What Is Going On In The ECB?

Well it is really interesting at times and somewhat confusing at other times regarding the politics that is found to be going on in the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). First of those being that the then England skipper Kevin Pietersen was not happy with the selectors excluding the former England captain Michael Vaughan for the one day series against the West Indies. Than comes in the news that Pietersen does not have the patience or has lost patience with the then coach Peter Moores. The reason of the same yet to be disclosed. It was like the Indian team that returned successfully after failing to make it to the super eights of the ICC world cup 2007 in the Caribbean and cites the cause for the same to be the then coach Greg Chappell.

Now, even the present England team is found to do the same. And if the recent newspapers are to be believed, it was said that Kevin Pietersen wanted to resign from the captaincy during the first test against India in Mohali itself. One has to wonder really as to why this took such a long time to come to light. And was Kevin Pietersen aware that the ECB would drop or not include the former captain Michael Vaughan for the tour of the West Indies? If this is true, how great it is. Well, was this the reason as to why the England team failed to win the Chennai test despite putting up a mammoth total of 387 on the board for India to chase on the fifth day, which India did with ease?

And, days later after the exclusion of Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen wants the coach Peter Moores to be sacked. I wonder as to whether Moores is the coach of the England team or a member of ECBs selection panel? What has Peter Moores got to do with the exclusion of Michael Vaughan? May be, who knows! For, some say that it was the then India coach Greg Chappell who was responsible for Sourav Ganguly's sacking for the games against Sri Lanka in 2005. And why shouldn't this be another such issue? It would be interesting to wait and watch out for what all is yet to come out.

As a protest, Kevin Pietersen resigns from captaincy and even threats to quit from the squad if Vaughan doesn't be included and Peter Moores sacked. In response, the ECB selects Andrew Struass as the new captain for the England team that would tour the West Indies and then for the upcoming Ashes this summer. Finally, the ECB sacks the coach Peter Moores too. But, Kevin Pietersen is still not happy with the ECB. Vaughan is to be back for playing in the Ashes. Still Kevin Pietersen is not convinced! Either the coach should have been retained or, the coach sacked and Pietersen retained as the England captain. How come both happenning? Like KP not satisfied with coach Peter Moores, is the ECB too dissatisfied with Kevin Pietersen as the captain? If his birth place (RSA) and his success as captain goes by, even this cannot be ruled out.

An Incomplete Tour Comes To An End

Well at last, the West Indies' tour of New Zealand comes to an end. A winner at the end of an incomplete tour turns out to be New Zealand who were very fortunate to have had that taste in such a boring encounter whatsoever. Else, who does bother as to who wins or who loses at the end of the day. All would be looking forward as to when would such a series come to an end. And not only that. All would be praying that such a series never takes off anywhere in the world. Let alone in New Zealand. I think this is the first time I have ever come across such a series, where only one match turns out not to be truncated.

This was the case since the test series began. Both the tests not only ended in a draw, but also were truncated and compromised with rain gods. Then, the first T20 game happens to be a tie, wherein the super over had to come into the scene in order to decide as to who the official winner was. However, the next T20 game was played full fledged, with New Zealand winning the same. Then, the one day matches come into picture, to disappoint the fans. Not even one single one day match went on as per scheduled. Since the first one day match, either the matches have been truncated or have been cancelled.

The scheduled five one day series was eventually played as a three match one day series. Thanks to the rain gods for making this series a memorable one for different reasons. While, the remaining three one day encounters were truncated, with the West Indies winning one and New Zealand two. This was something like a lucky dip, where New Zealand won the lot. Well, until the four one day matches, it was all disappointment. However, the fifth one day match was expected to take off as per schedule. Yes it did! How long? Until West Indies put up a massive total of 293 and New Zealand started playing hide n seek before once again rain gods did their duty.

Adding to this was the caliber of the teams battling it out there. Rather than considering West Indies to be one spot above New Zealand, better say the New Zealand are placed one position below the West Indies at number 8. This would be the ideal statement. There is no point in disputing the Duckworth-Lewis method, for none of us can come out with a better idea. Neither can one stop the showers, like making it to rain when there are no rains by rain seeding. Technology needs to be improved. Thank god that the West Indies-New Zealand series is over.

2008: A Year That Bought A Revival In Cricket

You may say whatever but, the year 2008 was a year that bought some great as well as some most of the never-again like issues. Starting with the most popular one in the decline of the world dominating Australian team, with the retirement of Adam Gilchrist in particular, which followed by their second Commonwealth Banks series loss. If on one side there was team Australia who were fading from their days of excellence, there came India who, started emerging as one of the toughest competent who was on the hit list of the opposition. These being true both for on field performance and off the field issues as well. Indians have learnt to give back the verbal abuse what they received and at times even initiate the same.

If there was any team that hit the list for the most verbal exchanges on the field, it was none other than India. The list includes Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer khan and not to forget our hero Sreesanth, to name a few. This being something that even the great stalwarts of Indian cricket like Sachin and Dravid were never found to learn despite their experience. Looks like not everyone would like to back answer with their bat and ball. I leave it to you guys to judge whether its worth the praise or not. Proceeding further, some changes include the introduction of big bucks in Indian cricket, that made even a Tom-Dick & Hary to become a crorepathi, with no room for comparing a player's performance with the money what he takes home.

And then on the list is the cancellations that took a toll this year, first as all of us are aware of, Australia and New Zealand cancel their tour to Pakistan where security never allowed them to breathe free. And this followed by the cancellation of the ICC Champions Trophy, which made most of us to miss this mega event. This being supported by South Africa as well, in addition to England and Australia. Probably, this was the first instance where the Australian and English brains in cricket worked towards same thinking. And then, India once again showed that they are no way less compared to Pakistan in getting the cricket tours canceled. This is of course needless to be said.

A year where Australia has lost more than it won is the year 2008. A year where a decent team in Pakistan goes without playing even a single test or an ODI (at home). Some consolation being the 3 one dayers against Windies at Abu Dhabi. While, the West Indies and New Zealand are least bothered about playing cricket, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have something to convey. But, it looks like there are no one to listen. Forget It! And, as per the ICC rules, the non test playing nations are supposed to come to light and make it to the sports page only when there is a mega event. Thanks to Pakistan who never let that happen. When the BCCI was busy cracking its head as to where will MSD play? Chennai Superstars or the test against England? Well, the Mumbai terror attacks had a solution to it.

Next comes the year of retirements, which was a continuation since its initiation in 2007. First being Shaun Pollock, for reasons best know to him. And someone like Scott Styris and Shane Bond, whose pockets wanted more and that took over their love & passion for cricket. India have a reason to smile, for the people who retired served their team with full heart and Ganguly's fans need not burn the effigies of the selectors anymore. And someone like Marvan Attapattu, whose dismal performance equals his contribution, nothing in particular can be said. So, guys, lets hope that the worst of 2008 never repeats and the best progresses to even more best in the year 2009. Wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year 2009.

"Racism"

Well since the beginning of the year,most of the news that was being made in the recently concluded commonwealth bank series(probably even more than world cricket) is the "RACISM".With Harbhajan Singh calling Symonds the "M-Word",Hayden calling Harbhajan "an obnoxious weed",Hogg reffering Kumble & co as "B!@#$%^s"....

The most funny thing of them all being "the M-word" supposed to have been called by Harbhajan by Symonds.Some things have to be noticed by cricket fans over the word that has something to do with racism & the names of Englishmen.Some of which that I can highlight over here are:

1)The former Australian captain "Mark Taylor"->pronounced as "Mark Tailor"...so does he stitches clothes?or is he a scar?

2)Ian Bell->What about him?Does he have a habit of ringing at regular intervals?

3)Umpire "Billy Bowden"->Ask some hindi speaking person as to what does "Billy" stands for in hindi?

4)Zimbabwean "Flower" brothers->Do they show cast themselves in gardens?

5)West Indian fast bowler "Franklyn Rose"->Does he appear in six different colours?

For the sake,even the players from the sub continent are also not spared when it comes to funny names.We had players like "Contractor" and "Farook Engineer".Do they take part in constructing buildings?

With this page length being limited,some more examples that I can give is "Woods", "Dominic Cork","Craig White","Brian Lara","Ian Bishop","Malcom Speed","Nick knight","Guy Whittal",Umpire "David Shepherd"and much more...

Looks like none of the match referee so far had got a note on their names.Like the dress code being made compulsory for players,after strict laws being enforced for players making rasist comments,I think that even players with funny names will be banned from playing cricket in the near future.Ha Ha Ha....