'Cricketing' updates(-worma)
Yes, this means an intention, in this post, to leave out anything related to *that* issue.
First up, here's an eminently readable piece from one of my favorite cricket writers, Osman Samiuddin, about Shoaib Akhtar. It takes a look at where Shoaib stands today, at the age of 30, and where he goes from here. Here's an interesting excerpt, but do go read the full thing.
Next, a short interview with Sachin on his comeback. Some portions of it were already published earlier (regarding team unity etc.)
Read here...I S Bindra is out to prove what we often discuss here. That there is much business potential in domestic cricket in India. And he is taking the organisation of Challenger tournament very seriously...has acquired corporate sponsorship for the three teams and for the tournament title.
First up, here's an eminently readable piece from one of my favorite cricket writers, Osman Samiuddin, about Shoaib Akhtar. It takes a look at where Shoaib stands today, at the age of 30, and where he goes from here. Here's an interesting excerpt, but do go read the full thing.
Everything that needs to be said about Shoaib Akhtar has already been said. And broadcast. And written. Many times over. When his mood is right, when his body is right, there is no sight in cricket more exhilarating, more likely to raise hairs. There are few bowlers in the world with a capacity as destructive as his. At all other times, he is difficult, his performances erratic. He is a maverick, a loose cannon, his own man and a hindrance to the team. Pakistan cannot do without him and they also cannot do with him.
Next, a short interview with Sachin on his comeback. Some portions of it were already published earlier (regarding team unity etc.)
There is pressure on Tendulkar now and he says it isn't about playing international cricket once again. "I've done that for 16 years. The only pressure is about living up to my expectations."I would think that he has been doing that also for so long, and so well. Its only living upto some of the fan's expectation which has led to much being written and spoken, often unjustly, about him in the past. And is sure to continue for as long as he plays.
Read here...I S Bindra is out to prove what we often discuss here. That there is much business potential in domestic cricket in India. And he is taking the organisation of Challenger tournament very seriously...has acquired corporate sponsorship for the three teams and for the tournament title.
"For PCA, we are looking at this event as a bigger event than the previous India-Pakistan Test match we hosted earlier this year. At the end of the day, domestic cricket is more important because it gives you bench strength to choose from which we are utterly lacking now," he said.
posted by worma at
12:41 PM
9 Comments:
sahir...agreed that it doesnt look very promising for him in coming future. But one thing that I still see him doing is those once-in-a-while destructive spells....I think he still has a few of them left (and from what I read, he did produce a couple of those in county). I guess with Shoaib we have to reconcile to the fact that we've take what we get...with no expectations.
The next generation of Pak bowlers are really talented (Shabbir is also included in that list you gave) but still a long long way to go. And unfortunately they dont seem the enjoy a good mentor in their developing years....something which was always there in Pak cricket. Probably Rana, the least 'talented' of them all, is closest to being ready to carry Pak bowling attack in the coming years.
By
worma, at 13:34
@worma
shoaib akhtar is a flop. he is at best redundant - at worse he causes more harm to his team than the opposition. period.
By
Gaurav, at 13:56
gk..I agree with you when you say that he may harm the team. But at his 'best'...well he's the most destructive bowler in current world cricket, IMO (which is from what I have seen him do, when at his best). Whether he is physically and mentally capable of getting there(where he was as recently as the Pak tour down under) again is the question.
By
worma, at 14:10
sahir, I agree that he bowls four deliveries...and cannot go beyond 15 overs etc. But one thing I strongly disagree on is that he does not need assistance from 'conditions' to bowl one of those spells. He has bowled some of those spells in flat conditions...usually with the 'reverse' assistance in the case...and that is likely to happen in Eng tour also.
Again, what mental and physical condition is he in, nobody knows :-)
And I didn't know Shabbir was nearing 30!
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worma, at 14:13
sahir..you may be right...cos I havent seen one of those spells lately. And I would be very disappointed if he doesnt have that ability anymore. But as i said...not expectations :-)
blueboy...yep..had a nice vacation....and challengers sure look interesting this time. I esp like the new format (of having a full national team compete with newbies) and some of the youngsters are really coming up nicely in recent times.
blueboy, let me read that article in full...but from what you posted it seems that that privision is in case of long injuries (more than 6 months) and that they would pay only 50% of the salary. I think it may not be too bad...isnt that so in corporate structure also?
And what is this 1-2% that you quote? There is a 'contract' amount...irrespective of the actual matches a player plays...and then there is match fees. All these discussions are about the contracted amount I think?
sahir, I think our players do have insurance cover, and these issues highlighted here are besides the insurance money. Maybe Prem can confirm on this.
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worma, at 15:05
sahir...as I said...my understanding was that there was a contract money..paid to all the players according to their grades (3 I think) and then there is a match-fee per ODI, test match. The ones not in playing XI (or 12?) get less match-fee...while the ones missing out are not paid anything. So, this means the players have an incentive of remaining fit to play as many matches....yet they have the fall-back option of contract money in case they have injuries...so that they dont hide it. I think the system is similar to other countries.
Just read the rediff report, it also says that BCCI will consult players' representatives before finalising the contracts....seems reasonable enough to me.
By
worma, at 15:20
blueboy, if that 50% is just an example...then sure I would also wait and watch how much it is. 1-2% is a poor number, no doubt.
And yes, the contracted amount has to protect the injured player....but that is not the 'sole' reason for putting contracts in place. Its just a standard way of remunerating professional players. They get a fixed amount for becoming pro for the board, and then an appearance money. So a person sitting injured for more than six months (yes I got the impression that six months was spoken seriously in that report, but lets wait and see....also Prem may have a view on this, he knows the earlier contract issues, players opinions etc) then there is surely some logic in the argument that he gets less off his contract salary than a fully fit player (as you also said, the player would have an incentive to look after his fitness well enough). But again, the percentage that he gets is important. Should not be 1-2% !
And as for you example....well the bowler wont get injured for 6 months or more because of an effort ball, would he? Thats why, as I said, the 6 month duration quoted there is important(if true) and also the percentage he gets paid is important.
Also, as I said earlier, I believe there is an insurance cover for our players. Remember some stupid media sensation recently when a 'scoop' type report came out that Sachin had filed some medical bills for reimbursement....and some official said that yes its done for insurance claims. So, I think there is enough cover that way. Lets see if Prem knows something about this.
As for a contracted bowler who gets through the entire season without appearing in any match getting more money than someone playing matches and getting injured...I have three points:
a) Such a bowler is obviously not useful to the team...and is likely to loose the contract for next season...or atleast downgraded
b) He would not get any match fee....which is not small change. Its significant money when you compare that with the contract amount...so the bowler playing more matches is getting that as well (although he has more chances of picking up injury).
c) If there is insurance cover for the players, then the bowler playing and risking injury not only gets the match fees (as compared to the one sitting out) but also gets insurance money. So he may not be at so much of a loss.
Finally, I dont think drawing up contracts is so simple...as you also said earlier...each move has a pro and a con argument...and it has to be a fine balance. But I do believe commercial contracts around the world have similar sounding clauses for long term injuries etc...although I am not sure how close are these to CA or ECB contracts. But I was happy to note that BCCI was willing to finalise the contracts after taking input from players' representatives...if they are indeed doing it seriously
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worma, at 16:23
prem, and worma (even though you didn't mention *that* issue),
looks like all your barbs to the BCCI about their ineffectual gag order had some effect...at least on SK Nair, according to this report on Rediff.
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dna, at 17:06
cricktip....I like Osman for his balanced opinions...not because his favourite cricketers match mine :-).
I think he used Wasim and Imran examples to show where Shoaib stood, at a similar point in their careers. And those examples were neither used to unduely glorify Shoiab, nor overly criticise him. So having another one(Waquar) in the list would have not been meant too much. Did you notice that he himself pointed out that Shoaib stood better than both Imran(in average) and Wasim(in num of wkts) after same number of matches!
Anyways I dont think that article was meant to list contemporary greats of pak....so his missing out Waquar wasn't a big issue to me..compared to what he had to say about Shoaib.
Also notice that he did say that statistics is often a fickle barometer. And I agree with him totally. Esp when its used as a standalone weapon. And this is what his comparion proved...that despite Shoaib looking 'statistically' better than either of those...his stature in the team and in world cricket in general...was way below those two.
dna, yes seen that article. What to say. BCCI most probably cannot impose a gag order because the terms of such a gag might not have been specified in the contract. I remember reading somewhere that they might be looking to include it in the new contract. I also pointed this out when these issues were hot...that BCCI might be actually 'requesting' the players to restrain themselves.
By
worma, at 17:29
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