The Surfer
Sachin is like god to me - Sreesanth
Sreesanth treasures the moment Sachin Tendulkar handed him his India cap.
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Sreesanth treasures the moment Sachin Tendulkar handed him his India cap.
The day Sachin paaji handed me the India cap in Nagpur where I made my debut versus Sri Lanka. He is like god to me. This I what I had aimed for, and when it happened, I didn’t know what to do.
The delicate nature of Australia's players
Patrick Smith, The Australian columnist, points out the delicate side of the national team , using Ricky Ponting’s back-pedalling catch as an example.
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Patrick Smith, The Australian columnist, points out the delicate side of the national team, using Ricky Ponting’s back-pedalling catch as an example.
The catch was not the best ever seen. It wasn't even the best taken on the day. Andrew Symonds took a superior catch when he threw himself forward to hold a mis-whacked drive from Chamara Kapugedera. Technically, there was no comparison ...
We have acknowledged earlier that coming to any sort of conclusion about an Australia cricketer that is not overwhelmingly positive is to ask for a bouncer to the head. But there remains a danger that the hyperbole surrounding Ponting's pluck to immortality might just obscure the skill and audacity shown by Symonds.
Robert Craddock sums up Australia’s one-day summer in The Courier-Mail and hopes for a series of testing against South Africa.
Full postSlimline tonic for Ian Blackwell
Ian Blackwell, who has often been criticised for his weight, has insisted his change in lifestyle - although, as he concedes, long overdue - will improve him as a player:
Will
25-Feb-2013
Ian Blackwell, who has often been criticised for his weight, has insisted his change in lifestyle - although, as he concedes, long overdue - will improve him as a player:
"I feel I'm strong and physically fit enough to do my job, but if you don't look right in today's game you don't tend to get too far. The added responsibility of being a captain means you've got to be doing the right thing and leading by example.
"With me, it's probably more to do with diet than fitness. It's just understanding foods and what to eat at certain times. It's something you have to do to get the best out of what you eat."
More at the Daily Telegraph
Full postThe end of lycra
The BBC report that Mark Richardon will hang up his famous and hilarious lycra suit on Thursday
Will
25-Feb-2013
The BBC report that Mark Richardon will hang up his famous and hilarious lycra suit on Thursday. Richardson, New Zealand's former opener, used to challenge and race the least athletic member of the opposing team at the end of each series (see here); his final sprint will be against the West Indies after their Twenty20 encounter on Friday.
Richardson, infamous for taking on the opposition's slowest player, will race John Afoa and Jerome Kaino from the Auckland Blues rugby side at Eden Park.
The batsman, whose suit will then be auctioned by the Beige Brigade, said: "Even if I lose, I'll look the best."
Full postMusharraf's half-smoked cigar turns memento for Chappell's wife
A half smoked cigar of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is the most precious memento that Judy, wife of Greg Chappell, is carrying from her Pakistan visit.
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
A half smoked cigar of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is the most precious memento that Judy, wife of Greg Chappell, is carrying from her Pakistan visit.
"I picked up the cigar with a tissue paper and am carrying it with me to India."
Ponting's team targeted by telephone threats
Alex Brown writes in the Sydney Morning Herald that bomb threats were made to Ricky Ponting during the second VB Series final at the SCG.
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Alex Brown writes in the Sydney Morning Herald that bomb threats were made to Ricky Ponting during the second VB Series final at the SCG.
AAP reports that players at Sydney could soon get to the ground by a tunnel after a spectator was pushed away when trying to hug Andrew Symonds on Sunday. See what Leon Azzopardi, the man at the centre of the incident, had to say here.
Full postA shower when it was raining runs
Sachin Tendulkar misse d the whole of [Mahendra Singh] Dhoni’s 46-ball power-knock.
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Sachin Tendulkar missed the whole of [Mahendra Singh] Dhoni’s 46-ball power-knock.
"Mohammed Kaif was out almost immediately after me. I went for the ice bath and shower a little later… Once I was in the shower, I could hear my teammates screaming, ‘great shot’ and ‘well played’. I realised Dhoni was going great guns. I decided not to come out of the shower thinking the momentum might just get lost. I asked Harbhajan (Singh) to keep me updated on the score from outside.
"I must have had the longest shower of my life… It almost stretched to 40 minutes. I came out only when I knew that we were some seven/eight runs short of the target."
Full postRacist insults lead BBC to close messageboard
The BBC's Test Match Special messageboard has been closed today following a torrent of racist and abusive messages, as reported in today's Times :
Will
25-Feb-2013
The BBC's Test Match Special messageboard has been closed today following a torrent of racist and abusive messages, as reported in today's Times:
Part of the site was suspended after the BBC received complaints that a number of users were sending insulting religious messages and promoting terrorism on the South Asian section of the Test Match Special website.
A trail of messages described as “absolutely sickening and reprehensible” is being investigated by the BBC in an attempt to trace the authors.
Full postWaugh: Jaques deserves to go to South Africa
Although it is thought Michael Clarke will beat Phil Jaques in securing a spot for Australia's tour to South Africa, Steve Waugh reckons Jaques deserves his chance :
Will
25-Feb-2013
Although it is thought Michael Clarke will beat Phil Jaques in securing a spot for Australia's tour to South Africa, Steve Waugh reckons Jaques deserves his chance:
"The time to pick him is now - he's a form player and it's hard not to take him," Waugh said.
"I think it's time to give him an extended run.
"He provided a glimpse of what he can do when he made 94 (in his only one-day innings for Australia).
Full post