An overdose of red
Plays of the Day from the Group A match between Canada and Zimbabwe in Nagpur
Nagraj Gollapudi in Nagpur
28-Feb-2011
Ray Price prepares to catch Nitish Kumar • AFP
Colour of the day
Red. And no, it wasn't the film in the Krzysztof Kieślowski trilogy. It was the colour that jarred the eye in Nagpur, with both Zimbabwe and Canada wearing similar hues of blood red. Such was the stark similarity in the colours that it felt as though only one team was playing. With Pakistan and Kenya also sporting a similar green, would it not be better for cricket to adopt the same approach as soccer, where a team has the option of first-choice and alternative colour to avoid any clashes?
Red. And no, it wasn't the film in the Krzysztof Kieślowski trilogy. It was the colour that jarred the eye in Nagpur, with both Zimbabwe and Canada wearing similar hues of blood red. Such was the stark similarity in the colours that it felt as though only one team was playing. With Pakistan and Kenya also sporting a similar green, would it not be better for cricket to adopt the same approach as soccer, where a team has the option of first-choice and alternative colour to avoid any clashes?
The glaring miss
Tatenda Taibu tried a pre-meditated sweep against a full toss from Balaji Rao. The bottom edge bounced off his pads into no-man's land on the leg side, but the Canadians appealed for lbw and Asad Rauf readily raised his finger. Taibu instantly asked for the review and immediately, and correctly, got the decision reversed. The angle was straight, the ground was empty, it was close to noon and bright, but Rauf did not see or hear the edge. Thankfully, technology came to Taibu's rescue and did not create a debate like the one that angered India captain MS Dhoni on Saturday evening.
Tatenda Taibu tried a pre-meditated sweep against a full toss from Balaji Rao. The bottom edge bounced off his pads into no-man's land on the leg side, but the Canadians appealed for lbw and Asad Rauf readily raised his finger. Taibu instantly asked for the review and immediately, and correctly, got the decision reversed. The angle was straight, the ground was empty, it was close to noon and bright, but Rauf did not see or hear the edge. Thankfully, technology came to Taibu's rescue and did not create a debate like the one that angered India captain MS Dhoni on Saturday evening.
The winning hand
Ray Price pitched the ball on a length around off stump and Nitish Kumar, the youngest player in the tournament making his World Cup debut, hit an airy drive that seemed going towards mid-off. Price, who usually bowls from wide of the crease, was on his follow-through and just skipped a couple of yards further to his left to take a beauty with his outstretched left hand.
Ray Price pitched the ball on a length around off stump and Nitish Kumar, the youngest player in the tournament making his World Cup debut, hit an airy drive that seemed going towards mid-off. Price, who usually bowls from wide of the crease, was on his follow-through and just skipped a couple of yards further to his left to take a beauty with his outstretched left hand.
The Raspberry
John Davison, Canada's most experienced player. Canada expected a lot from him today but he was all smoke and no fire. Leave aside his bowling figures (7-0-56-0), more disillusioning was his choice of shot against Price. Price was bowling his first over, the second over of the innings. To the third ball he faced, Davison stepped out and attempted a wristy flick over midwicket. Unfortunately for him, Price, having read the batsman's mind early, had given loop and Davison was beaten and bowled.
John Davison, Canada's most experienced player. Canada expected a lot from him today but he was all smoke and no fire. Leave aside his bowling figures (7-0-56-0), more disillusioning was his choice of shot against Price. Price was bowling his first over, the second over of the innings. To the third ball he faced, Davison stepped out and attempted a wristy flick over midwicket. Unfortunately for him, Price, having read the batsman's mind early, had given loop and Davison was beaten and bowled.
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo