Breaking/Brief news
July 02, 2007
'Sarde Maan' Dilip Sardesai dead
Dilip Sardesai, who will forever be remembered for his 642 runs in 8 innings in the Caribbean in 1970/71, which played such a huge role in India winning the series, died today, aged 66. Remember, that he was in fact controversially hand-picked by the skipper Ajit Wadekar. He more than repaid the skipper's faith, beginning with a double century, the first by an Indian in an away test.
With Sardesai's death, Indian cricket has lost yet another former great. In the last 6 months, Polly Umrigar and Hanumant Singh have moved on.
Labels: death, india, sardesai
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March 26, 2007
Match-fixing in cricket: Separating the facts from the myths
Now I have to make an admission first, given there is still no concrete evidence what so ever of match fixing having anything to do with the murder of Bob Woolmer, I find the constant speculation in this regard increasingly annoying.
Labels: bob woolmer, death, match fixing, moin khan, rashid latif, sarfaraz nawaz, shehreyar khan, vaughan
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March 23, 2007
Bob Woolmer was murdered
After much speculation through out the week, the police have now confirmed that our former coach Bob Woolmer was strangled to death and hence murdered. The full press release form the corps can be read here, but one doesn't really need to read any special statements to know just how devastating this bit of news is.
You could take your pick from the conspiracy theories galore about the killer (or killers') possible motivation for killing Bob. The most popular one is that it may have been a maniac 'fan' who vented out his anger for the loss against Ireland, but people (including the media) have also been saying an involvement of bookies cannot be ruled out, given his forthcoming book was expected to reveal a lot of information on match fixing.
Others have done their calculations and suggested that President Musharraf him self may be involved (to divert attention from a growing political and judicial turmoil at home in Pakistan they allege), further more suggestion point fingers at no less then the Taliban or Jaamat-e-Islami it self.
Some of my friends were of the opinion it could well be just some ordinary drunk, mob or burglar who tried to rob Woolmer, but when he probably found nothing in his possession worth stealing, he got outraged and killed him.
But that's unlikely, given newspaper reports have confirmed the police did not find any evidence of the door lock at Bob's hotel was tampered with, giving rise to the conclusion that he probably knew the killer, and so let him in without any confrontation.
Another theory, hence, could also be that it may be some one who had nothing to do with cricket at all, some one who perhaps had a personal grievance against him. I don't know if I subscribe to any of these theories really, I'm just shocked and struggling to come to terms with how some one may be driven to take some one else's life in such a sickening, horrible manner. It just shocks me, more then anything.
Our players were questioned as a standard part of the investigation yesterday, and their fingers prints were taken as well, and there were reports that some players weren't happy about this, because it made them feel like they were being treated as suspects. I can understand where the players are coming from, a lot of them have come out spoken and about how Bob was like a father to them, and most of them will have been personally affected by his death.
In such circumstances it may be uncomfortable for them to be part of the investigation into Bob's murder, but this is standard procedure, and more then that, any information from any one which might lead to finding the killer must be explored. Whoever it was, whatever his, her or their motive was, I just hope he is brought to task.
You could take your pick from the conspiracy theories galore about the killer (or killers') possible motivation for killing Bob. The most popular one is that it may have been a maniac 'fan' who vented out his anger for the loss against Ireland, but people (including the media) have also been saying an involvement of bookies cannot be ruled out, given his forthcoming book was expected to reveal a lot of information on match fixing.
Others have done their calculations and suggested that President Musharraf him self may be involved (to divert attention from a growing political and judicial turmoil at home in Pakistan they allege), further more suggestion point fingers at no less then the Taliban or Jaamat-e-Islami it self.
Some of my friends were of the opinion it could well be just some ordinary drunk, mob or burglar who tried to rob Woolmer, but when he probably found nothing in his possession worth stealing, he got outraged and killed him.
But that's unlikely, given newspaper reports have confirmed the police did not find any evidence of the door lock at Bob's hotel was tampered with, giving rise to the conclusion that he probably knew the killer, and so let him in without any confrontation.
Another theory, hence, could also be that it may be some one who had nothing to do with cricket at all, some one who perhaps had a personal grievance against him. I don't know if I subscribe to any of these theories really, I'm just shocked and struggling to come to terms with how some one may be driven to take some one else's life in such a sickening, horrible manner. It just shocks me, more then anything.
Our players were questioned as a standard part of the investigation yesterday, and their fingers prints were taken as well, and there were reports that some players weren't happy about this, because it made them feel like they were being treated as suspects. I can understand where the players are coming from, a lot of them have come out spoken and about how Bob was like a father to them, and most of them will have been personally affected by his death.
In such circumstances it may be uncomfortable for them to be part of the investigation into Bob's murder, but this is standard procedure, and more then that, any information from any one which might lead to finding the killer must be explored. Whoever it was, whatever his, her or their motive was, I just hope he is brought to task.
Labels: bob woolmer, death, murder
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March 22, 2007
Bob Woolmer's Death : The Investigation & Speculations Continue
Its being reported now that the Pakistani players are now being questioned too in association with the investigation into Bob's death. Cricinfo's The Surfer has a media round up of all the speculation that has arisen since the inconclusive findings of the autopsy yesterday, but you'd be well advised to hear this audio link from the BBC. Its a mini interview of Bob's wife, Gill, in which she refutes speculation that her husband may have taken his own life following Pakistan's exit from the World Cup, in addition to slamming some of the other media speculation surrounding the reason's of Woolmer's death.
I hope the media show some respect for the family's sentiments and not make a complete drama out of this, certain people have been linking all sorts of stuff to his death. GEO news yesterday I saw did an extended report full of rubbish about how his forthcoming book in which there were revelations about match fixing could have been a cause for him to be murdered. Other hyperbole creators have also been spreading rumors about how Islamic groups, or tableeghi jamaats as they're called, may have part. All hogwash of the highest order. These people should realise how some of this speculation will make his grieving family feel. Just leave this matter alone I say, and let the investigation take its course.
I hope the media show some respect for the family's sentiments and not make a complete drama out of this, certain people have been linking all sorts of stuff to his death. GEO news yesterday I saw did an extended report full of rubbish about how his forthcoming book in which there were revelations about match fixing could have been a cause for him to be murdered. Other hyperbole creators have also been spreading rumors about how Islamic groups, or tableeghi jamaats as they're called, may have part. All hogwash of the highest order. These people should realise how some of this speculation will make his grieving family feel. Just leave this matter alone I say, and let the investigation take its course.
Cross posted on Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan and Sundries
Labels: bob woolmer, death
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Goodbye Woolmer, Goodbye Inzi, Hello Brand New Hope
Sometimes a picture says a thousand words, yesterday's match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe (which I sadly watched very little of because of a social commitment) is one such occasion. No detailed analysis for my readers this time, just these pictures.
(© AFP)
The match started with a minute of silence in Bob's memory, when really any number of minutes of silence wouldn't have done justice...
© AFP
Imran Nazir put up a bit of show, the rest came and went, but it always all really going to be about one man - Inzi. In his last innings at the international stage, here he is, playing that masterful cut shut again.
(© AFP)
And there's the famous pull shot, how many of those did he play in his glorious career? Look at the poor fielder in the background, doesn't he look petrified by Inzi's mere presence, even though the ball is going no where near him? Imran doesn't call him the world's best batsman against pace bowlers for nothing.
© AFP
But then he played one too many, and held out add mid on, looking on as a fielder gets him out for one final time in Pakistan's one-day colours, and who knows, may be even in test colours...
(© AFP)
Then there's the usual slow walk back to the pavilion. Inzi's never been famous for going back quickly, but yesterday, with all the Zimbabwean players coming to shake hands and the necessary acknowledge of the meager crowd that had come into watch, meant the walk this time was that much more longer.
(© Getty Images)
And then finally, as he's taking his final steps across the field, the emotional, sensitive Inzi can't help come out from the calm, unflappable exterior we have seen all these years. The big man's crying....
(© AFP)
And holding back those tears, with all that has happened off late, isn't proving to be easy. Its only dawns on at the very last moment, reality, doesn't it? We take so many things for granted, and then suddenly you realise, oh no, its all going...
(© AFP)
And then as Pakistan, for once last time under Inzi's leadership took the field to take a consolation victory against Zimbabwe, for their retiring captain and deceased coach, the rain came pouring down. Perhaps it was meant to be reminiscent
(© Getty Images)
Perhaps that was what made Inzi smile at the end, that things really couldn't get any worse from here on it, they could only get better. Good bye Inzi, goodbye Woolmer, hello brand new hope.
Cross posted on Sundries
Cross posted on Sundries
Labels: 2007 world cup, bob woolmer, death, imran nazir, inzamam, pakistan, world cup, zimbabwe
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March 21, 2007
Woolmer's death 'suspicious'
The speculation yesterday that Bob Woolmer might have died due to drug and alcohol abuse may still proved to be incorrect, but police officials have nevertheless termed the results of Woolmer's autopsy inconclusive, and hence his sudden death 'suspicious'.
Further tests to determine the cause of death have now been requested, and everyone awaits their results. The Jamaica deputy police commissioner Mark Shields said they treated any sudden death as suspicious and that the pathologists just wanted to be absolutely sure, but with rumors of "marks" being found around the neck of the dead body also around, its not hard to see why they went in for more tests.
That Woolmer might have been murdered is another devastating bit of news for the Pakistan players, whose state of mind ahead of our final game against Zimbabwe would have been bad as it following the news of Woolmer's death and Inzi's one-day retirement.
I'm not surprised Cricinfo reported that the players were "reluctant" to play, but reportedly Naseem Ashraf (who has already resigned) asked them to play on. Mushtaq Ahmed, the assistant coach, led the charge in our practice session ahead of the match, and later spoke to press about the mood in the Pakistani camp and how much the players have been affected; Dileep Premachandran has the quotes in a poignant preview the match for Cricinfo here.
PJ Mir, the media manager, has also confirmed the players will be taking part in a small remembrance ceremony after the game, but as Dileep says in the preview also, the best tribute we can hope to give Woolmer, in the circumstances, is by winning.
Cross-posted on Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan and Sundries
Further tests to determine the cause of death have now been requested, and everyone awaits their results. The Jamaica deputy police commissioner Mark Shields said they treated any sudden death as suspicious and that the pathologists just wanted to be absolutely sure, but with rumors of "marks" being found around the neck of the dead body also around, its not hard to see why they went in for more tests.
That Woolmer might have been murdered is another devastating bit of news for the Pakistan players, whose state of mind ahead of our final game against Zimbabwe would have been bad as it following the news of Woolmer's death and Inzi's one-day retirement.
I'm not surprised Cricinfo reported that the players were "reluctant" to play, but reportedly Naseem Ashraf (who has already resigned) asked them to play on. Mushtaq Ahmed, the assistant coach, led the charge in our practice session ahead of the match, and later spoke to press about the mood in the Pakistani camp and how much the players have been affected; Dileep Premachandran has the quotes in a poignant preview the match for Cricinfo here.
PJ Mir, the media manager, has also confirmed the players will be taking part in a small remembrance ceremony after the game, but as Dileep says in the preview also, the best tribute we can hope to give Woolmer, in the circumstances, is by winning.
Cross-posted on Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan and Sundries
Labels: 2007 world cup, bob woolmer, death, pakistan, world cup, zimbabwe
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March 19, 2007
In the memory of Robert Andrew Woolmer
Ah, when to the heart of manWas it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?
~ Robert Frost
Bob Woolmer, 1948-2007
Image: Copyright Martin Williamson, from Cricinfo
Life is strange. A day after what was perhaps Pakistan's worst performance in our entire cricket history, Bob Woolmer, our coach, passed away, due to what might have been a heart attack at round about 4 PM Pakistani time, after being found unconscious in his hotel room earlier in the day. Around the same time I was writing a detailed post on my own blog about both his achievements and short comings as the coach of Pakistan. A few hours later, as the news of his death broke, a deep sense of sorrow and reflection on whether I was perhaps a bit too judgmental and a bit too hasty in my reactions, ensued within me, and can now be seen across the Pakistani and indeed global blogosphere, as more people react to the sad news.
I think it’s important to understand that the over reaction from some people aside, the majority of Pakistan’s fan had nothing personal against the man. In any professional field, when you do a job and the stakes are high, and your results aren’t good, there is some criticism. And Bob him self was a very broad-minded man when it came to taking criticism, I remember that in the early part of his coaching stint he replied to each and every single email he received from countless Pakistani fans flocking at his website, responding to everything, from praise, to criticism to just suggestions.
Of course he couldn’t keep up this regime as the number of emails and his own work assignments kept growing and growing, but it showed, that initial phase, of how eager and keen he was about his assignment with the Pakistan team. Through out his stint he spoke of his time with Pakistan as an ongoing challenge, off late, especially since August last year, he had increasingly spoken of the mental strains of the job, admitting that he’d considered resigning at one point after the Oval fiasco, and saying as late as yesterday, in the immediate aftermath of our loss against Ireland, that things “take toll on you”.
May be Bob was just tired, or may be couldn’t bear the result yesterday, it’s very tough, and unfair even, to speculate now, but either way, his sudden death, certainly puts things in perspective. Sport is after all, just sport, and nothing is bigger then life it self. Perhaps we over rate winning and losing, and the joy and sorrow we derive from each. Bob Woolmer may not have achieved all that Pakistani fans would have hoped he would achieve for Pakistan Cricket, but we, and I really hope I am speaking on behalf of all of fans of the game here in this country, do have a lot of respect for you Bob, as a human being, if nothing, for the mere fact that you put up with us, and our judgmental analysis of you for three years, we’re so sorry; may your soul rest in peace.
I think it’s important to understand that the over reaction from some people aside, the majority of Pakistan’s fan had nothing personal against the man. In any professional field, when you do a job and the stakes are high, and your results aren’t good, there is some criticism. And Bob him self was a very broad-minded man when it came to taking criticism, I remember that in the early part of his coaching stint he replied to each and every single email he received from countless Pakistani fans flocking at his website, responding to everything, from praise, to criticism to just suggestions.
Of course he couldn’t keep up this regime as the number of emails and his own work assignments kept growing and growing, but it showed, that initial phase, of how eager and keen he was about his assignment with the Pakistan team. Through out his stint he spoke of his time with Pakistan as an ongoing challenge, off late, especially since August last year, he had increasingly spoken of the mental strains of the job, admitting that he’d considered resigning at one point after the Oval fiasco, and saying as late as yesterday, in the immediate aftermath of our loss against Ireland, that things “take toll on you”.
May be Bob was just tired, or may be couldn’t bear the result yesterday, it’s very tough, and unfair even, to speculate now, but either way, his sudden death, certainly puts things in perspective. Sport is after all, just sport, and nothing is bigger then life it self. Perhaps we over rate winning and losing, and the joy and sorrow we derive from each. Bob Woolmer may not have achieved all that Pakistani fans would have hoped he would achieve for Pakistan Cricket, but we, and I really hope I am speaking on behalf of all of fans of the game here in this country, do have a lot of respect for you Bob, as a human being, if nothing, for the mere fact that you put up with us, and our judgmental analysis of you for three years, we’re so sorry; may your soul rest in peace.
See also: Cricinfo recalls his cricket playing and coaching career, the rest of the cricket world pay their respects and journalists Kamran Abbasi, Osman Samiuddin and Dileep Premachandran, react to the sad news as well.
Cross posted on Sundries and Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan
Labels: 2007 world cup, bob woolmer, death, pakistan, world cup
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November 30, 2006
Hanumant Singh dead
Indian cricket, and world cricket in general, continues to lose classy players, one by one. The latest addition is Hanumant Singh, who scored a century on debut against England in 1964. In fact, a few tests later, he came close to scoring one against Australia, and ended on 94.
To a couple of generations of Indian cricket watchers, those before me that is, Indian cricket had a sort of jinx. No-one who scored a century on test debut had gone on to make another. Lala Amarnath, Deepak Shodhan, AG Kripal Singh, Abbas Ali Baig and Hanumant Singh, they all scored only one test hundred. Gundappa Viswanath did one better in 1973 against England at the Brabourne Stadium. Of course, after I started following cricket, Azhar, Ganguly and Sehwag have made their fair share of centuries.
Hanumant Singh passed away yesterday, aged 67, after battling dengue and Hepatitis-B.
My father has seen him play at Chepauk. He reckons it was a test against the West Indies in 1967. He recollects some very stylish cover drives and some good fielding as well.
Quite a few notable names have passed in the last couple of years: Polly Umrigar, Wasim Raja, Fred Trueman, Budhi Kunderan and Fazal Mahmood and Mushtaq Ali.
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November 07, 2006
Polly Umrigar dead
He was undoubtedly one of India's best batsmen, rated quite highly for his batting against quick bowling. The first time I heard his name was when I was trying to find out, sometime in the late 1980s or so, about who held the record for most runs by an Indian before Sunil Gavaskar. I don't recall clearly, but this may have either been after Gavaskar went past 10,000 runs or after he retired. I found out that Polly Umrigar held most of the records which Gavaskar broke.
He's still in the top 10 list of century makers for India.
He was last in the news prominently as the curator of the Wankhede stadium pitch where India gained a consolation win against Australia in 2004.
Previous deaths in the recent past: Wasim Raja, Fred Trueman, Budhi Kunderan and Fazal Mahmood and Mushtaq Ali.
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September 29, 2006
Walter Hadlee dies
Walter Hadlee, father of Barry, Dayle and the little-known Sir Richard, and the patriarch of one of the famous cricketing families, and whose three sons played not one but two one-dayers together, died earlier today, aged 91, after a prolonged illness.
The Hadlee family (and the Chappell one too, obviously!) is possibly the only one to have a cricket trophy named after it, the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy for an annual one-day series between Australia and New Zealand.
Tributes by Richard Boock and Don Cameron.
Labels: chappell-hadlee, death, hadlee, walter hadlee
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August 29, 2006
And then there was one
Among the three W's of West Indies cricket, only one remains now. Sir Everton Weekes, he of the five consecutive hundreds fame, is now the last man standing after his famous partner in bowler-bashing, Sir Clyde Walcott, died last week, aged 80.
He was a run-machine, as the numbers (15 centuries in 44 tests, a batting average of over 56 and averaging nearly 60 at #5), clearly indicate.
The third W, Sir Frank Worrell, died nearly 40 years ago!
Pakistan's Wasim Raja and India's Vijay Mehra had also passed away last week.
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August 23, 2006
Wasim Raja passes away
I must admit that I've not seen too much of Wasim Raja play. But from what I can recall from memories 20 years ago, during the World Championship of Cricket in 1984/85, he definitely batted well and bowled some quickish legspin. I also remember him ramming into the boundary line fence during that tournament while attempting to field/catch.
I've heard my father refer to him often as being a very stylish player, and a thorough gentleman. Remember, that he refers to times when Pakistan had the likes of Sarfraz and Miandad to wind up the opposition!
He died today, having suffered a heart-attack while playing an over-50s game.
Previous player deaths in the last year: Fred Trueman, Budhi Kunderan and Fazal Mahmood and Mushtaq Ali.
Labels: death, wasim raja
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July 04, 2006
England's greatest ever quick, Fred Trueman, dies
England's and Yorkshire's greatest ever quick, Frederick Sewards Trueman, the first bowler to take 300 test wickets, died on Saturday of lung cancer. He had been diagnosed with it in May, barely two months ago. I've never watched him bowl, not even on black & white film. But a bowling average less than 22 and a strike rate less than 50, over 67 tests and 13 years, means he could bowl alright.
But I've heard several anecdotes which attest to his temper, sarcasm etc. on the cricket field and as a commentator. For e.g., this is what he's supposed to have told Yorkshire's opponents the day before a game.
I need nine wickets from this match, and you buggers had better start drawing straws to see who I don't get.In the last year, cricket has also lost Fazal Mahmood and Mushtaq Ali.
In fact all three players involved in the first ever 300th wicket are now dead - Neil Hawke ct Colin Cowdrey bd Trueman for 14 at The Oval in 1964.
Here's a collection of links/reactions from across various cricket sites after his death.
- BBC Sport obituary
- Christopher Martin-Jenkins
- Richard Hutton
- John Arlott (What? I thought he died 15 years ago!)
- Vic Marks
- Geoff Boycott
- Scyld Berry
- Angus Fraser
- Michael Parkinson
- Stephen Brenkley
- Excerpts from John Arlott's biography of Trueman
- Wisden Almanack profile after his retirement
- BBC Sport photos
- Cricinfo photos
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December 27, 2005
Kerry Packer dead
One of Australia's most influential people, and almost certainly the richest, Kerry Packer, died yesterday night in Sydney, aged 68.
Packer is obviously best known in cricket circles for going ahead with his own plan to create a parallel cricketing universe after the Australian Cricket Board refused to accept his bid of around 1.5 million Australian dollars for the television rights to screen test matches in Australia and games in the Sheffield Shield. He got more than fifty cricketers to sign on the dotted line, including the likes of Greig, Lillee, Lloyd, Walters, Chappell brothers, the Richards non-brothers, Imran, Procter, Holding, Hookes etc. Eventually, the ACB buckled in and Packer's Nine network has held the rights since.
| BBC | "Cricket leads tributes to Packer", "Media magnate Kerry Packer dies", "Cricket Revolution", "Press turns on Packer" and "Jonathan Agnew column" |
| Wisden/Cricinfo | "The Packer Case", "The Packer Affair" and "The game was never the same" |
| Others | "Cricket pays tribute to Packer" [The Australian], "The media mogul who transformed cricket" - Guardian Unlimited, "Kerry Packer - tycoon who loved a challenge" [AFP] and "Thank You, Mr Packer" - Rediff |
Players from South Africa and Australia [and the crowd too] observed a moment's silence in memory of Kerry Packer at the start of the second day's play at the MCG. Stu's snaps from the game.
Previous mentions of Packer here: Cricket Australia and Packer strike deal, Packer shares 'most influential Australian' award from Cricket Australia with some other chap called Bradman who could apparently hold a bat the right way and Packer evinces interest in Twenty20.
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June 27, 2005
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.
Tags: international cricket council cricket one-day super series australia symonds ambush marketing warne solkar
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June 20, 2005
Mushtaq Ali passes away
If the likes of Virender Sehwag and Krishnamachari Srikkanth had any interest in the history of Indian cricket, they would have realized that they were merely carrying forward Syed Mushtaq Ali's legacy. Mushtaq Ali, who was India's oldest living test cricketer, died in his sleep on Saturday morning, aged 90.
The audio for this interview with the great man in 1999 is no longer available, but you can still obviously read the text part.
Boria Majumdar, one of India's few historians who write about cricket, writes about how Ali became enamoured with cricket and how he would be remembered as the first o score a test century overseas for India.
The Wisden Almanack has a report on the 1936 test at Old Trafford where faced with a deficit of 368, Vijay Merchant and Mushtaq Ali put on 203 for the first wicket, with Ali cutting loose and confounding England with his unorthodox cricket. India drew an overseas test for the first time.
During his acceptance speech in July 2002 when he received a "Special Achievement" award from Wisden, he mentioned that a lot of people were asking him if he would go on to score a century, i.e. turn 100 years old. To that he replied that it all depended on the umpire. If he lifted his finger, he'd have to go!
Obituary in "The Guardian" and tribute in The Hindu.
It may be recalled that yet another Indian great, Vijay Hazare, passed away late last year.
Tags: india mushtaq ali vijay hazare
Labels: death, mushtaq ali
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May 30, 2005
Fazal Mahmood passes away
Former Pakistan captain Fazal Mahmood, an all-time great who was certainly the best fast bowler produced by the country till the arrival of Imran Khan, is no more. He succumbed a heart attack earlier today. He was 78.
He was the hero of Pakistan's first ever test win, at Lucknow by taking 12/94. He also starred in Pakistan's first test win in England, coincidentally yet again snapping up 12 wickets, this time it was 12/99. His style of bowling bore an uncanny resemblance to England's Alec Bedser and so he came to be compared with Bedser.
Tribute by Osman Samiuddin.
Tags: fazal mahmood pakistan cricket
Labels: death, fazal mahmood
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January 19, 2005
A year since Hookes died
One year ago, David Hookes passed away.
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December 20, 2004
Vijay Hazare, one of India's best cricketers, passed away on Saturday, aged 89. The sad news has pretty much been expected by cricket fans. Hazare is best remembered for his century in each innings effort at Adelaide in 1947/48 against an Australian attack having Lindwall and Miller and his partnership with Dattu Phadkar after India were in ruins at 0/4 at Leeds in 1952 on Trueman's debut. Harsha Bhogle had written about the Adelaide effort last year.
That incurable romantic (and sometimes senile chap) Raj Singh Dungarpur rates Hazare amongst India's top three batsmen. I assume the remaining two would need to be picked from amongst Nayudu, Merchant, Vishwanath, Gavaskar, Tendulkar and Dravid. Quite a tough job!
Some of his contemporaries reminisce about Hazare's batting.
Boria Majumdar, one of the youngest cricket historians you can find, points out that Hazare was a pretty decent bowler too, after all you dont get Bradman out for 15 too often, do you?
Ramachandra Guha, on what Hazare meant to Indian cricket.
Mihir Bose, on the competition between the two V's - Vijay Merchant and Vijay Hazare.
Hazare is immortalized in Indian cinema though for a totally different reason. This is how Amitabh's justifies being able to talk English, walk English and laugh English. Ignore the fact that Hazare and Merchant wouldnt have been playing at the MCG in 1929 and read on. Any idea who the dialogue writer for Namak Halal was? Was it Prakash Mehra himself?
In the year 1929 when India was playing Australia at the Melbourne stadium, Vijay Hazare and Vijay Merchant were at the crease. Vijay Merchant told Vijay Hazare: "Now look Vijay Hazare, this is a very prestigious match and we must consider it very prestigiously. We must take this into consideration. The consideration that this is an important match and ultimately this consideration must end in a run."
Thus spake Jagadish @ 2:42 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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October 12, 2004
Keith Miller, who died yesterday, was possibly the second best [Australians claim he was the best] all-rounder ever. He had more than his share of magic moments. The eulogies pour in for one of Australia's greatest ever cricketers. The Daily Telegraph has a wonderful tribute which lists out how much of a maverick genius he was. Michael Parkinson declares Miller his favourite Aussie, which must be something given that Parkinson is British.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 2:57 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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