The Buzz
England to donate match fees for Mumbai victims
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
After making the brave decision to go ahead with the Test series in India, Kevin Pietersen and his team-mates have made another gesture that will surely win over the hosts: they will donate 50% of their match-fees from the first Test in Chennai to the families of the victims of the recent Mumbai terror attacks.
Alastair Cook, the opener, read out a statement from the team. "Following a very difficult period for the last two weeks, the England cricket team would like to recognise the following reasons for returning to India for the Test series.
Full postEngland driven by greed - Latif
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
England’s decision to resume their tour of India despite the terror attacks in Mumbai was bound to evoke strong reactions from Pakistan and Rashid Latif, the former wicketkeeper, has spoken out against the decision. Latif said England were driven by greed, purely due to India’s financial clout in the cricket world.
"Anything can happen anywhere and when teams can accept security assurances from the BCCI and government, why can't they do the same when the PCB and the government urges them to tour?" Latif was quoted as saying in the Times. "The truth is no one can dare ignore the money India is putting into the game. It is nothing but greed. If India didn't have the financial clout no team would bother to go there so soon after the Mumbai attacks."
Full postAustralia's loss, India's gain?
Neil D'Costa, a former Sydney grade cricketer, found his niche as a coach of emerging talented players and among his notable pupils are Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke and New South Wales batsman Phillip Hughes.
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Neil D'Costa, a former Sydney grade cricketer, found his niche as a coach of emerging talented players and among his notable pupils are Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke and New South Wales batsman Phillip Hughes.
But he finds himself on the verge of accepting the position of batting coach at a Nagpur academy at the request of Indian board president Shashank Manohar. "There's no jobs here for me," D'Costa, who runs a private coaching school, told the Sydney Morning Herald. "I'm not recognised by any governing body here. I've only been able to get recognition by the work I do privately. I've never been asked by NSW to coach at any level worth talking about and I've never been spoken to by Cricket Australia. There's been no recognition that I've helped develop Clarke or Hughes or any other guys."
While he would rather work in his own country, D'Costa said there was "little or no chance" for coaches unless they had played first-class cricket. "Troy Cooley had to go overseas, that's how he made his name. The BCCI is impressed by what I've done developing juniors, and going there could be a good option for my family," said D'Costa.
Former Indian Test player Subroto Banerjee, who works with D'Costa, said the BCCI wanted to make Nagpur the best academy in India. "The big names are all trying to get in at Nagpur. People like [David] Gower and [Viv] Richards are great names and can give talks about experience but for coaching [at the] grassroots, you need coaches like Neil."
Full postReturn of the rest day
The first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Mirpur may not be the most mouth-watering contest of the year, but statistically, it may not be forgotten for a while
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
The first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Mirpur may not be the most mouth-watering contest of the year, but statistically, it may not be forgotten for a while. The fourth day (December 29) has been declared a rest day on account of the parliamentary elections. The concept of a rest day was scrapped during the mid-90s, and the previous such instance was back in December 2001, during the first Test between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at the SSC. The players had a break due to Poya day celebrations in the country.
Normal service resumes from the second Test onwards.
Full postPunjab que sera, sera
A proposed stadium in Bhatinda, one of the oldest cities in Punjab, has apparently hit a roadblock
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
A proposed stadium in Bhatinda, one of the oldest cities in Punjab, has apparently hit a roadblock. Work on what is supposed to be a top-notch cricket venue was supposed to begin on December 8 of last year, the same day as the Punjab chief minister's birthday, but nothing has happened in the last 12 months. According to Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) administrator Kamal Kishore Yadav, the 25-acre project cost was estimated between Rs 80-100 crore and was backed by the likes of Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) president IS Bindra. But apart from barbed wire to cordon off the land, not a brick has been laid.
The project has reportedly been tossed back and forth between the PCA, BDA and Punjab Sports Department, reports the Indian Express, and is now with the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) for execution.
“We have almost finalised the terms and conditions and the bidding process would be started soon,” said PIDB managing director Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, who could not give any time frame.
Bhatinda may be proud host to Asia's biggest railway junction, but as for a cricket stadium ... well, let's just say that one's just not been able to get off the tracks.
Full postAn over-priced affair?
Its really up to you as to how you view next year's Ashes, but Sussex are clearly keeping an eye on profits.
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Its really up to you as to how you view next year's Ashes, but Sussex are clearly keeping an eye on profits.
Next June, from June 24-27, the Australians play their first warm-up of the tour against Sussex at Hove, and the local administrators have confirmed that tickets will cost £35 a day. Want to watch all four days? Be ready to fork out £140, with a serious chance that rain will scupper at least a bit of the cricket. A bit steep, you might say, given the current economic situation.
Now compare that to a season's standard membership worth £159, which allows a spectator to watch every game at Hove except Twenty20. Sussex have upped the asking price, so now lets hope, unlike a few times in the past, that they field a strong side to make it worth the dough.
The Ashes start July 8 in Cardiff and conclude August 24 at The Oval.
Full postFun with Warney and Gilly
Having shouted themselves hoarse for catches and stumpings many, many times during their Test careers, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist will now go on air
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Having shouted themselves hoarse for catches and stumpings many, many times during their Test careers, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist will now go on air. The two Australian legends will join Nine's team over the coming weeks on short-term deals. However, unlike when they played together, Warne and Gilchrist won't share air space together. Rather unfortunate, for that should have made for interesting insights - the two bring the experience of 735 international games - and witty banter.
Warne will commentate the Sydney and Melbourne Tests, as well as the Twenty20 internationals, while Gilchrist will call a Twenty20 match and seven one-dayers.
Relieved of his duties as Pakistan's coach, Geoff Lawson will also slip back behind the mic for ABC when the Sydney Test starts.
Full postTips from Tendulkar
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
It’s not a bad strategy to practise in the nets alongside Sachin Tendulkar. Mumbai women’s side did just that as the batsman geared up for the upcoming England Tests, and got some welcome advice from Tendulkar after he was done with his session.
"He talked to our batters as well as bowlers. He told them about how to become mentally strong, on the importance of pacing their innings and how to avoid getting bogged down in case the rival captain adopts a 7-2 field. It was very useful," Anjali Pednekar, the coach, told PTI. "He also told them to see the success men's team and how well they have done and aspire to emulate them.”
Full postTelevised selection meetings?
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s criticism of leaks from selection meetings included a suggestion that if what went on inside closed doors had to come out then the whole meeting might as well be televised
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s criticism of leaks from selection meetings included a suggestion that if what went on inside closed doors had to come out then the whole meeting might as well be televised. Dhoni may have been only half-serious but the idea found favour with Kishan Rungta, a former national selector. In fact Rungta made a similar suggestion way back in 1997 - he had told the Kolkata-based Telegraph that the selection meetings could be telecast live just as the proceedings in Parliament.
Reacting to Dhoni’s statement, Rungta said his point made 11 years ago still held true. “Why should the deliberations be such a secret?” Rungta said. “Bringing about transparency via a live telecast would, in my opinion, be healthy for Indian cricket. It’s important for players to know what the selectors and the two co-opted members [captain, coach] of the committee think about them. Indeed, it’s important for players to know where they stand. I’m glad that Dhoni thinks on similar lines.”
Rungta said his suggestion, conveyed verbally to then BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, was rejected as being too controversial. “I’d be happy if the present dispensation takes steps in that direction.”
Full postBalls of fury
Division One Premier League teams in Sri Lanka are at odds with their country's governing body over the supply of cricket balls
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Division One Premier League teams in Sri Lanka are at odds with their country's governing body over the supply of cricket balls. Members of certain clubs have, according to the Sunday Times, complained that Pakistan-made Grays balls have been provided this year instead of the usual Kookaburra make. The Grays ball apparently has a slightly protruded seam, which gives new-ball bowlers an undue advantage of producing generous swing.
“This time the Premier League Tournament is going to be used as the yardstick to pick the final lineup for the Provincial Tournament which is going to be branded as our main tournament," said an irate member of one club. "However, when bowlers with less skills have taken a lot of wickets not owing to their own skills, but the bad quality of the ball, there may be lopsided selections. That might be a very dangerous situation.”
Another player raised the issue of injury, citing the number of injuries when fielders stop the ball or go for catches. For their part, the SLC said they had not received any complaints and that the Grays ball had been provided to the national team, without any disapproval. Sidath Wettimuny, now an administrator, said that if Pakistan use the Grays ball for Tests then the SLC could do the same in club cricket.
Full post