The Buzz
Dhoni to have brain mapped?
MS Dhoni & Co may not be at their best at the moment, but one couldn’t deny that the India captain has enjoyed much success on the field – and also off it – till now
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
MS Dhoni & Co may not be at their best at the moment, but one couldn’t deny that the India captain has enjoyed much success on the field – and also off it – till now. So what makes him such an effective captain? That’s what one of India’s leading business schools, the Indian Institute of Management - Ranchi, wants to find out.
Dhoni has been sent an invitation by the institution, to have his brain mapped to understand ‘the making of a leader’. The project, if it happens, will be a forerunner to a neuromanagement course that the institution plans to introduce.
Full postClarke shows his thoughtful side
Australia captain Michael Clarke showed his thoughtful side recently, when he came to know of the tragedy facing young Harry Rowe and his family
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Australia captain Michael Clarke showed his thoughtful side recently, when he came to know of the tragedy facing young Harry Rowe and his family. Harry’s father, 36-year-old Andrew, died a few weeks ago of a heart attack, prompting friends to organise a tribute night. Clarke, it was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, hearing of the event from a friend, asked what he could do to help. An autographed cap for Harry was requested. Soon enough, Harry got his cap, as well as a phone call from the Australia captain.
Full postThe global ‘ashes’ tour
Most of us (well, most readers of this site) live for cricket
Nikita Bastian
25-Feb-2013
Most of us (well, most readers of this site) live for cricket. Retired British accountant Stanley Johnson, who died recently in New Zealand while watching his favourite sport, seems to have redefined the phrase. His will stipulates that his ashes are to be scattered at 12 cricket grounds in eight countries across the globe, beginning with The Oval in London during the final Test of the England-India series.
A report in the the Times says eight friends will receive envelopes of the ashes, and proceed on "Stanley Johnson’s Ashes Tour", scattering them at various grounds across New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies, apart from England. Each friend will toast Johnson with a local brew as the remains are scattered. The last envelope will be strewn over the turf at Church, a cricket club where Johnson once played.
Johnson’s family said he’d watched around 230 Tests in his lifetime, all the while building up funds to finance his posthumous “ashes” tour. A standing ovation, please, as he walks back to the pavilion.
Full postShoaib Malik turns to tennis
Shoaib Malik may not be able to play international cricket for Pakistan until he is cleared by the PCB, but he can still experience the thrill of playing a sport against international-level opposition
Tariq Engineer
25-Feb-2013
Shoaib Malik may not be able to play international cricket for Pakistan until he is cleared by the PCB, but he can still experience the thrill of playing a sport against international-level opposition. Malik has taken to playing tennis with his wife, Indian professional tennis player Sania Mirza, and has even claimed to have beaten her, albeit on a mini-court.
“I play tennis with Sania twice a week,” Malik told the Express Tribune.” I beat her on a mini-court recently.” The Pakistan allrounder took up tennis after marrying Mirza and his new goal is to beat her on a regular court. He also claims his wife’s game has improved after she married him.
Mirza is also a cricket fan and they root for their respective countries when India play Pakistan.
Full postKallis' putting proves a hole in one
He may be the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, but it was Jacques Kallis’ putting prowess that was on show when he helped raise R80,000 (US$11,448) for charity during the Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament at Simola Golf Estate in Knysna on Wednesday
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
He may be the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, but it was Jacques Kallis’ putting prowess that was on show when he helped raise R80,000 (US$11,448) for charity during the Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament at Simola Golf Estate in Knysna on Wednesday. Kallis came out on top in a three-way charity putting competition against team-mate Mark Boucher and former South Africa great Barry Richards, whose efforts raised R20,000 apiece for the Birdies for Kiddies campaign.
"I certainly didn't have a great day today," laughed Kallis, who had struggled through the day’s regulation play. "I didn't strike it well. Actually, I think I caught everything fat, but I'm going to blame the wet conditions. But when it really counted, I managed to find a couple of putts.”
"I have to thank him for that one par putt, but I had to carry him for 17 holes, so I think we will have to up the stakes to get him going," joked Boucher. "I think it's going to take a couple of cash bets with the guys tomorrow and playing for some proper money to get him to perform. I'm sure we'll do a lot better."
Full postNo more nets with Tendulkar for Panesar
Most bowlers say bowling to Sachin Tendulkar teaches them many things
Nikita Bastian
25-Feb-2013
Most bowlers say bowling to Sachin Tendulkar teaches them many things. But is it permissible at a practice session ahead of a much-anticipated match, and you technically happen to be from the opponent's camp? Andy Flower, the England coach and team director, thinks not. Flower was not pleased to hear of left-arm spinner Monty Panesar’s nets sessions with Tendulkar ahead of the Lord’s Test, calling his actions ‘naïve’.
“He did bowl to him in the nets before Lord's and I think that it is quite a naïve thing to do," Flower told PTI after the Lord’s Test. Panesar has not played a Test since July 2009, and is unlikely to break into the side in the immediate future, but Flower said it was still not right for him to offer net sessions to a player as dangerous as Tendulkar. "I haven't spoken to him yet, but one would hope he understands that it won't happen again."
That firmly puts an end to Panesar's attempt to better himself against “a wonderful batsman and person” in his spare time.
Full postDefibrillator to the rescue
What’s the best insurance against a medical emergency on the field
Abhishek Purohit
25-Feb-2013
What’s the best insurance against a medical emergency on the field? How about a playing XI made up of doctors? And it's even better if one of them happens to have a defibrillator handy. Harry Parkin, a businessman, suffered a heart attack and slumped to the ground unconscious a few overs into a game between local doctors and a football team in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England. According to Thisisdevon.co.uk, his team-mate Dr Richard Mejzner rushed to fetch a defibrillator from his car and revived Parkin, comforting him for 15 minutes until an air ambulance arrived.
Dr Mejzner’s timely intervention earned him praise from the local cricket club secretary Kevin Curran, not least because Parkin happens to be a big contributor to the club. "He is a well-known member of the community who does an awful lot for the club and everyone was completely shocked when this happened,” Curran said of Parkin. “He was nowhere near the ball when he collapsed. It was extremely fortunate there were a number of doctors around and one had this piece of equipment in his car – he may well have saved his life."
The match was abandoned and the incident has inspired the club to invest in a defibrillator. "We have all the basic medical equipment but this incident has highlighted just how important defibrillators are," Curran said.
Full postRemember the venue of the 1000th Test?
The 2000th Test has attracted so much attention you’d be forgiven for thinking it was the biggest milestone to have occurred in the game
Abhishek Purohit
25-Feb-2013
The 2000th Test has attracted so much attention you’d be forgiven for thinking it was the biggest milestone to have occurred in the game. But for the 2000th to have occurred at Lord’s, a 1000th had to have happened. It took place at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Pakistan, a venue that now hosts wedding parties and serves as an occasional helipad. The 1000th Test, in which Pakistan beat New Zealand by seven wickets in 1984, remains the last one to have been played there.
"It's disappointing to see the condition of Niaz Stadium. With no international cricket in Pakistan and facilities unused, it had to happen," said former Pakistan spinner Iqbal Qasim, who played in the 1000th Test. "There's no comparison between Lord's and Hyderabad, even the players didn't know about the occasion and it is only now we know that ‘Oh, we were part of the 1000th Test.’"
Pakistan were unbeaten in 12 games at the Niaz Stadium. It was there that Javed Miandad and Mudassar Nazar shared a record partnership of 451 against India in January 1983. Miandad was left stranded on 280 when his captain Imran Khan declared and then proceeded to demolish India with 6 for 35.
The ground fell into disrepair later with no international match being played for more than ten years. The PCB regained possession of it in 2007 and it hosted a one-dayer against Zimbabwe in 2008 but matters seem to have gone downhill again for what should have been a celebrated venue.
Full postDhoni's £100,000 bat
After launching a massive six over long-on to complete India's victory in the World Cup final, MS Dhoni twirled his bat nonchalantly and tucked it under his arm
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
After launching a massive six over long-on to complete India's victory in the World Cup final, MS Dhoni twirled his bat nonchalantly and tucked it under his arm. It was an iconic moment: India's captain cool maintaining his air of composure even as the rest of the team let their emotions take over; a matter-of-fact way of saying "job done", from a man under so much pressure.
Or ... maybe he was just making sure the bat did not get damaged so he could auction it for charity later. The bat fetched £100,000 (Rs 7,170,135) in an auction at a London hotel on July 18, according to PTI and the proceeds will go towards Dhoni's wife's charitable organisation, Sakshi Foundation, for under-privileged children.
Full postAustralia's cricketers go walkabout with lions
Filling the hours and days between games can often be quite a chore for cricketers on tour, but the Australian A squad have been treated to some remarkable experiences on their trip to Zimbabwe
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
Filling the hours and days between games can often be quite a chore for cricketers on tour, but the Australian A squad have been treated to some remarkable experiences on their trip to Zimbabwe. Ahead of the four-day game against Zimbabwe XI in Harare, they spent a day and a half at Antelope Park in the central highveld, Mitchell Starc describing the experience of walking through the bush with lion cubs in his tour blog.
Such an amazing, beautiful animal, these two lion cubs played with each other, climbed trees and wandered through the bush as we walk side by side with them. The experience is definitely one I’m sure none of us will ever forget. After all who can say they’ve walked through the bush side by side with the King of Beasts!