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Some say Australia's military-like boot camp prior to the ICC Champions Trophy is a waste of time, whilst other say it is a worthwhile experience for players. I guess it is up to what angle you take it from - On one hand you've got the fact that Australians are pretty much the best cricket side in the world at the moment. You would think they're ready and closeknit as a team, since cricket is a team sport and all. Contrastingly, you might say a team can never not be improved on, and thus, the side would benefit from something different and it will bring the team even closer together than ever before.
Last Sunday's 'The Sun Herald' featured Andrew Symonds and his views towards the boot camp. As aforementioned, Symonds suggests that the boot camp has not only brought the team closer together as a whole, but it has also enabled the players to get to the know others they are completely famililar with. A surprise fact, seeing as though everyone thinks that the Aussies are such an extremely close side, however Symonds states that not everyone gets along with everyone all that well, and that boot camp has helped improve this facet.
So think what you like... But it seems fairly obvious - a team can always improve, no matter how good they are at the moment. Watch out England, I say...
It seems to me that this ugly incident is far from over. When you think things couldn't get any worse or more ridiculous... guess what? IT DOES! Now this time things have gone to extremes - Hair (stating in a letter to ICC chairman Malcolm Speed) wants a handsome $500,000 on the table just so he can quit? What the hell is that? This isn't some mafia gangster related, business corporation corruption here, we're talking about bloody cricket!
What is Darrell Hair thinking? Firstly, he thinks he wants to score 500,000 big ones just because he made a ludricous and scrupulous decision in a game cricket (what about all the doctors who have made mistakes which has caused death? They should get paid millions of dollars, but instead they just cop it on the chin). Wouldn't any one love to get paid for making a mistake. I mean who cares in the end... it was just a game of cricket!
And secondly he thinks he's going to get paid to quit! Any one out there who has to work damn hard for their cash week in week out would love their retirement payed for with half a million smackers in their bank account.
It gets better...
The letter from Hair states that he wishes 'a one-off payment to compensate for the loss of future earnings and retainer payments over the next four years'. And Hair's reasoning for the payment? Hair continues, 'which I believe would have been the best years [the next 4 years of his 'would've been' umpiring career] I have to offer ICC and world umpiring'. What a clown. If Hair was to umpire for another 4 years I think cricket as a sport would be destroyed by his stupidity and arrogance.
Seriously, Hair is a twit. Fullstop. Goodbye.
Looking to claim victory and pride in the fourth and final test of the NatWest Test series between England and Pakistan, everything has gone completely pear-shaped for the visitors with an unbelieveable, unimaginable day of play yesterday.
With Pakistan firmly in the box seat of the match on the fourth day, umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove came to an unexpected meeting during the 56th over. After puzzling almost everyone, it was found that both Hair and Doctrove concluded that the quarter seam (the stitching) on the ball had been lifted, and thus the ball had to be changed. However, controversy really kicked off after the tea break, as the Pakistani side refused to take the field.
Umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove consult over the condition of the match ball. Image Getty Images
Even wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal was seen deliberately sitting out the front of the pavilion reading the paper in protest of the scrupulous decision made by Hair to change the ball, accusing the Pakistan side of ball-tampering and thus cheating. So in accordance with the official ICC rules of cricket, the umpires had no choice but to deem Pakistan's actions as a vow of forfeit, and hence handed England a tainted victory.
But you think things couldn't get any worse - they did. Proceeding the umpires' decision, Inzy and the rest of the Pakistan side finally strode onto the field, amongst a frustrated and disgruntled crowd who were ill-informed of the reasoning for such a prolonged delay. Despite their belated appearence, umpire Hair refused to take the field after making the decision, which further ignited the furore between umpires and players.
Play was abandoned for the day, and it only got worse 4 hours later when the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) made its official forfeiture of the match. Tainted and hurt by the decision, Pakistan has blamed Hair for the tragic conclusion of the match, deeming his actions as disrespectful and unjustified, as they still seek the 'proof' over the ball tampering allegations. However, a final statement was made by ICC chairman Malcolm Speed who exclaimed that the ICC was in full support of Hair and Doctrove, whom both had no other choice but to follow the rules and also announced that Pakistan were to be charged for 'changing the condition of the match ball' (ICC Law 2.10).
A sad day for cricket, but a great one for the media.
England have began their attempt to finish their 4-match test series against Paksitan abismally as they were rolled for just 153 in their first innings. With rain delays during the beginning of the day, play finally got underway without any stoppages until after lunch.
Marcus Trescothick's snail-pace 6 from 61 balls ignites an English batting meltdown. Image Getty Images
This was when the worst happened for the home side, as they slipped and slipped until they were in a vertical freefall. After losing left-handed opener Marcus Trescothick for 6 (from a staggering 61 balls) at 1/36, things only kept getting worse for the Poms as they lost their next 9 wickets for just 137 runs. Pietersen, Collingwood and Bell were all dismissed for single digits, as the middle slumped miserably, with Pietersen copping a golden duck.
Opening bowlers Mohammed Asif and Umar Gul were the dominators for the visitors as they took four wickets a piece at an economy rate of just 3 runs per over. Finishing the day on 1/96, Pakistan look to take the box seat in the test match as play resumes tomorrow, as they strive to gain some pride and respect out of this fourth and final test match.
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Melbourne's indoor stadium the 'Telstra Dome' has housed some spectacular sporting events such as regular AFL matches and a host of cricket one-dayers.
So one must ask. Can cricket be successfully played indoors? The answer is still being figured out, as Cricket Australia continues to experiment and trial games at the Telstra Dome.
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The Ashes talk continues, with Ricky Ponting this time pointing out the much talked about English spinner Monty Panesar, who has began his test career at home remarkably during the current test series against Pakistan. Ponting highlighted Panesar's ability to take wickets, in comparison to former English spinner Ashley Giles, stating that Panesar 'can actually do both - keep it reasonably tight if needed and when it starts to turn a bit more, he can bowl some pretty handy deliveries as well'.
However, Ponting also threw a bullet at Panesar by commenting on his inability to perform highly with the both the bat and in the field. Ponting actually stated that he saw the spinner, 'run away' from a high ball in the field, when England was touring in India recently.
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The extraordinary one-dayer between Australia and South Africa not so long ago has definitely shown how far one-day cricket has come since being introduced since the 70s. Today, to be the best bowler in the world you need to know how to bowl an impeccable line and length, but also to know how to bowl to batsman who wants to belt you over the fence no matter what. This is where a lot of bowlers get into trouble these days... Always being taught to bowl short of a good length, outside off stump has caused bowlers to find it awkward to deliberately bowl elsewhere, and therefore they get punished when the batting side are looking for some quick runs at the end of an innings. You might be like... 'So what?'. But when you the other team scoring 70 odd runs off just 6-10 overs you'll be wishing you'd bowled a bit tighter.
So how do you stop batsmen from scoring so quickly?
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After being dropped from the Australian squad immediately after the England tour, opener Matthew Hayden has been included in the 30-man squad named to tour India for the Champions Trophy in October.
Also included in the squad is veteran paceman Glenn McGrath, who had previously been deemed as doubtful for selection for the tournament, as he continues to be in support of his wife Jane as she continues to battle with cancer. A Cricket Australia spokesman states, 'It is a work in progress. The selectors and Glenn continue to talk about the appropriate time and place for his return to cricket'. In addition to this, Cricket Australia selectors have decided to 'blend' experience and youth, with inclusions of Travis Birt, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Shaun Marsh, Cameron White, Dan Cullen and David Hussey.
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Despite requiring a very gettable 322, the Pakistani side have failed in their quest to keep their winning chances in the four match series against England alive due to some poor batsmanship. With England crumbling in their second innings effort, losing 5/94 for their last 5 wickets, after cruising along at 1/158 at one stage of the innings. Opener Andrew Strauss kept the ball rolling for the home side as he strode towards another century (116), with his opening partner Marcus Trescothick supporting with 58.
Kaneria celebrates as England collapse. Image AFP
Pakistan's start was nothing short of abismal as they were struggling from the outset, eventually finding themselves at 5/80 at one stage of their innings. Younis Khan managed to get a start, but was dismissed on 41 after being bowled by rising star spinner Monty Panesar. Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was against amongst a cloud of controversy, as he decided to bat down the order after suffering a niggling injury. Former captain and legend Imran Khan especially criticised his decision and claimed that Inzamam should have braved the injury in order to ensure that Pakistan had every chance to chase down the target. To make matters worse for the Pakistan side, their innings included four ducks, as they were eventually rolled for a meagre 155.
Another Pakistan wicket falls. Image AFP
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Former top Australian batsmen, now Ten Sport (or was) commentator Dean Jones was sacked today after labelling Muslim South African Hashim Amla a 'terrorist', whilst calling the game in Sri Lanka. Even though the comment was meant to be made 'off-air', it was somehow transmitted and many heard the discriminatory stereotypical comment by Jones, as 'the terrorist' Amla, 'has got another wicket'. Jones was immediately sacked after the switchboards of Cricket South Africa and SuperSport were slammed with outraged callers.
As we all know racism is a condemned act, whether it be accidental or 'off-air'. It is shocking to even know that Jones could even think of such a thing. Despite his unjust words, Jones publically apologised, calling his actions 'silly and completely insensitive' and stated that he had 'no end of respect for the Muslim faith'.
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Comment by Ricardo
on Australian Cricket - The Other Side