Not Cricket

Newsmakers don't make great newsreaders

The latest Warne interview reinforces one's view about how people are so secure, tucked in their own cocoons. One has nothing to say about; "I was never scared of Tendulkar:" Maybe he wasn't. Ten years later, coming out of the closet might not be great timing. But one can still give the benefit of doubt to Warney.

What one has an opinion about, is the following:

"I reckon I deserve a lot more now that we won it. The franchise has tripled, maybe quadrupled in price. They've got me cheap."

 Now that rings a bell. Warne is trying to hike his price through public utterances. One would never know if he has ever heard of something called the 'subprime crisis'. Given the fact that he is talking about tripling of the franchise value, has he read about where the current global melt down is leading one to? Let's take the questions one by one. The reason why the franchise value went up was because of the fact that the owners got most of the players cheap. AND no one is doubting that Warne moulded them into a GREAT side. But they got Warne cheap at the auction because nobody else wanted Warne at a higher price.

It's every team member's right in the Rajasthan Royals to ask for a bonus for winning the IPL 2008. But they also have to remember that they were already paid their money for the last year for which they performed. So to get a higher salary for the next year, the players can negotiate their fees NOW.

One can think of a couple of things Warne can do. GIven the fact that he can have another 2-3 years of IPL cricket left in him, he can negotiate for an equity stake in Rajasthan Royals. So instead of earning his annual fees, Warne can go ahead and ask for a small stake in the team. That will give him the upside  if the franchise quadruples in value. If he thinks he is not getting enough, he can try and get a transfer. One would be very sceptical about the amount of money a Shane Warne will get to move, given the current financial crisis. If the Rajasthan Royal franchise want to sell out currently, one is not very sure what price they will get. So all his talk about multiplicatory valuations may be over stretched.

The biggest question that one has, is that being the captain of the team, the bragging that HE has added value to the franchise value and that he should be paid for it, just before the Champions Trophy, does it affect the team morale? It obviously will.

 Instead of championing his team's cause to get a better remuneration, inspite of the current financial turmoil, Warne opted to blow his own trumpet. He has chosen! His management will too.

Timing is of the essence

 Got a frantic call in the morning from a friend watching the 1st test match between Australia and NZ informing one that the match was indeed interrupted due to some sight screen problems. This led to some reserach and this is what one got. Doesn't tell one the details but it DID happen.

As usual Haydo seems to have got his timing perfectly right. The previous time he had shot off against Harbhajan calling him a weed and ended up giving his wicket to him.

O'Brien returns for a new spell. There's an issue with the sight screen again

and the players will take a drinks break. That last over from Elliott should

make Australia feel good after several quiet overs. It's rather unusual seeing

Australia this subdued..

Courtesy : Cricinfo commentary

The Beauty and the Beast

Well MSD seems to have made some sarcastic comments about the Bully's disparaging comments on conditions in India. But maybe MSD has a better option. Exclude him from the Chennai superstars team. Yes!! let him understand how it means to be a third class player in a team (BTW the origin of a 'Third World country' lies in Nehru's philosophy of the NAM movement).

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1206856

Will MSD do it for us.. Giving the stump to Ganguly after winning the Nagpur test was a great gesture; throwing Hayden off the Chennai team in the Champions League will be greater!!

Ten on Ten

If anyone deserved a ten on ten for effort,

If anyone deserved a ten on ten for grit,

If anyone deserved a ten on ten for selfless service, 

If anyone deserved a ten on ten for sportsman spirit,

If anyone deserved a ten on ten for work ethics,

If anyone deserved a ten on ten for statesmanship,

If anyone deserved a ten on ten for being a good human being,

If anyone deserved a ten on ten for humility,

If anyone deserved a ten on ten at Kotla,

If anyone deserved a ten on ten for a gracious exit.

One question should forever haunt us all.

Did we deserve him?

With a lump in my throat, good luck champion!