The Buzz
Vermeulen the golfer
Former Zimbabwe opening batsmen Mark Vermeulen has had enough … of cricket
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Former Zimbabwe opening batsmen Mark Vermeulen has had enough … of cricket. Vermeulen, 32, who last played for Zimbabwe in 2009, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket and decided to pursue a career in golf. Vermeulen, who played eight Tests and 43 ODIs for Zimbabwe, said he was fed up with the unprofessionalism in the game. “Everyone has been holding me back — the administrators and the umpires — so I have decided I can do something better with my life,” Vermeulen told Zimbabwe Independent. “I dreamt of playing in the national team again and representing the country in the Tests but I am quitting to pursue a career in golf.” Vermeulen will have to gain professional status in the game by winning an amateur tournament, and his first shot is the Zimbabwe Amateur Tournament on April 22.
Vermeulen has had a chequered career as an international cricketer – he was sent home during the second Test of the 2003 tour of England, had earlier refused to stop a ball at Hove because "it was too cold" and also had run-ins with the team manager. In 2008, he was cleared of arson due to mental illness after being on trial for burning down the Zimbabwe Cricket headquarters and academy in Harare in 2006. Vermeulen lost his contract with Zimbabwe domestic franchise Mountaineers in March after another instance of indiscipline. His relationship with the franchise reportedly broke down following a three-match suspension for angrily contesting two decisions in a Logan Cup match against Mashonaland Eagles at Mutare Sports Club last month.
Full postTicket bonanza for West Indies fans
Old age has its rewards – especially if you want to watch West Indies take on Pakistan and India free of cost during their upcoming tours of the Caribbean
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Old age has its rewards – especially if you want to watch West Indies take on Pakistan and India free of cost during their upcoming tours of the Caribbean. West Indies recorded their first Test win in England between June 24 and 29, 1950, at Lord’s and it is in celebration of that win, that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), is offering free tickets to any fan who was born before June 24 1950. And this is how it works: anyone who was born before that date will receive two free tickets to any match of their choice. And if you happen to be born between June 24 and 29 in 1950 or any year prior to 1950 you will receive ten free tickets to any match of your choice during the West Indies-Pakistan or West Indies-India series.
“We want to give back to the fans who have been faithful to West Indies cricket over the years, those who have lived through the good times and the challenging times,” WICB event manager Cindy McLean said. “Did you live it? Win tickets!” is WICB’s slogan for the ticket giveaway campaign. West Indies take on Pakistan and India in a total of two T20s, ten ODIs and five Tests all across the Caribbean from April 21 to July 10. And if you don’t fall in that age group, well, there’s not too much to worry. Ticket prices for the series’ have been radically slashed – up to 85% in some cases – to make it easier on budgets; and if you are less than 16 years old, it's entry free for all games.
Full postThe countdown to the 2015 World Cup begins
Apparently, it is never too early to start a marketing campaign
Tariq Engineer
25-Feb-2013
Apparently, it is never too early to start a marketing campaign. While millions of Indians were celebrating their team’s World Cup win, cricket’s governing body unveiled the logo for the 2015 tournament to be held in Australia and New Zealand.
“This really brings it home to people in Australia and New Zealand that the countdown to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 has started,” Cricket Australia’s chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement.
The instructions to the agencies producing the logo were to create “both Australian and New Zealand cultural motifs so as to reflect the two indigenous countries’ cultural identities” in a “positive and harmonious way”, the statement said. The selected motifs were Maori Tohora, symbolizing toughness, pride and tribal culture, and Aboriginal journey tracks symbolising spirit of the land.
Full postIndia get the hunger
Napoelon would have been impressed
Sharda Ugra
25-Feb-2013
Napoelon would have been impressed. He's the man who said armies marched on their stomachs, but the Indian cricket team have managed to march (apologies for the martial metaphors) into the final of the world cup on empty tummies. Well almost. The Indians had gobbled down their first meal on the day of the semi-final only 15 minutes before the toss in Mohali.
In his last question at the media conference before the final, Dhoni was asked about the food scarcity encountered by the Indians on the morning of their most important match in the World Cup. Dhoni smiled ruefully, "That was one thing I didn't want to say," and then went on to explain what had happened. On the morning of the match, when the Indians went down for their usual 10am breakfast at their high-security Taj Hotel in Chandigarh, the team were told, Dhoni said by the hotel staff, "it would take more than an hour to serve your breakfast."
As the lone five-star deluxe hotel in Chandigarh, the Taj was packed to the gills on the day of the India v Pakistan semi-final with a high-security, high-priority guest list. It was the security protocol of the VIPs rather than their jumping the buffet queue that had led to this situation. The Indians then decided to travel to the ground to get what had fast become brunch, except when they turned up, the food in the dressing rom was not exactly they needed.
Dhoni said, before a packed room of astonished reporters, that the team had decided that they would have their first meal after the warm-ups. "These are the things which can distract you to some extent but what is important is what you can do about it... You may scream, you may shout but you won't get the food. So ... use the time in the best possible manner." The Indians warmed up, and ate their first meal before the toss and when Dhoni won it, the team were most grateful that most of them didn't have to run onto the field 45 minutes after eating.
Full postA taste for cricket
There has been tremendous security build-up in Mohali ahead of the World Cup semi-final clash between India and Pakistan with the army, the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Special Protection Group (SPG) all out in full force
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
There has been tremendous security build-up in Mohali ahead of the World Cup semi-final clash between India and Pakistan with the army, the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Special Protection Group (SPG) all out in full force. Most have got the bum jobs – standing in the heat, dealing with angry fans - but two of them have landed the jackpot, working as the official food tasters for the Indian and Pakistani cricketers. Assistant sub-inspector Rakesh Rasella and sub-inspector Ramphal have been eating three meals a day - featuring Schezwan, India and international cuisine - at the Taj hotel in Chandigarh, where the teams are staying, to check for poisoning or other hygiene problems. "I have tasted more than 18 different dishes before they were consumed by cricketers and I hadn't eaten many of them ever (before)," Rasella told the Times of India. Looks like it could be more than the cricketers and fans who leave Mohali sated.
Full postEngland’s party problems
As if England don’t have enough problems: injuries, squad disruptions, playing Sri Lanka in a knockout World Cup game in hot and humid Colombo
Jayaditya Gupta
25-Feb-2013
As if England don’t have enough problems: injuries, squad disruptions, playing Sri Lanka in a knockout World Cup game in hot and humid Colombo. The night before their quarter-final, the team was kept up till late by a raucous party that began at a nearby nightclub and then moved into their hotel. The noise – presumably nothing compared to expected levels at the Premadasa on Saturday – prompted the Twitterati among the England camp to complain. “If you happen to be in the nightclub of our hotel, could you possibly pull the plug from the socket,” Graeme Swann tweeted. “Or pour vodka on the decks.”
That was at 11-30pm, when he should have been tucked in and dreaming of perfectly flighted offspin. Almost an hour later, his bowling team-mate James Anderson sounded more accommodating: “The rave across the street has finished and my windows have stopped shaking but it seems they have moved the party into our hotel! If it’s still going in a couple of hours I might stick a pair of jeans on and hit the dance floor."
England’s players and fans will be hoping that the late-night distraction – even if Anderson can keep away from his jeans – will not have the same effect as the early-morning fire drill at their Leeds hotel before the first day’s play in the 2009 Ashes Test at Headingley. That day too the news was broken by Swann; England were all out for 102 and lost the Test by an innings and 80 runs.
You’d wonder how the Sri Lankans could sleep through the noise. Perhaps they are used to it, but the answer anyway is less complicated – they are staying in a hotel up the road and away from the action.
Full postOwn your own team
Always wanted to own a star-studded cricket team, but never had the chance (or the money) to do so
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Always wanted to own a star-studded cricket team, but never had the chance (or the money) to do so? Well, about 100-odd people in Dubai got an opportunity to bid for their dream World Cup 12-man squad ahead of the quarter-finals. According the National dozens of cricket crazy fans were given the chance – and a “purse” of $100 million - to bid for their dream team at a fantasy cricket auction series organised in Dubai. And they were fully prepared – armed with laptops, statistics, player details and of course their pretend money.
For most participants, it was a chance to live out a dream – sorry, fantasy. “I feel like I’m a Vijay Mallya or an Ambani when I’m spending US$100 million. I feel like I own the players and can call them up and say, ‘Hey, play better’”, Radha Javeri, a home-maker said. Unlike other fantasy games, this one doesn’t allow for team changes but that didn’t spoil the fun. “I’ve set my alarm for 2am, when I usually receive the points, and check it by 2.30am every day,” said Deep Javeri. “At 6am I meet my brother and we confirm that our team is still leading. This is as close as we can come to owning a team. That’s the fantasy.” And no prizes for guessing which player fetched the highest bid – Sachin Tendulkar, who went for a whopping $60 million. Move over IPL.
Full postOnly good-looking cops for World Cup final
With a large number of foreigners expected to attend the World Cup final, Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik is quite particular about the image projected by the city’s police force
Nikita Bastian
25-Feb-2013
With a large number of foreigners expected to attend the World Cup final, Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik is quite particular about the image projected by the city’s police force. Only good-looking officers will be on duty during the match, after Patnaik stated at a police briefing that he wanted only “tall, well-built, slim policemen” present. Overweight and tobacco-chewing policemen are strictly prohibited.
“There is a tendency among our policemen to behave rudely at times. This is going to be an international event, and so the city police should look good and behave well,” a senior police official told DNA. “The commissioner said that our policemen should look smart, young and energetic. They should be able to communicate well with people, including foreigners.” Mumbai’s traffic police department took its cue from Patnaik, and chose “nearly 100 good-looking policemen, with good communication skills” for the job of ushering in spectators.
Full postColly loses three fans
Paul Collingwood’s poor form in recent times has seen his support-base dwindle, but surely he at least deserves the support of his family
Dustin Silgardo
25-Feb-2013
Paul Collingwood’s poor form in recent times has seen his support-base dwindle, but surely he at least deserves the support of his family. His three daughters, though, turned their back on him for England’s must-win match against West Indies in Chennai. “We hope you lose tomorrow, daddy,” they told him via Skype the day before the match. It wasn’t that they had fallen for the laidback charm of Chris Gayle and his team-mates. They just wanted their daddy to “come back home.” Collingwood, along with the rest of England’s cricketers, has found himself entangled in a ceaseless schedule that saw him spend less than ten days at home between returning from Australia and travelling to the subcontinent for the World Cup.
"That was quite tough and I had to think quickly," Collingwood told the Daily Mail website. “I told them, 'Yes, but if we win, daddy will get a few more pennies to buy you more Barbie dolls'. That seemed to do the trick. 'OK, I hope you win now', said Shannon.” The only worry is Collingwood may have used up his excuse for abandoning home once again to come play the IPL, which starts six days after the World Cup.
Full postAll is well, even as light tower fails
The concerns over the World Cup stadia never seem to fully blow over
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
The concerns over the World Cup stadia never seem to fully blow over. The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, which will host the World Cup final on April 2, had a power failure in one of its light towers during Friday’s New Zealand-Sri Lanka tie. On the upside, the incident was barely noticed by the players, as the malfunctioning tower was made redundant by the other artificial light sources available.
The tower’s generator had failed, according to Mumbai Cricket Association secretary Lalchand Rajput. “But the lights were back in seven minutes or so, after switching to an alternative power source,” he said. “We have an arrangement such that there is enough illumination to continue the game even if such an accident occurs.” Well done.
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