The Surfer
No-hopers give great hope to Irish film-maker
In the Caribbean, The Indian Express' Sandeep Dwivedi finds out that Paul Davey, an Irish film-maker, has about ten hours of exclusive footage that tells the incredible story of 15 no-hopers who have caused one of the biggest upsets in World Cup
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
In the Caribbean, The Indian Express' Sandeep Dwivedi finds out that Paul Davey, an Irish film-maker, has about ten hours of exclusive footage that tells the incredible story of 15 no-hopers who have caused one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
Davey now plans to make a film out of Ireland's surprise success story.
Though he plans to edit his work to about 50 minutes for the festival circuit and eventual television release in cricket-playing countries, the heart-warming and still-evolving storyline could interest even big producers, Davey hopes.
Full postWoolmer, a pioneering coach with a gentle touch
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Tributes from the cricketing world have poured in for Bob Woolmer, the deceased Pakistan coach and ex-England Test player.
Neil Manthrop, a close friend of Woolmer, has a lot of memories of the man outside cricket - whether it was planning a surprise for his wife on their silver anniversary or playing a round of golf. He writes on Supercricket website:
Full postYou just can't count your chickens
Pakistan's three-wicket defeat to Ireland had fans and former players in shock and though editorials are yet to be written on the performance International Herald Tribune got together a collection of quotes from ex-players and people of
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Pakistan's three-wicket defeat to Ireland had fans and former players in shock and though editorials are yet to be written on the performance International Herald Tribune got together a collection of quotes from ex-players and people of Pakistan
An outspoken former test fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz termed defeat as the "worst ever point in Pakistan's cricketing history. "While watching the match live on TV, I was just cursing myself and saying, 'What's going on?'" Pakistan had lost to Bangladesh in 1999 in another upset results of the World Cup, but Nawaz said Saturday's loss had no match of it. "The wicket was suitable for seamers and Ireland won the crucial toss, but we lost fair and square without putting up a fight," he said.
Meanwhile New Zealand are celebrating almost as much as the Irish as they will no longer meet Pakistan, as they had expected, in their Super 8 tie on April 9 in Guyana. But after Ireland's performance, is it wise to celebrate? Lindsay Crocker, the New Zealand manager, hastens to explain that is not the case. Read the Herald on Sunday for more
Full postStop the minnow knocking, Ricky
Dav Whatmore, speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald , says the wins of Bangladesh and Ireland should be a lesson to the knockers , who include Ricky Ponting.
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Dav Whatmore, speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, says the wins of Bangladesh and Ireland should be a lesson to the knockers, who include Ricky Ponting.
"It goes to show, given an opportunity, certain teams will grasp it if they've got some talent. It should be a bit of a lesson to everyone who is a knocker of this sort of thing. The Australian captain comes from Tasmania, and Tasmania got some good help along the way, I might add, going back.”
Robert Craddock writes in The Australian about Ireland’s upset over Pakistan and he also says teams are starting to show their true colours.
Full postNew Zealand and South Africa for World Cup final
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
In the Sun-Herald Peter Roebuck tips South Africa and New Zealand for the Caribbean decider.
Australia will take a lot of beating. Their batting remains formidable. Ricky Ponting is the best batsman around, Michael Hussey is resourceful and Brad Hodge is dangerous. Much will depend on the openers. If Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden fire, the rest will fall into place.
Test return will harm Zimbabwe
Amid all the celebrations at Ireland’s fightback to tie with Zimbabwe last Thursday, what many overlooked was that the result was another major blow to Zimbabwean cricket
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Amid all the celebrations at Ireland’s fightback to tie with Zimbabwe last Thursday, what many overlooked was that the result was another major blow to Zimbabwean cricket. A Test nation, with an income from the ICC of many millions of dollars, should not be humbled by part-timers … although Pakistan showed two days later that lightning can strike twice.
In The Sunday Telegraph, Sycld Berry argues that restoring Zimbabwe’s Test status in November – which is what the Zimbabwe board are telling anyone that will listen will happen – would not only be bad for the game but also bad for the standing of the sport inside the country itself.
Quite apart from the ethics involved in allowing a nation which has Robert Mugabe for head of state to participate in the world community, Zimbabwe seem to be even more unfit for Test cricket now than when they were suspended.
The last of Zimbabwe's Tests was one of their better performances too: they lost by no greater margin than 10 wickets. Their previous seven Tests against countries other than Bangladesh were all lost by an innings and large amounts of runs, South Africa winning one Test in two days.
Full post Bond the enforcer
"A common criticism made of top-flight sportsmen is that they lack perspective
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
"A common criticism made of top-flight sportsmen is that they lack perspective. Trapped in their mollycoddled little world, most have very little idea of what is taking place outside the confines of their team. Such an appraisal cannot be aimed at Shane Bond," writes Angus Fraser in The Independent.
"As a policeman you are constantly in uncomfortable situations and have to deal with them," said Bond. "It is the same as a sportsman and learning to deal with these is a bonus from doing the job. I remember doing a few raids at gang houses that weren't particularly nice and going to mortuaries. It puts bowling at someone like Kevin Pietersen into perspective."
The complex Australia-India relationship
In his column in The Age Greg Baum looks at the relationship between Australia and India and wonders if “the gap can ever be bridged” .
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
In his column in The Age Greg Baum looks at the relationship between Australia and India and wonders if “the gap can ever be bridged”.
Former Australian prime minister and cricket enthusiast Robert Menzies wrote once that Englishmen and Australians were of such like minds that "thankfully, we don't have to be too tactful". Between Indians and Australians, it is not so simple.
Jon Pierik writes in The Australian about Daryll Cullinan’s doubts over Michael Clarke and Shaun Tait.
"I would be very, very worried if [Clarke] was batting in my top four," Cullinan said. "Temperament wise, it's going to be a make-or-break World Cup for him, because there is going to come a moment where the pressure and the focus is going to be on him."
Don't look now, there's cricket to watch...
"Why is nobody asking any questions about the political situation in Zimbabwe?" asks Andy Bull in The Guardian .
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
"Why is nobody asking any questions about the political situation in Zimbabwe?" asks Andy Bull in The Guardian.
Cricket is the only activity in which Zimbabwe has an international presence. If the ever-deteriorating social, economic and political situation there is going to get any wider attention it is now. Why, then, is the silence on the matter so complete? Partly it is because most sports journalists like to keep sport and politics in separate boxes: "It is not my concern, it is not my area of knowledge and it is not my job".
Ooh aah, first-change McGrath
Jon Pierik reports in the Herald Sun Glenn McGrath is set to finish his career at first change .
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Jon Pierik reports in the Herald Sun Glenn McGrath is set to finish his career at first change.
In a comment piece Pierik writes World Cup officials should be ashamed of the high ticket prices for local supporters in St Kitts.
Barely 3500 fans were at Warner Park Stadium, which has a capacity of 10,000. The average wage in St Kitts is about $US120 a week yet Hill tickets cost $US25 per adult, and more than $US50 for a family.