The Surfer

Regardless of what the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the man himself say in public, the manufactured sendoff, especially the financial part of it, has only tarnished the very image that the so-called ‘deal’ tried to salvage

Though the PCB has categorically denied having offered Rs 10 million to Inzamam to bring down the curtain on his career, those close to the happenings insist otherwise, citing former Pakistan captain Saeed Anwar as the man who made it all happen after he was approached by the PCB bosses in view of his close association with Inzamam. More than that, the way the episode unfolded itself clearly tells a tale that is much different from the official version.

“Movement needs change. The Ashok chakra is about movement and change, it’s the centre of your national flag. It’s perfectly apt for the flag, it’s perfectly apt for what we are trying to do here. We need these kids to move on, move forward, and to do that, you need change. That’s what the wheel is about,” he says, unusually animated now, his hands cutting huge arcs in the air, inside his office at the stadium, amidst a pile of practice cones, plastic ropes, cricket bats, bastketballs, stumps, posters and CDs.

The time has come to thank the senior players for services rendered and to tell them that hereafter they will be considered only for Test matches. No longer can India afford to give away thirty runs a game with poor fielding and slow running between wickets. Dhoni, Sreesanth and company are not the problem. They are the solution, and with a little help from Sachin and, yes, Sehwag, the future must be built around them.

“His body language is very cold. The aggression is missing and he has gone even more quiet. The only reason I see is that he has been sort of sidelined from the team. He is being shunted in the batting order ..."

As with everything in Hodge's career, it won't come easily. Phil Jaques, believed to be his main rival for Langer's former post, is a seasoned opener and in tremendous form, returning from Australia A's tour of Pakistan with two centuries and an average of 123.33 from two unofficial Tests. But, across the Indian Ocean, there is evidence to suggest Hodge might be nudging his way to the front of the queue. Despite posting three low totals in the one-day series against India, the selectors have seen fit to persist with him at a time when Brad Haddin can't help but score runs.

Clark answered the phone. "Stu, it's Andrew Hilditch." Bugger. "Can I come up and see you for a minute." Yeah, right. Don't forget to bring a blindfold and last cigarette. As Clark said later: "You know Hilditch isn't ringing to catch up for a drink." Hilditch needn't bother making the trip, or saying another word, but he is supportive and reasonable.

You haven't done much captaincy before at first-class level, have you?

There is a phenomenon that money-men call the Dead Cat Bounce. The term is used when the price of a share falls calamitously, disastrously, terminally – and then, for some unfathomable reason, rises again. Not very much, and not for very long, but it bounces.

...despite the perks and incentives of cricket at the zenith of competiton there could come a time of crisis for Sri Lanka Cricket if players with a strong sense of integrity decided to be loyal to their axed fellow players and stood by them and refused to participate until there was some kind of redress and damage repair to the situation at hand and one need not look too far as the case of Zimbabwe Cricket stands out!