Everytime I talk about the success of the Rajasthan Royals, people ask me : “Who owns them?” This post is for the most subdued owner in the Indian Premier League.

Emerging Media is the owner of the Rajasthan Royals. Apart from owning the IPL Team, these guys are mainly into media-property development business with a focus on developing programs for the Indian sub-continent.

In India, they are more known (if at all) for their reality cricket show : Cricket Star, whose runner up Dinesh Salunkhe plays for the team.

Some Stats:

Age : N.A.
Team : Rajasthan Royals
Bought Team for : $67 million
Alternate Occupation : Media House
Co-Owners : None

(All figures are in USD)

As you can clearly see, the post is also subdued. The team is doing wonders though!

Other Owners : Shah Rukh Khan

Next Team : Kings XI Punjab (owned by Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia)

Photo : Emerging Media

Post from: EveryJoe

Owners of IPL – Emerging Media

Meanwhile, Anil Kumble, India’s Test Captain, as well as Shane Warne, Captain of the Rajasthan Royals, have already accepted the invitation. They would play in the all stars team.

Sixandout’s View: This is just the beginning. When people start realising that enormous amount of money can be generated from non-traditional cricket (the IPL is a great example; rather, it is a foundation), the sky would cease to be the limit. All I can say now is : POOR PLAYERS! In the near future, I don’t think players would even have the time to complain about too much cricket.

More later.

Photo Credit: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Warne, Kumble Confirmed for Singapore iSixes

During the game, there was a moment when Saurav Ganguly (48* then) lofted a ball straight to Greame Smith at deep mid wicket who took a lowly catch. As the Royals celebrated, Ganguly stood his ground and asked, I repeat asked the umpire to refer in upstairs. And ‘upstairs’ said : Not Out. Poetic justice was delivered when he got out three runs later. Huh!

Finally, congratulations to Warnie and the Royals for their fourth successive win. Faith be wit Ganguly and the Night Riders. Or was that Knight. Who Cares? You do? I don’t.

Laters

Photo Credit: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

SRK Gifts, Rajasthan Wins, Ganguly Cheats!

1. Afridi had a go at Warnie, Warnie said something like : “Grow up, mate”
2. Tendulkar’s Birthday had the crowd more excited than their home team Deccan Chargers
3. Deccan Chargers continued their bad form. Having arguably the best team on paper, they have lost 3 out of three now.
4. Warnie won the game for the ROYALS, with the bat!
5. Warnie hit about 15 off the last over, bowled by Roy Symonds

That’s about it. This post was a tribute to one of the most exciting IPL matches I have seen.

Laters

Post from: EveryJoe

Experience is what counts, mate!

The idea of off-season may be completely off to some. A previous post on it got, like, no response (We are thick-skinned. Heh), but however ill-fated it may be, we are determined to shop it around. For us, it’s the Great Romantic Novel (think Gone With the Wind). Someday someone will bite.

OK, the point now:

Why we think cricket should have an off-season every year?

* Players get rest and time to heal. Actually, if the ICC is even half-serious about preserving it’s trump cards, the players who bring in the crowds (that is, tickets, that is bucks), they’ve got to think about this. Shane Bond and Shaun Tait are quitting cricket. We won’t ever have the pleasure of watching them again. Brett Lee spent an entire decade battling with injuries and struggling with form. Now when he’s just three or four years away from retirement, we are witnessing some of his sparks of flair (I chose it over flashes of brilliance. Howzzat?) You could say the game is bigger than the players. Oh yeah it is. But pluck out Sachin, Sehwag out of the Indian team and then see how many turn in to watch matches. Players make the team– and the game. Nuff said. Now some science talking– there are some players who are more prone to injuries than others are. Let’s not delve into the intricacies of genetics and human physiology. Granted, but a temporary break can benefit every one.

* Those of you who watch American and British TV will understand where we are going with this now. Do you get Big Brother all the year round? Even producers of Hannah Montana air the show in chunks. They could go on for the year; it’s such a hit, but no, they don’t. Since sports are basically entertainment, the same strategy applies to them as well.

* Since players are humans….: This is our weakest argument, but here goes….Players have families and they deserve their time as well. Today, the cricketing year is so hectic that players barely see their kids. And wives. And, uh, girlfriends. Ask Shane Warne. He can tell you what devastations the tours can be to their personal lives.

* Injured players can recover. In peace. Every match you can’t play because you’re unfit is like a stab in your heart.

* Authorities can brainstorm a gameplan for the next season.

With IPL and ICL coming up, off season remains a dream. Alas…

Your turn now, boys and girls. Fire away. Do you think cricket needs an annual off-season? Or you think six and out is run by an idiot?

Post from: EveryJoe

Weekly Debate: Should cricket have off-season?

Eat Cricket, Drink Cricket, Sleep Cricket

It’s official. Michael Clarke has become an issue of national importance for the Australian media. The players just don’t want to stop debating over him.

The best way to do this would be to elevate him to the vice-captaincy in all forms of the game.

–Shane Warne

I don’t necessarily agree with [Warne],” Ponting said in Adelaide. “I don’t think that needs to be the case right now. Gilly’s not going to play forever, we’re all not going to play forever, but Michael’s opportunity is going to come.”

It might not be right now, it might not be six months’ time, but that opportunity will come and he will step into the vice-captain’s role. Hopefully I can stay around for another few years and keep him out of my position for a bit longer.

– Ricky Ponting

Post from: EveryJoe

More Conflicting Tongue-Wagging on Clarke

Scorecard

Glad Anderson came into his own. With Stu (ahem, get used to Stuart Broad being called by that nickname, here) continuing to impress (ladies) by constantly taking wickets and handling pressure well (good comeback, btw, after the T20 thrashing at the hands of Yuvraj Singh), and Cook regaining his focus, things are looking up for England. They have won the series 3-1 with one more match to go.

*Ian Botham received knighthood. Good for him. I have just got my copy of his autobiography. Hope to get started on it as soon as I see through Warney’s My Illustrated Career.

*The Darrel Hair trial has created lots of waves lately, but it certainly failed to catch Six’s attention. So did some obscure, meaningless series being played out in a distant corner of the earth where guys are doing more bickering with each other than playing. That’s not cricket. And Six doesn’t like it.

Post from: EveryJoe

Heads up: Look Who’s Winning

But no, Warney is fair dinkum Aussie through-and-through and will take a plate of shrimps and a couple of cold ones before any phallic-shaped pork substances.

And why not.

For more humourous plays on words on the issue, such as “herr replacement” such, have a gander at The Googly.

* Far be it from me to comment on football (or soccer as some weirdos might call it), but this seems like a rule from which football, or at least football in England, could really benefit.

Post from: EveryJoe

Streuth, Adolf Warne

Post from: EveryJoe

Warne in bother, again

Inevitably it will be an Australian player, and the BBC has it tipped to be Stuart Clark. My gut feeling is that it will be Shane Warne, but only because as the retiring golden boy, the powers that be will feel obliged to choose him, irrespective of the snub on Glenn McGrath or Justin Langer.

If I were picking it, though, it would go to Mike Hussey – the man has (for the mostpart) been an immovable stalwart and his average for the series backs it up.

Post from: EveryJoe

Ashes player of the series?