Murali’s 709th wicket

Yuvraj six straight sixes

A tribute to Bob Woolmer

Sreesanth-Roy head-to-head

Post from: EveryJoe

Reliving the Newsmakers

There were loads of good performances that we could applaud here, but when it comes to “making waves” these are the five events that I think qualify best.

The Return of Dada: After the World Cup debacle and the youngsters’ winning performance in T20, everyone was talking about culling the three Indian seniors. Ganguly was on the edge of everyone’s sword and we believed, even hoped, that he’d get the pink slip first. But that was just too much for the man who is worth 17000 runs in world cricket. “Don’t provoke the tiger,” he roared as runs after runs  poured into his basket during the India – Pak fixture. He is finishing the year with more than 1000 calendar runs– his best ever. For me, he’s one of the players to watch out in 2008.

Bob Woolmer Murder: This issue, unfortunately, is still unresolved and most likely we’ll never know the truth. First it was a murder, then a suicide, then a natural death– they’ve tried every thing. Pakistan team has always been strife with conflicts and this incident added another blot on the Eustachian. In fact, this event drew lots of unwanted international attention to the sport.

Murali 709 wickets: This is one man who spurred the most heated debates everywhere. As he inched near the figure of 708 wickets, the debates were revived, but he transcended the record nonetheless. You can hate him, call him whatever you please, but he’s got himself up on the cricket records as the highest wicket taker, a record that won’t be broken anytime soon, not unless someone with hypermobile joints turns up.

Yuvraj sixes: The T20 World Cup was a news maker in itself, but what caught everyone’s attention the most were Yuvraj’s six straight sixes off a Stuart Broad over. This one event was probably the most watched video footage on YouTube and other video sites. It sums up all the T20 cricket is about: excitement, nerve, verve, and curve (uh, the cheerleaders, guys!)

Sreesanth – The Angry Young Man: This man alone took on the number one side in cricket, verbally. Call him a freak, a jerk, but he did what no one has ever dared doing, and that’s not it. He injected adrenaline into the whole team– and just see the results. They might have lost to Australia, but their tongues won’t stop wagging.

Did I miss anything substantial? What was the biggest news maker in your opinion?

Post from: EveryJoe

Cricket News Makers 2007

Now, I’m no expert, but it seems fairly obvious to me that saying a death is murder is a pretty serious thing and that you only say it if you’re absolutely, 100%, completely and utterly, no mistakes, this-IS-how-it-IS sure. To spark a murder investiation, to cause further pain and heartache to friends and family and all the other negative things that have happened is a big fat no-no. The fact that the claim was made in a high profile case like this has not helped matters at all, but it seems likely that the career of the Doctor who made the claims (Dr Ere Seshaiah) is effectively over.

About the only positive side to this ridiculous investigation is that things are gradually getting closer to some sort of conclusion which will finally allow the saga to be put to bed. I just hope Pakistan don’t get their knickers in a twist again and try and sue somebody for being questioned as part of the investigation.

—UPDATE—

And yes – after the press release came, that actually Woolmer was not murdered, Imran Khan was out in the news saying how the PCB should sue somebody, anybody over the indignation of being suspected of the murder. Ridiculous.

I hate being right.

Post from: EveryJoe

Woolmer: Not murdered?

Well, in place of any real information, it’s down to the armchair investigators to go to work in figuring out whodunnit. There are plenty of conspiracy theories floating about, and ChickenDinner has summed them up:

• Deranged fan. The clinical nature of the murder, lack of evidence of a struggle and the report that Pakistan player Danish Kaneria in the room next door heard nothing makes an assault by an enraged yet stealthy cricket fan highly improbable. Neither is there a precedent for it. While effigy-burning at times of sporting failure are not uncommon in Pakistan, there were no reports of angry fans trying to get at Bob Woolmer.
• Inzamam-ul-Haq. Only the players know the true nature of the relationship between the former manager and the team, but premature elimination from a cricket tournament is not a motive for murder, and none of the team are suspects. Neither are there reports of them blaming Woolmer for their elimination. If match-fixing revelations were genuinely being considered as a motive, then it is odd that the team has been allowed to leave Jamaica. After all, you can’t match fix without the help of at least one person on the field.
• Trained assassin. Police found no marks on Bob Woolmer’s neck, which makes it unlikely he was strangled by a rope or a cable, and according to people expert in these matters, murderers rarely strangle men with their bare hands from the front as they don’t have the strength or height advantage that they have over women. The absence of a struggle, lack of evidence or witnesses suggests a level of sophistication rarely found outside of the cinema. DPC Shields told one newspaper that this idea was not being pursued, as it seemed the victim knew his attacker.
• “The Bookie”. According to the Sun, two Pakistan players said that Woolmer had thrown an Indian bookmaker out of this room. No one has been able identify this person or explain what he was doing there, and the theory is being treated “sceptically by senior Jamaican detectives”, says the Guardian.
• Three mysterious Pakistanis. Police are seeking three men who were staying at the same hotel and who left the day Bob Woolmer died. They are believed to have socialised with the team, but police have given no explanation as to why they are being sought, nor is it unusual to leave once one’s team is no longer participating. Feels like straw-clutching.
• “Officials”. The match-fixing theory supposes that Woolmer was about to blow the whistle on the involvement of high ranking officials in match-fixing, or “man-fixing”, in which the outcome of individual events within a match is fiddled with, such as a batsman getting out cheaply, rather than the overall score. No evidence has yet been presented that Woolmer intended to do this. The News of the World has an interview with Woolmer’s friend Clive Rice, but his only piece of evidence is a conversation he had with Woolmer in 1999. No one has produced a manuscript or other evidence that Woolmer planned to write such a book or was even in possession of such information.
• No one. This case has a body and a post mortem report, but nothing else to indicate that this death was caused by a third person. Remember, people were shocked but not particularly surprised when it was announced that Woolmer had been found dead – he was not a slender man and was under intense pressure. As the incident is currently lacking in any of the elements that conventionally constitute a murder scene (and not a single person saw or heard anything suspicious in a crowded hotel) isn’t it also plausible to conclude that the absence of a murder scene implies the absence of a murder, and that the results of the post mortem are flawed, not the investigation?

Feelings? I’m not convinced it was Inzy, but it could easily be any of the others. Although it hardly bears thinking about if it turns out that this actually was not a murder.

Post from: EveryJoe

Any leads in Woolmer case?

One question that will remain unanswered for some time, is: Why!? Why would anyone kill a man who gave so much to cricket? The most prominent conspiracy theory at the moment is that it was over the ol’ match-fixing chestnut, and there are several flavours of that. In either scenario, the assumption is that Woolmer was murdered because he was about to blow the whistle. The first is that the Pakistan team was involved in match-fixing in this World Cup, for example in their opening match against the West Indies. Maybe even against 10-1 outsiders Ireland? The other train of thought is that Woolmer was about to publish his autobiography which was allegedly going to disclose the events surrounding the match-fixing scandal involving Hansie Cronje, all those years ago. Whether the events of that incident are still relevant is questionable, but if he was to name names of the “match-fixing mafia” then that might have had serious consequences. Of course, this is all speculation and it’s possible we’ll never know who, what or why caused Bob Woolmer’s death.

What is not speculation, however, is that this World Cup is going to be remembered for all the wrong reasons. This is a crying shame, because it was shaping up to be one of the best. We’ve already been treated to some beautiful cricket, admittedly, batsmen dominated, but nevertheless some thrilling strokeplay. We’ve seen some shock results and even had a tie. South Africa and Australia are both on top of their game and we’re due to get a preview of the possible final tomorrow. Yet in light of current events, the call, mainly from emotional fans but has the support of former South African paceman Allan Donals, has been to abandon the World Cup:

I think the ICC have an easy decision to make, call the World Cup off, life is too short. The ICC need to send a message to address those off the field distractions

(from TMS comments)

Malcolm Speed, Chairman of the ICC has already said that the World Cup will continue as scheduled. It’s a horrific decision to make: whomever eventually wins this tournament will likely take little pleasure in it, and that considering the ugly nature of everything that is happening, especially if corruption is involved, playing cricket seems to be the last thing on anyone’s mind. Cancelling the World Cup is really a financial impossibility for the ICC, something that would likely have knock-on consequences for years to come if they had to refund the millions of pounds they were paid for broadcasting rights. But in not cancelling the cup, the ICC risks making a mockery of the tournament (assuming it can ever recover).

For the sake of cricket, though, “the show must go on” and cancelling the cup would have been a mistake. The response to these events has been remarkable, all over the world literally millions of people apparently affected, saddened, stunned or outraged. But in reality, 99% of these people only “knew” Woolmer through what they had seen or read in the media (myself included). I’ve read all the obituaries, and I’ve looked at his biography and his history as a player and a coach and I’ve listened to the way people who actually knew him talk about him. It’s always with respect and grace and I’ve yet to see a harsh word said about him. The reason people are so stunned by all this, is that for the most-part, we are sheltered from such evil events. Certainly, we read about them on the news, we know that they happen and if anything, we become desensitised to it all. It’s “easy” to see reports of the things that happen in war-torn parts of the world and blame it on civil unrest, or political struggles or even just a human-being with a screw loose. But in the world of cricket, it’s unprecedented. A man murdered over cricket. It’s impossible to fathom what could be so important so as to kill another human, over cricket. Maybe we’ll find out. Probably, we won’t. But cancelling the World Cup because of this, it seems, would have been an insult to Woolmer and certainly not what he would have wanted.

All the people not immediately connected to him need to move on and try to rekindle their relationship with the game. And what better way than to watch some high quality cricket in cricket’s biggest contest?

Post from: EveryJoe

Murdered. But why?

Recent problems, such as Shahid Afridi’s ban, Shoaib and Asif’s bans / injuries and the failure to get through to the group stages of the World Cup have led to a shambolic state of affairs, which have been finished off by the resignation of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, not to mention most of the PCB.

Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the PCB for only five months, tendered his resignation yesterday to General Pervez Musharraf, president of Pakistan and chief patron of the PCB. Ashraf was appointed chairman after Shaharyar Khan resigned in October. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Wasim Bari, chairman of selectors, followed by resigning on behalf of his three-man committee, who accepted collective responsibility for Pakistan’s dismal showing.

(source)

As inquiries into and the speculation over the death of Bob Woolmer continue (natural? suicide? murder?Some people even think it’s to do with match-fixing), one thing is abundantly clear – Pakistan have a chance now to rebuild their side and do it right. With so many empty spots and being in such a low position, they should have no fear in being committed and asserted in what they need to do. Overhaul everything. They have the opportunity to look at what has worked and what hasn’t, identify the areas which caused the problems and start over and do it right.

They have a core squad of very talented players and now is the time to galvanise that squad in to a match-winning, not a match-fixing, team. From the smouldering remains of the Pakistan cricket team and the heartache that surrounds the death of Bob Woolmer, it must be possible and is fundamentally important that something positive comes of it all. There could be no better tribute to Bob if in four years time, Pakistan lifted the World Cup again.

Post from: EveryJoe

Time for a new Pakistan

It’s an incredible situation, but not in a good way. Further tests on his body will aim to clarify, but to think that Woolmer may have been murdered (or committed suicide) is just a horrific thing which I sincerely hope is not true. But considering how seriously some Pakistani people take their cricket, I suppose anything is possible.

Nobody wants to see Bob Woolmer’s name dragged about the media for months to come, but it is vital that the events surrounding his death are uncovered and made clear in order that his name can be remembered and honoured in the best possible way.

Post from: EveryJoe

Bob Woolmer’s death suspicious

At one point, the players left the field for rain and bad light, which would have been enough to seal the victory had they not come back. Fortunately they did return, giving Ireland the chance the win the game in they style they deserved and finish the embarassment job against Pakistan. In combination with Pakistan’s opening match loss to West Indies, they are as good as out of this competition, forcing them to leave the West Indies with their tail between their legs and the rumour mill already working hard that that will be the end of Bob Woolmer at the helm. Maybe even Inzy.

Ireland, however, are through to the Super Eight, and I can’t believe I picked it and even with the excellent odds, I didn’t put any money on it. More fool me. It’s unlikely they’ll progress beyond there, but then this competition has already shown to be completely open-ended.

But that was merely the start of crazy day, however, as India, arguably even more likely to win the competition than Pakistan, failed to negotiate Bangladesh, losing in equally humiliating circumstances. Again batting first, India managed only 191, where batting first was possibly a mistake, but the the Bangladeshi men dealt with the total for the loss of just 5 wickets. Tamim Iqbal was the man in form who crashed 53 from 51 balls, and it wasn’t a bunch of half-chances and fluke boundaries. India’s bowlers were dispatched to all parts of the ground in a masterclass presentation of one day batting. India looked lost in the field, and even as the required runs got smaller and smaller, the Indian men still had no intensity in their play as they meandered around the field. They had given up and it was just a matter of Bangladesh hitting the runs. I almost expected the bowlers to start dishing it out under arm. India will still expect to progress to the next round, but a loss against Bangladesh will hopefully be a wake up call they sorely need.

This World Cup is rapidly getting interesting.

Post from: EveryJoe

The Curse of the Irish?