February 2008

In the 1980's, VHS beat Betamax. Just a couple of weeks ago, Bluray was victorious over HD-DVD. Who will be the winner between the IPL and the ICL? One thing that has become clear this week is that the Indian Cricket League is not ready to roll over and die... yet.

Not content with picking up the crumbs of recently-retired Test cricketers, the Icicle seems to be either pouncing on players as soon as they retire, or maybe coaxing them into "retirement".

My two bits worth on the whole affair: a wrap on the knuckles was the correct punishment for Hayden. In context, he made a distasteful remark on what is inherently a distasteful radio program.

That other Twenty20 slogfest has just concluded in a gross mismatch at the Stanford CC, Coolidge, Antigua. Trinidad and Tobago has won the 2008 Stanford 20/20 after thrashing Jamaica in the final Sunday night.

Pardon me while my brain explodes...

"What Kapil and the watching millions witnessed was a day that changed cricket forever"

- Jamie Jackson, The Observer, 24.2.08

"The timeless game of cricket may just have changed forever this week."

- Stuart Barnes, The Sunday Times (UK), 24.2.08

"Wednesday changed the world of cricket"

"This is the second most important day in world cricket, according to me. The first was in 1994 when the monopoly of Doordarshan came to an end when we won the court case."

- Inderjit Singh Bindra, member of the IPL Governing Committee, discussing the IPL player auction, OutlookIndia.com, 20.2.08

Call me a cynic, but Bindra is not too far off the mark with this self-serving observation.

Discuss.

It's barely two years since I waxed lyrical on these pages about Ashwell Prince following his attractive 119 in the Sydney Test of 2006. He now has seven Test centuries under his belt, but his Twenty20 stats are almost non-existent.

"Lack of professional expertise in managing a sporting franchise of this magnitude seems to be a glaring gap, especially as a lot of these teams are led by what we call 'casual but rich fans' who are assuming their team will be in the top three."

- Anirban Das Blah, VP Globosport India, from the 3.3.08 edition of Outlook magazine

"I'm more IPL savvy. And I'm reading the sports sections more now. My interest in cricket will take time."

- Preity Zinta, co-owner of the Mohali IPL franchise, in an interview with Times of India, 22.2.08

Buyers came away the big winners at the supreme bull sale in Brunswick, WA last Thursday.

A big run of 160 bulls went under the hammer, to sell to $8000 with an average of $3704.

A total of 46 studs offered bulls, with an outstanding line-up from 11 breeds.

The $8000 top price tag was paid for a magnificent Blonde d’Aquitaine from Gerald Bergsma’s Amaroo stud, Mundijong, WA.

A compact 720kg, this June 2006-drop youngster's length, depth, muscle, impressive butt profile and temperament attracted attention from all sides of the shed.

I've been following cricket now for almost four decades, and seen plenty of changes in that time. Some changes have lasted (the World Cup, helmets, the third umpire), some haven't (limited-over cricketers wearing shorts, day-night Sheffield Shield matches, Super Max Eights). I'm not sure which category the Indian Premier League will fall into.

In a way, I'm very excited about the IPL concept. A high-level club competition, devoid of nationalist overtones, based in the blossoming economy of India and attracting the best players from around the world. Such an idea is long overdue.