Ian Chappell
Gift of the gab: Prior can talk the talk, but he hasn’t quite walked the walk © Getty Images
I’m no Sherlock Holmes but I think I’ve cracked the great jelly bean mystery. However, in keeping with the conventions of thrillers, you’ll have to read to the end to find the guilty party.
Judging by the evidence so far, England now believe international wicketkeepers are there to be heard and not seen. This adds another misleading myth to the many that abound about wicketkeepers, including the most erroneous one of all about batting being the first consideration when choosing a keeper.
Original post by Siddarth Ravindran and software by Elliott Back
October 19th, 2007
Us against the establishment: So much for a new era in which the players are supposedly considered shareholders in South African cricket
© Getty Images
Ken Borland
South Africa’s cricketers were probably contemplating their increased earning potential and a healthy relationship with Cricket South Africa (CSA) when their groundbreaking memorandum of understanding was unveiled a month ago. But the last week has been a traumatic one, with the players feeling that the board has turned on them.
It all came to a head with Jacques Kallis’s exclusion from the squad for the Twenty20
World Championship, which South Africa’s premier cricketer has taken as a slight on his ability - not forgetting the wad of money (about R280,000, or £19,000) he will lose out on by not playing in the tournament.
Original post by Kanishkaa Balachandran and powered by Img Fly
October 19th, 2007
Jayaditya Gupta
The Sharad Pawar-led BCCI has some tough decisions ahead of it
© AFP
After more than four months of acting coy, the Indian Cricket League (ICL) has made as bold a statement as possible, parading the 48 Indian cricketers and naming the six overseas players who will form the backbone of its inaugural season. It is as much a statement of intent as a challenge to the Indian board, with which it has been shadow-boxing since the gauntlet was first thrown in April.
The matter is now out in the open; the ICL is an entity the BCCI - nor, indeed, the ICC, which is yet to take a clear stand - cannot wish away. It is faced with a situation it must deal with, and swiftly. It must size up the pros and cons of its current hard line with one eye on […]
Original post by Kanishkaa Balachandran and powered by Img Fly
October 19th, 2007
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
Dravid has used the experience of team-mates like Ganguly well, but there’s no denying he needs someone to share the burden of leadership on a more consistent basis
© AFP
“Undefeated after Chappell,” bellowed a hack shortly after India’s historic series win at The Oval. Following Greg Chappell’s exit after the World Cup debacle, India have won two Test series - one of them admittedly against Bangladesh - and six one-dayers. A solitary defeat against South Africa in the first match of the Future Cup remains the only blemish.
Victory no doubt brings its own aura, but this India side looks like a team. The “divisive” senior players are nowhere in sight. What instead has been on view is camaraderie and a unity of purpose. It is early still to pass judgment on the coaching abilities of Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh, but […]
Original post by Kanishkaa Balachandran and software by Elliott Back
October 19th, 2007
Ian Chappell
The bowler-friendly wickets were among the things the series had going in its favour
© Getty Images
The entertaining and competitive Test series between India and England provided much good cricket and plenty of food for thought. In addition to two evenly matched teams, good pitches and the swinging ball played their part in providing entertaining cricket.
There has been a tendency to produce flat pitches in limited-overs cricket and this may well have spilled over into the Test arena. However, the three English groundsmen for this series provided ample proof that a good cricket wicket, which allows the bowlers to compete on even terms, is the best ingredient for an entertaining match.
Original post by Mathew Varghese and software by Elliott Back
October 19th, 2007
Vaneisa Baksh
Sarwan’s claims are true about King’s manner being rough, but there is evidence that the players have not been inclined to regard coaching instructions
© AFP
Recent comments by West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan while he was in Toronto for therapy for his shoulder injury have raised eyebrows and set tongues wagging. Sarwan was reported to have called former coach Bennett King the “worst coach” he had ever had, and to have said King’s manner was aggressive and intimidated younger players.
Much speculation has been raised over the timing of Sarwan’s remarks, especially as King had returned to Australia a couple of months ago. Had Sarwan been waiting for the new administration to be assembled before airing his gripe? It seems more likely that Sarwan was simply responding to a pointed question and his remarks were neither premeditated nor part of some unfolding […]
Original post by Mathew Varghese and software by Elliott
October 19th, 2007
Aakash Chopra
A major reason for Prior’s falling apart could be a lack of belief in his skills and an inability to handle being exposed under pressure
© Getty Images
The man who scored a ton on his debut at Lord’s earlier this summer wouldn’t have dreamed that people would be baying for his blood by the end of that same summer. Every move Matt Prior makes now is closely monitored or, in this case, every move he doesn’t make. He has dropped a few crucial catches, conceded a few byes too many (some of them were ridiculously wide and out of reach) and, unfortunately, things haven’t been too rosy even in front of the stumps. He has also been advised to keep his trap shut and concentrate on the job, something that probably wouldn’t have been said if he hadn’t messed up.
Apparently, […]
Original post by Siddarth Ravindran and powered by Img Fly
October 19th, 2007
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