Category Archives: foul tactics

That Fat Bastard Shane Warne

David Runciman reviewing No Spin –Warne’s Autobiography

When​ the Australian cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were exposed tampering with the ball during last year’s test series in South Africa there was, along with all the faux outrage, some genuine incredulity. Why did they take such an insane risk? The subterfuge was so cack-handed – rubbing the ball with lurid yellow sandpaper, perfectly suited to be picked up by the TV cameras – and the potential rewards so slight that they seemed to be putting their careers on the line for next to nothing. Confronted with the filmed evidence, Smith confessed straightaway. As conspiracies go this one barely got to first base, since almost no thought had been given to keeping it secret. They can’t have wanted to be caught. Each of the three culprits looked distraught in the aftermath. But it does appear that they didn’t think getting caught would matter much.

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A Critical Appraisal of the Gentlemen’s Game of Cricket

Sarath Gamini De Silva, in Island, 6 June 2019 where the title was different**               

I am an ardent cricket fan, being educated at a school giving pride of place to cricket. The annual “Big Match” was one of the most looked forward to events in the calendar. My own experience in the game was limited to playing with the soft ball in the backyard with my friends. Whenever time permits, I watch cricket on television but only occasionally do I go to see a match. I am overjoyed to see Sri Lanka winning matches, which unfortunately is a rarity now.

McGrath vs Sarwa Lara reprimands Waugh

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Topsy-Turvy: A Tale of Ingenious Tactics from the Aussie Boondocks

A Note from Ron Slee …. an Aged Aussie Mate

Michael, my ‘old age indulgence’ lacks the verification of yours and while it bears some similarities, sadly, I have no pictures.

It was ‘64/65.  I was captain of my High School Cricket X1.  I provided leadership in neither batting nor bowling but I had a heightened sense of how difficult it was to score runs against good bowlers and how equally difficult it was to bowl to good batsmen.  This profound weakness at batting and bowling led me to develop a strategy which produced success for my team.

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Filed under Australian cricket, backyard cricket, fair play, foul tactics, memorable moments, taking the piss

The Pathirana Factor in Sri Lankan Cricket Politics

Rex Clementine, in Island, 21 August 2019, where the title reads “SLC removes spin bowling coach, offie faces lengthy suspension”

Off-spinner Akila Dananjaya faces a lengthy suspension from international cricket after his bowling action was reported as suspect for a second time following the opening Test match against New Zealand at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday. The Sri Lankan team management was provided with footage of about six deliveries which caused suspicion and one delivery in particular is sure to get him into trouble, a source privy to the exchanges between the International Cricket Council and Sri Lanka Cricket told The Island.

Piyal Wijetunge coaching

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ICC Investigation of Corruption in SL Cricket Scene in Full Bore

News Item in Island, 10 January 2019  …. http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=197452

ICC Anti Corruption Unit officer Steve Richardson, Sports Minister Harin Fernando, SLC chief Ashley De Silva and other officials address Sri Lanka’s First Class players and officials.The International Cricket Council yesterday held a meeting for all First Class cricketers at the Sports Ministry premises urging them to provide details if they are aware of any corrupt practice in Sri Lankan cricket.

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Machinations in Sri Lanka Cricket …. Dharmadasa and Shammi Silva in the Spotlight

N Krishnamurthy in Cricket Age, 20 December 2018, where the title is The inside story of Dharmadasa and Shammi Silva meeting”

As the election time has arrived at Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), the candidates and certain camps have also started to tighten up their strategy. Obviously, the attempts have also been started to bring opposite camp’s stalwart! In one such scenario, few days ago the notorious and controversial treasurer of Thilanga Sumathipala camp Shammi Silva tried to convince Jayantha Dharmadasa!

  Dharmadasa Shammi Silva

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Ball-tampering: A Fine-grained Legal Analysis

Peter Hunt, 14 September 2018, THE ROAR  where the title is  Ball tampering – a legal analysis and a call for reform”

It’s lunch on the third day of the third Test between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town and the Test series is at a critical stage.

A day which will live in infamy 
Australia won the first Test and South Africa won the second. Now, in the third, South Africa enjoys a 56-run lead on the first innings and at lunch, they have lost one wicket in accumulating 65 precious runs. So, with a lead of 121 runs and with nine second-innings wickets in hand, South Africa will resume shortly and look to block, cover drive, leave and square cut themselves into a position of comfort.

Cameron Bancroft of Australia talks to the umpire on the third day of the third cricket test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands Stadium, in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, March 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)

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A Muckraking Essay from Krishnamurthy about Hathurusingha

N Krishnamurthy  in Cricket Age, 30 September 2018, with this title : “Exclusive! Is Sri Lanka Head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha No More A Buddhist?”

Ever since his arrival in Sri Lanka as national Team head coach, Chandika Hathurusingha has become the most powerful and manipulative at the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC). Especially, after the shameful departure of Thilanga Sumathipala led administration on May 31st, he has extended his control over several other non cricketing expects [sic] as well, like in which airlines Sri Lanka team should travel!

 

SLC too, in a bid to hide its incompetent and wrongdoings, gave Hathurusingha all the authority! Though, Sri Lanka Cricket is still in shambles.

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Filed under Angelo Mathews, confrontations on field, cricket and life, cricketer politicians, foul tactics, Hathurusingha, performance, player selections, politics and cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket, unusual people, verbal intimidation

SL Selectors undermine Progress of Young Spinner Mahesh Theekshana

Rohit Pawar in CricketAge, 19 September 2018, where the title runsSL Selectors Perfect Plan To Destroy Another ‘Ajantha Mendis”

For more than one and half year now, Sri Lanka Chief selector Graeme Labrooy is doing his best in destroying not only the progress of the national team by messing with everything, but he is also pushing back and demoralizing youth cricketers big time!

As he has no time to properly watch the international matches due to his other dozen of ‘professional commitments’, he has given the responsibility of looking after the U19 cricket to his fellow selector Gamini Wickramsinghe. The sad thing is, he is equally incompetent!

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David Richardson delivers MCC Cowdrey Lecture: Sane Blokes to balance Ebullient Characters

ONE = Item in CRICKET AGE,  7 August 2018 with title “MS Dhoni, Rahul Dravid as important as ‘larger than life’Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes, says ICC CEO Dave Richardson

ICC CEO David Richardson said that while cricket needs the likes of Virat Kohli and Ben Stokes, it also needs an MS Dhoni or Rahul Dravid as a balancing act. Richardson, while giving his MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture on Monday, said that cricket needs its “larger than life characters” and its more mellow exponents so as to “stay on the good side of that line.”

“On the field the cricket needs its larger than life characters. Its Colin Milburns, Freddie Flintoffs, Shane Warnes, Virat Kohlis, Ben Stokes but we equally it needs its Frank Worrells, its Mahendra Singh Dhonis, its Rahul Dravids, its Colin Cowdreys to make sure that we all stay in the good side of that line,” said Richardson.

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