Print Wrap: Daily dose of headlines
Every morning Cricketnirvana brings you a roundup of headlines from the leading national dailies across the cricketing nations. Here's what some of the newspapers are talking about…
No simple formula for Hodge national recall
Australian daily, The Age reasons why Brad Hodge hasn’t been called up into the injury-hit Australian squad, in spite of scoring handsomely in the first-class circuit…
HERE'S what they say about Brad Hodge.
''My estimation of the situation, in dialogue with important people, has been that in big series if a batter goes down that Brad Hodge is the next in line.'' - Victorian coach Greg Shipperd, June 25
''The consistent message coming back, even though he hasn't been fortunate at selection for a number of squads and teams, is that he's still very much in their thoughts, that he is still the back-up, experienced player for the three, four, five slots.''
- Cricket Victoria chief Tony Dodemaide, May 15.
''He's obviously still in the mix, that's why he was contracted. Extremely close to selection.'' - Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch, May 20.
''In Test cricket he is such a fine player and as Brad's been told, if there is a spot in one of our critical [positions], if the three or four spot became available through injury, Brad would strongly be considered for that.'' - Hilditch again, January 12
The Australian chairman of selectors was speaking in the context of Test cricket, and in truth Hodge has been out of limited-overs reckoning since he was overlooked for this year's Twenty20 World Cup despite legitimate claims to be the world's best batsman in that format, and perhaps even since his poor limited-overs tour of India this time two years ago.
Still, it is hard to fathom that the Australian injury crisis, which has claimed nine victims, including two specialist batsmen in Michael Clarke and Callum Ferguson, has not tempted the selectors to reconsider Hodge, who reminded everyone of his class by opening the domestic season with scores of 195 and 114 not out in the space of a week.
If only he thought it would make any difference. ''There's no actual statistic, or amount of runs or boundaries you hit to suggest you get picked; that is the hard thing. If it was that simple - 'Brad, go out and make 1000 runs' - I would just go and do it,'' Hodge said on SEN. ''I'm not 100 per cent sure I could improve my game any more.''
Perhaps he should get himself a lobby group like Jason Krejza, one of his opponents in Victoria's Ford Ranger Cup game against Tasmania today….
Just because they're celebrities doesn't mean India need to get them out of here
The celebrity status, the high standard of living and the following of latest trend shouldn’t be held against the young Indian cricketers, writes The Guardian, a British daily…
After the Thrilla in Manila, Muhammad Ali was to say: "Joe Frazier, I'll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me." The cricketers of India and Australia appear to operate on the same principle. India, such a disappointment at the Champions Trophy in South Africa, have rediscovered their spirit. Australia, with an injury list that makes Rafael Benítez's woes at Liverpool look trivial, have shown the same fortitude that Frazier did on that long-ago night when he was reduced to fighting from memory.
After falling four runs short in Vadodara, India were markedly superior in both Nagpur and Delhi. When they then produced their best fielding and bowling display of the series – four run-outs included – to restrict Australia to 250 on a beautiful batting pitch in Mohali, it seemed as though the series tide was about to turn decisively their way.
They hadn't reckoned, though, with the laidback New South Wales player who has the champagne surname. Some will point to the fact that Doug Bollinger resembles Chucky from Child's Play, and he certainly haunted the Indians on a night when everything that could possibly go wrong did. Virender Sehwag cracked seven fours in a 19-ball 30 before lofting one to mid-off. It was the fourth time in the series he had got to double-figures, and not gone on to make a game-changing contribution. "He plays like he's opening for the Nicky Oppenheimer XI against a visiting side," said one former Mumbai pro, clearly ticked off by the insouciant approach. "It's 20 minutes in the sun and then off for a glass of champagne."
Sehwag's series tally of 94 is a poor return for someone who appears to have the measure of every bowler he's faced. But by bringing in Bollinger for the injured Brett Lee, Ricky Ponting took a clever step towards neutralising the Sehwag factor. If there's one type of bowling that he doesn't really relish, it's left-arm seam-and-swing. Chaminda Vaas got him six times and Nathan Bracken, another absentee, on five occasions (from just 10 games). There were also failures against Ian Bradshaw and Syed Rasel. Bollinger is considerably quicker than those four, all of whom made up for relative lack of pace by moving the ball in the air or off the pitch.
As the Indian chase floundered, it became easy to predict who the scapegoats would be. Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja made just 34 between them, and but for a helter-skelter 31 from Harbhajan Singh, the margin of defeat would have been far wider. Usually, young talents are indulged and largely exempt from vicious criticism, but in a game awash with IPL and Champions League money, that immunity is long gone.
In The Devil's Advocate, a Hard Talk-style show on one of India's news channels, Lalit Modi was grilled about the "undesirable" spin-offs of the IPL. The very first question – "How do you respond to the view that you have actually ended up damaging the quality of cricket in India and affecting to the detriment the attitude of young cricketers?" – set the tone. Though Modi fought his corner with some tenacity, it was pretty clear that the conclusion had been decided upon long before the chat was over.
Stories of arrogant and obnoxious young men are eagerly lapped up, whether they be Premier League footballers in England or cricketers in India. Even a stray sentence can provide ammo if you're looking for it. On his blog for Cricinfo, Aakash Chopra, the former India opener, wrote: "The facilities on the domestic circuit are not a patch on those provided for internationals or even for the IPL. Some younger guys are quite unhappy about travelling to obscure places by 'cattle class' or staying in 'not-so-posh' hotels. One such cricketer made his unhappiness visible to all and sundry when he was told that his team's next match was on the outskirts of Maharashtra…."
Haddin at ease with position after break
Australian newspaper, The Sydney Morning Herald writes that Brad Haddin still remains Australia’s first choice wicketkeeper even though his replacements performed admirably well…
THE telephone rang. '''Digger' phoned and said, 'Where are you at?''' Brad Haddin said of the call he received from Test chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, confirming he remained Australia's first-choice wicketkeeper despite the kind of suckers to which Marsh referred, back-up glovemen Tim Paine and Graham Manou, performing admirably during Haddin's three-month absence.
''This is when Tim Paine broke down after a couple of games in India. I told Digger I still hadn't played, so I couldn't say for sure how my finger was going to hold up. I wasn't right to go to India to start with, and my whole build-up, after talking to the physio and the selectors, had been to get right for the first Test. If I'd gone over to India and my hand wasn't right, I'd be looking like an idiot. But if I was fit to go on that India tour, I would have gone. The selectors have been great through the whole process, and the rehab has always been based on me playing the first Test.''
All of which ends whispers about Haddin's place being under threat from the suckers. Haddin broke a finger before the third Ashes Test. Sucker number one, Manou, played and was smooth as silk behind the stumps. Perhaps mindful of Marsh's famous quote - meaning a Test keeper should never give a rival the chance to take his place - Haddin returned to soldier through the final two Tests. But his finger was a mess by late August, requiring surgery that inserted more bolts and screws than you get in a dressing room door.
Haddin missed one-day tournaments in England, South Africa and India. Re-enter the suckers. Paine and Manou have been more than capable replacements since August, outstanding at times, causing speculation to mount that anyone out of sight - Haddin - might also be falling out of Hilditch's mind. When Paine withdrew from the series in India after two matches, Haddin had been passed fit to play for NSW - but Manou was flown to the subcontinent instead. Two and two was put together and …
''I can see why people might have thought things had changed,'' Haddin said. ''That sort of talk doesn't worry me. All I can do is make sure when I get back in, I'm not playing injured like I was the last two Tests in England. Not that I regret it….
Amol scales Ranji peak
While Sachin Tendulkar made a record at the highest level, Amol Muzumdar former Mumbai skipper and now the captain of Assam cricket team became the highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy, reports Indian newspaper, DNA…
Mumbai: Day after Sachin Tendulkar scaled to the 17,000-run mountain in one day Internationals, his schoolmate and former Mumbai teammate Amol Muzumdar achieved a different peak.
The 34-year-old batsman became the highest aggregate scorer in Ranji Trophy with 7640 runs, surpassing the previous record-holder Amarjeet Kaypee's 7623 in India's premier domestic tournament while turning out for Assam against Rajasthan in Guwahati.
"I am at loss for words. It is a great to be there and it's a special feat. My phone has been ringing constantly and I am getting congratulatory messages from everywhere," Amol said after the fourth day's play.
He felt that a win on his debut as Assam captain (against Rajasthan) could have been an icing on the cake. "It was a very close match we were almost there. A win could have been great on this occasion," said Amol, who scored 22 in the first innings and 25 in the second.
The stylish batsman said he was anxious just before reaching the magic figure. "It has been in waiting for the past 5-6 months even my wife asked me when I would reach. It kept playing on my mind," he said.
"I wish I could have done something like this at the highest level but now I have come to terms with it and only look forward to enjoy the game," said Amol, who never made it to the national squad.
As far as Mumbai teammates are concerned, Amol said "I got a call from Wasim (Jaffer) and he congratulated me. It was nice to hear from him. I thank all my colleagues and Mumbai players who have supported me on this occasion," he added.
On Sachin's new world record, Amol said "Sachin has been phenomenal. I would like to wish him for his feat." He is also 395 runs short of 10000 runs in first class matches and is looking forward to it. "I did know about that but I will take it step by step and not hurry things," he signed off.
