The Surfer

Despite the pressure from England and South Africa, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to indicate that it favours action against Zimbabwe, and because a two-thirds majority is needed for any such action, it is inconceivable that anything could happen without its say-so. The BCCI said over the weekend that only a directive from the Indian Government would force the issue ... Zimbabwe will grab the headlines, but an equally important matter is how cricket moves forward after the Twenty20 revolution.

There was one real disappointment for me during the Twenty20 Cup, when a proud record of mine was wiped from the books. Until Graham Napier went berserk with the bat for Essex against Sussex last week, I had the distinction of holding the record for the most expensive analysis in the competition ... Now that we're back in the County Championship, Durham have turned up at Headingley with Paul Collingwood in their side. It was nice to see him again, but I did have to inquire as to whether he should really be playing while he's been banned from appearing for England. And when he bats, I'm wondering whether to shoulder barge him to the ground when he goes for a quick single, then ask him whether we should run him out or not. I'm sure Colly will see the funny side.

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar was one member of our team the Field Marshal was very keen to meet. He wanted to shake his hand to recognize his big-hearted feats for India. His hawk-like eyes instantly focused on Chandra and a quick march had him at hand-shaking distance.

Collingwood might have apologised for his antics in London last week but the mere fact he didn't immediately appreciate the correct course of action speaks volumes. Clearly, in his book, the end justifies the means. There is no such thing as honour, much less dignity.

'I'm going to make sure that I'm on top of my game because it certainly was a low for me and I thought, "Right, what am I going to do? I need a plan here to get back in the side or to have something to fall back on if cricket doesn't go too well this summer." I had a few ideas, photography is one area that I would like to get into - I even sat down with some of the photographers at the ground to gain a bit of experience.

Difficulties in their personal lives, off-the-field problems and they have always said that at Yorkshire, there was nobody to talk to and they kept things bottled up. The last person they had here wouldn’t have listened. I listen, I let people go back to their country for a break, I let people stay at home with their family when they’ve been having problems and I let them know I’m there for them, through thick and thin. And I know they’re desperate to do well for me and that’s the only difference I’ve made. But the lads here knew what I was like, they wanted me to come, many of them rang, Anthony McGrath said, ‘If you come back, I stay; if you don’t, I’m leaving’.

With or without the stars, it’s business as usual at the MRF Pace Foundation. There is certainly a feeling of hurt about the BCCI snub, but S Senthilnathan, who took over from Sekar, puts fears about the institution losing its relevance to rest. “This institution came into existence 20 years back with the intention of producing fast bowlers. And it will continue to do so. If we can train players who will make it to the Indian team, that’s all we want. That’s our only aim,” he says. It’s quite clear that his posture isn’t aggressive as he repeatedly refers to the BCCI as the parent body. “In case they want us to help them in the future, we will welcome the move with open arms,” says Senthil, with a grin this time.

[The ICC] is an organisation with a reputation for dodging the big issues, of preferring to rule by consensus and has done its best over the years to avoid confrontation.

Firstly, if the ICC was to go after Zimbabwe cricket for its political problems, then what will happen of their plans to take cricket to China and USA, one country with a woeful human rights record at home and another which holds hundreds indefinitely without any rights whatsoever at an off-shore detention centre?

Secondly, Morgan’s taking the moral high ground is a touch disingenuous, for the ECB has made its move only after receiving a letter from their Culture, Media and Sport secretary, thereby safeguarding them from the $2 million fine that the ICC could have levied had they unilaterally snapped ties with Zimbabwe.