vsbabu.org : cricket http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/categories/cricket/ Gluing passing thoughts to foregone conclusions en-us vsbabu@gmail.com Copyright 2008 2005-12-15T17:28:01+05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 BCCI. Why? http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2005/12/15/bcci_why.html Perhaps this entity is only there to provide material to gossip mongers and to get rich quickly. 1019@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Well, Sourav Ganguly has been dropped from the national cricket team. Most people seem to be of the opinion that this is an unfair decision by BCCI.

Personally, I've lost all the interest in Indian Cricket because of the way BCCI has been "controlling" cricket in India. Mohinder Amarnath evaluated our selectors pretty correctly long time back. Couple of weeks back, the whole drama was about politics on whether Mr. Pawar will win or not.

]]> cricket 2005-12-15T17:28:01+05:00 Akram the great http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2003/05/20/akram_the_great.html Wasim Akram has called it a day - finally. Sport of Cricket is going to miss him. 794@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ After an illustrious career, Wasim Akram announced his retirement from International Cricket. He is indeed the granddaddy of reverse swing which completely changed the way fast bowlers go after batsmen. Rediff.com has a very nice slideshow: a trip down memory lane, tracing the highs and lows of his 19-year-long career.

Well, one thing is for sure. Cricket lovers are going to miss watching Akram bowl.

]]> cricket 2003-05-20T12:33:29+05:00 WC2003 is over http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2003/03/24/wc2003_is_over.html Finally. Aussies got the cup in a perfect performance. 743@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Aussies beat India pretty convincingly. I couldn't see this match since I planned my vacation only till Super-Six stage - because I was sure India wouldn't get past Super-Six. The match was shown in a local theater in Virginia, but I couldn't get up at mid-night and spend 8 hours in a theater. Watching cricket at the comfort of home is OK, but in a crowded theater? No, thank you.

]]> cricket 2003-03-24T18:25:38+05:00 WC2003 thoughts http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2003/03/03/wc2003_thoughts.html World Cup is getting to half-way stage. So far, it has been pretty exciting. 736@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ World Cup is just about to enter SuperSix stage. I've been watching India's games (that's all we get in India on DoorDarshan, our government's TV channel) and highlights of some other matches.

DoorDarshan is as bad as it ever was. Cricket is a huge business in India and “CruelDarshan” manages to squeeze in as many advertisements as possible.

]]> cricket 2003-03-03T19:39:32+05:00 Kangaroos bite dust http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/09/27/kangaroos_bite_dust.html Kudos to Sri Lankans for completely outplaying Aussies 539@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Aussies got royally thrashed by Sri Lanka in the Champion's Trophy semifinals. Before all the excuses start flowing down from Aussie press, Daniel Laidlaw has written a pretty neat piece on the whole thing. Aussies might be the #1 team, but apart from Gilchrist's batting, there is nothing exciting about watching them play.

Side note: A Chicagoan discovers Cricket balls are beautiful.

]]> cricket 2002-09-27T18:16:29+05:00 Captain Snooty? http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/08/30/captain_snooty.html I like Saurav Ganguly's captaincy. And my top-10 list of favourite sights in cricket. 461@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Rediff.com slideshow
After India had beaten the Australians in the epic series in 2000, Steve Waugh said of him: "I can't say I get on well with him, I'd be lying if I said that."
His opponents love to hate him. The critics denounce him as the most tactically inept captain India ever had.
But he is competitive, emotional, loves to win and can inspire his team mates to a level far above that of the opposition. He is Sourav Chandidas Ganguly -- 'Captain Snooty' to the British media.
With five away wins, he is India's most successful Test captain overseas. A look at his career.
]]> cricket 2002-08-30T20:36:54+05:00 ICC has misunderstood chucking http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/06/13/icc_has_misunderstood_chucking.html Bobby Simpson nails it right on the head about chucking issue. 378@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Bobby Simpson talks about various aspects of modern day cricket.

"haven't heard of any player with a physical deformity being allowed to play in any other sport. So why cricket? And how can the same players who can't straighten their arms throw the ball from the boundary, which is miles away, into the wicketkeeper's gloves with a thud?"

"Even javelin throwers and baseball pitchers straighten their arms. And now we have the javelin bowlers."

Ha ha! He said it like it should have been said.

]]> cricket 2002-06-13T12:11:19+05:00 Astle slams the fastest double ton http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/03/16/astle_slams_the_fastest_double_ton.html Nathan Astle played the most heroic innings ever scoring a double century in 153 balls. Though New Zealand lost the... 191@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ Nathan Astle played the most heroic innings ever scoring a double century in 153 balls.

Though New Zealand lost the match, I'd say this was the best fight for a lost cause ever. Too bad that I couldn't see it!

]]> cricket 2002-03-16T07:52:14+05:00 Does Murali throw? http://vsbabu.org/mt/archives/2002/03/12/does_murali_throw.html Controversies about Muttiah Muralitharan's action are back again! Somewhat scientific resolution of the action in Hong Kong Bishen Singh Bedi... 183@http://vsbabu.org/mt/ murali in actionControversies about Muttiah Muralitharan's action are back again!

As far as I'm concerned, Murali is a great bowler and certainly a consistent match winner. However, in any angle, his arm is bend. That makes it illegal (or unfair) in my view. Laws of Cricket, like all laws, are up for interpretation by different parties. But these are there to ensure a fair and level playing field.

It is unfortunate that the governing bodies don't have the will power to enforce these laws. To be fair, I think Brett Lee and Manoj Prabhakar also has/had suspicious bowling actions.

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