George Dobell, in ESPNcricinfo, 20 October 2016, where the title is “Moeen Ali survives five lbw reviews in extraordinary day”
Kumar 
Frane Selak
Category Archives: cricketing rules
DRS saves Moeen Ali from Kumar Dharmasena and More
Call for Clarification of Bouncer Laws at Inquest into the Phil Hughes Death
Daniel Brettig, in ESPNcricinfo, 14 October 2016, with title “Clarify bouncer laws, Phillip Hughes inquest told”
Alex Kontouris faces “Chin Music” at the Coronial Inquest into Phil-Hughes’ Death
Michael Roberts
Alex Kountouris, a Cypriot Australian physiotherapist from Melbourne, was recruited as masseur and physiotherapist for the Sri Lankan cricket team in1995 or so by new coach Dav Whatmore. He rendered yeoman service and was a vital cog in the management programme that enabled Sri Lanka’s cricketers to win the World Cup in 1996. The island repaid him handsomely albeit involuntarily: he married a lass from that land.
He has since moved to higher levels back home in Australia: he became the cricket team’s physiotherapist in 2006. It is in this capacity and because of his experience that he was called as a witness in the coroner’s inquiry in Sydney into the tragic death of Philip Hughes by bouncer-blow on 25th November 2014. As far as I know, he was not present on the ground that day so his testimony could not provide direct evidence. Continue reading
Against Verbal Intimidation in Cricket: A Voice in A Wasteland
Michael Roberts
Some of the illuminating details that surfaced at the recent coroner’s inquiry in Sydney into the death of Philip Hughes when a bouncer bust an artery in his neck display the continuing prevalence of verbal assaults in the heart of Australian cricket and the legitimacy accorded to this ‘philosophical pillar.’ Verbal intimidation is often a twin brother of intimidating bouncers. Bouncers are now restricted — no more than one or two per over. Verbal intimidation is not — and the coroner’s verdict in Sydney only sustained, albeit inadvertently, the official blanket thrown around the practice. I will be writing more on these specifics around the verbal and bouncer assault on the turncoat New South Welshman Hughes by his former state buddies in the near future, but let me return to my old campaign against a macho cricketing practice that undermines the principle of a level playing field : namely, the use of verbal intimidation by those more versed and hardened in that practice. I present here one of my first (ineffective) blows from the year 2001 – an article entitled “Against Verbal Intimidation in Cricket” in http://www.ozlanka.com/commentary/intimidation.htm
Matthew Wade elbows Bowler Abbott and faces Code of Conduct Charge
AAP News Item, 10 October 2016, with title “Proteas v Australia: Matthew Wade faces contrary conduct charge”
Australia’s Matthew Wade is facing a contrary conduct charge after an on-field run-in with South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi during Sunday’s fourth one-day international in Port Elizabeth. The pair had to be spoken to by the umpires after Wade appeared to clip Shamsi with his elbow while taking a run during Australia’s innings in South Africa’s six-wicket victory.
While Wade made only minor contact with the Proteas’ spinner both he and Shamsi have been charged with breaching article 2.1.1 of the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct. The article relates to minor acts of “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game”. Continue reading
Murali’s Testing Times …. Through Thick and Thin
Vithushan Ehantharaja, courtesy of The Cricket Monthly where the title is “When Murali bared his Soul”
There’s a sincerity to Mark Nicholas as he stares into the camera. He looks almost childlike in appearance: suit slightly oversized, top button done up and tie fastened yet not dovetailing. This isn’t the Mark Nicholas who prowls the pristine greens of Australia’s outfields with the manner of one on top of the food chain. Here he is sitting, shoulders flexed in. There’s uncertainty in the air and he can do little to hide it. The footage rolls.
It’s July 5, 2004, and Lord’s is preparing for an England-West Indies ODI. While most of the ground is a hub of noise, as cables are unreeled, fastened and taped, the Nursery Ground is still. Nicholas is in dark trousers and a cream shirt, with sleeves rolled up. Standing next to him, Muttiah Muralitharan is wearing a sleeveless Sri Lanka T-shirt. Continue reading
Murali is placed Where he should be: Among the Immortals
Mahinda Wijesinghe, from the Sunday Island, 31 July 2016, with the title “Congratulations Murali on a Long Overdue Honour”
The majority of lovers of cricket, especially the Sri Lankan supporters, would be thrilled that Muttiah Muralidaran, known the world over as ‘Murali’ has been inducted as the 80th member of the ICC’s Hall of Fame. He is the first Sri Lankan to be thus honoured. Those appointed to this coveted membership are based on the ICC “recognizing the achievements of these legends of the game from cricket’s long history of the game.”
Striking Scenes from the 1975 World Cup in England
The eight teams in the finals lineup –spruced up …. The captains are, front row from left: APB Tennekoon (Sri Lanka), Asif Iqbal (Pakistan), Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Mike Brearley (England), Kim Hughes (Australia), Mark Burgess (New Zealand), S Venkataraghavan (India), GE Brisbane (Canada) … Photograph: Patrick Eagar via Getty Images
Venomous History haunts the England-Lanka Cricketing Encounters
Peter Hayter, courtesy of The Cricket Paper, 16 May 2016, where the title is “There’s plenty of spice in this fiery contest
Stand by for the resumption of the second-longest running feud in world cricket. When England take on Sri Lanka in the first Test of the summer at Headingley on Thursday, they will do so led by the former coaching partnership of their opponents, Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace.
Recently, they enlisted the help of one of the island nation’s greatest batsmen, Mahela Jayawardene, as a World T20 coaching consultant. Another, Kumar Sangakkara, has always been a popular and respected figure here and he is currently spreading the benefit of his vast experience over the Surrey dressing room and, for nearly two decades, as much as Muttiah Muralitharan terrorised England batsmen with the ball, so he also beguiled them with his vast smile.
Senanayake mankads Buttler after warnings
Yet, as events on their last visit here in 2014 remind us, often when these two teams stand toe to toe, tension seems to be bubbling just under the surface and an eruption is often just a word, look or action away. Some suggest that one of the underlying causes of all the aggro here two summers ago was Sri Lanka’s irritation at losing Farbrace to England just days before the start of the tour two summers ago. Continue reading
Horrendous ICC Procedure: Andrew, Kumar and Mahela Comment on Kusal Perera Case
I. Kumar Sangakkara: “Sangakkara wants Perera for England tour”
“Before this tour he’d have been at the T20 World Cup, opening with [Tillakaratne] Dilshan which would have been a huge advantage for us because he’s a fantastic player,” Kumar Sangakkara said during an event in London. “I’m extremely confused as to what has happened, the labs in Qatar came back with an adverse finding in one of his urine samples and named the steroid that was found, then over the last few days they have withdrawn that, saying there’s been a mistake. The poor boy has been out for quite a long time. [He’s] 24-25, one of the most exciting talents we have, a wicketkeeper, a strong batsman. I hope they do [fly him out for the England tour] because when you’ve got through something like that the best support is to be allowed to play cricket again. He’s good enough to be here. But the sad fact is that when you are provisionally banned, you can’t even train, using the facilities that international teams use.
“A sad situation but thankfully that’s all over, he can carry on what he loves doing, but unfortunately Sri Lanka has lost a remarkable player for quite some time now.” Continue reading