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Saurav Ganguly: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“They are offering me honorary membership, and rightly so.”
Saurav Ganguly is insouciant about being offered honorary membership by the Marleybone Cricket Club (MCC) despite the disapproving eyebrows raised by his fellow commentator Nasser Hussain and traditionalists for his shirt-ripping stunt a few years ago at Lords.
What he really meant:
“It’s not the old stuffy Lords anymore. These guys recognise South Asian cricketers nowadays. Ask Sunny Gavaskar, ask Kumara Sangakkara.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I’ll accept the honour bare-chested.”
Kevin Pietersen: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“But we don’t hate the Indians, we are friends with them.”
Kevin Pietersen—in his column—emphasises that his team enjoys a friendly rivalry with the Indian cricket team.
What he really meant:
“Of course, we’re pals. RCB, IPL, Vijay Mallya, cheerleaders—our common interests.And cricket, of course.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Bamboozle me, Yuvi.”Shane Warne: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“It will be a shoot-out between both bowling attacks."
Shane Warne believes that the better bowling side will take the honours in the India versus England Test series, beginning on the 21st of July, 2011.
What he really meant:
“The faster and the more furious, the better.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“It’s the Wild West all over again. Hey, wait a second, was cricket played out there—then?”Andrew Strauss: What he said, what he really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"We don’t want that fairytale to come true though."
Andrew Strauss is certain that his team has no intention of gifting Indian maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, his 100th century on the occasion of the 2000th Test —also the 100th five-day match between the two sides.
What he really meant:
“Fairy tales are bedtime reading. Tons are hard won. The only magic is hard work and grit.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“We’ll have Kevin Pietersen, our Prince Charming, bowl to Sachin.”
Andrew Strauss: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"No-one has a God-given right to play in the XI.”
Andrew Strauss is faced with a problem of plenty for the first Test against India at Lords.
What he really meant:
“The starting XI is to be the best form players of the moment. A place in the XI has to be earned, it’s no gift.”
What he definitely didn’t add:
“Not even me.”
Rahul Dravid: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“We are still getting used to his sense of humour. But he has got one — a very good one when you get to know him.”
Rahul Dravid and the rest of his buddies in the Indian squad are getting to know the Indian coach, Duncan Fletcher, better, beginning with his sense of humour.
What he really meant:
“Fletcher’s sense of humour is growing on us. It’s like sushi—an acquired taste.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Fletcher’s a stand-up comedian.”
Andy Flower: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“So his job is not to rough up the opposition. It is not to be this ridiculous enforcer.”
Andy Flower feels that Stuart Broad should reinvent himself for the series against India. He ought to be more than just a bounder who bounces out the opposition.
What he really meant:
“Enforcer? What kind of trash talk is that? Cricket is a gentleman’s game.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“’Stuart the Enforcer’ had a great ring to it.”David Lloyd: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"If you look at Nadal, Djokovic and Federer when they come on the court, they have a demeanour.They are exceptionally well-dressed and clean-shaven. Andy doesn’t come on like that."
David Lloyd, former English Davis Cup captain, feels that Andy Murray lacks an on-court presence unlike his rivals, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
What he really meant:
“I really don’t feel a beard suits Murray but since I’m not qualified to talk about fashion sense, I’ll just link that to his lack of Grand Slam wins.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I love Bjorn Borg.”
Alastair Cook: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“The cricketing gods might look down in a bit of disgust.”
Alastair Cook is not too happy with Sri Lankan batters, who appeared to lose sight of the target in the attempt to ensure that Dinesh Chandimal reached his century at Lord’s.
What he really meant:
“The rain gods did not oblige us with a wash-out. Why should they favour Sri Lanka and particularly Dinesh Chandimal? ”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I would not have had much to say had Sri Lanka batted first.”
“I’d better say something critical before any one points out how long I took to make my ton.”
Chris Gayle, Indian cricket team and Anirudha Srikkanth
Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle, Chris Gayle, Chris Gayle.
It’s all about the West Indian opening bat.
Will he ever play for the Windies again?
The solution to this riddle may lie with Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The heads of government opted to resurrect the prime ministerial sub-committee on cricket to resolve the dispute.
For uninterested outsiders, it becomes harder and harder to sympathise with the Jamaican player. Not because the decision taken by the West Indian Cricket Board is fair, but because it seems he’s crying himself hoarse despite being richer to the tune of $265,000 plus his RCB fee of $400,000. Being a free agent has its perks when you’re Chris Gayle.
Dr. Ernest Hilaire and Dinanath Ramnarine are the other high-profile faces of the warring sides in this drama. The man in the centre of the storm is Ottis Gibson, the West Indian coach.
Gibson is a former player from Barbados who played a couple of Tests snaring three big wickets in Alec Stewart, Darren Gough and Jacques Kallis. Gayle appears to have more than a few issues with the current coach, a common thread repeated by Shivnarine Chanderpaul among others. A resolution to the crisis can only happen if Gibson is shown the door. Every predicament has a scapegoat.
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