The Buzz
India's "team ambulance"
When India's Test cricketers found an alternate ride to the team hotel...
ESPNcricinfo staff
19-Nov-2015
What happens if you are an Indian Test cricketer left behind at the ground? Turns out there's a spare set of wheels you can borrow. Yes, the ambulance that is mandatory at every top-level cricket match. Or, at least, such was the case with Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Stuart Binny at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, where rain washed out four days of the Test against South Africa.
The three, along with batting coach Sanjay Bangar, had remained at the stadium to spend a little extra time in the nets, even while the team bus transported the rest of the squad to the hotel. Once they were done, the four decided it was better to not wait for the bus to return - probably wise, given Bangalore's infamous traffic issues - and reportedly hopped into the ambulance parked at the ground instead to make the short ride to the team hotel. Smart thinking or needless impatience?
Full postNo cricket field? Try a beach, says CA chief
Chief executive James Sutherland thinks beach cricket at the Olympics is not a silly idea
Brydon Coverdale
06-Nov-2015
Cricket Australia occasionally do things from left field - day-night Tests, for example - but on this occasion they left the field entirely. Chief executive James Sutherland on Friday declared that beach cricket at the Olympics was not a silly idea, due to the lack of cricket fields available in some parts of the world where the Olympics may be held.
Cricket administrators have often been either lukewarm about the sport's potential involvement at the Olympics or, in the case of Giles Clarke, implacably opposed to it altogether. But Cricket Australia is supportive, and in a radio interview with ABC Grandstand on Friday, Sutherland was asked if Twenty20 was the form most likely to be seen at the Olympics in future.
"I think so but cricket on a traditional field will be a challenge in some parts of the world," Sutherland said. "There are other ways in which it can be played. Beach cricket is not a silly idea, nor is indoor cricket. All of those things are perhaps in some ways more practical and achievable than big cricket fields like we're on now."
Beach volleyball is one thing, but beach cricket? Perhaps indoor cricket is Sutherland's preference of the two ideas he floated. It would be a guaranteed gold medal for Australia, who have won all nine Men's Indoor Cricket World Cups and all eight Women's Indoor Cricket World Cups that have ever been contested.
Full postShakib's paternity leave cut, by wife
Shakib Al Hasan was supposed to miss the Zimbabwe series to be with his pregnant wife, till she sent him back to work
Mohammad Isam
02-Nov-2015
Shakib Al Hasan was not scheduled to play Zimbabwe at home. He was granted paternal leave to be with his wife Umme Ahmed Shishir in the USA - the couple is expecting their first child later this month. But there has been a change of plan: Shakib was back in Dhaka on Saturday evening, to play the Zimbabwe series, on the instructions of his wife.
"My wife told me to come to Bangladesh," Shakib said on Monday. "I am here because of her. I had the option [of staying back] but she told me, 'I wouldn't like the look on your face when you sit here and watch the matches on TV. It is better you go play.'"
Now Shakib is hoping things all go to schedule - the Zimbabwe series ends on November 15, a week before Shishir's due date.
"If it happens at the due time, I can finish the Zimbabwe series and reach there to be with her," he said. "I am talking to her constantly. She is healthy. There's nothing to worry about. I would feel good if I can finish the series properly."
Full postA Twitter wish for a Sehwag fairytale
Can Virender Sehwag sign off his first-class career with a triple-hundred? VVS Laxman would love it if he could, but what does Sehwag himself think about it?
ESPNcricinfo staff
23-Oct-2015
Two days after announcing his international retirement, Virender Sehwag made a festive day in Mysore even more memorable, scoring 136 for Haryana against defending Ranji Trophy champions Karnataka. It caught the attention of Twitterati, and among them Sehwag's former India team-mates.
1st Match after announcing his retirement @virendersehwag gets a brilliant 100.Wld love if he can sign off with a 300 #MemoriesForever
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 22, 2015
A lot of other Sehwag fans would have agreed with Laxman, whose 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens had only been bettered by Sehwag for India in Tests. But the man with two Tests triple-hundreds thought otherwise.
@VVSLaxman281 laxman ji domestic mein 300 banana it's not easy . They put all the fielder on the the line after my 50.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 22, 2015Sarah Taylor enters preserve of the Australian male
Sarah Taylor, the England women's wicket-keeper batsman, has broken into what was previously a jealously-guarded male preserve by becoming the first woman to play Australian first grade cricket
ESPNcricinfo staff
17-Oct-2015
Sarah Taylor, the England women's wicket-keeper batsman, has broken into what was previously a jealously-guarded male preserve by becoming the first woman to play Australian first grade cricket. She gatecrashed what reputedly has been one of the last bastions of the macho Australian male by making her debut for Northern Districts in the South Australian Premier Competition on Saturday.
Not all statisticians seem entirely happy to let a Pom to take the accolade, with references also made to a T20 match in Victoria once played by Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who stepped down as coach of the Australian women's team in May, but Taylor's achievement in being selected for a two-day game will gain universal recognition.
SACA Premier Cricket is a two-day competition and represents the highest level of cricket played in South Australia outside first-class cricket.
Full post'Proud to have a tram named after me' - Broad
Stuart Broad railroaded Australia at Trent Bridge, but a tram named after him will make sure the people of his hometown in Nottingham stay right on track
ESPNcricinfo staff
16-Sep-2015
Stuart Broad railroaded Australia at Trent Bridge, but a tram named after him will make sure the people of his hometown stay right on track.
Nottingham's city council had invited nominations from locals and Broad received the highest number of votes. His name will go up on the 237 tram, which will be unveiled on Thursday.
Broad follows football manager Brian Clough, Olympic and world champion ice skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean and boxer Carl Froch to have a tram named after him.
Full postSan Marino boss just wants a little respect
ESPNcricinfo staff
05-Sep-2015
The Ashes success has been the highlight of the season for many England players, but judging by their reactions it was a close-run thing alongside the appearance of Roy Hodgson, the England football manager, at their training session at The Oval.
A pre-match kickabout - which is taken very seriously among the squad - was reintroduced by Paul Farbrace earlier this season having previously been banned amid concerns over the injury risks.
However, while the cricketers enjoyed impressing - well, sometimes impressing - Hodgson, his suggestion that there could be "one or two places available" for the Euro qualifier match against San Marino has ruffled a few feathers with their manager.
Full postWarne hands out life advice to Kyrgios
Australia's latest bad-boy sportsman has been handed a generous helping of advice from one of the old pros
03-Sep-2015
Australia's latest bad-boy sportsman has been handed a generous helping of advice from one of the old pros. In an open letter, Shane Warne has urged tennis player Nick Kyrgios to not "waste" his talent and earn "respect". And to stop "testing our patience".
A little while ago Kyrgios was in the news for his cheap jibe at Stanislas Wawrinka during a match, shows of petulance towards the officials and periods of sulking and perceived indifference on the court during Wimbledon. Mixed in among them was some inspiring tennis. Now, once again, he is in the spotlight for the wrong reasons - after his first-round US Open loss to Andy Murray, he extracted a wad of chewing gum from his mouth and handed it an assistant while he readied himself for a television interview.
"We all realise you're only 20 & have a lot to learn buddy," Warne wrote on Facebook. "But please don't waste your talent, everyone in the world, especially us Australians want to respect u. Remember respect is way more important than being liked, u need to respect the game of tennis & yourself.
"We all make mistakes, but it's how we learn from them & the way we conduct ourselves when we lose that shows true character. You're testing our patience mate, show us what you're made of & how hungry you are to be the best in the world, it's time to step up & start winning, no excuses. No shame in losing, but show us you will never give up, that you will give it everything to be the best you can be, respect is earned not given! I believe in you & know you can do it, but now's the time my friend..."
Full postSouth Africa's well-laid plans leaked
South Africa's plans for each New Zealand batsman - which included areas to bowl and the use of the bouncer - were leaked in a case of mistake identity on the eve of the first ODI in Centurion
Firdose Moonda
19-Aug-2015
Cricket teams claim to spend almost as much time on analysis and strategy as they do in the nets. Now we know, at least in South Africa's case, it's true. The team's bowling plan, which includes notes on the areas to bowl, the use of the bouncer and the death-overs plan for each New Zealand batsman, was leaked in a case of mistaken identity on the eve of their first ODI in Centurion.
The document, which was addressed to Dale Steyn, was slid under the door of another hotel guest, Cassandra Teasdale, who shared it on Facebook. Teasdale posted an image of the document with a cheeky message: "Something tells me I was not supposed to get the South African cricket team's plan/strategy to the New Zealand team batsman and bowlers under my hotel room door... I wonder if this means Dale think he is sleeping in my room tonight?.."
The South African team's media manager, Lerato Malekutu confirmed to Sport 24 that the incident "is true, unfortunately," but AB de Villiers did not think it would make too much difference to his bowlers' approach. "They enjoy being under pressure anyway," he said at the toss, where Kane Williamson shrugged off the story.
South Africa have identified Williamson as someone who "attacks" but "doesn't pull well", and prefers to "drive on the up through the covers". They plan to bowl "bouncers angling in" if he is around at the end of the innings. Other batsmen they hoped to attack with short balls are Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Colin Munro and Luke Ronchi. Jimmy Neesham, who according to the New Zealand Herald offered Teasdale tickets to the match, was written about as an "lbw option".
Full postHodgson's England scouting trip
England's session of warm-up football at The Oval took on a slightly more competitive edge on Tuesday, due to the presence of one particular onlooker: Roy Hodgson, manager of the England football team
ESPNcricinfo staff
18-Aug-2015
England's session of warm-up football at The Oval took on a slightly more competitive edge on Tuesday, due to the presence of one particular onlooker. Roy Hodgson, manager of the England football team, was in attendance to see Australia and England train ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test.
Some of England's cricketers possibly fancied their chances of a call-up. Stuart Broad tweeted: "We may have won The Ashes but the highlight of my summer was the England Football manager enthusiastically clapping a rapid one touch counter attacking move from our team in footy warm up!"
Trevor Bayliss's team have already achieved their goal for the summer, so Hodgson was able to offer words of praise before the players began practice. Hodgson has experienced success in various European leagues during a 40-year coaching career but, given England's somewhat patchy record in major football tournaments, it was perhaps a good thing he wasn't required to offer inspiration ahead of a series decider.
Full post