The Surfer

Shares of publisher Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd, owner of Deccan Chargers, surged after the report that Kings XI Punjab had been sold, prompting speculation the firm’s valuation may increase. The stock rose 4.9% to Rs152.30 on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

He [Modi] is shrewd enough to understand that he cannot achieve that objective in one stroke — so his preferred option seems to be, each season, to come up with a slate of laws that are clearly unacceptable. The media will talk boycott; Modi will in turn talk compromise. And knowing that the media is hungry for anything it can get, he will make a few “concessions”, the media will proclaim a victory — and Modi will be the one laughing last, for despite those “concessions” he will reluctantly acquiesce to under “media pressure”, he would have managed to get many restrictions in place, and institutionalised. He can then wait for season four, and start the dance all over again. And each season, he will get a little more, and be that bit further along on the road to the complete monopoly that is his ultimate goal.

The deal raises the prospect of five teams – all named the Royals – reaching the Champions League. If you need an idea of just how important that fledgling competition is to the financial futures of the English counties, just take a look at some of the overseas signings made this winter: Adam Gilchrist, Shahid Afridi, Cameron White. If all five Royals sides reached the competition, and Badale says it is "when not if", then they would split any players who are being shared between them on an ad hoc basis ("based on common sense" said captain-coach Shane Warne). They would also be putting all the winnings into a central pool and dividing them five ways. The pioneer years of Twenty20 are over. For the counties it is time to start swimming or sink like a stone.

Harbhajan, who has in my opinion be below his best for several years now, must be questioning his future. His bowling lacked the zip and sting that was so characteristic in the early years of his career. He must be honest with himself and the management and selectors must be honest too. There is no place for sentiment in Test cricket — reputation and history should count for very little when selecting your best XI.

This debacle was waiting to happen, though, from the moment the selectors chose a squad that defied belief. Rahul Dravid was already out, and VVS Laxman extremely doubtful, but instead of beefing up the batting, they selected four pace bowlers when there was no way more than two were going to play. As the doubts over Laxman grew, Rohit Sharma, whose mediocre domestic season hardly warranted the status of first reserve, was added to the squad. On the morning of the game, he injured himself, handing a Test debut to Bengal's Wriddhiman Saha, picked for his "pure" wicketkeeping skills. Saha shouldered arms to Steyn in the first innings, before ending his Darren Pattinson experience with a doughty 36.

Indian cricket is constantly under the glare of the media and your job is perhaps the second most high-profile after the captain. In what ways do you feel the pressure and how do you negotiate it?

My role is to help prepare the players as best I can to give them the best chance of success. I attempt to work as hard as I can to do that. The game is about the players because they are the ones crossing the ropes to make a performance. They must receive the accolades, not me.

As I see it, if Afridi really wanted to tear into the seam he could very well have used his nose and no one would have even an inkling of what he was doing! So, I think in the great Pathan tradition, the ICC must accept he did nothing wrong. In fact, he has often confided in me that inhaling the aroma from a cricket ball that’s 30 overs old gives him a buzz.

He boasts a permanent stubble and the straightest teeth in world cricket, and he's full of cracks and jokes and the odd bit of swearing. I like that - it gives him character. So many cricketers today talk team-speak, with very few capable of expressing creative thought.

Nannes is a true Renaissance man and I reckon the key to his cricketing success is his attitude towards cricket. He didn't let it matter too much and as soon as you let go, you find freedom.

Michael Parlane, Northern Districts, debut 1992-93
The definitive first-class journeyman and the obvious choice for the captaincy. The older Parlane brother is the longest-serving current first-class player in New Zealand. He's a steady opener who has 15 tons in the four-day game, but with an average of 32 he was hardly banging down the door for a call-up to the next level.