Cricket started as weekend leisure for the elites of England in the eighteenth century. With the spread of British Empire it traveled to other continents and took shape of Test match cricket. Initially, England and Australia were the only Test playing countries later joined by others.
Since the longer version was time consuming and even after five days of playing results were not guaranteed, the new version of one day cricket became a popular hit. From 60 overs in the beginning it got settled for 50 overs with terms and conditions modified to the present ones.
The 50 over games are working well though Twenty20 format is also growing in popularity with hilarity and glamour adding spice to it. To surprise of all, Cricket Australia has come up with yet another concoction of 45 overs for the local Ford Ranger Cup from earlier 50 overs, on a trial basis for the season commencing October.
As per the new format each team will bat 45 overs in two parts of 20 and 25 overs in the same innings. After 20 overs the team batting will bat out the next 25 overs from where they had stopped after 20 overs. Each team can field 12 players as against 11 at present but only 11 will be allowed to bat or bowl. The bowlers will get to bowl 12 overs in all instead of 10 in the 50 over game.
Then there is a point system in which a team leading in the first 20 overs will earn one point and four more points if they win the game as against the present system of winner getting all the points. So even if you land up losing a match you still can earn points.
This fundamental change seems to have come at a time when Twenty20 has become a better crowd puller as compared to 50 over matches. After the drab Test match cricket, 50 over games had become more exciting because of guaranteed results and there is hardly any requirement to further make drastic changes in its rules. Yes, use of technology for doubtful decisions is necessary to ensure justice to all but beyond that it will kill the spirit of the game which, as it is, is losing its popularity due to sheer frequency of the tours and tournaments these days.
Archive for the ‘Sports’ Category
Rehashing 50-Over Cricket
Pakistani Cricket Teams Manager May Quit
Yawar Sayeed the manager of Pakistani cricket team has decided to call it a day after the team’s English tour. Having spent 26 long years, he is intending to try something different and also devote more time for his family.
The Board chief Ijaj Butt is not in favor of Sayeed leaving and is confident of encouraging him to carry on for the sake of Pakistani team and Sayeed too has said in the affirmative.
Yawar Sayeed was involved in the controversy in which senior players like Sayeed Afridi, Yuonus Khan were held responsible for division among the team players while on Australian tour early this year. He declines these allegations and saying that he has nothing top do with selection of the team and held Younus in high esteem.
It was the Board he feels, which wanted, to instill a sense of discipline among the players and he as a manager did his duty assigned to him. The condition of Pakistan cricket as it stands today is what had made him continue as the manager.
Yawar was given a short braek when Abdul Raqib was made manager in his place when Pakistan toured Australia and new Zealand in November 2009. he was brought back after being cleared by a high level investigating team.
“Conditions Don’t Matter For T20 Cricket” Says Robin
Robin Singh the Mumbai Indians coach is confident of his team’s chances in the Champions League beginning September 10th. This comes after they brushed away all the opponents in IPL-3 only to lose to Chennai Super Kings in the finals. They meet some of the best teams in the cricketing world in the second edition of Champions League.
Robin Singh is sure of his wards adjusting to South African conditions and the bouncy pitches will be no hindrance as most of the players had played in that country during IPL-2. Also, unlike one day games, even the fastest of bowlers get only four overs to bowl. With local talent in form of Duminy and Mclaren in the team, he expects youngsters to come good in company of the great Tendulkar.
The former Indian all-rounder was speaking to Indian Express prior to leaving for South Africa. He was okay with the concept of Champions League which includes the top teams who have excelled in the local tournaments. It gives chance for young talent to grow in the company of some of the best and experienced players.
In addition to Indian players the team owners have their eyes on the performance of their international players also. Injury to Kiron Pollard their key player was a matter to worry about but he is sure to recover soon. McLaren has been inspiring playing for South Africa and that augurs well for Mumbai Indians chances.
Broad Makes His Maiden Ton
The day two for England in the fourth Test was of mixed fortunes. Commencing at overnight 39 for 2, they were 139 for 7 when Stuart Broad joined Jonathan Trott. While Trottt made his third test century, he more than supported Stuart Broad in scoring his first test ton against Pakistan at Lord’s.
England was 346 for 7 at close of play on second day. Broad in company with Trott managed to guide England to a comfortable total to ensure that England win the series whether this Test ends in a victory or a draw. Broad’s 125 happen to be the highest score by an English batsman coming at number 9.
Broad complemented Trott for his constant support, hints to be positive and batting tips. His hundred came before that of Trott despite him being in the team as a bowler. He only concentrated in reading the type of delivery and hitting hard the right ones.
Praising Trott, Broad was impressed by the patience he displayed during Trott’s 427 minutes at the crease. Both the not-out batsmen go to play on Saturday with a century each under their belts. Trott now has scored more than 1000 runs averaging 50 plus and that is a good sign for England.
The usually present former England opener Chris Broad was not at the ground to see his son score his maiden test century. But his grand parents had the privilege to witness their grand son’s achievement. Broad felt more for his stepmother who he feels would have been very happy on such an occasion.
BCCI May File A Case Against Modi
Lalit Modi, the Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman, now under suspension, is at logger heads with The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who has decided to file a legal case against him. This was disclosed by BCCI sources on Friday.
After suspending Modi on accusations of fiscal wrongs post IPL-3 the last Twenty20 league, the BCCI suspended him pending investigations. Modi has not presented himself before the disciplinary committee constituted by the BCCI to go into the charges mentioning safety concerns from unlawful elements.
The allegations relate to violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the case will be registered in Chennai, the location of BCCI registered office.
A board representative who did not want to be named has disclosed that the board has proof to indict Modi for FEMA infringements to the tune of Rs 125 Crores as “felicitation fees” which IPL is said to have paid to World Sport Group (Mauritius) by Multi Screen Media.
Modi’s legal advisor Mahmood Abdi is unaware of any such development and cautioned BCCI not to resort to this kind of action. Abdi also added that the board officials are themselves in a fix and are trying to divert public attention.
BCCI, in April, had noted five areas in which Modi seems to have defaulted, and manipulating of the auction process, was one of them.
Primarily the accusations relate to bids by Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab. Another accusation is concerning the deal for broadcasting rights. Remaining cases are connected with manipulating bidding processes regarding two franchises added to the IPL and irregularities with Internet contracts.
Chappell Ready For The Role Of ‘Fulltime Selector’ With Cricket Australia
Greg Chappell has taken over as first full-time selector after being selected for the post by Cricket Australia on Monday. The former Test captain is all set to make big calls as he assumes the responsibility as national talent manager to be based in Melbourne. He however will give his present post as coach at Centre of Excellence.
Maintaining that the players will have to earn the privilege to represent Australia and the selection committee will keep this at the back of their mind while going about their task. The idea in no way is to force anyone to leave but to make sure each one in the team performs in peak form. Stressing that any sport especially cricket as “work in progress”’ the process of pumping in new blood will be continued by the board.
Chappell was categorical in mentioning the need of experience in the team and wanted senior players in to have a balanced side while the new comers groomed simultaneously. Satisfied with the current lot, he could foresee the future of the national team to be good. Chappell has kept in touch with the cricket after stopping to play in 1984, through media, as a selector and coaching assignments both home and abroad.
He was the coach of Indian team on a two-year contract in 2005 but a chain of debatable happenings, differences with skipper Saurav Ganguly and India’s poor show in the 2007 World Cup forced him to quit the assignment.
For a short while in 1988 he gave up the selector’s role to attend to family matters and was not quite in touch with the game
Yousuf Backed By The Pak Chief Selector For ODI
Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan’s middle order batsman, has been accepted back in the Test side. This has further prompted Mohsin Khan, the chief selector, to include him in the one day team too. Khan feels quite assured that Yousuf’s inclusion will give the much needed push to the current batsmen included in the team.
“Yousuf proved in the Test cricket played at Oval what kind of a batsman he is. “I have been saying he still has two to three years of cricket left in him. I also see a role for him in the one-day squad, especially with the 2011 World Cup in mind,” Khan said.
He also added that Yousuf is capable of playing a significant role in the ODI team and his game can further motivate the other players too. Recently many countries have relied on the more experienced players for their one-day teams. Yousuf can prove to be a very important player as his average for the ODI has been 42.
Khan was also of the view that the ODI with 50 overs did not just imply having the first 6 batsmen lined up to hit shots, but a one day match also needs a player who can give a sense of stability to the team. He added that Yousuf definitely fits the bill. Earlier, even Salman Butt had mentioned about Yousuf’s presence in the match against England as one that ultimately decided their victory.
Yousuf was banned after the Pakistan’s tour to Australia, by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and was also asked to pay up an exorbitant amount as fine.
Test World Cup to be Held in 2013-ICC
At the meeting of chiefs of various cricket boards at Cape Town in September, the International Cricket Council is likely to announce its intention to hold a tournament for deciding Test cricket rankings. Presently, it is decided by a rolling format considering the performances on match to match basis and awarding points to decide the standing of each team and players.
The first such event is likely to be held in 2013 by England. Colin Gibson the ICC spokesman said that more information will be made known after the meeting in September. Lords is certainly the venue for the finals if the matches are held in England he added.
This kind of a tournament will help revive the spirit of the game in Test format as it was fast losing its popularity. The marketing strategy and monetary rewards will have to be higher than One Day matches and the instant version Twenty 20, to draw big crowds.
The magnitude of the event’s success will rest on how ICC plays its cards regarding broadcasting and sponsors. Tata Motors (Jaguar) are being strongly considered due to its current sales record as it is the sponsor of TV broadcasting in the current season on Sky Sport.
ICC has formed a committee with five members, to give its report to the cricket chiefs in the next month’s meeting in Cape Town. BCCI secretary N Srinivasan is also part of this committee. Prior to finalizing the exact format of the competition, the approval of ICC board will be required.
The discussions of the committee focused on the modalities of the championship if it has to constitute four or eight teams as per their current form for the play-off games. Despite not being part of the empowered committee, Martin Crowe, the erstwhile New Zealand captain has made known his choice for the eight team format.
The eventual contestants will be decided some months prior to the main competition. It is contemplated that each Test match will last for six days to have a definite result when the matches are in the knock-out stages.
As per the current format India is at number one position while South Africa, Sri Lanka and Australia are second, third and fourth respectively.
Ponting Ready With His ‘Special’ Team
Australia has been back on its feet for quite sometime and Ponting’s declaration of a special team has confirmed of the team’s current form further. The 3 test series played with West Indies proved to be quite beneficial for the Australian team when they defeated West Indies by 2-0. Australia has achieved continuous victories in this year. Ponting is all set to play for the matches to be held in the next eight months especially the international games. He said that he was specifically looking forward to all the games to be held this year and the next.
He said that he has been fortunate in the past to have played with some great teams but the existing team is on the verge of doing something great. The fact that the existing team won all the matches the previous year was quite impressive and encouraging for all. But this time he said it is going to be better than that too! Australian Cricket team is going to face India in a one-day series and two test matches in October this year. After that the team will head for home to play some matches with Sri Lanka with limited number of overs.
On November 25th, they will play the first of the Ashes test match at Gabba, Brisbane. Although at Twenty20 World Cup, England defeated Australia but in spite of that England won’t have anything new to ponder about, said Ponting. He also mentioned about the England’s team consisting of Irish players, but he said that it does not make any difference to him and all that he focuses on is to bring them down in the game.
iPhone 4/4G/3Gs Jailbreaking/Unlocking and Contract Agreements
When you jailbreak your iPhone Apple as well as AT&T claim you are voiding your warranty as well as violating the agreement you may have with them. However, the process of jailbreaking and unlocking occurs at a point in the activation process prior to clicking on any acceptance of any agreement. Since you actually never click, or sign, that you are agreeing to their conditions you are not in violation of any contract or agreement even though they may want you to think that you have.
When you want the iPhone you just have to have it. But the iPhone is not sold in every country or sometimes new models are months if not years delayed in being offered. So if you live in one of these countries your only choice of owning an iPhone is to purchase and unlocked one. Unlocked iPhones can be purchased in some countries that requires Apple to sell unlocked iPhone. They can also be purchased online. Remember that wherever the iPhone is purchased is the country that it is locked to. For example, an iPhone purchased in the US is locked to AT&T as the carrier.
Once you have a iPhone that is unlocked when you connected it to the computer to activate it be sure you install the jailbreak software prior to accepting the subscription. When you do this you can prevent having to sign up with the official carrier. Unlocked iPhones can be purchased for between four and five hundred dollars.
