Cricketing world getting bigger all the time
London - There are just three programmes of BBC World's "My Cricket World Cup" remaining. We've been on-air every Tuesday and Friday since the start of the tournament, and so far we've had guests from Sierra Leone to Dhaka, Brisbane to Montreal and Singapore to Johannesburg. In-between we’ve taken detours and made stops at a variety of other destinations along the way, finding cricket-lovers, fans and obsessives who want to share their passion with the world, or have stories to tell and opinions to voice.
Life is a cricket carnival and we want you to join our merry go-round. If you want to send us a message via your webcam or email, or if you want to be live on the programme, then please get in touch. Whether it's your appreciation of a player, love of a team, criticism or praise, observation or analysis, tell us and we'll tell the world for you, better still tell the world yourself with your webcam.
Today's edition of MCWC began with an on-air tasting of a spinning birthday cake in honour of Muttiah Muralitharan's 35th birthday. Ramesh in Colombo told us Murali is bigger than any film-star in Sri Lanka, and that having known the master spinner for the past 15 years he added that the only way Murali had changed was as a cricketer. Ramesh's own phrase was that the bowler hasn't lost any of his simplicity. In many ways this is what makes Murali such a wonderful sportsman. His character, his ground-on-the-feet attitude, and his smile in the face of professional combat.
(For those of you who have taken part in the raging debate in the previous blog regarding Warne v Murali, this is an unconnected train of thought, please don't feel I'm making any comparisons! I'll reply to that one in due course, for the moment, hey, it's Murali's birthday! Respect!)
Our two other webcam guests were England fan Matt and Alexis, a South African supporter. Both agreed the man is a genius and a magician. Matt summed it up for all cricket lovers when he said that when Murali's bowling the excitement of the battle between bat and ball is heightened. I agree. It's at least tripled in my case, whenever a great spinner comes on - even though I was a paceman myself! Ha, ok, fast medium? Alexis acknowledged South Africa's main weakness in this World Cup could be the fact they don't have a world class spinner in their ranks.
Interestingly, it was also Ramesh's opinion that Sri Lanka's resting of Muralitharan, Vaas and Malinga for the defeat against Australia was the best thing the team's management could do. As Andrew Symonds said, it's very much opposed to the Australian philosophy of fielding your best XI in every game. But Ramesh epitomised the meaning of “confident” when he said those three bowlers were being saved for the final and that he had already booked his tickets. Could be prescient.....or could be an expensive way to see a continuation of the Chappell-Hadlee Series!
But, of course, the main reason Matt and Alexis were on the programme was to comment on two of the World Cups most disappointing teams - England and South Africa. Their encounter in Barbados today is biggest game of the tournament so far. As you will no doubt hear again, it's already been dubbed “The Battle of the bottle”. Lose and go home. Anyway, Alexis was dumfounded at the late night drinking antics of his countrymen, although he agreed they probably needed to let off some steam after the poor performances they've put in so far in the tournament. What is it about losing to the Black Caps that drives an international cricketer to drink? Alexis said a win against England will make sure everything is forgotten, but if they lose then all 15 players will be in the dog-box!?
Speaking of dogs, the one day game's top dog in terms of batting is Kevin Pietersen, born in South Africa, of an English mother and South Africa father, KP famously left the land of his birth to qualify and play for Michael Vaughan's team. It's a smaller world these days and migration has changed much, not least the cultural make-up of international teams. For example, a MCWC viewer called Gavin has written to us from Norway. He's a Kiwi cricket fan and tells us about how Norway have a team that will try to qualify for the 2011 World Cup. All 14 members of the squad speak Urdu at training he says! It's the way of the world, and what I don't know is if those players are Norwegian born or sons of immigrants, or even immigrants themselves. But they're Norwegian all right and to see them in the next World Cup would add another exotic dimension to the tournament, just as Bermuda, Canada, Kenya, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands have done in the Caribbean.
KP may not have been born in England, but as Matt said, he is the Englishman whose performances galvanise the rest of the team - when he bats well, often the others do too. Matt was clearly happy that the game's administrators in South Africa had let the player go. From the Proteas point of view, Alexis wasn't really ever sure if anyone would know exactly how and why KP left the country. He suggested that when KP left South Africa he didn't really show the promise that indicated he would become the batsman he now is.
The end of the tournament is finally in sight, and I mean that both senses. The biggest games are still to come, they aren't weeks and weeks away, but days....and seven weeks is far too long for an international tournament. It's not chess for goodness sake. Thanks for Matthew Hayden for stating the obvious and bemoaning the duration of the event.
Send us your thoughts on cricket life, the cricket universe and everything related to the cricket World Cup. You can also watch previous editions of the programme on our homepage. Until the next time, I have nails to bite!
Adnan
....For example, ...Gavin has written to us from Norway. He's a Kiwi cricket fan and tells us about how Norway have a team that will try to qualify for the 2011 World Cup. All 14 members of the squad speak Urdu at training he says!....
Sounds like we're in store for another thrilling competition.
Complain about this postMuch has been made of the length of the tournament and the poor attendance. What should be of more concern is the poor quality of the cricket itself, with Australia being the notable exception. Perhaps only the Aussies could have given the West Indian team of the 70s a run for its money. One thing seems clear: the over-emphasis on the one-day game is hurting the sport and depriving players of the basics needed to put together a solid innings or bowl a decent line.
Complain about this postEarlier I saw this... "Faced with listening to the inevitable South Africa response of 155-2 off 35 overs - or something equally disheartening - I'm going into the garden to build a children's play shed. See, England? See what you've driven me to?" Oh my how wrong you were!
Complain about this postEarlier I saw this... "Faced with listening to the inevitable South Africa response of 155-2 off 35 overs - or something equally disheartening - I'm going into the garden to build a children's play shed. See, England? See what you've driven me to?" Oh my, how wrong you were. Hope the play shed came along better than the bowling did!
Complain about this postI have to say, as a Sefrican in the Uk I was slightly concerned that we might be beaten by England given our recent performances have not been great! Time for an early Castle, I think....
Complain about this postNext time , why not drop the 'England' from the
Complain about this postpatronising ' England and Wales' , and let us Welsh have a go on our own ? . I suspect a Welsh team would not do any worse than the English and Scottish contingents .
Incidentally, Mahmood seems to have had a rather 'disappointing' time of it. Hoggard , in the meantime, takes part in meaningless April warm-ups. Ditto Rampkrash .
The South-Africans approach to hard-drinking seems to mirror England's , but with more success. Perhaps the pedalo accounts for the difference ?
Pietersen will no doubt have 'ct Smith ' tatooed on a suitable part of his body .
Disgraceful.
Complain about this postKP out for 3? A performance which suits England down to a tee!
Complain about this postSo true Adnan .. cricket world is getting bigger, and hope it will get better too.
You are right .. Here in SL cricket is like religion & Cricket stars like Murali & Sanath are much bigger than any film star here. Its not only because of their performances, but because of their personality & nature. I have seen both of them in many occasions and I have never seen them without the big smile on their faces.
Murali is definitely the most loved Tamil in SL, and perhaps in the whole world. Once Murali said that he was lucky to be alive after the narrow escape from the 2004 tsunami by just 20 minutes. The following week he was helping to distribute food to victims of the tsunami.
He is a blessing to SL.
Happy Birthday Murali !!
Complain about this postI've been puzzled all winter over the rush to get Vaughan fit in time to play in the world cup. His presence in Australia was a massive distraction during the ashes, he's not a good one-day player at any rate and we would have been better off playing a maverick opener such as Mal Loye.
The whole winter has been a failure of planning and common sense - the English management that did so well in the period leading up to and including the 05 Ashes has become too inward looking and complacent. What is need is some innovation and new ideas, otherwise we'll soon be back to the twilight zone when Atherton/Illingworth ran the show
Complain about this postif cricket is so important why can I not even hear it in Canada
Brian Scorey
Complain about this postWhoever thought Saj Mahmood was international standard? The guy is truly a myth.......
I echo the sentiments about the Welsh having a team. It's about time now for them to break away from this E(&W)CB crap and play on the big stage. There is no way Wales would be worse than Holland, Canada or Bermuda.
Obviously Ireland will now be granted international status at the next ICC meeting too, making Wales even more poorer relations.
Complain about this postI agree with many persons that the ICC World Cup 2007 duration is tool ong. Future planners should limit it to 3weeks(Ideal) and bring best of One Day Cricket!!
Complain about this postAs a fan of Cricket since days of Garfield Sobers ,I must admire the strength and balance that the Australian Cricket team has- whether it is One Day or 5 Day Test Match. So if they win this World Cup One Day Cricket s Series, it is thru hard work team effort and they desreve full credit for that.
Dr.Patel
E.W.C.B. means England & Wales Cricket Board, it is about time Wales broke away from this board and took part in the World cup as a country in its own right like Scotland. Wales should not be brought down to Englands level!
Complain about this postCOULD THIS BE WEST INDIES PHOENIX?
Cricket World cup is deemed the third largest sporting event in the world. The huge amount of cricket played, the enhanced technology, the booming increase in sponsorship and viewership, the growing competition, number of competitions, live matches, sponsors, viewers and the live cricket commentary televised to millions around the world has taken the game of cricket to news heights with huge stakes.
Cricket is a dominant cohesive force that unites the Caribbean. The West Indies cricket team under Clive Lloyd ruled the world and became an inspiration for other teams. West Indies have always been proud of their team, - and when successful cricketers walk in the streets they were recognized as celebrities.
The phenomenal ignominous flop of the hosts West Indies team in CWC 2007 should certainly make all the stakeholders take a reality check. However I believe that a man works with the tool he is given and although they say that one ought not to blame the tool, turning the entire blame on Lara is definitely not fair.
Against the backdrop of an uninspiring performance by the West Indies team in this year's Cricket World Cup; Caribbean countries will not reap expected revenues of US$500 million.
The Caribbean Community leadership must learn from the experiences of this event and use every opportunity to record the available data, which will help to guide us to ensure that successes are repeated and mistakes avoided as best as possible. Teamwork, planning and strategising also play integral parts in the success of any venture.
I endorse the establishment of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Governance Committee to look at the structure and future of West Indies Cricket. The experience of its Chairman, former Jamaica Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and other distinguished members of the committee that include Sir Alister McIntyre and Dr. Ian McDonald is bound to help the process. It is extremely important for West Indies Cricket Stakeholders to make submissions to that team.
One such submission that should be taken on board immediately came from Charles L. Griffith, a Research Engineer / Scientist (West Indian) in 2005 using applied science. He has patented a cricket conditions simulator capable of simulating any outdoor cricket competition conditions relative to cricket pitch scenarios where West Indian cricketers can practice under specific conditions for extensive periods during any given day.
In addition he has developed a 15 point, five months module curriculum to be used in conjunction with the simulator.
The cricket conditions simulator may be viewed as an integral component of a cricket academy. It is my understanding that if this simulator is taken on board it will turn around West Indies cricket in one year since it is an educational device that has the capacity to build mental fortitude, reduce the magnitude of the learning curve, has the capability to replicate the plurality of atmospheric and cricket pitch conditions, is another scientific tool that is safe to use with no moving parts in the pitch, can be a satisfying tool to cricketers, coaches and administrators, is easy to construct, has capabilities to provide a number of estimates of cricket pitch deterioration, can provide specific tailor to order training, execute intense crisis training regimentation, as well as offer new and innovative programs which can provide a level of training for optimized performance that would lay the foundation to expand the cricket industry in a profitable manner.
In the same manner that technology has enhanced many aspects of the game through television coverage that can call upon infinite television replays, slowed down to 1000 frames per second, as well as computer programmes such as Hawk-eye, the "snickometer" and the "red zone" to break down every individual dismissal or appeal and the Duckworth/Lewis rain interruption rules are used to project a winning second innings score and create a margin of victory in runs. It is imperative that we use science to acquire techniques through appropriate interventions at this junction of West Indies cricket.
We need to the utilize intellect and experience of our retired West Indies cricketers as valuable input. Coupled with this education development device, a holistic approach could be applied to cricket training facilities in which scientific data, considering cricket ball aerodynamics, thermal properties, different transient atmospheric conditions and a number of cricket pitch properties are collected. Simultaneously, they must execute a multiplicity of techniques in batting, fielding and bowling during practice sessions. All that would be needed is that the players know to read and write.
It is my fervent hope that a clearly defined plan of action can be produced to address the areas of team performance and composition, governance, accountability and transparency, particularly in the selection process for players.
Complain about this postLet us use this experience to make a powerful statement to the world that although the Caribbean is experiencing defeat, we can take it with grace and dignity, and rise up again as a proud spirit, unmatched and indomitable, to reclaim our rightful place in cricket annals of honor with strength and renewal.
Could this cricket conditions simulator by Charles L. Griffith be just West Indies phoenix?
The game is growing and the tournament is too long! A-men!
.... and this Jeremy character has been busy being a kill joy on every blog on the site! What's the stoy big J?
Complain about this postI wonder if you can help with this - apologies if it has already been asked and answered!
For a bowler to obtain an lbw decision in his favour, assuming that the batsman is playing a shot, among other things the ball must strike the batsman "between wicket and wicket". What exactly does that mean? Does it mean that the point of impact must be completely between wicket and wicket (in other words, if you freeze the action at the moment of impact, no part of the ball should be visible outside the stumps), or is it OK if just part of the ball is between wicket and wicket? The latter alternative would obviously widen the target in the bowler's favour by a few, perhaps crucial, inches.
Does this make sense? If so, I would be interested to hear any thoughts.
Complain about this postTony in Japan - the laws just say what you've quoted and the reference book on them which all umpires use (Tom Smith's Cricket Umpiring & Scoring) doesn't expand on the point. Strictly speaking, I guess that hitting the batsman in line means that the point of impact (not the whole ball, which will be larger) is between wicket and wicket, so some of the ball could indeed be outside the line.
Complain about this postBut I don't think it matters in practice. The batsman always gets the benefit of any doubt in an ump's mind, and that would include any doubt as to where the ball struck. So I'd say that unless the (whole) ball was clearly inside the line then the correct decision is not out.
Personally (as an umpire myself) I'd like to see the end of the 'playing a shot' get-out for lbws - it can be very hard to judge consistently, esp. when batsmen tuck the bat in behind the pad against a spinner. It's also one of very few cases where we're required to judge intent, not fact. And the laws do batsmen enough favours anyway. But that's another story.
(Also in Japan)
To the best of my knowledge it's the point of impact of the ball on the batsman's body that is important. Once that's inline, it's ok.
One further variable is that if the umpire reckons the batsman is not making a valid attempt to hit the ball with his bat then he can be given out even if the ball strikes him outside the line of his off-stump but not outside his leg stump. An under-utilised ammendment to the laws in my opinion.
Correct me if I'm wrong people.
Complain about this postWhy is it that Ireland and England are allowed to participate as two teams in the world Cup? The Irish Cricket Union inculdes Nortern Ireland also. Northern Ireland and England are not two countries, they are the same nation - United Kingdom. They should play as one team. Otherwise they get twice as much chance of winning the world cup over the other countires. Just imagine, if England win a World Cup - at which ever sport, UK would be the world champions. If Ireland wins, still UK will be the world champions.
I know that the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh are different ethnic groups speaking different languages with different histories; before the English forced the others into the "United Kingdom" - I know. But that's the situation in India too. They have a confederacy you know. Like the US and the UK, those Indian federal units have similar types of autonomy. Just imagine if instead of India, the Indians are allowed to field multiple teams according to their regional ethnic federal states. You'll have a Tamil Nadu team, a Tulunadu team, an Andra Pradesh team, a Marathi team, a Gujarati team, a Punjabi team, a Bengali team, a Haryana team, an Assamese team......
You get the point right? Don't tell me:- Oh but we have different histories. The English people forced us into this "United Kingdom" and blah blah blah. Those Indian ethnic groups I just mentioned not only differ in ethnicity and language and like the English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh; they sometimes even worship different Gods.
Complain about this postJust wondered what people thought. After seeing the potential of Ireland (and actually Scotland are not that far behind them) it would be a real plus if these teams could get test status.
The biggest impediment to that is that their best players are always going to come to England to play county cricket, then either incidently or otherwise qualify for England and then are lost. It would be suberb for them if they could qualify for a test-playing nation at test level but were still permitted to play for other teams at one-day level.
e.g. Ed. Joyce would now be qualified for tests for England but could elect to still play for Ireland in one-day matches. This would bolster these teams and they could then attempt a conversion to test-status when the teams were strong enough. This is "work in progress", probably a howler i've missed, but would be interested in comments, not least if the ICC would buy it :).
Complain about this postOk Bangla man, it's just as well you wrote this on this blog and not one of the one's lots of Irish people were reading! Northern Ireland might be part of the UK but the South certainly is not! The cricket and rugby teams of Ireland (amongst others) predate the Southern Irish state and that is why they still compete as an all-island team.
If you're going to base this entirely on politics- why should the West Indies be an international team? It should be made up of each of the states contained therein... (this is of course not what I think!)
Complain about this postDavid Graveney must go. There he sits offering support for the captain and regret the coach is leaving but showing no remorse and taking no responsibility for his own shambolic decision making.
Complain about this postI was interested to hear one of yesterday afternoons comments about an expression which "Aggers" had used and it reminded me to post a question re your esteemed commentator, as to why he uses the expression "up to the plate" instead of using the old English expression "up to the crease"? His main audience, after all, is not North American!!
Full marks to all your team who do a great job. But where is Geoffrey this series? I would love to hear what he might have to say about England's first innings batting performance!
Regards
Complain about this postAllan Davison