The Surfer
Ponting didn't want to hear Warne news
Shane Warne writes in his News Ltd column about how he dropped the retirement news to Ricky Ponting.
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Shane Warne writes in his News Ltd column about how he dropped the retirement news to Ricky Ponting.
"Can I have a chat before you leave?" I asked as the party in Perth died down. He replied: "Yeah, what about?" Sensing what I was about to say, he hastily added: "No, no, I am not talking to you, I am not talking to you, I am not talking to you." He didn't want to hear the news.
I just said: "Look mate, it's time to retire." He couldn't believe it and was in shock. "What are you talking about?"
Full postA true trailblazer still
Rachael Heyhoe-Flint’s name will be forever synonymous with women’s cricket
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Rachael Heyhoe-Flint’s name will be forever synonymous with women’s cricket. She’s in Australia at the moment to follow the Ashes, but although England have lost the series she is
still her cheerful self, and full of her usual anecdotes. Mike Coward caught up with her and profiled her for The Australian newspaper.
Full postA fond farewell
The English press is predictably full of Shane Warne's retirement and most seem to have the tone spot on, focusing on the fact that the game is losing a legend rather than the fact that England might have a better chance against a Warne-free
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
The English press is predictably full of Shane Warne's retirement and most seem to have the tone spot on, focusing on the fact that the game is losing a legend rather than the fact that England might have a better chance against a Warne-free Australia....
CMJ gets the ball rolling in The Times paying tribute to Warne's influence on friend and foe and pointing out that he is the one member of their retiring old-guard that they will find impossible to replace.
It had to happen one day, but the news that Shane Warne will announce in his home city today that he is to retire from Test cricket at the end of the Ashes series will be as much a matter for regret as for rejoicing among the batsmen he has tormented for 14 years.
A moment to savour
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
The seam position as Sreesanth releases the ball is one of the best I have seen, writes Barry Richards while analysing India's performance in the Wanderers Test.
The positives from this victory are many, but one that stands out is the brilliance of S Sreesanth writes Harsha Bhogle in the Indian Express.
Full postWhen will McGrath go?
Malcolm Conn writes in The Australian about Glenn McGrath’s last summer of international cricket .
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Malcolm Conn writes in The Australian about Glenn McGrath’s last summer of international cricket.
McGrath, 36, hopes to continue playing one-day cricket to the end of the World Cup in the Caribbean next March and April. However, he is no certainty to be part of Australia's World Cup defence, with one member of Australia's hierarchy yesterday saying: "If he makes it."
However, Trevor Marshallsea writes in the Sydney Morning Herald McGrath has given up on his dream to play at the World Cup.
While his lanky, and remarkably resilient, body have allowed him to become Australia's most durable paceman - and the third-most experienced of all time with 122 Tests behind him - other forces have finally led McGrath to call time on his career. He at least has the deserved honour of leaving on his own terms.
Losing a legend
News of Shane Warne’s likely retirement puts the Australian media in a frenzy
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
News of Shane Warne’s likely retirement puts the Australian media in a frenzy. Peter Roebuck writes in The Age that Warne will be remembered as a genius.
Warne has been the most extraordinary, exotic and entertaining cricketer the game has known. In his hands, a cricket ball could perform previously unconsidered gyrations, spinning at right angles, skidding like a puck upon ice, changing directions after an initial curl or else dropping sharply to leave the batsman groping at thin air.
Peter Lalor, in The Australian, looks at Warne’s attitude.
Warne's total and absolute self-belief is his greatest friend on the field and his worst enemy off it. A legspinner is a gambler and a charlatan by trade. He tosses the ball up and invites the batsman to go after him. He uses three-card tricks, thimbles, smoke, mirrors and good old fashioned bullshit to pull off the confidence trick that is his every wicket. On the street it is arrogance, on the field it is art.
Shreck outside the box
Cracking story courtesy of This is Nottingham of how eco-friendly Ben Foster got more than he bargained for when testing his newly-invented biodegrabale box against Notts speedster Charlie Shreck
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Cracking story courtesy of This is Nottingham of how eco-friendly Ben Foster got more than he bargained for when testing his newly-invented biodegrabale box against Notts speedster Charlie Shreck. The box worked fine, but Foster hadn't reckoned on covering his eye-balls, fnarr fnarr, and took a painful above the eye after Shreck dug one in short. "I am pretty sure it was an accident":said a sheepish Foster afterwards, before adding: "The box stood up well".
Full postKohli overcomes personal tragedy
The third day of the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Karnataka was one which saw an 18-year old set a fine example of mental strength
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
The third day of the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Karnataka was one which saw an 18-year old set a fine example of mental strength. Virat Kohli lost his father the night before, but put the tragedy behind him and scored a courageous 90 and his 152-run stand with Puneet Bisht lifted Delhi out of dire straits.
The team saluted his gesture and gave him a standing ovation when he returned, in tears, but composed enough to hide his pain from the eyes of the public
Read the full story in The Hindu and in The Indian Express
Full postSreesanth does a spirited jig
Sreesanth's dance would go on, if not already, to become the motif of this series and his career
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
Sreesanth's dance would go on, if not already, to become the motif of this series and his career. R Mohan, writing in The Deccan Chronicle, believes the jig showed the spirit behind the historic win.
Full postSreesanth’s riposte to the chest-thumping, batsman-baiting antics of Andre Nel was pure drama. It was as if the fast bowler had decided to put into dance form the Indian team’s angst and their desperation to leave the dark past behind and move on into the sunshine.
Bradman first, then Warne - Waugh
Steve Waugh says Shane Warne is Australia’s second-greatest player of all time in his Daily Telegraph blog.
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Steve Waugh says Shane Warne is Australia’s second-greatest player of all time in his Daily Telegraph blog.
It's very hard to judge across eras but Shane Warne would sit pretty comfortably as Australia's second best player ever. The great Sir Don Bradman was the best but after that I believe Shane Warne would slot in pretty nicely at number two.
What made Warne so great was his love of the game. He always enjoyed the challenge of competing against the best in the toughest circumstances - that's when he produced his best.
Full post