http://www.legsidelizzy.com

See you over there

LSL x

On the one hand, this is a bold move to try and clean up the IPL which has been tainted with the shit of all things Modi.  Despite claims from the BCCI that the two franchises were terminated because of irregularities over accounting and ownership matters (which there is evidence to support),  it does seem that the BCCI and Srinivasan in particular are just trying to eradicate anything or anyone with any connection to Modi.    This may not be a bad thing, there was a distinctly corrupt stench about the IPL with Modi in charge.

On the other hand, have we just moved to a equally dictatorial, autrocractic and random system?   The BCCI have not handled this very well.  They terminated the contracts with Royals and Kings with no notice and no discussions or negotiations.  Whereas they have given Kochi some time to sort themselves out.

There have been some staggering allegations today which highlight the autocratic, undemocratic and arrogant nature of the new BCCI although they are denying them.  They related to some alleged SMSs sent from the BCCI’s secretary  N Srinivasan, (who is also co-owner of the Chennai Super Kings franchise)

The first, sent from his cellphone to one particular franchise, reads:

“As we have been saying. Please align yourself with us. Or everyone will get the same taste of the medicine we have given today to RR and Kxip. Owners should not think they are above the Bcci”

The follow up message, sent to the same franchise, reads:

“You should be happy we allow you to participate. We know how to clip your wings. President and I have decided we will run the IPL the way we want to and after all its our property. You can either be a part of it or we can find a way for you to get out. We will throw Lalit Modi and anyone attached with him. So best avoid talking to him.”

The franchise in question (unnamed) has been sharing this communication with others; the other IPL franchise owners  are understood to be putting their heads together to figure out a common response to the latest dictats from the BCCI.  I think we’re all expecting there to be a lot more news over the coming days and weeks followed by some hefty law suits from all directions.

In a reaction to this story, the BCCI has said the messages were not sent with N Srinivasan’s knowledge.  BCCI’s Chief Administrative Officer  said, “The Board would like to clarify that no such messages have been sent from his mobile. This is clearly a case of foul play, and complaints to that effect are being lodged with the concerned Mobile phone service, and the Police, for immediate action.”

Now, of course, this is probably the sort of thing that Modi would try to do, whether he has the technological capability from his hiding place to get proxy text messages sent from someone else’s mobile is pretty questionable.

What does all this mean for the IPL?

We’ve been told that the format for IPL4 will be based on 8 teams.  If the Kochi franchise meet the BCCI requirements then there will be no opportunity for bids from new franchises.   The competition will contain 8 teams and therefore a reduced number of matches.   All of the business plans and broadcasting contracts were based on a 10 team, 94 match tournament.

The broadcast rights owner (Sony) were due to be paying a higher amount for IPL4 but surely they won’t want to if there are to be many less matches?

The existing franchises will also be less than happy with the reduced format as they will receive far less revenue but will still have whacking wage and auction bills.

There is also the issue that Indian courts are currently considering a case which challenges the BCCI change in constitution which allowed for Srinivasan to be the Secretary whilst still being the owner of an IPL franchise (Chennai Superkings).  A conflict of interests of almost staggering proportion.

The Indian court will make its ruling sometime soon but have made some early comments that would have made you or I almost certainly consider resignation.   The BCCI think that the position is entirely fine because Srinivasan asked permission before he bid for the CSK franchise.   Oh well that’s alright then.

You can’t help but feel we’ve just moved from a Modi mess to a different type of farce.

The IPL could and can be a real force for promotion of the sport but not if it is perpetually plagued by off-field stories about the farcical nature of its administration.

The Great One shows us why he is The Great One – scoring his 49tn test century.

I am more and more impressed with Murali Vijay – he is a slightly silent assassin, doesn’t get all the accolades and respect that Tendulkar, Dravid or Laxman do but he has the range of shots, precise ball placement and grit and determination.

It took Australia till mid-afternoon before they made a breakthrough and Ponting’s bowling attack looks insipid on a pitch like this.   It’s almost impossible to see where they’ll get the necessary 15 wickest to win from.

This test is looking more and more like a draw which will hit my Cricketbetlive account and more importantly mean the test fizzles out into something less than exciting.  An anti-climax after the drama of Mohali.

This sort of story is a blogger’s heaven,  please can we have more of this stuff.

Mcdonald is currently playing for Victoria in Shield match at the WACA.

Macdonald and colleague Aaron Finch had been taking a walk in Perth before the start of play and ventured too near to some ducklings.  The father Duck took umbridge (as you would) and attacked Macdonald climbing onto his back and pecking away at his head.    Aaron Finch squealed and legged it in the other direction.

It an almost poetic way,  Macdonald then went on to make an impressive 163 off 116 in front of Aussie selector David Boon contributing to Victoria’s mahoosive first innings score of 529.

As an aside, I need to learn more about Shield cricket and cricketers.  There just aren’t enough hours in the day.  Maybe I’ll just have to stop sleeping.   Sleep when you’re dead I say.

The day ended with India 128-2 in reply to Australia’s 478 ao

On a docile pitch, the Indian bowlers bowled erm well OK is about the only way I can describe it.  Marcus North (yes mr walking wicket himself) has, to the delight of most Englishmen, pretty much secured his Ashes place with a determined innings of 128.

The Indian team are clearly not morning people.  I can’t blame them – mornings are evil.   A particularly rubbish display of fielding this morning not helped by the fielders being put in the wrong places in the first place.

Extras played a blinder today.  Class Act that man.

On a pitch this docile, it’s hard to see where or how Straya are going to take the 18 wickets they need to win and draw the series but there is a weather factor,  it has been precipitating large in Bangalore this evening.

Today was our first opportunity to see debutant Peter George in action.  He bowled 5 overs of what, if I were being kind, would be described as nervy (for nervy read filth).  With ears that big, the lad needs to make sure the wind is behind him when he bowls.

Tendulkar and Vijay moved themselves pretty easily into a 90 partnership with Tendulkar reaching 14,000 Test runs in the process and some truly wonderful Blue Peter style banners in the crowd.

Two biggest mysteries of the day:  1) Dhoni’s field placings 2) Rahul Dravid’s shot to get out.

Tomorrow could be another thrilling day of test cricket or it could be yawnfest if the pitch does nothing and Vijay and The Great One continue not to be really troubled by the Australian attack.  Get either one of them out early and it’s a whole different ball game, the Indian middle order is a bit brittle and there’s no VVS to do what he does.

If I were them  I’d try and bowl some short stuff to them early doors,  ****cliche alert**** they don’t like it up ‘em.

And, as if you could forget, it will all be covered live and unexclusive on http://www.testmatchsofa.com

-

Both sides will be reasonably happy with where they are at the end of the day.

Bad light stopped play before 5pm local time with the Aussies on 285/5.  This could and probably should have been less but the baggy greens were gifted a heap of gimme singles that had Dhoni got his cricketing head on and placed his field more sensibly would have been avoided.

It pains me, it pains me greatly but Shane Watson is some serious nick and is starting to look like a confident, classy batsman.  I (and a few others) have an irrational dislike of all things Watson but he is certainly looking like one of the danger men going into The Ashes.

Ponting hasn’t faired well in his career in India although of all the Indian pitches, Bangalore is the one he’s liked the most – going into this match he averaged over 50 on this pitch and added a further 77 to the tally today.  He’ll be disappointed that a momentary lapse in concentration and a close call from Bowden saw him falling LBW to a ball just judged to be clipping leg stump.

Punter came out to boos from the crowd and left to more boos.   Seems harsh to me – I know he’s a miserable, impersonable bugger but he was very gracious in defeat after Mohali and hasn’t (as far as I know) said anything twat-like since then.  This is likely to be his last test match in India and for my money, the crowd should appreciate how much he has brought to the game.

Harbajhan was the pick of the bowlers although none of them looked particularly threatening.  Sreesanth in particular looked woeful.  Raina snared the key wicker of Ponting as it looked as though he may get his head down and beat his Indian demons – although his wicket was  more down to Bowden and his  own head than the ball itself.

Marcus North is a man under real pressure, he’s been labelled the walking wicket and there are calls left, right and centre for him to be dropped.   The bookies placed his run line and under or over 25.5 – the lowest I can recall seeing for a “proper” batsmen and we were all falling overselves to go under that run line.  Well, he rather shoved us all back in our box as he moved his way to 43* before they were brought off.

Umpires Bowden and Gould have become something of a joke (Bowden more than Gould) in this series with more ridiculousness from both of them today.   Two appeals, two wickets – no sight of a finger in the air for either of them just a nod.  That’s not the deal dudes, you stick your finger up even if it is crooked.

So almost honours even-ish at the end of Day 1.  The bookies are still favouring a draw – I’m beginning to question this.  Both batting line ups can be as brittle as Highland Toffee although each side has a slightly weakened bowling attack.

Bring on day 2…… and don’t forget you can hear commentary of every ball live on http://www.testmatchsofa.com

We only had the bare 11, no subs and missing a couple of key players.  Guildford team is also packed with nippy little 15 and 16 year olds who haven’t yet been destroyed by alcohol, fags and boys like we have (average age of Barnes Team – 31)

What we couldn’t legislate for was the fact that the 2 umpires provided by the opposition were determined to do everything in their power to make sure their girls secured a win.

They were awarded short corners that weren’t, whereas we weren’t awarded them for blatant feet in the D.  We were blown up for obstruction, coming in from behind, feet, stick tackles – it seemed those rules didn’t apply to the oppo.

But that’s the deal when you play lower league recreational sport, you put up with whoever is willing to give up their time.

So a 3-0 loss – we’ll chalk it up to experience and move on.  It’s the start of season social at the Clubhouse tonight.  Fancy Dress – hockey do’s are always fancy dress, I think it’s so the boys have a legitimate reason to wear women’s clothes.  My team are going as animated characters and I’m going as Betty Rubble.  The whole thing isn’t even close to dignified so I can forget that idea.

Quite how I’m going to party like it’s 1999 tonight and then get up at 3.30am to go to TestMatchSofa for day 2 of the Bangalore test remains to be seen.

There’s a danger this weekend might actually kill me.

There will be some key players missing but the big issue affecting this test might be the weather.  It’s been peeing down in Bangalore.

The Aussies will be missing Baby Bollinger who is expected to be replaced by Peter George (yes really).  George is 100 feet tall and is reported to have “Glenn McGrath type control” over the ball.  I find this a little hard to believe or he’d be first choice for the side but he’s got a pretty good Shield record.  Whether the wicket will be helpful to him remains to be seen.

The Indians will be missing Ghambir and Ishant Sharma – two losses that will potentially hit them hard. There are question marks over VVS Laxman who is still struggling with his back despite his unbeaten, match-winning 73 in the second innings at Mohali.   If he does play, he won’t be allowed a runner that’s for sure.  Ghambir and Sharma are being replaced by Sreesanth and Vijay.

Final decision on Laxman will be taken this evening (Friday 8th) but he hasn’t been practicing.

There were injury doubts over Harbhajan going into the Mohali test but these have now been put to bed.

Not that they really mean anything but the stats do not favour India – they have a very poor record in Bangalore against all teams but have not managed to beat the Australians there in the 4 test matches they’ve played against them at that venue.

On the other hand, this stadium has been the best venue in India for Australia’s batsmen in recent times.   Ponting averages over 50 here (cf his average in India of 22.30).  Katich, Watson and Clarke have also all scored big at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

However, the bookies have the draw at almost even money.  Mind you, they did going into the Mohali test and look what happened there.

So that you don’t have to put up with the shambolic combination of Nimbus and Sky, all 5 days will be covered by the TestMatchSofa team.  Coverage starts every morning at 4.45am.

http://www.testmatchsofa.com

Of course, these hit and giggles  have led to a nigh on ludicrous schedule for a lot of international players, we all know that……

However,

• He knew the schedule well in advance and it was highly likely that Chennai would get through to at least the semis if not the final.  Perhaps, he should have spoken to Cricket Australia and/or the CSKs earlier.

• Baby Boli plus 2 of the Indian team were also involved in the CLT20 final.  Are they piping up?  Nope.

• Would he have had a moan if he’d scored a match winning ton?  Unlikely.

• Australia didn’t lose the Mohali test because Monsieur Hussey only had 2 days with the squad prior to the start of the test.

Wind your neck in Michael, check your bank balance and shurrup.

Cricketer of the Year: Sachin Tendulkar

(Other Contenders: Hashim Amla (SA), Virender Sehwag (Ind), Graeme Swann (Eng))

Test player of the year: Virender Sehwag

(Other Contenders: Hashim Amla (SA), Dale Steyn (SA), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind))

Test team of the year: India

ODI player of the year: AB de Villiers

(Other Contenders: Ryan Harris (Aus), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), Shane Watson (Aus))

ODI team of the year: Australia

ICC Emerging player of the year: Steven Finn

(Other Contenders: Umar Akmal (Pak), Angelo Mathews (SL) and Tim Paine (Aus))

Best T20 performance of the year: Brendon McCullum

(Other Contenders: Michael Hussey (Aus), Mahela Jayawardene (SL), Ryan Mclaren (SA))

Spirit of Cricket award: New Zealand

(Other Contenders: India, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)

ICC Associate player of the year: Ryan ten Doeschate

(Other Contenders: Trent Johnston (Ire), Kevin O’Brien (Ire), Mohammed Shahzad (Afg))

Umpire of the year: Aleem Dar from Pakistan

(Other Contenders: Steve Davis (Aus), Tony Hill (NZ), Simon Taufel (Aus))

Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Shelley Nitschke (Aus)

(Other Contenders: Katherine Brunt (Eng), Ellyse Perry (Aus), Stafanie Taylor (WI))

LG people’s choice award: Sachin Tendulkar

(Other Contenders: Michael Hussey (Aus), Mahela Jayawardene (SL), Andrew Strauss (Eng), AB de Villiers (SA)

There’s not much you can really argue with there apart from the omission of Graeme Swann from any of the awards.

As ever – it’s a little bit Political.  The ICC aren’t, in one sense, daft.  (they are in a whole heap of other senses obviously).  Gotta keep the Indians sweet.

Incidentally – MS Dhoni was made captain of the ICC World Test XI – wouldn’t have been my choice.

I have heard that Hussey’s T20 performance against Pakistan in St Lucia was overlooked by the ICC because of the shadow of spot-fixing which strikes me as extraordinarily harsh on Mike.  If you’d ask me beforehand, I’d have thought Hussey was a shoe-in for that award.

And as an aside, the ICC waited until 10 minutes after the awards has been handed out to email to their mailing list and to journalists.  By then it’s too late, we all already knew.   These muppets have got to accept that social media is where it’s at and embrace 2010.