Speed thrills

Plagued by injuries throughout his tumultuous six-year international career,  Kerala pace ace S Sreesanth is coming through another frustrating period. Not only did he miss the tour of West Indies, where he was expected to spearhead the attack in Zaheer Khan’s absence, he’s also seen his replacement, Praveen Kumar, step up to the plate and stake a claim for a regular spot. Ishant Sharma is also bowling with renewed vigour. Eager to get back in the groove for the England tour, Sreesanth is banking on the thing that works for him – raw pace — injuries be damned. Making a comeback after his latest injury (tennis elbow) the 28-year-old is in no mood to sacrifice pace even with the physical demands of the modern game in mind. “I...

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BCCI has anti-Pakistan agenda: Former ICC chief Ehsan Mani

Former ICC chief Ehsan Mani says that the Indian board is blocking Pakistan.  Governance, for instance. This is for the simple reason that the ICC had three or four processes of electing its presidents. I’m glad that the proposed change, mooted in Hong Kong, has been deferred. The change was going to be very open-ended and do away with the rotation system. Having agreed to the rotations and to suddenly change, it smells to me of an agenda. The way John Howard was rejected was not good for the publicity of the ICC. The new system of electing the president would throw us back to the old days when only one country (England) was having its candidate elected as ICC president. The best man should head the ICC.  The rotation system may not necessarily give you the best man. Yes...

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Edwards wants to be an important part of West Indies cricket

Kirk Edwards, who scored a century on Test debut against India in the Third Test, said his goal is to become an important part of West Indies cricket. The tall right-hander made an assured 110 in more than four hours at the crease and became the first man to make a century at Test cricket's newest venue.  "It is a special feeling to get a Test century on debut for the West Indies but I would have liked to carry on and make a bigger score for the team. Test cricket is about fighting and I see myself as a fighter." "We have a lot of strong characters in the team and we will continue the fight out this match." He also became the 13th West Indian to make a century on debut. His knock pushed the home side to 224/6 in the second innings...

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I am a huge Sachin Tendulkar fan, says Daniel Radcliffe

Harry Potter fans can more than just watch their favourite hero's final battle against Lord Voldemort. They can take heart in the fact that Daniel Radcliffe, known for most of his 22 years of life as Harry Potter, is an unabashed Indophile and plans to visit India soon. For one, he is a big fan of cricket and Sachin Tendulkar and not necessarily in that order. Daniel cherishes an autograph of the Master Blaster. "My friends and I were thrilled to meet Sachin and get his autograph. I am a huge fan, he is truly a legend." "I wanted to visit India during the Cricket World Cup but got so caught up with my Broadway musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, that it left me with no time. But cricket or no cricket, I...

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Tendulkar eyes landmark 100th Test century during series with England

Sachin Tendulkar will be reunited with his India team-mates this week, aiming to achieve his 100th international hundred against England in the first of their four-Test series at Lord's, starting on Thursday week.  But even if he does so on a ground where his highest previous Test score is 37, do not expect the 38-year-old to mark this milestone any differently from the way he has celebrated any other in his 22-year career.  'I am still learning about the game,' said Tendulkar, who has been rested while India have moved triumphantly through a tour of the West Indies. 'You have to keep your mind open. I figure something out about my batting all the time. Those small adjustments with your footwork or bat-swing improve your...

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Mukund disappointed to miss out on a century

Young opener Abhinav Mukund was crestfallen to miss out on an opportunity to score a century after his patient 62 laid the foundation of India's first innings during the third day of the final cricket Test between India and the West Indies at Windsor Park on Friday. "I am really disappointed. After doing all the hard work when the ball was swinging in the morning, I tried to stick on and then got out to a ball, I must not have got out to many a times," said an earnest Mukund whose 62 laid the foundation of India's strong reply to West Indies total of 204 all out. Mukund tried to flick a delivery from spinner Devendra Bishoo which rose from a length and took the edge of his bat to go into the hands of forward short leg fielder. "The...

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