The Surfer
How can they afford to leave Styris out?
The best argument in support of the latest theory swirling around the New Zealand team is that it doesn't make the slightest bit of sense, writes Richard Boock in The New Zealand Herald .
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
The best argument in support of the latest theory swirling around the New Zealand team is that it doesn't make the slightest bit of sense, writes Richard Boock in The New Zealand Herald.
The idea of omitting Styris from the line-up has drawn gasps from media commentators. It doesn't make sense? Well, neither did it when Chris Cairns was virtually forced out of the game this year, when Nathan Astle's cage was rattled so vigorously he almost jumped of his own accord, and when Lou Vincent was dumped from the test squad.
Worrying tendency to collapse
Geoff Boycott feels that England's worrying tendency to c ollapse under pressure persists, no matter what the composition of the team.
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
Geoff Boycott feels that England's worrying tendency to collapse under pressure persists, no matter what the composition of the team.
Angus Fraser, former England mediumpacer, reckons that more than one piece is missing in Duncan Fletcher's World Cup puzzle.
Mid-day, the Mumbai-based daily, profiles the curator of the Faridabad pitch - Vijay Yadav, the former India wicketkeeper.
Full postHeadaches of change
Anyone trying to guess the composition of the South African side for the third and final Test will end up with a headache, writes Peter Roebuck in the Witness .
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
Anyone trying to guess the composition of the South African side for the third and final Test will end up with a headache, writes Peter Roebuck in the Witness.
Justin Langer is set to play his 100th Test. After a baptism of fire - Ian Bishop almost knocked his head off, the man accused of having no shots has become one of the foundations of Australia's success, writes Andrew Ramsey in the Australian. Click here to read Peter English's tribute to Langer.
Tony Greig has accused the Australians of the worst sledging he has ever encountered. Click here to read some of the abuses allegedly used by the Australians in the second Test against South Africa.
There comes a time in every sportsman’s career when he hits the crossroad and needs to reassess his chosen path. Andre Nel has just crashed into that juncture, writes Mike Haysman in Supercricket.co.za.
Full post Theory, opinion, analysis...
What is it that drives cricket fans insane, analysing every minute detail of the game to death
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
What is it that drives cricket fans insane, analysing every minute detail of the game to death? Amrit Mathur in The Sportstar lists out the possible reasons why the game encourages so much opinion.
Indian fans are cricket PHDs who analyse every angle, discover every hidden agenda. Cricket is a social glue, a sport and a religion, and a hot, spicy conversation tool.
What is Australia's future?
Certain pressmen Down Under have hailed Australia's win in the first Test in South Africa as a sign that the team is back to its dynamic best
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
Certain pressmen Down Under have hailed Australia's win in the first Test in South Africa as a sign that the team is back to its dynamic best. But this is far from the truth, writes a worried Bob Simpson, former Australia captain, in the Sportstar.
Full postBollocks to the man in black
The Guardian's cricket correspondent, Mike Selvey, is a man who never leaves home without a guitar on his back
Andrew Miller
25-Feb-2013
The Guardian's cricket correspondent, Mike Selvey, is a man who never leaves home without a guitar on his back. And as such he is well placed to pass judgment on England's obsession with Johnny Cash's sixties hit, Ring of Fire. Suffice to say, he's not best impressed with their taste in music.
Well we all know it's really a lads' lavatorial joke to do with the repercussions of touring that part of the world and there, under the shamiana behind the dressing rooms at Wankhede Stadium, it should have been laid to rest. But he has created a monster has Fred. Now it's the Ring of Fire that is implanted indelibly and, one week on, it burns, burns, burns in my brain. I may need counselling and I bet I'm not the only one.
Warne bowls better when he is in danger
Warne likes to raise the stakes
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
Warne likes to raise the stakes. He bowls better when he is in danger, writes Peter Roebuck in The Hindu.
Ricky Ponting is the leading batsman of his generation, asserts R Mohan in the Deccan Chronicle. He reckons that Sachin Tendulkar needs to derive inspiration from Sunil Gavaskar to get back to form.
Full post Only programme against Ponting
In the end the spinner was the winner, but it was close
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
In the end the spinner was the winner, but it was close. Indeed, it took a dubious leg before decision as Makhaya Ntini padded up to a googly with 43 balls left to bring victory to a deserving visiting side, feels Peter Roebuck, writing in the Witness.
With 557 runs at an average of 111 per innings from three Tests so far in 2006, Ricky Ponting is well on track to surpass the 30-year-old record of most Test runs in a calendar year, set by Viv Richards in 1976. But a quirk of programming could deny Ponting one of the game's most enduring milestones, writes Andrew Ramsey in the Australian.
Captaincy, it seems, has only increased Ponting's hunger for runs. Of all the regular Test match captains the game has seen (to have skippered in 10 matches or more) only the legendary Don Bradman boasts a better batting average while entrusted with the leadership.
Full postShow us the money!
What does the BCCI do with all this money
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
What does the BCCI do with all this money? Does the government get to see its annual balance sheet and profit and loss statement? BCCI must be more transparent, screams the editorial in the Financial Express.
Full postChink in the Wall
When Rahul Dravid was bowled by Liam Plunkett at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Tuesday, the ball catching the inside edge of his bat, it was the ninth such dismissal for him in the last 24 ODIs, writes K Shriniwas Rao in The Indian Express .
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
When Rahul Dravid was bowled by Liam Plunkett at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Tuesday, the ball catching the inside edge of his bat, it was the ninth such dismissal for him in the last 24 ODIs, writes K Shriniwas Rao in The Indian Express.
Full postMost Read
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