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Negative means to a positive end
Rahul Dravid's innings, drawn out over two hours and twenty minutes, encapsulated his decision not to enforce the follow-on: defensive but perfectly understandable
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
Watching Rahul Dravid during his 96-ball 12 was to see a captain ponder with the bat. The tedious innings, drawn out over two hours and twenty minutes, encapsulated his decision not to enforce the follow-on: defensive but perfectly understandable.
When England were bowled out, with the sun still out, India led by 319; when he walked out to bat, with the cloud cover on, they were effectively 329 for 1, few minutes later it was 330 for 3. The big picture remained rosy, the microscopic view slightly more blurred. India sitting on a 1-0 lead, England hadn't totalled more than 355 in the whole series and no team had successfully chased more than 263 at The Oval. Only on five occasions had a team overhauled 350-plus targets in Test history.
Full postHowell's howlers
A closely contested and wonderful Test series has been marred by Ian Howell's poor umpiring, writes Sambit Bal
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Sambit Bal
It is a pity that matters outside bat and ball should continue to spoil what has so far been wonderful advertisement for Test cricket. The first Test was decided by the weather, and the second, which was won by a skilful and determined performance by the Indians, was overshadowed by jelly beans, player behaviour and inconsistent umpiring. And it will be a tragedy if umpiring becomes a decisive factor in this Test.
Full postNo normal sport in an abnormal society
Gary Lemke
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
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It was almost 20 years ago that I first met Sam Ramsamy. I went to interview him in a flat near Marble Arch in London and what followed was an hour-long lecture from the grand fighter of the anti-apartheid movement. The message was consistent, and powerful. "No normal sport in an abnormal society," he would say at regular intervals.
He had another line. "Sport and politics will never be separated." The Ramsamy dream turned from matters black and white into a kaleidoscope of colour when South Africa competed under a unified flag at the Olympics in 1992 following a 32-year absence. He called me over on that Boeing to Barcelona 15 years ago. "This is what I was talking about. Now it's normal sport in a normal society."
Today 14 elite South African cricketers are in Harare for a two-match tour of Zimbabwe. Yet the silence is deafening from the game's administrators, among them newly elected Cricket South Africa president Norman Arendse, who himself was familiar with the same anti-apartheid rallying cry of yesteryear. No normal sport in an abnormal society. Can Zimbabwe society be classed as normal?
Full postLogic has gone for a six
Nothing illustrates more lucidly the mysterious, whimsical workings of Pakistan selection committees than the decision not to select Mohammad Yousuf in the 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa, writes Osman Samiuddin
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Osman Samiuddin
Nothing illustrates more lucidly the mysterious, whimsical workings of Pakistan selection committees than the decision not to select Mohammad Yousuf in the 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.
Full postPut a sock in it
Ian Chappell feels wicketkeepers ought to be seen and not heard
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Ian Chappell
I'm no Sherlock Holmes but I think I've cracked the great jelly bean mystery. However, in keeping with the conventions of thrillers, you'll have to read to the end to find the guilty party.
Full postBuffoonery over brilliance
Less theatre, more introspection - that's what Sreesanth needs, writes Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
A small Indian contingent waited outside the dressing room for several hours after India had sealed the second Test at Trent Bridge. As the cricketers celebrated with beer and bhangra indoors, the fans frolicked with drums, flags and posters outside. Glimpses of their heroes were met with loud cheers; anyone within earshot was mobbed.
Full postHe's given 'im
Sambit Bal
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Sambit Bal
Just after Rahul Dravid had been given out lbw in the second innings at Lord's by Simon Taufel, a colleague wondered if he should be recalled. The television replays showed that the impact had been fractionally outside the off stump, and since Dravid looked like he was playing a stroke, he shouldn't have been given out.
Full postWake up and smell the opportunity
Jayaditya Gupta
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Jayaditya Gupta
Zee can learn from Stanford here. If the BCCI continues to hold out and play the neighbourhood bully, the ICL, which has already tied up with a leading infrastructure development company, could simply build its own workspace. Stanford's complex, near the airport in Antigua, includes a cricket ground, banks, restaurants, a health club with swimming pool, gym, and aerobics studios; a hotel and conference centre are in the works.
Full postFlabby in the middle
India's heavyweight middle order is full of flab, not muscle, as its record in the past three years shows
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Sambit Bal
Did India really deserve to save the Test? You could say their bowlers did, for after a shocking opening session when they were affected as much by nerves as by lack of practical knowledge about overcoming and using the unique slope at Lord's, they exceeded expectations. You could also hand it to Dinesh Karthik, a young man thrust into a difficult job, who showed both skill and heart, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who rose above his technical difficulties against the moving ball to hang in there. India owes this draw to these unlikely saviours and the benevolence of the weather.
Full postRamnarine lacking support and history
The West Indies Players' Association has expanded its activities and interests, and grown more vociferous and assertive, but respect and power seem elusive
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Vaneisa Baksh
A couple of decades ago, the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) was formed, but it was so demure that it was rarely heard in public.
Full postMost Read
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