The Surfer

Expectedly, Gambhir was the man in waiting in case Dhoni passed on the baton. However, the selectors sprang a surprise by ignoring Gambhir and appointing Virat as vice-captain. The timing of the announcement is crucial. If Gambhir lets this affect him and fails to fire with the bat over the next three weeks, it could have serious repercussions on India's campaign in the CB Series (if they make it to the finals) and Asia Cup. These three weeks will test his mettle as a professional cricketer.

Flynn, who ended a successful debut season for Lancashire with England call-ups, does a whole lot more with that life than play cricket. He raised more than £50,000 for the Bone Cancer Research Trust last year, and was voted "Britain's kindest kid" last year for his efforts outside of the game, something he puts down to anyone other than himself. "My family and friends have been really supportive. They've been there throughout," he said.

The Ranji squad created history by winning the coveted trophy in 2010-11 and followed up by retaining it in the current season. Obviously, they unearthed a few local players who performed well to supplement the three professionals, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Aakash Chopra and Parida, to achieve the enviable distinction. But for reasons best known to the current administrators, the three professionals were deemed as untouchables post the retention of the Ranji trophy and were not called for the celebrations held in recent weeks.

The print advertisement was shot in a studio, the film in an old bungalow in Vile Parle East, a predominantly Maharashtrian locality. “We wanted something quaint [for the interiors],” says Mannan. “We wanted it to be a representation of the world Ajit comes from—books, wood [furniture], chai, and since it’s Bombay, we wanted rain.” Ajit is shown making tea (no milk), standing in a balcony and stretching his left hand out into the downpour. He reads from Pavsaala (Monsoon), brother Nitin’s book of poems inspired by rain. Later he sits down before a computer, scans newspaper clips of Sachin’s exploits, and jabs at the keyboard. ‘1971 was a remarkable year for Indian cricket,’ he types. And leaning back into the chair, smiles at the camera, a solitary man at last returning the gaze of the masses.

No-one but Rohit and Raina can be blamed for how the present has panned out. The reasons are simple: they haven’t made the most of their chances, something that has been illustrated in this ongoing tri-series in Australia. Despite resting the seniors by rotation to keep him in the side, Rohit’s run of 21, 10, 33, 15 and 0 gave the think-tank no choice but to drop him. Raina just about saved himself from a similar fate with three scores of above 30. The last of which unfolded in Hobart.

Individually, Smith, Kallis and Boucher will leave some of the deepest impressions on South African cricket that will ever be left. Collectively, they have ruled the Proteas’ dressing room for almost 10 years. The most emphatically competitive of them is the one who will be the first to go. I have known Boucher since he was a shy, flop-haired schoolboy and I will never know a human being more focused on winning.

Kallis always seems to be somewhere else, even when he is in the next chair at a dinner table. Few cricketers are blessed with his talent, but his greatest gift is his supernatural ability to shut out everything unneeded as he goes about wielding all that talent at the opposition. There is no captain in cricket quite like Smith, who wears his heart not on his sleeve but on a chin he juts at the world with cartoon carelessness.

Dhoni’s ODI runs have led to his partial rehabilitation in the affections of fans—confirming the irrationality, and brevity, of public memory. But spare a thought for Dhoni—he’s not been given the team he wanted, he’s mentally and physically fatigued. He has spoken often about a tiring excess of cricket, that he might give up Test cricket. It’s a cry for help that the BCCI has refused to heed

The reason I hadn't said anything to him [Steve Smith, during the BBL] in the nets is because I couldn't see anything wrong with the way he was preparing. He has undoubted talent with the ball, and I consider his future to be as a bowling all-rounder who brings the added bonus of being able win matches for Australia with the bat. Yes, he could bowl better during matches. I have no doubt that he stays awake at night thinking just that. But if a 22-year-old surrounded by everything that he loved didn't get a little distracted every now and then, you'd call for the men in white coats.

Neville showed his prowess with the bat in the early and mid fifties. He learnt his cricket, like did most Bens by first playing softball cricket at the St.Lucia’s Cathedral Square. From there he graduated to the first team at St. Benedict’s , and what a batsman he turned out to be. He was the quintissential batsman that spectators yearned to see. And he seldom let them down.

Ranil was a fine allrounder and a classy genteleman. He batted and bowled left handed and after a successful stint for the school by the sea, he played for SSC with great success and the national cap was not long in coming ... After his playing days were over, he moved to Australia where he learnt the art of preparing wickets and served as a curator at the SSC. He also excelled as an international cricket commentator for many TV channels. He recently completed 25 years of cricket commentating.