Ghost of IPL past ????

Indian Primer League, the brand in the making for the first 2 years, one which brought about the commercial side of cricket in India, now stands; once again I may add, amidst controversies and fall outs. This time around it is the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India who is at the epicentre of this fiasco, N.Sreenivasan. Interestingly, before I started writing this piece. I wanted to know more about this guy and so I searched and found that Wikipedia describes him as

"an Indian industrialist, chemical engineer, sports administrator and socialite who is the Managing-Director of the India Cements Limited and owner of the Chennai Super Kings Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team. He is also currently the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India."

Now, the first four cognomens does showcase the versatility of the person which has to be well respected but the last four keys does ring some bells. The wrong bells of course. IPL auctions being rigged is not a new thing, last year also these allegations were there about Lalit Modi favouring certain teams and this time around there is a certain team who might have benefited owing to N.Sreenivasan.

Now the hard news is that Mumbai Indians think that auctions were rigged and a special someone who knew about the auction inside out sat in the auction with a particular team, clearly helping them out. Well they are running around the bush for sure, but most of us know that the reference is for Chennai Super kings. And from his Wikipedia bio hardly any doubt.

Honestly, even I was perplexed on how well CSK were performing in the auctions, what ever they wanted, they got it, and their bidding was bang on. But these all probably my perception and N.Sreenivasan and CSK are just the cream of the issue.

Issue is most definitely an over used word and why not, IPL does tend to have a lot of issues. Capped players, uncapped players and what not .Again as I further read on about the issue, ....aah I should use some other word next time around, well anyway, A column by Sharda Urga fascinated me, in that column she stated how rules of uncapped players were bend at the last moment and it also clearly indicated the big honchos in the fray. Interestingly that big honcho was Mumbai Indians who had proposed that uncapped players be retained rather than going for the auction but it did not happen.

What happened was that the rules where mended in such a way that  uncapped players could be racked up just like that. A sort of internal matter, meaning that if an uncapped or capped players were of that high demand some extra "perks' might be added to lure them in to any particular franchise. Think of Manish Pandey, Amabati Rayadu andSourabh Tiwary  Not a fair play right??? And moreover who the hell decides these rules ?????

Well one of those rule makers might be the name mentioned earlier.

THE "MIGHT"Y AUSSIES

With 24 days to go for the ICC Cricket World Cup, 2011, we here at sports e-cast, a bunch of sports enthusiasts, are putting forth our views and opinions on this big extravaganza.

To start of with I take up defending champs Australia.

THE SQUAD

Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke (vc), Shane Watson, Cameron White, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), Tim Paine (wk), John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Doug Bollinger.

4^th IN A ROW ??

After dominating two World cup campaigns and bagging 4^th world title in 2007, Australia should be the hot favourite coming into the tournament, but somewhere down the line even a die hard Aussie fan would be thinking, are they really the favourites ??

THE HOPE

Aussies always had the services of the best openers of a particular era in each of their World Cup triumphs, but this time around the opening pair is the biggest concern the Australian outfits faces. Shane Watson has most definitely cemented his place and even 40 per cent comparison to great Mark Waugh won’t hurt here. Watson is an asset for Australia if sub continent pitches are taken into consideration. He always had the power and technique to play up front but what makes him the lethal weapon for the Aussies is his maturity and the level of understanding he has developed for the game. And moreover, he is no schmuck with the ball either.

Mr. Cricket, Mike Hussey would be the biggest hope for the Ricky Ponting in this World Cup. Since his late debut in 2004 in ODI’s he has never looked back. If Ricky Pointing and Adam Gilchrist were the big match players for Aussies, this time around it would be Mr. Cricket, Michael Hussey. Provided he gets fit before the world cup after his surgery.

Mitchell Johnson for me would be the spearhead of this bowling attack though its boosts the like of Lee and Bollinger. For me the best opening bowlers for Australia are Johnson and Bollinger.

THE WORRIES

Well, lot of worries for sure and to start of with, it’s the batting, Watson is yet to find a solid opening partner. Brad Haddin, though in the recent series against England is trying very hard to fill in the boots of Adam Gilchrist. His short yet effective run a ball innings is hurting England but same cannot be said once he reaches the subcontinent. Also Tim Paine the second wicketkeeper and attacking batsmen seems to be more stable but he hasn’t proved much to earn a World cup game. Omission of David Warner is baffling.

In the bowling department, Brett Lee and Shaun Tait are like the Pandora’s Box, the two fastest bowlers, one a proven match winner but coming from a long injury lay off and the other like a jet without radar could be a risky gamble taken by the selectors. Siddle would have made more sense than Shaun Tait.

SURPRISE ELEMENT

Steven Smith and Nathan Hauritz are the lesser known faces in the Australian setup. Hauritz, though vastly experienced and being a spinner could be decisive in sub continent. He is miserly as he looks but wicket taking abilities are a question mark.

Steven Smith on the other hand would double up as an all rounder. He has shown great temperament and can hit the ball real hard and his leg break could be very effective in placid wickets.

Equally good would be Cameroon White. He can very well be equated to Yusuf Pathan, a notch higher maybe.

John Hastings selection keeping in mind Australia already had 3 all rounders is a bit confusing. But Hastings credentials in domestic circuit and his immaculate bowling performances in death overs is probably why he is in the squad. Though, Warner could have been there instead of Hastings.

CHANCES

4 time World Champions, you just cannot shrug them of even if they have a bad day at the office. Clearly not the favourites but much better than dark horses, 3rd in line to take the trophy I may say.

Yusuf, U beauty !!!!!!!!!!!

Pandemonium is what Yusuf Pathan is capable of , if the likes of Morkel and Steyn can create havoc in any kinda batting order, a blitzkrieg is what Pathan posses. 105 in ridiculously 70 deliveries at a strike rate of 150, it was not just hitting, it was brutal power hitting at its best. The bull ring at super sport park was graced by a bull for sure, a raging bull who needs to be feared. Unfortunately, he is becoming the only man to be feared in
Men in Blue.

Pathan and Zaheer had a 100 run partnership but apart from that none could survive longer than 4 overs, Rohit Sharma as a make shift opener has squandered his opportunity at redemption, and Yuvraj continues his extensive poor form with the bat, though his bowling is coming to fore. Raina has looked intimidated, as if every ball he is gonna face would be a short one, lack of confidence evident. And captain cool MSD, never had a luck with toss and when he finally had it, as is the case with any Indian captain ,a dubious decision to field first. As a batsmen this was a tailor made situation for the the no. 6 batsmen. He could have easily paced his innings and could have easily shifted his gears, and with pathan alongside the proteas would'nt have known what hit them, but alas, it was coulds n woulds.........MSD as a batsman is due for a big one for sure.......

CLT20: Highveld Lions get better of Mumbai Indians

It was dubbed as the champions taking on the underdogs, IPL 2010 runner ups and star studded Mumbai Indians were up against a rather unheard entity of Highveld Lions in the opening encounter of the second edition of Champions league T20. The media went gaga over a possible Mumbai Indians victory, and for others as well the Indians had to be the favourites. They had the legend Sachin Tendulkar, mighty Keiron Pollard, home boy JP Duminy, experienced Harbhajan Singh and what Highveld Lions had ? Just an Alviro Peterson and Neil Mcenzie with International exposure, and yet it could be fair to say, that  was all Highveld Lions needed to sprung up a surprise victory.

The lions put into bat by Sachin had a an ominous start as after 3 overs of rather silent cricket as compared to T20 standards, the Lions captain had to walk back to the pavilion in a bizzare run out that had put both the openers at the same end of the pitch. Shikhar Dhawan did well with the stop and the throw, though the rustiness and sloppiness of Mumbai Indians outfit was quite evident with the misfields and misjudgments. Sachin used his spinner Ali Murtaza before Zaheer Khan and the lanky 20 year old justified the decision bowling 2 tight overs darting the bowl into the leg stump cramping up the batsmen for room. He, in his thrid over got the reward for the consistent line as the hard hitting Richard Cameron miscued one to long on. By the end of 6 overs Lions were 39 for 2 with a RR of 6.50, not a cracking start but Lions still had the young Jonathan Vandiar who stepped on the gas smashing Harbhajan Singh’s first delivery with disdain to the extra cover boundary. He then plundered 2 fours of one Zaheer Khan over and a six and four of Duminy.and by the half way mark they were 78 for 2, well in position for a rather high score. Zaheer and Harbhajan were quite evidently uneffective and the array of slow bowlers that Sachin used were neither of much help. Malinga though was slinging those yorkers with conviction and had the best economy. Neil Mcenzie later joined the party and the experienced campaigner proved to be the perfect  foil for the vivacious and hard hitting Vandiar as Mcenzie relied more on timing and placement exposing the Mumbai team’s slapdash fielding effort. Vandiar played a superb T20 inning of 48 ball 71 before being holed out in the outfield of Malinga’s bowling. The final firework though came in the final over of Zaheer Khan as Both Mcenzie and de Bryun milked 17 of the over to end up with a highly competitive score of 186.

Batting has always come to the Mumbai Indians fore and here as well, Sachin and Shikhar started of strongly as R Frylinck and Ethan O'Reilly in order to get some purchase out of the pitch bowled a bit short to both the openers. And the rewards were quite evident, Ethan O’Reilly had Sachin plump but Umpire Ashoka De Silva  turned down the appeal. The Lions were clearly not overwhelmed by the occasion and had that exuberance and fervour which kept the Mumbai openers under check. The fielding as with any South African outfit was sharp and that probably was one of the highlights of the Highveld Lions performance. Sachin on the other hand was playing good pushing the ball into the gaps and cracking some Sachin special shots. The Highveld bowlers stuck to the basic without experimenting much and with some quality fielding the run rate was marginally mounting and by the half way mark Mumbai were 84 for 1 with RRR at 10.30. Sachin was batting with ease but at the other end the pressure mounted on, Ambati Rayadu scuffled across to a non existent single to get himself out. JP Duminy eased some pressure with some lusty blows but the real blow came in the 14th over when Shane Burger bowled a perfect yorker to knock of the Little Master’s stumps. The jubilation was something to be seen and for the first time Lions seemed to be a nose tip ahead in the match. Big man Keiron Pollard came in as Mumbai’s last hope and it was Shane burger who he decided to butcher with 2 mammoth hit over the ropes and a boundary in that over, Pollard definitely had his eyes set, but Burger had the last laugh as his pin point block hole delivery got better of the Trindidian.  Duminy got holed out in the deep in the 19th over, and Highveld Lions were on their way for an emphatic victory. Jonathan Vandiar and Shane Burger proving to be the standout performers in an immaculate team effort,A word for veteran Neil Macenzie as well.

And once again we were reminded what matters is the 22 yard strip and the team of 11 playing on it and not the 11 on paper.

AGAINST THE SPIRIT

Cricket came into being in the 17th Century and from the time WG Graceand Don Bradman donned those cricketing whites and took that willow in the Test format, a kind of subtleness was associated with the game. But amidst this subtleness, cricketing history is quite replete with the instances which, in no way can be categorised as gentlemanly.

Suraj Randiv's ‘deliberate No ball’ is just another example in the long list of events which has marred the so called ‘spirit of cricket’. The most famous or rather infamous fiasco going against the spirit of cricket was that of Trevor Chappell’s underarm bowling against arch rivals New Zealand. Interestingly the batsmen against whom the underarm action was used, Brian McKechnie was reprimanded because he threw his bat on the field and thus had shown misconduct.

 

It was one of the lows of cricket and it forced the cricketing fraternity to think hard about their complex rules. But again at that time it was not illegal as such because such a rule did not exist. Even in the case of Suraj Randiv one can’t really hold him accountable as it was a no ball anyone could have bowled and according to the law, the run of the ‘no ball’ was counted. But it was the spirit of the game which was overlooked, Randiv knowing that the fate of the game has already been decided could have given the chance for Sehwag to score a century, but allegedly he didn’t.

There was an instance where, the great Sunil Gavaskar playing his penultimate game was on the verge of making his maiden one day international (ODI) century against New Zealand and the New Zealand bowlers respecting the great man bowled him loose delivery to allow him get to his century. There was no big fuss about it, but the point is this was how the game was played a decade back.

Now with the level of competition and the increasing frequency of the games it is quite obvious that the spirit of the game is declining or players quite evidently are giving it a miss. Maybe the players are forgetting about certain morals, values or integrity associated with the game and they don’t seem to care at all. Mark Waugh had once famously said, “Millions of Australians want us to win the World Cup. I don’t know anything about the spirit of cricket.”

 

Well his point seems fair enough and to validate this very point of Waugh, there are some grey areas which need to be attended at by the cricketing apex bodies, if they intend to ensure the spirit of cricket does not die. Like for example sledging as such is really against the spirit of any sports, one can’t abuse or intimidate other for the sake of the game alone and yet for some weird reason the cricketing apex body does seem to allow the sledging to carry on.

What I am trying to come to is the fact that one talks about the conduct or moral or integrity or spirit of the game, it is very subjective and if International Cricket Council tries to keep every other cricketing body happy, then positive changes can not be expected.

TOP 10 ICONIC FOOTBALLERS

Football, famously put as the game of two halves has captivated us like none other. A civilization has lived with it and with this deep roots it obvious that we would have a lot and lot to talk about. And like any other sport its the players who make the sport .Players who go on to become greats then legends and attain the levels of immortality. Here I am trying to put in numbers , the best ever players, the most influential, the most iconic footballers. Its definitely a tough ask and there will be thousands who will disagree but there will a hundred thousand who will also agree with me. Am trying to put in the 10 most iconic players and I have divided the list into two. The top half will be legends who played an era or two ago and the other half will be the greats and potential greats who still are around.

Pele

Ask anyone, even those who are completely devoid of any kind of knowledge on football; ask them who is Pele. Most of the answers will have the adjectives like great, brilliant, one of its kind. This is the aura of Edison Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pele. He is an icon for the entire football fraternity. Be it of the field or on the field the name Pele demands respect.

Diego Maradonna

There are no two opinions on whose the best ever footballer Latin America has ever produced and there will only be few contradictions on Deigo Maradonna being the greatest footballer of all time. But what has brought him to this list is his iconic stature.1986 world cup is synonymous to Deigo Maradonna. .His infamous “Hand of God” goal and the best ever strike in any World cup are very few of what this great player has achieved. Weather it was with Barcelona, Napoli or Boca Juniors, he brought success where ever he played.

Frranz Beckenbaur

The best defender of all time, Franz was a man of integrity and his nickname Der Kaiser ("The Emperor") indicates how highly he is rated. Franz was a versatile player and inventor of sweeper position in football. Franz's international carried was studded with victories at highest level. A world cup win as a captain in 1974 then as a Manager in 1990 is a feat none other have achieved.

John Cryuff

Football's first ever complete player, he is a legend in Netherlands and a definite icon to world. He showed to the world what free flowing attack means .He was a striker but could very well swap his position into the wings and with amazing dribbling skills and swiftness there was not stopping him in the 1970s. The charismatic player of Ajax Amsterdam put the club from Netherlands into the World Map with 3 European championships on the trot. He later went on to become a great coach putting in his strategic mind at work.

Micheal Platini

This Frenchman is a three time European player of the year. Do you need anything else to question this man's place in this list? He was the icon of Les Blue (France) and Juventus in 1970s and 1980s. He was the original play maker and still is regarded as the best passer in the games history. He was an all round talent. Playing in the midfield he top scored for Juventus on 3 different seasons proving his might as a Talisman for the Italy based club.

NOTE: I would love to put the Portuguese goal machine Eusebio at par with Platini and in the list just because of the sheer number of goals he has scored for Benifica and he is regarded as an icon in Portugual.

ZinadineZidane

Well my personal favorite,  Zizou, was a player possessed, a player blessed, a player with the birth right to play football. He was the magician who mesmerized every football fan from 1990 and still continues to do so . He took the act of Dribbling to new heights and with due respect, he made likes of Romario and Pele look novice. He was the ultimate  playmaker but eventually he became the play himself. If there is an icon for the 21^st century lets proclaim Zizou to be that.

Luis Figo

 Seldom there are great players who play in the same era,But Luis Figo and Zidane played against each other and with each other. Figo was the original Galactico,A national icon of Portugal , his lazy running and pin point passing were a contradiction and he lived on this contradiction becoming a legend. He was the unending source brilliance on field.

Ronaldo

Many might well disagree on this specific choice but  the impact this Brazilian had on  the world was something special. Yes he was a great goal scorer, though one might argue  that he was blessed with the best bunch of midfielders to provide him with the opportunity. And opportunity is what he grabbed all the time. His first touch was so immaculate that there was no need for a second. His playing style was not at all of Brazilian flamboyance but it was pure simple; kick the ball into the target.

David Beckham

David Beckham is probably the only player in the list who is a pure icon, not the greatest of players but a sporting icon nevertheless. Be it any kind of sport, you need a presentable face for the game to be popular and well. Beckham was perfect. Not to ignore his astounding free kicks, he was the dream footballer. He was the face of football.

Lionel Messi

An amazing player, great one in the making and has every possibility of attaining the stardom every other player on this list has achieved. The similarities are just too obvious. He is a fantastic dribbler like Pele, has the charisma like Maradonna, has a strong character like Beckenbuer, is a team player like Cruyff, a total playmaker like Platini and Figo, has a dash of brillance like Zidane and Ronaldo. Well he might not have the looks of Beckham but what the heck, he will be a legend for sure.

NOTE:  I seriously hope that he does not fizz out like Ronaldinho did.

 

  

TOP 10 STYLISH PLAYERS IN TENNIS

Tennis is the absolute sport of panache and ingenuity, a duel of character and tranquility. It has been conquered by many by skill and talent, by courage and grit and by passion and fervor. But few have been able to annex the sport through their savior-faire  and grandeur..From the time Tennis  came into being in the Victorian era, style has definitely been its customary accessory. Be it before the Open era or after it, many  personalities have graced the Tennis courts with the dash of elegance and the taste of vogue. And here am selecting a few who stood out not necessarily  because of their style of play but surely due to their own style.

1. Andre Aggasi

The ultimate style icon of the Tennis court has to be the great Andre Agassi. As if the Tennis world was going in to the morally right class were noblemen prevailed,there came a rebel, a savior of sorts in the 1990s. With his bright colored outfit and neon glow shoes and of course the famous mullet hairstyle ( which was a wig) , Andre Aggasi became the wildest thing on the Tennis court . Aggasi was style icon who never-backed out from exhibiting himself on the field, be it the emotions or his dress, they were always true and definitely had a lasting impression on everyone who witnessed him.

2. Anna Kournokova

This  Russian babe was the ultimate beauty of  the tennis court. The 15 year old in the 1996 US Open made some heads turns and she became a regular of fashion magazines and various “hot” lists. But it was not only the the sublime beauty of Ana which was on display but the way she carried herself on the field. A strong baseline player she would always have an attire to impress. From sleek curvy sleeveless tops to the high bloomers to reveal her never ending legs. She was hotness personified.

3. Roger Federer

Roger is probably the only player in the list  I think is stylish not because of the way he carries himself but because of the way he is and how he plays. A legend in the making you seem to be  honored when you witness Fedex in action. Be its his accurate backhand or the thumping forehand he seems to be at ease always. He dominates the baseline like a lion and moves across the court swiftly like a gazelle. With a composure second to a rock this unfathomable player is the noblemen of this era I earlier referred  to and probably the most stylish of them all.

4. Maria Sharapova

Another Russian bombshell, well not exactly a bombshell because this new age beauty is more into the category suave. This citified stunner is a role model for millions of girls out there. The way she carries herself and the choice of her attire is something one might call classic. From here regular simply awesome cocktailish wardrobe to one of its kind Tuxedo, this blonde beauty very well knows the expression “Dress to kill”.

5. Serena Williams

When it comes to Tennis legacy only a few might miss the William sisters name. The sister act have dominated the women circuit like none other. And even when it comes to being the stylish they are not far behind. Serena especially is a person who has always made a style statement. With a bold fashion sense this powerhouse girl has always stood out. Be it the all denim ready to dig outfit or the more vibrant colored  ensemble she will always catch your attention for sure.

6. Venus Williams

The older William sister has always matched up to her younger sister in every aspect of the game and she has always been in the thick of fashion all the time. From her more recent lacy corset outfit in the French open to various other fashion statements like the tank outfit she has never shied away  from from trying something different.

7. Bjorn Borg

This pale Swedish legend played in a era which could very well be termed as the decade of fashion disaster and probably this would be the reason he stood out with his beard,the “too short” shorts, V-Neck shirts and the flashy headband, a trend his contemporary, legendary John Mcenroe  also followed. There was nothing deviant about him or his style statement but he was justifiable for sure and  his manly physical attributes did  earn him a lot of fan following.

8. Rafael Nadal

The Spanish matador is nothing like his contemporary Roger Federer yet they seem to find a place next to each other. This clay court expert is as bullish as it can get. His style statement is his emotions for sure. With Sleeveless Ts revealing the bulging biceps  and the capri pants complemented by the head band surely calls for a style statement.

9. Fred Perry

This list of top 10 stylish Tennis players will be incomplete without the name of legendary Fred Perry who came out with a revolutionary attire in the  1952 Wimbledon . He donned a branded polo shirt and trousers all white which later acted as the base for the different style trends in Tennis.

10. Arthur Ashe

Another name from the past, this first ever Afro American champion was a style icon. With his classic mid Afro hair style, shorts and tracks which eventually became the most popular attire in Men Tennis, he graced the Tennis court for a brief period of time.