Gayle Force!!

You cant run away forever
But theres nothing wrong with getting a good head start
You want to shut out the night
You want to shut down the sun
You want to shut away the pieces of a broken heart
Thing of how wed lay down together
Wed be listening to the radio so loud and so strong
Every golden nugget coming like a gift of the gods
Someone must have blessed us when he gave us those songs

I treasure your love
I never want to lose it
Youve been through the fires of hell
And I know youve got the ashes to prove it
I treasure your love
I want to show you how to use it
Youve been through a lot of pain in the dirt
And I know youve got the scars to prove it

Remember everything that I told you
Well Im telling you again that its true
When youre alone and afraid
And youre completely amazed
To find theres nothing anybody can do
Keep on believing
And youll discover baby

Theres always something magic
Theres always something new
And when you really, really need it the most
Thats when rock and roll dreams come through
The beat is yours forever
The beat is always true
And when you really, really need it the most
Thats when rock and roll dreams come through...for you...

West Indies beat Australia by 7 wickets and 25 balls remaining.

The Flying Dutchmen!

WooooHOOOO!!!! WOOOOO !@#$%^& HOOO!

The Orangemen win!!!

YES!

Nahin toh tum log isko bhi ulta likhega

Cost/Benefit

Jamie Pandaram in the Sydney Morning Herald writes

It is bizarre that the IPL franchises, who are allowed 10 overseas players in their squad and can play four each game, have been left so powerless. The top three IPL teams that enter the Champions League - Deccan, Bangalore and Delhi - will not be overly affected this time around because most of their overseas stars will not be conflicted. However, in future years when the tournament expands and more key players snub their Indian franchises, it is foreseeable that IPL team owners will put pressure on home states to release them.

With a first prize of $US3m, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that back-room deals will be done before to the 12-team tournament, from October 8 to 23 in India. The three Indian sides will be joined by NSW, Victoria, South Africa's Cape Cobras and Eagles, Sri Lanka's Wayamba, Trinidad and Tobago, Otago and the two finalists from England's domestic tournament to be decided on August 25.

If Bangalore skipper Kevin Pietersen leads his Hampshire team to the final, he would have to choose between his club of four years or the IPL franchise that pays him $US1.55m.

I am not sure it is so cut and dry.

First, there is the price doled out per player . If an IPL franchise pays a franchise player $100,000 per season and stands to get $200,000 for the same player for the Champion League, there is a profit to be made right there. Case in point, Brendon McCullum. Otago qualified for the Champions League as did NSW. And NSW is paying McCullum for his services. If McCullum decides to turn out for NSW, doesn't Otago stand to make a tidy profit?

Second, there is the question of "home clubs". What is David Warner's home club, given that he is yet to play for NSW in the Sheffield Shield? What is Dirk Nannes' home club - Victoria, Delhi or Middlesex? Given that he is Dutch, who will make that decision?

As the tournament expands, the ambiguity in defining "home clubs" is going to become a bigger issue than the compensation involved.

If Otago had not made the cut, would NSW have to compensate anyone for Brendon McCullum's services? And if McCullum hitches his wagon with NSW, are NSW obligated to pay Otago for his services? Given that they already pay McCullum, is the extra cost justified? Ditto Dirk Nannes. And what about push back? Can teams refuse the services of players who wish to work for them?

And finally this - the whole "let the player decide on who he wants to play for" is going to be a huge dampener on further IPL auctions. Why would franchises pay top dollar for players if they are not convinced that the player in question is not going to show up for them in the Champions League?

As the league grows, these questions and others will become the bigger issues - with global TV coverage and added sponsorship deals, the transfer money will become insignificant compared to this.

Further thoughts -

If Harbhajan Singh is signed by Surrey, who then qualify for the Champions League along with the Mumbai Indians, does Surrey have to recompense MI?

If Abhishek Nayar is signed by the Titans for the Champions League and have to pay MI $200,000, MI make a profit of $100,000 after utilizing Nayar's services in the IPL. Will that be accepted business prctise for the CL?

Small ball.

Pakistan

Singles - 52
Twos - 10
Threes - 0
Fours - 20
Sixes - 0

India

Singles - 38
Twos - 12
Threes - 1
Fours - 16
Sixes - 2

Yes, Pakistan ran the singles more. But they did it in the latter part of their innings, specifically when Malik and Younis and then Misbah and Younis were at the crease.

The Pakistani innings was characterized by an all or nothing approach. And very poor shot selection.

And that is something they need to ramp up on. And fast.

India, on the other hand, need to work on how the begin and end games. With the ball. The absence of Zaheer Khan on the field is showing- and not just with the ball alone.

The thinking seems non existent and there is a very real sense of playing catch up. And India needs to address that.