bowling

Graeme Swann: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I want to do them and their family ill. I want to hunt them down and do them harm. That feeling doesn’t last long.”

Graeme Swann feels murderous when any of his teammates misfield off his bowling.

What he really meant:

“I’m a skinflint when it comes to leaking runs off my bowling and I expect my teammates to feel the same way too.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I was on the back-up team to hunt down Osama Bin Laden.”

Geoffrey Boycott: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“India looked like Bangladesh in disguise.”

Geoffrey Boycott is scathing in his criticism of the Indian cricket team. “Their ground fielding was atrocious, their bowling was wayward and lacking thought.” says the Yorkshire great.

What he really meant:

“I’m sure Bangladesh would have put up a better fight. England beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in three Tests, and yet the No.1 side are down 0-2 in two. Yeah, I forget, they won’t be No.1 after this series.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Duncan, you can go home now. I’d like to coach this Indian side.”

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?”

Gautam Gambhir: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“It looks like Afridi is still behaving in the manner as if he is still the 16-year-old making his international debut. He is still immature. It was my personal wish to pay tributes to the 26/11 victims."

Gautam Gambhir believes that Shahid Afridi has not yet outgrown his adolescence and behaves like a spoilt brat. The left-hander was reacting to the former Pakistani skipper’s comments that Indians are not large-hearted after Pakistan lost to India in the World Cup semis.

What he really meant:

“Afridi has not changed—neither his batting nor his behaviour.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I learnt how to win friends and influence people from Afridi.”

Kirk Edwards: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"I use my feet. Whether it’s Harbhajan or not … I don’t play names."

Kirk Edwards is not intimidated by Harbhajan Singh or any other spinner. He’s got twinkling feet.

What he really meant:

“I play each ball on its merits. It doesn’t matter to me who’s bowling.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Does Bhajji turn the ball?”

Kirk Edwards: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I never saw Viv leave a ball because I only saw highlights.”

Kirk Edwards is a debutant with panache—with bat and microphone. Viv Richards was his childhood hero whose batting he saw only in highlights. Edwards had to learn to leave the ball in the traditional manner—through coaching.

What he really meant:

“Viv Richards never left a ball go by, I swear!”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Viv Richards made bowling look easy.”

Simon Katich: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“He [Sachin Tendulkar] is an inspiration to all of us older guys, because he was written off a couple of years ago, ironically by one of our selectors, and the fact is he has proved him wrong.”

Simon Katich informs the Australian press that selectors are not infallible, pointedly referring to Greg Chappell’s comments on Sachin Tendulkar in the past. 

What he really meant:

“If Sachin can bat, bowl and field—at his age—with the abandon of youth, can’t I, too? A big X for Greg.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Greg prodded and spurred Sachin to greater heights.”

“Saurav Ganguly will vouch for Greg’s excellent track record.”

What they said, meant and definitely didn’t: A B De Villiers

What he said:

“I really can’t pin-point anything that we are doing wrong except for bad fielding, bad bowling and bad batting.”

A.B. De Villiers on the problems with the Royal Challengers Bangalore team.

What he meant:

“We’re not playing cricket, really!”

What he definitely didn’t:“It was a team dare. Can we play worse than the television experts comment? I guess, we did.”

Virender Sehwag bats out a maiden over, to bookies’ distress (Satire)

Indian bookies are disappointed with Virender Sehwag.

The dashing Indian opener played out a maiden over against Lasith Malinga in a group encounter for Delhi Daredevils against Mumbai Indians.

The bookmakers are believed to have suffered heavy losses. The odds against such a happening were astronomical.

Continue reading →

ICC World Cup 2011: Why wait? Take the power-play and sustain the momentum

The batting power-play—is it a boon or a bane?

Teams have benefited and teams have suffered in this crucial period of the innings.

There are two schools of thought as to when the batting power-play should be taken.

Continue reading →