Fun Enclave - Cricket Chat

Injured Brett Lee�s career in chaos

Kimi — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:45:22 GMT

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee�s Test career could be in danger of ending sooner than later after it was reported that he is likely to require a surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow that would sideline him for at least two months.

The 33-year-old veteran of 76 Test matches and 310 Test wickets could now be forced to make a decision on his future in the game, as he has been struggling with the injury for the past one year.

Lee is exploring alternatives to surgery, but conceded that it might be the only option.

"If I require an operation to do that, which will only fix the elbow, then yes I will have to have surgery on it. But I'll make sure I exhaust every avenue first," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Lee, as saying.

Lee's manager Neil Maxwell has also indicated that his client was contemplating retirement from Tests.

"It's got to be there in his mind somewhere, (retirement from Test cricket) has to be considered," Maxwell said.

"He is still enthusiastic about playing. He will definitely be playing international cricket, but what forms he will play in, will have to be decided," he added.

The injury has come about through wear and tear on Lee's right arm - his bowling arm, and his hopes of regaining his Test spot this summer are all but over following a flare-up of the injury just a week out from Australia''s opening clash against the West Indies in Brisbane.

Even if he does have surgery, he is expected to play Australia''s next Test series against New Zealand starting on March 19.

Source: ANI

Injured Brett Lee?s career in chaos - *Cricket - Cricket and Sports - MSN India

Sachin Tendulkar - Childhood Photos

Chulbuli_Si — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:44:25 GMT

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the most famous cricketer ever was born on April 24, 1973 in Mumbai.

Sachin With His Father Ramesh Tendulkar

Sachin And Kambli During Practice

Sachin With Ajit Ranade

Match Against Don Bosco

Coach Achrekar And Sachin

sachin's century during interschool matches

Sachin At the Age Of 12

Sachin With Sports Star Trophy

Star Cricket club's England Tour

Sachin The Youngest Player to Score Ranji Century

Sachin And Kambli Knocks 664 runs

Sachin Tendulkar & Vinod Kambli's World Record Partnership Of Unbeaten 664 Runs During InterSchool Match Playing for Shardashram School

Sachin Tendulkar's first ever tv interview back in 1989

Sachin Tendulkar, 16, is selected for India's tour of Pakistan

Young Sachin Bowling

Sachin now holds the record for having taken most one-day runs (17000+) and centuries (45).
Highest Score - 186*. He belongs to the group of rare sportsmen and his records might never be broken. Sachin Tendulkar has also captained India for few years.

2 more teams, 4 fielding subs, pink balls from IPL 2011

Kimi — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:42:01 GMT

Two new teams, four fielding substitutes instead of the lone 12th man, pink balls in practice matches and abolishing the Icon player status are some of the innovations which the Indian Premier League would embrace from its 2011 edition.

From next year onwards, IPL would also be played under the supervision of the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit, while players who skip the tournament despite not having any national assignment might have their contracts terminated, organisers of the event said in a statement.

The recent three-day franchisee workshop in Bangkok had threadbare discussions on player regulations, commercial aspects, logistics, hospitality, ticketing, licensing and merchandising.

"I am certain now that we are poised to bring a significantly enhanced IPL experience back home to the Indian fans in Season 2010," IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said.

2 more teams, 4 fielding subs, pink balls from IPL 2011 - *Cricket - Cricket and Sports - MSN India

Source: PTI

Shiv Sena playing politics in cricket, BCCI kicks them hard

Agnel — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:38:59 GMT

Quote:

New Delhi: The Indian Cricket Board on Monday reacted angrily to Bal Thackeray's criticism of Sachin Tendulkar for his 'Mumbai is for all' comment, saying the Shiv Sena chief should be brought to book as his verbal attack on the batting maestro was uncalled for.

In an interaction with the media on completing 20 years in international cricket, Tendulkar had said, "I am a Maharashtrian and I am extremely proud of that. But I am an Indian first. And Mumbai belongs to all Indians." :salute:

Thackeray criticised the statement saying, "There was no need to take a cheeky single by making these remarks. By making these remarks, you have got run-out from the ‘pitch’ of Marathi psyche."

"You were not even born when the 'Marathi Manoos' got Mumbai and 105 Marathi people sacrificed their lives to get Mumbai," Sena mouthpiece Samana quoted Thackeray as saying.

The BCCI reacted sharply to Thackeray's statement with its Finance Committee Chairman and Spokesperson Rajiv Shukla saying that the Shiv Sena chief was making baseless statement.

"These kind of comments are completely uncalled for. Shiv Sena people have no business to talk like this. Tendulkar is a nationalist. He is for Maharashtra, he is for India. If somebody calls himself an Indian, is it a crime?" he fumed.

Source: BCCI reacts angrily to Sena's criticism of Sachin

Best quotes on Sachin Tendulkar

Kimi — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:04:25 GMT

In our series of features on Sachin completing 20 years in International cricket, we present some of the best quotes that current and former cricketers have made on the master-blaster. Find what Don Bradman, Sunil Gavaskar, Dennis Lillee, Greg Chappell, have to say about Sachin Tendulkar.

Matt Hayden:
"I have seen God, he bats at no. 4 for India"

Peter Roebuck
"On a train from Shimla to Delhi, there was a halt in one of the stations. The train stopped by for few minutes as usual. Sachin was nearing century, batting on 98. The passengers, railway officials, everyone on the train waited for Sachin to complete the century. This Genius can stop time in India!!"

Dennis Lillee
If I've to bowl to Sachin, I'll bowl with my helmet on. He hits the ball so hard.

Glenn McGrath
I still think Tendulkar is the best batsmen in the world ahead of Steve Waugh and Lara.

Brain Lara
Sachin is a genius. I'm a mere mortal.

Sir Don Bradman
I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on Television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two...hi compactness, technique, stroke production... it all seemed to gel! in reference to Sachin Tendulkar.

Andy Flower:
"There are 2 kind of batsmen in the world. One Sachin Tendulkar. Two all the others."

Allan Donald:
"Sachin Tendulkar has often reminded me of a veteran army colonel who has
many medals on his chest to show how he has conquered bowlers all over the
world"

Sunil Gavaskar
India's fortune will depend on how many runs the little champion scores. There is no doubt Tendulkar is the real thing.

Richie Benaud
He has defined cricket in his fabulous, impeccable manner. He is to batting what Shane Warne is to bowling.

Geoffrey Boycott
Technically, you can't fault Sachin. Seam or spin, fast or slow nothing is a problem.

Greg Chappell
He is a perfectly balanced batsman and knows perfectly well when to attack and when to play defensive cricket. He has developed the ability to treat bowlers all over the world with contempt and can destroy any attack with utmost ease.

Shane Warne
I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don't think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is just an amazing player.

Viv Richards
I think he is marvellous. I think he will fit in whatever category of Cricket that has been played or will be played, from the first ball that has ever been bowled to the last ball that's going to be. He can play in any era and at any level. I would say he's 99.5% perfect.

BBC Sports, on Sachin Tendulkar
Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don't know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their television sets and switch off their lives.

Navjot Singh Sidhu:
"India me aap Prime Minister ko ek Baar Katghare me khada kar sakte hain..Par Sachin
Tendulkar par Ungli nahi utha Sakte.."

Barry Richards
Sachin is cricket's God!

Ian Chappell
Harder he works, the luckier he gets.

Anil Kumble
"I am fortunate that I've to bowl at him only in the nets!"

Andrew Symonds
"To Sachin, the man we all want to be"
What Symonds wrote on an aussie t-shirt he autographed specially for Sachin.

Mark Taylor:
"We did not lose to a team called India...we lost to a man called Sachin" -Mark Taylor, during the test match in Chennai (1997)

Rajdeep Sardesai
"Sachin is a glue that binds all Indians"

Younis quits as a Captain, says he's lost command!

C.Ronaldo — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:39:20 GMT

Younis Khan has given up the captaincy of Pakistan once again, and taken a temporary break from the game altogether, after failing to overcome a long-running rift with a group of players. Effectively, after Younis informed the Pakistan board chairman Ijaz Butt of his decision, it signaled a victory for player power over an unpopular captain.

Quote:

"I met the chairman today and told him I needed to rest,"
"I told him I feel as If I have no command over this team. And if a leadership has no command over its players, what is the point of continuing to lead? I also told him that the last 3-4 months have been very trying times for me, not just with the cricket but all that has happened outside it. I need time to get myself together now."

says Younis.

At least eight or nine players in the current squad have been unhappy with Younis as captain for a while and had made their concerns clear to Butt immediately after the Champions Trophy. The loss to New Zealand in the three-match ODI series, in which Younis failed with the bat, cranked up the pressure, with a number of voices in Pakistan calling for his ouster. Today Younis decided that he had lost "command" over the team and carrying on was not an option.

The PCB immediately named Mohd. Yousuf, senior batsman and one-time stand-in captain, as the man to lead the side in a three-Test series in New Zealand beginning later this month. Kamran Akmal, the wicketkeeper, will be his deputy.

The PCB's no-frills press release stated simply that Younis had asked for a rest and Butt is reported to have said that they did not object to the decision. "We did appoint Younis captain until the 2011 World Cup, subject to his performance and fitness, but we have no objection to him asking for a rest, and I don't think it's turmoil in Pakistan cricket," he said.

Yousuf can be a good captain? :thinking: I doubt :P And also for vice captain, Misbah-ul-Haq should have been appointed rather than K.Akmal. :P

Dilshan suffers minor ankle sprain ahead of Test series

Kimi — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:13:43 GMT

Sri Lankan all-rounder Tilakaratne Dilshan has suffered a minor ankle sprain but the team management is confident of his availability for the first Test against India starting at Ahmedabad on November 16.

"It's a minor ankle sprain. He batted today (in the indoor nets) for some time. He should be okay in a couple of days. As of now the reports are very positive. He has to see how it feels while practicing on the field. Hopefully he should be fit for the first Test," visiting team manger Brendon Kuruppu told reporters at the MCA's Recration Centre in Bandra-Kurla Complex.

"He's okay and there's no need to panic. We will assess the injury at the ground. He suffered the injury while playing a warm-up game (yesterday) at the MCA's indoor stadium (with his teammates)," Kuruppu said.

Dilshan suffers minor ankle sprain ahead of Test series - Yahoo! Cricket

Yahoo we lost to Australia, Time to celebrate!

Safin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:35:37 GMT

Thats exactly what the Indian cricket team did!!

Dhoni and his men celebrating after India's loss to Australia. Maybe the coach advised them some party therapy to get over the loss??

Party, booze and women, :bleh:

The photos making the round on the internet show Dhoni and his men partying hard at a hotel in Hyderabad. Almost every player is drunk and surrounded by girls, while some could also be seen smoking their way to bliss :rofl:

Remember this was right after India's 3 run loss to Australia at Hyderabad, a match that annoyed Sachin so much that he was close to tears at the press conference and later admitted that he was unable to sleep at night.

Photographs aired by television channel News X showed skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his teammates enjoying all the attentions showered to them by male and female fans at a party. The channel claimed that the party was held after India suffered a three runs defeat to Australia in the nail biting match in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra and Ravindra Jadeja were seen in the photographs.

YouTube- Exclusive: Team India goes partying post Hyderabad ODI

On a special show aired last night, channel guest Bishan Singh Bedi, the former India captain said that it was not unusual for players to let their hair down in a party. “Nothing wrong with it. After all, they are all adults,” he said. But when the show host asked whether it was the right thing to do in the midst of an important series, Bedi remarked, “Now that is a big question mark.”

Bedi wondered whether this was the reason why players were against the World Anti Doping Agency’s whereabouts clause in the International Cricket Council’s anti-doping procedure. He also seemed amazed as to how the Board was behind its players who refused to give out their whereabouts after play.

Warning: The exact date of the party is unknown. Media speculation is that it happened after the Hyderabad Match

India took Australia too lightly

Kimi — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:52:59 GMT

Former India cricketer Mohinder Amarnath has criticised Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men for taking Australian side too lightly.

He said the hosts' overconfidence eventually cost them the ODI series.

"I think, Indian team made a mistake by taking their opponents lightly. Overconfidence was the major factor (in the defeat). We did so many mistakes on the field and our bowling was also not upto the mark in the series," Amarnath said.

Australia secured an unassailable 4-2 lead in the seven-match series after their six-wicket win in the sixth one-dayer in Guwahati on Sunday, which also dashed India's hopes of toppling Ricky Ponting's side from the top of the ICC rankings.

Amarnath was, however, not ready to read much into the series loss and remained hopeful that the team would shrug off the disappointment to rediscover their winning habit soon.

"This loss is certainly worrying, but I would say, there is no need to press the panic button at this moment. We have to play a lot of cricket ahead where the team can perform much better," Amarnath said.

Amarnath, who has played 69 Tests, also congratulated Sachin Tendulkar for becoming the first cricketer in the game's history to score 17,000 runs.

"Sachin is still enjoying his game and has said that he feels proud to play for India. I think, this is a great statement from a great player," Amarnath said.

The 59-year-old former cricketer also advised dashing opening batsman Virender Sehwag, who is struggling to find form in the series, to be more careful in selecting shots in the beginning of his innings.

"Viru is an extremely talented batsman, but he should be more careful in selection of his shots. Team needs him to play some more overs and he should avoid getting dismissed on loose shots," he said.

Amarnath, a member of India's 1983 World Cup winning squad, was not worried about the soaring popularity of Twenty20 cricket, but feels each country should have a large pool of players to deal with the injury problems caused by overdose of cricket.

"Now we are playing too much Twenty20 cricket. I am not saying we shouldn't play it. T20 shouldn't affect players' performance in other versions of international cricket.

Administrators should be careful while planning the fixture to save players from injury or burn out," Amarnath said.

"Instead of rotating same players, the national selectors should give chances to cricketers who are performing well in domestic circuit. We must prepare a bigger pool of players and during selection more emphasis should be placed on fielding," he added.

"India took Australia too lightly" | ESPNSTAR.com

Aamer and Ajmals makes a World Record!

C.Ronaldo — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:35:15 GMT

In Abu Dhabi's heat Pakistan and New Zealand played a dramatic match :lol: In a match that followed, New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first... They started very well with inform McCullum's shinig innings but didn't ended well...They made total of 211 in 46.3 overs...

And when Pakistan's openers came to bat, It seemed as if Pakistan is going to win easily :P But when these two sides play you can expect anything :lmao:

After the first wicket fall on 47, Pakistan side struggled and with the foolish mistakes Pakistan was managed 101 with 9 batsmens back to the seats :P But then Aamir and Ajmal made a world record playing outstandingly :D Last wicket partnership of 104 runs :awesome: Thr way Aamer played, it was a great innings...First he took time to settle...Just blocked many deliveries and after 3 sixes to Vettori in single over Pakistan called for a powerplay :P First time in history using at rght time :P They played very well using the powerplay time at its best :P Vettori seemed panicked as these two carried the score :P But in last over when Pakistan required 8 runs, Ajmal pulled a bouncer delivered by Oram, which ended in a catch :( ...But it was a drama....New Zealand looked losing in the end, and people who left the stadium when Razzaq was run-out, came back to see the match...Aamer broke another record of most runs by number 10th batsmen :awesome:

I feel that if he continues to play like this (as he played yesterday and in semi final of Champions trophy) he would bevcome another batsmen who made a debut as a bowler but tuirned into a all-rounder :P Inzamam, Razzaq, Afridi, Malik...These all started thier career as a bowler and turned into all-rounders except Inzamam who took the bat very well :P

But it was a sad end after such a partnership :(

Sreesanth recalled for first two Tests

Kimi — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:30:36 GMT

Temperamental speedster S Sreesanth made a comeback into the Test squad after he was named for the first two matches of the series against Sri Lanka.

There were no other surprise recalls with strike bowler Zaheer Khan making a comeback after a long injury lay off. Left arm seamer Ashish Nehra, who has been a regular in the ODI side was dropped.

The rest of the squad looks the same with specialists Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman returning for the longer format.

Meanwhile, Murali Vijay has also been included as the back up opener while S Badrinath has been rewarded for his consistent show in the domestic circuit.

India have added three spinners to the squad in off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, leg spinner Amit Mishra and left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

India squad: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, M Vijay, S Badrinath, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra.

Sreesanth recalled for first two Tests | ESPNSTAR.com

Ganguly back as KKR captain, Whatmore to coach

Kimi — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:27:05 GMT

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today returned as the Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper for next year's Indian Premier League, replacing New Zealand's Brendon McCullum.

The controversy-ridden IPL outfit, which finished at the bottom of the table this year, also named Dav Whatmore as its new coach with Delhi Ranji coach Vijay Dahiya as his deputy.

Pakistani pace legend Wasim Akram was appointed the mentor of the side.

"Andrew Leipus and Adrian le Roux have been appointed physiotherapist and team trainer respectively," the team management said in a statement.

"The KKR management held several meetings over the past few weeks to discuss and plan the way forward for the franchise and the team.

Source: PTI

Ganguly back as KKR captain, Whatmore to coach - *Cricket - Cricket and Sports - MSN India

Another Sachin's knock goes in vain as India lose!!

Safin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:06:48 GMT

And yet another heartbreak for Sachin and Team India

Quote:

Nobody does solos better than Sachin Tendulkar, well except for Brian Lara. Nobody has endured as much heartbreak during those solos, well except for Lara. It was India of the nineties all over again. Tendulkar almost chased the 351 on his own. But with the target in sight, Tendulkar got out, and the rest, well, choked, falling short by three runs with two balls still to go. In Chennai, in 1999-00, Tendulkar, having played an innings as incredible as this, left the last three wickets 18 to get; tonight he left them 19 off 17. He wanted to be left alone that evening, he would want to be left alone tonight.

Australia survive terrific Tendulkar | India v Australia, 5th ODI, Hyderabad Report | Cricket News | Cricinfo.com

Why this hurts:
1) Because we had it in the bag damn it :dx::@
2) Because the pitch was a dodo :rofl:
3) Because the Aussies had fielded their B team at best and non existent bowling line up :dx:
4) And we had everything going for us :@

Felt so sad for Sachin in the end. He is a great man, and you cannot ever fault him for his passion and commitment for India(you can't say the same for others :@) but its sad when no one can hang around to finish the job :( :down:

I really feel though that Sachin should have finished it. He knew what could happen as he saw against Pakistan in 1999, and yet :down:

Raina the fool, why play a stupid shot and Jadeja, you can kiss your career good bye now :rofl:

Sachin :console: He almost looked like he was about to cry at the presentation :(

Legendary Umpire David Shepherd dies of cancer

Kimi — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:24:56 GMT

London: Legendary England umpire David Shepherd died after a long battle with cancer on Wednesday. He was 68.

Shepherd, an international umpire, officiated in 172 ODIs, three consecutive World Cup finals and 92 Test matches from 1983 to 2005. He made his international debut in the 1983 World Cup.

Only Steve Bucknor and Rudi Koertzen have stood in more Tests than Shepherd.

Shepherd was a first-class cricketer and during his 14-year-long career played 282 first class matches for Gloucestershire.

His umpiring career started in 1981 from first-class matches. His last Test appearance was in June 2005 between the West Indies and Pakistan in Kingston and his final appearance was in an ODI at The Oval in 2005.

The good-humoured Englishman was known for his superstitions - most notably his little hop when scores reached 111 or a multiple thereof. He was a favourite with the players and was respected world over.

International Cricket Council (ICC) president David Morgan expressed grief over the death of one of the greatest umpires of all time.

"David was a true gentleman of the game," said Morgan. "He was a fine player and a match official of the very highest quality. He will be remembered fondly by players, spectators and administrators who saw him as a great entertainer but also as one of the best umpires the game has ever seen," he said.

"The example he set as someone who took the art of umpiring very seriously while also enjoying what he did immensely will leave a lasting legacy for the game. He was an engaging character which meant players and other umpires were always delighted to be around him. We have lost someone whose positive influence on our great sport has been immense."

Legendary Umpire David Shepherd dies of cancer - *Cricket - Cricket and Sports - MSN India