Warne may consider playing again for Australia

In an interview to ‘Herald Sun’ Warne lays out some conditions for making a comeback. (Mind you he said it with his tongue firmly in his cheek.)

"If you could just turn up and play Test cricket that would be cool. I would definitely consider that. At this stage, it is a fairytale."

Their bowling performances in the IPL, have shown both Warne and McGrath skills to be intact. However, one suspects their fitness will be found wanting in the longer version of the game.

Do you think Warne can just turn up and play Test cricket?

IPL unviels winners trophy

Here is a picture of the DLF IPL Twenty20 Trophy.

Sadly, only the replica will be given to the winners.

It looks tacky, isn't it? I remember my team receiving a similar trophy for winning a local tennis ball tournament.

Team owners can sit in the dug out.

IPL has issued new guidelines permitting team owners to cheer their team from the dug out. Surely, the cricketers and the support staff weren't consulted. They will find this unwelcome.

Seriously, an owner sitting with the team during a tense encounter will be a hindrance.It will lead to micro management.Disagreements between the coach and the owner will be commonplace and will take place in full public view. A day may come when you will find a owner slapping a player or even the coach.

On a lighter note, just imagine Dravid's plight.

Is it a bright idea to have illuminated sight-screens?

In a quest to make cricket immune from bad light, the England and Wales Cricket Board are to consider using illuminated sightscreens, or 'brightscreens', for all major matches.

The idea, is to illuminate the backdrop behind the bowler's arm, a reversal of the white ball/black screen idea, which is now standard in one-day cricket.

What do you think of this bright idea? Will it not be better to play under floodlights instead?

Stanford’s money divides English dressing room

The English are always good at looking at the future, but even for them this is extreme to say the least.

Lawrence Booth writes in The Guardian “Tensions have emerged in the England dressing room over how best to divide the potential winnings from November's Twenty20 game in Antigua against the Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford's All-Star XI”.

Wish these people start living in the present instead of squabbling over future earnings.

Help Dravid make Royal Challengers a great team.

Dravid post loss to Rajasthan Royals asks, “what else we could have done”?

Obviously, a man bereft of ideas.

Do you have any suggestions?

SRK still gung-ho on IPL signs on Ajanta Mendis.

Vijay Mallya and Shah Rukh Khan are studies in contrast. If Mallya exhibits all the withdrawal symptoms, SRK is still behaving like a groupie. The signing up of Sri Lanka's new spin sensation Ajantha Mendis to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders this season is sufficient proof he is still high on IPL

Will Ajantha Mendis help the Kolkata Knight Riders into the semifinals?

IPL’s Player contract unfairly loaded against the franchisees

It is a wonder how businessperson like Mallya and business houses like GMR, India Cements and the Deccan Group accepted such a contract.

Here is some facts courtesy the Economic Times.

1) Each player has been hired for a initial period of three years.

2) Their total fees is the money for which they were bought at the auction.

3) If a team ‘releases’ a player , it will have to honour the contract and pay the player for term contracted.

4) If a team has bid for a player and he is not available for that season, the franchisee will only have to pay a 10% retainer for having the player on squad and player gets paid on a per match basis.

5) The window for trading players will open from February 2009, when franchisees can buy and sell players.

6) If a player gets injured during the tournament, and the injury requires treatment, it is for the team owner to provide cover.

7) The players are obliged to perform to the best of their ability and if they are in breach, then termination is possible.

On first look, the contract seems just. It however, makes it impossible for the franchisees to shed non-performers without incurring financial loss. It is more so in the case of icons.

Assuming that players like Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman have no bidders when the transfer window opens in 2009 the franchisees are saddled with these 'icon's.It means that these non-performing assets will cost the franchisees hugely in terms of money. Fortunately for the franchisees there is no financial cap next year, otherwise they would be stuck with these players and unable to bid for others players.

This brings the question of viability into the open. In this scenario, a franchisee has no way of making a profit. Surely, a fresh contract has to be drawn.

Don’t you think the contract favours the players?

Mumbai Indians snare Pietersen

It appears both Pietersen and the Mumbai Indians have their wish.

Kevin Pietersen is poised to be given the green light to earn in excess of £2million from the most lucrative deal yet offered by the Indian Premier League. The England and Wales Cricket Board are resigned to allowing Pietersen to accept the three-year contract which has been offered to him by one of India's wealthiest families.

Pietersen is due to play in the next edition of IPL signaling the start of an exodus.

Mallya backtracks.

Mallya has learnt a lesson. Whatever your travails, you do not rant against your icon (God). Let your icon be leaden footed and uninspiring, let him be dour and unmarketable, the cardinal rule in Indian cricket is, you do not question him (icon/God).

Unlike the corporate world, Indian cricket is allergic to deadlines, plans and strategy. Excuses are in plenty and winning is an alien thought.

The mistake Mallya made was to expect results and a modicum of accountability. He also failed to realize when it comes to survival, all the senior player’s stick together.

Therefore, Mallya has to backtrack. This is just the beginning; Mallya, a past master in corporate warfare, will know how to put down a palace coup. Kumble and Dravid iconic days are over.

Praveen Kumar in a drunken brawl – Yet another IPL controversy

Indian pacer Praveen Kumar, who is currently playing for Royal Challengers, is accused of beating up a doctor in Meerut on Thursday night, according to reports by a private news channel.

According to reports, Praveen's action might lead to stringent measures from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The report is however silent on how IPL will punish him.

Two things that intrigued me :

1. What was he doing in Meerut? Isn’t he supposed to be traveling with Royal Challengers? Alternatively, did Mallya send him home to save costs, a la Kolkata Knightriders.?
2. Was he drunk on Royal Challenge or on Kingfisher?

Mr. Kumble we have heard this one before

What if it is IPL, the latest format in cricket, some things never change including the excuses for poor performance.

Read on:

"What's important though, is that at this time, you need all the support and backing you can get," Kumble wrote in his column for Hindustan Times. "You need the people around you, the people who matter, to understand what sport is all about, to realise that no one goes out there to lose”.

(Kumble statement comes in the wake of the scathing comments made by Vijay Mallya, on Dravid.)

'No one goes out their to lose' is an excuse cricket fans have been hearing for eons. Since defeat is permanent and victory is temporary, lets us do away with these hackneyed excuses and come up with some new ones.

For starters, I like the one said by Afridi (cheerleaders are a distraction), it by far the best and the most original excuse someone has come up with in IPL.

Do you have any favourite?

IPL - BCCI's hidden agenda

Abdul Ruff writing in Global Politician says:

India has now endeavored to use the available international cricket mastery drawn form countries to train the Indian cricketers both the current teams and the junior ones.

He adds,

“The expertise of these cricketers is being used by India to make a strong contingent of Indian cricketers with surplus, so that Indian team can withstand any pressure form countries like Australia , South Africa , West India , Sri Lanka and Pakistan , etc. With a “formidable” national team with extra members always ready, India would be able to win every match it plays any where and it needs not go appeasing the foreign governments or cricket mafia for crucial victories with necessary “suitable favors”.

He makes it sound as if it is a deliberate strategy by India to take over the (cricketing) world. Having always considered the BCCI to be a mindless entity, this sounds far-fetched.

However, one agrees if IPL prepares Indian cricketers to face any opposition and win, then it is a worthwhile exercise.

Do you think is it a cold-blooded strategy by the BCCI?

The MCC to sell T-Shirts

Dire needs calls for dire strategies.

The Marylebone Cricket Club, which owns Lord’s, has decided to capitalise on its instantly recognisable name and the vast international popularity of cricket. It is understood the Ashes urn, the property of the MCC, could also become a logo used on a range of merchandise.

Is the MCC selling its soul?

Bookies say Rajasthan Royals are the favourites

If you are the sort who follows the odds, then plump your money on Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals. The bookies consider them favourites to win the DLF IPL Trophy

At Rs 1.60 per rupee bet, Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals is the most favoured team of the bookies. Initially, they were least favoured with bookies betting on at Rs 13.

Out of the eight teams playing in the tournament, Team Jaipur is the current favourites at Rs 1.60, which means that for every rupee you bet on Warne and his men, you will win Rs 1.6 (plus your rupee back). Team Jaipur is followed by Team Mohali with Rs 1.90 while Team Chennai with Rs 2.25 on per rupee bet.

Betting Odds from the Economic Times

Technorati Tags: IPL,Teams,Betting,Odds,Rajasthan Royals

Harbhajan escapes a ‘life’ ban

The Board of Control for Cricket in India banned Harbhajan Singh for a paltry five one day Internationals.

After making ‘shocking’ statements, the Inquiry Commissioner Sudhir Nanavati submitted his report to the BCCI President yesterday, who in turn let off Harbhajan Singh lightly.

Interestingly, Lalchand Rajput, the coach of the Mumbai Indians reportedly found applauding Harbhajan’s indiscipline, he escaped without a reprimand. Funnily, Sreesanth received a stern warning.

For the record, we were expecting a life ban for Harbhajan and a minimum of five one-day match’s ban for Sreesanth.

Needless to add, we are disappointed.

Technorati Tags: Harbhajan,Sreesanth,BCCI,Nanavati,ban

The FTP (Future Tours Programme) in jeopardy.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has received a tremendous response to buy franchise rights/sponsor teams in the planned Pakistan Premier League Twenty20 competition.

By their admission, the constraining factor is the availability of a suitable slot in the crowded FTP (Future Tour Programme).

Along with the PPL, there is EPL and a T20 tournament in Australia (APL?) vying for suitable slots. In all probability the FTP is destined for to the dustbin.

Technorati Tags: FTP,PPL,IPL,EPL,PCB

ICC - is it above corruption?

ICC says the Marlon Samuels case shows corruption in cricket still exists. Fine, agreed, everyone knows that he is the tip of the iceberg and sustained vigil is essential to root out the other elements.

However, is ICC above corruption? One asks this question because ICC has gone out of its way to save one of its corrupt member associations (Zimbabwe) from relegation.How are we to be sure their motives are pure?

Technorati Tags: ICC,Marlon Samuels,Cricket Corruption

Slap gate- Nanavati pleads for leniency

Nanavati who is grandly name of Inquiry Commissioner (makes it sound Gestapoish) has pleaded for leniency.

Now what business does an Inquiry Commissioner, appointed to enquire into the ‘slap gate’ controversy, has in pleading for lesser punishment for the assailant is debatable. Nanavati by the very nature of his job should confine himself to reporting on the issue.

One concludes that all this pleading by Harbhajan, Farookh Engineer and Nanavati (there are unconfirmed reports that even Sreesanth had asked for Harbhajan to let off) is an attempt to set the stage for the BCCI Chief to let Harbhajan escape with an insignificant punishment.

This blogger still stands by his call for banning Harbhajan for life.

Technorati Tags: Slap Gate,Nanavati,Inquiry,Harbhajan,Sreesanth,BCCI

IPL- First sacking - Now cost cutting?

By asking 5 fringe cricketers to vacate the team hotel, Kolkata Knight Rider’s team management have given rise to rumours that they are employing cost control measures.

However, the official line is that these players are superfluous and hence asked to leave.

The five players are Ranadeb Bose, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sourasish Lahiri, Yashpal Singh and Hokkaido.

Technorati Tags: IPL,Team franchisee,Kolkata Knight Riders,Cost-cutting

Are the Indian Women ready for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009?

The second ranked team in women’s cricket has sowed the seeds of hope among Indian cricket fans by their stupendous achievement in the Women’s Asia Cup.

To relive the memory, Indian women thrashed all comers in the recently concluded Women’s Asia Cup and carried the trophy home for the fourth time in succession.

However, doubts persist whether they can take on the number one team Australia and bring home the World Cup.

 

Technorati Tags: ICC,Women's World Cup,2009,India,Women's Cricket

IPL conjures a ‘purple’ cap for the leading wicket-taking bowler

After introducing the 'Orange Cap' for the highest run-getter, Indian Premier League (IPL) announced a 'Purple Cap' for the highest wicket-taking bowler as well.

It has also instituted a Winner of the Purple Cup2008 for the bowler with the most cumulative number of wickets at the end of the season.

Technorati Tags: IPL,Purple Cap,bowler,orange cap batsmen

IPL - Dravid refuses to acknowledge the truth

There is nothing wrong in holding Test cricket and Test cricketers in high esteem. However, why is Dravid constantly questioning the ability of players in the IPL.

“Twenty20 is unique and lot of young Indian players are excelling in this format. Whether they can take this confidence to the next level is debatable. It’s not going to be easy and the skill with which you achieve success in the shortest format may not provide success in Ranji and Tests,”

If we are to follow the argument to its logical conclusion, one is forced to ask,how many of the Ranji Trophy players will have the wherewithal to succeed in Test cricket?

Dravid appears stuck on his favourite thought that Test cricketers can adapt to any form of cricket, whereas others cannot.

By constantly questioning the skills of Twenty20 cricketers to scale up to other forms of the game, Dravid is trying to convince himself of his decision to pack his side with Test cricketers.

It is high time Dravid looked at the truth in the eye and admit he is wrong.

Technorati Tags: RC,Royal Challengers,Dravid,IPL

Why are the Deccan Chargers escaping criticism?

VMM, a Royal Challengers fan wonders, “What surprises me even more is that they are getting less flak for their performance than the BRC”.

True, Royal Challengers seem to be taking it in the chin from all quarters while the Deccan Chargers are getting away with pathetic performances.

To repeat VMM’s question, why are the Deccan Chargers getting away with mediocre performances?

The answer is simple.

If we were to recollect, at the very outset, media and the blogger's had gone to town labelling the Bangalore Royal Challengers as ‘Test XI’. Dravid was dismissive of their opinion. That dismissive retort must have hurt. Unfortunately, as if to prove the commentator right, Dravid and Royal Challengers have made a hash of their chances. The blogger's and the media considered it a vindication and in glee have been tearing the Royal Challengers performance to pieces.

In contrast, the Deccan Chargers were hailed by the same mainstream media and assorted blogger's for getting it right during the bidding. Rightly or wrongly, Laxman got a surge of admiration for declining the ‘icon’ status (the rumour is, he traded it for the captaincy), thus freeing up money to bid for players.

However, the Deccan Chargers wrong footed the commentators with their dismal performances. Obviously, they are not going to criticize Deccan Chargers, as it will highlight their misjudgment in sharp relief.

The answer is simple; the Deccan Chargers have proved the media wrong, hence, they are keeping mum, whereas the Royal Challengers have proved them right and hence, criticised.

Technorati Tags: IPL,Deccan Chargers,Royal Challengers,critcs,criticism

The truth behind the IPL rejections

Somehow, one viewed with suspicion the announcement of this or that English cricketer rejecting an IPL offer. One all ways felt that an English cricketer puts money over country and cricket. (Read about the numerous apartheid tours here).

The skepticism is further accentuated by the fact that one of the first people to make a song and dance of the rejection was Pietersen. We all know where he comes from and where he stands now.

So, one is not surprised to read this.

Dimitri Mascarenhas, England's only representative at the IPL, believes the recent spate of players around county cricket saying they have turned down offers to play in India is because counties haven't given their permission rather than the players not wanting to go.

 

 

 

4-0-24-5 (1w)

A warm welcome to you Balaji. Glad to have you around.

Technorati Tags: IPL,CSK,Chennai Super Kings,Balaji,Comeback

ICC proposes a three-year Test Championship

ICCs Cricket committee has proposed a three – year Test Championship cycle culminating in top two ranked nations vying for the top honour. Ostensibly, this will end all boring meaningless Test match.

In order to make Test cricket relevant and exciting to the present generation, ICC has do more than devising a three- year Test Championship cycle.

It has to ensure that home teams provide sporting wickets and ensure a modicum of cricketing equality between the teams.

Technorati Tags: ICC,Cricket Committee,Test Championship

Cricket is for fools

Apparently, any fool can follow cricket rules.

According to a Learning and Skills Council research, “Football fans need graduate-level reading skills to understand the offside rule, but cricket regulations are far easier, research found”.

If the rules are simple, why do cricketers misbehave?

IPL - A web site for the statistically inclined.

Check out this website. It uses data culled from Cricinfo and Google Motion Gadget to provide an interactive interface to cricket statistics from IPL 2008.

 

To a nonprofessional it appears they are using colored balloons instead of skyscrapers to convey statistics. However, let us await the wise words from number crunchers about its usability.

 

 

 

 

BCCI Vs IPL- Who will prevail.

For a long time now one associates Indian cricket with the BCCI and vice versa. However, with the advent of the IPL this association may soon become outdated.

Consider this, we have seen IP, Lalit Modi and the slap –gate’ controversy ignite passion and take over public imagination. So much so, in the last fifteen days Harbhajan –Sreesanth disciplinary proceedings is the only occasion the BCCI has been in the limelight. Interestingly, this controversy originated in the IPL

Granted the IPL is a matter of 45 days, nevertheless, with discussions of Champions League in incubation, it has the wherewithal to become a year long jamboree.

If IPL sustains the current level of interest, it will be more alluring and powerful even for the cricket administrators. A stage will come when the BCCI officials, will be politicking and jockeying for positions in the IPL.

Ultimately, the BCCI will find its patronage and power diminish. Its future will depend on how it reconciles itself to the growing popularity of IPL.

Will it have the maturity to let it grow or will the renowned ‘crab culture’ destroy one of them?

Venkatesh Prasad shifts blame

The blame game has begun indicating that The Royal Challengers Bangalore franchisee is a sinking ship. First off the block is Venkatesh Prasad. Here he is professing his innocence.

Prasad said that though he was the designated coach of the team, he effectively "started handling the duties of the bowling coach as Martin Crowe, the Chief Cricket Officer, and Rahul (Dravid, the captain) handle the team selections and all the other duties".

He is squarely blaming Martin Crowe and Rahul Dravid for the team's lackluster performance. Surely, he is readying to bail out.

Bracewell and his "conspiracy theories"

John Bracewell the New Zealand cricket coach since 2003, announced he will not seek to renew his contract when it expires next April,

 

We are unashamed to admit that we will miss him. He along with our dear friend Niranjan Shah enlivened our existence.

 

However, we confess that John Bracewell is a man after our own heart. Like us, he was prone to conspiracy theories and delusions.

 

 

The best of Bracewell's verbal jousts.

 

iSixes World Series Competition

Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Romesh Kaluwitharana and now Craig McMillan have signed up for the iSixes Word Series competition. It will be a six-a-side affair, involving all nine test-playing nations. There are two other team, probably the left-overs called the Wild Card and then a select team called All Star Team participating.

 

Prize money of US$ 1 million awaits the winning team and  the whisper is Singapore Dubai, and Shanghai are the locations. It is obvious that this yet to be ICC approved tournament is targeting the Indian expatriate population.

 

Since ICC is yet to approve it, Anil Kumble's participation is surprising. Does it mean his retirement is just around the corner?

What is the purpose of the stump mike?

Homer makes some valid points on using technology in cricket. He has this say about the stump mikes" either turn them on (stump mikes) all through the game at a high volume or turn them off completely. Especially now that the ICC is coming down hard on sledging. "

Exactly, let us turn the stump mikes off completely. They serve no earthly purpose and it in no way adds to the quality of the game.

If one argues that the stump mikes helps monitor on field chatter then that purpose is defeated as the players are wise of its potential to create mischief. They are wary and know what to speak and what not to speak within the audio range of the mike.

The Harbhajan, Hayden & Symonds episode is an excellent example. It is illuminating to note that neither Symonds nor Harbhajan said anything incriminating within the audio range because they do not want it heard. Similarly, the mike picked up what Hayden said because it was deliberate and with intent to be heard.

The same goes for sledging. Seasoned veterans never sledge near the mike; it is either done in-between the over, when the mikes are off or when they walk past the batsmen in the mid pitch.

So why do we need stump-mikes?

Bopara,Wright and Mohmood - What do they have in common?

1. They are British.

2. They are cricketers.

3. They ‘say’ they have rejected a lucrative IPL offer.

However, what is behind this flurry of rejections?

The plain truth is they are all rejects trying to make their way back into the England cricket team. By publicizing their’ rejection’ they are attempting to score over other aspirants. In addition, the BCCI and its IPL are ‘ogres’ in the eyes of the English press and the public and by claiming they have rejected IPL’s offer, these no-hoppers are projecting themselves as cricketers who put country before money.

However, once selected, they will start talking about how a cricketer’s career is short and how IPL offers them an opportunity to secure their financial future.

Overall, rejecting an IPL offer is a good public relations exercise.

What is Nielsen's objection to the challenge system?

Australia's cricket coach Nielsen has expressed reservations over the introduction of the new tennis style challenge system in cricket. Careful analysis reveals that he has sound basis to his objection.

.

"It means almost one-third of the (10) wickets that you need to get a team out, you can contest, which seems like a high number to me."

Don't you think it is one challenge too many?

Update:

A grounder on the what exactly the 'challenge' is.

Under the proposal, each team would be limited to a maximum of three unsuccessful challenges per innings. The on-field umpire would consult with the third umpire when a decision was challenged, before the on-field umpire gave the final decision.

Most cricket bats are illegal.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), guardians of the laws of the game, plan to revise rules to make most bats currently used in the international game illegal.

 

The aim is to clarify the law banning all composite materials used in bats or handles.

 

Here are some interesting links:

 

Cricket Law 6 – The bat 

 

Cricket Bat Willows 

 

Pontings bat illegal – Probably this is what set things off.

 

Cricket with tennis ball is not cricket.

With one fell swoop, my bragging rights have been taken away.

 

High Court Justice Bhagwati Prasad said, "Cricket with tennis ball is not cricket, and playing cricket with a tennis ball would not make you a sportsperson.

 

I wonder how my wife will react if she reads this. She is always skeptical of my cricketing abilities. Worse, what about my daughter, she will be crestfallen when she learns that the honorable High Court judge has declared her father a person non grata.

 

 

BTW, have any of you played cricket with a tennis ball? If so which is your favorite shot?

 

 

Some interesting facts about Tennis ball cricket:

 

Chennai hosts innumerable tennis ball tournament during summer holidays. Most of the popular ones are under floodlights. Sometimes these tournaments are played even up to 4 a.m. They are mostly 12 over's per side however some of them are played 15 over's per side.

 

 

The Tennis Ball Cricket Association in the San Francisco Bay Area is ready to host the TCA KNOCK-OUT 2008 TOURNAMENT

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

- 15 Overs

- Knock Out Format

- Winners advance to further rounds and play for the Cup

- Losing teams play for rankings

- Each team will have minimum of 4 scheduled TCA games

- Tournament duration: 6 weeks

- Tournament Begins: June 7, 2008

 

Players' earnings set to go over the roof in IPL 2nd season

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to scrap the USD five million cap on the players' salaries from next season onwards, a move that could see top cricketers earn as much as a whopping USD 15 million (Rs 61 crore approx).

 

Hmm.. I am bit confused. Is IPL's inaugural tournament a success?

 

Royal Challengers need to accept their mistakes

After the first stage of bidding, it was evident that the Royal Challengers had bid for players in the Dravid mould. One would go so far as to speculate that Rahul Dravid got the Royal Challengers management to let him decide the team.

 

Unfortunately, as pointed out by most the bloggers, the team consists of excellent players who are more suited to the longer versions of the game. Players like Kallis, Dravid and even Jaffer to name a few are ideal for ODI's and Test cricket, but as Twenty20 players, they struggle.

 

The sad part is even after playing six games and comprehensively outplayed in four of them, they refuse to look at the truth in the eye. If they still entertain hope, then ruthlessness is called for. Get rid of Jaffer and Kallis, play Kohli down the order and keep Dravid's sidekicks like Sunil Joshi at arms length.

 

However, these changes will remain mere window dressing if Dravid remains the Captain. He is yet to feel the ebb and flow of the Twenty20 games in his blood. In addition, it is surprising to see a man known for his never say die attitude seems reluctant to have the same attitude as a Captain. He looks and acts like a man who has his fate foretold.

 

If they fail to do the necessary weeding, the Royal Challenger fans will have to be satisfied with their Washington Redskin cheerleaders and their jouncing anatomical wonders.

 

P.S. Lest we be accused of being satisfied with pointing out problems, may we dare suggest  Dravid handover his crown of thorns to Boucher?

 

Pakistan's ICL players give up fight

The Pakistani players, who joined the Indian Cricket League, have given up their legal battle against the Pakistani authorities for banning them from domestic tournaments.

 

Has a deal been struck?

 

 

IPL - A turnaround in the bowler's fortune?

There is a definite turnaround in the IPL. The bowlers, once considered mere cannon fodder, are asserting themselves.

 

Excepting a couple of instances of individual brilliance, the batsmen have largely struggled to run up scores in excess of 200. It is also interesting to note the number of last over finishes. If one were to ignore the performance of the Deccan Chargers, they are establishing a record of sorts, they reflect in favor of the bowlers.

 

Now what caused this turnaround in the bowler's fortune?

 

Can we attribute it to the departure of a fair number of overseas players? On the other hand, should we attribute the turnaround to the pitches on offer?

 

Undoubtedly, both factors have a bearing, but one can credit it to the number of league matches in the IPL. By now, we would have witnessed a winner in other Twenty20 tournaments whereas in the IPL even after 20 games we are yet to identify the semifinalists.

 

The unwieldy tournament has worked in the bowlers favor. It has given the bowlers ample time to stage a smart recovery from the initial 'shock and awe' of brutal manhandling from the batsmen.

 

At the same time, it has proved detrimental to the batsmen. The sheer number of matches means that the batsmen are under pressure to blaze away every other innings. Hence, batsmen take more risks, which in turn increase the number of failures. No wonder the bowlers are asserting themselves.  

PCB suspends Shoaib Akthar's ban for a month

In order to let him participate in the IPL, the PCB has gone out of the way to suspend Shoaib Akthar’s ban for one month.

This partial ban has revived Shoaib Akthar’s career. For if IPL shunned him, other cricketing organisations would shun him too, a fate suffered by his less controversial teammate.

Update: 07.00 p.m. Read Q's version of the events here.

Harmison threatens to resign

Most cricketers seem adept at bringing pressure to bear on the selectors through their syndicated columns/interviews etc.,

 

Here is one such attempt.

 

Steve Harmison has said he is likely to quit cricket if he fails to win back his England place.

 

It is an unabashed attempt at drumming up public support. Frankly, it is laughable to see someone do this and claim he was just expressing his thoughts and not putting a gun on the selector's temple.

 

Good luck Harmy, do us a favor, learn to pitch the ball within a batsmen's reach, will you?

Twenty20 Champions league format

The Champions league in all probability will be played in India during November.

Here are some sketchy details. :-(

The format will be eight teams, the winners and runners-up of the IPL and domestic competitions in England, South Africa and Australia. It is unlikely to be a straight knockout because no team will wish to travel to India for one match.

Is the Twenty20 format ideal for the Olympics?

Texan billionaire Allen Stanford says 'IPL can be an Olympic sport within a 10-yr span'

Even though the Twenty20 format suits the Olympic Games, I for one, would prefer to see the 50 over (ODI) game in the Olympics.

Which would you prefer, the 50 over or the Twenty20 format?

IPL – Now the match referee is in trouble.

Farookh Engineer a maverick during his days as a wicketkeeper for India is enjoying a resurrection in the IPL. In his capacity as the Match Referee, the largely forgotten cricketer had taken center stage during the Bhajji – Sreesanth episode.

Unfortunately, he seems to have landed himself in trouble for suggesting that the BCCI needed to be lenient on Harbhajan Singh and for making comments on S.Sreesanth.

Reports suggest that his comments are unwelcome and Lalit Modi is making threatening noises that his comments plus his attire, he was seen wearing the RC team’s uniform, will be investigated.

This blogger cherishes the memories of Engineer's wicket keeping skills and always considered him with fondness. Some of his catches and stumpings were truly amazing. In fact, we would go so far to claim that he along with Eknath Solkar, played a large part in making our famous spin trio effective.

For that reason, we request the omnipresent Lalit Modi to ignore his faults and let Farookh Engineer enjoy his newfound celebrity status.


For those unaware of Farookh Engineer and his flamboyance here are a few selected comments and anecdotes.

Farookh Engineer Player Profile:

Farookh Engineer began his Test career in 1961 and played 46 matches in all, scoring 2,611 runs and taking 66 catches behind the wicket, with 16 stumpings. A stalwart for Lancashire for many seasons, Engineer's distinguished international career came to an end when he retired following the 1975 World Cup.

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi on Farookh Engineer – “was the best wicket-keeper of his time. He was flamboyant, a great crowd puller. Engineer had very good public relations with almost all the cricketers”.

Those who know Engineer will agree that he is capable of this and more.

Sunny. Don't get out first ball. It's a long way back to the pavilion.' Engineer was dismissed first ball.

Blasts from the past by Vivek Atray:

Much as classical old songs from films reflect a soothing, old world charm amid the hurly-burly of today, TV images of players like Bhagwat Chandrashekhar and Farookh Engineer going about their stuff in matches from the early seventies, de-stress one no end and even bring a tear or two to the old eye.


Finally some caustic comments on Engineers commentating style.


BTW,This post is dedicated to 'R' a regular to this blog and one who comes up with off - color comments (Hey! I am joking).

'R' hope this compensates for your time and the money you lost betting on Farookh Engineer.

Warne-Ganguly rumpus and its fallout

The war of words between Ganguly – Warne is pure competitiveness. However how do you account for the following?

1. Warne speaking of Smith as an International Captain, emphasizing the word Captain to draw attention to Smith's pristine reputation. Surely, it would have been too much for an Australian to acknowledge a South African thus.

2. Ganguly will find no sympathy for his actions other than from his most rabid fans. This would have been unimaginable if not for the disappointment among Indian cricket fans about their cricketers post Bhajji – Sreesanth slap gate.

Do you agree that if not for IPL these would have been unimaginable

'Sin-bin' for sledging

In an attempt at weeding out sledging and cultivate good behavior, schools in the UK are experimenting with 'sin-bins'.

By agreement between cricket masters before matches, umpires will warn a fielding side about their conduct if they indulge in sledging. After two 'cautions', the master in charge of the offending team will be invited to remove his captain from the field for 10 minutes, with no substitute allowed.

Though it is not revolutionary,by penalizing the Captain the concept can force teams to behave. However, the onus on enforcing it is on the umpires.

Do you think 'sin-bins' will deter International cricket teams from sledging?

Shoaib Akhtar unloved and unwanted will turn to ICL

Once the PCB permitted him to play overseas, the common perception was, it would only be a matter of time before he played in the IPL.

However, IPL and its parent organization BCCI, have turned their backs on him stating "they will not admit anyone suspended by his home country".

Here is a backgrounder on Shoaib Akthar's ban and its aftermath.

1. Banned by PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) for five years on charges of indiscipline.
2. This automatically bars him from IPL.
3. On appeal Shoaib Akthar earns a partial victory. PCB still bans him from playing in Pakistan. However, he can play abroad. This qualifies him for IPL.
4. IPL (Indian Premier League) wants no truck with him citing its policy that it will not admit anyone suspended by his home country.

This leaves Shoaib with no recourse other than to play either in the ICL or parade his wares in the English county.

If one goes by his past record, he will surely join ICL out of spite and thus effectively end his turbulent International career.