")
• What a catch!
• What a delivery.
• ...And Glenn McGrath dismissed for two, just ninety-eight runs short of his century.
• That was an absolute cracker.''
• Stirring moments''

Good luck Richie and wishing you the health to enjoy ‘something chilled’ for years to come.

The numbers game

A refreshing view on the ‘Indianisation’ of world cricket

Roy Masters writing in BussinessDay Australia, unveils how world cricket and Cricket Australia benefits from the ‘Indianisation’ of world cricket.

In fact, he comes up with truly astounding figures of how advantageous the Indian influence is and how Cricket Australia is “rolling its revenue into a quadrennium in order to prevent other countries and other sports from knowing how much is paid”.

A singular article that goes further than the normal prejudiced blinkered view of Indian cricket.

Read more:

The Inspector of Shoes

Niranjan Shah, who was once the Secretary of the BCCI, is now appointed ‘The Inspector of Shoes’ which in short means he has the exalted responsibility of inspecting the shoes of the Indian cricketers.

Having established himself as a strict disciplinarian during his earlier stint, his appointment has the cricketers quivering in their shoes.

Furthermore his unnatural (for he has never been shy of speaking to the press) silence on what he will meet out to the offending shoes has sent the cricketers running for cover.

In fact, rumours have it; Sachin has called up Sharad Pawar asking him to replace Niranjan Shah with a more lenient person.

Going by his past actions, one thing is certain; Niranjan Shah will ban the shoes from speaking to the press.

Image by ellanvanraee & naamannewbold

Happy birthday, Vishy.

In the rush of everyday living, this blog failed to mark Vishy’s birthday and congratulate him on receiving the CK Nayudu award for life time achievement.

Therefore, a belated birthday greetings to the cricketer fondly called Vishy and a priceless human being called Gundappa Vishwanath.

As a peace offering to his fans, here is an evocative piece on the man.

 

Technorati Tags: G.R.Vishwanath,India,Cricketer

A farce

Do you need to bowl ten balls to know that the outfield is unfit for playing a Test match?

West Indies cricket can ill afford this farce.

Cricket News Online Live on the Antigua Test match between England and West Indies.

Did he do enough to merit a recall?

The Indian cricket team starts the three-Test series against New Zealand in Hamilton on March 18.

However, to everyone’s surprise, India's cricket selectors picked Lakshmipathy Balaji for the New Zealand tour, a player who last played a Test match in March 2005 before suffering a career-threatening stress fracture to his back.

I for one, wonder whether Balaji had done anything to merit a recall since his return to active cricket.

Test squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.)

Virender Sehwag (vice-Capt.)

Gautam Gambhir

Rahul Dravid

Sachin Tendulkar

Venkatsai Laxman

Yuvraj Singh

Murali Vijay

Dinesh Karthik

Harbhajan Singh

Amit Mishra

Zaheer Khan

Ishant Sharma

Munaf Patel

Lakshmipathy Balaji

Dhawal Kulkarni.

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Haemorrhage

Image by Melvind

Excepting the BCCI baiters, there was not much opposition in Australia over the banning of ICL players. One exception was the furore set off over CA denying Gillespie the opportunity to coach his state. Unlike other cricketing nations, the Australians were smug that their talent pool could easily replace those lost to ICL.

However, with Australia struggling and no suitable replacements in sight, calls for revoking the ban is gaining in ascendency.As usual, the contrarian Peter Roebuck has reignited the controversy.

Leaving his ranting aside, one realizes that the famed Australian talent pool has dried up and no wonder they are looking at the likes of Michael Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie for succour.

It also highlights the fact what other nations held in high esteem, the cricketing academies, the coach’s and the Australian domestic cricket were misplaced. They (Australian Cricket) made their reputation and a lot of money feeding off on the exploits of the now retired legends.

Their recent struggles clearly indicates that there was nothing systematic or wondrous about Australian cricket. It so happened that a bunch of extraordinary cricketers played together and that resulted in their dominance. In short, they just got lucky.

Do you agree it is the end of the Australian way of cricket?

Cricket News Online Live.

How West Indies blew the England batsmen away

11.32am 1-1 Alastair Cook c DS Smith b Taylor 0

An excellent probing delivery by Taylor tempts Cook to drive. Devon Smith takes the edge at the second attempt at second slip

11.59am 11-2 Ian Bell c Ramdin b Benn 4

With lunch only two balls away, Bell attempts to cut a ball from the tall spinner that is too close to his off stump. The ball takes an inside edge to Ramdin

12.43pm 12-3 Kevin Pietersen b Taylor 1

An exceptional delivery – a full, fast, out swinger that Pietersen tries to flick off his legs but is yorked

1.10pm 20-4 Andrew Strauss c Ramdin b Taylor 9

Strauss takes a chance and it backfires spectacularly as, with the thinnest of edges, the ball flies through to Ramdin

1.19pm 23-5 Paul Collingwood b Taylor 1

An inside edge clips the leg bail but unaware, Collingwood still runs. Andrew Flintoff, who points to the dislodged bail, delivers the bad news.

1.24pm 23-6 Matt Prior b Taylor 0

A beautifully disguised slower off-cutter that pings through Prior’s gate sends the off stump out of the ground

1.30pm 26-7 Stuart Broad c Marshall b Benn 0

Met with the full face of the bat, the ball is clipped directly to the hands of Xavier Marshall at short leg

2.24pm 50-8 Ryan Sidebottom lbw b Benn 6

A fizzing Benn delivery pitches outside off stump and hits Sidebottom flush in front. Up goes Rudi Koertzen’s finger and there is no change despite the use of a referral

2.31pm 51-9 Andrew Flintoff b Edwards 24

After showing more resistance than anyone else, Flintoff has little option but to go down attacking and is cleaned up attempting to smash Fidel Edwards over mid-wicket

2.35pm 51 all out Steve Harmison b Benn 0

Harmison is bowled around his legs attempting to sweep by Benn, and the West Indians are ecstatic as they celebrate a shock and destructive win.

From Times Online

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Kapil Dev – Why is he putting the Indian team down?

"Blind cricketers are more talented than our Indian cricket squad. If our (Indian cricket) team somehow manage to become as talented as the blind cricketers, we can win not one, but as many as 10 World Cups".

Wonder why he is disgruntled with the Indian team.

England close gap on the Aussies

England suffered a dramatic, painful and utterly unexpected defeat by West Indies in the First Test.

Read and enjoy a disgruntled(?) England's fans view on its effect on the Ashes.

pommie_critic wrote:

Sunday, 8 February 2009 at 01:55 am (UTC)

The Ashes is shaping up to be a close contest now both teams have sunk to similar levels of mediocrity. Casts the blank Caps / W Indies series in a new light now doesn't it?

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A neighbor's envy

According to Younis Khan, cricketers from Pakistan got a raw deal and less than what they deserved, because they rushed to get into the IPL. 

 

"Unlike other countries particularly Pakistan where players rushed to get into the IPL, the English cricket board and their players avoided the first season. As a result, their demand has increased for the second season".

 

Having mastered the art of playing hard to get vis a vis captaincy of Pakistan, it is hard to believe that Younis Khan has only now  learnt the value of playing hard to get.  

 

This is a clear case of envy and nothing else.

 

Mohammad Yousuf makes all the right moves.

Since joining the ICL, Mohammad Yousuf has used every opportunity to speak up for the ICL players in Pakistan.

In order to highlight the plight of the Pakistani ICL players he has spoken up against Shoaib Malik’s captaincy, endorsed Younis Khan’s elevation as Captain. However, with ICC and BCCI tossing the ball back and forth between themselves and the PCB maintaining silence over the lifting of the ICL ban by a court in Pakistan he is unlikely to succeed.

In one way, the Pakistani (ICL) players are fortunate that he has taken upon himself the job of highlighting their plight as no other player has taken up this role of fighting for his compatriots.

Whether Mohammad Yousuf succeeds or not he has to be appreciated for taking up cudgels on behalf of other banned players.

Cricket New Online Live.com

Revenge is sweet.

One of our regular's, 'lazybug' has written an excellent piece on the joy of watching India pummel Sri Lanka.

 

His words are sure to find a response among all those who watched the infamous semi-final when Vinod Kambli stood forlorn and in tears.

 

Read More.

 

 

Pakistan to play Australia in UAE.

Although a bit delayed the decision to play a 5 match one-day series and a Twenty20 game against Australia in the UAE is the best way forward for Pakistan cricket.

Now it is up to the Pakistani cricketers to redeem themselves.

From Zero’s to Hero’s

It has taken less than eight months for Afghanistan to jump from the fifth division of world cricket to one level below the major test-playing countries.

The team from the war-torn nation continued one of sport's unlikeliest success stories by winning the third division in Argentina last week, a six-team tournament that doubles as a qualifier for cricket's World Cup.

Read More

Blood letting in Sri Lanka?

Apparently, the ease with which India won the ODI series has led to this:

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Ajantha Mendis and Nuwan Kulasekera find themselves overlooked for the Twenty20 match against India next week.

With Chamara Kapugedera serving as his deputy, Tillakaratne Dilshan will lead the side.

I wonder whether barring the two M’s, this is the last we see of them.

Now it is about the 10 %

English cricketers IPL sojourn is taking on melodramatic proportions.

According to the deal struck between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Professional Cricketers' Association a fortnight ago, the players have to return 10 per cent of their auction price to their county clubs.

Now most of the English cricketer’s are wondering why they should pay the 10% when no other cricketer is doing so anywhere in the world.

According to one calculation, Andrew Flintoff could be looking at handing over the best part of £50,000 just for missing one four-day game for Lancashire.

For all their disdain for IPL’s filthy lucre, the English cricketers drive a hard bargain.

Cricket News Online Live.

There is a lesson in it for us

Australia's current slump is a result of cricket's inherent cyclicity, says Dennis Lillee.

 

Remember, Australian cricket has already undergone this slump when Lillee, Thommo and the Chappells retired in a bunch. Having revived and grown to dictate the International cricket scene for a decade and more, one would have thought they would have been wary of another slump. Despite experience, it is surprising that the Australian administrators, legends and cricketers assumed their dominance is permanent and now lament their fall.

 

For Indian cricket, Cricket Australia's mismanagement is a lesson. They should not to let people linger on and identify and blood youngsters before they become stale in domestic cricket. There is also the danger of breeding complacency by sticking to the same set of probables.  They should widen their net and give others a chance.

 

Having said that, the track record of our cricketing administrators are equally uninspiring. They have let quiet a few stalwarts milk their reputation. One also sees the same faces replacing the other and selections based on reputation and record.

 

If Indian cricket is to sustain its growth then the mind-set of all those involved in it should change from complacency to that of high alert.  

 

A Mitchell Malinga

Pace legend, Jeff Thomson has this to say about Mitchell Johnson:

“He looks tired; he’s bowling so round-arm at the moment you may as well call him Mitchell Malinga (a reference to Sri Lanka’s unorthodox Lasith Malinga).”

Damn! The Australians are becoming ‘precious’.

Cricket News Online Live.com

A question of integrity again

Not very long ago, the Australian captain famously taunted an Indian journalist for questioning his integrity. Taking a cue from his captain, Australia's wicketkeeper Brad Haddin branded New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori "low" for questioning his integrity in a bitter aftermath to the Chappell-Hadlee series opener.
  
Vettori believed spinner Michael Clarke did not bowl Broom, but rather Haddin's gloves had removed the bails. Though Vettori later admitted that his was a 'subjective analysis', Haddin believes Vettori should have spoken to him first before besmirching his character.

 

This is not the first time an Australian cricketer has pushed the envelope regarding the rules, however this is the first time an Australian cricketer has cut corners to stall defeat.

A pragmatic decision

The ICC board at the end of a two-day meeting in Perth, has not only repealed its earlier overrule in the result of the 2006 test between England and Pakistan at The Oval, but has also revoked Pakistan’s right to host the 2009 Champions Trophy on Pakistan.

Any right thinking cricket lover will agree that The Oval Test overrule would have set a bad precedent and hence the repeal is a welcome decision.

Similarly, in light of the continuing turmoil,as  teams are unlikely to tour Pakistan and hence the decision to strip Pakistan of its right to hold the Champions Trophy 2009 in Pakistan is a pragmatic decision.

Seducing Mr. Perfect

Having failed in its attempt to forge a rival faction, ECB blithely talks of excellent relationship with the BCCI.

ECB chief executive, David Collier, "The discussions held between our respective boards have been most productive and the ECB is grateful to the president and honorary secretary of the BCCI for the excellent relationship which has been developed with the BCCI on a wide-ranging number of issues.”

Ultimately, the ECB succumbed to the lure of the (IPL) rupee and abandoned its stance that IPL is evil.

Images by arz000n

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