England on subcontinent(-worma)

As we know, the Eng batting flopped big time in their warmup match. Vaughan says he's concerned, though not overly.

But this, he should be concerned about.

On the last day of the game against the Patron's XI Vaughan moved a few times from slip to leg-slip when deliveries from the spinners were in mid-flight.

and this is what he had to say about it

I don't think it was sportsmanship. I thought it was quite smart

and also

I moved very fast, as soon as the ball had been released.

And I am shocked, to say the least! Not only is he unaware of what, to me, seems like a basic rule, but is also going to stick to it, despite it being pointed out to him.

He was apparently unaware that law 41 says "significant movement" by fielders in such circumstances is "unfair".

Also, read this story in Telegraph, highlighting the 'illegality' of the Vaughan tactic.

Actually, the England captain is wrong and Law 47.1 states that: "any significant movement by a fielder after the ball comes into play and before it reaches the batsman, is unfair." The next clause goes on to define what is "significant" for a close fielder, outlawing anything other than a minor adjustment to stance or position. That makes Vaughan's lurch to the leg-side a contravention, however you look at it

Ofcourse a crash course through a friendly journo, or even possibility of reviving the Gatting incident might yet deter him from implementing his plans :-)

Meanwhile, here's a nice KP interview, the first one I have come across so far. Reveals a lot about his personality in non-crickeing life, and how it shows on the field.

My hair doesn't make me play cricket any differently!

Just because I've got a stupid haircut or diamond earrings, it's not going to make me cover drive a ball any differently.

And also shows he doesn't take himself too seriously :-)

Personally I do it because I like it. I don't do it because I want to be somebody. Who else walks around with a stupid haircut like mine?

Also talks about his decision to play for Eng, his bowling capabilities etc. All in all, a good read.

But KP would not be the only funny man out there when Eng face Pak for the first test.

Someone once asked Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq why he wins the toss so often and his reply was: "I practise a lot."

Its from a nice profile article on Inzy, read the full article here. And this is not the first funny reply I've heard from him. I do recall finding his quotes funny on other moments also (India tour.maybe?..don't seem to remember exactly). Its probably his dead-pan serious looks which puts us off the track before the punchline lands :-)

And finally about the tour woes of Eng team, the favorite topic which Prem and myself have been raising quite often in recent times. It seems that things do go in well defined circles around the Eng as tourists. Here's a nice critique done by Harsha Bhogle, apparently after their previous visit to India. As we always get from his work, very aptly put by Harsha this time too.

You would have thought that touring was all about living with the occasionally uncomfortable event and becoming richer as a result. Indeed, the best teams look upon hindrances as barriers to be overcome and actually emerge stronger. That is why the best teams win away. They do so because in their minds they are ready to travel and look upon it the way they might at a bowler they do not know too much about.

And it seems that with minor changes here and there, date revised...and he can be ready to re-publish it :-) Thanks to one of our regular readers Arun for pointing this out to me.