The Surfer
The fragile Champions Trophy
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
New Zealand's World Cup plans appear in serious disarray after another abject performance from the top-order batsmen sent them toppling out of the Champions Trophy, writes Richard Boock in The New Zealand Herald.
Boock offers suggestions - recalling young Central Districts tyro Ross Taylor in place of the hapless Hamish Marshall, and promoting Brendon McCullum - while hoping that New Zealand have plenty of time to make adjustments to their World Cup squad.
Full postJaffer’s inclusion: shock effects were felt everywhere
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
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Wasim Jaffer's call-up to the Indian side for the one-day leg of the upcoming South African tour - he was a shoo-in for the Test squad - has surprised more than a few people, and then some. If India needed another opener, and a bit of a dasher, Gautam Gambhir was the man, and if a calmer presence was considered, it had to be VVS Laxman, feels Harsha Bhogle.
In his column for the Indian Express, Bhogle opines that character, rather than agility, is the need of the hour given that India’s batting is in the doldrums. Laxman's experience of South African conditions should have been a simple factor for inclusion, but unfortunately sheer batting class did not come at the top of the criteria list.
India’s options at No 3 now seem to be Kaif, Raina, Dhoni, Mongia or Pathan, given that team philosophy is to bat Dravid at No 4. But mere names do not options make and I don’t think India can look beyond Mongia or Kaif, especially since Dhoni is untested in those conditions and the team management is comfortable with his finishing skills later in the order. I get the feeling that India want to see flatter pitches in South Africa. And I get the feeling that South Africa know that!
Lara seen in a better light
After years of underperformance as a captain, wasted, unsatisfying years spent talking the talk and not doing the deed, Brian Lara has led his team selflessly and intelligently , writes Peter Roebuck in The Witness .
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
After years of underperformance as a captain, wasted, unsatisfying years spent talking the talk and not doing the deed, Brian Lara has led his team selflessly and intelligently, writes Peter Roebuck in The Witness.
Full postMinki van der Westhuizen the fans' favourite WAG
Minki van der Westhuizen has come out on top of a fans poll to find their favourite cricketers' WAG
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
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We've all heard far too much about Footballers' WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends, for those not in the know), but the cricketers wives are an elusive bunch. Stick Cricket, that marvel of time-wasting during office hours, have been running a poll to ascertain the most popular WAG - and Minki van der Westhuizen has come out on top. More in The Corridor.
Full postHow NSW will batter the Poms
Stuart MacGill has set the stage for a heated showdown with the English , suggesting that NSW could attempt to bat for all three days of the tour game against Andrew Flintoff's squad and thereby force a "change [of] their preparations
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Stuart MacGill has set the stage for a heated showdown with the English, suggesting that NSW could attempt to bat for all three days of the tour game against Andrew Flintoff's squad and thereby force a "change [of] their preparations significantly", writes Alex Brown in The Sydney Morning Herald.
I'm not going to be playing this game for them," said MacGill. "It's not my role to help them practise. Our batsmen and our bowlers will be used as we choose to use them. If we win the toss and decide our guys need a bat, we'll bat for three days. It's a practice match.
Pompous prats and England coaches
Geoffrey Boycott's comments last week on Duncan Fletcher's shelf life as England coach having expired, drew flak from many pundits and readers
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
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I always try to give credit where it's due, and in the Test arena Fletcher deserves it. But what is important is that the excitement and euphoria of last year's Ashes series should not be allowed to cloud anyone's reasoning or judgment for the future. Watching the team, you often get the impression that some of the players don't want to be there, and that they have no passion for the one-day game. If that is so, then the coach must take responsibility.
And as for those who took a pop at him, Boycott makes clear that he has no time for the views of one man in particular :
I resent the fact that my argument has been misrepresented by a pompous prat who obviously has his own personal issues regarding my cricketing record as it compares to his own public school and club career.
Glenn and Sachin's super battle
Trevor Marshallsea writes in the Sydney Morning Herald how Glenn McGrath is ahead in his career-long fight with Sachin Tendulkar.
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Trevor Marshallsea writes in the Sydney Morning Herald how Glenn McGrath is ahead in his career-long fight with Sachin Tendulkar.
Ali versus Frazier. Borg versus McEnroe. McGrath versus Tendulkar. There are few more enticing rivalries in cricket than between the great Australian bowler and the Indian batting genius. On Sunday, McGrath took another step towards being declared the final winner.
In the Herald Sun Jon Pierik reports about Channel 9’s confidence of conducting on-field interviews during the Ashes. However, James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, has already said batsmen won’t be spoken to straight after they’ve been dismissed.
Ian Healy’s niece has made her school’s 1st XI, but the Daily Telegraph reports there is a push from the old boys to kick her off the team.
Full postReal leadership is not just battle cries and aggression
Stephen Fleming and Michael Vaughan have much in common, writes Peter Roebuck in The Age
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Stephen Fleming and Michael Vaughan have much in common, writes Peter Roebuck in The Age. Apart from being lanky and looking like James Bond, both convey an inner peace balanced by a fierce competitive streak.
It has been illuminating to watch these tacticians hatch their plans. A keen understanding of their opponents lay behind their strategies. Both appreciated the need to turn Australian aggression back on itself, so that it became a self-destructive force. Both realised that the Aussies would not, could not, hold back. In strife, they'd double the stakes.
'Square eyes' gives Australia World Cup edge
Australia are using the Champions Trophy to collect masses of data ahead of the World Cup , Ben Dorries reports in The Courier-Mail
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Australia are using the Champions Trophy to collect masses of data ahead of the World Cup, Ben Dorries reports in The Courier-Mail. Richie McInnes, the team analyst, has been nicknamed “square eyes” for the hours he is spending in front of the tv.
In the Sydney Morning Herald Ricky Ponting repeats his criteria for the replacement of John Buchanan while The Australian reports SBS will screen every ball of the 2009 Ashes live.
Full postA hearty English breakfast among other things
It's now my last few days at home before we fly to Australia on Friday, so now’s the time to make the most of home comforts, writes Matthew Hoggard in The Times .
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
It's now my last few days at home before we fly to Australia on Friday, so now’s the time to make the most of home comforts, writes Matthew Hoggard in The Times.
Only when the plane lands in Australia this weekend will I tuck my novel away in my bag and start thinking about why we’ve flown to the other side of the world. We have a couple of warm-up games to get into the spirit of things and then, I believe, there’s a pretty big game in Brisbane beginning on November 23, so I’d better make sure I’m in decent fettle for that one.