Remember where you were and what you were doing at 12:27pm on Thursday April 30, for it was a momentous occasion. Tirumalasetti Suman, batting for Deccan Chargers against Delhi in the IPL cleared the fence over the covers for half a dozen runs. That in itself isn't that momentous, although the young all-rounder was included ahead of VVS Laxman, but it was for events off the field. Neither commentator referred to it as a 'DLF maximum'.
That is quite incredible. This tournament has turned previously decent commentators - and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan - into little more than cheap advertisers with their plugs for the tournament sponsors any time someone does something well. That makes this incident a turning point. I expect nothing less than a retraining course for Mark Nicholas and Kepler Wessels though summary sacking remains a viable and likely option.
After all, the BCCI thinks it controls commentators as well as players these days. In the Indian tour of New Zealand over the winter, Sky NZ had Craig McMillan in the com-box, much to the BCCI's chagrin because he went to play in the rebel ICL for a bit. In keeping with that Kiwi spirit that saw the ANZUS Treaty ripped up when New Zealand told the US to feck off if they thought they were allowing their nuclear subs into it's waters, Sky told the BCCI to flip off and keep it's nose out of business that clearly wasn't theirs.
Moreover, whatever happened to the professional commentator in cricket? In most sports you have a lead commentator who knows the job with colour provided by an ex-pro. Not in cricket. Your voice is only allowed anywhere near if you've played at the top level (though Nicholas is pushing it). At Sky in the UK, you really need to have been an England captain to stand a chance. While the knowledge of the game isn't up for dispute - even in Nasser Hussain's case - some leave a lot to be desired when it comes to adding verbal illustration to the pictures.
Thursday 30 April 2009
Wednesday 29 April 2009
A question of technique
Simple games often become complicated by over-analysis. Football: very simple. Get ball, kick ball, goal. And yet whole days of TV coverage and an ever-increasing amount of newsprint can be wasted on every 50/50 offside decision and not-given penalty. Every top flight player has the very basics of their game poured over in excruciating detail to the point of tedium. American football takes it to the nth degree, but that may be something in the American psyche. All their sports seem to lend themselves to their inner statto.
Cricket is also a simple game, but it lends itself all too kindly to over-analysis. The time between overs has to be filled, as do lunch and tea breaks, let alone the periods between days. TV companies have a duty to fill these interregnums and hiatuses, but the administrators and coaches also seem to keep themselves busy at such times. The ECB are the worst culprits with that bloody Academy. In an illuminating piece in the Guardian, the mantra of Virender Sehwag - "watch ball, hit ball" - gets to the root of batting in four words. How many more hours are we going to have to sit through a Bob Willis lecture on technique and trigger movements or listen to a coach explain how a batsman doesn't make it to the England side because his head isn't in the right place? Then that player goes and gets his action or technique remodelled in the Academy and comes back with a string of stress fractures and a career shortened by a good five years.
And yet these are the same people lamenting the retirement of Marcus Trescothick. The last decent, powerful opener England had plays like his feet are superglued to the floor. He makes up for this with an incredible eye and throwing his hands through the ball. If Shivnarine Chanderpaul - the man who the word 'unorthodox' was invented for* - were English, he'd have no chance at the top level. We'd have seen Murali and Johan Botha thrown on the scrapheap years ago (though Botha may be ending up there all by himself anyway).
It seems like England forgot individuality many years ago and just wants a side made up of eleven automatons. Whither England's Sehwag? Probably having that irritating tendency of being unpredictably brilliant and infuriating in equal measure coached out of him in Australia.
* - See also Paul Adams.
Cricket is also a simple game, but it lends itself all too kindly to over-analysis. The time between overs has to be filled, as do lunch and tea breaks, let alone the periods between days. TV companies have a duty to fill these interregnums and hiatuses, but the administrators and coaches also seem to keep themselves busy at such times. The ECB are the worst culprits with that bloody Academy. In an illuminating piece in the Guardian, the mantra of Virender Sehwag - "watch ball, hit ball" - gets to the root of batting in four words. How many more hours are we going to have to sit through a Bob Willis lecture on technique and trigger movements or listen to a coach explain how a batsman doesn't make it to the England side because his head isn't in the right place? Then that player goes and gets his action or technique remodelled in the Academy and comes back with a string of stress fractures and a career shortened by a good five years.
And yet these are the same people lamenting the retirement of Marcus Trescothick. The last decent, powerful opener England had plays like his feet are superglued to the floor. He makes up for this with an incredible eye and throwing his hands through the ball. If Shivnarine Chanderpaul - the man who the word 'unorthodox' was invented for* - were English, he'd have no chance at the top level. We'd have seen Murali and Johan Botha thrown on the scrapheap years ago (though Botha may be ending up there all by himself anyway).
It seems like England forgot individuality many years ago and just wants a side made up of eleven automatons. Whither England's Sehwag? Probably having that irritating tendency of being unpredictably brilliant and infuriating in equal measure coached out of him in Australia.
* - See also Paul Adams.
Thursday 23 April 2009
At Least It's Sunny Here
With the IPL now in full swing in South Africa one of the main reasons for taking the competition to there was the weather. Now I'm no expert but its Autumn in South Africa, the weather is turning. Winter is around the corner and the Quinziste Rugby season is now in full swing with the Super (sic) 14.
So, how can Lalit Modi be over impressed with some of the weather that they have faced so far in South Africa. Rain hit the second day of the competition at Newlands when the Delhi Daredevils overcame Kings XI Punjab on the Duckworth/Lewis method. Then the move over to Durban didn't help Kings XI Punjab as they lost their second game via Duckworth/Lewis, this time to Kolkata Knight Riders and the ensuing game between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Meanwhile the start of the season in England has escaped the worst of the April weather as the country currently basks in a late spring heatwave. Pretty ideal conditions for cricket to be honest.
Well done Mr Modi, a great decision to take the tournament to South Africa.
Oh, and DLF Maximums. Stop it. Now. It's a 6.
And before anyone reminds me, I know it's 75 years. Even Manchester City have won a title in that time.
Tuesday 21 April 2009
County Championship Week 2
8 LV County Championship matches take place this week, four beginning today and four tomorrow, including the Champions Durham kicking off their title defence.
LV County Championship: Division One
Nottinghamshire v Worcestershire, Trent Bridge (Tuesday)
Sussex v Lancashire, Hove (Tuesday)
Durham v Yorkshire, Riverside (Wednesday)
Warwickshire v Hampshire, Edgbaston (Wednesday)
LV County Championship: Division Two
Gloucestershire v Essex, Bristol (Tuesday)
Kent v Northamptonshire, Canterbury (Tuesday)
Derbyshire v Surrey, Derby (Wednesday)
Middlesex v Glamorgan, Lord's (Wednesday)
Hampshire will look to build on the good start they made last week during their visit to Edgbaston. Ian Bell helped himself at Taunton and it will be interesting to see if the notoriously mercurial number three can carry that on. All the other matches last week, mainly due to the weather, ended in draws but with good weather forecast for the next few days we should begin to see some results filter through. Keep an eye out for the game at Hove which, if history is anything to go by, should be a cracker.
LV County Championship: Division One
Nottinghamshire v Worcestershire, Trent Bridge (Tuesday)
Sussex v Lancashire, Hove (Tuesday)
Durham v Yorkshire, Riverside (Wednesday)
Warwickshire v Hampshire, Edgbaston (Wednesday)
LV County Championship: Division Two
Gloucestershire v Essex, Bristol (Tuesday)
Kent v Northamptonshire, Canterbury (Tuesday)
Derbyshire v Surrey, Derby (Wednesday)
Middlesex v Glamorgan, Lord's (Wednesday)
Hampshire will look to build on the good start they made last week during their visit to Edgbaston. Ian Bell helped himself at Taunton and it will be interesting to see if the notoriously mercurial number three can carry that on. All the other matches last week, mainly due to the weather, ended in draws but with good weather forecast for the next few days we should begin to see some results filter through. Keep an eye out for the game at Hove which, if history is anything to go by, should be a cracker.
Friday 17 April 2009
IPL, oh pee off
Do you know what? Forget it. I'm not participating this time around.
I enjoyed last year's Indian Premier League. The cricket was pretty good with bona fide Twenty20 legend Brendon McCullum setting the tone with a breathtaking 158 not out on the opening night. Shaun Marsh became a star and, fittingly, the team assembled at lowest cost went and won it. Despite my initial misgivings over a completely artificial construct as the teams - I refuse to use the word 'franchise' apart from in this sentence - are, it kind of swept me along.
No mas. It's gone beyond parody and for this reason: while on the one hand imposing whopping great fines for slow over rate (actually something the ICC could look at), they're also introducing what they call 'strategy breaks', essentially a seven-and-a-half minute hiatus half way through each innings. I've never seen the word 'ad' spelled 'strategy' before. Deep down, we all knew it was more about TV figures and ad revenue than it was about cricket, but to make it explicitly so just spoils everything and you can forget all about it this year.
I enjoyed last year's Indian Premier League. The cricket was pretty good with bona fide Twenty20 legend Brendon McCullum setting the tone with a breathtaking 158 not out on the opening night. Shaun Marsh became a star and, fittingly, the team assembled at lowest cost went and won it. Despite my initial misgivings over a completely artificial construct as the teams - I refuse to use the word 'franchise' apart from in this sentence - are, it kind of swept me along.
No mas. It's gone beyond parody and for this reason: while on the one hand imposing whopping great fines for slow over rate (actually something the ICC could look at), they're also introducing what they call 'strategy breaks', essentially a seven-and-a-half minute hiatus half way through each innings. I've never seen the word 'ad' spelled 'strategy' before. Deep down, we all knew it was more about TV figures and ad revenue than it was about cricket, but to make it explicitly so just spoils everything and you can forget all about it this year.
Wednesday 15 April 2009
County Championship: Week 1
There are five County Championship games taking place as of today:
LV County Championship: Division One
Hampshire v Worcestershire, The Rose Bowl, 11:00
Somerset v Warwickshire, Taunton, 11:00
LV County Championship: Division Two
Essex v Derbyshire, Chelmsford, 11:00
Leicestershire v Northamptonshire, Grace Road, 11:00
Surrey v Gloucestershire, The Brit Oval, 11:00
Durham, who are not playing today, are my tip to retain their title. They have kept together the winning squad of last year and have added the proven talents of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ian Blackwell, who scored a century in last week's MCC curtain-raiser at Lords. Kent, who also have yet to kick off their first-class campaign, are my tip to win the Division 2 crown, pipping Surrey who have recruited well in the winter. Kent, you feel, have simply too much class for this division and expect Rob Key and Joe Denly to feast on some of the bowling at this level.
LV County Championship: Division One
Hampshire v Worcestershire, The Rose Bowl, 11:00
Somerset v Warwickshire, Taunton, 11:00
LV County Championship: Division Two
Essex v Derbyshire, Chelmsford, 11:00
Leicestershire v Northamptonshire, Grace Road, 11:00
Surrey v Gloucestershire, The Brit Oval, 11:00
Durham, who are not playing today, are my tip to retain their title. They have kept together the winning squad of last year and have added the proven talents of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ian Blackwell, who scored a century in last week's MCC curtain-raiser at Lords. Kent, who also have yet to kick off their first-class campaign, are my tip to win the Division 2 crown, pipping Surrey who have recruited well in the winter. Kent, you feel, have simply too much class for this division and expect Rob Key and Joe Denly to feast on some of the bowling at this level.
Flower set for England job
Andy Flower is expected to be confirmed as the new coach of England today, after a winter in which we managed to go on two tours and not win a single test match. There's no denying that Flower was a great player in his day, and in interviews he comes across as an intelligent, charismatic man, but the transition to England coach is a big one and his first tour, of the West Indies, was notable more for the organisational bungling of the WICB and Kevin Pietersen's ongoing 'I'm tired and I want to leave so I can go home for a week and then bugger off to the IPL' briefings than actual good England displays.
Its not going to get any easier for the Zimbabwean either, as there is a return series agains the West Indies coming up before the ICC World Twenty20 in June (a competition we're rubbish at) and then of course the Ashes in July. There is little doubt the Australians are not as strong as they were but England seem at such a low ebb themselves that expectations have been significantly lowered in anticipation. Granted, the dead tracks in West Indies made life difficult for them but one is not filled with confidence going into a summer facing the best side in the world.
One can also not help but wonder whether Flower himself was ever first choice. Various big names were linked and then ruled out of the running, such as Mickey Arthur, Tom Moody and Gary Kirsten (all more experienced than Flower) while Ashley Giles was told he was too inexperienced and Graham Ford, perhaps the most qualified candidate having coached both at county and international level, withdrew citing the overlong nature of the application process.
Regardless, Flower's first priority is to address the parlous state of England's seamers, with Steve Harmison looking uninterested as usual, Ryan Sidebottom unfit, James Anderson inconsistent yet capable and Andrew Flintoff injury-prone. Depth is unquestionably an issue and a few good early season County Championship matches could see the likes of Graham Onions, Saj Mahmood or even Matthew Hoggard thrown into the fray.
Flower might also wonder how to deal with the monumental ego of Kevin Pietersen, although that particular rubix cube can perhaps be put on the back burner for now as he is Ray Jennings' problem for the next three weeks.
Its not going to get any easier for the Zimbabwean either, as there is a return series agains the West Indies coming up before the ICC World Twenty20 in June (a competition we're rubbish at) and then of course the Ashes in July. There is little doubt the Australians are not as strong as they were but England seem at such a low ebb themselves that expectations have been significantly lowered in anticipation. Granted, the dead tracks in West Indies made life difficult for them but one is not filled with confidence going into a summer facing the best side in the world.
One can also not help but wonder whether Flower himself was ever first choice. Various big names were linked and then ruled out of the running, such as Mickey Arthur, Tom Moody and Gary Kirsten (all more experienced than Flower) while Ashley Giles was told he was too inexperienced and Graham Ford, perhaps the most qualified candidate having coached both at county and international level, withdrew citing the overlong nature of the application process.
Regardless, Flower's first priority is to address the parlous state of England's seamers, with Steve Harmison looking uninterested as usual, Ryan Sidebottom unfit, James Anderson inconsistent yet capable and Andrew Flintoff injury-prone. Depth is unquestionably an issue and a few good early season County Championship matches could see the likes of Graham Onions, Saj Mahmood or even Matthew Hoggard thrown into the fray.
Flower might also wonder how to deal with the monumental ego of Kevin Pietersen, although that particular rubix cube can perhaps be put on the back burner for now as he is Ray Jennings' problem for the next three weeks.
Monday 6 April 2009
Collapse in Centurion
What a difference a few days make. On Friday in Durban, South Africa collapsed something awful, routed by 141 runs with Nathan Hauritz taking 4 wickets (what happened to Jason Krezja? I thought he looked quite promising!).
Fast forward to Sunday at SuperSport Park, and the signs weren't good. Australia winning the toss on a superb batting track, full of confidence off the back of their big win where Michael Hussey had finally got in gear. It was seemingly all set for a high-scoring game.
Only it didn't work out like that. In a display that can only be summarised as woefully un-Australian, the Ocker top order completely folded, surrendering to some masterful pace bowling by Dale Steyn and the precocious 19-year-old left-armer Wayne Parnell. Brad Haddin played on in the first over, Michael Clarke continued his awful run of form that has seen many Aussie fans call for him to be dropped, and Ricky Ponting, after getting off the mark first ball with a pull shot for six, edged behind off the former U19 skipper Parnell.
Things got worse. David Hussey, who might score lots of runs in county cricket but is plainly not up to it at this level, played an awful thrash to give his wicket away (when he's not running his partners out, as he did at Kingsmead). His older brother was completely flummoxed by a Parnell slower ball. In truth, only Callum Ferguson (a patient 50) and Mitchell Johnson provided any resistance as they limped to 131 all out. On a pitch that good, it was criminal and South Africa showed how easy it was to score on this pitch by knocking the runs off at 5-an-over.
While Australia shone in the test series and are probably still good value for their number 1 spot in the five-day format, they are proving themselves to be less than coherent in the 50-over game (although not nearly as deficient as England, steady on). South Africa appear simply more dynamic, with more bowling options and batting further down as well. After so many retirements of star players, a bit of a transitional period is to be expected by Cricket Australia will be worried by successive ODI series delivering problems as looks to be the case here.
Fast forward to Sunday at SuperSport Park, and the signs weren't good. Australia winning the toss on a superb batting track, full of confidence off the back of their big win where Michael Hussey had finally got in gear. It was seemingly all set for a high-scoring game.
Only it didn't work out like that. In a display that can only be summarised as woefully un-Australian, the Ocker top order completely folded, surrendering to some masterful pace bowling by Dale Steyn and the precocious 19-year-old left-armer Wayne Parnell. Brad Haddin played on in the first over, Michael Clarke continued his awful run of form that has seen many Aussie fans call for him to be dropped, and Ricky Ponting, after getting off the mark first ball with a pull shot for six, edged behind off the former U19 skipper Parnell.
Things got worse. David Hussey, who might score lots of runs in county cricket but is plainly not up to it at this level, played an awful thrash to give his wicket away (when he's not running his partners out, as he did at Kingsmead). His older brother was completely flummoxed by a Parnell slower ball. In truth, only Callum Ferguson (a patient 50) and Mitchell Johnson provided any resistance as they limped to 131 all out. On a pitch that good, it was criminal and South Africa showed how easy it was to score on this pitch by knocking the runs off at 5-an-over.
While Australia shone in the test series and are probably still good value for their number 1 spot in the five-day format, they are proving themselves to be less than coherent in the 50-over game (although not nearly as deficient as England, steady on). South Africa appear simply more dynamic, with more bowling options and batting further down as well. After so many retirements of star players, a bit of a transitional period is to be expected by Cricket Australia will be worried by successive ODI series delivering problems as looks to be the case here.
Friday 3 April 2009
Cricketer of the year
With the imminent release of a new Wisden comes the usual launch guff and the unveiling of the editor's five cricketers of the year. Mark Boucher gets a long overdue nod, seeing as he's the world's pre-eminent keeper these days and how South Africa will miss him when he finally hangs up the gloves, even giving the general brilliance of AB de Villiers. Boucher's Test team-mate Neil McKenzie also gets in thanks to his outstanding English season and Jimmy Anderson - who has had a less erratic season than is the norm for the still-young quick - and Dale Benkenstein who has led Durham with distinction.
But all eyes are on the fifth and rightly so. Claire Taylor is the best female cricketer there is and led England to World Cup glory, something that looks like being beyond the capability of the menfolk for many, many years. She'll lead her side into the Ashes with far more chance of a win than the men and she's been on top of her game for a long while now. It's just a shame that, at 33, she's not been recognised before. The award was announced to Taylor before christmas, so the World Cup win wasn't a factor in Scyld Berry's thinking, a fact which helps kibosh any thought of tokenism. Moreover, and in the wider sporting context, the exploits of the women in Australia, and Taylor in particular, have put women's sport in the spotlight. It's all a long way from when they were still playing in those bloody horrible mini-skirts back in the day of Rachel Heyhoe-Flint. Hopefully this award and everything that preceded it will further attract the attentions of the media and give the opportunity for female cricketers to properly shine.
But all eyes are on the fifth and rightly so. Claire Taylor is the best female cricketer there is and led England to World Cup glory, something that looks like being beyond the capability of the menfolk for many, many years. She'll lead her side into the Ashes with far more chance of a win than the men and she's been on top of her game for a long while now. It's just a shame that, at 33, she's not been recognised before. The award was announced to Taylor before christmas, so the World Cup win wasn't a factor in Scyld Berry's thinking, a fact which helps kibosh any thought of tokenism. Moreover, and in the wider sporting context, the exploits of the women in Australia, and Taylor in particular, have put women's sport in the spotlight. It's all a long way from when they were still playing in those bloody horrible mini-skirts back in the day of Rachel Heyhoe-Flint. Hopefully this award and everything that preceded it will further attract the attentions of the media and give the opportunity for female cricketers to properly shine.
The road to expansion
As the West Indies - England farce (sorry, series) draws to a close today, keep an eye on the World Cup Qualifiers going on in South Africa, where Ireland and Scotland are among the nations competing for a place at the next tournament. The early pace in Group A has been set by Ireland, justifying their label as pre-tournament favourites after big wins over Scotland and Oman. Canada are also unbeaten in that group, a side which still features the Australian-raised John Davison, scorer of the fastest century in World Cup history against the West Indies in 2003. 39 next month, one wonders if he will be able to reach the next tournament but doubtless qualification would be a great way to sign off.
In Group B, Afghanistan have justified some of their recent positive publicity with 2 wins in 2, against Denmark and Bermuda. Look out for new all-rounder Karim Kahn, who has scored 122 runs and taken 5 wickets already and looks very handy. The Netherlands also have a 100% record, powered as they are by three players with experience of County cricket - Essex's Ryan ten Doeschate (who will leave the competition early to join up with his main employer), Worcestershire's highly promising young opener Alexei Kervezee (scorer of a brilliant 121 not out against Denmark) and the former Sussex batsman Bas Zuiderent.
These four teams have immediately stood out but the likes of Kenya, Scotland and the UAE will also fancy their chances for qualification.
In Group B, Afghanistan have justified some of their recent positive publicity with 2 wins in 2, against Denmark and Bermuda. Look out for new all-rounder Karim Kahn, who has scored 122 runs and taken 5 wickets already and looks very handy. The Netherlands also have a 100% record, powered as they are by three players with experience of County cricket - Essex's Ryan ten Doeschate (who will leave the competition early to join up with his main employer), Worcestershire's highly promising young opener Alexei Kervezee (scorer of a brilliant 121 not out against Denmark) and the former Sussex batsman Bas Zuiderent.
These four teams have immediately stood out but the likes of Kenya, Scotland and the UAE will also fancy their chances for qualification.
Wednesday 1 April 2009
An open letter to Kevin Pietersen
Dear Kevin,
Please, for the love of god, just stop talking. You demean us all.
Kind regards,
England.
Please, for the love of god, just stop talking. You demean us all.
Kind regards,
England.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)