The Surfer
Afghanistan's long journey from Kabul to Lord's
If Bangladesh could do it, so can Afghanistan
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
If Bangladesh could do it, so can Afghanistan. Their heartening performances in England could hardly be termed an 'upset' and Nick Greenslade explains why they are here to stay. Read on in The Guardian
Unlike football, which was largely driven underground, cricket survived the rule of the Taliban, though it first had to be cleared by the Orwellian Vice and Virtue police, who suspected the game of American associations.
Full postEngland need to go straight
The England bowlers may have a fetish for banging the ball in at any given location on the pitch but what is lamentable is the absence of a Plan B, writes Derek Pringle in The Telegraph
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
The England bowlers may have a fetish for banging the ball in at any given location on the pitch but what is lamentable is the absence of a Plan B, writes Derek Pringle in The Telegraph. The fans might as well fix their eyes on the football.
Instead of balls having 'hurt' written into their path and trajectory, they had 'hit' instead, something Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene rarely needed a second invitation to do.
Crossing the line
Post-match press conferences are usually fair routine affairs
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Post-match press conferences are usually fair routine affairs. Occasionally - when David Gower left one early at Lord's in 1989, for example - something happens out of the ordinary.
But caribbeancricket.com reported that during the 3rd Test, one reporter - Val Thomas from St Kitts-Nevis - tried to use the question-and-answer session to make some fairly cheap points about insularity and favouritism in team selections.
Thomas is a disgrace to the profession. A parochial, narrow-minded individual who decides to be disruptive because it serves his own insular interest.
And Vanesia Baksh, writing on the same site, commented on Thomas, who having asked Daren Ganga about his role in the side, then rudely asked "Who is your godfather", implying that his place wasn't down to merit.
Full postGentlemen, please!
Football is considered 'The Beautiful Game'
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Football is considered 'The Beautiful Game'. Or is it? Mike Haysman questions the veracity of that title, showing where cricket can teach people a lesson or two. Read on in Supercricket.
Controlled aggression is an adage you will often hear bandied about by analysts. The best sportsmen do exactly that, control their pent up anger and deliver the killer blows in a lethal manner.
What's in a name?
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph , Steve James says that the ECB is now beginning to have a retink about the spurious nicknames given to county sides in a bid by marketing men to make them more appealing
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Steve James says that the ECB is now beginning to have a retink about the spurious nicknames given to county sides in a bid by marketing men to make them more appealing. How many people know who are the Phantoms, Lightning, Dragons, Steelbacks ...
"If you can reel off the counties related to those monikers, please accept my hearty congratulations, even if that anorak does look a little silly. If not, do not fear, because you are not alone in your indifference to such superfluity. Be grateful that the nicknames, introduced in 1999, are rarely listed without their geographical identities. For that is the problem: to do so is too long-winded.
"Even the England and Wales Cricket Board are now beginning to wonder about their viability. An unofficial sounding out of media outlets was made earlier this season and the response was not encouraging. A waste of time was the general consensus."
Cricinfo sticks to using traditional county names - despite terse emails in the early days from county PR men and the ECB - because most readers were bewildered when we briefly adopted the nicknames. Any attempts to persuade people to grow familiar with the names was not been helped when Surrey decided last year to change theirs ...
Full postJayawardene the natural born leader has Sri Lanka jumping for joy
The resurgent cricket played by the Sri Lankans during the past month is down to their captain, Mahela Jayawardene, writes Mark Nicholas in The Telegraph .
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
The resurgent cricket played by the Sri Lankans during the past month is down to their captain, Mahela Jayawardene, writes Mark Nicholas in The Telegraph.
Full postChina want to become cricket giants
If the Chinese Cricket Association's development plans are even half successful, it is only a matter of decades before the cricket world could be looking at the new giants of the game, The Age reports.
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
If the Chinese Cricket Association's development plans are even half successful, it is only a matter of decades before the cricket world could be looking at the new giants of the game, The Age reports.
The Chinese Cricket Association is hoping that by the end of 2007 China would have 30,000 players, 600 coaches and 600 umpires. Their target is for 150,000 players by 2020.
Full postWhat's scheduling got to do with it?
With talk of player burnout and performance-enhancing drugs, it may not be fair to squarely blame the scheduling
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
With talk of player burnout and performance-enhancing drugs, it may not be fair to squarely blame the scheduling. Michael Atherton, in The Telegraph explains why, analysing England's so-called punishing itinerary. He also suggests that drugs could be put to better use, if only..
Given that international players are routinely drug-tested, it would be a foolish player indeed who sought to prove the validity of May's argument. Shane Warne, banned from the last World Cup after failing a drugs test, should know.
Warne's crazy life
Last week Shane Warne flew to Germany to commentate on Australia's World Cup match against Brazil then captained Hampshire against Durham in the County Championship before flying back to Australia for a check up on his shoulder
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Last week Shane Warne flew to Germany to commentate on Australia's World Cup match against Brazil then captained Hampshire against Durham in the County Championship before flying back to Australia for a check up on his shoulder. Squeezed in amongst all that were endless sponsorship meetings and PR events. Somehow Paul Kimmage managed to squeeze in an interview with him. Read it here in the Sunday Times
“It seems a pretty manic existence,” I suggest.
“It is at the moment,” he agrees. “If my children were here with me, I wouldn’t be committing to so much; I’d be down in the park playing football with them, or frisbee, or on the swings, but they’re not here and keeping myself busy makes the time go faster until I can see them again.”
Full postPowerful Pakistan have few weaknesses
As Pakistan arrive in England for a heavy summer of cricket, Scyld Berry warns that the hosts will be up against tough and talented opponents.
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
As Pakistan arrive in England for a heavy summer of cricket, Scyld Berry warns that the hosts will be up against tough and talented opponents.
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