Dont be hatin', Jon!

WHILE Cricket Australia opted not to attack the Indian Premier League yesterday, its silence is a bit like ignoring the elephant in the room.

Australia's decision to send Hayden home from the West Indies has raised eyebrows in the game. Not because there's any doubt about the legitimacy of the injury.

Hayden is - or was - a cricketing ironman, and has played at times more on will than fitness.

What is concerning is that this serious achilles tendon - a longtime issue - flared while playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

A Twenty20 tournament that may have transformed player payments, and be all the rage in India, but one that very few people are talking about in Australia.

A tournament that, here at least, no one really cares who wins.

Fair dinkum, as you Aussies might say.

But, by the same token Jon, shouldn't Cricket Australia also be sending thank you notes to the IPL for giving Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson and Luke Pomersbach a chance to shine.

I mean, seriously, how much of a household name was Shaun Marsh and how many columns were written about his exploits with the bat till the IPL came along?

And, if no one is talking about it and no one really cares, why would the Melbourne Herald Sun carry a 16 para article on Shane Watson's exploits in the IPL ( never mind the reams of paper expended on Shane Marsh)

SHANE Watson has finally got his timing right. The allrounder has put himself in line for Australian selection with his latest performance in the IPL.

Watson led the procession for the Rajasthan Royals by topscoring with 52 off 29 balls and then collecting 3-10 off three overs in his side's 105-run semi-final shellacking of Glenn McGrath's Delhi Daredevils.

PS:- Jon Pierik's newest article - on Shane Warne

Warne's ability to lift, through word and deed, rank outsiders Rajasthan Royals to a stunning win in the Indian Premier League final has added to the legend of arguably the game's greatest player.

And it now must mean Cricket Australia has to do everything it can to lure the magician out of retirement.

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Anyone who has stayed up watching the IPL can attest to Warne's fine form.

Refreshed mentally and physically after a year off from the international grind, the 38-year-old has lost none of his skill or guise.

He finished with 19 wickets, and conceded a relatively modest 7.76 runs an over.

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During the IPL, it again became clear what Australia had missed.

The least expensive side in the tournament, the Royals pocketed the $1.2 million prizemoney thanks to Warne's clever tactics and ability to inspire a bunch of no-name locals.

"His leadership was incredible," Australian teammate Shane Watson said.

So much so that there was talk yesterday that India would love to make Warne its next international coach.

Heh!

Why is Suresh Shastri umpiring in the Mumbai-Bangalore game when Mumbai have filed an official complaint against him and the complaint is pending decision?

Not in a majority of one

The worst part is that the third umpires who can view all the angles are creating the mess. What umpire Suresh Shastri did during the Mumbai Indian’s game against the Kings XI Punjab was inexplicable.

What angered the umpiring fraternity and the Mumbai Indians was his refusal to ask for the back angle when Dilhara Fernando’s shot was stopped by Tanmay Srivastava whose leg at the time had touched the boundary rope when the ball was in his hand.

No sooner had that happened than the small ball boys jumped with joy signaling boundary to field umpires who referred to the third umpire.

Had Shastri seen the back angle, he would have had to signal a boundary and the match would have been over in favour of the Mumbai Indians.

The third umpire has the option of asking all the angles, but apparently Shastri didn’t ask for the crucial angle.

My sentiments exactly

The dream is over

Deccan Chargers 147/8 (20/20 ov)
Chennai Super Kings 148/3 (19.2/20 ov)

Now, to play for pride! Beat Bangalore!!

Dewey beats Truman?

Jaipur, May 26 (UNI) Magnificent bowling by Sohail Tanvir and brilliant batting by N Patel led Rajasthan Royals to an exciting 5 wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in the second round IPL cricket league tie resulting into the exit of the later from the competion at the SMS stadium here tonight.

Memorial Day

a miserable one for me.. First Harry Potter, then the Dabbawallas and now the West Indians ( who look to be down and out for the count).

Just so wrong!