India and sri-lanka.
Quote:
Originally Posted by satissh_r
Printable View
India and sri-lanka.
Quote:
Originally Posted by satissh_r
Australian news
Tri-series returns to Australia
ESPNcricinfo staff
June 14, 2011
India's visit to Australia in 2011-12 has ushered in the return of the limited overs tri-series and the reinstatement of the Australia Day Test match at Adelaide Oval.
The summer from which Cricket Australia makes the lion's share of its total income, via the sale of television rights for India matches, features two Tests against New Zealand in December, and four against the Indian tourists, starting on Boxing Day at the MCG.
Sydney, Perth and Adelaide will round out the Test summer, before Sri Lanka arrive to be the third team in the revived triangular tournament.
Other notable fixture choices include the Sydney Olympic Stadium's elevation to international status for the first time, to host a Twenty20 international between Australia and India on February 1, while Bellerive Oval will welcome the New Zealand tourists for the second Test of the Trans-Tasman series.
The tri-series, which was last seen in Australia in 2007-08, has been redeployed as a way of providing the requisite number of matches for subcontinental television rights, and pits the world's top three limited overs sides - Australia, the World Cup champion India and the finalist Sri Lanka - against one another.
"ICC Cricket World Cup winner India is also the number one-ranked Test team in the world at the moment," said James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive. "Sri Lanka has also been in great form as we saw in the World Cup, while we know New Zealand is always a formidable opponent that thrives when playing Australia.
"With the commencement of the ICC World Test Championship we know that every Test win is vital and the Australian team will be keen to start the home season positively against New Zealand."
Australia's November series in South Africa and the late arrival of the Indian touring party means the international summer will stretch well into March, again leaving CA to battle with the onset of the football season and its various codes, for crowds and television ratings.
As has become customary, India will have only one tour warm-up match before the first Test, while New Zealand have not been granted any.
Test Series
December 1 - 5: Australia v New Zealand, Brisbane
December 9 - 13: Australia v New Zealand, Hobart
December 26 - 30: Australia v India, Melbourne
January 3 - 7: Australia v India, Sydney
January 13 - 17: Australia v India, Perth
January 24 - 28: Australia v India, Adelaide
Twenty20 Internationals
February 1: Australia v India, 1st Twenty20, Sydney
February 3: Australia v India, Melbourne
Limited Overs Series
February 5: Australia v India, Melbourne
February 8: India v Sri Lanka, Perth
February 10: Australia v Sri Lanka, Perth
February 12: Australia v India, Adelaide
February 14: India v Sri Lanka, Adelaide
February 17: Australia v Sri Lanka, Sydney
February 19: Australia v India, Brisbane
February 21: India v Sri Lanka, Brisbane
February 24: Australia v Sri Lanka, Hobart
February 26: Australia v India, Sydney
February 28: India v Sri Lanka, Hobartl
March 2: Australia v Sri Lanka, Melbourne
March 4: 1st Final, Brisbane
March 6: 2nd Final, Adelaide
March 8: 3rd Final, Adelaide
Tour matches
December 18 - 21, CA Chairman's XI v India, Manuka Oval
TBC, PM's XI v Sri Lanka, Manuka Oval
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/australi...ry/518929.html
Dhinka chika Dhinka chika Dhinka chika Dhinka chika hey hey hey
India star joins siege of Aussie cricket selectors
* From: The Australian
* June 15, 2011 12:00AM
THE relentless siege of Australia's selectors following the axing of Simon Katich has continued, with India bowler Zaheer Khan labelling Greg Chappell's era as coach as the worst in his career.
The attack follows broadsides from Australia's Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, an outraged public and a host of former players -- not to forget the opening batsman himself, who said the side had been destabilised before the Ashes by the indecision and inconsistency of selectors.
Chappell, who is national talent manager and a selector, was renowned for upsetting senior players such as Khan, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar during his brief tenure on the subcontinent.
The Australian coach went to India with a focus on youth that alienated many.
In Australia, Chappell has pushed for the introduction of the Futures League, which has had its age restrictions eased in recent weeks because of criticisms that young players were not being exposed to enough senior players.
Australian Cricketers Association chief Paul Marsh said yesterday he thought there was an "artificial" push towards younger players that is undermining the strength of cricket in the country.
Khan, after being dropped under Chappell's reign, has returned to become one of the best bowlers in the world.
Asked by website Cricinfo whether the Australian coach had done any good during his time in India, the bowler had to pause for some time before answering. "He got some youngsters in the team. That was the only good thing, but nothing after that," he said. "A youngster coming in is always a good sign, but not at the cost of a cricketer who is doing his bit."
While Chappell argues that his emphasis on youth was to shake up the complacency among senior players, Khan, like many of the older members of the squad, found his era -- from 2005 to 2007 -- to be an unhappy one.
"In the last 10 years of my career, I think that has been the most disappointing phase," Khan said.
"It was tough for all of us and you must have heard this from many other seniors as well."
One of Katich's complaints with the selectors was the lack of communication and subsequent lack of confidence among squad members. Khan reflected those comments.
"It was as if you've been framed," Khan said. "It was like: 'We don't want you in the team. It's not about performance, it's about we don't like your attitude, or you're stopping the growth of cricket in the Indian team.'
"I felt it personally because I was dropped straight after the Sri Lanka tour, even though I had not performed badly.
"I was fortunate enough to go to South Africa to represent the Asia XI (in the Afro-Asia Cup). I got about nine wickets and I was recalled for the next series. In that phase, it was always a struggle. When you're fighting within the team, when you have a war to fight in your own camp, it is always difficult to win, and that's what was happening."
Khan said the period with Gary Kirsten coaching was "amazing".
"He has given everyone their space," Khan said.
"He's understood the Indian culture and how we do things. He's taken that step of coming closer to us rather than dictating. He was our friend, not a coach."
Katich said during his extraordinary press conference last week that Tendulkar -- who is three years older than the Australian -- was a hero to all senior batsmen. "He is an inspiration to all of us older guys because he was written off a couple of years ago, ironically by one of our selectors," Katich said. 8-)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226075252090
Common Zaheerrr :standing naasthi: :smokesmirk:
Cricket Australia prints money when the Indians visit.
Rupees reign as tri-series returns
* peter Lalor
* From: The Australian
* June 15, 2011 12:00AM
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226075253507
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nTx-...el_video_title
Unsporting cricket by the West Indies - Dean Jones bizarre run out
Ponting and Dravid - Similarities - Great accumulation and fall from high numbers. Case in study : 2002 - 2011
Ponting and Dravid have been great ambassadors for batsmanship over the decade. Their rise to peak form and run accumulation over the years poses a striking similarity since the turn of the decade. A look at their numbers have been amazing.
Read the stats as below
Span Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
Ponting 01 jan 2002 - 1 feb 2007
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...ing;view=match
2002-2007 58 100 14 6186 257 71.93 10053 61.53 24 21 2 714 39
Amassed 24 100's and 21 fifties with a lofty average of 71.93 :clap:. But for this period he would have dropped comfortably by the Aussie selectors now as they are looking for a Tendulkar like renaissance from this 36 yr old batsman. His career average was exactly 59.99 at the turn of 2007 and after the final ashes match it was 59.29. I don't think any batsman crossed/neared the average of 60 after playing a good number of Test matches (Tendulkar included) :clap:. His only weakness was against India. Till date not winning a test match as a captain in India still haunts him. And he never has won a Test series as a player.
Dravid (01 jan 2002- 01 feb 2007)
Much like Ponting after the 2001 Aus series turned out to be one of the greatest accumulators of Test runs in recent memory.
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...ing;view=match
2002-2007 54 90 12 4917 270 63.03 11213 43.85 14 23 4 619 7
Less in number of 100's but almost equal in number of 50's. Though he averaged fewer digits he was easily the most consistent batsmen raking up double hundreds, instrumental in series wins in Pakistan and in West Indies and drawing series(es) in England and in Australia. :clap:
Ponting since 2007
Since the 2007 world cup the similarities between them is again strikingly similar. Both batsmen have struggled to emulate their stellar form from pre-2007 days. Their career average has dropped by nearly 5 points.
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...ing;view=match
2007-2010 42 76 3 2995 209 41.02 4937 60.66 6 20 6 347 15
Averages 41.02 in 42 matches with 6 hundreds and 20 fifties. Make no mistake this is a pretty decent record. Since Cardiff 2009 150, Ponting has struggled against bowlers around the world with a minor redemption in India with 3 70's in the 2010 Tour. He only managed to score 1 hundred in the last 20 matches; 209 against Pakistan which came off when he was dropped by Mohammed Amir when he was on zero. He really looked out of touch in the Ashes with 113 runs in 8 innings at an avg of 16.14.
Ponting's Career average dropped from 59.29 to 53.51
Dravid since 2007
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...ing;view=match
2007-2011 43 77 7 2889 191 41.27 6738 42.87 8 13 2 378 5
Much like Ponting Dravid's average is 41.27 from 43 matches. Dravid's form has been in patches. He struggled in 2007 and in 2008. Had a pretty good 2009 doing well in the away series against NZ and in the home series against SL. Again had a pretty decent 2010 but for the away series against SL and SA. Left arm seamers started to sort out Dravid but I want to see Dravid again as Pazhaya panneerselvam. :smokesmirk:
Dravid's Career average dropped from 57.33 to 52.44
I am not sure this news is true and I cannot verify the source but if it is indeed true the events are unfortunate on so many levels.....
Three cricketers to opt out of contracts
With cricket administration on the verge of a collapse and the lure of the IPL money taking precedence over country, three senior players are planning to opt out from their national contracts, LAKBIMANEWS reliably learns.
Handled by the same agent, the three key players, a bowler who retired from Test recently, and two top order batsmen will not renew their contracts on return to the island after the conclusion of the English tour.
This will give them an option to pick and choose matches as they wish, giving more headache to the selectors.
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/index.php?...orts&Itemid=49
Would that be Lankans? idhukku Malinga, Mahela and Sanga-nu openA solli irukkalAm.Who else in the Lankan team(apart from Dilshan, who being captain presumably will renew the contract) can be confident of making a living outside the national team?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSKN2We-n-o&feature=relmfu
1992/3 WSC Aus v Pak ( Hobart) Final Over - Mujtaba hits a last ball 6 off the final over to tie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izjAkC31TX4&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBTyi2CySTk&feature=channel_video_title
Pakistan vs Australia 2010 - Aus 88 all out (HQ) PART (1/2) and (2/2)
India will play five-Test series on their tours to England in 2014 and 2018.
England will play 99 matches over the next eight years, Australia 92, and India 90. Sri Lanka and South Africa are at the next level, with 76 and 74 Tests scheduled. They are followed by West Indies and New Zealand, with 66 Tests each, and Pakistan with 65. Bangladesh and Zimbabwe bring up the rear with 42 and 41 matches. These are draft options, though, and the final numbers could be different.
There will also be two Ashes series in 2013 - one during the English summer and the other in Australia at the end of the year - in order to avoid a clash with the 2015 World Cup.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/c...ry/520738.html
2 ashes in 1 year? :banghead:
Adra sakkai, look at the Int'l tours for the next 8-9 months. All the top 6 teams except Eng are blasting it out for the top test rankings. :smokesmirk:. Aus have a good chance to come back to the top three, they'v got like 11 matches.
International tours
England v India, Jul - Sep 2011 (4 Tests)
Sri Lanka v Australia, Aug - Sep 2011 (3 in Aus)
South Africa v Australia, Oct - Nov 2011 (2 in SA)
Australia v New Zealand, December 2011 ( 2 in Aus)
South Africa v Sri Lanka, Dec 2011 - Jan 2012 ( 3 in SA)
Australia v India, Dec 2011 - Mar 2012 :clap: (4 in Aus)
New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Jan - Feb 2012 (1 IN NZ)
New Zealand v South Africa, Feb - Mar 2012 (3 in NZ)
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/conte...s_futures.html
Wonder what the hell England are doing till next Feb/Mar w/o any test matches. Every other top side's calendar looks full.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/db/PICTU...800/132800.jpg
The ICC Cricket Committee is at Lord's for a two-day meeting, Lord's, May 10, 2011
Whic country does the lady in the middle represent?
She is Clare Connor - Women's representative.
ICC Annual conference
* DRS Made mandatory in all Test's and ODI's. Hot spot made mandatory and the ball-tracking(Hawk eye) technology has been removed from the ICC's original compulsory list of DRS technologies.
* It is clean and action replays with stump microphone's are allowed and not snicko for DRS.
* No runners allowed
* New balls from both ends in ODI's.
* Bowlers are allowed to run out non-strikers if they are backing up too far.
* Associates allowed for 2015 WC, Ireland have a good chance now :clap:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/c...te/297120.html
England confirm winter tour schedule
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England's winter touring schedule has been confirmed with England playing five ODIs and a Twenty20 in India, a Test, one-day and Twenty20 series against Pakistan in the UAE and a two-Test series in Sri Lanka.
There had been some confusion over the schedule when Giles Clarke announced on Test Match Special during the Rose Bowl Test against Sri Lanka earlier this month that England would play their Pakistan Test fixtures in Sri Lanka, rather than the UAE. However, that was quickly retracted by John Carr, the ECB's director of cricket operations.
Though the itinerary for the UAE-leg of the winter's travels has not been confirmed it will consist of three Tests, four ODIs and three Twenty20s. The Sri Lanka tour is limited to just two Tests with the promise of a limited-overs tour in November-December 2014.
"We are very pleased to have agreed an itinerary with BCCI for the forthcoming one-day series which includes matches in India's major cities and will suit the needs of both the England team and our travelling supporters," ECB chief executive David Collier said. "With India due to play a NatWest Series here in September, there is bound to be intense interest in the return contest in India this October and we look forward to what should be a fascinating series of one-day encounters between the two teams.
"The remainder of the winter programme will see England travel to the UAE early in the New Year to play Pakistan in all three formats of the game, followed by a short break in the UK before the team takes on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series."
England in India
October 4 - England arrive in Hyderabad
October 8 - 50-over warm-up match, Gymkhana, Hyderabad
October 11 - 50-over warm-up match, Gymkhana, Hyderabad
October 14 - 1st ODI (D/N), Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
October 17 - 2nd ODI (D/N), Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
October 20 - 3rd ODI (D/N), Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali
October 23 - 4th ODI (D/N), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
October 26 - 5th ODI (D/N), Eden Gardens, Kolkata
October 29 - lone Twenty20 international (D/N), Eden Gardens, Kolkata
England v Pakistan, UAE
The ECB and PCB have agreed that the tour will comprise three Test matches, four ODIs and three T20s to be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A detailed itinerary will be announced in due course.
England in Sri Lanka
The programme of warm-up matches leading into the Test series will be confirmed in due course but the two Test matches are scheduled as follows:
March 26-30 - 1st Test, Galle
April 3-7 - 2nd Test, Colombo (venue tbc)
http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/...ry/521228.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by ajithfederer
Looks like the new FTP has been announced. :clap:
http://static.icc-cricket.yahoo.net/...5170164_66.pdf
ENGLAND'S FUTURE SERIES
•2012 (h): WI (3 Tests, 3 ODIs, 1 T20), Aus (5 ODIs), SA (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 3 T20s)
•2012/3 (a): World T20 (SL), Ind (4 Tests, 7 ODIs, 1 T20), NZ (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20)
•2013 (h): NZ (2 Tests, 5 ODIs), Aus (5 Tests, 5 ODIs, 2 T20s), Test Play-off
•2013/4 (a): Aus (5 Tests, 5 ODIs, 3 T20s), WI (5 ODIs, 1 T20), World T20 (Ban)
•2014 (h): SL (2 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20), Ind (5 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20)
•2014/5 (a): SL (5 ODIs, 2 T20s), Aus (5 triangular ODIs), World Cup (hosted by Aus/NZ)
•2015 (h): NZ (2 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20), Aus (5 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20)
•2015/6 (a): Pkn (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20), SA (4 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1/2 T20s), World T20 (Ind)
•2016 (h): SL (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20), Pkn (4 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20)
•2016/7 (a): Ban (2 Tests, 3 ODIs), Ind (4 Tests, 7 ODIs, 1 T20)
•2017 (h): WI (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20), SA (4 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20), Test Play-off
•2017/8 (a): Aus (5 Tests, 5 ODIs, 3 T20s, NZ (2 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20)
•2018 (h): Pkn (2 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20), Ind (5 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20)
•2018/9 (a): SL (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20), WI (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20)
•2019 (h): World Cup (host), Aus (5 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20I)
•2019/20 (a): SA (4 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20I), NZ (2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 1 T20I)
adutha varusam Srilanka kooda 4 tests ah :banghead:
3 Tests. The idea of FTP is make every test playing nation play a test series against every other nation once within 4 years before every ODI WC. At-least that's my idea of it.
Looks like by FTP we play Windies again for 3 tests in Oct/Nov which is seriously a waste of time. Hopefully that can serve as practice for Aus Tour. Next year we host England and Pak for Tests/ODI's. The interesting thing is Eng will play Pak in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for 3 tests.
I would like to scrap the next SL away tour and host BG Trophy which is scheduled for Feb/Mar 2013. Last coffin in the nail should be ours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glKPgF7eUko&feature=player_embedded
An hour long clip of Ind-WEST Indies final at 1983 lords.
Happy Birthday Bhajji :clap:
following is a C.Gayle interview..must read..how hurt he is
The Chris Gayle statement
I, Christopher Henry Gayle, am making this statement so that all my friends, fans and followers who continue to wonder why I am not being picked for the West Indies team despite being fit, available and in form will know the truth considering the many rumours and statements that have been made as it relates to this issue. Until now, I have kept my silence, but I believe that the time has come for you to all know what I plan to do about this extremely frustrating and humiliating situation.
Ever since I was a little boy growing up in Rollington Town, and living in the shadow of Sabina Park I had two dreams. The first was to play for Jamaica and the second to play for the West Indies. Fortunately, and thanks to the Almighty, I have been able to achieve both of them. I have been Captain of both Jamaica and of the West Indies, and have worn both uniforms with pride and served with distinction.
I find it really painful now to hear that I did not give my best or that I lost my commitment to the cause of West Indies Cricket. This is not true. I have always given my all. I have always played with my heart and soul. I am not a boastful person. I normally don't speak until I have to. I try not to show in my face what is in my heart but now my heart is heavy. I have played with injuries. I have played with pain. But nothing in my life has been more painful and more injurious to my spirit than what has been done to me in the past few months. Nothing.
I want to take you back to September 2009 when Ernest Hilaire who was not yet the CEO of the West Indies Cricket Board cast doubts on my being retained as the West Indies Captain despite my performance in that role. I thought that what I was seeing was a statement made in error. I did not know at the time that what I was seeing was the writing on the wall and what was being written about me was not pleasant or true.
Ernest Hilaire acted quickly. At a meeting of the WICB held in October 2009, as soon as he took up office, the Board questioned the recommendation of the selectors that I should be Captain of the team to tour Australia. Eight members voted for me and five members of the Board voted against me. Clive Lloyd, who had praised me highly before was one of them who did not want me as Captain. He never said anything to me about why he was no longer on my side. Joel Garner who was the Manager of the West Indies team and who worked with me closely on the Stanford game which we won voted against my being Captain of the West Indies. Conde Riley from Barbados voted against me. Most surprising is the man who said publicly that he always supported me as Captain. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles voted against me so when he says that he pushed for me to be Captain you have to decide whether to believe Beckles or the Minutes of the Meeting. Gregory Shillingford of the Leeward Islands voted against me. The Board decided to appoint a Committee to meet with me and it should be no surprise that among the members of that Committee were Messrs. Lloyd, Garner and Beckles. Looking back, I now realise that I have been put in a no-win situation since 2009.
I found out how bad things were when the WICB held a meeting in St Lucia in July last year. I saw the Minutes of the Meeting later. In reporting on why he thought that the West Indies had not done well in the T20 World Cup, the Coach, Otis Gibson, said "the Captain was not a natural leader" and that "Senior players and some others lack a passion for the game." He also said that "there was no evidence of leadership qualities among the senior players" and that the "Captain is not a student of the game and lacks tactical awareness on the field."
The sad and horrible thing is that Gibson never said anything to me about how he felt about me before or after his report. He is a man who sought my advice when things were not going well. Before he became the West Indies Coach he used to call me often. I could never imagine that he would deliberately try to destroy my character, reputation and livelihood or question my commitment to West Indies cricket. I would not have believed, until I saw it in black and white, that he would devalue my leadership and try to destroy me without giving me a chance to respond. The WICB should have invited me to that meeting to face my accuser and, as Captain, to give my views about why we did not do well. What also hurts me is that there are three members of the Jamaica Cricket Association who are on the WICB and none of them told their colleagues on the Board, "Wait. We believe that Chris should be allowed to defend himself" or even "We need to hear from the Captain." None of them.
Coach Gibson recommended to the Board that they should "select the team on character" which means that by leaving me out the WICB, including the Jamaican Directors, feels that I have no character.
In October I was sacked as Captain and still have no idea why. I did not protest since the Captaincy is not a right. It is a duty. I went on the Sri Lanka tour having recommitted myself to West Indies Cricket and giving the new Captain the assurance that I would support him. I played the best test innings of my life in the first test and contributed 333 runs out of a team total of 580 in that match. Nobody questioned my commitment then.
It was after the World Cup when the Board was looking for people to blame for the poor performance of the team that they picked on me and the other senior players. This time it was not the Captaincy that was the issue but the senior players. Gibson said we lacked the hunger and the desire to succeed. Would I be where I am today as a cricketer if I lacked the desire and hunger to succeed? It was the easy way out. There are people who will constantly refuse to look deeply into themselves and question their own actions and motives while there are others to blame. I was an easy target and my 333 was forgotten, and all my years of blood, sweat and toil for the West Indies cause was abruptly cast aside.
I played with an injury during the World Cup and returned to Jamaica to get myself in shape for the Home Series against Pakistan. A camp was set up and nobody contacted me. I was ignored. The squad was picked for the first two ODIs. I was again ignored and saw in the newspapers that I was omitted. I read the comments of the WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire who said that we, the senior players, thought we were bigger than the team and all we wanted was money. I then got an offer to play in India and went when the WICB made is publicly clear in its release to the media that Sarwan, Chanderpaul and Gayle was not considered for selection. I did not turn my back on the West Indies because the West Indies had already turned its back on me. I was not in the squad and it was clear that there was no intention to pick me. I was being punished for the failure of an entire team and also of the administration.
What I did in India for the Bangalore Royal Challengers is history. The management and fans of the team treated me with respect and showered me with love and support. I did respond to the accusation made by the WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire that implied that I lacked commitment to West Indies Cricket. I reminded him that I had to pay my own medical bills, which I hoped to be reimbursed at some stage. The feeling by some people is that I started the whole thing. I did not. What I have shown you is that there is a pattern in the attempt to paint me into a corner and destroy my career and reputation. There was a pattern to marginalising me. Yes, there was a pattern and what came next was the proof.
The proof came in a speech made by a Director of the WICB, Hilary Beckles, who had opposed my captaincy in 2009 despite his claims that he supported me. Beckles compared me to a "Don" and my captaincy as "Donmanship". He likened me, Chris Gayle, to the notorious criminal and alleged drug dealer Christopher "Dudus" Coke. Beckles says his second home is Jamaica so he knows the implications of what he said but in an effort to avoid the consequences, he says he was talking in a private capacity and not as a Director of the WICB. The other Directors, especially the three from Jamaica who are on the WICB, did not say anything or do anything to clear my name or to get answers from the WICB. They could have requested an emergency meeting of the WICB to ask why I was omitted and targeted but they did not. They left me hanging out on a branch and were, at the same time, helping to cut that branch.
I want to tell you that I am not going to hide and say that this statement is in any other capacity. I am Christopher Henry Gayle and I stand by what I say. I am a professional cricketer and the former Captain of Jamaica and the West Indies. This is my capacity. This is my job. This is my livelihood and this is my life.
I was not surprised when the WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire sent me a letter on June 2, 2011 in which they accused me of a number of incidents including "making myself unavailable for the home series against Pakistan, my interview on KLAS radio in Jamaica and several "tweets‟ which have suggested a general disenchantment on your part with West Indies cricket and the West Indies Cricket Board." He said that the Board wanted to make my considerable talent available to the West Indies and international cricket.
contd
I took the Board seriously and went to the meeting which was held in Jamaica a few weeks ago. The meeting ended without any commitment with regard to my future selection for the West Indies team again. I thought that was the purpose of the meeting and was foolish enough to believe that it would end with a decision about when I would be back on the team. Instead I have read about an incident between the President of WIPA Dinanath Ramnarine and the WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire that makes me question whether I was at the same meeting. Ramnarine was not the only person to lose his cool in that room and I can understand if someone falsely accuses you of attempting to siphon funds into some account that you will be understandably upset. The accusations made by the WICB are not true. I can say without fear of contradiction, and what I am saying has been supported by other people who were present at that meeting, that there was no picking up of any chair and Ramnarine never threatened Ernest Hilaire. It is unfortunate that Ramnarine is being accused of not representing my best interest at that meeting, a view I strongly disagree with. It was also reported that in some quarters that Ramnarine was responsible for the breakdown of the meeting, a view I strongly disagree with also since the meeting went on for more than one hour after certain accusations were made by the CEO WICB Ernest Hilaire at the meeting. But that was not why we were there and what we went there for was never accomplished. When I saw the misleading reports coming out I realised that I was being used to cast blame on someone else and the meeting had other motives than my reinstatement. In other words it was a diversion of the real issue and the outcome of the meeting was clearly predetermined.
I was again put on hold. My career was put on hold. My future was put on hold. My life was put on hold. Ernest Hilaire said he could not do anything until he had spoken to the Board, the selection committee, the management and, although he didn't say it out loud, the media.
I believe now it was deliberately staged to give the impression that the Board wanted me back and that the intention was always to string me along and to fool the people of the West Indies.
I made it clear that I was still willing to meet with the Board to resolve the issues. On June 22, I wrote to WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire who had sent me an email the day before saying that I would also like to resolve the issue, and while I am willing to meet I would like to ask what it is you would like me to do? I told him that I have not received any guidance, other than what has appeared in the media, as to what it is that needs to be done for me to be included in the West Indies team. I said that I am putting in writing the willingness to meet with you as soon as possible. I also said that time has been wasted and it would seem that the delays will ensure I am unable to play for the entire home series. I pointed out to him that a meeting was not requested until the India series had almost begun, and the meeting was then delayed until after the Test Team for the 1st match was chosen and it has taken over a week for this meeting request to be sent.
The WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire wrote me back on June 24th complaining about my antagonistic approach and the tone of my email. He said that the issue is more than my radio interview but is about a history of misunderstanding, miscommunication and mishandling of issues, on both sides. It cannot be easily swept under the carpet with the hope that it goes away. He said that I would have to meet with the team management and after that with the selectors and after that with the cricket operations department and only then he would meet with me before he could send a report to the Board. He said he would not be available to meet with me until August. This means that I will definitely not be playing against India and that I will be cooling my heels until after August- more than two months away and even then my matter would go to the Board if the WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire believes we have a final and agreed position.
I was glad that the Board admitted its own guilt in the situation and despite the fact that there seemed to be no end to this, I then met in yet another meeting with the Coach and the Team Manager on June 24th 2011 in Jamaica. I tried my best to compromise with the two representatives of the Board. Still, despite this meeting and the fact that both sides agreed that significant progress had been made, I am still on hold. My career is at a standstill. My hopes of representing my country at home in the West Indies have been destroyed. My contribution has been devalued and the fans of the West Indies who believe I can make a difference have had their hopes dashed. After the conclusion of this second meeting, my suspicions were confirmed and it was now beyond doubt that there was never any real intention of resolving any issues concerning me at the first meeting. The WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire's letter of June 24th 2011 also confirmed this as well.
I have now reached the stage where I have to say that enough is enough. I understand that the WICB and the Jamaica Board met and my matter was discussed but nobody has told me anything and I can only assume without any positive feedback there has been no resolution. I played cricket for Jamaica and served the Board well. I would have thought that from the beginning of this whole attempt to discredit me that the Board would have done or said something on my behalf. I don't want them to cover up for me but at least to ensure that I received natural justice and was able to respond to my accusers. They have all been silent. The three members on the WICB Board have not asked for an emergency meeting, as they have the right and power to do, so that we can get everything cleared up. Instead they leave me out here to dangle in the wind.
There is a disciplinary process in West Indies Cricket. Yet the Board is allowed to be the complainant as well as policeman, judge, jury and executioner in my case. When I tried to respond to the accusations made against me, I am deemed to be out of place and trying to destroy West Indies cricket.
I am now coming close to the end of my shelf-life as a cricketer. While other professionals can plan on a career from the time they graduate from University to when they retire in their sixties, most cricketers have an average of eight years - between 24 and 32 - to earn enough money for the rest of our lives. Some are lucky to be coaches or commentators. I have no such option at this stage and must concentrate on providing for my family now and in the future.
On this basis, and not hearing from the West Indies Cricket Board with any clear pathway forward, I have come to the bitter realisation that I am not wanted by the Board and all that has gone before in terms of reconciliation is a sham and a mockery. I see it as a scam to fool the people of the West Indies and the world into believing that they were serious about my returning to West Indies cricket.
My eyes are open, my heart is clean, my conscience is clear and the voice of reason is loud in my ears telling me that I should close this chapter in my life. I am not going to be the WICB's whipping boy. They have said they will root me out and they have succeeded in doing so by using the sort of underhanded tactics while attempting to ascribe blame to other people for what is clear is a well planned set of action.
We as West Indies players are admired throughout the world for our honesty and sportsmanship. Yet the custodians of West Indies cricket, the people who are responsible for the development of our heritage sport, have not dealt with us honestly.
It is against this background that I have now decided not to wait on the WICB any longer but while I still have the time and the skills to explore the opportunities available to me elsewhere. I do it reluctantly but have no choice. I have people to take care of and cannot sit for months waiting on WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire and the Board.
As for the Jamaica Cricket Association they have let me down badly even though I did meet with the new President of the JCA, Mr. Wright and Mr. Hinds but nothing has been done.
Despite all that has happened I am still hopeful that good sense will prevail and I would once again represent my country and my region in near the future. I wish to make it abundantly clear that I have not yet retired from any form of the game and remain available for selection for both Jamaica and West Indies. However, this is entirely out of my hands.
I want to say to my colleagues on the team, that I have opened the batting for the West Indies against some of the fiercest fast bowlers in the world bowling at almost 100 miles per hour. I have stood up to them as I am standing up for what I believe is right. I want to tell them that if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.
I appeal to the Heads of Government of CARICOM to do something about this situation. West Indies Cricket is different from the West Indies Cricket Board. West Indies Cricket and West Indies Cricketers need help. Since you are the people who represent the fans and all the other stakeholders, it is time for you to act.
contd
Finally, I want to thank you all for your support and look forward to your continuing that support in future as I follow the path that the Almighty has mapped out for me. I place my trust in God and believe that if your heart is pure and you have faith in Him, you will always triumph against oppression and adversity. When one path is closed, there is another path opened for the righteous and pure in spirit. I now set out on that path with confidence, safe in the assurance that I will succeed.
very painful interview...feel bad for a great cricketer
Kumar Sangakkara has delivered the 11th MCC Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's.
http://mcc.sportslinemedia.co.uk/cowdrey-lecture.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uvdpv326A4&NR=1
oorae onnu koodittaanga!!
Ishant Sharma
'I was trying to copy Zaheer's action'
Having lost his way after a sparkling start, Ishant Sharma has returned stronger, wiser and more effective. He credits his senior partner, among others, for his comeback
Interview by Sriram Veera
July 7, 2011
Ishant Sharma is only 22 but has already seen many ups and downs in his career. He became the fifth-youngest bowler ever to reach the landmark of 100 Test wickets. He talks to ESPNcricinfo about the turbulent phase when his bowling deserted him and he ended up being dropped from the India team. He talks about the mistake he made, the depression he went into, and how he bounced back.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/db/PICTU...400/126471.jpg
Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma celebrate India's series-levelling win, South Africa v India, 2nd Test, Durban, 4th day, December 29, 2010
"I am lucky to be bowling with Zaheer. He is so aware of his own body. I didn't know about my bowling and my body at the start of my career. Now I know when to train, when to relax, and how much bowling I must do" © Associated Press
You seemed to have got your rhythm back in the West Indies?
Rhythm is back. The important thing is, now I am enjoying my bowling. I visualise every ball and what I need to do. I focus on my strengths. I believe in my strengths more now - the pace and bounce. The last one and a half years have been up and down. I struggled a lot. I would just like to continue this form.
Were there times when you wondered about what was going wrong at the start of your run-up?
I was trying to copy Zaheer Khan's action. No doubt he is a great bowler, but I guess I shouldn't have tried to copy his action. We are entirely different in styles. Zaheer told me that I am too much into the technical side of things and that I shouldn't be. Now I just stick to my basics and my strengths. When I started, I was just looking to enjoy and bowl fast. Slowly the expectations grew, my responsibility in the team grew, and I didn't know how to handle that pressure.
When and why were you copying Zaheer?
When South Africa came to play in India, I started to copy him. I wanted to be a swing bowler. I was forgetting my natural strength of bounce and hitting the deck. When I bowl with my natural style, the ball automatically starts to inswing. That was my strong point, and I should have just stuck to that. That was my greatest mistake.
I wanted to swing it from a fuller length and in trying to do that I was copying his action. I thought I can copy his action release, just to get my length fuller. The way I ran, the action, the whole thing got affected.
Did you tell him you were trying to copy his action?
I didn't. I didn't want his bowling to get upset, or for him to feel bad that this was why my bowling was going wrong. I just realised that it's all right to learn things from others but you shouldn't be copying actions.
I had become too technical, instead of being tactical. When you are in the Under-17 stage, if you are concentrating on your technical stuff, it is fine. Your body and muscles accept the changes in action. But when you try to change it later, it gets difficult.
So you lost your rhythm?
Yeah. The ball doesn't land where you want to it to. You forget your positives and your mind starts focusing on the negative. You go into a shell. Everything is going against you. That feeling is really bad. I didn't know why these things were happening, why what I was trying to do was not happening. I didn't realise it then, especially as I was swinging the ball at the start of my career. Even in the second IPL, in South Africa, I felt I was bowling well. Then the bad patch started through World Twenty20 and the New Zealand tour. Things were going bad. I was putting too much pressure on myself.
Did you start to do that in the nets too?
In the nets I used to be relaxed, and I enjoyed it, so I bowled well. In cricket as long as you are relaxed and enjoying yourself and your game, you will do well. In the middle, I had forgotten that. I wasn't focused on the process but more worried about the results. As I had more experience, I became aware of my body and bowling, and things started to improve. That I learnt in the last IPL.
How bad was that phase of struggle? Did you stop laughing and enjoying life?
Yes, I did. During that time, even, say, if I am talking to you, I would be constantly thinking inside about cricket. How should I get that batsman out? What I should do, how I should bowl. I wasn't enjoying it. There was too much pressure. I was almost obsessed with cricket. Too much thinking about a thing isn't good.
I wasn't able to sleep well when I was dropped. I used to worry about what was going to happen to me. Suddenly from a top bowler of Indian cricket you are not anywhere. That time I was depressed. But seeing these good times I feel bhagwan ke ghar mey dher hai andher nahi [God will eventually reward you for your effort]. I now know how to react even when things are not going well.
How did you come out of that phase?
I met a man, Ramesh sir, during the IPL. He told me how to think positive, do meditation, visualisations, how to focus on your own strengths. He doesn't know cricket, but the mental power he taught me really helped. And with the help of friends and family, I recovered.
Then I spoke to Zaheer in the IPL. He talked to me about the importance of training. That has really helped me. I never went to the gym a lot earlier. I went to National Cricket Academy, where they made a training schedule for me: what muscles I should develop and which ones I load more in my bowling style. That systematic training helped and I am still sticking to it.
When did you sense the turnaround during the IPL?
After two or three games I became confident. What I was trying to do was coming through. I started to enjoy my life around cricket. That's important to me. On the field give 100% and then switch off. I wasn't doing that before.
Ramesh sir made me change that. He made me meditate and visualise my bowling. He told me "Vahi socho jo aapko karna hai. Na socho jo nahi karna hai [Just think about what you want to do, not what you don't want to]". That was an important point.
How was the emotional support at home?
There was a time I was really depressed that I wasn't in the team. I used to sit alone and think cricket. About this and that. My mother and my sister backed me. They really believed in me and made me believe in myself, that I can do it again. When you have that kind of support, you feel you can do anything. They said it is just matter of time. It happens to every sportsman. They told me to accept the reality of my life and work hard, and that I would be back.
Did you learn about the drawbacks of being famous?
Absolutely. When you are doing well people ask for your autographs. Otherwise no one asks about you. That made me mentally stronger. I have now learnt to balance. I know how to handle success and failure.
"Sometimes even I don't know which ball is going to straighten, so how can the batsmen know? I try to swing with the new ball. I usually know when it's going to straighten or swing out when I try to do that, but on many occasions even I don't know"
Did any of your team-mates help you then?
I would like to thank Gautam [Gambhir] bhaiya. He had great belief in me. When I was down I used to speak to him, and he would tell me that I would make a comeback and do really well. A senior player like him was supporting me and telling me I should not lose hope in myself. When you are bowling well, everyone praises you. It matters what people are saying when you aren't doing well. I am really grateful to Gautam bhaiya.
You went back to play Ranji Trophy. What was that like?
I was happy to play cricket. I just wanted to play. I wasn't used to sitting out and handing drinks. That irritates me. With Ranji Trophy I was playing cricket, and that was always helpful.
The wrist release at one point had become skewed. Your wrists used to be behind the seam initially, but later you seemed to be pushing the ball sideways.
When you play too much cricket, bad habits creep in. You don't realise it. There is no one to tell you what's happening. The body gets tired, and you suddenly don't know what's happening. Now I know more about my bowling - how to train and recover. My wrist position gets bad when I get really tired. Training is very important for me. I have to put in more effort in my bowling than say Munaf, Praveen or Zaheer. I have to run in hard from a long run-up, and my style demands more effort. So I need to put in more training.
Venkatesh Prasad has praised you as the most hard-working fast bowler he has worked with.
The amount I enjoyed my bowling with Venky sir, I doubt anyone else did. It was a great learning experience. After a point, we stopped being teacher and student and became friends. I could go up to him and discuss anything, from bowling to my life.
You have a great incoming delivery. These days you seem to be getting the odd ball to straighten as well. How much control do you have now?
My stock ball is the inswinger. The odd balls straighten on their own. Sometimes even I don't know which ball is going to straighten, so how can the batsmen know? I try to swing with the new ball. Of course I usually know when it's going to straighten or swing out, but many times I don't know. It hits the seam and it can straighten. The ones under my control I know.
Many have noted a stutter in your follow-through.
It has been there since I started playing. I never worried about it. It all depends on how firm and still you are in your run-up and release. The follow-through follows from that.
Int'view cont'd from above
What's your routine on match days?
I try to wake up happy and just stay away from cricket. On the field you are thinking so much about cricket, so off the field I try to get on my phone, chat with my team-mates, enjoy. Even if my day hasn't gone well, just enjoy the good times in it.
Tell us about your relationship with Zaheer.
I am lucky to be bowling with Zaheer. He is so aware of his own body, bowling, and has so much knowledge. I didn't know about my bowling and my body at the start of my career. Now I know when to train, when to relax, and how much bowling I must do. Zaheer advises me a lot. He even sets fields - where to bowl, how to bowl. It was a great help. He is always positive. He never talks negative. He always wanted to dismiss the batsmen irrespective of whether he is set or not. He won't think, "Okay, let me give this guy a single and target the other." He used to say, "We must do the difficult thing." So to share the ball with someone like him is great, and good things are going to rub off on to you.
Do you remember any wicket in particular that came about after a plan with Zaheer?
During Australia's tour - when I was Man of the Series - I took Brad Haddin's wicket. I bowled a series of bouncers and then slipped in a slower one. It was in Bangalore. That's what we had planned: let's bowl bouncers at him, and then slip in a slower one, as he doesn't pick it up sometimes.
Are you confident enough of setting your own fields and planning dismissals in his absence, like here in the West Indies?
I now know my bowling, and have control over my body. So I am confident. I have done my homework. I have learnt to set my fields. I know what I want to do. I visualise at the end of the day. Go back on the good things and what I can add.
Visualisation is about feeling good about yourself and landing the ball where you want it to land it. Before I bowl a ball I visualise that I have bowled the ball where I want it to land. By doing that your heart has already gone there. If your heart has gone, the brain follows. So I visualise the end result as if I have already done it, and then I bowl. I learnt this from Ramesh sir.
I tug at my sleeve at the start of each ball. It has become a habit. I do it because I feel something's sticking onto my skin there.
A lot of people believed that playing ODIs was spoiling your bowling in Tests.
I didn't think so. My strong point is Test cricket. I bowl for long, pick up wickets, and I am aggressive. These are the things that help you in ODIs as well.
People say I shouldn't be playing in the IPL. I take everything as a challenge. I set goals for myself and see if can achieve them or not. I want to be a regular member of the Indian squad and play all three formats of the game.
How did you handle the money coming in?
It depends on the individual. I saw early success and then failure. I must thank my family. I never thought more of myself just because I was an Indian player. My father is always down to earth. He never complains. When I was doing well, he used to thank God. When I wasn't doing well, he would say it's all thanks to God and it is a learning experience.
You seem to have started concentrating on your batting.
I need to thank Gary Kirsten. He used to tell me that I can bat. When he came for the first time, in Australia, he saw me and said I can bat as well. I never took batting seriously. I never thought one day I can help India win a Test. I need to be really thankful to Gary for that. As a bowler, you know how much you struggle to take a wicket. So when I struggle so much to get a wicket, why should I give my wicket easily? Scoring runs is not the issue for me. I just concentrate on sticking around.
How has Eric Simons been for you guys?
He doesn't try to change the things I am comfortable with. He adds to it. When you gel well with a team, your relationship with players and coaches should be good in order for the team to be good. That relationship you develop over a period of time. Now my relationship with Eric Simons is how it was with Venky. He has a good bonding with the fast bowlers. Players listen to what he says. Like Venky, he allows our natural ways to be and then tries to add on.
I never used to bowl round the stumps to left-hand batsmen. I have learnt to go round now. Eric has helped me in that regard. I used to bowl a little too wide to left-handers, but that has changed now.
Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel take a breather, Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, June 2, 2011
http://www.espncricinfo.com/db/PICTU...600/133683.jpg
"To relax, the best thing is to spend time with Munna bhai. He has a great sense of humour" © Associated Press
What has been your most satisfying dismissal since returning?
Every single wicket is satisfying when you are making a comeback. You learn that just because you had one bad spell it's not the end of world. You can always come back and pick up three wickets, and then at the end of the day you have bowled well. It's not like batsmen; we bowlers can always come back. There is more clarity with regards to my bowling.
What about reverse swing?
I love bowling reverse swing. Touch wood, I have control over it, but I don't think in cricket anyone is a master. I have better control over lengths but it all depends on how good you feel and in what rhythm you are. You can bowl seven overs on the trot when you are in rhythm; if you are not, it's a struggle to bowl even five. Some days you just wake up happy and everything and everyone around you feels good. There is this happy atmosphere around you. You go to the ground and feel you can do whatever you want. I think all fast bowlers know it.
How has it been bowling alongside the likes of Munaf, Praveen and Sreesanth?
Munaf and Praveen are really helpful. It's not that Sreesanth is not helpful, but it's all about bonding and gelling. Our thinking is the same. We hang out, enjoy, laugh, and we share that thinking on the field as well. When I am bowling, and Munna bhai is getting the drinks, he will tell me what I should be doing. It's great for team spirit.
Define enjoyment for you on tours.
Sitting in the hotel, enjoying each other's company. We don't get time to go on holidays together. We sit in the room, talk and laugh, or sit in the bus and laugh. It makes a great difference. You are able to switch off. Now I think about cricket when I have to. I relax at other times. I speak to mummy or to my friends. To relax, the best thing is to spend time with Munna bhai. He has a great sense of humour.
What's your career goal?
It's to play 100 Test matches for India and take as many wickets as possible. To play 100 Tests it will take 10 years. I hope my body lasts that long.
:clap:
Sriram Veera is a staff writer at ESPNcricinfo
RSS Feeds: Sriram Veera
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine...ry/522154.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQB90K73pqM&feature=feedf
This is freakin hilarious. This is the first time i am seeing this video. Mark Richardson cramps himself and provides laughter for everybody in the arena.
:rotfl:
AF, remember watching this match, he was trying to get a runner and we were refusing it. He started some playacting, this could well be one :pQuote:
Originally Posted by ajithfederer
To select Greatest test team of all time to celebrate 2000th test.
http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/events_...team/index.php
with the given options, my greatest test XI
Greenidge
Sehwag
Lara
Richards
Tendulkar
Sobers (All Rounder)
Gilchrist
Ambrose
Holding
McGrath
Warne
RR, ellAmE avasara adi ranga-va select paNNi irukkInga. 2 wicket vizhundhA consolidate paNNa oru Gavaskar, oru Dravid oru Boycott select paNnikunga