test2wa

Jatin Sapru

Smirks, canned laughter and whispers were doing rounds all through Trent Bridge when Australia just about managed to post 159 on the board.

Everyone knew what would happened if Sri Lanka beat them. Just the second match for the Kangaroos, and an exit from the ICC World Twenty20 was staring at them.

The stands were full of Sri Lankan supporters, with a handful of typically loud, beer guzzling Aussies.

There wasn't a shortage of English supporters too, who were there to make a mockery of the guys in yellow. After all a dent in their confidence here, would surely show some signs in the upcoming Ashes.

Punter missed a trick too many, and just when Sri Lanka needed about 30 off three overs I was making a trip to the dug-out area to line up my post match interviews. The over started from the Pavilion End, and hence I could not walk across, was asked by a steward to wait.

Just about there, were two old women (also stewards), who were talking about the match and sharing a laughter. Since I happened to stand next to them, we got chatting and they were funny as hell. One of them said, ‘My day's so made, I can't wait to see Ricky's face when they lose'.

The other one, a little more English, said in a typically astute dignified fan manner, ‘Well you can't come to a World Championship with an alcoholic all-rounder, an arrogant captain, and a few young bunnies who perform once a blue moon'.

‘Absolutely Shite, They deserve this'. It was the mid-over break as I bid goodbye and walked further, wondering if Australia have really lost the plot, forget the dominance. The scene was no better near the dug-out in the pavilion stands. Comments aimed at the Aussies in the dug-out were hilarious.

A fat drunk Englishman shouted, ‘It ain't as simple as making a Kangaroo steak eh!, Coom the Ashes, we'll embarrass you foorther you shites'.

Phew, the temperature was rising despite chilly winds. And just when Mitch's wide got the Lankans home, the roar in the crowd was loud and seemed to have equal Lankan and English cheers.

That's the most fascinating thing I've come across in this country. Perhaps cricket isn't a religion here, like it is in India, but even if a 100 million of them like the game, they literally live it.

It isn't just packed stands in the World Cup games, but you see the same in a county game.

They don't just follow the stars, they follow the game. And what adds to the fun is the way they see the cricket.

Once the security checks are done outside the stadium, it's carnival time. Beer flows, lamb and pork steakes, fish n chips, ah what not. So time for me to head back to enjoy some more English flavor, see you again.

It is quite fascinating to see, what the absence of pressure can do to a player. Just a few months back, Australia's opening assassin, Matthew Hayden, had become used to taking the long walks back to the pavilion with his head swinging in dismay. He knew he was struggling. He knew the media hyenas will be waiting to pounce on him and ask him the dreaded question. ‘Are you planning to quit?'.

He fell for it and it hasn't been long before Haydos hung up his cricketing boots (well, not the pair he's wearing in the IPL!!) for Australia, but the monstrous (burly, is surely an underestimation) lad is back to what he's known best for.  I'm sure you know how addicted we are to Super Selector (We = Myself, Gautam Bhimani, Divya Bhagat & a lot of our producers). Since day one of this tournament, I've had this itching to play Hayden in my team, but I refrained, going by the notion, that openers are always a tad bit risky to pick. Others however, did squeeze Haydos in their sides. He scored, he scored again ... and he never stopped. Every time before the game I'd tell myself, the law of averages will play on the big man today, but he's in a different mood, a different zone, a different mindset, he is a different Matthew Hayden.

He's put to shame bowlers like it's a cakewalk, he's embarrassed some with his innovative shots, treating them like academy novices, and some have faced the brunt of those strong arms, even one of which can send the ball sailing to Madagascar. And even though some bowlers (including the one making a miraculous come back from an injury), try to instigate him, his reply is simple. An instant smile, and a war cry like retaliation shot of the next ball, and a smiling glance back. But gone are the interviews calling some opposition players as twigs or weeds, or calling a nation - third world. Matthew Hayden's latest weapon apart from his bat, is his smile.

In a recent press conference, Haydos was out to address the media (of course after CSK's win). An interesting questioned was popped, asking him about life after international cricket. He thought for a moment, smirked and said that he's excited that after the IPL, he's heading straight back home and looking forward to some surfing and braying on the beach with his family, rather than packing his bags instantly, to head for the ICC World Twenty20 Championship.

His run in the IPL has seen the media writing pieces on how he should still be persuaded by the Aussie selectors to return for the T20 world championship. Yes his form may also win the Aussies everything single handedly, but hey, does he want to be on that flight?

His answer in the press conference perhaps said much more than its verbatim meaning. We discuss player burn-outs, we discuss it further. Players make a statement in the conferences on how tightly schedules are made, but that's about it. Is anybody working out there to make amends ?

It needs much more than guts for a player to say he needs rest. Today when reserve talent is abundant, its hard for a player to make this move (Unlike MS Dhoni, who anyways is in a different league). Now free of pressure, Hayden is out there to enjoy the game and himself, and the results are showing. Like many Indian veterans too, he's thrashed the thought of T20 being a youngsters game. With pressure of expectations, media, critics, selectors, players often tend to forget to enjoy the game on the field.  But free from all pressures Matthew Hayden is enjoying himself. He loves cooking, he loves surfing, and yea, once a year now, he loves batting too.

What great cricket we've had in the recent weeks. The Australian Kangaroos bounced and thumped the South Africans, whereas the Port of Spain turned into a ‘Port of Pain' for the bowlers in West Indies.

But on the digital world, Super Selector was twisting and turning with every ball. In fact the ‘ball of fortune' was turning more than Swann and Panesar's spin together.

If you have been watching Cricket Extra (Mon-Fri, 10:30pm on Star Cricket) you would know I'm nothing but a wounded tiger right now. Mr. Gautam Bhimani has beaten me in two back to back games with such a narrow margin, which is capable of being termed narrow, even in times of recession. So there's serious business ahead for me, and I'm sure all of you, who have faith in my strategies.

There's one test match coming up in Cape town, but given that it's a dead rubber in terms of its affect on the series, we could see some changes in both the sides.

So banking on sure shot performers isn't the best idea. Now whether or not Mitchell Johnson will lead the attack is in doubt, given the heavy workload he handled in the first two tests. So try out Peter Siddle. Comes in really cheap, but runs in really hard. He's surely tipped to get you decent points, as he usually ends up picking around 6-7 wickets in the game. And if the South African batting continues to oblige, you're in for some bonus points. Makhaya Ntini is still my bet for the third test. Trying out a spinner may not be a bad idea, specially when even Simon Katich is picking up three wickets (phew!!).

Kallis continues to be my sure-shot all rounder pick. And leading the beleaguered Proteas side this time, he is a great choice for you're SS captain too. What helps is that hopefully Mitch won't be steaming in to bust open Kallis' chin again. And what's cricket without taking chances, so try the Aussie new kids on the block. Marcus North (who can send the ball sailing in East, West and South too) and Phillip Hughes (with lots of tennis cross court smashes in his kitty) will be fun to play with. Ah how could I forget that Albie Morkel could be making his debut too. So he could be the slam-bang point reaping substitution we want. Don't take you're substitutions easy. In fact substitute you're gambles and bring in some creditable performers in course of the test. Also the skipper of the day is going to be tricky. I'm surely going to go on instincts and pick up a batsman as my skipper too, contrary to the previous games, where my bowling skippers have given me peanuts and others have had peanut butter with a gamble on Andrew Strauss' and Sarwan's of the world. And some lucky chaps have slept over their teams for five days and still made merry (Manish Batavia- yes this is for you).

So these are some ideas I'm going to use in the upcoming game. Gautam's super-sonic brain is busy working out on strategies too, which off course he'll share with you (not me). So have a great game and may the best Super Selector win.

Dear Super Selector,

It is another thrilling game, where we love to sharpen our skills as selectors. Selection with just 1000 points at our disposal is as tricky as it gets. So keeping that in mind, I thought of sharing a couple of strategies with you for the on-going ODI series between Australia and New Zealand, which still has one crazy encounter of the Trans-tasman rivalry remaining and a one-off Twenty20 game.

First, is the fifth and series-deciding match in Brisbane with the Chappell-Hadlee series standing at 2-2, and the game will undoubtedly produce some fire-works.

The next is the one-off Twenty20 between the two teams in Sydney. So, it is crucial to pick your players, keeping both games in mind.

The major focus has to be on a 50-over-a-side game. 100 overs in the match (hopefully) gives players a better chance of performing.

LEATHER-MEN

First let's begin with the bowlers, who are the most important, as very wicket fetches 25 points.

The four bowlers that you place your bet on, should be sure to play in the ODI, at least. Since Australia have won the last two games, a change in the side for the final is unlikely.

However, the wicket at the Gabba works well for the spinners, offering turn and the extra bounce. But given the composition of the sides, the only valuable spinner, capable of using the wicket is the Kiwi skipper - Daniel Vettori. Also don't forget he's a good lower-order batsman too. So that's double whammy!

For pacers, rely on accuracy than pace, as batsmen love the Gabba strip. So don't place your money at 145 km/hr pace, but an accurate 130 km/h.

But here too, Nathan Bracken has been superbly economical and accurate, but Mitchell Johnson has been getting those wickets (read, points for us). However, Mitchy is not in the T20 squad, where he can be then substituted by Bracken, who can get the batsman to commit suicide under pressure.

Another good pick for the one-dayers is Ian O'Brien, who has been getting the wickets for the Black caps. Comes in cheap, and his swing will test the Aussies. And for the T20, he can be replaced by Kyle Mills, who can hit those big ones, lower down the order.

THE GLOVE MEN

Next trick will be to pick the correct wicket-keeper. Both Brad Haddin and Brendon McCullum have been opening the innings. Haddin's hit a purple patch with his ODI batting, and has scored a century and a forty-odd runs in the last two games. So hoping that the law of averages doesn't catch up with him, I'd go in with Haddin for the ODI and McCullum for the T20.

THEY KNOW IT ALL

For me the two main contenders for the all-rounder's slot are David Hussey and Grant Elliot. If you're wondering why James Hopes is not in the reckoning, then its just for the reason that he's been batting way too lower down the order. Hussey is just fresh from a match winning knock at Adelaide, and Elliot has been making a match out of every game for the Kiwis.

WILLOW RANGERS

Now a quick look at some valuable batting picks. Michael Clarke would've topped my list, but given a back strain he's not quite sure to play. A couple of other sure shots for me are Michael Hussey and Ross Taylor. Apart from the occasional off-days, they do their business right. Peter Fulton is due for a biggie, so he's not a bad pick either.

As far as the gamblers are concerned, Callum Ferguson is a promising lad, whose waiting for his big moment. Comes in at 50 points, he's like an even odd bet on the roulette table. The Aussie skipper, Ricky ‘Punter' Ponting, would do anything in the world to win the series and shun some scathing criticism. So his bat could very well be talking but remember, he's not a part of the T20 squad. But you can eye James Hopes for the T20, expecting some all-round display.

So keep your cool when you click the mouse to rope in your selection. Judge the pros and cons, and get ready for another roller-coaster game. Also tune in to Cricket Extra (Mon-Fri, 10:30 pm IST) on Star Cricket, where myself, the funniest man in cricket -- Gautam Bhimani and our expert, former India cricketer Nikhil Chopra review our SS scores.

So lots of scuffles, gloating and fun expected there. Get your team going and join us in the craziest game of cricket, off-the-field.

The new look team India is a novelty of sorts, when compared to their highly successful predecessors. There might just be just three men over the age of thirty, but the unit as a whole is performing as if they've been at it, for decades. From world class openers, to classy grafters, to flamboyant hitters, the batting department has it all. Also the leather has found perfect hands in precisionist seamers, to some foxy spinners. So being a part of this bunch, is no cakewalk, and retaining a place without any question asked, is a bigger achievement. Yuvraj Singh has seen it all. Like any other great, he's gone through the highs and the lows. But into his ninth year in the team, Yuvi is no more a chocolate boy, but a real man.

After not getting a chance to bat against Kenya in his debut, his first chance to show his credentials with the willow came in his second ODI against the world champions, Australia. With India 90/3 in the ICC Knock-outs, Yuvi walked into the strip at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi for his tryst with destiny. And what followed was a visual treat, with the ‘almost-debutant' scoring 84 of 80 balls, which had 12 hits to the boundary. Australia was shaken, but India had found a rare talent, who without caring one-bit about the opposition's reputation, sent them chasing leather all over the park. A win for India and a deserving man-of the match award for Yuvi, and Punjab's tiger had tasted blood. From then, to his 90 ball 117 against Sri Lanka, Yuvraj has come a long way.

Be it massacring Stuart Broad with 6 sixes in an over, or his back to back centuries against England in the recent ODI's while fighting a back strain, or even his lightning fast agility on the field, Yuvraj is not just a startling athlete, but a true entertainer.

"He reminds me of Sir Gary Sobers", he paused. "Really?", came the next question. He swerved his kite with the change in the wind direction, and replied, "Yes. His bat lift and the way it hits the ball, it reminds me of Sir Gary".

These were the words of the great Hanif Mohammad on Yuvraj Singh. Regarded as one of Pakistan's greatest batsman and the original ‘Little Master' of cricket, Hanif sahab, now 74, is fondly remembered for his 16 hour stint at the crease (scored 337), against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1957-58. Now settled in Karachi, with flying kites as his favourite indulgence, he said this about Yuvi, in an interview with Sportscenter's Dinesh Chopra, and I had the luck of accompanying him and holding Hanif sahab's charakhra (on which the string of the kite is rolled on).

These words were picked up by many news agencies and the shoes for Yuvi to fill in had gone bigger in size.

Six thousand plus runs at an average of just above 38 in ODI cricket, with eleven centuries and thirty-eight fifties at 27 years, isn't a very common stat. Add to it, 65 wickets, and you know Kevin Pietersen's calling Yuvi a ‘pie-chucker' was so not creamy.

His biggest chink in the armor has been his ability in the whites. Pundits have argued his temperament in the five day format, and his inconsistent form made matters worse. In and out of the squad, Yuvi though, always maintained, that he's committed to establish himself in the test squad. His biggest chance to re-establish himself came after Sourav Ganguly called it a day last year, and man oh man, he pounced on that chance, like his life depended on it.

With India chasing a record target for a win in Chennai against England, Yuvraj lived two of his biggest dreams. First, his magnificent knock of 85 not out, in the run-chase helped India win a test. And second, a match-winning partnership with his childhood idol, Sachin Tendulkar at the other end. And the same critics, who wasted not a single moment in slamming his temperament, were buying more ink to pen down their praises for the lad.

He's reportedly had link-ups with the Bollywood beauties, has notorious partying habits, but that is his personal life, and its high time we as fans stop taking digs at him for it. For what matters to us is the power of his willow, which at the moment is giving nightmares to bowlers the world over. Cheers Yuvraj!!

They say cricket is a religion. And if that is true then Super Selector is surely one of its prime ritual. Not being cheeky, but this game on espnstar.com can surely get as nerve wrecking as any last ball finish. And now that the game has gripped audiences of all age groups across the world, playing it is more fun than ever before.

The basics as we all know are simple.1000 points available and you've got to pick
5 Batsmen
1 Wicket-Keeper
1 All-rounder
4 Bowlers

Of people who have followed CRICKET EXTRA (Mon-Fri, Star Cricket, 10:30pm IST) would know how close the affair gets between myself and my super co-anchor Gautam Bhimani and our expert Nikhil Chopra (former India player). Last day finishes, one point wins and what not.

So with all the experience I've gathered of playing the game, I'll share some key strategies that I use.

BATSMEN

When a game has just two or four teams playing, it gets simple, but if its an affair spread over a week, with six-eight teams playing, that's where it gets tricky. The key remains in picking at least two strong performers.

Their values could touch or cross hundred and should be from the teams that are scheduled to play the maximum number of matches. What helps even more in high value choices is the ability and chances of you're batsman to bowl as well.

So if India-Sri Lanka are playing two games, Virender Sehwag and Sanath Jayasuriya fit in the bill.

The remaining three batsmen should ideally range between 50 to 90 points, and their batting position should be kept in mind. Example, if South Africa are playing Zimbabwe or Bangladesh, there's a probability that a number 6 plus batsmen, may not get to bat. In that case a great performer in JP Duminy could get wasted.

But if South Africa are playing Australia, then he could be a sure-shot pick. One batsmen should ideally be a 50 pointer like a David Warner. It's a gamble which could pay rich dividends or crash for nothing.

Once again, the probability of a batsman to bowl maximum overs and create chances of picking wickets holds the key. It goes without saying, that it helps if every player we pick is a good fielder.

ALL-ROUNDER

At least 100 points should be afforded when it comes to an all-rounder, given that his team is playing the maximum number of matches. Usually the choice could get simple in many teams.

Like an Albie Morkel from South Africa, Jacob Oram from NZ, Chris Gayle from West Indies, Andrew Flintoff from England, Shahid Afridi/Shoaib Malik from Pakistan, James Hopes from Australia, Shakib Al-Hasan from Bangladesh and so on. But this is one position where you can gamble to out-do you're opponent.

A cheap all-rounder playing more games, is the way to go. So even if Australia are playing West Indies and Bangladesh are playing South Africa, I'd pick Shakib Al Hasan from Bangladesh. Costs 80 points, is sure to bowl his quota of ten overs and comes in to bat with around 10-15 overs to go.

The player's recent form, type of wicket and weather and the maximum opportunities available to him, hold the key. The only case where I'll spend 120-130 points is with Gayle/ Sehwag, but on more occasions one should try to have them as batsmen, to try and accommodate a cheap all-rounder.

WICKET-KEEPER

He should at least have the ability to get 30-40 runs, if not more. In a very kiddish strategy, I feel the Aussie and Pakistani bowlers, get more caught behinds.

Whatever the reason may be for this dumb argument, its somehow always worked for me. If you have points, splurge on someone like a Sangakkara or Mark Boucher, but if not, an 80 odd pointer in Kamran Akmal or Brad Haddin does the job.

You could be really lucky on a day with 4 dismissals and a score of seventy-eighty with the bat, but expecting around 60-80 points from you're keeper is wise.

BOWLERS

For me and I'm sure many of you, this is the make or break selection. 25 points for a wicket, bonus on 3 and 5 wicket hauls, makes selecting bowlers a crucial task. I'd keep around 300 points to spend on at least three good bowlers. The composition between the number of spinners and seamers, completely depends on the wicket and opposition and whether it's a test match, an ODI or a T20.
So if a team's playing down under, in South Africa or England, an all out seam attack or maybe 3 seamers is a good bet. Similarly if the games are in the subcontinent, two seamers and two spinners or may be three spinners, could do the job.

Fast bowlers are usually pegged at a moderate value ranging around 100. Big names are not sure shot performers here, given the way things have unfolded off-late. Intelligent choices with someone who could get 10-15 runs with the bat also, is always better.

While picking up teams, the format of the game should be given a proper thought. Remember the player has five days to perform in a Test match, as opposed to a 100 over ODI or a 40 over T20.

Maximum preference should be given to Tests and minimum to a T20. So if say all three forms are in one Super Selector game simultaneously, I'd go in with 5-6 players from a test match, 3-4 from an ODI and 1-2 from a T20.

Doubling you're points from you're skipper and getting the substitutions right, are also extremely important to win the game. And someone whose masterminded that strategy is Gautam Bhimani.

So dear Super Selector, get to his blog straight away and get that Gyan.

Hope to see you on the leader board soon. Start SELECTING, RIGHT NOW!!

The year 2008 ended on a spirited note for cricket. Where it was hurtfully agonizing for an Australian fan, it was supremely delightful for a South African. But also it was a whiff of fresh air for a normal cricket fan in any other part of the world, who had gotten bored of Australian dominance, and competition-less one sided affairs.

For the Aussies it wasn't just humiliation within, but that slashing across tabloids in the world. The most humiliating was a remark in a newspaper which made mockery of a tombstone saying "R.I.P- Australian Cricket Slaughtered by South Africa on December 30 at MCG".

Some others were a little less harsh saying it was an end of an era of Australian dominance, some pushed a little further labeling Australian cricket as Dead and Buried.

But how in a span of just one year did the world champions come crashing?

A cricketing legend in his article said that the obsession with late age debut's marred Australia. Surely there has been success when players debuting around the age of 28+ have come out strong from their domestic roots and performed. But does that obsession mean that you wait even if a genuinely good cricketer is not old enough? World cricket is standing at a brink of transition. "Survival of the fittest" theory is now relevant more than ever. So selectors down under have to do away with this practice.

Another reason for Australian dominance was their ‘big' names, which have now suddenly disappeared. No one doubted the ability of Shane Warne spinning the team to victory, Glenn McGrath's precision swing sending batsmen in discomfort, or an Adam Gilchrist's willow taking the game away from the opposition in no time.

Then there were good quality back-ups too. The Waugh's, Taylor, Martin, Langer for batting. There was a threatening pacer in Gillespie, and a competent spinner in Stuart MacGill. Then there were finishers like Michael Bevan. Things have changed, and unfortunately for Australia, they've been caught off-guard.

Add to that some experts have said that the Indian Premier League spelt further doom for the Aussies after their CB series loss early last year. It was said that all prime names which participated in the cash rich BCCI baby, were either worn out, injured of still suffering from intoxications in India. The sheet-anchor's are trying too many shots, the bowlers are trying to curtail runs rather than going for the kill and a tight cricketing schedule has taken toll.

All understood, but are we blaming cricket's new added dimension for players altering their skills in other forms? And if someone's so cynical about the IPL, what about statements from players who at one point had become unsure of their future for the Aussie team, if they didn't get permission to play the IPL.

There was a time when each and every pundit of the game couldn't stop backing the Aussie domestic cricket scenario. How the youngsters were going through a level of competition so tough, that they were more than ready to wear the ‘Baggy Green'.

But post 2008, the thought has done a U-turn. Today everyone's asking why the young replacements are struggling so much. Be it a promising Peter Siddle, a Jason Krezja (barring the Nagpur miracle) or a Cameron White. And this, at a time when strong vaults like Mathew Hayden, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting (too an extent) are going through an extended lean patch. For me it's the lack of international exposure.

These youngsters are expected to fill in for big names, right from their very first international assignments. This is no easy task.

In that respect, despite all dirt talk about India's domestic cricket structure, the cricket board has been intelligent and far-sighted. Though the team hasn't suffered any major exodus, the pool ready to fill is not full of novices.

The potential test players have tasted International cricket in the one-day format. So today when a Sourav Ganguly goes, Yuvraj Singh, S Badrinath and Rohit Sharma are ready to fit in. Similarly with the fast bowlers, a nice large pool adds depth to the options.

The Australia-South Africa tussle also reminds me a little of the Roger Federer - Rafael Nadal battle for supremacy on the tennis court. Where the swiss master dominated the whole world across different courts, the fresh talent of Nadal, the pressure he put, and the general notion across the world, finally caught up with the master.

And once the pressure had started playing in RFed's mind, the task was half done for Rafa. Hence when India exposed that beating Australia at home wasn't impossible, the seepage had started. And it was just a matter of time before the walls of the age old strong dam came crashing.

So the writing is clear and simple. The power-house shift has started. A team that led world cricket for more than a decade, has suffered from its own decisions and probably a whiff of complacency. But now with South Africa and India knocking the door of the top rank, the new battle would be to match the Aussies to stay up their in an unquestionable manner.