The Surfer
Men against boys
Yuvraj’s ton rates among one of India’s greatest in ODIs , says R Mohan in the Deccan Chronicle .
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Yuvraj’s ton rates among one of India’s greatest in ODIs, says R Mohan in the Deccan Chronicle.
A princely Yuvraj brought out so eloquently that when a batsman is in his pomp everything else can be made to seem irrelevant — the pitch, the match situation, the opposing bowling. His century on Monday was one of the great hundreds of the limited-overs game, all the more lustrous as it came on a sluggish surface that batsmen hate the most in the one-day arena. It should rate among the top 10 by an Indian batsman.
Andrew Flintoff was wearing an increasingly haunted look after his side went 3-0 down in a series that is beginning to feel like men against boys, writes Lawrence Booth in The Guardian.
There are many things wrong with England's one-day side, now 3-0 down in the series, but the biggest worry is what is happening to Andrew Flintoff, writes Simon Briggs in the Daily Telegraph.
Full postSouth Africa's hour of agony
It took a little under an hour in the end; but oh what a painful hour , writes Dan Nicholl, in iafrica.com .
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
It took a little under an hour in the end; but oh what a painful hour, writes Dan Nicholl, in iafrica.com.
Nothing but heartache, screams a headline in the Star. Meanwhile the catching controversies continue to haunt the South Africans. One South African player is prepared to swear on his life that Boeta Dippenaar's catch off Brett Lee was cleanly taken and another player is equally convinced that Matthew Hayden took the catch off Jacques Rudolph on the bounce, reports Neil Manthorp in supercricket.co.za.
A hundred demons were slain at the Wanderers yesterday as the Australian tailenders took their side to the verge of victory and then completed the task, writes Peter Roebuck in the witness.
Full postA soap opera until the very end
A stunning last hour turned a fascinating Test match upon its head
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
A stunning last hour turned a fascinating Test match upon its head. South Africa looked a beaten side. And then things started to happen, writes Peter Roebcuk in the Witness.
The fourth day's play at the Wanderers was intense, exciting cricket as 22 players fought with every ounce of their remaining strength to secure the spoils for their country. Roebuck takes in the day's play while suggesting that more than any of the Tests played this summer, this contest offered a perfect preparation for the coming Ashes series.
Full postKallis shines as captain
Regardless of the result, Jacques Kallis has had a splendid first match as captain of his country, writes Peter Roebuck in the Witness .
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
Regardless of the result, Jacques Kallis has had a splendid first match as captain of his country, writes Peter Roebuck in the Witness.
Roebuck, in the Age, feels that the Australians were again found out on a firm surface.
Jim Maxwell spoke to Michael Hussey, who rescued Australia in the first innings with another gritty knock. You can listen to the interview here.
Full postLosing from position of strength
The visitors can learn a lot by studying the home team , writes Geoff Boycott in the Hindu .
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
The visitors can learn a lot by studying the home team, writes Geoff Boycott in the Hindu.
As England look to bounce back, Vic Marks asks, in the Guardian, if Matt Prior is the best man to open the innings.
Dravid must fix top order blues, writes Ayaz Memon in the DNA.
Full postFletcher's cup mystery
"We have a very good idea of what our strongest one-day side is
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
"We have a very good idea of what our strongest one-day side is. If everyone's fit and ready to go there is probably only one position we would want to look at sometime over the coming weeks." That was what Duncan Fletcher said, in reference to the World Cup, after England lost the first one-dayer at Delhi. Read Mike Atherton's take on it in The Sunday Telegraph .
Full postTorrid attack brings end to any complacency
Justin Langer's sickening blow to the head - in his 100th Test - at the Wanderers is an indication that at some point in a batsman's career the reflexes start to slow down
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Justin Langer's sickening blow to the head - in his 100th Test - at the Wanderers is an indication that at some point in a batsman's career the reflexes start to slow down. Peter Roebuck, in his column for The Age, commentson how some hostile fast bowling from the South Africans had the Australians ducking, weaving and, ultimately, back in the pavilion.
Full post You only walk when you run out of petrol
Sledging and walking have been contentious issues for as long as the game has been played, writes Barry Richards in his column for the Sunday Times
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Sledging and walking have been contentious issues for as long as the game has been played, writes Barry Richards in his column for the Sunday Times. But there's a fine line between a noble stance and disruptive one, he adds. Read on about the question that has vexed many an international batsman.
Full postPugnacious Prior fails by flickering
England are deprived of four regulars and they have not disgraced themselves
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
England are deprived of four regulars and they have not disgraced themselves. So they do not deserve many brickbats for their efforts so far, but it is debatable whether they are making the most of their resources. Vic Marks asks in The Observer whether Matt Prior is the best one-day opener in England in Marcus Trescothick's absence?
In an era when 260 is looked upon as being nothing more than a par score, the bowling figures of James Anderson and Kabir Ali do not appear too disastrous, writes Angus Fraser in The Independent. He goes on to say that England might well make two changes to the team that lost the first two one-day internationals.
Full postCaptain Confident' at peace with himself
"I don't understand this obsession with the World Cup
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
"I don't understand this obsession with the World Cup. In a World Cup year the tournament will obviously gain importance but it is not the be all and end all. We need to look beyond the World Cup." Rahul Dravid is interviewed by Vijay Lokapally in The Hindu.
Full post