Mohali Test – Day 3

7.00 A.M.

Some early morning jitters regarding the Australian middle order.

With Australia at 102/- 4 the Indian's are undoubtedly ahead. The cricketing pundits have rightly declared the first hour crucial to India's fortunes.

As we have to surmount the obstacle of a strong Australian middle-order, the first hour is indeed crucial.

However, the Australian middle-order barring the doughty Brad Haddin, they have been largely invisible. Nevertheless, both Shane Watson and Cameron White are more than capable of biffing their way out of trouble and messing our progress.

Therefore, from the Indian team’s point of view, let us hope they do not choose the first hour to make merry.

Technorati Tags: Mohali,Test Cricket,Day 3

Why would anyone watch the Stanford Twenty20 game?

From a cricket fan's point of you, why would you watch the match?

Will you watch it for the cricket on display or for the big money on offer?

Me? I will give it a miss. I have no desire to watch naked greed.

Technorati Tags     Stanford,Twenty20

Mohali Test - Day II

6.30 P.M.

Unless Hussey pulls a rabbit out of the hat Australia at 102/4 is looking down the barrel of a gun. 

Disappointment in the sense that India failed to score 500.

Many congratulations to Amit Mishra - two for on debut is no joke. As far as I know other than Sivaramakrishnan and Hirwani - no other debutant leg spinner has performed as creditably.

Cheers.

3.49 P.M.

With a bit of luck, India can change the course of the match in its favor. If they get rid of Hussey or Clarke then tomorrow its is ours.


3.43 P.M.

Mishra gets his first wicket.

2.45 P.M.

Ponting out for 5. I am thoroughly convinced that young Ishant has his number. I admit to entertaining hopes of an Indian victory.


2.27 P.M.

Ganguly threw it away immediately after his century. Then Dhoni had a brain fade out- ran out Zaheer and got out immediately.

However, India redeemed itself by getting the wicket of Hayden for a duck.Zaheer yet again got rid of him in the first over. A strange coincidence, Hayden has got out twice on the third ball.

I am really impressed with Siddle. Though he gave away more than 100 runs, he took 3 wickets on a unhelpful pitch. He should be justifiably proud of his work. Australia surely has an excellent prospect.


12.37 P.M.

Hundred number 16 for Ganguly.

Dhoni is also on the way. He is on 61.  Now that 500 is tantalizingly close.

11.35 A.M.

India progresses serenely to 401/6 at lunch on the second day. The serenity undoubtedly brought on by Ganguly and the stand- in captain Dhoni. For once Dhoni showed glimpses of the batting skills that elevated him to the No.1 ODI batsmen in ICC rankings.

Ganguly 8 short of his century. If he does hit a century then you can expect the media to go overboard about his retirement.

Coming back to the Test match - I would say India certainly in the driving seat. The scoring rate has also been excellent. The match will truly be ours if they finish up the day around 500.

However, yesterday, Johnson bowled an excellent spell immediately after lunch to rattle India. Let us hope Dhoni and Ganguly navigate the session without further alarms.

10.32

Dhoni hits the accelerator.

Well! Well! Well! Indian has progressed to 362/6 with Dhoni showing glimpses of his ODI form.He has hit 27 of 27 balls with 4 fours and a six.


5.40 A.M.

Indian team celebrates Sachin's achievement with Champagne.

O.K. It is an unique achievement and needs to be celebrated. However, I hope they do not get carried away and forget that they are in the midst of a Test. The celebrations can wait.


5.00 A.M.

India in command - Will Dhoni come of age?

Having put up a good score on the First day - India has every reason to believe that they have the upper hand. However, I believe that a lot of hard work needs to be done today.
India should look to bat the Australians out of the game and therefore should score another 200 runs. Against the Australian's it is easier said than done and so it is imperative that Dhoni makes his presence felt in the Test arena.

Technorati Tags     Australia,Day,India,Test,II,Mohali

Killjoy

India will need Tendulkar for next 2-3 years: Srikkanth

Nobody can tell me when to quit: Tendulkar


I leave it to my readers to take this up.

Mohali Test- First Day

5.19 P.M.

311/5

Got to admit that the my stomach is much more settled than it was in the morning. Good going for the Indians. Would have preferred if Sachin had remained not out. From here on  it depends on how Dhoni plays.

4.46 P.M.

305/5

Siddle gets Tendulkar's prize scalp.

A great wicket for a debutant. From now on whenever they talk about Tendulkar's record Siddle will be mentioned as the one who got him in his record breaking innings.

Overall India did well after their rush of blood in the post - lunch session.

Thankfully, we crossed 300. Otherwise the post Bangalore chatter of the Australian's struggling  would have shamed us.

Egad! They have sent Ishant Sharma as night-watchman.

2.55 P.M.

Tendulkar overtakes Lara.

So where were we? Comfortably placed when Laxman played his usual cameo and departed. He was beautifully set -up by Johnson the previous over. Fed on a diet just outside the off-stump Laxman reveled only to get carried away and tried an extravagant flick to be caught behind.

Oh! Should not let this landmark event go without comment. Tendulkar has overtaken Lara. Well done! It is only that the last hundred appeared labored.

1.23 p.m.

148/3

Can't relax even for a moment. Dravid goes, shaping to play on the off side inside edge on to the stumps.

Dravid was too pumped up after lunch.

Gambhir follows- this guy is good for a sixty. - Do we have another Chetan Chauhan on  our hands?



1.10 p.m.

Dravid outscores Gambhir by 2 runs  - 74 runs, 24.2 overs, RR: 3.04 (Dravid 38, Gambhir 36)

12.55 P.M.

Over at BCC! NC correctly identifies what Dravid had for lunch. No wonder he has the Viru fever.

12.50 P.M.

10 overs safely negotiated. Dravid seems all business. As regular Pan asked, what did he(Dravid) have for lunch?

Siddle seems to know his business. Admirable line and length bowling. Where do they get this composure?

You can be sure our debutant will be spraying the ball around at least in the first over.

11.40 A.M.

Pepsi terminates contract with IPL.

What gives? Pepsico has terminated its contract with IPL for 'pouring rights'(sounds obscene!).

Is it switching over to ICL? Or has Coke cocked a snook?

If I am not mistaken there was some heart burn as Pepsi had tied up with IPL, whereas Coke had tied with some of IPL franchisees.

May be a clash of interest or has Pepsi decided to go the whole hog?

11.30

gambhir gets his fifty. India 104/1. Is this a good scoring rate?

11.28 A.M.

Gambhir on 48 three more balls to go for lunch?

My interests lies in knowing whether it is going to yet another high scoring fifty or will he make the most of it and score a hundred and beyond.


10.57 a.m.

Lee has bowled 5 wides. Any beamers?

10.50 a.m.

Mercy me! The joy and sorrow of longing in  after three hours. India has won the toss elected to bat.

Sehwag has blasted 35 of 36 balls with 6 boundaries. Exhilarating stuff. As I write they are 70 for 1 with Dravid.

What? We have a debutant in Amit Mishra!

Obviously, Kumble's glowing health reports were to keep me and also the Australian's on tenterhooks.

Congratulations to Amit- truth to be told I would have preferred Munaf.


First Day - 7.30 a.m.

Sunil Gavaskar has further added to my unease by saying that he preferred an inexperienced Amit Mishra to an unfit Kumble.

What is going on?

Mohali Test

Image via Wikipedia

First Day- 5.30 AM - a cup of tea- some questions - queasy stomach

Why play a player, undoubtedly a champion bowler if he is unfit?

What does the Mohali curator, Daljit Singh mean by saying the pitch confirms to ICC norms?

Finally, what do they mean when they say they are looking to fire collectively and are not looking at individual records?

Cricket News Online Live.com

How did Nathan Bracken reclaim ODI bowler’s top spot?

I am at a loss to understand how Nathan Bracken re-claimed the top spot on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rankings for limited-over’s bowlers. 

Consider this:  

Bracken had taken just two wickets in three matches against Bangladesh at Darwin. Based on that performance Vettori overhauled him and accordingly became the no.1 ODI bowler.  

Now according to the ICC rankings, Nathan Bracken has again become the number 1 ODI bowler on the basis of Daniel Vettori’s poor outing in Bangladesh, (one wicket in three matches).   How can similar performances against a pathetic opposition cause this change?

Cricket News Online Live.com         

Technorati Tags     ICC,Rankings

Why is ECB eager to host Test matches between Asian Countries?

England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman Giles Clarke says England may host Test matches between Asian countries as part of its commitment to supporting the five-day game.

As usual, the ECB leaves out the true reason why they are interested in hosting Asian countries. A large captive émigré population ensures these test matches are money-spinners. Moreover, having failed in its attempt to usurp ICC : this is the only way ECB can get a share of the BCCI’s money.

Cricket News Online Live.com

Maintain the ban on ICL.

The media is agog that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will hold talks with the country's unofficial league (ICL).

Though it is good to hear that the BCCI has climbed down, I frankly do not believe anything will come out of it.

My disbelief hinges on the fact that anything short of a complete merger will remain a divisive factor in world cricket. For example if we are to take the English Premier League as an example, there are no two such tournaments. Hence, there is no cannibalism or fight over TV rights or an exodus from one league to another, whereas with ICL and IPL poaching can happen and could lead to further rancour.

Another reason for my disbelief is that integrating the two rival leagues will mean one or the other giving up television broadcasting rights. Now that is an impossibility: as the whole Jing bang was set off due to an aggrieved Zee Broadcasting corporation setting off to do its own thing.

The only plausible and the right thing to do will be to lift the ban on ICL players. However, I am against it because it would very well mean the end of Test cricket.

Consider this, by 2011, most cricket playing nations barring Sri Lankan and Bangladesh will have their own IPL clones, if you add ICL to it, there will be no time for the players to play Test cricket.

That is something I do not want to imagine.

Technorati Tags: ICL,IPL,BCCI

The Ajantha Mendis legend grows.

In the just concluded Twenty20 tournament in Canada, the inscrutable Mendis finished with 11 wickets at 5 runs apiece.

Looks set for a comfortable 600.

Technorati Tags     Mendis,Ajantha

ECB’s face saving ‘principles’

In a diatribe against the IPL, David Hopps writes in the ‘The Guardian’ that the ECB Chairman Giles Clarke proposes to use the ICC board meeting set for today to rein in the excess of the IPL nay BCCI.

Among the usual rants about IPL ruining cricket, the following paragraph takes the cake.

England - for reasons not just of their own financial health, but the future integrity of the game - have refused to bow to India's every unpredictable whim, seemingly unlike Australia who have abandoned their oft-stated suspicion of Twenty20 and are now waving begging bowls with much enthusiasm. For the ECB it is a principled but lonely position.

Having done all they could to scuttle IPL' Twenty20 Championship by trying to promote a rival Twenty20 championship it is typical of the English to lay claim on principles.

Their tie up with Stanford for the silliest Twenty20 match in history of World cricket is clearly for the money and not for anything else. Similarly, the now contentious Sri Lankan tour is an explicit act of rewarding the Sri Lankans for their support during the Zimbabwe imbroglio.

Now that every attempt has failed, ECB and its cahoots are taking the high moral ground.

It is time that the English realize that others are not naïve to believe in their ‘principled’ stance and the rest of the world knows that it is an attempt to save face.

I surrender – image by varf

Technorati Tags: ECB,ICC,IPL

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Live Search brings Live Cricket Scores

Cricket fans that use Live search have something to cheer about. “Type in any cricket related query on Live Search (cricket, cric, scores, Live Cricket India vs Australia, etc) and get better results for cricket related information, match scores or match schedules at http://www.live.co.in

Believe me, Lakshmi Rai is not Aishwarya Rai’s sister

My dear friend Scorpi has written a thought provoking post on Sreesanth and his girlfriend Lakshmi Rai. In the resulting discussions, he wondered whether she was Aishwarta Rai’s sister. Though I assured him she was not, I thought it better to prove it with proof.

So here goes:

 

 

Pictorial proof provided by boy kris

Researchers say cricket is still a gentlemen’s game

One of the beguiling aspects of modern day cricket is the ability of its stakeholders- be it the administrators, the officials and even the cricketers to suspend reality. Despite evidence to the contrary, they still believe that cricket is a gentlemen’s game and breeds excellent qualities in the players like truthfulness and good manners.

Surprisingly the researchers at the Loughborough University have found this quaint notion true. According to them, “teaching cricket in state schools improves children's behaviour, spreading chivalrous and "gentlemanly" behaviour over one and all, raises possibilities. Deprived state schools, after all, are not the only arenas in which problematic behaviour – the type the researchers link to football – rears its ugly head.

What the report implies is that children who are taught cricket grow up to be gentlemen in the true sense of the word. Even though one whole-heartedly welcomes the reaffirmation that cricket is a gentleman’s game, one wonders whether the research was comprehensive. The findings would have more relevance if they had conducted it in Australia.

Do you believe similar research would reflect the same result if conducted in Australia?

(Image by bhaanu1)

Technorati Tags: Cricket News Online Live

Kapil Dev claims ICL has done more for Indian cricket

Taking a pot shot at the BCCI, Kapil Dev claims ICL has done a lot more for Indian cricket than the BCCI.

''Look what has happened to all the (BCCI’s) promises of providing infrastructure for players. The ICL has constructed four stadiums while others depend on grounds leased from the Government or run by the state governments''.

This is an unreasonable claim by Kapil Dev. Where will a not for profit organization like the BCCI find the resources to build stadiums. Damn it they were too poor to afford a website until recently.

Technorati Tags: ICL,BCCI

Kumble’s awe inspiring world records

“As I give thought to the matter, I find four causes for the apparent misery of old age: first, it withdraws us from active accomplishments; second, it renders the body less powerful; third, it deprives us of almost all forms of enjoyment; fourth, it stands not far from death.” - Cicero

By conceding 129 runs without taking a wicket in the first innings at Bengaluru, Anil Kumble is now a holder of an astonishing and awe inspiring three world records.

1. This was the 56th time Kumble conceded 100 or more runs in a Test innings - a new world record. He was earlier at level with Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan with 55 such instances.
2. Kumble is the only bowler in Test cricket to concede 100 runs or more in an innings without taking a single wicket on six occasions - twice against Australia (0-126 in first innings of Sydney Test in 1999-00) and once each against South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka. England's Chris Lewis and Andrew Caddick share the second place with 4 such instances.
3. Kumble has now conceded 100 runs in an innings on 14 occasions against Australia - most such instances by a bowler against Australia. England's Tom Richardson had achieved this dubious distinction on 12 occasions.

“It is easy to believe that life is long and one's gifts are vast -- easy at the beginning, that is. But the limits of life grow more evident; it becomes clear that great work can be done rarely, if at all.” - Alfred Alder

 

Technorati Tags: Anil Kumble record

What in the world is V.Jayadevan (VJD) method?

‘THE HINDU’ reports that Hyderabad Heroes won its opening Indian Cricket League match against Lahore Badshahs by 18 runs after a power blackout forced use of the V. Jayadevan (VJD) method at the Lal Bahadur Stadium here on Friday.

However, what in the world is the VJD method?

It is easy to surmise from the events following the power blackout that VJD is suspiciously similar to the Duckworth and Lewis method. Then why is it unpopular?

A desultory research reveals that the method (VJD) failed to get traction as the ICC remained unconvinced of its superiority over the D/L method. There are those who blame the BCCI for not putting its weight behind this home-grown methodology.

Fortunately for V.Jayadevan, ICL, the rebels Twenty20 league; have adopted it as their own. This should provide V.Jayadevan an opportunity to generate enough true-life data for effective comparison with the D/L method.

One glaring omission that hinders the recognition of the VJD method is that it lacks its own website. One has to depend on websites like rediff.com to get updated data. In contrast, the D/L method has its own website, where even a nonprofessional can get an idea of how it works using their D/L calculator.

One recommends the civil engineer from Trichur to have his own website or ask those fat cat jewellers in Trichur to sponsor one.

 

Technorati Tags: VJD,D/L

A sound start to ICL’s ‘Season 2’

It appears that the Indian Cricket League is on a much sounder footing in its second season.

For starters they announced that Rs 13.92 crore, which includes Rs 2 crore to the winning team, is the total prize-money on offer for the ICL 20s Indian Championship, starting on Friday at four centres across the country.

The runner-up will take home Rs 1 crore, the losing semi-finalists would each get Rs 50 lakhs and each win in the preliminary stage will fetch Rs 25 lakhs.

In addition,the man of the series will be richer by Rs 40 lakhs while the man of the match will get Rs 200,000

Apart from the prize money, ICL has two more reasons to celebrate.

Firstly, Subhash Chandra owner of ICL met The International Cricket Council (ICC) President, David Morgan, in London to discuss the rebel Twenty20 venture’s demand for recognition. Morgan will now report the discussion to the ICC Board, which meets here on October 14 and 15.

Secondly, ICL received support in a round about way from FICA. Tim May the CEO of FICA said they are not in favour of banning all the players participating in the matches not recognised by the ICC. However, the support comes with a lot of if and buts.

In addition, the list of broadcasters who broadcast the ICL matches live appears to have grown.

In India, Zee Sports will telecast all matches live in Hindi, while Ten Sports will do the same in English. Along with Zee Sports & Ten Sports, BTV & ATN Bangla will telecast matches in Bangladesh, Gateway in North Africa, Telkom-Malaysia & Astro in Malaysia, Fox Sports in Australia, Zee Music in UK, Zee TV in Africa, Zee Sports in USA, Ten Sports in Pakistan & Middle East and Caribbean Media Corporation in West Indies and Caribbean Islands. Same way ICL’s web partners for this season-www.bollywood.tv, www.glutv.com, www.mypopkorn.com & www.watchindiatv.com will telecast the matches live.

This is certainly a sound start to ICL’s ‘Season 2’.

Technorati Tags: ICL,Season 2

Why do Indians love cricket?

COLIN TODHUNTER writes on why he thinks cricket is a big hit with Indians.

Cricket is just about the biggest thing in India, and I can see why. The test match variety involves a lot of waiting. It is a slow paced game; chess on grass. On almost every strip of waste ground, young boys play cricket.

They wait — for the bowler to bowl; for the batsman to bat; and for the fielder to eventually field. This near eternity of waiting mirrors just about everything else that goes on around them.

He concludes that as an Indian's love cricket as their life in general involves waiting intermittently.

Do you agree?

Cricket News Online Live.com

Sri Lanka Cricket to leave out IPL contracted players

Sri Lanka's sports minister has ordered the interim governing body of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to leave out the IPL-contracted players while selecting a team for the England tour,May 2009.These cricketers are free to play in the IPL.

This marks the end of a totally unnecessary confusion brought on by arranging a hasty tour to England. It not only pitted the SLC against the BCCI, it also sought to unfairly use the  Sri Lankan cricketers as pawns in the power battle between ECB and the BCCI.

Cricket News Online Live.com

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Warne sure of a successful comeback

For a guy whose reputation largely rests on bamboozling the English and others of their ilk, Warne is confident that he can make a successful comeback if asked against India.

When you recall that his bowling stats against India reads close to 45 runs per wicket against his career average of 25.41 runs per wicket one wonders where Warne gets his confidence.

Well this why he is quietly confident:

"With India's Fab Four- Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly - coming to the end of their careers they would be losing confidence and less likely to try and dominate a top quality spinner."

This is as good a reason as any to base your success on. Good Luck Mate is all that remains to be said.

Ponting is not 100% sure whether he was insulted.

Reacting to Virendar Sehwag's bump catches at Sydney comment, Ponting says “That’s fairly insulting,” “In the first innings I didn’t claim a catch because I wasn’t 100 percent sure."

This leaves one bemused; for either you are insulted or not insulted, there is no in between.

So one fairly concludes that Pointing is not 100% sure whether he was insulted.

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What do Tendulkar's fans fear?

Tendulkar's fans reportedly conducted a pooja for Mrityunjaya - conqueror of death - near the stadium for the success of their idol.

This is a bit confusing. Are they worried about Tendulkar's career or what?

Read it here .

What makes Dhoni inviolable?

It is a well-known fact that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an unproven talent in Tests. So much so, Manoj Prabhakar puts him on par with Yuvraj Singh and cites them as failures in Tests.

This is an interesting and a valid association and it makes one wonder, why Dhoni is inviolable.

Let us take their Test cricket statistics. Yuvraj averages 32.81 in Tests whereas Dhoni averages 33.76 in Tests He has also scored 3 centuries in 23 Test matches to Dhoni’s paltry 1 in 29 Test matches.

Mere glance at these anaemic statistics is enough to show when it comes to Tests, Yuvraj is on par with Dhoni as a batsman. Nonetheless, Yuvraj never had a consistent run in Tests and relentlessly lampooned for his inability to translate his success in the shorter version of the game to the longer version.

In sharp contrast, Dhoni has escaped censure and has enjoyed an uninterrupted run in Test matches. In fact, there are former cricketers who have expounded the theory that Dhoni, ranked 44 th among Test batsmen, would have made the difference in the just concluded Sri Lankan Test series.

Leaving aside comparisons with Yuvraj Singh, if we are to consider Dhoni as a wicket keeper there is not much to separate him from others. For example, Karthik has an average of 29.30 with 1 century in 21 Tests and Parthiv Patel averages 29.69 in 20 Tests. (Personally, this blogger judges that skill wise Karthik is a much better wicket keeper than the other two.)

Despite these compelling facts, it is puzzling to see Dhoni going from strength to strength. His stature is such that there are informed cricket lovers who project him as the right man to replace Anil Kumble.

What is it that makes Dhoni inviolable? Is it his commercial lure or his man- management skills or the unflustered persona he displays on the field?

(Image by  Mareen Fischinger)

Technorati Tags: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Ravindran salutes Ganguly.

One of our regulars, Ravindran, has penned a simple but moving tribute to Ganguly. Here is what he had written.

Hail Ganguly!

Mark his words while announcing his retirement. "Hope WE (Not I) go on a winning note" This was the team man who was moronly accused of playing for money.

He announced his retirement just like one of his smooth silken drives that often made a mockery of thick deployment of human resources on the off side. He was singled out though his other famed colleagues also failed in Srilanka.

Ganguly is the first captain to inject self-confidence into his team players. He made them think that they can counter sledge and beat Australia in their home grounds.

Not for him the divisive senior/junior, fresh legs/frozen legs debate. He exuded confidence that rubbed on his teammates.

WE will miss him and his drives marked "Ganguly".

Technorati Tags: Saurav Ganguly,Cricket News Online Live

Has England’s Stanford dream come to naught?

In a dispute over sanctioning rights, an Antiguan court has ruled in favour of Digicel the West Indies Team sponsor. This effectively seals the fate of the $20m match between England and Sir Allen Stanford's Caribbean team.

The dispute though between Digicel and WICB, escalated due to Stanford’s refusal to affect a compromise with Digicel.

This could put paid to at least a couple of English cricketers dreams of becoming a $ millionaire.

Technorati Tags: England,Stanford,Twenty20,Cricket News Online Live

Ganguly announces his retirement

Image via WikipediaImage via WikipediaPutting an end to speculation Saurav Ganguly announced just a few minutes ago that the Border-Gavaskar Cup 2008 would be his last Test series.

Let us shove aside the why’s and why not’s and celebrate the achievements of the man.

Technorati Tags: Saurav,Ganguly,Cricket,News,Online,Live

ICL Season 2- Pakistan Government to consider ICL Players cause.

Image via WikipediaWhile the Indian-Australian cricket series justifiably hogs the sports pages, ICL is going about its ‘Season 2’ slated for October 10, 2008 with quiet efficiency.

Late last night they announced the composition of the teams. Similarly, it appears to be making headway in its quest for recognition from ICC. Another positive development in their case is the decision of the Pakistan government to consider the cause of the banned ICL Players and formulate a policy to resolve the crisis in consultation with the Cricket Board.

Going by the recent developments in Sri Lanka, this move by the Pakistani authorities may come to naught. However, ICL can take heart that cricketing associations are making some efforts to break away from the bear hug of the BCCI.


Technorati Tags: ICL,Season 2,Cricket,News,Online,Live

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Test Cricket in India - Is it alive and well?

Two complementary news reports made me question the vigour of Test Cricket in India.

In one report, Boria Majumdar emphatically says India cannot call itself the nerve centre of cricket unless and until cricket lovers throng the stadium to watch Test cricket. In contrast, this morning ‘THE HINDU’ carries a report that the tickets for the Terrace Stand priced at Rs. 1000 per day was sold out within hours.

While the premise that the number of heads in a stadium is an indicator of the games health is debatable, it is also intriguing to hear that the costliest seats – apart from the corporate box has been sold out first.

I believe that both the reports indicate that demographics have changed. People who can take the time out to spend 5 days watch test cricket in India like in other countries. Typically, it is the retired well to do or the nostalgic pensioners who make up the numbers.

Both, Boria Majumdar article and “’THE HINDU’ news report reinforces it.

What do you think about the state of Test cricket in India?

Image by Mikerard

Technorati Tags: Test Cricket

Familiar chaos in Pakistan

The Pakistan team for the 4 nation Twenty20 event in Toronto is to be selected tomorrow and the now familiar dithering over Akthar reigns.

---

The national selection committee has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to give clear directives on whether fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar should be selected in the 15-member squad to be announced tomorrow for the four-nation Twenty20 event in Toronto, Canada.

Don't you agree that the National Selection committee is expecting too much from the PCB.

Technorati Tags     PCB,Shoaib,Akthar

Harbhajan Does a Symonds

In a statement reminiscent of the one madeby Symonds, Harbhajan says in a Fox Sports interview "Obviously when I play for my country I go out there to win games, I'm not there to make friends." 

Hope some one reminds him that neither does one go to make enemies.

Image from nevin.h

Technorati Tags     Symonds,Harbhajan

Has the senior vs junior issue divided the Indian team?

Kirsten's statement (found below) makes one wonder whether the brouhaha surrounding the seniors has affected the morale and worse divided the team into two.

"We should move on from this junior vs senior debate. Instead of focusing on individuals who are picked to play for India, we need to focus on the team and get on with the Test series," Kirsten said here on Friday. "It is all about team effort because a big effort from just one or two players won't be adequate. We need a lot of guys to give some big performances."

In addition,none of the seniors have come out openly commending the performances of the juniors. When you contrast this with Dhoni, a relative junior, openly supporting the seniors one cannot rule out the suspicion.

Do you think the Indian team is divided over this issue?

Technorati Tags     Online,Live,Indian,News,Cricket

The difference between aura and invincibility.

Image via WikipediaHayden comments on the aura of invincibility or the lack of it which surrounds the Australian team.

The thing about aura is, it will last 20 minutes and then the reality sets in, and that's when you really have to put it together, ball after ball after ball after ball. That's how you build pressure and affirm your position in the game. 

I admit to being impressed by Hayden's knowledge of the game. This new found liking makes me wonder whether the Australian's have lost the aura of invincibility.

Cricket News Online Live.com

Boycott Blabbers

One used to respect Boycott for his objectivity. However, it appears that the warm pissy English beer has finally ravaged his perception.

"I believe it would be a mistake for England to go out there next month with the aim of scrapping their way to a draw. This Indian team are in flux. They can be beaten if you go hard at them. And this is as good a time as any to try," 

What, An England team beating India! Let them learn how to beat the Australian's first.

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Bench strength = Real strength

Our Chief Selector Srikkanth on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli "I think we have very good youngsters, which means we have a very good bench strength.”

Agree our bench strength is strong and there is nothing wrong going weak-kneed about it, but what about all those rickety knees in the Test match squad?

The very thought of them facing the fiery Australians is giving us a queasy stomach.

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ICL Season ‘2’

The second season of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) international tournament starts with an opening ceremony on October 10, 2008 at Hyderabad. This edition, officially called the Season 2 will see 41 matches played at four locations, Hyderabad, Panchkula, Gurgaon and Ahmedabad.

The format is such that the nine teams including the debutant Dhaka Warriors play against each other once in every city. Officially, Hyderabad Heroes, Dhaka Warriors, Lahore Badshahs and the Ahmedabad Rockets are the teams to beat.

As the first week of the tournament will witness the high-octane games featuring the Hyderabad Heroes and Lahore Badshahs, the tournament looks slightly lop-sided. The organizers will find it a challenge to maintain interest until the best of three finals. (13 th to 16 th, November.)

 

Click ICL Season 2 for the Match Fixtures

 

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Fab-Five to retire by December

Reuters quotes an unnamed BCCI official as saying "They have been given the next two home series to time a graceful exit following which they are open to the axe." 

It is maddening to see Laxman included in the list of ageing superstars. 

If I am not mistaken, Laxman is just a few months older than Ponting and far from being a drooling veteran.

Then how or when did he join the list? 

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Dad's Army

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This is the best description of the Indian squad for the first Two Tests.

Allan Border has called the Indian Test squad " that's a very, very old Indian side," 

For once I am in complete agreement with an Aussie. 

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The infuriating Dada

What can one say?

Saurav Ganguly has flatly denied the talk of compromise deals and  graceful send offs. Alarmingly, he appears to have made-up with Dalmiya.

Therefore, in all likelihood his inclusion is permanent and not for just two Tests as initially touted.

 

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Badrinath digs his grave

An eager Badrinath  has declared that he is ready to bat at "Any position, any number." 

Has he forgotten that it is a one way ticket to oblivion.

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I told you so

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There is nothing as satisfying to a self-important man as an opportunity to say ‘I told you so’.

Today, I have the pleasure of not one but two such instances. 

Ganguly is a certainty for the Oz series

Expect nothing drastic from these new selectors.

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The Heat is On

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeThe ICC has signaled the start of the festivities, nay the start of the Border-Gavaskar Cup by naming the umpires.

For those interested in the mundane, it is going to be Rudi Koertzen and Asad Rauf, for the first two India-Australia Tests in Bangalore and Mohali and Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar will be in charge in New Delhi and Nagpur. Chris Broad, will oversee the matches as match referee.

Game on.

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The Aussie way of motivation

Last year when Sri Lanka visited Australia, Muralitharan was on the threshold of breaking Shane Warne's world record. At that time, Ponting came out with a statement saying that they, the Australian team, will not let it happen in Australia.

Though Ponting's remark sounded rude, it was a fantastic way to spur on his team. Needless to add they gave the Sri Lankans a good working over and delayed Murali’s quest for the world record.

Now Ponting has engaged the same tactic against India. In a recent interview, he said his team would try their best to make Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar struggle for his world record in the upcoming Test series.

Though it is a milder form of the avowal he made against Murali (probably since it was attempt to break an Australian record), the question is will it be as effective as it was against the Sri Lankans?

Will the Australian's lengthen Tendulkars pursuit of Lara's record?

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Can you reverse swing a ball at medium pace?

Dr R Sanjeevi says it is possible for even Saurav Ganguly to reverse swing a cricket ball. According to Dr.R. Sanjeevi, who has a Ph.D in Physics, reverse swing occurs in a cricket ball even when bowled at medium pace. He calls his discovery the 'Sanjeevi Method' and plans to approach Indian cricketers through a series of clinics called 'program swing'.

This discovery will doubtless cheer up Ganguly supporters as he can stake claim as a bowler.

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Modi : Flintoff and Pietersen will play in IPL.

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This time Lalit Modi is determined to recruit the big names of English cricket for IPL.

To recap, the ECB has done its utmost to prevent current English players from playing in IPL, saying that the IPL clashed with their domestic season. The first edition of IPL, a hastily arranged affair ran from April 18 to June 1 last year, clashing with not only the county fixtures but also with a couple of Test matches.

Modi had then promised that he is even willing to bring the next edition of IPL forward by a couple of weeks to prevent the clash of dates. In the meanwhile players like Pietersen made pompous statements like they had refused offers from IPL. Once the tournament began the comedy started, with Pietersen himself back tracking and wanting to play and almost all the fringe cricketers making tall claims of receiving offers from IPL. 

Despite the changing scenario the ECB remained adamant. Matters came to a head, when the powerful Players Union asked the ECB to allow the players to "take advantage" of the Indian money.  This is when the ECB played their master stroke or so they thought. They mooted a new Twenty20 Championship hoping other cricketing nations would take the bait and follow their lead. Unfortunately, their grand design failed because Australia and South Africa stood by IPL.

The ECB had fondly believed that the new Twenty20 Champions League will help keep their flock together. Now that the Championship plans had failed and the Stanford Twenty20 mired in legal wrangles, the English players are ripe for picking.

The astute Modi has identified it as an opportunity to sign up the English players and according to yesterdays reports he going full steam to have them in IPL's payroll.. In fact he is, " certain that the Indian Premier League will definitely see the likes of Flintoff and Pietersen playing next year".

It will be interesting to observe how the ECB reacts. Will it be another 'rape and pillage' response or a silent acceptance of the inevitable?.














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Why IPL does not share its spoils?

Lalit Modi on why IPL does not split its riches with other cricketing boards.

"It's a domestic tournament. When county cricket (in England) was going well for hundreds of years, we never got the spoils."

Put this way there is a compelling logic behind IPL's parsimoniousness. Do you agree?

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Delhi Blast and the Australian Press

Well the Australian press has latched on to an unknown Delhi cricket official's statement that "he wouldn't be surprised if the third Test against Australia was moved from the Indian capital." As usual, the rest of the rabid Australian press has latched on to it and are doing their best to drum up a fear psychosis.

 

One expects that they, the Australian press, will very soon carry a statement from an unnamed Australian player, that he fears for his life and follow it with another statement from the Players Association that they are closely watching the developments and will await their government's tour advisory and decide on whether to continue the tour.

 

The report that Cricket Australia has ruled out pushing for a relocation of the third Test has been lost in the midst of this cacophony. This blogger has resigned to the repeat of these reports until the end of the tour.

 

 

 

 

 

England to announce squad for the India Tour today

England will declare their 15-man squad for the pre-Christmas two-Test tour of India today. If Michael Vaughan’s exclusion as confirmed by the ECB was the major news as of yesterday, there are other points of interest. 

Quiet a few cricketing minds in England are debating who will be the second spinner on the tour. From their considered ramblings, one understands that it is either Graeme Swann or the 20-year-old Adil Rashid from Yorkshire. 

From an Indian perspective, it is irrelevant who is the second or even the first choice. Nevertheless, given their recent leaden-footed display against Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis, it is better for them to keep an eye open on who makes it to the squad.

Do you think English spinners will have an impact?