McGrath looking forward to Indian Premier League but still prefers tests

SYDNEY, Australia: Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath is looking forward to his involvement in a new Twenty20 cricket league in India but remains a lover of five-day tests.

McGrath, 37, who retired from test cricket last year as the top all-time wicket-taker among fast bowlers, has resumed light training in preparation for his part in the Indian Premier League. He said Wednesday he was looking forward to promoting the game, but hoped Twenty20’s popularity did not impinge on tests.

“Hopefully there is room for all three forms of the game, but we’ll wait and see,” McGrath said. “Hopefully the cricketers will continue playing test cricket and one-day cricket.”

McGrath predicted the new Indian Twenty20 league would be a success, especially since it was based in India. I think in India anything to do with cricket is going to be successful,” he said. “The effect it will have on test cricket or one-day cricket, hopefully it won’t be negative.”

Details of the IPL have yet to be finalized but McGrath said he saw it as an opportunity to promote the game. “To have players like myself and Shane Warne, and Stephen Fleming, it’s more of an ambassador role to give it a bit more credibility,” he said.

“People coming to watch the game are probably not your mainstream cricket fans so it’s bringing more people to the game, which is great.” Like former Australian teammate Brett Lee, McGrath is looking at business opportunities in India.

“I’m keen to be involved in it and whether that’s playing or whatever, we’ll see what happens,” McGrath said.

Twenty20 Cup is future cricket – Agreed or Not?

Change is the law of nature. Every thing changes with time and so are sports. Every sport has gone under major changes and which provided more popularity to those games. So similarly the heads running cricket have made their fair share of changes in the game.

About 35 years back, when in 1971 first One Day Match was played between England and Australia in Melbourne most of the cricket critics were up against this formate of game. In 1975 West Indies won first official world cup. Soon ODIs became a rage with day-night matches, colored clothing, innovative tactics and new strategies adding more excitement to the game.

The World Cup became a regular fixture and Test cricket also changed with more matches throwing up a winner.

Although after its start ODI cricket reached its many heights but slowly the game is facing decrease in popularity, specially in developed countries. ICC tried its best to spread the game world wide but most of the countries refused it because of its time duration.

But then, in 2003 there was time for one more change in the format with another abridged version of the game coming out in the open. It was the Twenty20 in which each team had only 20 overs to play with the match getting over in about three hours. And just like the first ODI World Cup, we are witnessing the first Twenty20 World Cup these days.

Once again critics are questioning the standard of game. According to them its just batsman’s game and many bowlers were also echoing same but hatrick by Brett Lee, match winning spells by Daniel Vittori and Mohammad Asif had proved in twenty20 world cup that if conditions will be favorable then there cant be much better cricket than that, example is India – Pakistan match.

According to reports advertisers and sponsors are also keen on twenty20 format then test and ODI.

Twenty20 world cup in South Africa is the example how a fan can enjoy cricket like a outing with friends and family. One has to just spend only three hours for game. For a cricket fan it is like going for live action rather then movies.

That’s for sure that in cricket crazy nation like India popularity and craze for twenty20 will surpass the ODI and that is the reason why rebel Zee Group is starting with twenty20 and BCCI is also following that. England had also announced hike of 25 percent in the twenty20 games from next season.

So ladies and gentlemen you are witnessing the future of cricket which is capable to revolutionize and globalize the game.

Short form gives ICC a brief lesson

THE success to date of the Twenty20 World Cup, as much for its brevity and variety as its cricket, has given the International Cricket Council the chance to redeem the real World Cup.

As teams advance helter-skelter through this tournament, with as many as three matches a day scattered around South Africa, including some double-headers, the competition will be finished in just 13 playing days when the final is staged here on Monday.

This is a far cry from almost two months of the often soporific cricket that dragged itself around the Caribbean this year for the traditional World Cup, which was fittingly decided in total darkness amid complete chaos as Australia claimed a third successive title. To make the 50-over World Cup something that can be enjoyed, not endured, the ICC should reduce it to an elite competition.

Instead of the 16-team format, with half the sides ranging from hopeless to marginally competitive, producing too many dud matches, the ICC should expand the Twenty20 World Cup from 12 to 16 teams and reduce the real World Cup to 10 sides at most. The Twenty20 World Cup would still be over inside three weeks and there would be good games on the same day as dud ones.

And even with the insistence that there be no more than one game a day played at the real World Cup because of international cricket’s overwhelming objective, maximising television rights, the tournament would last little more than a month. This is a view strongly supported by Ian Chappell, as mixed but largely supportive reaction begins to flow from this Twenty20 tournament.

“The world Twenty20 has shown that the minnows can compete with the majors to the point where not only are there upsets but where the number of annihilations are likely to be greatly reduced,” Chappell said this week. “By concentrating the globalisation of the game purely in this format, the twin problem areas of the last World Cup – a series of uncompetitive matches that take an interminably long time to complete – are immediately overcome.”

Another former Test captain, England’s Mike Atherton, said he had been an enthusiastic supporter of Twenty20 from its inception for revitalising domestic cricket. “But I have always felt that Twenty20 should have remained just that – a vehicle to revive domestic cricket. Fifty-over cricket and obviously Test cricket remain vital to protecting the very essence of the game,” Atherton said.

The Australia players seem to be enjoying the latest and shortest form of the game, despite last week’s embarrassing loss to Zimbabwe.

However, all have made it clear that they do not want one-day cricket diminished for more Twenty20 cricket, a view reinforced yesterday by Brett Lee and Stuart Clark. “At the moment, they’re probably doing it right as far as keeping it to small doses,” Lee said.

“If it’s played too often, it loses its novelty value, whereas, if it’s played at the start of a tour, it’s something different. And having competitions like this are great because it has its own little tournament. “I wouldn’t want to see less one-day cricket played. If that means an extra Twenty20 game here or there, then fine.”

Clark agreed, saying: “I’d hate to see 50-over cricket replaced because of what it holds and what it’s done to the game, but (Twenty20) is thriving. It’s going to become more and more popular the more it’s played. “Whether that’s international, domestic, or some of these new leagues, it’s going to be for the people, and it’s going to be great for the crowds.”

Twenty20 cricket yet to convince Gilchrist

September 18, 2007

Adam Gilchrist does not think highly of Twenty20 but is still aiming to lift the trophy.

Adam Gilchrist, Australia’s stand-in captain, admitted that Twenty20 was not a game he had taken to whole-heartedly following the defeat to Pakistan. When asked what he thought of the format, he was faint with his praise: “Er, yeh, yeh. It’s um… well. The more I play it, I am starting to, not so much like it as a player, but love watching it.”

Before the tournament started, Gilchrist had said that it was good to play some international cricket that was not so serious. When Australia lost to Zimbabwe, Ricky Ponting demanded respect and the Australian machine had looked as well oiled as ever – until facing Pakistan.

“I am being more and more sold on why the public is so taken by this format. One over can really change a game, and in a tight game it is crucial. I am still not totally convinced that over the short term, the skills get to come through as much as they do in the longer formats, so that is evening the games up which is a great spectacle, but we’ll see over time. We’re all still learning with it.”

He admits that Australia’s preparation, at least, was not as serious as it might have been: “[That we haven't hit the stumps when fielding] probably shows we have not put in the time. We could have cut our break short by a month and come here peaking, but to be honest, at the time when we made those decisions we didn’t see it as a priority leading into a big run of cricket.

“We are taking it seriously. I am not sure what the perception is but we are. Now that we are here, we definitely want to win, and we are doing everything we can. We are not shirking this as something we are not caring about.”

Sri Lanka’s Best Cricketer Of The Year Anil Ridheegammanagedara To Join Indian Cricket League

Sri Lanka’s best cricketer of the year Anil Ridheegammanagedara says he is considering joining the rebel Twenty20 tournament organised by an Indian television company.

Anil Ridheegammanagedara said that he was already approached for the Indian Cricket League (ICL) by third parties including his own agent and sponsor. “I will definitely join the ICL if I was not offered an opportunity to play for Sri Lanka within the next two-three months,” he told BBCSinhala.com.

He however added that the decision would be based upon the type of contract he will be offered by the ICL. Former Sri Lankan captains, Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya and senior players Upul Chandana and Russell Arnold were reported to be approached by the ICL.

Jayasuriya and Chandana have however categorically denied the media reports linking them with the ICL. Ridheegamanagedara who was also awarded the best bowler of 2007 is selected for the forthcoming Hong Kong Six series.

However as he was not give an opportunity to represent the country in international level, Ridheegammangedara says, he will join the rebel tournament provided the ICL comes up with a proper offer.

Marvan Atapattu, Russell Arnold and Upul Chandana are reported to be considering joining ICL  Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) recently announced that any player joins the rebel Twenty20 tournament will not be considered for future selection. Both India and Pakistan have announced similar bans.

SLC chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa told BBC Sandeshaya that Sri Lanka would not authorise any tournament which is banned by cricket authorities of any country. The Indian Cricket Board last week announced another Twenty20 tournament to counter the threat forced by the ICL.

Pakistan beats Australia in Twenty20 World Cup; New Zealand, Sri Lanka also win

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Pakistan defeated Australia by six wickets Tuesday at the Twenty20 World Cup, and England looks set for an early exit after another loss.

Misbah-ul-Haq hit an undefeated 66 for Pakistan and captain Shoaib Malik finished 52 not out to beat Australia’s target of 164 with five balls to spare. Australia made 164-7 in its 20 overs, with Michael Hussey and Brad Hodge sharing a 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Earlier, England lost by five runs to New Zealand, and after its second consecutive Super 8s loss, is bottom of Group E. After the game, England captain Paul Collingwood apologized for visiting a lap-dancing club Friday night. Sri Lanka won its first Super 8s match in a 64-run win over Bangladesh.

New Zealand leads Group E with four points, followed by South Africa with 2 and India and England on zero. Pakistan heads Group F with four points, followed by Australia and Sri Lanka on two and Bangladesh on zero. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals.

Australia was 92-4 in the 12th over, and had just lost captain Ricky Ponting (27), when Hussey came to the crease at the Wanderers Stadium. He hit 37 off 25 balls with three fours and one six, while Hodge scored 36 off 29 balls with three fours. Sohail Tanvir was the best Pakistan bowler with 3-31 off his four overs.

Pakistan’s batsmen started strongly, but lost four wickets by the seventh over. Stuart Clark took the first three, finishing with 3-27, before Misbah and Malik came in at 46-4.

They dominated in a 119-run partnership. Misbah scored 66 off 42 balls with seven fours and the biggest six of the tournament so far – measured at 111 meters (364 feet). Malik reached 52 off 38 balls with four fours and two sixes. New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan hit four sixes in his 57 against England.

New Zealand, sent in to bat by England captain Paul Collingwood at the Kingsmead Stadium, reached 164-9 in its 20 overs after smashing 124 off the final 11 overs. England finished on 159-8. To advance to the semis, England must win its final group match against India on Wednesday and rely on other results.

New Zealand lost opener Brendon McCullum in the first over for four, and then England’s policy of rotating bowlers paid off as New Zealand’s dangerous top-order was out of the way by the sixth over at 31-4. But that signalled the arrival of Scott Styris and McMillan. Styris hit four sixes in his 42 off 31 balls, and put on 60 with McMillan.

When Styris departed, McMillan accelerated and took the score to 134-6 in the 17th over before he was caught by Dimitri Mascarenhas off the bowling of Darren Maddy. Captain Daniel Vettori hit 17 off 9 balls. Maddy took 2-6 in his single over, and James Anderson got 2-24 off four overs.

Vikram Solanki stood in as wicketkeeper after Matt Prior broke his right thumb Monday during practice. England called up Durham wicketkeeper Phil Mustard as Prior’s replacement on Tuesday. England started the chase well with new opening pair of Maddy and Solanki, who put on 62 for the opening wicket.

Solanki went for 24 in the eighth over and his dismissal started a chain of wickets, with Maddy the next to go for 50 off 31 balls with four fours and two sixes. Kevin Pietersen and Luke Wright each contributed 24, and Owais Shah hit 21, but the rest were unable to reach double figures.

Even so, there was still an outside chance for England with just two overs to go and 20 runs needed. But Shah was run out, and Shane Bond had Mascarenhas and Wright well caught on the cover boundary by substitute Jeetan Patel.

New Zealand plays South Africa on Wednesday.

Later at the Wanderers, Bangladesh got a vital early wicket when Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya fell for a first-ball duck. Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene top-scored with 30 off 30 balls and Jehan Mubarak hit a quick 31 off 19 balls to lift Sri Lanka to 147-5 in its 20 overs.

The best Bangladesh bowler was Mahmudullah, whose off-spinners earned him 1-19 off his four overs. Bangladesh batsman Aftab Ahmed reached 18 with some clean strikes, but tried for one too many off Dilhara Fernando who demolished his stumps with a yorker.

Fernando took 2-21 off three overs, and Jayasuriya took 2-4 in just one ball short of two overs. Sri Lanka next faces Australia on Thursday, while Bangladesh plays Pakistan.