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We all relate to Virender Sehwag as being the Shwashbuckling opening batsman for India. Whether it is ODI or Test Cricket matches, he just likes to dominate the bowlers. It really doesn’t matter if he is on 199 or playing on a batsmen unfriendly wicket, he can still be aggressive and give the bowler a tough time! Due to his cracking batting form, his heroics with the ball go unnoticed. To read the complete article on Cricinfosite.com, Click here!

With every passing day, I am convinced that Bollywood dialogue writers rely on cricket for inspiration. Why do I think so? Take a look at some lines that may have been spoken to cricketers, or on the cricket pitch:

Sehwag’s mother to Sehwag: Main Bhagwan se prarthana karungi ki chakkey mar te hue, tumhare haath na kaampe…

Batsman to umpire who gave him out: Tu ne ungli uthhaney ki zurrat ki? Main tera khoon pee jaunga…

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In an IPL 3 match between Bangalore and Mumbai, Harbhajan bowling to Pietersen saw the batsman advancing down the track, and with great presence of mind fired a wide down the legside. Consequently, Pietersen was stumped, although his team gained a run from the wide.

There are several other occasions when a team scores a run or more on a ball with the batsman dismissed, simultaneously.

Let’s take a look at when a team cannot score any run, when a batsman is dismissed off a ball. The first obvious instance is when a batsman is bowled out. Similarly, when he is out LBW or stumped, there is no question of a run scored. When a batsman is given out obstructing the field to prevent a catch being taken, the umpire can rule null, any runs that may have been scored.

However, if the batsman is given out obstructing the field, but there’s no catch in consideration, the team can count on any runs scored on the ball, before being given out. In this instance, the team could also score runs if the umpire declares the ball a no ball or a wide.

What about when a batsman gets out ‘hit wicket’? Can the team score a run? Yes, it can, if the umpire rules the ball bowled a wide.

There are two other ways a batsman could be out on a wide or no ball: ‘handled the ball’ or ‘run out’. In both instances, the team could score a run despite the dismissal of the batsman.

For more such articles and gossip, please do visit http://cricinfosite.com

There are many ways a batsman can get out. Eleven ways, to be precise. Some ways are very common. Every day, we see batsmen dismissed by being bowled or caught or LBW or stumped or run out. Even ‘hit wickets’ are not uncommon, and we also see batsmen declared ‘retired out’[…] Read more on Cricinfosite.com

After two consecutive T20 World Cups in which the Indian T20 team failed to win even one single match in the Super 8s (of course you can argue that they at least made it to Super 8s), it is time there is a complete overhaul of the squad, starting with The Captain. It is pretty obvious that either these folks don’t have the 20/20 skills or they lack motivation. In either case they should make room for others.

Here is what India should do. Take advantage of IPL and the fact that a lot of younger players are getting exposure to play against top international players, albeit in sub-continent conditions. India should have a brand new T20 side with players who would specialize. Get people like Saurav Tiwari, Rayadu and mix them up with the likes of Irfan Pathan and Robin Uthappa. Make Virat Kohli the captain.

I know this might sound like a desperate measure or over-reaction but it might be the only way to make India a contender of any kind for international T20.

And btw, if you can not do any of this, please at least drop Ravindra Jadeja forever.

It’s almost the same story…Whether Sachin is playing for India’s international team or the Mumbai Indians. He is required to play in every match if they are to win or at least it seems that way. It was evident in their today’s match against the Chennai Super Kings. Chennai had a list of international level batsmen in Hayden, Hussey, Dhoni, Raina, Bradrinath and M. Vijay to coordinate and work through their innings and Mumbai had Sachin. No doubt the youngsters like Tiwary, Rayadu have the firepower and Bravo brings in international experience but there is no one else who can build the innings. If Mumbai Indians are to succeed then they need to add at least one more experienced and accomplished batsman to their line-up.

JP Duminy might be that answer. I don’t think his current form is all that great but unless they plan to not use him at all this season, they need to add him to the line-up now. Despite today’s loss, Mumbai is well placed to reach the semi-finals but they also have a tendency of converting a very good situation to a real bad one. The team looks very strong on paper with a ton of all-rounders and young guns but from my point of view they need to provide some comfort and support to Sachin by adding another strong international class batsman to their line-up.

Or is the answer adding Jayasuriya in place of either Bravo or McLaren?

Sachin, Harbhajan and Zaheer join Nita Ambani in reaching education to underprivileged and disadvantaged kids

Sometimes you can score in cricket without picking a bat and walking onto the crease; before you spin the ball and send a thunderbolt streaking down the wicket; and, even while the covers are still on the grass and the teams are dressing up. All it takes is a cause, your belief in it, and the willingness to give of yourself to further that cause. That’s what Nita Ambani has started doing this week, scoring for her IPL team the Mumbai Indians, even though the third season of the popular Twenty20 tournament is still a cool 17 days away. And this Nita’s doing not for Messrs.

Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan & Co., but for underprivileged kids of five NGOs that she is supporting through an initiative called ‘Education For All’. It was launched across national television channels on Sunday. Of course, Sachin, Bhajji and Zaheer are part of the initiative, they all appear in 15-second commercials for the cause, but the real stars of this Mumbai Indians promo are the children who make an endearing appearance with Nita at the end. Look out for it, you will know what I mean.

As to how Nita intends taking her cause to the masses, it’s simple. Just like American cycling legend Lance Armstrong did for cancer victims in 2004, the Mumbai Indians is selling blue silicone wristbands signed by Tendulkar and other greats from the team that say ‘Education For All’. Every band sold will mean some amount of money goes towards the NGOs Pratham, Ummeed, Akanksha, Teach For India and Nanhi Kali that do exemplary work in educating underprivileged children. The sale proceeds will be matched by a contribution from the Mumbai Indians’ kitty. Nita is counting on the huge fan base her team has across the country to boost the sales, but since it is for a charitable cause, all benevolent Indians supporting other IPL teams are expected to pitch in and buy the bands as well. “It’s a small and humble effort,” said Nita who believes education is the key that unlocks the potential of every child. She must know, she was a school teacher once, and now she runs the Dhirubhai Ambani International School, one of the world’s premier holistic education institutions providing a robust, all-round learning that stresses on values of humanity as much as it does on academics. In the evenings, this prestigious institute becomes an education centre for Akanksha’s underprivileged kids. Besides which, through the Reliance rural schools in Maharashtra and Gujarat, Nita also looks after the education of 15,000 other children.

“One of India’s big needs is for every underprivileged kid, especially the girl child, to know how to read and write,” continued Nita. “This is a cause that’s very dear to me, and Sachin, Harbhajan and Zaheer were happy to endorse it in the promo.” It doesn’t end just with the sale of the ‘Education For All’ bands that are available at all Reliance and Sahakari Bhandar stores in Maharashtra, of course. For Nita, who sits cheering in the dug-outs whenever her team is playing, will take 120 of these kids to see every home match. She later plans to hold a special benefit match for them with her players.

“It will be such fun, imagine Zaheer bowling to the kids! Cricket is so unusual, it unifies everybody, and the kids know so much about the game — I’m surprised,” she said in an interaction with children from the five NGOs over a game of cricket in a Cuffe Parade garden. “Who is India’s greatest batsman,” she asked, conducting an impromptu quiz. Every hand went up. “Sachin Tendulkar,” they cried, with one boy adding shyly, “He’s also the captain of our team!” And Nita Ambani, who’s totally involved with the Mumbai Indians, and understands cricket closely, blushed with pride…

Source: Times of India

Cricket Is My Religion And Sachin Is My God!!

He just keeps on doing more and more amazing things!! 200 Not Out in an ODI, what an achievement….and without any runner too..

Go Sachin!! Go and Win India The Next World Cup!!

This is why the Test Cricket is still alive and kicking!! The Second test between South Africa and India just ended with India winning it by an Innings and 58 runs. The best part is that though India won it by an Innings, it was hardly a one-sided contest. It was as exciting as any Test match can get. There were a number of factors that contributed to the drama. First of all, it was a contest between the top 2 teams in Test Cricket, it was played at one of the most exciting venues in International Cricket and both the teams were fighting to either stay at #1 position or get to it.

Ironically the way this Test started, it looked like a continuation of SA’s domination from Nagpur where the hosts were crushed with an Innings defeat. But then again as it has happened several times in the past, one session after Tea at The Eden Gardens changed everything. India faught back from SA’s 218 for 1 to restrict them to 296 and then piled on Tons of runs to push the visitors’ backs to the wall. Though India dominated for the most part after that, it came down to the wire as the last SA pair almost achieved what would have been a “Thrilling-Draw”.

That is why the Test Cricket is still alive and kicking!!

The Indian team will pretty soon require a good wicketkeeper batsman.No, guys don’t be shocked. As you can see from all by blogs ( way before everyone I had predicted Dhoni to be a fighter par excellence) I am perhaps the biggest fan of Dhoni. The thing is that by this year end he would also be become the most reliable in this Indian lineup in all the forms of the game. This would mean that someone else will be needed to keep , at least in some of the formats. With Dhoni playing purely as a batsman, Yuvraj Singh’s place will be in jeopardy , by this year end, in the test line up. Virat Kohli too will soon fizzle out with his technique being found wanting by this year end.