Shoaib free to play in IPL

The PCB has cleverly washed its hands off Shoaib Akthar.

 

The Pakistan Cricket Board has rejected Shoaib Akhtar's appeal against the five-year ban imposed on him for repeated disciplinary breaches, but confirmed that he is free to resume his career overseas. The decision means Shoaib is free to compete in the Indian Premier League while remaining persona non grata on home soil.

 

Now the onus is on his overseas employers like the IPL to make him behave.

 

The BCCI should take a leaf out of PCB's book and follow suit. It should ban Harbhajan and Sreesanth from playing in India.

 

What do you say?

 

 

Harbhajan may escape a life ban

It would be disappointing if Harbhajan escapes a life ban. He has failed us and sullied the name of the cricketers who have played for the country.

 

However, the BCCI is willing to give him another chance.

 

Will he mend his ways?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IPL - Twenty20 is a specialist's game

Watching the likes of Dravid, Ganguly and Kallis struggling to make an impact, it is clear, that a solid technical Test batsman is unsuitable for the Twenty20 format. Twenty20 format requires batsmen with a hand eye coordination of a tennis player and the swing of a golfer.

Similarly, bowlers too need to have skills suited to Twenty20. Batsmen who plonk their foot at a length and smash it down the ground can swat around a good Test match bowler who bowls line and length. It is easy for the Twenty20 specialists to scoop a bowler of the length for boundaries or slash rising deliveries over square or behind the keeper.

IPL's inaugural tournament has just thrown up two bowlers who seemed to have the hang of it. One of them is Glenn McGrath. However, one gets the feeling that his reputation for precision bowling has his opponents in a thrall. His test will come when the likes of Dhoni or Yuvraj take him on in a do or die situation.

The other bowler who has impressed in the matches played so far is Joginder Sharma. His case is peculiar. Other than a seeming lack of nerves, one is unable to identify any special Twenty20 bowling skills. Yet he has succeeded in delivering the goods at crunch time. It will be interesting to observe whether we are watching a lucky bowler or the birth of a specialist Twenty20 bowler.

If there is one other breed that seems to have tailored itself to the Twenty20 format, it is that of the spinners. However, excepting Warne, the others have flattered to deceive. Nevertheless, they can evolve to this format as the nature of their trade provides them enough leeway to follow the batsmen.

This brings us to the question of the day. Is there a breed called specialist Twenty20 bowler and if so, who epitomizes it?

A Blogger has no respect left for the ICC

He takes a strong stand and insists that the ICC will rue the day they disappointed him.

 

 

Test match cricket viewers on the decline

This is disturbing.

A survey by media agency Mindshare, which interviewed 2,100 people across the five metros, found that Twenty20 was the favourite format of 76 per cent of the respondents. A surprisingly low 22 per cent picked the 50-over format and a measly 2 per cent Test matches.

If, just 2 percent are interested in Test cricket, then empty stadiums will greet cricketers. They will play largely to the oohs! Aahs! of the connoisseurs and hope to penetrate the mainstream consciousness only during the ‘award’ nite.

If this trend continues very few cricketers will play Test match cricket.

Nel is itching for a 'slap'.

Sreesanth's alter ego ,Andre Nel, seems to be next in line for a 'slap'.

 

Nel playing for Essex was reported by umpires Tim Robinson and Richard Illingworth for two separate Level 2 breaches of the code, each of which attracts a penalty of three points.

 

 A statement from the ECB said the 30-year-old has received the points for "Using language or gesture that is obscene or of a serious insulting nature to another player, umpire, referee, team official or spectator".

 

Surely, Nel is readying himself for a slap.

Harbhajan banned

Harbhajan banned from the rest of the inaugural IPL tournament for slapping Sreesanth.

We commend the IPL for doing the right thing.
Now lets hope the BCCI shows him the door.

Harbhajan - Sreesanth 'slap' fall-out

Here are two excellent thoughts on the slapping episode:

 

In the midst of all the chaos, nobody thought of cricket. It was a sad day in the history of Indian cricket with cricketers fighting amongst themselves.

 

Is it related to the decreasing tolerance level among people in general?

 

IPL's dubious distinction?

 

 

Which cricketer deserves a 'slap'?

As a fall-out of the Harbhajan – Sreesanth slap episode, we decided to conduct an informal survey to find out which cricketer deserved a slap in the face.

 

Most Indians indicated Sreesanth as the deserving candidate followed by Clarke and Pieterson.

 

A vast majority of the Australians revealed Harbhajan Singh deserved a slap. The other players who came second and third were Ganguly and Smith.

 

As usual the British, refused to be informal and maintained their stiff upper-lip. The Pakistani's indicated that they prefer to hit rather than slap, whereas the South Africans couldn't make up their minds.

 

The results as you see were not satisfying. So in order to make it more scientific and comprehensive, we request you, our readers to participate enthusiastically.

 

All you have to do is to answer this question, which cricketer deserves a 'slap' and why?

 

The most creative /illogical answer will be selected as the 'winner' by the readers themselves.

 

Happy 'slapping'.

 

EPL will hasten player's burnout

Listing some of the benefits of a Stanford backed EPL, Simon Wilde writes,

 

At a stroke, England's top stars could be enriched by millions of pounds for only a few extra days of work, and crucially saved from burning themselves out playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL),

 

If by burnout he means being burnt by the hot sun playing in India, he has a point. However, if he thinks that playing in the EPL will prevent player burnout, then he is sadly mistaken.

 

What will happen is that, the differing schedules will tempt the English players to 'maximise' their income by playing in both the IPL and the EPL, thereby increasing the chance of player's burnout.

 

Do you agree?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earliest documented cricket injury

As far back as 1751, documents show that Frederick, Prince of Wales (son of George II), expired suddenly from an abscess in his head as a consequence of a blow he'd received from a cricket ball.

 

Is this the earliest documented injury in cricket?

 

 

Is ‘Captaincy’ a passive job?

"A captain always depends on how the team performs”, is a common chant in defense of a struggling Captain.

So how correct is this assumption?

The Free Dictionary defines a Captain as “one who commands, leads or guides others”. An apt definition as unlike other games, a Captain of a cricket team exercises more influence on the game.

In addition, any leader worth his salt knows success is dependent not on the planning but on the implementation.

So putting the onus on the team to deliver the goods is nothing but a blame game. A Captain is wholly responsible for the success or failure of his team and for that, he has to be proactive.


Do you agree?

IPL - On dew and dew controlling measures.

Suddenly, Daljit Singh, Chairman of the BCCI’s Pitches & Grounds Committee seems everywhere.

After discovering ‘sandy’ surface at Eden Gardens and ‘dew’ in Chidambaram Stadium, he has directed all IPL centers to take dew-controlling measures.

However, many of us associate dew with winter, so how do we explain dew during summer?

The fact is it is not dew but surface condensation.

“Surface condensation is the phenomenon by which moisture condenses on visible surfaces. It occurs on surfaces that are at a temperature below the dew point temperature of the inside air.

Surface condensation is caused either by a low surface temperature or a high humidity level in the air. “

From this, it is obvious that the suspected dew is actually condensation formed by high humidity in the air.

“The solution is either to increase the thermal resistance of ground to increase its surface temperature, or to reduce the humidity level.”

Controlling surface condensation in an outdoor stadium is impossible. The alternative is to play cricket in an indoor stadium.

Information on surface condensation sourced from National Research Council Canada.

Why 'pink' balls

We may as well accept that pink balls are here to stay.

IPL should employ bar girls as ‘Cheerleaders’

Actor Politician Shatrughan Sinha agrees with us on the need for ‘native’ cheerleaders.

"If you are so interested in deploying these girls who dance after hits of fours and sixes, it is better to give chance to the bar girls who have been rendered unemployed after Maharashtra government put a ban on dance in bars," Sinha said.

We are justifiably proud of his support.

Mr. Lalit Modi, are you reading this?

Founder, Allen Stanford University for Cricket Bloggers writes an open letter to Lalit Modi.

 

Mr. Modi loosen your purse strings!

Now a fan wants a share of the IPL pie

A novel way to make money: This is a message posted on NDTV's message board and addressed to Preity Zinta.

THIS IS NO JOKE, IF YOU BELEIVE IN INVISIBLE POWER

I am Mehboob Khan, and am approaching your with a very bizarre concept which can benefit you and eventually me too. I am an employee working in Muscat for The Oman Construction Co. LLC for the last 26 years.

Over the years I have realized that I have some exceptional power to make things happen. My casual comments and statements on many things have gone on to become a reality. Initially i thought that it could be just coincidental, but incidence kept on occurring in my life innumerable times that I started to believe that I possess some unique power to materialize notions to reality. I am blessed by the almighty.

I have many incidences that I can describe. Even during the 2003 Cricket World cup all the thoughts that I expressed transpired to be reality. I predicted many incidents of T20 world cup and India's win much in advance. This might amuse you as it has amused many of my friends and colleagues here in Oman.

The purpose of writing this letter to you is to support your team (after the first two losses) in the IPL event with my unique power I can orchestrate your team to be the ultimate winner. I have never approached anyone with this kind of an offer and again this is a perception that has just crept into my mind. Maybe this is the beginning of my new career and you are my path.

Do you think he will succeed?

IPL – Are the cheerleaders doing their job?

The cheerleaders play an "instrumental role in raising, leading and maintaining” team spirit before and during the games. They are not there to flaunt their bodies or gyrate to music. They are there to boost the morale of their team and its supporters.

Sadly, the cheerleaders employed by the IPL franchisees are doing anything but that. One of the main reasons for their inability is that these cheerleaders are ‘imported’. They have no understanding of the game and hence have no feel for the ebb and flow of the game.

This makes them ‘unconnected’ with the supporters. Another factor is that ‘cheerleaders’ are a novel concept and the spectators unused to it, view them more as truncated versions of a bollywood ‘item’ number.

The IPL franchisees should also play their part and stop debasing the concept. They should create a new set of cheerleaders preferably from their catchment areas. Then and only then the cheerleaders can boost the morale of their team and its supporters. Otherwise, they will be "pointless mysteries" who achieved nothing "aside from proving scantily clad women can do two things at once: gyrating while waving their pom-poms about".

Any takers for sari clad cheerleaders.

Some interesting links for aspiring cheerleaders:

When to Cheer and When Not to

The early Cheerleaders were male - Cheerleading of the ’20s: Epitome of masculinity

IPL - How do you account the big hitting and tall scores?

It is too early to see a pattern, but two of the most explosive innings in the IPL, have come from teams playing first. Similarly, the centuries scored so far have been by batsmen playing in the first innings. To take it further, there have been more sixes hit by the team batting first than the team batting second.

Probably the frenetic nature of the format is the reason behind the big hitting. Batsmen have to perforce maximise their shots and have found that hitting it over the infield gives them maximum returns.

However, this does not explain why the chasing team finds it difficult to repeat the power hitting.

The most probable and obvious answer is it could be due to over thinking.

Focusing on the score or the fact that one should win the game often trumps a player’s intuitive response patterns (so-called muscle memory) that allows them to just play their game.

If this is the probable reason, then the utility of the coach is questionable. What is he doing if he cannot prepare his wards?

IPL – What makes the players tick?

Granted, IPL lured the world’s best cricketers with promise of big money. As the format of the game is such no one would have blamed these highly skilled players if they had played with a devil may care attitude. Instead, what we see is that the players despite differing national allegiance have meshed and are playing the game with fervor.

For example let us take yesterdays game between Deccan Chargers and Kolkatta Knight Riders. How do you explain Symonds intransigence during the game?

The truth is Symonds is playing because he cares about the game and his performance. Personal pride makes others like Hopes, McCullum and Hussey to exercise their skills to the maximum and win the game for their team. They hate to be associated with failure.

This makes them not only great cricketers; it will surely make this tournament (IPL) great.

IPL - The 'six' is becoming a bore.

Heavy bats, short boundaries and flat pitches have ensured it is raining 'six' in the IPL

 

However, when we contemplate, these 'six' have no meaning in the larger context of the game. They leave no lasting impact and are mere statistics.

 

So much so one tends to agree when William Rees-Mogg says,

 

"A well-hit six at a critical point in a Test match can indeed come as a thrilling surprise; it is a meaningful part of the struggle, but even a good six can be meaningless by repetition in Twenty20. Sixes can become a bore, like the battues of pheasants by the thousand at Sandringham in the days of King Edward VII. Sixes laid on in Twenty20 matches can be mere satiation. "

 

For a 'six' to be meaningful it has to serve a larger purpose. Do you agree a last ball six that seals the win is worthier than one hit of the first ball?

 

Where is Duncan Fletcher?

Ever wondered why Duncan Fletcher is not a part of IPL.

"Maybe I was asking too much," says Fletcher, "but it was late on and things
were very rushed." A man the IPL could not afford. Now there's a thing. They
want the best players but clearly not the best coaches.

It is debatable whether Duncan Fletcher is one of the world’s best coaches. John Buchanan has a much better record over a longer period.

Similarly, the question of affordability is laughable. Either Fletcher’s self-absorption and pompousness or the inability to agree upon the royalty from his book that is sure to follow, sunk the deal.

ODI scores will exceed 500

The IPL Twenty20 matches have shown even a score of 250 is gettable.

Does it mean ODI scores will exceed 500?

Will IPL transcend India?

Jonathan Coates says that the IPL will engage only the Indian audience.

Frankly, who cares whether it is popular elsewhere. All it matters is how the locals take to the hooch.

What do you think? Will it be as hugely popular among other audience, as it seems destined to be in India?

What to look out for When Chennai Super Kings take on Kings XI Punjab

The Hindu distills today’s match- up as Chennai Super Kings batting Vs Kings XI Punjab’s bowling.

Personally, I am interested in judging Yuvraj’s captaincy and keenly observing Preity Zinta. Will she be more dignified than SRK?

Sadly John’s idol fails to make the cut.


The teams (from):

Chennai Super Kings:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Stephen Fleming, Jacob Oram, Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Muttiah Muralitharan, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, Joginder Sharma, S. Vidyut, S. Anirudha, R. Ashwin, P. Amarnath, Shadab Jakati, K.B. Arun Karthick, S. Badrinath and Manpreet Gony.

Kings XI Punjab:

Yuvraj Singh (Capt.), Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Kyle Mills, Shaun Marsh, Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, S. Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla, James Hopes, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Luke Pomersbach, Ajitesh Argal, Pankaj Dharmani, Rishi Dhawan, Karan Goel, Uday Kaul, Sahil Kukreja, Wilkin Mota, Nitin Saini, V. R. V. Singh, Sunny Sohal and Tanmay Srivastava.

The mystery behind IPL's missing website solved.

We had earlier reported the IPL website missing.
The truth is otherwise. The IPL website is up and running.
Strangely, it can be found at http://195.20.222.30/index.html
BTW, the URL is perplexing. Can someone explain why it has this strange URL ?

Players revolt against ICC in the offing.

The reason according to the FICA:

The Federation of International Cricketers' Association warned that the players may stage a revolt against the ICC if it continues to be "paralysed" by the BCCI and remains "incompetent" in its handling issues in the sport.

It is difficult to understand how BCCI is to be blamed, for FICA itself admits that “the players have realised their worth after being showered with millions of dollars by the Indian Premier League and its rival Indian Cricket League and feel they are better prepared to handle the game's functioning.”

Have they forgotten that IPL is an offshoot of the BCCI?

It is also lamentable that FICA needed the BCCI to show them their constituents, the player’s worth.

The plain truth is that the FICA like the ICC is a toothless organisation. The talk of player’s revolt is an attempt by FICA to divert attention from its failures.

 

Technorati Tags: FICA,IPL,BCCI,ICC

IPL website goes AWOL

With just hours to the start of the inaugural IPL tournament, the IPL website has disappeared.Click on www.indianpremierleague.com and you get 'HTTP 403 forbidden' message.

IPL - Tendulkar goes against the grain

Asked whether IPL will change the future of cricket, Tendulkar’s reply: 

"I don't think the IPL will change the future but definitely the international calendar will change to accommodate the IPL."  

For one known for bland non-controversial comments, this one is remarkable as it goes against the grain.

IPL needs team rivalries to succeed.

For IPL to succeed there should be genuine and exciting team rivalries. Otherwise, the fans will be bereft of emotional attachment.

I hope a rivalry develops between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers, as they are the two teams that have the perfect mix for the Twenty20 game. In addition, it will give me a chance of seeing VVS Laxman play more frequently in Chennai. J

However, barring a few, most of the players have no allegiance to the team they play. Hence, there is a strong possibility that rivalries may fail to develop.

Which brings me to the question of the day, which teams would you like to play against each other?

Technorati Tags: IPL,Team,rivalry,Deccan Challengers,Chennai Super Kings

Kanpur faces ban

Reacting to Mahanama's report, ICC has sent a letter to the BCCI, seeking an explanation about the pitch used for the third Test between India and South Africa.

If BCCI's explanation fails to convince the ICC, the governing body can even ban Kanpur from hosting international matches

Do you think anything will come off it?

WHO'S PLAYING IN THE IPL

A list of players with their ICC rankings. 

ICC one-day batting rankings: 

1. G Smith (Rajasthan)
2. S Tendulkar (Mumbai)
3. R Ponting (Kolkata)
4. M Hayden (Chennai)
5. M Hussey (Chennai)
6. AB de Villiers (Delhi)
7. MS Dhoni (Chennai)
8. S Chanderpaul (Bang're) 

ODI bowling rankings: 

1. D Vettori (Delhi)
2. N Bracken (Bangalore)
3. C Vaas (Deccan)
4. K Mills (Punjab)
5.. B Lee (Punjab)
6. M Muralitharan (Chennai) 

Source: BBC SPORT

Motivational and Inspirational Corner

Technorati Tags: ODI rankings,ICC rankings,batting,bowling,IPL

Q wonders

Q wonders what the future holds for cricket bloggers.

Read what he has to say about UncleJ.

 

Technorati Tags: Bloggers,cricket,Q,UncleJ