All posts by csb10.top

Rajiv Shukla, the chairman of the IPL, has denied reports that the Twenty20 tournament’s popularity has declined, and said that the “response [this year] is rocking” and that “IPL 5 will be a super success”. However, he conceded that the IPL has increased the likelihood of players getting injured, but said the BCCI has taken steps to ensure they are treated properly.While crowds have filled stadiums for most games so far this season, Television Viewer Ratings have continued to drop. The first 16 games posted a TVR of 3.65, down from 4.00 a year earlier and 4.61 in 2010, according to TAM Sports, a division of Tam Media Research, a leading television ratings agency in India. Set Max, which telecasts the tournament, has also signed fewer advertisers and sponsors this year. Despite these indications, Shukla believes reports of the IPL’s decline have been exaggerated.”I think it is a myth,” he told in an interview. “I don’t think you are aware of the facts.” Shukla said there has been a 56% increase in internet viewership and that while television ratings have declined, that is true of the industry as a whole and that the measure of what makes a popular show has changed.”If you look at the TRPs, [for] all metros it is between 7 to 10 [for the IPL]. And the paradigm has also shifted. Those shows which used to get 7, 8, 9, 10 TRPs, if they can get 2 or 3, they are actually good shows.” One explanation for the downturn in ratings, Shukla said, is TAM’s expanded coverage, which now includes smaller towns with a population of at least 100,000. That, in turn, has diluted the effect on the ratings of the tournament’s popularity in bigger cities.According to Indiantelevision.com, the opening game of the IPL between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings drew a rating of 6.13, the highest of the season so far but well below the 7.77 rating for the opening game last year and 6.95 the year before. The IPL did give Set Max four of the top five rated shows between April 4 and April 10, but while the Delhi Daredevils game against Kolkata Knight Riders posted a 5.56 rating, the other two games had ratings under 4.00. The lowest rated game from the first week was between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Daredevils, which drew a TVR of just 2.68.Perhaps more worrying for the IPL is that it posted its first ever decline in the total number of people who have watched the show to this point, while advertisers have also adopted more of a wait-and-watch approach. Three major brands – Parle, LG Electronics and Godrej – chose not to continue their association with the league this season. Alok Bharadwaj, senior vice-president of Canon India, told the earlier this month that advertisers are starting to consider other options as their returns from the IPL are not proportional to the increasing costs. Canon has reportedly cut down its spending on the league by 80%.However, Shukla claimed that sponsors had not abandoned the league and said that a better picture of the ratings and viewership would emerge once the tournament had ended. “You are trying to analyse it on the basis of one or two weeks,” he said. “Let the IPL finish and then I’ll talk to you … none of the sponsors have gone away. Everybody is with us. Whatever rights we are selling, it is going on higher price. I am running the shop so I know.”Shukla also said that broadcasters Set Max were pleased with the ratings of the tournament so far and had not complained to the BCCI about sponsors or ratings. “They are very happy. Will they come to you to complain? They haven’t complained to us. There is no such problem.”In an interview with on April 16, Rohit Gupta, the president of Multi-Screen Media (MSM), which owns Set Max, said that 35% to 40% of the channel’s ad inventory was still unsold but that it was early days and he expected the ratings to rise as the tournament progressed. “You actually need just two or three games to do well, which are closely fought games to then build the interest levels.” Gupta said he was in talks with more sponsors and advertisers and anticipated selling most of the inventory over the duration of the tournament. Last season MSM had managed to sell about 90% of its inventory before the tournament started.Where Shukla did admit there was a problem was in the case of player injuries. The issue came to the forefront last year after Gautam Gambhir was diagnosed with a shoulder injury during the tournament and Virender Sehwag opted to delay shoulder surgery until Daredevils were out of the running for a place in the playoffs.”Because of these matches, sometimes injury problems do occur,” Shukla said. “What we have done this time is [to] ask BCCI physios to stay in touch with the physios and trainers of all the franchises, so if there is any injury, timely action is taken. Apart from that, we have a large group of players. Now for every slot we have five, six alternatives, so if somebody is injured, we immediately replace him. So Indian cricket is not affected.”Shukla also said that no player is being made to play the tournament against his will. “If anybody is feeling fatigued, has any injury, he should immediately inform the BCCI or the IPL secretariat and he will be given adequate rest. Nobody is being forced to play, irrespective of how big is the player.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKieron Pollard scored his second ODI hundred with a brutal display of power hitting in St Lucia•Associated Press

Kieron Pollard at his most brutal left Australia with an insurmountable challenge at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia as West Indies took a 2-1 lead with one to play in an ODI series that is rivalling their wildest dreams. Pollard produced a memorable display of power hitting, 102 slugged from 70 balls to vanquish an Australian side that West Indies had come to regard as virtually unbeatable.After a demoralising run against Australia of 13 defeats in 14 ODIs (the other being a no-result), West Indies now have two wins and a tie from their last three games. No side had ever scored more on this ground batting second than West Indies’ 284 for 5 to beat England in 2004 and Australia had little chance to buck the trend once they had lost half their side for 112.That they got so close owed much to a considered half-century by David Hussey and a wrathful late assault by Brett Lee, who was struck on the arm by a beamer from Kemar Roach and, despite fulsome apologies, was sore enough in mind and body to take 24 from Roach’s next over, following three fours with two sixes flayed over long-on.When Lee struck Andre Russell down the ground for two successive sixes, he surpassed his highest ODI score of 57, in his 216th match – and Russell had done nothing to vex him at all. Roach finally got his man in his final over, last out, caught at long-off, with 22 balls remaining.Pollard had reached his hundred in the final over of West Indies’ innings when he slugged a short ball from Lee over midwicket for six, a shot that looked as ponderous as it was effective. It was only his second ODI hundred in 55 attempts (he had only passed 50 four times before), but his threat is growing as an ODI average rising from 19 to 26 in the last year testifies. “It’s only one of two,” Pollard said. “I’m just trying to learn my craft. Some of those sixes I didn’t middle.”

Smart stats

• With their 42-run win in the fourth ODI, West Indies are on the verge of winning their first ODI series against Australia (bilateral series) in 17 years. Their last series win was in 1995 at home when they won 4-1. In the 1999 series, they drew 3-3 with one tie in Guyana.

• The century is Kieron Pollard’s second in ODIs after his 119 against India in December. He now has 1255 runs at an average of 26.14 with two hundreds and four fifties.

• Pollard scored 102 off just 70 balls to push West Indies to 294. His strike rate of 145.71 is the highest strike rate for a 100-plus score by a West Indian batsman against Australia and the fourth-highest overall for such a score by a West Indian.

• Pollard, who hit eight sixes during his knock, is now level third on the list of West Indian batsmen with the most sixes in an ODI innings. Pollard also holds the second position too with 10 sixes in Chennai against India. The eight sixes is also a record in an ODI innings against Australia.

• West Indies scored 134 runs in the last 11 overs of the innings. This is the second-highest aggregate for them in the last 11-over period since 2005. The highest for them is 141 against Pakistan in Adelaide in 2005 when Brian Lara made 156.

• The 19 sixes hit in the match is a record for the most number of sixes hit in a West Indies-Australia ODI.

• West Indies’ score of 294 is their third-highest overall and their second-highest first-innings total against Australia. They have lost on only one occasion after scoring over 280 in their first innings.

• Sunil Narine’s economy rate of 2.10 is the best for West Indies against Australia since Mervyn Dillon’s spell of 4 for 20 in ten overs in 1999 (ten-plus over spells).

• Brett Lee made his highest ODI score. Lee hit five sixes during his knock and took 24 runs off Kemar Roach’s ninth over.

West Indies’ innings, stagnating for long periods, finished in a mood of revelry. They took 23 from the final over from Lee, Darren Sammy rounding things off with 31 not out in 13 balls as if he briefly imagined himself Pollard reincarnate.Shane Watson’s decision to bowl first was out of character for an Australian captain. Perhaps the excitement of the journey north to St Lucia got the better of him as Australia finally escaped the slow surfaces of St Vincent. Instead, on a surface offering more pace and bounce – disconcertingly steep bounce on occasions – they ran into Pollard’s meaty destruction. “I wouldn’t do anything differently,” said Watson. “Pollard was impressive, no doubt. It was a beautiful wicket, but if we had taken our catches it would help.”After 39 overs, West Indies were 160-5, four overs of a Powerplay had brought only 15 runs and their innings was close to stagnation. Then Watson, whose seven overs had cost only 15, conceded 17 runs from his eighth as Pollard moved into overdrive. He had a lively ally in Andre Russell during a sixth-wicket stand of 94 in 11 overs that changed the complexion of the match.Pollard had his moments of good fortune and most of them involved Peter Forrest. Like most touring cricketers, he might not have known the whereabouts of St Lucia in relation to St Vincent but his sense of direction was equally lacking when it came to the exact position of the boundary rope at deep backward square.Pollard was only 15 when a venomous, flat pull flew through Forrest’s hands as he came in a couple of yards closer than he had to. Another mishit against Lee on 24 narrowly evaded David Hussey as he sprinted back at midwicket. Much punishment later, Xavier Doherty dropped a simple chance; and Forrest might also have caught Pollard on 81, but it required several TV replays before the third umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, decided that Forrest’s catch was illegal. It was hard to tell whether Forrest’s boot had brushed the rope but in any event his decision to throw the ball back infield as his momentum carried him over the rope was a lackadaisical effort.Pollard can destroy a fielding side’s bearings. He blocks more balls than most, but when he hits, he hits so powerfully that his blocking becomes irrelevant. Even when he did not quite middle a pull against Watson, late in his innings, leaning back like a boxer on the ropes, it careered for six over long-on, an area where he got roughly half his runs.Johnson Charles’ innings was made of different stuff. He is only the second cricketer from St Lucia to represent West Indies and was playing in front of his home crowd for the first time. He was angsty, understandably so, needing 30 balls to reach double figures. He encouraged the crowd into excitement with a straight six against Clint McKay but fell for 37 soon after the mid-point, holing out at long-on to an unusual dancing catch by Lee.Adrian Barath, back in the side after a hundred for Trinidad against Guyana a week ago, provided early impetus with nine fours in all in his 41 from 31 balls. But Marlon Samuels’ contribution was excruciating and Dwayne Bravo fell first ball.Australia’s reply malfunctioned as early as the second over when David Warner, one of the few batsmen capable of matching Pollard’s slugging style, spooned a drive against Dwayne Bravo to mid-on.Watson played smoothly for a while, only to pull Darren Sammy’s loosener to mid-on. Sammy’s short ball, not often regarded as devilish, enjoyed further spoils in his next over when Charles plunged forward at third man to hold a top-edged hook from Forrest and leave for ice pack treatment on a damaged shoulder.If Sammy’s breakthroughs frustrated Australia, two wickets in an over for Russell would have irked them even more. Russell, defying a knee complaint, could barely muster a limping celebration as he first had George Bailey caught at the wicket, cutting, and then two balls later defeated Mike Hussey’s attempted pull.Edited by Alan Gardner

Gerald Majola, the chief executive of Cricket South Africa (CSA), has been suspended with immediate effect pending the establishment of a disciplinary inquiry into the bonus controversy related to the 2009 IPL.The decision was taken after the CSA board of directors met in Johannesburg to discuss the findings of a government inquiry into the payment of unauthorised bonuses. The retired High Court judge, Chris Nicholson, who chaired the inquiry, had recommended Majola be put on 180 days leave with full pay, in accordance with his contract, to prepare his defence for a possible court case.The board of directors also appointed Dr. Willie Basson, an experienced cricket administrator and current chairman of the CSA transformation committee, as acting president of CSA until the annual general meeting in September 2012. Basson replaces AK Khan, who resigned the post on March 14, conceding that he had “failed to resolve the problem that has bedevilled our cricket for the past two years.”A board release said a disciplinary inquiry was required to address the findings of KPMG, the global auditing company, and the recommendations of the Nicholson Inquiry.Majola and other staff members received a collective R4.7 million (US$ 671.428) in bonuses after the hosting of the 2009 IPL and Champions Trophy but those payments were not disclosed to CSA’s remunerations committee and were picked up in a subsequent audit report as irregularities.KPMG was eventually tasked with looking into CSA’s financial affairs and found that Majola may have breached the Companies’ Act on four counts.The South African government stepped in after CSA did not make the findings of the KPMG report into the issue public and ignored subsequent legal advice by advocate Azhar Bham. South Africa’s sports minister, Fikile Mbalula, chose to intervene and set up the Nicholson Inquiry in October, 2011.The Nicholson-led committee found that Majola may have violated the Companies Act, and Majola is likely to face legal action.CSA has also requested North West to second Jacques Faul, the CEO of North West, to act as CEO in place of Majola until the matter is resolved.Khan had previously been vice-president, when Mtutuzeli Nyoka was president, and had, in that capacity, headed an internal inquiry into the bonus controversy, which saw Majola let off with a caution. The investigation concluded that Majola had been naive in not declaring the bonuses, rather than intentionally deceptive. CSA has now rescinded all the decisions made based on the investigation chaired by Khan.Edited by Dustin Silgardo

Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag – the only two double centurions in ODI cricket – will provide the main points of discussion when the selectors assemble in Mumbai tomorrow, to pick a 15-man squad for the Asia Cup. This meeting is touted to be the “toughest and the most pivotal” for the selection panel led by Kris Srikkanth, during which the selectors are likely to axe an underperforming Sehwag and consider the ODI future of Tendulkar.Tendulkar has yet to inform the board about his availability – or unavailability – for the Asia Cup. Previously, whenever Tendulkar had decided to opt out of a series, he had notified the board in advance, the situation with the veteran batsman being what one board official described as “an uncontrollable”.MS Dhoni is likely to lead the team – as opposed to being rested – to Dhaka for the tournament that begins on March 12. Zaheer Khan will be rested and a valuable cameo of 40 not out against Sri Lanka in Hobart may have given Suresh Raina a fresh lease of life following his disappointing tour of Australia.”It will be the most pivotal meeting,” a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo. “It might set trends for future selections.” As far as Sehwag goes, there seems to be a growing impatience among the selectors with the way he has been getting out on the Australia tour – first during the Test series and in the last month in the Commonwealth Bank tri-series. In the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Sehwag aggregated 198 runs at 24.75. In the CB Series, he has managed 65 runs in five matches so far.It has been an incredible slump in form for Sehwag, whose last international innings, before landing in Australia was his record-breaking 219 against West Indies. “He keeps getting out to shots that he should not be chasing at all. His case is turning out to be a little awkward,” the board official, who had supposedly had a word with the selectors, said. “Dropping him and asking him to take a break is an option.”

Probable India squad for Asia Cup

MS Dhoni (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma/Manoj Tiwary, Irfan Pathan, R Ashwin, Rahul Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Ashok Dinda

The Tendulkar case is more complex and the selectors really do not have a straightforward solution. Tendulkar has been hanging on the precipice of hundred international hundreds for close to a year. “The pressure is evident,” the board official said. Though Tendulkar managed fluent starts in both the Tests series and the ongoing CB Series, he struggled to convert those into big score. In fifteen innings on the Australia trip till date – four Tests and seven ODIs – Tendulkar could manage only two fifties. But his quest for the record has started to mount pressure on the team, the board official pointed out.Dhoni had said at the beginning of the CB Series that playing all three of Tendulkar, Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in the XI would have a severe impact in the field, and India had initially employed a rotation policy for the three openers. Sehwag had subsequently denied having known that the trio’s fielding was one of Dhoni’s reasons for the rotation policy, sparking some speculation of a rift in the team. But it is understood that the selectors, in private, do agree that a youthful side is always a better option, especially in the field.”But the case of Tendulkar is unique. It is for him to decide when he wants to go out. He is an uncontrollable,” the official said. “The selectors will only take a call if the BCCI asks them to.”So, with no word from Tendulkar on skipping the Asia Cup, he is likely to figure as one of the many names Srikkanth and Co. will discuss while picking a squad with a probable break-up of eight batsmen, a wicketkeeper and six bowlers. In case the selectors decide to drop Sehwag, Ajinkya Rahane is a favourite to replace him. Rahane was part of the Test squad in Australia, but only warmed up the bench before returning to play for Mumbai in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.As for the middle order, the board official pointed out there is a hint of pressure on Rohit Sharma but he could still retain his place.Meanwhile Zaheer is likely to be rested after he managed to finish his first complete tour of Australia in three attempts – he had picked up a calf injury at the backend of the trip and the selectors would not want to push him too hard. Ashok Dinda, second highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy this season, is likely to top the list of potential replacements. Praveen Kumar and Vinay Kumar are expected to retain their places in the four-man pace attack, which could also feature Munaf Patel. Munaf, who was part of the World Cup-winning squad, has recovered completely from the injury he picked during last year’s tour of England.In the spin department, the selectors are still not convinced about Harbhajan Singh, and are expected to retain R Ashwin and Rahul Sharma. Harbhajan returned to competitive cricket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy after recovering from a shin injury in the early part of Punjab’s Ranji campaign, but has struggled for wickets, thereby weakening his case. “He has not done anything much,” the board official said.Edited by Nikita Bastian

ScorecardEngland Women continued their unbeaten start to their tour of New Zealand by beating New Zealand Emerging Players Women by 54 runs at Lincoln. It was their third consecutive win in the warm-up matches ahead of a five-match T20 series and three ODIs against New Zealand, which begins on February 17.Lydia Greenway led England’s innings as they posted a competitive target. Greenway’s 46 from 40 balls helped her side to 140 for 8. She struck four boundaries and shared 34 from 23 balls with Tamsin Beaumont, who made 13. But England failed to build a big partnership; Laura Marsh’s 19-ball 17 the best of a number of other small contributions.Greenway also provided England’s first breakthrough in the field with the run out of Janet Brehaut for four as England began sharply and easily defended their score. Only one partnership developed – Anna Petersen and Meg Kendal putting on 42 – but England managed to keep the run-rate slow and were always in control. Petersen was run out by Jenny Gunn for 41 as New Zealand’s chase ended in a whimper.”It was another solid performance from us,” Greenway said. “We got the runs on the board, stayed disciplined with the ball and took our opportunities in the field. And it was really satisfying to get some runs under my belt today before we head into the T20 series.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
James Pattinson and Peter Siddle took six wickets each in the Test•Getty Images

Australia’s fast men obliterated India with bowling of sustained hostility and direction to deliver a handsome 122-run victory to the hosts, on day four of the first Test at the MCG.James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle made a fearful mess of India’s batting, sharing nine wickets between them to bring a swift conclusion to a match that had fluctuated often over the course of the previous three days. In doing so they finished with the ball what had started with the bat – Australia’s tail deflated India in the morning by stretching the target to 292.Pattinson’s contribution on his home ground was telling, first stroking an unbeaten 37 then firing out Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman while also softening up Sachin Tendulkar for Siddle, who claimed him with his first ball after relieving the younger Victorian. The end arrived 70 minutes after tea, Australia claiming a 1-0 series lead in their quest to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.The result was a vindication of Australia’s team selection and the full length pursued by the team’s pacemen under the guidance of the bowling coach Craig McDermott. The captain Michael Clarke and the coach Mickey Arthur will now focus their efforts on ensuring the heights reached on day four in Melbourne are not undone by a poor follow-up in Sydney, as has been the pattern in recent Tests.By contrast India’s surrender exhumed the batting shortcomings exposed by the unhappy tour of England earlier this year. The difference at the MCG was that Australia had to counter a far stronger visiting bowling attack, on a well-prepared pitch that remained lively throughout the Test. It was watched by a 189,347 spectators, the most for a Test between Australia and India in this country.In the morning, Michael Hussey had added only 10 to his overnight 79 before receiving a blistering delivery from Zaheer Khan, but Pattinson and Hilfenhaus frustrated India’s bowlers with a stand of 43 that took the total to 240. Pattinson’s unbeaten 37 was his highest first-class score, and there are sure to be better days with the bat if he retains the technique demonstrated here.Hilfenhaus proved a worthy ally, playing one or two sparkling strokes of his own. The visitors slipped all too easily into run-saving mode against the hosts’ last pair until Hilfenhaus edged Ishant Sharma into the slips. The last team to achieve a fourth-innings target of such dimensions was South Africa’s 4 for 297 to beat Australia in 1953.Resuming with a lead of 230, Hussey and Pattinson began soundly, finding gaps here and there, and occasionally stepping out to attack bowling of high calibre. Pattinson’s good-morning cover drive to Umesh Yadav was the equal of anything managed by a batsman in this match.Hussey was fortunate to go past 80, flicking at a Yadav delivery that swung down the legside and getting the merest of touches – as revealed by Hotspot. Zaheer persisted, however, and soon he found a dastardly delivery that pranced at Hussey and moved away, clipping the outside edge on the way to MS Dhoni. An outstanding ball to conclude an outstanding innings.Pattinson leant into another consummate cover drive from Yadav, but on 15 he did not control a hook and offered up a swirling chance. Running in from fine leg but never sure of himself, Zaheer dropped it. From there each run accrued was painful for the visitors, the partnership assuming unsavoury proportions for India and making it past the drinks break. R Ashwin was introduced as Dhoni searched for the wicket, but it was ultimately collected by Ishant.Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir began the chase carefully, Sehwag even offering a rare forward defensive blade to Hilfenhaus. But he could not contain himself totally, and Hussey was delighted to grasp a sharp chance from a sliced forcing stroke as the interval beckoned.Gambhir’s angled bat outside off stump remains a source of considerable encouragement for bowlers taking the ball across him, and Siddle completed an unhappy match for the opener soon after lunch when a snick was held neatly by Ricky Ponting.Dravid and Tendulkar had provided the greatest resistance in the first innings, and in the second wanted to assume similar roles as Dravid dug in while Tendulkar was busy, scoring with pleasing freedom. But their union was to be split by Pattinson, who found a ripping delivery to seam between Dravid’s bat and pad, and have middle stump leaning at a drunken angle. Victim of two princely deliveries, Dravid was bowled in each innings for only the fourth time in his long career.Laxman completed a Test that returned three runs in 36 balls when he flicked heedlessly at Pattinson and presented a catch forward of square leg, Ed Cowan’s first in Tests. Australians with long memories held their collective breath while the umpires checked for a possible no-ball, but Pattinson’s foot had seemingly landed millimetres within the legal zone. So rarely has Laxman been dismissed so softly against Australia.By now the Australians had inexorable momentum behind them, and Hilfenhaus pinned Virat Kohli lbw first ball. Bat, pad and ball were all in close proximity, and Kohli lingered at the wicket upon his dismissal. However replays offered precious little evidence of an edge, even if India deigned to employ the DRS that might have saved him.Aghast at the chaos all around him, Tendulkar had been stretched by Pattinson’s speed, hostility and movement. Siddle relieved his younger club and state team-mate, and first ball gained the wicket Pattinson had so strived for. As dictated by team planners, the ball was full and moving wider, Tendulkar’s square drive was airy, and Hussey’s hands safe. At 6 for 81, evening flights to Sydney were being booked en masse, but Dhoni and R Ashwin picked off a few runs before the interval.Ashwin’s 30 gave him a more respectable batting contribution for the match than many of the rest, but he failed to ride Siddle’s bouncer, which skimmed off the wicket to produce a skier and a simple catch for Cowan moving around from short leg. Pattinson returned to the attack and became embroiled in a brief sledging match with Zaheer, the bowler striking a boundary over point and a steepling six over long on before squeezing another catch to Cowan under the helmet.Dhoni’s will to frustrate Australia ebbed away, and an unbecoming heave at Pattinson resulted in a drag onto the stumps. Ishant and Umesh Yadav resisted briefly, but Clarke called Nathan Lyon into the attack and Yadav obliged by swinging into the deep. David Warner held a smart catch to begin rich and deserved celebrations.