cricketlogic

CRICKETLOGIC BREAKING: SHASTRI TO CONTINUE AS TEAM INDIA BOSS TILL 2016 WORLD T20

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 16:39:00 +0530

Ravi Shastri will continue as Team Director of the Indian cricket team while assistant coaches' term has been extended based on the recommendations of the Cricket Advisory Committee constituted by the BCCI.

Acknowledging the performance of the Indian cricket team and the efforts of the coaching staff in recent times, the BCCI has extended the appointment of Ravi Shastri as the Team director of the Indian Cricket Team till the ICC World T20 2016.

BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya and Secretary Anurag Thakur appreciated the work done by the coaching staff and accepted the decision unanimously.

Along with Shastri, the Committee also approved the extension of Assistant coaches till the ICC World T20 2016 including Sanjay Bangar (Batting), Bharat Arun (Bowling) and R Sridhar (Fielding).

The CAC of the BCCI consists of former India captains Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, former Test Cricketer VVS Laxman, BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya and Secretary Anurag Thakur.

SIR VIV'S CLASS IN BARBADOS

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sat, 17 May 2014 17:13:00 +0530

Head coach of the Sagicor West Indies High Performance Centre team Graeme West said the presence of Sir Vivian Richards in the training camp ahead of their series against Bangladesh-A is a welcomed boost for the side’s preparations.

Sir Viv will work with the coaching team at the Sagicor WIHPC that is headed by West to prepare the 13-member squad for their series of two four-day, three 50 overs-a-side and two Twenty20 matches – all to be played in Barbados from May 26 to June 15.

“To work alongside someone like Sir Viv is a privilege and his presence offers a number of things to the players as we prepare for the upcoming matches,” said West.

“First, the players can see the importance of this camp when someone of the calibre of Sir Viv is standing there and observing them, talking to them, offering some mentoring to them. The value that brings to the programme, you cannot put a price on it.”

Sir Viv is the latest former West Indies player currently either involved with coaching or advising a number of West Indies teams.

The others are West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson, West Indies team operations manager Richie Richardson, West Indies batting coach Stuart Williams, West Indies Women’s head coach Sherwin Campbell, West Indies Women’s assistant coach Ezra Moseley, West Indies Under-19 assistant coach Robert Samuels and Sagicor WIHPC bowling coach Vasbert Drakes.

West said: “Also, when you look at the experiences that he had and the teams in which he played, he helped to create a culture of winning – and this is one of things we want him to emphasise during our sessions with the players – how to create and maintain a winning habit.

“We need winners and we need winning teams and we need champion players, and they do not come any bigger than Sir Viv.”

The two-week camp formally opened on Tuesday and West said that Sir Viv had already begun to make his presence felt with the players.

“In the few sessions he has had so far, you can still see that hunger, that passion, that desire for West Indies to be successful still burns within him,” said West.

“He can also add value with the batsmen in terms of little technical and tactical approaches that can help them, but he is also very keen on helping them to build confidence and self-belief. It’s a great opportunity for all of us and it raises the bar in terms of what we are able to offer.”

West said the aim of the camp and the brief series against the Bangladeshis was to help emerging and fringe players to sharpen their skills and turn the heat up on the players in the senior West Indies squad which will soon begin a home series against New Zealand.

“We have looked at a lot of the performances of the players from the regional tournaments and there were a number of successful performances and some of those players have been chosen for this squad,” said West.

“We are starting to look through the footage and the statistics that have come through to try and make the guys aware of the areas in which they need to improve. All of the batsmen, if they could average another five or six runs an innings, could make a difference to their numbers.”

He said: “The players will be challenging for places on the senior team, so we need these guys to have an awareness of what they need to work on.

“They have the best part of two weeks to do this and try to enter the four-day matches against Bangladesh with the players really, really clear about how they will become better players.”

West said this Sagicor WIHPC team was slightly different in composition to previous squads, which focussed on giving greater exposure to younger, less experienced players.

“We have players that are more experienced,” he said. “The first three groups had huge potential, but they did not play enough to have the understanding of how to play in certain situations. These players have far more experience and have played 40 or 50 first-class games. It’s about looking and refining little things to give them the ability to move their games forward.”

SELFIE TIME IN IPL!

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sat, 17 May 2014 17:07:00 +0530

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli and fellow players Yuvraj Singh, AB de Villiers and Mitchell Starc take a selfie today.

Dapper fit for South African Cricket Team!

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:10:00 +0530

T.M. Lewin, UK-based designer and retailer of superior quality shirts, tailoring and accessories are now the Official Formal Wear Sponsor of the South African national cricket team.
This quintessentially British brand, which is exclusively available at Edgars, was established in 1898 and celebrates 115 years on London’s Jermyn Street this year. It offers a range of men’s and women’s formal business wear and is known for its excellent craftsmanship, quality, service and value.
“A gentleman’s brand for a gentleman’s sport!” says T.M.Lewin CEO, Geoff Quinn. “We are both proud and honoured to provide suits to the Proteas for their formal appearances. We may bring English style and sensibility to their look but on the pitch it’s South African talent all the way!”
CSA Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “I would like to offer my sincere thanks, on behalf of the team, to T.M.Lewin. The brand is associated with quality, attention to detail and excellence. It’s a good fit for us.”
“As a team we give 110% to everything we do, so when we step out in our Formal Wear, we approach it with the same sense of pride and competitiveness”, said Graeme Smith, Captain of the Proteas. “The whole team, especially our sharp dressers, Faf and Lopsy, will appreciate the distinction and calibre of T.M.Lewin!”

BATTLE FOR THE NO 1 SPOT

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 20:27:00 +0530

Captain of the Australian cricket team, George Bailey and Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni pose with the ODI trophy

Australia faces a tough task in unseating India as the number-one ranked side on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings Table, when the top two ranked sides meet in the seven-match ODI series starting in Pune on 13 October.

India starts the series as the number-one ranked ODI side with 123 ratings points, with Australia in second place on 115 ratings points.

To retain its number-one ranking, India has to win two or more matches in the series against Australia. However, Australia will have to win the series 6-1 or better to reclaim the number-one position, which it last held in July 2012.

In the event of a 6-1 series’ win for Australia, it will gain six ratings points to move to top spot on 121 ratings points, while India will drop to second position with 118 ratings points (a loss of five ratings points).

Meanwhile, India spinner Ravindra Jadeja will start the series as the joint number-one ranked bowler on the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Bowlers. Jadeja shares the position with West Indies’ Sunil Narine, and has the opportunity to claim the sole number-one position for the first time in his career.

The Australia pace duo of Clint McKay and Mitchell Johnson are the other bowlers inside the top 10 of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Bowlers (seventh and eighth respectively) with an opportunity to make an upward movement.

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin in 18th and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar in 20th are the other bowlers inside the top 20 of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Bowlers who will be seen in action during the series.

The series will also feature as many as four batsmen who sit inside the top 10. They are: Virat Kohli (fourth), MS Dhoni (seventh), George Bailey (ninth) and Shane Watson (10th)

India’s Suresh Raina in 16th place is the only other batsman inside the top 20, on either side.

The Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen is headed by South Africa’s Hashim Amla, with his captain AB de Villiers in second place and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara in third position.

Upcoming Fixtures

13 Oct – 1st ODI, Pune (d/n)

16 Oct – 2nd ODI, Jaipur (d/n)

19 Oct – 3rd ODI, Mohali (d/n)

23 Oct – 4th ODI, Ranchi (d/n)

26 Oct – 5th ODI, Cuttack (d/n)

30 Oct – 6th ODI, Nagpur (d/n)

2 Nov – 7th ODI, Bengaluru (d/n)

Reliance ICC ODI Rankings (as on 11 October) (before India-Australia ODI series)

Rank Team Rating

1 India 123

2 Australia 115

3 England 111

4 Sri Lanka 111

5 South Africa 105

6 Pakistan 101

7 New Zealand 89

8 West Indies 89

9 Bangladesh 76

10 Zimbabwe 55

11 Ireland 38

12 Netherlands 13

13 Kenya 10

(Developed by David Kendix)

Reliance ICC ODI Player Rankings (as on 11 October) (before India-Australia ODI series and after Afghanistan-Kenya ODIs)

Batsmen

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Ave HS Rating

1 ( - ) Hashim Amla SA 853 54.85 901 v Eng at Trent Bridge 2012

2 ( - ) AB de Villiers SA 845 48.88 883 v Ind at Cardiff 2013

3 ( - ) K Sangakkara SL 829! 39.99 829 v SA at Colombo (RPS) 2013

4 ( - ) Virat Kohli Ind 819 49.72 866 v SL at Colombo (RPS) 2012

5 ( - ) Jonathan Trott Eng 754 51.25 796 v SA at The Oval 2013

6 ( - ) T Dilshan SL 746 37.46 765 v NZ at Colombo (RPS) 2011

7 ( - ) MS Dhoni Ind 741 51.45 836 v Aus at Delhi 2009

8 ( - ) Misbah-ul-Haq Pak 722 45.13 727 v Zim at Harare 2013

9 ( - ) George Bailey Aus 714* 46.13 726 v Eng at Cardiff 2013

10 ( - ) Shane Watson Aus 699 41.82 773 v SL at Hambantota 2011

11 ( - ) Michael Clarke Aus 698 45.12 750 v SL at Melbourne 2008

12 ( - ) Ross Taylor NZ 669 38.31 693 v Aus at Adelaide 2009

13= ( - ) Alastair Cook Eng 661 38.85 752 v Aus at Lord's 2012

( - ) Martin Guptill NZ 661 39.92 684 v Zim at Napier 2012

15 ( - ) B McCullum NZ 655 30.75 685 v Eng at Auckland 2013

16= ( - ) Umar Akmal Pak 654 38.85 702 v Afg at Sharjah 2012

( - ) Suresh Raina Ind 654 36.48 669 v Eng at Dharamsala 2013

18 ( - ) Eoin Morgan Ire/Eng 648 39.56 690 v Aus at The Oval 2010

19 ( - ) Shakib Al Hasan Ban 637 35.12 683 v Pak at Mirpur 2012

20 ( - ) Paul Stirling Ire 635 37.59 693 v Pak at Dublin 2013

Selected Rankings

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Ave HS Rating

23 ( - ) Shikhar Dhawan Ind 628*! 43.11 628 v Zim at Bulawayo 2013

40 ( - ) Rohit Sharma Ind 553 32.37 582 v WI at Indore 2011

58 ( - ) Ravindra Jadeja Ind 515 32.68 528 v SL at Jamaica 2013

60 ( - ) Yuvraj Singh Ind 510 36.98 787 v WI at Jamaica 2009

67 (+1) Shaun Marsh Aus 495 38.20 581 v SA at Sydney 2009

70 (+2) Adam Voges Aus 490* 48.06 498 v Eng at Cardiff 2013

71 (+2) Phil Hughes Aus 489* 38.41 568 v Eng at Edgbaston 2013

72 (-8) Collins Obuya Ken 486 25.35 513 v Aus at Bengaluru 2011

73 (-5) Alex Obanda Ken 483 29.56 520 v Afg at Nairobi 2010

85 ( - ) Glenn Maxwell Aus 449* 29.22 460 v SL at The Oval 2013

Bowlers

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Ave Econ HS Rating

1= ( - ) Ravindra Jadeja Ind 733 30.60 4.62 738 v Zim at Bulawayo 2013

( - ) Sunil Narine WI 733* 24.40 4.13 791 v SL at Jamaica 2013

3 ( - ) Saeed Ajmal Pak 723 22.93 4.17 810 v SA at Centurion 2013

4 ( - ) Steven Finn Eng 708 27.74 4.71 755 v NZ at Auckland 2013

5 ( - ) Rangana Herath SL 699 32.80 4.23 703 v SA at Pallekele 2013

6 ( - ) James Anderson Eng 696 29.11 4.97 719 v SA at The Oval 2013

7 ( - ) Clint McKay Aus 694 22.12 4.59 709 v Eng at Cardiff 2013

8 ( - ) Mitchell Johnson Aus 677 25.09 4.79 724 v Ban at Darwin 2008

9 ( - ) L Tsotsobe SA 673 24.18 4.84 743 v NZ at Auckland 2012

10 ( - ) M Hafeez Pak 666 34.50 4.00 769 v Ind at Kolkata 2013

11 ( - ) Abdur Razzak Ban 663 27.81 4.47 679 v Zim at Bulawayo 2013

12 ( - ) Kyle Mills NZ 656 26.29 4.69 722 v Aus at Melbourne 2009

13 ( - ) Morne Morkel SA 644 24.11 4.88 717 v SL at East London 2012

14 ( - ) Kemar Roach WI 642 26.77 4.92 650 v Pak at St Lucia 2013

15 ( - ) Dale Steyn SA 636 29.07 4.92 666 v Ind at Nagpur 2011

16 ( - ) Daniel Vettori NZ 632 31.50 4.11 788 v Eng at Durham 2008

17 ( - ) N Kulasekara SL 622 32.86 4.63 727 v NZ at Colombo (RPS) 2009

18 ( - ) R Ashwin Ind 621 30.83 4.80 691 v SL at Hambantota 2012

19 ( - ) Angelo Mathews SL 616 34.38 4.52 649 v Ind at Trinidad 2013

20= ( - ) Shakib Al Hasan Ban 608 29.37 4.31 717 v Zim at Chittagong 2009

( - ) B Kumar Ind 608* 21.96 3.97 623 v SL at Trinidad 2013

Selected Rankings

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Ave Econ HS Rating

31 ( - ) Xavier Doherty Aus 568 34.19 4.64 592 v Eng at Lord's 2012

36 ( - ) Shane Watson Aus 550 29.13 4.78 620 v WI at St Lucia 2012

46 ( - ) Mitchell Starc Aus 519* 19.91 5.05 543 v WI at Canberra 2013

53 (+1) Ishant Sharma Ind 493 30.02 5.59 594 v Aus at Nagpur 2009

59 (-8) Hiren Varaiya Ken 475 29.31 4.16 541 v Net at Nairobi 2010

70 ( - ) R Vinay Kumar Ind 444* 35.93 5.50 504 v SL at Adelaide 2012

77 (+15) M Nabi Afg 427*! 36.17 4.10 427 v Ken at Sharjah 2013

87 (-1) James Faulkner Aus 406*! 26.72 5.00 406 v Eng at Southampton 2013

90 (+3) N Odhiambo Ken 398 36.51 5.52 410 v Zim at Kolkata 2011

94 (+6) S Shenwari Afg 388* 26.00 4.25 396 v Ken at Sharjah 2013

97 (-1) Jaydev Unadkat Ind 386*! 17.37 3.47 386 v Zim at Bulawayo 2013

All-rounders

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts HS Rating

1 ( - ) M Hafeez Pak 396 438 v Ind at Kolkata 2013

2 ( - ) Shakib Al Hasan Ban 387 453 v Zim at Chittagong 2009

3 ( - ) Shane Watson Aus 384 433 v WI at St Lucia 2012

4 ( - ) Ravindra Jadeja Ind 377 378 v Eng at Edgbaston 2013

5 ( - ) T Dilshan SL 371! 371 v SA at Colombo (RPS) 2013

Indicates career-highest rating

Indicates provisional rating; a batsman qualifies for a full rating after a minimum of 40 started innings; a bowler qualifies for a full rating after he has conceded 1,500 runs

SUPER SHOW BY AFGHAN CHAMPS!

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sat, 5 Oct 2013 17:26:00 +0530

Afghanistan has joined Pool A of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 alongside four-time champion Australia, co-host New Zealand, Bangladesh, three-time finalist England, 1996 champion Sri Lanka and Qualifier 3.

Ireland, which won the tournament in Amstelveen in July after taking an unassailable lead on the points table to become the first team to qualify for the 2015 World Cup, is in Group B of the ICC’s flagship event, joining defending champion India, 1992 winner Pakistan, South Africa, two-time champion West Indies, Zimbabwe and Qualifier 4.

Ireland will feature in its 3rd cricket World Cup, having made its debut in 2007, where it defeated Pakistan by three wickets and Bangladesh by 74 runs. In 2011, Ireland recorded a heart-stopping three-wicket victory over England when Kevin O’Brien scored the fastest century in ICC Cricket World Cup history (113 from 63 deliveries) to help Ireland record the highest successful ICC Cricket World Cup run-chase.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, will play its opening match of the 2015 World Cup against Bangladesh at Manuka Oval, Canberra, on 18 February, while its other matches will be against Sri Lanka (22 February, University Oval, Dunedin), Qualifier 3 (26 February, University Oval, Dunedin), Australia (4 March, WACA, Perth), New Zealand (8 March, McLean Park, Napier) and England (13 March, SCG, Sydney).

Ireland will play its first match of the 2015 ICC Cricket World against West Indies at Saxton Oval, Nelson, on 16 February, and will then play Qualifier 4 (25 February, The Gabba, Brisbane), South Africa (3 March, Manuka Oval, Canberra), Zimbabwe (7 March, Bellerive Oval, Adelaide), India (10 march, Seddon Park, Hamilton) and Pakistan (15 March, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide).

CHRIS GAYLE SIZZLES IN PEPSI AD

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sat, 4 May 2013 18:58:00 +0530

BEFORE THE ASHES ACTION BEGINS...

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:32:00 +0530

Australian skipper Michael Clarke and wife Kylie spend some special moments at the monument of love - Taj Mahal - in India. Clarke, who missed out playing IPL Season 6 for Pune Warriors, is hoping to get fully fit before the Ashes

THE 'PINK' PROTEAS

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:10:00 +0530

As many as three Proteas figure in the list of Wisden 'Cricketers of the Year' 2012.

Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn bagged the honours. The two other guys also featuring in top five are West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels and South African-born England opening batsman Nick Compton.

Here skipper Graeme Smith and Co. are seen batting against breast cancer.

DRAVID READY FOR KKR

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sun, 7 Apr 2013 18:31:00 +0530

After a super show against Delhi Daredevils, Rahul Dravid gets ready to take on Kolkata on home turf...

KATRINA, SHAHRUKH ROCK IN IPL 6 OPENING CEREMONY

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sun, 7 Apr 2013 18:13:00 +0530

IN CHENNAI, INDIA, YUVI CAN

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sun, 9 Sep 2012 12:55:00 +0530

Vizag washed out, it's Chepauk now. All eyes remain on Yuvraj Singh. In the last Test played on this ground - vs England in 2008 - Yuvi made 85 not out vs England. And, in the last ODI played at Chepauk - India vs West Indies in the 2011 World Cup - Singh got 113. If weather gods permit, India vs New Zealand on Tuesday will be the first-ever T20 international to be played at Chepauk. YouCan Yuvi. Again. This would also be India's last game before they fly straight off to Colombo from Chennai on 12th

DELHI, KOLKATA & MUMBAI TO HOST TESTS VS WINDIES

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:12:00 +0530

The venues and dates for the India vs West Indies Test series next month have been announced:

1st Test – Delhi: 6 Nov – 10 Nov
2nd Test – Kolkata: 14 Nov – 18 Nov
3rd Test – Mumbai: 22 Nov – 26 Nov

ICC BOWS TO BCCI UDRS PRESSURE

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:07:00 +0530

Following recent experiences and the resultant concern about the effectiveness of Hotspot, the ICC Executive Board has decided to revert to its previous position to allow the participating nations to decide bi-laterally whether they wished to use the DRS. The ICC Executive Board however, supported the use of technology and its continued development and were encouraged by certain Members who were willing to use and work towards improving the technology.

Haroon Lorgat said: ‘Although the DRS improves correct umpire decisions by around five per cent and corrects any blatant errors, there are some who are not convinced by its reliability. We will continue to work with interested parties to improve the system while permitting the participating teams to decide whether they wish to use it or not.’

The Executive Board also confirmed that DRS would be used in all ICC global events.

GAME ALL SET FOR A MAKEOVER!

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:05:00 +0530

India and England ODI series to be played under amended playing conditions

The forthcoming five-match ODI series between India and England, which starts in Hyderabad on Friday 14 October, will be played under the amended playing conditions which have already come into effect from 1 October.

The amendments were approved by the ICC Executive Board following proposals made by the ICC Cricket Committee at its meeting in London in May.

It is important to note that the playing conditions are applicable to international cricket and must be read together with the Laws of Cricket. Whilst a playing condition may have the effect of amending the Laws of Cricket as they may apply to international cricket these changes are not amendments to the Laws of Cricket themselves.

In particular it should be noted that the changes to the playing conditions in relation to runners and to the running out of the non-striker, as set out below, are only applicable to international cricket.

The amendments to ODI playing conditions are:

Two new balls per innings

“Each fielding team shall have two new balls for its innings, to be used in alternate overs, i.e. one from each end.” (Clause 5.2)

Powerplays

Whilst the total number of powerplay overs remain at 20 per innings with the first block of 10 being at the commencement of the innings (for an uninterrupted match), the remaining second and third block of powerplay overs (blocks of five overs for an uninterrupted match) may not be taken so as to commence earlier than the 16th over nor be completed later than the 40th over (Clause 41.2.5).

This restriction will not apply for reduced innings of scheduled duration of less than 40 overs.

Obstructing the field (also applicable to Tests T20Is)

A new playing condition has been introduced clarifying that on appeal from the fielding team, if the umpire feels that a batsman, whilst running between the wickets, has significantly changed his direction without probable cause thereby obstructing a fielder’s attempt to run him out, the batsman should be given out obstructing the field. It shall not be relevant whether a run out would have been affected or not (Clause 37).

It should be noted that this playing condition enhances Law 37 and does not replace it.

The circumstances described in the new playing condition (i.e. a batsman significantly changing his direction of running without probable cause) are only one example of an action which will qualify as willfully obstructing the field. Accordingly, it is still possible for a batsman to be given out obstructing the field in circumstances where he has not significantly changed his direction of running provided that the umpire feels that by some other actions it is clear that the batsman had intended to obstruct the field. This will depend on the circumstances of each case.

In making a decision in this regard, the on-field umpires are entitled to consult the third umpire in deciding whether the obstruction was willful or not with the final decision being made and conveyed by the relevant on-field umpire (Clause 2.4 of the relevant appendices of the DRS or TV replay system).

Runners (also applicable to Tests and T20Is)

“A runner for a batsman shall not be permitted” (Clause 2.1).

Unless nine wickets are down, the injured or ill batsman has the option of retiring hurt and returning to bat at a later stage should the need and/or opportunity arise.

Calculation of the period for which an injured or ill player who has been absent from the field shall not be permitted to bowl or bat i.e. penalty time (also applicable to Test and T20Is)

A playing condition has been introduced to clarify that if at the commencement of an interruption in play through ground, weather or light conditions or for other exceptional circumstances, a player is on the field but still has some unexpired penalty time remaining from a previous absence, he shall automatically be allowed to count any such stoppage time as playing time (Clause 2.2.2)

Bowler attempting to run-out non-striker before delivery (also applicable to Tests and T20Is)

Previously, the bowler could only run out a non-striker backing up if he did so before he had entered his delivery stride. This meant that as the bowler’s back foot landed, the non-striker could move down the wicket before the bowler actually delivered the ball, gaining an unfair advantage.

The following new playing condition 42.11 addresses this point and reads as follows:

"The bowler is permitted, before releasing the ball and provided he has not completed his usual delivery swing, to attempt to run out the non-striker. Whether the attempt is successful or not, the ball shall not count as one of the over. If the bowler fails in an attempt to run out the non-striker, the umpire shall call and signal Dead ball as soon as possible.”

It should be noted that umpires shall deem the bowler to have completed his delivery swing once his bowling arm passes the normal point of ball release.

Duration of interval between innings (ODIs only)

The minimum interval for an uninterrupted ODI match has been increased from 20 minutes to 30 minutes (Clause 12.4.1 (b)).

FIXING CLAIMS 'OUTLANDISH', SAYS CA BOSS SUTHERLAND

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:00:00 +0530

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland says claims made in a London court over Australian match-fixing are "outlandish and made by a person of dubious repute."

Pakistan spot-fixing agent Mazhar Majeed has named several high-profile ex-Pakistan internationals as well as unnamed Australians as being involved in corruption.
Sutherland said Tuesday that "these sweeping statements unfairly malign Australian cricketers," but if there was any evidence of wrongdoing, Australian officials would investigate.

CRICKETLOGIC EXCLUSIVE - GAYLE BREAKS SILENCE ON WICB TREATMENT

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Fri, 1 Jul 2011 23:52:00 +0530

STATEMENT BY CHRIS GAYLE

GAYLE BREAKS SILENCE ON WICB TREATMENT

I, Christopher Henry Gayle, am making this statement so that all my friends, fans and followers who continue to wonder why I am not being picked for the West Indies team despite being fit, available and in form will know the truth considering the many rumours and statements that have been made as it relates to this issue. Until now, I have kept my silence, but I believe that the time has come for you to all know what I plan to do about this extremely frustrating and humiliating situation.

Ever since I was a little boy growing up in Rollington Town, and living in the shadow of Sabina Park I had two dreams. The first was to play for Jamaica and the second to play for the West Indies. Fortunately, and thanks to the Almighty, I have been able to achieve both of them. I have been Captain of both Jamaica and of the West Indies, and have worn both uniforms with pride and served with distinction.

I find it really painful now to hear that I did not give my best or that I lost my commitment to the cause of West Indies Cricket. This is not true. I have always given my all. I have always played with my heart and soul. I am not a boastful person. I normally don’t speak until I have to. I try not to show in my face what is in my heart but now my heart is heavy. I have played with injuries. I have played with pain. But nothing in my life has been more painful and more injurious to my spirit than what has been done to me in the past few months. Nothing.

I want to take you back to September 2009 when Ernest Hilaire who was not yet the CEO of the West Indies Cricket Board cast doubts on my being retained as the West Indies Captain despite my performance in that role. I thought that what I was seeing was a statement made in error. I did not know at the time that what I was seeing was the writing on the wall and what was being written about me was not pleasant or true.

Ernest Hilaire acted quickly. At a meeting of the WICB held in October 2009, as soon as he took up office, the Board questioned the recommendation of the selectors that I should be Captain of the team to tour Australia. Eight members voted for me and five members of the Board voted against me. Clive Lloyd, who had praised me highly before was one of them who did not want me as Captain. He never said anything to me about why he was no longer on my side. Joel Garner who was the Manager of the West Indies team and who worked with me closely on the Stanford game which we won voted against my being Captain of the West Indies. Conde Riley from Barbados voted against me. Most surprising is the man who said publicly that he always supported me as Captain. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles voted against me so when he says that he pushed for me to be Captain you have to decide whether to believe Beckles or the Minutes of the Meeting. Gregory Shillingford of the Leeward Islands voted against me. The Board decided to appoint a Committee to meet with me and it should be no surprise that among the members of that Committee were Messrs. Lloyd, Garner and Beckles. Looking back, I now realise that I have been put in a no-win situation since 2009.

I found out how bad things were when the WICB held a meeting in St Lucia in July last year. I saw the Minutes of the Meeting later. In reporting on why he thought that the West Indies had not done well in the T20 World Cup, the Coach, Otis Gibson, said “the Captain was not a natural leader” and that “Senior players and some others lack a passion for the game.” He also said that “there was no evidence of leadership qualities among the senior players” and that the “Captain is not a student of the game and lacks tactical awareness on the field.”

The sad and horrible thing is that Gibson never said anything to me about how he felt about me before or after his report. He is a man who sought my advice when things were not going well. Before he became the West Indies Coach he used to call me often. I could never imagine that he would deliberately try to destroy my character, reputation and livelihood or question my commitment to West Indies cricket. I would not have believed, until I saw it in black and white, that he would devalue my leadership and try to destroy me without giving me a chance to respond. The WICB should have invited me to that meeting to face my accuser and, as Captain, to give my views about why we did not do well. What also hurts me is that there are three members of the Jamaica Cricket Association who are on the WICB and none of them told their colleagues on the Board, “Wait. We believe that Chris should be allowed to defend himself” or even “We need to hear from the Captain.” None of them.

Coach Gibson recommended to the Board that they should “select the team on character” which means that by leaving me out the WICB, including the Jamaican Directors, feels that I have no character.

In October I was sacked as Captain and still have no idea why. I did not protest since the Captaincy is not a right. It is a duty. I went on the Sri Lanka tour having recommitted myself to West Indies Cricket and giving the new Captain the assurance that I would support him. I played the best test innings of my life in the first test and contributed 333 runs out of a team total of 580 in that match. Nobody questioned my commitment then.

It was after the World Cup when the Board was looking for people to blame for the poor performance of the team that they picked on me and the other senior players. This time it was not the Captaincy that was the issue but the senior players. Gibson said we lacked the hunger and the desire to succeed. Would I be where I am today as a cricketer if I lacked the desire and hunger to succeed? It was the easy way out. There are people who will constantly refuse to look deeply into themselves and question their own actions and motives while there are others to blame. I was an easy target and my 333 was forgotten, and all my years of blood, sweat and toil for the West Indies cause was abruptly cast aside.

I played with an injury during the World Cup and returned to Jamaica to get myself in shape for the Home Series against Pakistan. A camp was set up and nobody contacted me. I was ignored. The squad was picked for the first two ODIs. I was again ignored and saw in the newspapers that I was omitted. I read the comments of the WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire who said that we, the senior players, thought we were bigger than the team and all we wanted was money. I then got an offer to play in India and went when the WICB made is publicly clear in its release to the media that Sarwan, Chanderpaul and Gayle was not considered for selection. I did not turn my back on the West Indies because the West Indies had already turned its back on me. I was not in the squad and it was clear that there was no intention to pick me. I was being punished for the failure of an entire team and also of the administration.

What I did in India for the Bangalore Royal Challengers is history. The management and fans of the team treated me with respect and showered me with love and support. I did respond to the accusation made by the WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire that implied that I lacked commitment to West Indies Cricket. I reminded him that I had to pay my own medical bills, which I hoped to be reimbursed at some stage. The feeling by some people is that I started the whole thing. I did not. What I have shown you is that there is a pattern in the attempt to paint me into a corner and destroy my career and reputation. There was a pattern to marginalising me. Yes, there was a pattern and what came next was the proof.

The proof came in a speech made by a Director of the WICB, Hilary Beckles, who had opposed my captaincy in 2009 despite his claims that he supported me. Beckles compared me to a “Don” and my captaincy as “Donmanship”. He likened me, Chris Gayle, to the notorious criminal and alleged drug dealer Christopher “Dudus” Coke. Beckles says his second home is Jamaica so he knows the implications of what he said but in an effort to avoid the consequences, he says he was talking in a private capacity and not as a Director of the WICB. The other Directors, especially the three from Jamaica who are on the WICB, did not say anything or do anything to clear my name or to get answers from the WICB. They could have requested an emergency meeting of the WICB to ask why I was omitted and targeted but they did not. They left me hanging out on a branch and were, at the same time, helping to cut that branch.

I want to tell you that I am not going to hide and say that this statement is in any other capacity. I am Christopher Henry Gayle and I stand by what I say. I am a professional cricketer and the former Captain of Jamaica and the West Indies. This is my capacity. This is my job. This is my livelihood and this is my life.

I was not surprised when the WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire sent me a letter on June 2, 2011 in which they accused me of a number of incidents including “making myself unavailable for the home series against Pakistan, my interview on KLAS radio in Jamaica and several “tweets‟ which have suggested a general disenchantment on your part with West Indies cricket and the West Indies Cricket Board.” He said that the Board wanted to make my considerable talent available to the West Indies and international cricket.

I took the Board seriously and went to the meeting which was held in Jamaica a few weeks ago. The meeting ended without any commitment with regard to my future selection for the West Indies team again. I thought that was the purpose of the meeting and was foolish enough to believe that it would end with a decision about when I would be back on the team. Instead I have read about an incident between the President of WIPA Dinanath Ramnarine and the WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire that makes me question whether I was at the same meeting. Ramnarine was not the only person to lose his cool in that room and I can understand if someone falsely accuses you of attempting to siphon funds into some account that you will be understandably upset. The accusations made by the WICB are not true. I can say without fear of contradiction, and what I am saying has been supported by other people who were present at that meeting, that there was no picking up of any chair and Ramnarine never threatened Ernest Hilaire. It is unfortunate that Ramnarine is being accused of not representing my best interest at that meeting, a view I strongly disagree with. It was also reported that in some quarters that Ramnarine was responsible for the breakdown of the meeting, a view I strongly disagree with also since the meeting went on for more than one hour after certain accusations were made by the CEO WICB Ernest Hilaire at the meeting. But that was not why we were there and what we went there for was never accomplished. When I saw the misleading reports coming out I realised that I was being used to cast blame on someone else and the meeting had other motives than my reinstatement. In other words it was a diversion of the real issue and the outcome of the meeting was clearly predetermined.

I was again put on hold. My career was put on hold. My future was put on hold. My life was put on hold. Ernest Hilaire said he could not do anything until he had spoken to the Board, the selection committee, the management and, although he didn’t say it out loud, the media.

I believe now it was deliberately staged to give the impression that the Board wanted me back and that the intention was always to string me along and to fool the people of the West Indies.

I made it clear that I was still willing to meet with the Board to resolve the issues. On June 22, I wrote to WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire who had sent me an email the day before saying that I would also like to resolve the issue, and while I am willing to meet I would like to ask what it is you would like me to do? I told him that I have not received any guidance, other than what has appeared in the media, as to what it is that needs to be done for me to be included in the West Indies team. I said that I am putting in writing the willingness to meet with you as soon as possible. I also said that time has been wasted and it would seem that the delays will ensure I am unable to play for the entire home series. I pointed out to him that a meeting was not requested until the India series had almost begun, and the meeting was then delayed until after the Test Team for the 1st match was chosen and it has taken over a week for this meeting request to be sent.

The WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire wrote me back on June 24th complaining about my antagonistic approach and the tone of my email. He said that the issue is more than my radio interview but is about a history of misunderstanding, miscommunication and mishandling of issues, on both sides. It cannot be easily swept under the carpet with the hope that it goes away. He said that I would have to meet with the team management and after that with the selectors and after that with the cricket operations department and only then he would meet with me before he could send a report to the Board. He said he would not be available to meet with me until August. This means that I will definitely not be playing against India and that I will be cooling my heels until after August- more than two months away and even then my matter would go to the Board if the WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire believes we have a final and agreed position.

I was glad that the Board admitted its own guilt in the situation and despite the fact that there seemed to be no end to this, I then met in yet another meeting with the Coach and the Team Manager on June 24th 2011 in Jamaica. I tried my best to compromise with the two representatives of the Board. Still, despite this meeting and the fact that both sides agreed that significant progress had been made, I am still on hold. My career is at a standstill. My hopes of representing my country at home in the West Indies have been destroyed. My contribution has been devalued and the fans of the West Indies who believe I can make a difference have had their hopes dashed. After the conclusion of this second meeting, my suspicions were confirmed and it was now beyond doubt that there was never any real intention of resolving any issues concerning me at the first meeting. The WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire’s letter of June 24th 2011 also confirmed this as well.

I have now reached the stage where I have to say that enough is enough. I understand that the WICB and the Jamaica Board met and my matter was discussed but nobody has told me anything and I can only assume without any positive feedback there has been no resolution. I played cricket for Jamaica and served the Board well. I would have thought that from the beginning of this whole attempt to discredit me that the Board would have done or said something on my behalf. I don’t want them to cover up for me but at least to ensure that I received natural justice and was able to respond to my accusers. They have all been silent. The three members on the WICB Board have not asked for an emergency meeting, as they have the right and power to do, so that we can get everything cleared up. Instead they leave me out here to dangle in the wind.

There is a disciplinary process in West Indies Cricket. Yet the Board is allowed to be the complainant as well as policeman, judge, jury and executioner in my case. When I tried to respond to the accusations made against me, I am deemed to be out of place and trying to destroy West Indies cricket.

I am now coming close to the end of my shelf-life as a cricketer. While other professionals can plan on a career from the time they graduate from University to when they retire in their sixties, most cricketers have an average of eight years – between 24 and 32 – to earn enough money for the rest of our lives. Some are lucky to be coaches or commentators. I have no such option at this stage and must concentrate on providing for my family now and in the future.

On this basis, and not hearing from the West Indies Cricket Board with any clear pathway forward, I have come to the bitter realisation that I am not wanted by the Board and all that has gone before in terms of reconciliation is a sham and a mockery. I see it as a scam to fool the people of the West Indies and the world into believing that they were serious about my returning to West Indies cricket.

My eyes are open, my heart is clean, my conscience is clear and the voice of reason is loud in my ears telling me that I should close this chapter in my life. I am not going to be the WICB’s whipping boy. They have said they will root me out and they have succeeded in doing so by using the sort of underhanded tactics while attempting to ascribe blame to other people for what is clear is a well planned set of action.

We as West Indies players are admired throughout the world for our honesty and sportsmanship. Yet the custodians of West Indies cricket, the people who are responsible for the development of our heritage sport, have not dealt with us honestly.

It is against this background that I have now decided not to wait on the WICB any longer but while I still have the time and the skills to explore the opportunities available to me elsewhere. I do it reluctantly but have no choice. I have people to take care of and cannot sit for months waiting on WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire and the Board.

As for the Jamaica Cricket Association they have let me down badly even though I did meet with the new President of the JCA, Mr. Wright and Mr. Hinds but nothing has been done.

Despite all that has happened I am still hopeful that good sense will prevail and I would once again represent my country and my region in near the future. I wish to make it abundantly clear that I have not yet retired from any form of the game and remain available for selection for both Jamaica and West Indies. However, this is entirely out of my hands.

I want to say to my colleagues on the team, that I have opened the batting for the West Indies against some of the fiercest fast bowlers in the world bowling at almost 100 miles per hour. I have stood up to them as I am standing up for what I believe is right. I want to tell them that if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.

I appeal to the Heads of Government of CARICOM to do something about this situation. West Indies Cricket is different from the West Indies Cricket Board. West Indies Cricket and West Indies Cricketers need help. Since you are the people who represent the fans and all the other stakeholders, it is time for you to act.

Finally, I want to thank you all for your support and look forward to your continuing that support in future as I follow the path that the Almighty has mapped out for me. I place my trust in God and believe that if your heart is pure and you have faith in Him, you will always triumph against oppression and adversity. When one path is closed, there is another path opened for the righteous and pure in spirit. I now set out on that path with confidence, safe in the assurance that I will succeed.

SAMMY'S IN A SOUP AND SO IS WINDIES CRICKET!

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 09:15:00 +0530

Cricket in Caribbean is in a deep mess... Absolutely no doubt about it... Even a second-third string Indian team managed to first beat them in the one-off T20 International and then in the first three ODIs so far to clinch the series. Chris Gayle is still sitting out, at times in the Trini Possi Stand at the Queens Park Oval, with a beer mug in his hand, seeing his team losing. What a shame! And then there is skipper Darren Sammy. Somehow, I find a lot common between (no ex) Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura and Sammy. Both don't look like leaders at all, on and off the field, both smile after defeats and whatever both say is not easy to understand...

So here was Sammy, issuing a statement hours before the start of the 3rd ODI in Antigua vs India - something on which captains of other Test playing countries - maybe even Bangladesh - would never comment...

Statement from West Indies Captain Darren Sammy

I am concerned about certain falsehoods which are being disseminated in certain sections of Caribbean media. These falsehoods seem designed to continue to smear my character as an individual, a cricketer and West Indies captain.

Therefore I wish to make it abundantly clear to the public that at no time did I discourage, dissuade or in any other way seek to influence any player’s non-attendance to the recently held WIPA Awards function. Players made their own decisions not to attend.

I also wish to make it clear that I myself was unable due to personal reasons. I expressed regret at my inability to attend however at no time did I give any commitment to WIPA or any of its officers that I would be attending the function and any suggestion to the contrary is not based in fact.

During the function WIPA President and CEO Mr. Dinanath Ramnarine called me on the phone and said he was sending a car to the team hotel to pick me up however without waiting for a response from me he hung up the phone. I was unable to contact him to explain that I would not be able to attend as I had previously indicated to him.

It has never been in my nature to behave in the manner being suggested. Those who know me as a person can attest to this and despite criticisms, challenges and the like I have always remained true to the ideals of representing West Indies cricket when and wherever it is required of me.

GOODBYE KATICH, PONTING'S NEXT

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Tue, 7 Jun 2011 19:16:00 +0530

Simon Katich has been left out of Cricket Australia's list of 25-contracted players for the next 12 months.

Michael Hussey has made it. So Kaich goes out, will it be Ricky Ponting's turn next year?
The 2011-12 Cricket Australia contracted players are:

Doug Bollinger 29

Michael Clarke 30

Patrick Cummins 18

Xavier Doherty 28

Callum Ferguson 26

Brad Haddin 33

Ryan Harris 31

John Hastings 25

Nathan Hauritz 29

Ben Hilfenhaus 28

Phillip Hughes 22

David Hussey 33

Michael Hussey 36

Mitchell Johnson 29

Usman Khawaja 24

Jason Krejza 28

Brett Lee 34

Shaun Marsh 27

Tim Paine 26

James Pattinson 21

Ricky Ponting 36

Peter Siddle 26

Steven Smith 22

Shane Watson 29

Cameron White 27

Added to the 25-player contracted list for 2011-12 are Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, John Hastings, David Hussey, Usman Khawaja, Jason Krejza and James Pattinson.

Doherty, Hastings, Hussey, Khawaja and Krejza ended 2010-11 as contracted players after earning sufficient upgrade points while Cummins and Pattinson have been awarded contracts for the first time.

Departing the list is James Hopes, Simon Katich, Andrew McDonald, Clint McKay, Marcus North, Shaun Tait and Adam Voges who did not have their contracts renewed for 2011-12.

The National Selection Panel (NSP) nominate the 25 players based on the following criteria:

- The form of the players over the past 12 months; and

- Their likelihood of Australian selection over the next 12 months taking into account the formats of cricket Australia plays, balance of the side and the need to ensure the future development of the Test and limited overs teams.

Says Selection Panel, Chairman Andrew Hilditch: “The next 12 months is a very important period in Australian cricket. It will undoubtedly be a tough and demanding period as we play three of the world’s top four Test nations during away series against Sri Lanka and South Africa and home series against New Zealand and India.

“However we see it as a very exciting opportunity to commence regaining Australia’s leading position in world cricket.

“The NSP is very pleased with the list which sees a blend of experienced, proven international players together with the best young talent in the country who we are sure is ready for the challenges ahead.

“The NSP has added two exciting young fast bowling talents to the list in James Pattinson and Patrick Cummins. James has tasted international cricket and we see him as a young man of immense talent who is made of the right stuff to succeed at the higher level. Patrick Cummins is an exceptional talent who has impressed with his opportunities to date for New South Wales and it will be very exciting to watch his progress.

“Two spinners are added to the contract list in Xavier Doherty and Jason Krezja. Jason has previously enjoyed success at Test level and recently was a member of our ICC Cricket World Cup squad. Xavier has been doing a very good job for Australia, particularly at one-day level and both are looking forward to the opportunity to play more international cricket.

“John Hastings has been awarded his first contract after playing very well in limited opportunities in our one-day team while David Hussey has again received a contract after impacting in our Twenty20 side and playing well in his one opportunity during the recent quarter-final match against India in the Cricket World Cup.

“The list also includes some of our best young batting talent with Shaun Marsh, Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja all receiving contracts. Usman receives his first full contract after debuting in the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG and we see him as a very important player for the future of Australian cricket.

"Several players have unfortunately not been offered contracts this year. The most notable of those is Simon Katich. Simon has been a fantastic player for Australia and a key and successful member of the Test team in recent years. However, amongst other matters, the NSP felt it was the right time now to start blooding our next opening partnership in preparation for the Ashes two years from now. The opening partnership is critical to the success of any team and takes time to develop the necessary experience at international level. We feel it is important this change is made now as we prepare for the challenges ahead."

“While some difficult decisions have been made, the NSP is very excited by the list chosen and in particular the addition of youth from both batting and bowling disciplines. We are confident these young players, in combination with our established senior players, will play a key role in ensuring Australian cricket returns to its rightful position as a leader in world cricket over the coming years.”

WHEN WARNE AND LIZ KISSED, FLETCHER BECAME COACH, GAYLE WENT MAD AND INDIAN CRICKETERS GOT GOLD BATS

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Mon, 2 May 2011 07:40:00 +0530

DUNCAN Fletcher - how many of you knew this guy before he became the England coach? Okay, maybe some oldies will dismiss my question straightaway. Moron, how can you not know the guy who captained Zimbabwe to that historic win over Australia back in the 1983 World Cup, they would argue. But seriously, how many of us would have remembered (or still remember) the other members of that squad? Mr Fletcher was also forgotten. Till he landed that job with the ECB, of course. In the age of Woolmers, Wrights, Chappells, Whatmores, Duncan Fletcher stood out. Some years after leaving that job with the Englishmen, the Zimbabwean got second time lucky. Thanks to his one-time student Gary Kirsten, Fletcher's savings account will witness a high magnitude earthquake at the end of every month starting this summer. But the big question is whether he can scale the 8848m high expectation peak from where Kirsten decided to take the plunge last month? I must say that he will be in for some tough time as the next coach of the Indian cricket team. Perhaps a similar job with his native Zimbabwean team could have been a better option, isn't it? Who knows, especially after Elton Chigumbura's resignation, he might have been another time lucky and got a chance to not just coach but lead the Zimbabwean team in 2015 World Cup...

IS Shane Warne the most flamboyant cricketers to have ever played the game? There have been Imran Khans, Bothams, Richards but Warnie seems to have beaten 'em all with his flippers. Even after retiring from international cricket, the spin wizard continues to perform exceptionally well on and off the field. Rajasthan Royals - his team in the Indian Premier League - just beat Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians on Friday. But it was the post match stuff presentation from Warne that had tongues wagging, quite literally. One picture is worth a thousand words and you can see it above what do I mean. When it comes to dating women, Warne would have certainly lost the count but perhaps, NOBODY was as big a name - and also beautiful - than Liz Hurley. The Hollywood babe has been a good sport so far, understanding the nuances of cricket (or should I say nonsense(s) of IPL) in the few weeks that she has been in India. By the way, what were Warne and Liz trying to prove with this lip lock act in Jaipur on Thursday? Maybe showing Kate and Williams the perfect way of doing it!
　

CONFUSING is the state of affairs in the Caribbean. Perhaps, it has always been like that. Can players from small island nations ever combine and make a good squad of 15 at the world stage? Yes, they did. But, that was back in the 70's and 80s. Unfortuately it does not happen like that anymore there. Imagine, at a time when a good-for-nothing West Indies team is crashing to one defeat after another, a certain Chris Gayle is showing is great form millions of miles away in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). He says his board never contacted him before finalizing the squad for the series vs Pakistan. The board says that they tried to reach him but were never able to. Yes, if you believe all those involved, such things do happen in this age and times of Blackberry devices! Mr Gayle is one of the most hyperactive cricketers off the field as well, that is when it comes to Twitter. There is certainly something really bad going in Caribbean cricket be it with the administrators or the players. Alas, fans of once mighty cricket team are the ones who are most dejected...
　

IF you want to be born as a cricketer again in your next life, make sure it happens in India! Courtesy IPL, the Indian cricket team hasn't had much time to celebrate its World Cup win. But, the sponsors and the BCCI are making sure that the celebration continues. Dhoni and his men have their hotel rooms full with gifts from corporates and on Wednesday came another happy news for the bunch - the Indian cricket board has increased the post World Cup win prize money for each cricketer from Rs 1 crore to 2 crore. Millions of dollars more of course waiting to hit Indian cricketers' bank accounts as the IPL-4 ends and celebrations begin once again!!!

FIXERS NAILED: BUTT OUT FOR 10 YEARS, ASIF 7 AND AMIR 5

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sun, 6 Feb 2011 13:02:00 +0530

Text of Michael Beloff, QC, statement to the media at the end of the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing

The following is the text of the statement issued by the chairman of the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal Mr Michael Beloff, QC, at the end of the spot-fixing hearing of three Pakistan players – Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif -- at the Qatar Financial Centre Civil and Commercial Court, QFC Tower 2, on Saturday:

‘The independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal which has been hearing the cases of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif under the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support Personnel had adjourned on Tuesday 11th January 2011 after a six day hearing.

‘The Tribunal reconvened today for further submissions and thereafter announced the following decisions.

‘The Tribunal found that the charge under Article 2.1.1 of the Code that Mr Butt agreed to bat out a maiden over in the Oval Test match played between Pakistan and England from 18 to 21 August 2010 was dismissed, whereas the charge under Article 2.4.2 that Mr Butt failed to disclose to the ICC’s ACSU the approach by Mr Majeed that Mr Butt should bat a maiden over in the Oval Test was proved.

‘The Tribunal found that the charges under Article 2.1.1 of the Code that (respectively) Mr Asif agreed to bowl and did bowl a deliberate no ball in the Lord’s Test match played between Pakistan and England from 26 to 29 August 2010, Mr Amir agreed to bowl and did bowl two deliberate no balls in the same Test, and Mr Butt was party to the bowling of those deliberate no balls, were proved.

‘We impose the following sanctions:

‘On Mr Butt a sanction of ten years ineligibility, five years of which are suspended on condition that he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of Anti-Corruption education.

‘On Mr Asif a sanction of seven years ineligibility two years of which are suspended on condition that he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of Anti-Corruption education.

‘On Mr Amir sanction of five years of ineligibility.

‘No further sanctions are imposed on any player and no orders are made as to costs.

‘The Tribunal has recommended to the ICC certain changes to the Code with a view to providing flexibility in relation to minimum sentences in exceptional circumstances.

‘The Tribunal note that it is for the ICC, whether and if so when, the fully reasoned decision in respect of the breaches of the Code and of the sanctions imposed in consequence should be published.

‘It is our strong and unanimous view that it is in the interests of all concerned in the world of cricket that publication should take place as soon as possible

TEAM INDIA PLAYERS WITH THE 2011 WORLD CUP TROPHY - WIN IT TO TOUCH IT!

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Fri, 4 Feb 2011 23:43:00 +0530

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 17:17:00 +0530

YUVRAJ NEEDS YOUR HELP, FRIENDS

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:45:00 +0530

HAIL SACHIN !

noreply@blogger.com (sunnyscoop) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:35:00 +0530

I have been lucky enough to witness some of Sachin Tendulkar's historic knocks. Be it his 35th Test ton to beat Sunil Gavaskar's record at the Ferozeshah Kotla in 2006; the fireworks at Mohali in 2008 which took him past Brian Lara; the marathon run chase vs England at the Chepauk in the same year; the 200 at Gwalior earlier this year; or this - the latest one- at Bangalore which saw the master blaster passing the 14,000 Test runs mark with his 49th Test ton. There have been many other memorable occasions in different parts of India as well as the world, on which I saw Tendulkar etch out some outstanding knocks against some quality opposition teams.

As he bagged two ICC awards last week, the first thing which I asked Sachin was about his transformation over the last 18 months in all formats of the game. He scored the first ever double century in ODIs, led Mumbai Indians quite appreciably in T20s and has now averaged over 101 in Tests in 2010. Yes, above 101!

"I think Gary (Kirsten) has had a huge role to play. He has been instrumental in making our batters play a plenty of deliveries in the practice session. During net practice, he himself bowls thousands and thousands of balls," Tendulkar said. "Gary has been an important member of the Indian squad and along with the other support staff. I have enjoyed my game under him. He is really putting a lot of efforts," he added.

Certainly, the kind of form Sachin is in right now, it is difficult to believe that age has any role to play in this sport. As of now, everyone's asking, is there anyone who can break the pile of records that Sachin Tendulkar has established? And still establishing... Ricky Ponting?