soft?

Its amazing, the kind of things that capture the public imagination. Who would have thought some extremely dull sounding sweets for children would become the crux, the symbol and the persistent undercurrent of a Test match, and indeed a series? I mean, they were jelly beans for chrissake. They did not win one team the match nor lose it for the other. The irritated and upset one bowler, but they were not pivotal. And they were definitely not insulting. Heck, not even too much in bad taste- at least one can assume that considering how many the England players were consuming.
The evidence of this match makes it a bad blooded series? Come on! There’s been far worse, and far dirtier stuff. One sane voice I have read is, surprisingly, from Mr Bell.

And while Sreesanth has disgraced himself in more ways than one, a call to ban him on the evidence of the beamer is really a bit much. Athers can be quite insightful, but also sometimes a bit stuffy. In this case, I think- without putting too fine a point on it- you can really stuff it. How do you call for all bowlers to be banned after sending down beamers – “whether intentional or not” ? Whats with all the molly coddling players these days? They can hear anything remotely nasty, can take sweets lying on the pitch without getting upset, get shaken by a beamer? I admit it was one heck of a nasty delivery, but take a look at Viv Richards and Sunny Gavaskar playing the bowlers they did with a cap on, and taker a moment to go on about this.

ps- its been 3.5 months here. sheesh.

theme not to be

Marlon Samuels you bloody clown. You just called time on one of the greatest careers of all time. You foolish, foolish man.
Adios, Brian Charles.

er....

Er, who is supposed to open with Jaffer in the Tests? Karthik? Is this long term? Huh?

ODI squad: Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid (capt), Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Manoj Tiwary, Dinesh Mongia, Piyush Chawla, Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh.

Test squad: Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik, Rahul Dravid (capt), VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Anil Kumble, Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, VRV Singh, Ramesh Powar, Rajesh Pawar, Munaf Patel.

Pop cricket

Ah. India and Pakistan.

Off it, they are cricket's Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. One, pure monied trash, influential for no other reason than having too much of it, the other straight-up trailer trash, cricket's true basket case. They are tabloid fodder, stumbling from one front page to another: religion, player factionalism, spats, coaching intrigues, politicking, doping and even possible murder.

yes, am back (from some travel).

Max? Min.

I am amazed, dejected, infuriated, pissed off, stunned and defeated by Max's coverage of the World Cup. It is well and truly appalling.

.

The sickness slowly rises like mental bile. My head aches, seemingly weighed down by bricks. The inarticulate nature of my thoughts seem understandable and inadequate at the same time. Thoughts swirl around with no purpose or direction. Most of me does not want to believe that a coach has been murdered, for reason as yet unknown but also reasons I am not even sure I want to know.
I won’t be naïve enough to think that this is a shock relative to world sport, but that’s almost pointless to say, anyway. Actually, I don’t even know what to write. I’m more than a little sickened.

May his soul be in peace.

foul play

The initial reports - about the inconclusive nature of the autopsy, and, apparently that the Jamaican police has stated it could well be poisoning- are in. I, not surprisingly, refuse to believe this till its official.

But the sinking feeling has definitely made an appearance.

more lessons on fandom

Anyone saw this banner at the ground yesterday, held by one of those cherishing, and much cherished; lovable, and loving fans of the Indian team?

"Last warning to Team India: Reach Barbados or stay forever in Trinidad."

Who are you, and who are you to issue a 'warning', and why should you, with such a mature viewpoint, even matter? But that's just me, and I don't matter either- I'm just another insignificant fan. Might I make a teeny weeny request though? Could said invaluable 'supporter' kindly find his abode in some obscure part of the world, thank you. Much obliged.

what a pass

! moment: We here have decided to try and jot down moments we see during this wonderful tournament. Here's another one.

Vusi Sibanda's catch yesterday. Gayle nicks it, it takes a deflection from Taylor , just as Sibanda at first slip is moving to his right. The keeper gets a hand, it shoots towards Sibanda's left and he catches in an very unlikely direction shift of his body. An assist from Taylor, Michael Holding called it- hardly, its lucky they got it. It happened in the match against Ireland too, but this was a mite more...watchable.

Also, anyone see the 3rd umpire referral from Aleem Dar during the Indian innings yesterday? A stumping appeal was sent up to the 3rd umpire despite it being a called no ball by the umpire. Yes, you can't be stumped off a no-ball, so, er... why the referral? We is bemused.

encore!

!moment :
Dwayne Leverock, the most recognisable cricketer not previously recognisable to anyone except anyone, pulls of a stunner at slip. His giant frame somehow initiates bullet-time, and with great visions of Neo floating in his mind, he latches onto a ball his considerable frame would not have thought possible. But the true cinematic performance comes after, when the policeman's emotions overflow, where all that usually spreads is his body mass. He runs this way, then that. He wards off team mates with a style footballers would be proud of. He blows kisses to his adoring fans, knowing he might just have had the best moment in his international sporting career, ever.

Meanwhile, a 17 year old kid who just got a wicket off his forst ball of the match, sheds a few tears. The team smothers him, celebrating more like they had just taken the 10th wicket for 100 than the first for 5. But hey, who can grudge them that. Here's another thing to learn from the associates- unabashed joy in the game.

addendum: and here it is:

venom

Mr Panicker (who, it seems-delightfully- is blogging regularly again) puts forth precisely yet eloquently something one feels terribly strongly about.

'We lost religion and found sport,' The Telegraph's columnist Mihir Bose once wrote. And hatred seems, unfortunately, to be the corollary of religion, everywhere, throughout time.
The religions themselves do not preach hatred; our latest religion, sport, certainly does not. Yet we subvert those religions, and now sport, to our own purposes; we invest it with intolerance and bigotry and hatred.

…and also reacts thusly about someone who has been quick to gleefully write off team India.

Pathetic

Obsession, fanatical following of a sport that’s just not a game, emotion about something that’s larger than the mundanities of middle class life…and passion. Of all the clichés about Indian cricket fans, the worst is the kind of shameful, and shameless, reactions that follow a loss. I don’t care how much the ‘team performance’ means to you (and I have my doubts about that anyway), and I couldn’t care less about how a win will elevate your otherwise boring or unfulfilling life (it does mine, too by the way)- but you do not have the right to behave like violent, mindless hooligans (video).

You call the loss pathetic? I think you’re pathetic.

A larger world

Bob Woolmer passes away, shockingly. All deaths are shocking, I suppose. But to come during the Cricket World Cup, in odd and sorry circumstances and in an odd and sorry situation…there is a feeling, for me, of it all being very surreal.
First a 22 year old cricket talent in Bangladesh, a few days later a 58 year old coaching pioneer. It all leaves one feeling a little small and disconnected.

much more here.

Capsized

Freddie Flintoff is fined, stripped of his vice captaincy and dropped from the playing XI against Canada. All for having one too many drinks for a few too many hours.

pic courtesy

Contrasting reactions from (I paraphrase)
Nasser Hussain- “Well done to the Engliand management to show that even your best players have to abide by the rules of discipline”,
and Mr Botham- “Some people react to a loss by going to their rooms by 9.30pm, other need to go have a beer. I don’t think there’s anything wrong n what he’s done, the only mistake he made was …- getting caught.”
What do you say to that?!

St. Patrick's day

I did not particularly want Pakistan to lose, but which neutral doesn’t like a fairy tale like win for an underdog that’s showing oodles of spirit and fight? Despite everything, I fear 2 easy points loom ahead for all the six teams playing Ireland in the Super 8s. But- it if it was ‘just’ an upset I would have been ok with that. Pakistan getting knocked out of the World Cup is just plain….weird.

Kya, yaar.

…and Osman Saimuddin vents. I feel for him.

Oh, no...

A bunch of teenagers hammer India. For the proverbial Martian watching this, it would have seemed Bangladesh are the cricketing giants and India the almost-minnows. Despite some of the utterly hopeless performances dished out by India, I couldn’t help but be stunned at the way Bangladeshis turned up. A Spring in their step, aggressions and attitude brimming over, self belief in every action.

You’d think also that 190 was one of those clichéd neither here nor there scores, that on not-the-best of batting pitches would be a tricky task for a team that’s hardly won anything at a World Cup before. You’d be wrong, as most of us were. Tamim Iqbal looked at first (at least to me admittedly biased eyes) to be trying a little too much, and stuff beyond his depth. Soon he had the Indian bowlers not only on the backfoot, but tripping over themselves. Then Mushfiqur Rahim played with a panache almost unknown to any of his more ‘illustrious’ Indian counterparts today.

Eventually though, it was less about our bowling, a bit about how the top 4 flopped, but mostly about how unforgivable (and unfathomable) losing 5 wickets for 2 runs was. 157 for 4 to 159 for 9- I’m still reeling from that.

Mar 17

191 is not going to be that easy to defend, moderately promising pitch nothwithstanding.
aargh.

meanwhile, it a great St Patrick's day for the leprechaun army. Not so good for the pakistani brethren.

India Cann

Priceless.

"I can honestly say that we have a player called Lionel Cann," says Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine. "He loves India. He has named his child India. His biggest player is actually Tendulkar. Right now I'm hoping Tendulkar does not hit a catch to him because he will probably drop it to watch him bat."

If nothing else, the little stories that come out of these 'lesser-known' nations are worth their participation.

hat-tip: vishnu

track-shack

I find it quite hard to believe that this man, veritable royalty, was not invited to the Opening Ceremony in his homeland. Astonishing. Meanwhile, Andy Roberts, has a couple of blunt things for the Indians.

The man with an impassive face, gave a disturbing piece of news to the Indians: "Don't think the wickets here are going to be too slow, like the last time you guys visited," he said. But what he said just before he got up to leave was more disconcerting. "Enjoy it while it lasts guys, your team won't be here after the Super Eight gets over."

This whole pitch thing is quite interesting. There has been a fair bit of talk about the subcontinental teams feeling at home. Sure, the Caribbean pitches have slowed down considerably in recent years, but I still would nto liken them to subcontinental conditions. Moreover, there has been no reason to think that the relaid pitches - while not quite reverting to the hey days of quick tracks- will be slow or turning. If the first couple of games, especially the opening match are anything to go by, this won't be as much of a 'spinner' tournament as has been suggested.

World Cup Ponderings – life

Life is going to get very tricky. Watching matches through the night (app 9.30pm to 6am) is tough enough, but you would expect someone passionate enough about the game to , at the very least, attempt to do so. Add to that the minor technicality of going to work (presumably straight after, or a few hours later), and the dodgy-ness of it all becomes clearer. Even with a stoic acceptance of bleary eyes and blurry waking hours, the prospect is daunting. Life is going to get very tricky indeed.

I can’t wait.

This was written on Monday. Aforementioned work prevented me from even logging on since.

unningly staesthetic

Andrew Miller's mostly entertaining account of the Opening Ceremony also has this gem:

00.04GMT Brace yourselves. It's Percy Sonn. "The West Indies must rank as the most idyllic and stunningly aesthetic cricket-playing country in the world," announces the President of the ICC. Gosh, try saying "stunningly aesthetic" when you're drunk ...

Ah.

Harmy's back. not.

One of Sony's spots for the World Cup features none other than Steve Harmison. Yes, the same one who retired from ODIs a couple of months ago.
I am amazed.

Inept

Time deLisle's enjoyable piece on the anti-Tendulkar. A couple of excerpts:

McGrath faces one ball per match. He has played 239 one-day internationals and faced 236 balls.
If he bats, it means Australia are in trouble; if he passes 5, they lose.
His favourite opponents are New Zealand, whom he has pummelled for 37 runs at a rate of more than one a match (31 games). Against South Africa, he has managed only 12 runs in 39 games.

Meanwhile, rediff sensationalises this issue that is not so new anymore, (and kartikeya writes about it)

Personae?

Men in White's post on Australia has caused a bit of a stir in the comments section. leaving aside that argument (which you can enjoy here), the post itself is a bit odd. It seems like it was left midway, for one. 'Dramatis Personae' led me to believe we would read about Mr Kesavan's impressions of the key personalities from this team, or for the World Cup in general. Neither really happened. Its basically a comment on why he would like to see Australia lose.

World Cup regulations-scheduling

The ICC decided some time ago to fine tune the World Cup schedule, specifically the Super 8 match-ups. A top seeded team in a group will be considered at the ‘#1’ team in that group, even if they are second on points. For example, if South Africa top group A, Australia will still be ‘A1’ for the purposes of figuring who is playing whom and when, in the Super8s. The only change to this will be if one of the ‘minnows’ makes it through. Then it will replace the team it has eliminated. (For example, Scotland will become A1 if they oust Australia. Ya, right).

The reasoning would seem sound- this will be a big help for the press, media in general, broadcasters, administrators and travelling fans to plan their schedules. For example- again, you’d think Australia will make it to the second stage, but now don’t have to wait to see where they stand in the group to know when and where they will play once they are through.

Yet, given that this change to the schedule (from its original generic one) has been made on the ICC site without them, apparently, offering any explicit reason, it will come across as predictive rather than practical; nonsensical rather than sensible. Also, shouldn’t this have been decided much, much earlier for it to fully serve the purposes mentioned above?

giving the finger

Jacob Oram goes Eklavya on us about the World Cup.

"If it means cutting the finger off, if that's the worse case scenario, if that's the last resort, I'll do that, there's no way I'm missing this."

update: ok then, ha ha.

our game is like this only

The meaning of the Konkani lyrics in the new Nike ad:

'Wait, partner, wait
First let me play
If you don't play, I'll keep
chasing you all day
Our game is like this only
Where we have no time to think
It is the game of cat and mouse
That I have begun to love
And in the falling running breaking
My destiny is entwined'

Semi-prediction

What do you know. Someone is actually, definitively- if in passing- backing India to win the World Cup. I think most India supporters will be hoping rather than expecting; a neutral is far more likely to contemplate more…while another in the Guardian puts them through to the semis.
Also in the piece:

There are five survivors from the 1992 World Cup, four of which you can name at the drop of a helmet: Lara, Inzamam, Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya. To get the fifth you may need a Wisden in your anorak. Anderson Cummins played for West Indies in 1992; this time, at the age of 40, he will represent Canada, where he now resides.

World Cup Regulations

Over at Zainub’s I find a curious article. The Dawn reports that there are a few rule changes in the World Cup, but chooses not to say when or where this was announced, or by who. Given that some of the so-called changes are not insignificant, it’s a trifle strange.

For one, there’s the bit about edges. Once an umpire refers a catch for the usual reasons (bump ball/clean catch), if the 3rd umpire notices that there is actually no nick he can convey this to the on-field umpire. It will then be given not out. What about fine nicks? Nicks that require the Snickometer?

Also, they claim a 5-stage system will be introduced to decide which team go through in the event of a tie. I would think the regular ones are head-to-head, number of total wins and NRR, but they will also be bowl outs, though no details are given. If I am not mistaken, bowl outs were also the last option in ties for the previous edition of the WC.

Either way, its odd none of this has been reported anywhere, which means The Dawn are either very well connected or very alert.

update: I find these condition are in fact present in the ICC’s WC 2007 regulations. What they state is pretty much how I have interpreted above for the caught decisions. The system for tied matches is also outlined, though surprisingly head-to-head results will be relevant only as a 4th level of decision making.
Also, a tie in the semis will mean an immediate bowl out. So South Africa's '99 plight is not an option this time.

update2: there was a cricinfo report day before.

discount? absolutely.

Starhub is the local cable service. Those of us crazy enough to do so, pay a sizeable S$26/month to watch cricket on the so-called Cricket Channel, which basically obtains the feeds of different rights holders and shows us a lot of matches from around the world. So one was waiting to see if their World Cup coverage would be priced, as some expected, extortionately.

Now some points about this:

- The mailer loudly shouted “Who will be the champion batting team of the world?” (er, its cricket, not The Batting Game.)
- The World cup would be available on two PPV channels for a cool S$100 for all the matches. “Not too bad”, one thinks. After all, 2 months of the Cricket channel would be $52, so this was basically double. Also:
- Current 'cricket channel' subscribers would get a 30% discount. Which means I would pay only $70, not much more than the usual amount I fork out.

- When I called, I was told that I would be given the 30% discount only if I continued my subscription to the Cricket Channel during the World Cup.
“But there will be no cricket on the cricket channel during that time”, I protested.
“I’m sorry sir, then you can take the World Cup PPV for 100, like any other customer.”
It failed to make a difference to them that their ‘discount’, would make me effectively pay about 125 during the WC. So I, as a ‘faithful cricket subscriber’ would be paying more than the average Joe, Jatin or Jhoolan.
- To cut a long- and infuriating- story short, I asked to be called back by a manager or something. To be fair, they were prompt enough to do so in a few hours, and offered me, instead, a 15% discount. So I am now paying 85. But, I politely told them they are misleading and misinforming their customers.
“yes, sir, I understand where you are coming from… but that’s all I can offer.”

And to think, these matches will run broadly from 9pm to 6am our time! How much will one be able to see? What about work???

add: apparently there's also a complaint letter in Monday's Straits Times in the Forum section. Lets wait and see if that yields anything.

a dry spell, and sms

A piece about a hard and almost-tragic life. And yes, also about cricket.

And this from ol' Ricky:

"I got some pretty funny text messages from him after every one of the games - 'how are you ... are you on the next flight over?' and 'you can have your job back, I don't want it any more'."

Cricket crazy

A new cricket ad in India. Not necessarily 'out of the box', but nicely done. Definitely a good watch.

we're not that good

i find it a tad odd that a player comes out with a negative comparison on his team leading up to the World Cup. Murali has done just that, stating his belief that the WC winning Sri Lankan side of '96 was better than the one now heading to Caribbean. In some ways I suppose its a refreshing change from the insipid and predictable quotes that media-managed players tend to offer these days; but it does seem a bit pointless putting down your own team so.

allrounder?!

The great Sobers on, amongst other things, all rounders:

Something I've never heard of before is the wicketkeeper-allrounder! Clyde Walcott was a wicketkeeper but they never said he was an all-rounder, but Adam Gilchrist is called one!

Bruise Lee

I have to admit I am nowhere near glad or relieved that Lee is notmaking it for the World Cup. Sure, it helps make the tournament a little more open, but we really could have done with his searing energy and considerable white-ball skills. What a pity.

quotable

Hussey on their losses, from Cricinfo quotes:

"I actually don't think we did too badly with the ball and in the field."

...and, from HT cricket:

Australian captain Michael Hussey has said Australia's drubbing at the hands of New Zealand was due to bowlers' failing to make breakthrough and not because of excess workload.

Hmmm.

oh, kasper

Kasper's getting smarter with age:

"My theory is that every time a batsman plays and misses he should be asked to take off one piece of protective clothing of the bowler's choice."

Sure, then maybe every two no-balls or wides bowled, bowlers can bowl with their wrong hand next delivery. Or if Kasper likes, they could take off one item of clothing at a time.

adios noodle straps

I still don't know to what extent I will be subjected to her and Charu during the World Cup, but look at this:

(Fashion Designer) Satya Paul has designed some cricket-related saris for me. I have got one sari with signatures of cricketers on it. Another sari is designed with press cuttings of headlines about cricket. Another one has animations of cricketer players. There is also this interesting red sari, which has the seam of the cricket ball printed on the chest. They're designing 50 outfits for the World Cup for me.

Oh my.

new blue, old blue

So much for the new blue. Sorry BCCI & Nike, you'll have to wait, says the ICC.
Awaiting further weird details on this.

> Or,then again, maybe not. The team will wear the new threads, but with changes in sponsor logo placement. Should have known.

"i've got a bad feeling about this..."

There's a lot of Australia bashing and debate going on. Are they past it? Is this the end of an era? Are they a (relatively) spent force? Is their finally proximity between them and the rest of the pack?

Its a bit early for me to be able to answer in the affirmative to any of these. I am wary of writing them off-nay, even belittling them- for they have shown that they are champions in more ways than one. Yet, one cannot elude the feeling that they have lost a bit of their edge- depleted team, injuries and exhaustion notwithstanding. Losing 6 from 7, and the manner of some of these losses, is just very...un-Australian.

Simon Barnes lays into the (erstwhile?) champion team a bit, and justifies gloating very persuasively. He goes a bit jedi in this bit, which admittedly sounds rather right:

The luck has deserted Australia along with the confidence and sureness of touch. It always does when a side starts to lose. One crucial injury has followed another: that’s the way things happen with losers. When the force is with you, an injury seems to become a positive advantage, forcing a new and brilliant player into the front line. Australian are at present a team deserted by the force.

I do believe one must refrain from getting carried away with all this bashing/rejoicing/moping (depending on your perspective), for this team is most dangerous when faced with the need to recover. The lack of recovery time and the spate of injuries is sure to hamper that bounce-back-ability, but only their results in the World Cup will show us where the future lies. Just when I started to think that Mr Barnes might be a tad overdone,

Is this a terminal decline for Australia? Or is it merely a brief moment of regrouping? Who can tell? The one certainty is that the great Australia cricket dynasty reached some kind of punctuation point at the end of the Ashes series, and right now it looks more like a full stop than a comma.

Perfect.

Anything less than a slot in the World Cup final will, as I see it, be taken as a confirmation that the flow of world cricket (at least in ODIs) has taken a turn. Until that time, which is a substantial ten weeks away, lets wait.

new blue

India's 'World Cup Colours' are revealed, with Nike expectedly calling them hi-tech. They seem a little too light in colour for my liking, and shiny, though both of these might seem more than they are thanks to the stage lights in the pics. Also the green of the flag is quite low on the shirt, notice how its lost on so many of these players, once tucked in.

Pic: Uday Kuckian

The colours of the graphics on the new jersey take inspiration from the Indian flag and represent speed and motion.

I just hope they also ensure some speed in the field, the lack of which is possibly the team's biggest weakness going into the tournament.

My question is- what happened to these grand plans that were unveiled when Nike signed on as sponsors well over a year ago??

blackcapwash

Another unbelievable match comes to an end. Not only was it an entertaining and bloody exciting game, the contextmade the Kiwi chase one of the best. Coming from 40/4 to chase down 347 is really special.
Sure, there will be those who say this Aussie unit did not have Ponting, Gilly, Lee and Symonds and Mcgrath, but the Kiwis played without Vettori, Bond and Oram as well. Though once you set a target of 347 and have bowlers from your World Cup 15 defending it, there's no way you can use that excuse.
Whats worse- hayden seems to have broken his toe. With Symonds looking dodgy (and on his return, who can be sure of his ability to bowl and throw from the deep), Lee with an ankle injury that doesn't look good at all, and now Hayden's worry, things are looking a little anxious for Australia. The side that always had enough bench strength to cover most eventualities, suddenly isn't so sure of that.
I felt for Huseey though- what an induction as skipper- a whitewash to the neighbours. Ouch.

wake up!

Remember the story about Sehwag being held by the collar by John Wright once, when he'd just come back in dismissed off a rash shot? I wonder what would have happened if he had walked back in after today's dismissal. Hats off to Sangakarra, but that was unforgivable from Viru. Wake up!

That was a thrilling display of typical Yuvi batting, by the way.

laptop advertising

I'd been wondering when there'd be more obvious 'commercial' use of the laptops and other stuff that can be seen so often in the dressing rooms. This series the Lankans have had Toshiba plastered across their notebooks as they analyse the game.

gold and green

It had slipped my mind that Australia had decided on separate home and away kits. It was a pleasure to see them back in their yellow against the Kiwis today (where they are staring at defeat at the moment). Albeit muted compared to their recent bright canary yellow, its far more 'Australian' (to me) than the too-dark green they unvelied in the CB series.

So they will basically wear the green stuff for a month every year during the tri series down under. Seems the theory about it being best suited for the current series sponsor isn't so unlikely after all.

SA squad?

A quick question thats been bothering me- where is South Africa's team for the World Cup? I can't seem to see it announced anywhere...?

edit: I have eventually found this. Wasn't the deadline yesterday ( I mean, the 14th- this team was announced on thursday, the 15th) ?

surveyor's chain

very bloody interesting.

not your day

In a very readable list, is this pricless one:

Proof that when you are having an off day, nothing goes your way. In Lahore during England's wretched 1987-88 tour of Pakistan, French was minding his own business in the nets when he was hit on the head by a throw from a spectator returning a stray ball. He was taken to hospital where he was struck by a car outside the main entrance. He had his wound stitched without incident, only to crack it on a low-hanging light fitting as he got up to leave.

exhilarating

Sri Lanka pulled off an unexpected comeback yesterday, Pakistan were thrashed again in a see saw series, the Indian World Cup squad will be announced anytime now, less than 24 hours after the team snatched defeat from the backside of victory… but till then England’s astounding CB series win is top of the news for me.

I missed the whole match (one cricket channel=India-SL match), though I followed it on the net. No one will believe that England are suddenly world-beaters in ODIs, nor that Australia have lost their mojo, but to see either of those as a reality- even if temporary- is particularly thrilling.
And oh, Mr Buchanan, cocky comments have a habit of biting you in the behind. Just as well you made them so close to the end of your tenure.

new ground...

3 ODIs against Australia in Ireland. Perfect preparation, one would presume, for the 3 tests against England that follow. Take a look at India's schedule starting now till next April- its quite staggering, really.
No, Mr deLisle, no one seems to think less is more. Its the goose and eggs, again...but who seems to care.

faith

You have to feel for this guy.

"I sincerely feel that I deserve a couple of chances to prove myself all over
again. I have played for India over six years and 100 ODIs with distinction, so
that stage is passed where I have to prove my capabilities. It's just about
getting runs in the kitty. Until I get that opportunity, how do I show my form."

Kaif averages 19.31 in his last 20 matches, with three half-centuries. Raina, for one, averages 18.94 in his last 20, with two 50s.
Who would you go for?

My World Cup 14...

...(cause I can't decide on the 15th!)

Dravid
Sachin
Ganguly
Yuvi
Sehwag
Dhoni
Karthik
Uhtappa
Pathan
Bhajji
Kumble
Agarkar
Zaheer
Sreesanth
This is a toss up for me between Powar and Munaf I suppose. I don’t really know.

I believe Raina should miss out because his (really)extended run has yielded little. Karthik has impressed in far fewer chances (and theirs is the ‘face-off, I’d think). It’s a pity Kaif has gone so off the radar. He’s had a bit of a raw deal, it would seem to me, by not getting enough chances, or erratic ones. Pathan is a tough call, but the balance he brings hope of is very very tempting. I cringe thinking of Munaf’s fielding, too.

you've done it again, mr latif...

...put your foot in that proverbial place

"Paul Nixon is the best wicketkeeper in the world at the moment. His
collection is absolutely superb up at the stumps and to the fast bowlers. "

unjust...

Simon Wilde as the English supporter, mopes through this piece on Adelaide, and eloquently so.

It was sport as nightmare, the kind of ghastly dream in which you run naked
through your old school in search of the exam for which you have not prepared.
It was cricket as it might have been written by Kafka: a hideous punishment, as
unjust as it was incomprehensible, inflicted on people who had earned the right
to expect better things from life.

I empathise with him more than he would know. Except that while he is grappling with the novelty of this feeling, I have to deal with the familiarity of it.
- I’m an Indian fan, you see.

Elsewhere, some Aussies seem to have given up on the English t provide any real cricketing entertainment, so have taken it upon themselves. Um or should I say taken it off
via

trim

Rameez Raja has got a haircut. Praise be the lord.

Gil-church

An interesting aside to the near- farcical Twenty20 match last night (or wait, were the asides more interesting than the match?) was Vaughan, Gilly and Ponting on the talkbacks with the commentators.
Or should I say Church instead of Gilly? I won’t, cause it sounds stupid, but its not his nickname because- as the Guardian mentions- the last part of his name is Christ. Chatting with the commentators while batting, he spoke of being approached for an autograph in his first Ashes series. He was with a couple of legends, and the kid said, “you’re Steve Waugh…you’re Glen Mcgrath…and you’re Adam Gilchurch”. Apparently it sorta stuck.

They also got Gilly to do a bit of a commentary stint while keeping, claiming he was interested in commentary. I have to say, he was pretty good, especially as he threw it to a break with “Australia right on top…”. Then again, I suppose anyone could say that these days without having any idea of the match state.

And oh, he also said, on that kid, “I hope he knows who I am now”. I am sure he does, Gilly, I am sure he does.