Laugh or Cry?

Courtesy of SEN

"The International Cricket Council have cleared all Pakistan players of alleged corruption relating to a one-day match against England last month.

The third one-day international at The Oval on September 17 was embroiled in controversy, after it was alleged irregular Pakistan scoring patterns were the basis for spot-fixing claims.

The ICC's anti-corruption security unit (ACSU) looked at the evidence at a two-day meeting at their headquarters in Dubai, but found there were no suspicious circumstances.

The ICC released a statement on Wednesday, clearing all players and officials of any wrongdoing but not ruling out further investigations.

"Following extensive investigations into allegations about the one-day international between England and Pakistan at The Oval in London, the ACSU has verified all the available information and concluded that there was no compelling evidence to suspect individual players or support staff," the statement read.

"The investigation is now complete but if new and corroborating evidence comes to light then clearly the ACSU will re-open the matter."

The separate investigation into spot-fixing claims levelled at Pakistan's Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir from the Lord's Test in August is ongoing, however the ICC revealed they are appealing their suspensions.

"In accordance with the provisions of the code, all three have appealed that provisional suspension and an independent hearing will take place in Doha, Qatar, on October 30-31 and will be chaired by the head of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission, Michael Beloff, QC," the ICC statement read."

MY TAKE ON THIS IS


Is this good news, or REALLY bad? Is there a way to prove players deliberately alter the course of a game? Batsmen will always play bad shots and get out. Bowlers will always overstep the mark. Fielders will continue to drop sodas. Batting collapses happen.
No one can control illegal betting which is where the incentive lies. I don't think anyone is suggesting a whole team could be pliable enough to control the course of a match and therefore legal betting is manageable.
The conundrum here is once we accept that match fixing exists, we then begin to analyse every detail of every game. The sensational becomes suspicious. What do we make of a hat trick? A victory from the depths of defeat?
Maybe the ICC recognise the importance of protecting the greater cricketing audience from doubting everything which makes this game so great.
Strange things happen in cricket, it's why we love it. Do we really want "strange" to be replaced by "suspicious"?

Tests within a Test

interesting "series" this.
close game in the first: if Bollinger had bowled on the last day...
if Punter knew how to captain a spinner....
if Laxman...


and now for the 2nd test we see a grinding affair which may not be great for a result, but which has as discussed elsewhere given North another 6 months...
shown the need for batsman to 'settle' and wait for the bad ball...
and just how great S. Tendulkar STILL is...

we have NEVER had his number (49 test tons- 10 against aus), and while only idiot speak in absolutes, we never will and he shall retire knowing HE could always beat Australia. He almost makes me glad we have timed tests, otherwise...


on Ponting and Hauritz; regardless of the lack of support from a captain, a spinner MUST still bowl on the spot -even saying to and showing his captain where he'll put it- to force the captain to see the need for a bowlers selected field. Hauritz has failed to do this in this 2nd test, and will be publicly pilloried for failing to get a bagfull on the sub-continent. Spin great B. Bedi offered great support of Haury over the weekend and made a similar point about Punters inability to work with and use a bowler like Haury... but any way you look at it 0-153 will have you horse whipped by all and sundry.

with 2 days to go- unless this track opens up wider than Boonies smile at the the thought of 'shifting tin'- this game looks to be little more now than a test of: concentration or attrition... unless someone decides to get a bit excited; Big Kev, where are you?

Adelaide Oval - destiny awaits

Leftriteout in collaboration with Mr Bailey and Henley Beach Tourism Authority welcomes members of Down the Wicket to sunny Adelaide for the Ashes test between Australia and Europe/South Africa/England.

Unfortunately members passes are looking unlikely so your host requests confirmation of the compulsory acquiring of general admission tickets for both days.

Additionally the AGM for the c u next tuesday golf club championship team will be held concurrently and touring Down the Wicket officials are invited to attend this glorious occasion. A suitable day and time needs to be arranged to suit cricket attendance, refreshments and travel plans. Please make suggestions to your host via this blog.

Yours,
Leftriteout
Joint President, Secretary
C U next tuesday golf club
Down the Wicket contributor
Mt Lofty B grade captain

It's Northing Short of Ridiculous

I think the time has come to turn the heat up on the selectors and their constant faith in Marcus North. Surely there was no better time to blood a youngster, and there are many, in time for the real stuff in Australia this summer. The man has done very little to justify a berth in the side and continues to have dreams of adequacy.
Hussey I can understand, barely but North must go if we are to wrestle back the urn

It's Just Not Cricket

I'd just like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt support for my beloved Collingwood in this year's AFL Grand Final.

GO PIES!!

the war before the war

the buzz is on as to where the England team are planning to go as a bonding/educational pre Ashes trip now that a leak as emerged that potential squad players have been told to keep a window of time available at the end of the month.

after last years WW1 Flanders experience preceded an Ashes victory, it is any ones guess as to what the 2 African Andy's are up to this time around.

the only real information suggests the time frame- 24-28/9, and the fact it not a training camp, but more a bonding experience and it is suggested also educational.

With Warne no longer in the Aussie squad to say NAY to any form of extra exertion, is it too late to do a quick lap of Kokoda? or more realistically, a jump on a plane after the Mumbai or Dehli test to Gallipoli to see where poor British leadership put ANZAC soldiers in it.

Or even better still, get to Brisbane a few days earlier than normal and educate the team on The Brisbane Line and the alleged sell-out of the top of our island by Menzies and British and American High Command.

While it was supposedly mainly MacArthur and Menzies idea, why let that get in the way of building up some anti-English sentiment given so many of our troops were away "defending Mother England".
Surely this will help bend the backs of any patriotic fast bowler!

Irrespective of my suggestions, i think African Andy #1 should be complimented on his ideas and direction for the England team; he has been quoted as saying that last years trip to the battlefields was about, "broadening the players horizons and putting their sporting careers in perspective."
Admirable objectives when faced with the horrors of the western front.

greatest ever...

look, i know it is just soooo contrived, and we have done best teams before. but i've just watched abc dvd's cricket in the 60's and i'm half way through the "Chappel era' and i thought it might be fun to hear what your favourite (not best) player is in each position.

set your own standards: mine are world cricketers, as i just love the game more than nationality.

opening batsmen should be a pair, i think...but you can create your own.

for me:
Greenidge/Haynes
as a kid, i always felt we were not even close o the job being underway when they were out..
very close 2nd Langer/Hayden

KP in SA

it looks like KP has his Ashes prep all sorted out; a trip home to play for Kwazulu-Natal Inland to get himself right for dry hot Aus conditions.

Well Kev, a quick look at google news or a weather site might make you think continuing on in Blighty might be better prep.

sure we have a few months to go, but any more rain over October/November is going to see the ground water really steam out when the sun hits it, well, at least here in Melbourne! we could have 2 humid swing tests.

if any of our boys get some genuine sideways through the air, KP may have another Twitter twatter... i can only hope!