The Surfer
Where is the other Ashes bail?
John Huxley has a go at answering the question in the Sydney Morning Herald .
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
John Huxley has a go at answering the question in the Sydney Morning Herald.
While the cricketing world continues to debate whether the Ashes urn contains the remains of a burned bail, the National Museum of Australia believes it can answer the question of what happened to the "other" bail.
It was made into a paper knife that has belatedly been put on display in Canberra alongside other national sporting treasures, such as Don Bradman's batting gloves, Evonne Goolagong Cawley's Wimbledon trophies and Phar Lap's heart. For several decades the knife lay in the desk drawer of Michael Clarke, grandson of Lady Clarke, the woman who famously presented visiting English captain Ivo Bligh with the Ashes urn when the team stayed at the family's Victorian estate.
Full post MCC turn heat on chairman Fry
The MCC is not a body that usually washes its dirty linen in public but according to Mihir Bose, all is not well in NW8
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The MCC is not a body that usually washes its dirty linen in public but according to Mihir Bose, all is not well in NW8. The problem appears to be that Charles Fry, grandson of CB Fry and the club’s president, has angered some committee members with what they alleged is a "presidential style" which lacks consultation.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Bose says that Fry has effectively run roughshod over procedures, and quoted one member as saying:
"It is a matter of style. The MCC is meant to be run by the entire committee but at the moment Charles runs it with a small group and the rest of us feel excluded."
Akhtar the actor
While speculation is rife about Shoaib Akhtar’s future after he failed a drugs test, the Sydney Morning Herald says that as one door closes, another one might be opening, suggesting that he might be heading into films.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
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Some may suggest Akhtar's cricketing career has been one long dress rehearsal for an entry into the acting world … not noted for his devotion to training, Akhtar seems to be an outside chance, at best, of resuming his career beyond the World Cup, especially considering his creaky back and troublesome hamstring.
On the surface, a move into acting does not seem a major leap for Akhtar, who has made as many headlines for his activities off the field as his performances on it. On his latest tour of Australia with the Pakistan team, Akhtar was spotted in nightclubs across the country, invariably in glamorous company, while he was said to be battling back and hamstring injuries.
Last year, it was much the same in England, when injury ruled Akhtar out of Worcestershire's tour match against Australia, only for the fast bowler to show up in several of Worcester's premier nightspots. Again, no guesses as to the aesthetic calibre of the company he was keeping
Full postSad scenes for Shoaib the showman
Robert Craddock writes in The Courier-Mail about Shoaib Akhtar following his positive drugs test .
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Robert Craddock writes in The Courier-Mail about Shoaib Akhtar following his positive drugs test.
Shoaib Akhtar was asked just last week did he have a great cricketing dream. "Yes," he replied. "To play one day of my life without pain."
Cricket's indomitable showman turned his back on a legion of experts who told him to cut down his outrageously long 34m run-up for the good of his body and longevity in the game. As a consequence he broke down more often than an Indian phone line.
In the Sydney Morning Herald Alex Brown compares Darren Lehmann’s philanthropic activities with those of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.
Full postA nation in turmoil
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Pakistan was in shock yesterday after the withdrawal of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, writes Zahid Hussain in The Times.
This may be the end of the road for Shoaib, 31, an immensely popular and mercurial player, regarded by many as a flawed genius. Nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express for his blistering pace, his career has been a mixture of brilliance and waywardness. Any ban would be a serious blow to the career of Asif, the talented seam bowler who has taken 30 wickets in six Tests at an average of 21.16 and 19 wickets in 17 one-day internationals. The 23-year-old is considered to be the brightest fast-bowling prospect in Pakistan.
Sparring for the Ashes
Liam Plunkett, the England allrounder, has recently started blogging
Will
25-Feb-2013
Liam Plunkett, the England allrounder, has recently started blogging. (For those not in the know, blogging is not a term to describe a cricketer’s batting or bowling style; it’s short for “weblog”.) In his latest entry Plunkett, recovering from injury, says he’s been using boxing in his rehabilitation and preparation for the Ashes.
I’ve also been doing a bit of boxing to spice my training up a bit.... Myself and Durham team-mate Mark Davies have been sparring with our gloves on and I’ve been enjoying it. I'm not trying to increase my aggression ahead of the Ashes, it is simply a great way to keep fit and I used to do a bit of kick-boxing when I was younger. I’ve had to get all my gear sorted out and I went to see Slazenger to pick up a few bats for the trip – thankfully because it’s all sponsored I didn’t have to pay for it!
More at the BBC.
Full post Predictable failings prove costly
In The Daily Telegraph Simon Hughes underlines how poor England are at the one-day game but also flags that for all its money and mouth, the Indian board has issues it needs to address
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
In The Daily Telegraph Simon Hughes underlines how poor England are at the one-day game but also flags that for all its money and mouth, the Indian board has issues it needs to address.
Events in Jaipur emphasised the perversity of Indian cricket and the predictability of England's. Having secured over £500 million in sponsorship and TV rights, the Indian cricket board is the richest in the world, but yesterday's one- day international was played on a diabolical pitch which would have disgraced the poorest village.
Sending out their lavishly remunerated superstars to play on that was like racing a £2.5 million Formula 1 car round the North Circular. With bald tyres. This folly was compounded by the premature launch of a massive fireworks display just as the meticulous, ever-reliable Rahul Dravid took guard. Utterly distracted by the commotion, his innings lasted three balls.
Full postBollywood beckons for Brett Lee
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Brett Lee is incredibly popular in India and has already knocked back a lead role in a Bollywood film, reports Andrew Ramsey in The Australian.
Like so many of his international cricket peers, Brett Lee is eyeing a post-playing life in front of the cameras, being beamed into the homes of countless millions around the world. But Lee's journey from cricket will not take him into the television commentary box, but instead the sprawling studio lots of the world's biggest and most lucrative movie industry. The 29-year-old self-confessed Indophile was offered a lead role in a lavish Bollywood production when he visited Mumbai on his way home from Australia's tour of Bangladesh this year.
Will McGrath make the ball talk or whisper?
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Australia's mainstay for the Ashes, Glen McGrath is part of their Champions Trophy squad. But Peter Roebuck feels that he would have done better playing domestic cricket ahead of Brisbane, November 23. Read on in The Independent.
McGrath is easily underestimated. From a distance he does seem disconcertingly simple. Yet he has been the cleverest, most subtle and analytical of leather-flingers. For most sportsmen the journey from natural ability through the minefield of experience and on to maturity takes years.
Australia get the excuses ready
Glenn McGrath's injuries...England's use of sub fielders...sold out grounds of English fans...they have all be used as excuses why the Ashes slipped away from Australia last year
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Glenn McGrath's injuries...England's use of sub fielders...sold out grounds of English fans...they have all be used as excuses why the Ashes slipped away from Australia last year. Well, in case they can't wrestle them back in the series that starts next month Richard Hinds, in the Sydney Morning Herald, is getting his excuses ready early this time around.
Full postExcuse 7: John Buchanan's lap top meltdown. Let's just say Buchanan had been devising a groundbreaking PowerPoint presentation that would have seen the Australian bowlers reason their way through England's top order. But, just as he was about to back up the program, a power failure in the sheds at the Gabba wiped out all his good work. At least that's what we are going to claim.