Cricket Chat

Will the real World Champions please stand up

2007-10-19T10:11:00.000+01:00

The one day series between India and Australia was being described as the battle of the world champions. Australia have held the crown in all formats of the game for a long time and deserve the tag, whereas India had just won the Twenty20 championship, the newest and quickest format of the game. It did not seem a fair comparison to me and Australia have duly set the record straight as they always seem to do when someone threatens their crown. They will no doubt get better at Twenty20 as they take it more seriously.

For India all the euphoria and celebrations in Mumbai after their victory seem a distant memory. I kept thinking of the celebrations England had after their Ashes win in 2005, and although I count that as a bigger achievement, I felt that the celebrations went too far. The wounded Aussies were plotting revenge on the plane home as England just relaxed and basked in the glory. England were totally outplayed in the next series and brought to earth with a bang. The Aussies had raised their game to another level after the defeat and there was this gap again between them and the rest.

I felt a similar emotion when I saw the Indians celebrating and felt sure that the Aussies would exact revenge. Nothing stirs them more than seeing another team lauding their success. That would have given them all the motivation they needed to play better than ever. They have proved that yet again they are a distance ahead from the rest. In order to beat them they have to be under par and the other team has to be playing at their best in all aspects of the game. India came closer than they have at other times in this seies and there are very good signs as they can only improve. The Aussies still won by a big margin and never looked like loosing the series.

The Indians had decided to fight fire with fire and came out throwing all the punches with their aggressive attitude on the field. It is all well and good to do this as Indians have been labelled too soft in the past but in the end it is the performance that counts and not who out sledged whom. It seems to me that Indians almost seem to invite the sledging by their behaviour and when it gets too far, they cry wolf. It is better if they channelled all that aggression into their play, as when they do that they seem to do well. The Aussies are masters at mind games as well and are no angels but they produce the goods almost everytime and you have to admire them for that.

The end of the series left a bad taste in the mouth with some sections of the crowd monkey chanting towards Andrew Symonds. This is going too far and there is no room for that sort of behaviour in the game. It is personal and nasty and clearly affected Symonds. I think the offenders in Mumbai must have thought they were being cool, copying similar behaviour in the previous game at Vadodara, when the matter was taken lightly by the officials. The way to prevent this spreading is to ensure that the offenders are duly punished and a strong message sent out that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated. The Aussie crowd are not above this sort of behaviour themselves, with many visiting teams, including Sri Lanka, West Indies and South Africa complaining of abuse dished out to them. Monty Panesar was counselled before the Ashes tour last winter against abuse that he was likely to face. In the end the crowd actually took to him and apart from some isolated cases, there was no major incident. It tends to happen all round the world by an ignorant minority and whereas a bit of mocking is fine and adds to the atmosphere, it is when it crosses the boundary and becomes personal and racist that it becomes unsavory and action needs to be taken.

I look forward to the Test series between Australia and India as it is bound to be hard fought and will carry the needle between the teams that has been evident in this series, which always makes a contest that much more spicy and even more of a spectacle. The Aussies have proved that they are the true world champs and have stood up to be counted when required. It is up to the Indians to rise to the challenge and fight hard in a format of a game that really is the ultimate test.

Less is more

2007-10-08T10:11:00.000+01:00

I don't know if it is just me but I am finding this constant diet of the short form of cricket rather tedious and boring. It has lost any value and interest for me and it is a struggle to watch it. I was never a big fan of the shorter version of the game but the sheer number of games played is killing any interest and entertainment value.

The one day format certainly seems dull and too long after the Twenty20 circus. The powers that be want to continue this format as it is the money earner and that is the name of the game now but I am sure that Twenty20 can be as profitable if not more because of its popularity. There are far too many games played that it is hard to stay interested.

There is no time to miss cricket as one tournament follows the other in quick succession without having enough time to draw breath. It must be mentally and physically hard on the players to constantly have to perform at the top level and keep up the intensity and interest. I remember times times when I used to eagerly await a series after a long break but now it is an effort to watch some of the games as there is nothing new to watch and just too many matches.

I am now eagerly awaiting a good Test series and the time between Tests is growing ever longer.The last Test in England was in mid August, where we were left gasping for more but instead we had a prolonged one day series to be followed by more of the same everywhere. It seems an age to wait now for a Test series.

In these times of money driving schedules and the number of games played it would be good if the authorities realised that more is not always better but that less is actually more.

Young guns clinch T20 Cup

2007-09-25T16:40:00.000+01:00

The final of the Twenty20 Cup lived up to all expectations and was a fitting end to a successful Twenty20 World Cup. How different it was in every way to that other final six months ago in the Caribbean.

India and Pakistan have had a long and hard journey since they were dramatically dumped out of that tournament with each having their own problems. Both faced criticism from all quarters and had the hard task of rebuilding their teams and restoring faith.

How different both teams have looked in this tournament, both with young fearless captains leading young and inexperienced teams with nothing to loose. There were no expectations this time on either team, but both have stood out with their attitude, skill, hunger to win and above all willingness to have fun. Both teams have not had the senior players or superstars and I think that that has the effect of lifting them to play uninhibited cricket. It is almost as if a burden has been lifted akin to parents being away from home and the kids playing in a free spirited manner without any restrictions and fear of being reprimanded.

Dhoni has shown faith in his players and asked that they perform to the best of their ability and above all have fun. It has worked on this occasion and he has proved to be an exceptional leader in his short spell. There are sterner tests ahead but it is a great start and he should take the credit for the success as he would do for failure.

The question now remains on what happens when the senior players return and indeed if they can walk back into the side after this team has performed so well. It is hard to break up a winning team so some hard and brave decisions lie ahead for the Indian selectors. One feels sorry for the big four as they never managed to get a winners medal in a major world cup tournament after so many successful years and this young team has done it at the first time of asking.

The success of Twenty20 heralds a new era for the short version of the game and I fear that the one day format may be the victim of its success. There is not enough room to play all formats of the game at a rate it is now, with the number of Twenty20 matches likely to increase. I can foresee more Twenty20 matches and less one day matches in the international calendar. The one day format was suffering beforehand and now I cannot see a way that it can compete with the new more popular and entertaining version of the game which has taken all the good bits of the one day game and taken them to another level.

India will no doubt have a grand welcome awaiting them when they land in Mumbai tomorrow, with a procession planned and no doubt more praise and riches being endowed on them from all quarters. The party boys will continue the dancing they started in South Africa and will have many more to dance along with them.

Cricket for breakfast, lunch and dinner

2007-09-21T10:22:00.000+01:00

I did not think that I would be watching too much of the Twenty20 World Cup, as it is so removed from tests, but my interest was aroused after Zimbabwe defeated Australia in the first week and I started to watch the matches. The games were very conveniently scheduled as they were on when I was having breakfast, lunch and dinner, so it was wall to wall cricket all day. The pace is fast and furious, blink and you miss another big six.

It is easy to understand why it is such a big hit and has drawn in spectators new to cricket. The formula is simple and it is all over in three hours, and before you know it the next game has started. If test cricket is your four course gourmet dinner, 50 overs is your fast food, then Twenty20 must be grabbing a snack on the run from a stall. Each satisfies your appetite in different ways and maybe you pick and chose the one that best suits you at the time. The purists of the game may think that is is watering down the game to an extent that it is unrecognisable but if it is popular, as it clearly is, then it is sure to stay and is a sign of the times. If it can help to globalise the game, as it looks like doing then it can be good for the game.

Whether fans will upgrade to the longer forms of the game, having been introduced to it in this short format remains to be seen. I came into the game watching tests and for me there is nothing else that can touch it in cricket or any other sports. If tests were not played I am doubtful that I would watch the game as the passion and all the wonderful subtleties of the game would not be there. I think there is room for all formats, and as long as they do not tinker with tests I will be happy.

The tournament is reaching an exciting climax at the end of the second week and when I look back at the matches, it all seems a blur and I can only recount the stand out moments. For me that was Australia loosing, as it is such a rare event, the bowl out between India and Pakistan because I had never seen anything so crazy before, six sixes in an over by Yuvraj for pure entertainment and that is it. As we reach the climax, my short lived love affair with this format seems to be waning. It is almost like I have been on a diet of junk food for the last two weeks and my stomach has had enough of the quick fixes and carves some quality home cooked food. I will have to put time and effort in to prepare it but for me it will be worth every minute for the satisfaction just like tests take up five whole days but the satisfaction and pleasure during and at the end of it is incomparable. I never feel like I have had enough but cannot wait for the next one.

The schedule seems packed of the shorter version of the game in the next couple of months and I am just tired watching so what must the players feel like? It is a constant roller coaster and the addition of yet another format which is likely to grow will only add to the already packed schedule.I fear for player burnout and the quality of cricket which it is bound to impact, not to mention the likelihood of more injuries and key players out of action for the important games.

I am going off to prepare my home cooked meal, might take a while but it will be worth it.

England clinch the series

2007-09-09T11:36:00.000+01:00

There was a lot of anticipation and expectation for the grand finale of an exciting one day series at Lords. St Johns Wood station was a buzz with hardly space to move, with tickets being sold at crazy prices. After the fantastic game at the Oval, most people expected a repeat performance.

Apparently the Indian team had been to a formal dinner the previous evening and perhaps had a late night or something as they just looked out of sorts. The first ball to Ganguly by Anderson set the tone. England seemed ready for battle whereas India found it hard to come out of the starting block. Ganguly who has been in prime form through the tour looked anxious and tried to hit his way out of trouble. Tendulkar who looked in supreme touch realised his partner was struggling and offered advice but he persevered skiing the ball all over the place before being caught at slip. An good opening partnership has been an important factor for India doing well in the series and this was not a good omen for them.

Credit has to be given to England who did not let India settle and bowled to tight plans and fielded brilliantly. Collingwood captained the side well again and must have been glad to loose the toss. This England side has taken huge strides throughout this series and for the first time in years looks like a good outfit with a handful of young exciting players which have brought renewed vigour to the side.

There were some controversial umpiring decisions against Dravid and Tendulkar at a crucial part of the Indian innings. Technology showed that Dravid had a nick whereas Tendulkar was unlucky yet again and showed his disappointment when walking off perhaps for the final time on English soil. Uthappa was lucky not be be given out so these things usually even out but it raises the debate on what part technology should play in the game. India never really recovered after the early collapse and a flourish from Dhoni at the end helped them to a half respectable score but it was always going to be hard to defend unless they took lots of wickets.

England lost both their openers without scoring but Pietersen came good for the final game as good players tend to and Collingwood played as well as I have seen him play to ease to a comfortable win in the end. It was not the thriller we all wanted and but in the end England deserved to win as they had played well in all departments of the game consistently through the series, with their bowling and fielding making the difference. India relied too much on their batsman putting up big scores to make up for their inferior bowling and fielding. They will have to improve in these areas to really put pressure on the opposition.

The action now moves to the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa and both these teams hardly have time to draw breath as they leave today. At least they will be nicely warmed up for the event, whereas other teams who have been out of action for a while will need time to warm up. The Aussies have had a long break again but who would bet against them clinching this title as well to add to all the others in their crowded trophy cabinet.

I can hardly believe the tour is over and I hate this time, especially after a memorable tour as this one was, having been lucky enough to catch a lot of the games, with both tests and one day games being of the highest standard, between two well matched sides. There is that empty feeling now that every cricket fan feels after a great series. It is Sunday and the sun is shining so maybe I will go and watch a game of club cricket somewhere, any cricket will do........

Grand finale at Lords

2007-09-06T10:07:00.000+01:00

Apologies for the break in blogging, other events took over and cricket took a back seat.

I am a cricket purist and love test matches, always have done, ODI's have never had the same passion and intensity for me and I usually find it hard to muster even enthusiasm to write about them or discuss them at length. Having said that, a series between India and England is not one I would miss and would always have half an eye on.

The teams were well matched which made for a great test series but I expected India to be the favourites against England in the ODI's. The most surprising factor for me has been the way England have played throughout, looking a very good side, challenging India and coming out on top where in the past they would have flopped.It has been a very different side to that seen previously and they have exploited India's weaknesses very well. India's seam bowling which was so good in the tests has let them down, except for Zaheer Khan and the twin spinners have been very impressive. The fielding and running between the wickets has cost them many runs and been cruelly exposed in this format of the game. I have been surprised at Dinesh Karthik, who has many good qualities and is a high spirited young man and gives the impression from his body language of being an ace fielder when in reality he was less than ordinary. Robin Uthappa made a real difference coming in as his replacement at the Oval.

The old guard of Sachin and Saurav came good again and when they had a good opening stand, India did well. Sachin in particular was very impressive and looked like his old fluent self with none of the inhibitions that were evident in the tests. Yuvraj showed what a good player he is again and Dravid has had a good series. The batting when it fires is awesome but India will have to work on the other areas if they are going to compete with the Aussies, who are likely to expose those frailties even more.

The crop of young players coming through for England is amazing and many would not have had a chance but for the long line of injuries that continue. It is a shame that Andrew Flintoff is again suffering with his angle, after looking really impressive with his balling. He gives England that extra dimension and they are a much stronger team with him in it. The young guns like Broad, Bopara and Wright have been very impressive and shown their potential in the series. I saw Luke Wright at one of the warm up games and could tell that he was a special talent, as he has that mix of talent and temperament to succeed. Stuart Broad has the makings of a genuine all rounder as does Bopara so the future looks good.

At the start seven matches seemed too many and I expected interest to wane near the end but it is all set up for a thrilling climax at Lords with the series level at 3-3 and all to play for. It will be the ideal setting for such an event with packed crowds and the weather set to be fair. Most people will think back to that classic Nat West final in 2002 at the same venue and wonder if that will be repeated. India will certainly be hoping for the same result and will be buoyed up to finish on a winning note to add to their success in the test series. England will want to continue their good form and will be looking to clinch the series to register a series win which would have seemed unlikely at the beginning.

It is all set up for a grand final and even I will savour the last day of a memorable tour with a tinge of sadness that this is the end of the season in England and autumn looms.

England run India ragged

2007-08-22T10:50:00.000+01:00

England won the first one-day match at the Rose Bowl convincingly, outplaying India in all departments.

On yet another cold day, Dravid chose to bowl first hoping to get some help from the conditions but the wicket was flat and favoured the batsman. England made a steady start and did not take advantage of the power plays, deciding to build a solid foundation instead. They played correctly and the run rate began to increase as the innings progressed. One felt that they were missing a trick again but this time the batting came good with Cook and Bell making maiden one-day centuries, with Bell particularly impressive, continuing where he had left off at the Oval on the last day. They stole the show from the stars, with Pietersen only coming in for the last few overs and Flintoff not required.

India have few options in the bowling department and looked very ordinary. In the absence of swing, their bowlers had no other weapons and were just hoping for the batsman to make mistakes. Ajit Argakar, with a distinct lack of pace looked very ordinary and India may have to re -think their bowling attack. The other major factor was the fielding which one felt would always be their weakness and it really showed up today as there was nowhere to hide. England took full advantage and literally ran India ragged by taking an extra run on most occasions. A total of 288 was good but possible to get by the stellar batting line up. England would have been disappointed not to reach 300 from the position they were in but this was a handy total to defend.

The crucial blow for India right at the start was the run out of Saurav Ganguly by none other than Monty Panesar. They never really recovered from that and were relying on Ganguly to make full use of the power plays. England bowlers bowled superbly, revving up the pace in the absence of swing. Anderson was right on the money and made the crucial breakthroughs in his first spell, leaving India in tatters. To add to this there was the comical running between wickets which only got worse as there seemed to be a total lack of understanding between the batsman who simply stared at each other after every gaff.

Andrew Flintoff marked his return with an impressive spell full of aggression and speed. His presence certainly strengthens the team and gives them more options. He seemed back to his best straight away and the celebration after he took Dhoni's wicket said it all as he has not shown that sort of determination since 2005 Ashes. It all augers well for England and India will have to think of ways of counteracting his pace and accuracy.

Many fans did not stay until the end and the stadium was half full before the end, as an England victory was inevitable from an early stage. The Indian fans , who take this to heart will have been very disappointed by their teams performance. They did not have a chance to show their presence today and were dampened not only by the weather but by India's performance.

England fans on the other hand will be hoping that their team can go on to reproduce this kind of performance consistently throughout the series. They proved their detractors wrong on this occasion and showed what they are capable of. They pulled off one of their best one-day performance in a long time.

It sets it up well for the next match at Bristol on Friday.

Rain spoils warm up game

2007-08-20T10:43:00.000+01:00

I returned to Northampton again this summer to watch India play England Lions in a warm up match. I had been looking forward to coming back to this lovely ground again and it has become a favourite of mine. I nearly did not make it when I heard the weather forecast which predicted rain but I had to be there and I am glad I went.

The match had already begun when I arrived as it had been pushed forward and the ground was packed, mainly with Indian supporters making themselves heard. It was a wonderful sight to see this quaint ground in its full glory and really come alive.

England had been put into bat and a wicket had already fallen. The scoring rate was very brisk with Luke Wright and Vikram Solanki at the crease. Wright was really impressive playing strokes all round the ground with ease. The Indian seamers were literally being taken apart and looked very ordinary. Munaf Patel seemed a shadow of his former self and leaked a lot of runs and Zaheer Khan was also very ordinary. The Lions seemed to have a plan of making the most of the powerplays and it was paying off. This was almost a England third team but on this showing they could teach a lesson or two to their senior colleagues on how to play the limited version of the game. Agit Argakar came on as change but did not manage to halt the scoring rate and again failed to impress.

The spinners Pawar and Chawla came into the attack and made a difference as wickets started to fall. England continued to be aggressive but some false strokes meant that a few wickets fell quite quickly. It was a long batting line up and everyone played their part in a very positive manner. On this showing India are going to improve on their bowling as the all the seamers were plundered for runs and the option of playing two spinners may be a good one.

There was plenty of action going on off the field of play as fans cheered the sight of their idols either on the balcony or as in Dravid's case as he went of to go to the nets. The whole squad was at the ground and Tendulkar made an appearance at lunchtime practising on the field much to the fans delight. There was such a scurry that a fan that a boundary board collapsed and a fan ended up on the floor at Sachin's feet.

Saurav was playing in the match and I spent a lot of time near the boundary edge where he was fielding and signing autographs. I have known Saurav since his stint at Lancashire in 2000, when I first met him and I have seen or talked to him most times that he has been in England since then. I had not had the chance this year and it was good to see that he instantly recognised me and gave me a wave and a smile. This may be the last year he plays in England and I wanted to savour every moment of someone I have always considered a great player and person.

There were cries of 'Dada Dada' from the fans and to his credit he willingly obliged everyone to their delight. The most sweetest moment was when a little English girl next to me shouted out his name and he noticed her and came over to sign her autograph. The beaming smile on her face was fantastic to see.

The flurry of runs continued and an imposing score of 296 was posted by the Lions. This had all the makings of a good match but grey clouds were circling the ground now. There was plenty of entertainment during lunch as the dhol players started playing in the stand that I was sitting in. There was dancing and a great atmosphere as everyone tucked into their lunch. There was plenty of Indian food being served at the ground which was popular along with the favourite chips with a bit of spicy sauce.The first signs of rain appeared and the covers went on which was not a good sight but thankfully it subsided and play began after a short delay.

The openers were Saurav and Robin Uttapa and we all settled down to watch. Saurav continued where he had left off at the tests and played a few stunning shots before the rain came. The players came of to some boos but as predicted it became heavier and it just a question of waiting. A lot of us gathered in a massive hall serving food and drink and we all waited and waited. The rain did ease after an hour or so but the match was eventually abandoned at around 4pm. Many fans had already left and it was such a shame as it would have been a cracking game.

It was strange but I had enjoyed this match and the one at Chelmsford much more than the tests, simply for the informal and relaxed atmosphere you get at the smaller grounds. Lords and Oval can be too formal with too many restrictions for the fans and at these grounds everyone is friendly. You feel much closer to the action and the players as they are at touching distance and much more accessible. I had a tinge of sadness as I had no plans to go to any of the one dayers and it would be a long wait to see India again in England and never see this team together again.

As I left the ground for the last time this year, there was the usual gathering of fans desperate to see the team one last time as they boarded the coach. I reflected on the day and was so glad that I made it as it had been one of those special days despite the rain.

India draw to ensure series win

2007-08-14T10:17:00.000+01:00

India finally won a series in England after 21 years and you could see how much it meant to them as they celebrated after England held out well for a draw. I was lucky to be there on the final day of the series which has been a great advert for test cricket. It seems a premature end to a series as three tests are not enough and we are all left gasping for more.

There was a very good crowd for the last day and a buzz about the place with plenty of supporters from both sides sitting side by side and enjoying some friendly banter. There was plenty of vocal support for India, with their fans armed with flags and plenty of cheer ready to party at the end. An England victory was unlikely, even thou there was plenty of chat about the possibility if they managed a good run rate and kept their wickets. As soon as the openers were gone, only two results were possible, a draw or a win for India. Sreesanth impressed with his opening spell and for once he let his bowling do the talking which was good to see. Every wicket was met with loud cheers from the Indian contingent as they willed India on to win.

England showed a lot more determination and most of the batsman made a good contribution. Pietersen and Vaughan looked very comfortable at the crease and played some great strokes. A break for bad light seemed to account for Vaughans's wicket as he played a rash stroke. Pietersen continued his patience innings and crafted yet another entertaining hundred. Collingwood played well and Bell's cameo at the end was very impressive. England played very positive cricket throughout the day and made India work very hard for each wicket.

Time eventually ran out for India but they never really looked like they were going for the win after they decided not to enforce the follow on. I found that decision very strange when they had the opposition down and out and they had the opportunity to jump all over them. I can just about understand it even thou I may not agree with it as they have faltered in the past and they wanted to go for safety first. The thing that I did not understand was Dravid's ultra defensive innings and had it not been for the fluency of Ganguly and Laxman, India might have dug a hole for themselves.They let England back from the dead and the momentum shifted but the lead was so huge and that saved them. The 500 figure that Dravid had in his mind still took up valuable time which might have been better spent bowling at England. A lot more can be said but the task was a series win and that is what was achieved in the end and the way India played in the last two tests, they deserved to win.

It is fitting that India is celebrating 60 years of independence and they can mark that with a win over England in their own backyard which makes it very special. There are a lot of events all round London this summer to mark the occasion and I was at an event at Trafalgar Square on Friday evening with classical Indian dance and an amazing sequence of dancers lifted up to the sky at night on a crane.

I stayed on to watch India celebrate at the end and the thing I have noticed about this team is that have bonded very well and are playing for each other and each one has contributed. The absence of a coach has not been felt with the seniors taking a leading role in nurturing the youngsters and it has been a team effort. Every time I glimpse at the dressing room, I can see a smiling Chandu Borde sitting with Vensarger and the players in a very harmonious environment. For me that has been the most pleasing factor and I think a big reason that the team have played so well, with no visible factions within the camp. The senior players have been especially savouring every moment and it was good to see Sachin and Saurav being cheered by the fans every time they came near the boundary edge from where I was sitting. Indeed Sachin was enjoying it so much he asked for more cheer smiling with that cherubic face. Saurav has played as fluently as I have ever seen him play and never looked in trouble and probably deserved a hundred this tour. It is ironic that the man to get a hundred was Anil Kumble, and not any of the star batsman.

As I left the ground for the final time this year, the Indian fans were jumping and singing and generally making themselves heard all round the ground and outside as they made their way home. I smiled to myself as I saw the coach that India does have on this tour, the one that takes them from the ground to the hotel. It seems that at the moment that is the only one that they need.

Now it is on to the one day circus which will be quite a spectacle as the Indian fans will be out in great numbers and in a mood to really party.

A jelly bean too far

2007-08-01T11:46:00.000+01:00

India won the second Test at Trent Bridge to go one up in the series, but all the talk is of jelly beans and the warfare between the two sides. A certain amount of aggression is expected in an heated battle and gives the game that extra edge and adds to the enjoyment.

The jelly bean affair suggests that it went too far and became childish school boy stuff best left in the playground. The field was splattered with jelly beans yesterday, no doubt from spectators after the incident the day before which incensed Zaheer Khan to do some bat waving at Kevin Pieteresen. If it was a ploy to unsettle the Indians by England, it surely backfired on them as Zaheer was so fired up by that incident that he went on to tear down the English lower middle order to shreds. I am sure if that is the desired result, India would not mind that happening again.

England have been aggressive in recent years, especially against the Aussies in 2005 to give them a taste of their own medicine and it worked well then as they hunted in packs. The Aussies themselves have always been aggressive and use it as a weapon to intimidate their opponents mentally even before the game has begun. It has worked well for them but the important thing is they also have the skill to back up any verbal game play. Teams in the Test arena have to expect some of this and be mentally tough to withstand it and give it back.

The question is that when does such behaviour cross the line and is against the spirit of the game. I would say that some of the antics came very close to that and both teams will now be mindful of their behaviour in the next match. Sreesanth in particular was affected by it and may need to review some of his actions. He would do well to look at how Zaheer Khan acted and used it to his advantage. Sreesanth's youth and exuberance are an advantage for him and I remember being very impressed by it when I first saw him in the India A team against England in a warm up game in Baroda in 2006. He caught my eye and I marked him out as a future star then. His attitude in this Test has left me a bit disappointed in him as I think he has let himself, his team and his fans down. He needs to control his mind in the heat of the action and it seems it is a complex mind.

I would prefer to remember the match for the cricket, which was of the highest standard throughout the match.The Fourth day stands out as being one of the best days as it had some classic batting from Michael Vaughan which if it had gone on would have turned the match in England's favour and then a blistering spell of bowling from Zaheer Khan to turn the tide back towards India. That is the kind of day that makes one love this form of the game above any other as it is pure scintillating drama turning one way and then the other.

Both teams now have some time off to reflect and focus on the next match. England will be looking to win the next match as they have not lost a home series since 2001. They will pull out all the stops in an effort to win and we might see some short pitch bowling from their tall bowlers to make use of a bouncy wicket at the Oval. They know that Indian batsmen can be uncomfortable with bounce as was the case in the second innings.

India will want to secure a series win and will not want to loose the advantage. All their players have shown good fight and form and they will want to continue this and clinch the series. They have a wonderful opportunity to do so, only needing a draw, so England will have to do all of the running.

Let us hope that the cricket makes the headlines and there are no jelly beans in sight.

India outswing England

2007-07-31T09:03:00.000+01:00

India are on the verge of winning the second Test against England and taking a 1-0 lead in the series. How their fortunes have changed since holding out for a draw at Lords with some help from the rain. One could sense then that escaping with a draw would be very significant and would mean a change of fortunes for them.

Winning the toss was crucial as India had the best of the bowling conditions and made good use of them by bowling England out for a total that would always put them on the back foot. Zaheer Khan has been outstanding with his ability to swing the ball both ways and has been the difference between the sides. There has been the return of the traditional swing this summer due to the wet conditions rather than reverse swing which has played a big part in recent years in dry and arid conditions. England did bowl well in the first innings without much luck, with Ryan Sidebottom outstanding again with his line and discipline. On another day things could have been very different, but credit has to go to India who have played well throughout the match. It is ironic that England are traditionally known to make good use of swing in home conditions, but in this case India have outgunned them and come out on top in the swing contest.
The fab four with the exception of Dravid, have answered their critics and made runs this time round. The partnership between Sachin and Saurav was particularly significant in posting a big total for India to secure the advantage. Sachin was troubled by Sidebottom early in his innings and fought his way through passing 11,000 runs in Tests. It was not the kind of dominating innings of that played in his prime but it was gutsy and determined. Saurav played an almost flawless innings and looked to be playing better than ever with good timing and placement. Both players dominated Monty Panesar who leaked runs with no help from the conditions. Both these old pros clearly enjoy batting together and their bond was evident in their partnership. It was a shame that they both failed to reach a century due to poor decisions and their expressions showed their disappointment.

England played well in the second innings after a large first innings deficit with conditions much better suited to batting. The ball was still swinging for India on the fourth morning and the deliveries that accounted for Pietersen and Prior were outstanding. Michael Vaughan played a wonderful innings and was back to his best playing some sublime shots on his way to a century. Kumble was expected to play a big part on the fourth day but Vaughan in particularly played him very well and he did not come into the wickets until the end. The fall of Vaughan's wicket rather unluckily, after taking the new ball heralded the collapse of England's innings and any hope they may have had of saving the Test.

India are poised to win the Test and go one up in the series and there is no threat of rain to spoil their party as it did for England a week ago. India will be pleased with their performance in this match and the way they have fought back to gain the advantage in this series. It has been a complete team performance from them and that should be heartening for them going on to the third and final Test at the Oval.

Patrick Eagar's memorable images

2007-07-26T16:34:00.000+01:00

When I think of the memorable images of cricket that have caught my eye over the years, I think of Patrick Eagar. I remember reading cricket books while I was growing up and the pictures that made them special and his is the only name that I can remember.

I was really chuffed therefore to meet Patrick for the first time a few years ago when I was the picture selector for a cricket book, 'Ground Rules - A Celebration of Test Cricket'. I went to meet Patrick to select some of his photo's for inclusion in the book, where the pictures were a key element. I was struck by Partick's kind and generous nature and enthusiasm for his craft. His home is full of pictures as you can imagine, not all of them of cricket.

The unique thing about his pictures is that each picture tells a story and you not only see the image but get a feel of the mood, atmosphere and the setting. I particularly remember the shots of Ian Botham that he took throughout his career, which perfectly conveyed the mood. The ones that stand out are of the infamous 1981 Ashes series where a range of emotions were captured from celebrating a wicket and the swashbuckling batting to the more sombre and reflective moments when he lost the captaincy that year.

I met Patrick recently, not aware as we chatted away that he was approaching his 3ooth Test Match at the first Test between England and India at Lords. He was recounting the early days when official photos of the matches were restricted to a few agencies and it was not until 1972, when newspapers demanded more variety and colour photos and Australia wanted to send its own photographers on tours that it was opened up to newspapers and freelancers. There were of course many unofficial shots taken secretly over fences and wall of grounds.

The lifting of the restrictions paved the way for Patrick to enter the stage and become one of the best photographers in the world. In the early days the images had to be transported by train to tight newspaper deadlines to ensure they got the newspaper offices on time to go to press. They would have to be on a train by early afternoon and any other significant images from the day would be published the day after.This has all changes with the age of digital pictures and Internet connections which has made it very easy to send pictures at the click of a button and arrive instantly.

It is very interesting to hear the many stories of his time clicking away and I am sure I would want to hear them all but Patrick as usual is a busy person and had to shoot off for a Twenty20 match that day between England and West Indies.

I have often wondered what it takes to take a good photo, especially one where you click at the precise fall of a wicket or any other significant incident. I am sure a lot has to do with experience and knowledge, but as I was to find out when I took a photo the other day of Dhoni loosing his wicket at Chelmsford, a lot has to do with luck and being at the right place at the right time. That is beginners luck for sure. I don't think Patrick has anything to worry about just yet.

I look forward to seeing many more classic pictures from the lens of one of the greatest and congratulate him on reaching a significant landmark.

More photos from Lords

2007-07-26T09:01:00.000+01:00

I thought I would post a few more pictures from my visit to Lords last Monday as many of you enjoyed them.

It is seems like an age waiting for the next Test in Nottingham and I am counting the days. The monsoon weather continues in England and is disrupting the practice sessions for the teams. They have been forced to take shelter indoors which is not the best preparation. It will be interesting to see what the conditions are like in Nottingham on Friday. The conditions will surely have a part to play with the cooler atmospheric conditions overhead. It will add to the drama and excitment of the match, much as it did at Lords.

Roll on Friday!

India snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat

2007-07-24T09:48:00.000+01:00

The first Test between England and India has been a great advertisement for Test cricket. It was an absorbing contest aided by a marvellous wicket which gave assistance to bowlers if they made use of the conditions and helped the batsman that had patience and skill to overcome the testing conditions.

The batsman on both sides were meant to dominate against two relatively young and inexperienced bowling attacks. In reality both sets of bowlers came out with more plaudits as England's third string attack showed discipline and control and bowled well as a unit and the Indian bowlers after an indifferent start came back very strongly. The famed Indian middle order faltered yet again when the pressure was on and failed to deliver the goods. It was left to the impressive Karthik and Dhoni in the second innings to help save the game for India. England can be indebted to Strauss in the first innings and the brilliant Piertersen in the second innings who played a very watchful innings initially and then changed gears latterly to race to a century. His extended celebrations indicated what it meant to him in an innings he described as his best yet.

I went to the match on the final day hoping to catch some of the action despite the gloomy forecast. The game was nicely balanced at the start of the day but two quick wickets meant that the run chase was not on and India would have to battle it out to save the game before the rain came. As it was the rain did not come until late afternoon and India will be thankful to a good partnership between Dhoni and Laxman in the morning. After lunch Laxman departed, opening up an end which England exploited and there was a clatter of wickets. It was a very tense and absorbing session as the clouds started to gather and it became decidedly colder. The tailenders played some silly strokes which did not help their cause and Dhoni did his best to take most of the strike. Dhoni led a charmed life as he tried to play an innings out of character for him and I found it amazing how he played risky attacking shots when he was not looking to score. That could easily brought about his downfall and meant certain defeat for India.

The array of Indian fans were very vocal in the support of their team all day but the tension of the final few overs even silenced them. The umpires met constantly to discuss the gloomy light and Vaughan took off the seamers and brought himself and Panesar in to lengthen proceedings. By this stage I was literally shivering from the cold but could not bear to leave the action. The Indian dressing room also looked very tense next to me as they too were helpless to do anything. Sreesanth survived a very close LBW decision in the final few overs and replays showed that the ball would have clipped the bails. It seemed just a matter of time before bad light and rain stopped the play and all the Indians were praying for rain and England were just hoping that they could snare the last wicket before the rain robbed them. When play was stopped due to bad light and early tea was taken, it was met with big cheers and relief by the Indian players and fans and a look of frustration on English players and fans as they had come so near to winning the match. It did not look like the skies would clear but we all hung around just in case there was yet more to come in this fascinating encounter. As it was, after a momentary lapse, the rain came down and the match was drawn.

India will count themselves lucky to escape with a draw as if play had continued the odds were on England to win the match and on balance they would have deserved the win in a close contest. As it is both teams head to the next Test on level terms and both will take a lot out of this match. India will be hoping that their batsman come into form, as they did on the last tour in a similar position and put England under pressure. They will know that this draw was an escape and will want to cash in on their fortune.The bowlers will have gained a lot and can only perform better with initial nerves out of the way and more familiar with the conditions. It remains to be seen if the middle order, which was in its prime last time around can have a happy swan song.

England will be hoping that their young and impressive bowling attack can do it all again in the next game. They might be faced with a harder task as the conditions may not be as helpful and the batting may be stronger. Their batsman also need to perform better and make bigger scores to put India under pressure.

It is all set up for another fascinating encounter at Trent Bridge, one of my favourite grounds. As I left rainy Lords, I could not remember feeling this cold before and it almost seemed like winter in the wet and gloomy conditions but I was glad that I tasted some of the absorbing atmosphere at this old and traditional ground.

Test in the balance

2007-07-22T21:38:00.000+01:00

It was a great day of Test cricket at lords today to set up a last day thriller and there should be a result either way if the rain does not play a big part.

The day was dominated by Kevin Pietersen's century which really ignited after lunch when he stepped up the pace and raced to three figures. The period before lunch was more watchful and as the Indian bowlers were bowling well and hard to score off freely. The partnership with Prior set up a total of 379 which India need to win.

India had a steady start and there did not seem to be any swing which had caused them so many problems in the first innings. They however lost three wickets, amongst them the priced wickets of Tendulkar and Dravid. Karthik reached a fluent fifty and was really good as a partnership was built with Saurav Ganguly. Ganguly showed all his experience as he fought it out in a tense final session.

It is all set up for a cracking finish on the last day and I will be making my way down to Lords tomorrow to see a great days play. I will be praying to the weather gods to keep the rain away at least until the game has finished and then I can do the rain dance. If India reach 390, it will be a record breaking winning total at Lords. They still have the fire power to get there and the first session will be crucial. If the ball starts to swing, England's bowlers may have the final say if they balled the way they did in the first innings.

It is too close to call and the match has reached the close climax that many predicted between these two sides, but whereas many predicted the batsman to dominate, it's the bowlers who have taken all the accolades, with swing playing a major part.

I have just seen the weather forecast and it is predicting heavy rainfall for most of the day. It will be such a shame if the weather is the winner in this tantalising contest.

Penny for your thoughts Saurav

2007-07-17T23:17:00.000+01:00

Saurav Ganguly will return to the ground where he made his dream Test debut in 1996. Lords awaits the prince that came and conquered with a century that announced his entrance into the international scene. He had waited four long years to get his opportunity after being banished into the wilderness after being selected on the tour to Australia. He had received a lot of criticism for his aloofness and princely attitude and had been discarded after the tour. This would be the start of a quite extraordinary journey for someone that has evoked a lot sentiment, good and bad throughout his long and illustrious career.

I vividly remember his innings and how impressed I was with his determination and the way he fought through against all the odds. He had that fighting spirit that would see him through for all that awaited him and that fire in his belly to play for his country. I could sense that here was someone that would leave his mark on the game and he has certainly done that. He certainly looked a Test player at that stage but I had not imagined that he would have been so successful in the one day game for which he is more well known now. His dancing down the pitch to a spinner to hit a straight six is a sight to behold on the cricket pitch. It is definitely a rival to his immaculate off side shots that pierce the field so precisely. He went on to form a formidable opening partnership with Sachin Tendulkar that was very successful and it is such a shame that it was broken when he took over the captaincy.

His aggressive captaincy definitely propelled the Indian team to a new level and made them a force to be reckoned with. He faced up to the bullying Aussies and got under their noses like no Indian player before him. He did counter a lot of criticism at times but he was successful and he strived for a winning Indian team with more metal and fighting qualities.

He is now at the autumn of his career after having recently returned from being dumped from the team after his famous tussles with the former coach Greg Chappell. He was down and out and written off by all and sundry, but he refused to bow out and has bravely fought his way back on merit.

He returns to England, a country that he likes, for what is likely to be his last tour and to a place that he has had much success. There must be many thoughts going on in his mind on how the tour will go. He seemed to be in a contemplating mood when I captured some shots of him on the field at Chelmsford. He was very pensive and thoughtful and rehearsing his strokes for his return to Lords in a few days time perhaps.The final chapters of his story are yet to be written on what has been one of the most interesting stories of a person that has evoked more sentiment than almost anyone else. As he reflects on what has been and what is yet to come, one feels that there are a few more chapters left and the prince will only bow out on his own terms.

Warm up to the Indian summer

2007-07-17T10:24:00.000+01:00

I was eagerly looking forward to seeing India at Chelmsford in their second warm up match against a very good England Lions team. I was due to go on the last day but nearly went on the second day as the weather forecast was very bad for the last day. The Indians were in trouble early on but the day got better with a great knock from the little master.

Chelmsford has a nice feel about it and as I approached the ground on Sunday, it was good to see quite a few Indian supporters making their way in.I was so absorbed in getting my first glimpse that I accidentally bumped into two guys and then I looked up to see that it was Laxman and Karthick just coming out from the nets. I smiled at them and watched them walk by talking and smiling. It was a good start to the day to see two of my favourites in the team.

The ground was not full but had a good atmosphere and most importantly, it was sunny. The County grounds have a warm and informal atmosphere about them, and it is the perfect setting to get close to the players and the action in a way that it is impossible to do at the international fixtures. I was surprised that there were not more Indian supporters, as the ground is not far from the Indian community in East London, many of whom travel half way round the world to see their team.

Dhoni was at the crease and the crowd were looking forward to an entertaining knock from the hard hitting hero. He did not disappoint as he smashed the ball all round the ground to loud cheers. I was standing with a group of Indian fans and I noticed a camera was on us as we cheered and clapped. I did not realise that an Indian TV company would be broadcasting the game live back to India. Dhoni was finally out and I was lucky enough to capture the falling of his wicket as I was busy snapping away. It did not take long for the Indian innings to end after his departure.

In between the innings the Prasad, the bowling coach came out for a warm up with Ishant Sharma, the tall and lanky Indian bowler. This would be Sharma's big opportunity to impress the selectors, who were sitting on the balcony, along with Borde, their Manager for the tour.There seemed to be a lot of joviality in the Indian camp as everyone was smiling and they seemed to be enjoying themselves, which is a far cry from the glum images in the West Indies a few months ago.

I made my way to a seat in the stand behind the wicket which gave a perfect view of the action. There was a lot of chirpiness amongst the Indians as Sachin directed the show from the slips and he seemed to be enjoying the captaincy as he was very active, with constant field changes. Andrew Strauss was at the crease, and the pressure was on him to perform after his failure in the first innings. He played some good strokes and had a few lucky edges go past the slips but generally impressed with his stroke play as he hit form in time for the first Test at Lords. Shreesanth was a bundle of energy as usual and a few words were exchanged as he tried to ruffle Strauss and it was a sign of things to come in the Tests. Strauss was joined by Owais Shah after the fall of the first wicket and the two continued to play well on this flat batting surface.

During the lunch break I took a tour around the ground and was surprised to bump into Harsha Bhogle, a journalist that I admire immensely. It was good to have a chat with him and learn that he is every bit as nice as he seems on screen. Ravi Shastri had also resumed his commentary duties as he took time out to sit in the sun.

The post lunch session saw the Lions continue to score well and although the Indian balling was accurate, there was no movement or real pace to cause any problems.The seamers all seemed very similar on this flat track and spin will play a big part in the forthcoming Tests to add variation to the attack. Ramesh Pawar made the breakthrough after he gave the ball more air and flighted his delivery. The fielding was disappointing even for a warm up match with good fielders like Yuvraj and Shreesanth making embarrassing blunders. This is an area that they really need to get a lot sharper as it was disappointing to see the lack of effort made.

The clouds loomed and tea was taken early but thankfully there was not a downpour as in other parts of the country and play resumed without any time lost. The Lions declared with twenty overs for the Indians to get some batting practice. All eyes were on Jaffer as he has much to prove but Karthick took most of the balling and played some brilliant shots all round the ground. He looks in excellent form and could have a really good tour if this display was anything to go by. Jaffer played some good shots at the other end and may have cemented his spot for the first Test. It was interesting to see Yuvraj come in instead Laxman at the fall of Karthicks wicket as they may be competing for a batting place in the Test side.

The matched predictably petered out into a draw, where both teams had some good match practice. The Lions succeeded in getting Strauss a well needed knock and Stuart Broad impressed with his five wicket haul which could see him make his debut at Lords on Thursday after Harmison is ruled out through injury. The Indians still have a few decisions to make, Jaffer is likely to open and RP Singh should be in but they have a dilemma on which batsman to drop and it is likely to be between Laxman and Yuvraj. Laxman would get my vote for the first Test as he has proven Test ability compared to Yuvraj who has yet to really establish himself.

It is all set fair for the opening Test on Thursday for the real action to begin and I am counting the days to what should be a very interesting match and series.

Stand up and be counted VVS Laxman

2007-07-12T10:25:00.000+01:00

This is a very important tour for VVS Laxman, who has been in and out of the Indian line up for most of his career. He always seems to be the fall guy that misses out. He is undoubtedly a batsman of great class and elegance, and his cuts and glances seem like a work of art on the cricket pitch when in full flow. He even has a walk of a great player. It is a delight to watch an artist at work at a time when aggression and brut force plays such a big role.

He will always be remembered for his majestic innings of 281 against Australia in 2001 in Kolkota, in one of the most remarkable fight backs in Test history. He seems to like the Australians and has a very good record against them, which is not something many batsmen can boast about. He has the game to do well against most opponents in most conditions but has lacked consistency to really be regarded as a great. He is of course in the company of star batsmen in the Indian line up and has not had the opportunity to shine on many occasions, especially when batting at no 6, when the bulk of the runs have either been scored or he is left with the tail enders.

His confidence cannot have been helped when he is constantly left out of the team. It was interesting to note that when faith was shown in him by Saurav Ganguly and he was moved up the order in that 2001 series, he produced the goods. A lot of the game is played in the mind and having any form of fragility in that area can hinder your game. He has handled his omissions well on the surface, apart from being left out of the 2003 World Cup. That really hurt and his form following that was great, showing that he had the fighting qualities to push his way back into the team. His poor fielding has counted against him in the one day arena, whereas in Tests, he is an excellent slip catcher, having taken many outstanding catches.

He has the potential to do really well in England, having played here before and his classical wristy shots will go well with the scenery. He has had a good warm up game against Sussex, scoring 95 on his first knock on the tour. He is likely to be fighting for a place with the dashing Yuvraj Singh, who is showing signs of recovering his good form. All the batsman are looking very good and India will have some difficult decisions to make if that continues throughout the tour.

It is time for the 'very very special' Laxman to stand up and be counted and grace us with his artistry and elegance on the field. We are in a for a treat if he hits form as there are not much better sights than Laxman in full flow.

Sun, sand and cricket

2007-07-09T09:43:00.000+01:00

The sun was out this weekend for a change and I managed to escape the city and head towards the south of England to catch some of that sun, sand and sea at sunny Bournemouth. It was my first time there and it must rank as one of the best seaside resorts in the country. There was some beach football being played but no sign of beach cricket.

I managed to catch very brief news of the one day decider between England and the Windies at Trent Bridge and it seemed like that the rejuvenated Windies were putting in another strong display at the tail end of their tour. I could sense at the half way mark that England would loose as they still have a long way to go in this form of the game. The Windies always looked like a good one day side as they seem to be able to concentrate and focus better for the shorter versions of the game. They loose interest for the longer version resulting in inconsistent performances. If they can improve on this, they have the makings of a good side.

The Indian team were playing a warm up match against Sussex, another coastal county not too far away from me. They must be glad to escape the cold and damp of Ireland and Scotland to the slightly warmer climate in England.It looked like the Indians were continuing their good batting form and were getting some valuable match practice ahead of the Test series.

I visited the lovely Rosebowl, home of Hampshire cricket the next day, with the sun continuing to shine. It is a very scenic and impressive ground and has great views of the cricket all round the ground. Hampshire were playing Warwickshire in a County Championship match. As I walked around the ground, I could not miss the the sound of a certain Shane Warne, chirping away,with some of that famous aussie sledging, willing his side on. He has made a big impact on the team and has not lost any of his enthusiasm and energy. He was certainly a very active captain on the field, with constant field and bowling changes and was first out on the field after the breaks eager to resume. Warwickshire put on a solid batting display and were well on their way to a big total at the end of play.

I caught some of the action from the men's final at Wimbledon between Ferderer and Nadal on one of the screens inside, in what proved to be a classic five set final. It was a shame that someone had to loose as both were worthy winners and Federer's reaction at the end showed just how much winning for a straight fifth time meant to him.

I made my way back to the city in the evening, just as the clouds started getting darker and spots of rain started to fall. Well it would not be England without the rain but for once it had not interrupted the sporting action around the country. I could still smell that fresh sea air as I headed back to the metropolis.

Bhangra dancing in the rain

2007-07-04T09:25:00.000+01:00

The rain continues to play havoc on the sporting calendar with no end in sight. The much awaited clash between arch rivals India and Pakistan was washed out completely in Glasgow. The small hardy crowd had come eager with their flags, blow horns and dhols to see some action but were left to amuse themselves by playing the dhols and breaking into some bhangra dancing. There was no doubt some good old Asian food at hand to keep their hunger at bay.

These contests are usually full of good humoured banter between the rival fans and there is as much action off the pitch as on it. Many come to watch with families and groups of friends and many friendships are made on the day as stories and food are shared. It is a time that the British Asians can publicly demonstrate support for their team and feel proud of them. Many do not even follow the game but they want to be there to support their fellow countrymen. The noise levels at these matches is always a few decibels higher than any other with the characteristic horns and dhol beats accompanying every scoring stroke. There is over exuberance at times leading to scuffles and unruly behaviour, but fortunately it is in the minority.

I was lucky enough to follow the team around the country in 2002, when they last toured, and it was like a travelling circus with a party atmosphere at every ground.The weather was great and the team were in fine form giving their fans much to cheer about. I had my claim to fame as I seemed to be caught on camera a few times and virtually all my friends and family saw me on television in all parts of the world. I think I was doing a bhangra dance, celebrating a four on one memorable occasion captured on camera. I made many friends along the way and was lucky enough to meet my hero Saurav many times. I had met him in 2000 during his County stint at Lancashire and had been in touch since on his visits to England. He was a thoroughly down to earth person, very generous and considerate and above all had a passion and hunger to play for his country, which is still evident today.

I hope that this forthcoming series is as good as the last one. I think that it could be even better on the field as both teams are hitting form and are well matched. It will probably be the last time we see the greats Sachin, Saurav, Rahul and Anil in England, where they have enjoyed much success. The fans are raring to go to watch the mouth watering encounter and if the rain does stop play on the field, there will no doubt be some bhangra dancing and singing off it.

Play in between the rain breaks

2007-07-02T11:46:00.000+01:00

The relentless rainfall in the middle of summer is playing havoc with all the summer sports. It is a case of snatching some play in between the showers.

Wimbledon has been really hit with virtually no play on Saturday, so there is a big backlog building up for this week with back to back matches for many players. It is hard to build momentum with the continual stop starts and some players handle the delays better than others. It seems like the favourites in the both the mens and womens draw, Federrer and Henin respectively, are well on course but one feels that an upset or two is just what is needed, if we manage to get any play that is.

The cricket has fared slightly better with both the Twenty20 matches and ODI between England and West Indies completed. The Twenty20 matches were a great spectacle and lived up to their billing for fast paced entertainment. The Windies showed much better form, winning the first, with England learning some lessons and coming back to win the second one. The attraction for this form of the game is growing and the 50 overs format is going to have to do some major tinkering and not just minor adjustments that were announced by the ICC, if it is not to be overtaken.

It was quite a miracle to get the ODI match at Lords underway after all the heavy rainfall the previous days and that is thanks to the new drainage system at the ground. The conditions were loaded in favour of the bowlers, for a change, with overcast conditions and England posted a reasonable total. England had talked of stepping up the pace and using the power plays but that was not in evidence as they started slowly. I missed most of the match as I went to a wedding and by the time I caught up with the score, whilst driving past the ground, it was nearly all over with another batting collapse by the Windies. That was a shame as I was tempted to sneak in to Lords to watch the final few overs. Just when it looked like the Windies were competing, they showed the fragility that has dogged them for the tour. Englands bowlers have improved greatly, judging by the low numbers in the extra column. It seems that Alan Donald is having a positive effect and could see his short contract extended.

India completed a 2-1 series victory over South Africa, having won the final truncated match in Belfast. This was no mean feat for them in cold conditions with most of the team being struck down by illness at some stage. It is good preparation for them for the real test that awaits them in England. The batsmen seem to be shaping up well with Sachin Tendulkar showing some good form and Yuvraj coming back from injury. The bowlers have also had a useful work out that will serve them well for the England series, where the conditions will be similar. The team seem to be gelling well and playing for each other, in the absence of a coach, with the seniors playing a leading role, which is good to see. They have the big match against rivals Pakistan tomorrow, rain permitting,before departing for England.

It is all set up nicely for the much awaited series between England and India. Let us hope that the monsoon like weather relents and we have a cracking series.

Come on Tim

2007-06-27T09:47:00.000+01:00

I have to take a little break from cricket as tennis fever is upon us with the start of Wimbledon this week, accompanied by the rain as usual. It does not dampen enthusiasm or spirits as there is something very special about this tournament, that is a favourite amongst players and fans alike. It definitely holds special interest for me, more than any other grand slam.

The familiar cries of 'Come on Tim' were to be heard again as the only British hope, Tim Henman, was involved in a thriller on centre court yesterday. The match was carried over from the previous evening and was hanging in the balance at two sets all and 5 -5 in the final set against Carlos Moya. It was almost like a penalty shoot out or sudden death as the packed crowd on the roofless centre court watched the gladiatorial battle resume. The loyal crowd have been through all the emotions with Henman over the years and were willing him on in a tense finish.

Henman has not had very good results this year, and there have been calls for him to retire, but Tiger Tim seems to pull out his best at Wimbledon and that was certainly the case this time. He seemed in excellent form as both players played some breathtaking shots. The variety of shots make this tournament so interesting to watch compared to the long rallies on clay courts. One of the best shots was a lob from Henman, timed to perfection over Moya's head. He was very dominant coming to the net and also was serving well, with an ace on his second serve at a crucial stage under pressure to hold his serve.

The match could have gone either way, but Hemnan finally won 13-11 and it was unfortunate that it was a double fault from Moya that decided things in a classic encounter.Henman has tougher challenges ahead as his next match is today and one wonders just how far he can go this time and how much is left in the tank. He will no doubt get a lot of support from the crowds as they queue up all night to get into the ground, with most descending upon Henman hill ready for the somersault of emotions that they will be put through again as the local boy commences his next battle.

Woeful Windies loose to Derbyshire and my meeting with Sir Viv

2007-06-25T09:56:00.000+01:00

I was at the County ground in Derbyshire yesterday to witness a shock win by Derbyshire against the wilting Windies. There was rain in the area all morning and during my journey to the ground but as I reached the ground, the clouds cleared as if to announce my arrival and play started on time.

I have never been to the ground before in a County which boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in the country and is home to some grand stately homes that inspired Jane Austen to feature them in her classic books. The ground was smaller than I had imagined but was not full as I had anticpated but the wet weather might have had something to do with that.

The Windies were fielding a strong line up for the match and most expected an easy win against Derbyshire, who are not one of the strongest County teams. Debyshire batted first and made 135 which seemed a below par score and one which the Windies would cruise to. This is also what Sir Viv Richards felt as he was special guest at the ground. I was seated in the next table to Sir Viv, who has been so disappointed by the poor performances by his fellow countrymen. He still has this magical aura about him and one wishes that some of that would rub off on the Windies. Sir Viv recounted some stories of his cricketing career and his beginnings at Somerset with his close friend Sir Ian Botham, to his prolific form in the 1976 series in England which was inspired by 'we will make them grovel' comment by Tony Greig. He predicted at half time that the Windies would beat Derbyshire comfortably and if they did not, they should be sent home.

As I settled down to watch the Windies innings, I could not believe what transpired. The wickets started tumbling right from the start and there was a danger that there would be more wickets than runs on the scoreboard. The body language of the Windies said it all as they trudged off slowly with hardly any eye contact with each other. It was if they were helpless or just did not care, as there was no real effort put into their performance. Their bowling had been quite good but when they were batting it did not seem like a contest as they surrendered far too easily and were all out for 84. Maybe all the rain had dampened their enthusiasm, but everyone is quickly running out of excuses for this very sorry looking outfit.

It was just as well that Sir Viv was not there at the end or he certainly would have been fuming. He exudes pride and passion in all that he does and that certainly came out when he spoke and this is something that is sorely missing from this team at the moment. I managed to have a quick chat a and a photo with the great man.

As I started to make my way out of the ground, I had certainly not expected this result but it was the way that they played which most disappointed me. My first Twenty20 match had not been a fast and furious affair that I had expected, but I had a very interesting time at this quaint ground.

As I left the ground, the clouds seem to gather and lo and behold, the rain came back as if on cue on my departure. It poured down all the way as I joined the rush back to London and reflected on my day and meeting with a legend.

Twenty20 circus hits the road

2007-06-22T13:37:00.000+01:00

The Twenty20 circus starts today as it starts its fifth season in the domestic scene in England. There were lots of doubters at the beginning but it has proved to be a roaring success across the land and worldwide in the cricketing world.

It has become the premier attraction for Counties as they look forward to packed stadiums and a lot of interest all round resulting in them gleefully rubbing their hands.The other forms of cricket has mainly been the domain of middle class men with time on their hands. This shorter version of the game has brought in a younger crowd and whole families out for a few hours entertainment. All the side shows that were used to attract the crowds initially are no longer needed as the cricket itself provides the entertainment. It is ideal for after work and after school entertainment for a few hours.

You can sense the buzz in the Counties around the country as they prepare for what has become the jewel in the crown. The administrators are lengthening the contest by increasing the number of games played to cash in on its commercial success and who can blame them as the attendances keep on increasing. It has brought in large number of people who otherwise would not have been interested in the game and that can only be a good thing.

The players also seem to be enjoying it as it gives them a break from the longer forms of the game and is much more fun as it is fast and furious. It has its own unique strategies and game plans developing as teams master the skills to do well in this form of the game. Surrey and Leicestershire have been two of the most successful sides to date but others are catching up fast.

I am hoping to catch some of that Twenty20 fever myself as I attend my first match between West Indies and Derbyshire at the Weekend. The weather forecast is not great in the north with rain and thunder forecast but hopefully the rain will ease in time to fit the match in.

You will hear all about it as I turn into a roving reporter, always did fancy that job.

England complete series win

2007-06-19T17:35:00.000+01:00

England completed a series win against the West Indies with a comprehensive 3 -0 whitewash at Chester-Le Street today. England have been the better side and played better cricket through the series consistently. Their batsman and bowlers are just hitting form now ready for a tougher series against India.

The Windies lost this Test on the fourth day in the session between lunch and tea. At the beginning of that session, the windies were in a good position, looking likely to draw the Test. In what must be their worst session of the series, it all fell apart dramatically and England stole the initiative and it seemed inevitable that England would win. It is almost like the Windies have forgotten how to win and seem to throw it away just when they need to press home the advantage. They have played well and won a few sessions but they have lost the crucial sessions when the pressure has been on them. That has been the difference between the two sides, as England have shown some indifferent form at times but they have won the crucial sessions and that is what Test cricket is all about.

Chanderpaul again was the stand out player for the Windies, showing great resolve when all around him were falling about. He had an amazing series and showed what a good player he is. Bravo was the next best player but he has to go on and make big scores that will win them matches. The bowling shows promise and the inclusion of Fidel Edwards strengthened the team. The fielding was very poor and ultimately let them down as things could have been different if some of those catches had been held. They will now have to go away and work on all aspects of their game and learn from the experience.

England look to be getting better and passed all the tests put before them in this series. All their players seem to be getting into form, with all the batsman getting runs and the bowling attack looking stronger with the return of Hoggard, inclusion of Sidebottom and return to form of Harmison. Monty Panesar takes the plaudits as the bowler who caused most problems for the Windies and got the Man of the Series award for his efforts. They also have an excellent coaching staff behind them which must take some credit for the success of the team.It will be interesting to see how they perform with the more tougher challenge against India.

The action shifts into Twenty20 and ODI's in the next few weeks. There will be slight changes in both the sides in the faster version of the game. England will have a new captain at the helm, with Vaughan resigning and it will be interesting to see how they perform in this version of the game under new management. The Windies have performed better in this version of the game and hopefully it should be a good series.

Take a bow Sir Ian

2007-06-16T11:40:00.000+01:00

Ian Botham was knighted for his contribution to cricket and charity work, in a culmination of a life's work. He has been a larger than life character both on and off the field, a peoples champion with a never say die attitude. Who will ever forget Headingley 1981, a match that saw him return to form and centre stage after a stint as England captain where his form had suffered. I was at the ground at Lords in the previous Test match and remember that long walk to the pavilion after his second duck in the match and his subsequent resignation as captain. It made his achievements at Headingley even more special and amazing to his many fans.

The many charity walks for leukaemia and cancer research required an amazing level of physical endurance but they were as important to him, if not more so, as any success on the cricket field as they saved life's. The £10 million he has raised has contributed to the fact that the survival rate has risen from 20% when he started to a staggering 80% today. He will no doubt continue until the success rate is 100%.

I grew up idolising Ian Botham and followed his career closely. I still remember meeting him for the first time as I queued up for an autograph and still remember the time he took after a hard days play to give time to his fans. He made such an impact on the game internationally and he had a following all round the world as people loved to watch him play as he brought the game to life in his own unique way.

He was a colourful character off the field, living life to the full which was well documented in the media, but that was all part of the man and who he was. Everyone has flaws and makes mistakes but it is how you deal with them and come out of them that is the real test.Botham showed that he was human and that added to his appeal.

Ian Botham was a hero to me as cricket is an essential part of life for me and watching him play always gave me such pleasure and is probably one of the reasons for my love of the game. He richly deserves the honour which is long overdue and you can see that he is rightly proud to be the recipient of the Knighthood and why not.

Take a bow Sir Ian.

Coach saga continues

2007-06-14T09:27:00.000+01:00

The comical and farcical process of recruiting a coach for India continues it seems. A job that was once coveted as the top job seems to be a hot potato that no one seems to want to take on. The BCCI rightly take the majority of the blame for the shambolic position. It seems that they had naturally assumed that there would be clamour for the position, as they did not even advertise for it or had any foresight in thinking of a replacement when they were well aware that it was likely to be vacant after the World Cup.

By the time they realised that the matter was pressing, most of the top candidates had other positions or were not interested.The events since then with a series of names being mentioned and speculated upon and the amateurish handling of the whole affair has made the position very unattractive to any prospective candidate.

So now there is no coach appointed for a major tour abroad and in another twist, Chandu Borde has been plucked out of retirement to manage the team. How this happened is any ones guess but one is not surprised anymore. His name has never been mentioned before and at 72 years of age he has been out of the game for a long time and one would surmise not in tune with the current players. One can only assume that his role will primarily be to organise and manage affairs externally on a tour or will he participate in the fielding drills and act as batting coach as well? He may be a secret laptop brigade specialist and will bring invaluable analysis and tactical nouse to the team. One can only speculate as to his actual role and the contribution he will make.

One thing is certain and that is that the team are going to have to take a lot of responsibility themselves, none more so than the captain, Rahul Dravid. Former greats like Shastri and Gavasker who claim to have the best interests of the team will take up their positions in the media, safely away from the central stage and let the team sweat it out in the middle. It is a shame that those that proclaim to have the teams interest at heart are not willing to put their money where their mouth is and help the team in their hour of need. They will make comments and may even offer words of wisdom from their safe positions but that will be of little benefit to the team.

It will be interesting to see how India do on this tour with all that has gone on off the pitch. It is likely to be a well contested series, with many of the Indians familiar with English conditions and having much success here. England are warming up well and have the added strength of what looks like an excellent coach in Peter Moores. He seems to me to exemplify what a coach should be and seems a vital asset to the team in his short time at the helm.

If India do not do well one of the reasons given for this will undoubtedly be lack of a coach and if they do well, one will question the need for a coach at all. Whatever happens we have surely not heard the last of the coach saga, many more twists and turn remain.

The good, the bad and the ugly

2007-06-12T09:29:00.000+01:00

England sealed a 2-0 series victory against the West Indies in a closely contested match where the pendulum swung both ways during the match. It was an absorbing Test but had aspects of the good, bad and the ugly.

The Windies batting collapse in the first innings was ugly as they once again meekly surrendered without any fight.Their fielding again proved to be less than good with the exception of Bravo who was outstanding.England's bowling in the first innings by Harmison and Plunket was not pretty to watch as they continued to spray it around adding to the extras column.

There were some good performances from both sides. Alastair Cook reached his sixth century in a very short career and proved what a fine prospect he is. The Windies showed some fire power with Fidel Edwards in the side and troubled the England batsmen. Darren Sammy made a promising debut with a seven wicket haul and his batting showed some fight. Monty Panesar proved that he is proving to be a be a world class spinner with his first 10 wicket haul and his first man of the match award.

The best performance of the match undoubtedly was a fighting century in testing conditions by Shivnarine Chanderpaul. He is not pretty to watch but very effective and has been the best player for the Windies for a while now. He is under rated, but when the chips are down you can count on the shy and awkward Chanderpaul to come to the party. He nearly took the Windies to a record breaking win and it just needed someone to stay with him at the end, but Harmison had got that fire in his belly after lunch on the final day which proved too much for the tailenders. He gives the team the stability and consistency that they so desperately require. He got very good support from his team mates to halt England's progress on the 4th day and that must auger well for the future. His knock must rate as one of the best and it is a shame that it was not for a winning cause.

This Test match proved to be an absorbing contest and a lot of credit must go to the pitch as it had something for both the batsman and bowlers if they played well and adapted to the conditions. Both teams can take some positives from the match, the Windies will want to continue the good form that they showed and England will be happy that they managed to win after being tested but both have areas that they need to improve on.

Friendly Northampton

2007-06-11T09:15:00.000+01:00

I was at the Northampton County ground yesterday on a glorious summers day, ideal for cricket, where Worcestershire were the opponents for the Friends Provident Trophy match. I have become fond of this ground as you are made to feel very welcome as soon as you enter the ground right from the security at the gates to the executive members. Everyone is very warm, friendly, helpful and very welcoming and you feel a part of a big family.

I was lucky enough to talk to various people at the ground and the one thing that struck me was that most people had a long association with the ground, either as members, players, staff and fans. They all loved the ground and had a passion for the County and were really proud of their achievements. This was evident by the way people talked about the place and their experience of it over the years. They are one of the smaller Counties in the Country but they have a unique atmosphere far removed from the hustle and bustle, impersonal and sometimes arrogant nature of the bigger Counties. Commercial aspects are very important as each County has to work hard to survive and has to become more business minded in their approach to running the club, but it is good to see that the human factor is still retained, which is what appeals to people who love the game of cricket.

Whilst I was busy with my assignment for the day, I could not miss a brilliant century by Graeme Hick for Worcestershire. He is still a class act and played all the shots that he is so renowned for. He looks the complete cricketer and makes you sit up and take notice. It begs the question of why he could never transfer this kind of form into the international scene. His 120 out of a total of 302 set up a comfortable victory for the visitors in the end.

I was keeping half an eye on the score at the Test match in Manchester.This is the home ground of Monty Panesar, who was on duty with England, and one of their key bowlers that could help them secure a win. Monty played well but there was dogged resistance from the West Indies, with Chanderpaul playing a characteristically gutsy innings with help from his colleagues. It was good to see a fightback and leaves the match intriguingly set up for the final day with the Windies aiming for a record run chase to win and England needing 5 more wickets to win the series.

As I reluctantly left the ground, I reflected on a wonderful day, rich in experience and so far removed from the maddening crowd.

Windies show some fire

2007-06-08T10:59:00.000+01:00

After all the talk before the match about Vaughan and Flintoff, at the end of the day all the talk was of the on the field performance of the West Indies. The Windies, with the injection of pace from Fidel Edwards produced some fire reminiscent of the great pacemen of the past. They had one of their better days in the series so far and it was good to see them compete.

England won the toss and decided to bat and did well in the first session. There was some discussion on whether they should have bowled with the conditions favouring their bowlers, but it seems most teams want to get a score on the board first. The afternoon session belonged to the Windies, with the accuracy of the bowlers drying out the runs and producing some rash shots from the players trying to get out of the stranglehold.

England made a recovery in the last session with a partnership between Prior and Bell taking them nearer to the 300 mark. Bell produced a crucial innings which started slowly due to the glut of wickets and the rebuilding that was required but produced some classy shots with sweet timing and placement. Prior continued his fine form and was to blame for his wicket as he tried to step up the momentum.

It sets up an interesting second day, with the Windies aiming to get England out without the addition of too many runs. They are amongst the tail with only Bell left. At the time of writing, England have progressed well in the first 30 minutes,scoring well with Harmison keeping Bell company and playing his usual lofty shots. All eyes will be on Harmison the bowler later on the day. He has already received some body blows and it will be interesting to see if he can return the favour and produce the kind of form that demolished Pakistan at this ground last year. The pitch favours the taller bowlers that England possess, as they can extract extra pace and bounce and it remains to be seen if they can make good use of the conditions.

It is all set up to be an interesting day as both teams are in the contest and have plenty to play for.

Coach Idol reaching its climax

2007-06-05T09:12:00.000+01:00

The twists and turns in the hunt to recruit a coach for India continues. The contest is full of suspense and surprises, with the all powerful BCCI enjoying being on centre stage as the panel of judges who will finally decide. The contest is being prolonged further until June 9th now, as the previous so called front runner, Dav Whatmore, is out of the running all of a sudden. The new man in possession of that title is former South African coach, Graham Ford. He with another unknown are now contesting the final. One gets the feeling that the identity of this unknown is kept hidden to keep everyone interested.

The BBCI either have known all along who they would like and are just milking it for maximum publicity and drama or they really are clueless and are enjoying the process and going with the flow.

It seems that former and current players are the ones hunting for talent all round the world and nominating candidates that they would like and putting them in the frame. There is a lot of activity in the background with these 'judges' scouting for talent. If it is a two horse race, as we are currently led to believe, it will come down to the voting or political power within the selection committee. The most influential will no doubt get their way.

It is certainly keeping the viewers and media interested and gagging for the next installment as is the aim of all such reality talent contests which have become so popular. The BCCI have jumped on the bandwagon of a successful formula. It seems that the winner will be revealed to the masses just before the team leave for the tour to England. It is like a warm up show before the main event. I wonder how regularly they will decide to run these contests now. It could become an annual event at this rate. They may see sense, perhaps and put cricketing issues and reasoning ahead of talent circuses but if this generates more interest than performance on the pitch, well anything is possible.

Mocking aside, lets hope that however bizarre and seemingly lengthy the process, the winner of this contest is selected, by those powerful custodians of the game in India, on sound cricketing criteria.

Why the delay in appointing a coach?

2007-05-30T16:40:00.000+01:00

The appointment of an Indian coach is proving to be a long drawn out affair. Why are the BCCI dragging their heels over a matter that should have been decided by now? It is only adding to speculation and rumours and the sooner the appointment is made the better for everyone. It begs the question of whether there is any sort of planning in the BCCI. Should they have not been planning well ahead of time like England and Australia, where the new coaches are in place with a minimum of fuss. Why the big media circus and speculation doing the rounds?

It is like a big drama being played out in public to ignite the interest in the game again. First there is an interim coach,Ravi Shastri, who has no intentions of taking the permanent role, stating that his media commitments cannot be broken. I think anything is possible and everyone has a price. He has done a good job in fostering team unity again and is well liked and respected within cricketing circles but clearly the role does not interest him in the long term.

Now there is a continual list of possible candidates touted for the role, with Dav Whatmore heading the list. The way Whatmore announced his intentions for the role in the middle of a World Cup, whilst coaching Bangladesh, was in bad taste. It seems that he has been waiting for the opportunity to get his hands on the big job, with the high profile and money that will no doubt accompany it. There has since been discussions with the board during the Bangladesh series, which have confirmed nothing but added to the speculation.

Now we hear that the senior players would prefer a foreign coach and have stated as much to the board, whereas those on the selection committee, like Sunil Gavasker and Kapil Dev would prefer an Indian coach. Gavasker and Dev also seem to be against Whatmore and have been quite public about it.

It would seem that there is no clear process or main criteria for selection for what is a very important post. The board will meet on June 4th and seemingly make a decision. How long will that take one wonders and why wait until then or have they got more pressing issues to deal with?The team have a tour to England next month and surely the new coach would want to be involved in the pre -tour preparations as soon as possible.

I find the whole issue perplexing and cannot understand why it is not a more clear, quick and straight forward process. You could make a bollywood movie out of it in the meantime, making it a big suspense thriller, with the coach revealed at the end, filling the already full coffers of the BCCI.

England crush sorry Windies

2007-05-29T09:24:00.000+01:00

England beat the West Indies by a record margin to win the second Test at Headingley and go one up in the series. On a bitterly cold day with constant stop starts for rain, it was only a question of time before the Windies meekly surrendered.

It was a sad state of affairs to witness a turn around in the fortunes of a team that had once sent shivers down the spine of their opponents. England, more than often during their reign as world beaters, suffered crushing defeats by the Windies in their own back yard. This team was a shadow of that all conquering team, depleted by injuries to its star performers who have experience in these conditions. Most of the team have not experienced these conditions and were simply lambs to the slaughter. The swinging, moving bowl is not something that the batsmen would have faced in the dry, flat wickets back home. The impressive Dwayne Bravo was the only player who stood out from the rest with an entertaining half century.

Ryan Sidebottom made the difference in the bowling attack for England with his accurate line and length and swing. He used the conditions perfectly and showed the benefit of someone who has perfected his trade in the gruelling County circuit. Harmison and Plunket were still wayward and would do well to follow his lead in being more disciplined. Harmison showed signs of his old self with pace and aggression at the end but still has a way to go.

England did well with their captain Michael Vaughan returning to Tests after a long absence with a classy century and the other batters showing good form, with Pietersen, man of the match, simply outstanding. They have to keep on improving as they are likely to face much tougher oppositon, where they are likely to face a much sterner test but they did what they had to do well.

As for the Windies, they have to dig deep and try and get as much out of this tour as they can. They will wait to see if their captain Sarwan will take any part in the rest of the series and call replacements if required. There is talent in the team, it just needs to be harnessed with more disciplined and consistent performances.

Beckham and Ganguly

2007-05-28T17:25:00.000+01:00

David Beckham has been recalled into the England Football team for the first time since the World Cup last year. I always saw a similarity between the way Beckham was treated to that of Saurav Ganguly in the Indian team. Both men were long standing successful captains in their respective teams and on arrival of a new coach were unceremoniously dropped. Both new coaches were making a statement and stamping their authority by dropping a big and influential player from the team,with the message that the new era under them will succeed without them.

It is indeed a bold move and you can see why a new coach would do this but it is a silly one if it is done to the detriment of the team. In the case of Ganguly, there was indeed a need for a change in captaincy and his form had also dipped. The treatment meted out to him was unfair and inconsistent. It was clear that the management did not want him and were looking for reasons to drop him. To his credit Ganguly used the time to play domestic cricket to improve his from and fitness. He was recalled after Team India had a run of bad results and the youngsters that were picked to replace him failed to produce. Ganguly made a heroic comeback In South Africa ending up with the most runs in the series. He was hungry for success and used the time well and looked better than ever. The coach was almost forced to do a u turn,with Ganguly having the last laugh.

It is a similar story for Beckham, who was used as a scapegoat for Englands poor form in the World Cup. He was dropped and the door was seemingly closed for him. England drafted in new younger players as the coach built his new team, but the results one year down the line have been bad with England struggling to qualify for the European Championship. Beckham, meanwhile has never lost hope of playing for his country and has remained fit and is in a rich vein of form for his club Real Madrid. The cries for his recall have been growing and the coach has had to do a u turn for the sake of his team and recall him to help them qualify.

Both these players are very passionate about playing for their teams and have never given up hope despite challenging times and circumstances with their backs to the wall and in Gangulys case all and sundry calling for his retirement from the game. Their strength,determination and belief in their abilities has seen them fight their way back in on merit. It must be such a satisfying feeling to fight against the odds and win. They both must have had a smile on their faces. I know I did.

Testing times for Harmison

2007-05-24T15:13:00.000+01:00

The pressure will again be on Steve Harmison when the second Test match starts between England and West Indies tomorrow at Headingley. Headingley is renowned for helpful conditions for bowlers and all eyes will be on Harmy to see if he can regain the form he produced at his peak three years ago in the West Indies. His performances since then have been very inconsistent, coinciding with the departure of Troy Cooley, the bowling coach, to Australia. Harmy was particularly close to Cooley and has felt his loss more than others.

It seems to be a mental thing as he has had a great start to the season with his county Durham and all reports confirmed that he was back to his best. It seems that he has stage fright on the big occasions with his mental fragility coming to the fore, which affects his bowling action as technical flaws begin to surface, resulting in the wayward fare he seems to serve up.

He has had ample time to rest and get it right after the disastrous Ashes series, where his first delivery to third slip on the opening day remains a lasting memory. He has quit one day cricket to concentrate on Tests but all the preparation still has not helped. It is a worrying factor for England, who have showed faith in his abilities and have been supportive as they know that he can be destructive if he gets it right. Everyone is hoping that it will all just click into place once he gets a few wickets, but those wickets are not coming and with that the pressure is growing and so it is a vicious circle.

In the end you can have all the help in the world and the best practice sessions, but when you get out there, it is down to you to perform as cricket is as much an individual game as it is a team game. Each batsman and bowler is out there on their own and therefore those that are mentally tough and able to handle the pressure usually succeed. Harmy needs to overcome his demons and believe in himself as time is running out.

Quality not quantity

2007-05-23T09:03:00.000+01:00

There is a lot of talk about the packed international schedules and the effect it is having on players and teams. It is a non stop treadmill now with cricket played all through the calendar year and that has to take its toll, with player burnout and injuries.

There are some teams like England who are on the go constantly with barely a couple of weeks break in between. They have started a home series against the West Indies two weeks after returning from the World Cup.There is a packed schedule at home for them where the number of Tests and ODI's has increased crammed form mid May to mid September which results in back to back Tests. There is no time to recover from injuries or work on aspects of your game. No sooner has the home season completed in September and they are off on an international tour in October, which goes on usually until April and then it is back home for the start of the domestic series. I am tired just thinking about it and watching it so how must the players feel?

India also seem to have a packed schedule, with the current series against Bangladesh hot on the heels of the World Cup and in the middle of the rainy season when interruptions in play are almost guaranteed from the outset. The fans are also robbed of a good contest when so much time is lost. India also are suffering with a list of injuries, particularly to key bowlers, much like England. The packed schedules has a greater impact on bowlers, with greater chance of injuries and compromising their fitness levels. A time for rest and recuperation is essential to recharge the batteries both mentally and physically.

It is interesting to note that the one team who seems to be getting long breaks and we are talking several months is Australia. They only seem to be playing for a quarter of the year at the moment with plenty of breaks in between. They have so much time that they have to organise long camps to get the players together and do team building exercises. It would be good if the other countries had such a luxury as they are struggling to catch their breath in between. Is it a coincidence that Australia are far superior from the other teams in fitness and performance levels and ultimately their results?

It seems that the people in charge of schedules have really lost sight or have no interest in the game and the welfare of the players. It is ironic that those in charge of the game have not played the at the highest level, if at all, and therefore are unlikely to realise the effect it has on the players. Their prime consideration is commercial and that is evident in the decisions that they make. It is time for the administrators in charge of the game, both the ICC and the boards of each country to take notice of the growing call from many quarters to look at the packed schedules and the impact it is having on players and the game as a whole. The onus should be on quality and not quantity and I am sure that even the fans would agree with this outcome. It is surely better to see less games, which have fit and motivated players, which makes for a good contest than to have more games, with key players missing and demotivated players, making it a dull contest.

The 'rested' centurians

2007-05-21T10:13:00.000+01:00

The rest seems to have worked for Saurav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, as both notched up centuries against Bangladesh. The conditions were favourable for batting and the bowling was not that threatening but the two greats of Indian cricket must have been under pressure to perform. The start was tentative, as would have been expected, but they soon got into the groove and played well to reach their landmark.

There has been a lot of talk of rumblings within the camp during the World Cup, with the two seniors in the thick of things and the apparent 'rest' from the one day squad adding fuel to the speculation. A team should always strive to get new blood in and aim to move forward and grow and should use the expertise and experience of the senior players as it does so. The Australians are a testament to that theory and proves that players should be judged on their performance and not their age. India are at a stage where their star players from the last decade and more, are nearing retirement age and there needs to be a transition to bring in new players. This has to be done gradually and with the help of the senior players who can be used to aid the transition.

It was great to see Saurav and Sachin together again, playing so well and clearly enjoying and very comfortable playing together. Maybe the events of the past month has made them try harder and made them more hungry and determined to do well, which can only be good for India. It is always good to let your performance do all the talking because that is where it counts.There may be more sterner tests ahead in England and Australia for both them and the team but you can only deal with what is put in front of you and that they did.

The Monty and Kevin Show

2007-05-21T09:26:00.000+01:00

The final day of the Test between England and West Indies at lords is set up for a thrilling finish, barring rain interruptions. The Windies are chasing 401 to win and if they get off to a good start, anything is possible as England are a bowler short and Harmison's woeful form on the international stage continues.

Monty Panesar took the plaudits with a six wicket haul after talk of leaving him out before the start of the Test due to unhelpful conditions for a spinner. Monty has demonstrated again that a good spinner can take wickets in any conditions. The normally quiet and unassuming character comes to life at a fall of a wicket as he carries out his extravagant celebrations, running and leaping up in the air excitedly chased by his beaming team mates. He is totally focused on his task and it must be great for a captain to have someone who he can rely on to come on at one end and not only keep it tight but take wickets. His game has come on leaps and bounds ( no pun intended) in all areas, especially fielding and batting, since his debut in India in 2006.

The second half of the day was dominated by Kevin Pietersen, who scored an entertaining century. He brought the game alive, after starting slowly, but working up to an exhilarating pace, ignited by his duel with Chris Gayle. Pietersen likes a challenge and nothing gets those juices going than the opposition getting stuck into him. A bit of friendly banter is always entertaining and adds that extra spark to proceedings. The normally cool Gayle was quite emotive but Pietersen won the battle this time as he plundered runs all round the park. He reached his hundred and there was almost a lack of celebration as if it was all so easy.

It remains to be seen who will steal the show today as the stage is set fair for a winning bowling or batting display and end up victorious.

A celebration on a damp day,

2007-05-18T08:43:00.000+01:00

Rain and bad light throughout the day took the gloss away from the opening day of the Test series between England and West Indies at Lords. The Windies having won the toss and opting to bowl failed to capitalise on the favourable bowling conditions. The bowlers looked rusty after having hardly any practice coming into the game. One feels that the English bowlers would have made better use of the conditions, with Harmison and Hoggard coming back after a long rest and showing form in County cricket.

The highlight was Alastair Cook making his fifth hundred before bad light stopped play. England need to capitalise on the overnight score of 203 and build a big total to put pressure on the rusty Windies.

The highlight for me was listening to the vintage Test Match Special commentary on the radio, celebrating 50 years of broadcasting. You don't even have to be a cricket fan to enjoy the commentary as it veers on to a variety of subjects, sometimes unconnected to cricket. It is like listening to a group of men enjoying a day out watching cricket. The camaraderie and banter is infectious and it almost makes the breaks in play more enjoyable than the play, on days such as yesterday, when the play was rather low key. The chat in between play famously veer on to subjects such as cakes, buses , trains, pigeons flying over the ground and funny costumes of the day.

The last 50 years have brought many vintage moments, and have become a welcome fixture, in England and abroad. It brings something that TV commentary cannot match as it has to be more descriptive and form a picture for the listener. As it is off camera, it seems less formal and more relaxed, which adds to its attraction. Many a time when I have decided to switch of the TV and listen to the radio and that is testimony to how good it is.

Here's to the next 50 years of excellent commentary, with maybe an addition of a female to the otherwise male dominated team.

Lull in proceedings

2007-05-15T10:29:00.000+01:00

There seems to be a lull in the cricketing world in the aftermath of the hotly anticipated but ultimately disappointing World Cup. Teams have returned to their own countries and are preparing for the next series in their schedule.

India and Bangladesh have been the first off the mark with a series in Bangladesh. There has talk of this being a revenge series for the Indians and the 2-0 victory by the Indians seem hollow and cannot make up for the one big loss at the WC. That was the main stage with the whole world watching and a prestigious trophy at stake, and this is a side show which is of interest mainly only to the two countries taking part. A win is a win,however, whatever the stage and will do India no harm as a loss would have inflicted yet more criticism on the already wounded team.

The change in coach that has happened within almost every team since the WC, is also one that India faces. A permanent coach needs to be in place as soon as possible so that the rebuilding can start in earnest. The constant speculation does not help the team. One wonders why the BCCI is dragging its heels on this issue of recruiting a new coach. Other countries like Australia and England have acted quickly and planned ahead by grooming the next coach well ahead of time.

England and West Indies prepare for their series which start this Thursday and the build up seems distinctly low key. Both teams will be looking to do well after recent disappointments and it is as if there is a blank sheet, with a new era for both teams, with the scripts yet to be written. It could prove to be a close and interesting series.

As there is not much news on the cricketing field, attention has been diverted to events off the pitch. The main one being the alternative, some say 'breakaway' cricket league in India. There is speculation of recently retired cricket stars such as Warne, McGrath and Lara being tempted to take part. This should benefit both parties as it will no doubt lift the profile of the league and provide a healthy re numeration to the stars taking part. There are definite synergies here with the Packer World series in the late 1970's. It remains to be seen if it will court as much controversy and have as much impact as that one had on the game.

It may take time for momentum to build up again on the cricket field, as new scripts are developed with new contests, rivalries and performances and we will again have much to watch, write and talk about.

Roll on to Lords

2007-05-12T11:24:00.001+01:00

The first Test of the summer, between England and West Indies will start next Thursday at Lords. It seems to get earlier each year as England now hosts two teams during the summer in a packed schedule, that there is hardly any time to draw breath.

The Windies arrived in England this week and their arrival seems to have been met by rainfall, which is an unusual occurrence for once at this time of the year. There has been glorious sunshine and instead of the stop start scenario and rained off matches in the County circuit, there have been results and huge scores to boot. The Windies are struggling to get any match practice as their only match before the Test against Somerset in Taunton is likely to be disrupted by the rain.

The Windies dogged by continuing disputes between the board and players, a new captain at the helm in Sarwan, a team without the legend Lara, who has retired and a poor run of form in recent years, have a lot to prove and improve on. England have been the victors by a distance in recent years, unlike the thrashing the once powerful Windies inflicted on them in the 1970's and 1980's. It must be painful for the greats who played in that era and their loyal fans, to witness the decline of a team which seemed invincible, much like the Aussies today.

England must start favourites, thou they also have not had a good winter after loosing the Ashes and a poor World Cup and there are a few injury scares to captain Vaughan and star player Pietersen. There is a new coach, Peter Moores, who has gone about his new task quietly and without much fuss. The Zimbabwean connection continues with Andy Flower as his deputy. They have not had much time to prepare since taking over and it will be interesting to see how this new partnership performs in helping England put recent disappointments behind them and continue the good work started by Duncan Fletcher.

The Lords Test is always a grand affair as befits such a historic venue and the atmosphere and the buzz of anticipation on the first day is always something special to behold. I have been to the ground, on many occasions for a Test, and always cherish the atmosphere, the sumptuous surroundings, the chatter and banter of the fans and of course the play. It is hard to leave at the end of the day and it hardly seems like a whole day has passed. I always leave with memories of the day on my journey home with a big smile on my face. They call Test matches boring, well not from where I am standing.

Roll on to Lords.

Divided we fall

2007-05-09T10:51:00.000+01:00

So the apparent rumblings within Team India are coming out slowly at a time when they need to be put to bed and move forward. Nothing can be gained by discussing the details in the public glare. The revelations are not new as disputes between the former coach, guru Greg, and an increasing number of senior players was well documented. He has left now and that should be the end of that.

The apparent factions within the team and particularly among the seniors does need to be sorted out and hopefully it is something Ravi Shastri is working on. I have felt the tension between Dravid and Ganguly since Ganguly was unceremoniously dropped and Dravid took on the reigns. These two have a long history, having made their debuts in 1996 together in England and have therefore played together throughout their careers. It is said that Ganguly helped Dravid keep his place in the one day side by making him keep wickets and Dravid in turn was India's best player during Ganguly's successful tenure as Indian captain. Did Dravid then turn his back on Ganguly when he required some support and his future in the team was in doubt?

Whatever the real reasons and cause for tension within the team, it is clear that it is not good for the team as a whole and the focus should be the team. A divided team is not a happy team and in most cases not successful as a result. You only have to look at Australia, yes them again, to see a team that is happy, playing as a team and winning. Sri lanka also looked like a happy and united team that played well as a team, with credit going to their coach and captain.

The rest would do well to follow the example set by these teams as to be beaten by your opponent is one thing but to be beaten by yourself, completely another.

What can India gain from Bangladesh tour?

2007-05-07T11:12:00.000+01:00

The Indian one day team arrived in Bangladesh today keen to play again after their early exit and humiliation at the World Cup. It is ironic that the defeat by Bangladesh in the first round was a prime cause of their exit. This tour has a greater significance than any previous tours and there is more at stake with India having a point to prove.

The hot and sultry conditions will be a test for a side that seems to have had all the stuffing knocked out of it and is sitting at the bottom of the pile after a heady period under Wright and Ganguly, where they were seemingly threatening Australia for the top spot. There now lies a huge gap between these two teams that renders any comparison worthless.

There does not appear to be unity within the camp, with the Board and players at loggerheads about contracts or the withdrawal of them, amount of payments to the team, restrictions on endorsements and the apparent 'resting' of Tendulkar and Ganguly. The BCCI are acting like strict fathers who are punishing their children for not performing well and attributing all the blame to them. Can such a heavy handed approach lead to harmony within the team or cause greater distance and dissatisfaction in Team India?

All the talk is of putting the World Cup debacle behind them and looking to the future and a plea to the media and fans to be more patient. This is easier said than done, when all the focus for the last 4 years has been on the World Cup and elevated expectations of how well India were going to perform. The entire planning for the team including the selection of coach was based on this event so it is not a scar that is easily healed.

The team has little option but to look ahead and begin to rebuild by playing and winning well. They indeed have a point to prove against Bangladesh but if they win and win well, that will only be expected, as they are still the more established and better side, on paper at least. There will be no great celebrations or praise heaped on them. If they win by a narrow margin or worse still loose, the criticism will continue. Once the standards and expectations are raised of being world beaters, there is a long way to go before you can satisfy those expectations again.

Bangladesh on the other hand are on a high, with unity and great team spirit, which was so evident in the World Cup, where they lost the tag of minnows and proved that they are a force to contend with, at least in the one day game. They will know that India are at low ebb and will use this to their benefit along with the fact they have home advantage. They can only gain from the series, as a defeat will not hurt them too much but a close contest or a win will further enhance their growing reputation.

This is probably India's most important tour to Bangladesh,and whatever the result, they have a long road ahead of them before they can finally repair the damage inflicted by a disappointing World Cup and regain the confidence of their passionate fans.

Fragile Vaughan

2007-05-05T10:43:00.000+01:00

Michael Vaughan's injury nightmare continues with a fresh injury, a broken finger, which could put him out of action for the first Test and even the second at his home ground at Headingley. He has shown good form at the beginning of the season and at the back end of the World Cup, but this is another blow for the injury prone England captain.

Vaughan needed a good start to the season and have a run of good form to establish his place back into the side. It raises fears of whether he can ever do that again, with his heavily operated knees always likely to let him down. Ever since his return to the side, he has seemed susceptible to picking up an injury simply by chasing a ball to the boundary or running hard between the wickets. He was struggling in his one long innings at the crease against the West Indies in England's final match at the World Cup and that was evidence that he is far from being match fit.

It poses a problem that England have had many times in the recent 18 months of who should captain the side. My vote would go to Andrew Strauss as he impressed me when he led the side well against Pakistan last summer and his batting didn't crumble under the added responsibility. The same cannot be said for Andrew Flintoff, who needs to work on his whole game and aim to reach the form he produced in the classic 2005 Ashes series, without the burden of captaincy. The odds should be on Strauss this time after Flintoff was stripped off the vice captaincy for his drinking exploits in the Caribbean.

Few more men but no dogs

2007-05-04T09:58:00.000+01:00

I visited sunny Northampton yesterday and dropped in briefly to watch a Championship match between Northampton and Essex. There were a few more men but no sign of any dogs.

The ground was bathed in sunshine and players and fans alike were taking tea. I walked round this quaint little ground and took in that low key atmosphere. The fans were mainly members and old age pensioners who had come in with their sandwiches and flasks of tea. There was no ICC to impose a strict policy on food and no search of all your belongings as you entered the ground, just friendly and helpful staff with warm greetings. What a refreshing change that made.

There was a splattering of international players on show. The crowd favourite, Monty Panesar, was batting in the middle with his unique style and helping Northampton to stage a recovery after a batting collapsing earlier. Essex had the South African, Andre Nel and England’s rising star, Ravi Bopara bowling. As usual with Nel, there was a lot being said out in the middle with Monty honing his batting skills and holding his own.

The touring Indian team is playing a one day match in August against England A, when no doubt the ground will be full. There is a large Indian community in these parts and they will no doubt come out in force to support their team, and create a special atmosphere. For the Indians, recent tours to England have seemed like playing at home, with their fans in the majority, and with the dry conditions this year, even the playing conditions will suit their style of play. It should make for an exciting series, but first they have a point to prove against Bangladesh.

I left the ground with a smile on my face, having thoroughly enjoyed my short interlude at this friendly ground.

English County season bathed in sunshine

2007-05-02T11:35:00.000+01:00

The World Cup has ended, followed by the inevitable post mortem on its success or in this case, reasons for its lack of success, which will no doubt continue for a while. Teams return home for a well deserved rest and reflection on their individual performance. It is a time to regroup and start afresh for most teams, with many changes in personnel, heralding a new way forward and planning for the next four years.

The focus in England is on the new domestic county season. This is usually a damp and cold affair, with hardly any play due to the weather and one man and his loyal dog in attendance in a mid week championship game. The football season also overshadows it as it is reaching its climax, with titles and crucial relegation and promotion issues to be decided. Cricket has always been a poor relative to football and only emerges out of the shadow when the sun finally comes out in mid summer and football is having its annual summer break.

This year there has been glorious sunshine to herald the start of the cricket season and this always adds that extra buzz and excitement to events. Large crowds have been in attendance at the weekends to make the most of the weather. Many have been enjoying those delicious cream teas renowned in this part of the world.

The players are also raring to go after a long winter break for many and there is the usual change in personnel in each team which takes time to settle. There are as usual, a host of overseas international players in the county circuit, at least two in each team, to add to the attraction. Many hope to gain valuable experience playing in these conditions and improve their game.

I am hoping to catch some games away from the international stage and take in the beautiful English countryside at the same time. It is a pleasant change from the hustle and bustle of the international stage, especially the recent World Cup, which has not been a good advertisment for the game, where the focus was on revenue generation, with the game of cricket coming a very sorry second. Hopefully watching the game in its more pure form, away from those greedy men in suits, will reinforce and renew my love for the game.

Aussies triumph, ICC blunder

2007-04-30T11:28:00.000+01:00

The World Cup finally ended with the familiar image of Australia winning the cup and the ICC blundering yet again. It has been a recurrent theme throughout the over stretched event.

We hoped to see a competitive match between the two best teams reaching the final, with many neutrals hoping for an upset resulting in Sri lanka snatching the title that looked like being Australia's from the outset. The weather intervened to reduce the match to 38 overs each and then disrupted the end. In between the Aussies posted an imposing total , with a brilliant innings from Gilchrist that would always test the Lankans. Someone from the Aussie side always stands tall when it counts and it was the turn of Gilchrist, whose brilliant innings of 149 proved to be the difference between the two sides. The Lankans threatened with Jayasuriya and Sangakkara at the crease but folded on their departure. In truth, they did their best, but it was never going to be enough to beat the awesome Aussies, who are simply the best on all counts and by a distance. I had so much hoped for an upset but as I watched the match, I had to admire the Aussies and concede that they were the rightful and worthy winners.

The other rather unfortunate image of the whole event has to be the part ICC has played in making it a forgettable event. The one day game is a cash cow that panders to the needs of sponsors at the expense of the fans who love the game. The ICC were like imperialists who invaded the Caribbean, took away all the things that make it a special place and put in place their stringent rules and regulations to suit their greedy needs. The locals were rendered helpless in their own backyard and prevented from enjoying the event as they would normally do. It was a succession of blunders right through that will unfortunately colour the event in peoples minds. They tried to reverse some of their decisions but it was too little too late in the end. It was therefore fitting that it was a blunder on the final day that ended the tournament in total darkness. The ICC are clearly not in touch with what people want and what is good for the game and they can't even interpret their own rules with an army of officials at hand. It would be laughable if it didn't go further to tarnish this wonderful game of cricket which they clearly know or care little about.

So the Aussies walk away with the cup again and it is up to their competitors to watch and learn from the masters and catch up with them. As for the ICC, they have blundered too many times now and need to be held accountable before they completely ruin the game.

Aussies steamroll into the final

2007-04-26T13:17:00.000+01:00

Australia steamrolled past South Africa to reach the finals for the third successive time. After all the big talk from the South African camp before the clash of being ready to put up a big fight, they failed to walk the talk. It proved to be a one sided game, with the Aussies hardly breaking into sweat.

The Aussies didn't have do anything more than turn up and play their normal game. It was the South Africans who once again seemed to be suffering from stage fright on the big stage when it really mattered. They were responsible for their own demise after winning the toss and deciding to bat. They needed to take the initiative by dictating terms and posting a big total to have any chance against the seemingly indestructible Aussies. What transpired was a pitiful batting display leading the Proteas to post their lowest total in the World Cup. It begs the question of whether the team still carries mental scars from previous tournaments when they have failed to produce at a similar stage.

You have to applaud the Aussies for their thorough professional performances throughout the tournament. Those stalwarts Hayden and McGrath again produced fine performances with bat and ball respectively to see the Aussies home at a canter. They have beaten every team that they have played by a huge margin to signify the gap that exists between them and the rest.

It remains to be seen whether Sri Lanka, with their powerful bowling lineup, that the Aussies have yet to encounter, can dismantle them from their lofty perch. They have the team and the game that can challenge the Aussies on the day but they will have to fire on all cylinders and then some to beat the mighty Aussies and stop them from being crowned World Champions for the third successive time.

Majestic Mahela

2007-04-25T16:56:00.000+01:00

Sri Lanka booked their place in the final with a wonderful all round performance, beating the Kiwi's comprehensively.

Mahela Jayawardene was on top form and played one of his best innings to date. He paced it just perfectly, starting slowly but solidly, nudging and quietly accumulating his runs. Then in the final ten overs, he suddenly changed gears and played a majestic array of shots which was a delight to watch. It wasn't brutal powerhouse hitting of a Hayden, Symonds or Smith, but a classical display of wristy cuts and pulls with precision timing and placement. It made me sit up and take notice and you could sense that this was a very special batting display with a master at work.

The bowlers backed up the batsman with all of them firing at the right time and the bewildered Kiwi's helplessly surrendered like lambs to the slaughter. Master Murali again weaved his magic spell with four wickets. The difference in class between the two teams was evident today and the Kiwi captain, Stephen Fleming, admitted as much in the post match analysis.

So the red hot Lankan's are through to the finals, where at the time of writing, it is very likely that they will meet the Aussies, who seem to be overpowering the South African's to a poultry score of 130-9 in the 41st over. It is all being set up for a meeting between the best two teams in the tournament.

Great match to finish Super 8's

2007-04-21T23:07:00.000+01:00

At last we had a game befitting a World Cup, the best so far. There was a packed house at the Kensington Oval, great atmosphere and a close game that ebbed and flowed and went down to the wire. England won with a nail biting finish, with the young Stuart Broad hitting the winning runs. It didn't seem to matter which team won in the end, it mattered more that it was a good contest.

It was a match for farewells, many came to watch Brian's Charles Lara's final match. The Prince of Trinidad hangs up his boots after a glorious career and his genius will always be remembered. It was fitting that his last match was against England, a team that he has had much success against, making both his world record innings of 375 in 1994 and 400 in 2004 against them. The script wasn't as he would have liked for his farewell, with Marlon Samuels running him out for 18 runs, greatly disappointing the huge crowd, who came to watch the master play one last great innings. It wasn't to be, but when Lara thanked the crowd at the end and asked if he had entertained them over the years, he got a resounding roar of yes. It was sad to see him walk off the field for the final time, with a tear or two in his eyes, but everyone has to go at sometime and we will always have the memories.

The final will be a week from now, lets hope that it is as entertaining as this one to make it a fitting finale.

Eight year innings ends

2007-04-19T20:41:00.000+01:00

Duncan Fletcher announced his resignation today after eight years as England coach. It was a long reign, in which he took the Test team from the bottom of the pile to number two in the rankings. When he took over in 1999, England had reached a low point loosing to New Zealand and were booed off the field at the Kennington Oval. It's ironic how the next time the boos came, it was at the Kensington Oval, signifying the end of his reign.

There is no doubt that he brought the team great success over a number of years, with England beating every Test nation and reaching its greatest hour by capturing the elusive Ashes in 2005.That should have been the beginning of a new dawn, of seriously challenging Australia to the number one position, instead it started a stark decline. The wheels started to come off since then with injuries to key players,brutal white wash in the Ashes and disastrous One Day form, which has ultimately been the reason for Fletcher's departure. Focus has always been given to Test matches, with a total lack of interest and planning in the One Day game, which has been shown up in the World Cup.

Everyone has a shelf life, however good they are, and it is no different for Fletcher. The team needs an injection of new blood, fresh ideas and a general shake up in the whole set up. There is speculation of who will take up the reigns. David Morgan, Chairman of the ECB, was being predictably cagey in the press conference today to announce the news of Fletcher's departure. Reading between the lines, it seems this change was anticipated, be it either enforced or voluntary. It seems that the ECB have a fairly good idea who they want and are in talks with the yet unknown party. There are a few coaches on the market at the end of the World Cup like Dav Whatmore and Tom Moody, with Moody being touted as the man along with home grown Peter Moores, England Academy Director.

The usually inscrutable and stony faced Fletcher will be emotional leaving the post but he can look back at his eight year innings and feel quite satisfied with his achievements.

Boos ring out for sorry England

2007-04-18T10:51:00.001+01:00

England are out of the World Cup after being beaten emphatically by South Africa. This was a match that promised a lot, with both teams fighting for a semi final place. England just can't get their act together in the One Day game. It's as if they just don't know how to play this form of the game and it showed yesterday with another collapse engineered by the impressive Andrew Hall who took five wickets and put the final nail in England's coffin. South Africa now join Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the semi finals

I was at the Kennington Oval yesterday, scene of England's Ashes celebration in 2005, which seems so long ago. Preparations were underway for the first Championship match of the season between Surrey and Yorkshire and there was a buzz around this famous ground where I saw my first live cricket match and holds such cherished memories.The players were training on the field and I gave a shriek as I spotted a favourite of mine, Darren Gough with a big smile on this face going through the training drills.

The staff around the ground were all busy but had an eye or an ear to proceedings at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. I caught a quick glimpse of the match in the cricket shop and had a quick chat with the guys there and we were all pleased at that stage when England had only lost two wickets and there was still the promise of Pietersen and Flintoff to come. When I next checked the score a few hours later, I was surprised to hear of the pitiful display and knew that a defeat was assured bar some miracle and so it proved to be.

England will now have to do a post mortem on yet another disappointing outing at a World Cup. It is surely time for Duncan Fletcher to depart and some new blood to be injected into the set up, which has had much success in his tenure, but now is in need of a shake up. Michael Vaughan's place in the One Day team must also be a question after he failed to improve on his below par record. Paul Collingwood must surely be in contention to lead the side as one of their best players, with a good cricketing brain.

The fans rightly booed the players after the match, as they had failed to deliver and let everyone down, not least themselves.

Aussies cruise to victory again

2007-04-16T22:23:00.000+01:00

We all wanted a close match and expected the in form Sri Lankans to give the almighty Aussies a close game. Well we were disappointed yet again as it would be an insult to even call it a contest. The Sri Lankans sent out the wrong message from the start by resting Vaas and Murilitharan and with Malinga sidelined, their attack was depleted and robbed the public of a good contest.

If it was a tactic to rest their best players, it wasn't a tactic that a champion team like Australia would use at this stage in the tournament. You want your best team to play together and keep up the momentum rather than break it and loose a winning streak. The Lankans are keen to avoid meeting the Aussies in the semi finals and all their plans seem geared to that end. Lets hope for their sake that their plan works and doesn't backfire on them.

It all amounted to another one sided match and we have seen too many of these this time. Every time the Aussies play, it is like watching a replay, the only difference being the opposition they play against and defeat. They are clinical, professional and finish the job with consummate ease. It is all too easy and when teams like Sri Lanka turn out with a weakened side, it makes their job even easier.

Meeting of the underdogs

2007-04-16T17:53:00.000+01:00

It was meant to be India versus Pakistan, a match that was much talked about and keenly anticipated before the tournament. In its place we had the meeting of the two underdogs who have done so well and stolen all the headlines with their giant killing.

Bangladesh were clear favourites, having beaten the mighty Indians and top ranked South Africa. They were however decidedly under par throughout the match in all aspects of the game. The fielding that has normally been so good was scrappy, the bowling unimpressive and the batting very fragile. One wonders if it was the pressure of being favourites or the lack of a challenge of taking on a top team that was the reason for their poor performance.

You can't take anything away from the Irish, who bounced back after the trashing inflicted on them by the mighty Aussies. The fairytale continues for them and one can't help but be impressed with them, as is evident by the army of fans they seem to have collected. The win gives them automatic One Day International status.

The match was sold out a long time ago, and those Indian and Pakistan fans that turned up were at least treated to a party atmosphere. In order to fill the ground after many not showing up, there was free admission after 11am. The Irish know how to party and at last we had the kind of atmosphere we have been looking for all along.The Blarney Army might give the mighty Barmy Army some competition in the future. Irish eyes were certainly smiling at the end.

One day game in need of review

2007-04-12T21:38:00.000+01:00

Is it just me or is the one day format getting stale and boring? I have lost interest in this form of the game for a long time now, much preferring the Test matches, which requires a higher level of skill, tactics and endurance and to the cricket connoisseur holds no end of fascination and interest.

Attempts have been made to revamp the format, with power plays, being the major innovation but it has not achieved the desired result, in my opinion. Maybe the ever increasing number of matches that are played these days, mainly to fill the coiffures of the greedy national and international boards, is responsible for this lack of interest. If you eat the same food every day, you soon tire of it, even if it is your favourite food, so maybe it is the same in this case.

The 1996 World Cup was where the One Day format grew in popularity with Sri Lanka, the winners that year, changing the nature of the game with their innovative tactics of scoring heavily during the first 15 overs and the last 10 overs. It was new and exciting at the time and other teams followed these tactics with much success and popularity, especially in the subcontinent with the flat pitches paving the way for huge totals.

This World Cup has been much criticised for the lack of excitement due to lack of crowds, inclusion of too may minnows and exit of India and Pakistan. Maybe the old format is also responsible. It doesn't help that it is almost certain which teams are going to be in the semi finals, never mind the eventual winner, bar some miracle.

Too many matches have been one sided and really tedious to watch, with the lethargic play, disinterested players, and dull commentary all just going through the motions. Even evenly matched teams have failed to produce many tight contests. I have found it painstaking at times and would even prefer going to the dentist than watch this drub affair. The ICC in their wisdom and greed have prolonged the tournament to add to the torture.

The Twenty20 format might also contribute to the lack of interest in this format. The compression of the play takes the best bits of the 50 over game and removes the dull bits as the lull in the middle overs is avoided.

The Caribbean should have been the perfect location in which to showcase crickets lucrative and usually popular format but in this case it might just have highlighted its shortcomings and the desperate need to inject some life into it, if that is possible.

Almost over and out for the Windies

2007-04-11T14:43:00.000+01:00

West Indies defeat by South Africa almost signifies their exit from the World Cup. There was much expected of them in their own backyard and with their win against Pakistan in their first match, promised so much. Many fancied the West Indies doing well here with home conditions to their advantage but the dreaded curse of a home nation never winning the cup looks likely to continue.

The Windies suddenly went off the boil in the Super 8's with a series of lacklustre performances. The energy, enthusiasm and hunger seemed to be missing from the players and evident from their subdued body language on the field. Lara seemed unable to motivate his team to raise their game, seeming almost disinterested at times. There has been a distinct lack of unity within the team and one can only speculate at the reasons for this. It will all surely be reviewed when the inevitable post mortem is carried out and plans for future are discussed, especially with Lara announcing his retirement from the one day game.

The party hasn't really got going yet in this tournament, and when and if it does, the hosts look like missing out on all the fun and the coveted prize.

Aussie March Continues

2007-04-10T16:23:00.002+01:00

The Aussies continue their relentless march towards the semi-finals, casting aside opponents with consummate ease.

England threatened to post a reasonable score to give the Aussies their first real challenge, but then predictably threw away a strong position and posted a below par total, before one had time to get excited.

It looked to be a fairly tight contest in the beginning but the Aussies were always in control and ready to put the foot on the accelerator if required. Ponting again played a captains knock and Symonds came in at the end to win the match with some trademark powerhouse hitting and romp home.

This Aussie team is a well tuned outfit, focused on the job at hand and at the moment are miles apart from the rest of the pack. This tournament is crying out for someone to beat the Aussies, and stop them winning the competition for a third successive time. It would be good for the tournament and cricket in general. At this stage thou, they have more than half a grip on the trophy and only a brave person would bet against them winning. We can but hope!

Tigers Come of Age

2007-04-09T09:42:00.000+01:00

The addition of South Africa to Bangladesh's growing list of top teams that they have beaten, must surely propel them in the elite pack. They can no longer be considered outside of this group and must be taken seriously.

One almost could sense throughout the match that there was going to be an upset. It was like knowing the end of the story, and it was just a case of watching how it was going to happen. The Tigers play with such raw energy, passion and hunger, of a team just beginning to taste real success and relishing the whole experience. They have nothing to loose in these games, that they are expected to loose, and much to gain. They have made huge strides in this tournament, along with Ireland, and have almost stolen the show from the 'big boys'.

In an otherwise lacklustre and very disappointing tournament, so far, with one sided matches, empty stadiums, exit of India and Pakistan and the renowned Caribbean flavour not allowed to surface by the stringent rules and regulations, at least we can celebrate the coming of age of the tigers.

Last Ball Thriller

2007-04-06T11:44:00.000+01:00

At last we saw a really close match between England and Sri Lanka after after a number of one sided matches. Sri Lanka were the firm favourites and as the form side were predicted to thrash England out of site, as they had done in England last summer. England had a new sprint and energy about them in the field, not displayed so far by them in this tournament.

The balling and fielding was much improved but the batting continued to disappoint and follow a similar script, with Vaughan and Joyce departing early. This pair have to fire and time is quickly running out for them. Things looked comfortable for a while with Bell and Pieterson, but the unfortunate run out of Bell lead to yet another batting collapse.

The game seemed to be heading Sri Lankans way until Bopara and Nixon stepped up the pace in the final few overs. The young and impressive Bopara had three runs to win the match from the last ball, but some cunning trickery from Fernando, who ran up but did not release the ball tricked the youngster into showing his shot selection and then he balled the appropriate delivery to clip the stump. It was a great come back game for Fernando and justified his captains backing in balling the crucial final over.

The win sets Sri Lanka well on their way to the semi finals, but England now face a hard task with their next two games against the big two, Australia and South Africa. They are almost must wins for them but they showed that are capable of putting in a good performance and if the batting can improve in line with the balling and fielding, anything is possible.

Where is the World Cup Fever?

2007-04-03T13:01:00.000+01:00

This Cricket World Cup is still waiting to be truely set alight. It held the promise of the best ever World Cup but so far it has been disappointing.

The Super 8's is a time you would expect the play to get more interesting, but you have a handful of teams that are the front runners, with Australia leading the pack by miles. Then there are Sri Lanka and New Zealand, followed by South Africa to make up what many believe to be the semi finalists.

The inclusion of Ireland and Bangladesh in the Super 8's has not made for competitive matches so far. The smaller nations have not historically done too well at this stage but there is still the chance that they could cause an upset or two.

The big empty grounds, exclusion of India and Pakistan and the home team not doing very well has not helped the competition. With respect to Ireland and Bangladesh, the match between these two will not be the mouth watering prospect that it was expected to be between India and Pakistan. A lot of other matches have lost the gloss with smaller teams as opposition.

The pricing of tickets has come into question with the focus on selling tickets abroad, which has excluded many of the locals who are crucial to add the renowned Caribbean flavour that the event so badly needs. The weather is also causing disruption as it is the rainy season ansd one wonders why it was planned at this time when this was known.

I hope for the good of the competition and the game that its showpiece event comes to life in the next few weeks, leading to the final stages, and becomes the spectacle we all expected and want it to be.

Cricket World Cup

2007-03-27T11:18:00.000+01:00

The Cricket World Cup is entering the business end with all the big boys,with the exception of India and Pakistan and the suprise qualification to the Super Eights of Bangladesh and Ireland. It has certainly been an eventful start with the suprise eliminations of two cricketing giants, but the tragic murder of Bob Woolmer has stolen all the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Cricket is a passion for me and a way of life but it is surely not worth someones life. A true gentle giant of the game, greatly admired and respected, an innovator, the first of the laptop brigade and someone who truely loved the game and made a contribution to its continued growth and improvement. It is indeed a sad loss for all involved with cricket and although the show must go on, as he would have wished, it will surely be tainted by his loss and the winning and losing will somehow not seem so significant or important.