The Buzz
Can the IPL lure Lara?
Can the money, glitz, glamour (and the cricket of course) of the IPL entice 40-year-old Brian Lara out of retirement
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Can the money, glitz, glamour (and the cricket of course) of the IPL entice 40-year-old Brian Lara out of retirement? The fourth IPL player auction is in a few months and, in the middle of a few laughs during a television appearance ahead of the Kolkata-Bangalore match, Lalit Modi told Lara that he should make himself available for sale. “Lara was always our first choice,’’ Modi said, ‘‘He was the first one I had approached when the IPL was conceived. Unfortunately, he was not available then (because of his ICL connections).”
Later, on Twitter, Modi said: "Spent the last 24 hours with Brian Lara in Kolkata. He is excited of the prospect to be available for IPL 4. Told him to get into training."
Lara, who quit international cricket after the 2007 World Cup, did not refuse. ‘‘Maybe it’s time for me to hit the gym again,” he said light-heartedly. ‘‘Maybe in four months I’ll be in a position to decide. It all depends on how my body reacts.”
Full postFour IPL captains fined
IPL 2010 is only two days and three matches old and already four captains have been fined because their teams maintained a slow over-rate
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
IPL 2010 is only two days and three matches old and already four captains have been fined because their teams maintained a slow over-rate. The first to cop the whopping $20,000 fine was Sourav Ganguly, in the tournament opener between Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers on Friday. Ganguly’s team was found to be three overs behind the over-rate.
On Saturday, Mumbai Indians were assessed to be two overs behind against Rajasthan Royals, and Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils only one over each in their match in Mohali, but all three captains – Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and Kumar Sangakkara – was slapped with a $20,000 fine.
Full postIPL blackout in Pakistan
By Osman Samiuddin
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
By Osman Samiuddin
Geo Super, Pakistan’s only local sports channel, is not broadcasting this year’s IPL after cable operators in Pakistan threatened to boycott any channel showing the league.
The channel signed a three-year contract last season to broadcast the IPL – having also shown the inaugural season – and was preparing to do so this year as well but had to shelve their plans a few days ago in light of the boycott threat.
“There was a press release and circular from the Cable Association of Pakistan saying that any channel showing it would be boycotted by them,” Mohammad Ali, the channel head, told Cricinfo. “Their decision is due to no Pakistani players being signed up this year at the auction.”
Full postZimbabwe Cricket hacked
Zimbabwe Cricket has been forced into a major overhaul of its IT systems after hackers broke through their security settings enabling them to steal passwords and send out emails.
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Zimbabwe Cricket has been forced into a major overhaul of its IT systems after hackers broke through their security settings enabling them to steal passwords and send out emails.
It isn't the first time ZC has had such problems. Last year their website was hacked and users visiting it were redirected to other sites.
"Since the security breach was first detected in December 2009, several ZC employees have fallen victim to malicious hackers who have broken into private and company email accounts for the purpose of either generating emails in the name of the organization or circulating classified information," said ZC's head of media and communications, Shingai Rhuhwaya.
"The security breach is serious. We communicate regularly with our foreign-based counterparts on a variety of sensitive issues including local and international player travelling logistics, banking details and future tours programmes."
Full postGreat snakes, it's a Mongoose
Over the years, Matthew Hayden has gained the reputation for using the long handle to good effect, and at IPL 2010, he will literally be doing just that
Nitin Sundar
25-Feb-2013
Over the years, Matthew Hayden has gained the reputation for using the long handle to good effect, and at IPL 2010, he will literally be doing just that. The former Australia star is set to use the innovative Mongoose bat, with a blade that is 33% shorter and a handle 43% longer than the conventional bat. Despite the modifications, the bat’s dimensions are within ICC’s weight and size stipulations. Hayden will not be the first batsmen to wield the Mongoose – Dwayne Smith, Azhar Mahmood, Stuart Law and Lou Vincent have used the radical blade in domestic tournaments, though it is yet to feature in international cricket or the IPL.
Despite its radical dimensions, the Mongoose is said to generate more power and speed than the normal bat. Hayden has been working with the manufacturer to customize the bat to his requirements, and early signs are that he has taken a liking to it – he was clearing the ground effortlessly on Chennai Super Kings’ first day of practice at their home-base. In particular, Hayden was pleased with the big sweet spot and the thicker edges that meant a higher chance of hitting boundaries.
Full postAfridi the environment ambassador
He’s been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, but not this time
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
He’s been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, but not this time. Shahid Afridi – brutal batter, canny legspinner, pitch pirouetter, ball biter - has been appointed Pakistan’s national ambassador for the environment. Seriously. He will promote this noble cause and raise awareness among the public, Pakistan’s federal minister for environment announced. The minister believed Afridi would be ideal to convey the “soft” image of Pakistan and thereby spread the message of conservation at the national and global level.
Full postCricket Book of the Year shortlist announced
The Cricket Society and MCC Book of the Year Award shortlist has been announced, with biographies of Imran Khan and Harold Larwood and a historical perspective on South African cricket included in the five-book list.
Sahil Dutta
25-Feb-2013
The Cricket Society and MCC Book of the Year Award shortlist has been announced, with biographies of Imran Khan and Harold Larwood and a historical perspective on South African cricket included in the five-book list.
Vic Marks, cricket correspondent for The Observer, chairs the panel of judges and said: “There is a strong international theme to this year’s list. All five books have their advocates among the judges and I anticipate frank and lively exchanges when we meet later this month to determine a winner.”
The competition, run by The Cricket Society since 1970 and in partnership with MCC since 2009, is for books nominated by members and not publishers and has become highly regarded by writers and publishers. Previous winners have included Mike Brearley, EW Swanton and David Frith.
The £3000 prize, will be presented at an awards evening in the Long Room at Lord’s on Monday 26 April to an expected sell-out audience of 200 people. Scyld Berry, editor of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, claimed the award three years ago and will be a keynote speaker at the event.
Full postVada pav, engineering, now fast bowling
A vada-pav seller’s son, Gurudas Shenoy, finds himself on the cusp of realising his dream to become a cricketer
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
A vada-pav seller’s son, Gurudas Shenoy, finds himself on the cusp of realising his dream to become a cricketer. Between maintaining attendance at his engineering college and helping his father at the vada-pav shop – the family’s only source of income – Shenoy feared his dream of becoming a fast bowler would die an early death. But thanks to a nationwide pace bowling hunt, Shenoy is all set to train under Australian coach Rodney Marsh at the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy in Dubai. Shenoy, who took five wickets on his Kanga League debut, caught the eye of former India fast bowler Manoj Prabhakar at the talent hunt. “The best thing about his bowling is the nip that he gets off the wicket,” Prabhakar told the Indian Express. “He is quick and can generate 140-plus. If he is properly trained back home, he has a long future.”
Full postTogether for Tendulkar
Only Sachin Tendulkar, perhaps, can unite India’s often fractious, bitterly divided members of Parliament
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
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| Sachin Tendulkar's record has united a nation © DC Thomson & Co Ltd |
Only Sachin Tendulkar, perhaps, can unite India’s often fractious, bitterly divided members of Parliament. His record-breaking ODI double-century has prompted the MPs to put aside their differences over budget deficits and spiraling inflation and their concerns over terrorism and armed insurgency to demand that Tendulkar be awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour.
The award – which translates as “Jewel of India’ - has been conferred on 41 people since it was first instituted in 1954, and has seen only three recipients in the past decade. It’s also an award more associated with age and experience – the average age of a Bharat Ratna is 60-plus, though Rajiv Gandhi’s posthumous award came when he would have been 47. No sportsman has been given the award but it’s fair to say that, as in most other spheres, Tendulkar has a shot at creating history. He even has the public backing of his former team-mate Sourav Ganguly, who said only a Bharat ratna deserved the Bharat Ratna. The man himself, typically, says he would prefer to focus on his game. No rest for bowlers, then.
Full postDon’t judge a Boock by its card
For 21 years, Stephen Boock had to live with the dubious honour of having the worst bowling figures in New Zealand first-class history, until February 28, 2010
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
For 21 years, Stephen Boock had to live with the dubious honour of having the worst bowling figures in New Zealand first-class history, until February 28, 2010. The former left-arm spinner had his record taken away by yet another left-armer, Canterbury’s Jason Donnelly, in a Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts in Rangiora. Donnelly leaked 257 runs and took four wickets in 69 overs of toil as Northern Districts piled on 726. Boock’s experience was relatively more embarrassing, to put it mildly, as it came in a Test match, at Eden Park against Pakistan in 1989. On a pitch that was glued together, Boock sent down 70 overs, conceded 229 runs but took three wickets less than Donnelly. The main tormenters were Shoaib Mohammad and Javed Miandad, who scored 112 and 271 respectively.
After his record was taken away, Boock found time for sarcasm. "Another left-armer though, that's outstanding," Boock told the New Zealand Herald. "At least it's kept in the family." To rub it in further, the New Zealand cricket board launched a baseball card-type promotion and the write-up on the back of Boock’s card mentioned his forgettable record. "You would like to think that memories are made of more positive stuff," he said. "Mine, card No 24 I think, was the only one with a negative write-up, leading me to wonder about the intentions of the person who wrote it."
Full post