A vote of confidence, ballet dancing and eight sixes
Andrew McGlashan looks back at the week that was
Andrew McGlashan
25-Jun-2006
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Percy Sonn takes over as the President of ICC next month and if his early comments are anything to go by he'll certainly be keeping the PR department on their toes. In a recent interview with Cricinfo magazine he said: "The administration is definitely a bit overblown. Malcolm Speed knows what my views are. The problem is the lack of ability on the national level to manage ICC events". Yes, he's talking about the organisation that he is about to preside over. Sonn's first year as President will involve two global events - the Champions Trophy and World Cup - and he has already voiced concerns about the Caribbean. "It's supply and demand. They're full already. They've got so little accommodation that they can charge the world. It can diminish the value of the World Cup." Nothing like a vote of confidence. Hours after Sonn's interview became public the ICC issued a statement with Sonn saying: "I am privileged to be part of such a well-run organisation like the ICC, especially at a time when cricket has never been stronger or more united." Interesting times lie ahead.
Can we fix? No we can't
Flick on most of the 24-hour music channels that you find on digital TV and, almost without fail, at least one will be showing the Top 50, or the `Greatest Ever' football World Cup songs. Sadly, most send you rushing for a different channel, but it is all part of football. Not for one minute is there a suggestion that cricket follows football, but the news coming out of the Caribbean this week is enough to send you rushing for the cotton wool. The ICC have extended the deadline for groups who want to enter a bid for the official song of the 2007 event - apparently because of a huge number of possibilities being submitted. Sadly, I fear it is more quantity than quality. With stadiums half finished around the Caribbean, Bob the Builder could do worse than throw his hat into the ring.
Flick on most of the 24-hour music channels that you find on digital TV and, almost without fail, at least one will be showing the Top 50, or the `Greatest Ever' football World Cup songs. Sadly, most send you rushing for a different channel, but it is all part of football. Not for one minute is there a suggestion that cricket follows football, but the news coming out of the Caribbean this week is enough to send you rushing for the cotton wool. The ICC have extended the deadline for groups who want to enter a bid for the official song of the 2007 event - apparently because of a huge number of possibilities being submitted. Sadly, I fear it is more quantity than quality. With stadiums half finished around the Caribbean, Bob the Builder could do worse than throw his hat into the ring.
Twinkle toes (no, not Dazzler this time)
Earlier this year it was Darren Gough making the news for his sharp footwork on the dance floor and now it is the turn of another aging bowler with dodgy legs. Ashley Giles won't be doing the rumba or cha-cha but more likely a touch of Swan Lake. As he battles to return to fitness after his hip problems, Giles is willing to give anything a try if it means he has a chance of catching the plane to Australia. The ECB, therefore, have dispatched him off to the Birmingham Royal Ballet to work alongside injured dancers. There was no mention of whether a tutu was required.
Earlier this year it was Darren Gough making the news for his sharp footwork on the dance floor and now it is the turn of another aging bowler with dodgy legs. Ashley Giles won't be doing the rumba or cha-cha but more likely a touch of Swan Lake. As he battles to return to fitness after his hip problems, Giles is willing to give anything a try if it means he has a chance of catching the plane to Australia. The ECB, therefore, have dispatched him off to the Birmingham Royal Ballet to work alongside injured dancers. There was no mention of whether a tutu was required.
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If confidence equaled results, the Afghanistan national team would soon be giving the Aussies a run for their money. They have just completed a highly successful tour of England - with six wins in seven matches - and can hardly contain their excitement about the future. "We have the fastest bowlers in the world," proclaimed the tour manager as the team enjoyed a day at Lord's. "They bowl at 90mph and have adjusted brilliantly to the conditions in England. This is the first step for us on the way to the 2011 World Cup." Two of the squad, Mohammad Nabi and Hamid Hassan, now start a four-week stint with the MCC Young Cricketers and it continues a great story of how cricket has played a huge role in the rebirth of a country.
48 runs off an over
Eat your heart out Shahid Afridi, Kevin Pietersen, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Adam Gilchrist. The biggest hitter in cricket is actually buried deep in the Harrogate and District League. During the snappily titled `Evening League Reserve Knockout Quarter-Final,' between Glasshouses and Blubberhouses, Rob Ellis took a particular liking to the bowling of Tim Hendry. To quickly put proceedings into context, the match had been reduced to 14 eight-ball overs due to rain. In the last over, Ellis hit eight sixes off Hendry to finish on 138 not out - talk about filling your boots at the death of an innings.
Eat your heart out Shahid Afridi, Kevin Pietersen, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Adam Gilchrist. The biggest hitter in cricket is actually buried deep in the Harrogate and District League. During the snappily titled `Evening League Reserve Knockout Quarter-Final,' between Glasshouses and Blubberhouses, Rob Ellis took a particular liking to the bowling of Tim Hendry. To quickly put proceedings into context, the match had been reduced to 14 eight-ball overs due to rain. In the last over, Ellis hit eight sixes off Hendry to finish on 138 not out - talk about filling your boots at the death of an innings.
Home run
The ICC are always for pushing the global expansion of cricket and if they ever manage to crack the mainstream American market, will probably struggle to control themselves. But cricket in the USA remains mainly an expat sport and is still often a mystery to the masses. The first junior national event - being held in Silicon Valley - has made the local papers and was given a decent spread by the Mercury News. "A total of 200 cricket players, ages six to 15, from as far away as New York, Florida and Kansas will descend on cricket fields, called 'pitches, throughout the South Bay," explains the correspondent. The notion of playing on pitches seems to sound quite a novel idea. Pranav Pradhyan, whose parents moved from India to Fremont, is one of the youngsters taking part and had a nice little dig at a certain American sport. "I chose cricket because it's more challenging. You don't use a glove to catch the ball, and if you get out, you can't come back in the game."
The ICC are always for pushing the global expansion of cricket and if they ever manage to crack the mainstream American market, will probably struggle to control themselves. But cricket in the USA remains mainly an expat sport and is still often a mystery to the masses. The first junior national event - being held in Silicon Valley - has made the local papers and was given a decent spread by the Mercury News. "A total of 200 cricket players, ages six to 15, from as far away as New York, Florida and Kansas will descend on cricket fields, called 'pitches, throughout the South Bay," explains the correspondent. The notion of playing on pitches seems to sound quite a novel idea. Pranav Pradhyan, whose parents moved from India to Fremont, is one of the youngsters taking part and had a nice little dig at a certain American sport. "I chose cricket because it's more challenging. You don't use a glove to catch the ball, and if you get out, you can't come back in the game."
Andrew McGlashan is editorial assistant of Cricinfo