Murali chucks it all away

Muthiah Muralitharan injuries appear to have persuaded him to retire from Tests. Continuing the present trend, he will continue playing in the ODI’s and Twenty20 games.

As a leading wicket taker in Tests and ODI’s the world is sure to fete him for his accomplishments.

However, to the Australians, he is and always will remain the ‘chucker.

In fact one of the leading Australian dailies has announced his retirement by headlining it as ‘Murali to Chuck it in’.

It is plainly obvious they are unwilling to forgive and will use every opportunity to rub it in.

The Inaugural Champions League Twenty20 Tournament 2009.

The inaugural Champions League Twenty20 tournament was set to take place in India from December 3, 2009 to December 10, 2008. Eight teams two each from BCCI, CA and CSA, the founding board members as well as Middlesex and Pakistan’s Sialkot Stallions were to battle it in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.

However, post Mumbai Terror attack, the Governing Council of Champions League 2020, chose to cancel it.

Now the tournament is all set and the first edition of the Champions League will have 12 teams from seven test playing nations. The 16-day league will have 23 matches and this time the domestic Twenty20 winners and finalists of West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand join the teams from the founding board member nations, India, Australia and South Africa.

The Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore are the three teams from India.

Other teams are the 2009 domestic finalists and winners from Australia namely Victoria and New South Wales, Cape Cobras and Eagles from South Africa, Otago from New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago from West Indies and Wayamba from Sri Lanka. As England’s domestic 2009, Twenty20 is being played, the finalists will be known only at the end of August.

The finalists from Pakistan domestic Twenty20 tournament are unlikely to participate unless there is a dramatic change in the political scenario between India and Pakistan.

The tournament is to be played in three venues, Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad. This means that the three Indian Premier League (IPL) teams Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore will enjoy home support during the event.

ESPN Star Sports (ESS) is the global television production partner. The sports broadcaster has reportedly paid $ 975 million for exclusive rights for 10 years and has reportedly signed up the Indian telecom giant Airtel as title sponsor for the next 5 years. The tournament will be henceforth referred to as Airtel Champions League Twenty20.

ESS will telecast all the matches in High Definition Format and possibly the highest number of cameras at the venue. ESPN Star Sports is planning to install as many as 34 cameras at each venue. The tournament organizers have also roped in the Oscar winning composer, AR Rahman to compose the anthem or the theme song.

You can find the groups and complete Champions League Twenty20 schedule here.

History of The Ashes - Redux

Minnesota Cricket Association hosts Western Conference Championship from July 31.

Minnesota Cricket Association (MCA) will host USA Cricket Associations' (USACA) Western Conference Championship from July 31 - August 2 at Bryn Mawr Meadows Park, Minneapolis.

This 3 day national cricket tournament will bring the best of cricketing talent from nearly half of the USA, namely from the Central-East, Central-West, South-West & North-West Regions.

The competition will be a keenly contested and widely watched one, as USACA selectors will be onsite to identify the top talent to represent USA National Cricket Team.

A local Select Source International (SSI), is one of the premier sponsors of the tournament.

Source: Minnesota Cricket Association Press Release

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Test Cricket Ain’t the ‘Crown Jewels’

Telegraph (UK) reports that “BBC will not call for live Test match cricket to be restored to the A-list of 'Crown Jewel' events protected for free-to-air television”.

For the last year or so BBC’s decision not to bid for broadcasting Test cricket has been a subject of intense debate and criticism.

The BBC has covered Test matches in England for the last 50 years and hence the terrestrial relay of Test matches had an iconic status among cricket fans in England. Therefore, BBC’s refusal to bid, probably due to lack of funds, had many aficionados urging the Government to classify Test match broadcast under the A-list of Crown Jewel events.

By classifying an event as A-list Crown Jewel event, the event is considered too important to be confined to users of cable and satellite TV and hence private broadcasters are restrained from bidding for exclusive rights.

Damningly for Domestic Test cricket in England, the BBC believes that Test cricket fails to justify for addition to the A- list. Instead, it has argued for the inclusion of the finals of ODI World Cup and Twenty20 World Cup. (BTW, there is no mention of this in BBC’s report. )

BBC’s recommendations clearly reveal that Test cricket is in its final throes and ODI’s and Twenty20 cricket are set to take its place.

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Warne’isms

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Shane Warne missed the first Test at Cardiff due to his Poker commitments.

However, he was there with the others of the Sky Sports commentary team for the 2nd s Test at Lord’s.

To say that he did not disappoint is an understatement. He exceeded my expectations with the typical Australian forthright style of commenting.

His own odd turn of phrase and the fact he was commentating during a rare Australian debacle at Lord’s gave it additional gloss.

Here is a compilation of his peculiar turn of language for your enjoyment.

I hope he does not repeat himself during the 3rd Test.

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Sleeping with the knee machine

Flintoff’s determination to sleep with a Knee Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) Machine is commendable.

It amply illustrates his desire, dedication and determination to play in the remaining Ashes Tests.

Truly, here is a man ready to do anything for the honour of playing for his country.

Importantly, one should commend his wife for putting up with Flintoff’s predilections.

Ricky on a rocky surface.

I suspect Rouse; the Edgabston curator of playing mind games.

First, he said the pitch was like “jelly”. Now he says that the pitch will assist seamers.

To add meat to my suspicion is the fact that he is the same curator who in 2005 claimed the pitch was a minefield and it turned out to be as smooth as Rosa Acosta.

Which brings me to the question of the day, will Ricky Ponting heed Rouse’s words or will he double guess him?

What ails Wasim Akram?

Image by Amanda_Joelle via Flickr

Why is Wasim Akram desperately offering his services?

A couple of days ago, he volunteered to help Mitchell Johnson.

Yesterday, he was ready to help Indian bowlers if asked.

In between, he has asked the ICC to maintain the ‘sacredness’ of Test cricket. (The last bit was certainly in the hope that he could land a plump post with them).

If you wondered why he has desisted from offering his services to Pakistani cricket, he says PCB is ignoring him.

The sudden flurry of press briefings, unsolicited advice and offers to help appears strange and dare say unbecoming.

Overall, one gets the impression that he is making himself visible to make money.

Which makes us wonder where has the loot he made as a cricketer gone?

Has he fallen prey to Pakistani style ‘Madoff pyramid scheme’?

What if Pakistan is banned ?

Image via Wikipedia

Pakistan appears reconciled to the fact that they have lost the opportunity to host World Cup 2011 in their soil.

However, they are concerned about how the Government of India will react to letting the Pakistan team and their supporters into India for the World Cup.

This is indeed a legitimate worry. The BCCI has been maintaining that the GOI has stopped them from sending their team to Pakistan. Similarly, the Pakistan player’s participation in the IPL was jeopardized for the same reason.

As both Governments seem disinclined let go the rhetoric, it is doubtful whether things would change dramatically overnight.

So let us hope ICC’s Chairman David Morgan comes up with a solution when PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt meets him on Tuesday.

Ganguly 2 Australia 0

That is how the score line reads when a contest of will takes place between Saurav Ganguly and Australian coaches.

The first confrontation took place between Ganguly and Greg the ‘Guru’ Chappell, Ganguly lost his captaincy and then his place in the Indian squad only to return triumphant. Net result, Greg Chappell had to run away with tail between his legs.

Following that Ganguly had a run in with John ‘the chaos theory’ Buchanan during IPL 2. Though Ganguly lost the captaincy, he managed to hold on to his place in Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders.

However, this confrontation too ended in Ganguly triumphantly ascending the captaincy throne again. In between Buchanan’s contract was not renewed.

Now, tell me whether my score line is correct?

Sri Lanka seal 2-0 series win

Resuming at 183-3, Kumar Sangakkara's unbeaten 130 helped Sri Lanka draw the third and final Test against Pakistan in Colombo.

Though Sri Lanka was in an admirable position to race to a win at teatime, the defensive field set by Younis Khan, and some dour batting by the Sri Lankan's meant that the match was called off with 101 runs needed from the 16 remaining over's. For the record Sri Lanka was 391-4 when play was called off.

With this draw, Sri Lanka closed the series at 2-0 and consolidated their 4^th place ranking in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table.

Sri Lanka Cricket honoured Chaminda Vaas, who played his last Test, with a memento and one million Sri Lankan rupees in cash.

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The Tasman Mutiny

The Tasman Mutiny

Interesting happenings in Kiwi land.

Six New Zealand players have decided to forgo IPL next March in favour of the scheduled Australian tour.

For the record Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor are supposed to be the six players who have made the sacrifice.

However, one is unsure whether it is a one-off decision or a decision to avoid IPL altogether.

If one looks at it with a skeptical eye, it could well be a crafty plan hatched by Modi to force ICC to create a window for the IPL.

Alternatively, it could be plan hatched by ICC to dismantle the IPL edifice, but then it appears too far-fetched and unbelievable.

What do you think?

Watson admits impotency

Yep, none other than Australia’s resident metro sexual, Shane Watson admitted that Australia is impotent without sledging.

To those bemused by the correlation between Australia’s poor performance during the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord’s and sledging, remind me to tell you the story of a man who was unable to ‘perform’ without calling his wife a whore.

Bonus to our loyal readers:

Some Nude Sledging

A Course on Medieval Swearing

A guide to Australian style swearing.

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Koertzen blames players

Is he right in doing so?

Before we answer that question let us first read what he told Cricinfo:

"The players will stand there, nick the ball and wait for the umpire to make a decision. For me, that's cheating. Why don't you get off the field and make it easy for the game? There would be more pleasure in the game. I know that Ponting would say, 'Boys, let's try [accepting the umpires word].' I've been in those meetings when he said, 'Let's try it,' and then you get to the second day in a Test match and a guy claims a catch and ten minutes later you hear, 'The ball didn't carry,' and then the argument starts again. Let's use the technology when it's there."

Ostensibly, he was reacting to criticism about his inconsistent decisions in the on going Ashes series and so at first glance may appear as if he is shifting blame.

However, when we give his comments the respect it deserves, then realization of how true it is strikes us.

A majority of you will agree that the melodrama enacted by the players on the field serves to paint the umpires and their decision-making capabilities in poor light.

Even this writer did not know the fact that if an on field umpire is sure, then a decision cannot be referred to the third umpire. Even the Chief Executive of CA did not know it either, and he had to confirm it with ICC.

"I did ring (ICC operations manager) Dave Richardson to seek clarification on the referral situation, but in no way was it any kind of complaint," Sutherland said yesterday. "I was seeking to understand the reason for the inconsistency and it was explained to my satisfaction."

When you realize that this is what happened in the case of Hughes, it is not Koertzen but Ricky Ponting who comes across in poor light.

No wonder, Koertzen is disgusted with the antics of the players and favours the referral system.

To the reader: Is Koertzen justified in his disgust?

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Pakistan thwarts Lankan ambitions

Sri Lanka went into the 3rd and final Test against Pakistan intent on a whitewash, but excellent bowling by Pakistan spinners has reduced them to trying to save the Test.

At close of play on the 2nd day, Pakistan has extended their lead to 88 runs. Unless there is a dramatic collapse, (which is likely) Pakistan can dictate terms. In fact, there is so much time left, that Pakistan can bat through the 3 rd day and time their declaration on the 4 th day.

Ideally, for Pakistan, their batsmen will have to post a huge total and from the looks of it, they need Yousuf to fire. If either Malik and or Younis come good, the Sri Lankan’s could well be chasing another record total for victory. 

 

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The ‘Heat’ of the Moment

Flintoff, arms akimbo- we understand, but what is Onions ‘up’ to?

Is this what they call the ‘heat’ of the moment?

Hat Tip: Dead Spin 

A ‘listing’ controversy

Cricket is a game where it is impossible to get two fans to agree on a team composition. The same dysfunction arises when it comes to getting fans to agree on the best players of an era. So imagine the controversy a definitive search on the best players of all time will create.

That is why one believes this is an exercise designed to get eyeballs and with an eye at controversy.

One can say they (Cricinfo) have achieved their ends. For starters, the Western Australian media are already playing up the omission of Ponting. Some have trumpeted gleefully that Ponting is the 12th man. Similarly, the exclusion of Steve Waugh and the inclusion of Gilchrist will draw the ire of their fans.

These ‘lists’ are subjective and hence never definitive. This gives room for controversies that will draw cricket fans to the Cricinfo site in the same mesmerizing manner as a firefly’s luminescence draws its prey.

Cricinfo's Australian All-Time XI:

Victor Trumper, Arthur Morris, Don Bradman, Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Keith Miller, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Bill O'Reilly, Dennis Lillee, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting (12th man).

Pakistan negates Sri Lanka’s early thrust.

3rd Test Match, Sri Lanka Vs Pakistan, Sinhalese Sports Club

Sangakkara signaled his intention of going for a whitewash by putting Pakistan in. The fact that it rained for the past few days may have made his decision to field easier.

Straight away Thilan Thushara validated his captain’s decision by producing a double blow inside the first hour. However, Yousuf and Manzoor helped Pakistan negate the early thrust with an unbroken 151-run stand for the third wicket.

Yet, Sri Lanka regained lost ground by reducing Pakistan to 289 for 7 in 86 over’s by close of play.

For Sri Lanka Vaas replaced Mendis and Kaneria replaced Abdur Rauf for Pakistan.

England breaks Lord’s jinx

England finally won a Test match against Australia at Lord’s, their first in 75 years. With this win, they go 1 up in the 5 match series.

Australia appeared to have lost its 4th day rhythm and as a result lost Haddin in the second over of the morning. From then on, Flintoff bullied the tail-enders into submission and earned his first 5 for in 4 years.

Though it was Swann who took the important wicket of Clarke, this win is sure to be talked about as a win crafted by Flintoff. For the record, England won by 115 runs. Flintoff took 5 for 92 and Swann took 4 for 86.

As Ponting rightly commented to the TMS team, it was just one match of the series and with 3 more to go one expects the Australians to come back strong.

A mouth-watering day ahead.

Image by Darwin Bell via Flickr

The 5th and final day of the 2nd Test at Lord’s is set to be a humdinger. Australia needs 209 runs and England requires another 5 wickets. The team that wins is sure to rewrite history, but going by their past performances it is more than likely that it is going to be Australia.

The 4th day started with England declaring and leaving Australia to score 522 to win. The huge target, a world record if it is overhauled, ratcheted up the expectation of a keen contest.

Unfortunately, the umpires Rudi Koertzen and Billy Doctrove with their inconsistencies proceeded to mar the expectation. Frankly, their decision-making capacity appears to have diminished in relation to the keenness of the contest. To put it mildly, they are guilty of letting their mind wander.

However, it is too early to say whether the errors will cost Australia the match. Australia being Australia simply upped the ante and refused to dwell on the umpiring errors. Instead of surrendering to fate, they rolled up their sleeves, met it head on. By the end of the day, they have managed to chip away and reduce the target to manageable proportions.

The equation is mouth watering. Australia needs just 209 and to repeat the obvious England needs just 5 wickets. There is as always a mild threat of rain, but even if there are showers, there is enough time left for both teams to achieve their ends.

This in turn leaves us with the prospect of good day’s cricket.

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Farewell to Vaas – what about Test cricket?

Photo credit gingerpig2000

The 3rd and final test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan could well be Chaminda Vaas’s last.

Going by media reports (CSL have rubbished it), the 110 Tests veteran is to announce his retirement at the start of the third Test.

Though one values his contributions to the game of cricket highly, one disapproves the current trend of giving retiring Test cricketers a ‘final’ Test.

Granted, it gives their fans an opportunity to give their departing hero a fitting send-off; does it not devalue the Test match?

Additionally, it draws attention away from the game and proves a distraction to his teammates.

One remembers that earlier, departing heroes were give one last hurray in the form of a ‘Farewell match’.

Basically, it is a match sanctioned by their cricketing boards, where the cricketer not only gets a share of the spoils but also basks in his fans adoration one last time.

One hopes good sense returns to the throne and these cricketers who talk highly about the value of Tests cricket refuse to demean it by playing it for ego satisfaction

Bring back those ‘farewell matches’ and let us play all Tests seriously.

Time for Lord’s Test virgins to come to the party

The proceeding on the day 3 of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord’s can be summed as follows:

Australia fell short and England refused to enforce the follow-on. Instead, England chose to pile up runs and ensure that there are no comebacks from Australia.

Let us begin at the beginning. England let Australia add 50 odd runs in the morning. Even though the situation was ripe to enforce a follow-on and pressure the Lord’s Test virgins, England preferred to negate the possibly of defeat and at the end of the 3rd’s play are 521 runs ahead.

Clearly, Strauss was concerned about denying the Australian’s time to overhaul whatever target he sets. His concern reveals that he considers Australian batting highly and his own bowling attack weak. In large part, it could be because Flintoff is patently unfit and despite their performance, Anderson and Onion are deemed sidekicks.

Despite evidence to the contrary, Strauss is not alone when it comes to overestimating Flintoff. The jingoistic English press has always inflated Flintoff’s ability by describing his minor achievements in mythological proportions.

For Strauss sake, let us hope that having made 30 in his second essay, Flintoff truly rises to the task.

Plainly, at this point, the Test match is meandering and even if England goes for some quick runs only positive intent from the gritty Australian’s can bring it to life.

Australia crumbles

Day 2, 2nd Test, Lords, Ashes 2009

The morning session went as I envisioned. The Australian’s ran through the lower order and despite a spirited display by the last pair, they polished them off without wasting time.

The stage was set for what I imagined was a Cardiff like batting display from Australia. However, there was a difference, the ball was swinging and Anderson having nicely warmed up while batting straight away picked up Hughes and Ponting.

Ponting dismissal was controversial to say the least and could well become a topic for dissertation, if Australia loses this Test, which is a possibility.

Hussey, Katich and Haddin were the only batsmen who withstood the onslaught, but they failed to carry on and squandered the opportunity. Anderson and Co. blew the rest away.

Australia at 156/8 is scampering to avoid a follow on. A hint of negativity appears to have set in already into the Australian mindset. Hussey was saying at the close of day press conference that Australia has to replicate England’s rearguard action at Cardiff to save the Test match.

England thanks to Andersons 4/36 are sitting pretty and all they needed to do is to close out the Australian innings as quickly as possible and from there on exert pressure.

Nevertheless knowing the England team’s propensity to crumble and Australia’s grittiness one expects a good contest. Their dire predicament will be motivation enough for Johnson to come swinging.

Ashes second test/ Lords/1st day

England at 364 for 6 at the end of 1st days play at Lord's.

The happy position that England finds itself can be attributed to Aussie inexperience. Remember, most of the Australian players are playing the Ashes for the first time and similarly it is their first match at Lord's.

So it is natural that they suffer a bout of nerves and that is precisely what happened in the 1st day.

Look at the course of the day, English openers are the only batsmen to have a made a fifty. The rest barring Pietersen scarcely entered double figures. Even the openers scores can be attributed to the nerves the Aussies suffered.

Mitchell Johnson was spraying the ball, the others just fed the openers with scoring opportunities.Strauss, who has remained unbeaten, had two of his catches dropped and a near run out that went for over throws. Surely, this was nothing but nerves.

Look at the turn of fortunes once the Australian's regained their composure, from a high of 255 for 2 they are now 364 for 6 with most of their recognised batsmen bat in the hut.

Going by what happened during the later part of the day, one can expect the Australian's to price out the rest of the England batting and start batting by lunch on the 2nd day.

Test Cricket is in the terminal stage

After much chin wagging the wise men have declared that Test cricket is in the terminal stage and pointed to IPL as the cause.

As there is no antidote for IPL, they conclude that it is time for all of us to face the truth and let it die a natural death.

In their eagerness to blame, the wise men appear to overlooked the fact that the real reason is the mere pointlessness of the format

Shoaib Akthar skips fitness tests

As expected Shoaib Akthar skipped the fitness test held on Monday and Tuesday. However, the fact that he informed the board of his inability to attend because of his mother’s illness surprised everyone.

Let us make it clear, Shoaib Akthar failed to turn for the fitness test and his non-appearance had nothing to do with the disappearance of genital warts.

The Flintoff ‘distraction’

Flintoff’s 4 Tests long good-bye will undoubtedly prove a distraction; the question is which team will be more distracted.

Logically, the English team will suffer the most.

Firstly, Flintoff’s fitness is uncertain and the media is sure to play it up at the start of each Test match. This could prove a distraction for the player who replaces him. Even if he is informed well in advance, the hysteria surrounding Flintoff is sure to make him feel as if he is a stand in.

Secondly, even if Flintoff is rested, every smirk of his will be analysed by the cameras hovering around the pavilion. Considering the importance of the Ashes series, there will be many ‘what if’s’.

There is also the small matter of how his teammates feel about him being the center of attraction. So logically, the English are in real danger of being distracted. However, one cannot rule out the possibility of the Australian’s experiencing the distraction.

The Australian’s will surely chaff under similar burden and if they are not on their guard, they may be swept away by the groundswell of affection surging around the stadium for Flintoff.

Each time Flintoff appears or touches the ball, a frisson is sure to run among the spectators and that could overwhelm the less experienced Australians.

The danger is so real that even Ponting has warned his teammates and asked them to steel themselves against it.

To the reader: Which team will succumb to the Flintoff ‘distraction”?

Flintoff Quits Tests

Andrew Flintoff announced that he would quit playing Test matches at the end of the Ashes series. He will be available to play for England in the shorter formats of the game.

Though Flintoff has declared that he is quitting Test cricket to prolong his cricketing career, one cannot bring oneself to deride him. Unlike others, Flintoff has undergone four ankle operations as well as suffering back, hip, shoulder and groin problems.

This catalogue of injuries as one columnist describes it, surely indicates that his body is collapsing under the strain. Flintoff carries another burden, the burden of expectations. Every time he takes the field, the nation expects him to do the star turn. Coupled with his injuries, the burden would have proved heavy for even a man as broad shouldered as he is, to bear.

Let us not deride him for his eagerness to continue playing in the shorter format of the game. May be the opportunity to let loose without the fear of injuries may well see him play to his undeniable potential?

I like it

It would be an exaggeration to say that the first Ashes Test ended in acrimony. However, if you were to read what the media has to say about the obvious delaying tactics used by England, it appears as if the first salvo in World War II has been fired.

This frenzy is partly due to the media's wish to sustain the hype around this series. It can also be put down to the fact that a lot of cricketers both former and current have become experts in using these situations to gain their 5 minutes of fame.

To recount, England employed some time-wasting tactics during the 5 th day of the Cardiff Test. Now this is something most teams do. In this case England deliberately over did it to get under the prickly Ponting's nose.

To a large extent they succeeded. Ponting promptly lashed out at them in the media and elsewhere and also went to the extent of making his disappointment over the lack of official censure public.

Ideally, it should have stopped there. Both sides know that they would resort to delaying tactics to stave off defeat. An Australian bowler even admitted that even he would have done something similar.

The media, however, is in no mood to relent. Duncan Fletcher, former coach of England, has tried to get Ponting fuming by suggesting that as Ponting himself has a vague conception of 'sportsmanship': he has no right to accuse others for the lack off it.

I expect this issue to simmer until there is some other controversy, but until then, I will enjoy the fact that someone had the keen intellect to discern that Ponting is 'vague'.

Pakistan disappoints

Pakistan handed the three match series to Sri Lanka in a platter. Having rode on a fine century by Fawad Alam, Pakistan collapsed predictably and from a high of 285 for one were shot out for 320.

The target of 171 was too small for Sri Lanka to worry about that they over ran it without alarms.

Frankly, though Sri Lanka won a series against Pakistan for the first time, this series win was given to them. Pakistan did everything to ensure that Sri Lanka had a cake walk.

The way in which the Pakistan batting repeatedly imploded, gives rise to doubts whether the Pakistan batsmen were sincere in their efforts.

The point is Sri Lanka did nothing to win the series. Their bowling and their batting were average and one would have to delve deeply into the records to find when a team had won a series without one of their batsmen scoring a century.

Pakistan claw back

Having suffered two days of batting horror,Pakistan have done well by curtailing the Sri Lankan's to 240.

In fact they have established some sort of control over the second test, by overhauling Sri Lanka's lead. They have done themselves proud by taking a 28 runs lead for the loss of 1 wicket.

Undoubtedly a superb debut century by Fawad Alam went a long way in helping Pakistan gain ascendancy.

By their stellar batting Pakistan have given themselves a chance to equalise the equation. If Pakistan bat in the same vein tomorrow, they will surely put the fragile Sri Lankan batting under pressure.

Remember, the Sri Lankan batsmen have done nothing much in the last three innings. So it stands to reason that they will crumble under the pressure of chasing a huge score on a 5 th pitch.

Now all that Pakistan have to do is to bat well and score at a fast clip.

Will that happen?

England Escapes

Not to put a fine point to it, Australia let them. Having got rid of all but one, Australia found themselves unable to get the last batsmen out in time. The fact that Panesar was one of the obdurate pair would certainly have all Australian's gagging in their beer.

This draw will only accentuate the examination of the current Australian squad. Comparisons will be made with the earlier ones and armchair critics will somberly shake their heads thinking the earlier ones would have run over this pair without breaking into a sweat.

Coming to the England, as usual the press have painted it in martial tones, with one columnist even going as far as likening England's escape to the one in Dunkirk. Suffice to say, that this will only boost the English players ego, but the reality is at the beginning of this Test, England held all the cards. Cardiff was presumably chosen so as to take advantage of Australia's inability to play spin.

What transpired was the big-talking Swann and Panesar made nary an impression with their spin. The slow pitch was supposed to nullify the pace of the Australian bowlers thus giving the English batsmen the time to play their shots.

The plans worked but not in the manner the English desired. It was the Australian's who capitalised on the pitch and batted the English out of the game. Call it hotheadedness, call it lack of application, the fact is English batsmen were unwilling to sweat for their runs and their bowlers quit when the conditions failed to support them.

For once, the Australian's left 'mental disintegration' back home and concentrated on steeling their own determination. There was no talk only action from their end. What was supposedly a weak side in the terms of Ashes experience proved that talent and will to fight is more laudable than talent with ready made excuses for failure.

The Australian's maximised their talent, the English let it go waste. Let us hope for a better show from them at Lords.

Pakistan's batting woes continues.

Pakistan suffered a major embarrassment when they were shot out for 90 runs in the first innings of the Second Test at Colombo. Coming as it does immediately after their second innings collapse at Galle one wonders whether their ICC World Twenty20 success has become a millstone.

Whatever the reason for their batting woes maybe, their rather short first innings means Pakistan in all likely hood will not only lose the second Test but also lose the series.

Ashes 2009: A lackluster series ahead

The first four days of The Ashes series 2009 has only served to highlight England’s unimaginativeness.

Granted, their batting survived the initial Ashes jitters and put up a better than expected score. However, once their bowlers failed to make an impact they fell back to a holding pattern and let the workmen like Australian batsmen pile up a huge total and forge ahead.

It is clear the England bowling strategy rested entirely on hope and a foolish expectation that the inexperienced Australian batsmen will succumb to nerves.

The English think-tank hoped that the ball would swing and their much-hyped spinners would spin the ball. Neither happened and that left them with their eternal hope Andrew Flintoff ,who for all his ‘searching examination’ of Hughes, failed to produce anything inspirational.

To make matters worse, the Australian batting led by Ponting went about their job efficiently and piled up 4 centuries creating further despondency in the English ranks.

If there is one word that sums up Strauss captaincy, then it is the word ‘disappointing’. He appears unable to rally the troops or incapable of making an instinctive move that creates opportunities against the run of play.

Typically, the ever-bombastic English media have started pointing fingers at everything. The have discerned that the pitch at Cardiff is substandard. They have identified Pietersen’s hotheaded shot that cost him his wicket as the reason for the failure of their batsmen to capitalize on the toss.

Having exaggerated Flintoff’s powers to talismanic proportions, they are now creating a haze around him by talking up his one spell to Hughes.

Barring the 2005 series, the Ashes series has been a big bore with the undisputed champions Australia beating the eternal challengers England black and blue. Despite the hype and supposed inexperience of the Australian’s this series appears set to follow a similar pattern.

'bitchy' Bratich

In line with our avowed policy of pursuing the most important and relevant happenings in cricket, we bring you the photo of 'bitchy' Bratich, the girlfriend of the Aussie pacer, Mitchell Johnson.

Incidentally, his mother has accused Jessica Bratich of stealing her son away from her. She has also accused Cricket Australia of ignoring the parents of the cricketers and favouring the ‘bitchy’ girlfriends.

Photo: AdelaideNow.

To you dear reader: Should parents accompany the players or should the girlfriends accompany them on tours?

Related Link : Jessica Bratich

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Is Buchanan eligible?

Buchanan’s has done what any self-respecting coach who needs to sell a book will do, i.e., collect some shit in a socks and twirl it around his head and letting go. The principle being that some shit will hit the ceiling and provide sufficient ‘smell’ for his book sales to gain traction.

Well, his first target, Sachin has failed to rise to the challenge. His next Sunil Gavaskar is too busy celebrating his 60 th birthday to worry about the slurs. Well, his third target, Yuvraj, is unconcerned, as everyone including Yuvraj knows that Bcuhanan has spoken the truth about him.

His only hope now rests with Harbhajan Singh. The risible Bhajji has taken up the challenge and declared that Buchanan’s comment had hurt him.

Bhajji as his wont has also questioned Buchanan’s eligibility. Now do not ask what he is questioning about, it could be his eligibility to coach or even Buchanan’s ‘Teri Ma Ki’s’.

As for Mr Buchanan, having raised the awareness’ around his book he promptly denied allegations he had criticised three current Indian players and Sunil Gavaskar in his newly-released book, The Future of Cricket: The Rise of Twenty20.

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Profundity thy name is Pietersen

Pietersen explaining his yesterday’s brain fade away:

"When you get out you are out," he said. "There is nothing you can do about it.

Right my dear Pietersen, undoubtedly when you are out you are out and there is no two ways about it. Needless to add, when it comes to profundity, you almost match my friend 'proper' Niranjan Shah.

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Now a ‘Hawk-eye (d)’ Guardian

Until now, the television broadcasters have always led the way in innovations. During a major cricket series, they inevitably introduce a new technology that enhances viewing experience. However, this Ashes series, it is the turn of an online publisher, The Guardian, to stun us by introducing Hawk-Eye analysis along with their ball-by-ball commentary.

According to them, “throughout the Ashes series you will not only be able to follow the action through our unrivalled over-by-over commentary, live galleries, session-by-session reports and live scoreboards, you will also be able to use our live and interactive Hawk-Eye analysis system”.

Probably this is the first time a major online publisher like The Guardian is introducing Hawk-Eye and letting their users set their own preferences.


To the reader: Did you check out Guardian’s new Hawk-Eye analysis tool and if so did you like it?

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Wart! Shoaib Akthar declares himself fit.

It is Déjà Vu time.

Shoaib Akthar claims he will make yet another comeback in the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka.

As usual he has declared he is fit (and cured of the skin infection as Cricinfo delicately describes it) and raring to help Pakistan cricket.

As usual, my question is whether Pakistan cricket needs him and if so will the other players accept him?

Wasim Bari, the interim chief-selector of the PCB, statement to AFP, amplifies my doubts. "I will tour Sri Lanka to consult captain Younis Khan and Coach Intikhab Alam who will give their feedback on the players. Akhtar's return will be based on his fitness, which we will assess, provided he is wanted by the team management."



To the reader: Do you believe Pakistan Cricket needs Shoaib Akthar?

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Ganguly – Will he or won’t he?

Image by Richard Parmiter via Flickr

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has set off speculation about his willingness to become a cricket administrator by saying:

"I'm convinced that I can play a positive role," India's most successful test captain told Times of India. "Having played the game at the highest level and being part of the system, I know what it takes to make a difference."

This is an open hint for the anti- Dalmiya faction in the CAB to do their best to entice him into opposing Dalmiya. Who knows from there it is but a small step to becoming the head honcho of the BCCI.

The question is will Ganguly take that small step?

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Rangana Herath brings Pakistan down to the earth

Pakistan’s euphoria on winning the World ICC Twenty20 Cup unexpectedly has been pricked by this astonishing defeat at the Galle International Stadium today.

Rangana Herath, who made his Test match debut at Galle, Sri Lanka against the Australian cricket team in 1999, and his One Day International debut against the Zimbabwean cricket team at Harare Sports Ground in 2004, played in the current Test because of Murali’s injury, scuttled Pakistan dream run by earning a dramatic 50 run victory for Sri Lanka.

Herath, who along with Thilan Tushara and Ajantha Mendis, who nowadays appears to befuddle batsmen only during high-pressure situations, bamboozled Pakistan. Pakistan who were chasing only 168, were coasting along at 71/2, when they were roughly woken up only to be all-out for 117.

This defeat signals the end of Pakistan’s dream run and returns them to the mundane world.

Photo Credit: Sri Lanka Cricket

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Why Dravid?

I am surprised at the inclusion of Dravid in the probable’s list for the Champions Trophy and I am sure Dravid himself would have been taken aback.

When ICC itself is thinking of rejuvenating the The Champions Trophy, it is undoubtedly funny that the Indian selectors steered by the garrulous Srikanth have selected a player who last played an ODI during 2007 against Australia at Nagpur.

The only seemingly logical argument for his inclusion is that the ODI cricket tournament is to be played in South Africa and that too in Johannesburg and Pretoria, two grounds where Dravid had a measure of success during the IPL 2009.

If the selectors are considering Dravid for his technique, then it speaks poorly of the current crop of players. However, that argument fails if you consider that Raina and Rohit too had a superlative IPL 2009 especially at the Wanderers and at the Centurion.

In essence, I believe this retrograde step is unwarranted and more in line with giving the veteran of 333 ODI’s an opportunity to pad up his income. I say this with outmost conviction, Dravid is not going to play and hence another youngster in his place would have gained the much-needed exposure to the international cricket atmosphere.

Probables:

M S Dhoni

Virender Sehwag

Gautam Gambhir

Yuvraj Singh

Rohit Sharma

Sachin Tendulkar

Rahul Dravid

Suresh Raina

Yusuf Pathan

Abhishek Nayar

Ishant Sharma

Zaheer Khan

R P Singh

Praveen Kumar

Harbhajan Singh

Pragyan Ojha

Ravindra Jadeja

Dinesh Karthik

Munaf Patel

R Ashwin

M Vijay

Amit Mishra

Ajinkya Rahane

Dhawal Kulkarni

S Badrinath

Ashish Nehra

Virat Kohli

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh

Wridhiman Saha

Pankaj Singh.

Ashes 2009: Lee out of the 1st Test

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The BBC reports that the Australian spearhead Brett Lee has suffered a rib injury and is likely to miss the 1st Ashes Test to start at Cardiff this Wednesday.

If he remains injured, then Australia has the unenviable task of not only recalibrating their plans but also finding a suitable replacement.

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Final ODI abandoned due to rain

West Indies vs. India, 4th ODI Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St. Lucia, July 5, 2009

India takes Digicel Series 2-1 after the 4th ODI was abandoned due to rain. Though, the match had a delayed start another deluge in the middle of the 7^th over halted play. As the outfield held too much water and more rain was expected, umpires Nigel Long and Clyde Duncan called off play at 1.30 p.m. local time.

This is India's 5^th straight overseas ODI series triumph and its 2nd ODI series win in the West Indies.

4 th Annual The Diversity Cup T20 cricket tournament 2009

It is interesting to note that a Twenty20 tournament is being played in the USA from the year 2006 onwards.

The Diversity Cup Cricket Tournament, an annual event that started in 2006, has teams based on nationalities. Four teams, Canada Maple Leafs, India Blues, Pakistan Greens and USA Stars participated in the inaugural year. In 2007, 6 teams participated as Sri Lanka Lions & West Indies Masters joined the other 4 teams.

The teams have a mixture of International, National, First Class and League players from all over USA and even overseas. Mohammad Azharuddin, former captain of India played for India Blues & Rizwan Uz Zaman, former test cricketer from Pakistan played for Pakistan Greens in 2006.

Canada Maple Leafs won the cup in 2006 and the Sri Lanka Lions won the cup in 2007. The Pakistan Greens won the 2008 edition and Javed Miandad fittingly handed over the cup to the winning Pakistan Greens team.

The 2009 edition of the Diversity Cup T20 cricket tournament is set to start in Detroit on July 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Diversity Cup 2009 Schedule:

Group A:

Match # 1: July 4 Saturday 10:00 am at Bloomer Park, Rochester Hills, MI
USA Stars Vs West Indies Masters

Match # 2: July 4 Saturday 3:00 pm at Bloomer Park, Rochester Hills, MI
India Blues Vs USA Stars

Match # 3: July 5 Sunday 10:00 am at Lyon Oaks County Park, Wixom, MI
India Blues Vs West Indies Masters

Group B:

Match # 4: July 4 Saturday 10:00 am at Lyon Oaks County Park, Wixom, MI
Canada Maple Leafs Vs Sri Lanka Lions

Match # 5: July 4 Saturday 3:00 pm at Lyon Oaks County Park, Wixom, MI
Canada Maple Leafs Vs Pakistan Greens

Match # 6: July 5 Sunday 10:30 am at Bloomer Park, Rochester Hills, MI
Pakistan Greens Vs Sri Lanka Lions

Match # 7: FINAL July 5 Sunday 3:30 pm at Bloomer Park, Rochetser Hills, MI
Winner of Group “A” Vs Winner of Group “B”

Awards Ceremony: 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm at Bloomer Park, Rochester Hills, MI

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Dhoni plays a winning hand

India appeared to have considered the D/L method, when they chose to field on winning the toss.

As expected, rains delayed not only the start, but interrupted the match often. In the end West Indies played 27 over’s and India played 22 overs.

The West Indies did well by posting 186 in 27 over’s. Ishanth was wayward and both Harbhajan and R.P Singh proved expensive.It is time the Indian think tank decided how best to rest and rejuvenate Ishanth. The less said off Harbhajan's bowling the better.

Fortunately, India’s opening pair of Gambhir and Karthick came good. Their 84 runs partnership in 13 overs was effervescent enough to make the task before the other batsmen manageable.

Dhoni coming in ahead of both the out of form Rohit and the inform Yuvraj was instrumental in keeping the task in sight even though a rain interruption in the 13th over marred the calculations.

In the end, it all boiled down to the last over, where 11 were needed. Dhoni proceeded to deposit the 2nd ball for a 6 and India ultimately won by 6 wickets and with a ball to spare.

Match Summary:

India defeated the West Indies by six wickets on the Duckworth/Lewis system with one ball remaining in the third one-day cricket international Friday at Beausejour Stadium.

India leads the 4 match series 2-1.

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Pakistans best Twenty20 team

Imran Yusuf picks his best Twenty20 team from Pakistan’s cricket history and tries to prolong Pakistan’s T20 euphoria.

 

1. Saeed Anwar 1997

2. Hanif Mohammad 1958 (wk)

3. Zaheer Abbas 1976

4. Javed Miandad 1986 (vc)

5. Inzamam-ul-Haq 2005

6. Shahid Afridi 2009

7. Imran Khan 1983 (c)

8. Wasim Akram 1996

9. Fazal Mahmood 1954

10. Saqlain Mushtaq 1999

11. Umar Gul 2009

 

Rest of15-man squad:

Waqar Younis 1994

Majid Khan 1977

Abdul Qadir 1987

Abdul Razzaq 2000

 

The number besides each name indicates the year in which that particular player played his best and hence selected on that basis.

 

My only grouse is the absence of Asif Iqbal.