Another (made up?) controversy?

When I read this, I was majorly ticked off at the BCCI and the IPL and their interfering ways

Cricket: Indians frown on McMillan being in Sky team

4:00AM Friday Mar 13, 2009
By David Leggat

The IPL tentacles have reached New Zealand's television commentary team on the Indian tour.

Former international Craig McMillan is down to be part of the Sky cricket crew for the second test in Napier this month.

However, whether he gets to sit behind the microphone is unclear after Indian officials objected to his presence at the fourth ODI in Hamilton on Wednesday night, given his links to the rival, privately-run Indian Cricket League's Twenty20.

McMillan captained the Royal Bengal Tigers in the ICL. The Indian board, who oversee the Indian Premier League, regard the ICL as something to be scraped off the soles of their shoes.

The commentary team includes former Indian allrounder Ravi Shastri, who has strong links to the IPL, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and broadcast rights holders Sony. A Shastri-McMillan double act would have had IPL wheels in a spin.

McMillan was in Hamilton in a "watch and learn" capacity, said Sky's acting executive producer for cricket, James Cameron. Cameron had given Sony Entertainment Television, who carry Sky's images to the sub-continent, a list of commentators for the tour, including McMillan's name.

Cameron denied McMillan had been pulled from the roster at a late hour on Wednesday due to Indian interference, pointing out he already had six commentators on the job - former internationals Stephen Fleming, Simon Doull, Mark Richardson, Ian Smith, Martin Crowe and Shastri. Sky is in a holding pattern as it awaits developments. Shastri is returning home when the second test is on.

Cameron is reluctant to have his hand forced on who should be allowed to commentate during the series.

"They [Sony] have known all along my intention to use Craig," Cameron said. "I don't believe we should be dictated to. I believe if Sony have an issue then they should be providing their own commentators."

Now, I am not so sure

'Rebel' Macca silenced by sponsor

By JONATHAN MILLMOW - The Dominion Post

India's influence on world cricket has now extended to the commentary box.

Former New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan can't get a word in on Sky TV because of his link to the rebel Indian Cricket League, an organisation the Indian board views as possessing cricket's equivalent of rabies.

Sky has been warned that using "Macca" will upset broadcasting giant Sony Entertainment, which not only paid $1 billion to be the host broadcaster of the Indian Premier League but also holds the rights of all cricket televised out of New Zealand.

McMillan was in Hamilton on Wednesday night for the fourth one-day international but remained at the back of the commentary box.

He referred all comment on the matter to Sky TV's acting executive producer, cricket, James Cameron, who admitted McMillan's situation was a delicate one.

Cameron said McMillan had been pencilled in to commentate on the second test in Napier because Ravi Shastri had to return home for a birthday.

"Ravi mentioned there could be a problem because Craig played in the Indian Cricket League," Cameron said. "I've told Sony that Craig could be in the mix for the second test because I have a hole in the team but I've not heard back from them.

"I don't like the idea of us being told who we can and can't use but ..."

Ironically Shastri is on the board of the IPL.

Cameron said whatever the outcome McMillan had a future with Sky. "Macca is really keen, and at the moment he is with us to get up to speed and there is no doubt he will be in the mix."

(h/t Leela).

PS:- This video interview with Niranjan Shah

If the BCCI is so principled about the ICL and has issues with Craig McMillan being a part of the Sky commentary team, why is Sachin Tendulkar representing the BCCI in New Zealand?

Raising a piquant situation for the Board of Control for Cricket in India, it has come to light that master batsman Sachin Tendulkar [Images] had played alongside 'rebel' player Dinesh Mongia for Lashings World XI in two matches in England [Images] in June.

If

“Sachin Tendulkar was on vacation in England and he played a few matches for Lashings which are basically unofficial. So the Board has nothing to do with it,” Shah said when queried on whether any action is being contemplated against Tendulkar for playing with Mongia who is part of the ICL league.

then what is the BCCI's locus standi over who is a part of the Sky team of commentators anyways? Does the BCCI have a contract with Sky that allows it to dictate who can commentate?

And being principled, will the BCCI urge Sony to yank the Test match feed as an ICL player is part of commentary team?

And being principled, can we expect the BCCI to compensate Sony on the loss of revenue because of the non transmission of the Test match feed?

Demolition Derby

162/8 (20)
149/6 (20)
273/4 (38)
188/4 (28.4)
392/4 (50)
201/0(23.3)

6 games into the NZ series and the slow rumble of "roll out the green tops" is reaching a steady crescendo.

Listening to Simon Doull and Iain Smith on the commentary reaffirmed this - the Kiwis are totally in awe with India's batting prowess and don't have any answers to reverse the trend.Hence, "roll out the green".

Which may seem the right idea. But is counterproductive.

India's strength in Test cricket is its bowling. India's batting was always there - post the 2003/04 series in Australia, the Indian top 6 was considered amongst the best top 6's in the history of cricket.

Between then and now, what has changed is the bowling. There is more depth, more bite and more variety in India's bowling stocks than in anytime of its cricketing history.

And this is why the "green top" theory is counterproductive.

Think about this - on a wicket where NZ struggled to 270/5, India scored 201 runs without losing a wicket ( or breaking into a sweat). And the over by over comparison makes for an interesting read. NZ scored 6 runs or more 22 out of the 47 overs. 7 overs contributed 10 runs or more.

In contrast, India scored 6 runs or more 19 out of 23 overs. 8 overs contributed 10 runs or more.

Granted that the green tops will assist the Kiwi bowlers a bit more and will even control India's run flow. But, on the flip side, it will give India's bowling a huge advantage.. Recent history shows that India's bowlers have been better then the opposition in exploiting bowler friendly conditions ( Jo'burg, Perth, Old Trafford).

So while the Kiwi bowlers will get a leg up, the Kiwi batsmen will, in all probability, have to live the nightmare India's batters endured the last time we were in NZ.

NZ's best bet then - roll out the flattest wickets they can roll out. Sure, the Indian batsmen will notch up records. But it will keep the Kiwi batsmen in the game, and, with a little gumption and luck, the Kiwis could bat India to a stalemate.

Which wont be a bad result after all!

Ridiculous

33.4	Khan to McCullum, OUT, loud loud shout from Zaheer and after a while, the umpire agrees with him. It was a yorker on the leg stump, McCullum shuffles, tries to work it to the on side and is struck on the boot. Zaheer appealed. Umpire unmoved. Zaheer appeals again. Still no luck. He screams out, How zaattttttt again. FInally the finger goes up.
	BB McCullum lbw b Khan 77 (129m 95b 7x4 2x6) SR: 81.05

" No, you cant go back"

"Read the rules" intones Sir Ian Botham on the dressing room reaction following the Lendl Simmons dismissal.

Simmons stops halfway to the rope, as the dressing-room advises him to get a second opinion, but umpire Harper rightly shoos him away. You have to refer instantly, or not at all
6.2	Anderson to Simmons, OUT, staggering catch from Collingwood at second slip! Simmons was working that into the leg-side, it skims off the leading edge, and Colly saw it late and scooped it off the turf as he dived with his right hand
	LMP Simmons c Collingwood b Anderson 8 (12b 2x4 0x6) SR: 66.66

Depending on the camera angle, the ball looked either to have kissed the turf on the way to Paul Collingwood or he did a Ponting, grounding the ball before picking it up and claiming the catch.

Or maybe it is my eyes that deceived me.

In any case, referral or not, there is precedent here on the batsman staying on the field after walking halfway to the pavilion ( and waiting for the umpire to revisit the decision based on replays).

Think back to the first Test between India and England at Lords, 2007

83.5 Khan to Pietersen, no run, madness! Pietersen was beaten twice in the over, then gets one fuller outside off stump, drives hard, gets a thick edge, which replays clearly indicated hit the turf before Dhoni snapped it up! They all appealed, Simon Taufel raised the finger, Pietersen had already started to walk...then with the tv showing what happened - the ball did hit the grass just before going into Dhoni's gloves - Pietersen is called back from near the ropes. The third umpire is referred to and NOT OUT is the verdict. Pietersen was almost home when he looked up at the balcony and saw his mates waving him back. People will have their views on this, I'm all too sure...

Justice, ICC style!

Level 1
The Offences set out at 1.1 to 1.7 below are Level 1 Offences. The penalty for a Level 1 Offence shall be an official reprimand and/or a fine of up to the equivalent of 50% of the Player or Official’s match fee (as determined in accordance with sections I (3) and I (4).
1.1 Breach of the Logo Policy save for breaches relating to a commercial logo or player’s bat logo as defined therein
1.2 Abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings
1.3 Showing dissent at an umpire’s decision.
1.4 Using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or the making of an obscene gesture
1.5 Excessive appealing
ICC CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PLAYERS & TEAM OFFICIALS
E65A97
7
1.6 Pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner by a bowler or other member of the fielding side upon the dismissal of a batsman.
1.7 Public criticism of, or inappropriate comment on a match related incident or match official.
----

"A few of their batsmen were a bit lucky with lbw decisions and it didn't go our way, but if we keep bowling the way we have it's only a matter of time.

"If we bowl them out and get a healthy lead we're still in this series."

England used up their two referrals on Saturday, so were denied the chance for a strong appeal for lbw by Monty Panesar against Brendan Nash on 24 to be looked at again.

"It's certainly one we would have referred and we were pretty stunned it wasn't given out," Broad said of umpire Russell Tiffin's not out decision.

---

In a third hearing, Stuart Broad was cleared of any misconduct after Hurst ruled that comments made by Broad about the match officials were not derogatory.

"On the evidence presented, the actions of the player did not breach the ICC Code of Conduct," Hurst said. "While a comment attributed to Stuart Broad related to match officials and their performance, it was not specific, not perceived as serious in the context of the whole interview quoted, and not proven to be an accurate quote. Also, Stuart was clearly positive about the umpires in other interviews conducted after the game on Sunday."

--

Here are Soulberry.And Samir.

Game over!

2-0 Australia and a very convincing 2-0 at that. Congratulations to Ricky Ponting and his team for not giving the Proteas even a sniff. Very ruthless, very old school Australian.

So the ICC mace stays with the Australians for a little while longer while the South Africans introspect on what might have been.

Good game. And well played.