July 7, 2009

The Cardiff Castle

Posted by Peter English, 2 days, 12 hours ago in The Ashes, 2009

The Ashes is one of sport’s oldest contests but the 122-year rivalry of England-Australia is nothing compared to some of the landmarks around the country. The Cardiff Castle carries “2000 years of history”, making international cricket seem like an embryo in comparison.

There’s a palace, a battlement walk and wartime tunnels, but I like the falconry enclave, where the goggle-eyed birds of prey preen and show off their weaponry of talons and beaks. In the old days these sorts of castles would have had a falconer, and the sight of them brings back memories of William Butler Yeats’ The Second Coming, which was studied briefly in high school.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold ...

Not much chance of things falling apart in here as the birds, which perch on a small stump of wood, are on a short, tough leash. They stand like slip fielders, waiting for their chance to fly and catch.

Close by is a Norman Keep surrounded by a moat which has a lot of steep, shiny steps that are best negotiated in shoes with grip. They spiral towards a turret which becomes more cramped and less secure for those who start to shake at moderate heights. I can’t see the pitch from the top, but there’s a good view of the city skyline. Everything is so close in Cardiff and the castle is on the city’s doorstep, an easy stop-off on the way to Sophia Gardens.

Galle’s ground is in the shadow of the fort and Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla stadium has old ruins running down one side, but there aren’t too many Test grounds with easy access to incredible old buildings. The Riverside at Durham is watched over by Lumley Castle and many English supporters think that stadium is the one that should be on display this week instead of the oval near this ancient Welsh structure.

KP between Boom and Kaplonk

Posted by Peter English, 2 days, 23 hours ago in The Ashes, 2009

Kevin Pietersen steps up to talk on Monday and he can't finish a sentence without being interrupted. The Australians are in the indoor nets and Pietersen is speaking from cover, although he’s protected by a net and some black paper curtains. “I’m just as important as anyone else,” he says in between Australian drives. “I don’t [BANG] intend to [CRASH] have a bad series ... We’re going to come out [KAPLONK] fighting, not scared [BASH].” It’s more like an old-style episode of Batman and Robin.

On the way to Cardiff from Worcester the train stops in a few special places. The first is Malvern, where the tops of the hills hug any nearby crowds, and then it’s on to Abergavenny, another town which has a mountain as a grandstand to its cricket ground. It was here that Andrew Symonds hit a world-record 20 sixes in a match for Gloucestershire. Back then he might have played for England, but he finally represented Australia. In this series he won’t play for anyone. Australia missed him in the World Twenty20 but will cope without him over the next two months.

July 5, 2009

Time to get serious

Posted by Peter English, 4 days, 9 hours ago in The Ashes, 2009

So everyone now moves to Cardiff and it’s goodbye to the delightful Worcester experience. The small town, small time warm-ups are over for Australia and on Wednesday everything becomes brutally serious.

The shift means no more wandering along the Severn River looking at swans or the Cathedral; no more strolls through the city centre admiring the Tudor houses from the 1500s in Friar Street, or looking at the public clocks that all show different times.

Before leaving the New Road ground one day I saw David Leatherdale, the county’s former batting allrounder, walking through the stands and was reminded of one of Steve Waugh’s sledges. While outlining the weakness of county cricket in his 1997 tour diary, Waugh wrote that someone with the skills of Leatherdale couldn’t get a bowl in a Chinese restaurant, even though he had taken 5 for 10 in a one-dayer against the tourists.

Five years later and Waugh, playing for Kent, runs into Leatherdale and is bowled for 3. The Australians aren’t talking so tough on this tour and for a good reason. Unlike Waugh and his men, this group isn’t sure how good it is.

The sweetest thing ... for some

Posted by Peter English, 5 days, 6 hours ago in The Ashes, 2009

At the start of each day the Australians have been standing in a circle in the outfield inspiring each other with short speeches on their favourite Ashes memories. On the third morning in Worcester it was Shane Watson’s turn and, as he held a sheet of A4 to address the group, it looked like he might have been reading from his flight itinerary back home. Not so. He’s staying and his thigh injury is improving, but probably not in time to be serious contender for the first Test.

The coach Tim Nielsen, who led the talk on the final day, has had a busy match correcting some basic technical flaws in a couple of his first-choice players. Marcus North admitted he wasn’t watching the ball in his first three innings of the trip, but after some sessions with Nielsen he regained his focus. On Friday he started with a calming century and today he finished with a brutal blast against some declaration bowling to finish with 191 not out.

Brad Haddin chipped in with a bright 25, but his keeping is the discipline needing the greater lift. He lunged to miss two catches in the first innings and at the end of the third day was working with Nielsen on staying low and keeping his weight on his toes to help his footwork in both directions. At crucial moments on the field he had been on his heels and the remedial session continued on the final morning. It’s strange that even full-time professionals forget the basics.

***

The sombre finish to the tour game could not even be sweetened by cakes from the ladies’ pavilion today. Fortunately we were warned that the tea enthusiasts don’t work on the last afternoon so we stocked up on the opening three days.

“It’s a calorie-free zone up here,” one of the women said during the week to make everyone feel better about their indulgence. It’s such a lie. There are cakes everywhere. It’s more like a cholesterol factory than a flour-stained old building, and at 3pm it was the most popular part of the New Road ground.

For three days the line dropped down the steps of the pavilion and moved slowly towards the sort of spread Homer Simpson dreams of when he falls asleep in church. Three types of sponge, cranberry scones, teacake, date cake, normal scones, chocolate cake, lemon twist cake and other cakes without names. All for 80p a slice. There seemed to be an unofficial limit of two pieces per person, but there were people with paper plates in both hands swearing they were fulfilling orders for friends.

July 3, 2009

Siddle axes chopping

Posted by Peter English, 6 days, 12 hours ago in The Ashes, 2009

Peter Siddle is being painted as the next Merv Hughes in some sections of England and there is a thirst like Big Merv’s in his playing days for details on the latest Victorian fast bowler. Siddle isn’t playing in Worcester and is resting before the first Test, so he was on Sky at tea speaking about his childhood hobby of woodchopping.

“There’s not much to it,” he said. “It’s a little sport in country Australia. With an axe, you stand on top of a bit of wood and the first one through wins.”

He was a good axeman as a child but did it only for a couple of years, thinking more of his safety than the prize ribbons. “It was part of the reason I wanted to get rid of it,” he said. “If I wanted to play sport in the future I thought I should probably give it up. I’d need all my body parts.”

Since then his main problem has been a series of serious shoulder injuries, but they haven’t stopped him from growing into one of the side’s main men. Expect him to cut through a few batsmen in Cardiff.

An absence of edginess

Posted by Sidharth Monga, 6 days, 14 hours ago in Pakistan in Sri Lanka 2009

	Security was not the intrusive, bothersome kind © AFP

Perhaps Sri Lankans are too laid back, but that intangible edginess that exists a day before a Test is not there. This state of affairs makes one feel edgy, as if something is not right. There is no banter between journalists from the two countries. Actually there is nobody from the Pakistan media here yet. There are no nosy law enforcers frisking bags at various points on the way to the ground. There is no haughty curator to stop one from taking a look at the pitch, or to watch from up close Kaushal Silva and Tillakaratne Dilshan practise wicketkeeping.

There is no media frenzy either. Kumar Sangakkara comes to a press conference, sits, chats, laughs as if we are his friends. Apart from the sponsors’ board in the background, there is Nothing Official About It. Younis Khan (does he ever get grim?) is his giggly self. Says he will miss Murali’s company, because when is he under pressure, he starts talking to you and you have a good laugh with him. “At least I will miss his company.” These press conferences are reminiscent of a picture from just before the Old Trafford Test of 1987: Imran Khan is sitting on a window pane, addressing journalists barely a few feet away, no mics, media managers or sponsor boards. Where is the edginess that a Test brings?

***

In the night however while walking on the rampart that separates the sea from the town, and while sitting by the water, wind in the hair and sea in the ear, one gets part of the answer. Come to Galle, you’ll understand.

July 2, 2009

More toil for Hauritz

Posted by Peter English, 1 week ago in The Ashes, 2009

Nathan Hauritz must have thought his luck had changed when he was batting on the first day and the ball hit the stumps without removing the bail. It hasn’t. Poor guy. After being taken to at Hove in the first game, he suffered similarly tough treatment in Worcester today. It was nothing like Bryce McGain’s pummelling in Cape Town earlier in the year, but Hauritz was unable to contain, the trait he is picked for.

In 1993 Shane Warne was smashed around Worcester by Graeme Hick and then nobody took much notice of him until his first ball at Old Trafford. That day Warne restricted himself to legspinners, not wanting to show any of his other tricks. Hauritz doesn’t have that luxury and is doing his best already, even though he has had some trouble gripping the Duke ball.

So first to the good news for Hauritz. Stephen Moore, who top scored with 120 for the England Lions, said Hauritz spun it and bowls with nice shape.

Now for the not so good news. “We went out there to make sure we made life difficult for him,” Moore said. And they did. “Without that X-factor Shane Warne has, you’ve got that area you can attack. There was a lot of pressure on him if he didn’t hold up an end.” In 18 overs he gave away 80 runs, including two sixes down the ground, and unless there’s a big haul in the second innings, Australia will have to go for four fast men in Cardiff.

Shane Watson batted in the nets today as he recovers slowly from his thigh injury that should prevent him from being considered for the first Test. He also delivered his opening balls of the Ashes tour, stopping after some laps of the oval to bowl three deliveries to some corporate spectators having a pick-up game after play. The outswinger worked off a couple of steps and he avoided further injury.

July 1, 2009

Disagreeing with Jack Fingleton

Posted by Peter English, 1 week, 1 day ago in The Ashes, 2009

“The beauty of the Worcester ground, I think, is slightly exaggerated,” Jack Fingleton wrote in Brightly Fades the Don. “When you look at the ground with the Cathedral at your back, the Worcester ground is no prettier or uglier than most English county grounds though it has a pleasant pavilion.” Sadly, the old pavilion is no longer here, replaced by a modern block tower carrying the name of Graeme Hick, and as much flair.

Sixty-one years on from Fingleton’s tour and the trees have grown on the banks of the River Severn, leaving the top of the Cathedral to peek over them towards the ground. At the New Road end there is a restricted view and the best place to sit is in the ladies stand, a quaint, tiled-roof building with a small collection of reserved seats for women. When watching from there the cricket is what interrupts the scenery.

Apparently there have been requests to the local council to trim the trees, allowing all the spectators to idle between the game and the church, but they have been rejected. Twenty years ago there were fears the tower would collapse, but the restoration was completed last year, costing around £10m.

As a budding greenie, there’s no desire to call for the chainsaw, and the foliage encourages spectators to shift their seats for the variety of views. I don’t think the beauty of the ground is exaggerated and it was enjoyed by a strong crowd on the opening day of the tour game, from the moment Graham Onions ran in to Phillip Hughes with the bells chiming to 11.

The Cathedral should stay in sight for the rest of the game, depending on the thickness of the predicted rain clouds, but the ground is as close as the Australian squad will get to it. In Fingleton’s time as a player and writer it was tradition for the side to inspect the church the night before the tour game, but a similar visit was not in Ricky Ponting’s plans. “No, that was the previous captain,” he said, referring to Steve Waugh’s team-building expeditions.

June 30, 2009

The importance of Worcester

Posted by Peter English, 1 week, 2 days ago in The Ashes, 2009

Worcester used to be the opening stop on Australia’s Ashes tour, but times changed itineraries and on this trip it is the second venue for the team, and my first. Whenever the town is mentioned to England supporters there is talk of the flooding Severn River, which spills over Worcestershire’s New Road ground, usually in winter. To Australian fans with a lust for Ashes trips, this field is where Bradman scored three double-centuries and a century in his four visits, and where the magical cathedral seems to field at third man. The teas from the ladies’ pavilion are supposed to be equally special and will be trialled by those players being tested this week.

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April 22, 2009

Fifty years of fighting for justice

Posted by Sriram Veera, on 04/22/2009 in Indian Premier League

	The fire hasn’t dimmed for Dennis Brutus © Cricinfo Ltd

I meet him in the middle of the road in Durban city centre. You first notice the grizzly flowing white beard, the long hair blowing in the wind, the sharp eyes and a lovely smile that light up his 85-year old face. Dennis Brutus is protesting. It’s the story of his life. An activist against the apartheid regime in the 1960s, he played a key role in getting South Africa suspended from Olympics. For his efforts he was arrested, shot in the back while trying to jump bail, arrested again and jailed in Robben Island. Along with a certain Nelson Mandela. He was also banned from teaching, writing and publishing in South Africa and, on his release, settled in the US as a political refugee. He was finally “officially unbanned” in 1990 and currently lives in Durban.

It’s safe to say the fire hasn’t dimmed. In 2007, Brutus was nominated for induction in the South African Sports Hall of Fame. The other recipient was Ali Bacher; Brutus says he was ambivalent about accepting the award but Bacher’s presence nailed it. After Bacher’s acceptance speech was Brutus’ turn. He walked to the stage and said: “It is incompatible to have those who championed racist sport alongside its genuine victims. It’s time - indeed long past time - for sports truth, apologies and reconciliation.” And then turned down the award. That’s the part, he says, the broadcasters didn’t show. “And I believe Bacher walked out in protest,” he says with a chuckle, a throaty infectious laugh.

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April 20, 2009

Strangers in the Durban night

Posted by Sriram Veera, on 04/20/2009 in Indian Premier League

Unsafe? “I was shot at in Ghana and guys with Kalashinikovs jumped out of a bush in Nigeria. Now, that’s unsafe.” Flashes of Keith Miller and his famous quote on pressure come to mind. It’s a hefty German, Gerald, who dismisses my question. We are sitting in a lovely open-air pub, with a dance floor in the centre, overlooking the lovely north beach. It’s late in the evening - party time in Durban.

You ask how I got there in spite of my safety worries? Blame it on the four-channel television in my apartment. The first thing any traveller does on checking in is checking out the toilet and switching on the TV. Mine was all ghostly image and spluttering audio. Through it all I could make out a movie was being shown – Blade: Trinity, replete with screams, vampires and more gore. Stuff the safety advice that I got from my landlady, I was out of there.

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April 17, 2009

Net run-rates are so much fun

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/17/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

Even when Scotland took the final wicket to beat UAE, not only did we not know who had qualified for the 2011 World Cup, but we weren’t sure which six teams had ODI status. Such is the nature of cricket, and the really rather ridiculous reliance on Net Run-Rates (or NRR for acronym anoraks), but it provoked silly scenes on the outfield. Scotland were warming down and Pete Steindl, their coach, was half-chatting and half looking in my direction. We’d agreed on a post-match interview. But there was little point in chatting until I knew whether to grill him a) on Scotland losing their status as an international country, b) on his joy of Scotland reaching the World Cup in the most unlikely of circumstances or c) on his relief, and luck, at not making the World Cup but still retaining their status.

It’s high time one of Cricinfo’s unheralded members receives a worthy plug. Robin Abrahams (aka The Oracle) has worked for us since the dawn of time, when Yahoo! were king of the interwebs, John Major was in office and the term credit crunch hadn’t been invented. Without Robin, Cricinfo would probably not exist. In fact, he hasn’t slept since the mid 1990s – too busy ensuring our tables are up to date, scorers have internet access, and a myriad of other vital things besides. So I called the Abrahams Hotline who immediately had the details. And the details of the details. And the reasons behind the details. And something about a flag? Just in the nick of time, the cheery Steindl loped over as I hung up, and the first question? “Well, Pete, a good win today – and you’re into the top six I hear. You must be relieved.” Almost as relieved as I was. Thanks Robin.

April 15, 2009

Francois Pienaar on the IPL

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/15/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

With my dogged persistence, and his generosity – not to mention the miracle of hands-free mobiles – I interviewed Francois Pienaar a few days ago (here, at our sister site, Scrum.com). I couldn’t ignore the opportunity to talk about the IPL. Our chat was brief, but his passion for South Africa and all it stands for remains undiminished, 14 years after he stood on the podium to receive the rugby World Cup from Nelson Mandela. It’s one of those sporting images tattooed on your skull and difficult to forget. Tyson and Bruno is another of mine. Gascoigne in tears. Flintoff and Lee. Tyson eating ears…

But anyway. IPL. I wanted to find out from Pienaar his thoughts on South Africa’s infrastructure, given that all of a sudden it is the go-to country to host world-class sporting events. “The IPL has been a journey and a half,” he said. “To put this tournament in place in 20 days flat has been inspirational, to be honest.”

Colleagues and residents of Johannesburg have shown a little less enthusiasm, in particular at the road networks. Yes, they’re being modernised, widened, and coating a layer of western tarmac over the top of the concrete (which doesn’t split as easily in the heat, I’m told), but there is so much to be done. Recently, the Australia (cricket) team were politely mobbed (oxymoron spotters, pat yourselves on the back) at an airport, so lax was the security. I naively enquired about the train infrastructure to a taxi driver when I first arrived. “You’d be dead man, dead,” was the chilling response. There is a train for tourists with tourist-like prices, but suffice to say that it’ll be cars and planes which transport people over the next few weeks.

What will it be like in 2010 for the (football) World Cup, though?

Well, judging by the successful events they have hosted in the past – 1995 rugby World Cup, 2003 cricket World Cup and the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 – the answer is: it’ll be fine. It’ll probably be better than fine, to witness the steady progress of all the new stadia being built. As Telford Vice wrote a few days ago for Cricinfo, “neither airlines, hotels nor the cricket industry seemed flustered by the prospect of the gathering storm of glitz, glamour and glorious cricket.”

Pienaar, too, acknowledged the country’s sticky issues and congested roads but, like Telford, he just expects it to happen. And after three weeks here, I do too. “The country has a can-do mentality. We are a nation who holds up its hands and gets things done.”

BBC Scotland? No. BBC Persia

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/15/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

Scottish cricket isn’t as feverishly followed as Scottish football – understandably so, perhaps, given Scotland’s listless performances in the World Cup Qualifiers – but of all the media groups, you’d think BBC Scotland might be interested in covering them. That’ll be a no, then. BBC Persia, however, are keen, whose cameraman has been following Afghanistan’s progress throughout the tournament. Having spent the morning in the sun under a black floppy hat, sweating profusely, BBC Persia’s lensman eagerly looked forward to a slap-up lunch. Unfortunately, he was pointed to the wrong place; by the time he found the press box, your loyal reporter and his colleagues had devoured most of the (exceptional) chicken, rice, salad, fish and ice cream much to his f-bombing chagrin.

April 13, 2009

No sympathy for Bermuda

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/13/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

	The desire and hunger just hasn’t been there for Bermuda © Gallo Images

It has been fascinating hearing from other teams, players and coaches about Bermuda’s stumble-and-fall from this competition and, without exception, not a single one of them has any sympathy. In fact, their responses have often been a mixture of envy and anger – anger that a team of handsomely-paid full professionals could consistently perform so poorly while they (be it Ireland, Namibia, UAE) all struggle on a pittance and yet outperform their higher-paid opponents. It’s unjust, but sport is often so. Scotland have begun professionalisation (they have three contracted players and promise to double that number should they qualify) while Ireland are also hamstrung financially and only possess semi-pros.

As an indicator to Bermuda’s apathy, one coach told me he saw many of their players either in the bar or, on the first night of their trip, in the local casino. Not the ideal preparation to qualify for the World Cup Qualifiers (WCQs), you might think, and you’d be spot on too. As Gus Logie told Cricinfo a few days ago, the desire and hunger just hasn’t been there. It’s all been a bit of a jolly for the past four years.

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April 12, 2009

Welcome to the Sandton Sun Hotel

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/12/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

Visiting the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg is rather like popping in for lunch at a rich relative’s house in the shires. Unless you actually live there, the opulence is almost overwhelmingly in your face. The lifts silently glide up and down a brass-cum-gold framework, like little golden jelly beans. There are no normal light fittings, instead a garish display of brass pipes demands your attention that the café is, in fact, right here, as if you could possibly miss it. There are dozens of staff, all of whom glide through the air looking very busy, yet the moment they spot your cup looking empty they’re onto it in a flash.

It’s a quiet, subdued place to stay and is currently swarming with international cricketers. The Associates were here first, but the Indian Premier League players have started their unerring swagger into the city and the hotel, and soon it will be theirs - if, that is, they can drag the Afghanistan team out of the pool. The battle will be long and hard I fear, and my money is on the Afghans.

It’s a nice place to work, too. A couple of interviews with an Irish and Namibian player happened randomly over coffee outside, a relaxed environment which helps both interviewee and interviewer.

All sorts have been spotted. Owais Shah and Ashish Nehra (remember him?) ambled in for a late brunch, neither of whom were keen on being interviewed – understandably so given your reporter’s Keith Chegwin-esque doorstepping method. Glenn McGrath, in flip-flops and t-shirt, did a spot of shopping in the equally brilliant shopping centre which adjoins the hotel. Dave Warner, Paul Collingwood and other Delhi Davedevils are floating around too, invisibly so far. Red-and-white Europeans, of which I proudly claim membership of its sunburnt fraternity, make up the rest.

Leaving the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg is rather like leaving after lunch at a rich relative’s house in the shires. Digestion aside, you can’t help feel a little jealous at their pad.

April 11, 2009

Baby's got the bends

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/11/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

Lighthouse Family, Radiohead, Counting Crows – it’s like being back at school, here at the LC de Villiers Oval, where Namibia are taking on (or trying to) UAE. Radiohead is a particular favourite of the DJ-cum-PA, Anton, who is providing occasional witty (and, indeed, occasionally witty) updates from the other matches taking place, interspersed with some of the 90s classics. “Oman, the great entertainers,” he croons, “were going along nicely. But wickets are falling faster than the rand.” As third man let through a four in front of his coach, Colin Wells, Radiohead’s The Bends roared out from the speakers to entertain the three fans and two journalists. “My baby's got the bends, oh no//We don't have any real friends, no, no, no.” Wells, who is desperate to improve UAE’s fielding, shook his head and walked on in disgust.

April 9, 2009

Watch out, kids: the food-fascists are after you

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/09/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

Forget the IPL; ignore the piddly little World Cup Qualifiers. Oxfordshire Under-13s are on tour in South Africa, and this is where the action is at. Flippancy aside, there is much to be learned of the differences in attitude between the two countries when you look at the development. And I may even have a possible indicator as to South Africa’s recent resurgence.

The English coach spoke to me today (over bacon and eggs – more on that later) over the contrast in attitude. Oxfordshire’s sprightly (and noisy) group are just about holding their own. The coach is fairly confident that two or three will play for a county; his opposite numbers are also sure that some of their young bucks will represent South Africa. Plenty of ability, then, but the coaching beliefs and attitudes are where the similarities between the two countries end.

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April 8, 2009

Age will not weary them. No, really

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/08/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

My quest to discover the real age of Afghanistan's cricketers continues apace. An unnamed source close to the team for a number of years told me today that one of their players, who sadly must remain nameless for now, claims to be 25 but is in fact "more like 40. Come on. Look at him. He's been playing forever". Forty might sound unduly harsh, and that's because it is. When challenged, my source relented and we agreed on "anywhere between 35 and 38". The player himself simply has no idea; not even his own mum can tell him, though each year she gives a ballpark figure ranging from 21-29, though perhaps her vagueness smacks of her own disbelief at the unstoppable sands of time, and the years that can't help but condemn.

A casual chat

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/08/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

	Raees shows me how it's done © Will Luke

It isn't often you can chat casually with an international batsman waiting to make his nervous way out to the middle. In fact, for "often", read "never", unless you happen to be another batsman waiting.

After a brief chat with Colin Wells, the former England and Derbyshire allrounder now coaching UAE, Raees Ahmadzai was keen to show me his ridiculously-light bat. I didn't see the makers' name, but it was like a feather. And small, too, for someone of 6ft, but it felt perfect in my hands.

So while I shadowed some particularly elegant on-drives, the like of which probably haven't been seen since Mike Atherton last picked up a bat in anger, he stole my camera to take a few snaps. He is not the photographer or journalist he wishes but, clearly, there is untapped talent in my batting.

The UAE and Afghanistan sides are sat almost next to each-other here at Vanderbijlpark, and the cacophonous cries of "shabash" come from both teams and for all eventualities. Be it a wicket, a four, a dropped catch, a comical piece of fielding, a fifty or a hundred, the only plausible response is "shabash" ["come on"].

Shouting it as a neutral and western observer elicits an occasionally unpalatable response of respect and confusion. I am briefly part of the belief and hope. I can't compete with the consistency of noise though. My reserved Englishisms of nodding and applauding politely - seal-clapping is for the IPL or a Lara-esque 400-plus - come deferentially to the fore.

Mystery and the Mouth

Posted by Sidharth Monga, on 04/08/2009 in India in New Zealand 2008-09

	John Morrison is now a city councillor in Wellington © Getty Images

John “Mystery” Morrison aka the Mouth. Or “Mystery and the Mouth”. A former Test player who is now a city councillor in Wellington. The best man to talk to when rain and spirits are coming down. Not for nothing did he get those nicknames.

First an explanation for the names. “When I first got picked for Wellington, Don Neely, who is now the president of New Zealand Cricket, reckoned that my bowling was hopeless,” Mystery says. “And he couldn’t work out why I was getting so many wickets in local tournaments. And I bowled slow left-armers, and he reckoned they did nothing. I said they do a lot more. Just that you can’t work it out, and neither can any other batsman.

“I once said, ‘Well if you are going to argue about who’s the best bowler and that I can’t bowl, everybody put 10 dollars in the kitty, and whoever gets the best figures in Saturday’s club cricket wins the poll.’ You wouldn’t believe it, I actually bowled four overs, four maidens, and took four wickets. Never happened before, never happened since. Two of them were caught at the boundary. And Don was in despair at this point. ‘How can you possibly get wickets? You don’t do anything,’ he said.”

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April 6, 2009

Encyclopedia Battleshipica

Posted by Sidharth Monga, on 04/06/2009 in India in New Zealand 2008-09

	Don Neely and his 'monster' © Cricinfo Ltd.

One would be surprised if the book in the picture were not the biggest ever written on cricket, in terms of height and weight. The ‘monster’ weighs “21-and-half kilos” and needs a separate table for itself. When it was presented at Lord’s, John Arlott called it a “pocket battleship of a fleet”.

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who knew more about New Zealand cricket than the man holding the book, or much more in volume about cricket in general. Don Neely wrote Men In White, a comprehensive history of New Zealand cricket, played first-class cricket for Wellington and Auckland, led Wellington to the Plunkett Shield in his first year as captain without the services of John Reid, Bob Blair and Bruce Morrison, became a national selector, and is now the NZC president.

It took Don five years to write this book, juggling his business tours with writing, which involved research from world over. He doesn’t know how many words he wrote – and literally wrote, for he didn’t use a typewriter.

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Fancy a pint? Not a hope if you're Irish

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/06/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

Is it a sign of professionalism gone mad or evidence of mollycoddling taken to a new level? It’s difficult to know how to respond to the news that Ireland’s cricketers are being subjected to breathalyser tests, an Irish journalist learned a few days ago. Even non-alcoholic fizzy drinks have been banned and the coach, Phil Simmons, along with Ireland’s manager, Roy Torrens, have also joined in the non-party. Alcohol is not the most forgiving fluid, admittedly, but even in a coaching era that treats and analyses players like precious Formula 1 cars, this is a surprisingly bold move. It does reflect, however, how importantly Ireland’s coaching staff are taking this tournament; how crucial it is that they’re players perform at their maximum capability. Though surely there is a level of trust involved; I can't imagine most of these players would sink a crate of Castle after each game for the hell of it. Or would they? Their chief executive, Warren Deutrom, was none the wiser about the new policy.

"I didn’t know about it until last week, and it made me smile," he told Cricinfo. "It reminded me a lot of what Adi Birrell calls the one-percenters – those little details that make the difference in preparation. It strikes me as a really clever idea.

"After all, no-one will want to be the one to break it, so everyone will look out for each other, ensure that no-one will let each other down, that they’re all preparing as assiduously as each other, thereby bringing the team closer together."

April 4, 2009

History in the Old Grandstand

Posted by Sidharth Monga, on 04/04/2009 in India in New Zealand 2008-09

	The scoreboard after New Zealand's first Test win © Cricinfo Ltd

Even as New Zealand discontinues daylight-saving on Sunday, and moves all its clocks and watches behind by one hour, time will continue to stand still at the Basin Reserve. It is an old-world venue, situated bang in the centre of modern and hectic Wellington, almost oblivious to the mad traffic outside. There has been talk a few times of bringing it down to facilitate smoother flow of traffic towards the airport, the eastern suburbs and the south shore, but the Basin, protected by the Act of Parliament, has defied modernity.

If any more proof of this is needed, just step inside the New Zealand Cricket Museum in the Old Grandstand. From the triumphant to the funny, from the tragic to the quirky, from the brave to the under-hand, from the Addington bat (the third-oldest bat ever, used in 1743 and bought for 1600 pounds in 1987) to the aluminium bat (one of the few Dennis Lillee got made, he may or may not have used this dented piece of furniture), it’s all here.

And then there is David Mealing, the curator of the museum, whose beard rivals WG Grace’s. David tells every tale depicted in the museum so delightfully as if he has just come to know of it.

The Museum tour starts with the quote, “Cricket is a game for the low and for the great”, from The Jovial Cricketers, along with other various other definitions of cricket, for the uninitiated. They have the “substitute ball” that the Australian and New Zealand war prisoners in Italy used. The ball's core is made of corks from champagne bottles that their officers gave them, and the outer cover comes from twine (something between a thread and a string) from the Red Cross parcels they used to get. The shape is a perfect sphere. Talking of balls they have the one that Noel McGregor caught to take New Zealand to their first-ever Test victory, in 1956 against West Indies.

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April 2, 2009

Afghanistan attracts all-sorts

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/02/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

	Picturesque Potchefstroom © Getty Images

Despite mass warning from locals and hysterical friends back home, I hired a car (a mere £35 for those interested) and ventured my untroubled way to Potchefstroom for Afghanistan’s match against Bermuda today. The venue is already a firm favourite: almost circular, with grassy banks all around the ground and some shaded seating for the hosting of larger matches. It’s a picture, as is the outfield, which is bowling-green flat. The Australians love it here apparently, and it’s easy to see why. Grassy banks just make a cricket ground.

The crowd, well – let’s not mention that. Those found to be clapping were either on the players’ balconies or, even more fervently, Tim Albone and his crew. Albone, 31-year-old film-maker, has been following the Afghanistan team for a couple of years in a documentary he is making called Out of the Ashes, tracking their rise from obscurity to (potentially) the World Cup in 2011. He’s joined by Lucy Martens, the camera person who is constantly glued to a lens of some sort, and Leslie Knott, the producer. All three were only moderately interested in cricket but, now, they’re fairly hooked as their whooping and cheering at each Afghani boundary began to demonstrate.

It is quite a challenge to follow Afghanistan, though all three of the crew are regular travellers to the country. Alongside them today was Dr Sarah Fane who founded the Afghan Connection, a charity that has provided medical assistance to remote Afghani communities. And now, Sarah is involved with the Afghanistan cricket team, building pitches and providing equipment as well as building schools (which now serve more than 26,000 people). The MCC’s Matthew Fleming is in support, and Sarah is clearly committed to helping promote the sport among a population who are used to bowling seam-up with balls made out of cloth and rubber.

Cricket draws all sorts of people and characters together. Afghanistan have a long way to go if they are to even reach the World Cup, but their rapid rise is already beginning to have an impact on their country, not just the sport.

Security in Potch

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/02/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

Even Associate cricket needs security, apparently. But is it really necessary for a match that has attracted roughly five fans for there to be four green-jacketed officials to protect the pitch from an invisible invasion? It is searingly hot in the sun today, yet each of them are dutifully stood at each corner of the pitch, eyeing the phantom crowds warily, just in case there's a sudden monsoon of fans flooding onto the pitch.

At least it's not raining.

April 1, 2009

Waiting for the IPL

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/01/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

There may not be any advertising or signs promoting the forthcoming Indian Premier League but, like an impending lunch with inlaws, it looms large in the back of your conscience. Here in Benoni, where Ireland are taking on Scotland in the World Cup Qualifiers, the crowd can generously be described as a smattering. Less complimentary an adjective might be paltry, for there are only 40 people on a glorious sunny day. In contrast my spies tell me there are already hordes of media, BCCI officials and IPL administrators loitering around one of Johannesburg’s more opulent hotels.

Those permitted accreditation for the IPL would comfortably outnumber the loyal Ireland and Scotland fans here at Willowmore Park. It was ever thus for Associate cricket; crowd-numbers are never enormous and it struggles to gain global coverage, though the local media from the representing countries are always in attendance and do their best to promote the game back home. Still, it remains a disappointment that a tournament as prestigious as this – and it is, for the development of cricket – is about to be dwarfed in publicity by an event whose Man-of-the-Match cheques alone could transform some of these countries’ facilities and ambition.

Tom Jones in Johannesburg

Posted by Will Luke, on 04/01/2009 in World Cup Qualifiers 2009

My half Welsh blood came rushing to the surface this morning. On my way to Willowmore Park in Benoni to cover Ireland and Scotland's first match of the tournament, we happened to drive down Tom Jones Street. Could it really be? Was Tom here? If not now, then at one point? My Serbian taxi driver, demonstrating a surprisingly broad tonal range, broke out into a ropey but guttural version of Sex Bomb, showing little or no respect for Jones's greatest hit, It's Not Unusual. A Serbian-born South African, who is borderline tone-deaf, singing a song from the Pontypridd preener? It was undoubtedly unusual.

March 31, 2009

Gavaskar Place, Kapil Grove

Posted by Sidharth Monga, on 03/31/2009 in India in New Zealand 2008-09

	A bit of Gavaskar in Wellington © Sidharth Monga

Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev didn’t exactly get along famously during their playing days, but far away in the Southern Hemisphere, in one of the plushest residential areas of Wellington, the two icons of Indian cricket stand next to each other. About a 15-minute drive from the city centre, streets named after them stand 50 meters apart and overlook the capital from a high ground on one side, and green higher hills on the other. The view is breathtaking.

The houses look luxurious, with classy wooden doors, rich gardens and big cars. Not many venture out of their houses, at least during the 15 minutes spent there. A walker-by doesn’t really know when the streets were named, or who came up with the idea. The city council is not of much help, or perhaps they have got more important things to do. But they do suggest Wellington Museum could be of some help. The Museum directs one to the Wellington City Archives, where the only thing that can be established is, the streets were named before 1992: the earliest mention of the names in the archives is in 1992, and it is not about their naming.

There is an interesting pattern to the signboards of the street names. Gavaskar Place is written only on one side of the board, and Kapil Grove on both. Could it have anything to do with Gavaskar being a just a batsman and Kapil being an allrounder? The streets of the Khandallah area, where these streets are, are winding as opposed to the straight bat of Gavaskar.

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