The Buzz
Smog alert
The pollution level on the opening day of the Delhi Test, October 29, the day after Diwali is celebrated in north India, is expected to be the heaviest in the country's capital.
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
The pollution level on the opening day of the Delhi Test, October 29, the day after Diwali is celebrated in north India, is expected to be the heaviest in the country's capital.
Traditionally, the early half of the day after Diwali is generally as bad as the festival night itself in terms of pollution and visibility. This year, after a night of grand fireworks, visibility is supposed to be at a new low.
"We are not expecting any major trouble if the weather remains warm and sunny. But if the temperature drops and there's stillness around (little or no breeze), there could be some problems as far as visibility is concerned," JM Mauskar, chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board, told the Hindustan Times.
It is also believed that exposure to increased pollution levels could cause respiratory trouble and irritation to the eyes.
Full postBrett be good, Brett be fast
While Doug Bollinger was being mistaken for Brett Lee at the Taj Mahal, the real McCoy was bowling in solitude at the Feroz Shah Kotla
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
While Doug Bollinger was being mistaken for Brett Lee at the Taj Mahal, the real McCoy was bowling in solitude at the Feroz Shah Kotla. With just four wickets in two matches at an average of 59.25, and an on-field dispute with Ricky Ponting in Mohali, Lee's maiden Test tour of India hasn't gone too well. Having been told by Ponting to up his pace, Lee went to the venue for the third Test and bowled for a couple hours. No chatting, no smiling for the cameras, no mistaken identities.
Assisting Lee was Australia's fitness adviser, Stuart Karppinen, who has come up with a programme comprising 11 varied sessions. "Because of his personal circumstances, he hasn't done the same volume of work and we want to try to build that up," said Karppinen. "He's at 95 per cent and bowling in the mid-140s (kph) but we want him to be able to crank that up. He's lost speed and condition. We want to mimic the movements that happen when he bowls. We're trying to promote speed."
Full postBollinger, not Bollywood Brett
The sightseeing of a couple of Australian players at the Taj Mahal on Thursday turned them into superstars when local news outlets were told Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee would be there
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
The sightseeing of a couple of Australian players at the Taj Mahal on Thursday turned them into superstars when local news outlets were told Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee would be there. So when it was only Doug Bollinger and Jason Krejza, two of the squad’s back-up bowlers, who stepped out of the bus the locals could not be convinced that Bollinger was not Lee.
After an hour of viewing the Mughal masterpiece, “Lee” was asked to sign a picture that a photographer had printed off to get a lasting memento. Everyone seemed satisfied that Krejza wasn’t Ponting, but the duo received a special escort around the building, which upset some Italian tourists.
“They’re cricketers, and it’s India,” one of the team’s management offered in explanation. Bollinger and Krejza were the only Australia players here who hadn’t seen the monument until their rock star experience.
Full postBowlers look for reverse gear
Australia's players have been given some time off during their extended break between Tests but they still have plenty to work on ahead of Delhi
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
Australia's players have been given some time off during their extended break between Tests but they still have plenty to work on ahead of Delhi. Finding out how to use reverse swing like Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, for one.
"There was reverse swing in the tenth over of the game. That has such an impact," Michael Clarke said of Australia's loss in Mohali. "India are bowling across the seam in the first four or five overs to try and rough the ball up as much as possible to make it reverse swing early.
"I didn't see that on my first tour of India. Why are they reverse swinging it in the tenth over and we're reverse swinging it in the 80th over?"
That might be a question for Australia's bowling coach Troy Cooley. Last time the Australians were demolished by a reverse-swinging attack was during the 2005 Ashes when Cooley was England's bowling coach.
Full postPolice get shirty over Aussie fans
It’s not just Australia’s cricketers who are having a tough time of it in Mohali, where some travelling fans have also found themselves in a spot of bother
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
It’s not just Australia’s cricketers who are having a tough time of it in Mohali, where some travelling fans have also found themselves in a spot of bother. PTI has reported that a group of Australian spectators was hauled away by police for wearing t-shirts with offensive slogans.
"The slogans written were 'Beer with Mahatma, Bets with Gupta, Dancing with Indira and still getting runs',” a police officer told PTI. "We took strong objection to it and summoned them ... they apologised before us, saying their intention was not to hurt anyone's sentiments. We let them off with a warning and sent them to their hotel to get their dresses changed.”
One of the group told the Times of India they had not intended to cause any trouble. "All was harmless fun,” the spectator said. “We are on a tour to enjoy India, its culture, its people and cricket. So if we have offended anybody we apologise, but it was not intentional.”
Full postHot milk with turmeric for breakfast
Bananas, banana shakes, eggs and hot milk with turmeric form part of Sachin Tendulkar’s breakfast, according to the chef at the hotel at which the teams are staying in Mohali
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Bananas, banana shakes, eggs and hot milk with turmeric form part of Sachin Tendulkar’s breakfast, according to the chef at the hotel at which the teams are staying in Mohali. The ‘power breakfast’ for the players is a high-calorie mean with plenty of fibre and energy drinks. "We give them mix of continental which contains chicken or fish, baked beans, breakfast cereals, high calories like multi-grain bread, muesli, choice of cheese spreads, fresh variety of cut fruits and juices," Ramit Kohli told Indian Express.
There are exceptions, though, for on Wednesday the Indians had oil-free crispy paranthas and the Australians ate dosas. Ricky Ponting, however, preferred poached eggs.
Full postWhat did Harbhajan's fingers say to the face?
There isn’t much danger of a reprise of monkey chants with the absence of Andrew Symonds, but that doesn’t stop a couple of Australian supporters from having some good-natured fun at the expense of Harbhajan Singh, the other central character in the
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
 |
|
"What did Harbhajan's five fingers say to the face ......Slap", read the message on the t-shirts that Paul Weston and Mark Edmonds wore to the ground on the second day of the Bangalore Test. It was cheeky, but without malice. “We decided to bring our own humour by coming up with a line every day", Edmonds said. They got the text written out at a local mall in Bangalore. “We wanted to print a photograph of Harbhajan on the back, but couldn't find it,” Weston said. They are from Melbourne and on their final leg of a month-long tour of India, which has taken them, among other places, to Kashmir.
Full postWarne's words of comfort
Shane Warne has offered some words of comfort to Australia's young spinners, Jason Krejza and Cameron White, as they prepare for a baptism of fire against India.
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Shane Warne has offered some words of comfort to Australia's young spinners, Jason Krejza and Cameron White, as they prepare for a baptism of fire against India.
White appears to be favourite to make his debut in Bangalore, with the prospect of bowling at a line-up including Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly.
"Even I found it tough in India, and I'd like to think I was one of the better spinners around," Warne said. "It took us [Australia] a number of years to learn how to play out there. On the last trip I took 14 wickets in three matches and missed the last game on a bunsen when Michael Clarke took 6 for 9. I may have got one or two then.
Full postBangalore or Perth?
Australia’s fast bowlers have been buoyed by their first glimpse of the pitch in Bangalore
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
Australia’s fast bowlers have been buoyed by their first glimpse of the pitch in Bangalore. Far from being the sort of surface where they would bend their backs for little reward, the pitch was described as “hard and shiny”.
It is the work of Phil Stoyanoff, the New Zealand curator who looks after the Napier Test ground and was summoned to India to prepare the Bangalore pitch. "It reminds me of the WACA," Stoyanoff told the Herald Sun. "It's been rolled and rolled in the past week and is really firm. It has a lovely sound to it."
Although there are a few cracks already, Stoyanoff does not believe they will break up. "I have no worries about the cracks,” he said.
Full postInjured Sreesanth lies low
The sight of Sreesanth toiling alone at one corner of the Chinnaswamy Stadium as the Australian squad trained 50 yards away seemed somewhat unkind
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
The sight of Sreesanth toiling alone at one corner of the Chinnaswamy Stadium as the Australian squad trained 50 yards away seemed somewhat unkind. As he continued with his rehab under the watchful eyes of the NCA trainer, Sreesanth did his best not to get distracted by the action around him. On another day the media would have surrounded him for quips and gossip. On Tuesday even the ever-hungry TV reporters decided to snub him.
Not that the fast bowler was in a mood to face the camera. When a few of us approached him he wasn't willing to open up. Signing autographs silently he acknowledged the greetings. Was he missing the action? "Four months, man. I haven't bowled for four months," he replied. His tone made his disappointment amply clear. But he wasn't giving up. As he walked away he repeated the word "four", suggesting he would be back for the final Test in Nagpur.
Full post