LINUS FERNANDES

ICC World Cup 2011: Ticketing fiascos and lathi-charges

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Cricket fans across India are left aghast and appalled by the CWC ticketing fiasco that culminated in a lathi-charge on eager fans at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on the 24th of February, 2011

Over 30,000 fans queued up to snap up 7000 tickets for the India-England tie scheduled for Sunday, the 27th of February.

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Ryan ten Doeschate ruminates over what could have been

Sir Donald Bradman’s Summer Of Delight

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Donald George Bradman made his Test debut for Australia at 20 against the 1928-29 visiting England side.

Although Bradman aggregated 468 and played in four of the five matches in the series, there was very little inkling of what was to follow in the summer of 1930 when Australia toured England.

The Summer of 1930 is recalled as “The Summer That Changed Cricket”. Christopher Hilton in his book “Bradman and The Summer That Changed Cricket: The Amazing 1930 Australian Tour of England” documents Sir Donald’s innings and the reactions to his stupendous Test aggregate of 974 in five Tests; a monumental feat that has not been surpassed in eight decades since.

Ponting destroys an LCD in the Australian dressing room

Australia captain Ricky Ponting smashed a television set in a fit of fury after being run out during a World Cup match against Zimbabwe.

ICC World Cup 2011: Ricky Ponting makes his excuses

Caroline Wozniacki better than Jelena Jankovic or Dinara Safina?

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The game of musical chairs at the top of the pile continues, featuring Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki.

The Belgian enjoyed a short spell as No. 1 before being swapped out by the surprisingly resilient Dane within a week.

The debate—whether the rankings accurately depict the state of women’s tennis—rages on. This does not detract from the luscious blonde’s achievements; it is a reflection of the fact that quantity can sometimes displace quality.

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Somdev Devvarman plays ‘God’ at the Dubai Masters

Roger Federer, who will be looking to win the Dubai title for the fifth time, will meet wild card entrant Somdev Devvarman of India in the first round.

Devvarman said:

“It’s definitely the biggest match for my career. He is a great player. Really happy to play against such a big player and looking forward to it. It would be a great opportunity.

“I will just keep my focus and try to win the match.”

ICC ODI World Cup 2011: Ode To Kenya, Just a summer of 69?

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(Sung by Steve Tikolo and his band of miserly men to the tune of Bryan Adams’ Summer of 69)

We got no real sixes
Bought it against a Kiwi side

Tried to bat but we just bled

Was the summer of 69
Me and the guys from Kenya
Obanda six and Tikolo a brace

Shoulda known we’d never get far

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Better cricket at the CWC but more money at the IPL

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The ICC ODI World Cup or simply the CWC may have better quality of cricket but it is the Indian Premier League (IPL) that will have more eyeballs and larger wads of advertising money thrown at it.

The big losers during the 90-day cricket extravaganza are entertainment channels,films and multiplexes.

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Sehwag Da Jawab Nahin!