In his affable autobiography, Bully For You, Oscar (2000), Ian Austin, provides a lovely vignette of Murali's assimilation at Lancashire.Kudos to Murali. We might see him pick up close to 1000 wickets soon. This record might be most difficult one to beat in the long run.I've never known anyone who knew so much about cricket - or anyone who could talk about the game for so long. There's a hell of a lot of international cricket being played all year round these days, but Murali knew all about it. He knew more about Lancashire's record than Lancashire players themselves. We'd be sitting in the dressing room or in the bar in the evening at an away game and he'd suddenly start talking about one of our games from years back. He'd know all the facts and figures and couldn't believe that the rest of us didn't remember every last dot and comma of the game he was talking about.
Ishant Sharma had seen off Jayawardene and Dilshan had made just 1 when Zaheer Khan slanted one across his bat. There was a big plume of dust as the ball passed over the top edge of the bat, and a sound as well. As the Indians appealed, Mark Benson thought for a moment and then raised his finger. The celebrations had already begun by the time the Indians suddenly realised that Dilshan had no intention of leaving the crease.I think here's where cricket can learn from the NFL challenge system. If any team on the ground challenges an umpiring decision, the umpire should refer that to the 3rd umpire. The 3rd umpire reviews the decision using all the technology available and approved by ICC. If there is conclusive video/other evidence against the decision given on the ground, then the 3rd umpire in consultation with the on-field umpires should give the decision in favor of the challenging team. If there is no conclusive video evidence available, then the primary decision provided on the ground should stand. Period, end of story. The on-field umpire should not change his decision if his primary verdict is not overruled by the 3rd umpire based on video evidence. This is where the current system fails and it should be corrected.
As Benson signalled for the replay, all eyes turned to the TV screens. Replay followed replay, yet no one could be absolutely sure whether there had been the thinnest of edges, or if the sound heard was merely bat striking ground. The technology that might have helped, the Snickometer, wasn't to be used, and neither was Hotspot, which was introduced by Sky Sports last year.
With Rudi Koertzen, the third umpire, as undecided as anyone watching, Benson, who had no access to the replays, had little option but to change the decision. In doing so, he opened up an entirely new can of worms. On the first morning of the Test, Dave Richardson, the ICC general manager, had spoken to the media, and emphasised the fact that the final decision would be made by the umpire on the field.
But how could anyone call it Benson's decision when it was Koertzen that actually got to watch the replays and then pass on his perception of what happened? How much is the on-field umpire allowed to ask his colleague anyway? The reversal was Benson's, but in reality, he was doing little more than the job the red and green lights do when the third umpire decides on a run-out or stumping.
"We don't want our players in teams that have other players playing in unauthorised tournaments," Shah said.I am not sure if there is a BCCI rule that states that all contracted players must get the approval of BCCI before signing up with any English counties or other counties. I guess there must be a rule. Otherwise, I don't see VVS Laxman or Piyush Chawla waiting for the BCCI permission to sign up with the English counties.
" When we lost to Mumbai Indians in the away game, people got away from what they were supposed to do. We had a real serious talk that night and said, "This is not good enough. Tonight you played how you wanted to play, and this is a team. People got a bit selfish, did what they wanted to do. There's our gameplan. Where does it say 'Slog across the line'? Let's play our roles in the next game." So we kept refueling the motive to succeed rather than fail.Manoj Badale is the owner of the RR franchise. Hats of to him for assembling a great team and trusting them to do their job.
Manoj Badale made it clear from the start: "Warne, Berry and Snape - you sort out the cricket, I'll sort out the business. Our lines will not cross." It all comes down to trust. That was our strength.
"Graeme Smith and his boys are going to thump Anil Kumble and his charges."Who is it going to be next? Groundskeeper, equipment person?
Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa's chief executive, flags off the pre-tour mind games
"The thing that pisses us off is that it shows how much power India has ... the players are frustrated because this shows how much influence India has, because of the wealth they generate. Money talks."
An unnamed Australian player quoted in a Sydney newspaper in the aftermath of the decision to reduce the charges levelled against Harbhajan SinghCourtesy: cricinfo
Seriously, John Buchanan must have ratted Shane Warne (antics/sexcapades/text messages) to his ex-wife to earn this wrath. Warne has been consistent in digging his former coach at every given opportunity."And when John Buchanan was in charge ... let me tell you, we needed as much common sense around as we could, because I believe the coach had none."
Shane Warne, in a tribute to Adam Gilchrist, can't resist another dig at his former coach
"I am disappointed that I am not continuing the tour," he said.
"I consider it a sad day to see umpires sidelined after making only two wrong decisions out of a record 35 appeals."
The only jarring part of the day came at the start of the Indian innings, when the course of play was altered not by the players of either side, but by the incompetence of an umpire. Steve Bucknor was appalling during India's tour of Australia, and consistently so, through first the Tests and then the one-dayers. I had argued then that Bucknor's powers seem to have diminished with age - for umpiring relies on physical faculties that only get worse as the years go by - and that umpires should be regularly tested by the ICC to see if their abilities are still intact.
It is scandolous that despite the Indian team's complaints about him, based on an entire series and not a handful of stray understandable mistakes, the ICC has taken no action on this matter. John Wright, India's coach, reportedly complained to the match referee yesterday about the poor umpiring, and Bucknor gave India more reason for anguish today. After not upholding a number of good appeals during Pakistan's innings, he gave Aakash Chopra out lbw, after Chopra had inside-edged the ball. Given that Rahul Dravid was out immediately afterwards, run out without facing a ball, Bucknor's mistake had a huge impact on the game. It is unfair to Bucknor that his legacy as an umpire should be tarnished by his performance when he is clearly past the peak of his powers, and it is unfair on the players as well.
Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar had added 98 in 168 balls when Bucknor struck. Tendulkar was beaten by the late swing of a ball from Abdul Razzaq, and the daylight between bat and ball was visible from the press box, at the furthest and highest part of the ground. Bucknor, after his usual deliberation, lifted his finger. Tendulkar shook his head and walked off. India have been hard done by Bucknor before, but they were still in a strong position as the day ended.
In other words, if you call an Indian cricketer a “monkey” and a “bastard” during the course of a innings, as Brad Hogg is said to have done, he is more likely to take offense at his parentage being questioned, rather than his lineage.
Jazzy television coverage is expected too - GPS devices being attached to players, displaying their heart-beat rates, body temperatures etc. A giant screen has been installed and disco-like arrangements have been set up on the stage.Its high time some one spiced up cricket coverage on TV.
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