CRICKET RSS WORLD

The IPL will help India to prepare for their title defence in the World T20 Championships in June, feels Gautam Gambhir.

Graeme Smith may have led SA to the pinnacle in the one-day cricket but he is comfortable under with Shane Warne.

The IPL will help India to prepare for their title defence in the World T20 Championships in June, feels Gautam Gambhir.

Hamid Hassan, the Afghanistan bowler, blogs for Cricinfo from the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa.

I am very happy we are in the qualifiers and that we are one step away from playing at the 2011 World Cup. We will try our best to qualify for the Super Eight stages of the competition and, hopefully, we can do well.

It is unbelievable that we are here, as we started in Division 5 of the World Cricket League last year when there were 12 teams and everybody said the USA and Jersey were the favourites for that tournament. Nobody really expected us to do well, and we didn’t expect that much as we knew we were playing against some very good teams who had played at a much higher level than us.

Following the superb beach cricket festival tournament which the Argentina team put up a spirited performance, the focus of the ICC Americas centenary celebrations shifted to Argentina. There cannot be that many fixtures in world cricket as historic as the annual three-day North v South match played in Argentina, and the 110th version of this timeless match was another great occasion.

The ICC Americas region launched its centenary celebrations at the Annual Beach Cricket Tournament in Chile on February 27 and Argentina hosted the 110th edition of the classic North v South match on March 6, 2009.

The Catch the Spirit celebrations are aimed at promoting the ICC’s centenary, the Great Spirit of cricket and the wide appeal and diversity of the game. While the Full Members including Bangladesh, the West Indies and recently South Africa, have played their role in celebrating the ICC’s centenary, the spotlight fell on Chile and Argentina to showcase the spirit of the game in their country.

The Annual Beach Cricket Tournament at Viña del Mar’s Playa del Deporte on Chile’s coast captured the sun, sea and sand which represents the spirit of the game in Chile. India successfully defended the title they won last year, by beating England in the final, while Australia came third beating Argentina in the play-off. It was the two Chilean teams though which provided the tournament with the excitement, illustrating the great potential for the game in South America.

The beach cricket festival was followed by the 110th Edition of the North v South three day game at the Belgrano Athletic Club, Buenos Aires. The idea for this historic fixture was born in a railway station in the far northern city of Tucuman, when the proposal was made and accepted to challenge Buenos Aires. Early in November of 1891, the cricketers of the North travelled to play the South at Palermo in Buenos Aires, and the legendary tale of this famous game had begun.

The 2009 fixture saw the South beat the North by eight wickets (North 151 and 69, South 162 and 61 for 2). The South took just ten and a half overs to knock off the 59 runs they needed to complete, in less than two days, the first outright win in this historic fixture since their 22-run victory in 2000. Billy MacDermott, with 8 for 44 and a crucial innings of 31, won the Man-of-the-Match award, with Diego Lord (7 for 38) and Gary Savage (52 not out and 26) named as Best Bowler and Best Batsman respectively. Miguel Rowe took the Spirit of Cricket Award. ICC

Cricinfo will be providing live scores and report throughout the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa. On top of that, we will have exclusive reports, interviews and a tour diary from our man on the spot, Will Luke. Click here for all this on our tournament site.

Dear readers,

Walking out to defend a modest total against Bengal in the quarter-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, I told my players that we needed to give it all we had, to ensure that we get another opportunity to walk on to the cricket field as a team. A loss in that match would’ve meant the end of the road for Delhi. We had an early start to the season because we had to play a couple of extra pre-season games as a reward for winning the Ranji Trophy last season. So our sojourn together was quite a long one, where we saw more lows than highs, especially when compared to the previous season.

When you know that it’s all going to end, albeit only for a few more months when the drama would begin once again, you want to hold onto it for as long as possible. It might sound a little clichéd and inspired from the movie Chak De, but our last 47 overs on the field (the match was reduced to 47 overs a side) reminded me of that ‘Yeh 70 minute’ speech that Shah Rukh Khan gives his players before the finals.

Dear Readers,

As promised here are the answers to some of the questions you'd asked.

Posted by: Chintan Shah on February 24, 2009 11:00 AM

Hi Aakash,
I’m a big fan of your articles on Cricinfo. I was trying to find your book in local bookstores but could not get it. Maybe I didn’t try enough, but I would surely buy it soon.
My Question to you is about our domestic cricket scheduling. County cricket has four tournaments just like we do, they also have a two-tier approach, plus they have Twenty20 tournaments too which we do not – in our domestic circuit - thanks to the IPL. Why can’t we have a schedule just like them? The counties play four day-games in a week and play a one-day match over the weekend, that way both the Ranji Trophy and Ranji one-dayers can be held together. Similarly, the Duleep Trophy needs more matches, it simply cannot be a knockout tournament.

Dear Chintan,
We used to follow a similarly formatted schedule earlier i.e. playing a one-day match a day before the longer version. But all this changed when the Elite and Plate divisions were introduced in the Ranji Trophy. The old zonal system continued for the one-day tournament, though. Hence, it isn’t possible to hold both formats in the same week. I won’t be surprised to see the Elite and Plate divisions introduced soon in the shorter format as well.
Yes, I completely agree that there could be more matches in the Duleep trophy.

Posted by: Angi on February 24, 2009 11:20 AM

Dharamsala is a beautiful place - wonderful scenery and locations.
I'm a bit curious to know one thing: when did you first debut in the Ranji Trophy? I mean, did you represent your school teams first and then some clubs - basically, how did you get noticed?

Dear Angi,
I made my first class debut in 1997 against Services.

Yes, one needs to play for the school team, then some club and eventually in age-group tournaments for the state. One must do well enough in the age-group tournaments to get noticed and picked to play for the state team at first-class level.

Posted by: Vikram Kewalramani on February 24, 2009 12:31 PM

Hey Aakash,
Love your book. I live in Canada but I made sure that I got one sent to me as I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts.

According to you, what is the difference in pre-match preparation between a Test player v/s an above-average Ranji player for the same game? (Let’s say a Laxman versus a Mithun Minhas.) Or to compare Apples with apples (how do you/ Gambhir differ in preparation versus a Rajat Bhatia/ Minhas? )
Thanks,
Vikram

Dear Vikram,
Many thanks for your feedback and I appreciate the effort you made to get hold of my book; and I’m glad that you liked it.

There is always some difference in the way each one approaches and prepares for an event i.e. a match in our case. Some players like to bat for hours prior to the match and on the eve of the match, they simply refuse to leave the nets. Then there are some who don’t bat in the nets at all especially on the eve of the game. They prefer to have a few throw downs instead.
Some people give a lot of emphasis on visualization and try to simulate the match situation before the game starts.

In the end, it’s all about what works for each individual. There are no fool proof methods of preparing. As they say, if you’re not prepared to succeed you must be ready to fail. Hence, prepare we must.

Posted by: Raghu on February 24, 2009 3:18 PM

Aakash, saw your scores in the tournament, looks like you’re on a purple patch, hope you continue making the big runs.

Here's my question - I am sure its hard to adjust to a higher level of the game when you take a step up but how difficult is it for a player to adjust to a lower level of the game after having played at the highest level? For instance you have played in the best of the grounds and against the best bowlers in the world in Australia, so how difficult is it to adjust to the not-so-great grounds and face lower quality - if I may say so - bowling in domestic cricket.

Dear Raghu,

Thanks for your wishes.

Well, it doesn’t take me a lot to adjust to domestic cricket because I’ve been around for a while. I played quite a few seasons in this circuit before making it to the top and therefore it doesn’t come as a surprise. Yes, the difference does seem more blatant when you’ve played at the top.

Posted by: Ravi on February 24, 2009 4:19 PM

As usual, a nice article from you Aakash. Nowadays I’ve got so habituated to reading your articles, I am checking for one everyday when I logon to Cricinfo.

You’ve hit the nail on the head regarding scheduling. As you said the elite/plate should be introduced here to bring out the best out of the players. But why is it that players get selected in the ODI team based on their performances in four-day games instead of the shorter format?

Dear Ravi,

Yes, there’s some food for thought in what you say. As I’ve said earlier, I won’t be surprised to see the Elite and Plate division system introduced in the shorter format as well.
Yes, it does seem a little unfair to select players to represent India in the shorter format based on their performances in the longer format, but that’s where the selectors come in. They’re the ones who decide whether someone is suited for the shorter version or not. Since they’ve played at the highest level, they generally tend to get it right.

Posted by: Denzil Correa on February 24, 2009 4:54 PM

Hi Aakash,

I am a near regular follower of your blog and most articles on Cricinfo. I would like to know whether players’ opinions are taken into consideration while deciding the itinerary. In international cricket, the two member boards sit and decide the itinerary. Who decides the same for the domestic matches?

All the best for your one-day campaign. If possible, can you explain how teams qualify for the Ranji one-dayers?

Thanks

Dear Denzil,

Thanks for your feedback.

No, the players’ opinions aren’t taken into consideration while chalking out the schedule for the domestic competitions. There’s a valid reason for that. There are 27 teams playing the domestic circuit and it’s impossible to have a representative from every team on board while chalking out the itinerary.

The top two teams from each zone qualify for the Knock Out one-day competition.

Posted by: Aditya on February 24, 2009 4:57 PM

Hi Aakash,

Beautiful post again.

I had a question for you: Just like you discussed about cricket balls in your two previous blogs, can you give us insights into a batsman's gear such as bats, pads, helmets, etc? I know there are English and Kashmir willow bats. Which ones are better and why?

Keep writing,
regards,
Aditya

Dear Aditya,

Thanks for your feedback.

The bats made from English willow are much better in comparison to the bats made from their Kashmiri counterpart. The difference lies in the climate in which the tree is grown. The climate in Kashmir gets hotter in the summer and hence the wood gets dry as compared to the region in which the trees are grown in England. The wood from England is less dense and has more moisture when compared to the willow from Kashmir which is more dense and dry, and hence makes the wood heavier, which isn’t ideal for a top quality cricket bat.

Posted by: Satyanand on February 25, 2009 4:10 AM

Hi Aakash ,
I have always wondered why the domestic matches are not popular ,whereas the IPL seems to be such a success. If we ignore the four foreign players per team , it would basically boil down to a majority of Indian players.

Most Ranji matches nowadays are playing to empty stands . Any thoughts on how to improve the attendance? For one, I think the State/Club youth teams can be encouraged to watch and learn from the matches (at least).

Dear Satyanand,

At the risk of sounding bizarre, I think that we might have to make the Ranji trophy matches day-night affairs. It wouldn’t be a bad option to start the game under lights at 3pm. This would mean that the second half of the day's play would be at prime time and I’m sure that people in this country would like to watch live cricket even if it’s a domestic match.

Posted by: Akash on February 25, 2009 11:41 AM

Hi Aakash,

Very good one mate.

A request for your next blog: is the money earned through domestic cricket sustainable? Can all domestic cricketers earn enough for sustenance of their families or they have to alternative work during off season......after they retire ...etc?

Dear Akash,

The BCCI must be given credit for pumping in the money for domestic cricket. Nowadays if a player plays an entire season of domestic cricket he makes enough money to maintain a decent lifestyle. Besides that, most first class cricketers are working for one organization or another and are therefore drawing a comfortable monthly salary from their employers as well. So they don’t really have to work in the off-season, but they are required to turn up for the matches their respective organizations play during the off-season.

I'm sorry for not being able to answer all the questions as that's a slightly difficult task on the blog. So in the meantime please browse my website which is called www.cricketaakash.com and feel free to ask questions and give feedback.

Cheers.

How far would you go to play cricket? A group of 50 people set out from Lord’s on Friday to play a Twenty20 match on Mount Everest in the Himalayas, the Times reported. They’ll get to their venue, a frozen lake near an Everest base camp called Gorak Shep (“dead raven” in the Sherpas' language), after 11 days of flying, driving and trekking to reach a plateau more than three miles above sea level - the highest altitude recorded for a field sport.

The teams – appropriately named Hillary and Tenzing – will use wooden stumps and bats, a pink leather ball, and an artificial pitch. The thin air is expected to make the player’s hearts beat 30% faster than usual and after their efforts they will take a proper British cricket tea and raise the Union Jack in the Queen’s honour. And oh, the game is being played for charity, with over £250,000 expected to be raised for the Himalayan Trust and the Lord's Taverners.

The celebrity quotient during the opening ceremony of the inaugural IPL may have been provided by biggies from Bollywood but the tournament's shift to South Africa could lend it an international flavour this time around.

Reports suggest Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman - who are working on the Human Factor, a film on how Nelson Mandela used the 1995 rugby World Cup win to help heal post-apartheid race relations - are among the headliners at this year’s ceremony. If true, one of the organisers’ tasks will be to stop them from doing a Groucho Marx (asking “When does the game itself begin?” while watching the match). Pop star George Michael and alternative rock band Snow Patrol are other names being bandied about - though curiously no mention has been made of cricket's biggest rockstar fans, Mick Jagger and his fellow Rolling Stones. Ah well, you can't always get what you want...

Here's another plan to make you part of Cricinfo. If you are a cricket fan in South Africa and are keen on the IPL, you could share your experiences of watching the games with the world through us.

We are looking for volunteers to send us really short reports of the fan experience at the upcoming matches. If you are going to be at any of the games (the schedule is here) - in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Centurion, East London and Kimberley - you may be able to help us.

Send us a brief note (under 100 words) about yourself, telling us what you do, mentioning which city you're going to be in, and anything else you think may be relevant.

Unfortunately we can't pay you for your efforts, but you will be read by a large audience, and we'll be happy to publish a thumbnail picture of you and a brief bio, with a link to your blog or other webpage if any. Interested? Mail fanfollowing@cricinfo.com.

From James Ozerman, Australia

Does anyone remember the former Australian player and NSW/Tasmanian/Queensland player and Captain Dirk Wellham? When I was growing up in the 1980's he was my cricketer. With some players they are who you want to be as players. To me, he was who I was; a quiet, bespectacled nondescript "outsider" sitting on the fringes of teams, waiting and being overshadowed by events or other players.

Yeah, yeah yeah laugh all you want, I can hear you saying "What, are you kidding me? He was one of the worst players to ever represent Australia!". It's a comment echoed a lot apparently. I decided that I had to do my research on this to prove either he was or he wasn't one of the worst ever to represent his country as he frequently appears on worst Australian teams lists compiled by fans just like myself. What I found may or may not surprise you.

From S. Giridhar and V. J. Raghunath, India

The elder amongst us has watched left handers from the days of the incomparable Neil Harvey and was a first division left hand batsman in Chennai and Mumbai. The other can recall the magic of Sobers whom he saw more than 43 years ago and has bowled leg breaks without much success to left handers of even minor league quality. We argued, debated and traded anecdotes to compile a list of what we believe are the most sublime of left handers. The dictionary defines sublime as something that is characterized by feelings of grandeur, nobility, awe, magnificence and something that is ennobling. Going by this definition, we let our memories guide us in our quest of pulling out 12 gems. Here they are in order of their appearance in test cricket:

Frank Woolley of England, Neil Harvey of Australia, Garfield Sobers of West Indies, Graeme Pollock of South Africa, Alvin Kallicharan of West Indies, David Gower of England, Brian Lara of West Indies, Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka, Saurav Ganguly of India, Adam Gilchrist of Australia, Kumara Sangakara of Sri Lanka and Gautam Gambhir of India.

Ricky Ponting's men have been unable to win back the No. 1 one-day international ranking but he believes they can still finish the tour on a high. South Africa claimed the series with a 61-run win in Port Elizabeth on Monday and in doing so confirmed thei

Within weeks of declaring that he did not wish to lead England, Paul Collingwood has emerged as the front-runner to lead the side in the Twenty20 World Cup.

Herschelle Gibbs hit a sparkling century to lift South Africa to 317 for six in the fourth One-Day International against Australia on Monday.

Those who doubt Harbhajan Singh's utility outside the sub-continent and mastery over the craft can take a walk.

Ricky Ponting's men have been unable to win back the No. 1 one-day international ranking but he believes they can still finish the tour on a high. South Africa claimed the series with a 61-run win in Port Elizabeth on Monday and in doing so confirmed thei

A fine century from Herschelle Gibbs led South Africa to a comfortable 61-run victory over Australia in the fourth one-day international in Port Elizabeth and an unassailable 3-1 series lead.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting refused to blame his decision to bowl first in the crucial fourth one-day international in Port Elizabeth on Monday for its 61-run loss to the Proteas.

Those who doubt his utility outside the sub-continent and mastery over the craft can take a walk, for Harbhajan Singh insists he knows his business and loathes unwarranted advice.

Graeme Smith may have led South Africa to the pinnacle in the limited overs cricket but he is still comfortable with Shane Warne in the forefront of the Rajasthan Royals team in the Indian Premier League.

Graeme Smith may have led South Africa to the pinnacle in the limited overs cricket but he is still comfortable with Shane Warne in the forefront of the Rajasthan Royals team in the Indian Premier League.

The Indian Premier League T20 tournament in South Africa will provide India the perfect platform to prepare for their title defence in the World Twenty20 Championships in England in June, feels charismatic opener Gautam Gambhir.