Does Tendulkar's absence finally present India with an opportunity to have a relook at the batting which has failed quite a few times in the last year. India's win-loss record in the last year is quite hopeless and a far cry for a team which claims to be amongst the best in the world. So will India shake off the bridesmaid tag?
Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:53 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Jonathan Agnew feels that Solanki and Trescothick should open with Vaughan moving down to #3.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:53 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Having climbed up the Test ladder courtesy of wins against all-time great sides, Duncan Fletcher feels that England must play less tests and more one-dayers.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:51 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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If Julius Caesar was forewarned to beware the ides of March, someone would have done well to tell Malcolm Nash to beware of the last few days of August. First he got tonked around for 36 runs in an over by Sobers on the 31^st of August 1968. Nine years later on 29^th August 1977, an over to Frank Hayes cost him 34 runs.

Labels: sobers

Thus spake Jagadish @ 3:08 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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David Shepherd will not umpire in Pakistan's games during the ICC Champions Trophy. I find it hard to believe this decision was not influenced by Wasim Bari's diatribe after Pakistan lost to Australia, regardless of what the ICC may say.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:35 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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The Independent talks to Rahul Dravid on what it means to be part of this Indian team and where it goes from here.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:29 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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John Bracewell is totally categorical about New Zealand's clash with Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy. I wonder why he never talked about the game against USA.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 2:01 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Australia's fielding coach, an American by birth, feels that batsmen should only get singles or penetrate past the inner ring when the shot deserves it.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 11:28 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Worries magnified for India when Sachin Tendulkar was ruled out of the NatWest Challenge after failing to pass a fitness test. Dinesh Mongia, who has had a good season with Lancashire, is likely to be his replacement.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 10:24 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Wasim Bari points his fingers harshly at David Shepherd for Pakistan's loss at the Videocon Trophy final - probably to defend the team he selected! Naach na jaane, aangan tedho! Why doesn't anyone from India raise questions when Steve Bucknor time and again spoils India's fortunes?
Thus spake Ganesh @ 10:20 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Ranatunga is the first one to give it back to Hayden for his comments on sub-continental batsmen.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 10:07 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Scyld Berry is very confident of an England win in the NatWest Challenge later this week.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 10:03 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Has the Indian team has finally found out the elixir to shake off the chokers tag? The ideal way is of course to win some finals. The quick and dirty way is to not even get there!

The woeful display against Pakistan comes on the heels of the Asia Cup final debacle. Oh, and lest we forget, if only Jayasuriya hadn't lost his head that night, it would have been a Pakistan-Sri Lanka final. Aha, so there it is! Jayasuriya is to blame for the Indians being tagged chokers!

The Indians now move onto the NatWest Challenge series against England starting next month with barely enough match practice or confidence. They come up against a very self-confident England, who've demolished two of the all-time great sides, who just incidentally happen to be ranked #7 and #8 in the world!
Thus spake Jagadish @ 2:32 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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England's Sajid Mahmood, who played one game during the NatWest series earlier this year is following the Olympics more keenly than ever since his cousin Amir Khan will fight in the boxing semi-final.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 10:02 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Scott Heinrich tries to find out why South Africa have slipped so much in a year.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 10:02 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Ambush marketing will definitely be a no-no at the ICC Champions Trophy.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:52 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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A survey of international captains reveals that most of them support the moves by the ICC to introduce more technology into umpiring. Conspicuously absent in those who provided feedback is Ganguly. Come on Sourav-da, you really ought to be in a position to influence what the ICC thinks. If you adopt a laissez-faire approach, it is but natural that you'll wonder when certain rules were framed.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:17 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Harsha Bhogle comments on Hayden's claims about subcontinental batsmen and he isnt far off the mark when he says that Aussies would probably be selfish too if they were one among a billion hoping to be in the national side rather than one among 20 million.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:22 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Alex Wharf of Glamorgan gets into the England squad for the NatWest Challenge as Kabir Ali has a stomach injury - major upset to English plans !
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:52 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Evidently Symonds has never heard/read Cassius say 'The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings' for he wouldnt blame umpiring decisions on his possibly finished test career.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 3:48 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Simon Mann, accused of planning a coup in Equatorial Guinea along with Margaret Thatcher's son, is the son of a former England cricket captain and the grandson of an England captain! Is this what the ICC means by globalizing the game?
Thus spake Jagadish @ 12:20 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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The English selectors leave out Ian Bell from the squad to South Africa and instead go for the quasi allrounder Collingwood. Derek Pringle seems to indicate that it wasnt cricketing ability which influenced the decision. From Paul Colli to Paul Jolly, eh?

Labels: ian bell

Thus spake Jagadish @ 11:17 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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The man who uprooted the stumps and celebrated a victory when Pakistan needed 40 runs to win at Lahore against India, is now out of cricket for an year with three stress fractures on his spine.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:48 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Gilchrist's purpose of keeping himself away from the Videocon Trophy has been rewarded.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:42 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Yet another dirty incident involving Shane Warne.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:40 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Rajin Saleh will lead Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy in the absence of Habibul Bashar.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:34 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Shaun Pollock gets Sanath Jayasuriya as his 300th ODI wicket in South Africa's loss to Sri Lanka in the 3rd ODI at Dambulla.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:33 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Brijal Patel replaces Maurice Odumbe in the ICC Champions Trophy squad after the latter has been found guilty of match-fixing and banned for five years.

Labels: match fixing

Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:25 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Arjuna Ranatunga has a valid point when he says that ICC should also check the actions of seamers and not just the spinners.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:20 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Before the Aussies, England need to deal with South Africa. Angus Fraser rightly points out that for all the brouhaha over England's seven test wins this summer, they came against opponents ranked #7 and #8 in the ICC rankings.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:50 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Even as the cricket boards of Australia, India and Pakistan decided to share all revenues from the ongoing Videocon Series in Amstelveen, it was obvious that the Dutch cricket board was at the mercy of the spectators. If there were no full houses, i.e. not enough gate collections, they were doomed. They'd spent a lot of money setting up the infrastructure, providing a decent pitch, outfield and erecting the stands on grounds which had so far hosted just one ODI, in 1999.

The tournament has been really hit hard by the rain. Not a single game has been unaffected. Both matches where there was play were restricted to less than 33 overs a side. One of those two games didnt even get to the start of the second innings. Today's game between Australia and Pakistan was a non-starter. Obviously crowds have not been thronging the venue, since all they need to do is look out of the window of their home/hotel room and they know play is either unlikely or certainly going to be delayed. With inclement weather predicted for the next few days, the final, if it does take place, also seems almost certain to be an abridged affair. Effectively, the Dutch cricket association will earn a pittance from gate revenues. But the big 3 boards will go home with a lot of money in the kitty. So much so for globalization of the game and promoting cricket among non-traditional cricket playing countries. If you cant be selfless enough to share a bounty, then you dont deserve to be called a benefactor of cricket.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:22 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Its official now - Australia, without winning a match, will be playing Pakistan in the final of the Videocon Trophy at Amstelveen on Saturday.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 1:53 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Lasith Malinga, the new Sri Lankan quick who is making quite a few waves, in an interview to Charlie Austin, reveals that the first batsman he hit was Bradman. And Benaud named that bloke in his all-time World XI!

Labels: bradman

Thus spake Ganesh @ 1:05 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Osman Samiuddin sketches out Shahid Afridi's roguery and also argues that Pakistan needs his rambunctious batting and overall exuberance.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 12:58 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Both Ponting & Ganguly look at Warne as the key when Australia tour India later this year - but for who ?

Labels: aus v ind 2004

Thus spake Ganesh @ 12:46 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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West Indies will play twice against Barbados in Bermuda as a warm-up for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 10:57 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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There's a children's rhyme which goes:

Piggy on the railway,
Picking up stones,
Along came an engine
And broke poor Piggy's bones.

"Oh" said Piggy, "That's not fair"
"Oh" said the Engine, "I don't care"

The Indian team finds itself in a similar situation. After an insipid performance in the opening game against Pakistan, India faced a must win game against Australia. The bowlers performed quite well, except when Michael Clarke showed why he must be in the test team ahead of jokers like Elliott. Getting 175 in 32 overs (or whatever the Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target would be) would definitely not be a walk in the park, but India had given themselves a chance. However, the rain came down and this effectively mean that India would pray for Pakistan thulping Australia such that Australia's net-runrate drops below -2.0 (which is what India's is currently). Assuming that the rainy conditions persist and the game is a 35-a-side one, this'd require Pakistan to bat first and make say 200 and Australia making less than 130. Alternatively if Australia made first and made 200, Pakistan would need to get the runs in 26 overs.

Why would Pakistan do India a favour after what happened at the Asia Cup? Yet, when Pakistan fails to ensure that Australia doesn't make it to the final, Indians will keep harping on the fact that there was a conspiracy afoot to keep India out and gain valuable psychological points before the two teams clash in the ICC Champions Trophy. As if Pakistan didn't have enough of a psychological edge already - they've now beaten India twice in a row. Pakistan really dont care, even if what they do isnt fair. That is why India is the piggy and Pakistan is the engine.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 10:50 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Mark Nicholas underpins the role of Duncan Fletcher in England's success.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:14 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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A historic day in Indian test cricket exactly 33 years ago when India won a series in England winning the Oval Test thanks to Chandra's matchwinning 6/38.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:44 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Hayden flexes his mean mouth muscles again [remember his 'Someone like Laxman is really scared of the short ball' bravado quote before the last series?] claiming that subcontinental batsmen focus too much on personal landmarks, especially in one-dayers, which results in them slowing down the runrate as they neared the century mark

You cant say he is wrong, thats for sure. There've been umpteen instances of Indian players over keen to get to the century mark and slowing down the runrate. It is certainly something which needs to be addressed. That said, Hayden should be close to the last person qualified to say so.

When Hayden went past Lara's 375 at Perth last year, Waugh didnt declare at tea. Instead, he let Hayden bat on, with the aim to let him make 400. So if this isnt selfishness, what is?

On an earlier occassion, during the magical Chepauk test in 2001, Hayden got to his double century in the first innings and added just 8 more runs in the company of McGrath and slogged Harbhajan down Ganguly's throat at mid-off. Instead, if he had not been so concerned with just his double century and focussed on getting a few more runs, Australia may have set India 175 and not 155 and the series result may well have been 2-1 to Australia.

Labels: aus v ind 2004

Thus spake Jagadish @ 1:43 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Richie Benaud named his World XI of the century yesterday. You can buy the DVD online.

His side reads (in batting order): Sir Jack Hobbs, Sunil Gavaskar, Sir Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Viv Richards, Imran Khan, Sir Garfield Sobers, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Sydney Barnes, Dennis Lillee.

With 4 knights and all 5 Wisden cricketers of the century in his side, it sure seems like a great one. But I'm not convinced this is the best side of the century. Benaud certainly cant claim that this side comprises of the best players he ever saw. Even though we all know he is 1249 years old, Syd Barnes was even older!

I'm not convinced that current players should be included in any all-time XI. Obviously they could be included in current World XIs. But until their careers are done, I dont think they should be named by pundits in World XI of the century/millenium etc. I am not saying that Tendulkar or Warne or Gilchrist are not good enough. They certainly are top quality players. But it is just that I'd reserve judgement on including them in any all time side after their careers are done and dusted.

If I had to gripe about the selection, I'd certainly slot in someone like Healy, Marsh or Dujon ahead of Gilchrist. They were certainly better keepers and could bat too, although no keeper could bat the way Gilchrist does. Then again, does a side which has Sobers or Imran coming in at #7 need a wicket-keeper who can make centuries?

I'm also amazed none of the West Indian quicks of the 1980s finds a place in the side. Barnes is statistically among the best bowlers of all time but I doubt if Lillee he would make a better partnership than Lillee and Marshall or Lillee and Holding.

If you think I'm wrong, feel free to leave your comments!

Labels: bradman

Thus spake Jagadish @ 11:25 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Random drug testing, which the ICC experimented with during last year's World Cup, will continue at the ICC Champions Trophy.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:41 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Scyld Berry gives three reasons why England's current side is the best of all-time ... well he doesnt exactly say that, but if he says this side will beat Australia, then it would have to be pretty close to being an all-time great combination!
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:58 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Andy Caddick finally manages a way to get people talking about him.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:44 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Stuart Law, of Queensland and Lancashire, talks about how Flintoff could stand between Australia and next year's Ashes.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:49 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Rahul Bhatia takes a look back at how Tendulkar and Kambli went berserk in the Harris Shield final of 1988.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:49 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Jonathan Agnew played in the 1984 Oval loss against West Indies resulting in the first 5-0 drubbing to happen in England. He seems totally surprised that it has only taken 20 years for the roles to be reversed, with England winning 4-0 and all 7 tests of the summer!
Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:35 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Harbhajan and Nehra look doubtful starters for tomorrow's game against Pakistan.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 8:01 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Athar Ali Khan, the legendary Bangladesh player, joins the likes of co-legends Benaud, Viv Richards, Steve Waugh and Miandad in the 50 member panel for the ICC awards.

Labels: icc awards

Thus spake Jagadish @ 3:46 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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What happens when you allocate games to random countries on the pretext of globalizing? Teams stay in one place, practice in another and play in a different city!
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:21 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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First it was Sydney, now its Melbourne. There're moves afoot to get the annual one-day series final allocated to Melbourne rotated among Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:17 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Angus Fraser compares England's 1990s side with the current one.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 5:15 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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England and South Africa will henceforth compete for the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:17 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Stuart MacGill is almost certain not to be in the Australian team which tours India later this year.

Labels: aus v ind 2004

Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:47 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Rohan Gavaskar clearly overestimates his batting ability when he says that he'd be happy to get even halfway close to his father. In onedayers perhaps, Rohan. Never in tests.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:00 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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If the Sri Lankan board is entertaining thoughts of hosting the World Cup all by themselves, they haven't told Dalmiya for sure!
Thus spake Jagadish @ 8:22 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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A comparison of the 1958 English team with the current one.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:28 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Virender Sehwag wisely refrains from claiming that he would make 45 against Pakistan in the Videocon Series in the Netherlands.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 12:17 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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The ICC Oscar nominations are out and Australia as expected has 6 nominees and India has 5 - the choices which makes you wonder the most is Mr. Sachin Tendulkar being nominated for the ODI Player of the Year and Mr. Andrew Flintoff being nominated in 3 categories. It is strange though that there're just two bowlers in the Test player category and 1 in the player of the year category.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:26 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Yet another cricketer banned in Africa for match-fixing. It really baffles everyone when you think of how could a Kenyan player take money and fix a match, when his team hardly wins. Odumbe faces quite a few charges and being banned for five years effectively ends his career. Ironically, he was named in Kenya's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy last week.

Labels: match fixing

Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:15 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Geoff Boycott signs up for the Flintoff fan club. Fancy a Yorkshire man signing up for Lancastrian fan club!
Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:45 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Ganguly gives the same old boring answers to the same old boring questions just before leaving for the tour of Europe. Saying tour of Europe makes the team sound like the Harlem Globetrotters, doesnt it?!
Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:22 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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The graded system of contracts for India's international cricketers has at last been agreed upon.

Labels: contracts

Thus spake Jagadish @ 3:05 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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John Wright's contract as coach of the Indian team has been extended by a year while Andrew Leipus and Gregory King had their contracts renewed until the end of the 2007 World Cup.

Labels: contracts

Thus spake Jagadish @ 3:00 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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LG Electronics will be a platinum partner of the ICC awards.

Labels: icc awards

Thus spake Jagadish @ 11:21 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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All 12 teams have now announced their 14 member squads for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 10:59 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Yesterday, Brian Lara became the fourth, and by far the fastest, to 10000 Test runs. Gavaskar, Border and Steve Waugh were there before him.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:46 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Paul Coupar analyzes Andrew Flintoff's progress in as unbiased a manner as you could ever find. I dont think anyone told him that 451 out of Flintoff's 774 runs and 17 out of his 29 wickets have come against mighty West Indies, rated #8 on the ICC table.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 5:06 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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An interesting set of questions related to certain events in India's history is posed in this week's issue of Outlook Magazine. Various columnists ponder about how things might have been if those events had not occured. Ramachandra Guha and Pritam Sengupta conjecture on what might have been if India hadn't won the 1983 World Cup. Manu Joseph talks about what if hum do, hamaare do had worked. Now how on earth is that relevant to cricket? Go right down to the end of the article!
Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:52 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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The race to win the rights to telecast India's home series (along with domestic cricket, by the way!) has now entered the last lap, to use an Olympic metaphor. However, questions need to be asked on why the BCCI reserves the right to award the contract to anyone of its choosing when it had asked for bids. Perhaps it is just another way of making it seem a proper procedure while totally ensuring that palms are greased?

Labels: tv rights

Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:49 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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The Hutch man showers his praise on the Reliance man.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:33 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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In case you dont remember what happened between Prasar Bharati and TEN Sports before the India-Pakistan series, TEN Sports was forced to part with its live feed to Doordarshan on the grounds that the series was an event of national importance. The end game seems to have started on that issue with the government contemplating a legislation.

This is about the most absurd thing a government can do in a situation where a telecaster/production house has bid for the rights, and bid more than Prasar Bharati did. It is daylight robbery and I hope TEN Sports takes the government and Prasar Bharati to court and wins. Good on you, the government, all I'll say is Bend it like Beckham.

Labels: tv rights

Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:24 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Australia's cancelled trips to Morocco and Zimbabwe have come back to hit the cricketers in the form of money.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:01 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Brett Lee has realized after 5 years in international cricket that at the end of the day it is how well you bowl that matters, not the speed.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:23 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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What is common to Learie Constantine, Sir Garry Sobers, Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Frank Worrell, George Headley, Wes Hall and Everton Weekes besides them all being West Indians? Well, they all played for clubs in the Lancashire leagues during their careers.

Labels: headley, sobers

Thus spake Jagadish @ 8:21 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Jagmohan Dalmiya is all set to be India's permanent representative at the ICC amidst moves of making him the chief patron of the BCCI. Pervez Musharraf for the PCB, Robert Mugabe for the ZCU and Jagmohan Dalmiya for the BCCI. Not much of a difference eh?
Thus spake Jagadish @ 5:46 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Steve Waugh feels that the current Australian team has the ability to do what he couldnt do, win a series in India.

Labels: aus v ind 2004

Thus spake Jagadish @ 5:40 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Ajit Agarkar is all keyed up to lead the Indian attack during its Europe tour.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 5:32 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Mark Nicholas profiles Adam Hollioake, who was so near to captaining England in Tests too.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 12:31 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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This day in 1991 marked the beginning of the end for West Indies cricket as Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall and Jeff Dujon played together for the West Indies in a Test for the last time.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 11:52 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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What do you think of this World ODI XI? I think it is crap. Mahela Jayawardene doesnt deserve to be in the side.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:24 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh are at loggerheads over whether the Telstra stadium should replace the SCG for hosting international cricket.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:10 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Murali was ruled out of the 2^nd test against South Africa and in fact seems unlikely to play in the ICC Champions Trophy after he aggravated a shoulder injury which could entail immediate surgery.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:11 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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A wonderful suggestion has been floated by Jagmohan Dalmiya to confer the CK Nayudu award for 2004 to the Indian spin quartet of Bedi, Chandra, Prasanna & Venkatraghavan. There is also a plan to have a BCCI annual award.

Labels: chandra

Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:08 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Amidst increasing speculation about Sarwan's prospects as captain, West Indies announced their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy. Surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly!) Lara was not explicitly named skipper. Additionally, 37 year old Ridley Jacobs was left out for the 33 year old young pup Courtney Browne, who in fact played in the 1996 World Cup - when neither Dravid nor Ganguly had even played a Test for India and Ricky Ponting had only just made 96 on debut against Sri Lanka.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 5:29 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Ian Chappell feels that Sri Lanka should prepare better tracks which would encourage their new flock of quick bowlers rather than the dustbowls they normally prepare.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 3:17 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Dinesh Karthik, India's newest wicket-keeper elect, talks about how he came to know he was selected and how he feels at the prospect of meeting his idols and playing alongside them.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 12:20 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Without having a clue of what the total prize money on offer for the Videocon tri-series is going to be, the BCCI announced that the winning team would take home US$ 25,000. What is ridiculous is the fact that the Dutch cricket association (KNCB) will not get a share of the profits from this series. Instead they will only be reimbursed the expenses incurred in hosting the tournament. It means that they will only get the gate revenue. The problem is that the KNCB is now left at the mercy of the number of spectators who will turn up to watch these three teams battle it out. Primarily the spectators are going to be Indians and Pakistanis living in Europe. Why would they go and see this tournament if they could go and catch India and England play in the NatWest Challenge or catch India and Pakistan play in their group match in the ICC Champions Trophy?

Following the announcement about the split of revenues from the Asia Cup, it is yet another confirmation of the fact that the bigger cricketing nations merely pay lip service to concepts like encouraging other nations to take up the game in a bigger, better way.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 12:03 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Adam Hollijoke is attempting to set a world relay record on 16^th October at Crystal Palace athletics track to raise funds for the Ben Hollioake Fund.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 1:38 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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New Zealand announced its squad for the ICC Champions Trophy. Mills was chosen ahead of Franklin for the tournament where New Zealand plays Australia and the USA in its first round matches.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 1:06 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Reader's Digest India interviews Ganguly on his comeback into the team in 1996, his captaincy, his family and his favourite cricketers. He rates the ambush at Adelaide higher than the comeback at Calcutta and also reveals to the horror of the faithful Indian fan that he admires Nasser Hussain's captaincy!
Thus spake Jagadish @ 12:41 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Maurice Odumbe finds a place in the Kenyan squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, but Kapali loses out to make the trip to England with the Bangladesh team.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:42 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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In the latest case of mobile phone rage, an MCC member is being investigated after he allegedly threatened a fellow member with a knife for using a mobile phone during the first test at Lord's.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:52 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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In a tale strangely similar to what happens in Lagaan where the British officer is told about how Goli makes a sound before hurling the ball, Leicestershire's batsmen had figured out the communication between Adam Hollioake and the Surrey keeper about his slower ball and kept despatching it away. Eerily enough, this game too ended in victory for the chasing team and in the last over at that!
Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:17 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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What happens when a few former English cricket farts get together and England is doing well? They discuss about the next Ashes series.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:07 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Poor BCCI plans to make more money by selling even internet & mobile telephony rights along with the usual Radio and TV rights.

Labels: tv rights

Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:25 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Ganguly backed Zaheer as the side's best bowler (when he is fit) and hopes him to be fit for the Tests at home after the ICC Champions Trophy.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:12 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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England's once greatest ODI captain reckons that Flintoff is the best cricketer in the world.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:04 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Aussie Brad Hodge sparkled and won the Twenty20 Cup for Leicestershire.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 8:50 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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A dogged 74 by skipper Graeme Smith enabled the Proteas to draw the 1st Test at Galle.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 8:46 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Afridi gets a recall as Pakistan announce their squad for the Holland Tri-Series and ICC Champions Trophy.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 8:43 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Controversy is Shane Warne's middle name, it seems. This time around it is an ugly on-field spat with Ronnie Irani during a county game. Just for the record, Essex absolutely walloped Hampshire.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 10:07 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Could Dinesh Karthik be the answer to India's wicket-keeping problems?
Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:10 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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England announced their 14 player squad for the ICC Champions Trophy. Kabir Ali and Vikram Solanki have been recalled as England frantically grope to find the right combination in quest of the 2007 World Cup.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:05 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Harsha Bhogle does a post-mortem of India's performance in the Asia Cup.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 2:21 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Dinesh Karthik, the promising Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman, is the lone new face in India's squad for their tour of Europe where they play a triangular against Australia and Pakistan in the Netherlands followed by a 3 match one-day series against England culminating in the ICC Champions Trophy. Rohan Gavaskar makes it to the squad for the first two tournaments since they allow 15 players but not the ICC Champions Trophy, which only allows a squad of 14. Zaheer misses out due to the injury he suffered at the Asia Cup.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:45 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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The Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust points out that moving away from the SCG to the new Telstra stadium just for the sake of higher capacity will not necessarily bring in the money. According to them, the MCG, with a capacity of around 96,000 barely gets a half house during tests or one-dayers.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 12:49 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Ricky Ponting dismisses suggestions that England will be able to compete with Australia during next year's Ashes series.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 12:41 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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India and Pakistan could soon play against a Rest of the World side in a few one-day matches. The BCCI has however clarified that it is not in favour of private parties organizing matches.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 12:35 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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For those of you who wondered what the WPUJC in Chaminda Vaas' name meant, stop wondering and find out how long it takes for you to correctly pronounce the full names of Amunugama and Amarasinghe.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 12:18 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Middlesex didnt miss Glenn McGrath too much since a 5fer from the Mumbaikar helped them restrict Gloucestershire to 347.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 11:49 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Richie Benaud, the elder statesman of cricket, will chair the ICC awards panel. He can pick on the brains of his fellow panelists who managed to achieve a few insignificant things during their cricketing careers: Ian Botham, Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Holding and Barry Richards.

Labels: icc awards

Thus spake Jagadish @ 11:43 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Simon Briggs talks about the need for the ICC to review the fixtures list so that fast bowlers dont burn out.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 11:27 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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9 year old Ayush Bhatt will be a 'toss ka boss' in the ICC Champions Trophy in England.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:44 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Srinagar's Sher-e-Kashmir stadium may be on the verge of hosting an international after a gap of over 18 years. If I remember right, KP Bhaskar was scheduled to make his debut sometime in the mid 1980s at a game in Srinagar which got cancelled for some reason.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 8:28 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Jayasuriya seems extremely impressed by Irfan Pathan and says he sees the future of Indian fast bowling in him.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:12 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Sourav Ganguly is categorical that he cannot offer any excuses for the Asia Cup final loss.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 5:20 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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England off-spinner Gareth Batty is very keen to avenge being the bowler who gave Lara his 400^th run at Antigua earlier this year.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 4:45 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Excerpts from an interview with Javagal Srinath with NDTV where he talks about the frustration of being left out from the 11 early on in his career, his achievements, his goals and the new Indian quick bowlers. He also makes racist comments like 'Balaji is the dark horse'. As if ... !

He is also clearly in awe of Tendulkar when he says 'Sachin is somebody who expects a lot from the boys. He can perform at that level. He can bowl like a good leg-spinner, he can bowl like a good off-spinner, he can swing like a good medium-pacer, and he can bat like Sachin Tendulkar.'
Thus spake Jagadish @ 3:29 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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World cricket slipped into further misery when it was revealed that Ashley Giles had entered the top 10 bowlers list and was the best spinner other than Murali, Warne and Kumble.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 3:33 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Jagmohan Dalmiya discloses the venues for the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy and 2015 World Cup.

What is bizarre about this announcement is that barely a fortnight ago, the ICC chiefs were talking about how the absence of tax reliefs for ICC events would affect India's chances of hosting major events such as the ICC Champions Trophy or the World Cup. Is this another of Dalmiya's machiavellian moves to preempt any moves by the ICC? Evidently the ICC and the members of its board aren't reading from the same sheet of paper.

The decision to allocate more than 50% of the $19 million earned by the Asian Cricket Council to the big four reeks of self indulgence. Do India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka need that much money to develop cricket? Aren't cricket (world or Asian, take your pick) administrators supposed to help weaker nations improve their standards? How will Hong Kong or the UAE improve their standard of cricket with a measly USD 300,000? Why should Bangladesh get the same amount as India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka when they're clearly the inferior team and need to really get their act together? Why couldn't the bigger boards have said "Ok, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will get USD 1 million each as do Hong Kong and UAE. Bangladesh gets 2 million. The rest of the money goes to other Asian cricket boards"? That would have been statesmanship, something you will never get from these boards.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:12 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Even Ganguly is distraught at losing so many finals. How could his team claim itself to be #2 in the world when they are officially #5 and more importantly can't chase a paltry 228 with a long list of seven batsmen.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 9:01 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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In 2006, it could well be Pakistan, for Ganguly & Co. to lose a final again.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 8:59 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Dirty mouth costs Sangakkara, Dilshan & Chandana and the wicket-keeper was the most affected.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 8:57 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Another unwanted reason for Kenyan cricket to be on the news.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 8:55 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Normally, a choker is an item of jewellery worn around the neck. However, with the Indian team's propensity to just not rise to the occassion when it is a cup final, etymologists across the globe are pondering adding in another meaning to the word 'choker'. I'm not saying this Indian team doesnt turn up when the occasion demands it. After all it has in the past demonstrated the ability to pull off victories from the jaws of defeat. But there seems to be some brain halt when it comes to finals. The triumph in the NatWest Series of 2002 is not enough to assuage the feelings of Indian cricket fan(atic)s.

Yesterday's game was lost by the batsmen [and perhaps by the decision to leave Kumble out]. The bowlers did very well to keep Sri Lanka down to 228 after they were approximately 140/2 in 32 overs. The fact that scoring runs was going to be tough against a spin oriented bowling attack like Sri Lanka's must have been made blindingly obvious from the way Sehwag and Tendulkar were turning the ball, leave alone Harbhajan. Yet, India's batsmen chose a very cautious approach to the target and the 50 came up only in the 15^th over. All it then took were a couple of wickets to set the cat amongst the pigeons.

Mohammad Kaif's spot in the team must be something worth discussing. Yes, he saves 15-20 runs on the field. But as the #7 batsman [not a fielder-batsman mind you!], he is also supposed to make runs now and then. With Kaif, it is a "when it rains it pours" kind of situation. In the last 20 innings he has played, he has made 474 runs, 276 of them coming from four games. Clearly India is carrying a fielder who cannot make runs consistently. Yuvraj too can field. But he is far more consistent than Kaif. The argument that Kaif comes far too low down the order to make runs in bulk quantities is a stupid one. Why hasnt the management tried pushing him up the order as they did in the World Cup? He didnt do too badly then, did he?

If he is in the side as a batsman, he must make runs. Simple. If he is only worth 20-25 runs per game (as a fielder only), then we're probably better off selecting someone who only saves 5-10 runs per game but can on a consistent basis score 25-30 runs, every time. Alternately we can just pick a specialist keeper who will definitely save more runs [and effect more runouts] than Dravid and score a few runs as well. A team which claims to be #2 in the world must not carry non-performers.
Thus spake Jagadish @ 12:23 pm | Sledge/Read 1 sledge(s)
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Abhijit Kale episode still has its own effects on the selectors too.
Thus spake Ganesh @ 2:05 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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