Cricket Live

Saurav Ganguly playing his last test innings walked out to the middle, with the crowd shouting ‘Dada Dada’ and the Aussies applauding a man who is a True Indian cricketing legend.  (more…)

Saurav Ganguly, one of India’s greatest captains ever has said in a press conference, that he will retire after the Australian Test series.

Ganguly said “This will be my last series, before coming here I spoke to my team-mates and hopefully I will go out with a winning knock.”  (more…)

What a difference a day makes. After losing badly in the first game, India has bounced back to level the five match series. It wasn’t as convincing as Sri Lanka’s win in Game 1 but a win is a win is a win.

India’s captain and keeper showed how much he was missed in the recent Test series. Dhoni top scored with 39 and had the highest Indian run rate. He is a fine cricketer and could be the difference between India taking this series or not. (more…)

After a see-sawing Test series won by the locals, Sri Lanka and India begin a tournament with the best of five ODIs. After the recent success of the 20Twenty game, it seems like we are going back to the past playing a 50 over a side match. The Indians will be keen to overturn the Test series loss and the Sri Lankans will want to continue their recent dominance over their cricketing neighbours.

Keeper batsman Dhoni arrives to captain the tourists. There are some countries which have chosen one captain for both versions of the game with the English recently opting for Pietersen in that role. Ponting in Australia is another well-known example. Does another captain and a new group of players mean a country is a different proposition? Dhoni is certainly an attacking batsmen and his keeping could not be worse than his predecessor Patel. Would Dhoni have been the difference between winning and losing in the Tests? Hypothetical perhaps but his batting and keeping would surely have been better overall. And Dhoni is one captain who likes to throw in a change or two. He may bat at the top of the order or anyone in the middle. (more…)

What a difference a captain makes. Or so it seems. Kevin Pietersen made a century and did what very few of his predecessors have done; lead his team to victory in his first Test as captain. England won comfortably rather than easily but it was too little too late. South Africa won the series 2-1.

Already the scribes are talking up England’s chances next summer with the new skipper too declaring that England can regain the Ashes. Strange how few people talk about a series before then; England versus India in India. (more…)

It was more a solid than a crushing victory but 8 wickets is decisive in anyone’s scorebook. More importantly it was a series win. Sri Lanka won the third Test and the series 2 – 1.

How important was this win? What does the future hold for these two sub-continental teams? Will there be major changes in either squad? Who did well in this series and who did not? (more…)

India has not won a series in Sri Lanka for fifteen years and with two days to go in this final Test, that record looks safe. This match has been like the previous two, full of highlights with the balance of power switching sides at will.

Bad luck is sometimes hard to define but for periods in this game India has had Sharma unable to bowl and Tendulkar seriously handicapped with the bat. Laxman too is not fully fit. Nobble three of your best players and any side may struggle. Mind you India’s fielding hasn’t been all that flash which is more bad cricket than bad luck. (more…)

Everyone loves a champion so when a new player arrives on the cricketing scene the question is asked, ‘Will he be a star?” Of course it’s too early to tell when a player has only a few games under their belt but for the 192 cm tall Ishant Sharma, the signs are all good.

Born in 1988, Sharma is still a boy but playing against men like Australian captain Ricky Ponting, the Indian quick has already made his mark. In the Perth Test in 2008, where the wicket is famous for its bounce and pace, Sharma had the Aussie skipper under real pressure and eventually got his wicket. (more…)

Neutral cricket fans love this scenario. Series level with one Test to play. Sri Lanka dominated the first Test then India prevailed in the much closer second. You can talk about one team having momentum and India certainly grabbed it back last week. It’s all to play for in Colombo.

It’s fair to say that both these sub-continent teams have a similar mix of several senior and very talented players with the remainder being either relatively new to the Test scene or simply solid but not brilliant performers. Ajanta Mendis and Ishant Sharma are exceptions being both new and successful. So will this Test see the end of any Test careers? Will a bad loss and poor form for one or more of the veterans in both teams make this their swan song? Such a question adds just another shot of spice to this intriguing match. (more…)

What really happens in a dead Test match? The series has been decided with South Africa two nil up and only the final match in London to play. Do sides which have won the series drop their intensity? Does the side which has lost the series lift their game as they play for pride?

England will be an interesting team to watch to see if they do play for pride and to see how their latest captain, South African born Kevin Pietersen handles his new role. (more…)