The Great Game Called Cricket...

Mumbai: Bowing to criticism of the $1billion net worth criterion for the bidders, the Indian Premier League on Sunday cancelled the existing tender for two new franchises and decided to re-issue a new one on March 9 with relaxed pre-conditions.

IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi told reporters after the governing council meeting of the Twenty20 League that the council had invoked clause 11.4 of the tender document and cancelled the existing tenders.

"The bids that were received were returned without being opened. New tenders would be issued on March 9 and the fresh bids are to be submitted at 10 am on March 21 at Chennai, which would be opened at 11 am," Modi said.

The IPL chief said a lot of letters had been received from various interested parties pointing out that the pre-condition of bidders having a net worth of $1billion dollars was not there when the first tendering process was initialised two years ago while selling the existing eight franchise teams.

"The governing council decided to remove this clause from the new tender and reduce the $100 million performance deposit demanded from bidders to $10 million to be submitted on the 20th. It was $5 million at the first tender but the valuation has gone up now," he said.

Modi also said that 100 per cent bank guarantee demanded from the bidders when they are successful has been reduced to 10 per cent rolling back guarantee to be paid withing 48 hours, which is on par with the first tendering process.

"The base price of $225 million remains the same. The base price was not the issue," he said.

The IPL chairman later said that though he was disappointed with the cancellation of the tender it was the combined decision of the IPL governing council.

"Of course I am disappointed. But it was the decision of the governing council," he said.

Sources revealed later that only three bids had been received by the IPL and one of the bidders was consumer durables major Videocon, which had bid $300 million.

Videocon MD Venugopal Dhoot said that though his firm had fulfilled all the conditions laid out in the tendering process he had "no grievances".

"I have no grievances though we had fulfilled all requirements. I will be there on the 21st (for submitting a new bid)," he told reporters.

Modi also said that all those who had bought the tender documents, paying Rs five lakh each, have the option of taking back the amount or it will be adjusted when they opt for the new tender document, which is to be issued on Tuesday.

Karachi: His chances of returning to the national team might be bleak but Pakistan's controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar maintains that his international career is far from over.

Shoaib, who has not been included in the preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Cup, said he was surprised at not being picked for the tournament.

"I was surprised that I was not included in the list of probables because if you look at Brett Lee he has been having fitness issues for last few months and has not played, yet he is in the Australian preliminary squad," Shoaib said. Similarly, Shaun Tait is also in despite his history of injury problems," Akhtar said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has justified not picking Shoaib in the preliminary squad by pointing out that he has hardly played any cricket since last May when he played against Australia in Dubai.

"How can we select him? We can't pick him on basis of a few domestic matches. We don't know how fit he is," the PCB chairman Ejaz Butt had told a press conference while announcing the 30 probables last week.

But Shoaib said he didn't care what people or the board said about his fitness.

"I know what I am capable off and I have not given up hope on myself and I will fight back into the team because I have a few more years of international cricket left in me," Shoaib said after leading Islamabad in the National Twenty20 Championship on Friday.

The enigmatic bowler, who is set to lose his central contract from the board because of his fitness and disciplinary issues since last year, said he was recovering well after his knee operation.

"It takes time to get back into full form after a knee operation but I am doing well and I am getting back into my top form. I know I can get back into the team and prove my critics wrong. I have set targets in mind for a comeback," he said.

The 34-year-old has an impressive 178 wickets in 46 Tests and 223 wickets in 144 One-Day Internationals.

He underwent a knee operation in England last year in June-July and despite his request the PCB refused to foot the bill for his treatment insisting he was not injured on national duty.

India’s famous spin quartet is concerned. Having mesmerized batsmen the world over with their spin and stealth in their prime, the quartet of Bishen Singh Bedi, S Venkataraghavan, EAS Prasanna and BS Chandrasekhar sounded a tad diffident ahead of the India-South Africa Test series.

The cause of worry — India’s spin department. In the last series, the trio of Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha didn’t quite set Bangladesh on fire. The skill, rhythm and lack of enough numbers under the wicket column haven’t quite impressed the spin legends. Figures may not reveal the entire story but they certainly suggest a thing or two — Indian spinners had accounted for only 14 wickets in the two Tests in Bangladesh.

Always known to speak his mind, former India captain Bedi felt the current spin attack is struggling to pose any threat to the opposition. “Indian spin attack is inexperienced and not very skillful. Look what they did in Bangladesh, they should have dominated and taken more wickets,” said Bedi.

Former India off-spinner S Venkataraghavan still has faith in Harbhajan. “He may be struggling at the moment but remember form is temporary and class is permanent. He is a proven class and I’m sure he’ll use his experience against the South Africans and come good.”

"Any good cricketer is one who is a good student of the game. Look at Sachin, Dravid, Kumble and Laxman, they are such wonderful students of the game. To be a good student one has to have humility, where is the humility?" — Former India captain BS Bedi on Harbhajan Singh


One area where all the four spin legends agree is the way to take on the touring Proteas. “I feel the spinners should quickly adjust to the conditions and attack a lot more than they have in the recent past,” said Venkataraghavan. Chandrasekhar, who was known to keep his bowling simple and yet lethal, hit the nail on the head. “I think the only way to put pressure on the South African batsmen is by consistently bowling a good line and length. It will force them to make mistake and throw their wickets.”

The fact that the tourists have three left-hand batsmen in captain Graeme Smith, Ashwell Prince and JP Duminy will surely encourage Harbhajan as his stock off-spin will go away from them. Being an attacking and wicket-taking bowler, Harbhajan has often dominated the opposition with his spin and bounce. However, he appeared to be struggling with his rhythm in the last two series against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

“Harbhajan did well under the shadow of senior bowler Anil Kumble. Now that he is the senior spinner, he needs to bowl well under his own shadow. He needs to spur himself to perform well,” feels Bedi.

In India’s last three Test series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Harbhajan has taken 31 wickets in 7 Tests with just one five-for. It certainly isn’t a disappointing performance but surely he’s capable of more. With quality opposition like South Africa, the 29-year-old offie will have to dig deep and rediscover his wicket-taking streak.

Prasanna, who tormented batsmen with his flight and spin, feels the South Africans have a formidable batting line-up and the middle over management will be important. “The middle overs will be crucial and that’s where spinners come into play. Against the Proteas, I feel Harbhajan should attack a lot more and try to take as many wickets.”

On Harbhajan’s recent loss of form, Bedi said, “Any good cricketer is one who is a good student of the game. Look at Sachin, Dravid, Kumble and Laxman, they are such wonderful students of the game. To be a good student one has to have humility, where is the humility?” In his typical no-holds bar, what Bedi meant was whenever there is loss of form, Harbhajan should seek help from former offs-spinners like Prasanna and Venkataraghavan; something which India’s leading spinner has been guilty of not doing.

Another area of worry is the second spinner as both leg-spinner Amit Mishra and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha are inexperienced and have only 10 Tests between them. At the moment, both have failed to come up with performances that could give enough confidence to the management.

"He is bowling well and he took seven wickets in his last Test. With more opportunity he will surely become a better bowler." — Former leg spinner Narendra Hirwani on Amit Mishra


As a second spinner, Chandrasekhar feels India should play a leggie. Being a wicket-taking bowler, Amit Mishra does make a case for himself but of late he has been struggling with his consistency. Former India leg spinner and now a selector, Narendra Hirwani feels there is no reason to panic. “He is bowling well and he took seven wickets in his last Test. With more opportunity he will surely become a better bowler.” It remains to be seen if captain MS Dhoni feels the same way.

On the other hand, Venkataraghavan felt that a second spinner is purely a captain’s call. “Depending on the pitch conditions, captain should decide whether to play Mishra or Ojha.”

Being a two-game Test series, India will have to wrest the initiative at the earliest and play to their strength. So, should India play on a turning track? “If India want to win the series, playing on a spinning track is the only option,” said Prasanna. Readily agreeing with his colleague, Venkataraghavan said, “If you go to Durban or Wanderers, South Africans won’t give you a spinning track; so you should know what your strength is and play accordingly.”

Putting aside all the niggling worries, Chandrasekhar, the inveterate match-winner chose to serve his instinct. “I think both the teams are equally matched but India have the slight advantage. My gut feeling is India will win the series.”

Ahmedabad: India coach Gary Kirsten today he will not judge his team's bench strength on the basis of performance in just one game after the depleted hosts went down to South Africa in the inconsequential third and final ODI.

"It's difficult to judge the bench strength by one game. I see it as an opportunity for the younger players but you cannot judge them by one performance," Kirsten said after the hosts were beaten by 90 runs.

With the series already in their pocket, India went into the tie without seven regulars and were unable to chase down the huge target of 365 to fold up for 275 in 44.3 overs.

Kirsten explained that India has been winning every series recently but the reserve players have not had enough exposure at international level.

"We want to win every series and this does not give opportunities for the younger players to get the exposure. But this was a good learning experience for them," said the former South Africa opener.

Kirsten felt the match turned South Africa's way when Proteas captain Jacques Kallis (104), and AB de Villiers (102) plundered the Indian bowling towards the end.

"The turning point was when de Villiers, who played exceptionally well, and Kallis who played the sheet-anchor role, added 100 runs in the last seven overs. They had plenty of wickets in hand," he pointed out.

Kallis and de Villiers' third wicket partnership worth 173 in just 102 balls lifted the visitors from 192 for two to the ground-high total that exceeded India's previous best of 325 for five made against the West Indies in 2002.

Looking ahead, Kirsten said that as far as the batting was concerned he was satisfied with the talent available but have to work on the bowling combination.

"From a batting perspective I'm excited by the talent but we don't yet have a settled bowling combination with nine or 10 seamers in the running," he said.

How many miles or kilometres has Sachin Tendulkar run between the wickets in his international career? asked Sundar from India
After his amazing double-century onslaught in Gwalior - and how appropriate it was that he was the first man to reach the 200 barrier in a format where he heads the run-scoring lists by such a long way - Sachin Tendulkar had scored 31,055 runs in international cricket (13,447 in Tests, 17,598 in ODIs, and 10 in Twenty20 internationals). Of those, 16,140 have come in boundaries (3675 fours and 240 sixes), so he has had to run 14,915 of his own runs in singles, twos and threes, which adds up to 328,130 yards or over 186 miles (300 kilometres). He will also have covered a similar distance for his partners while non-striker - not quite so many runs, perhaps, but a significant number nonetheless. If we allow his batting partners 75% of Tendulkar's output, that's another 12,105 runs, or 266,310 yards, or 151 miles (243km). That makes a total of around 337 miles (543km). There will also have been many byes and leg-byes, lots of runs completed before the ball crossed the boundary line - and even partial runs during run-outs, so it's impossible to calculate it any more exactly!

Was Tendulkar's score the highest in any senior limited-overs match (not just a one-day international? asked Surinder Nayyar from Ahmedabad
Sachin Tendulkar's 200 not out in Gwalior was actually the 10th double-century in senior limited-overs cricket (now usually called "List A" matches). Two of them have been scored by Alistair Brown, the electric Surrey (now Nottinghamshire) batsman who had a surprisingly short England career of just 16 ODIs. Those included the highest List A score yet recorded: an astonishing 268 - from 160 balls, with 30 fours and 12 sixes - in Surrey's C&G Trophy match against Glamorgan at The Oval in June 2002.

Sachin "Two-Tondulkar" faced 147 deliveries during his record-breaking innings. Was this the highest number of balls faced by a batsman in a 50-over one-day international? asked Rahul Bagree from India
In early one-day internationals innings were usually limited to a maximum of 60 overs (and often 55 in England), so it's not surprising that, overall, the six longest individual innings in ODIs come from those days: the leader is New Zealand's Glenn Turner, whose 171 not out against East Africa at Edgbaston during the first World Cup in 1975 occupied 201 balls. Another Turner innings from that World Cup - his 177-ball 114 not out against India at Old Trafford - lies second on this list. The longest individual innings in any 50-over ODI was one of 172 balls, by Canada's Ashish Bagai, who made 137 not out against Scotland in Nairobi in 2006-07. The longest in a match between two Test-playing nations was 168 balls, by David Boon, during his 102 not out for Australia against New Zealand in Hobart in 1991-92. For the full list of the longest individual ODI innings (irrespective of over limit), click here.

Sachin Tendulkar was the first man to score a double-century in a one-day international, but my sister insists that a woman achieved this feat first, more than a decade ago. Is she right? asked Keith D'Souza
Hats off to your sister, as she remembered that Australia's Belinda Clark hammered 229 not out against Denmark in Mumbai during the 1997-98 women's World Cup. It was a bit of a mismatch: after scoring 412 for 3 in their 50 overs, the Aussies bowled Denmark out for 49

Was Hashim Amla's 253 not out the highest score by a visiting batsman in a Test in India? asked Jim Brandon from London
Not quite. Hashim Amla's 253 not out in Nagpur in February was the fourth-highest score by a visiting batsman in a Test in India. Mahela Jayawardene made 275 for Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad in November 2009. Younis Khan scored 267 for Pakistan in Bangalore in 2004-05, and Rohan Kanhai hit 256 for West Indies in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1958-59. In all, 13 touring batsmen have made double-centuries in Tests in India.

Ajmal Shahzad took two wickets in his very first over during his debut for England against Pakistan recently. Was this a first for international cricket? asked Ujan from Bangladesh
Yorkshire's Ajmal Shahzad did indeed take two wickets in his first over of international cricket - he had Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat caught off his third and fifth deliveries during the Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Dubai last month. I believe that the only other person to strike twice in his first over of international cricket was England's Richard Johnson, who dismissed Mark Vermeulen and Stuart Carlisle with the third and fourth balls of his first over in Tests, against Zimbabwe in Chester-le-Street in 2003. One of Shahzad's team-mates in Dubai, Graeme Swann, is the only other player to take two wickets in his first over in Test cricket, but he had already played in one-day internationals.

And there's an addition to last week's question about unusual contributors to cricket books, from Chris Johnson:
"I'd have thought the strangest writer(s) of a foreword in any cricket book appeared last year, in Matthew Hoggard's zany autobiography Welcome to my World, when the introductory item - renamed a 'paw-word' for obvious reasons - was supposedly contributed by Hoggy's dogs Billy the Doberman and Molly the border collie."

John Howard, the former Australian prime minister, has finally been nominated by the boards of Australia and New Zealand as their candidate for the post of ICC president from 2012. Howard, who led the country from 1996 to 2007, will have the position rubber stamped in June and will succeed India's Sharad Pawar in two years.

The decision ends a long-running dispute over the preferred Australasian candidate. Cricket Australia searched outside their board of directors for a nomination and wanted Howard, who admits to being a cricket tragic, while New Zealand Cricket recommended its former chairman Sir John Anderson. Howard is a 70-year-old with no background in cricket administration but was pursued by Cricket Australia for his diplomatic skills.

Jack Clarke, Cricket Australia's chairman, and his New Zealand counterpart Alan Isaac issued a joint release saying they were pleased Howard had agreed to take on the role, which begins as vice-president in June. Howard said in the statement he was honoured and humbled to receive the recommendation for the appointment, but believed it would be inappropriate to comment until the post became official in June.

However, he was more expansive in a release from the ICC. "It is a great honour to be nominated by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket for the vice-presidency of the International Cricket Council from June-July 2010," he said. "Cricket has been one of my lifelong passions and, if the ICC accepts my nomination, it will be a privilege to serve this great game."

The countries' boards set up a committee including an independent member in the businessman Sir Rod Eddington to decide who should be nominated. "It was an extremely difficult decision and ultimately relied on the input of Sir Rod Eddington, whom both cricket boards respect enormously," Clarke and Isaac said. "The ICC faces significant and complex internal and external challenges in its quest for cricket to become a genuinely global sport. Australia and New Zealand considered a number of distinguished candidates of global stature before deciding to invite John Howard to consider the role."

The ICC presidency is given to countries by rotation and the incumbent David Morgan, the ECB's representative, will hand the responsibility to Pawar in June. Howard will then act as vice-president and take over after Pawar's two-year tenure ends. His nomination will be approved at the ICC's executive board meeting in April and the position will be finalised at the annual conference in the middle of the year.

The Big Picture

Life in a more sedate lane will begin in Napier after a frenetic finish to the two-match Twenty20 series, which left everyone in New Zealand breathless after Sunday's Super Over victory. While the short affairs were leading to the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean late next month, the five ODIs for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy act as a more leisurely warm-up for the two Tests.

The hosts' triumph in Christchurch ended Australia's summer winning streak and gave Michael Clarke his first loss in charge of the Twenty20 team. Ricky Ponting and a few 50-over reinforcements have arrived and will try to replicate the form that led to convincing series wins against Pakistan and West Indies at home.

New Zealand's last engagement in this format was a 3-0 success over Bangladesh and they are on a five-game winning streak, but they face a step up in class. After one poor Twenty20 in Wellington they showed they can eyeball Australia and if Brendon McCullum inspires his team-mates to fire the contest could be even.

Form guide (most recent first)
New Zealand WWWWW
Australia WWNWW

Watch out for...

Tim Southee missed the first Twenty20 but starred in the second with a series of nerveless yorkers that even managed to restrict the rampaging Cameron White. Southee is only 21 but the performance showed he is a classy operator and he has asked to be used during the Powerplays in the ODIs. With Shane Bond the attack leader, New Zealand need someone like Southee to build pressure throughout his 10 overs.

Ricky Ponting has had to get used to regular periods away from his side since retiring from the Twenty20 outfit last year. He got to Napier before the majority of the squad and will be keen to stamp his influence on the series. The last time he batted at McLean Park his 141 off 127 balls raced Australia to 347 for 5. Given Ponting's recent troubles with the short ball, his battle with Bond, who has dismissed him six times in 10 ODIs, will be essential viewing.

Team news
New Zealand have two new faces from their Twenty20 unit, with Scott Styris available to beef up the batting order with Neil Broom. The hosts have their usual dilemma over whether to include two spinners or call on an extra seamer. Daryl Tuffey was left out on Sunday so he is not weighed down by the carnage caused by Australia as they equalled New Zealand's 214 in 20 overs.

New Zealand (possible) 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Peter Ingram, 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Scott Styris, 6 Jacob Oram, 7 James Franklin, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Tim Southee, 10 Shane Bond, 11 Daryl Tuffey.

Australia's squad has undergone a makeover with the arrival of Ponting, Doug Bollinger, James Hopes, Clint McKay and Adam Voges. Expect Ponting and Bollinger to come back in, while Hopes is also likely to figure. There is no Shaun Marsh, who is not being replaced after a back injury ruled him out, so Brad Haddin should keep his spot at the top with Shane Watson.

Australia (possible) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Cameron White, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 James Hopes, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Doug Bollinger.

Pitch and conditions
Napier is a ground that is usually full of runs and a good pitch is expected along with a crowd of between 8,000 and 10,000, which would make it about three-quarters full. A maximum of 27C is forecast and conditions should become sunny later in the day.

Stats and trivia

* Shane Bond averages 14.45 against Australia, having taken 35 wickets in 12 games, and it is his best mean against major nations. His career average is an impressive 20.87 over 77 ODIs.
* Michael Hussey's average over 10 ODIs in New Zealand is 122.33, including a top score of 105
* In 118 ODIs against Australia, New Zealand have won 32 and lost 81
* The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy has been contested five times: Australia lead 2-1 with two drawn campaigns
* There have been three New Zealand-Australia games in Napier and Australia have been successful in two of them

Quotes
"They're in their home country, they're on their home turf, they'll be really hard to beat. They have a very good one-day side, a very dangerous side."
Cameron White

"I'm not too worried about wearing one - until everyone talks about it happening. It's just an instinct thing. The way the game is going now, you've got to be able to access that area behind the keeper. As good as bowlers are now at hitting their yorkers, you've got to have some sort of method to counter them."
Brendon McCullum on the philosophy behind his "McScoop" over or past the wicketkeeper