The Surfer
Muralitharan better than Warne
Australia face Sri Lanka in Grenada on Monday and the Murali factor is bound to play a part, according to Mark Waugh
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
Australia face Sri Lanka in Grenada on Monday and the Murali factor is bound to play a part, according to Mark Waugh. In the Sun-Herald, Waugh writes that he found Muttiah Muralitharan even harder to face than Shane Warne.
Muralitharan is a far more dangerous bowler than when I last faced him a few years ago because the doosra is harder to pick, because he is bowling it quicker and with a trajectory similar to the offie.
Peter Roebuck pulls no punches in his column in The Sunday Age, where he calls the World Cup a debacle.
The tournament has been an abysmal failure. Far from representing all that is best in sport, it has exposed the greed and self-interest that have compromised supposedly healthy and periodically inspiring recreations.
Warne's solutions for county cricket
The English season has sprung into life - with Alastair Cook scoring the first century - and next week the County Championship gets underway
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
The English season has sprung into life - with Alastair Cook scoring the first century - and next week the County Championship gets underway. One of the biggest draws on the circuit will be Shane Warne, back at Hampshire after ending his Test career, and in his latest column for The Times he puts forward ways the domestic game can improve. As usual he doesn't pull and punches.
Full postAfter what has gone on this winter, I will be super-angry as well as frustrated should Pietersen be ordered to rest by Fletcher before the first Test against West Indies on May 17. And if that happens, the ECB should overrule him, England coach or not. The board runs the game, raise the money and is entitled to kick up a stink.
Fraser calls for change
The calls for Duncan Fletcher to be replaced as England coach are growing louder with every feeble World Cup performance
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
The calls for Duncan Fletcher to be replaced as England coach are growing louder with every feeble World Cup performance. The problem for everyone involved is that there isn't much time. Even if England leave the Caribbean after the Super Eights, it is only three weeks before the first Test against West Indies at Lord's. Angus Fraser, in The Independent, says that regardless of what happens over the next few matches it is the time for a fresh perspective.
Those of us who have followed the England team closely this winter have seen the life slowly sucked out of the squad. The criticism in the aftermath of England's 5-0 Ashes defeat hurt Fletcher deeply and it has affected his approach to the job. In public, he walks around stony-faced looking like the world is against him. He barely acknowledges the media, even though we see and work with him on a daily basis.
Fraser goes onto say that England's game has gone backwards since the Ashes success in 2005.
The victory over Australia has brought arrogance and complacency to the England set-up, too. One of Fletcher's aims when he took charge was to create a tight unit of players that fed off himself, the assistant coaches he appointed and themselves. He prevented outsiders from becoming involved or coaches that he could not control.
McGrath mellows as retirement approaches
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
AAP’s Greg Buckle talks to Glenn McGrath about his career as it continues to wind down. He finds the “peaceful veteran” has mellowed.
"With everything that has happened at home with Jane and having two kids, it does put a different perspective on things and you work out what's important in life. I think just natural progression has helped me there.''
Marshall art lives on
Whenever the Barbadians are reminded of Malcolm Marshall, they say that there would be none like him
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Whenever the Barbadians are reminded of Malcolm Marshall, they say that there would be none like him. From the common man on the street to officials, this one sentiment runs through all, writes Atreyo Mukhopadhyay in the Hindustan Times.
Full post Sachin and Lara: the tragic twilight
The Hindu's Nirmal Shekar looks at the fading careers of modern era cricket's two biggest batting superstars, Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, and asks the question: merely because we believe that sporting icons should say goodbye in their pomp,
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
The Hindu's Nirmal Shekar looks at the fading careers of modern era cricket's two biggest batting superstars, Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, and asks the question: merely because we believe that sporting icons should say goodbye in their pomp, is it fair to nudge Tendulkar and Lara off the stage?
Read on to see if you agree or disagree.
Full postFletcher at fault for feeble World Cup campaign
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Mark Ramprakash says that Duncan Fletcher has ruined England's World Cup chances. The former England batsman accuses England of lacking the boldness to win a World Cup, and believes Fletcher has failed to fulfil promises made following England's exit from the 2003 World Cup. Read more in the Guardian.
Mike Selvey, in the same publication, feels that Michael Vaughan has talked the talk, but now must walk the walk.
Full postChappell waits on next move
Greg Chappell is back in Australia and he will consider his options in the next three weeks after resigning as India’s coach
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Greg Chappell is back in Australia and he will consider his options in the next three weeks after resigning as India’s coach. Chappell, whose health is fine, said in the Herald Sun he is planning a holiday around Australia.
“I just want some time away from it all," Chappell said. "We are just going to spend some time catching up with family all around the country and then we will work out what happens."
Ponting rates the World Cup
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Ricky Ponting gives his view on the World Cup issues in his column in The Australian.
"We heard after our game against West Indies - surprisingly played before a half-full house - that some ticket prices at the ground were up to $US100. That's too expensive."
Surf’s up for in-form Hayden
Matthew Hayden spent a day off surfing in Barbados , writes Jon Pierik in the Daily Telegraph .
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Matthew Hayden spent a day off surfing in Barbados, writes Jon Pierik in the Daily Telegraph.
While the waves may not have been of the same size as those he is used to surfing at Stradbroke Island, the Queenslander was rapt to enjoy the local conditions.