The Surfer

What is the meaning of the word “sport”? According to dictionaries, “sport is a game, competition or activity needing physical effort and skill”. Sport is an occupational activity that certainly requires skill to produce a desired result. It is undeniable that the sport of cricket requires skill. Therefore, on an expansive interpretation of the expression “art”, sport would be included in it and the nomination of a sportsperson to the Rajya Sabha is perfectly constitutional. It bears emphasis that the purpose of nomination is that the nation may have the benefit of the views of eminent and experienced persons when legislative measures relating to a particular subject, with which they are familiar, are debated.

If initial projections had remained consistent, by season five one would have expected the league to have exponentially increased its collateral revenues, especially gate receipts and merchandise. But one fears that the IPL is still clubbed with or compared to other entertainment properties. If that fear becomes a reality, it will soon be considered a seasonal reality show with dwindling popularity as the novelty factor wears off, much like the Indian Idol model.

Ahead are some of the toughest assignments Clarke’s men could possibly face. World No. 2 South Africa heads to Australia at the end of 2012 before next year offers a tour of India that leads into back-to-back Ashes campaigns. There are several Australian players still struggling to prove themselves. Opener Ed Cowan will go into the home series against South Africa's world-class pace line-up of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel knowing he is running out of time to make a big score. The Proteas' pace guns will provide plenty of questions for Australia's batsmen, with Shane Watson yet to solidify his role at No. 3 and veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey never far from scrutiny.

I'm about winning. I don't want to be involved with teams that are not having good times. I really need to enjoy what I am doing, work hard and enjoy the performances of the boys. They work their bums off to get wickets and runs, catches, and that gives me a real big boost and then the result comes that you want ...

The likes of Kirk Edwards (50) and Darren Bravo (49) have good batting averages early in their Test careers, but have they got the technique and temperament to battle it out against one of the best bowling attacks in the world? Will they score enough runs to allow their bowlers an opportunity to bowl England out twice?

West Indies rely too heavily on the magnificent Shivnarine Chanderpaul ... he can be relied upon to score runs at number five, but he is going to need valuable contributions from others if West Indies are to stand a chance against England. To that end, it is a shame that Chris Gayle will not play in this series ...

The former [NZC] chief executive Vaughan trumpeted Buchanan's signing as director of cricket a year ago ... Having finally snared the prized signature of Wright six months earlier, this was an awful message to send. Would Graham Henry or Alex Ferguson suddenly have to answer to a former rival coach installed above them in the pecking order? ... The minute Buchanan took his seat as second-in-command at NZC headquarters in Christchurch, Wright got jumpy. The two get on at a personal level, but are polar opposites with their cricketing philosophies.

... From Wright's perspective, if he felt his hands were being tied, his approach compromised by his boss, then he could not continue on that basis. You hope he won't be lost to the game. He is a good cricket man, whose heart, in terms of New Zealand cricket's welfare, is in the right place. You can also be sure that the person who replaces him will be on the same wavelength as Buchanan. For at least the next three years, New Zealand Cricket can't afford it to be any other way.

Malinga took 4 for 16 in 3.4 overs in Sunday’s match and played his part in Mumbai Indians fifth win in nine matches, but it was Steyn’s utmost show of human potential as a fast-bowler-cricketer on the field that had the spellbinding effect. No wonder he was declared the man of the match.

In spite of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s immense popularity, especially among the young, there is a small group of people who want Chennai to lose. These are, I have found, people who are very committed followers of the game—guys who live several time zones away from India but can reel off statistics and argue why, say, a Pragyan Ojha should be playing more regularly for India. They accuse Dhoni of playing favourites in the Indian team, preferring a Rohit Sharma over a Manoj Tewary, and getting his way every time because of his IPL Chennai connections—Board President N. Srinivasan and Selection Committee head K. Srikkanth. Above all, they suspect Dhoni of having engineered Sehwag’s dropping from the team for the Asia Cup. So, Dhoni must pay.