Shahid Afridi vs New Zealand 27 runs in one over

5 Fours by Abdul Razzaq vs McGrath in one over

LIE DETECTOR TESTS A MOCKERY: BUTT

Pakistan's banned former captain Salman Butt has described as a 'mockery' the proposal by former Australia captain Steve Waugh to use lie detector tests in international cricket to root out corruption from the sport.

"It's a non-serious proposal. In fact it's a mockery," Butt told The Express Tribune newspaper.
"If a machine is going to detect corruption, then all corruption-related issues would've been resolved. What's the use of investigative agencies then, he added.
Butt, who is facing a criminal case in a London court following a minimum five-year ban by the ICC in the spot-fixing scandal, said he doubted the accuracy of lie detectors and stressed that the mere idea was "against the concept of right and wrong".
"It's about the lives of the cricketers. Machines cannot announce verdicts on a player's career. It seems Waugh is working as an advertising agent for some lie-detector company," the former Test captain and opener said.
Butt didn't appear in person in a London court earlier this week where a preliminary hearing was held to decide if the crown prosecution office had a criminal case against Butt and his teammates, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.
The court ruled there was a strong case to proceed against the banned trio.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) cricket committee recently floated the idea that lie detectors have the potential to fight corruption in cricket and stressed that the proposal should be widely debated.

KAMRAN AKMAL - ' WANTS TO IMPROVE HIS GLOVEWORK'

Pakistan Wicket Keeper batsman Kamran Akmal wants to improve his gloves work, and has decided to take tips and guidance from the former great wicket keepers of Pakistan.



Wicket keeper Kamran Akmal has decided that he will seek guidance from former wicket keepers Wasim Bari, Moin Khan, Rashid Latif and Saleem Yousuf to improve his game.

Speaking to the media Akmal said he was going through intense training to correct mistakes which were brought to light during the World Cup.

Kamran Akmal has represented Pakistan in 53 Tests, 137 ODIs and 38 T20s matches till now.

MS DHONI’S WORLD CUP WINNING BAT AUCTIONED FOR INR 72 LAKHS

The most successful skipper of team India, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, had put up his World Cup 2011 winning bat in front of the English people for auction, in a five-star hotel of London, on Monday, 18 July. He eventually sold the memorable bat in consideration of INR 72 lakhs.
This bat was purchased by RK Global, an investment organization of India. Dhoni, in the final of the ICC World Cup 2011, against Sri Lanka, played a match winning knock by scoring 91 runs with this bat, from 79 deliveries.
The Indian hero has auctioned his bat for donating the proceeds to his wife, Sakshi Singh’s charitable institution, Sakshi Foundation, for the needy children.
The finale of the match was an unforgettable moment for team India, when Dhoni thrashed a huge six in Nuwan Kulasekara’s over, using his wrists stylishly, twirling the bat like a gun-slinger.
All-rounder Yuvraj Singh and skipper Dhoni took out the stumps with tears of joy in their eyes to celebrate the home coming of the World Cup, after 28-years.
The Indian skipper’s bat saw all the action and emotions go down in the nail-biting finish to an amazing World Cup tournament, and is well worth the price.
Dhoni took a terrific start to his international career. He hammered a match-winning 148 against Pakistan in his fifth match and has to his name a legendary knock out of 183, against Sri Lanka.
He was the leader of the team Indian within two years of his debut and also captained the side in the 2007 World T20 tournament, eventually claiming the Cup.
Dhoni’s ODI debut came in 2004, against Bangladesh at Chittagong. Since then he has played 186 ODI matches scoring 6049 runs in total, with an average of 48.78.
The former Indian batsman and commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar, speaking on Dhoni’s recent performances, said, "His batting has shown some good signs, I'd like him to try and go up the order at the slightest chance. As captain, in a hyper-charged Indian environment, he keeps things nice and calm."
Dhoni and his men are touring England nowadays, where they will start their Test series with the 2000^thTest at the historic Lord’s venue. The Men in Blue will be contesting the Poms in what promises to be a high-voltage series this summer.

A Look At The ICC All Time 11

Every time there is a fan generated 'All Time Best Team' chosen its creates great debate about whose in it, whose not in it and the merits of both. In truth you can't be critical of the players that are chosen for all have great merit.

Though what you can do is provide an alternative Team and a comparison with it.


I am in full agreeance of the place of Sunil Gavaskar, Don Bradman, Shane Warne and Wasim Akram being near certainties in any Team. So as such have included them in mine.


Though with 7 different names in the line up, here is a comparison between the recent ICC All Time team and My All Time Team.

ICC Team:                                                                      My Team 

Virender Sehwag (IND)                                             Jack Hobbs (Eng)
Sunil Gavaskar (IND)                                                 Sunil Gavaskar (Ind)
Donald Bradman (AUS)                                             Donald Bradman (AUS)
Sachin Tendulkar (IND)                                             Wally Hammond (Eng)
Brian Lara (WIS)                                                         Viv Richards (WI)
Kapil Dev (IND)                                                            Garfield Sobers (WI)
Adam Gilchrist (AUS)                                                Alan Knott (Eng)
Shane Warne (AUS)                                                  Shane Warne (Aus)
Wasim Akram (PAK)                                                 Wasim Akram (Pak)
Curtly Ambrose (WIS)                                               Malcolm Marshall (WI)
Glenn McGrath (AUS)                                                Syd Barnes (ENG)

1. Virender Sehwag versus Jack Hobbs

This is a comparison between a master mauler in Virender Sehwag and a master in all conditions against all types of bowling in Jack Hobbs.

In truth it has no comparison on any level for we are talking all time. So that encompasses a master in all situations for which Hobbs was known in this regard:

"the most brilliant exponent of all time, and quite the best batsman of my generation on all types of wickets'- Herbert Sutcliffe.

In regards to Sehwag, we are in awe of his dazzling and devastating batting in this era. Though ask yourself how much of that has been facilitated by this the batsmen age. Then think how would have he gone in an era with uncovered pitches, no restrictions on short pitched bowling and crucially no helmets.

I think the fact that he is a player that has very little technique or footwork would mean that his star would be diminished greatly. This has been seen in his struggles in places where the ball swings. Most notably South Africa and England.

Whereas if you took Hobbs and put him in this era with his mastery in all regards of batsmenship. It would be almost impossible to get him out and even with how he was revered for his dazzling stroke play before having his career interrupted by WW1. He'd have been a fine exponent of carnage like Viru.

Sunil Gavaskar (Ind)

There are a few challengers for this opening spot. Most notably the great English players Herbert Sutcliffe, Leonard Hutton and then the genius South African Barry Richards.

Though for me there have been few better batsmen ive seen that the great India Gavaskar. Plus he gets higher respect in my eyes by the fact that for most of his career he had little support in the batting and was part of a weak Team.

Don Bradman

I haven't provided a comparison to Bradman, for I see it as pointless and disrespectful. From the point of view that Bradman is far and away better than any other play ever.

By a good long way...........

Sachin Tendulkar versus Wally Hammond

This comparison is like splitting hairs for both were genius's who were complete in every regard. The only way I can split them is by the era they played in and the comparisons of their records. Thus with Hammond playing in much more difficult conditions than Tendulkar and having a better record in terms of average it makes me lean towards the great English man.

Also though you would never doubt Tendulkar's all round class. You would think that his record in some way has been facilitated by the ease of batting in this age.

So if you compared both in a like for like situation in terms of Sachin in the conditions Hammond played in. Then Hammond in these conditions. You would think that Hammond who already has a better record would have the support of figures widened in his favour.

Brian Lara versus Viv Richards

Very much like for like in terms of both possessing that Calypso flair and being oblivious to anything. In terms of no matter what the conditions, bowling or anything. If they were in the mood they would truly maul like no other.

You can diminish Lara by the era he played in, but he is one of those players who would be transcendent. Plus in his favour was that he was always burdened by for the most part being in a terrible Team. So he was often under pressure and the focus of all the oppositions attention. Richards never had that by always being the star amongst a constellation of stars.

Though this comparison is closer than I thought as I look at it. You can't go past the Master Blaster Richards because of not only what he did, but what he would have done in this age.

Space age bats...minnow Teams....ropes in and Richards in the mood='s OUCH!

Kapil Dev versus Garfield Sobers

In truth with all respect to the iconic Indian all rounder Kapil Dev this comparison is almost laughable.

For id say on all levels the great West Indian Sobers was a better cricketer. I'd grant that Dev might have an edge in bowling, but it's closer than you think with the value to a Team that the versatility of Sobers bowling brings. Whether it be left arm quick or left arm variations of spin.

Then on a batting level though Dev was a very dangerous lethal hitter. There are few in the history of the game that are comparable to Sobers genius with the bat.

Adam Gilchrist versus Alan Knott

This is more a reflection of my view of cricket than a choice between who was a better player. For if you took it on the modern trend of a keeper must be a batsmen first and then a gloveman second. Gilchrist would be in every all time Team and that's not to take away from the keeper Gilly was. For he was very adequate and a truly devastating batsmen.

Though Knott was a freak of a gloveman and a very decent batsmen as seen in him being fine enough to make a ton against a rampaging Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee at their nastiest in helpful conditions. Then his performances with the bat in crisis-he never let England down.

His skill with the gloves was a mixture or artistry and genius though.............

Shane Warne

In my mind there is no compare to Warne as a spinner in the games history.

Wasim Akram

I grew up idolising Alan Davidson and this great Aussie has better figures than Akram, but Wasim gets in any side by what he left the game. In terms of Sarfraz invented reverse swing, but Akram was the true master of it.

Then in this age, what is crickets most lethal skill- arguably reverse swing..........

Curtly Ambrose versus Malcolm Marshall

Either one of these bowlers are truly exceptional and are almost impossible to split

Though i'd favour Marshall by the fact that he was the super star amongst the West Indies pace super stars of the 1970's and 80's. Plus for pure skill in bowling ive never seen one as gifted as Marshall.

As for Ambrose, well he was a genius bowler that was a nightmare with how he made the ball talk off the pitch and the rearing natural bounce he often got.

Though to me Marshall was better...............just

Glenn McGrath versus Sydney Barnes.

This is a comparison of a bowler widely regarded as the best of the Modern era in McGrath and then one who had the reputation as being the most skilled ever in Syd Barnes.

A man with the reputation of having such laser like accuracy, but this was only part of his lethalness. For he made the ball do things in the air and off the pitch like few others in the game. As any historian about his skill and watch their jaws drop in awe.

His career figures of 27 Tests, 189 wickets and an average of 16.43 supports his greatness.

We are strong, but not the best batting side,” says Dravid

Senior Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid has described the country's batting line-up as strong, but not yet the best in the world. Speaking ahead of the Lord's Test between India and England on Tuesday, Dravid said: “I don’t like to say that we are the best batting side and they are best bowling side in the world. At the end of the day it is contest between India and England. That is the important thing. Who is the best and who is not the best? At the end of the day, we have got a strong batting line up, the series will be decided may be that contest.”

The 38-year-old batsman said it was important to get off to a good start, as it could set the tune for the high-profile series.

He admitted that the team had been lacking on this aspect at times in the recent past.

“Starting well for us will be important. It is an area of our game that, we do recognise that sometimes we have not been as good as we would like to be. So it is something we want to do well. If we can start well then we see that it makes a big difference,” said Dravid.

ICC ANNOUNCES GREATEST TEAM OF ALL TIME BEFORE 2000 TEST MATCH..

GREATEST TEST TEAM OF ALL TIME

The ICC announced the fans' Greatest Test team of all-time, based on 250,000 votes cast on the ICC website, to mark the cricket's 2000th Test which will be played between England and India on July 21. The team included four players from India and Australia, 2 players from West Indies and one from Pakistan and some notable absentees like Garfield Sobers, Imran Khan, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rahul Dravid, Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall, Dennis Lillee etc.

People's Dream XI: Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar, Donald Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Kapil Dev, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath. 

Sarfraz Nawaz 9/86 vs Australia 1st test 1978/79 MCG PART TWO