GANGULY WINS ASIAN CRICKETER AWARD

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has been adjudged the Asian Cricketer and Asian Batsman of the year for his fighting comeback into the Indian team at the Castrol Asian Cricket Awards here on Friday.Though Ganguly was not present at the ceremony, his wife Dona took the awards on his behalf.The Bengal left-hander also expressed his happiness on receiving the awards in a video taped message.
Sourav Ganguly has shown that with class and experience, age need not be a barrier to success. He had a fantastic year in both Tests and ODIs and it was nice to see his memorable comeback to the India team capped on Friday when he became the first recipient of the Asian Cricketer of the Year Award at the Castrol Asian Cricket Awards function held in Karachi.And on that note Ganguly cannot be faulted for his performances in 2007. It was a great year for him with 1106 runs at 61.44 in Tests and then 1240 runs at 44.28 in ODIs.

Sachin Tendulkar was named the Best ODI batsman while Gautam Gambhir grabbed the honour in Twenty20. Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara took away the best Test Batsman of the year award while compatriot Farveez Maharoof was chosen as the Best ODI Bowler. Pakistan's Umar Gul was named the Best Twenty20 Bowler.Yuvraj Singh was given an special award for hitting six sixes in the Twenty20 World Cup against England.Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, not surprisingly, took away the Best Bowler award.

RAJASTHAN ROYALS DESERVING IPL CHAMPS

Rajasthan Royals held their nerve in a pressure cooker situation to seal the inaugural IPL title in the last ball before a jam packed D Y Patil Stadium in Navi mumbai on Sunday.Despite its share of controversies and the heady mix of glamour and cricket, the Indian Premier League's first edition would be best remembered for the triumph of the underdog wherein a retired spin legend inspired the cheapest franchisee of the event to title win.Rajasthan Royals grabbed victory in a very exciting final.Indian won the 20-20 final as an underdog with lot of new team members. Rajasthan Royals also do the same.

India’s newest cricket star Yousuf Pathan sparkled with both the bat and ball to guide Rajasthan Royals to a tense, final-ball triumph over Chennai Super Kings in the IPL final here on Sunday night.A galaxy of international stars might have added fizz to the IPL but it was India’s most improved domestic player who mattered most in the tense final.

Unlike in the two semi-finals, neither team held a clear advantage at the end of the first innings.The Chennai Super Kings paced their innings well, not trying anything too rash, and a collective effort took them to a fighting 163. Rajasthan Royals weren’t as dominant with the ball as they’ve usually been but Yousuf Pathan’s three strikes ensured that the game never really got away.

Warne-led Jaipur outfit chasing a competitive 164-run target got off to a solid start after the innovative Asnodkar got into the act but stuttered in the middle before Yusuf Pathan wrested the game from Super Kings with a blistering 39-ball 56. Pathan's knock left Royals with a not-so-diifficult equation of 8 runs in last over.

CONTROVERSIES IN IPL

IPL seems to make headlines for all wrong reasons controversies than exciting finishes of games.The Views and News taking a look into it.



First of this kind is very unusual in our cricket that a player slapping his own counterpart , own country men in very open ground. Sreeshant could have never thought that his habit of sledging would earn him a slap from an Indian. Harbajan was obviously upset over onfield behaviour of sreeshant and decided to use his hands rather in words as reply. But his 11 match IPL ban may not seem harch enough for a crime of that nature,anyway both of them may seem convinced to each other hughing in front of media.



Next comes the Dada , Warne controversy. Warne complained on sourav that he has not played the game in right spirit and asking an on field umpire to go for third umpire after smith took the catch , also letting the Rajasthan Royals to wait in hot ground as sourav came late for play. Though KnightRiders clarified that wait is not so long to be punished that it is just 70 sec. Ganguly later raised dust to it by refering th carear of warne which has lot of controversies in it. Both of them fined 10% of their match fee.



Now its turn of politicians to target the IPL. Thoese cheer leaders dress is in talk of covering very little skin. They even warned the franchise owners to cover the skins of chear leaders following the Indian culture rather to face any action against them.With millions of rupees being spent on these girls the franchise owners surely will do a rethink about them.

ITS IPL Vs BOX OFFICE

The news is that IPL tournament has made the Chennai Box Office (CBO) dull. Collections over the Apr 18 - 20 week end that coincided with the launch of IPL took the beating. The multiplexes were marginaly affected, sathyam cinemas vice president says that the collections marginaly affected by 5 to 10 % in the wee ends and 15 to 20 % in the week days. Other theater owners also claiming that their collections down because of the IPL fever.
There is also a thought in the industry that the newness of IPL is creating craze for it and once it became boring they wear out.



Most of the Big films are planned for summer release like Kamal.s Dasavatharam, Vijay's Kuruvi, where vijay itself being the brand ambassador for Chennai Super Kings(CSK).
Most of the stars are going on a vacation abroad in may to get away from the IPL mania, they were also upset ovet vijay and nayanthara riding on IPL thunder.Vijay however says that IPL wont affect box office and a well made film will definitely do well at the box office.

Well dunno when this IPL VS Box office fight gonna end , lets wait and see
SpecialSource - TheViewsandNews

INTERVIEW WITH DADA

How do you feel losing your place in the ODI's ?

It was a nightmare, really. Losing the one-day place was shattering. You will not believe it but I knew it was coming because I was not judged on cricketing merit. It was terrible.
I felt very bad, very hurt. You obviously feel bad when you lose your place. It was devastating, but a lesson too. Cricket is a great learning experience.

How's it to be without playing cricket ?

Life is not just cricket. The time spent at home was quality time and mattered more than anything else. For almost 12 years, I have been hopping from one country to another, one city to another, catching flights, living out of suitcases.
It made me a better person in many ways. I could handle pressure better, judge success and failure in the right perspective. My perspective towards life changed. I would say that it was the most important phase of my career and helped me get my confidence back.

Is Fitness the reason for your ommision from ODI Team ?

Fitness? What is fitness? If I was not fit, I would not have survived this long. I have worked hard and survived by scoring runs and taking wickets. I did it the hard way, and with support from my fans.


Your Experience as stint of Indian skipper and losing that position ?

It was a huge honour to lead India but when I lost my captaincy, it also gave me a lot of time to work on my game. I just did not give up. I set myself a time period. I had achieved almost everything in cricket — played Tests, one-dayers, captained, and done well in World Cup. I had to come back, and I knew I could. I just gave it everything that I had.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MS DHONI

You are the T20 World Cup winning captain, the skipper of India's first-ever Tri-series triumph Down Under too. Now that expectations are bound to multiply, are you under more pressure as captain?

I always go by my own expectations. Of course, it's important to perform well and give your hundred percent. There will be additional responsibility on all guys after our showing in
Australia, but we should not get burdened under the weight of huge expectations.
We should know what we are capable of and what we should do to get the desired results.

Did you always lead your group of friends too before you suddenly got the reigns of Indian cricket?

I am not really a born leader. In fact, I haven't led any side before I became the Indian captain.
But I always back my instincts. When the Indian captaincy was given to me, I took it as a challenge and a privilege.

Since you never led any team before actually becoming the Indian captain, how do you manage to look so comfortable in what is a very tough job?

It is very tough and very demanding, no doubt. Cricket is a religion in India. The expectation levels are too high. We play right through the year and people want us to win every game wherever we play. I guess if you have a good side with lots of potential, it eases the pressure
on you.

Some comments have been attributed to you suggesting that you tried to create a divide between seniors and juniors. It also gave the impression that your success has gone to your head?

A lot has already been said about it, I think I am a fairly level-headed guy. My team knows it and all the seniors know that I have a lot of respect for them. It was a needless controversy.
The team is strongly united. The players love and respect each other. That's what matters to me.

But the fact that BCCI chief Sharad Pawar had to intervene and actually drive home a point by announcing that you got the job only on the recommendation of Sachin Tendulkar...

Sachin Tendulkar is my childhood hero. I watched cricket only because of him and started playing the game too because of him. So I take it as a privilege that he found me worthy enough for the job. I am also grateful to the BCCI chief for making it clear that there's no division within the team. This is like one big family.
When I started playing for India we had great role models in the team like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag. I have always respected, and appreciated what every senior in the side has achieved because I know the kind of hard work and sacrifice that is needed to be successful at this level.
I have been impressed by Tendulkar's focus and devotion, Dravid's discipline, Kumble's determination, Ganguly's never-say-die attitude and Sehwag's audacity and will to dominate the bowling.

Did you ever dream of such a turnaround in your life and career?

I don't dream much. I live in reality. I plan for the future and I believe in taking one step at a
time. But, I give more than hundred per cent not just in matches but also in practice sessions. Luckily, I've been pretty successful in whatever I have touched so far.

MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI- THE MOST LUCKIEST PERSON

Mahendra Singh Dhoni captain of the Indian cricket team is the most luckiest cricketer i have ever heard. Whenever he throws the ball to someone to bowl they took a wicket and whenever he gives the bat to someone they perform well in the match.Currently he is acting as the captain of the Indian test team against South Africa due to the absence of test skipper Anil Kumble . In the third match he gave one chance to Yuvraj Singh to bowl and he took a wicket.Part time bowlers bowled well and they restrict South Africa for just 265.

In Dhoni's interview he tells that its his instinct to give the ball to Yuvraj. The same thing happened in the twenty twenty finals in which he gave the final over to an inexperienced bowler Joginder Sharma . Whenever Dhoni acts according his instinct he wons the situation. We have to wait and see what about his performances in the future.

NOW ITS ....... AKHTAR VS INZAMAM

A new twist in the akhtar story as he complained about former skipper Inzamam and keeper Moin Khan. The latest Shoaib Akhtar saga threatens to take an ugly turn with former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq threatening to take legal action against the 'bad boy' of Pakistani cricket.
Shoaib has alleged in a TV show that Inzy and Moin offered him money to underperform. The former Pak skipper shot back saying he and Moin were considering about the issue and the action to be taken against akhtar.
In an interview to Pakistani news channel Geo TV, had Akhtar claimed he had turned down offers from bookmakers in South Africa and India to under-perform.
For that inzy said that his whole career has been full of controversies, he also told that this ban was coming because of his repeated bad behaviour. Yes, five years is a bit harsh but the ban is totally justified,
During Inzy's stint as captain, Shoaib Akhtar has been involved in umpteen controversies - no wonder then, that the Pakistan captain had come out in support of the PCB when Shoaib was banned.

DHONI JUSTIFIES HIS DECISION

Dhoni captain of Indian Cricket Team justifies his decision to pick the young side for the common wealth Bank series.Dhoni says that he is pretty clear about the decision to pick the young side for the tournament.We all knew what would have happened if this side doesn't perform well in Australia.Would the people really behind the people or individuals ? To do well in Australia we should have a better fielding ,bowling and batting. He also adds that he is very fortunate that all players have performed well in the tournament.In cricket age factor should not be considered if a player is not performing up to his level we can drop him . But both the players are in peek form throught the tournament.Dhoni just find a better reason to drop Ganguly and Dravid.Dhoni's decision hurts million of cricket fans around the globe. Luck will not stay in one side for a long time.

Play ASHES on ur PC

HISTORY OF COMMONWEALTH BANK SERIES - AUSTRALIAN TRI-SERIES

The Commonwealth bank series is the cricket tournament held in Australia, in which three teams will participate including the host.The tournament was first started in 1979 as WORLD SERIES CUP .Later it was named as Carlton and united series , VB series. Presently the tournament is sponsored by an Australian bank Commonwealth . Three teams participate in the league matches, the first two teams which top the table will enter in finals. Australian Tri-series has a unique method of selecting the winners. They will conduct three finals . The team which has won two games among the three will win the cup.

Here's an interesting fact about the finals:

Out of three finals the team which won the first finals has won the cup 21 times out of 26 times.

currently India , Australia in the final rounds. India won the first finals..

Will India steal the cup from might Australians?????

AUSTRALIAN GROUNDS ARE NOT AN EXCEPTION FOR SACHIN

The master blaster sachin tendulkar proved that australian grounds are not an exception from his century feast. For the past 20 years of his career he made 41 centuries all over the world almost in all cricket playing nation's grounds. But till today Australian grounds remained an exception and also the 42nd century created a very big gap for sachin from the 41st as he missed this 42nd for more than 6 times in his nintees. Today will be the most memorable of one of his centuries for sachin as he made the 42nd century in SCG ( Sachin's Cricket Ground, as written in a banner by a fan) , Australia against Auatraliain the first finals of the commonwealth bank series. India comfortably won the first final with the help of the elegant 117* from the mastre blaster. Also with this century sachin ends the nervous nintees streak. The Little master once again proved that he is the DON of the Indian cricket.

SIMON TAUFEL LEAVES CRICKET....

Simon Taufel who topped in the ICC Elite panel umpire for the past four years announces that he will not continue in ICC after this March. The rude decisions against the umpires by the ICC may be one of reasons for his decision. Recently Steve Bucknor was ruled out of the INDIA down under series against Australia for his errors.

He told the Daily Telegraph that I am taking it year by year. It's important to spend time with my family, spend more time with my kids. I am always looking for new opportunities, not necessarily umpiring.

"There is lots of room for improvement with training and support at the ICC level," he said. "It's challenging. The difference between us and the players is we don't have a home series as such. That makes it harder. There are fewer opportunities for us.

Recently the pace spearhead Shane Bond and Adam Gilchrist announced their retirement from the International cricket.But they will play in IPL where they will get a huge money from limited work.There is also news that IPL is set to make an offer to Taufel.

ICC have to take certain steps to limit the number of International matches and increasing the count of Elite panel umpires.

A legendary Wicket Keeper Bids Adieu to Test cricket !

ADAM CRAIG GICHRIST

TEST STATS:

M    I      NO    Runs   HS      Ave       SR       100   50   Ct      St
96   137   20     5570   204*    47.60    81.98     17     26    379   37





Gilly waving hands and saying good bye to test cricket , cricket really gonna miss him.




fans applauding and saying good bye to gilly ...

WORDS OF PRAISE FOR A LEGEND FROM OTHERS:

"Adam has always set high standards for himself and he joined my ranks of games's greatest all rounder , second only to sir gary sobers " said STEVE WAUGH

"Gilly changed the way one looked at keepers , Gilchrist was larger than life and frankly, the pressure on whoever replaces him is going to be immense" , said ANIL KUMBLE

"Gilly is one of the greatest to have ever played the game, he was incredibly positive and his flamboyant nature equals the greats of sir viv Richards and other calypso characters" said MATHEW HAYDEN


"Adam Gilchrist has given more outright joy to followers of the game than any cricketer since Sir Garfield Sobers. He will be missed as a cricketing force, as a contributor and as an entertainer " said PETER ROEBUCK