The Surfer

Unfortunately, on many occasions the authorities shattered all hopes of tens of millions of Pakistani fans. The present management is no exception.

The truth is, it couldn’t be simpler. A quick reminder: if a player thinks he’s been done an injustice and his side has one or both of its challenges per innings in hand, he can refer the decision to the TV umpire. And if the TV umpire sees clear evidence that the original decision was wrong, he can over-rule. Where, gentlemen, is the difficulty?

Ryan Giggs is considered an infinitely stronger contender than Strauss at 5-2 and there is no question that he is a candidate of great merit, his evergreen, biting performances reminding us of all the quality that he has brought to a career which has seen him outstrip in character and consistency all of his Old Trafford contemporaries except the equally phenomenal Paul Scholes, the best English midfielder of his generation.

This ought to be seen as an unhappy development in a country for which this type of finger spinners — with the ball breaking into the batsman’s body allied with flight and line and length variations with a high intelligence quotient of the practioners — have played a distinguished part and has been regarded as an important cog in the wheel of India’s bowling arrangement.

Nowadays, Ireland cricketers can chalk up 76 appearances in barely two years. It took Dermott 19 summers. He missed 25 matches including Ireland’s most famous at the time, at Sion Mills when the West Indies were dismissed for 25. Although his bowling would not have been needed in that match, no one has bowled more overs for Ireland.

When Chappell talked of “process,” it would be seen as a means of keeping Sourav Ganguly out of the dressing room and getting Sachin to bat down the order in ODIs, instead of opening the innings.

Unlike most mainland grounds, Adelaide Oval evokes a sense of place and the good folk of this fair if conservative city gather each year to share their knowledge and celebrate the joys of the traditional game.

Among the top six, Ross Taylor is the exception; opener Martin Guptill will stay, although he's only managed 75 runs at 18.7 in four innings. So too Daniel Flynn, who at least grafted 5h 8min over 29 and 20 at the Basin Reserve - solid stuff in this context. However lefthander Tim McIntosh (37 runs at 9.5), and middle-order pair Peter Fulton (42 at 10.5).and Grant Elliott (59 at 14.7) all in four innings are on a knife edge. At least one must go.