Neutral venues are stupid

Tuesday, 30 December 2008 07:30 by Rajan Bala
The decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – based on the recommendation of its technical committee – to hold the knockout phase matches in the Ranji Trophy at neutral venues is stupid. The intention behind this move is to prevent ‘doctored’ pitches by home teams that would have normally staged these matches. In the inaugural season of the implementation of this move, the grounds – normally never able to attract crowds for such matches – have been almost deserted as there is no local interest at all. [More]

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Ponting’s woes continue

Saturday, 27 December 2008 08:12 by Rajan Bala
After the defeats in India, one thought that Ricky Ponting’s days as Australia’s captain were numbered, but Cricket Australia (CA) sort of gave him the benefit of the doubt. It would have done wisely had it made Michael Clarke the captain and allowed Ponting to play under him. [More]

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All over a 'pie-chucker'

Wednesday, 24 December 2008 07:32 by Rajan Bala
Whoever said one must guard against success going to one’s head, certainly did not mean Yuvraj Singh in particular, but the Yuvraj type. The world unfortunately has to tolerate more than its share of this type. [More]

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Pietersen’s captaincy failed

Saturday, 20 December 2008 06:20 by Rajan Bala
South African-born Kevin Pietersen has a long way to go before he is accepted as captaincy material. He is not the first with this background to lead his adopted country. There was Tony Greig, who proved to be a cagey captain with excellent tactical acumen and the sort of attitude which was provocative and challenging. Maybe it would help Pietersen to have a long chat with the former England all-rounder now settled in Australia. [More]

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Sehwag was true architect

Wednesday, 17 December 2008 08:38 by Rajan Bala
Thank heavens the adjudicators had the good sense to make Virender Sehwag the man of the match. Had they got carried away with the excitement of Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh taking India to an excellent victory, poor Sehwag would have been forgotten after what was an extraordinary onslaught by him. Because of it, the final day’s target was whittled down to 256. [More]

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Why not the third spinner?

Sunday, 14 December 2008 13:44 by Rajan Bala
Former India captain Ajit Wadekar, who also served capably as cricket manager of the team, is of the firm belief that when the team plays Tests at home, its attack must have three spinners. Mohammed Azharuddin, who was the captain during Wadekar’s tenure as manager, fell in line and also became a strong advocate of this theory. [More]

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Security for Dhoni

Wednesday, 10 December 2008 15:54 by Rajan Bala
Security for Dhoni [More]

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Two-Test series is absurd

Saturday, 6 December 2008 16:13 by Rajan Bala
Now that two ODIs had to be cancelled because of the terrorists’ outrage in Mumbai, the cricket board would do well to demand of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) it agrees to play an additional Test, making it three overall. [More]

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How Srikkanth, Yuvraj can talk

Wednesday, 3 December 2008 11:21 by Rajan Bala
One is aware that even the chairman of the national selection committee, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, has, in inimitable fashion, put his foot in his mouth, when he said Yuvraj Singh is all ready to take Sourav Ganguly’s vacated place in the Test batting order. This statement was the result of the Punjab left-hander scoring two successive ODI centuries against an England team that seemed more rattled on the field than even the employees and the guests of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai when the terrorists struck. [More]

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England's ODI failings

Saturday, 29 November 2008 08:44 by Rajan Bala
Kevin Pietersen must have wondered what sort of Indian juggernaut has hit his team in India. The England captain, so new to his job, began with wins against South Africa, but has been rudely brought to earth in this country. [More]

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