Test 1 Day 3 Cardiff

6.43pm They're off. The umpires have offered the rain - it can't be the light - and they've taken it. Strauss is verging on apoplexy but that's stumps on day three. And another great one for Australia, for Clarke, for North. They now lead by 44 runs and are firmly in charge. With a less than bright forecast for tomorrow, England are in a very slippery position and need early wickets tomorrow morning before the rain comes tumbling down. We'll be back at 10.30am tomorrow, so do join us then.

That then, is the story of the day. A team that has lost 5 wickets and has a lead of 44 walks off the ground on the offer of light.

Light rain tonight. Heavy rain tomorrow. Light rain on Sunday.

History beckons!

Test 1 Day 2 Cardiff

Australia 249/1 Ponting 100*, Katich 103* trail by 186 runs.

348 runs scored in the day for the loss of 4 wickets. This on the back of 336 runs for the loss of 7 wickets on Day 1.

Attritional cricket all the way through and I expect the trend to continue. 9 overs before the new ball is available, so England wont be too displeased despite being batted out by Katich and the Prick on Day 2.

Australia's run rate is 3.5. Extrapolating this, it will take them 54 overs to over haul the England total. Then to build up a lead and give themselves enough time to bowl England out a second time.

There are 270 overs left in the test, weather permitting. Two innings changes, two opportunities to use the heavy or light rollers, 4 new balls, all 4 results a possibility.

For England, the new ball is going to be of paramount importance. They cannot let Australia get away by attacking the new ball - that will kill the Test for them right there. And in the 9 overs leading up to the new ball, it is imperative that they make run scoring as difficult as possible for the two set Australian batsmen.

Cut off the runs and attack with the new ball. And if the Australians can tide that, set in out fields to limit run making. There is another new ball available at the fag end of the day, so there is that additional opportunity right there.

If the Australians can be made to get the remaining 186 runs in 70 overs instead of 54, time will again be of essence. If the wicket has not deteriorated significantly, Australia will want enough time to bowl England out ( and leave themselves a window to get the remaining runs, if any).

Day 3 cant come soon enough!

PS:- The one thing that I will be keeping a look out for is the distribution of overs amongst the Aussie bowlers, when it is their turn to bowl. Given that there are 5 tests in 7 weeks, longevity is going to be important in deciding the fortunes of the teams. And given that the Aussie pacers have bowled 76 of the 107 overs in the England first innings, it will be interesting to see how the Prick handles the workload.

Of Cartels and such like...

However, board officials believe a "cartel" of the big four countries - Australia, South Africa, India and England - is building up, which will marginalise Pakistan and other, less profitable countries, raising concerns of a two-tiered cricket world of the haves and have-nots. This is one of the main objections that has been raised and is likely to now cause delays before the FTP is ratified.

"We have raised the issue with the ICC and said to them that there is a cartel building up of four countries and no cartel is ever a good thing," an official present at the meetings told Cricinfo. "They [the group of four] wanted to reduce the number of ICC events to two in four years also. The ICC is abdicating its responsibility here but they are realising it now at least."

It has also been learnt that there are no scheduled series between India and Pakistan in the FTP post-2012, indicating that relations between the BCCI and the PCB have yet to improve. The two boards have been close in recent years, but a change in administration within the PCB and a change in the political atmosphere between the two governments has changed that. The PCB's legal case against the ICC over the 2011 World Cup - set to continue now in the disputes resolution committee under Michael Beloff - has further fractured the relationship. The BCCI, say officials, has pointed to the uncertain political ties between the two countries as a reason for not scheduling any tours.

--

KARACHI: Pakistan’s cricket officials fear ‘substantial’ losses in the coming years in case their team doesn’t play against old rivals India but are hopeful that such a scenario will be averted with the help of the international cricket community.

A senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official told ‘The News’ on Wednesday that bilateral cricket exchanges with the neighbouring nation will be revived ‘sooner than later’ in spite of the fact that the Indians have been sending all the wrong signals about a possible resumption of cricketing ties.

“It is a case of ebb and flow when it comes to Indo-Pak relations,” said Saleem Altaf, PCB’s chief operating officer. “In 2004, India came here after 15 years. But I personally don’t expect it to be that long this time,” added the former Pakistan Test pacer.

In spite of what is a gloomy backdrop, Altaf is hopeful that India could tour Pakistan as early as next year.“It is certainly possible,” he said. “Efforts are on to find a solution for this issue and Iím quite hopeful.”

Pakistan are certainly desperate for a solution. According to an estimate, Pakistan suffered losses of more US$42 million when India refused to come here for a full series early this year in the wake of last November’s terrorist attack in Mumbai.

This led to a suspension of cricketing ties between the two nations, who had previously worked out a bilateral agreement of playing against each other on a regular basis.

If that bilateral understanding is reached again, then Pakistan will host India at least three times in the next six years and will earn an estimated US$135 million.

---

So why not in domestic cricket?

One thing which you would like to see changed immediately in cricket?
I would like to see leg byes abolished from the game. Also, I would like to see overthrows after a direct hit not given. The restriction of bouncers should be stopped too.

As Chairman of the BCCI Technical Committee, how about atleast making the recommendation?

Day 1 Test 1 Cardiff

MG Johnson	18	2	68	2	3.77
	19.6 to Strauss, and the bouncer does the trick! It's a quick one and right on line, Strauss can't get out of the way and the ball clearly takes his gloves and flies up in the air, Clarke runs back from the cordon to take a simple chance 67/2 24.4 to Bopara, and the slower ball does the trick! Johnson runs the fingers over this one and Bopara is committed to the drive, he mistimes it horribly and lobs it up for a simple catch to Hughes at point 90/3
	BW Hilfenhaus	23	5	61	2	2.65	(4nb, 1w)
	7.6 to Cook, GOT HIM! That's a catch and a half from Hussey at gully, as Cook felt for this wide delivery and Hussey flings himself to his right to snaffle a corker! 21/1 65.3 to Collingwood, got him - what a catch by Haddin diving to his right! Just outside the off stump, Collingwood edged it and Haddin moved a little late, but clung on with both hands 228/4
	PM Siddle	23	3	93	2	4.04

It was an interesting day at Cardiff, not because it was the Ashes, but because England showed a lot more enterprise when they batted while Australia played to type.

After all the pre series build up, it was England, and Peter Siddle, who showed up to play.

The ball swung all day ( except for the first hour) and there was enough spin at a fair pace to keep the spinners interested.

Unlike David Lloyd, I think 350 is more than enough on this wicket for a first innings score. England played 90 overs today and if they can survive for the first hour tomorrow, time becomes of essence.

If Australia want to avoid batting last, they will have to score at a fair clip and get to atleast 100 ahead to have a good chance of going 1-0 up.

Having said that, England have two spinners, both tall. And with bounce on offer, Panesar and Swann will be able to get more than Hauritz managed on the first day. Along with Anderson, a genuine swing bowler, with Flintoff and Broad being hit the deck type bowlers, England have the bowling bases covered.

Strauss can attack or defend as required. And if the English can extend their innings to beyond the first hour, it is going to be very interesting to see the Aussie game plan.

Also, it is interesting to note the number of overs the Aussie pacers bowled on Day 1. With the English innings still incomplete and another innings to follow, it will be interesting to see how the Prick manages their workloads ( given that their premier fast bowler is hors de combat before the Ashes started).

Given the way the game has unfolded, the middle session of the first day may yet come back to bite Ricky Ponting in the ass!

A little conspiracy theory!

Remember this

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today expressed “disgust” over “leaks” from closed-door selection

committee meetings but stopped short of denying reports of differences with the national selectors.

Dhoni had strongly opposed, in the selection meeting on Thursday, the decision to drop left-arm paceman RP Singh for the final four one-dayers of the series against England, to make room for Irfan Pathan. Confirming this, a national selector told The Sunday Express: “Dhoni was quite upset and angry when we decided to drop RP. There was a heated exchange on this issue during the meeting. Some things were said but this happens.”

Then there was this bit on the Fake IPL Player's blog

Apparently, Captain Kakdi wanted to play this tournament as a specialist batsman. His fingers are sore, swollen, all bruised and patched up due to all the cricket he's played over the last 2 years. And he believes that he commands a place in the side purely as a batsman as well. To my mind, that's a very reasonable demand from a guy who's taken Blues' cricket to heights never seen before. But not quite so for the Big Asses who run the game. He's been told that he doesn't get in if he doesn't keep wickets. Somewhere deep down they probably resent the fact that Captain Kakdi has become bigger than them in the eyes of the public. In their strange drug-induced reasoning, they believe that people stay up late nights to see these good-for-nothings in their pot bellies and ill-fitting safari suits at prize distribution ceremonies. I think someone needs to show them the mirror. Although finding a mirror to fit in their bloated egos will not be easy.

Then there was this

In a bizarre turn of events, the entire Indian team turned up at the pre-match press conference at Trent Bridge on Friday in a "show of unity" following media reports of a rift between senior players.

Once the team had assembled, captain MS Dhoni read out a statement to "the people of India and Indian cricket fans worldwide". The team, he said, was unified, "as good as it has ever been with each individual supporting each other on and off the field". He called the reports, published in the Indian media on Friday, of a rift between himself and Virender Sehwag "false and irresponsible behaviour".

Then, here are the teams selected between Nov 23, 2008 and today

India in Sri Lanka ODI Series, 2008/09
Only T20I: Sri Lanka v India at Colombo (RPS), Feb 10, 2009
India in New Zealand T20I Series, 2008/09
India in New Zealand ODI Series, 2008/09
India in New Zealand Test Series, 2008/09
ICC World Twenty20, 2009
India tour of West Indies, 2009

And now, the 30 probables for the Champions Trophy.

Is there a case that the selectors have been biding their time to get even with Dhoni for his remarks and, post the T20 debacle, they have the carte blanche to do exactly that? I believe there is.

Looking at the teams selected in the period between the spat and now, while the core has remained more or less stable, the fringe selections have more than raised an eyebrow. While each can be explained away in isolation, taken in toto, there is neither continuity nor is there a game plan. More and more, it appears to me as if the selectors have decided to limit MSD's choices.

And then there is the Sehwag injury and the subsequent nonsense. Till date, no selector has stepped forward to state that the selection was made in good faith because they did not believe the injury to be serious enough ( despite Sehwag missing a few IPL games owing to a different injury). And when the shit hit the ceiling, it was left to MSD to salvage the situation.

I also think that the selectors are over playing their hand - a team can only lose so much before public opinion turns against it. And while that may be a good enough reason to get rid of MSD, the greater problem of inflicting the team with self doubt and losing its ability to win will be detrimental to the selectors.

And with Gary Kirsten's contract coming to an end this season, there is only so much turmoil the team can take (if indeed he decides not to continue).

The Empire may be striking back, but are the selectors chopping their noses to spite their face?

Youngistan!

Between Jan , 2008 and July 6, 2009, India's ODI stats read

Played - 43
Won - 28
Lost - 11
N/R - 04

The top ten batsen ( in terms of runs) were

Overall figures

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
MS Dhoni	2008-2009	43	38	12	1729	109*	66.50	2029	85.21	1	14	0	109	24
G Gambhir	2008-2009	41	39	4	1551	150	44.31	1703	91.07	4	9	2	162	8
Yuvraj Singh	2008-2009	41	39	4	1445	138*	41.28	1424	101.47	4	6	3	145	48
V Sehwag	2008-2009	27	27	1	1361	125*	52.34	1073	126.84	3	10	0	184	33
SK Raina	2008-2009	29	27	6	946	116*	45.04	969	97.62	2	7	1	75	30
SR Tendulkar	2008-2009	18	18	2	722	163*	45.12	808	89.35	2	4	1	71	7
RG Sharma	2008-2009	37	35	10	634	70*	25.36	888	71.39	0	3	3	48	4
YK Pathan	2008-2009	26	17	8	241	59*	26.77	234	102.99	0	2	5	18	11
IK Pathan	2008-2009	22	14	1	231	38*	17.76	329	70.21	0	0	0	18	2
RV Uthappa	2008-2008	13	11	2	179	51	19.88	275	65.09	0	1	0	12	2

The top ten bowlers ( in terms of wickets) are

Overall figures

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
I Sharma	2008-2009	29	28	221.3	7	1265	42	4/38	30.11	5.71	31.6	3	0
P Kumar	2008-2009	23	22	179.0	15	891	30	4/31	29.70	4.97	35.8	3	0
Harbhajan Singh	2008-2009	28	24	186.0	4	886	29	3/27	30.55	4.76	38.4	0	0
IK Pathan	2008-2009	22	21	171.2	4	1015	25	4/41	40.60	5.92	41.1	1	0
Z Khan	2008-2009	18	17	147.2	19	656	24	4/21	27.33	4.45	36.8	1	0
Yuvraj Singh	2008-2009	41	28	143.4	0	765	18	4/28	42.50	5.32	47.8	1	0
MM Patel	2008-2009	16	15	106.0	8	520	14	3/42	37.14	4.90	45.4	0	0
YK Pathan	2008-2009	26	21	89.2	0	498	14	3/56	35.57	5.57	38.2	0	0
RP Singh	2008-2009	13	12	85.0	6	506	13	3/46	38.92	5.95	39.2	0	0
PP Ojha	2008-2009	9	9	80.0	5	336	12	4/38	28.00	4.20	40.0	1	0

Even making allowance for Rohit Sharma's form, with Tendulkar and Sehwag back in the squad, where does Dravid fit in?

Flawed

India Emerging Players squad: S Badrinath (capt), Virat Kohli (vice-capt), M Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Manoj Tiwary, Ishank Jaggi, Abhishek Nayar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Pankaj Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni, Pradeep Sangwan, Sudeep Tyagi

Probables: MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin, M Vijay, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Dhawal Kulkarni, S Badrinath, Ashish Nehra, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, Wriddhiman Saha, Pankaj Singh.

So Manoj Tiwary is good enough for the Emerging Players squad but not good enough for the 30 probables? And Irfan is not even good enough for the Emerging Players squad? And R Ashwin is the number 2 choice offie ahead of Romesh Pawar? And is Amit Mishra the go to guy for all three formats of the game ahead of Piyush Chawla?

And why is Rahul Dravid in the mix?

Is he there because, as Cricinfo puts it -

His inclusion follows the recent struggles of Indian batsmen against short-pitched bowling, brutally shown up in the ICC World Twenty20 where Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan were troubled by bouncers from the West Indian fast bowlers. The problem continued in the subsequent ODI series in the West Indies.

But then, didnt Gavaskar, during the Sardesai Lecture state

Gavaskar also saw Indian batters' perennial weakness against short-pitched deliveries as something that was not an added concern as he felt it was due to lack of familiarity with bouncers that did the batsmen in.

"There's a lot of cricket (that has) been played where there were not many short balls, and so the balance tends to be on the front foot. Then when suddenly there are short pitched deliveries, you couldn't adjust to it. I think that's what happened (to the Indian team). I think there need not be too much concern about it," he said.

And didnt this happen only at Lords, now considered the bounciest and paciest wicket in England? Didn't South Africa pay the price for replicating the short bowling tactic against Pakistan in the T20 semifinals at Trent Bridge, a far less pacier and bouncier wicket than Lords?

So, why are the selectors regressing?