The hiatus done, some of the news we didnt write about

The ICC has approved two changes to one-day cricket on a ten month trial basis, effective from July 30th. These are, as proposed last month, fielding restrictions broken up into three blocks of 10, 5 & 5 overs and allowing substitutes to bat and field. Umpires at the Johnny Walker ICC Super Series will be allowed to consult the TV umpire in order to determine if any player has stepped onto the field drunk. While several Aussies have taken umbrage at this decision, alleging that the ICC is targetting Australia and Andrew Symonds, it is probably fair to say that the umpires may end up being empowered only to check if the players have gorged themselves with the sponsor's brand of alcohol rather than a competitor's. So in the end, it probably does boil down to ambush marketing after all!

Shane Warne has now separated from his wife after last week's revelation of yet another of his sexual "Shane"anigans. It was only in March this year that Warne announced he and his family were moving to England, only for his wife to deny any idea of doing so.

A few days after Mushtaq Ali passed away, one of India's (and perhaps the world's too) finest close-in fielders, Eknath Solkar died off a heart attack yesterday. He was best known for his amazing fielding standing close to the wicket and snapping up breathtaking catches primarily off India's famous spin quartet, like the one he took off the bowling of Venkataraghavan to dismiss Alan Knott in the Oval Test of 1971 even as Chandra wreaked havoc at the other end. Solkar was hardly in the side as a fielder alone, for he could bat and bowl as well. In spite of only dismissing Boycs once in tests and never in one-dayers, Solkar sort of made Geoff Boycott his bunny by dismissing him a few times during India's tour of England in 1974. Cricinfo's Face-to-face interview with Solkar around four years ago. Tributes by Harsha Bhogle, SK Sham, Sunil Gavaskar and a few other Mumbaikars.

Labels: death, solkar