The Buzz
Murali v Yusuf, redux
Wednesday was Sri Lanka’s Independence Day and the teams were invited to a Presidential function
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
Wednesday was Sri Lanka’s Independence Day and the teams were invited to a Presidential function. Coming as it did a day after the series was decided, and the hosts had been routed, you’d have expected some awkward moments between the sides. Not a whit; the only distinction was in attire - the Indians dressed casually in team T-shirts and jeans, the Sri Lankans in formals - as they mingled fairly freely. The ice-breaker seems to have been the IPL, which has blurred national boundaries (and language barriers).
Before they left, Muttiah Muralitharan was chatting in the hotel lobby with Yusuf Pathan and L Balaji; Murali's Chennai Super Kings had lost to Pathan's Rajasthan Royals in last year's final. "We would have won if your catch had not been dropped off my bowling," Murali said. Yusuf laughed, and retorted, "Yeah, [Suresh] Raina dropped
me, didn’t he?"
"Why don't you try to hit me here in this series?" Murali taunted. Yusuf’s reply was a no-brainer - "I hit you in that final!" Yusuf hit Murali for three sixes, picking 24 runs from 12 Murali deliveries, in an innings of 56 that swung the game. "No turn in that pitch," said Murali, and the three laughed before leaving the hotel. The president was waiting.
Full postStanford tightens the purse-strings
Despite saying that he would reveal all about his future plans in January, Texas billionaire, former cricket-lover and renowned self-publicist Allen Stanford has been very quiet of late.
Andrew Miller
25-Feb-2013
Despite saying that he would reveal all about his future plans in January, Texas billionaire, former cricket-lover and renowned self-publicist Allen Stanford has been very quiet of late.
Rumours have continued to circulate that he was about to completely pull out of Caribbean cricket following his decision to disband his self-styled legends and close his cricket office in Antigua. There was also talk that the global recession might have dented his financial empire.
Prospects of him continuing to bankroll West Indies cricket were further undermined this week when 200 employees of the Stanford Development Company in Antigua were laid off, leaving the island's prime minister distinctly unimpressed.
A spokesman for the company said they "had to reassess the market in Antigua especially in light of the global economic downturn". Where pouring tens of millions into the region's cricket fits in with that remains to be seen.
Full postThe Addle Border Medal
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
People with unusual names know how frustrating it is to have them mispronounced. There’s no excuse when you mangle it yourself and in any case, “Allan” should be pretty straightforward.
But when Allan Border was on stage to present the medal that bears his name, he stumbled embarrassingly on the part of the announcement that should have come naturally. Somehow his own name came out sounding like “Addle” or “Annal”.
Full postAustralia face mace race
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
The Australian public is losing confidence in their Test team and it seems that the ICC doesn’t have much faith either. The president David Morgan and the chief executive Haroon Lorgat were in Melbourne on Wednesday to confiscate the Test Championship mace.
But hang on. Aren’t Australia still the No. 1 team in the world? Only a series victory to South Africa in South Africa next month would give them the top spot.
Full postIsn't it iconic?
The awards keep coming thick and fast for the current Indian captain
Judhajit
25-Feb-2013
The awards keep coming thick and fast for the current Indian captain. On the day India swept to an ODI series win in Sri Lanka, it was announced that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's alma mater St Xavier's College, Ranchi, will present him with its first 'Youth Icon' award during the institute's three-day carnival.
"This will be the first-ever award being conferred to any student in the college's 49-year-old history to encourage all the students to show their prowess," college dean Jayant Sinha told PTI. "We are trying to contact Dhoni's family to receive the award on his behalf." Dhoni, who had enrolled himself in the college last year to complete his degree course in office management, won't be able to receive the award personally since he is currently in Sri Lanka.
Full postWomen not allergic to Kat hair
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
The pre-count favourite Mitchell Johnson missed out on the Allan Border Medal in Melbourne on Monday and he even failed to win a title that should have been his in a canter.
Channel Nine polled the women at the awards night to find the sexiest player featured in the Men of Cricket charity calendar.
Full postWarne snaps at snapper
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Two years after his retirement from Test cricket and Shane Warne's celebrity shows no signs of abating. In fact, he still rivals A-list celebrities the world over. The former Australian legspinner, amid growing speculation of another reunion with ex-wife Simone, has asked the police to get rid of that famous celebrity parasite: the paparazzi photographer.
The Herald Sun reported that Warne has lodged a complaint against Jamie Fawcett, a famous celeb snapper who's been involved in a harassment row with Nicole Kidman previously. Warne was apparently angered by photos taken of his three children - Brooke, Jackson and Summer - during a recent family day out on the beach. The photos subsequently appeared in a women's magazine.
Full postPanthers sighted in Middlesex
Middlesex’s decision to ditch their existing nickname – the Crusaders – in favour of a more paletable Panthers has not gone down well in certain quarters, mainly because Vinny Codrington, Middlesex’s CEO, let slip that one of the reasons was that a
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Middlesex’s decision to ditch their existing nickname – the Crusaders – in favour of a more paletable Panthers has not gone down well in certain quarters, mainly because Vinny Codrington, Middlesex’s CEO, let slip that one of the reasons was that a he had had objections from a handful of Muslim and Jewish people to the Crusaders connotation. The political-correctness-gone-mad lobby were out in force, and the county were forced into a rushed statement which hinted that they had been caught on the hop.
No explanation was given as to why Panthers had been chosen. Usually the nickname had some link to the county, however tenuous, but few Middlesex residents can recall ever seeing panthers roaming the streets of Edgware. It is possible that some marketing wag has decided that the pink kit sported by the county in one-day matches ties in with the Pink Panther films and will appeal to sponsors.
And another name change might be on the cards if Codrington is bombarded with complaints that associating a graceful and powerful big cat with an underperforming county side amounts to animal cruelty.
Full postStranded on 99 by a team-mate ... twice
Tasmanian No 11 Tim Macdonald isn’t going to be on his team-mate Brett Geeves’ Christmas list this year
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Tasmanian No 11 Tim Macdonald isn’t going to be on his team-mate Brett Geeves’ Christmas list this year. For the second time in this season’s Sheffield Shield, Macdonald has managed to leave Geeves stranded on 99, tantalizingly short of his maiden first-class century.
The first offence was against Victoria in November last year and Geeves vented on his blog on the Tasmanian Cricket Association’s website. “Can I start this blog by apologising for Tim MacDonald’s woeful display of playing short pitch bowling?” Geeves wrote. “Yes I’m angry. 99 no and the number eleven gloves a short ball from a guy who is into his 50th over of the match. Clinton McKay won't mind me saying he wasn't bowling his quickest. Sore groins, ankles barking at him saying, "Why don't we ever get any tucan pie?" Duck the ball Tim!!”
The second occasion was during the ongoing contest against New South Wales: Macdonald left Geeves left high and dry on 99 off only 113 balls. He hadn’t updated his blog yet when last checked …
Full postListen to your body
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Playing a cricket match on the slopes of Mount Everest is no joke, warns a doctor in Nepal. Dr Buddha Basnyat, who specialises in high altitude health, said the lack of oxygen – which is only half of what it is at sea level – could lead to illness and even death, even for those not chasing a ball. Basnyat said the players from England, who will play the highest field sport match - a Twenty20 on April 21 - will have to be extremely careful not to over-exert themselves.
"The important thing is, if people aren't feeling well and yet push themselves to play, especially if they exert themselves, that can predispose them to altitude sickness," Basnyat told the BBC. "Basically the players should listen to their own bodies."
Full post