The Heavy Ball
Three things you didn't know about Ravichandran Ashwin
Formative details from the childhood of Indian cricket's man of the moment
Sidin Vadukut
08-Dec-2011
Few young Indian talents have excited the nation recently as much as this person. Not since the World Cup victory have we seen such performances. Rarely have we witnessed such all-round ability - persuasive talents on the pitch, calm demeanour off it, light hands, a determination to go the distance, and confidence on both the leg side and off sides.
I am speaking, of course, of Sunny Leone.
But closely following her, in terms of talent and fame, is Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin, everyone agrees, has been the star of the recently concluded three-Test series against West Indies. In the course of the series he took 22 wickets at an average of 22.90 centimetres, and scored 121 runs. Thus he became only the 34th Indian this year to both score a century and not be Sachin Tendulkar. For this achievement he was awarded the Dilip Sardesai Trophy, named after the renowned Indian batsman Vijay Merchant, by the BCCI.
Full postHow to explain cricket to an American
Ever despaired about getting a baseball lover to "get" cricket? These handy hints will help
R Rajkumar
05-Dec-2011
We've all experienced it at one time or another. Those seemingly innocent questions about our beloved game put forth by a stranger who unwittingly and irredeemably demotes himself in your eyes by his shocking ignorance about it. And the faintly mocking and/or ironic tone you're sure you can detect beneath his words isn't helping anyone.
Let's address the bald eagle perched atop the elephant in the room: the person putting these questions to you is, invariably, an American. Perhaps he's a tourist visiting your far-flung cricket-playing nation, or maybe he's just lost in Queens. You take it upon yourself to embark on a heroic quest, trying to explain the nuances that separate and lift cricket above and beyond comparisons to baseball (whatever that is). But it's no use. You soon realise that the American is himself above and beyond reach, that on a certain level, he doesn't really want to understand; if he did, he wouldn't take pleasure in addressing to you that most cherished of complaints: "I don't know how you guys can watch a game that lasts five days, man."
Friends, why waste your valuable time beating your head against this wall? Why put up with it any more than you have to? We all know that trying to explain cricket to an American is not unlike trying to explain chess to someone who has only ever played Battleship, so why not have a bit of fun with the situation instead?
Full postTest cricket says she's fine
Dismisses rumours that she is endangered; says it's the middle child we should worry about
Ant Sims
04-Dec-2011
Test cricket has spoken out for the first time in 100 years and proclaimed that she is doing just fine and she wishes for everybody to please stop bugging her about the state that she is in.
"Really, I am fine. I have been fine for over 100 years, despite everybody prodding at me, and being rubbed up the wrong way by the hands of some shady, unsavoury characters. I'm old and hardened, like an old wicketkeeping glove or the stubborn brain of Ijaz Butt."
Recent claims by fans and players alike have caused concern in many circles, and some are heralding the end of the greatest game ever known to man.
Full postThe Test v T20 debate solved
Now everyone's demands will be satisfied in each game
Alan Tyers
01-Dec-2011
Once again, England's media relations officer Graeme Swann has spoken for many, calling for an end to 50-over cricket.
"I think one-day cricket will have to give, at some point, hopefully for everyone," Swann told the BBC, drying his tears with a printout of his bowling statistics from the recent ODI tour of India. "I don't think that game should carry on for much longer."
Will cricket ever solve this debate over formats? Over in India and South Africa, thousands are staying away from Test grounds. In the subcontinent, many argue that Twenty20 is the only way to compete for the entertainment dollar. Back in England, others reckon that limited-overs cricket is a waste of time and we should only play the five-day version.
Full postYuvraj Singh c Collingwood b Flintoff 58
Our intrepid commentary duo were in the box when Yuvraj let fly in Durban
Alex Bowden
28-Nov-2011
Stuart: The 19th over of this World Twenty20 match will be bowled by Stuart Broad.
Ash: Yuvraj is ticking, Stu. I think he's going to get after young Broad.
Stuart: Well, he's got the licence to play his shots and… oh, good heavens, did you see that fly past the window then Ash? What was it?
Full postAustralia 47 all out
Things could have gotten a lot worse at Newlands if it hadn't been for some good old Australian honesty. Our commentators explain
Alex Bowden
21-Nov-2011
Stuart: Well, astonishing scenes here at Newlands, where Australia have been bowled out for just 47. What do you make of that, Ash? Can you say anything in the Aussies' favour after that performance?
Ash: They were true to themselves, Stu. They were true to their natural games.
Stuart: And that's good, is it?
Full postFixing? Fixed!
Reporting corruption is a piece of cake with the ECB's new hotline
Alan Tyers
18-Nov-2011
A story by Alison Mitchell in Tuesday's Times revealed that the ECB's anti-corruption unit has not yet had a meeting since it first gathered four months ago, that members have not been contacted since, and that a Corruption Hotline for players to call in the event of a brown paper bag emergency is unmanned - and goes straight to voicemail.
Some might think that a bit of an unimpressive effort. Au contraire: the ECB have got their top people on the case; and they have synergised the following telephonic solution.
Recorded voice: "Hello and welcome to the ECB's anti-corruption hotline. Please hold."
Full postWhat Test cricket needs: mikes
Lend us your ears for we are going to make this glorious game even more entertaining
Sidin Vadukut
17-Nov-2011
Dear purist cricket-loving readers, I have, after much thought, rumination and many of those little chocolates with liquor inside them, figured out a way to save Test cricket.
No, it does not involve any of the usual ideas cited by experts: play it only on weekends so more people can attend, reduce ticket prices drastically to fill the stands, and of course, play in short, frilly skirts but without thigh-length tights like some sneaky field hockey players wear.
My solution involves one single device: the portable wireless microphone.
Full postHarbhajan no-balled for spinning the ball
Dropped Indian bowler shocks umpires into taking drastic action
R Rajkumar
14-Nov-2011
Bewildered umpires no-balled discarded India bowler Harbhajan Singh for what they called "strange and suspicious action on the ball" during a recent Ranji Trophy match between Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
According to umpire K Bharatan, the ball in question had unexpectedly "turned a little after pitching".
"In all my years as an umpire, I've never seen anything like it from Harbhajan Singh," said the visibly flummoxed official at close of play. "I mean, you might expect this sort of behaviour from others, but from him?" he said, shaking his head incredulously. "I don't know what he did to the ball at the point of delivery, but unlike any of the other 150 or so balls he'd bowled in the match, or the 30,000 or so bowled over the course of his career, the seam on this particular delivery could be seen actually turning on its way to the other end. The way the ball then spat and turned off the pitch before being smothered by the blade of the surprised batsman, I just knew something was amiss."
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