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ADS.qxd 2/23/2009 4:56 PM Page 2
news preview cover story interview triviaEDITOR SPEAKS 04 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
s February ends and March
sets on, the Indian team has
left for the tour to New
Zealand. The Indian team has
set itself on a path to great-
ness and it seems that with the win in Sri
Lanka, they have completed the first
level and now need to raise themselves
to a higher next level. The tour to New
Zealand marks the first step of this next
level.
Winning the series there will not be an
easy proposition in either the ODIs or the
Tests, for almost the entire squad is
going there for the first time. Bar four
or five players who had visited in 2003,
or before that, the whole team will be
faced with the challenge of acclimatizing
to the conditions, which are windy and
seam friendly to say the least. And then
there is the fear of the unknown.
Thanks to the ICL, the New
Zealand team nowadays bears
a new look and it is tough to
identify the strengths or
weaknesses of many of
its players. Obviously,
India will be looking out
to find even the slight-
est chink in their
armory and we take a
look at how best they
can do it. The series
win in Sri Lanka was
the second for the
team in that country
in the last six months
and with that win, the
Indian skipper MS
Dhoni became the
most successful cap-
tain after leading his
team in forty ODIs at
a success rate of sixty
seven percent. Not to forget, the Indian
team has recently completed their most
successful run of nine ODI wins under
him as well. So now the obvious question
arises, if he is indeed the best captain
ever? Is it too early to crown him so or
are we yet to see him fiddle with the
questions that foreign tours and alien
conditions will pose in the near future.
As a cover feature, we ponder on the
same question as well.
International cricket finds quite some
space in our current issue. While Pakistan
cricket is ever more in turmoil, things can
only look up as a new captain takes
charge in Younus Khan. That they will be
playing their first ever test series at
home in quite some time can also be
counted as a plus. Meanwhile, South
Africa’s new born status of number one,
in both ODIs and tests will be severely
tested in the next couple of months, as
Australia make a return visit to this coun-
try. While they are still the champions in
longer format, how long with that last
against a rampant Proteas side remains
to be seen. The same can be said of the
ODIs where South Africa will look to
prove that the series win in Australia
recently was no flash in the pan either.
Coupled with India’s tour to New Zealand,
the clash of South Africa and Australia is
bound to keep cricket lovers
fixated to the TV screens for
the next two months, as the
three teams will be involved in
a three way fight for the hal-
lowed number one ranking in
both forms of the game. And
to be world champions, in either
tests or ODIs, you have
to be the number one
team in the world as
Graeme Smith tells us in
an exclusive chat with
the South African cap-
tain right before the all
important clash with the
Aussies.
We also have an interac-
tion with former India
captain Sourav Ganguly
who looks back to the
times when he mooted
the idea of Rahul Dravid
keeping wickets for India
in the ODIs. It is well
known that he had a
good chemistry with the
then coach John Wright, and
so this example does form the
background for a though provoking
piece on the fight that is ensuing
between the captain and coach of a
team. Between them, who has more
authority? We also take a look at domes-
tic cricket with the Ranji toppers as well
as Amol Mazumdar’s heroic career for
Mumbai. And our regular columns,
Willowy Words and Greats of the Game
are back, along with the ever present
Down Memory Lane. Happy reading!
The Kiwis beckon
a
Copyright 2005 "Cricket Today" is a registered trademark ofThe Diamond Group. All rights reserved. No Part ofthis publication may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval system, or transmitted in any form or byany means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied,recorded or otherwise, without prior permission.Printed & Published by Manish Verma and Edited byManish Verma on behalf of Diamond Magazines Pvt.Ltd. Printed at Best Photo Offset Printers, A-81,D.D.A. Shed, Okhla Industrial area, Phase-II, New Delhi-20
Winning theseries there willnot be an easyproposition ineither the ODIsor the Tests, foralmost theentire squad isgoing there forthe first time.
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Editorial.qxd 2/21/2009 6:25 PM Page 2
ADS.qxd 2/21/2009 5:08 PM Page 2
news letter preview cover story interview trivia 06 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS NEW JERSEY FOR MEN INBLUE - 18
THE BCCI AWARDS - 20
THE RANJI TOPPERS - 28
INDIA’S TOUR OF NEWZEALAND - 34
COACH VERSUS CAPTAIN:IS IT EVEN A RAGINGBATTLE? - 38
DRAVID WAS AUTOMATICCHOICE IN ODI XI:GANGULY - 44
LAST WARNING SERVED -48
ANOTHER SUMMITSCALING EXPEDITION! - 60
SA: NEARING THE NO.1POSITION - 64
SAFS STORY –RESOUNDING CAMPAIGNSEND IN NO.1 DOWNUNDER - 72
AMOL MUZUMDAR: ASTRANGE STORY OFPROMISE UNFULFILLED - 76
TUFF TIME FOR PAKISTANCRICKET - 80
BEYOND 22YARDS - 84
GREATS OF THEGAME:“JACKIE”MCGLEW-92
2ND ALL INDIA ELITECELEBRATION CUP 2009 -99
INDIA’S FIRST WIN OVERWEST INDIES - 100
20
6884
14
CONTENTS
Content.qxd 2/21/2009 6:18 PM Page 2
news content review interview triviaPHOTO FEATURE 08 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
CAB presented Ganguly with a memento
made of one kilogram of pure gold The Captain getting ready for battle
Men in Blue : All set for Kiwi challenge
Photo of the month.qxd 2/21/2009 5:58 PM Page 2
editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 09Cricket TodayMarch 2009
Cricket heroes with NSG heroes
Skipper and his deputy cracking up
Photo of the month.qxd 2/21/2009 5:58 PM Page 3
news preview cover story interview triviaNEWS UPDATE 10 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
AFRIDI CONSID-ERING TESTRETIREMENT
Pakistan’s senior all-rounderShahid Afridi is seriously con-
sidering retiring from Testcricket after national selec-tors ignored him for the two-match home series againstSri Lanka, which startedrecently.The 28-year-old Afridi said hewas disappointed over hisfailure to impress the selec-tors ahead of the openingTest against Sri Lanka andadded that he would retirefrom Test cricket if Pakistancontinued to ignore him forthe longer version of thegame.“I was looking forward toearning a place in the Testsquad,” said Afridi, who hasnot been in Pakistan’s Testpicture for almost threeyears.“But I respect the selectors’decision,” he stressed.Afridi played the last of his26 Tests in the summer of2006 against England inManchester. Since thennational selectors have cur-tailed his role to one-dayersand Twenty20 internationals.
PONTING OPTS OUT OF IPL FORNATIONAL DUTYAAuussttrraalliiaa sskkiippppeerr RRiicckkyy PPoonnttiinngg rreecceennttllyy rreevveeaalleeddtthhaatt hhee wwiillll sskkiipp tthhiiss yyeeaarr’’ss IInnddiiaann PPrreemmiieerr LLeeaagguueessttaarrttiinngg AApprriill ttoo ccoonncceennttrraattee oonn nnaattiioonnaall ccoommmmiitt--mmeennttss..““MMyy ccoouunnttrryy ccoommeess ffiirrsstt aanndd tthheerree wwaass nnoo wwaayy IIccoouulldd ggiivvee mmyy aallll ffoorr AAuussttrraalliiaa iiff II uusseedd tthhee oonnllyyttwwoo--wweeeekk bbrreeaakk wwee hhaavvee ttoo ggoo aanndd ppllaayy iinn IInnddiiaa,,””PPoonnttiinngg,, wwhhoo iiss ccoonnttrraacctteedd wwiitthh tthhee IIPPLL tteeaammKKoollkkaattaa KKnniigghhtt RRiiddeerrss,, wwrroottee iinn hhiiss ccoolluummnn iinn TThheeAAuussttrraalliiaann..““II hhaavvee bbeeeenn ttaallkkiinngg wwiitthh mmyy tteeaamm,, tthhee KKoollkkaattaaKKnniigghhtt RRiiddeerrss ffoorr aa mmoonntthh oorr ttwwoo nnooww aanndd iinn tthheeeenndd mmyy oonnllyy cchhooiiccee wwaass ttoo wwiitthhddrraaww ffrroomm tthhee22000099 ccoommppeettiittiioonn,, bbuutt II wwiillll mmoosstt cceerrttaaiinnllyy bbee bbaacckkffoorr 22001100 wwhheenn II hhooppee ttoo bbee aabbllee ttoo mmaakkee aa mmuucchhggrreeaatteerr ccoonnttrriibbuuttiioonn,,”” hhee ssaaiidd..PPoonnttiinngg,, wwhhoo iiss ccuurrrreennttllyy iinn SSoouutthh AAffrriiccaa wwiitthh tthheeAAuussttrraalliiaann ssqquuaadd ffoorr aa TTeesstt aanndd oonnee--ddaayy sseerriieess,,tthhaannkkeedd KKnniigghhtt RRiiddeerrss ffoorr lleettttiinngg hhiimm ggoo tthhiiss ttiimmeeaarroouunndd..
RP, CHAWLA VISITMAHAKALESHWAR TEMPLECCrriicckkeetteerrss RR PP SSiinngghh aanndd PPiiyyuusshh CChhaawwllaa rreecceennttllyy vviissiitteeddtthhee ffaammoouuss MMaahhaakkaalleesshhwwaarr tteemmppllee aatt UUjjjjaaiinn..LLeefftt--aarrmm ssppeeeeddsstteerr RR PP SSiinngghh aanndd lleegg--ssppiinnnneerr CChhaawwllaaaarrrriivveedd qquuiieettllyy iinn tthhee tteemmppllee ttoowwnn ttoo ppeerrffoorrmm rreelliiggiioouussrriittuuaallss,, tteemmppllee ssoouurrcceess ssaaiidd..LLaatteerr iinn aa bbrriieeff iinntteerraaccttiioonn wwiitthh tthhee mmeeddiiaa ppeerrssoonnss,,SSiinngghh ssaaiidd tthhaatt hhee lliikkeess ttoo ccoommee ttoo UUjjjjaaiinn ffoorr vviissiittiinnggMMaahhaakkaall..TThhee ssppeeeeddsstteerr hhaadd aallssoo vviissiitteedd UUjjjjaaiinn ffeeww mmoonntthhss bbaacckkttoo sseeeekk tthhee bblleessssiinnggss ooff LLoorrdd MMaahhaakkaall..IInnddiiaa’’ss sskkiippppeerr,, MMaahheennddrraa SSiinngghh DDhhoonnii hhaadd aallssoo ppaaiidd aavviissiitt ttoo tthhee tteemmppllee ssoommeettiimmee aaggoo,, ssoouurrcceess ssaaiidd..
by Rakesh Pandey
News.qxd 2/21/2009 5:56 PM Page 2
editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 11Cricket TodayMarch 2009
DHONI FACE OF KOLKATAFASHION WEEK
IInnddiiaann ccaappttaaiinn MMaahheennddrraa SSiinngghh DDhhoonnii iiss aallll sseett ttoobbee tthhee bbrraanndd aammbbaassssaaddoorr ooff tthhee ffiirrsstt eevveerr KKoollkkaattaa
FFaasshhiioonn WWeeeekk ttoo bbee hheelldd iinn AApprriill..““OOuurrss wwiillll bbee aann aannnnuuaall eevveenntt.. DDhhoonnii wwiillll bbee tthhee
ffaaccee ooff tthhee eevveenntt ffoorr ffoouurr yyeeaarrss.. HHee hhaass aallrreeaaddyysshhoott sseevveerraall pprroommooss ffoorr tthhee sshhooww,,”” YYuuddhhaajjiitt
DDuuttttaa,, mmaannaaggiinngg ddiirreeccttoorr ooff MMiinnddssccaappee GGrroouupp ooffccoommppaanniieess tthhaatt iiss oorrggaanniissiinngg tthhee eevveenntt,, ttoolldd
rreeppoorrtteerrss..DDhhoonnii,, hhoowweevveerr,, wwiillll nnoott bbee pprreesseenntt ffoorr tthhee ffiirrsstteeddiittiioonn ooff tthhee sshhooww,, bbeeiinngg hheelldd ffrroomm AApprriill 22--55 aasshhee wwoouulldd bbee aawwaayy iinn NNeeww ZZeeaallaanndd wwiitthh tthhee IInnddiiaann
tteeaamm..““WWee wwaanntteedd aa ppeerrssoonnaalliittyy wwhhoo iiss oouuttssiiddee tthhee
ssttaattee,, ccaann ggrraabb mmeeddiiaa ssppoottlliigghhtt aanndd aallssoo hhaass ggrreeaattaappppeeaall aammoonngg tthhee yyoouutthh.. DDhhoonnii ffiittss aallll tthheessee ccrriittee--
rriiaa,,”” DDuuttttaa ssaaiidd..TThhiirrttyy ffiivvee ttoopp IInnddiiaann mmooddeellss aanndd 1155 ddeessiiggnneerrss wwiillll
ppaarrttiicciippaattee iinn tthhee ffaasshhiioonn eevveenntt,, hhee aaddddeedd..
IPL MAY SOON HIT ATHEATRE NEAR YOUFollowing a spate of requests from cin-ema theatre owners in the country,the Indian Premier League has decidedto float tenders to sell these rights forthe 2009 IPL season commencing onApril 10.“We have received requests from manychains of cinema theatres. We havedecided to issue tenders for sellingthese rights for one year or so. We willdecide on continuing this after seeinghow it goes on,” said IPL chairman LalitModi.The IPL matches last for around threehours and are ideally suited for theatregoers.
CRICKET TO FEATURE INSOUTH ASIAN GAMESCricket will be included in next year’sSouth Asian Games to be staged inDhaka, a regional Olympic official said. “India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladeshand Nepal have already agreed to par-ticipate in cricket,” Kutubuddin Ahmed,secretary-general of the BangladeshOlympic Association, told reportersafter a meeting in Kathmandu.A Twenty20 competition at under-21level would feature in the games forthe eight-nation grouping, to bestaged from January 29 to February9next year, he added.
News.qxd 2/21/2009 5:57 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 12 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
AZHAR STARTS POLITICALCAREER WITH CONGRESSAfter initial denial, former Indian captain MohammadAzharuddin joined the Congress recently.Azhar officially joined the party at a packed pressconference and will probably contest from one of thethree constituencies falling in Hyderabad in the forth-coming Lok Sabha elections.He is likely to be projected as the Congress’ newMuslim face, to take on the All India Majlis IttehadulMuslimeen. Azharuddin last played for India in 2000 before beinghanded out a life ban for match-fixing by the BCCI.Last year cricketer-turned-politician Dodda Ganesh anda close friend of Azhar joined the Janata Dal Secular.It was Azharuddin who reportedly advised Ganesh tojoin the JDS though he was being wooed by othernational parties as well.One of India’s most successful cricketers, Azharuddin’sinnings came to an abrupt end after a disciplinarycommittee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) imposed a life ban on him in December 2000.Azharuddin challenged the ban in a court. The case isdragging on. Azharuddin now runs a successful eventmanagement firm as well as a health club called Est.
TENDULKAR UNCOM-FORTABLE WITH FANSTOUCHING FEETHe doesn’t receive letters written inblood any more, but Sachin Tendulkarsays that he does not feel comfort-able when a fan touches his feet andtells him he is God.Tendulkar, whose achievements withthe bat have won him fans worldwide,says the adulation never ceases tosurprise him.“I used to receive letters written inblood... but not any more. It feelsstrange when a fan comes and touch-es your feet and says you are God. Idon’t feel comfortable with it, but itis the way they feel about you... thathappened again just a couple ofweeks ago actually,” he says.In a light-hearted interview publishedin celebrity magazine ‘OK!’, Tendulkarspoke about his love for Ferrari cars,his post-retirement plans and how hehandles criticism.Tendulkar said retirement thoughtswere far away from his mind at themoment but he may start a businesswhen he stops playing competitivecricket.
News.qxd 2/21/2009 5:57 PM Page 4
editor speaks contents letter 13Cricket TodayMarch 2009
RBS BANKRUPT AFTER SIGNING SACHIN & CO.A spendthrift Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) spent £200 million on sponsorshipdeals with Sachin Tendulkar and other top sportsmen just weeks before beingbailed out by the British government, a newspaper reported recently.The Sunday Times said the bank, which is now 68 per cent owned by the tax-payer, signed the long-term contracts before being bailed by the British gov-ernment in October.Former RBS chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin agreed contracts of up to fiveyears.Apart from Sachin, the stars signed as ‘global ambassadors’ include ZaraPhillips, the rider and granddaughter of the Queen, Jack Nicklaus, the golfer,and Sir Jackie Stewart, the former motor racing champion.The news comes after the bank announced that it had made a loss of £28billion last year.Treasury select committee member MP John Mann told the paper: “Theyhave been reckless yet again. This doesn’t seem to be a bank that could doanything in moderation. It now needs to realise the golden days are over.”
ASIF NOW EYES COUNTY STINT AFTER IPL BAN
PPaakkiissttaann’’ss bbaannnneedd ppaacceerr MMoohhaammmmaadd AAssiiff iiss ttrryyiinngg ttoo nneeggoottiiaattee aa ccoonnttrraacctt wwiitthhaann EEnngglliisshh ccoouunnttyy ttoo kkeeeepp hhiimmsseellff iinn ttoouucchh wwiitthh tthhee ggaammee wwhhiillee sseerrvviinngg tthhee ppuunn--iisshhmmeenntt hhaannddeedd oouutt ttoo hhiimm ffoorr ffaaiilliinngg aa ddooppee tteesstt..AAssiiff iiss sseerrvviinngg aa oonnee--yyeeaarr bbaann iimmppoosseedd oonn hhiimm bbyy tthhee IInnddiiaann PPrreemmiieerr LLeeaagguueeddrruuggss iinnqquuiirryy ttrriibbuunnaall ffoorr tteessttiinngg ppoossiittiivvee dduurriinngg aa ddooppee tteesstt llaasstt yyeeaarr dduurriinngg tthheeIIPPLL..TThhee bbaann ppeerriioodd eennddss oonn SSeepptteemmbbeerr 2222.. TThhee ppaacceerr hhaass nnoott ppllaayyeedd ffoorr PPaakkiissttaannssiinnccee llaasstt yyeeaarr aass hhee wwaass aallssoo ssuussppeennddeedd bbyy tthhee PPaakkiissttaann CCrriicckkeett BBooaarrdd ssiinnccee JJuullyy1155 ffoorr tthhee ffaaiilleedd ddooppee tteesstt..““II jjuusstt wwaanntt ttoo kkeeeepp mmyysseellff ffiitt aanndd rreeaaddyy ffoorr mmyy rreettuurrnn ttoo iinntteerrnnaattiioonnaall ccrriicckkeettwwhheenn tthhee bbaann ppeerriioodd eennddss,,”” AAssiiff,, wwhhoo hhaass ppllaayyeedd 1111 TTeessttss,, ssaaiidd..
News.qxd 2/21/2009 5:57 PM Page 5
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 14 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
FEMALE FANS WISH DHONI ONVALENTINE’S DAYThe proof that Indian cricket skipper Mahendra SinghDhoni has a large female following was visible onValentine’s Day as many young women gathered out-side his residence and presented cards and roses to hisrelatives, as he was not in the city.The women, who gathered outside the Indian captain’shouse under the banner of the Dhoni Fan Club, shout-ed slogans such as “Dhoni is our Valentine. We love youDhoni”.The fans were carrying posters, cards and roses topresent to the relatives of Dhoni.“We love Dhoni from the bottom of our heart. Wecame here to express our feeling and love for Dhoni,”said Alka Das.Echoing her view, Supriya, another fan, said: “It is sadthat Dhoni is not in Ranchi on Valentine’s Day. We misshim.”
RICHARDS, ROBERTS,HOLDING IN ICC HALLOF FAMEWWeesstt IInnddiieess ggrreeaattss VViivviiaann RRiicchhaarrddss,,AAnnddyy RRoobbeerrttss aanndd MMiicchhaaeell HHoollddiinnggwweerree pprreesseenntteedd tthhee IICCCC CCrriicckkeett HHaallllooff FFaammee ccaappss ttoo ffoorrmmaallllyy iinndduucctttthheemm iinnttoo tthhee eexxaalltteedd hhoonnoouurr lliisstt oofftthhee wwoorrlldd ggoovveerrnniinngg bbooddyy..TThhee ffoorrmmeerr ccrriicckkeetteerrss wweerree pprreesseenntt--eedd wwiitthh tthheeiirr HHaallll ooff FFaammee ccaappss bbyyWWeesstt IInnddiieess CCrriicckkeett BBooaarrdd PPrreessiiddeennttDDrr JJuulliiaann HHuunnttee oonn tthhee ffiieelldd ooff ppllaayydduurriinngg tthhee lluunncchh iinntteerrvvaall oonn ddaayy ttwwooooff tthhee tthhiirrdd TTeesstt bbeettwweeeenn tthhee hhoossttssaanndd EEnnggllaanndd aatt tthhee AAnnttiigguuaaRReeccrreeaattiioonn GGrroouunndd..TThhee ttrriioo aarree aammoonngg 1133 WWeesstt IInnddiieesslleeggeennddss aanndd 5555 ppllaayyeerrss wwoorrllddwwiiddeewwhhoo aarree bbeeiinngg iinndduucctteedd iinnttoo tthhee IICCCCCCrriicckkeett HHaallll ooff FFaammee,, wwhhiicchh iiss bbeeiinnggrruunn iinn aassssoocciiaattiioonn wwiitthh FFeeddeerraattiioonn ooffIInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall CCrriicckkeetteerrss’’ AAssssoocciiaattiioonnss((FFIICCAA)).. PPrreevviioouussllyy,, dduurriinngg SSoouutthh AAffrriiccaa’’ss ttoouurrooff AAuussttrraalliiaa,, ffoorrmmeerr SSoouutthh AAffrriiccaabbaattssmmaann BBaarrrryy RRiicchhaarrddss aanndd AAuussttrraalliiaawwiicckkeettkkeeeeppeerr RRooddnneeyy MMaarrsshh rreecceeiivveeddtthheeiirr ccaappss..TThhee IICCCC CCrriicckkeett HHaallll ooff FFaammee iinniittiiaattiivveeffoorrmmss ppaarrtt ooff tthhee IICCCC’’ss cceenntteennaarryycceelleebbrraattiioonnss wwhhiicchh aarree ffooccuusseedd oonncceelleebbrraattiinngg tthhee uunniiqquuee hheerriittaaggee oofftthhee ggaammee aanndd ccrriicckkeett’’ss eenndduurriinngg ssppiirr--iitt..
News.qxd 2/21/2009 5:57 PM Page 6
editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 15Cricket TodayMarch 2009
WORLD CUP TO OPEN INBANGLADESH: ICCInternational Cricket Council Chief Executive Haroon Lorgathas said that the opening ceremony of the 2011 CricketWorld Cup will take place in Bangladesh on February 19,2011.“We have decided that the opening ceremony and theopening game will take place on February 19, 2011 which isa Saturday in Bangladesh. We had a preliminary discussionsabout the number of matches to be played over 15 ven-ues,” Lorgat said after the meeting of the 2011 World CupCentral Organising Committee.Lorgat said that the mega-event will be no longer than sixweeks after its scheduled start on February 19, 2011.“We are planning to reduce the time-span, not to gobeyond the six-week period. The last two weeks ofFebruary and March. We are looking to shorten the perioddown to six weeks,” he said.“We want a shorter and sharper tournament not beyond sixweeks and if my memory serves me right, not more than49 games,” he said.
BENAUD TO RETIREFROM COMMENTARYNEXT YEARFormer Australian captain RichieBenaud will retire from television com-mentary next year. The 78-year-oldtold Sydney radio he was quitting afterhis current contract ends in 12months. “I’ll be doing Australian cricket nextyear, 2010, but I don’t do any televisionat all anywhere else now and when Ifinish next year, then I’ll be doing otherthings,” he said. Benaud played 63 Tests for Australiabetween 1952 and 1964, captaining hiscountry 28 times but was just as wellknown for his media work as his playingcareer. He began a full-time career in cricketcommentary after his retirement, split-ting his time between Britain andAustralia.IPL CHEERLEADERS GET THEIR BOLLYWOOD
TOUCHBBoollllyywwoooodd cchhoorreeooggrraapphheerr SShhiiaammaakk DDaavvaarr iiss aallll sseett ttoo ttuuttoorr AAnnggeellss -- tthhee cchheeeerr--lleeaaddeerrss ooff ssuuppeerrssttaarr SShhaahh RRuukkhh KKhhaann’’ss IInnddiiaann PPrreemmiieerr LLeeaagguuee ((IIPPLL)) tteeaamm KKoollkkaattaaKKnniigghhtt RRiiddeerrss..DDaavvaarr,, tthhee mmaann bbeehhiinndd hhiitt ddaannccee sseeqquueenncceess iinn ffiillmmss lliikkee DDiill TToo PPaaggaall HHaaii,, TTaaaall,,BBuunnttyy AAuurr BBaabbllii,, DDhhoooomm 22 aanndd RRaabb NNee BBaannaa DDii JJooddii,, hhaass bbeeeenn zzeerrooeedd iinn oonn aasstthhee cchhoorreeooggrraapphheerr ffoorr aann uuppccoommiinngg tteelleevviissiioonn rreeaalliittyy sshhooww KKnniigghhttss && AAnnggeellss,, aassoouurrccee ffrroomm tthhee cchhaannnneell ttoolldd rreeppoorrtteerrss..TThhee sshhooww,, wwhhiicchh aaiimmss aatt sseelleeccttiinngg ssiixx cchheeeerrlleeaaddeerrss ffoorr SShhaahh RRuukkhh’’ss tteeaamm,, iissbbeeiinngg pprroodduucceedd bbyy tthhee aaccttoorr’’ss TTVV pprroodduuccttiioonn hhoouussee RReedd CChhiilllliieess IIddiioott BBooxx..TThhee pprrooggrraammmmee wwiillll bbee hhoosstteedd bbyy vveeeejjaayy--ttuurrnneedd--aaccttoorr PPuurraabb KKoohhllii aanndd wwiillll bbeetteelleeccaasstt eevveerryy SSaattuurrddaayy ssttaarrttiinngg FFeebbrruuaarryy 2288..
News.qxd 2/21/2009 5:57 PM Page 7
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 16 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
SRI LANKA CRICKET GETSLUCRATIVE SPONSORSHIP DEALSri Lanka’s second largest mobile phone operator hasagreed to a three-year deal worth nearly $5 million tosponsor the island’s cricket team, Sri Lanka Cricket said.Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel takes over as main sponsorof the national team from April.The team is currently sponsored by Malaysia’s DialogTelekom, in a deal worth $89,000 for a three-monthperiod that ends in March.Sri Lanka’s national team includes Test and one-daycricket’s leading wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan.Sri Lanka Cricket called for fresh bids for a long-termsponsor in January after the national team failed toattract backers because of the ongoing economicslowdown in the country, Sports Minister GaminiLokuge said.Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel had offered the highest bidof $4.85 million, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.“Current sponsors Dialog Telekom and NationalDevelopment Bank were also among the bidders,” thestatement said. The previous team sponsor, Sri Lanka’sDilmah Tea, paid $2 million over a three-year period.
KAPIL HITS OUT AT BCCI IN HIGH COURTFormer India captain Kapil Dev lashed out at BCCI in the Delhi HighCourt saying that it has put pressure on public sector undertakings(PSUs) and other organisations for taking punitive action againstplayers joining its rival Indian Cricket League (ICL).The former all-rounder, however, said that the Board has neverbeen disrespectful to him as a cricketer before and after retire-ment.Kapil made the remark while appearing before Registrar of DelhiHigh Court, Pawan Kumar Jain, for cross examination by the Boardon his allegations for taking punitive actions against former crick-eters who have joined ICL.The former cricketer in his affidavit had alleged that the Board ofControl for Cricket in India (BCCI) was neglecting former cricketerswho served the nation and is taking punitive action by stoppingtheir pension and other post-retirement benefits.
FIT-AGAIN JONES GUNNINGFOR ASHES RETURNFormer England fast bowler Simon Jones hasrevealed that he is fit again and ready to tearthrough the Aussies this summer. The Worcestershire pacer has suffered a cruel runof knee injuries since his 18 wickets in four Testshelped England win the 2005 Ashes, reports TheSun. Last season brought renewed hope of an Englandreturn, with 42 wickets from nine first-class games,before further surgery was required. But with his pre-season fitness looking promising,the proud Welshman is eyeing the first Ashes Testat Cardiff on July 8.
News.qxd 2/21/2009 5:57 PM Page 8
news content preview cover story interview triviaFRESH 18 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
here is no doubt about the
great comaraderie among the
members of the Dhoni led
Indian side. The way the players
have fun in the company of
each other was for all to see at Mumbai
recently during the launch of their new
ODI kit.
The outfit, with striking dark blue
colours, was revealed at a glittering
function organised by the official kit
sponsor of the Indian team, Nike.
Indian captain MS Dhoni was the centre
of all attention as he along with team-
mates in the Indian dressing-room were
paraded on the stage.
For the skipper, the new jersey is better
for more than one reason.
“We have been using the last jersey for
a long time and hopefully this one
won’t get dirty; so our laundry charges
will be lesser with this one,” joked Dhoni.
Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Rohit
Sharma, Dinesh Karthik and Pragyan
Ojha were among those on stage, and
the players showed off their ability as
ramp models too by making heads turn
with a catwalk.
Spirits were high as a confident set of
players prepare to undertake what
promises to be a stern test in New
Zealand.
The unveiling of India’s new jersey was
also an occasion to walk down memory
lane. Member of the 1985 Benson and
Hedges World Championship winning
team in Australia, Laxman
Sivaramakrishnan got the function off
to a thunderous start by walking in kit-
ted in the colours of that victorious
outfit.
“I think that particular team set the
pattern of play for the future genera-
tions of cricketers to come,” said
Sivaramakrishnan of his 1985-team.
He was followed on stage by a member
of the 1996 Indian World Cup team and
India’s current bowling coach, Venkatesh
Prasad.
Former batsman Vinod Kambli was his
usual gregarious self as he walked down
the ramp with the panache of a veteran
in the India colours of 1997, while Robin
Singh sported the 1999 World Cup
colours.
Master of ceremonies Harsha Bhogle
kept the audience in good humour with
his short Q&A sessions with MS Dhoni
and his men.
“I am a bit scared of heights. I have not
tried bungee jumping,” Said Dhoni who
has been invited by Ministry of Tourism
in Auckland to try bungee jumping.
“According to the contract (the players
sign contracts with the BCCI before
every tour), we cannot do bungee
jumping.”
Yuvraj Singh was at his usual witty self
with his answers, choosing to add a “ask
Dhoni” to all his replies. Asked if he was
happy batting at No. 4, Yuvraj said,
“Very happy, but you have to ask Dhoni.
He decides the batting order.”
That humorous vein continued in
Yuvraj’s answer to whether he would
seek Dhoni’s permission before appeal-
ing too, he said: “I appeal to the leg
umpire.”
Up next was Zaheer Khan who said ‘he
enjoyed the responsibility of leading the
attack’.
“You have to do the right things, like
the elder brother advising the younger
brother. You have to be spot on before
guiding the youngsters,” Zaheer said.
Even as Zaheer was speaking Yuvraj
prodded Bhogle to ask the pacer about
being the leader off the field too.
Zaheer, taking a leaf out of Yuvraj’s
book, replied: ‘you must ask Dhoni’.
A new shade of blue for the members
of the Indian team who had a phenome-
nal run with the last jersey and with the
aim of being the best in the world, will
the nex jersey bring them that extra bit
of luck. �
t
New jerseyfor men in blue
New dress.qxd 2/21/2009 5:55 PM Page 2
he annual BCCI awards ceremo-
ny was held in Mumbai before
the departure of the Indian
team for New Zealand, to com-
memorate the outstanding per-
formers of the 2007-08 season. The
Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) disbursed Rs.25 lakh at the
awards function held on 18th February
2009.
Virender Sehwag received the Polly
Umrigar Trophy and Rs. 5 lakh for out-
standing performance in international
cricket. Sehwag had made a successful
return to the Indian Test team on the
2007-08 tour of Australia after being
overlooked for away series in
Bangladesh and England, and the home
contest against Pakistan. Since then, he
has been in prolific form, scoring 1462
in 14 Tests in 2008 at an average of
56.23 and strike-rate of 85.84, including
a blistering triple-century in Chennai
against South Africa. He was also part
of India’s victorious team at the World
Twenty20 in South Africa in September
2007.
Other honours awarded at the BCCI
awards ceremony for 2007-08 included
Cheteshwar Pujara and Sudeep Tyagi,
who won prizes for the best batsman
and bowler in domestic cricket. Pujara
and Tyagi won Rs 1 lakh each and the
Madhavrao Scindia Award. Pujara, who
plays for Saurashtra, finished the 2007-
08 season as the leading run-getter in
the Ranji Trophy Super League, with
807 runs at 73.36. Uttar Pradesh medi-
um-pacer Tyagi took 41 wickets at 21.63
apiece.
Former India captain Gundappa
Viswanath was chosen for the CK
Nayudu lifetime achievement award. He
also received a cash amount of Rs.15
lakh with the honour.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and
star off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also
got special honours during the annual
awards ceremony. Dhoni, who received
the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and
Padma Shri, was given a special award
for leading Indian cricket to new heights
during the past year. Similarly,
t
20 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content news interview BCCI AWARDS
The BCCI Awards
BCCI.qxd 2/20/2009 4:39 PM Page 2
Harbhajan too was felicitated for taking
300 Test wickets in his career, a feat he
achieved last year in the series against
England, and receiving the Padma Shri
earlier this year.
Maharashtra’s Ankit Bawane, Punjab’s
Mandeep Singh, UP’s Bhuvneshwar
Kumar and Delhi’s Rahul Dewan were
awarded the MA Chidambaram Trophy
for the best Under-15, Under-17, Under-
19 and Under-22 cricketer respectively.
Former India captain Mithali Raj and
legspinner Thirush Kamini were named
the best woman cricketers. Each of
these winners received a cash prize of
Rs.50000.
The BCCI also handed out special
awards to the Maharashtra Cricket
Association (best overall performance in
the season).
LIST OF AWARDEES:CK Nayudu Award: G R Viswanath (Rs. 15
lakhs)
Polly Umrigar Award: Virender Sehwag
(Rs 5 lakh)
Madhavrao Scindia Award (Batsman):
Cheteshwar Pujara
Madhavrao Scindia Award (Bowler):
Sudeep Tyagi
M A Chidambaram Trophy (Under-15):
Ankit Bawane (Maharashtra)
M A Chidambaram Trophy (Under-17):
Mandeep Singh (Punjab)
M A Chidambaram Trophy (Under-19):
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (UP)
M A Chidambaram Trophy (Under-22):
Rahul Dewan (Delhi)
M A Chidambaram Trophy (Best Woman
Cricketer): Mithali Raj
M A Chidambaram Trophy (Best Junior
Woman Cricketer): M D Thirushkamini.
SPECIAL AWARDS:Maharashtra: Best Overall Performance
in the 2007-08 season.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni: For receiving the
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award & Padma
Shri.
Harbhajan Singh: For taking 300 Test
wickets and receiving the Padma Shri. �
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 21
BCCI.qxd 2/20/2009 4:39 PM Page 3
22 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report content news market magicDHONI EFFECT
uutt bbaacckk ttoo tthhee 22nndd OODDII
bbeettwweeeenn IInnddiiaa aanndd SSrrii LLaannkkaa
iinn tthhee rreecceennttllyy ccoonncclluuddeedd
ffiivvee mmaattcchh sseerriieess iinn tthhee
EEmmeerraalldd IIsslleess.. IInnddiiaa hhaadd sseett aa
nnoott ttoooo ssttiiffff ttaarrggeett iinn ffrroonntt ooff tthhee
hhoossttss aanndd tthheeyy wweerree hhaavviinngg ssoommee
ttrroouubbllee ddeeffeennddiinngg iitt.. SSrrii LLaannkkaa ttoooo
wweerree sshhoowwiinngg tthhee ssttoommaacchh ffoorr aa ffiigghhtt
aafftteerr tthhee aabbjjeecctt ccaappiittuullaattiioonn iinn tthhee
ffiirrsstt mmaattcchh aanndd tthheeyy kknneeww tthheeyy hhaadd aa
cchhaannccee aass IInnddiiaann ssppeeaarrhheeaadd ZZaahheeeerr
KKhhaann wwaass sshhoowwiinngg ssiiggnnss ooff ffaattiigguuee ffoorr
tthhee ffiirrsstt ttiimmee iinn ttwweellvvee mmoonntthhss.. AA
ffiieellddiinngg eerrrroorr bbyy PPrraaggyyaann OOjjhhaa hhaadd sskkiipp--
ppeerr,, aanndd kkeeeeppeerr,, MMSS DDhhoonnii qquueessttiioonniinngg
hhiiss ccoommmmiittmmeenntt wwiitthh rraaiisseedd aarrmmss aanndd
aarrcchheedd bbrroowwss.. CClleeaarrllyy,, ccaappttaaiinn ccooooll wwaass
iirrrriittaatteedd..
IIsshhaanntt SShhaarrmmaa,, tthhee sseeccoonndd hhaallff ooff tthhee
mmoosstt vvaauunntteedd ffaasstt bboowwlliinngg ppaaiirr iinn
wwoorrlldd ccrriicckkeett ttooddaayy,, ssccaallppeedd tthhrreeee
CourageousCaptain
by Chetan Narula
c
Dhoni.qxd 2/20/2009 4:42 PM Page 2
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 23
wwiicckkeettss iinn tthhee ddyyiinngg oovveerrss ttoo ffiinniisshh ooffff
tthhee cchhaassee aanndd wwiinn IInnddiiaa tthhee mmaattcchh.. IInnddiiaa
wwoonn,, ttooookk aa 22--00 lleeaadd aanndd sshhoouulldd hhaavvee
ccoooolleedd ooffff aa bbiitt iinn tthhee nneexxtt ffeeww ddaayyss,,
bbuutt ssoommee oonnee wwaass nnoott ttoooo pplleeaasseedd.. AAnndd
tthhaatt wwaass tthhee sskkiippppeerr wwhhoo lleett iitt bbee
kknnoowwnn tthhaatt hhiiss bboowwlleerrss hhaaddnn’’tt bboowwlleedd
wweellll iinnssppiittee ooff ddeeffeennddiinngg aa ttaarrggeett ooff
aabboouutt 225500 rruunnss.. SSuubbsseeqquueennttllyy aa qquuoottee
bbyy tthhee sskkiippppeerr iinn aa lleeaaddiinngg nnaattiioonnaall ddaaiillyy,,
TTiimmeess ooff IInnddiiaa,, ccaauugghhtt oonnee’’ss eeyyee,, ffoorr
tthhiiss wwaass aa ssttaatteemmeenntt mmuucchh uunnlliikkee DDhhoonnii..
HHee aacckknnoowwlleeddggeedd tthhaatt hhee aallwwaayyss
aalllloowweedd tthhee bboowwlleerrss ttoo bboowwll ttoo aa ppllaann
aanndd tthhaatt hhee wwoouulldd bbee aa ppaarrtt ooff tthheeiirr
ffiieelldd sseettttiinnggss,, oonnllyy ooccccaassiioonnaallllyy bbuuttttiinngg
iinn ttoo pplluugg tthhee hhoolleess.. HHee lloovveess ddeemmooccrraa--
ccyy iitt sseeeemmss,, bbuutt ppeerrttaaiinniinngg ttoo tthhee
mmaattcchh iinn qquueessttiioonn,, hhee cclleeaarrllyy vveenntteedd
hhiiss iirree aatt tthhee bboowwlleerrss nnoott ppeerr--
ffoorrmmiinngg uuppttoo tthhee mmaarrkk aanndd
ccaalllleedd hhiimmsseellff aann aauuttooccrraatt iinn
tthhee ppaarrttiiccuullaarr ssiittuuaattiioonn
wwhheennccee hhiiss bboowwlleerrss wwoouulldd
hhaavvee ttoo bboowwll aass ppeerr hhiiss ffiieelldd
sseettttiinngg ddeemmaannddss..
TThhiiss ‘‘aavvaattaarr’’ ooff DDhhoonnii iiss
qquuiittee uunnkknnoowwnn ttoo aallll ccrriicckkeett
aaffiicciioonnaaddooss aanndd tthhee oonnllyy
rreeaassoonn tthhaatt iitt ffaaiilleedd ttoo
ccaattcchh tthhee ccoommmmoonn eeyyee iiss
bbeeccaauussee IInnddiiaa wwoonn tthhee
mmaattcchh.. RReeaadd bbeettwweeeenn tthhee
lliinneess aanndd tthhee IInnddiiaann sskkiipp--
ppeerr’’ss mmoottiivvee bbeeccoommeess aallll
ttoooo vviissiibbllee.. HHee iiss hheerree ttoo
wwiinn,, aatt aallll ccoossttss aanndd iiss rreeaaddyy
ttoo bbee ddoommiinneeeerriinngg oonn hhiiss
tteeaamm iiff tthhee nneeeedd aarriisseess..
TThhee ootthheerr mmaajjoorr aassppeecctt ooff iitt aallll iiss tthhaatt
hhiiss ccaammaarraaddeerriiee wwiitthh hhiiss ffeellllooww ppllaayyeerrss
sshhoouullddnn’’tt bbee sseeeenn aass aa ssiiggnn ooff wweeaakknneessss
iinn hhiimm.. YYeess hhee iiss aa ffrriieenndd ttoo tthheemm aallll aanndd
mmoorree oorr lleessss,, iiss iinn tthhee ssaammee aaggee ggrroouupp
aass wweellll.. BBuutt mmaakkee nnoo mmiissttaakkee,, hhee iiss `̀tthhee’’
lleeaaddeerr ooff tthhee ggrroouupp wwhheenn iitt ccoommeess ttoo
tthhaatt aanndd tthhaatt iiss aa ffaacctt tthhaatt aallll ooff tthheemm
wwiillll hhaavvee ttoo rreessppeecctt.. DDeemmooccrraaccyy,, aaggaaiinn,,
iiss aallll vveerryy ggoooodd bbuutt ssoommeettiimmeess aa kkiicckk oonn
tthhee bbaacckkssiiddee ggeettss tthhee ddoonnkkeeyy rruunnnniinngg
ttoooo..
TThhaannkk hheeaavveennss,, tthhee ‘‘ddoonnkkeeyyss’’ iinn tthhee
IInnddiiaann tteeaamm hhaavveenn’’tt rreeaallllyy nneeeeddeedd aa kkiicckk
iinn tthhee llaasstt ffiifftteeeenn mmoonntthhss oorr ssoo.. CCrriicckkeett
iinn tthhiiss ccoouunnttrryy iiss aatt aann aallll ttiimmee hhiigghh,, oonn
tthhee ffiieelldd aanndd ooffff iitt.. TThhee tteeaamm iiss ssccaalliinngg
nneeww ppeeaakkss,, nneevveerr ssccaalleedd bbeeffoorree aanndd tthhee
llaasstt ttiimmee oonnee cchheecckkeedd,, tthheeyy aarree oonn tthheeiirr
wwaayy ttoo aannootthheerr oonnee,, tthhee oonnee tthhaatt mmaatt--
tteerrss tthhee mmoosstt ooff aallll,, tthhee wwoorrlldd nnuummbbeerr
oonnee ssppoott.. TToo ccaallll iitt jjuusstt tthhee DDhhoonnii eeffffeecctt
wwoouulldd bbee aa ttaadd uunnffaaiirr oonn tthhee rreesstt ooff tthhee
mmaannaaggeemmeenntt wwhhoo hhaavvee ddoonnee aa ssppiicc--nn--
ssppaann jjoobb bbeehhiinndd tthhee sscceenneess,, bbuutt tthhee
To call it just theDhoni effectwould be a tadunfair on the restof the manage-ment who havedone a spic-n-span job behindthe scenes, butthe skipper’s con-tribution cannever beneglected.
Dhoni.qxd 2/20/2009 4:42 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 24 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
sskkiippppeerr’’ss ccoonnttrriibbuuttiioonn ccaann nneevveerr
bbee nneegglleecctteedd iinn tthhee ggaammee ooff
ccrriicckkeett..
IItt hhaass aallll bbuutt rreefflleecctteedd iinn
tthhee ccoonnffiiddeennccee,, aanndd tthhee
ggaammee,, ooff hhiiss ppllaayyeerrss
tthhaatt iiss tthhee ppoossiittiivvee
eeffffeecctt tthhaatt DDhhoonnii’’ss
lleeaaddeerrsshhiipp iiss hhaavviinngg oonn
tthheemm.. HHaavvee wwee eevveerr
sseeeenn VViirreennddeerr SSeehhwwaagg
ssoo hhaappppyy ttoo bbee aa ppaarrtt
ooff tthhee tteeaamm bbeeffoorree?? UUnnddeerr
GGaanngguullyy,, ssuurree,, hhee wwaass
hhaappppyy bbuutt tthheerree wwaass
aallwwaayyss tthhaatt yyoouunnggsstteerr ttaagg
aattttaacchheedd ttoo hhiiss nnaammee..
UUnnddeerr DDrraavviidd,, tthhee lleesssseerr
ssaaiidd aabboouutt hhiiss ffaaiilluurreess tthhee
bbeetttteerr.. BBuutt aa rreejjuuvveennaatteedd
SSeehhwwaagg hhaass pprroobbaabbllyy llaaiidd
tthhee ffoouunnddaattiioonn ooff tthhee ssuucc--
cceessss ooff tthhee tteeaamm.. HHee iiss nnooww
nnoott oonnllyy ccoonnffiiddeenntt ooff hhiiss
aabbiilliittyy ttoo ppllaayy tthhee wwaayy oonnllyy
hhee ddooeess,, bbuutt tthhee ffaacctt tthhaatt
hhee hhaass bbeeeenn ggiivveenn aa ffrreeee
hhaanndd aatt ggooiinngg aafftteerr tthhee bboowwll--
iinngg wwiitthh aa sseennssee ooff rreessppoonnssii--
bbiilliittyy,, ccaann oonnllyy bbee uusseeffuull..
AAnndd tthheenn tthheerree iiss GGaauuttaamm
GGaammbbhhiirr.. TThhee mmaasssseess ccrriieedd
hhooaarrssee wwhheenn hhee wwaass ffiirrsstt ttrriieedd
aatt nnuummbbeerr tthhrreeee,, tthhaatt hhee
ccoouullddnn’’tt ddoo iitt.. BBuutt iitt wwaass aallll
ppaarrtt ooff tthhee bbiiggggeerr ppllaann,, ttoo pprreesseerrvvee hhiiss
aattttaacckkiinngg iinnssttiinncctt aatt tthhee ttoopp ooff tthhee
oorrddeerr aanndd aatt tthhee ssaammee ttiimmee,, mmaakkiinngg hhiimm
aann iimmppoorrttaanntt ppaarrtt ooff tthhee tteeaamm.. TThhee
rreessuulltt;; oovveerr ttwwoo tthhoouussaanndd rruunnss iinn oonnee
ccaalleennddaarr yyeeaarr,, llooookk hhooww wweellll tthhaatt
ttuurrnneedd oouutt!!
AAnndd iitt iiss jjuusstt nnoott wwiitthh tthheessee ttwwoo ppllaayyeerrss
pprriimmaarriillyy tthhaatt DDhhoonnii hhaass hhaadd ssuucccceessss
wwiitthh.. EEvveerr ssiinnccee ZZaahheeeerr KKhhaann mmaaddee hhiiss
ccoommeebbaacckk,, hhee hhaass bbeeeenn aa ttrraannssffoorrmmeedd
mmaann.. YYeess,, wwee hhaavvee ssaaiidd tthhaatt eevveerryy ttiimmee
hhee hhaass mmaaddee aa rreettuurrnn ttoo tthhee tteeaamm,,
eexxppeeccttiinngg tthhaatt tthhiiss wwoouulldd bbee tthhee ttiimmee
tthhaatt hhee wwoouulldd ffuullffiillll wwhhaatt hhee hhaass pprroomm--
iisseedd ffoorr ssoo lloonngg bbuutt oonnllyy ttoo sseeee tthhee
hhooppeess eenndd uupp iinn aa ppuulllleedd hhaammssttrriinngg oorr
ttwwiisstteedd aannkkllee.. BBuutt nnoo mmoorree,, hhee iiss hheerree
aanndd hhee iiss ddooiinngg wwhhaatt hhee aallwwaayyss pprroomm--
iisseedd ttoo ddoo,, lleeaaddiinngg tthhee hhuunnggrryy ppaacckk ooff
bboowwlleerrss lliikkee aa vveetteerraann..
TTaallkkiinngg ooff vveetteerraannss,, tthheerree wwaass ddoouubbtt iiff
DDhhoonnii wwoouulldd bbee uunnnneerrvveedd bbyy tthhee
pprreesseennccee ooff sseenniioorrss iinn tthhee ssiiddee..
SSeeeemmss nnoott aatt aallll,, ffoorr hhee rreeaalliizzeedd tthhee
iimmppoorrttaannccee ooff hhaavviinngg tthheemm iinn tthhee
tteesstt ssiiddee bbuutt aatt tthhee ssaammee ttiimmee
wwaassnn’’tt aaffrraaiidd ttoo mmoooott tthhee
iiddeeaa tthhaatt tthheerree wwaass aa nneeeedd
ooff ffrreesshh lleeggss iinn tthhee sshhoorrtteerr
ffoorrmmaattss ooff tthhee ggaammee.. WWhhiillee hhee
hhaass ttrreeaatteedd GGaanngguullyy,, DDrraavviidd
aanndd KKuummbbllee vveerryy wweellll iinn tthhee
tteesstt ssiiddee,, hhee hhaass mmaaddee ssuurree
tthhaatt SSaacchhiinn TTeenndduullkkaarr ssttaayyss aann
iinntteeggrraall ppaarrtt ooff hhiiss ppllaannss ffoorr
tthhee wwoorrlldd ccuupp iinn 22001111..
TThhee ZZaahheeeerr KKhhaann eexxaammppllee iiss
tthhee bbeesstt pprrooooff tthhaatt iitt iiss nnoott
jjuusstt DDhhoonnii wwhhoo iiss ddrriivviinngg tthhiiss
IInnddiiaann jjuuggggeerrnnaauutt.. TThhee ssttaaffff hhee
hhaass bbeehhiinndd hhiimm iiss eeqquuaallllyy ttoo bbee
ccoommpplliimmeenntteedd.. IIff ppeeooppllee tthhiinnkk
tthhaatt SSoouurraavv GGaanngguullyy aanndd JJoohhnn
WWrriigghhtt wweerree aa mmaattcchh mmaaddee iinn
hheeaavveenn,, tthheenn lleett tthheemm sseeee tthhee
rreessuullttss ooff tthhee DDhhoonnii--GGaarryy KKiirrsstteenn
ccoommbbiinnee aanndd tthheenn eexxuulltt.. AAdddd
VVeennkkaatteesshh PPrraassaadd aanndd RRoobbiinn SSiinngghh
ttoo tthhiiss ppaarrttnneerrsshhiipp aanndd wwee uunnddeerr--
ssttaanndd wwhhyy tthhee tteeaamm iiss bblloossssoommiinngg
tthhee wwaayy iitt iiss..
TThhee SSuurreesshh RRaaiinnaass,, RRoohhiitt
SShhaarrmmaass,, RRoobbiinn UUtthhaappppaass,,
YYuussuuff PPaatthhaannss,, RRPP SSiinngghhss,,
IIsshhaanntt SShhaarrmmaass,, PPrraavveeeenn
KKuummaarrss aanndd MMuunnaaff PPaatteellss
ccoouulldd oonnllyy hhaavvee bbeenneeffiitteedd
wwiitthh ssuucchh aa ssttrroonngg hhaanndd
bbeehhiinndd tthheemm.. TTooggeetthheerr
wwiitthh tthhee PPuunnjjaabbii ffllaavvoouurr
bbrroouugghhtt iinn bbyy YYuuvvrraajj
SSiinngghh aanndd HHaarrbbhhaajjaann
SSiinngghh,, tthhee wwhheeeellss
Dhoni.qxd 2/20/2009 4:42 PM Page 4
editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 25Cricket TodayMarch 2009
hhaavvee bbeeeenn ppuutt oonn wwhhaatt iiss aann IInnddiiaann
yyoouutthh bbrriiggaaddee,, mmoovviinngg qquuiicckkllyy ttoowwaarrddss
tthhee pprriimmee ssppoott iinn wwoorrlldd ccrriicckkeett..
DDhhoonnii’’ss cchhaarriissmmaa aanndd bbrraavvaaddoo iiss wwhhaatt
oooozzeedd oouutt ooff tthheeiirr eevveerryy mmoovvee oonn tthhee
ffiieelldd,, aa ffeeeelliinngg tthhaatt aann aassssuurreedd hhaanndd iiss
gguuiiddiinngg tthheemm eevveerryy sstteepp ooff tthhee wwaayy.. IItt
sseeeemmss aass iiff tthheeyy aarree aallwwaayyss bbiiddiinngg tthheeiirr
ttiimmee ttoo llaauunncchh aa hhiitt aanndd rruunn mmoovvee,, aa
gguueerriillllaa wwaarrffaarree ttaaccttiicc oonn tthhee ffiieelldd ooff
ccrriicckkeett,, aanndd mmoorree oofftteenn tthhaann nnoott,, ssuucchh
aannttiiccss uussuuaallllyy ggeett oonn tthhee nneerrvveess ooff
ooppppoossiittiioonn ccaappttaaiinnss,, eessppeecciiaallllyy tthhee oonneess
aass ggrruummppyy aass RRiicckkyy PPoonnttiinngg..
WWhhaatt iiss eevveenn mmoorree hheeaarrtteenniinngg ffrroomm aa
ffaannss’’ ppooiinntt ooff vviieeww,, wwhhoo aarree aallwwaayyss
wwaattcchhiinngg,, aarree tthhee ccrriieess ooff jjooyyoouuss hhaarr--
mmoonnyy iinn tthhee tteeaamm,, aanndd tthhaatt iiss aannootthheerr
ffaaccttoorr iinn tthhiiss ggoooodd rruunn tthhaatt tthhee IInnddiiaann
tteeaamm iiss eennjjooyyiinngg.. AAfftteerr tthhee TT2200 wwoorrlldd
ccuupp ttrriiuummpphh iinn SSoouutthh AAffrriiccaa,, MMSS DDhhoonnii
hhaass nnoottcchheedd uupp aann aallmmoosstt ssiixxttyy sseevveenn
ppeerrcceenntt ssuucccceessss rraattee iinn tthhee ffoorrttyy oodddd
OODDII mmaattcchheess tthhaatt hhee hhaass lleedd iinn.. FFoorr tthhaatt
nnuummbbeerr ooff ggaammeess,, hhee iiss,, iinn ffaacctt aahheeaadd
ooff SSoouurraavv GGaanngguullyy aanndd nnoott oonnllyy tthhaatt,,
hhaass tthhee bbeesstt wwiinn--lloossss rraattiioo tthhaann aannyy
ccaappttaaiinn iinn wwoorrlldd ccrriicckkeett pprreesseennttllyy.. SSoo
ccoonnssiiddeerriinngg tthhaatt aallll tthhoossee wwiinnss hhaavvee
bbeeeenn ccoolllleecctteedd aaggaaiinnsstt ssoommee ddeecceenntt
ooppppoossiittiioonn –– AAuussttrraalliiaa,, EEnnggllaanndd,, PPaakkiissttaann
aanndd SSrrii LLaannkkaa –– aarree wwee llooookkiinngg aatt tthhee
mmoosstt ssuucccceessssffuull IInnddiiaann ccaappttaaiinn aallrreeaaddyy??
AAss aallwwaayyss tthheerree iiss nneeeedd ffoorr ccaauuttiioonn
wwhheenn wwee aapppprrooaacchh tthhiiss ppaarrttiiccuullaarr
ddeebbaattee.. IInnddiiaannss hhaavvee tthhaatt uunniiqquuee
aabbiilliittyy ttoo jjuummpp tthhee gguunn,, ddrraaww
ccoonncclluussiioonnss aanndd mmoorree oofftteenn
tthhaann nnoott,, aafftteerrwwaarrddss wwaattcchh
tthhaatt ssiinnkkiinngg ffeeeelliinngg ccoommee
ttrruuee aanndd llaatteerr,, ppiicckk uupp tthhee
ppiieecceess wwiitthh aa hheeaavvyy hheeaarrtt..
SSuurree,, hhee iiss pprroovveenn ttoo bbee
tthhee bbeesstt aafftteerr ffoorrttyy oodddd
ggaammeess,, bbuutt rreeaallllyy iiss tthhaatt aa
ppaarraammeetteerr oonn wwhhiicchh tthhee
bbeesstt ccaappttaaiinnss iinn ccrriicckkeett
jjuuddggeedd uuppoonn??
CCaann hhee rreeaallllyy bbee ccoomm--
ppaarreedd ttoo ssoommee oonnee lliikkee
GGaanngguullyy,, oorr eevveenn AAzzhhaarr,,
eeaacchh ooff wwhhoomm lleedd IInnddiiaa iinn
oovveerr ffoorrttyy tteessttss?? AAss iitt ssttaannddss,, DDhhoonnii
hhaass lleedd tthhee tteeaamm iinn ffiivvee tteessttss aanndd tthhee
rreessuullttss hhaavvee bbeeeenn qquuiittee oovveerrwwhheellmmiinngg
wwiitthh wwiinnss iinn ffoouurr ooff tthhoossee,, aa ssuuppppoorrttiinngg
ppooiinntt ffoorr tthhoossee wwhhoo aaddvvooccaattee hhiiss
aasscceennddaannccyy iinn tthhee bbeesstt ccaappttaaiinnss’’ hhiieerraarr--
cchhyy..
BBuutt,, yyeess aass aallwwaayyss,, hhaavviinngg ssaaiidd
tthhaatt tthheerree iiss aa nneeeedd ffoorr aa pprraagg--
mmaattiicc aapppprrooaacchh hheerree,, aa wwaanntt ttoo
ttrreeaadd ccaarreeffuullllyy.. IInnddeeeedd tthhee
IInnddiiaannss hhaavvee ddoonnee wweellll bbuutt ttoo bbee
rreeaallllyy hhoonneesstt,, bbaarr tthhee CCBB sseerriieess,, aallll
tthhoossee wwiinnss hhaavvee ccoommee iinn
ssuubb--ccoonnttiinneennttaall ccoonnddiittiioonnss
wwhhiicchh ggoo hhaanndd iinn hhaanndd
wwiitthh tthhee ssttrreennggtthhss ooff tthhee
tteeaamm.. BBeeaattiinngg SSrrii LLaannkkaa iinn
tthheeiirr oowwnn ddeenn,, ttwwiiccee iinn ssiixx
mmoonntthhss,, iiss bbyy nnoo mmeeaannss aann
eeaassyy ttaasskk bbuutt aaggaaiinn tthhee
ccoonnddiittiioonnss aarree pprreettttyy
mmuucchh wwhhaatt tthheeyy wwoouulldd
ffiinndd aatt hhoommee,, ttrraacckkss llaaiidd
oouutt ffoorr oonnllyy oonnee ppuurrppoossee::
bbeelltt tthhee bboowwlleerrss oouutt ooff
What is evenmore hearten-ing from afans’ point ofview, who arealways watch-ing, are thecries of joyousharmony in theteam.
Dhoni.qxd 2/20/2009 4:42 PM Page 5
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 26 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
tthhee ppaarrkk..
IInn ttrruutthh,, tthheeyy aarree yyeett ttoo bbee tteesstteedd
aabbrrooaadd aanndd tthhaatt wwiillll pprroovvee ttoo bbee aa cchhaall--
lleennggee.. WWhheenn bbiiddddiinngg aaddiieeuu ttoo ccrriicckkeett,,
ffoorrmmeerr ccaappttaaiinn SSoouurraavv GGaanngguullyy hhaadd ccaatt--
eeggoorriiccaallllyy ssttaatteedd tthhaatt,, tthhoouugghh DDhhoonnii iiss
iinnddeeeedd tthhee mmaann ttoo lleeaadd tteeaamm IInnddiiaa iinnttoo
tthhee ffuuttuurree,, hhee nneeeeddss ttoo ttiiddee oovveerr tthhee
cchhaalllleennggeess tthhaatt ffoorreeiiggnn ttoouurrss wwiillll tthhrrooww
aatt hhiimm..
IInnddiiaa oouugghhtt ttoo wwiinn ccoonnssiisstteennttllyy aawwaayy
ffrroomm hhoommee iiff tthheeyy iinnddeeeedd nneeeedd ttoo bbee
hhaaiilleedd aass ttrruuee hheeiirrss ttoo tthhee tthhrroonnee vvaaccaatt--
eedd bbyy AAuussttrraalliiaa.. AAnndd eexxcciittiinnggllyy eennoouugghh,,
22000099 wwiillll ggiivvee tthheemm tthhiiss ooppppoorrttuunniittyy..
BBeeffoorree tthhee hhoommee wwiinntteerr bbeeggiinnss wwiitthh aann
OODDII sseerriieess aaggaaiinnsstt AAuussttrraalliiaa,, tthheeyy wwiillll
hhaavvee ppllaayyeedd iinn NNeeww ZZeeaallaanndd,, ZZiimmbbaabbwwee
aanndd WWeesstt IInnddiieess.. AAnndd,, mmaakkee nnoo mmiissttaakkee
tthhee rreessuullttss aacchhiieevveedd tthheerree wwoouulldd bbee tthhee
ttrruuee mmaarrkkeerr ttoo IInnddiiaa’’ss ssttaattuuss iinn wwoorrlldd
ccrriicckkeett..
AAtt tthhee ttiimmee ooff wwrriittiinngg,, tthhee IInnddiiaann tteeaamm
iiss pprreeppaarriinngg ttoo lleeaavvee ffoorr NNeeww ZZeeaallaanndd
aanndd tthhoouugghh tthhiiss iiss nnoott tthhee iiddeeaall ttiimmee
ffoorr aa ddeebbaattee,, aass iiss tthhee wwoonntt iinn IInnddiiaann
ccrriicckkeett,, ffoorrmmeerr IInnddiiaa kkeeeeppeerr SSyyeedd
KKiirrmmaannii hhaass ssttiirrrreedd uupp oonnee aabboouutt tthhee
IInnddiiaann sskkiippppeerr’’ss wwiicckkeett kkeeeeppiinngg sskkiillllss..
TTrruuee,, hhee iiss nnoott tthhee bbeesstt wwhheenn iitt ccoommeess
ttoo ddoonnnniinngg tthhee gglloovveess bbuutt aass hhaass bbeeeenn
wwiittnneesssseedd aanndd rreemmaarrkkeedd vviivviiddllyy,, hhee
hhaass iimmpprroovveedd aa lloott ssiinnccee hhee ffiirrsstt ccaammee
iinnttoo tthhee ssqquuaadd.. AAdddd ttoo iitt,, hhiiss ssooaarriinngg
bbaattttiinngg aavveerraaggee aanndd tthhee bbaallaannccee iitt pprroo--
vviiddeess ttoo tthhee tteeaamm aanndd oonnee iiss ssuurrpprriisseedd
tthhaatt KKiirrmmaannii eevveenn ffoouunndd aa bboonnee ooff ccoonn--
tteennttiioonn..
IIff tthheerree eevveerr wwaass aa bboonnee tthhoouugghh,, iitt
ccaammee aatt aa ttiimmee wwhheenn MMSS DDhhoonnii wwaass
pprreeppaarriinngg ttoo ttaakkee oovveerr tthhee rreeiiggnnss ooff
ccaappttaaiinnccyy ffrroomm RRaahhuull DDrraavviidd iinn tthhee wwiinn--
tteerr ooff 22000077.. FFoorrmmeerr EEnnggllaanndd ccaappttaaiinn
NNaasssseerr HHuussssaaiinn wwaass aammoonnggsstt tthhee ffiirrsstt
oonneess ttoo wwoonnddeerr iiff DDhhoonnii wwoouulldd rreeaallllyy bbee
aabbllee ttoo hhaannddllee tthhee pprreessssuurreess ooff ffiittnneessss,,
bbaattttiinngg,, wwiicckkeett--kkeeeeppiinngg aanndd ccaappttaaiinnccyy
aallll aatt tthhee ssaammee ttiimmee.. TThhee aannsswweerr,, iitt
sseeeemmss,, hhaass ccoommee oouutt iinn tthhee ppoossiittiivvee..
KKeeeeppiinngg wwiicckkeettss hhaass iinn ffaacctt ccoommee oouutt
ttoo bbee DDhhoonnii’’ss sseeccrreett wweeaappoonn.. FFoorr wwhhaatt
iiss tthhee bbeesstt ppoossiittiioonn ffrroomm wwhhiicchh ttoo vviieeww
tthhee ggaappss iinn tthhee ffiieelldd tthhaann ffrroomm tthhee bbaatt--
ttiinngg eenndd?? AAnn aattttaacckkiinngg bbaattssmmaann’’ss eeyyee
ggiivveess hhiimm tthhee aaddddeedd bbeenneeffiitt ooff ffoorree--
ssiigghhtt aanndd hhee iiss aabbllee ttoo ssttaayy oonnee sstteepp
aahheeaadd ooff tthhee ggaammee,, aallwwaayyss sseeeemmiinngg ttoo
hhaavvee tthhee wwhhoollee ccrriicckkeett ffiieelldd uunnddeerr tthhee
ssppaann ooff hhiiss gglloovveedd aarrmmss.. HHee iiss iinnddeeeedd
hheerree ttoo wwiinn!! ��
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28 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content interview RANJI ROUND-UP
ver the years Australia and
England has done this, now
its turn of India to follow
the same path. The reason
behind Australia’s suprema-
cy in cricket lies in their domestic crick-
et structure. Though of late, India real-
ized this fact and has swung in to
action. During the last couple of years
domestic cricket has become more
competitive. Even senior cricketers have
started participating in the domestic
cricket whenever they are free from
international assignments. This has
resulted in a strong bench strength and
more and more options for the national
team. The just concluded domestic sea-
son has yielded a few new faces apart
from reaffirming strong candidature of
a few probables. Mumbai was successful
in clinching the Ranji Trophy, the
biggest tournament of Indian domestic
module of cricket for the 38th times
from a total of 75 times, the high-
est by any team.
A look at some of the top per-
formers of this season:
BATSMEN: WWaassiimm JJaaffffeerr ((11226600 RRuunnss)),, MMuummbbaaii
Captain of the Champion Mumbai
team led his team by example.
Elegance and experience combined
to deliver performances that might
be easily categorized in to exempla-
ry. Wasim’s four centuries included
a double hundred (256) against
Hyderabad and a triple hundred
(301) in the semifinal match
against Saurashtra in Chennai.
The triple hundred in the semi-
final not only stirred his team
to the final but also earned
him a place in the record
books. He is only the second batsman to
have scored two triple centuries in Ranji
history (other batsman is VVS Laxman)
and the only one to have scored both
of them against the same team
(Saurashtra). Stats suggest his consis-
tent run through out the tournament
which proved vital for Mumbai to claim
the title. Wasim may now look forward
to getting back on the list of selectors.
However, it is highly improbable for him
to get back the opening slot in the
Indian team in near future with the kind
of performances Gambhir and Sehwag
are putting together.
AAMM RRaahhaannee ((11008899 RRuunnss)),, MMuummbbaaii
Ajinkya Rahane mostly batted at No. 3
for Mumbai in the
Ranji Trophy
2008-09.
Strategically,
No 3 is the posi-
tion where the most
reliable batsman of
the team is pre-
ferred. 20 year old
Rahane stood up to
the expectations of
his team. He was one
of the only two
batsmen to have
scored 1000
runs this
Ranji season. In
the history of
Ranji Trophy, only
11 players have
scored 1000 runs in a
single ranji season. His
best effort for this
season was his double
century (201) against
Orissa. Value of the effort
increases manifold keeping
in context that in the first
o
by Rohit Sharma
The Ranji Toppers Wasim Jaffer
Ranji Toppers.qxd 2/20/2009 4:37 PM Page 2
innings Mumbai team was wrapped up
for a mere 180. He scored four cen-
turies and five half centuries in the
tournament. His nice run in the Ranji
trophy silenced raising questions about
his abilities to score big.
CCAA PPuujjaarraa ((990066 RRuunnss)),, SSaauurraasshhttrraa
Cheteshwar Pujara is the most talked
about domestic player of India. 21 year
old Pujara created ripples in the domes-
tic circuit with two back to back triple
centuries for Saurashtra within a week
in CK Nayudu Under-22 tournament fol-
lowed by his maiden first class triple ton
against Orissa in Ranji trophy 2008-09.
The ranji season did not start well for
Pujara as he managed just 8 runs from
two innings against Gujarat, but was
followed by three consecutive big cen-
turies that included a triple hundred
against Orissa, a swift 189 (off 182
balls) against Punjab and a dominating
176 (off 173 balls) against Mumbai.
Unfortunately, the dream run
ended for the young man and he
failed to score even a half century
in next 6 innings. In the Quarter-
final match, it seemed that it’s all
over for Saurashtra with 3 three
wickets down for 13 runs and
312 more runs to chase. Pujara rose to
the occasion and scored an unbeaten
hundred; he may count as one of his
best.
AA MMuukkuunndd((885566 RRuunnss)),, TTaammiill NNaadduu
Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund got
a dream start in the Ranji trophy 2008-
09 scoring an unbeaten triple hundred
in the opening match against
Maharashtra. Though he was not so
consistent throughout the tournament,
he scored big when the got starts.
Abhinav added four more centuries to
his tally in this Ranji Trophy. His hundred
against UP in the semifinal match
couldn’t see his team through to
the final. Abhinav is just 19. He
has got talent and can prove to
be a good prospect.
RRGG SShhaarrmmaa ((774477 RRuunnss)),, MMuummbbaaii
Elegance personified. Rohit Sharma
is being seen as the best future
prospect for test cricket in India
after Sachin and Dravid call it a day.
He has utilized the chances given and
has proved his worth, especially at
critical times. Rohit’s
performance in
the Ranji trophy
showed that he
belonged to big-
ger league. The
started his cam-
paign with a half cen-
tury in the first
innings followed by a
century in the next.
Rohit missed the
next three matches
as he was called for
the national duty.
He impressed with
his performance
for the most part
of the tourna-
ment but the
twin centuries in
the final match
against Uttar
Pradesh pressed
his claim for
the test spot.
In the first
innings
against UP (in
final) Mumbai
was once tot-
tering at
55/4. Jaffer,
Rahane and
Tendulkar were
back in the
pavilion. Rohit
scored 141 to
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 29
The just concluded domestic season hasyielded a few new faces apart from reaffirmingstrong candidature of a few probables.
Ajinkya Rahane Cheteshwar Pujara
Rohit Sharma
Abhinav Mukund
Ranji Toppers.qxd 2/20/2009 4:37 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 30 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
in the innings to take
Mumbai beyond
400. Another cen-
tury in 2nd
innings ensured
that Mumbai
easily claimed
the title a 38th
time.
BOWLERS:DDSS KKuullkkaarrnnii ((4422
WWiicckkeettss)),, MMuummbbaaii
The days are gone
when Indian pacers’
role was limited just to
soften the ball in initial
overs. The era is now
when Sreesanth, Irfan ,
Munaf and other are
reserve strengths for
the pace department. One more
addition to the list is Mumbai
pacer Dhawal Kulkarni. In
absence of Zaheer Khan, he
carried the attack efficiently
and was a key factor in
Mumbai’s victory. Dhawal
started the Ranji season with five-for
figure and concluded with one more, in
between he routed oppositions line ups
making it easy for Mumbai. In all, on
four occasions he took 5 wickets or
more in an innings with best figures of
7/50.
RRAA JJaaddeejjaa ((4422 wwiicckkeettss)),, SSaauurraasshhttrraa
Ravindra Jadeja has been the best find
this season. The left arm orthodox spin-
ner was the highest wicket-taker in
Ranji Trophy 2008-09 along with Dhawal
Kulkarni. Jadeja walked away with 42
scalps from 9 matches that included 4
five-for and a ten wicket haul. Though
Jadeja was consistent all through the
tournament but the performance in
the match against Hyderabad was easily
his best ever. In a low scoring match,
Hyderabad was put to chase 177 in
the last innings. Jadeja nailed 7
batsmen in the innings bundling
out Hyderabad for mere 71. In
the quarter-final match
against Karnataka, Ravindra
came out with another
match winning perform-
ance taking 9 wickets in
the match. 4 wickets in
the second innings
ensured that tar-
get was within
reach. His batting
was an added
bonus. He
reaped the
reward for his
phenomenal
performance in
form of call up for the
national squad.
MMBB PPaarrmmaarr ((4411 WWiicckkeettss)),,
GGuujjaarraatt
With reserve strengths in
spin department not too
many, Indian selectors
have something to worry
about. 20 year old Mohnish
Parmar oozes hope with his potential
and first class records. He did well this
ranji season to keep the hopes alive
with 41 wickets from the tournament,
3rd highest in the tournament. The
right arm off-break bowler took 12
wickets in the match against Orissa at
the cost of 104 runs, his career best
figures (first class) in a match. One
good season or two down the line, he
will be knocking the doors of national
team.
LL BBaallaajjii ((3366 WWiicckkeettss)),, TTaammiill NNaadduu
Balaji is popularly known as the smiling
assassin in the cricket fraternity. The
assassin smiled all way through in the
tournament and played a crucial role in
Tamil Nadu’s journey this Ranji season.
He proved his form and fitness with
consistency in the performances that
included three five-for figures. In the
semifinal match against Uttar Pradesh,
He proved his formand fitness withconsistency in theperformances thatincluded three five-for figures. In thesemifinal matchagainst UttarPradesh, hebowled his heartout but couldn’t seehis teamthrough.
Dhawal Kulkarni L Balaji
Ravindra Jadeja
Mohnish Parmar
Ranji Toppers.qxd 2/20/2009 4:37 PM Page 4
editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 31Cricket TodayMarch 2009
he bowled his heart out but couldn’t
see his team through. Though his
swinging deliveries didn’t get Tamil Nadu
the title, it earned him a call for the
national duty in Sri Lanka series.
SSKK TTrriivveeddii ((3344 WWiicckkeettss)),, GGuujjaarraatt
Siddharth Trivedi is an experienced cam-
paigner in Indian domestic cricket with
almost 200 first class wickets. Siddharth
was one of the most consistent bowlers
in the tournament. The medium pacer’s
best in the tournament came against
Punjab when his match figures of 9/96
helped Gujarat win the match easily by
10 wickets.
ALL ROUNDERS:RRAA JJaaddeejjaa ((773399 rruunnss aanndd 4422 wwiicckkeettss)),,
SSaauurraasshhttrraa
After having been singled out by Shane
Warne, his performance in the Ranji
season 2008-09 made waves in the
cricketing circles. Ravindra Jadeja
almost overshadowed all other per-
formers in the tournament. He
came out as the highest wick-
et taker in the tournament
and sixth on the run get-
ter’s list. Most importantly,
he scored and took wick-
ets when his team need-
ed him. He scored a maid-
en century of against
Orissa and went on to
score a double century.
Though his best effort
with bat in the tournament
was unbeaten 232 (Vs
Orissa), the most remark-
able innings was his 143
against Delhi. The contribu-
tion becomes significant
with the fact that the next
highest score in the innings
was 26.
BBhhuuwwaanneesshhwwaarr KKuummaarr ((440077 rruunnss
aanndd 3311 wwiicckkeettss)),, UUttttaarr PPrraaddeesshh
Sachin Tendulkar scored his first first-
class duck in Indian domestic cricket and
the bowler to nab him was 18 year old
medium pacer from Uttar Pradesh,
Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His rise is one big
gain to UP as they are going to miss the
services of Praveen Kumar more often
(due to his international cricket commit-
ments). Like Praveen, he too hasn’t got
much pace but can swing the ball both
ways. He ended up with 31 wickets
including three five wicket hauls.
Bhuvneshwar is a good bet even in bat-
ting. Batting in lower middle order,
Bhuvneshwar added some crucial runs
for UP in the tournament. His 80 runs in
Ravindra Jadejaalmost overshad-owed all otherperformers in thetournament. Hecame out as thehighest wickettaker in the tour-nament and sixthon the rungetter’s list.
Ravindra Jadeja
Siddharth Trivedi
Ranji Toppers.qxd 2/20/2009 4:37 PM Page 5
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 32 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
the final was his career best
score in first class.
VViinnaayyaakk SSaammaanntt ((447711 rruunnss aanndd
4400 ddiissmmiissssaallss)),, MMuummbbaaii
Along with others Vinayak
Samant played an important
role in Mumbai’s claim. Behind
the wicket Vinayak effected a
total of 40 dismissals (37
catches and 3 stumpings), the highest
for this Ranji season. Not
only behind the stumps
but also in front of it,
he proved his utility
chipping in with
valuable contribu-
tions for his team.
He can bat any-
where in the order
and this season he
also opened for
Mumbai in the
absence of a second
opener in the team.
The champion sledger
that he is, proved his
worth as an
opener and
scored a crucial
hundred (113) in
the second innings
of the final
match.
DD KKaarrtthhiicckk
((663344 rruunnss aanndd
2299 ddiissmmiissssaallss)),,
TTaammiill NNaadduu
Indian Team
discard and
Captain of
Tamil Nadu
Dinesh Karthick,
with his splendid
performance
in the Ranji
trophy this sea-
son, has put his
candidature strong-
ly for the national team
ahead of others.
However, selection is
highly improbable
with MSD in the
ranks; he is defi-
nitely the next
choice. His vital
contribution in
front of the
wicket and
behind the
wicket as well
helped his
team reach the semifinal.
He scored his career best
(213) against Uttar
Pradesh in the group
match and followed
it up with two more
centuries in the
tournament.
PPaarrtthhiivv PPaatteell ((552266
rruunnss aanndd 2233 ddiiss--
mmiissssaallss))
Parthiv Patel, once
first choice keeper
for India and current-
ly Captain of Gujrat is
improving slowly and
steadily. This Ranji sea-
son was an average
affair for him both
with bat and gloves,
except his career best
effort of 206 runs
against Orissa. He also
scored three half cen-
turies in the tournament. �
Karthick’s vitalcontribution infront of thewicket andbehind thewicket as wellhelped histeam reach thesemifinal.
Bhuwaneshwar Kumar
Parthiv Patel
Vinayak Samant
Dinesh Karthick
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ADS.qxd 2/20/2009 4:54 PM Page 2
34 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content news KIWI CHALLENGE
he year 2008 had seen Team
India lead the winds of change
in world cricket, something that
had begun with the conquering
of the WACA fortress and had
culminated into the comfortable regain-
ing of the Border-Gavaskar trophy – in
turn toppling the Aussies from their
pedestal – and a 5-0 whitewash of the
English ODI team. As March approaches,
the Indians would need to endure the
winds of the literal being, as they gear
up to take on the Kiwis in their own
backyard, a proposition not too many
have relished over the years.
It has been a lot worse for the Indians.
If India’s previous record is anything to
go by, then this series against the Kiwis
could be of utmost vitality for them.
Six series match-ups in New Zealand
have led to the Indians been victors
only once, not any time later than
1967-68, making it the most difficult
country to tour for India after Australia.
However, under the captaincy of M.S.
Dhoni, Team India has continued with
the trend that was first seen when
Rahul Dravid led them to series victories
in West Indies and England, and a test
match win in South Africa; something
t
India s tour of New Zealand.qxd 2/20/2009 4:43 PM Page 2
that had previously happened as spas-
modically as Shoaib Akhtar’s appear-
ances in test matches. This, coupled
with some other attributes makes one
sense that the upcoming three-test
match series in New Zealand could be
India’s best chance of putting one
across the Black Caps. However, despite
not the favourites, the hosts being
would prove to be a hard nut – or nuts
– to crack in conditions that are usually
as favourable to them as the sub-conti-
nental ones to the Indians. This should
set up an exciting, mouth-watering con-
test that has the potential to delight
the cockles of a cricket fan’s heart.
Here’s analyzing this series in greater
depth…
TOUGHER THAN GUER-RILLA WARFARE: As if the aforesaid record that India
has, isn’t bad enough, what has been
worse is that Team India had come to
this country on their last tour in 2002-
03 and were pulverised – by both, their
opponents and the pitches – into sub-
mission under the able leadership of
Sourav Ganguly. The two test matches
were almost donated away meekly in
three days each, and the ODI series was
squandered 5-2 – the only two matches
India won were thanks to an explosion
called Virender Sehwag by squeaking
through by a couple of wickets and a
solitary wicket respectively – and by the
time the 2003 World Cup had begun,
the self-confidence had been dramati-
cally shattered for the Indians.
This, despite possessing a reasonable
batting line-up and strong enough fire-
power with the ball. Clearly, New
Zealand is not a country for the mere
mortals or for the weak-hearted.
…AND THEN THERE ISDHONI: The way the Indian skipper has led the
Indian side these days, there isn’t much
that seems impossible for the man
from Jharkhand. With a record as
abysmal as India’s, it would be a feather
of multiple hues in the captain’s cap, if
he did get this one straight. And going
by his track record, one can be rest
assured that Team India would do well
under his becalming guidance
WEAKENED PACEARSENAL: A look at the Kiwi pace attack of 2002
and one gets a fair enough idea about
some of the reasons behind the Indian
whitewash. The extreme pace of Shane
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 35
India’stour of
NewZealand
India’stour of
NewZealand
by Suneer Chowdhary
Team India hadcome to thiscountry on theirlast tour in 2002-03 and were pul-verised – by both,their opponentsand the pitches –into submissionunder the ableleadership ofSouravGanguly.
India s tour of New Zealand.qxd 2/20/2009 12:35 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 36 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
Bond, the bounce and swing of Daryl
Tuffey, the dependable line and length
of Jacob Oram and the inconsistent,
but surprisingly quick bowling of
Andre Adams all came togeth-
er to expose the major
chinks in the Indian batting
armour. It obviously did
not help too much that
in both the tests India
had had to bat first,
but whether it would
have made too much
of a difference is
something one
wouldn’t bet on.
Not too much bat-
tery remains of that
almost-Caribbean-like
pace bowling attack –
for India at least –
remains and that is
where the Indian bat-
ting would profit.
Three of the afore-
said four have made their way out of
the Kiwi national team to join the
unsanctioned ICL, while Oram is already
having more than the usual second
thought about continuing
with test cricket.
And without mean-
ing to demean the
likes of Kyle Mills
and Tim Southee,
the bowling is sim-
ply not as potent
as it was in that
previous tour.
Even with a fit-
ter, left arm
James Franklin
adding variety to
the flagging Kiwi
attack, it would be
difficult to expect
them to run through
the Indian line-up like a
hot knife through butter.
WHOA, WHATAN ITINERARY: Talk of favourable sched-
ules, and this much defi-
nitely rank as one of
them. Even without a
tour game – which was
scrapped to fit in an
extra international
or two – the
Indians would be
a glad bunch
of cricketers
to have the
shorter formats of the game
first-up. By the time M.S. Dhoni
would have walked out for the
toss in the first test match at
Hamilton, the Indians would have
been in the Kiwi-land for almost a
month; enough to acclimatize
themselves to the bounce, seam
and swing on the unfamiliar pitch-
es and the rather nasty weather
conditions.
Wellington
is better
known as
one of the
windiest
cities in the
world, and
although
India does play
a T20 and an
ODI, the pitch
would get to its
feistiest worst
during the longest
format of the
game. Wellington
hosts the third and
the final test match
and by the time the match would be
around, one hopes that Team India
would have had the full cognizance of
the conditions in New Zealand.
GRASS IS FOR THECOWS…AND THEINDIAN PACE ATTACK!While the Kiwi pitch curator may be
tempted to test the Indian batting by
leaving a tad more grass than he nor-
mally would, he would be well aware of
the fact that such a strategy could
boomerang back hard at the Kiwi bats-
men. With the Indian fast bowling
standing as tall as it ever did in their 75
year old history, it wouldn’t take a rock-
et scientist to decipher that the likes of
Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf
Patel and even a greenhorn in Dhawal
Kulkarni would relish the conditions as
much as a kid devouring his first ever
candy.
To add to the hosts’ woes, their batting
hinges a lot on a Brendon McCullum and
Ross Taylor, but beyond that it would be
the greenhorns in the form of Grant
Elliot, Neil Broom, Aaron Redmond and
Daniel Flynn.
Without mean-ing to demeanthe likes of KyleMills and TimSouthee, thebowling is sim-ply not aspotent as itwas in thatprevioustour.
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editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 37Cricket TodayMarch 2009
KIWIS IN KIWI-LAND: In the last couple of years or so, the
Black Caps have not exactly managed to
paint the town red with their perform-
ances at home. That could have been
partially due to the fact that the pitch-
es have no longer remained as menac-
ing as they had been notorious for
some years back. This would have been
probably dictated by the TV broadcast-
ers who would have lost out on a for-
tune to three-day test matches; hence
brining in the need to play out the
entire duration of five days. What this
has resulted in is the curators over-
compensating and erring on the side of
caution by making much slower and
drier pitches; helping the batsmen in
turn. All this has ensured is that the
home advantage that the Kiwis enjoyed
has been blunted and is one of the
biggest reasons why one gets the sense
that Dhoni may not have it as difficult
as some of his predecessors.
PLAYERS TO WATCHOUT FOR: It is difficult to pick players from the
Indian side, so richly talent-
ed it seems at this point
of time. Yet, for starters,
one would have hoped
that Praveen Kumar had
made it to the test
squad, for his brand of
bowling is as suited to
those conditions as Don
Bradman was to cricket.
Rahul Dravid has had a
good run-up to this
tour too, picking up
hundreds in the Duleep
trophy as easily as the
Dravid of old. Yet, even
a batsman with his
technique would find
the going in New Zealand a rather
tough nut to crack as he would need to
come to grips with conditions as differ-
ent a chalk is from cheese!
Virender Sehwag could be the play-
maker in a couple of innings, but it
would be a good test of Gautam
Gambhir’s technique after the kind of
form he has exhibited for the best por-
tion of the last 18 months or so.
From the home team’s perspective,
there are a couple of really obvious
choices in Brendon McCullum and skip-
per – and all-rounder –
Daniel Vettori, but the one
man that the Indian bowlers
may want to be wary of, and
make according plans is
Jesse Ryder. Indians have
usually found the going
rather stiff against unknown
quantities and by the time
they have found a way out
of it, the series has had an
unpleasant end. Martin
Guptill’s attacking batting
could make him an ideal
choice to get into the squad
for the tests as well. Kyle
Mills has had a good last
twelve months or so, and his
height would be to his utmost advan-
tage against batsmen who haven’t tra-
ditionally handled excessive bounce too
well.
Yet, as this stage, one would have to
label India with the favourites tag in all
the three forms of the game. Not with-
out a serious test of their technique
and clarity in thinking though! �
The home advan-tage that the Kiwisenjoyed has beenblunted and isone of the biggestreasons why onegets the sensethat Dhoni maynot have it as diffi-cult as some of hispredeces-sors.
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38 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content news CLASH OF TITANS
t is hard to imagine that a man
hailed as a hero was dismissed
from his post less than a month
later. It was not planned that
way though and that was cer-
tainly not the way teams would plan
three weeks prior to an important tour
overseas. Is ego between a coach and
captain really so consuming that it
stops a team dead in its tracks? It cer-
tainly did for England and for Kevin
Pietersen and it has certainly left scope
for endless debate on where
and who gets to draw the
line.
A ‘SERIES’ OFUNFORTUNATEEVENTS When the England team
decided to come back to
India after much harangu-
ing in the aftermath of the
terror seizing Mumbai
episode, Kevin Pietersen was
hailed for his role in convinc-
ing the players, especially
those in senior most positions
who appeared reluctant for the
tour, namely, Andrew Flintoff
and Steve Harmison (though they
may have a different story to tell
now), to rethink their decision.
England did end up losing the Test
series but it was after they gave
themselves the best chance
for victory in Chennai, only
to have India chase down
a historic total for a dra-
matic win that would
eventually seal the series
in the favour of the
hosts.
But what happened there-
after threatened to obliterate
all the respect that the
England team had earned for
their decision and their per-
formance as well as the
applause accorded to
Pietersen himself.
Christmas and
new year holi-
days were the
reason why
the England
team was
keen to
arrange the
itinerary
such that
the team could spend time with their
families back home. However, one family
was on the verge of a split with the
relationship breaking down to beyond
repair. But as with most divorces, there
are many angles to the situation and
many relationships that suffer a shake
up as a result of it.
That differences were going to crop up
was obvious even before Pietersen
assumed the leadership position within
the England dressing room. It was the
precise reason why Pietersen and coach
Peter Moores had a sit down before the
former officially took on the mantle of
the captain of England. However, as the
saga unfolded, it became clear that not
all matters were trashed out, and they
continued to operate in a chalk and
cheese method that never allowed the
England team with a single minded,
cohesive agenda to take forward in the
short period of the five month associa-
tion.
WAS PIETERSEN’S DIS-MISSAL ONLY A DISCI-PLINARY ACT?If one were fighting the case on a tech-
nicality, the real reason behind
Pietersen’s resignation (which was
effectively akin to dismissal) would have
to be questioned. In a case of conven-
ient interpretation, the ECB chose to
view Pietersen’s statement that he
could not continue under present cir-
cumstances not as a demand that the
team management in the dressing
room be necessarily tinkered with but
rather that he would relinquish his role
and make the job of the higher authori-
ty at the ECB easier.
The word on the street was that
Pietersen was facing the axe for put-
ting his matters with Moores in the
public, though technically he did not
and expressed as much in the state-
ment that carried his resignation from
the captaincy. Why then was it decided
i Coach versusIs It Even a
by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu
Coach versus Captain.qxd 2/20/2009 12:36 PM Page 2
that Pietersen must go? Was Pietersen
forced to resign because he leaked the
information to the public (which techni-
cally he did not) or because he was, in
the ECB’s opinion in hindsight, too big a
player with an ego to match to become
a captain capable of running the show
while maintaining a cohesive dressing
room and a harmonious one with the
management?
It even brought out some cold assump-
tions like that of former England cap-
tain Mike Atherton stating that
Pietersen would always find it tough
finding yes men simply because he was
a ‘foreigner’. As shocking as it may
sound, that there are still prejudices
that govern decisions is something that
is being witnessed the world over, even
in this day and age and alarmingly so.
But whether it applied in this case, is
still a matter that has not even been
looked at. What has also come into the
open is the opinion of many in England
and in South Africa amongst cricketing
circles that believe that Pietersen fails
to operate when the stature of the
coach does not match up on the inter-
national scale, with some even going to
the extent of alleging that he has a
problem with any one who is non
South African, as hard as that is to
believe. But were they the
grounds for encouraging him to
quit?
It would be a safer bet to
assume that it was perhaps
Pietersen’s aggressive
assault on authority and
demands for sweeping
changes that would suit his
agenda for England while
still settling into his new
role are what did him in.
Trashing out grievances
behind close doors would
have perhaps salvaged one
or both men’s jobs rather
than issuing an ultimatum
and then disappearing into
the wilderness, which never
allowed Pietersen back into the game.
WAS MOORES REALLYTO BLAME?Dissensions began in the immediate
aftermath of the Chennai Test which
England should have won after setting
such a mammoth, history seeking tar-
get. It was believed that Pietersen was
frustrated at the lack of technical input
from the coach as England failed to
check Virender Sehwag early and
allowed India to get to the target.
What really blew the discord into the
public glare was the fact that upon
returning to
England, Peter
Moores had
apparently vetoed
Pietersen’s demand for Michael
Vaughan on the tour to the West Indies
when meeting with the selectors.
Pietersen deemed this as a case of
betrayal and sent forth a letter stating
in clear terms, that he could not work
while Moores continued on as England’s
coach.
Moores were also apparently not too
keen for the England team to return to
India because in his opinion, after the
one day trashing and what
happened in
Mumbai,
England would
not be men-
tally up
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 39
Captain
It is hard for anoutsider to decidewhether Mooreswas overworkingthe boys in train-ing and not pro-viding enoughback up input tomake up forPietersen’s inexpe-rience.
Raging Battle?
Coach versus Captain.qxd 2/20/2009 12:36 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 40 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
for it. There were also insinuations that
Pietersen had done himself a huge
favour keeping the IPL’s second season
in mind, although it is hard to imagine
that deciding against would have
affected Pietersen’s market price in any
way.
It is hard for an outsider to decide
whether Moores was overworking the
boys in training and not providing
enough back up input to make up for
Pietersen’s inexperience. But the
excuse, as valid as it may be, sounds
hollow coming from the captain who
has been dynamic enough to have the
switch hit associated with him like a
patented shot. Tactics apart, critics of
Pietersen’s move are also of the opinion
that Pietersen’s grouse should have
been with the selectors who made the
final decision to leave Vaughan out and
not Moores.
Whether Moores was good for England
can be debated only upon knowing
the reasons for which the ECB
decided to appoint him coach in
the first place. That he was
given a two year contract
just days before he was dis-
missed, knowing fully well
that a storm was brewing
between the captain and
coach was perhaps a clear-
er indication that the ECB
was more interested in
what Moores had to offer
than what Pietersen was
complaining about. But as
the representatives of the
ECB themselves stated,
after the public fall out,
there was no way the man
could have held his
respect in the England
dressing room and therefore, had
become dispensable. So, could it be said
that in this case, the coach came out
stronger though he was dismissed and
was the captain who resigned more dis-
graced by the episode?
WHERE DOES THECOACH STAND?In football, the manager takes the final
call. The captain’s badge will change
from one arm onto another if the man-
ager so decides. The coach’s job in
cricket, on the other hand, is vastly dif-
ferent. Though tactically he will still
assist the skipper, technically it is the
captain that calls the final shots on the
field. The coach is also required to be
adept at man management skills which
basically translates into identifying the
strong and weak areas not only of the
team but also of individuals, working
with them through correcting those
errors and generally being the captain’s
right hand man when resources are
needed in decision making.
That coaching is not for every man is
now obvious. There cannot be too many
egos in the same dressing room, espe-
cially those between a skipper and
coach. It would also explain why Greg
Chappell could never resign himself to
take the role in a background position
while Sourav Ganguly himself thrived on
being the cynosure of all eyes. Recently
Chappell blamed his exit from all mat-
ters Indian because of ‘unkind’ com-
ments made by Virender Sehwag that
stated Gary Kirsten had a more player
centric attitude as opposed to being
media centric, in direct reference to
Chappell. While Chappell may
have had other even more per-
tinent reasons that called for
disassociating himself with
India, inadvertently he has
proven those who deride him
right by once again choosing to
use the media to express
obviously unfinished emo-
tions.
There have been coaches
like John Buchanan whose
meticulousness and fas-
tidiousness did not go
down well with experi-
enced pros like Shane
Warne who used words
like “verbal diarhhoea” to
describe Buchanan’s
coaching methods. Then
there were coaches like
the late Bob Woolmer
who synergized well with
Was Pietersenforced to resignbecause he leakedthe information tothe public orbecause he was toobig a player with anego to match tobecome a captaincapable of runningthe show whilemaintaining a cohe-sive dressingroom.
Coach versus Captain.qxd 2/20/2009 12:37 PM Page 4
editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 41Cricket TodayMarch 2009
the late Hansie Cronje who was not shy
in showing that he relied heavily on his
coach’s laptop data in masterminding
South Africa’s hey days.
Currently two coaching jobs are work-
ing well – the one between Mahendra
Singh Dhoni and Gary Kirsten and on a
lengthier basis, between Graeme Smith
and Mickey Arthur. In both cases, there
is always only one strong voice talking
and more often than not, it is that of
the skipper, even though there is collu-
sion they are forming back door in
strategizing who takes over the voice as
well. It is not like the no-nonsense Gary
Kirsten would fall for every move from
the more impulsive, thinking-on-his-feet
Dhoni. And Arthur would have his own
designs for the team which would clash
with Smith who likes to run a tight unit
hands-on. However, the reasons these
partnerships appear to be working well
is because each is aware of his own
powers and the limitations of authority
that the roles pose.
ARE CAPTAINS RIGHT INTAKING THEIRDEMANDS TOOFAR?
The discussion then throws up the next
question- if captains are right in taking
too much into their hands. Clearly not,
if Pietersen’s dismissal in effect is
anything to go by. Captains, when
hung up on the idea that the coach
is a backstage person by personali-
ty, can often delude themselves
into thinking they are the reincar-
nated messiahs and everything they
say will be tabled down in gold.
But there is a reason why
cricket has resisted
any matter of
change for
over more
than a cen-
tury long
history.
Captains
may well
be right in
thinking
the way
they do on
certain
decisions
and cer-
tainly no
one can
denounce
them with-
out evidence. But the
manner in making a
point can perhaps say
a lot about the style of
captaincy as it does about the
person himself. When Dhoni
reportedly threatened to resign when
the selectors decided to drop R.P. Singh
for Irfan Pathan during the one day
series against England, even for a for-
ward thinking captain who had his heart
and his head in the right place, it was
still not the way to go because one
would only have to look at Pietersen’s
case to understand the dis-
astrous effect it would have
had on the team and plan-
ning.
Pietersen also made the car-
dinal mistake of assuming
too soon that his team would
back his every word.
Even in the most har-
monious of dressing
rooms, the captain may
see eye-to-eye on most
matters and yet have a
contentious issue or
two that does not go
down well with all play-
ers. Pietersen assumed
the team that stood
behind him in the inter-
est of England’s goals
which would also sup-
port his move for an
overhaul that involved
getting rid of the
entire coaching staff. The
captain must command suf-
ficient respect and trust of his team
mates before he embarks on such a
deep impacting decision, and
Pietersen’s fault may have been to have
Greg Chappellcould neverresign himself totake the role in abackground posi-tion while SouravGanguly himselfthrived on beingthe cynosure ofall eyes.
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match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 42 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
miscalculated in gauging how much his
team was convinced about his own role
in the first place. The division lines were
drawn; seeds about motives were sown;
and the recipe for disaster set to timer
to cook.
HOW FAR SHOULDTHEIR DEMANDS GO? Another perpendicular question to this
paradigm that if the captain is the ulti-
mate authority on the field, should the
captain then have a say in choosing the
coach of the team as well?
While some people are of the opinion
that it was better to nip the relation-
ship in the bud before it became
increasingly acrimonious, one wonders
if every disagreement can be avoided
by such splits or because a captain
automatically becomes a part of the
decision making
process to appoint a
coach. It must be
remembered that in
the natural scheme
of things, the cap-
tain is selected from
among the final
eleven. But that
norm is often bro-
ken when appointing
a captain in a player
willing to lead the
team that becomes
more essential than
his past qualifications,
as has been in the case
of Johan Botha who led a
successful South African one day unit in
Australia, but not without the initial hic-
cups. And it still does not guarantee
him a place in the team when Smith
assumes the premier leadership posi-
tion.
For a team to be successful, either the
captain must earn and enjoy the sup-
port of the think tank in backing his
decisions on the field or enjoy the sup-
port of his team mates who rely upon
his instinct and believe in him. Very few
captains have tasted success of both.
Former captains like Sourav Ganguly
were heavily criticized for trusting their
instincts and backing vociferously for
the men in their team. In the moment
of crisis as Greg Chappell built forth a
plan to show why Ganguly was no
longer good for Indian cricket, his Indian
team mates continued to back him one
hundred per cent.
In such situations, most boards would
see the captain choosing who should
coach the team as putting more power
What really blew thediscord into the pub-lic glare was the factthat upon returning toEngland, PeterMoores had appar-ently vetoedPietersen’s demandfor Michael Vaughanon the tour to theWest Indies whenmeeting withthe selectors.
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editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 43Cricket TodayMarch 2009
into his hands only for the team to run
amok. Perhaps the appointments of
coach and skipper are better made tak-
ing into consideration the qualifications
as well as the personalities that are like-
ly to gel despite disagreements and
those that are likely to combust at the
first hint of trouble. That delicate
maneuvering of designations with per-
sonnel should not possibly be left to
either man to ensure the best interests
of the team and let them both know
they are in check and being held
accountable.
Captains are always walking a tightrope
on the decisions they take in a moment
of instinct when throwing the ball to a
particular bowler and they are standing
on thin ice when they make the
demands on the scale on which
Pietersen demanded. Now there are
many in the dressing room to whom he
will be a vulnerable, transparent individ-
ual whose thoughts are too clear to
work with. There is a burning desire
within him that has been left without
reaching realization. And there are men
he thought he could trust with his life
only to feel let down in a critical
moment.
A captain must swallow his pride when
his tactics have not worked on the
field. It will perhaps be harder now for
a former captain to do so in a dressing
room that will be more wary of him.
Dangerously now it has perhaps inad-
vertently positioned a precedent for
making a case for captain’s empower-
ment in the future when it comes to
choosing coaches or in the short run, a
reason for sidelining a man who wants
to change the world to change his
team’s fortunes. �
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44 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content interview LOOKING BACK
by Qaiser Mohammad Ali
Dravid was anautomaticchoice in ODI XI Dravid was anautomaticchoice in ODI XI-Ganguly
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Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 45
ne of the most debated
and scrutinised decisions
of Sourav Ganguly’s tenure
as India captain was to
make Rahul Dravid keep
wickets in One-Day Internationals. As
Ganguly took over the reins in 2000,
specialist wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia
quickly found out that he was not in
the scheme of things of the new skip-
per, and Dravid replaced him soon
after the 1999 World Cup.
Instead of picking a specialist replace-
ment for Mongia, who Ganguly says
“wasn’t contributing”, the selectors-
Ganguly decided to throw the big
gloves to Dravid. Connoisseurs raised
their eyebrows: How can you risk the
side’s premier batsman by forcing him
to keep wickets? What if he injures his
fingers and thus fails to contribute
with the bat? The gamble was huge,
but Ganguly went ahead with it as he
tried to rebuild the team after the
match-fixing scandal of 2000.
Four years after Dravid played his last
ODI as a wicket-keeper, against Pakistan
in Ganguly’s home town Kolkata in
November 2004, the former captain
says the Bangalorean’s place in the ODI
XI was never in doubt. “Dravid was an
automatic choice. We wanted him to
keep wickets because we didn’t have an
all-rounder then. We didn’t have a
bowler who could bat and the wicket-
keeper wasn’t contributing. So, if we
could make Rahul do that job, we could
play an extra batsman that extended
the depth of our batting line-up,”
Ganguly told Cricket Today in an exclu-
sive interview.
“We were not getting a good wicket-
keeper-batsman at the point. So, asking
Rahul to keep was to strengthen the
side. It’s not that his place was in jeop-
ardy,” asserted the man who captained
India in 147 ODIs.
At the time, however, the popular
belief was that had Dravid declined to
keep wickets it would have been diffi-
cult for him find a place in the XI
because of his perceived inability to
adapt to ODI batting requirements.
Dravid ended up keeping wickets in 73
ODIs and did pretty well with the bat as
well. He took 71 catches as wicket-
keeper and effected 13 stumpings
besides aggregating 2,300 runs at
44.23 -- better than his career average
of 39.49. Four of his 12 centuries came
while playing as a designated stumper
– an indicator that his batting
o
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match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 46 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
improved while keeping wickets.
Some experts, including the then selec-
tor Kishen Rungta, publicly questioned
Dravid’s ability to “rotate the strike”.
Ganguly, however, says: “But that does-
n’t mean that his place was in jeopardy.
We looked at him in a completely differ-
ent way. He was asked to keep [the
wickets] to strengthen the side. We
were trying to find an all-rounder. If he
could keep wickets, we would have
found an all-rounder.”
Ganguly gave the
examples of
stumpers who
excelled behind and
in front of the
stumps. “Every one-day team in the
world had wicket-keepers who could
bat, whether it was Adam Gilchrist, Mark
Boucher or Kumar Sangakkara. So, it
was just that we wanted Rahul to keep
because we wanted an all-rounder and
not because his place was in jeopardy.”
So, were the selectors and Ganguly on
same wavelength? “I don’t know what
they thought. But Rahul was an auto-
matic choice in the one-day team,” he
asserted.
Ganguly went on to give his own exam-
ple: “I bowled a lot of 10-over spells in
one-day cricket in my career. That did
not mean that my career was in doubt. I
had to play as a bowler as well; I could
bowl to add
strength as a
team. But I was
playing as a premier
batsman and I was
an automatic choice
in the team as a bats-
man. And the same
was the case with
Rahul.”
When asked if
Dravid was the
most sincere and
committed player
that he had seen,
Ganguly said. “At
that level, all of
them are sincere,
honest and committed.
Some have slightly more
ability than the rest, but I
have not seen one player
who plays for India and is not
committed.”
Ganguly also dwelled on
the curious case of for-
mer Test leg-spinner
Narendra Hiwarni, who tried to stage a
comeback in 2001 under his captaincy.
Hiwarni told me in an interview in 2006
that after he had bowled
“extremely well” at Indian
team’s nets in Mumbai,
Ganguly “promised” him
to play in all three Tests
against Steve Waugh’s
Australia. Hirwani never
played for India
again.
“Hirwani was picked
in the XIV, just like
any other player or
contender to play
the Test matches.
We [instead] went
with a left-arm spin-
ner, Rahul Sanghvi,
and Harbhajan [in
first Test, Mumbai].
Just like any other
contender, Hirwani
was part of the Test
team. It’s just that
we went with Sanghvi
on the morning of the
Test,” he explained. Hirwani,
the previous season’s highest wicket
taker in domestic cricket, was in fine
form. “Yeah. His form was good that’s
why he was in the XIV,” Ganguly admit-
ted.
So, did Ganguly always get the team
that he wanted? “Yes. At times,
you have to listen to the selec-
tors because they see a lot
of domestic cricket, which
you don’t get to see as
you are always travel-
ling and playing with
the team,” he rea-
soned.
Unlike Dravid, Ganguly
never read books on
captaincy – “I was never
a big reader” – but
went by instinct.
“Yeah, but there used
to be a lot of planning
off the field. But it
changes on the field
because many a
times it doesn’t
go as per the
planning and you
have to take a call
on the field,” he
said.
As captain, Ganguly
backed and encour-
aged the likes of
Virender Sehwag,
I bowled a lot of10-over spells inone-day cricketin my career.That did notmean that mycareer was indoubt. I had toplay as a bowleras well.
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editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 47Cricket TodayMarch 2009
Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and
Zaheer Khan. “They were very talented
players. You could have picked them,
but they had to score themselves. It
was because of their ability that they
are getting runs even now,” he said.
“The most talented was Sehwag. Yuvraj
was also talented, but the most talent-
ed batsman in the young lot was
Sehwag; he is a great player, a fantastic
player. His confidence is his biggest
virtue; he has also got the ability. He
batted well in the ODIs in South Africa
in 2000 and you could see clearly that
in terms of talent as a batsman he was
far, far ahead of the rest.”
Despite leading the team from the
front, Ganguly managed only win two
ODI titles – the NatWest Trophy and the
Champions Trophy, both in 2002 –
though he ended up as India’s
most successful skipper in
Tests. “There was always the
scope of doing better. We
lost quite a few finals dur-
ing that period. Overall, I
think, we did well as a
team. Our performance
in Test matches was out-
standing [success
42.85%],” he said.
Although Ganguly
scored more runs in
ODIs (11,363), it was in
Test cricket that he
made instant impression
with a century on debut
against England at
Lord’s – and became a
permanent fixture at
No.5. Does he feel he would
have been more successful
had he batted up the
order? “No. It’s a team
sport. Rahul was playing at
No.3, Sachin was at No.4 so I had to play
at No.5. We had to pick a batting order
for the team and I fitted at the No.5
spot. No qualms,” he averred.
Ganguly’s military medium pace was
useful in both Tests (32 wickets) and
ODIs (100 wickets). Asked if responsibili-
ties as a captain prevented him from
bowling as much as he liked, he said:
“No. The type of bowler I was I couldn’t
bowl much on Indian wickets because
they used to turn and Sehwag and
Sachin used to do the job of the fifth
bowler. When we used to go overseas I
used to do the job of the fifth bowler.
From that point of view, I think I bowled
enough according to my ability. I wish it
was more but I played as a batsman
who could bowl. I had no targets.”
Ganguly retired after the home series
against Australia last year and immedi-
ately there was talk of him venturing
into politics. “I don’t think so. It looks
harder than it actually is and I don’t
think I will be joining politics,” he cleared
the air. At the moment, he is enjoying
the company of wife Dona and daugh-
ter Sana in Kolkata. �
At times, youhave to listen tothe selectorsbecause they seea lot of domesticcricket, which youdon’t get to seeas you arealways travellingand playing withthe team.
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48 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content news CODE OF CONDUCT
ricket’s governing body theInternational Cricket Council(ICC) has had a long, laundrylist of concerns. Pakistan,once a showstopper, has
faded from the cricketing map. It’sbeen a long winter of discontent forZimbabwe. The standard of umpiringcontinues to be dismal. Captains contin-ue to be wilfully ignorant about slowover rates. A major conflict in India, now thegame’s emerging super power, is yet tobe resolved. The Board of Control forCricket in India (BCCI) and the IndianCricket League (ICL) have been feuding
for two years now. So much so thatworld cricket stood on the verge of agreat divide. And despite indications of a possiblereconciliation between the two boards,it is the ICL cricketers who face anuncertain future. But of late the ICChas been fretting over something thatyou would least expect them to addressat this point of time. It seems that
dress code is high on their priority list. Who can forget Sourav Ganguly andRahul Dravid taking the field with plas-tered tee-shirts in order to hide spon-sors’ logos? And remember MahendraSingh Dhoni holding the Twenty20World Cup in his vest?The ICC has now decided to crack thewhip. We have heard of fines for slowover-rates or for showing dissent at theumpire. Now a hefty penalty will beslapped on any offending team thatfails to wear the right equipment.Faded pads or taped/plastered tee-shirts will be deemed as breach of code.The ICC has reminded of Clause Q whichauthorises the Chief Executive toimpose a fine up to US $ 25,000 forsuch mistakes. In a letter dated 28th January 2008,ICC’s Cricket Operations Manager, CliveHitchcock, has issued a notice to all themember nations and the top six associ-ates to follow a strict clothing code laiddown by the ICC regulations. Any viola-tion would lead to dire consequences. Hitchcock further goes on to add: “In recent months we have noticed thatthe standards have dropped in respect
to the appearance of the players ininternational matches. We have encoun-tered serious problems with team cloth-ing issued by the Boards to its playersand also personal kit provided and usedby the players themselves, in particular.” There are situations cited in the letterthat points to faded pads worn by abatsman, different coloured helmets,logos being covered with tape and/or
c
by Artsmith.Sports
LastWarningServed
Dhoni in vest
Last Warning Served.qxd 2/20/2009 12:48 PM Page 2
plasters and a team taking the field inan ODI with non-uniform shirts and toomany manufacturer’s logos appearingon the kit while the match is inprogress. There by, making the sportlook really messy and unprofessional.
FADED PADSUntil recently, in the second one daymatch played between India and SriLanka in the last week of January 2009,Dhoni was playing with faded pads. Thepads had not been re-sprayed in a longtime. The master blaster, SachinTendulkar, too has been guilty of wear-ing faded pads in matches quite a fewtimes before. But next time such a mis-
take would lead to severe penalty forviolating the Equipment & ClothingCode of Conduct.
PLASTER/ TAPED T-SHIRTSThere are several instances whenplayers have worn fellow players’ t-shirt during a match. In the summersof 2008, when India was touring SriLanka, and the first one-day was beingplayed in Dambula’s RangiriInternational Cricket Stadium, Raina,not carrying his own half sleeveshirts, decided to wear a fellowcricketer Harbhajan Singh’s jersey. Raina had chopped the length ofthe sleeves to suite his require-ment. He also put a plaster behind,hiding number five from the digit“35” which is Harbhajan’s playingnumber and made it look like a shirthaving “No 3” written on it, which isactually Suresh Raina’s playing number.Suresh Raina, who in haste had choppedthe sleeves and worn the t-shirt, hadthreads dangling from the sleeves andthat didn’t go unnoticed by the MatchReferee, Chris Broad. Broad cautionedhim and let him go. Last time though hegot away with a mere warning, and nowhe needs to watch out for the ICCwatchdogs. This time around with strin-gent clothing regulations, getting awaywill not be easy.
PRESIDENTIAL FIASCO Dressing fiasco is not a new thing in theIndian dressing room. Both on field and
off the field, there are instances ofsuch faux pa. One such incident was inthe 1996-1997 tour of South Africa andZimbabwe under the captaincy ofSachin Tendulkar. The Indian players did-n’t have the right formal attires withthem. There were different sets ofofficial blazers, various ranges oftrousers and some players didn’t evenhave the official blazers. The then man-ager with the team, Sunil Dev, wrote inhis report later, “The Indian team withdifferent colour blazers and trousersand two members without theofficial blazers left the shoresof India on 18th December,1997.”
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 49
There are situations cited in the letter that pointsto faded pads worn by a batsman, different coloured helmets,logos being covered with tape and/or plastersand a team taking the field in an ODI with non-uniform shirtsand too many manufacturer’s logos appearing on the kit.
Faded crest on Jayasuriya’s helmet
Sachin usingfaded pads
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match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 50 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
Dev further mentions,“When we were to meetPresident Nelson Mandelaon the ground at CapeTown in front of thou-sands of people, one ofour cricketers had towear a blazer given tohim by me, which wasobviously without theIndian crest.” This series also highlight-ed the quality of the kitsupplied by the sponsorsbecause the t-shirts pro-vided were of such poorquality that the logoitself faded after two washes and thedress started looking shabby.It is not only Indian cricketers who areculprits of such actions. A case in pointis that of Lankan master blaster, SanathJayasuriya, who continues to play wear-
ing the batting helmetwhich was without the SriLankan logo on it. JavedMiandad had played thefinals of the 1992 WorldCup, wearing a white hel-met instead of the coloredone.Legitimate concerns, youwould think. The uniform issacrosanct and cricketers,after all, are the ambassa-dors of their country. Butit’s just a case of bad tim-ing. The tone that runsdown the letter and use ofphrases like “watchdogs”
and “stringent clothing regula-tions” also makes you wonder: If
only they had been as firm on issuesthat deserve immediate attention,cricket would have been that much bet-ter served. �
Now a heftypenalty will beslapped on anyoffending teamthat fails to wearthe right equip-ment. Faded padsor taped/plas-tered tee-shirtswill be deemedas breachof code.
Taped t-shirts on India’stour to New Zealand 2003
Miandad and histrademark helmet
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60 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content news interview ROUND TWO
anta Claus certainly heard the
plea of the true aficionados
of the game late last year.
They were delivered a deliri-
ous feast of Test cricket at
the turn of the year that even gave
Twenty20 cricket a run for its money.
But the stocking was filled deeper for
the goodies to last longer than original-
ly imagined as March sees battles
resume, as the top spot is once again
up for grabs and Australia are holding
onto it with rather slippery fingers.
WHEN TEST CRICKETKILLED THE TWENTY20STARHow often has this been said in the last
year and a half – ‘it is now official;
Twenty20 has taken the cricket world
by storm’? With the IPL and the lure of
wealth now translating into realistic
expectations even in the midst of a
financial meltdown, purists moaned
that Test cricket needed a revival. The
truth however was that the Test for-
mat did not need as much tweaking as
it needed to be revisited. And how!
It is to good credit for the England
team to brave the mood when they
decided to come back to India and com-
plete their original series that also
involved the two Test matches. The
results may not have gone in their
favour. But they were certainly instru-
mental in providing the entertainment
factor in the series that saw India chase
a monumental, not to mention histori-
cal, target. That it ripped apart an
already fragile relationship with the
England coach and skipper was another
matter.
But over the Australian summer, the
Test series captivated the cricket loving
public the world over as South Africa
put up the most extraordinarily belliger-
ent battle, from seemingly feeble posi-
tions, to wrest the series from Australia
and hand them their first home defeat
since 1992-’93. This was the downfall of
the champion side exposed with such
finesse and alacrity, it made the world
sit up.
All in all, the Test matches received
unprecedented attention over the span
of five months to constitute one of the
most glorious Test cricketing years over
the last two decades. More importantly,
what it has done is whet the appetite
for more. Suddenly the focus has shift-
ed on the IPL only for a blink of an eye
for the auctions and the second season
of the IPL is not the most anticipated
event of the year, at least not on the
immediate agenda. Hardly anyone is
even talking of the second World
Twenty20! What they are looking for-
ward to is the return leg of the battle,
the Australian tour to South Africa, and
to only a slightly lesser extent, the
Indian tour to New Zealand. That has to
be attributed to the power of Test
cricket.
INDIA, SOUTH AFRICA –TRADING SPACESWhat precipitated the ranking chaos
was India beating Australia in India. That
set forth frenzied imagination. All of a
sudden India were doing it again – pos-
s
Another SummitScaling Expedition!
by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu
Another Summit.qxd 2/20/2009 12:49 PM Page 2
ing a challenge at the very top by push-
ing Australia again and taking the sec-
ond best spot from South Africa when
beating England. It was a small matter
that South Africa were beating
Bangladesh to maintain that same sec-
ond spot, next only to Australia. But a
much bigger challenge awaited South
Africa than it did India.
All South Africa had to do to seal the
top spot was beat Australia 3-0 in the
three Tests down under, this after they
failed to beat Australia in a series down
under since their readmission in 1991
and were essentially going in with a
young team that has not really experi-
enced playing Australia in a Test match,
especially in Australia before.(By that
same measurement, a similar excuse by
Australia on the tour to India then goes
out of the window.) But South Africa
proved to be warriors on the field and
pushed the champions who believed
they could not be disposed and there-
fore, failed to prepare sufficiently for
an onslaught. Suddenly two Tests
fought courageously were netted in
South Africa’s pockets and India was no
longer South Africa’s problem. They had
set their eyes skywards.
CAN LOGIC PREVAIL?The ICC Test ranking is something like
the all time greats list released also by
the ICC - baffling! South Africa
already technically have the num-
bers to prove they have been
the better team in competition
with the best. And yet their his-
toric victory in Australia could
not secure them the crown.
And they must now once again
fight the foes, this time at
home, to ensure that
the trophy comes
home.
Now it will not
be a series
whitewash
that will be
required. It
will be a victo-
ry in any for-
mat that will
topple
Australia from
the perch. That is
because South
Africa have closed
the gap on Australia
and their consistent
performances in
the Test matches
have seen them win
eleven out of fifteen
Test matches with two
draws and two losses,
which is more than a
shade better than the
rest as they leave the competition far
behind on the same tally. That alone
should have qualified them to be
declared the outstanding winners, and
not dynamic runners up to a poor look-
ing number one.
CHANGE ININDIAN PALATE -KIWI FOR DINNER? In almost a repeat level of
challenges, India should have
an easier ride than South
Africa do on the climb up.
But one would only have to
rewind back to see that
India had a disas-
trous time in
New Zealand in
an earlier
episode only to
bounce back in
the World Cup
of the past. So,
not all lingering
memories will
be the fondest.
Virender Sehwag
himself admitted
that though
India would be
expected to
put up a bet-
ter front,
even a white-
wash against
New Zealand,
in three Tests
now that the tour
to Pakistan has
been cancelled, is
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 61
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match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 62 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
unlikely to see an immediate three way
battle for the top.
India will be going in without key per-
sonnel with Sourav Ganguly and
Anil Kumble retiring. But where
old hands have hung their
gloves, the younger ones are
showing a great deal of
resilience, hunger and sub-
servience to the no-holds-
barred skipper Mahendra
Singh Dhoni. What will per-
haps make their task easi-
er, not to mention inching
further towards that num-
ber one ranking points, is
the fact that New Zealand
have not exactly been
bouncing with the same
panache as some of their
other opponents. Daniel
Vettori did not inherit the
team Stephen Fleming put
in place. If fact, Vettori’s
most trying days in international cricket
have perhaps come as a skipper in vir-
tually helpless circumstances
when New Zealand lost a huge
cluster of players such as
Shane Bond and Craig
MacMillan to the ICL and seen
the retirement of Nathan Astle
and Fleming himself. New Zealand
bear names that are
largely unfamiliar to the
rest of the cricket world
and have already tasted
trouble first hand with
Jesse Ryder a la Andrew
Symonds.
Facing a red hot team
India is not likely to be a
fun walk in the park even
with the hosts playing in
home conditions that
once had the Indian team
looking hopelessly feeble,
and virtually toothless. If
Dhoni can prepare his
team to take on a com-
paratively fragile opponent
on a series overseas like he did
in the Commonwealth Bank series in
Australia in what will officially be his
first series abroad as captain of the
Indian Test team, New Zealand may not
have it all going their way notwithstand-
ing weather and pitch conditions. A win
here though will greatly redeem India’s
issues in series overseas as they edge
even closer to make the battle for the
top a three way, instead of ending up
as a distant second runner up in the
drama.
FLAVOUR OF THEMONTH – KANGAROO(MEAT)? Will the road for South Africa get any
easier to beat Australia now that they
have beaten Australia in Australia?
Absolutely not. And this is precisely why
this series, instead of being something
that would cause viewer fatigue watch-
ing same teams battle each other time
and time again, is actually the most
anticipated in less than a month’s time
of the completion of the first leg of
the battle.
South Africa had unfinished business in
Australia, where they did earn the
respect of the paying public that even a
handsome draw in Sydney would not
perhaps have fetched, for a world rank-
ing sealing victory. What it basically now
means is that South Africa are only five
points short of Australia’s 126 and India
are trailing by three more than South
A win herethough willgreatly redeemIndia’s issues inseries overseasas they edgeeven closer tomake the bat-tle for the top athree way.
Another Summit.qxd 2/20/2009 12:49 PM Page 4
editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 63Cricket TodayMarch 2009
Africa.
South Africa will still essentially have the
same strengths and weaknesses which
basically means that their top five who
were tipping the scales at the top last
year will still be available for South
Africa while Graeme Smith will be get-
ting fighting fit, despite postponing
surgery. Their bowling make up is unlike-
ly to undergo a make over, which means
Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne
Morkel will form the crux of their
attack, with perhaps another fast
bowler thrown in good measure
depending on the pitch and conditions.
Boucher’s fitness and Smith’s ability to
fight his pain once more after postpon-
ing surgery will be the key areas of
focus for South Africa.
Australia though have a battle on their
hands. Matthew Hayden retired in the
aftermath of a disastrous tour to India
that was exacerbated as South Africa
exploited his mental weaknesses and
brought them into the open. What
this has basically left Australia
with is an aggrieved batsman-
cum-captain Ricky Ponting, a
man itching to fill Ponting’s
shoes – Michael Clarke close on
the skipper’s heels, a street
smart wicket keeper in Brad
Haddin and a less consistent
Mr. Cricket – Mike Hussey.
The bowling department has
been considerably weakened
since Stuart Clark has been
declared unfit to embark on
the tour to South Africa, Brett
Lee has had injury added to an
indifferent cricket year and a
turbulent year personally, and
Mitchell Johnson has
perhaps wisely turned
down the IPL offer
given his lengthy
assignments as the
spearhead in the
absence of more
experienced pros.
But Ponting’s con-
cerns are not restrict-
ed to the spinner’s
job as Nathan Hauritz
hardly seemed the
ideal replacement
after Jason Krejza showed ability in the
fourth Test in India. Andrew Symonds
has been deported even before he
embarked! If that were possible!
Symonds once again did himself no
favours when he passed unkind remarks
about Brendon McCullum after his stint
in Australia’s domestic cricket. More
than his words perhaps it was the lack
of perceptible change in his behaviour
and attitude towards the game and its
exponents that has caused Cricket
Australia to revise their opinion on
whether Symonds has successfully com-
pleted his stint in rehab. In Symonds,
Australia have lost hugely on an aggres-
sive player with the knack to not only
turn a match on its head but also, to
get disconcertingly under the skin of
the player.
Now Ponting is the one who is feeling
heat under the collar while Dhoni is in
ravage mood. Smith needs to set the
record straight to prove their victory
down under was no fluke while Daniel
Vettori’s men must prove they are as
deserving of the applause as some of
their predecessors in a reality television
like remake of the movie “The
Replacements.” With so much drama
that is bound to cause a few sleepless
nights (literally and pun intended given
that the timing schedules of the two
series are likely to leave cricket lovers
with little sleep), and so much at stake,
this is no time to be caught napping! �
What it basicallynow means isthat South Africaare only fivepoints short ofAustralia’s 126and India aretrailing by threemore than SouthAfrica.
Another Summit.qxd 2/20/2009 12:49 PM Page 5
64 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match trivia content news CHAMPIONS-IN-WAITING
hey are no longer chokers or
bridesmaids. They have won
the right to be the No 1 team
in ODIs on sheer merit and
results. And they could well be
the No 1 team in Tests too very soon.
The transformation in the South
African team is complete and the meta-
morphosis has been stunning. They
have verily been the team of the past
year not having lost a series, winning
one in England after 43 years and then
sealing a famous triumph in Australia.
If there is one factor that underscores
South Africa’s
t
SA: Nearingthe No.1
Positionby Partab Ramchand
South Africa.qxd 2/20/2009 12:52 PM Page 2
impressive progress to the No 1 spot it
is their recent triumph over Australia.
Over the years while they had a fair
record against all opponents they
always came a cropper against the
Aussies. In eight contests in the two
countries since 1993-94 (leading up to
the recently concluded Test series in
Australia) the South Africans did not
even win one. In Australia the teams
played 12 Tests and the visitors won
just one, lost seven and drew four. This
time however they finally scaled the
Aussie wall - and in style. The remark-
able victory in the first Test at Perth
where they chased down the second
highest total of 414 in Test history was
final confirmation that the South
Africans were no more chokers. For
good measure they won the next
match by an emphatic margin of nine
wickets to clinch a Test series in
Australia for the first time. And to
think that they had played their first
series ‘Down Under’ as far back as
1910-11!
Indeed the South Africans have given
enough evidence that they are now
ready to bully the big bullies, to turn
the tables and pound them into sub-
mission. The glorious 4-1 triumph in
the ODI series confirmed the corona-
tion of South Africa as the new No 1
side and one would not be surprised if
they go over to the top in the Test
rankings too – perhaps even at the end
of the return series against the Aussies
in South Africa.
South Africa’s traditional strength has
been their bowling and fielding and
while this has been maintained the bat-
ting has touched new heights. Just last
year Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie
broke the famous first wicket record
partnership of Vinoo Mankad and
Pankaj Roy by being associated in a
415-run stand against Bangladesh.
Smith and Herschelle Gibbs are the only
pair in Test history to share three 300-
plus first wicket partnerships. And
while Smith remains a formidable bats-
man at the top of the order with his
power-packed shots and a career aver-
age of fifty, those following him in the
batting order are no less awesome for
any bowling line-up. Hashim Amla has
transformed himself from a strangely
tentative batsman to a tower of
strength at the pivotal No 3 position.
Little need be said about Jacques Kallis
a batting all rounder par excellence. His
record in both forms of the game is
quite mind-boggling. And in the middle
order AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince and
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 65
In the middleorder AB deVilliers, AshwellPrince and thenewly discov-ered JP Duminyprovide style,solidity andsub-stance.
South Africa.qxd 2/20/2009 12:52 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 66 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
the newly discovered JP Duminy provide
style, solidity and substance. South
Africa’s batting strength is right now at
an all time high since their return to
international cricket in 1991.
If anything the bowling could well
match the batting. In Dale Steyn they
possess the outstanding fast bowler in
world cricket today. At over five wickets
a Test and at a niggardly average of 23
he couldn’t have competition from any-
one else. Makhaya Ntini lends experi-
ence and hostility to the attack and in
the two Morkels they have more than
adequate support. It is true that the
spin attack is rather weak though Paul
Harris in Tests and Johan Botha in ODIs
have acquitted themselves creditably.
But with an outstanding pace attack
the lack of a world class spin bowler is
hardly felt. As for Mark Boucher he
remains the outstanding wicket keeper
batsman in the game.
It would be difficult to pinpoint the
period when South Africa shed their
chokers image and became world beat-
ers. But that unforgettable ODI at
Johannesburg three years ago might be
a good starting point. When a team
concedes a heart breaking total of 434
South Africa’straditionalstrength hasbeen their bowl-ing and fieldingand while thishas been main-tained the bat-ting has touchednewheights.
South Africa.qxd 2/20/2009 12:52 PM Page 4
editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 67Cricket TodayMarch 2009
runs and then has the guts, skill and
verve to chase it down with one wicket
and one ball to spare that is the stuff
dreams are made of. From that
moment on South Africa gained a new
respect in the cricketing world. Under
the dynamic leadership of Smith they
became a team high on confidence and
self belief.
These were important qualities for
South Africa to possess for so often in
the past they had faltered at the
doorstep of victory, had somehow con-
trived to lose matches from winning
positions. Three World Cup matches in
1996, 1999 and 2003 sufficed to show
that they lacked gumption. In the first
instance they were the favourites going
into the quarterfinal against the West
Indies having won all their group match-
es. They were playing like champions
but somehow squandered away the
chance against the Caribbeans losing by
19 runs after having the game in their
grasp. Three years later all
the last pair of Lance
Klusener and Allan Donald
needed was a single from
three balls to book a berth
in the final and on form
seal a sure World Cup triumph.
Inexplicably Donald
was run out and it
was Australia who
held aloft the covet-
ed trophy. Four years
later an inexplicable
miscalculation in their
last preliminary
league match against
Sri Lanka led to South
Africa’s
exit at the first round
itself when it was pre-
dicted that a semifi-
nal place for starters
was a cert for the
hosts. The choker tag
in Tests was placed firm-
ly on them right from the
first match they played on their return
to international cricket against West
Indies in 1992. Requiring 201 for a
famous win South Africa were 123 for
two but then crumbled to 148 all out.
Certainly Smith can take the king size’s
share of the credit for ever since he
took over the captaincy at the age of
22 in 2003 following the World Cup
debacle he has led with imagination and
purpose. And leading from the front
comes naturally to a gifted batsman like
the pugnacious left-handed opening
batsman. He has had faithful deputies
whether it has been Boucher or Kallis or
anyone else and the team members
have responded to his positive captain-
cy admirably. These are glorious times
for South African cricket and the signs
are that the upbeat mood will not be
over soon. �
They have verilybeen the teamof the past yearnot having lost aseries, winningone in Englandafter 43 yearsand then sealinga famous tri-umph inAustralia.
South Africa.qxd 2/20/2009 12:52 PM Page 5
68 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content interview CAPTAIN SPEAKS
“Thisis just
thebeginning”
- Graeme Smithby Artsmith.Sports
IInn aann eexxcclluussiivvee cchhaatt wwiitthhAArrttssmmiitthh..SSppoorrttss,, tthhee ccaappttaaiinn
ooff tthhee WWoorrlldd NNoo 11 tteeaamm iinntthhee IICCCC OODDII rraannkkiinnggss,,
GGrraaeemmee SSmmiitthh sshhaarreess hhiissffeeeelliinnggss aabboouutt bbeeccoommiinngg NNoo11 aanndd tthhee ssuuddddeenn rriissee ooff tthhee
PPrrootteeaass TTeeaamm.. GGrraaeemmeebbeelliieevveess,, tthhee rreeaall tteesstt iiss tthhee
WWoorrlldd CCuupp,, 22001111.. HHee sshhaarreesshhiiss ffeeeelliinngg aabboouutt bbeeaattiinngg
AAuussttrraalliiaa iinn AAuussttrraalliiaa aannddbbeeccoommiinngg tthhee oonnllyy tteeaamm ttoowwiinn bbootthh tthhee tteesstt aanndd oonnee
ddaayy sseerriieess iinn 1177 lloonngg yyeeaarrss..SSmmiitthh,, wwhhoo hhaadd iinnjjuurreedd hhiimm--
sseellff,, hhaass jjuusstt rreessuummeedd ppllaayy..HHee wwiillll bbee ppllaayyiinngg iinn tthhee
sseemmii ffiinnaallss ooff tthhee ddoommeessttiiccTT2200 mmaattcchh ffoorr hhiiss hhoommee
ssttaattee,, NNaasshhuuaa CCaappee CCoobbrraass..TThhee eexxcceerrppttss ffrroomm tthhee iinntteerr--
vviieeww..
Interview - Graeme Smith.qxd 2/20/2009 2:12 PM Page 2
AS: ITS BEEN MORE THAN TWOWEEKS NOW AND SOUTHAFRICA IS THE NUMBER ONEODI TEAM IN THE WORLD, HOWDOES IT FEEL TO REIGN THEWORLD?GGSS:: IItt iiss vveerryy rreewwaarrddiinngg.. IItt hhaass ccoommee
ssoooonneerr tthhaann II eexxppeecctteedd bbeeaarriinngg iinn mmiinndd
tthhaatt wwee hhaavvee aa ffaaiirrllyy iinneexxppeerriieenncceedd ssiiddee..
WWee hhaavvee aallwwaayyss ffoolllloowweedd aa pphhiilloossoopphhyy
ooff ggooiinngg
ggaammee bbyy ggaammee aanndd
lleeaavviinngg tthhee rraannkkiinnggss ttoo llooookk aafftteerr
tthheemmsseellvveess..
AS: DID YOU EVER IMAG-INE OF ACHIEVING THISFEAT?GGSS:: OOuurr ggooaall iiss ttoo hhaavvee aa
tteeaamm tthhaatt ccaann wwiinn tthhee
WWoorrlldd CCuupp iinn ttwwoo yyeeaarrss’’
ttiimmee aanndd oobbvviioouussllyy wwee
hhaavvee ttwwoo ootthheerr iimmppoorrttaanntt
IICCCC eevveennttss tthhiiss yyeeaarr iinn tthhee
TT2200 aanndd tthhee CChhaammppiioonnss
TTrroopphhyy aanndd yyoouu pprroobbaabbllyy
nneeeedd ttoo bbeeccoommee wwoorrlldd NNoo
11 ttoo aacchhiieevvee tthhaatt.. TThhiiss iiss
jjuusstt tthhee bbeeggiinnnniinngg……
AS: WHEN YOUSTARTED OFF, YOUWERE THEYOUNGEST CAPTAIN
AND IT WAS SAID THE SOUTHAFRICA IS A TEAM OF CHOK-ERS. CRITICS WERE OF THEOPINION THAT IT WAS TOOEARLY TO GIVE YOU THERESPONSIBILITY, WHAT WOULDBE YOU TELL THEM NOW?
GGSS:: ((ssmmiilliinngg)) IItt wwaass aa cchhaalllleennggee ttoo pprroovvee
mmyy ccrriittiiccss wwrroonngg..
AS: WHEN YOU HAD SET FORAUSTRALIA, EVERY BODY
THOUGHT ITWAS
NOTPOSSIBLE TO BEAT
AUSTRALIA INAUSTRALIA BUT YOUGUYS MADE IT POS-SIBLE, WAS IT ARESULT OF GREATPLANNING ANDWELL RESEARCHEDEFFORT?GGSS:: TThheerree wwaass aa lloott
ooff ppllaannnniinngg iinnvvoollvveedd
bbuutt tthhee kkeeyy ffaaccttoorr
wwaass tthhaatt tthhee ppllaayy--
eerrss bbeelliieevveedd tthheeyy
ccoouulldd bbeeaatt
AAuussttrraalliiaa aanndd
tthheeyy pprroovveedd iitt..
AS: YOUR PART-NERSHIP WITH
COACH, MICKY AURTHURIS BRILLIANT. WHAT SORTOF CHEMISTRY WORKSBETWEEN THE TWO OFYOU?GGSS:: ((llaauugghhss))……MMiicckkeeyy aanndd II hhaavvee
ddeeffiinneedd oouurr rreellaattiioonnsshhiipp.. HHee ttaakkeess
cchhaarrggee ooff tthhee pprreeppaarraattiioonn aanndd II
ttaakkee cchhaarrggee aatt tthhee ffiinnaall tteeaamm
mmeeeettiinngg aanndd tthheenn oonn ttoo tthhee ffiieelldd ooff
ppllaayy.. IItt iiss iimmppoorrttaanntt tthhaatt wwee ssppeeaakk
wwiitthh oonnee vvooiiccee aatt aallll ttiimmeess aanndd oouurr
rreellaattiioonnsshhiipp iiss bbuuiilltt aarroouunndd tthhaatt..
AS:. THERE WERE REPORTSABOUT THE PROTEASTAKING TIPS FROMINDIAN COACH, GARYKIERSTEN, WHO PLAYED ACRUCIAL ROLE IN DEFEATINGTHE AUSSIES WHEN THEYTOURED INDIA?GGSS:: AAss aa mmaatttteerr ooff pprrooffeessssiioonnaall ccoouurr--
tteessyy ttoo GGaarryy aass ccooaacchh ooff IInnddiiaa,, iitt wwoouulldd
hhaavvee bbeeeenn wwrroonngg ttoo aasskk ffoorr hhiiss aaddvviiccee..
GGaarryy aanndd II hhaavvee bbeeeenn ggoooodd ffrriieennddss ffoorr aa
lloonngg ttiimmee aanndd wwee hhaavvee lleefftt iitt tthheerree..
AS: IF IT WAS GREAT CAPTAIN-CY FROM YOU THEN IT WAS ANOUTSTANDING EFFORT FROMYOUR TEAM-ELABORATEGGSS:: AAss yyoouu ssaaiidd,, iitt wwaass aa tteeaamm
eeffffoorrtt aanndd hheerree,, II iinncclluuddee aallll
1155 ppllaayyeerrss iinn tthhee ssqquuaadd
aass wweellll aass oouurr mmaannaaggee--
mmeenntt tteeaamm.. AA cchhaarraacc--
tteerriissttiicc ooff tthhee tteeaamm
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 69
A characteristicof the teamwas that therewas alwayssomebodyputting theirhand up, win-ning the bigpoints forus.
Interview - Graeme Smith.qxd 2/20/2009 2:12 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 70 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
wwaass tthhaatt tthheerree wwaass aallwwaayyss
ssoommeebbooddyy ppuuttttiinngg tthheeiirr hhaanndd
uupp,, wwiinnnniinngg tthhee bbiigg ppooiinnttss ffoorr
uuss.. OOuurr lloowweerr oorrddeerr bbaattttiinngg aatt
MMeellbboouurrnnee wwaass aa ccaassee iinn ppooiinntt..
EEaacchh oonnee ooff tthheemm wweerree bbrriill--
lliiaanntt……((llaauugghhss)) ccaann’’tt ssiinnggllee oouutt
aannyy oonnee..
AS: MAKHAYA NTINICAME UP WITH GREATSUPPORT IN THE LASTTEST MATCH, COULD HEBELIEVE HIS OWN PER-FORMANCE?GGSS:: MMaakkhhaayyaa wwaass ffaannttaassttiicc.. II
eevveenn jjookkeedd wwiitthh hhiimm tthhaatt hhee
wwaass tthhee sseenniioorr ppaarrttnneerr!! HHee ssttuucckk iitt oouutt
ffoorr 9900 mmiinnuutteess aanndd,, iinn ffaacctt,, wwaassnn’’tt ddiiss--
mmiisssseedd iinn tthhee sseerriieess.. ((aanndd llaauugghhss……))
AS: PLAYERS LIKE HASHIMAMLA AND NEIL MACKENZIEPLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE INTHE WIN.
GGSS:: BBootthh hhaadd aann oouutt--
ssttaannddiinngg yyeeaarr,, ssccoorriinngg
mmoorree tthhaann tthhoouussaanndd
TTeesstt rruunnss.. AAss aa rreessuulltt
wwee nnooww hhaavvee aa vveerryy
ssoolliidd aanndd ddeeppeennddaabbllee
ttoopp tthhrreeee iinn oouurr bbaatt--
ttiinngg ddeeppaarrttmmeenntt
AS:OUTSTANDINGPERFORMANCEBY YOURBOWLERS?GGSS:: TThhee bboowwlleerrss mmaann--
aaggeedd ttoo ttaakkee 2200 wwiicckk--
eettss iinn eeaacchh ooff tthhee ffiirrsstt
aanndd sseeccoonndd tteessttss aanndd
bbeelliieevvee mmee aass aa CCaappttaaiinn tthhaatt
iiss aallll II ccoouulldd hhaavvee aasskkeedd ooff tthheemm aanndd
tthheeyy ddiidd eevveerryytthhiinngg ttoo wwiinn tthhee mmaattcchh..
WWhhaatt hhaass pplleeaasseedd mmee hhaass bbeeeenn tthhee wwaayy
tthheeyy hhaavvee ooppeerraatteedd aass aa ccoolllleeccttiivvee uunniitt
aanndd ssuuppppoorrtteedd oonnee aannootthheerr,, bbaacckkeedd
eeaacchh ootthheerr..
AS: DO YOU THINK, JP DUMINY WAS THE FIND OF THETOURNAMENT?GGSS:: JJPP cceerrttaaiinnllyy hhaadd aann oouuttssttaannddiinngg
sseerriieess.. WWee kknneeww aallll aalloonngg hhee hhaadd iitt iinn
hhiimm ttoo ppeerrffoorrmm tthhee wwaayy hhee ddiidd aanndd tthhee
pplleeaassiinngg ffaaccttoorr ffoorr uuss hhaass bbeeeenn tthhee
ggrreeaatteerr bbaattttiinngg aanndd bboowwlliinngg ddeepptthh wwee
hhaavvee uunneeaarrtthheedd iinn oouurr ssqquuaadd..
AS: IN YOUR ABSENCE, WAS ITA SURPRISE TO SEE THE BOYSWINNING THE ODI SERIES 4-1?GGSS:: II wwaass rreeaallllyy tthhrriilllleedd bbyy tthhee wwaayy tthhee
tteeaamm ppuulllleedd tthhrroouugghh wwiitthh vviirrttuuaallllyy aallll
tthhee ppllaayyeerrss ssttaannddiinngg uupp ttoo aassssuummee
rreessppoonnssiibbiilliittyy aatt ddiiffffeerreenntt ttiimmeess..
AS: HOW IS YOUR TENNISELBOW, HAVE YOU OPERATED?HOW SOON CAN WE SEE YOUBACK ON THE GROUND?GGSS:: II aamm ppllaayyiinngg mmyy ffiirrsstt mmaattcchh iinn tthhee
ddoommeessttiicc TT2200 sseemmii--ffiinnaall wwhhiicchh iiss rreeaallllyy
eennccoouurraaggiinngg.. ��
Our goal is tohave a teamthat can winthe World Cupin two years’time and obvi-ously need tobecome worldNo 1 to achievethat.
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72 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content interview THUMPING WIN
South Africa pulling off the Test
series, although incredible, still
appeared in the realm of the
achievable. But to completely
overshadow Australia in the one
day series in the manner in which they
did with the resources that were con-
sidered feeble at best, is perhaps some-
thing even they would consider exceed-
ing expectations.
LIMITED OVERS, A DIF-FERENT BALL GAMEIt was not easy for the South Africans
to win the Test series. Those were hard
fought contests where South Africa
hung on bravely in difficult sessions to
grab the pivotal moments of the
match. But South Africa believed they
had the wherewithal to brave the
assault of the Australians and to dish
some of their own, even though much
of the rest of the world, including
Australia’s coach Tim Nielsen, dismissed
it as another case of big talk that came
cheap.
There were still areas unconquered, like
the top spot in the ICC Test rankings,
but it mattered little compared to their
achievements of the summer. They had
just beaten Australia at home, an expe-
rience no Australian team or fan has
withstood since 1993. Perhaps had
Graeme Smith not returned home with
a fractured hand and tennis, more peo-
ple would have given the team a chance
in the one day series.
But the one day series were another
matter altogether. Mickey Arthur made
amply clear what lay ahead for South
Africa when they won the Test series in
England handsomely but fared rather
poorly in the one day matches that fol-
lowed. It gave Pietersen a great impetus
in his early days as the captain of the
England team, but it
chalked out clearly
how hard the
climb in another
format was
going to be for
the South
Africans. But that
did not mean that
South Africa chose
to sit on their lau-
rels.
The injury upon injury
for skipper Graeme
Smith left South Africa
with a huge hole.
After all, Smith had
manufactured most
of South Africa’s wins
in the Test series over
the last six months and
his absence was a crucial disadvantage
as it was in England when the flared
elbow first reared its ugly head in inter-
national assignments for South Africa
after making its brief presence during
the inaugural IPL.
The South African one day squad had
been put in jeopardy through a series
i
by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu
Safs Story –ResoundingCampaignsEnd in No.1Down Under
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of unfortunate events even before
Smith’s injuries. Mickey Arthur
expressed that he was not a bit sur-
prised that South Africa struggled as
badly as they did in England in the one
day internationals. South Africa under-
went a change of personnel in the one
day internationals when they lost Charl
Langeveld to a Kolpak agreement after
his fiasco indirectly with Andre Nel for a
place in the squad for the series in India
over the quota system and lost key all
rounders such as Andrew Hall, Justin
Kemp and Johan van der Wath to the
ICL. With Shaun Pollock’s retirement,
the gaps had become rather wide,
especially in the one day context and
South Africa had harder work to make a
team to reckon with, in two years’ time
for the World Cup.
SIDE STEPPING THE(T)20’S South Africa were either doing a good
job throwing Australia off their scent or
really still coming to terms with the
change of form, captain and personnel.
Johan Botha came under fire from
Ricky Ponting who claimed
Botha was not the man in
control on the field as
advice was flying in all
directions by all South
African men in plausible
authority by rank, age or
reputation during the
Twenty20 matches in the
build up to the five one
day internationals.
South Africa were blown
away in the first
Twenty20 match by
uncapped David Warner
whose eighty-nine from
forty-three balls was not
only astounding but also,
effectively had South
Africa throw in the towel, unless one of
their own could match this unknown
kid’s sudden famous feats. South
Africa’s wonder kid on this tour, Jean
Paul Duminy, gave his best. But even his
seventy-nine from forty-three would
not be enough as South Africa crashed
to a fifty-two run defeat.
The second Twenty20 match was a lit-
tle more of the same, South Africa
adjusting, Australia perfecting. It must
be little wonder that the most names
for the next IPL auction are from
Australia. JP Duminy once again stuck
out in an otherwise sullen score card
for his sixty-nine off forty-one balls.
But Ponting and Cameron White rallied
around Michael Hussey to ensure
Australia would escape to a six wicket
victory, with South Africa still looking
dicey for the upcoming one day series
ahead.
PERFECTING THE FOR-MULA Johan Botha took his time, but found
his feet. Not only did he grow more
authoritative in captaincy during the
one day internationals but also, in his
own role as a spinner of which he did a
sterling job, strangling Australia’s middle
order on more than one occasion while
picking up the key wicket that tended
to prove to be the thorn in the flesh
for his team. The decisions became
more precise, the pieces of the puzzle
fell into place and the rest of it was
purely clockwork.
Australia did their best to cooperate
with South Africa’s agenda inadvertent-
ly. While Australia have a good
nucleus of batsmen, getting
their act together has proved
to be a tangle, that exacerbat-
ed when they somehow took
on the onus on themselves into
playing a more Twenty20 like
cameo instead of stringing
partnerships together.
Matthew Hayden’s omis-
sion and his subsequent
retirement left a hole in
the opening slot and even
though Warner started
well, it was simply not pos-
sible to put up a match
winning performance at
every opportunity.
Another area that
Australia failed miserably
was in the matter of the
batting power play. South
Africa were putting their
plans in place, from rein-
ing in Australia when the
hosts were threatening to run
away with their batting innings to using
their own batting power play to near
perfection. Ricky Ponting found himself
resigned to seeking advice from the
younger men in the dressing room who
had experienced the use of the rule in
the domestic circuit. But Australia lost
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 73
No one was evenlooking at theICC’s ODI teamrankings beforethe series began;that is how lowthe expectationswere when itcame to SouthAfrica in the oneday interna-tionals.
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match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 74 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
more wickets during their batting
power play than scoring runs with a
restricted set of fielders out of the
thirty yard line. They could certainly
have taken a leaf out of South Africa’s
books.
ALBIE ‘KLUSENER”MORKEL, MARK “NEVERSAY DIE” BOUCHER If there was one decisive ploy that
could be the most prominent differ-
ence between the two teams, it was
South Africa’s trump card, held long
enough up their sleeve on every occa-
sion. In the past Justin Kemp often lived
with the expectation of being South
Africa’s next Lance Klusener. But it is
Albie reliving Zulu’s magic in Kemp’s
absence. In all of the first three match-
es, Morkel was involved in fetching runs
in the tricky final overs when South
Africa also chose to employ the batting
power play to good effect. Two innings
of forty off eighteen balls in the first
match and off twenty-two balls in the
third were reminiscent of a Twenty20
match encased within the fifty over
game. The only reason Albie could not
complete his cameo in the second
match was because South Africa’s top
order slowed down the rate too long in
the middle overs, leaving South Africa
with too much to do in the end, not
allowing the now set partners and
established finishers of the game, Mark
Boucher and Albie, to complete the job,
missing it by five runs which would have
given South Africa a clean record.
REFINING PERFORM-ANCES, HUMBLEDHOSTSThere were other heart warming per-
formances from JP Duminy and Neil
McKenzie in the first match, Kallis and
AB in the second and Gibbs and Kallis in
the third. But South Africa not only
clinched the series at the Adelaide
Oval but also, did it so emphati-
cally that Australia had to
accept that they had been
once again outplayed
smartly and tenaciously in
the fourth and more
comprehensively than in
all three past matches
that went down to the
wire. South Africa sealed
Australia’s fate in the
series. Despite the half
century from Ponting
and the partnership with
the Hussey brothers
after the early double
dismissal of Marsh and
Warner, Australia needed
the late dash from James Hopes and
Cameron White to get them to a rather
modest 222.
But if Australia really needed to know
how ordinary their efforts were, they
had to simply doff their hats in the
manner in which South Africa went
about the chase. Herschelle Gibbs
attempted a blitzkrieg while
Hashim Amla stood rock solid.
When Gibbs departed, Amla’s
stand only solidified, this time
with AB de Villiers for company.
In a near flawless performance,
the duo put up a 143 run partner-
ship in good time that
South Africa’s annihilation
of Australia was complete
in under thirty-nine overs
to give South Africa a com-
prehensive series victory,
prompting even Ponting to
admit this would have to
perhaps be the worst per-
formance of Australia in
the summer.
NOT WITHOUT THENO.1!
In all of the firstthree matches,Morkel wasinvolved in fetch-ing runs in thetricky final overswhen SouthAfrica also choseto employ thebatting powerplay togood effect.
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editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 75Cricket TodayMarch 2009
South Africa stumbled on to two
opportunities to go number one in the
world. One opportunity presented
itself as South Africa won the first
two of three Tests and had to
then win the third in Sydney to
become the number one team in
the ICC Test rankings. Though
they ended up losing the game,
they won enormously more
than what perhaps even the
number one would have given
them. But it still meant that
technically one goal remained
unfulfilled.
No one was even looking at the
ICC’s ODI team rankings before
the series began; that is how
low the expectations were when
it came to South Africa in the
one day internationals even though
they occupied the second spot. But the
cohesive efforts of the team ensured
that the final match would present an
additional incentive – the opportunity
to upstage Australia for the number
one position at least in the one day
international rankings.
Perth was the venue and South Africa
had every intention to go with a bang
and a title. South Africa had a slightly
different challenge though. They were
batting first, something they did not
have the opportunity to do in the series
thus far. This was not going to be about
chasing a target anymore. This time it
was Amla’s responding once more to
the challenge of the one day interna-
tionals with a salient knock of ninety-
seven only to be followed up by the
twin sixty run innings from AB de
Villiers and JP
Duminy.
Australia, chasing 289 for
pride, found the middle
order trying to recover from
another despicable position
of five down for 122. David
Hussey’s innings of thirty-two
was sandwiched between Brad
Haddin’s sixty-three and brother
Michael’s seventy-eight. But South
Africa romped home to the num-
ber one crown as Australia once
again lost their way, as they have
for much of the present season.
Mickey Arthur did not want his
team standing on the pedestal
because in his opinion, his team is
not in full readiness to take the
expectations that come
with the position. He
may well advise cau-
tion as South Africa
performed beyond
their means in many
ways. That they
even managed to do
it in the final match without the likes
of Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and
Jacques Kallis speaks enormously of
their success. But Arthur knows the
challenges that lay ahead in gaining con-
sistency in the run up to the world cup.
While South Africa enjoy the number
one for as long as it lasts in the
close points race, they are firmly
rooted to the ground. �
With ShaunPollock’s retirement,the gaps hadbecome ratherwide, especially inthe one day contextand South Africahad harder work tomake a team toreckon with, in twoyears’ time for theWorld Cup.
Safs Story.qxd 2/20/2009 12:58 PM Page 5
76 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content interview UNSUNG HERO
ow many cricketers can you
recall who have established
a world record on their
debut but never played for
India? It’s probably difficult
to answer. On the other hand, a spin-
ner starts his career in a normal man-
ner and goes on to establish one of
the most difficult world records?
The records set by Amol Muzumdar,
the batsman, and Anil Kumble, the leg-
spinner, will be difficult to better. And
one common link between the two
world marks is umpire A.V. Jayaprakash,
who from 22 yards watched 19-year-
old Muzumdar score a brilliant 260 on
his first-class debut in 1993-94 to
erase the 73-year-old world record of
South African Waldemar Frederick Eric
Marx highest knock on debut. Five
years later, Jayaprakash gave all
Pakistani batsmen out as Kumble mes-
merised them in the Delhi Test in 1999.
While Marx went on to play three
Tests, Muzumdar was never picked for
India and is now on the last legs of his
first-class career spanning 16 years.
Things have come to such a pass for
Muzumdar that in the 2008-09 Ranji
Trophy final against Uttar Pradesh in
Hyderabad, he was not even included in
the Mumbai XI, despite being in the
squad. This is a clear signal from the
Mumbai selectors and the team man-
agement that the right-handed batting
prodigy is not wanted anymore even as
youngsters are being blooded. “I was
not specially told anything. They proba-
bly wanted to play an additional spin-
ner,” says a disappointed Muzumdar,
now 34.
Kumble, the other world record holder
along with Jim Laker of England, also
had quite a rousing start to his cricket
h
by Qaiser Mohammad Ali
Amol Muzumdar
promise unfulfilledA strange story of
Amol Muzumdar.qxd 2/20/2009 12:59 PM Page 2
career before he lost way as quickly as
he had begun. Five months after mak-
ing his debut for Karnataka, he was
playing a One-Day International for India
in Sharjah. In November 1989, he made
his Ranji Trophy debut against
Hyderabad and in April 1990 he made
his ODI debut. In August 1990, he played
his first Test. After he was quickly omit-
ted from the Test squad, Kumble briefly
contemplated leaving cricket for an aca-
demic career after completing mechani-
cal engineering in 1992.
When he turned out for the Rest of
India against Delhi at Ferozeshah Kotla,
which would eventually become his
favourite ground, he was probably giv-
ing cricket one last chance to succeed.
He snared 13 wickets and was on the
plane to South Africa and never looked
back. He ended his career, aptly, at the
Kotla, in November last year with 619
Test and 337 ODI wickets, both Indian
records.
Unlike Muzumdar, Kumble did not have
much competition from a leg-spinner.
Only Narendra Hirwani,
who was already
slipping away
after his 16-
wicket haul on Test debut in 1988, was
still a major threat to the bespectacled
Bangalore boy.
Muzumdar, on the other hand, had stiff
competition from some of the well
established names as he fought for a
middle order berth in the Indian team.
He was lucky that he got the opportuni-
ty to play first-class cricket so early,
though in the absence of Sachin
Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli. But full
credit goes to the immensely talented
Shardashram School and Mithibai
College student who showed exemplary
temperament and patience while
announcing his arrival with a grand dou-
ble century.
Umpire Narendra Menon, who was
Jayaprakash’s colleague in Muzumdar’s
debut match at the Nahar Singh
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 77
Muzumdar, on theother hand, had stiffcompetition fromsome of the wellestablished namesas he fought for amiddle order berth inthe Indian team. Hewas lucky that he gotthe opportunity toplay first-class cricketso early, though inthe absence ofSachinTendulkar andVinod Kambli.
Amol Muzumdar.qxd 2/20/2009 12:59 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 78 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
Stadium from February 12-15, 1994,
remembers the magnificent knock
vividly. “The best aspect of his knock
was the patience that he showed. As I
saw in him later on, he was never afraid
of any kind of bowling, much like
Tendulkar,” Menon told Cricket Today.
“Another good quality in Amol was that
he never used to see the face of the
bowler. Usually, batsmen see the face of
bowlers and lose half the battle there. I
noticed that Amol never did that,” he
averred. “The way he batted on his
debut it looked like he would definitely
go on to play for India. During the lunch
interval, I had a chat about him with
Ravi Shastri, who was the Mumbai cap-
tain and was with him when he com-
pleted his century. While batting
together, Ravi kept encouraging him
during that knock.”
Asked if he noticed any chink in
Muzumdar’s batting, Menon said none.
“The only bad habit with him was that
he was never satisfied with an umpire’s
decision when given out,” he said, with
a chuckle. On a serious note the 63-
year-old former first-class cricketer
from Indore pointed
out: “In those days the
Indian team’s middle
order was choc-a-bloc
with star players. The
negative thing was that
Amol did not bowl often.
Had he bowled a
lot in those days
he would have had
a chance of break-
ing into the nation-
al team.”
During the 1999-
2000 Ranji Trophy
between Mumbai
and Hyderabad,
Menon asked
Muzumdar to start
bowling in order to
make another try
to break into the
Indian team. “He
told me it was ‘too
late to do so’. But he
did realise that he should
have been bowling more to qualify as
an all-rounder,” he recalled.
Muzumdar is, naturally, disappointed
that he was unable to translate his
potential into a national berth. “I don’t
want to talk about it, because there is
no specific answer to why I did not play
for India. You don’t reach any conclu-
sion with answers. There can be several
answers to that question,” he said.
Muzumdar mostly batted at No. 4 posi-
tion for Mumbai, West Zone and other
teams and competition was intense at
everywhere. For Mumbai, he had to
drop down the order when Tendulkar
and Kambli used to play. “I was compet-
ing for a national berth with the likes
Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Vikran
Rathore, who were all well established
when I arrived on to the scene. I scored
many runs in my first four first-class
seasons. But when I was not picked in
the national team by then, people start-
ed saying that I was too old to play for
India, though I was only in my early 20s
and scoring as heavily as anyone else,”
he explained.
Muzumdar scored 494 runs in three
matches in his debut season in 1993-94,
with two centuries and two half-cen-
turies. In the next four seasons his
amazing streak read: 1,068 runs in 15
matches, 788 in 10, 942 in 12, including
four centuries and two half-centuries,
and 788 in 13. And after an indifferent
1998-99 (242 runs in four matches), he
hammered 814 in 13 matches in 1999-
00. But, by that time, many middle
order batsmen had emerged and had
supposedly overtaken this low-profile
and quiet boy.
So, were the selectors at the time did
not back him sufficiently? “Probably
the selectors had a different approach
my story would have been different,” is
all Muzumdar says now.
Muzumdar, however, is not mulling to
end his first-class career as yet, despite
the 34-year-old not being included in
the 2008-09 Ranji Trophy final against
Uttar Pradesh. One reason is that he is
tantalisingly close to the all-time Ranji
Trophy career aggregate record of
Amarjit Kaypee. The wiry Mumbai bats-
man is just 31 runs short of stocky for-
mer Haryana captain’s tally of 7,623.
The wiry Mumbaikar, whose aggregate
at the end of the 2008-09 Ranji season
reads 7,593, did not hide the fact that
he is yearning for the record. “I am not
thinking of retirement now. I feel till the
time I am also mentally fit, besides
being physically fit, I will continue to
play. Whether I am selected is a differ-
ent thing. After all, I have the right to
decide when to retire,” he stressed.
Whenever Muzumdar decides to retire,
without realising his dream of repre-
senting India, he would take solace from
the careers of Rajinder Goel and
Padmakar Shivalkar, the top class left-
arm spinners of 1970s and 1980s who
also never played for India. They exhibit-
ed their wares in the same era in which
Bishan Singh Bedi weaved his left-arm
magic.
Goel, the low-profile spinner from
Haryana, bagged 750 wickets in 157
first-class matches for Patiala, Southern
Punjab, Delhi and Haryana in a career
stretching from 1958-59 to 1984-85.
Mumbai’s Shivalkar captured 589 wick-
ets in 124 first-class matches from
1961-62 to 1987-88. �
The best aspectof his knock wasthe patiencethat he showed.As I saw in himlater on, he wasnever afraid ofany kind ofbowling, muchlikeTendulkar.
Amol Muzumdar.qxd 2/20/2009 12:59 PM Page 4
80 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content newsUNENDING DRAMA
n more ways than just one,
Shoaib Akhtar epitomises
Pakistani cricket of the more
recent times. In Akhtar’s career,
as is the case with the upper
echelons of cricket in Pakistan, there is
a regular sprinkling of a doping scandal,
the odd – and more – dressing room
squabble, the usual disciplinary issues,
the corresponding hearing and ensuing
bans, perpetual court cases, and result-
ant overturns, all of this interspersed
with a spasmodic show of talent.
Clearly, Pakistan cricket today is a far
cry from those times of a leader called
Imran Khan and the era of an odds-
defying, hackle-raising, straight-out-of-
the-fairy-tale book win of the 1992
World Cup.
The only fairy-tale associated with their
cricket currently is of the proportions
of crashing out of the 2007 World Cup,
brought about by a team as powerful
as Ireland and thus making it a stuff of
legends for the minnow cricketing
nation.
Since those times of Imran, the
Pakistani team has shown visible signs
of disintegration, degenerating slowly
and steadily like the furniture which has
been attacked by termites. However,
even by those standards, the fall from
the perch has been rather strangely
exponential ever since the team did
make a mockery of themselves in the
World Cup in the Caribbean. If the hell
had partially broken loose with their
defeat to Ireland – and the subsequent
knocking out – then it reached the pin-
nacle with the shocking of one Bob
Woolmer’s death, the coach of Pakistan.
THE COMPUTER-COACH LOGS OUT, SODOES LAWSON: It was for South Africa that Woolmer
had gained reputation for being the
coach that he was, but Pakistan would
have undoubtedly been his most chal-
lenging assignment. Little would he have
known that it was going to be his last.
Sadly for him, he had to bow out of this
world on a low; he had after all just wit-
nessed his team play the cricket one
can only have nightmares of, but never
really think of playing, in a crucial match
that they should have won 99.99% of
the times.
Where the plot got murkier was when
his death was attributed to a host of
reasons, none worse than murder –
because he was supposed to have hit
upon evidence that some of the
Pakistanis had conspired to lose the
Ireland match. Nothing was proved in
the end, and his death has remained a
mystery till date, yet, Pakistani cricket
had been indelibly blotted then.
Geoff Lawson took over, but his was
also a totally feisty reign at the top.
There were more media altercations
with him around than the sum total of
all the previous coaches, and by the
time the new PCB chief came in,
Lawson had no option but to depart
i
Tough time for Pakistan Cricket
by Suneer Chowdhary
Pakistan Cricket.qxd 2/20/2009 1:03 PM Page 2
from the scene.
AKHTAR CHECKSIN…AGAIN: If ever there was a detention cen-
tre for cricket-related ‘crimes’,
there would have been one
Pakistani cricketer who would
have probably made it his
haven; Shoaib Akhtar. The
tug-of-war-like battle
between the Pakistani
cricket board and Akhtar
makes for legendary
stuff and would
require a dossier to
get going on. Yet,
what stands out
from everything
was his not-so-
ultra-critical comments – a nation-
al pastime amongst cricketers past
or present – about the Pakistani
board (PCB) that landed him a mess
that even he wouldn’t have imag-
ined. Taking strong exception to this
criticism – especially since he was ‘out
on parole’ for his earlier sins – the
PCB chief banned this mercurial pace
bowler for five years, effectively ter-
minating his career.
The PCB head, while giving the rea-
sons for this extreme punishment,
cited a figure that would have left
even the most ardent of Akhtar
fans awe-stuck; in the four years
leading up to this ban, Akhtar
had committed fifteen disciplinary
offences. Yes, fifteen, that includ-
ed everything from illegal bowl-
ing action, breach of players’
code of conduct throwing
bottles into the crowd, ball
tampering obscene language
and taunts towards oppo-
nents, doping and even hit-
ting his own team-mates for
no plausible rhyme or rea-
son!
MOHAMMADASIF JOINS INTHE PARTY:He was touted to be the
Glen McGrath of Pakistan.
Instead, he currently runs
the risk of being remem-
bered not-too-fondly as a
druggie, who ran into troubles for his
continuous run-ins with the
dope. Already on the
verge of been banned by the
IPL for testing positive – he
has been suspended for a
year since – Asif was caught by
the Dubai officials for
possessing illegal drugs
and has not played a sin-
gle international match
ever since.
AND AFRIDILETS HISMOUTH,HANDS ANDBAT DO THETALKING…LIT-ERALLY: Trust Shahid Afridi to
keep the flag of the
Akhtar school of contro-
versies fluttering.
Brandishing the bat in the face of a
South African spectator, slapping
another Pakistani one, being that third
catalyst in the Akhtar-Asif fiasco, and
calling his IPL skipper names that made
VVS Laxman question his team ethics
were only some of the chapters from
his rather eventful book. It didn’t
help his cause that his batting in
the last eighteen months has
seemed nothing better than a
mishap and that has almost
meant that he has had to repre-
sent Pakistan as a frontline
bowler whose bat can do a little
bit of talking!
CAPTAINCYISSUES:
Whether one terms it the
tool of the hindsight, or
anything else, and
whichever way one
looked at otherwise,
Shoaib Malik’s appoint-
ment as a captain raised
quite a few eyebrows in the internation-
al cricketing circle. Either this had been
one of the most daft decision since the
appointment of George Bush as the
President of his country, or even
worse! By the time he was on his way
out, more than 18 months later, one
had still not fathomed the ration-
ale behind his appointment.
There had been no charisma,
no body language, no results
– except a T20 World Cup
final – and no unity in the
team, and most of the
defeats were blamed on his
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 81
The tug-of-war-like battlebetween thePakistani cricketboard andAkhtar makesfor legendarystuff and wouldrequire a dossierto getgoing on.
Pakistan Cricket.qxd 2/20/2009 1:03 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 82 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
inability to motivate a team that has
always had the reputation of been frag-
mented. To add to his woes, his relation
with the media had always been on the
tenterhooks, so much so that he went
up to extent of using a tape recorder in
his media interactions to avoid been
misquoted by them!
Mohammad Yousuf had expected the
top position to fall into his lap and
Malik’s appointment had clearly been a
bitter pill to swallow for Pakistan’s best
batsman. On the other hand, there was
a Younis Khan who had flip-flopped on
this issue many more times than a nau-
seous roller-coaster ride, and in the end,
refused to take it up.
SECURITY SCARES: If there was one country that still
backed Pakistan after the rest of the
world had decidedly ended any
hopes of touring the country, it
was India. The terror attacks on
Mumbai ended that rather strong
support system for Pakistan.
Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa and England have always
been the first to back-out of a
situation as sensitive as it is in
Pakistan currently, but when India
refuses to tour them for security
reasons, then one can be rest
assured that the PCB is in some
trouble.
Even before that, it had been the
postponing and later cancelling of
the Champions Trophy that had
put paid to the PCB’s chances earning
anything out of the tournament.
Although the neutral venue concept
would bring in something for the board,
the situation looks quite grim for
Pakistani cricket in their own country.
BUTT VERSUS MIANDADVERSUS THE SENATORS: That Javed Miandad has been one of
the best – and cheekiest – Pakistani
cricketers is beyond doubt. That
Miandad is also one of the most – that
word again – controversial is a no-brain-
er too! After giving up on being the
coach of the team on countless occa-
sions, he was appointed as the Director-
General – huh? – of Pakistan cricket
about a couple of months back.
Apparently, no contract was offered
then, and when it finally was, Miandad
was in for a surprise. The PCB chairman,
Ejaz Butt, had had offered the former-
skipper a chance to improve the domes-
tic cricket in Pakistan, instead of deliver-
ing what had been apparently promised;
working with the Pakistani national
team. Miffed – I wouldn’t use the word
hurt for Miandad – he had no hesitation
in tendering his resignation to the
board, in a rather unlikely, but polite
tone. He said, “I have no hard feelings
towards anyone but a cricketer of my
stature cannot be happy with the
responsibilities they are giving me.”
That was not all. In this day and age, the
politicians have to have their share of
pie, and the senators of Pakistan had a
gala time raking up this Miandad resig-
nation and grilling the PCB chief for a
period of six hours! The conclusion
was anything but flattering, and
the chief was asked to tender
his resignation in return. Mere
mortals would have collapsed
here, but not so a chief of the
PCB, who in turn questioned the
credibility of those very senators
in questioning his integrity! I
don’t know whether you
guys – the readers – are
still with me on this, but
the last one has heard
on this is that Butt has
refused to resign, and
he claims to have the
full support of the
President of the
country!
PAKISTANICL XI VSPAKISTANXI? Even after Imran
Khan had called it
quits from inter-
national cricket,
the problem faced
by the national
team was never
that of a lack
of talent. It
was more to
do with the
in-fighting
that the
Pakistani crick-
eters were so famous for, some-
There were moremedia alterca-tions with himaround than thesum total of allthe previouscoaches, and bythe time the newPCB chief camein, Lawson hadno option but todepart fromthe scene.
Pakistan Cricket.qxd 2/20/2009 1:03 PM Page 4
editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 83Cricket TodayMarch 2009
thing that gave that fragmented look
to the outsider. It was said that if only
did the national team get rid of that
disjoint, they could have gone that
extra mile.
At this stage, one is not too sure what
one can actually say this about the
team; especially after a substantial
number has joined the board-disap-
proved, Indian Cricket League. And what
a gamut of them it was; the swashbuck-
ling Imran Nazir who could knock the
stuffing out of the opposition with his
explosive batting, the ever-so-consis-
tent, the graceful and the best ever in
the Pakistani team, Mohammad Yousuf,
budding and aggressive opener in Imran
Farhat, along with the pace bowlers of
the quality of Rana Naved and
Mohammad Sami and an irresistible all-
rounder in the ice-cool Abdul Razzaq. All
of them lost to Pakistan and to the rest
of the world because the PCB applied
life-bans at the behest of the BCCI.
The rage amongst the Pakistani fans
was very evident and there had been
talks amongst them of the ICL team
challenging the national one for a
match-up, with the winning team hav-
ing the right to represent Pakistan. For
obvious reasons that did not materi-
alise, and the Pakistani cricket plummet-
ed further into darkness.
THE SUNDRIES: If Darrel Hair had applied the Law
whichever-it-was for forfeiture of a
match a trifle too early, then Inzamam-
ul-Haq had given him ample reason to
do so. The Oval test match was then
reversed into a draw, but the last one
heard in this see-sawing battle between
the two cricket boards had the English
team been declared winners. This hasn’t
gone too well with most cricket experts
in Pakistan and the PCB has been under
fire ever since!
The on-field performances have only
dwindled over a period of time, what
with a couple of dopers for fast
bowlers, an all-boast-no-roast leg-spin-
ner, and a wicket-keeper who seems to
be wearing the veil of one anyways!
The simmering political tensions with
India not only ensured that the Indians
called off their tour to Pakistan, but
also that none of the Pakistani crick-
eters would be representing any of the
franchisees in the second edition of the
IPL. That by itself would have been the
biggest tragedy of them all for the
players!
To mildly conclude it, Younis Khan has a
rather tough job on his hand. �
Pakistan Cricket.qxd 2/20/2009 1:03 PM Page 5
84 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia news interview POLITICAL NEXUS
emptation of wielding power or
being close to power is some-
thing very few can resist.
Particularly this is difficult for
those who have once been cen-
tre of attention and interest for mil-
lions of people. Cricketers are a brilliant
example of this theory.
Cricket evolved as a game, played on a
22 yard long strip in the 19th century.
Time changed and with time changed
the dynamics of this game. With every
fall of wicket and each run scored, the
face of the game has changed outside
the stadium too. The echo of success
on the 22yard long strip goes beyond
the boundaries of the stadium and
influences millions of lives. The rever-
berating sound of success has translat-
ed in to many forms including donning
the role of a politician. Sports and poli-
tics are closely related to each other.
Currently, at least in India almost every
sports body is headed by political lead-
ers and cricket is no exception.
Britishers used cricket as a tool to
increase its clout in their colonial parts
around the globe. Kings and head of
states were the initial administrators of
this game and this trend continued
even after freedom of the British
colonies. This system had direct influ-
ence on team selection and players as
well. In countries like South Africa, Sri
Lanka, Pakistan, Zimbabwe etc
Government and politicians have direct
interference in the game even today.
The history of cricket in South Africa is
essentially political in nature, and the
close connection between politics and
cricket goes back to the emergence of
South Africa as a Test playing country
in the late 19th century. Cape Prime
Minister Cecil John Rhodes included
cricket in his drive to impose a segrega-
tionist structure in the African sub-
continent, and together with his
acolytes in the Western Province cricket
establishment successfully blocked the
inclusion of the coloured fast bowler,
Krom Hendricks in the South African
teams of 1894 and 1895. Situation is no
better in India either but in a subtle
way. Hence as a part of this system,
players got an opportunity to experi-
ence politics from close quarters.
Cricketers, since the inception of the
game are attracted towards politics and
this incident is more prevalent in
today’s world where politics has got a
different dimension.
India’s youngest cricket captain Mansoor
Ali khan Pataudi Jr. was a right-hand
batsman and a right-arm medium pace
bowler. Pataudi Jr. better known as
Mansoor in the cricketing world, was
elevated to the captaincy of the Indian
cricket team at a relatively young age
of 21 in March 1962. He played in 46
Test matches for India between 1961
and 1975, where as he captained Indian
cricket team in 40 matches, only 9 of
which resulted in victory for his team.
He was however captain when the
Indian team recorded its first ever over-
seas Test victory, against New Zealand
in 1967.
To protest the abolition of Privy Purse
in India, Mansoor Pataudi Jr. contested
t Beyond22yards
by Rohit Sharma
Beyond 22yards.qxd 2/20/2009 1:05 PM Page 2
in 1971 elections to the Lok Sabha. He
contested from Gurgaon as a candi-
date of the Vishal Haryana Party.
Patudi Jr. was not the only name during
that period, even before him, another
cricketer- Palwankar Baloo created a
sort of furore. Palwankar Baloo ‘s name
stands out in history, and not just in
cricket as he, though being an unfair
victim of the caste system, managed to
challenge this very system with his
immense cricketing talents. Palwankar
Baloo was an employee of the Poona
cricket ground. He had the opportunity
to bowl in the nets to the English who
would come to the ground to practice
and play cricket. His talent was immedi-
ately recognized. But owing to the
prevalent caste system, and given the
fact that he belonged to a
lower caste, the Brahmins
and other higher caste
people refused to include
him in the teams. But
with the insistence of a
few players and some
Britishers, Baloo got
the opportunity
to represent the
Hindus.
Nevertheless, he
never got the
opportunity to
bat and was
confined just
to bowling.
Batting was
always reserved
for the higher castes.
Palwankar Baloo took
179 wickets in 33
matches before quit-
ting cricket and join-
ing politics. He
became a close aid of
BR Ambedkar and
fought for the rights of
the lower castes.
In India, where politics is
synonymous of power, it is
a great hunting ground for
the ambitious souls. Cricket
is like a vast religion in
Indian sub-continent with-
out any barrier of cast,
creed or geographical
boundaries and cricketers
as demigod. Today when
every astute politician
wants to mix religion with
politics, no other option is
better than cricket. Cricket
seems to be last refuge for
the politicians looking for
mass puller
during elections.
With the glam-
our quotient
involved in
cricket and the
much hyped
attention
which crick-
eters draw
during their playing
days, force even
the politicians to drag crick-
eters in their fold in order to
encash the cricketer’s populari-
ty in their favour. In such a situ-
ation it is not easy to distance
cricket from politics. Though the
glamour and mass turning up to
have a glimpse of these stars
doesn’t convert in the ballot box
every time, politicians doesn’t
seem to learn a lesson from their
past experiences. Now even the
cricketers have started showing
interest in the politics but not merely
the for a role of being a crowd
puller. They have their own ambi-
tions. The list of such cricketers is
not very long, neither
too short.
General Election 2009
are round the corner.
Hence, the news of Dilip
Vengsarkar, Anil Kumble,
Md Azharuddin, Vinod
Kambli and others join-
ing politics is not a sur-
prising element. Though
this trend is not new,
but the increasing num-
ber of cricketers joining
politics during recent time
has created some interest in this
episode. Apart from the trio mentioned
above, Chetan Sharma is also in the fray
to become cricketer turn politician as
BSP candidate from Ballabhgarh
(Haryana). In past too, Indian parliament
has witnessed cricketing heroes like
Navjot Singh Siddhu, Kirti Azad, Chetan
Chauhan, etc representing people in the
house.
Former India captain and spin legend
Anil Kumble might join politics following
an offer from the Karnataka BJP to
give him a ticket to contest in the
forthcoming elections. Another cricket-
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 85
General Election2009 are roundthe corner.Hence, the newsof DilipVengsarkar, AnilKumble, MdAzharuddin,Vinod Kambli andothers joining pol-itics is not a sur-prising ele-ment.
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match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 86 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
ing stalwart to have
been offered a similar
deal is Dilip Vengsarkar.
The former chief
selector of the BCCI
and an established
cricketer of his times,
Vengsarkar is report-
ed to be aligning with
Shiv Sena to contest
elections from any
seat in Mumbai. Name
of former Indian cap-
tain Md Azharuddin is
also doing the rounds.
In all probability he will
contest election for
the lower House from Hyderabad on a
Congress party ticket. Former Indian
cricketer Vinod Kambli too made his
intentions to join active politics clear by
joining a Mumbai based local outfit Lok
Bharati as its national vice-president.
Former UP captain and cricketer Jyoti
Yadav is also making foray into the hith-
erto unexplored territory of politics.
Jyoti, son of veteran politician and for-
mer MLA from Allahabad City West con-
stituency Gopal Das Yadav, has fuelled
fresh speculations that he is all set to
don political colours by sharing dais with
Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam
Singh Yadav at a function organised by
the Allahabad High Court Bar
Association recently. This stylish left-
handed batsman was a member of the
Indian team against arch rivals
Pakistan for the Sahara Cup at
Toronto led by Mohammad
Azharuddin in 1998. He came
into limelight when he was
adjudged the Castrol best jun-
ior cricketer. Last year, crick-
eter-turned-politician Dodda
Ganesh and a close friend of
Azhar too joined the Janata
Dal-Secular (JD-S).
In past, though cricketers’
contribution in politics has not
been quite significant, rather
they have left politics after
one or two terms. Famous
opening partner of Sunil
Gavaskar in the late 1970s,
Chetan Chauhan who played 40
Test matches for India is another
example of cricketer turn politician. This
Arjuna awardee of 1981 was twice a
Member of Parliament, elected to the
Lok Sabha from Amroha in Uttar
Pradesh (now in Uttarakhand). Chauhan
was a member of the lower house of
the parliament from Amroha in 1991
and 1998 as a member of the
Bharatiya Janata Party. Kirti Azad, a
right hand middle order batsman and a
member of Cricket World Cup wining
team of 1983 too contested election
on BJP ticket from Darbhanga, Bihar
and got elected for the lower house in
the parliament. Navjot Singh Sidhu is
another cricketer who turned to poli-
tics. This former Indian opener took up
television commentary, political career
and films post retirement. Sidhu was
elected to the Lok Sabha as a member
from Amritsar in 2004 on a Bharatiya
Janata Party ticket.
India is not the only country where
international cricketers are joining poli-
tics. In other countries too there are
many players who have joined politics
and serving their country. The most fit-
ting example is World Cup cricket win-
ning team captain of Pakistan, Imran
Khan. After retirement from cricket he
spent some time in social service then
he joined full time active politics and
floated his own party- Tehreek-e-Insaf.
In April 1996, Khan founded and
became the chairman of Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice).
Besides political activism, Khan is also a
charity worker and cricket commenta-
tor. Arjun Ranatunga, another World
Cup cricket winning team captain,
entered into politics by joining the
People’s Alliance (Sri Lanka) led by
Chandrika Kumaratunga. Later, he was
the Deputy Minister of Tourism for Sri
Lanka.
In cricket where 50 overs or 5 days are
where you can make or break it and rise
to fame, politics asks for enduring
devotion to succeed and moreover here
there is no time for you, your whole
time is for others. Bridge the gap and
make it your heaven!.. �
After retirementfrom cricketImran spentsome time insocial servicethen he joinedfull time activepolitics andfloated his ownparty- Tehreek-e-Insaf.
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match report trivia content news 88 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
t is generally believed by many
readers that all those newspa-
per columns carrying bylines of
cricketers are written by them.
But it is not true. Very few
cricketers are capable of writing well
and actually write their own columns,
match reports, books and even autobi-
ographies. The rest, who cannot write
and yet indulge in this lucrative busi-
ness, depend on ghost writers. But Ian
Peebles, the former England leg-spinner
who later became a journalist and
established himself as one of the finest
cricket writers ever, strongly objected
to “ghosting” and expressed his feelings
in no uncertain terms.
“If some old players have their opinions
transcribed by a ‘ghost’ it ought to be
clearly stated in the interests of all con-
cerned. If a man has something to say
there is no disgrace in a professional
writer recording and clarifying his
views; but to purport that he has actu-
ally written the script in his own words
is a deception,” he said. Peebles
watched to his utter dismay the tribe
of celebrity cricketers getting their
columns and books ghost-written with-
out giving credit to the hacks increase
by the day. It has flourished beyond
imagination today.
“Any work which is the genuine product
of its author I am prepared to try, and
that extends to cricketers who have
told their stories to professional writ-
ers, provided the point is made clear.
The book which appears under one
man’s name from another’s hand
strikes me as a deception which taints
the whole work thereafter. This applies
to all books on all subjects, one or two
of which have appeared under very dis-
tinguished names in spheres other than
cricket but, to common knowledge, are
‘ghosted’,” he added.
Peebles, who penned some highly-
acclaimed cricket books – ranging from
autobiography, tour accounts, biogra-
phy, history, and an analysis of the issue
and problems of bowlers throwing – in
his smooth, uncomplicated and trans-
parent style, was very sensitive on this
particular issue. A man of convictions,
Peebles always stated his original and
independent views, howsoever strong
or bitter, as clearly as he could. He
never minced words and seldom cared
for the reputation of the person he
had been attacking or exposing. Such
honest, courageous cricketers-turned-
critics are as rare as the proverbial
phoenix in a game completely engulfed
by the crass commercialism.
“As I have a taste for period cricket
reading this is a prejudice I frequently
have to swallow, for in years gone by it
was an accepted practice. One of the
great cricket classics is The Jubilee Book
of Cricket, which is officially ascribed to
Ranji, but is generally attributed to
Charles Fry and, indeed, is very much in
his style. Whatever its origin it is, to this
day, grand reading and contains sound
technical advice. Under Charles Fry’s
own name is a masterly work entitled
Batsmanship, a complete analysis of the
art which, it is said, he wrote in a long
week-end under heavy pressure from
the publishers,” he wrote in his autobi-
ography, Spinner’s Yarn, which won the
prestigious Cricket Society’s equally
prestigious Book of the Year award.
“Recently I was given a copy of W.G.
Cricketing Reminiscences and Personal
Recollections published in 1899. The
Doctor has never been notable as a
man of letters, and the book was in
fact written by one Arthur Porritt, who
received just £100 for his services –
but not a signed copy from W.G. In this
case it seems churlish to question the
authenticity as the book is 524 pages,
with over a hundred extremely good
full page illustrations and beautifully
i
Ian Peebles,
English cricket literaturethe Scot who enriched
by Haresh Pandya
WILLOWY WORDS
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editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 89Cricket TodayMarch 2009
bound, all for six bob. The price is not
marked, but my estimate is based on
the enormous attached list of other
works available from James Bowden,
the publisher. A striking if irrelevant
feature of this list is the number of
non-conformist Victorian clergymen
who were given to writing ‘powerful’
novels. It is unlikely that W.G., thumbing
through this appendix to his own book,
was prompted to read them.”
The charm of Peebles’ critical articles
was that he brought his vast experi-
ence as a cricketer into his writing. His
match reports, analytical pieces and
personality profiles were always very
insightful and delightful to read. It was
only to be expected of a man of
Peebles’ eminence and stature.
However, it is his books that put him in
a class of his own despite being a con-
temporary of a quite a few giants
among cricket writers.
Besides Spinner’s Yarn, some of his
other fascinating books include Batter’s
castle: A Ramble Round the Realm of
Cricket, Bowler’s Turn: A Further
Ramble Round the Realm of Cricket,
Straight from the Shoulder: Throwing –
Its History and Cure, Talking of Cricket,
On Top with United, Woolley – The
Pride of Kent, Patsy’ Hendren: The
Cricketer and His Times, Denis
Compton: The Generous Cricketer, The
Fight for the Ashes 1958-1959: The
English Tour in Australia and New
Zealand, The Ashes 1954-1955, Celtic
Triumphant, The Watney Book of Test
Match Grounds and Growing with Glory.
Ian Alexander Ross Peebles was born on
January 20, 1908, at Aberdeen in
Scotland. His father was a “very good”
club cricketer and it was only natural
that Peebles also became one, albeit a
better and renowned one. Peebles had
never seen a cricket match until he was
10 because of World War I. There was
little cricket to be seen in Scotland at
the time. Besides, organised cricket was
hardly seen at Wick, the wartime home
of the Peebles family 18 miles south of
John o’Groats. Shortly before the end
of the actual hostilities, they moved to
Uddingston, which was then a village
near Glasgow.
“The following year the local cricket
club re-opened, and with it a new world
for me,” revealed Peebles. And what a
world it opened for Peebles, the world-
class leg-spinner! There was a time
when he was one of the most formida-
ble bowlers in international cricket, one
who could flummox even Don Bradman
and make him look fallible. “A tall man
with a beautifully easy run-up and a
high action, which gave him a particu-
larly awkward flight, he bowled leg-
breaks and googlies, and in an age of
fine leg-spinners he was, for a while,
the equal of any,” wrote Wisden of
Peebles, who was educated at Glasgow
University.
At 15, he had been rubbing shoulders
with the professional Leicestershire
cricketers, who were on a
northern tour. At 17, he
headed for London for a
holiday, hoping to get a
chance in the world. He
visited the newly-opened
Aubrey Faulkner School of
Cricket. So impressed were
Faulkner and Sir Pelham
Warner by young Peebles’
rich talents for a difficult
art that they predicted a
great future for him.
Faulkner even made him
secretary at his cricket school. On his
part, Peebles always acknowledged a
great debt to Faulkner’s coaching in his
real development as a fine practitioner
of leg-spin.
After about a couple of years of club
cricket in London, he was selected to
play for Gentlemen versus Players at
The Oval in 1927. He bowled Andrew
Sandham for his only wicket in the
match. Though he failed to impress
even later in the season at the
Folkestone and Scarborough festivals,
he was included in the MCC side for the
winter tour to South Africa. He was
ostensibly sent as secretary to the
English captain but he bowled well
enough to figure in the first four Tests,
although he did not achieve much suc-
cess.
In 1928, he played his first few county
matches for Middlesex. Playing regular-
ly for Middlesex in 1929 he dominated
the season with 120 wickets at just
under 20 runs each. He played for
Oxford in 1930 and took 70 wickets,
including 13 against Cambridge. He
staged a comeback into the England
side, in the fourth Test against
Australia at Old Trafford in July 1930,
after claiming 6 for 105 (including Jack
Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe and Maurice
Leyland) for Gentlemen versus Players.
The Fleet Street had fostered the idea
of a personal duel between Peebles and
Bradman, who had been striding like a
Colossus on the playing fields during
that particular English summer. On the
eve of the Test the two teams were
entertained at the home of the Duke
of Norfolk, where Arthur
Mailey, the former Australian
leggie who had been covering
the tour as a journalist, was
seen huddled in a corner with
Peebles. After the meal Mailey
requested for a cricket ball.
Armed with the ball, he told
Peebles to follow him into
the garden. Using an old
oak tree as a wicket, he
taught the tyro several
tricks of the trade,
notably how to more
effectively disguise his
wrong-un. Later, when
the Australian team man-
ager accosted Mailey and
expressed his apprehen-
sion that the youngster
might employ against the
Aussies what he had
taught him, he said: “Spin
bowling is an art. And art
is universal.”
When Peebles came on the
firing line, Bill Woodfull was well set. But
he started struggling against Peebles
and once left a ball which just went
over his middle stump. Peebles greeted
Bradman with a perfect googly, which
all but took his middle stump. When on
10, Bradman snicked a leg-break to the
slip but Wally Hammond floored a sim-
ple enough catch. But Peebles contin-
ued to torture the Aussie and eventual-
ly consumed him in his next over.
“When he had made 14, he again came
down the wicket and played the same
off-drive, only to snick the ball to sec-
ond-slip, where Duleep made no mis-
take. A roar went up from the crowd
that must have lasted a full minute
A man of convic-tions, Peeblesalways stated hisoriginal and inde-pendent views,howsoever strongor bitter, as clearlyas he could. Henever mincedwords and seldomcared for thereputation.
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and, for the moment, I had fulfilled my
purpose,” recalled Peebles. “A well-
known artist named Nevinson wrote
later, in a book entitled The Savage
Islands, that he had returned to these
shores in the midst of a bank crisis, and
various other disasters, to find, much
to his disgust, that all the evening
newspaper headlines said simply PEE-
BLES DOES IT.”
Why, Bradman himself paid a glowing
tribute to Peebles a few months later:’
“When I got to the crease, I found
Peebles bowling extraordinarily well… I
may as well admit that for the first
time in my life I was unable to detect a
bowler’s leg break from his ‘bosey’ [goo-
gly]. I watched Peebles as closely as I
knew how, but there was no use.
Neither by watching his hand nor the
ball could I detect it, and definitely this
day his bowling was too good for me. I
had a most unhappy time,” admitted
Bradman.
The story did not end just there. The
first three balls that Alan Kippax
received from Peebles produced three
confident appeals, for LBW, but they
were turned down. Considering the way
he had bowled, figures of 3 for 150 did
not do any justice to Peebles in the
drawn Test. Australia piled up 695 in the
final Test at The Oval and Peebles fin-
ished with 6 for 204 in 71 overs.
Peebles’ performance against Australia
was certainly not outstanding, save the
way he tormented Bradman at Old
Trafford, but Wisden did nominate him
as one of its Five Cricketers of the Year
for 1930 on th4e strength of his overall
showing in the season.
The winter jaunt to South Africa
fetched Peebles 18 Test wickets. He
added 13 more against the Kiwis in the
following season. Sadly, his Test cricket
proved to be as transient as it was daz-
zling to begin with. The amount of
bowling he had to do for Middlesex and
England, followed by countless hours in
the nets in winter, began to tell upon
him. As if that were not enough, a
shoulder injury dating back from his
heavy bowling duties in Aubrey Faulkner
School of Cricket also began to affect
his form. His leg-break had been fast
losing its sting and he had been forced
to increasingly depend on his googly. It
seemed as if his best years were sud-
denly behind him.
Peebles had lost all hopes of ever repre-
senting England again when, playing in a
country house match at the stately
Kinnaird Castle in Angus, he received a
wire from the chairman of selectors
asking him to play in the deciding fifth
Test against Australia at The Oval in
1933-34. Peebles thought it was a hoax
and simply ignored the telegram. Until
he read the newspaper billboards,
Peebles was not prepared to believe
that he was indeed selected. But the
Press was more critical rather than
complimentary. In fact, a national news-
paper screamed: “WHY PEEBLES?”
As ill luck would have it, Peebles injured
his finger at Kinnaird Castle while catch-
ing a ball thrown by someone from the
crowd. Still, he did report to London
with a banana finger. He ended up
watching the Test from the pavilion as
Australia, riding on Bradman’s 244,
amassed 701 runs and regained the
Ashes in style.
After several seasons of intermittent
appearances, Peebles returned to regu-
lar County cricket in 1939 to captain
Middlesex and helped it retain its posi-
tion as the runner-up to Yorkshire. But
he was only a shadow of his brilliant self
and was reduced to a change bowler.
The onset of World War II brought the
curtain almost down on his playing days.
Although he played occasionally until
1948, the loss of an eye in a wartime air
raid had, to all intents and purposes,
marked the end of his serious cricket
career.
“Memories of Compton, Edrich and
Hutton rapidly faded and he would find
in his everyday vocabulary such porten-
tous words as Home Guard, Blitz,
Dunkirk, and the Channel Ports. On a
night of incessant bombardment on the
capital in May 1941, he became a victim
of one attack, losing the sight of his
left eye and also suffering deafness
and leg injuries. The bad luck that
caused him to be so close to the death
that fell from the sky was matched by
the good luck in receiving immediate
medical treatment which saved him
from being killed outright,” wrote
Fraser Simm.
Asked if any bowler had severely tested
him in his most memorable year, 1930,
Bradman said: “Only one bowler had
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editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 91Cricket TodayMarch 2009
really troubled me. And he was a Scot –
Ian Peebles. At all times there was a
serene gentleness, a lurking sense of
humour and a soft expression, which
were appealing. Of all my English
friends, there was nobody for whom I
had a greater admiration or affection.”
In 13 Tests and 20 innings, Peebles took
45 wickets at 30.91, including three
five-wicket hauls, the best being 6 for
63. He bagged 923 wickets at 21.38 in
251 first-class matches – 5 wickets in
an innings 62 times and 10 in a match
on 15 occasions. His best ever figures
were 8 for 24.
An acknowledge bon viveur and mes-
merising raconteur, Peebles began his
second and longer and more distin-
guished innings as a journalist. He was
also employed in the wine trade for a
while after his retirement as a player. “I
was always purring with delight at his
soft-told tales of wine, wickets, and
song. He was pretty good on women,
too! He taught me (without the slight-
est pretension) a little more each time
about wine,” said Frank Keating.
Robert Menzies, the former Australian
prime minister and universally-
acclaimed cricket connoisseur,
described Peebles the leg-spinner and
Peebles the journalist in the best possi-
ble manner. “Peebles was a fine slow
bowler, one of a class of men trained in
art and patience, the fly fishermen of
cricket,” wrote Menzies.
“His playing time passed, and he
became a writer. Not, thank heaven,
one of those snappers-up of unconsid-
ered trifles who prefer gossip to
description and who are indifferent to
the great contest going on at the wick-
ets, but a true writer. He has an affec-
tion for the game, a respect for those
who play it, and a scholar’s command
of English, for which he also has affec-
tion and respect.”
Since his “original excursion” into jour-
nalism with Evening Standard, he had
written at intervals on a freelance
basis. The paper did not renew its con-
tract. But as it turned out, the loss was
Evening Standard’s, not Peebles’. He
wrote periodically for The Sunday
Times and, “largely by the courtesy of
Max Aitken, for The Sunday Express.
Meanwhile, he also wrote a book, “ambi-
tiously entitled” How to Bowl, for
Chapman and Hall, the “most kindly”
and “long-suffering” of publishers.
After the World War II, Peebles found a
steady outlet for his writings in a week-
ly called Everybody’s that boasted a cir-
culation of around a million. It was a
soberly-produced and well-written fam-
ily-owned publication, principally a re-
hash of old stories, pieces of history
and articles on every subject. After
Everybody’s folded up altogether,
Peebles began writing for Men Only
short sketches of various scenes and
characters that had caught his fancy.
Men only was a mildly risqué publication
in the 1950s, full of good stories on
every subject of predominantly male
interest. As these seemed to be popu-
lar, he looked for wider field, which he
found with Sunday Graphic, a Kemsley
paper. His first assignment was to com-
ment on the Kiwis versus Yorkshire
game at Bradford. “If I was nervous
about my reception amongst the full-
time professionals, I was soon reas-
sured… Everyone was both kind and
helpful. When a leaky pen had covered
me in ink Charles Bray, of Essex and the
Daily Herald, observed that now I
looked quite like a real newspaperman,”
he stated.
In 1953, Peebles joined The Sunday
Times, replacing Billy Griffith, who went
to Lord’s as assistant secretary. It was
obviously a much greater platform
than Sunday Graphic could ever be for
a man of Peebles’ genius. It was in the
fitness of things that he later became
its cricket correspondent. “The Sunday
Times was a rewarding newspaper for
which to work, with Harry Hodson and
Pat Murphy in the lead, and Ken
Compton an undemonstrative but thor-
oughly competent sports editor.
England won a series against Australia
in 1953 for the first time since 1938,
so there was plenty to write about, cul-
minating in the deciding fifth Test
Match at the Oval,” he recalled.
“In the course of the years with The
Sunday Times I covered a match almost
every Saturday, and saw a series played
by every nation of Test match status. It
was an eventful period in the cricket
world, with considerable changes and
occasional controversy, besides which I
twice visited Australia, and also made
one tour of the West Indies.”
In his late 60s, Peebles began to con-
tribute an occasional series of quite
scintillating and scholarly essays to The
Guardian and added yet another feath-
er in his already inundated cap.
Whether you read his reports, articles
or books, you are bound to notice
Peebles’ “generous love of life” and
“genial modesty”. While maintaining
that it was a plus point to have played
the game, Peebles was always quick to
add that the cricket writer would be
read only when he was intelligent and
had flair for writing.
“It is an advantage for a writer to have
a name as an international performer,
because people will listen to what he
says, knowing it has been founded on
the most exacting personal and practi-
cal experience. But the value of what
he says is dependent on many other
qualities, of intelligence, memory,
integrity and power of expression.
What is important to the writer who
commands these qualities is that he
should have served some practical
apprenticeship in order to have an
understanding of the technical difficul-
ties of the job and, importantly,
enjoyed or suffered the mental joys or
anguish,” he emphasised.
“If he has dropped a dolly, or made a
decision which has lost the needle
match for the village, he is less likely to
sit in lofty judgement of someone else
who has done likewise in a Test Match.
Many correspondents like [E.W.]
Swanton, [Jim] Kilburn, and [John]
Woodcock have been extremely capa-
ble cricketers. John Thicknesse was for
three years in the Harrow side while
many others who have not sported an
England or Australian cap have figured
in school, league or club cricket.”
Any aspiring cricket writer would be
better off remembering these pearls
of wisdom. Ian Peebles passed away on
February 28, 1980, at Speen in
Buckinghamshire. The game has seen
only a few better writers, especially
with regard to cricket books, than
Peebles before and after him. �
PEEBLES.qxd 2/21/2009 1:17 PM Page 5
92 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match content news interviewGREATS OF THE GAME
ny discussion about the truly
great South African crick-
eters without a special men-
tion of “Jackie” McGlew is no
discussion at all. For he was
one of the stalwarts of South African
cricket a decade before the rainbow
nation was banned from the interna-
tional arena for encouraging the abhor-
rent apartheid and treating the non-
whites inhumanly.
A brilliant batsman with an impressive
array of strokes, Derrick John McGlew,
to give him his full name, was one of
those unfortunate willow-wielders who
had to curb his natural game because
of the force of circumstances.
Like our own Aunshuman Gaekwad, who
still keeps saying he was “slow by com-
mand”, McGlew was often told, by the
powers that be, to keep his basic
instincts in check when armed with the
bat, even when he was captain.
Like an obedient soldier, he played to
the letter most of the time, always giv-
ing greater importance to his team
than his individual performances or per-
sonal achievements. That he would still
show flashes of his brilliance at times
was a different story altogether. It was
a tribute to his genius, anyway.
Great batsmen are known to adjust
their play to any situation. Having decid-
ed to control his shots, McGlew devel-
oped tremendous concentration and
powers of endurance, qualities
Geoffrey Boycott was to perfect later
on.
McGlew put such a heavy price on his
a
by Haresh Pandya
“JACKIE” MCGLEW,A STALWART OFSOUTH AFRICA
IN 1950S
Greats of the Game.qxd 2/21/2009 1:19 PM Page 2
wicket that it was not easy even for the
best of bowlers to dismiss him quickly.
He would not score prolifically but he
would most certainly grind the bowlers
to dust with his defensive methods.
It was an effective way of frustrating
bowlers. Most bowlers do not like such
batsmen; they prefer to bowl to those
who take a chance or two and give
them hope to dismiss them.
In the Durban Test against Australia in
1957-58 McGlew had displayed the
patience which was as amazing as it was
unbearable. With South Africa losing
two early wickets, he had the right plat-
form to parade his stoicism.
He simply dug in, making only 105 in
575 minutes – one of the slowest of
Test centuries. It was sort of an anti-cli-
max, for in the first Test at
Johannesburg he had scored 108 in
much quicker time.
At Durban, he shared a 231-run part-
nership with John Waite for the third
wicket, while at Johannesburg he and
Trevor Godard put on 176 for the open-
ing wicket.
McGlew’s best Test series was probably
against England in 1955. He finished the
rubber with 476 runs at 52.88 with a
century each at Old Trafford and
Headingley.
He toured England three times – as a
player in 1951 and 1955 and as a cap-
tain in 1960. He exceeded 1,000 runs on
each of his England jaunts: 1,002 runs
at 38.53 in 1951, 1,871 runs at 58.46 in
1955 and 1,327 runs at 42.80 in 1960.
On the 1952-53 tour of New Zealand,
too, he made 1,138 runs at 47.41. It
enabled him to establish himself firmly
in the South African team. The highlight
of his heavy scoring in New Zealand was
his career-best 255 not out in the first
Test at Wellington.
Until Graeme Pollock essayed an eye-
catching innings of 274 against the
powerful Australians at Durban in 1969-
70, it was South Africa’s highest individ-
ual Test score. McGlew carried his bat
through the South African innings of
524 for 8 declared.
He also shared a seventh wicket stand
of 246 runs with Anton Murray. Another
feature of this particular Test was that
McGlew was on the field throughout
the match.
It was in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, that
this dour and determined batsman
with not too big a height was
born on March 11, 1929. Like
most South Africans, he was
also a topnotch fielder with
a sharp eye.
His ability to judge the ball,
both as a batsman and as a
fielder, was quite remark-
able. He had strong arms
and subtle reflexes. He
was a sight to behold in
the covers.
Like Colin Bland and Jonty
Rhodes, he had terrorised
many a batsman, though
he was not exactly in their
class as a fielder. But there
was no doubt about
McGlew’s magnificence as
a fielder in the off, partic-
ularly in the covers.
McGlew, who had led Natal for many
years in South Africa’s domestic cricket,
was an intelligent, imaginative, astute
and adventurous captain. When he first
captained South Africa, many felt he
was at the helm for all the wrong rea-
sons.
Actually the mantle of captaincy fell on
McGlew thanks to an elbow injury to the
original skipper Jack Cheetham on the
tour of England in 1955. But he silenced
his detractors by scoring centuries in
the next two Tests.
If anything, South Africa levelled the
series after being down by two Tests.
Never before had a South African side
been so successful in the Old Country.
As a captain, McGlew never believed in
commanding respect of his team-
mates. Rather he always believed in
“earning” it. And very few captains of
South Africa were as respected as
McGlew by the players, the Press and
the public.
Sadly, he got to lead South Africa in
only 14 Tests. Yet, he won 6 and lost
just 4. Of course, at times he found
himself in controversies, directly or indi-
rectly, when leading the national side.
For instance, in the second Test against
England at Lord’s in 1960, his fast
bowler Geoff Griffin had triggered a lot
of controversy by his suspect action,
creating problems for McGlew.
Griffin had done well initially in this par-
ticular Test, achieving the first ever hat-
trick by a South African in the heavy-
weight division of cricket. Importantly, it
was also the first ever hattrick by any-
one at the Mecca of cricket.
The two officiating umpires
were Syd Buller and Frank Lee.
And it was Lee’s “distinctly
unpleasant” duty to have to
no-ball Griffin no fewer than 11
times for “throwing” during the
England innings.
It was not the first time
that Griffin was no-balled
on the tour. He had been
penalised in earlier match-
es as well – against MCC
(at Lord’s),
Nottinghamshire (at Trent
Bridge) and Hampshire (at
Southampton) for the
same “offence”.
As the Lord’s Test ended
a quarter of an hour
after lunch on the fourth
day, the agreement to
play an exhibition one-
innings each contest
came into force. In this
game, Griffin bowled only
one over.
But what an eventful over it turned out
to be! It consisted of as many as 11
deliveries! Buller “called” him for “throw-
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 93
As a captain,McGlew neverbelieved in com-manding respect ofhis team-mates.Rather he alwaysbelieved in “earning”it. And very few cap-tains of South Africawere as respected asMcGlew by the play-ers, the Pressand the public.
Greats of the Game.qxd 2/21/2009 1:19 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 94 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
ing” four times in his first five balls.
Of course, Buller did not take such a
severe stand without a careful study of
Griffin’s action. The legendary umpire
looked at the bowler first from square-
leg and then from point before he
raised a hand.
Irritated, even embarrassed, McGlew
told Griffin to complete the over with
under-arm deliveries. But only to be no-
balled immediately by Lee because
Griffin omitted to notify the batsman
of his intention to change his action!
It was funny and frustrating, entertain-
ing and exasperating,
although many spectators
gave the impression of
enjoying every bit of it.
A vast amount of discussion
and bother followed from
all this, both among people directly con-
nected with the running of cricket and
in the Press.
But the inexplicable thing for Lee was
that despite the part he played during
the actual Test, in which Buller, being at
the bowler’s end on each occasion that
Griffin bowled, had no opportunity to
penalise the Protea for “throwing’, most
of the “unpleasant publicity” fell upon
him.
“Why a man should be pilloried for con-
scientiously fulfilling his duty?” he
argued. And Lee had a valid point there.
McGlew and company declined to Buller
umpiring in any of the remaining Tests.
To their credit, the English authorities
paid Buller his fees he would have oth-
erwise received; and also restored him
to his rightful place the following sea-
son.
But it was difficult to understand the
hostility shown towards Buller in so
many ways in so many quarters after-
wards. He was perfectly justified in his
action and did as any right-minded
umpire should have done.
When asked for his version of the mat-
ter, Lee was naturally able to state pre-
cisely what had taken place on the field.
He categorically disclosed the argu-
ments between McGlew and Buller and
also the language and the manner in
which all that was done. Lee added his
opinion that he failed to see how any-
one could have taken offence with
Buller who had correctly performed his
“unsavoury” task.
“I personally felt that the whole busi-
ness was unbelievable – and especially
when I considered the ethics
of umpiring, as I believed
them to be, that an umpire
should carry out his job in as
quiet a manner as circum-
stances permitted,” said Lee.
In 34 Tests, McGlew scored
2,440 runs at 42.06. He
hit 7 hundreds and held
18 catches. If anything,
these are far better sta-
tistics than those of
many former South
African, Indian and
Pakistani players glori-
fied by generations of
cricket writers.
In a glittering first-class
career spanning 1947 to
1967, McGlew made
12,170 runs at 45.92,
including 27 centuries.
He also took 103 catch-
es and claimed 35 wick-
ets at 26.62.
McGlew died of leukemia at
Craighill Park, Johannesburg, Transvaal,
on June 1998. Only cricketing ignora-
muses, who cannot see beyond cold
statistics, will not give McGlew a pride
of place in the history of the willow
game. �
He would notscore prolificallybut he wouldmost certainlygrind the bowlersto dust with hisdefensive meth-ods. It was aneffective way offrustratingbowlers. Mostbowlers do notlike suchbatsmen.
Greats of the Game.qxd 2/21/2009 1:19 PM Page 4
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96 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content interview STRIGHT TALK
WHAT IS ELITE SPORTSMANAGEMENT ALLABOUT AND HOW DIDYOU BEGIN WITH THISVENTURE?Elite Sports Management is a venture
that is passionate about cricket and
cricket is a top priority for this compa-
ny. We are involved in four streams as
of now, including, player management,
sports marketing, organizing cricket
tournaments and giving opportunities
to raw and prodigious talent. Cricket is
the number one sport in our country
and its high popularity encouraged us
to support the vast talent available
across the nation.
WHY ARE YOU JUSTINVOLVED WITH CRICK-ET? OTHER SPORTS ININDIA ARE IN NEED OFSUPPORT AS WELL.Any venture of this kind is always driv-
en by passion. That is the key require-
ment for sports management and
cricket is my passion. Therefore, with
due respect to all sports, we decided to
begin with cricket. It is not that we will
never proceed with other sports for we
are a sports management firm and not
a cricket management one. But even
variance in cricket is high and so we
thought it best to begin with something
My aim is toencourage
talent As the Director of Elite
Sports Management,Nishant Dayal has known
a lot of hard work beforehe has known success. Heis now a known quantity
across the country for thehard work he has put into
promoting the talent,especially in Bihar and
Jharkhand, regions whichhaven’t known much
sports backing. Cricket ishis passion and one love
and his one aim is to pro-mote the game into the
future.
Nishant Dayal, Director, Elite Sports Management
Nishant Interview.qxd 2/21/2009 1:22 PM Page 2
we are passionate about.
WHAT ALL PLAYERS DOYOU CURRENTLY HAVEON YOUR MANAGE-MENT ROSTER?Our management system’s synergies
work well with younger players so we
have primarily targeted the under-19
players. We like to find them young and
mark them for the future. We would
love to have senior players in the basket
as well but competition in the field of
sports management is quite intense.
Currently we have Saurabh Tiwary,
Ashok Dinda, Wridhiman Saha, R Ashwin,
Debabrata Das, Siddharth Kaul and
Ajitesh Argal to look after and rest
assured this is an ever growing list.
ARE SMALL TOWNSAND REGIONS YOURCATCHMENT AREA ORDO YOU ALSO GO ONA STAKE OUT IN THEBIGGER CRICKETINGCENTERS?We haven’t restricted ourselves to the
smaller regions for cities like Delhi and
Mumbai are quite abundant in talent.
But here the availability of players is a
big problem as there are umpteen clubs
and teams to look at. At the same time
we also want quality
players to come to
the fore, who can
show they have the
mettle to perform
at the top level.
They have to dis-
play that they are
in it for the long
run and that is the
bottom line,
whether they come
from metropolitans or the rural areas.
There are 30,00,000 cricketers in the
country but the top players are only
about a hundred in number.
WHAT IS THE ELITECELEBRATION CUP ALLABOUT AND WHEN WASIT INCEPTED?This tournament was started last year
only and the main aim was to give crick-
et players from relatively backward
regions of the country a chance to
showcase their talent and come to the
fore. This is mainly because in Bihar and
Jharkhand there is not much financial
aid for sports. In the first edition, the
tournament was limited to Jharkhand
and Bengal but this time we have gone
across the nation. It was always my
dream that I do something for the
sporting talent available in Jharkhand
and Bihar. We got an egg on with the
T20 World Cup and India’s CB Series win
in Australia under MS Dhoni and
Saurabh Tiwary’s contribution to the
Under-19 World Cup win and we are
happy that this tournament now has a
well known status.
WHY DID YOU SELECTRANCHI AS THE VENUEFOR THIS PARTICULARTOURNAMENT?There are many reasons behind select-
ing Ranchi. Players here are very strong
mentally and the biggest example of
that today is Indian captain Mahendra
Singh Dhoni who hails from here. Inspite
of this being a small city, it is quite
rich in talent and all they need is the
right backing to showcase their talent
but due to lack of opportunities are
not able to make their mark on the
horizon. My one aim is to give them
that platform so that more and more
players of the Dhoni and
Saurabh Tiwary mould come up
and make us all proud.
HOW MUCH SUP-PORT HAVE YOUBEEN ABLE TO GAR-NER, ESPECIALLYFROM THE CORPO-RATES?We are in talks with all major
corporates who indulge in sports
sponsorship and we are hopeful
that we will be able to get what
we want. Mention worthy is the
fact that Cricket Today is support-
ing us as the print partner and Big
FM is the radio partner. Meanwhile we
are also confident that we will get oth-
ers on board with us.
THE FIRST EDITION OFTHE TOURNAMENT LASTYEAR WAS QUITE SUC-CESSFUL, SO WHAT ISNEW AND DIFFERENTTHIS TIME?Last year, Elite Cup garnered fabulous
response from the fans. All spectators
were mighty impressed by the per-
formance of the players on the field
and the quality of cricket. This time we
are planning to take the level of enter-
tainment one step higher. We are also
planning to appeal to the BCCI to make
this an official league on a national level
so that this tournament can also get
the adulation which tournaments such
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review interview market mania 97
Cricket is thenumber onesport in ourcountry and itshigh popularityencouraged usto support thevast talent avail-able acrossthe nation.
Nishant Interview.qxd 2/21/2009 1:22 PM Page 3
match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 98 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
as Buchi Babu are able to gather.
AS YOU SAID, INDIANCAPTAIN MS DHONIHAILS FROM THIS TOWN.IS HE AWARE OF THEINITIATIVE THAT YOUHAVE TAKEN AND IFYES, WHAT IS HIS OPIN-ION?We have worked quite closely with MS
Dhoni over the past few years and he is
very well aware what Elite Celebration
Cup is all about and yes, he has been
very supportive of the initiative that we
have taken.
WHAT IS THE FUTUREFOR JHARKHANDCRICKET?At present, Jharkhand cricket is a bit
weak but I am confident that the
future is bright. Cricket is a team game
and when any team has four-five play-
ers who are performing at the top
level, they invariably do well and go on
to achieve more. There is no lack of tal-
ent here but the need is to groom
them. If the team is able to get the
direction they want to progress in, then
it will indeed be a good thing for cricket
in Jharkhand.
HOW WAS THE EXPERI-ENCE OF THE PLAYERSWHO PLAYED IN LASTYEAR’S TOURNAMENTGIVEN THAT THE VENUEIS NOT AN INTERNA-TIONAL ONE? They felt very nice especially since we
had a large fan following and each
match had sufficient spectator
response. And this was considering
that the tournament was hosted
in a small town but it all went
through very well. The
Makon Grounds here are
very well kept and the
players were satisfied
with the preparations.
WHO ARE THEBIG NAMESPARTICIPAT-ING IN THISYEAR’S ELITECUP?Mohammad Kaif, RP
Singh, Piyush Chawla, Parvinder Singh,
Tanmay Srivastava, Manoj Tiwary, Ashok
Dinda, Ranadeb Bose, Wridhiman Saha,
Amit Bhandari, Ashish Nehra, Gagan
Khoda, Vikram Malik, Ishank Jaggi,
Sourabh Tiwary et al are much talked
about players on the Indian team’s hori-
zons. Getting so many fringe players to
participate is a success for our venture.
WILL THE TOURNAMENTPROGRESS ON THE EVEOF FESTIVAL OFCOLOURS, HOLI?
The festival will be celebrated on
11th March and as such we have
not scheduled any match that day.
For the evening, we have organized
a small get together for the play-
ers, press and the well known people
of the town to get them to
interact on a common plat-
form. There is also a special
cultural event that has been
prepared for the occasion.
APART FROM THEELITE CUP, WHATOTHER PLAT-FORMS HAVEYOU PROVIDEDFOR PLAYERS?As I said, the Elite Cup is now
in its second year running.
Apart from this we also had
the Elite Summer League,
which is held in the months of
May-June and is played between
teams from the second level of cricket.
These are teams with a mix of profes-
sional players and corporate cricketers.
This year’s edition will also be the sec-
ond time we will be hosting this tourna-
ment. Apart from this, we have also
incepted the Elite Corporate tourna-
ment which we are planning to host
somewhere in September this year.
Participation is open to corporate crick-
eting teams.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE,SINCE WHEN HAVE YOUBEEN INVOLVED WITHTHE GAME AND HAVEYOU YOURSELF PLAYEDTHE GAME?I have been in love with cricket since I
was a kid. I played cricket in school and
though I couldn’t but a lot of my co-
players have gone on to play profes-
sional cricket. �
We have workedquite closely withMS Dhoni overthe past fewyears and he isvery well awarewhat EliteCelebration Cupis all about andyes, he has beenvery supportive ofthe initiative thatwe havetaken.
Nishant Interview.qxd 2/21/2009 1:22 PM Page 4
editor speaks interview letterT20 TOURNAMENT99Cricket TodayMarch 2009
lite Sports Management is
actively into Player
Management. Elite is also
into Sports Marketing having
wings in PR, Media and
Marketing Management. Organising
Cricket Tournaments, especially Twenty-
20 and taking youth Cricket tours to
England has also been on the Activities.
After the Grand Success of Elite
Celebration Cup and Elite Summer
League, at the MECON Stadium in
Ranchi, where in the final, a crowd
turnout of around 2000 spectators wit-
nessing the best ever Cricket in Ranchi,
Elite Sports is again planning to organise
another Cricket Tournament in
Jharkhand. The Matches will be
again played in Coloured Dress
and with White balls.
Elite Sports is proud to
announce 2nd All India Elite
Celebration Cup 2009 at
MECON Stadium from 8th
March, 2009 to 13th
March, 2009.
The Schedule start day
of the Tournament is
8th March, 2009 until
13th March, 2009 with a
Minimum of 6 Teams
Participating. There are
going to be 2 Pools and
Each Pool will have three
teams, playing each
other once followed by
the Grand Finale. Elite
would take out the draw
on February 25th, 2009.
The Winning Team would be awarded
with a Cash Prize of Rs.2,00,000/- and
Dr S Dayal Winners Award, the Runners
– Up would get
Rs.1,00,000/- and Dr S Dayal
Runners – Up Award. The
Man of the Series would get
a TVS Motor Bike. Each Man of
the Match would get a Rs 20,000
worth Gift Voucher of Club Mahindra
sponsored by CRICKET TODAY.
Cricket Today is the magazine Sponsor
for the Tournament. Sapphire
International School is the Official
Carrier of the Team’s local travelling
along with Vasundhra Homes.
PROBABLE TEAMS* Jharkhand State Cricket Association
* Air India
* Cricket Association of Bengal
* ONGC
STAND BYES:* Orissa Cricket Association
* MRF Pace Foundation
* Delhi District Cricket Association
* Bihar Cricket Association
* Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association
Elite Sports will also be sponsoring 10
players (5 Batsman and 5 Bowlers) with
MATTRRIX Cricket Kit (from Mattrrix
Ventures Inc) under Dr S Dayal
Sponsored Players on the 13th March,
2009 (FINAL)
Mr Rajeev Ranjan Verma and Mr Gautam
Upadhayay are the Local Organised and
Co ordinator for the 6 Day Event. �
2nd AllIndia EliteCelebrationCup 2009
Elite Sports isproud toannounce 2ndAll India EliteCelebration Cup2009 at MECONStadium from8th March, 2009to 13th March,2009.
e
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100 Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report trivia content DOWN MEMORY LANE
y early 1983 India had still a
long way to go to achieve
any sort of credentials in
one day cricket. Despite play-
ing almost 40 ODIs in nearly
a decade in India, England, New Zealand,
Australia, West Indies and Pakistan,
Indian teams had struggled to come to
terms with the intricacies of the short-
er version of the game then still in its
infancy. Test cricket was still the in
thing as far as Indian cricketers, Indian
spectators and Indian fans were con-
cerned.
Given their woeful record India were
given little chance in the three ODIs to
be played on the tour of the West
Indies from February to May 1983. By
the time of the second ODI at Berbice
on March 29 they were one down in the
Test series and one down in the ODI
contests as well having lost the first
match at Port of Spain by 52 runs. The
West Indies were then the undisputed
No 1 team in the world. Having won the
World Cup in 1975 and 1979 they had
steamrolled their opponents in ODIs.
Their team was held in awe and why
not? With batsmen of the striking cali-
bre of Gordon Greenidge, Desmond
Haynes, Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd,
Faoud Bacchus, Gus Logie, Larry Gomes
and Jeff Dujon they had a line-up that
could give any bowling line up bad
dreams. And there were bad dreams for
opposing batsmen too with the fear-
some pace quintet of Andy Roberts,
Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Joel
Garner and Winston Davis to confront.
It was taken for granted that the West
Indies would wrap up the series in
Berbice and then go on to make it a
clean sweep in the final match at
Grenada. This feeling was strengthened
when a supremely confident Lloyd won
the toss and invited the Indians to bat
on a pitch that could be exploited by his
quartet of fast bowlers. But Holding
and Roberts were harshly dealt with by
Sunil Gavaskar. The Indian opening bats-
man had built his game over the past
dozen years on his superb technique,
utmost dedication and monk-like con-
centration. He displayed his anathema
for limited overs cricket in no uncertain
terms and yet here he was hitting out
at the fastest of bowlers and playing
unorthodox strokes that were anything
but straight from the textbook. He
dominated the first wicket partnership
of 93 runs with Ravi Shastri (30) reach-
ing his half century off 52 deliveries.
There were many Indians among the
spectators and they had plenty to
cheer. And the entertainment was just
beginning. Joined by the in-form
Mohinder Amarnath Gavaskar outscored
his opponent during a second wicket
stand of 59 and by the time he was run
b
by Partab Ramchand
India sfirst winoverWestIndies
Down Memory Lane.qxd 2/21/2009 1:26 PM Page 2
out at 152 he had scored 90 off 117
balls with eight hits to the ropes. It was
a rather extraordinary performance
given Gavaskar’s unimpressive record in
ODIs including his most infamous knock
– 36 not out off 174 balls in the World
Cup against England in 1975.
Kapil Dev did the right thing in promot-
ing himself. He and Amarnath gave the
scoring rate a further impetus by
adding 72 runs for the third wicket in
quick time. Amarnath scored 30 off 34
deliveries with two boundary hits but
he was put completely in the shade by
the 24-year-old Indian captain. By this
time the spinners were on and Kapil
took a heavy toll off Gomes and
Richards. Sixteen overs from the two
saw them concede 108 runs even
though Richards chipped in with the
wicket of Amarnath. But Kapil continued
undeterred slamming his way to 72 off
just 38 balls with seven fours and three
sixes. By the time he was fourth out at
246 India were on their way to a fight-
ing total. Yashpal Sharma (23 off 26
balls) and Dilip Vengsarkar (18 from 19)
maintained the momentum in the slog
overs and India were able to post 282
for five off 47 overs. It was their high-
est score in ODIs and the highest by any
team against West Indies and that in
itself was reason to
rejoice.
Soon there was further rea-
son to rejoice. Even for
the world champions a
target of six an over
could well be tough
going. The bowlers
and fielders howev-
er would have to
back the batsmen for as I said the West
Indian line-up was quite awesome.
However the pressures of chasing such
a seemingly insurmountable target soon
started to tell. Haynes was leg before to
Balwinder Sandhu for two and
Greeniedge gave Kapil a return catch
when 16.
Twenty two for two was hardly the
start the home team needed particular-
ly in the face of a daunting ask. But
Richards settled down without any dif-
ficulty and with Lloyd added 40 runs
before the captain was caught by
Amarnath off Madanlal for eight.
Richards however seemed hell bent on
trying to achieve the impossible and as
long as he was at the crease the Indians
knew they could not take any-
thing for granted. However after
he hit 64 off 51 balls with eleven
fours and a six he was bowled by
Madanlal. West Indies were now
98 for four and India were well
on course towards a famous vic-
tory.
Bacchus and Gomes however
kept the West Indies in the hunt
with a fifth wicket partnership of
56 runs. But the dismissal of
Gomes for 26 meant that West
Indies at 154 for five were up
against it. Jeff Dujon ever the
fighter commenced a brilliant
counter attack but when Bacchus
was out for 52 off 65 balls it was
obvious there could be only one result.
West Indies were now 181 for six and
Dujon had only the four fast bowlers
for company. Refusing to accept the
inevitable the plucky wicket keeper con-
tinued to play daring strokes but he
could do little to prevent wickets falling
at the other end. Marshall, Roberts and
Holding all fell after token resistance
and the last cheer for the West Indian
camp was Dujon’s half century. He fin-
ished with 53 not out off 64 balls with
three fours and a six but after 47 overs
the West Indian score was 255 for nine.
The quartet of Kapil, Sandhu, Madanlal
and Shastri backed up the batsmen
admirably and the result against all
expectations was a famous 27-run vic-
tory. It was India’s first win over West
Indies and a breakthrough victory. The
adjectives notable and significant were
also strewn about freely in describing
the result. Even today 26 years later
the unforgettable events at Berbice
occupy a hallowed place in Indian cricket
history especially against the backdrop
of the World Cup triumph just three
months later. �
Cricket TodayMarch 2009 editor speaks contents letter book review market mania trivia 101
The quartet ofKapil, Sandhu,Madanlal andShastri backed upthe batsmenadmirably and theresult against allexpectations was afamous 27-run victory. It wasIndia’s first win overWest Indies and a breakthroughvictory.
Down Memory Lane.qxd 2/21/2009 1:26 PM Page 3
news preview cover story interview MARKET MANIA 102 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
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editor speaks contents letter review interview match report 103Cricket TodayMarch 2009
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match report preview cover story breaking news interview trivia 104 Cricket TodayMarch 2009
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editor speaks interview market trivia content letterEVENTS105Cricket TodayMarch 2009
JOHN ABRAHAMFLAGS OFF THECASTROL POWER1PASSION HUNTCastrol Brand Ambassador -
Actor John Abraham, recently
flagged off the Castrol Power1
Passion Hunt, in Mumbai, in
search of India’s ‘Most
Passionate Biker’. The Castrol
Power1 Passion Hunt will
enable biking enthusiasts
across the country to come
together to showcase and
share their passion for biking and also vie for the title of the “Castrol
Power1’s Most Passionate Biker”.
The contest preliminaries will be conducted in 8 cities (Pune, Mumbai,
Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore) and the
grand final will be held in Delhi in April. The winner of the All India title of
“Castrol Power1’s Most Passionate Biker” will win a Yamaha R1 Superbike
which will be handed over by John Abraham.
Castrol Brand Ambassador - John Abraham, who is a passionate biker
himself, said, “I am proud to be associated with such a high perform-
ance, top-of-the-line brand like Castrol Power1. The Castrol Power1
Passion Hunt will be a really exciting event and I would have definitely
participated in it were it not my own Brand event! This event is the
place for bikers to demonstrate their passion and biking skills rather
than on the roads where you can endanger your lives and the lives of
other people. At Castrol, Road Safety is the number one priority and
therefore this event has been designed to ensure maximum safety
while making it enjoyable and exciting”.
REEBOK PROMOTES SPORTS AMONG KIDSWITH HARBHAJAN SINGH In an ongoing effort to promote sports among kids, Reebok, the leading
sports brand got ace cricketer Harbhajan Singh to Guru Harkrishan
Public School in Delhi to interact with them and talk about the impor-
tance of sports in life. Harbhajan Singh addressed the students during a
special assembly where he spoke about the significance of sports in the
life of everyone and
very fondly remem-
bered his school days.
He also gave tips &
guidance to the young
kids pursuing cricket
on various aspects of
playing the game.
Harbhajan Singh said,
“Sports is an integral
part of every child’s
life. Reebok has always
been a leader in pro-
moting young talent.
Such opportunities to
interact with sports
persons will surely give the children a good insight into the world of
sports and it will help the children work towards achieving their goals. ”
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sajid Shamim, Executive Director
Marketing and Product, Reebok India Company said, “We at Reebok
believe in nurturing young talent who will in the future become the face
of Indian sports. This is an initiative we have undertaken in an ongoing
effort to promote sports among kids. Such events give students a plat-
form to interact & learn from their heroes .” �
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Cricket TodayMarch 2009match report editorial content interviewCONTEST 106
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Postal Registration No. DL(S)-18/3009/2009-11RNI. No. 67924/98
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