Editor Speaks

news

EDITOR SPEAKS

preview cover story interview trivia

04

Cricket Today September 2009

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor Manish Verma Managing Editor Rakesh Pandey Sub Editor Mohd. Asim Contributing Editors S. Pervez Qaiser, Partab Ramchand, Sreelata S Yellamrazu, Haresh Pandya Graphic Designer Lalita Adhikari Media Relations Officer Monica Bhardwaj Production Co-ordinator Sunil Chaudhary Photos A.P. BUSINESS OFFICE DIAMOND MAGAZINES PVT. LTD. X-30, Okhla Ind. Area, Ph-2, New Delhi-20, Tel 011-40712100 Fax (011) 41611866 Director (Mktg.) Manish Verma, E-mail : [email protected]

Stage set for the Carnival of Cricket

a

fter much delay and drama, the second most imperative tourney of the cricket world is about to launch its pad in less then a months time on the horizon of African nation. Champions Trophy is finally back to lure cricket fanatics with its magic. Top eight nations would go head to head to implicate their dominance on each other, in return getting their hands on the beautiful trophy of the much awaited tournament. We bring you all the valuable inputs required about the notable teams keeping in mind their weaknesses, strengths and most importantly their chances of increasing the cabinet of trophies. Champions Trophy would be a stern test for the host nations as they won't let another chance go begging to get rid of their chokers tag. South Africa is known for its slip ups on the crucial stages so this time around we expect much responsible effort from them. Though on one end cricket globalization with such tournaments (Champions Trophy& IPL) has made the game richer with every passing day but on the reverse end it has brought the gentlemen's game on the verge of serious problem. Scale of premature retirements from Test cricket could go up in the near future with the amount of money get-

ting in at the shorter formats. Andrew Flintoff is the first major casualty of this cash rich cricket; however he is adamant that his call for retirement is because of his injury prone career. Indian cricket board is going through trouble some days. BCCI is finding hard to negotiate the doping clause of WADA, with every one jumping upon their head about instructing the cricket players to sign the anti doping policy. In this edition we also pay tribute to one of the longest serving servant of Sri Lankan cricket Chaminda Vaas, who has hanged his boots from Test cricket. With Vaas' sun setting off, few of the new stars of cricket are rising high in Pakistani cricket. Young lads like Umer Akmal, Mohammad Aamer and Fawad Alam are doing world of good for Pakistani cricket with their noteworthy performances in recent past. Exclusive interviews of Amit Mishra, Rahul Dewan and Dajit Singh will defiantly keep your interest going in the current issue of Cricket Today. For lovers of other sports, there is much to read about. Special coverage on the top three football leagues will take your curiosity to highest level. Last but not the least, our regular columns like Greats of the Game and Willowy Words will keep alive, the heroes of cricketing world from the past.

ADVERTISING OFFICES Delhi Vivek Parashar, M. P. Singh, Vimal Malhotra, Sudhesh, Nikhil (011) 40712100 Mumbai Praveen Chandra, C. Garima 9820129206 Kolkata Biswajit Dasgupta 9830092763 Bangalore MQ Networks Pvt.Ltd. 09980543965 Kanpur Sundhaya Tewari 09415291020 Jaipur Suresh Kaushik 9829103129 Indore Ramesh C. Nagar, Kanta Nagar 9302113401 Nagpur S.M. Khisti 9822202082 Chennai Sathish C. Anand 9841023010 Hyderabad P. Raghupati 9885634618 Ahmedabad Madan Menon 9898002522 Coimbatore D. Rahul 9443372246 Bhopal S.B. Sharma 9425024386 Raipur V. Sridhar 9893309558 Patna S Prashant 9835369916 Punjab Puneet Arya 9316969911 Bhubaneshwar Madhusmita Hota 9937027768. Pune Prasad Datar 9822112674 Copyright 2005 "Cricket Today" is a registered trademark of The Diamond Group. All rights reserved. No Part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior permission. Printed & Published by Manish Verma and Edited by Manish Verma on behalf of Diamond Magazines Pvt. Ltd. Printed at Best Photo Offset Printers, A-81, D.D.A. Shed, Okhla Industrial area, Phase-II, New Delhi-20

Patna Office: 310 Jagat Trade Center, Frazer Road, Patna-I, Ph.: 0612-2216444

The Contenders

I Thought of Giving Up At Time: Amit Mishra

50 WADA- ICC- BCCI: Tied in Gridlock

20

Sports Round Up

White Lightning backs ball tampering

Aussie Skipper gets 12th Grade Current Australian Skipper Ricky Ponting would defiantly get commanding position if team is chosen out of current world players. But this Aussie great couldn’t make it to the playing XI of all-time Australian team. Ricky Ponting was deemed well enough only for the 12th man’s slot. Though, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn

McGrath made it to a leading website’s alltime Australian XI.Don Bradman, Shane Warne and Dennis Lillee was the unanimous choice. Australian XI : Victor Trumper, Arthur Morris, Don Bradman, Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Keith Miller, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Bill O‘Reilly, Dennis Lillee and Glenn McGrath. 12th man: Ricky Ponting.

Former South Africa speedster Allan Donald feels the International Cricket Council (ICC) should legalize ball tampering to prevent the growing hegemony of batsmen in world cricket. “The ICC would shoot me for saying it but, with the wickets that we play on and the dying breed fast bowlers are becoming on these flatter wickets, I would say we do need some sort of defense mechanism, something to fall back on to say ‘Right, we can do this. We can now prepare this ball to go’,” said Donald. However, the 42-year-old, currently the coach of Warwickshire where he had served with distinction as a player, is aware his plea would have very little effect.

RECKONING FOR GAUTI

contents

26

46

Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir is one of the 15 sportspersons selected to receive the prestigious Arjuna Award for the year 2009.Gambhir, who has enjoyed a purple patch with the bat in all three forms of the game since India’s World T20 World Cup win in 2007, has been chosen for the honor along with badminton sensation Saina Nehwal, double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi and hockey player Ignace Tirkey.Gambhir was recently elevated to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings, before Kumar Sangakkara overtook him.

contents

74 62

Make Flintoff’s Retirement an Exception, Not the Trend

80

The unluckiest team in the World

86 My Heart goes for Haryana: Rahul Dewan

Foremost Step is to set up a Salary Structure for the Curators: Daljit Singh

AAMER OPTS OUT OF PCB Former Pakistan Test opener Aamer has step down as Pakistan Cricket Board’s Director-Game Development, creating more problems for the embattled board. If reports to be believed Aamer Sohail was not getting along with senior Board officials including chairman Ejaz Butt and director-human

Back to home Uttappa may be out of Indian team, He might have not done any good for the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the IPL but still he is the hot commodity in the state version of the cash rich league. Robin Uthappa became the costliest player in the KPL, inviting a bid of Rs 3.25

resource Wasim Bari. In fact he was also issued show cause notice by Bari for failing to attend an ICC course in London. However Sohail, 42, said that he was getting no ‘job satisfaction’ and so he decided to resign. The former batsman said he will revive his career as a television commentator. Sohail’s decision to quit comes after former chief selector Abdul Qadir, also an ex-Pakistan Test cricketer, resigned because of his differences with the Board’s top brass.

Sunil Gavaskar will head the Mumbai Cricket Association’s CIC after a decade’s absence from any activities connected with the MCA. Gavaskar was named as the chairman of the Cricket Improvement Committee, dealing with all cricket matters including the appointment of coaches and various selection panels, at the MCA’s Managing Committee sitting recently. The only time the former India skipper had been associated officially with MCA after his playing days was in 1998 when he was co-opted as a vice president to fill in the spot vacated by ex-Test fast bowler Ramakant Desai after the latter’s death.

the bidding process. Karnataka State Cricket Association had kept an upper limit of seven lakh for six chosen players by each franchisee. Stuart Binny was picked by Gulbarga team (Bijapur Bulls) for Rs 3.2 lakh, B Akhil was taken on board by Bangalore Rural for Rs three

BEST PAY FOR UTTAPPA lakh from Bangalore Brigadiers in the auction. This price tag shows that Karnataka still hold high regards for their discarded son from the Indian team. Apart from Robin as many as 48 Karnataka players went under the hammer as the eight franchisees of the September 9-23 event participated in

lakh, while veteran Sunil Joshi pocketed Rs 2.05 lakh thanks to Hubli-Dharwad team (Shamanur Davangere Diamonds).The Karnataka Premier League has lost some of its sheen after the Board of Control for Cricket in India denied participation of out of state players in KPL, making it only a state affair.

Lara set to coach his home side?

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara could make his coaching debut at next month’s Champions League Twenty20.The former captain, who retired from international cricket in 2007, is in talks with his home side Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board for a role as coach of its side in the October 8-23 event in India. Trinidad and Tobago is the only West Indian team to take part in the Champions League Twenty20 after winning the Stanford Twenty20 competition here.” I haven’t been approached but we have had discussions on it,” said Lara. Lara was associated with the Indian Cricket League but has reportedly broken ties with the ‘rebel’ Twenty20 league.

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

10

Cricket Today September 2009

McCullum chooses country over money

Brendon McCullum has set an example for those who are lure by the flow of cash when it comes to chose one between country and the money. He signed nation al contract and let a huge amount go from his contract in the IPL. McCullum will be playing for his country when the third season of Indian Premier League starts. New Zealand Wicket-keeper batsman presence will cut short by half of the league. Brendon McCullum admits the decision to forego half a million dollars to re-sign with New Zealand Cricket was a tough one to make. McCullum, who captained the Kolkata Knights in this year’s IPL, stands to lose around NZ$500,000 by only being available for half the IPL competition.

IPL bids goodbye to ‘icon’ players

Indian cricketers join

Corporate World

The ‘icon status’ of India’s most cherished cricketers will soon come to an end. From 2010 onwards, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh, who enjoyed this special status in the inaugural two seasons, will be like any other player in the Indian Premier League (IPL).”In the original plan itself, ‘icon status’ was only for two years. That time IPL was a new concept and we wanted to build a strong base for teams. But it is not mandatory to keep these players after the next season,” said IPL commissioner Lalit Modi .”They can be traded or other teams can bid for them in the fresh auctions after the 2010 season. They will not be icon players anymore,” he added. Abolishing the ‘icons’ tag would mean that these players no more stand to earn 15% more than the highest-earning player from his franchise. The fees will be at the discretion of the franchise. Two cricketers from Gujarat, Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja recently joined the Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) as executives (Sports and Culture) at a ceremony organized by the company. Both Yusuf and Jadeja were inducted into the company by its group president. “We all see a great cricketing potential and future in Pathan and Jadeja.

They are colleagues at Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and now they become colleagues at Reliance. They become our executives (Sports and Culture) and join the roll with Parthiv Patel,” he said. Wicketkeeper Patel was the first cricketer to join RIL rolls on June 25, 2004.

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

12

Cricket Today September 2009

Aussies T20 star in a Soup

Gibbs booster for Cobras Herschelle Gibbs will represent his home team Cape Cobras, instead of his IPL franchise Deccan Chargers, in this year’s CL T20. Convenor of selectors for the Cape Cobras Omar Henry announced recently that the initial 20-member squad, led by South Africa captain Graeme Smith, which include Gibbs for the tournament due to be held in India from October 8 to 23.Gibbs’ inclusion came as a surprise since he was expected to play for Deccan Chargers.Cape Cobras CEO Andre Odendaal said the side pencilled in Gibbs after the Chargers had

released him.”The Chargers confirmed over the weekend that Herschelle would not be in their squad and we are thrilled that a player of his pedigree will now be in the team,” Odendaal said. Squad: Graeme Smith (Captain), Derek Brand, Ryan Canning, Henry Davids, Jean-Paul Duminy, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Herschelle Gibbs, Claude Henderson, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, Richard Levi, Carl Nieuwoudt, Justin Ontong, Vernon Philander, Francois Plaatjies, Andrew Puttick, Gurshwin Rabie, Leonard van Wyk, Stiaan van Zyl and Monde Zondeki.

Luke Pomersbach problems seem to be getting in worst shape. He has been banned by Australian cricket authorities from playing until at least January after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges including assaulting a police officer. The Middle order batsman, who is the squad of Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League, apologized in court for a drunken rampage that led to him being arrested by police in Perth in recent time. Pomersbach pleaded guilty to a total of six charges that also included pushing a policeman into a window at his Perth home, breaking the glass and causing minor injuries, as he resisted arrest over a hit-and-run road incident. Following the court ruling, the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) imposed further penalties on Pomersbach.

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

Kiwi colors for

14

Cricket Today September 2009

Cricketer’s passion, Hummers gain

Saqlain

Indian cricket stars have found their new love. It has nothing to do with some beautiful lady instead it is about their passion on roads. Cricketers are more often known for their love when it comes to speed and cars. Commanding to this love Bhajji and Dhoni has bought Hummer, the American SUV. famous for there passion for vehicles, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and spinner maestro Bhajji has added a brand new ’Hummer’ worth around one crore to their already rich collections of cars. While Dhoni’s Hummer is of silver colour, Harbhajan has opted for a “Black Beauty”. Mahi’s H2 2009 Hummer will definitely get the pride of place among Dhoni’s Toyota Corolla, Scorpio, Mitsubishi Pajero, Harley Davidson, Yamaha 650cc sports bike, Kawasaki Ninja and other two wheelers.

Saqlain Mushtaq, the former Pakistan and Surrey off spinner, has been appointed as spin consultant by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for the next 12 months. Saqlain’s first assignment will be New Zealand’s six-week tour of Sri Lanka. New Zealand Cricket has an agreement with Saqlain Mushtaq who will work with the Blackcaps over the next 12 months, Stephen Hill, the NZC spokesperson said. “His experience as a spin bowler is considered to be of significant assistance.” Saqlain’s foremost advice to New Zealand bowlers before the Sri Lanka tour is that bowling in the subcontinent is a “mental battle”. To be on top of the opponent, Saqlain said the bowlers would need to “understand” and “control” their skills. He said the main reason he was brought on board was to help New Zealand neuter the danger posed by Murali and Mendis.

Two Champs comes together IPL franchisee Deccan Chargers is venturing in sports personality management and has signed ace shuttler Saina Nehwal. Signing Saina has mark the beginning of the IPL franchisee’s first foray in sports other than cricket, sources said. Deccan Chronicle, the newspaper owned by the Deccan Chargers management has announced Saina as their brand ambassador recently. The Chargers, led by Adam Gilchrist, has won the second edition of IPL Twenty20 tournament in South Africa earlier this year.

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

Steyn cleared on dope violation Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced recently that pace spearhead Dale Steyn has been cleared of any doping violation by the Indian Premier League (IPL) authorities.” There was a discrepan cy in the result of a doping test during the IPL but the authorities are perfectly satisfied with the explanation that Dale has provided and they have confirmed that no offence has been committed,” CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said in a statement. CSA earlier admitted that Steyn had tested positive while playing for Bangalore Royal Challengers in the second IPL but claimed it was because of legitimate painkillers he used to take at that time. Interestingly, IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi out rightly denied that any cricketer had tested positive for any banned drugs in the second IPL held in South Africa in April-May.

Rawalpindi express

expresses regret

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has apologized to the PCB for appearing on a television show without PCB’s permission.A senior official of the board told that the fast bowler, who was served a show cause by the PCB, has replied back on last month ( July) apologizing for his actions.The official said Akhtar himself is now keen to mend fences with the authorities and wants to get back in the national

side as he has realized that he didn’t have too many years of cricket left in him.”That is one reason why the PCB is also not playing up this issue and handling it quietly. In all likelihood they want to end this matter and drop any disciplinary action against him,” another source in the board said.Pakistan captain Younus Khan has said he has no problems having Akhtar in the team as long as he performs.

16

Cricket Today September 2009

Former cricketers were seen at the music release party of the upcoming film Ruslaan. Kapil Dev, Azharuddin and Madanlaal ensured there presence at the mega event which was

Cricketers comes together

for music release also attended by many famous stars of entertainment field. Music launch was held at the official residence of Chief Minister Sheila Dixit. Ruslaan is based on the real story of bombs explosion in the local trains of Mumbai.

Boycott’s

superiority, Dickie’s denial Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott believes he was technically superior to Sunil Gavaskar. However, his Yorkshire teammate Dicky Bird feels otherwise. The England opener with a reputation for straight talking said he and Gavaskar were similar in many respects but he had the better technique. “As our records show, Sunil played more matches, scored more runs and centuries than me, but in terms of technique, I consider myself superior to Sunil even if by just half a percentage point,” he added. Incidentally, Boycott’s argument could not convince former umpire and his Yorkshire teammate Dicky Bird who had no doubt that Gavaskar was the better batsman. “What a great sight it was to watch Gavaskar bat. Pace bowlers could never really dominate him. That’s why I rate him as the best opener of my era”.

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

Indian side Conquers snow Former Indian cricket stars didn’t let their country down in the match that was played on Swiss snow. Indian side beat an All-Star team from England by four runs. Sharmila Tagore was the one who tossed the coin while her husband Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and his fellow Farokh Engineer were the umpires. Kapil called right and decieded to bat. His side made 108 in their five overs thanks to Sandeep Patil (25), Ajay Jadeja (26), Kapil Dev (26), Roger Binny (12) and Syed Kirmani (12). The All-Stars

18

Cricket Today September 2009

Dope allegations on Viv Richards Ex-Pakistan cricketer Qasim Umar has claimed that former West Indies captain Vivian Richards used to take performance enhancement drugs.In a startling revelation, Qasim said the batting legend indulged in doping before the new antidoping regulations were enforced by the ICC.Appearing on television talk show, Umar, a controversial figure in Pakistan cricket, said Richards had himself confessed to him that he used to take drugs to release tension and improve his stamina and endurance levels. He had also accused former Pakistan captain Imran Khan and other players of using their kit bags to transport drugs to the United Kingdom and was subsequently banned for life by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Kambli finally calls it a day Indian batsman Vinod Kambli recently announced his retirement from international cricket but said he was still available to play domestic cricket. He made the announcement at the inauguration of his sports academy - Khel Bharati. Indian opener Virender Sehwag inaugurated the academy. Ramakant Acharekar, who coached Kambli as well as his school-mate Sachin Tendulkar, was also present. Kambli, who played his first One-Day International against Pakistan in 1991, said his childhood friend and batting legend Tendulkar could not come because of his previous engagements, but has offered to help the academy. Kambli, who played 17 Tests and 104 ODIs, played his last match for India in October 2000 at Sharjah, against Sri Lanka. He made 1084 runs in Tests, which includes four centuries while in one-day format he made 2477 runs.

needed to score at 20 an over. Radford made 25, ICC match referee Chris Broad made 26 and Collis King made 26. It was left to the pair of skipper Alvin Kallicharran and John Emburey to get 38 off the last over.Ajay Jadeja obliged the rivals by bowling a no-ball and the asking rate came down to five per ball and six off the last. Kallicharran aimed for the straight field but was beaten by the bounce and mishit behind the ‘keeper for just a single. Skipper Kapil said, “The event was supposed to be a fun thing, but once you wear your cricket gear, you only want to win and we were happy to do it on our I-Day in front of Indian tourists.”

2nd September- Ishant Sharma (India) 6th September- Saeed Anwar (Pakistan) 14TH September- Robin Singh (India) 18th September- Darren Gough (England) 20th September- Ijaz Ahmed (Pakistan) 21st September- Courtly Ambrose (West Indies) 23rd September- Moin Khan (Pakistan) 28th September- Stuart Clark (Australia)

news

SPORTS ROUND UP preview cover story interview trivia

20

Cricket Today September 2009

by Mohd. Asim

Real Time Real Business Top Football flights will be on their way in the month of August. World is anxiously waiting for the ultimate attack, defense, tackle and skills on the football field. We bring you the predictions, teams and players to watch out for in the top three leagues of the World.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE (15TH AUG - 9TH

MAY)

Ronaldo but they have enough power in their belly to be the champs once again. Chelsea with the new manager (Carlo Ancelotti) and Liverpool with their star players could tumble the title race. Last years fourth finisher Arsenal might go down further in the league with the departure of Adebayor and Toure. Manchester City relishing under new owner and players could be the surprise package of the current season. Rest of the positions would see up and down of many teams.

PROBABLE TOP FOUR FINISHERS 1. Manchester United 2. Chelsea 3. Liverpool 4. Manchester City, Aston Villa or Arsenal

It is the most watch out league in the world. EPL is known for its sheer pace and it is a home to many super stars of the football world. If reports to be believe, Premier League is also the richest football showdown on the planet. EPL have been a dominant force in European football also. Since last three to four seasons, Champions League (Top European Honor) has witness the much more English teams in the Semi-Finals and Finals. Current (2009-2010) campaign of Premier League would take the intensity to a new level with Twenty teams fighting for the top honor.

PREDICTIONS Manchester United will be the force to reckon with. Current champions might have lost the charisma of

PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Forwards: Rooney ( Man U), Drogba ( Chelsea), Torres (Liverpool), Vanpersie ( Arsenal), Robinho ( Man City), Owen( Man U), Adebayor ( Man City), Tvez ( Man City). Mid-Fielders: Lampard ( Chelsea), Gerrad ( Liverpool), Fabregas ( Arsenal), Nani( Man U), Mascherano (Liverpool), Benayoun(Liverpool), Barry( Man City), Arshavin( Arsenal). Defenders: Terry (Chelsea), Toure( Man City), Ferdinand( Man U), Carragher( Liverpool), Agger( Liverpool), Dunne( Man City), Bridge( Man City), Silvestre ( Arsenal). Goalkeepers: Cech( Chelsea), Reina( Liverpool), Howard( Everton), Van Der Sar( Man U), Robinson(Blackburn Rovers), Almunia( Arsenal), Given( Man City).

Cricket Today

September 2009

21

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

SPANISH LA LIGA (29TH AUG-16TH MAY) ITALIAN SERIE A (23RD AUG- 16TH MAY) La Liga is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world. Attacking football and beautiful skills are the main touch downs of this competition. It is also known for its tough fight on the ground. Shakeups of the team’s positions are frequently seen. Football Pundits finds it virtually impossible to predict the top finishers as the contest is so evenly poised that you never know who will hit out on the given day. Football fans have seen the magic of most gifted footballers of many generations in the La Liga. Likes of Maradona, Romario, Zidane and Ronaldinho were the few jewels of Spanish top fight.

It is regarded as one of the elite leagues of the footballing world. Historically, Serie A has produced the highest number of European Cup finalists. As of 2008, Serie A is ranked third among European leagues by UEFA.It is best known for its defense display. Italian clubs play with the mindset-Defense is the best ploy to counter attacking football. Serie A over the years has given the world real jam of footballers. Italian top competition was the best football saga in the world but with the passage of time it has lost the charm with match fixing scandals at its corner every now and than.

PREDICTIONS

PREDICTIONS

Real Madrid has gain all the attention for the upcoming season with their record signing of Ronaldo, Kaka, Alonso and Karim. It is their attempt to finish the dominance of Catalan giants (Barcelona). Barca on the other hand has kept their last season squad intact which won three titles in the last year campaign moreover they have brought in Ibramahovic, the top scorer of Italian Serie A in place of Eto, who has joined the ranks of Italian Champions. Spanish La Liga had often notice that money can’t buy everything so Barca hold the advantage over their rivals Real Madrid. Title chase seems to be blowing up even before it begins with other teams like Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Sevilla gearing up to knock-out the giants (Barca&Real) from the top position.

Serie A new season will not be different from what is happening since many years. Inter Milan will surely be in the best reckoning to top the league with Juventus and

TOP FOUR FINISHERS 1. Barcelona 2. Real Madrid 3. Atletico Madrid 4. Valencia, Sevilla or Villarreal

PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR Forwards: Raul( Real Madrid), Ronaldo( Real Madrid), David Villa( Valencia), Messi( Real Madrid), Forlan( Atletico Madrid), Henry( Barcelona), Kanoute(Sevilla), Ibramahovic( Barcelona). Midfielders: Kaka( Real Madrid), Alonso( Real Madrid), Iniesta( Barcelona), Guti(Real Madrid) , Robben( Real Madrid), Silva( Valencia), Garcia (Atletico Madrid), Aguero( Atletico Madrid). Defenders: Lopez( Atletico Madrid), Alves( Barcelona), Puyol( Barcelona), Abidal( Barcelona), Pepe(Real Madrid), Ramos( Real Madrid), Marchena( Valencia). Goalkeepers: Sanchez( Valencia), Casillas( Real Madrid), Valdes( Barcelona), Asenjo( Atletico Madrid), Palop( Sevilla)

AC Milan playing the catching game. Other teams will step up to fill the fourth spot. Bottom of the table might see the entrance of new teams with some stronger outfits of last season going down the ladder. Transfer Window has not seen the major singings in Italian top flight. Teams like Inter, AC and Juventus has bought some players.

TOP FOUR FINISHERS 1. Inter Milan 2. Juventus 3. AC Milan 4. Roma, Fiorentina

PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR Forwards: Totti ( Roma), Eto(Inter Milan), Filippo Inzaghi( AC Milan), Ronaldinho(AC Milan), Del Piero( Juventus), Mutu( Fiorentina). Midfielders: Seedorf( AC Milan), Pirlo( AC Milan), Stankovic( Inter Milan), Baptista( AS Roma). Defenders: Nesta( AC Milan), Zambrotta( AC Milan), Zanetti( Inter Milan), lucio( Inter Milan, Cannavaro( Juventus), Motta( Inter Milan), Dainelli( Fiorentina). Goalkeepers: Dida( AC Milan), Toldo( Inter Milan), Milito, Buffon( Juventus), Doni( AS Roma), Frey( Fiorentina)

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

22

Cricket Today September 2009

SANIA ‘S DROUGHT ENDS Sania’s engagement seems to bring her luck which she needed to end the slump of titles on the court. India’s ace seeded sec ond at ITF Lexington Challenger continued her good show as she upset top-seed Frenchwoman Julie Coin 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to clinch the title .Sania kept her cool in the scintillating final in front of sizeable Indian community to sealed the first set via tiebreaker after squandering a 5-2 lead and facing 5-all. Sania broke the Coin serve in a marathon tenth game of the second set to register an impressive win. Interestingly, this was only the sec ond ITF $50,000 event that Sania had participated in, the first being way back in 2003 when she was still making a name for herself on the pro tour.

BHULLAR MAKES INDIA PROUD Gaganjeet Bhullar finally broke through on the Asian Tour by lifting his maiden title at the Indonesian President Invitational. Long billed as one of the brightest young talent on the Asian Tour, the 20-year-old Indian justified that tag with an emphatic two-stroke vic tory over Australia’s Adam Blyth at the Damai Indah Golf - Bumi Serpong Damai course.” I’ve been waiting for this for the past two years. I played really well today and I had a very good finish with a good score today,” said Bhullar. Victory was worth US$63,400 and moved the young Indian up to 10th place on the Asian Order of Merit and he jumped from 417 to 255 in the official World Golf Rankings.

COSTLIEST LEGS World costliest player has the costliest legs in the World. Real Madrid has insured Cristiano Ronaldo’s legs for £90million after the Portuguese winger picked up a knock in pre-season.Ronaldo suffered a minor knee injury after being tackled in the Peace Cup semi-final against Juventus in Seville lately. The 24-year-old has been given the all-clear by doctors but Real is nervous that he might pick up a long-term injury in the future. Real paid an £80m world-record fee for Ronaldo in June (2009) and have now taken steps to protect their investment by taking out an insurance policy. Ronaldo has already been fouled 34 times in three pre-season games.

DEFEAT CHECKS

PHELPS MARCH World record holder of many swimming titles Michael Phelps has suffered his first defeat at the hands of German swimmer. Paul Biedermann shed Phelps, handing the swimming icon his first loss in about four years in an individual event at a major international meet in the 200metres freestyle. The 14time Olympic champion last failed to get gold when he was edged out by fellow American Ian Crocker in the 100m butterfly at the worlds in Montreal. Phelps had not been beaten in the 200m free since the Athens Olympics in 2004 but Biedermann produced an astonishing swim to triumph by a body length and also set a new world record of one minute 42.00 seconds in the process.

Cricket Today

September 2009

23

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

Tiger woods would be above all the challenges in the world, He might be riding on the success of two back to back titles but this could not prevent YE Yang from taming Tiger on the golf course. He overturned Tiger Woods 54-hole lead to claim the US PGA Championship at Hazeltine National. Yang, 37, becomes the first Asian-born player to win a major and he denied the world number one a 15th such victory, the American having previously enjoyed a perfect record in turning 14 third-round major leads into wins. His victory over Tiger Woods in the US PGA Championship takes him from 110th in the world to 34th.

DEFEAT AFTER 11 YEARS

World Champion Viswanathan Anand, an 11-time winner in Mainz, bowed out before the finals at a

venue which has become synonymous with his name.Anand lost two of his first three games and ended third in the four-man event.Anand had won the title every year in Mainz since Kasparov last won it in 1999.The 11-time winner here, Anand scored 2.5 points while the top place went to Levon Aronian of Armenia and Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia finished second.

CHINESE ROAR IN WORLD Olympic champion Lin Dan became the first shuttler to clinch three successive World Championship titles. He beat second seed compatriot Jin Chen in the summit clash.Dan, seeded fifth in the event, defeated his higher-ranked countryman 21-18, 21-16 a 46-minute contest. But his girlfriend Xie Xingfang faltered at the final hurdle and lost 23-21, 21-12 to Lu Lan at the BWF World Championships on Sunday. Incidentally, Lin Dan is the first shuttler to clinch three world titles. In another all-China final, eighth-seeded women’s doubles pair of Zhang Yawen and Zhao Tingting defeated second seeds Cheng Shu and Zhao Yunlei 17-21, 21-17, 21-16. All England champions Cai Yun and Hu Haifeng of China won a thrilling men’s doubles final over Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae of Korea 2118, 16-21, 28-26. In all China won four out of the five golds on offer.

CHAMPIONSHIP

YANG

TAMES THE TIGER

DREAM REMAINS A DREAM Michael Schumacher won’t be back to roar again on the F1 track. German has abandoned the comeback after failing to shrug off a neck injury suffered in a motorbike accident few months back. Earlier seven-time F1 world champion had agreed to help out former team Ferrari and step in for Felipe Massa on a temporary basis after the Brazilian suffered head injuries at the Hungarian Grand Prix recently. Ferrari have reacted quickly to the news that Michael Schumacher will not returning by naming Luca Badoer as his replacement. Schumacher told his official website: “I had to inform Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo and Team Principal Stefano Domenicali that unfortunately I’m not able to step in for Felipe.”I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible, however, much to my regret it didn’t work out.”

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

SHOCKER FOR ESPANYOL

24

Cricket Today September 2009

Spanish football club Espanyol was left in mourning after it was confirmed that their captain Daniel Jarque has died at the age of 26. The midfielder passed away when his heart stopped following a training session in Coverciano, Italy where the squad is on a pre-season camp. Jarque died from a cardiac arrest. Espanyol has cancelled their pre-season tour and returned to spain. Jarque joined Espanyol at the age of 12, making his debut in 2002, and was handed the captaincy this summer. His death comes two years after that of Sevilla and Spain defender Antonio Puerta, who suffered multiple organ failure in hospital, three days after a cardiac arrest during a league match against Getafe.

BOLT ROCKS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Usain Bolt created yet another piece of athletics history when Jamaica won the men’s 4x100 metres relay title. It was his third gold at the World Championship. He also set up a sensational win in the 200 metres at the World event in Berlin. After winning the 100m with a new world record of 9.58 seconds in recent times, Bolt completed another landmark by smashing his own world record in the 200m for good measure. Bolt stormed to victory in the Olympic Stadium in 19.19 seconds, slashing 0.11secs off the time set in Beijing last year, with Panama’s Alonso Edward claiming silver in 19.81 and American Wallace Spearmon the bronze in 19.85.Bolt 23, becomes the first man to hold the 100 and 200m world and Olympic titles at the same time following his triumph in last year’s Olympics.

OWEN’S EXILE CONTINUES Manchester United striker Michael Owen has missed out on an England recall by Three Lions boss Fabio Capello.Although Owen has not featured for his country since the friendly defeat in France nearly 18 months ago, it was thought his surprise summer switch to Manchester United might prompt a return to international duty. However, after watching England’s fourth highest goal scorer in action at Old Trafford where he drew a blank in United’s 2-0 win over Valencia, Capello has left Owen out of his squad to face Holland in Amsterdam recently. Instead, Owen’s Red Devils team-mate Wayne Rooney is joined by Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe and Carlton Cole to form a four-man English strikeforce.

FEDERER SUPREMACY

CONTINUES

Roger Federer claimed his third Cincinnati Masters title with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic in the final.Federer, who beat defending champion Andy Murray 6-2 7-6 (10/8) in the semi-finals, confirmed his status as heavy favorite for the US Open with an outstanding performance. It was his 16th Masters Series title his first as a father - and apart from Djokovic's fight back early in the second set he was never troubled. The world number one and defending Wimbledon, French and US Open champion took his total career prize money to US dollars 50million with this triumph.

Cricket Today

September 2009

25

editor speaks interview market

CT 2009

letter

ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 1998

2000

2004

2002

2009 ITINERARY Date Tue Sep 22 Wed Sep 23 Thu Sep 24 Fri Sep 25 Sat Sep 26 Sat Sep 26 Sun Sep 27 Sun Sep 27 Mon Sep 28 Tue Sep 29 Wed Sep 30 Wed Sep 30 Fri Oct 2 Sat Oct 3 Mon Oct 5

Time 18:00 18:00 13:00 18:00 13:00 18:00 13:00 18:00 18:00 18:00 13:00 18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00

2009

Match Group B - South Africa v Sri Lanka Group A - Pakistan v West Indies Group B - South Africa v New Zealand Group B - England v Sri Lanka Group A - Australia v West Indies Group A - India v Pakistan Group B - New Zealand v Sri Lanka Group B - South Africa v England Group A - Australia v India Group B - England v New Zealand Group A - Australia v Pakistan Group A - India v West Indies 1st Semi-Final - TBC v TBC (A1 v B2) 2nd Semi-Final - TBC v TBC (B1 v A2) Final - TBC v TBC

2006 Venue SuperSport Park, Centurion New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg SuperSport Park, Centurion New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg SuperSport Park, Centurion New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg SuperSport Park, Centurion SuperSport Park, Centurion New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg SuperSport Park, Centurion New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg SuperSport Park, Centurion New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg SuperSport Park, Centurion

THE CONTENDERS

match

content news interview

India ecord: India have never actually won the Champions Trophy single handedly. Their one win came in Sri Lanka but that was when they shared the spoils with hosts Sri Lanka. The attempt before that one in Nairobi is seen to be their best shot at this event but somehow Chris Cairns on only one leg thwarted them in the final, after a dream run in the tournament saw them beat Australia and South Africa. In the first edition in Bangladesh, they ran into South Africa, the eventual champions and later in England, they were simply not upto the mark. The story was repeated at home in the last edition where Rahul Dravid’s men disappointed a billion fans.

r

CAPTAIN: MS DHONI MS Dhoni’s honeymoon got over only recently. The T20 World Cup in England was a balloon of expectations but was burst when India failed to make even the semis. The fact that the team left for the West Indies trip, and won there, possibly saved them from facing a backlash at home. But the hard truth is that now when the season begins for Dhoni and his men, they will no longer be the team who will be young and inexperienced. That cycle is over and done with, for this is the team that is expected to win the World Cup in two years’ time in India and Dhoni is expected to be the man to lead them to that triumph. It begins now and any deviation from the expected path will not be tolerated with ease.

COACH: GARY KIRSTEN Gary Kirsten is a former South African cricketer, and current coach of the Indian cricket team. He played 101 Test matches and 185 One-day internationals for South Africa between 1993 and 2004, mainly as an opening batsman. Kirsten made his Test debut against Australia in Melbourne in 1993. He retired from international cricket in 2004 after crafting a match-winning 76 in his final innings, against New Zealand.

Kirsten held the South African records for most runs and centuries in a Test career, before both were surpassed by Jacques Kallis. He was the first Test batsman to make hundreds against each of the other 9 Test nations. He made a score of 275 against England in 1999, which was another South African record until Graeme Smith made 277 against England in 2003. He still holds the record for highest innings by a

26

Cricket Today September 2009

South African in a one-day international; 188 not-out made against the United Arab Emirates during the 1996 World Cup, which is the fourth highest innings of all time in One-Day International cricket.

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: In the recent months, too much has been said and written about the Indian batsmen’s ability to play short bowling, in the negative sense of course. And hence the selectors felt it necessary to provide some cover in the form of Rahul Dravid. Talking of him, South Africa has been good for him in particular, ever since his days when he first started batting at number three for India to the second season of the IPL. Now that he has nothing left to prove, he will play without much pressure on

Cricket Today

September 2009

27

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

his shoulders. That doesn’t mean he will not be in solid elements. The absence of Virender Sehwag meant that Dravid had to be selected otherwise the team would again fall short of experience in the middle order. Sachin Tendulkar does return from his thumb injury but he will bat at the top of the order, and that is rightly so, for the best batsman in the team should play the maximum overs. Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni will once again shuffle the duties of number three with Dravid now to back them up as and when needed. And lest we forget there is the incomparable Yuvraj Singh who will be the fulcrum of the batting order at number four. Without doubt, the Indian batting looks pretty strong once again. The bowling however might be a cause for concern as spearhead Zaheer Khan is missing. Ishant Sharma wasn’t really

spectacular last season and India did suffer from the lack of a second spinner and a seasoned fifth bowler in the T20 World Cup. And so the inclusion of Amit Mishra isn’t all that surprising. The only point of thought is that Pragyan Ojha didn’t do much wrong in playing second fiddle to Harbhajan Singh, whatever opportunities he got. Overall, India should atleast make it to

SQUAD Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Abhishek Nayar, RP Singh, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, Amit Mishra

the semi finals, if they can get the better of arch rivals Pakistan.

PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR: YUVRAJ SINGH Every time a new season begins, it is said that Yuvraj Singh will be the center around which the Indian batting will evolve from here on. The good part is that he has the talent to make good on the promise. The bad part is that time and patience is running out for him to actually come good on that. Towards the end of the last season, especially in England and the West Indies, he was proving to take the center stage at will and do his own thing. Clearly in both Sehwag and Tendulkar’s absence, he was the best batsman in the side. If he can deliver a bit more consistently, that would go a long way in increasing the percentage of matches that India wins. And with the run up to the T20 World Cup in May next year up until the 2011 World Cup in India, Yuvraj’s time to deliver the goods begins now. 

THE CONTENDERS

match

content news interview

28

Cricket Today September 2009

ecord: Australia pride themselves at winning major tournaments, especially at the highest level, and so this will be another tournament that they would want to win. Add to it, they are the defending champions for the last time the tournament was staged in India, it was added to the collection of Cricket Australia. Prior to that, they were quite unsuccessful in the previous four attempts; twice they lost out to India in the first round itself in Bangladesh and Kenya. Then twice they lost out in the semi finals in Sri Lanka and England, so the last edition was a much wanted relief for the side.

r

CAPTAIN: RICKY PONTING Ricky Ponting is having one hell of a time leading the current Australian side. In his first half as skipper, he didn’t really have to do much with some of the all time greats of the game in his side. But now, the current players are making him work extra hard in lieu of those times, it seems. His own form, as a result, has been patchy to say the least and now that the Ashes have been lost, this is going to be an important run in to the Australian summer. If he survives this period, he might still lead his national side for a couple more years. Otherwise the next six months will be the last we will see of Ricky Ponting, captain of Australia.

COACH: TIM NIELSEN Tim Nielsen was a talented wicketkeeper-batsman for South Australia who quickly made his mark in the coaching arena. After playing in 101 first-class matches and overtaking Barry Jarman’s state wicketkeeping record with 316 dismissals, Nielsen retired in 1999 to become an assistant coach at the Redbacks. He spent three years helping John Buchanan in the national set-up before becoming the head coach of the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane in 2005. Buchanan walked away from the

Australia

by Chetan Narula

Cricket Today

September 2009

29

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania the Pakistanis in the Gulf. Again it worked well for them but the main difference in the two series was that the middle order was not able to handle spin that well against Pakistan. The Aussies will have no reason to worry about spin in South Africa atleast not against the West Indies, but they do have India and Pakistan in their group to contend with. And that again might just turn out to be their undoing. Even so, the middle order will be bolstered by the return of Ricky Ponting who missed the series against Pakistan and further back up has been incorporated in the name of middle order batsman Adam Voges. Some more steel will be added to the side by Shane Watson. Ever since the first IPL season, the all rounder has proven to be a better international player. If he can check his injury worries somehow, he will surely be an asset for the side. He might even open the innings and that would mean Clarke can come down the order and help them spin more easily. The Australians don’t really care about spin bowling anymore so expect them to play all pace attacks in the tournament, which will be somewhat aided by the tracks in South Africa. But even then a single dimensional attack would mean that the opposition

post after his second World Cup win and handed the reins to Nielsen.

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES Without doubt, the main strength of this squad is its batting. Earlier this year, against South Africa they tried a new opening combination with Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke at the top. In the name of continuity, they made that combination work again when playing

SQUAD Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White

would have more than a handsome chance to come out on top, should one plan not work out for the Aussies. Everything taken into account, it will be tough for Australia to retain their crown.

PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR: SHANE WATSON The Australian team that had Andrew Symonds in its middle order was a fearsome one. Instead now, they have a much softer looking player in his stead, a fine all rounder no doubt but doesn’t appear as menacing. But that is as far as the looks are concerned. For the first season of the Indian Premier League proved his many utilities in a cricket eleven. He can open the innings, come in at number three to provide impetus and if need be can come down the order to guide a chase or make an impact in the dying overs. His more than military medium pace means that he adds another option to the bowling attack and like all Aussies, is a brilliant fielder. If only he can retain his fitness for a whole cricketing season, we would get to see the real Shane Watson in action. 

THE CONTENDERS

match

ecord: South Africa were the first winners of the Champions Trophy, then known as the Knock Out Trophy first played in Bangladesh. A Jacques Kallis special lit up the tournament for them as they beat the competition to pulp. Since then, they have struggled to make an impact in this tournament. India have proven to be their bane in Kenya and Sri Lanka in the subsequent editions. After that, the team underwent quite some changes and was never the world beaters that they have now groomed into. England and India as host nations didn’t bring any changes in their fortune, so the home conditions might just play out in their favor this time.

r

CAPTAIN: GRAEME SMITH It will be hard to find a more inspirational captain in international cricket at the moment. Quite simply, Graeme Smith is top of the lot and that was confirmed earlier this year when he led his side to a victory Down Under, something not many people have been able to achieve. Given that he is an able bodied opening batsman to boot, you would understand why he is aggressive, confident and understands the game quite well. The last couple of years have seen him transform his side at a continuous pace, something that has worked

content news interview

over the Eastern Cape side in 2003, and guiding them to the finals of the Standard Bank Pro20 series in the last two seasons. He was a slightly surprising choice to take over as the national coach in May 2005, succeeding Ray Jennings. His first two Test series as coach happened to be against a rampant Australia and South Africa were easily brushed aside. In between they did clinch a tense one-day series win over Australia at home, which culminated in a record breaking chase at Johannesburg. A home win over New Zealand was followed up by a disastrous tour of Sri Lanka in the summer of 2006 and failure to make the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. From there on though, South Africa were led quietly, calmly and successfully by Arthur and Graeme Smith and did not lose a Test series until early 2009. Back-to-back Test and one-day series victories against India and Pakistan at home were followed by semi-finals of the 2007 World Cup. Under Arthur they snapped a 43-year dry run with their first series win in England and then a series win in Australia earlier this year.

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: It is indeed tough finding faults with a line up that has been so steady over the past couple of years that they have

South Africa only because he had the patience and experience that comes in form of learning on the job. If there is one point that is out of place, then that has to be the luck factor that South Africa carry along with themselves, always managing to shoot themselves in the foot. Removing that choker tag is Smith’s biggest challenge at the moment.

COACH: MICKEY ARTHUR Mickey Arthur scored 6557 runs playing for Free State, Griqualand West and South Africa A before hanging up his boots in 2001. He coached Griquas in the domestic competition before taking

made it to the top of the charts in Tests as well as ODIs. Of course then they are surely doing something right and have not much to worry about. A batting line up that reads Smith, Kallis, Gibbs, Amla, de Villiers, Duminy and Boucher has done plenty over the last two seasons to show what sort of touch these players are in. If it was Smith in England, then Amla came to the show in the sub continent. Later it was the de Villiers and Duminy show in Australia as the rest chipped in around them. Out of all of them it was Jacques Kallis who grabbed the headlines in the IPL at home and then in the T20 World Cup after that.

30

Cricket Today September 2009

Cricket Today

September 2009

31

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania Even their bowling has made all the right noises. The pace bowling is ever reliable in the hands of Steyn and Morkel but with the addition of Tsotsobe, they have unearthed a new talent to add legs to the attack. But the best part about the whole situation is that probably for the first time in their cricketing history, South Africa have a spin angle to their bowling. As we saw in England, they are not just your old part time spinners but can really make the ball talk. If the IPL is anything to go by, then spin is going to be a major factor in this particular tournament which is more than just slam-bang stuff.

If there is indeed a weakness, then that obviously is their chokers tag. In the beginning it was probably seen as some roll of bad luck. With time it became a tag and now with some more time, it has become a tag that has become stuck on their sleeves. Rarely a tournament goes by when South Africa aren’t expected to do well, but along with it, they are never expected to win the prize. For it taken for granted that at some stage or another, they will come unstuck. It is high time they reversed their luck and home is the best place to start doing that.

PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR: JACQUES KALLIS Oh, what a year he has been having. To

SQUAD Graeme Smith, Johan Botha, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe

say that wine gets better with age would be such a cliché, but come to think of it, there is nothing else that could describe this cricketer better at the moment. There were some question marks being asked when Amla was doing all the scoring at number three, but in response, came the series against Australia and then the IPL. In fact, it is the latter that has given him a fresh lease of life. For when Kallis replaces Gibbs at the opening slot in a T20 line up, there must be something that he must be doing terribly right. It seems the game has taken a couple of steps forward that this aged all rounder is finding it more suited to his game, at an age when many said he would hang up his boots. 

THE CONTENDERS

match

content news interview

32

Cricket Today September 2009

ecord: Crowned champions along with India, Sri Lanka are the only team to have hosted and won this competition, if you call two rain marred finals that. On other occasions, they have not been blowing so hot, stopped in their tracks on both sides of that singular win. At present, they are one of the most competitive sides in world cricket at the moment; therefore greater things are expected of them this time around. It can be considered a given that they will do similarly well as they did in India the last time around.

r

CAPTAIN: KUMAR SANGAKKARA The thing about Sri Lankan captains is that even though they inherit much of the team built by their predecessors, each of them skippers tend to leave their own imprint on the side. And so is the case with Sangakkara. He got much of the side molded into shape by Mahela Jayawardene but over the last twelve months has shown enough vision and ability to take his side to be considered one of the best in business. Not that his talent was in much doubt anyways, but at the same time he has kept up another tradition of the Sri Lankan cricket captains. They do not allow the leadership job to weigh down on their batting skills and yes, he has excelled in the same department as well. They made it to the finals of the T20 World Cup after they reached the finals of the 2007 World Cup. That’s two ICC finals in a row and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Sangakkara leads them to three in a row.

COACH: TREVOR BAYLISS Trevor Bayliss is the current coach of

Sri Lanka the Sri Lanka national cricket team. Bayliss is a former cricketer for New South Wales and a former coach. He was selected in June 2007 for a two year term as coach of Sri Lanka from August 1, 2007. Bayliss made his debut for New South Wales in the 1985/86 season. He was a right-handed middle order bats-

man, an occasional off spin bowler and good cover fielder. His best season for the Blues was 1989-90 when he scored 992 runs at 55.11 which earned him his side’s ‘Players’ Player of the Year’ award. His final season in first class cricket was in 1992-93. Trevor Bayliss succeeded Tom Moody as

the coach of the Sri Lankan national team in August 2007. He was selected ahead of Queensland Bulls coach Terry Oliver by a selection committee comprising of former Sri Lanka Cricket officials and captains including Aravinda de Silva, Ranjan Madugalle, Michael Tissera, Sidath Wettimuny and Bandula Warnapura.

Cricket Today

September 2009

33

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania bowlers or only Aravinda or Jayawardene would do the anchoring role. The present day Sri Lankan team has broken through all these typecasts and now they have any batsman ready to perform any role in the batting order. You can call it the effect of using two Australian coaches in a row, Tom Moody before Bayliss, but the bottom line is that this approach is working for them and the results are coming in. Bowling continues to be their strength as ever with the ever dependable Muralitharan now having Mendis and Malinga keeping him company. The loss

SQUAD Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga, Thilina Kandamby of Chaminda Vaas will hurt a bit but then it was known for some time now that he would be leaving soon. So in effect the search for replacements began early and they have a good couple of players coming through to fill those big shoes. All in all, the Sri Lanka team is probably the favourites, trumped up probably only by South Africa thanks to their home advantage.

PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR: TILAKRATNE DILSHAN

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: If recent results are to go by, then the leadership of Kumar Sangakkara has taken them to the next step of the process that was started by Mahela Jayawardene, his predecessor. It has been a constant building process for them, as it is with other teams, but with them it just seems to click simply because all the players tend to be on the same page. At the same time, they have also broken out of the shackles that previous captains probably had forced onto the team. Like defining batting positions and roles for their batsmen! It could only be a Jayasuriya who could lambaste the

Whenever they will talk about the term purple patch, Dilshan will get more than just a mention. At the turn of the year, he went out to bat against Bangladesh in the Test series and it seems he has been batting in the same vein since. And it has been eight months since that happened. That series, then against India, the IPL, the T20 World Cup and now against Pakistan, he simply hasn’t stopped scoring runs and on the way picked up wickets and led the team to victory a couple of times as well. If there is a possible explanation to his superb run, then probably he has hit the maturing age that every batsman encounters after having spent some time in international cricket. Quite simply, he is making the most of while the run lasts be it any opposition or any match conditions, home or away. And not for nothing do they say that such traits are the hallmarks of a true champion. There is no reason to believe that this run is going to stop sometime soon and thus no one is betting against him being the stand out batsman in the Champions Trophy as well. Maybe he will innovate a new shot for ODI cricket too. 

THE CONTENDERS

match

ecord: This is one trophy that Pakistan are yet to lay their hands on and thus you can expect them to go ahead full steam this time round. Looking back though, they have been eliminated in the first round the first two times. With the advent of the group stages in the tournament, their luck didn’t change much in either Sri Lanka or in India, but in between in England, they did manage to reach the semi finals where they lost to the West Indies. That

r

content news interview

the Ranji Trophy. On 25th October 2008 he was named as a national coach of Pakistan cricket team by PCB, a day after Australian Geoff Lawson was sacked as a national coach. Intikhab was also the coach of the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup winning Pakistan team.

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: Without a shadow of doubt, the huge talent that resides in the Pakistan team

CAPTAIN: YOUNUS KHAN There has never been a Pakistan captain who hasn’t been dramatic and Younus Khan is no less. Quitting after the T20 World Cup might not have been the best of ideas, but as far as the team is concerned, it won’t matter much. For currently, Pakistan need to do well in the longer versions of the game, especially with a host of youngsters coming into the side. And thus they need Khan to be the experienced man in charge. He is himself an able number three or four batsman which means the solidity he provides to the batting order can’t be replaced easily either. Pakistan need Khan to keep going and one hopes he doesn’t quit the ODI captaincy should they win the Champions Trophy.

COACH: INTIKHAB ALAM Intikhab Alam is a retired Pakistani cricketer who played in 47 Tests and 4 ODIs from 1959 to 1977. He also played in English county cricket for Surrey between 1969 and 1981. Intikhab was Pakistan’s first One Day International cricket captain. He played 3 matches as captain, winning two and losing one. He was the coach and manager of 1992 Cricket World Cup winning Pakistani team. In 2004, he was appointed as the first foreigner to coach a domestic Indian cricket team, coaching Punjab, in

Cricket Today September 2009

is both their strength and weakness. Strength in the simple fact that on their day this team can prove to be unbeatable! The very same players who would seem to be indifferent to cricket one day will put in the performance of their lives the very next day. And in doing so, they will surprise and shock even the best of teams, as well as pundits and fans alike. Why this is also a weakness for temperament and talent go hand in hand in sport. If only talent is brought to the

Pakistan one time remains their highest achievement in the tournament’s record books.

34

Cricket Today

September 2009

35

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

table without the required ability to handle the same, the end results are somewhat like Shoaib Akhtar or the prodigious Mohammad Asif. And these are only two names from a long list of such players who didn’t have what it takes to handle the big stage and all that comes along with it. Asif returns after a one year ban and all eyes will be on him. Will he kick start his career again or will he fade away like Akhtar has, courting one controversy after another? Along with Umar Gul, they will form a very potent bowling attack complimented again by Naved ul Hasan and Iftikhar Anjum. In that sense, Pakistan is a team rejuvenated. They lost out big time with retirements and players going for money in the ICL, but with the likes of Mohd. Yousuf, Imran Nazir and Naved returning means that this team can again look forward to being a threat in world cricket. Forget what happened in Sri Lanka, for that is always a tough

proposition, the real comeback of Pakistan cricket begins now in South Africa. Other teams will do well to watch out.

PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR: SHAHID AFRIDI

SQUAD Younus Khan (captain), Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umer Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal

Who else but the Pathan is the man to watch out for? He was simply superb in the latter stages of the T20 World Cup and seems to have finally found his calling in the shortest format of the game. But at the same time, ODI cricket is not too distant from what he used to thrive at, in the recent past and thus needs to find a cohesion with his form in T20 and 50-over cricket. Afridi of course has further captaincy designs for Pakistan which means that he needs to get into pole position in terms of performance by the time the current skipper decides to call it a day. To do that he needs to start pulling in the reigns of his game just a bit and he can be a much more effective player as many teams have found out to their chagring in the shortest format. But then making Afridi understand something like that might just be banging your head on the wall. 

THE CONTENDERS

match

content news interview

New Zealand ecord: Victory in Nairobi in 2001 is their one and only major in international cricket. And it isn’t as if that was on cue. It was more of a one off when Chris Cairns on one leg upset the applecart and India didn’t have any answers for once. Apart from that they have struggled to make an impact in any of the preceding or subsequent editions of the tournament, be it in England, Sri Lanka or India. And the trend might just as well continue this time around.

r

CAPTAIN: DANIEL VETTORI At the time of writing came the news that Vettori had been given voting rights as a selector of the national team. Probably that makes him the most powerful cricket captain now, if not ever. For is that not what all skippers want? The power to say who is in and who is not! This could actually revolutionize how many cricket boards work especially if it actually comes good for New Zealand cricket as a whole. At the same time, it could be a double edged sword for Vettori who has been spotless as captain so far. Maybe this could be his chance to really mess up just fine but knowing him and reading his record so far in charge of affairs, the possibility of that happening is less than remote.

COACH: ANDY MOLES Andrew James Moles is a former English first-class cricketer for Warwickshire and Griqualand West. After his playing career he became a coach and currently coaches the New Zealand national cricket team. Moles was a gritty and determined, right-handed opening batsman. He played from 1986 until his retirement in 1997 for Warwickshire, where he scored 13,316 runs at an average of 38.59. During the late 1980s he also played domestic cricket in South Africa for Griqualand West and in three seasons managed 1,989 runs at 64.16. After retiring as a player, he started his coaching career at Griqualand West, staying there for five years. In 2003 he was appointed as the national coach of Kenya, but he had a turbulent time due to infighting between the Kenyan

36

Cricket Today September 2009

Cricket Today

September 2009

37

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

Cricket Board and players which led him to quit the job at the end of 2004. He took over as the coach of Scotland in January 2005 but quit the job after less than a year as a result of disagreements with some of the senior players. He was appointed coach of Northern Districts in New Zealand domestic cricket for the 2006-07 season, and in his first season helped guide the team to the State Championship. On November 25, 2008 New Zealand Cricket announced that Andy Moles had been appointed to succeed John Bracewell as the New Zealand

Coach.

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: The major strength of any New Zealand line up is their numerous bits and pieces players. Quite clearly all of them possess the firepower to win matches without batting an eyelid. In Guptill, Elliott, Taylor, Ryder and McCullum, they have a batting order than can frighten any bowling attack. Each of these batsmen can play attacking cricket as well as build when the opportunity arises. They are not

SQUAD Daniel Vettori (captain), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Brendon Diamanti, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey really susceptible to spin and handle pace equally well. The bowling has always been a good part about their cricket with almost all players capable of chipping in, ably guided by the clever Vettori. But this time around they get their major strengths in pace back. Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey make a return from their ICL sojourn which means that they have added teeth first up on their bowling front. The weakness of this team like South Africa and Pakistan probably is more about mentality than talent. They know what to do but it is just that it doesn’t come on too regularly for them on the cricket field. And unlike the other two teams they probably suffer from stage fright as they become unstuck on the biggest of stages. That explains why they have only one major cricketing trophy in their cabinet.

PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR: BRENDON MCCULLUM After a superb 2008, he has had a torrid time this year. First up it is never easy mixing wicket keeping and opening the batting. But to add to it, he had to lead the side against India as well and his inexperience showed. If that wasn’t cue enough, he was made to lead the Kolkata team in the IPL as well, which further accentuated his confidence problems and led to a loss of batting form. Quite clearly, if he knocks about the ball well enough, then everything is good enough for this cricketer and that is where he derives his confidence. With Vettori coming back into the fray, it is now easy to see why he will have a much more defined role where he can go back to being what he was. Reckless yet somewhat responsible in both the roles that he performs and that is when he is at his most potent and devastating best. 

THE CONTENDERS

match

content news interview

38

Cricket Today September 2009

ecord: They are no better than Pakistan in terms of history in this tournament. In fact atleast Pakistan have won world titles atleast at some point in their cricket timeline, something that isn’t the case with England. They are yet to win a major cricket tournament and as long as their priority is to win the Ashes once every two decades, then that will continue to be the case. The tournament when held in England remains the only instance where they did well enough to reach the final, even though they did end up losing to a weak West Indies side that time. On other occasions, they have just about only turned up for the event.

r

CAPTAIN: ANDREW STRAUSS Andrew Strauss is leading a resurgence of English cricket at the moment. He was thrust into the limelight for a second time when no one wanted to be captain it seems. Since then he has ably done the one job that is considered too hot to handle especially when the Ashes are to be played. But winning against the West Indies both home and away set his team on their requisite path and at the time of writing, they were just about to beat Australia as well. Strauss has been at the top of his game not only while leading but also the batting part. Only thing is will he go the way of his predecessors and stop the buck at winning the Ashes? Or will be show a different direction to his country’s cricket and take the next step?

COACH: ANDY FLOWER Andrew Flower is a former international cricketer for Zimbabwe and is currently the England team director and will now be involved in team selection. Flower played 63 Test matches for Zimbabwe, scoring 4,794 runs at an average of 51.54 and taking 151 catches and 9 stumpings, and 213 one-day internationals, scoring 6,786 runs at an average of 35.34 and taking 141 catches and 32 stumpings. He holds the Zimbabwean records for the most Test

career runs, the highest Test batting average, and most ODI career runs. On 7 May 2007, Flower was appointed Assistant Coach of the England team, replacing Matthew Maynard. On 15 April 2009 following England’s Caribbean

England

tour, for which he was installed as interim team director following the departure of Peter Moores, he was appointed full-time team director. In the summer of 2009, during his tenure as team director, England regained The Ashes, beating Australia by two test matches to one.

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: Under a coach who was more than a good batsman in his heydays, the England team has probably taken a couple of forward leaps in a bid to step up their ante towards the Ashes this year.

Cricket Today

September 2009

39

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania under Nasser Hussain. In his second stint as captain, with Flower guiding him ably, the English captain seems surer of his methods and backs his players to the hilt, a necessity to exceed at this level. Probably England have been able to solve the captaincy issue for a fair bit of time to come as his batting is also ‘flowering’ at the moment, another point which a fair share of his predeces-

SQUAD Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Joe Denly, Andrew Flintoff, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright sors weren’t able to do. The apparent weakness of this squad is that they do not their own limits. For long any England team is built for one purpose and one purpose alone. That is to win the Ashes after getting drubbed around by all other teams. However that mentality has to change for this is a squad that boasts of talent capable of giving every side in the world a run for their money. The only point is in asking can they actually do it and stop all the questions that are posed of them. And one other thing, they will miss Kevin Pietersen for whatever said and done, he is a class act and can bat to change the situation of the game in a flash. A long term injury to him can only mean disappointment for the Poms.

PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR: RAVI BOPARA

That should inadvertently set them up for better things later on as well, as hard work on and off the field never goes unpaid. They boast of some solid looking batsmen at the top with a whole host of all rounders thrown in to get the mix right. Now these all rounders can both build an innings as well as blast their way out of the park which lends the right balance to their presence in the side. Under Strauss, the team has grown a fair amount in just about six months’ time, something last witnessed probably

Over the last twelve months, Ravi Bopara has found himself thrust in the limelight. Call it a lack of a definitive impact player in the continued absence of Andrew Flintoff if you will, but that being the case, Bopara has been asked to step up. Not the most pleasing techniques but sometimes works out to be the most effective one, he eased up into the team on the basis of some strong performances against the West Indies. Facing Australia though proved to be a different prospect as he struggled throughout the Test series. Having said that though, this was hardly a parameter on which his future selections will or will not merit themselves. Now in the side as an impact player given the absence of Flintoff, he can finally let go off the blanket that he surrounds himself in and unleash his full worth, something we have heard so much of, but yet to witness it. 

THE CONTENDERS

match

content news interview

West Indies ecord: They were champions of the England edition in 2004 and then in 2006 almost defended their crown but for the Aussies to stop them in the final. They could have won the first edition of the tournament in Bangladesh as well, but then they were stopped by the mighty South Africans, again in the final. It could be said then, looking at their record, that they enjoy this tournament and would fancy their chances, but if we look at the squad, that seems to be out of the question for West Indies cricket has a habit of pulling itself down just when it seems they might be getting out of their deep pits.

r

CAPTAIN: FLOYD REIFER After a very successful Red Stripe Cup scoring 756 runs, Reifer was given a chance with his first one-day and Test matches against the Sri Lankans on their tour of the West Indies in 1997. However, he did not manage to produce the necessary performances and, despite being given another chance on the West Indies A tour to make his way back into the senior squad, played only two more Tests and one more one-day international. Three years later, following some decent domestic matches, he claimed that he was again ready to be chosen for West Indies. And he was, in the most unexpected of circumstances, in 2009, when the original squad to face Bangladesh in Kingstown decided to boycott the Test a day before its start. The board scrambled to organize a replacement side and Reifer found himself leading the second-string squad ten years after he had played his last Test. However, he couldn’t script a win in either the Test or the ODI series.

COACH: DAVID WILLIAMS David Williams was a competent wicket keeper but his weakness with the bat (he made seven ducks in 18 completed Test innings) meant he only played 11 Tests. But he did have his moment in the sun when he hit 65, and added a match winning 129 with Carl Hooper, against England in Trinidad in 1997-98.

40

Cricket Today September 2009

Cricket Today

September 2009

41

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

This was a rare high point for Williams, though, who was dropped after the fourth Test of that series. As a coach, Williams has been involved with the Trinidad & Tobago team from 2003, and the team enjoyed a purple patch which included two one-day titles and three four-day titles in four years. He was appointed assistant coach to the West

Indies team for the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa and after coach John Dyson was sacked following the series loss to Bangladesh in 2009, he was handed the reigns for the ICC Champions Trophy, also to be played in South Africa.

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: It is tough to find strength in a team that has lost comprehensively at home to even Bangladesh. It is a pity that the cut off for the ODI rankings was April 1 2009 for qualification for the tournament in South Africa. That is because it will be but a travesty if this West Indies team gets to participate and shame the names of their glittering ancestors. They face Australia, India and Pakistan, so let there be no doubt that they will be mauled. If there is a chance for them to surprise people, maybe just maybe, that will come only if the teams up against them become more than just complacent. For the West Indies seem so fragile that even just being complacent might not be enough for them to cause an upset. It would have made far more sense to have Bangladesh participate than allow the West Indies Cricket Board to make this tournament such a farce.

PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR: DARREN SAMMY Even though the team might disappoint as a whole in the absence of their stalwarts, it might just be the right opportunity for some one with real class to make a name for themselves. And the money to do just that would be on Darren Julius Garvey Sammy. He is the first international cricketer to emerge from St Lucia, an island rediscovering its cricket culture as the new Beausejour Stadium has captured imaginations. Sammy, who spent some time at Lord’s

SQUAD Floyd Reifer (captain), Darren Sammy (vice-captain), David Bernard, Tino Best, Royston Crandon, Travis Dowlin, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Daren Powell, Kieran Powell, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith, Gavin Tonge, Chadwick Walton

with the MCC cricket staff, also showed off his skills as a batsman and right-arm medium-pacer as part of the University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s XI. He won a one-day cap in England in 2004 and was called up late to the Champions Trophy squad in September 2004 after Jermaine Lawson pulled out with a stress-fractured back. In July 2006, he was named as St Lucia’s captain for West Indies’ first-ever Twenty20 tournament and was recalled for the tour of England in 2007. After missing the first two Tests, Sammy was drafted into the side for his debut at Old Trafford, and celebrated with 7 for 66 in the second innings. He is still trying to cement his place in the Test and limited-overs sides as an allrounder. Playing for a weakened team against Bangladesh in 2009, he ended the two match Test series with 12 wickets. 

match

RECORDS

book review match content news interview

42

Cricket Today September 2009

THE FINALISTS: Year 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Venue Dhaka Nairobi Colombo The Oval Mumbai

Champions South Africa New Zealand Sri Lanka-India West Indies Australia

Runners-up West Indies India England West Indies

Margin Four wickets Four wickets Abandoned Two wickets Eight wickets (D/L)

SUMMARY OF RESULTS: Team West Indies Sri Lanka India South Africa New Zealand Australia England Pakistan Bangladesh Holland United Sates Kenya Zimbabwe

Matches 18 17 16 14 13 13 12 11 8 2 2 5 9

Won 12 10 9 9 8 8 6 5 1 -

Lost 6 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 7 2 2 5 9

N/R 2 2 -

Success % 66.66 64.70 62.50 64.28 61.53 61.53 50.00 45.45 12.50 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00

HIGHEST INNINGS TOTALS: Total 347-4 in 50 overs 316-5 in 50 overs 307-8 in 50 overs 302-8 in 50 overs 299-7 in 50 overs 298-8 in 50 overs 296-7 in 50 overs 295-6 in 50 overs 292-6 in 50 overs 290-4 in 50 overs

Teams New Zealand v USA South Africa v Kenya India v Australia Sri Lanka v Bangladesh England v Zimbabwe England v Zimbabwe Australia v New Zealand India v South Africa Sri Lanka v Holland India v Kenya

Venue The Oval Colombo Dhaka Mohali Birmingham Colombo Colombo Nairobi Colombo Southampton

Date 10-09-2004 20-09-2002 28-10-1998 07-10-2006 10-09-2004 18-09-2002 15-09-2002 13-10-2000 16-09-2002 11-09-2004

LOWEST INNINGS TOTALS FOR EACH TEAM: Total 65 in 24 overs 77 in 19.3 overs 80 in 30.4 overs 85 in 30.1 overs 86 in 29.3 overs 89 in 25 overs 93 in 31.3 overs 94 in 32 overs 108 in 34.1 overs 125 in 37 overs

Teams United States v Australia Bangladesh v New Zealand West Indies v Sri Lanka Zimbabwe v West Indies Holland v Sri Lanka Pakistan v South Africa Bangladesh v South Africa Kenya v Pakistan South Africa v New Zealand England v India

Venue Southampton Colombo Mumbai Ahmedabad Colombo Mohali Birmingham Birmingham Mumbai Jaipur

Date 13-09-2004 23-09-2002 14-10-2006 08-10-2006 16-09-2002 27-10-2006 12-09-2004 15-09-2004 16-10-2006 15-10-2006

Cricket Today

September 2009

43

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

HIGHEST MARGINS OF VICTORY: Margin 210 runs 206 runs 176 runs 167 runs 164 runs 152 runs 10 wickets 9 wickets 9 wickets 9 wickets 9 wickets 9 wickets 9 wickets 9 wickets

Teams New Zealand beat United States Sri Lanka beat Holland South Africa beat Kenya N.Zealand beat Bangladesh Australia beat New Zealand England beat Zimbabwe West Indies beat Bangladesh Pakistan beat Sri Lanka Australia beat Bangladesh Pakistan beat Holland Australia beat United States S. Africa beat Bangladesh West Indies beat Zimbabwe Sri Lanka beat West Indies

Venue TheOval Colombo Colombo Colombo Colombo Birmingham Jaipur Nairobi Colombo Colombo Southampton Birmingham Ahmedabad Mumbai

Date 10-09-2004 16-09-2002 20-09-2002 23-09-2002 15-09-2002 11-09-2004 11-10-2006 08-10-2000 19-09-2002 21-09-2002 13-09-2004 12-09-2004 08-10-2006 14-10-2006

LOWEST MARGINS OF VICTORY: Margin 10 runs 10 runs 14 runs 20 runs 29 runs 2 wickets 2 wickets 3 wickets 3 wickets 3 wickets

Teams India beat South Africa West Indies beat Australia India beat Zimbabwe India beat Australia West Indies beat Kenya South Africa beat West Indies West Indies beat England Pakistan beat India West Indies beat India England beat West Indies

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORE: Runs 145* 145 141 141* 133* 132 126 123* 119 117* 117 116* 116 113* 112* 111* 111 110 105* 105 104 104* 104 104 103 102* 102*

Batsman Nathan Astle (New Zealand) Andy Flower (Zimbabwe) Sachin Tendulkar (India) Sourav Ganguly (India) Chris Gayle (West Indies) Avishka Gunawardene (SL) Virender Sehwag (India) Shahriar Nafees (Bangladesh) Marcus Trescothick (England) Sourav Ganguly (India) Sourav Ganguly (India) Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa) Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa) Jacques Kallis (South Africa) Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) Mohammed Kaif (India) Brian Lara (West Indies) Upul Tharanga (Sri Lanka) Saeed Anwar (Pakistan) Upul Tharanga (Sri Lanka) Saeed Anwar (Pakistan) Chris Gayle (West Indies) Andrew Flintoff (England) Marcus Trescothick (England) Philo Wallace (West Indies) Chris Cairns (New Zealand) Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

Against United States India Australia South Africa South Africa W.Indies England Zimbabwe Zimbabwe England New Zealand India Kenya Sri Lanka England Zimbabwe Kenya Zimbabwe Sri Lanka Bangladesh New Zealand Bangladesh Sri Lanka West Indies South Africa India Pakistan

Venue The Oval Colombo Dhaka Nairobi Jaipur Nairobi Colombo Jaipur Colombo Colombo Nairobi Colombo Colombo Dhaka Ahmedabad Colombo Colombo Ahmedabad Nairobi Mohali Nairobi Jaipur Southampton The Oval Dhaka Nairobi Colombo

Date 10-09-2004 14-09-2002 28-10-1998 13-10-2000 02-11-2006 04-10-2000 22-09-2002 13-10-2006 18-09-2002 22-09-2002 15-10-2000 25-09-2002 20-09-2002 30-10-1998 28-10-2006 14-09-2002 17-09-2002 10-10-2006 08-10-2000 07-10-2006 11-10-2000 11-10-2006 18-09-2004 25-09-2004 01-11-1998 15-10-2000 12-09-2002

Venue Colombo Mumbai Colombo Nairobi Colombo Colombo The Oval Birmingham Ahmedabad Ahmedabad

Date 25-09-2002 18-10-2006 14-09-2002 07-10-2000 17-09-2002 13-09-2002 25-09-2004 19-09-2004 26-10-2006 28-10-2006

44

Cricket Today

Venue Mumbai Birmingham Mohali Southampton Dhaka The Oval Colombo Nairobi Southampton Southampton Colombo Colombo Mumbai Birmingham Dhaka

Date 14-10-2006 15-09-2004 27-10-2006 15-09-2004 01-11-1998 10-09-2004 15-09-2002 11-10-2000 13-09-2004 13-09-2004 16-09-2002 23-09-2002 20-10-2006 19-09-2004 29-10-1998

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

September 2009

HIGHEST RUNS GETTERS: Batsman Chris Gayle (West Indies) Sourav Ganguly (India) S.Chanderpaul (West Indies) Jacques Kallis (South Africa) Rahul Dravid (India) Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) Damien Martyn (Australia) Brian Lara (West Indies) Stephen Fleming (N.Zealand) Herschelle Gibbs (S.Africa) Sachin Tendulkar (India) Marcus Trescothick (England) Mahela Jayawardene(S.Lanka)

M 14 13 16 14 16 17 12 18 13 9 14 8 15

I 14 11 16 14 13 17 11 17 13 9 13 8 14

N.O 2 2 5 3 2 2 3 3 1 2 2

Runs 695 665 587 564 547 502 492 465 441 438 433 421 411

AVG 57.91 73.88 53.36 51.27 49.72 33.46 61.50 33.21 33.92 54.75 39.36 52.62 34.25

H.S 133* 141* 74 113* 71 102* 78 111 96 116* 141 119 77

100 3 3 1 1 1 3 1 2 -

50 1 3 5 3 5 1 5 2 3 1 1 2 2

0 1 1 2 1 2 1 -

BEST BOWLING PERFORMANCE: Wkts 6-14 5-11 5-21 5-29 5-30 5-36 5-37 5-46 4-14 4-15 4-15 4-21 4-23 4-25 4-31

Bowler Farveez Maharoof (Sri Lanka) Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) Makhaya Ntini (South Africa) Mervyn Dillon (W. Indies) Jacques Kallis (South Africa) Jacob Oram (New Zealand) Glenn McGrath (Australia) Shayne O’Connor (New Zealand) Michael Kasprowicz (Aus) Jason Gillespie (Australia) Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) Shane Bond (New Zealand) Muttiah Muralitharan (S.Lanka) Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (Pakistan) Keith Arthurton (West Indies)

Against West Indies Kenya Pakistan Bangladesh West Indies United States New Zealand Pakistan United States United States Holland Bangladesh New Zealand India Pakistan

HIGHEST WICKETS TAKERS: Bowler Muttiah Muralitharan (S.Lanka) Glenn McGrath (Australia) Mervyn Dillon (West Indies) Jacques Kallis (South Africa) Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) Chris Gayle (West Indies) Farveez Maharoof (Sri Lanka) Makhaya Ntini (South Africa) Shaun Pollock (South Africa) Jacob Oram (New Zealand) Zaheer Khan (India)

M 15 12 7 14 16 14 8 8 11 8 9

Overs 116.1 102 68 88.3 125.4 83.4 55 57 88.1 64.4 80

Runs 378 412 317 444 494 369 247 248 321 270 368

Wkts 23 21 19 19 18 17 16 16 16 15 15

AVG 16.43 19.61 16.68 23.36 27.44 21.70 15.43 15.50 20.06 18.00 24.53

4WI 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1

R/0 3.25 4.03 4.66 5.01 3.93 4.41 4.49 4.35 3.64 4.17 4.60

Best 4-15 5-37 5-29 5-30 2-6 3-3 6-14 5-21 3-27 5-36 4-45

Cricket Today

September 2009

45

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

MOST DISMISSALS IN AN INNINGS: Dismissals 5 (4 ct + 1 st) 5 (all catches) 4 (1 ct + 3 st) 4 (3 ct + 1st) 4 (all catches) 4 (3 ct + 1 st) 4 (3 ct + 1 st) 3 (all catches) 3 (all catches) 3 (2 ct+ 1st) 3 (2ct+ 1 st) 3 (2ct+ 1 st) 3 (all catches) 3 (all catches) 3 (all catches) 3 (all catches) 3 (all catches) 3 (all catches) 3 (2 ct + 1 st) 3 (all catches)

Keeper Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) Adam Gilchrist (Australia) David Obuya (Kenya) Courtney Browne (West Indies) Moin Khan (Pakistan) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) Adam Gilchrist (Australia) Rumesh Kaluwitharana (Sri Lanka) Moin Khan (Pakistan) Vijay Dahiya (India) Adam Gilchrist (Australia) Khaled Mashud (Bangladesh) Rahul Dravid (India) Geraint Jones (England) Geraint Jones (England) Geraint Jones (England) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) Dinesh Karthik (India) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) Kamran Akmal (Pakistan)

Against Holland England South Africa Pakistan India Bangladesh New Zealand W.Indies Sri Lanka South Africa New Zealand New Zealand Pakistan West Indies Sri Lanka Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Kenya South Africa South Africa

Venue Colombo Jaipur Colombo Southampton Birmingham Mohali Mohali Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi Colombo Colombo Birmingham The Oval Southampton Birmingham The Oval Southampton Ahmedabad Mohali

Date 16-09-2002 21-10-2006 20-09-2002 22-09-2004 19-09-2004 07-10-2006 01-11-2006 04-10-2000 08-10-2000 13-10-2000 15-09-2002 23-09-2002 19-09-2004 25-09-2004 18-09-2004 11-09-2004 14-09-2004 11-09-2004 24-10-2006 27-10-2006

MOST CATCHES IN AN INNINGS: Catches 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Player Marvan Atapattu (Sri Lanka) Jonty Rhodes (South Africa) Alistair Campbell (Zimbabwe) Yuvraj Singh (India) Brian Lara (West Indies) Marcus Trescothick (England) Darren Sammy (West Indies)

Against South Africa West Indies India South Africa England Australia Bangladesh

Venue Dhaka Dhaka Colombo Colombo The Oval Birmingham Southampton

Date 30-10-1998 01-11-1998 14-09-2002 25-09-2002 25-09-2004 21-09-2004 15-09-2004

match

STRAIGHT TALK

content news interview

46

Cricket Today September 2009

HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF PLAYING IN THE EMERGING TOURNAMENT? It was good to play in Australia. I have already been to down under but this time it was far better than before because new kind of balls (orange and green) were used in the tournament. Bowling with orange and green balls was all-together a new experience. Pitches were favorable to fast bowling so for a spinner like me it was very challenging to bowl out there. Moreover tourney had four teams which required a lot of hard work to adjust according to the conditions.

HOW FAR ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE? I am not fully satisfied; my aim was to be the highest wicket-taker of the tournament but could only reach up to 16 wickets (second highest) which was less than Sudeep Tyagi (highest wicket taker). Though we won the tournament but still I am not happy at personal end.

I THOUGHT OF GIVING

UP AT TIMES AMIT MISHRA WHICH FORMAT OF CRICKET SUITS YOU THE MOST? First of all I want to get rid of this Test bowler tag. I know to play Test cricket is like a dream come true for any player as it checks ones talent all the way. Test cricket gives chance of a comeback after one bad spell but in one-day and T20 cricket a single bad over can ruin your whole effort. Nevertheless I also love ODI and T20 and consider myself fit for all the three colors of the game.

Amit Mishra is a true fighter with supreme talent. He fought back his place into the one-day squad of the Indian team for the Champions Trophy. He spoke exclusively to Cricket Today before his selection.

Cricket Today

September 2009

47

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania HAVE YOU MADE ANY SPECIAL PLANS TO GET BACK INTO THE ODI SQUAD? The way I have performed in the recent past gives me confidence of surely making a comeback. As far as plan is concern, I am trying to add more variations to my bowling arsenal. Giving special attention to the batting department is also on my agenda so that I can be an all-rounder. Selectors have given thumbs up to my efforts by putting my name in the probables of the Champions Trophy.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF TEAM INDIA IN THE UPCOMING CHAMPIONS TROPHY? I have full faith in my team and take my words we are going to win mini World Cup this time. Our team has got best batsmen and bowlers in the world. If we keep apart the dismissal performance of T20 World Cup, team India’s out going so far has been more than satisfactory.

YOUR TEAM DELHI DAREDEVILS SEEMS TO BE FALTERING AT THE CRUCIAL LEVELS. WHAT ARE THE REASONS? This time round (second phase) we performed really well, unfortunately Gilly took the match away from us with his blistering knock in the semis. Daredevils had the best bowling attack but we can’t take credit away from Gilchrist for his superb effort.

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON WADA ISSUE?

IPL SEASON FOUR WOULD BE HAVING 94 CONTESTS, YOUR SAY ON THIS? It is good for the youngsters to get a chance of involving themselves in more encounters of cricket. Even if some team loses two or three matches they would still have the chance for a comeback and same goes for the players.

Doping test is not the issue with any of the players. Actually problem comes with the hard line of the clause. Players are on the playing streak for 10-11 months in a year, rest of the time they want to spend with the families and close ones. WADA clause will act like an intruder in ones security and privacy. Leaving one or two cricketers, no one has the proper security to counter problems which could come up if WADA clause is signed.

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

48

Cricket Today September 2009

CORPORATE LEAGUE IS AN OVER DOSE OF CRICKET. WHICH WAY YOUR PENDULUM SWINGS? I don’t think corporate league is an over dose. If we look at the brighter prospect, it could help us to find more talent out in the country. Team India beneficiary could go to the highest level with the corporate league.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM DANIEL VETTORI? Daniel is a very good bowler and has taught me how to read wickets. He also praised me for the daring attitude of bowling. Daniel thinks bowlers should always go for wickets rather getting defensive at times.

WHO IS THE BEST SPINNER IN THE WORLD? My list has the names of Anil Kumble and Shane Warne. They both are my inspiration. Even we can’t ignore Muralitharan and Vettori for the fact that they are still ruling the spin department.

YOU HAVE BEEN SEEN AS THE ONE TAKING UP THE SLOT OF ANIL KUMBLE. DOSE THIS ADD UP TO MORE RESPONSIBILITY? Yes, now I have to work much harder. Best would be expected from me when ever I go out on the field. To see myself in jumbo’s shoes is a proud feeling. Though, I have not achieved much in my life but still I am putting in my best efforts to be a champ like Kumble. Every cricket onlooker would want me to perform like kumble.

DOES INDIAN TEAM REQUIRE A FITNESS TRAINER? Definitely, playing at highest level requires fitness of top level. Fitness trainer could be of great help as he/she will guide us to set up our body according to the needs of batting, bowling and fielding department.

INDIAN TEAM HAS GOT THE SERVICES OF FAST BOWLING COACH. DOES THE TEAM ALSO REQUIRES A SPIN BOWLING COACH? Requirement is there but experience campaigners like Kumble and Hirwani are always there to assist the spinners. Beside them Sachin and Bhajji too have useful tips about spin bowling. Though Venkatesh Prasad is the fast bowling coach, still he has much to offer for the spinners. Last but not the least we have National Cricket Academy where we can clear all our doubts when required.

WHO PLAY PRANKS MOST OF THE TIME IN TEAM INDIA? Bhajji is the one who never misses out on any opportunity when it comes to playing pranks. Viru is also a fun loving guy. Nevertheless everyone in the team loves fun and are blessed with good nature.

WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE DESTINATION IN TERMS OF PLAYING CRICKET? India is the best country to play cricket in. Type of reception we get and the facilities which comes in for us are mouth watering. Same can’t be said about other countries as there we have to run for small-small things also. HOW WILL YOU DEFINE MS DHONI? Dhoni has unique style of inspiring someone. He knows how to get best out of a player. Known for his patience and cool head, Mahi always have tips for the younger lot of the team. He has been like a guide to me but the most important element of his persona is the trust which he has on his brigade. It brings out best from every one on the battle field.

Cricket Today

September 2009

49

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO ACT IN A BOLLYWOOD FLICK, WHICH TYPE (ROMANTIC, ACTION, AND HORROR) OF ROLE WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIT YOUR SELF IN? I have never thought on this but given a chance I would go for any kind of role.

AFTER HARD STRUGGLE AND TOUGH COMPETITION YOU MADE A COMEBACK TO THE INDIAN TEAM. WHO WAS THE ONE TO HELP YOU IN THIS DIFFICULT PHASE? All the credit goes to former BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra and my family. They are the one who stood by me in difficult times. After two years of sheer hard work, when I started getting back into rhythm an injury came as a shocker which kept me out of action for six to seven months. Moreover I was always anticipated to perform well from others to prove my credential in the domestic competition.

IN YOUR STRUGGLING DAYS, HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF GIVING UP? PRAGYAN OHJA IS YOUR COMPETITOR. HOW HEALTHY IS THIS COMPETITION? Competition makes me strong and by each passing day I keep on improving my game. Getting tough fight from some one always keeps you on the toes and concentration level on the game increases. To be honest contest constantly brings out finest performance from you.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SOUP BECAUSE OF A FEMALE FAN FOLLOWING? No, I have not been through such experience but now the fan base is climbing up which has lots of female fans.

WHICH INDIAN PLAYER IS THE MOST FAMOUS ONE ON THE FEMALE FANS RADAR? Yuvraj and Zaheer are the toppers of female fans list. Sachin’s popularity is known to every one.

Yes, I thought of giving up at times. My good performance was not considered which made me sad. Though, Ranbir Singh Mahendra, Gauti and family always motivated me to get back into the side.

WHICH PLAYER SUITS ALL THE THREE FORMAT S OF THE GAME? Sachin and Gambhir have the ability to rule all the formats of cricket. Sacin has nothing left to prove while Gauti is making his mark in all the forms of cricket.

TELL US THE SECRET OF VIRU AND GAUTI’S TREMENDOUS SUCCESS AS AN OPENING PAIR? According to me both of them play tension free cricket and keeps on motivating each other. They have perfect eye to eye coordination when it comes to running between the wickets. Combination of both can dismantle any pace attack.

CONTROVERSY

match

content news interview

t took eleven Indian cricketers to bring to light what was dealt with as a matter of formality by tens of thousands of sportspersons around the world. While there is no doubt that there has to be a more stringent measure to curb the use of illicit drugs in sport, and cricket can be no exception, the BCCI is now in a headlong battle with WADA over what it deems are impracticable conditions on its cricketers.

i

FICA JUMPS, ICC SETBACK The conundrum turned into a fiasco when the eleven Indian cricketers (nine male and two female cricketers) failed to turn in their signed agreements by the ICC set deadline of August 31st. The ICC had suffered a setback en route to ensuring a drug free cricket policy. It led to a strong petition from the FICA (Federation of International Cricketers Association) to appeal to the ICC to take action against the Indian cricketers, who are also incidentally not members of FICA. Faced with an awkward situation that the ICC could not evade, they put the onus back on the BCCI to ensure that the papers were turned in. An emergency Sunday meeting later with the likes of the Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh, the BCCI sent a message to the ICC that it was firmly backing its players against the WADA code and that it was up to the ICC to seek resolution without compromising on the concerns of the Indian cricketers.

50

Cricket Today September 2009

federations. It has the world’s top athletes on its roll and while tennis champions such as Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have expressed anguish at the whereabouts clause, Roger Federer perhaps has put it succinctly that it was a small inconvenience to pay to ensure the sport was rid of doping. Even India’s leading badminton champion, Saina Nehwal, sees only the positive side of complying with WADA and has even furthered the cause by stating that it would not be too hard to state the whereabouts because players would have some form of training or workout even during off season, a matter that India’s Olympic gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Games, Abhinav Bindra, totally agrees with. Blood doping as also the use of anabolic steroids, diuretics, narcotics have played a huge role in other athletic events. While cricketers are generally believed have a significantly lesser need to depend on performance enhancing

WHY WADA? The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) is universally accepted by over 20,000 athletes over sixty international sports

WADA- ICCBCCI: Tied in Gridlock by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu

drugs, that they are experimenting with it cannot be denied. Furthermore masking agents do a good job in covering up for doping players as hormones produced within the body in excess then tend to skew the results. Tour de France champion, Floyd Landis, was stripped of his medal in 2004 after his drug test showed an unusual amount of testosterone in his body implicating him in the use of synthetic drugs. USA’s top athlete Marion Jones though escaped getting caught and it was only upon her own decision to confess that the dreadful deed came to light and she was subsequently taken to tasks amidst tears that garnered no sympathy. Shane Warne was found by

Cricket Today

September 2009

59

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

an independent drug testing within Australia of having used diuretics before the 2003 World Cup in a country where drug awareness is at a peak and is generally intolerant of drug usage in any sport. Nandrolone was found in the bloodstream of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif before the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006 again by the Pakistan Cricket Board. As impossible as it sounds, there could be more deceitful attempts to cheat in sport than those that have come to light only to be dismissed by way of feigning ignorance.

RELEVANCE OF DRUG TESTING South Africa’s Dale Steyn’s sample turned positive apparently during the IPL 2 season for morphine, an effect of painkillers containing codeine turning into morphine at slightly higher than the acceptable levels. However, since the officials were briefed of Steyn’s

ambitions to be nursed. In some cases, illicit drug testing has also inadvertently boosted the bottom line of certain pharmaceutical companies has come to light since doping became a major concern in the U.S. which has revealed certain past winners such as Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis to have cheated. On a more dangerous level, drug testing has had the ulterior motive on the border lines of creating rifts on the political roadmap. When Carola Nitschke returned her swimming medal in 1988, the first athlete to do so, she essentially brought to light the sinister motive where in several of the East German athletes were given drug supplements, without their explicit knowledge, to put down their West German counterparts with a clear political angle to the motive. With cricket being far from an amateur sport and certainly earning professional sport endorsements and with the ICC now aiming a greater role for cricket in world sports meets, it is only natural that the sport must then fall in line with the accepted norm which includes WADA as the premier anti doping agency that is respected by both, sportspersons and sports bodies.

CAUSE FOR CONSTERNATION - WHEREABOUTS

According to the WADA President, John Fahey, there is a greater need at present to introduce the surprise element of off season testing to deter the possibility of doping in sport. But the Indian cricketers have a major concern over the whereabouts clause that states that they must state for an hour each

condition and subsequent drugs at the time of testing, he was exonerated of all charges. The same though cannot be said of Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar whose blood work found traces of banned substances. The WADA has signed on sportspersons around the world and they have accepted, even in disagreement, the encumbrance posed by the necessity of the whereabouts clause. WADA realizes that there is high pressure on sportspersons to deliver with overemphasis on performance with big money at stake and six figure endorsements to ensure a life of no work and all play. For some it is about keeping their place on the team, for others, families to upkeep, egos and

Indian cricketers have a major concern over the whereabouts clause that states that they must state for an hour each day about where they will be for the projected period of three months. day about where they will be for the projected period of three months. Not only are the Indian cricketers extremely weary of stating their location for fear of compromising on their security following terror threats to some of the top cricketers in the country, they are also extremely protective of their privacy, although that is sometimes compromised upon for the odd intrusion of endorsements.

NEGLIGENCE TO BLAME FOR THIS STALEMATE? The BCCI may be pleading ignorance over issues and seeking the legal opinion of the likes of Goolam Vahanvati, India’s Attorney General, and A.S. Anand, the former Chief Justice, and on prime facie evidence, they are likely to support BCCI’s stand on quoting Article 21 of the Constitution that grants liberty to all citizens of the country. But there is apparently a rather tricky situation that the BCCI finds itself in. The BCCI committed a glaring error and

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

60

Cricket Today September 2009

now woken up rather late to the pressing issue. Additionally, the Copenhagen declaration of 2003 against doping of which the government of India is a party to makes it hard for the BCCI to weasel out of the drug testing per se or fight a universally accepted system on the protest of eleven cricketers. The BCCI has also stated the example of FIFA over non compliance with the whereabouts clause. But contrary to that opinion, FIFA has managed a system wherein the International WADA has the world’s top athletes on its roll and while tennis champions such as Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have expressed anguish at the whereabouts clause, Roger Federer perhaps has put it succinctly that it was a small inconvenience to pay to ensure the sport was rid of doping. Registered Testing Pool (IRTP) consists of a fluctuating number and names of players depending on their injuries and past history with drug related issues, while maintaining their own anti-doping norms for all players under the FIFA banner. The BCCI could certainly suggest to the ICC a similar course of action where only repeat offenders and those cricketers undergoing treatment for injuries need to come into WADA’s bracket.

STAND OFF IMPLICATIONS

thereby, missed a golden opportunity to state their point at a valid time. The NADA (National Anti Doping Agency), an independent agency instituted by the Indian sports ministry, issued notification to the effect that unless there was opposition from the various sports bodies regarding compliance with the WADA norms, their silence would be assumed as in agreement of the rules. BCCI remained silent and has

The ICC has a reason why it cannot be the reed that usually weathers the storm that originates from the BCCI. The ICC now has a bigger agenda. Apart from the fact that the ICC has also signed on to be a part of WADA in 2006 and officially accepted the WADA dictum in January this year, there is an agenda behind this. The ICC has aspired to be a part of a larger global sports event, namely, the Olympics. Recently the popularity of the Twenty20 game also had some cricketers getting behind the idea of having cricket represented at such worldwide sports meets in its latest version. However, for the ICC to involve cricket

Cricket Today

September 2009

61

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

in any Olympic or sports event, it must first have all its member nations and cricketers adhere to universally accepted, common norm and customs that contribute to a drug free sports world. Without the Indian cricketers jumping on the bandwagon, the ICC cannot carry out its plans forward. The ICC has already received a slot in the 2010 Asiad games in China with Twenty20 and some would be inclined to believe that India could be deliberately or otherwise creating a spoke in the wheel. Nevertheless it will be hard for them to prevent this, even as a wild conspiracy theory, or the WADA from coming into the picture as the ICC is determined to help the Indian cricketers and indeed the BCCI to see the right of way. The ICC has instead appointed a five man committee, consisting of Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, N. Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary, ICC Principal Advsor, IS Bindra, Anil Kumble, member of WADA’s athletic committee, and Tim Kerr, chairman of ICC anti-doping panel, to formulate a plan to convince the Indian cricketers to accept the WADA code when they meet in September.

WHY INDIAN CRICKETERS CAN PROTEST The BCCI has just granted the All India Football Federation (AIFF) a grant of Rs25 crore over two years for the preparations for the Asian Games. Such is the BCCI’s clout that it is not obligated to tow the Sports Ministry to procure its funds. Not mandatory to comply with the norms of the Indian Olympic Association (IOC) either, the

At the emergency meeting with Dhoni, Yuvraj and Harbhajan the BCCI sent a message to the ICC that it was firmly backing its players against the WADA code and that it was up to the ICC to seek resolution without compromising on the concerns of the Indian cricketers. BCCI has been an autonomous institution unto itself and it has passed on, in essence, the same sufficient arrogance, to its cricketers. To now conform with other sportspersons is then the seemingly unacceptable scenario. While it is difficult for individual athletes to protest universal laws, it is unthinkable when the sports discipline is dependent on government funding. Cricket in India, however, has always functioned as an independent entity unto itself which is why while the South African and Australian cricketers have complied with their national obligations to drug testing without being able to

voice their protest against the WADA clause, eleven cricketers are hoping to turn the dictation around.

THE IMMEDIATE SOLUTION One look at the ADAMS (The Anti Doping Administration and Management System ) website, and it will be clear as to how easy it is to fill the calendar during the off season. Players can simply log on to the website from wherever they are located, state one hour of every day that they are available and draft it on the calendar page which will then be put in a bank safe like vaults within the database. Sportspersons who have complied with it talk about the facile procedure as also of changing time and place where need be. For cricketers, it should only become easier since they are always complaining of a hectic international calendar which means more of their days are already chalked out for them without them having to state explicitly. The whereabouts clause is considered as a necessary evil amongst sportspersons throughout the world because of the benefit of having fair play on the field. It will be hard for eleven cricketers to beat the system and they risk the ICC’s larger plans for globalization and expansion of cricket in doing so. A more pragmatic course would be to fall in line but with an explicit grievance earmarked for the WADA review which comes up in 2010. 

match

ONE -TO-ONE

book reviews content news interview

FOREMOST STEP IS TO SET UP A

SALARY STRUCTURE FOR THE CURATORS DALJIT SINGH Daljit Singh is the man behind the wear and tear of most Indian pitches. He has been the architect of many famous Indian wins. Presently working as a Chairman of pitch committee, he is keeping all his focus on the new laid pitch at DDCA. Daljit speaks out on the vast experience he has accumulated over the years about the art of preparing pitch and cricket on the whole.

62

Cricket Today September 2009

Cricket Today

September 2009

63

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

Any specific reason behind the new laid pitch at DDCA? Actually when IPL was shifted to South Africa for the second season, DDCA quickly decided to rope in a new pitch at the stadium for which they definitely deserve applauses. DDCA motto was to give its junior cricketers a chance to play on a pitch which has equal bounce and pace. Even we are trying our level best to give DDCA what they expect from us so that they can nourish upcoming talent in the near future.

Has new techniques taken its course in pitch making or still it is the same old story? Presently BBCI is making all its association aware of new techniques involved in pitch making. Even we are keeping all these measures in effect while laying new pitch at Feroz Shah Kotla. Now a day’s pitch making doesn’t rely on old methods.

Is this attempt has something to do with the BCCI idea of making bouncy pitches in India? Yes BCCI wants domestic cricket to be played on good pitches. BCCI main spotlight is on Under-16 and Under-22 players. Moreover bouncy pitches is the requirement of today’s cricket world

When IPL was shifted to South Africa for the second season, DDCA quickly decided to rope in a new pitch at the stadium. DDCA motto was to give its junior cricketers a chance to play on a pitch which has equal bounce and pace.

that’s why our cricket board is giving all required importance on this area. It has change cricket all the way in our country, now we have strong pace attack which has been the main factor in our wins overseas.

Does Test, ODI and T20 cricket involve different techniques while preparing wicket? Preparing wicket for Test cricket is a tough nut to crack. Even after sheer hard work it is very difficult to say that how pitch is going to behave in the course of the match. It would be correct to say that making a good Test pitch is an art. ODI and T20 cricket demands batsman friendly wickets which are good for stroke play. Especially in T20 cricket pitch is prepared keeping 40 overs in mind. Attempt is to give both the teams equal

chance of grueling contest.

You have been associated with Mohali cricket ground for 15 years now. How has been the experience on this long journey? To keep everyone happy is virtually impossible but I always try to give my best. Though, on many occasions I have faced the heat from the local teams for not preparing the wicket of their kind. Beside this Mohali wicket has got praises on the international circuit which gives me a lot of pleasure.

What made you to take this (curator) profession as a career option? I have given nineteen long years to cricket as a player. I played for Services, Delhi, Railways and Bihar in my cricketing days. But while working for Tata group in Jharia (Jharkhand) we prepared a wicket to play cricket on that. At that time I learnt a lot about pitch and decided to work on preparing wickets from there onwards.

You have been part of many famous matches. Among the never ending list of matches which one is your most memorable contest?

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

64

Cricket Today September 2009

is no major change which has taken place to perk up curator in recent time which is totally wrong. When we can pay lakhs of bucks to cricketers, it is our board’s responsibility to think seriously for all those who are involved in preparing pitches.

How far taking up a curator job as profession is a good career option? There is a lot of difference between the reality and dreams. If former cricketers or pass out graduates from agroculture courses comes in for curators job, it would be very beneficial. Students from agro-culture courses have the in depth knowledge about soil and grass, so qualified people would find it easy to get into pitch making. In coming time demand of the curators would boost up in foreign countries which could stand up as a golden chance for the youngsters.

How difficult is curators job Daljit Singh with Assistant Curator Vijay Bahadur.

get good marks with applauds from Deciding on one match would be a BCCI while the bad wickets could lead to tough task for me but I was very some strict actions against their associpleased with the way in which second ations. Test match (Mohali) in Border-Gavaskar ended on the fifth day. India was eventually winner by more than 300 runs What should BCCI do which was a sign of relief for me. for the curators? Moreover, Man of the Match First and foremost step is to set award was bagged up by Amit up a salary structure for the curators Mishra. Seeing a spinner perso that their standards could be revoluforming so well in front of tionized. Cricket board is paying to the fast bowlers like Brett umpires and coaches then why Lee, Mitchell Johnson, not to curators? The way Zaheer Khan and Ishant board is taking up semiCricket Sharma was remarknars and certificate board has formed a able. courses for the committee in domestic One more match is coaching and umpircricket for pitch evaluation. ing, same way has to very close to my Good pitches will get good be followed for the heart. It was Duleep marks with applauds from curators. There is trophy contest between North Zone BCCI while the bad wickets professionalism in and West Zone in which could lead to some strict every aspect of the six to seven centuries game, then why one actions against their were scored and forty odd of the most important associations. wickets fell in the whole integrant (Curator) of match with result coming out on cricket is been ignored. During the last day of the encounter. the flow of matches each comment on the ball has to do something with the curator, where chances of getting conIs there any committee in demn is more than of receiving a clap function to take care of the for the hard work. So board has to start pitches? certification courses in this stream also Yes, cricket board has formed a comwhich in turn will see more qualified mittee in domestic cricket for pitch people coming in for a curator job. evaluation which will take care of all the wickets in our country. Good pitches will Apart from modern equipments there

FACTORS INVOLVED IN PITCH PREPARATION AT DDCA:  Area of the pitch is 90x90

square feet. Nine wickets have been prepared. In the process of preparing wickets Daljit dug 14 inches into the surface to find a thick foundation of bricks over which he has created a new base. Above that a four inch layer of filter sand has been put in place to absorb water. Then another layer of fertile soil was laid in for the grass to grow into the surface. Five inch layer of black soil was also included in the process which has been brought especially from Rajasthan. One inch has been used for the fitting of Bermuda (American) grass.  For the proper and smooth drainage of water PVC pipes have been used on the four corners of the pitch. In case of heavy rainfall also there will not be any standing water on the pitch  Apart from main pitch, four practice and three synthetic pitches have been prepared so that there is no complaint from any of the team playing at DDCA.  At Feroz Shah Kotla old grass is being replaced by Bermuda (American) grass to give much comfort to the players.

Cricket Today

September 2009

65

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania assigned to me I will definitely go for it.

DALJIT’S FAVOURITE: BOLLYWOOD FILM- GUIDE AND DEVDAS (DILIP KUMAR) ACTOR (MALE) – DILIP KUMAR ACTOR (FEMALE) – MADHUBALA SONG- ALL THE SONGS OF HEMANT KUMAR BESIDE CRICKET WHICH OTHER SPORTS YOU LIKE TO PLAY – GOLF AND FOOTBALL BESIDE CRICKET WHICH OTHER SPORTS YOU LIKE TO WATCH- FOOTBALL AND TENNIS CRICKET GROUND- EDEN GARDEN AND CCI (MUMABI) DRESS CODE- CASUAL WEARS FOOD- PLAIN AND SIMPLE FOOD WITHOUT ANY SPICY STUFF. HANGOUT PLACE- SEA SIDE and which all qualities should he posses? There is no glamour in this profession. As far as rights are concern, it is limited to preparing wicket, we don’t enjoy that much rights which are given to the officials of various cricket associations. If you do some extraordinary work, there will not be any reward but any wrong doing at your part would lead to abusive behavior. For a curator, patience and stamina is must. If you are emotional, it is a very negative thing to be in. Challenges keeps tumbling in your way every now and then.

According to you which cricket ground stands as favorite and worst in your list? If I go effort wise, Dharamshala is the best up coming stadium in the country but I am really disappointed with the Chinnaswamy stadium of Bangalore with its handling of cricket getting filthy day by day.

What do you have to say on Indian Premier League? If IPL is handled properly it could be a boom for the cricketing world but if it goes in the wrong direction then young cricketers could become lazy seeing the amount of money cash rich league generates.

What’s your say on mounting rise of glamour and money in cricket?

Any hardship with BCCI? Cricket is a passion in our country but we have limitations also. It is the moral duty of the board to expand its wings so that our bench strength can shape up to a stronger outfit. If we start looking for the talent in the remote areas of the country it could do a lot of good in the future and no body in the entire cricket fraternity would find it easy to compete against us on the cricketing field. India has bunch of talents which just require nourishment to shine on the horizon of cricket.

We can’t run away from the amount of money cricket is having these days as it is a necessary commodity for every cricketer to live a good livelihood. Entry of glamour world is good for cricket but cricketers first and last love should be cricket only.

What steps should be taken to keep Test cricket alive? First of all every Test match should be result oriented. Number of overs must be looked upon. Giving special attention to pitches could be of great help. Moreover organizing day and night Test matches is another way to keep the interest for this longer version of cricket intact among the masses. World championship of Test cricket should be organized as every country would like to be the Test champion of the world.

You have been appointed as the chairman of pitch committee by BCCI, How much it satisfies you? I am very happy and satisfied also. I don’t have greediness for the post but I am always there to help. Let me tell you one most important thing, I am working for the board without taking any salary from them.

Have you been allotted some special work for the upcoming World Cup in 2011?

Who are your favorite cricketers in three formats of cricket?

For the big tournaments like World Cup ICC has its own pitch committee to look after all the wickets but if any work is

Sunil Gavaskar (Test), Sachin Tendulkar (ODI), Yusuf Pathan (T20) and Garry Sobers (All-Rounder). 

match

SPARKLING STARS

content news interview

66

Cricket Today September 2009

w

hen a side ends up vanquished with a consummate ease in both the original formats of the game, it is hard to pick up the positives from the series. Pakistan’s story in Sri Lanka was in total contrast to their World T20 campaign, as they crashed from one defeat to another, and were left sprawling on the floor, bruised, battered and waiting to be counted on the grounds of a technical knock-out. Yet, there were a few encouraging signs, unfortunately, which the captain Younus Khan failed to pick up early enough to have any kind of an impact on the score-line. It is an old Pakistani cricketing trait to, as they call it, to catch them young. Rarely would a Michael Hussey-like example rear up its head, and then a few of these adolescent-looking international stars would go on to assume the mantle of seniors in the side to continue the cycle. Three of the four cricketers that I profile today fall in the former category. The fourth, Saeed Ajmal, is case in a contrasting point, with a debut at ripe old age of thirty and a look of a bowler who has had the experience of greasing those fingers with the leather in the first class cricket for days without end. These were the four who managed to salvage some pride for the visitors on the tour, who fought without the inhibitions that usually engulf those who understand how a collective set of failures could impact their futures and their careers; which in more ways than one assisted them in playing with a mindset very fresh.

Can the future of Pakistan be nurtured in the right direction? by Suneer Chowdhary

FAWAD ALAM: For a reason not known to a lot, including yours truly, the Pakistani squad for the test series in Sri Lanka, consisted of only two frontline openers, one of whom had exhibited enough signs in the ICC World T20 – that had immediately preceded the test matches – of not only being out of form, but rather low on confidence. The skipper, on his part, had been criticised in the media – and not too wrongly at that – for having not picked Fawad Alam for the first test, after he had displayed his attitude, and form, in the tour game immediately preceding the fixture. So when Alam was hand-picked for the second game, it hadn’t come as a surprise, but what definitely had been the fact that he was made to open the innings. Alam is a middle-order batting

Cricket Today

September 2009

67

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania all-rounder, and his usual number in the order would have been a five or a six. When one alludes to the top spot in the longer format of the game, it does necessitate a player to possess some basic skills which are usually built by batting at that position over the times, and Alam certainly hadn’t done that. Yet, his knock in the second essay was one that defied this common aforementioned belief, one that had all the characteristics of a player who looked to have been around since the times of W.G. Grace, and possessed all the necessary ingredients to prove that he was a batsman to watch out for in the future. For all one knows, Alam may not be as successful in the opening slot as his 168 on debut – the second-highest score by a Pakistani on debut – showed him to be, but the one glaring aspect of his character that came out from that knock was his ability to adapt to the conditions in a position and a venue that was as unfamiliar to him as batting was to Courtney Walsh! Alam’s bowling in the shorter version of the game is a clear asset, especially in

The true test of Aamer came in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. He came out at the top of the wicket-taking charts with nine wickets at an average of 20 was good enough, what added the cherry to the cake was his economy of 4.23 – the best by any bowler in the series!

this day and age of the spinners returning back to capturing the eyeballs and becoming the cynosure of everyone’s eyes again. To me, Alam gives an impression of being one of those, who could easily turn into a Shahid Afridi of the future. Careful handling is a must though!

MOHAMMAD AAMER: When you are a left-handed quick bowler, and rather young and raw, and playing for the Pakistani team, comparisons with the great Wasim Akram are as commonplace as the dime-a-dozen quick bowlers that have come out from their stable. But, unlike some of the others that have been produced by Pakistan, Aamer is not all about pace only. The speed gun may have touched the 145km/hr mark on the odd occasion or two, but that, to the onlookers hasn’t been as surprising as the fact that his control has been almost impeccable. The lines and the lengths have been to a plan; every batsman has been worked over as well as Aamer has been able to

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

68

Cricket Today September 2009

done, as was exhibited in the longer format of the game. With not much meat on his physique, it was only natural that surviving through the rigours of test cricket would be baptism by fire for a young man, and the performances were not up to the marks set by the ones in the other formats. There is still some way to go before Aamer can probably do his bit in the five-day version as well, but for now, Pakistan Cricket needs to ensure that the history, in the form of the his-namesake Asif and Shoaib Akhtar does not repeat itself.

SAEED AJMAL: Spinners, they say, do mature with age, but a test debut at the age of almost 32 is stretching the limit a little. Saeed Ajmal burst onto the Pakistani scenes with a spell of 1/47 in his ten overs in an ODI against India, where the rest of the bowlers conceded runs aplenty, and continued with his stingy and wickettaking foray into international cricket with an economy of less than four runs per over in the 15 ODIs he has featured in since. T20 seem almost tailor-made for Ajmal, as scoring off the off-spinner has almost been an exercise in futility, and because of the nature of the game, wickets have been rather easier to come by. Ajmal had ended the ICC World T20 as not only as one of the top wicket-takers, but again, with an economy that had the bowlers around the world drooling. This after, only days before the start of the tournament, the Pakistani selectors had mulled over dropping the off-spinner after he had been reported for possessing an action that contravened the ICC laws. Ajmal may not be a long-term solution to Pakistan’s spinning problems – Danish Kaneria is almost the only one on hori-

and the lack of first class experience – remember, he is only 17 and had not played more than ten games before making his debut – has been more than made up by his willingness to learn. Aamer had been reasonably impressive in the World T20, and one of the reasons for Pakistan success was that some of the opposition batsmen had underestimated, and almost overlooked the man from Rawalpindi during their

preparations. The true test of Aamer came in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, that followed immediately after the tournament and the bowler came out at the top of the wicket-taking charts. Nine wickets at an average of 20 was good enough, what added the cherry to the cake was his economy of 4.23 – the best by any bowler in the series! This is not to say that Aamer does not have too much more learning to be

T20 seem almost tailormade for Ajmal, as scoring off the off-spinner has almost been an exercise in futility, and because of the nature of the game, wickets have been rather easier to come by.

Cricket Today

September 2009

69

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

zon, and he has begun to leak more than he bags – but for now, he does look like he could herald the next generation of spinners into the side in a couple of years. He has provided the Pakistani academies some breathing space to unearth that next talent, a Saqlain Mushtaq or Mushtaq Ahmed,

there is an almost inevitability about how similar the batting styles of both the brothers is, their swagger-like mannerisms at the crease and ability to take advantage of the fielding restrictions. Akmal was selected for the Sri Lankan ODIs after having impressed the selectors in the domestic games with a

72 balls! While it is easy to understand that far too often has a young batsman captured the imagination of world cricket and only flattered to deceive, most of the times, it has been the inability of the team-management, the cricket board and even the media and the fans

Umar Akmal definitely looks promising enough to be termed as a prodigy, how the people around him handle that is a fact that could shape his future. For now though, he has attributed his ability to handle the pressure to the presence of his brother Kamran, on his side.

that looked so missing from their lineup till Ajmal came in. Or probably they have just unearthed it in the form of Ajmal!

UMAR AKMAL: One needs to take a closer look if one were to note differences in the two brothers, Kamran and Umar Akmal. Their cricket isn’t too different either. While Kamran bats right-handed, younger brother Umar is a southpaw, but there is where the difference ends;

more-than-acceptable average of almost 45, and a crunching strike-rate of more than 90 to his name. This earned him a call-up to the ODI squad, and a ravishing century in the tour game when all seemed to be lost and an embarrassing first ODI loss later, he was strutting out to play his first international in his career. The second game saw him get to a halfcentury – a 65-ball 66 – and in the very next match, he went one step better with a match-winning century off only

to handle the young prodigies. To me, Akmal definitely looks promising enough to be termed as a prodigy, how the people around him handle that is a fact that could shape his future. For now though, he has attributed his ability to handle the pressure to the presence of his brother Kamran, on his side. And that may be the one difference – a sibling who has been there, and done and endured that – that would be of a huge assistance to the young man. 

news

THE ASHES

preview cover story interview trivia contest

England Bury Themselves in Ashes, Airlift to the Oval

70

Cricket Today September 2009

Michael Clarke scored a fine century but it could not come in the way of an England victory that brought the crowd alive, too much for Ricky Ponting’s taste. But it did not stop the rap for Kevin Pietersen with Sir Geoffrey Boycott labeling him a “spoilt child”. Be that as it may, Pietersen was also battling an acute Achilles heel problem that necessitated surgery on a priority basis which meant that Pietersen was in a hospital by the end of the second Test and would play no further part in the Ashes which, at that point in time, appeared England’s for the taking. It did not matter; Flintoff was sleeping with a machine that alternatively compressed

by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu he prognosis ahead of the third Test of the Ashes: only rain and England could stand in the way of the Australians retaining the Ashes. The rain did its part but England were another matter altogether. The series is now tantalizingly poised at 1-1 going into the fifth and final Test at the Brit Oval. But there were no doubts about which team had had the more ignominious stumble going into the final encounter. When the Ashes chapter last halted, England were on an indisputable high after winning the second Test at Lord’s. It was a great finish after pulling off the Houdini in the first Test at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. But fast forward four Tests later, it would not be surprising if one found it incredible that this was the same England team. Edgbaston was ruined with an entire day washed out due to rain, but the only thing that was available after the outcome of the fourth Test was time.

t

GLORY BEFORE THE INGLORIOUS When the final wicket pair of James Anderson and Monty Panesar batted earnestly on the fifth day in Cardiff to keep Australia from that dangerous one nil lead, it appeared England’s confidence had derived the necessary momentum. Four Australian centuries could not get Australia ahead. Then the astonishing (even though it was expected) victory riding on the back of the England openers and in particular, the

Johnson led Australia’s celebrations in the fourth Test.

England captain, Andrew Strauss, gave England the upper hand in the series that appeared to have wound up the Australians. The aggression of Andrew Flintoff was the driving force on the final day of the second Test and in that were fashioned memories of Ashes 2005 when England beat the odds and history to steal the urn from under the nose of the hapless, not to mention gaping, Australians.

his knee and he had taken enough cortisone to push him through.

NO SHADES OF GREY England were even in a generous mood (some would say, they were looking out for themselves). Brad Haddin, the Australian wicket keeper, injured himself just minutes after the toss in the course of the warm up before the match. With team sheets having already

Cricket Today

September 2009

71

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

been exchanged, Ricky Ponting found an ally in Strauss who allowed Australia to make an eleventh hour substitution. (Ponting would return the favour in the fourth by delaying the toss by a half hour to help Matt Prior recover from back spasms.) Australia struggled once again to put up a strong first innings total after makeshift opener, Shane Watson (Phillip Hughes was dropped), brightened up a gloomy first day with authoritative batting. James Anderson, with five wickets, and Graham Onions, with four, sliced into the visitors. England then had the inspiration of Andrew Flintoff for seventy-four runs and England captain, Andrew Strauss, in good nick for sixty-

nine runs before him as England took a 113 run lead, this despite the efforts of Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle. But it was an innings completed after an entire third day’s play was washed out, reducing the competitive possibility of anything other than a draw. In the near four sessions left thereafter, Australia put forth a strong batting performance, to the extent that England held back Flintoff with a

view to preserve his weakening strengths. Shane Watson’s half century was only complemented by a rare Mike Hussey half century. But it was Marcus North who was busy climbing the impressive rungs that Test cricketers do with ninety-six glorious runs even as Michael Clarke was making a strong statement of his ability to withstand pressure and take on responsibility with another century. Australia made a definite grinding even as England would have gone into the fifth day with an outside chance of making it 2-0. Highlight of the match: Ponting surpassing Allan Border’s record for the

Clarke was the show stopper with his magnificent knocks of 103 and 93 in the third and the fourth Test.

There is a cliché in Test cricket that the first session of a Test sets the tone for the match. In the fourth Test of the Ashes at Headingley, the first session not only set the direction of the match but also, decided the fate of the England team. most number of Test runs (11,174).

PICKING BETWEEN GRIM AND DEJECTION Suddenly the boos were the sounds Ponting was relishing. No longer were the hostile receptions a nasty surprise. Instead they were assurance for Ponting and his men that they were doing something right. They were getting to the crowds, rather the crowds had got to them, had revived their gamesmanship, the challenge of being the ugly champions, at all costs. One would think it was by deliberateness rather than by chance that the aggression in the body language was back, sledge words came as did the snorters. Australia had changed gears between the rain and the Test at Edgbaston. England did not prepare for impact. And they paid rather heavily, by conceding the lead they had so inspirationally earned at Lord’s. Even the talk amongst the Australian apparently got to the England think tank who decided to leave Flintoff out of the match, against the all rounder’s assertion that he was no worse than from the first Test There is a cliché in Test cricket that the first session of a Test sets the tone for the match. In the fourth Test of the Ashes at Headingley, the first session not only set the direction of the match but also, decided the fate of the England team. There were calls from sections of the Australian media, as also from Allan Border, demanding that Mitchell Johnson be dropped. Johnson himself feared the worst. Yet the Australian think tank continued to persist with Johnson after seeing glimpses of aggression in his body language at Edgbaston. The only change, a devious one as England would find out, was the substitution of spinner Nathan Hauritz

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia England batting was only contrasted by the deadly accuracy of Australia’s bowlers and Peter Siddle, with a five-fer, was like a tiger who was not about to let a weakened prey out of his grasp.

Peter Siddle celebrates in joy after taking five wickets in the first innings of the fourth Test Match.

for a man all of the Australia and the rest of the cricket world had been begging to be recalled, Stuart Clark. When one considers that England lasted the duration of a day’s play for the entire Test that comprises two innings, it is not hard to see why England were dejected. When the writing is pretty much on the wall by lunch on the first day of a Test, those are danger signs

for a team. For England, it was too late. What makes the Headingley Test such a nightmarish experience for England is that fact that there was nothing particularly devilish about the pitch or the weather and while Australia were perhaps closer to executing their plans than they have been all of the Ashes summer, the England batsmen lacked the temperament on the day to raise

72

Cricket Today September 2009

their game. Injudicious shot selections, ill-preparedness at the crease, perhaps even taking the opposition’s bowling attack for granted, England had no time to recover from the spiral they set themselves for. A concerted effort by the Australian bowlers though was pivotal for Australia to stage a comeback in the Test series. Ben Hilfenhaus performed outstandingly but it was Peter Siddle who struck gold after Clark made his mark. The tameness and trepidation in the England batting was only contrasted by the deadly accuracy of Australia’s bowlers and Clark’s precision was perhaps the quality the Australians lacked most on this tour. The vulnerability in the England backbone was exposed by the combination of bowlers and Peter Siddle, with a five-fer, was like a tiger who was not about to let a weakened prey out of his grasp. Being bowled out for 102 in just 33.5 overs, the ashes spread all over England’s debacle very early into day one. The England scorecard had nothing to write home about. Thereafter, Australia capitalized on a strangely lackadaisical England bowling, indicative of the depressed mood by the efforts of the morning. It came with an arrogance and finesse thereafter as Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting steered Australia past England’s paltry score into the realm of possibilities and then cherished the glory of Michael Clarke in the morning and Marcus North in the sunny afternoon of day two as they brought Australia to their near invincible aura (Andrew Strauss would be hoping that aura stuck around only for that match). Clarke missed what would have been his third Test century of the summer by seven runs, but it did not stop North from getting the third in his short career. Stuart Broad’s six wicket effort was completely overshadowed by 445 colossal runs that Australia chalked up, a deficit of 343 that England would buckle under. England’s collective collapse was only further strengthened by James Anderson’s uncharacteristically wayward bowling. Hilfenhaus though enjoyed the responsibility, another four wicket haul testimony of it. But there was another to overshadow this hero. Mitchell Johnson came to England as the Australian spearhead over the last six months with Brett Lee slipping in and out of domestic turmoil as well as injuries. Lee stirred controversy when he stated he was ready for the fourth

Cricket Today

September 2009

73

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

Test but took on Shane Watson for discussing Lee’s lack of match fitness, something the selectors appeared to agree with. However, Johnson slipped from Australia’s favourite son (no reference to the relationship with his mother here, although many have attributed it as a factor on this tour) to Australia’s most hated. But he came up with a more belligerent game plan, one that reaped enormous dividends in terms of a five wicket haul that gave Australia their series leveling win by an innings and eighty runs in less than three days. Johnson is not about to change that aggressive tone and intent, Cricket Australia’s warning about sledging notwithstanding.

OFF THE CUFF REACTIONS The England team were evacuated from their hotel rooms in the wee hours of the morning of the first day’s play due to an alleged prank on the part of the Australian fan group, the Fanatics, setting off the fire alarms. It is hard to blame this disturbance for

England’s shambolic performance but it cannot be ruled out as one of the factors. And if indeed it was a prank, irrespective of whether it impacted the performance of the opposition, fans have only disgracefully shown how low they can stoop and for a country with such rich cricket history, they have reduced the intensity of the sport by a nefarious activity unbecoming of custodians whose job it is to keep the flag flying high. There was panic in England as speculation went into overdrive. Flintoff was promptly drafted in two days after the fourth Test ended on the third day. Marcus Trescothick was supposedly confronting nightmares following word of a possible recall while Mark Ramprakash was certainly the talk of the town despite Jeff Thompson’s take that Ramprakash’s contributions could only come in the form of a couple of “ball dance moves”. England though chose to repose faith in Jonathan Trott in lieu of Ravi Bopara who appears to be a victim of sledging, from the commentary box and most palatably from Shane Warne.

Flintoff chip in with classy 74 in the third Test Match.

Anderson was the pick of England bowlers with 5/80 in the first innings of the third Test Match.

Justin Langer’s secret dossier on the England cricketers was not even necessary as far as Australia were concerned. But there are rumblings within the Australian team too. Andrew Hilditch stated that Clark will certainly be on the back end of the list of Australia’s preferred fast bowlers and there is no word about Brett Lee and where his future is headed in the midst of such fierce competition. Ponting is counting on the unstable environment in the England dressing room but he better be sure to check in on his own. If England were an ordinary team to begin with, their win at Lord’s makes their performance even more extraordinary. If this was an overnight lapse, they cannot go from being a competitive team to a rather hopeless one all in the span of one Test. Aficionados of the game will be hoping it is the latter, that Pietersen’s call for heroes to rise will be heard, and that what awaits them at the Oval will be one nail biting, tempestuous finish. 

match

BOUNCER

trivia contest reviews content news interview

74

Cricket Today September 2009

Although Flintoff announced his retirement from Test cricket, England will still have his services as a one day international player and Twenty20 cricketer, which incidentally also makes him eligible to participate in the Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings since it is also a Twenty20 event. In a telling case of the rigours of the game, Flintoff is trading the version of the game he claims to love the most for one that will provide him the comfortable livelihood for him and his family despite his prevalent injuries. In a way, Flintoff endorses the fears that emerged when Twenty20 took off in the millions of dollars, namely that the Indian Premier League (IPL) will encourage premature retirements. With loads of money to be made with less than half the effort required in a one day international, it was an irresistible lure for any cricketer, especially one with a young family. With that percentage being a huge population in

Make Flintoff’s Retirement hirty-one seems the wrong age to be saying “I’m retiring” and yet that is exactly what England all rounder, Andrew Flintoff, was saying as he bid adieu to Test cricket at the end of the Ashes. As injury prone as his career has been, it still came as a shock. Not only was his age a reason for concern but also, that it could be the start of a pandemic was not lost on the cricket fraternity.

t

A GAME OF NUMBERS ONLY? On the outset, there appears nothing out of the ordinary or even spectacularly incredible about Andrew Flintoff. But if it is consistency of big hearted efforts one is looking for, look no further. Five wicket hauls and magnanimous centuries may have not always stood out on Flintoff’s career graph. But what the graph cannot plausibly show is the vivaciousness and determination he brings to the field, the aggressive intent that he inspires amongst his team and his ability to charismatically draw the crowds into the game to add to the intensity of the situation. If cricket were a game of numbers only, then Flintoff is still infantile by age and thirty-one is no age to be turning his nose against the game. Yet here he is

An Exception, Not the Trend by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu telling the world that nothing means more to an England cricketer than playing in the Ashes but also, that this will be his swansong. Is he leaving the cricket for greener pastures? Yes and no.

RETIREMENT WITH A TWIST Even five years ago, a retirement like this would not have gone down well with the selectors as cricketers were not considered eligible to make decisions about selective retirement on their own. Worse still, retirement would have implied unavailability and the option of picking one version over the other, not the prerogative of the cricketer. Circa the age of Twenty20 and suddenly seemingly snap retirements and reignited careers do not seem to suffer the wear and tear of the time machine.

cricket, it was not long before the oldest amongst them and the youngest were queuing up to be picked by the franchisees in a version that had even less of a workout for a king size pay packet. It would not perhaps then be an unfair question to ask: would Flintoff still continue to play for England in the Test matches had he not had the IPL contract inked? This is not to say that Flintoff is looking at a better life and therefore, releasing himself from the commitment from arguably the most rigourous ‘test’ in cricket history. The fact that he has announced his retirement has not meant that Flintoff would rest on his past laurels. If anything, he has appeared more determined in the Ashes, even withstanding debilitating pain at times, than he has in recent months. His outstanding performance

Cricket Today

September 2009

75

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

at Lord’s to give England the winning edge was merely an example of it. But where sustenance over a five day game is all about endurance, Flintoff had put in too many days of absence and his lack of attendance had become a permanent contingency plan with the England team. With the one day internationals affording rest between playing days and the Twenty20 games taking less out of a player, Flintoff has chosen to have his cake and eat it too. While he continues to play cricket, Flintoff is ensuring he can do it in the way he feels possible for him to hold his fragile body up.

CAN FLINTOFF BECOME A PRECEDENT? Former England opener and now commentator, Sir Geoffrey Boycott, hit the nail on the head back in February earlier this year when he stated he did not think Flintoff had it in him to go beyond the Ashes and that he would likely take the course of announcing his retirement from Test cricket and focus entirely on the IPL where he bagged the highest paid cricketer tag for 1.55 million dollars. Andrew Flintoff did not take Boycott’s advice on retirement and it is quite possible retirement was not Flintoff’s mind, not until the Ashes anyway. Flintoff kept assuring the Chennai Super Kings of his presence in the IPL 2 season in South Africa even though he was returning home from England’s tour of the West Indies with a hip injury. Then the knee injury broke his will power and the eventual rehabilitation ushered in a rather premature retirement. Injury/illness can have a strenuous effect on the mind. Flintoff, at the time of announcing his retirement, touched upon the fact that since that the Ashes of 2005, he had spent two of the four years in rehabilitation over a number of injuries, a fact hit upon when noticing that Flintoff had played in only twentythree of the forty-six Tests that England played since that success until the series against the West Indies. In that sense, it should not have come as a shock in a strategic sense for England who, by now, should have found an alternative. However, players such as Flintoff are hard to

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

Pietersen would have been thinking come by and even harder to replace. Their immeasurable qualities make them along those lines after his Achilles heel injury, allegedly worsened during the IPL not only unique but also, virtually indis2, became such a hindrance during the pensable, especially when the team is not doing well and needs that additional first two Tests of the Ashes that he was stretchered right into surgery in effort from the heart. But players such as Flintoff also have to that the last lingering image was of him hobbling while trying to take a run and weigh – at what cost. When injury has the next image was of him on crutches. played such an important part in a As it turned out, complications sportsman’s life, there has to be the linin the form of infection in gering question – is it all worth it? the scar tissue after surgery Apart from ’job’ satisfaction, he had him going back to the hospiwould be considered practically tal, further setting back his plans of foolish to pass up the opportunia comeback. ty to be earning a living from While Pietersen insisted that he had no the game but with much less plans for a premature retirethe stress on his body and ment in lieu of a career subsequently, on his mind. Former that was exclusively In a more determining England opener IPL’s, these are realisand with rather detriSir Geoffrey Boycott, hit tic contingency mental effect, there the nail on the head back thoughts going could be young players in February earlier this year who would look at when he stated he did not think through any modern day cricketer Flintoff and at the first Flintoff had it in him to go (as well as adminishint of serious injury, beyond the Ashes and he could think to themselves – is focus entirely on the IPL where trators) and it it necessary to get to this he bagged the highest paid would be hard to blame them, even level of deterioration, cricketer tag for 1.55 for being excessively especially when there is an million dollars. materialistic. easier option available? In a way, this lure also came PREVENTING A through official channels. The ICC had an inkling of the commercial fall outs of FLINTOFF FOLLOWING These are incredible days for a cricketer blessing an initiative such as the IPL, although the extent may have escaped - money in the game like there never even the more discretionary mind. For was before, opportunities galore other the ICC to talk about unregulated cash than playing for one’s country and fame of unprecedented proportions for flow in the game is then its rather late, helpless response to the growing conshort blitz of glory. cerns over players’ loyalties in the game. There were concerns that Kevin

76

Cricket Today September 2009

Gary Kirsten, the Indian coach, pin pointed the IPL 2 as a factor in India’s debacle of the ICC World Twenty20 in England. However, it is hard to argue on the lines of fatigue when most players around the world were also featuring in the IPL 2. Having said that, Kirsten was hinting at the commercial aspects of the game that were dividing the player’s time between his commitments on the field and those off it and affecting his judgement about resting and recuperating ahead of an important national duty, resulting in lengthy injury lay off thereafter. The ICC has its own solution in the issue it has raised. By placing ceiling on the payments accruing through authorized cricket such as the IPL and checking them through unplanned growth and expansion (case in point, ninety-four proposed matches in the 2011 edition) when the end and means are only financial and not all of it going into the development of the game, the ICC

Cricket Today

September 2009

77

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

would do itself and the game of cricket a great service. By ensuring to raise the players’ security and compensation in the matter of injuries as well as a reasonable pension beyond retirement would go a long way in attracting the player to stick with national commitments over club commitments. Be it Test cricket or club cricket, players fear losing their spot, play day in and day out without letting the team in on their injuries and with no time for recuperation, are susceptible to frequent breakdowns that only in a vicious circle type scenario, add to their insecurity of a longer stint with their national team. More inclusive contracts, incentives based on performance appraisals, better scheduling of the international calendar, more planned breaks for family time, would go a great way to keep the player happy and secure without having to stretch for the Cricket Australia’s style of takhimself. ing care of their players to make sure Domestic dispute was they were fresh, fit and raring to go. stated to be the startPonting was given rest following ing point of Brett the end of the fifth Ashes Lee’s downslide of his Test and the mini break marriage and his Ricky Ponting was intended to keep him career. Cricket recently spoke about fresh for a long internaAustralia did not his gratitude and appre- tional list of commitlose the opportuniments as captain even ty and instead held ciation for the Cricket though Michael Clarke a day for family Australia’s style of taking is hot on his heels. counseling before care of their players to Flintoff may not have their cricketers headmake sure they were been making a great ed to England for the fresh, fit and rarcase for too much cricket Ashes. Ricky Ponting given the number of Test recently spoke about his ing to go. cricket matches he has missed. gratitude and appreciation

However, it is a concern and perhaps a more humane schedule will see players perceive playing for their national team just as financially rewarding and physically less demanding. Some would say that the reason so many cricketers whose chose to associate themselves with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) only to break away now was because the IPL money had stunned them into thinking they had done the wrong thing. But for most cricketers with a candid confession, they have spoken about just how much they missed being a part of their national line ups, of wanting something deeper as a cricketer than the mere thrill of Twenty20, and of being able to play Test cricket in all its intensity. Another way to raise the profile of the game in the eyes of the cricketer would be by not diluting Test cricket, the highest format of the game, to suit the Twenty20 viewer but rather encouraging the growth of the game and raising the attraction for donning one’s national colours. Redefining the profile of the domestic structure to enhance lucrative incentives while the cricketers hone their skills for the preparation of the larger tests would be another. Cricket would do itself a great favour by ensuring that future Flintoffs have a better chance at performance, rest, rehabilitation and raising a comfortable lifestyle (most cricketers’ pay cheques already afford the latter) so that they would not find themselves at the crossroads where cricket must become a pitchfork affair. 

match

DISTINGUISHED CAREER

content news interview

78

Cricket Today September 2009

urtains fell on a very distinguished Test match career of Chaminda Vaas after he announced that the series against the Pakistanis would be the last one he would be a part of; of course, with a caveat that he will be still available for selection in the other formats of the game. And to my mind, with this closure, we are one step away from the end of cricket seeing these decade and half test careers in the future, what with the magi-noodle format of the games allowing for cricketers to feature in the five-day games for some years before calling it quits for the lucrative alternatives. Not for nothing did Vaas survive and blossom for more than 15 years in international cricket. If he had begun his international innings as a nippy and quick swing bowler, then like many of his predecessors, he quickly learnt the art of surprising the batsmen with the vagaries of his

c

Man Friday of Sri Lankan cricket walks into the dawn by Suneer Chowdhary bowling. Like Dennis Lillee, Imran Khan or Javagal Srinath, he learnt the motley of change of pace, cut across the seam, and the ball that straightened instead of coming in with the swing to the right handed batsman. All of this ensured that 110 test matches after having made his debut, he ended his sojourn at the test match level with 355 wickets at a more than acceptable average of less than 30 runs per wicket. The oft-repeated phrase about Vaas being one of

the servants of Sri Lankan cricket rings is absolutely true. But, more than the figures associated with his bowling, it is a batting milestone that corroborates this fact; a century in test matches after having none in the first 96 games that he played in! As if toiling manfully on unresponsive tracks, inhuman weather conditions and under captains who would wait for as long as the first couple of them went to the fence before turning to Muralitharan was not enough, Vaas had taken upon himself to metamorphose himself from a dour blocker to a useful accumulator, to finally an all-rounder who could more

Cricket Today

September 2009

79

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

Vaas’ legacy will always be remembered for being a successful fastmedium bowler from that part of the world where the tracks have traditionally been difficult to bowl on for his brand of art.

than hold his own with the bat. This is not to say that the bowling deteriorated with time. It is often said that Murali is the wily old fox, with a bag full of tricks. However, Murali’s biggest asset that provides the perfect backbone to the rest of his armoury, was his ability to turn the ball a mile. Vaas did not possess a lot of pace, with the swing with the new ball being his only forte. The pace may have decelerated, but not the guile and the wiliness, and with age, Vaas managed to ward off any challengers to his position in the team with some excellent ability to roll the fingers over the seam, either ways. And lest one forget, he did relish conditions that supported even an iota of swing, such was his control and mastery of

the incoming ball to the right-handers. In one such ODI against the hapless Zimbabweans, he ran through the top, middle and the lower order to send eight batsmen – including a hat-trick – back to the pavilion, and finish off the opposition for a measly 38 runs! As if to prove that this effort with the ball was no flash in the pan, he cleaned up the mighty Indian batting with a 5/14 haul, on a track where his own countrymen had piled up a near 300. Another opposition to suffer at the hands of Vaas was Bangladesh, as the 2003 World Cup saw the first ever instance of a bowler picking up three wickets off the first three deliveries of the game, and he added another one off fifth delivery to send the opposing batting into an early tizzy. Incidentally, he finished the tournament atop of the bowling list, with 23 wickets. To give an analogy of his swing, it was a Siamese twin to Irfan Pathan’s when the Indian was at the peak of his prowess – or the other way around – but unlike Pathan, whatever he lost by the way of pace in the early part of his career, and the bite in the later portion, was made up in more ways than one by his mental strength and pin-point lines and lengths. Vaas’ legacy will always be remembered for being a successful fastmedium bowler from that part of the world where the tracks have traditionally been difficult to bowl on for his brand of art. And where does his retirement leave the Lankan pace bowling cupboard? The answer to that question can possibly be found mirrored in two important and interesting facets. One is the fact that Sri Lankan mediumpace bowler, Nuwan Kulasekera, currently holds the top spot for bowlers in ICC’s official rankings; a position

that he has held for more than six months now. Secondly, if one were to look at the Sri Lankan bowling records of the recent times, it would becomes easier to conclude that the Vaas has done enough to inspire the younger breed of quick bowlers into not only taking up this trait, but also matching the likes of Muralitharan and Mendis, wicket for wicket. The first game of the ongoing test match has already had Thilan Thushara do more than his bit with the ball, whereas the test series preceding this – against Pakistan – had had Nuwan Kulasekera topping the bowling charts with 17 wickets. Even there, Thushara had scalped 12, which was after the nine he bagged in the ODIs. With Angelo Mathews coming into the fold too, the Lankan quick-bowling cupboard seems to have more than just the one proverbial leaf off the Chaminda Vaas book. To cap it, Sri Lanka also possesses the likes of Farveez Maharoof and Lasith Malinga, both of whom have been more out than in the side because of a variety of reasons – injury and form being the two major ones at that. Malinga has already proved his worth as an almostunplayable bowler in the death overs with his ability to bowl the ones under the batsmen’s bat at will. On the other hand, Maharoof had a decent start to his career, but lack of wickets seems to have taken the sting out him, and Mathews has taken over the number seven position of a bowler who could bat in the ODI setup. So much so, that Mathews has earned the test match cap as well, and while his bowling remains as ‘work-in-progress’ for now, what certainly does not is his attitude. What will be definitely missed, if not for his incisiveness was his perseverance at bowling longish spells. Known to sometime finish up eight or nine overs off the ten a bowler is permitted to, in a single first spell, he could also take up the role of a stock bowler, which permitted the Lankan captains to unleash Muralitharan from the other end and pick up many a wicket. In all probabilities, it will be a difficult road back into the ODI side as well for Vaas, but somewhere in there, there would be a burning desire for their last hurrah, that final moment of glory, and a healthy contribution in the home World Cup of 2011, just like he had in the 1996 version. It remains to be seen whether he gets that opportunity! 

news

YORKED!!!

preview cover story interview trivia

80

Cricket Today September 2009

The unluckiest

team in the world by Chetan Narula eing a fan of the South African cricket team is without doubt the most frustrating job in the world. After all, you always take pride in your team being one of the most professional one to play the sport and start almost every tournament as one of the favourites. Even then the South African Cricket Board’s cupboard lays thread bare with nothing of note to show for. It is nearly eighteen years up since the Proteas won back the right to play cricket, host international teams and travel on tours abroad. Apartheid had kept them away for quite a bit of time but the way they started, it almost seemed as they would make up for it without passing too much time. It happened first in the 1992 World

b

Cup. Under Kepler Wessels, South Africa were largely an unknown and unpredictable commodity at that time. But they were not disappointing in the preliminary round when all teams had to play against each other. They ended third in the league with five victories from eight games, although before the tournament they had won only one of their three introductory limitedovers matches in India, some three months before. Here, under coach Mike Procter, one of the world’s greatest cricketers at the time of South Africa’s expulsion, and spearheaded by the speedy Allan Donald, they coolly beat Australia by nine wickets at Sydney. They lost to New Zealand and Sri Lanka but beat the West Indies at Christchurch followed by a win over Pakistan and another over India in a rain curtailed match which guaranteed their passage to the semi finals.

In between all this, the players shone with some brilliant performances. Peter Kirsten, who was left out of the original tour squad, averaged 68.33 in the preliminary matches. Jonty Rhodes attracted notice by his electrifying fielding, immortalized himself with an airborne demolition of the stumps to run out Inzamam-ul-Haq. All of them were gathering steam at the right time and in the knock out stages, you never know which team might outperform the other. In the end, their campaign was cruelly ended by the sudden heavy shower which fell on the SCG, transforming a requirement of 22 off 13 balls to a mocking 21 off one. It was such a ridiculous rule that the moment in question is still a butt of many cricketing jokes round the world. After the 1992 tournament, the South African team grew from strength to strength. Hansie Cronje was the captain, had the likes of

Cricket Today

September 2009

81

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia Gary Kirsten, Darryl Cullinan and Jonty Rhodes in the middle with Allan Donald leading the bowling attack. Four years hence they arrived in the Indian sub-continent perched again as one of the pretournament favourites. Placed in group B, they won all their matches handsomely, with none of the teams coming even remotely close to troubling them. But they ran into the West Indies in the quarterfinals and in fact it was one man Brian Lara who was their downfall, not the remaining ten. His century cost them a place in the semis, as they faced a relatively early flight home. 1999 saw them gain even more strength. There was Herschelle Gibbs at the top of the order now, Mark Boucher in the middle and Lance Klusener after that, all in the same explosive mould making the team an even bigger threat. What’s more, their biggest rivals Australia were rebuilding as Steve Waugh was newly appointed captain and had endured a tough series in the Caribbean.

The group stage again went as per the script for they topped the charts with four wins out of five. More than that, they lost to a maverick Zimbabwe side – punching much above its weight through out the tournament – and so many thought that the worst was now behind them, as they had had their share of bad luck in this one world cup. It seemed so too for in the Super Six stage, they won their first

Lance Klusener who had been flawless throughout the length of the 1999 World Cup now botched up a run and the match was a tie. Australia progressed on the basis of their win in the Super Six.

82

Cricket Today September 2009

two matches and were in complete control going into the last game against Australia. Beating them would mean an easier semi final, plus their biggest rivals the Aussies going out as well. As it turned out, that match became famous for two things. Steve Waugh’s brilliant fight back and Herschelle Gibbs dropping the world cup, oops no, a catch! It is probably the most famous dropped chance in the history of the sport as Australia were able to fight back and advance to the semis, setting up a clash with the Proteas again. Waugh had been calling on his team to show their wares and become champions after the disappointment in 1996. And their determination showed as did the nerves of the South Africans. Lance Klusener who had been flawless throughout the length of the 1999 World Cup now botched up a run and the match was a tie. Australia progressed on the basis of their win in the Super Six. Televisions beamed the image of Cronje standing muted in the dress-

Cricket Today

September 2009

83

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

ing room at Edgbaston. Some say you can still see his ghost at that ground! The following couple of years were not that great for cricket in South Africa as the year 2001 brought out a lot of ghosts from their closet, most notably the ban on Hansie Cronje for allegations of match fixing. Nicky Boje and Gibbs were affected too and while these names were spent off the field, Donald and Jonty Rhodes bid adieu as the 2003 World Cup approached. This time to be held in South Africa, it was no different in the sense that they were once again billed as pre-tournament favourites. It was no different in that sense as well that their luck refused to change even when faced with home

support. They lost to West Indies and New Zealand but it was the tied match against Sri Lanka that hurt them the most. Rain intervened in the match bringing in mess-making Duckworth-Lewis into play. South Africa were level on runs required and Mark Boucher decided to play the last ball of the game for a dot. Nobody in the middle or in the dressing room had bothered to check what the par score was. Shaun Pollock bore the brunt of this foolishness and was soon expended with, as this time it wasn’t as much with the luck but with being prepared. South Africa had fallen short

In 2007 World Cup South Africa again faced Australia in the semi finals but they were bowled out for just 149 in the knock out stage to complete their poor run, yet again.

in the first round itself and their world cup curse was no firmly in place. Under new skipper Graeme Smith, the Proteas took a long time to rebuild. 2004 was an especially poor year for them as they could only beat the West Indies in ODI cricket and being honest, they are not the toughest teams to beat. However, they are too good a team to keep down for long and in 2006, they chased down 434 in an ODI against Australia in Johannesburg to signal to the world that they were once again on the upswing. Prior to the 2007 World Cup, they regularly challenged the Aussies for the world number one ranking and even overthrew them on a couple of occasions. It seemed the stage was set for a royal battle and this time there would be a different result to the South African challenge. But they managed to mess up this one time as well. Losing to Australia in the group stages, they lost to New Zealand in the Super Eights and then went down to Bangladesh as well. What this meant was that they would once again face Australia in the semi finals who were gunning for their third consecutive crown. And in the last ODI World Cup South Africa were bowled out for just 149 in the semi finals to complete their poor run,

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

yet again. And this world cup hoodoo has extended to the T20 World Cup as well. That very same year in 2007, in the inaugural tournament, they were well placed to make it to the semi-finals on the back of some strong form. In fact they were the unbeaten team of the tournament till the time they met a rampant Indian team. Chasing 154, they needed 130 odd runs to qualify for the semi finals on terms of run rate as the Indians turned on the heat. But put South Africa under pressure in any world cup and they will crumble came true once again as they managed to not only lose but failed to get to the threshold of qualifying for the next round. It was no different for them in the 2009 T20 World Cup in England. They were clearly the best team, winning every game in the group stages and then the Super Eights as well, only to go down to Pakistan in the semi finals. Or should one say Shahid Afridi! Whatever be the verdict, it is but a fact that South Africa are the best cricket team ever not to win a world cup.

In 2002 Champions Trophy they went down to India in the semi finals when chasing 260-odd, they were well guided by a century from Gibbs. But Gibbs retired and then the Indian spinners turned on the screws. Their story is much the same in the Champions Trophy as well. In 2002, they went down to India in the semi finals when chasing 260-odd, they were well guided by a century from Gibbs. But Gibbs retired with dehydration and then the Indian spinners turned on the screws. In 2004, their match against West Indies was hit by rain and when play continued the next day, the Windies chased down 250 with ease. In 2006, Windies

84

Cricket Today September 2009

again played their nemesis in India this time, as they stopped their run once again in the semis, this time chasing 262 with ease. The only success on the world stage to come South Africa’s way has been the Knock-Out Trophy in 1998, where they were superb winners in Bangladesh. Two years later they reached the semi finals again, so this was a much consistent performance on the better side for the Proteas. And lest we forget they also have the only ever CommonWealth Games cricket gold medal to their name, which came in 1998. The underlying point is this: should their fans over the world be satisfied with just one major win and a sorry excuse for a gold medal in almost two decades of their return to cricket? When are some of the best cricketers in the world going to stand up, make themselves be counted and make sure that poor excuses such as bad luck, carelessness and one-off wins for lowly placed teams do not get in their way of much-deserved glory? When is South Africa going to break their hoodoo at a World Cup? 

content news interview

RAHUL DEWAN

IN CONVERSATION

My heart goes for Haryana

match

86

Cricket Today September 2009

Rahul Dewan might be a new kid on the block but he has started roaring for what looks like the beginning of a promising career. Having received the award for best under-22 player from BCCI, Rahul is leaving no stepping stone behind to achieve his ultimate goal. He speaks exclusively with Cricket Today about his cricketing world.

WHAT LED YOUR INCLINATION TOWARDS CRICKET? I come from a sports background family. My father and brother were cricketers in their times so by seeing and talking to them I developed interest in cricket.

WHEN DID IT HAPPEN? I started playing cricket when I was in the sixth standard. By the time when my ongoing reached satisfaction level I thought of taking this sport seriously. Family support was always there to stand up by me.

YOU PLAYED JUNIOR CRICKET FOR DELHI BUT THEN WENT ON TO PARTICIPATE FOR HARYANA IN RANJI TROPHY. IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC REASON FOR THIS? I have been there in the Delhi side for under-19 and under-22 slot and even led the brigade. Performance wise I was up to the mark especially in under-22, but all my efforts went in vain when I couldn’t crack a place in Delhi’s Ranji team. I knew Delhi team had got openers like Sehwag, Gautam and Aakash, so my chances of getting in the team were very dim. In order to play Ranji early in my career, this idea of moving to haryana struck in my mind and I moved on with that.

Cricket Today

September 2009

87

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

GIVEN A CHANCE WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY FOR DELHI AGAIN? Haryana gave me a chance when I was looking for an oppurtunity to play early in my career. Now it is my responsibility to stuck with them. Playing for Delhi is the talk of future but presently my heart goes for Haryana. I will put my sheer hard work in to take my team to the elite group and if it happens, I am going to be the most proud person.

HARYANA COMES IN THE PLATE DIVISION OF RANJI FORMAT BECAUSE IT GETS LESS FOCUS FROM MEDIA AND INDIAN CRICKET BOARD. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ON THIS? Last season was my first season with Haryana and I am very satisfied with the performance. Moreover our one-day matches are played according to zone wise format. We also got chance to chip in for Duleep and Deodhar Trophy. I know that my team is a part of plate division because of which it finds less mileage as compare to Elite division but we would be giving our best in the coming season so that we can take our team to the main division. Good performance can not be backed out on the basis of divisions in domestic competition.

WERE YOU CONTACTED BY ANY OF THE FRANCHISES IN THE SECOND SEASON OF THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE? I went to Bangalore Royal Challenger’s camp this time round but unfortunately couldn’t get my place in. They selected one middle order batsman and one bowler from the trial camp so I was not looked upon as there was no requirement for the opening slot. I didn’t contact any other franchises because each one of them has got lots of players in their realm.

YOU ARE A GOOD BATSMAN BUT STILL YOU ARE NOT A PART OF ANY IPL TEAM? I was in the Delhi Daredevils team on the scholarship basis in the first season but couldn’t get chance to play. I was only contracted for one year.

IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO PLAY IN THE THIRD SEASON OF IPL, WHICH TEAM WOULD GET YOUR THUMBS UP? I am ready to play for any of the IPL team because every time round position of teams goes up and down. IPL is a very good platform for the youngsters, where hard work in short span of time can bring you in limelight, which is like a dream come true for any of the young lad.

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

88

Cricket Today September 2009

YOUR MEMORABLE INNING SO FAR? I have played many good innings in the Under22 cricket where scores of 160, 300 and an unbeaten 254 are intact in my memory, but the knock of 81 runs in the Duleep trophy is my best and memorable inning so far because it got me words of praise from Rahul Dravid. He spoke to me for five minutes after this inning.

WHICH FORMAT OF CRICKET YOU LIKE THE MOST? I like all the three formats of cricket. Test cricket checks batting technique, patience and the talent posses by its disciple. With my strong performance I will try to put myself in contention for all the three formats of the game. However Test cricket is the real form of this game.

YOU ARE VERY CLOSE TO AAKASH CHOPRA, HOW MUCH HELP HAS HE OFFERED TO YOU? Aakash bhai has always given me guidance. Apart from technique he has taught me how to improve my batting abilities and patience too. To be honest Aakash bhai has a major role in my success.

BOLLYWOOD HAS TAKEN ITS ENTRY IN CRICKET. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT? It is a nice step from which both the parties would get benefit. Players will get the chance to meet their favorite on-screen stars. Furthermore people have started getting more attached to cricket because their much loved bollywood celebrities are joining cricketing ranks.

HOW DID YOU FEEL AFTER RECEIVING THE AWARD FOR BEST UNDER-22 CRICKETER FROM BCCI? I was really happy at this facilitation. It is the result of my hard work and is going to act as an inspirational factor in the near future. Now my efforts would be to perform well in the Ranji Trophy so that I could get the best player award in this competition some day.

HAVE YOU EVER MET VIRENDER SEHWAG? Yes I have met Viru on one or two occasions. He is very humble and even after getting so much fame he speaks so cordially and politely with everyone. Viru is incredible and just by seeing him you get the sense of self control.

Cricket Today

September 2009

89

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

MY FAVOURITES: BOLLYWOOD FILM ANDAAZ APNA APNA ACTOR (MALE) AKSHAY KUMAR (COMEDY) AND AAMIR KHAN ACTOR (FEMALE) PRIYANKA CHOPRA CRICKETER SACHIN TENDULKAR OTHER SPORT BESIDE CRICKET I LIKE ALL THE SPORTS CRICKET GROUND WHERE EVER I SCORE RUNS. DRESS CODE IT DEPENDS ON THE OCCASION. FOOD NON-VEG & ITALIAN. MOBILE HANDSET NOT ON THE LIST. I JUST REQUIRE PHONE TO MAKE CALLS AND SEND MESSAGES.

WHAT ARE YOUR ACTIVITIES IN THE LEISURE TIME? Apart from regular net practice I devote my spare time to enjoy with my family and friends.

match

WILLOWY WORDS or me, the spirit of cricket and all the values it stands for is more important than the players, runs, wickets, winning and losing. For me, cricket as I loved died long back. I wish cricket had remained an amateur game. England, where professionalism under the curb of amateurs always existed, is an exception, though.” Vasant Naishadh Raiji, former Mumbai player, eminent cricket writer and historian, and sincere, dedicated patron of the game, has echoed feelings of many old-timers like him. His whole approach to cricket and his ideas about the game may imply that he is a traditionalist. But he is not completely averse to modernism in cricket. He insists, however, to call himself a person who has played the game, who loves it. “As it was once played,” he hastens to add. There are certain things that irritate Raiji about present-day cricket. “There is too much commercialism. Players talk of money and money all the time. This has

“f

content news interview

led to bad sportsmanship, challenging umpires’ decisions, maligning your colleagues and opponents, raising unnecesary controversies and so many unpleasant things. Cricket crowds also show much indiscipline, booing players who fail,” he laments. Born on January 26, 1920, Raiji is more famous as a critic and historian than as a highly competitive cricketer he once was. He had represented what were then Bombay and Baroda in India’s national championship. Raiji started playing cricket while at school. He was an opening batsman almost throughout his cricket career. At the school, college and club level he also bowled off-spin, but did not get much of a chance to show his bowling skills in first-class cricket. He captained his school team in the Harris Shield in 1935. He also led his college side and won the batting prize for three successive years. His highest score in the Rahimtoola Shield InterCollegiate Tournament was 118 against

90

Cricket Today September 2009

St. Xavier’s College in 1939. Raiji was likewise captain of his beloved club, the Jolly Cricketers, in the Kanga League. Did he ever dream of representing India in Test cricket? “On the basis of my performances in first-class cricket I wasn’t good enough to play for India. It’s possible that I had the potential but it wasn’t realised. I can’t say that any injustice was done to me. I had never set my eyes on the India cap. I loved the game and played it for fun and enjoyment. I consider myself lucky that I had good fortune to represent Bombay and Baroda in the Ranji Trophy,” he says with the touching modesty, an endearing feature of his personality. He was a reserve for the Hindus in the Pentagulars in 1941. Incidentally, the Hindus won the championship. And so did Mumbai, in 1941, though Raiji’s own showing made “no contribution” to its triumph. Raiji also played for the prestigious Cricket Club of India (CCI) against the Commomwealth Team that toured this country after World War II. It was a

Vasant Raiji, a respected Indian cricket historian by Haresh Pandya three-day game with a first-class status. He was in London in 1946 and 1947, playing club cricket at the Indian Gymkhana. He scored four centuries in England. Interestingly, he played for the Indian Gymkhana against the touring Indian team in England in 1946, though it was not a first-class game. Learie Constantine also played for the Indian Gymkhana in the match. Raiji played a solitary club match at Lord’s. He shone with bat as well as ball, scoring 41 not out and taking 5 wickets. After returning to India he played for Baroda against what was then Madras in a Ranji Trophy semifinal in February 1950. He made 42 and remained undefeated. Raiji continued playing club cricket until 1960. He was about 40, and with no “motiovation” left, he decided to stop playing for good. Raiji is the oldest living Mumbai cricketer today. Right from his early childhood Raiji was a great admirer of L.P. Jai and C.K. Nayudu; he also held Mohammad Nissar

Cricket Today

September 2009

91

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

and Amarsinh Nakum in high regard. So much so, he dedicated his nicely edited book L.P. Jai: Memories of a Great Batsman to Nayudu, Nissar and Nakum. But he could not help admitting, “Of course, Don Bradman was every schoolboy’s hero in the 1930s.” However, it is Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji who remains Raiji’s all-time favourite cricketer. “Though I watched him just once in 1928, when I was only 8 years of age, I’ve vivid memories of his strokeplay. But more than a player he was one of the finest gentlemen I ever met. He was so modest, so considerate. I had tears in my eyes when I learnt of his death,” he says about his idol. In fact, Raiji has always been keen to discuss this princely personality with anyone who is interested in the game and its glorious past. Raiji had edited, in collaboration with Vijay Merchant, Anandji Dossa and Vithalbhai Jhaveri, a very interesting and nostalgic commemoration volume, Duleep: the Man and His Game, in 1963 following his death in 1959. Frank Worrell was another favourite of Raiji. “What a beautiful batsman! His every movement on the cricket field was graceful. The same can be said of C.K. Nayudu,” he remarks about the former West Indies captain. After giving up cricket as an active player, Raiji wanted to continue his association with the game. “I loved the game so much. So I wanted to be a part of it,” he emphasises. He ruled out scoring and umpiring and administrative duties. Instead he tried his hand at cricket writing when the Pakistani team toured India in 1961. All the articles he wrote about the

Raiji is more famous as a critic and historian than as a highly competitive cricketer he once was. He had represented what were then Bombay and Baroda in India’s national championship.

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia Pakistani side and its players were published in The Times of India. “K.N. Prabhu was its sports editor at that time. It was actually he who gave me the break in the field of cricket writing,” reveals Raiji, expressing his sense of gratitude towards one of India’s greatest sportswriters. Raiji continued writing informative, interesting critical pieces on cricket, never compromising with his fixed ideas about the game and its practitioners. Since there was not a single book on the incomparable Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji by an Indian cricket writer until then, Raiji decided to write one. The result was Ranji: the Legend and the Man, a book warmly received by the serious students of the willow game in India and abroad, which also hit the stands in 1963. “Charmingly produced. It is excellent. Every essential is in it. The author writes about the great magical player with understanding and imagination,” remarked Neville Cardus, no less, in his inimitable style while reviewing the book in Wisden. Cardus had earlier written a personal letter to Raiji and complimented him on his nice book on Ranji. John Arlott, too, wrote two excellent reviews of the unputdownable book. “A charming study of one of cricket’s most exciting personalities… A fascinating and consice record of a player who possessed genius,” said the renowned broadcaster and cricket writer. The success of Ranji: the Legend and the Man and its favourable, rave reviews by distinguished cricket writers gave Raiji the much-needed impetus to write more books. Victor Trumper: The Beau Ideal of a Cricketer, a fine and conscise biography (edited) of the legendary Australian, followed in July 1964. Strangely, he did not pen a single book for nearly two decades after that, except one, Ranji: A Centenary Album, in 1972. Of course, he kept contributing articles to various newspapers and magazines and also authored two books on his profession, including Professional Goodwill: Its Tax Implications and Valuation. “Being a Charterd Accountant, and always in much demand by my large number of clients, I had neither time nor inclination to write cricket books during that particular phase of my professional career. But I enjoyed writing articles on a wide range of cricketing subjects during the same period,” he explains. But Raiji bounced back after twenty

years and contributed handsomely to the already rich cricket literature in the 1980s with some of the most intenselyresearched books. The first of them was The Romance of Ranji Trophy – 50 Golden Years. The book was published in 1984 to mark the golden jubilee of India’s national cricket championship. In 1986 came Raiji’s much-acclaimed India’s Hambledon Men to mark the centenary of the first Parsee (“or call it

Raiji started playing cricket while at school. He was an opening batsman almost throughout his cricket career. At the school, college and club level he also bowled off-spin, but did not get much of a chance to show his bowling skills in first-class cricket.

92

Cricket Today September 2009

Indian”, as the author suggested in his preface) team’s visit to England. The book was meant to be a triubte to the Parsee cricketers’ vision, spirit of adventure and enthusiasm. In 1987, the golden jubilee year of Brabourne Stadium, Raiji and his friend Anandji Dossa, the renowned cricket statistician, wrote a brilliant history of the famous ground in a concise form. The book was aptly titled CCI & The Brabourne Stadium: 1937-1987. The two knew each other since their school days in 1930. Raiji and Dossa watched Lord Tennyson’s team play the inaugural match at the Brabourne Stadium in December 1937. Since then they have seen most of the games played at this historic ground in Mumbai. Two years later, in 1989, Raiji came up with C.K. Nayudu, the Shahenshah of Indian Cricket, one of the more admired books on the man who led the country in her maiden Test at Lord’s in 1932. Raiji, who on one occasion had played with Nayudu, paid a rich tribute to the legend, who was much more than a mere cricketer. Raiji did not write a single book in the whole of 1990s, but penned two in the present decade. Duleep: A Centenary Tribute was published in 2005 and From Presidency to Pentangular (in collaboration with the star statistician Mohandas Menon) in 2006. Though all of Ranji’s books are very special in themselves, Ranji: the Legend and the Man remains his masterpiece. However, their author is very humble and modest and says that he has only tried to return something to the game which has given him so much. “I won’t like to single out any particular book of mine and say it’s my best. It’s for you to decide. You won’t believe but it’s a fact that I’ve never thought of any one of them being my best or masterpiece. I’ve enjoyed writing all my books. And they’re all a labour of love for me,” he remarks. “Every cricket writer is a historian except one who writes cricket fiction. A report on a cricket match or a contemporary player later becomes a part of cricket history. I enjoy both, writing articles as well as books, though I can’t write books that often,” he adds. “I think my plus point as a cricket writer is that I’ve played the game at a firly high level. So I know the technical aspect of the game. I’ve also read a lot on the subject: history of the game, biographies and autobiographies of

Cricket Today

September 2009

93

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania when he reveals that he has kept no account of the amount he has spent on cricket books. “It must be a staggering one,” he adds. Like most lovers of sports literature, Raiji feels prices of cricket books from abroad have rocketed in the last twenty years or so. They were not so expensive earlier. Until recently, Raiji had an enviably rich personal cricket library, featuring rare classics, including immortal works of Cardus, Jack Fingleton, R.C. Robertson-Glasgow, Ronald Mason, E.V. Lucas and a host of other celebrated cricket writers. But Raiji sold off almost 90 per cent of books from his library to an avid cricket enthusiast in Mumbai a couple of years ago, keeping only a select few he just could not part with. “I’m fast approaching 90. To keep and maintain such a large number of books was a problem for me and my wife. So I thought of passing them on to a deserving person. Though I got money in return, it wasn’t for the lucre that I disposed them of. I’m sure he’ll take good care of them as he is a genuine lover of cricket literature just like you and me,” he says. Cardus tops the list of Raiji’s most favourite cricket authors. “Cardus was unique and stands head and shoulders above every other cricket writer. I don’t think any cricket writer will ever approach him,” he eulogises the maestro. “I don’t think there is any great cricket writer today. It isn’t fair to compare Indian cricket writers with their oldtime English and Australian counterparts. The game of cricket has changed over the years, especially the spirit in which it’s played, and so has cricket writing. My preference is for the oldtime game and old-time cricket writers.

cricketers, etc.” What is the place of the cricket writer in sports circles? “A good and objective cricket writer may have some following. At least he would be welcome and not regarded as an intruder. I think cricket readership is very limited in our country. It’s diferent in England,” he replies. Will the miracles of modern technology such as television eventually replace print media forever as far as cricket journalism is concerned? The ever optimistic Raiji does not think so: “I doubt if this would ever happen. They can never replace good cricket literature. Both, the print as well as electronic media, have their own place and importance and will stand side by side.”

Even today, Raiji reads gluttonously on cricket, particularly the books on the game. He also loves history, economics, short biographies, humour, “light phiolosophy” and poetry. He admits he has not read much fiction. The future cricket author and historian started buying books in the early 1930s when he was a schoolboy. As he grew, his personal cricket library also became larger in size and stock. As cricket books were hardly available in India in those years, he used to order them from London. One English bookseller used to send him a catalogue of cricket books from time to time. Always meticulous and methodical in whatever he does, Raiji surprises you

In 1989, Raiji came up with C.K. Nayudu, the Shahenshah of Indian Cricket, one of the more admired books on the man who led the country in her maiden Test at Lord’s in 1932. Raiji, who on one occasion had played with Nayudu, paid a rich tribute to the legend, who was much more than a mere cricketer.

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia class cricketer, represented Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy from 1941 to 1948. Raiji has two sisters and he is the eldest of the four siblings. His mother, Jayshree, was B.A. in Philosophy. She was also a social worker. Importantly, she was a member of the first Lok Sabha, getting elected from Mumbai on a Congress ticket. Raiji’s intellectual better half, Panna, is a Ph.D. from Mumbai University. She was a script and commentary writer with the Films Division of India. She retired in 1961 to look after their two young daughters, Brinda and Renuka, and did occasional freelance writing. Her book, The Indian Film, is perhaps the first serious study of all aspects of the Indian film industry. Brinda and Renuka post-graduated from the American universities and are happily married. Brinda is married to Dr. Sudhir Nanavati and lives with him in Ahmedabad. Renuka is married to Brian

But then I myself am an old-timer.” Raiji has never been a professional cricket writer and he never “plans” about writing books on the sport dear to his heart. He says he sometimes gets an idea. If he developes it, and finds it interesting, it culminates into a book. “A cricket writer must know the game well. He ought to be aware of its bylaws and rules, its etiquette and its history. He should read the best books on the game and shouldn’t neglect the statistical aspect of the game,” feels Raiji. “He should discuss cricket with others who are more knowledgeable. He should watch cricket as much as he can. He should try to improve his command of the language he writes in. You can acquire sound technical knowledge of the game by playing, watching, reading and discussing it with others.” He further adds: “A good background of the game’s history and its literature helps. Also necessary are enthusiasm and hard work. He should have practice of writing through the opportunities offered. Above all, a bit of luck also plays its part.” The Gujarati-speaking Raiji’s father, Naishadh, was also a well-known Chartered Accoutant of Mumbai. He was a keen follower of the game and always encouraged his two sons, Vasant and Madan, to pursue their passion – cricket. Madan, who was also a first-

Raiji has never been a professional cricket writer and he never “plans” about writing books on the sport dear to his heart. He says he sometimes gets an idea. If he developes it, and finds it interesting, it culminates into a book.

94

Cricket Today September 2009

Fernandes and has settled down in Perth in Australia. Despite being affluent, Raiji strongly believes that marriage ceremonies should be “dignified and simple, without any pomp”; large expenditure on marriage is “unnecessary and wasteful”. He gives his own example: “I didn’t spend more than Rs. 1,000 on the marriage of each of my two daughters. One of them is married to a Christian – we had no second thought about it.” Besides cricket, Raiji follows tennis closely. He watches, albeit on television, all sports except wrestling and boxing, which he does not like. He had played table tennis at the school, college and club level. He had won his school’s table tennis championship in 1931 when he was just 11. When he was in England, he had played table tennis at club level during the winter. When asked, Raiji agrees that even the most distinguished sportswriters are

not encouraged, let alone recognised, in this country, where political commentators and cartoonists are given all sorts of awards and five-star treatment and by the people in power. “It’s a sad state of affairs. But what can one do about it?” he regrets. “The situation isn’t so bad in England and Australia. Neville Cardus, John Arlott, Jim Kilburn. A.A. Thomson and many others did get recognition for their contribution to cricket journalism and literature. Cardus, as everybody knows, was even knighted. Jack Fingleton will perhaps be remembered more as a cricket writer than as a cricketer. One can only hope that in due course of time things will change for better in this country.” 

match

GREATS OF THE GAME content news interview 96 Cricket Today September 2009

Hanumant Singh,

the prince who played

with a royal touch by Haresh Pandya will go anywhere, to any part of the world, to watch Hanumant Singh bat.” – Richie Benaud When the former Australian captain made the aforementioned statement, he was probably echoing the feelings of many cognoscenti of classic batsmanship. For the Indians he was one of the most gifted and attractive batsmen of his generation regardless of the fact that he played only fourteen Tests thanks to petty politics. The Prince of Banswara, the erstwhile Indian state with 15-gun salute, always played his cricket like one. There was an unmistakable royal touch to his presence on the field. He was undoubtedly one of the most delightful, magnificent and scintillating batsmen imaginable. Hanumant Singh was born in Banswara in Rajasthan on March 29, 1939. Cricket was already in his royal blood. His uncle, Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji (who incidentally happened to be the peerless Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji’s nephew), represented

“i

Cricket Today

September 2009

97

editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania

England in 12 Tests. His cousin, Kumar Shri Indrajitsinhji, played four Tests for India as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Unlike most Indian cricket royals, who studied as well as honed their cricket skills abroad, Hanumant was much more home-grown. An alumnus of Daley College in Indore, he was a star player of the Vikram University cricket team. Like many Asian batsmen before and after him, he was not very tall; and hence was affectionately called “Chhotu” (short) by all. But he was an immensely gifted right-handed batsman. Good judgement and sweet timing enabled him to play all the shots with effortless brilliance. A very confident batsman, he would pull the ball with gusto and hook without inhibition. Artistic and elegant at the crease in his own limited way, Hanumant was truly a connoisseur’s delight when on song. A busy man at the wicket, he kept the scoreboard ticking and hardly allowed the bowlers, spinners and speedsters alike, to tie him down. Though he played fast bowlers with élan, he was simply a scourge of spinners. “He was a sight to behold against spinners on a difficult pitch. He was technically very sound and it was always a challenge for the best of spinners to get him out. I still remember his flawless 83 for Rajasthan against Karnataka in the 1973-74 Ranji Trophy final on a spiteful turner at Jaipur. It was sheer poetry,” said former India off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna. Though chiefly a specialist batsman, Hanumant was also a useful leg-spinner and a spectacular fielder in the deep. He made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh in1955-56 before beginning his long stint with Rajasthan. He essayed many memorable, prolific innings for Rajasthan. When the other Rajasthan batsmen were cheaply and quickly returning to the pavilion against Uttar Pradesh in a crucial Ranji Trophy tie in 1961-62, he tried to stem the rot with a masterly 200 not out. He launched his international career with a majestic105 in 222 minutes, including 15 fours, in the first innings against Mike Smith’s England team at Delhi in 1963-64, becoming only the third Indian after Lala Amarnath and Deepak Shodhan to score a century on Test debut. It was adjudged the best innings of the match. Only a few months later, he came close to making a century in his first Test against Bob Simpson’s

For the Indians Hanumant Singh was one of the most gifted and attractive batsmen of his generation regardless of the fact that he played only fourteen Tests thanks to petty politics. Australian side, too, but off-spinner Tom Veivers had him caught by Norman O’Neill when he had scored 94 (in a total of 193) in Chennai. An undefeated 149 at Bangalore and 98 at Hyderabad in the “unofficial Tests” against Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) rounded off a very fruitful year for Hanumant and India seemed to have finally unearthed a reliable middle-order batsman it badly needed.

When the experienced Vijay Manjrekar called it a day after scoring 102 at Chennai against New Zealand in March 1964-65, Hanumant quickly demonstrated, with resolute knocks of 75 not out at Mumbai and 82 at Delhi, that he was ready to take on the mantle. He capped yet another successful season with a scintillating 213 for Central Zone against the star-studded South Zone in Duleep Trophy. Hanumant was at his best against Garfield Sobers’ mighty West Indies team that toured India in 1966-67, scoring 102, 52 and 85 in first-class matches; and 37 and 50 in two Tests. He continued his good run in the Ranji Trophy, too, making 166 and 132 versus Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh respectively; and 109 and 213 not out against Mumbai in the final. He ended the season with 838 runs in 9 innings at 139.66. With such performances to back him, Hanumant was an automatic choice for the 1967 tour of England. Though he scored a breezy 73 in the second innings of the first Test at Leeds and added 134 runs for the fifth wicket with his captain “Tiger” Pataudi (148), India could not avoid defeat. It was the only time Hanumant was his usual self at the wicket on what turned out to be his only overseas jaunt with the Indian team. A groin injury kept him out of the second Test at Lord’s. In the third and last, he made only 15 and 6. England won the series 3-0. The entire team had fared badly in England, but when the time for selecting the Indian side for the difficult tour of Australia in 1967-68 came, the axe fell on Hanumant first of all. Given his ability to handle hot pace on lively pitches and his track record, he deserved to be one of the first choices. His omission from the Australia-bound team still remains one of the mysteries of Indian cricket. “I was deeply shocked, and greatly disappointed, when I was dropped from the team for the Australian tour. I still find it very hard to fathom. I had proved my ability against different bowlers on different pitches and my record wasn’t that bad either,” he told this writer a few years ago. “I was young and had still a lot to offer to Indian cricket. I was determined to stage a comeback but the selectors appeared to have made up their minds to ruin my Test career.” Hanumant did make a comeback – in the first Test against New Zealand at

match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia

98

Cricket Today September 2009

Hanumant Singh never remained idle in retirement and served cricket in various capacities – as national selector, as manager of the Indian team and as director of National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. As an ICC match referee, he earned respect of players, authorities and the media.

Mumbai in 1969-70. He was under tremendous pressure to prove his worth all over again. And it reflected in his two uncharacteristic knocks of 1 and 13. He never played for India again. “This wasn’t the way to treat a class and committed cricketer like him. He was truly a great batsman. It’s a pity Indian cricket didn’t make the most of his genius and ignored him consistently,” lamented the dashing allrounder Salim Durrani, who played with Hanumant for many years for

Rajasthan. In 24 innings (twice not out) of his 14 Tests, he scored 686 runs at 31.18 with the help of 1 century and 5 fifties. These statistics, though not unimpressive, hardly reveal the kind of batsman Hanumant actually was. The suave, unassuming Hanumant, who was an executive with State Bank of India, did not allow his frustration to get the better of him and continued to play first-class cricket with his old enthusiasm and passion. As late as in1976-77,

he captained Central Zone against Tony Greig’s England side. He retired from first-class cricket in 1978-79 after scoring 12,338 runs at 43.93, including 29 centuries. His 6,170 runs in the Ranji Trophy were within a striking distance of Vijay Hazare’s record tally of 6,312 at the time. A quiet, thinking cricketer, Hanumant was an astute captain, too. He led Central Zone to their maiden Duleep Trophy title in 1971-72. A teetotaler and non-smoker, Hanumant was a thorough gentleman. Despite being a prince and a cricketing celebrity, he never put on airs. In fact, he would feel embarrassed talking about his own cricket or royal lineage. He never remained idle in retirement and served cricket in various capacities – as national selector, as manager of the Indian team and as director of National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. As an ICC match referee, he officiated in 9 Tests and 54 One-Day Internationals and earned respect of players, authorities and the media. He was coach of the Kenyan team that created a major upset in the 1996 World Cup on the subcontinent by defeating the then powerful West Indies team at Pune. “This triumph means a lot for me. It’s as important for me as it’s for the Kenyan players. It’s sweeter than even my debut Test hundred,” he told this correspondent inside the Kenyan dressing room amid wild celebrations. The humble, unassuming Hanumant breathed his last on November 29, 2006, in Mumbai. 

match

THE LEGEND

w

trivia contest reviews content interview

hen cricket was a gentlemen’s game, not as professionalized as today, in the year 1958, a gentleman from Pune reached the international stage making his city and state proud. A living legend with a flawless career, who shared his 75th birthday with Maharashtra Cricket Association formed in the year 1934, is none other than India’s former captain Chandu Borde. MCA felicitated the legend in a grand ceremony and the dais sparkled with celebrities like Ajit Wadekar, Nana Patekar, and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar! An ideal personality in the cricketing fraternity, Chandu Borde has never talked about his achievements and had a cricketing style of his own. A talented leg-spinner, who has sent back star performers of the opposition to pavilion, was also known as ‘panther’ due to his electrifying fielding skills. A great cricketer, he is also adored by his colleagues for been a great human. A down-toearth personality who kept his feet grounded all the time, Borde is known for his authority of the game. He is a personification of right batting technique, footwork, placing, and running between the wickets. His contribution in seven big Indian vic-

tories is amazing! The first one was against Australia in Kanpur in 1959, when India won the game by 119 runs. Borde got the wicket of Australia’s Norman Onil which was the turning point of the match. The second victory against England was in 1961 at Eden Gardens which India won by 197 runs. It was due to Borde’s all-round spectacular performance in which he scored 2 half-centuries in both the innings and took 4 English wickets. India won another Test match in Madras by an inning and 128 runs where Borde scored valuable runs and took 5 wickets. A scintillating victory against Australia at Breborne stadium, Mumbai was achieved when Borde steered India to victory, reaching the target of 256 runs in partnership with Indrajeet Singh. The other 4 victories, were against New Zealand. The one in Delhi at Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium which India won by 7 wickets with Borde scoring 87 runs in the first innings and Venkat taking 12

100

Cricket Today September 2009

wickets! The next three consecutive wins were in New Zealand. The test at Dunedin, when India won by 5 wickets; test at Wellington, which was won by 8 wickets, and the last test at Auckland, where Borde scored 41 and not out 65 runs, and led India to victory by 272 runs. With such a huge contribution to India’s success, one can only say. “Hats off to you, Sir!” Borde was the president of the selection committee during the 1983 world cup, when India wrote a history. Along with a great all-rounder and captain, Chandu Borde is also a very good coach. He had an easy way of training budding cricketers and never complicated the cricket technique. “I am a firm believer in God and he has helped me not only throughout the career but for entire life.”, said the veteran cricketer in the grand function. The beauty of the event was the variety of speeches of the guest who had

NOT OUT 75! by Radhika Karve

gathered to honour Mr. Borde. Some speeches were very heart-touching, while others were spicy. “Ups and downs in the career have helped me to handle tough situations in life”, said Borde. “My career started because of an article in Pune Sakaal, which narrated my achievements and thus my parents allowed me to take cricket as my profession. I appreciate this felicitation especially because it is in my home town. My life is smooth because of my wife Vijaya as she handled the home front very efficiently. Her inning in my life is very important and her contribution is incredible.” Talking about the shorter version of the game, Borde said, “50 and 20 overs game is complementary to Test cricket. Improvisation of the shots is going to be useful in Test cricket. Globalisation gives a good opportunity for players to improve.” Narrating a heart-touching incidence about Sachin, he said, “When he played for India for the first time in 1989 we were on the tour of Pakistan. I was the manager of the Indian team. Resting in my room in Sialkot late in the night, I heard a consistent thud against the wall. I woke up and went to the room right above my own where Sachin was

Cricket Today

September 2009

101

editor speaks letter

staying. This little boy was playing different shots at this late hour in front of the mirror! When asked the reason, he said, ‘Sir, I am only used to going to bed with my family and couldn’t fall asleep. So, I was practising!’ Since next day was his first day of representing the country, I patted him and put him to sleep. This lad, who was then afraid of being alone in the room, now intimidates his every opponent on the ground!” Addressing Mr. Borde, Master Blaster Sachin said, “I congratulate him on behalf of the nation. I was very lucky to have him as a manager during my first tour. Guidance is very important for a 16 year old child. He helped me when exactly needed, guiding me about improving my batting and avoiding mistakes. He never changed my natural batting instinct, talent and never overmoulded me. He did this out of great passion, and no expectation. In the year 2007, Indian

Borde is known for his authority of the game. He is a personification of right batting technique, footwork, placing, and running between the wickets.

team was in a turbulent phase and a calming factor was utterly essential. Borde Sir played a very important role and we won the series in England, though he didn’t get the deserved credit as a manager of the team. Looking at his enthusiasm today, he doesn’t look like he is 75. And with God’s blessings, he must score a century, as said in batting terms!” Former Indian captain Ajit Wadekar said, “There is a huge difference between mine and Borde’s age. But we are very close to each other. He has always encouraged all his colleagues to perform well and was the best captain I have played under. He is my idol.” The spice of the event was added by actor Nana Patekar. Saluting all those sitting on the dais, he said, “I am awed by Mr. Borde’s zeal and looking at him, it is obvious why retired artists and retired cricketers look different. I am representing the crowds here. Otherwise, I don’t deserve to be seated along with people with such credentials. We the crowds will always expect you cricketers to win. And when you do so, we garland you. But if you lose we are bound to blaze your effigy. We will never change. All trophies are always named after a cricketer, posthumously. Hence sitting next to Mr. Ajay Shirke, president of Maharashtra Cricket Association, I was asking him to name a trophy by Chandu Borde’s name as Mr. Borde is surely going to complete the century of his life.” 

news

MARKET MANIA

preview cover story interview

102

Cricket Today September 2009

By Rakesh Pandey BOSE SOUNDDOCK PORTABLE Great build and finish. Good quality audio. It can play rich-sounding music for several hours, thanks to its built-in-battery. Price: Rs. 23,513/-

BLACKBERRY BOLD

Almost the perfect business device, with Wi-Fi, 3G and a QWERTY keyboard fronting a surprisingly sleek case. Best looking BlackBerry yet. Price: Rs. 34,990/-

HP DV2 HP’s new darling oozes style from every pore. A 12-incher, it has the right combination of features and performance for an ultra-portable. Price: Rs. 42,990/-

CASIO EXILIM PRO EX-F1

The EX-F1 is able to shoot a ridiculous 60 frames per second. However, as impressive as that is, it can’t focus fast enough to keep up with fast-moving action. To avoid blur, we suggest plumping for the 15-20fps mode instead. Price: Rs. 40,000/-

Gulf Oil launches Motor Oils Gulf Oil Corporation Ltd., a Hinduja Group company, has made an aggressive bid to augment its presence in the passenger car motor oil (PCMO) segment by launching three new products (Gulf MAX Supreme 20W-50 - Targeted at Premium Segment Cars, Gulf MAX Supreme 5W-30 - Targeted at Top End Segment Cars & Gulf MAX TD 15W-40 - Targeted at Diesel Cars and Utility Vehicles). The products were unveiled by Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, S Sreesanth and Piyush Chawla, players from the Kings XI Punjab IPL team, of which Gulf Oil is the Official Team Partner.

SAMSUNG YP-Q1 8GB Classy Samsung offering with a clear 320x240 resolution screen and compatibility with BBC iPlayer. Price: Rs. 8,000/-

Cricket Today

September 2009

103 editor speaks contents letter review interview match report Hamilton scores for Vodafone Formula One reigning champion Lewis Hamilton was in New Delhi recently to participate in the promotion activities for the title sponsor of McLaren-Mercedes, the Vodafone. Hamilton spoke highly about the Indian FI team Force India and about Adrian Sutil. Talking about the much awaited Indian Grand Prix, British Formula One racer said that the heat and humidity in India will pose a challenge for the drivers in the proposed 2011 Indian Grand Prix.

PIONEER PDPLX5090 This luxurious 50-inch telly has the blackest blacks we’ve ever seen. It’s not cheap, and with Pioneer’s current internal restructuring expect a price increase soon. Price: Rs. 3,49,990/-

NINTENDO DSI Dual-touchscreen, portable gaming legend with a massive gaming catalogue and hugh grin factor. The updated DSi delivers minor updates and further enhances the DS experience. Price on demand.

Kick Off with Proline Apparel! Rugby is a nasty game played by gentlemen. The game strictly being male dominated has influenced culture everywhere and greatly so in the west. Graphically inspired by this sport Proline Apparel introduces its “Kick Off Collection” that is designed specifically to enhance the individual’s confidence and attitude towards winning not only a sport but being a winner in life. Price: Rs. 499/onwards

W SERIES MP3 PLAYER Showcasing a wire-free design, the Walkman® W series from Sony is perfect for audio fans who want a simple and headphone-only MP3 player to use on the go. The ultra portable W series is compact and lightweight (35g) with a revolutionary design that fits comfortably behind the head, so users can get active without getting tangled. It features 2GB internal storage, ensuring you have a wide selection of songs whilst working the treadmill. Price: Rs. 4,990/-

match

OPINION

104

trivia contest reviews content news

Cricket Today September 2009

s

ehwag is a marvel of modern times, a genius who has confounded conventional wisdom, whose daring is now a part of cricket’s folklore writes the cricket almanac in its 146th edition. ‘Perhaps the best batsman in the world today’ by the Times of India ‘Leading Cricketer of the World for the year 2008’ by Wisden Virender Sehwag’s allegations of unfair selection procedures of the DDCA officials has evoked counter allegations of favouritism against the ‘Kohinoor’ of Delhi by the Sports secretary, Sunil Dev and its convenor Vinod Tihara. The ‘famous’ secretary has gone to the extent to accuse Sehwag of raising such issues only to get Pradeep Sangwan and Tehlan into the playing squad. But Is Sehwag not justified in promoting the young talent instead of considering someone who does not know anything about the sport? Did Sourav Ganguly not support Young Sehwag, Yuvraj, Harbhajan and Kaif and today are we not proud of their contribution to Indian Cricket? The apparently embarrassed aggression shown by these people to justify their blatantly violating norms in selection clearly shows their frustration.

SEHWAG

SELFLESS GENIUS

by Shyam Sharma President Dada Army Both of them, unmindful of the gravity of the problem, made an abortive attempt to snub this indictment by putting forth some unacceptable explanation. With a hope to swathe this controversy, one of the three vicepresidents of DDCA and also a former test cricketer, tried to mollify the tormented feelings of Delhi cricketers by assuring them transparency for the future.

Cricket Today

September 2009

105

editor speaks contents letter review interview market mania

We pray that the president, Shri Arun Jaitely with his intelligence and wisdom will prevail upon Sehwag to continue playing for Delhi and will look into the serious deficiencies in the selection process personally. It is clear that statement of Sehwag has highlighted the irregularities in the selection process, which in any case has to be sublime. Favouritism in selection of a team has to be kept at a distance. DDCA is already under close watch for not working with transparency on other matters, be it on the Proxy issue during its Elections or for whimsical distribution of passes to VVIP’s for international cricket matches held in Delhi. DDCA, for sure, cannot afford to get tangled into more controversies. Under the leadership of Mr. Arun Jaitley, DDCA has made all of us proud with the infrastructure and basic amenities for the players. But all these amenities alongwith the most imaginative stadium would be a waste in the drought of fresh young talent into our team. How long can we afford to sacrifice them for the sons of powerful members of sports committees or the other VIP’s of Delhi? It might be very easy for the sport’s secretary of DDCA to say that he is ready to give NOC to Virender Sehwag to play for another state but

those who are involved in a struggle to bring the original Kohinoor back from U.K. can only visualize the importance of this “Kohinoor”. We pray that the president, Shri Arun Jaitely with his intelligence and wisdom will prevail upon Sehwag to continue playing for Delhi and will look into the serious deficiencies in the selection process personally. We hope that in future the selection committee would consist of former players who would act without any pressure from people who do not event know the ten ways of getting a cricketer out. A small introspection of few minutes reminded me of the actual problem of interference of the sports committee. The problem honestly seems to be the election process through proxies. These

vested interests work perseveringly round the year to collect more and more proxies. The chances of selection of any player of their choice into a team are directly proportionate to their capacity to grab more proxies. It would be apt to say that all problems in DDCA have a direct connection with the proxies. The solution is, thus, to cleanse the election process. Those who have usurped the office for decades must do some introspection and try to find out if it is not high time for them to involve more learned people and allow few genuine cricketers and cricket lovers to take charge of the affairs of the DDCA. Kudos to Gautam Gambhir, Ashish Nehra, Ishant Sharma and other senior cricketers for taking a stand for the cause. 

BOOK REVIEW

Book: OUT OF THE BOX, Author: Harsha Bhogle, Price: Rs 450, Pages: 275, Publisher: Penguin Books, Rating: ***

The rain of cricket books continues unabated as if to atone for the absence of the largely absent monsoon. The latest in the list is by perhaps India's best known cricket commentator to have never played Test cricket, Harsha Bhogle. Titled Out of the Box, the book contains selection of Harsha Bhogle's works for the Indian Express in the last 5 years. The book, whose introduction is penned by Sachin Tendulkar, consists of 90 columns written by Bhogle between 2004 and 2009. The writings touch upon every aspect of cricket - the invasion of Twenty20; thrills of Test cricket and risks faced by the longer version of the game; ODIs; cricketing greats; rules, regulations and infrastructure. The sections discuss T20 leagues and cricket embracing its economic reality, how Dhoni has become a smarter player, what it means to bat like Sehwag, judging Tendulkar by today's standards and the Indian cricket Board losing its objective in the lure of money. Book also gives tributes to the likes of Lara and the "incomparable" Tendulkar. Verdict: Though it has Harsha's articles from Indian Express, Still Out of the Box touches ones heart. All cricket lovers should grab a copy of this book to understand the chaotic ways of how cricket is run in India, how and why Indian players and spectators have a love for centuries and statistics, and how with so many hundreds of thousands playing the game it is still not the best cricket team in the world. * POOR ** AVERAGE *** GOOD **** VERY GOOD ***** OUTSTANDING