The Roar » Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au Your Sports Opinion Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:19:13 +0000 en hourly 1 Live Cricket Blog: Gunfight at The Premadasa Corral http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/03/05/live-blog-gunfight-at-the-premadasa-coral-australia-v-sri-lanka/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/03/05/live-blog-gunfight-at-the-premadasa-coral-australia-v-sri-lanka/#comments Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:44:47 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=40805 The R.Premadasa International Stadium is a graveyard for bowlers. In 1997-98, Sri Lanka racked up the world’s highest Test total, scoring 952 for 6 declared against India. The highest partnership in Test cricket of 576 for the second wicket was established by Jayasuriya and Mahanama. Join The Roar’s live cricket blog from 7.30pm The toss [...]

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]]> Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga, left and Angelo Mathews

The R.Premadasa International Stadium is a graveyard for bowlers. In 1997-98, Sri Lanka racked up the world’s highest Test total, scoring 952 for 6 declared against India. The highest partnership in Test cricket of 576 for the second wicket was established by Jayasuriya and Mahanama.

Join The Roar’s live cricket blog from 7.30pm

The toss is crucial.

Since 2000, the team calling correctly has won 25 out of the 35 decided matches. Win the toss and bat first. Batting under lights has proved a bogey and tonight may be no different.

This World Cup shows that the cricketing landscape is like the Wild West and the ICC is trying to be like Wyatt Earp. Cricket administrators think you can just sink another oil well into cricket’s heart and the money will keep flowing.

The BCCI is behaving like the oil rich monarchs that give all its citizens a bonus of $3,000 to keep them compliant. Boards like Cricket Australia and the South African board are happy to share in the tripartite largesse.

The questions remain: how much of the extra revenue actually goes to the thousands of clubs that run the game for no pay?

The question of the Sheffield Shield remains a vexed potato.

The Centre of Excellence in Brisbane may not be living up to its name. Our coaches may be sending mixed signals to our young players.

Nothing happens in isolation but a lot is happening that may isolate Test and one-day cricket.

The rights for this 2011 WC were sold for two billion dollars to ESPN and it is hoped the bulk of this revenue will go to those that need it most. Countries like Afghanistan, Nepal, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

However, there must be caveats to the money and the disbursement must be subject to accountability. It would not make sense if it ended up in Mugabe’s pocket.

This World Cup is important and may go some way to restoring cricket’s credibility. Tendulkar is Indian cricket’s integrity pulse and the BCCI retains some respectability through his eminence.

Cricket in the sub-continent could do without expert comments from the likes of Mohammed Azzurudhin and Salman Butt. That these two are employed in any capacity with cricket is blight on the game.

It is inevitable that leeches will attach themselves to a World Cup that should be a celebration of all that is good in cricket. Ireland with their stirring victory over England has given meaning to the revolution and may they conquer more Goliaths.

Cricket has become elitist and is in danger of becoming irrelevant if it does not change tack. It cannot be run as a monopoly for the three or four.

It must be more inclusive and caring of those not so fortunate.

So join me at 7.30pm tonight and I look forward to discussing all of the above and sharing the game as it evolves.

It should be an interesting evening so make sure you put your party hats on and see if we cannot knock these pesky Sri Lankans off their favourite perch.

Roaring Hot

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Article link: Live Cricket Blog: Gunfight at The Premadasa Corral. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/03/05/live-blog-gunfight-at-the-premadasa-coral-australia-v-sri-lanka/feed/ 61 Australia beat Black Caps in a one-sided encounter http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/26/australia-beat-blackcaps-in-one-sided-encounter/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/26/australia-beat-blackcaps-in-one-sided-encounter/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:39:14 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=40474 Nagpur, in the exact geographical centre of India, is a long way from Christchurch and the respective teams stood in a moment’s silence reflecting on the tragedy still so fresh. Republican, a respected Roarer, was of the opinion New Zealand would lift for this encounter and Australia’s “weeping willows” middle order would crumble. John Wright, [...]

Article link: Australia beat Black Caps in a one-sided encounter. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Nagpur, in the exact geographical centre of India, is a long way from Christchurch and the respective teams stood in a moment’s silence reflecting on the tragedy still so fresh.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/26/australia-beat-blackcaps-in-one-sided-encounter/feed/ 12 Things we can control: Sport, the great healer http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/24/things-we-can-control-sportthe-great-healer/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/24/things-we-can-control-sportthe-great-healer/#comments Thu, 24 Feb 2011 02:21:36 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=40417 Life and death take precedence over everything. Even sport. The heavens opened and the floods around the country showed how fleeting our life can be. The earth opened up in Christchurch and we were reminded how precious life is. All these natural tragedies also showed the resilience and heroism of man. We learn to accept [...]

Article link: Things we can control: Sport, the great healer. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Life and death take precedence over everything. Even sport. The heavens opened and the floods around the country showed how fleeting our life can be. The earth opened up in Christchurch and we were reminded how precious life is. All these natural tragedies also showed the resilience and heroism of man. We learn to accept what we cannot control.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/24/things-we-can-control-sportthe-great-healer/feed/ 11 Zimbabwe prosper a little but Price not quite right http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/22/zimbabwe-prosper-a-little-but-price-not-quite-right/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/22/zimbabwe-prosper-a-little-but-price-not-quite-right/#comments Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:30:15 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=40308 If Santana was running the ICC he would be singing “Let the Children Play”. This was a soundtrack from his million-selling album Festival. This current World Cup may be the last playground for the children. Australia played Zimbabwe overnight and it was supposed to be a massacre of the innocents. Australia had only lost once [...]

Article link: Zimbabwe prosper a little but Price not quite right. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Tait Ray Price Cricket World Cup 2011

Zimbabwe's Ray Price, in red, has a verbal exchange with Australia's Shaun Tait, center, after the dismissal of Zimbabwe's Graeme Cremer in the Cricket World Cup Group A match in Ahmadabad, India, Monday, Feb. 21, 2011.

If Santana was running the ICC he would be singing “Let the Children Play”. This was a soundtrack from his million-selling album Festival. This current World Cup may be the last playground for the children. Australia played Zimbabwe overnight and it was supposed to be a massacre of the innocents.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/22/zimbabwe-prosper-a-little-but-price-not-quite-right/feed/ 36 The contenders for the World Cup that counts http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/20/the-contenders-for-the-world-cup-that-counts/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/20/the-contenders-for-the-world-cup-that-counts/#comments Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:01:24 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=40223 This is compulsory reading for the wise men at Cricket Australia: The 2015 World Cup, to be played in Australia, will be the 50 overs format and not a hybrid 45 split over impersonator. The opening ceremony in Bangladesh confirmed the enthusiasm and the passion of the subcontinent for the 50 overs format. Irrespective of [...]

Article link: The contenders for the World Cup that counts. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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South African batsman HM Amla makes runs as Australian bowler James Hopes follows his misfielded ball during the 4th One Day International cricket match between Australia and South Africa at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

South African batsman HM Amla makes runs as Australian bowler James Hopes follows his misfielded ball during the 4th One Day International cricket match between Australia and South Africa at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

This is compulsory reading for the wise men at Cricket Australia: The 2015 World Cup, to be played in Australia, will be the 50 overs format and not a hybrid 45 split over impersonator.

Read More...

]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/20/the-contenders-for-the-world-cup-that-counts/feed/ 39 Molly-coddled players need to toughen up for World Cup http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/17/aussie-powder-puffs-and-nut-cases/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/17/aussie-powder-puffs-and-nut-cases/#comments Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:51:20 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=40090 My friend on The Roar, Sheek, has accused me of being a misguided cricket tragic. If the truth be known I am struggling with the sorry state of Australian cricket. In a time where Mubarak can be overthrown because the people have had enough, there is a case in my opinion for a revolt against [...]

Article link: Molly-coddled players need to toughen up for World Cup. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Australia's Michael Clarke plays a shot during the 5th One Day International cricket match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

My friend on The Roar, Sheek, has accused me of being a misguided cricket tragic. If the truth be known I am struggling with the sorry state of Australian cricket.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/17/aussie-powder-puffs-and-nut-cases/feed/ 48 Australia ready to hit the World Cup for four http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/15/australian-ready-to-hit-the-world-cup-for-four/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/15/australian-ready-to-hit-the-world-cup-for-four/#comments Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:35:09 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=39958 Ricky Ponting will lead Australia in its quest of a fourth successive World Cup and, according to Greg Chappell, “Australia will need contributions from everyone to win. If they treat it as an adventure and work for each other they have a realistic chance.” Where once it was in boats carved by hand and steered [...]

Article link: Australia ready to hit the World Cup for four. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Ricky Ponting will lead Australia in its quest of a fourth successive World Cup and, according to Greg Chappell, “Australia will need contributions from everyone to win. If they treat it as an adventure and work for each other they have a realistic chance.”

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/15/australian-ready-to-hit-the-world-cup-for-four/feed/ 63 Why Australian cricket needs to go back to school http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/10/australian-cricket-needs-to-go-back-to-school/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/10/australian-cricket-needs-to-go-back-to-school/#comments Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:00:07 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=39800 Murali is set to renew his love hate relationship with Australian cricket. Shunned by many and called for throwing, he remains an enigmatic figure with punters Down Under. He is either the greatest or just a “chucker”. Tensions run high and take on a religious fervor at the mere mention of the man: Cricket Australia [...]

Article link: Why Australian cricket needs to go back to school. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]>

Murali is set to renew his love hate relationship with Australian cricket. Shunned by many and called for throwing, he remains an enigmatic figure with punters Down Under. He is either the greatest or just a “chucker”.

Read More...

]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/10/australian-cricket-needs-to-go-back-to-school/feed/ 22 Why the NRL’s Indigenous All Stars match matters http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/09/why-the-nrls-indigenous-all-stars-match-matters/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/09/why-the-nrls-indigenous-all-stars-match-matters/#comments Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:00:37 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=39744 Last year I was mildly critical of the NRL’s Indigenous All Stars game and thought it to be just a gimmick. A year is a long time and I am pleasantly surprised that government is finally listening to sportsmen as a result of the match. Without the involvement of players like Darren Lockyer and Johnathan [...]

Article link: Why the NRL’s Indigenous All Stars match matters. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Indigenous All Stars player Wendell Sailor breaks throiugh during the Indigenous All Stars v NRL All Stars match

Indigenous All Stars player Wendell Sailor breaks throiugh during the Indigenous All Stars v NRL All Stars match at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Last year I was mildly critical of the NRL’s Indigenous All Stars game and thought it to be just a gimmick. A year is a long time and I am pleasantly surprised that government is finally listening to sportsmen as a result of the match.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/09/why-the-nrls-indigenous-all-stars-match-matters/feed/ 22 The long haul: charting the Patrick Cummins flight path http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/07/the-long-haul-charting-the-cummins-flight-path/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/07/the-long-haul-charting-the-cummins-flight-path/#comments Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:08:33 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=39591 Fast bowlers face extinction in the face of cricket’s Global Physical Crisis (GPC). Bowling at speeds in excess of 145kph is not for the faint-hearted. A run-up of thirty meters and then a leap and final hurling of body and soul. In that split second these supersonics have gone from being a sprinter to a [...]

Article link: The long haul: charting the Patrick Cummins flight path. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Patrick CumminsFast bowlers face extinction in the face of cricket’s Global Physical Crisis (GPC). Bowling at speeds in excess of 145kph is not for the faint-hearted.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/07/the-long-haul-charting-the-cummins-flight-path/feed/ 11 For the sake of cricket, they must reinvigorate the Shield http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/01/restore-the-shield-or-perish/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/01/restore-the-shield-or-perish/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:00:20 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=39420 Captaincy of the Australian cricket team is bestowed. It is not something that you audition for. I find it disrespectful that journalists put leading questions in the mouth of babes. What I find even more disrespectful is the immaturity of someone like Watson who can go along with this line of questioning. There has been [...]

Article link: For the sake of cricket, they must reinvigorate the Shield. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Captaincy of the Australian cricket team is bestowed. It is not something that you audition for. I find it disrespectful that journalists put leading questions in the mouth of babes. What I find even more disrespectful is the immaturity of someone like Watson who can go along with this line of questioning.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/01/restore-the-shield-or-perish/feed/ 65 Australian cricket needs new sightscreens http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/24/australian-cricket-needs-new-sightscreens/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/24/australian-cricket-needs-new-sightscreens/#comments Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:03:13 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=39170 The one day cricket match last night between England and Australia was, in my opinion, a sham. At times, like when Strauss and Trott were marooned at the same end, it was high farce. Dylan Thomas wrote Under Milk Wood in 1953 about characters in a fictional village called Llareggub. Spelt backwards this says “buggerall” [...]

Article link: Australian cricket needs new sightscreens. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Michael ClarkeThe one day cricket match last night between England and Australia was, in my opinion, a sham. At times, like when Strauss and Trott were marooned at the same end, it was high farce.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/24/australian-cricket-needs-new-sightscreens/feed/ 75 No room for Clarke in Australia’s World Cup squad http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/18/no-room-for-michael-clarke-in-australias-world-cup-squad/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/18/no-room-for-michael-clarke-in-australias-world-cup-squad/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:46:48 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=39027 The World Cup is not the place to “blood” players especially as the blood from this Australian summer is still warm. Adding tattoos are great when you are scoring runs or taking wickets. But without these vital statistics, the nakedness and inadequacies are all too apparent. Okay, you lot in Jolimont Street, you can wake [...]

Article link: No room for Clarke in Australia’s World Cup squad. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> michael-clarkeThe World Cup is not the place to “blood” players especially as the blood from this Australian summer is still warm. Adding tattoos are great when you are scoring runs or taking wickets. But without these vital statistics, the nakedness and inadequacies are all too apparent.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/18/no-room-for-michael-clarke-in-australias-world-cup-squad/feed/ 79 Sad truth is that Australian cricket is a failed business http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/10/australian-cricket-a-failed-business/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/10/australian-cricket-a-failed-business/#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:43:14 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38807 If sport is a business then cricket in Australia is a failed business. It is a failed business because of incompetent leadership. A board of directors appoints a CEO. James Sutherland was given an established brand with enormous goodwill in the public sphere. This has now eroded from being a market leader to a marketing [...]

Article link: Sad truth is that Australian cricket is a failed business. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> If sport is a business then cricket in Australia is a failed business. It is a failed business because of incompetent leadership. A board of directors appoints a CEO. James Sutherland was given an established brand with enormous goodwill in the public sphere.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/10/australian-cricket-a-failed-business/feed/ 36 The big winners and losers from the IPL auction http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/09/winners-and-losers-ipl4-auction/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/09/winners-and-losers-ipl4-auction/#comments Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:25:56 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38811 The IPL is a world away from the iron fences at Roseville Park and the white pickets at Waverley. It is a world where the owner of the Mumbai Indians, Mukesh Ambani has just built a mansion worth one billion US dollars. It is 27 storeys high and has three helipads and hundreds of rooms. [...]

Article link: The big winners and losers from the IPL auction. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Adam Gilchrist in rain AP Photo/Aman Sharma

Adam Gilchrist in rain AP Photo/Aman Sharma

The IPL is a world away from the iron fences at Roseville Park and the white pickets at Waverley. It is a world where the owner of the Mumbai Indians, Mukesh Ambani has just built a mansion worth one billion US dollars. It is 27 storeys high and has three helipads and hundreds of rooms. He lives there with his wife, three children and a staff of 600.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/09/winners-and-losers-ipl4-auction/feed/ 78 Announcing Australia’s best Sporting Team of 2010 http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/05/australias-best-sporting-team-2010/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/05/australias-best-sporting-team-2010/#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:06:16 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38634 Titian, the 16th century Italian painter, was known among his contempories as “The Sun Amidst Small Stars.” His paintings were ablaze with dramatic colours and the brush strokes were sweeping in their execution. If Hockey was a canvas, then the Kookaburras are the Renaissance men of sport. The Kookaburras are everything our Australian cricket team [...]

Article link: Announcing Australia’s best Sporting Team of 2010. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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The Australian men's hockey team group into a huddle before taking a penalty corner

The Australian men's hockey team group into a huddle before taking a penalty corner against England. AAP Image/Paul Miller

Titian, the 16th century Italian painter, was known among his contempories as “The Sun Amidst Small Stars.” His paintings were ablaze with dramatic colours and the brush strokes were sweeping in their execution. If Hockey was a canvas, then the Kookaburras are the Renaissance men of sport.

Read More...

]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/05/australias-best-sporting-team-2010/feed/ 28 Khawaja and Beer, two debutants at the ball game http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/04/khawaja-and-beer-two-debutants-at-the-ball-game/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/04/khawaja-and-beer-two-debutants-at-the-ball-game/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 19:28:35 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38660 For six weeks the two debutants, Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer, have been all dressed up with nowhere to go. First Khawaja was added as cover for in an initial squad of 17 and then as cover for Ponting in Melbourne. Beer was playing a domestic game for the Warriors in Brisbane when he was flown [...]

Article link: Khawaja and Beer, two debutants at the ball game. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> For six weeks the two debutants, Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer, have been all dressed up with nowhere to go. First Khawaja was added as cover for in an initial squad of 17 and then as cover for Ponting in Melbourne. Beer was playing a domestic game for the Warriors in Brisbane when he was flown across the continent to the WACA.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/01/04/khawaja-and-beer-two-debutants-at-the-ball-game/feed/ 20 Ghosts of summers past http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/30/ghosts-of-summers-past/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/30/ghosts-of-summers-past/#comments Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:10:16 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38548 Every morning for the last three days I passed two statues and did not give them even a cursory glance. This morning I was early and the MCG precinct was deserted. I was drawn, inexorably, to the first of the statues and gazed at the figure of Dennis Keith Lillee. Captured in his delivery stride, [...]

Article link: Ghosts of summers past. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Every morning for the last three days I passed two statues and did not give them even a cursory glance. This morning I was early and the MCG precinct was deserted. I was drawn, inexorably, to the first of the statues and gazed at the figure of Dennis Keith Lillee.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/30/ghosts-of-summers-past/feed/ 62 England’s men rule over the colonial boys http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/29/englands-men-rule-over-the-colonial-boys/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/29/englands-men-rule-over-the-colonial-boys/#comments Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:56:16 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38525 For the third day running the MCG faithful came to the arena. Successive crowds of 85,000, 67,000 and 68,000 showed that Victorians love their sport. The question was had they come to praise Ricky Ponting or to bury him? The question would remain unanswered until the Australians batted. Siddle mopped up the tail and Hilfenhaus [...]

Article link: England’s men rule over the colonial boys. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> For the third day running the MCG faithful came to the arena. Successive crowds of 85,000, 67,000 and 68,000 showed that Victorians love their sport. The question was had they come to praise Ricky Ponting or to bury him? The question would remain unanswered until the Australians batted.

Read More...

]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/29/englands-men-rule-over-the-colonial-boys/feed/ 28 Australia chasing its tail to Ashes defeat http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/28/australia-chasing-its-tail/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/28/australia-chasing-its-tail/#comments Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:07:54 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38508 Peter Siddle started the second morning of the Boxing Day Test with purpose; bowling a menacing line and length. He dismissed Cook and Australia had a glimmer. But this glimmer was extinguished by a ruthless England batting display that was singular in its purpose. And by day’s end, the coffin was ready and only the [...]

Article link: Australia chasing its tail to Ashes defeat. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Australian keeper Brad Haddin walks back to the dressing rooms after getting out against England on day one of the fourth Ashes Test against England

Australian keeper Brad Haddin walks back to the dressing rooms after getting out against England on day one of the fourth Ashes Test against England at the MCG in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec.26, 2010. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)

Peter Siddle started the second morning of the Boxing Day Test with purpose; bowling a menacing line and length. He dismissed Cook and Australia had a glimmer. But this glimmer was extinguished by a ruthless England batting display that was singular in its purpose. And by day’s end, the coffin was ready and only the corpse remained to be put in it.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/28/australia-chasing-its-tail/feed/ 62 Time for Ricky Ponting to hand over the captaincy http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/27/time-for-ponting-to-hand-over-the-captaincy/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/27/time-for-ponting-to-hand-over-the-captaincy/#comments Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:08:52 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38486 Cricket at its basest level is still the noblest sport of all. When decency is transgressed, cricket will exact its retribution. Prior to the lead up for this the fourth Test, fans and media alike were unanimous in castigating the captain, the selectors and even Siddle’s pet dog. It was irrelevant if he actually has [...]

Article link: Time for Ricky Ponting to hand over the captaincy. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Ricky Ponting of Australia plays a shot before being dismissed on day one of the Fourth Ashes Test

Ricky Ponting of Australia plays a shot before being dismissed on day one of the Fourth Ashes Test match between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010. The traditional Boxing Day test is expected to draw a record crowd by the end of play. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Cricket at its basest level is still the noblest sport of all. When decency is transgressed, cricket will exact its retribution. Prior to the lead up for this the fourth Test, fans and media alike were unanimous in castigating the captain, the selectors and even Siddle’s pet dog. It was irrelevant if he actually has a dog.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/27/time-for-ponting-to-hand-over-the-captaincy/feed/ 153 England go WACABOUT http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/20/england-go-wacabout/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/20/england-go-wacabout/#comments Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:08:05 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38324 The three cardinal precepts of cricket at the International level are pitches, players, and the public. Australia paid more attention to their P’s, and some of the Q’s have been answered. Cam Sutherland, the curator at the WACA, should be a consultant for cricket pitches worldwide. He produced a stage that George Bernard Shaw would [...]

Article link: England go WACABOUT. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> The three cardinal precepts of cricket at the International level are pitches, players, and the public. Australia paid more attention to their P’s, and some of the Q’s have been answered.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/20/england-go-wacabout/feed/ 57 Passion plays and magic Mitchell Johnson http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/18/passion-plays-and-magic-mitchell-johnson/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/18/passion-plays-and-magic-mitchell-johnson/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:03:38 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38286 All those that doubted Johnson’s ability please take this opportunity to say you were misguided. The problem with the doubters, many English among them, was that they had not seen the Mitchell Johnson we had. The one that could break Graeme Smith’s hand twice. The one that could take 11 wickets in a match. And [...]

Article link: Passion plays and magic Mitchell Johnson. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> All those that doubted Johnson’s ability please take this opportunity to say you were misguided. The problem with the doubters, many English among them, was that they had not seen the Mitchell Johnson we had. The one that could break Graeme Smith’s hand twice. The one that could take 11 wickets in a match.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/18/passion-plays-and-magic-mitchell-johnson/feed/ 61 Ponting and Johnson the keys at the WACA http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/16/ponting-and-johnson-the-keys-at-the-waca/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/16/ponting-and-johnson-the-keys-at-the-waca/#comments Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:30:55 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38233 The Indian ocean will be churned by conflicting and contrasting currents today. To the right, in Perth, Australia will be in a desperate battle to reclaim some credibility. England will want to keep their foot on the collective Aussie throat. To the left, South Africa and India will be fighting for the heavyweight championship of [...]

Article link: Ponting and Johnson the keys at the WACA. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> The Indian ocean will be churned by conflicting and contrasting currents today. To the right, in Perth, Australia will be in a desperate battle to reclaim some credibility. England will want to keep their foot on the collective Aussie throat. To the left, South Africa and India will be fighting for the heavyweight championship of cricket in Centurion.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/16/ponting-and-johnson-the-keys-at-the-waca/feed/ 28 Rugby and the Religion of the Playing Fields http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/14/rugby-and-the-religion-of-the-playing-fields/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/14/rugby-and-the-religion-of-the-playing-fields/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:43:49 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38180 Where passion and skill intersect, rugby finds its heaven on earth. And if there were a chosen rugby people, surely it would be the Welsh. But passion alone does not guarantee them the throne. The most magnificent rugby temple in the world is the aptly named Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. With over a million visitors [...]

Article link: Rugby and the Religion of the Playing Fields. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Wallabies' David Pocock watches as Wales' Stephen Jones is tackled against Australia. AP Photo/Tim Hales

Where passion and skill intersect, rugby finds its heaven on earth. And if there were a chosen rugby people, surely it would be the Welsh. But passion alone does not guarantee them the throne.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/14/rugby-and-the-religion-of-the-playing-fields/feed/ 71 Cricket Australia to blame for the Aussie slide http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/10/cricket-australia-to-blame-for-the-aussie-slide/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/10/cricket-australia-to-blame-for-the-aussie-slide/#comments Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:20:39 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=38066 I have been saying for a long time Australia deserve their number five Test ranking, and I lay the blame squarely at the feet of Cricket Australia. Australia’s cricket stocks have slipped in inverse proportion to their increased income. This is after factoring in their three-year loss and one-year boom forecasts. There is an old [...]

Article link: Cricket Australia to blame for the Aussie slide. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> I have been saying for a long time Australia deserve their number five Test ranking, and I lay the blame squarely at the feet of Cricket Australia. Australia’s cricket stocks have slipped in inverse proportion to their increased income.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/10/cricket-australia-to-blame-for-the-aussie-slide/feed/ 130 Hussey hustles, but Australia back on the ropes http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/04/hussey-hustles-but-australia-are-back-on-the-ropes/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/04/hussey-hustles-but-australia-are-back-on-the-ropes/#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:59:48 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=37926 Simon Katich is the advance party, the intrepid frontman sent out to reconnoiter the field for mines. To canvass the terrain and map the crevices. He is the compass to Watson’s mine-sweeper. These two usually determine where Australia’s batting will end up. Ponting won the toss in his 150th Test and Katich would have relished [...]

Article link: Hussey hustles, but Australia back on the ropes. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Simon Katich is the advance party, the intrepid frontman sent out to reconnoiter the field for mines. To canvass the terrain and map the crevices. He is the compass to Watson’s mine-sweeper. These two usually determine where Australia’s batting will end up. Ponting won the toss in his 150th Test and Katich would have relished the opportunity to be the first man out. He has always been up for the contest.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/04/hussey-hustles-but-australia-are-back-on-the-ropes/feed/ 25 Finding survivors amongst the first Test casualties http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/01/finding-survivors-amongst-the-first-test-casualties/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/01/finding-survivors-amongst-the-first-test-casualties/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:45:23 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=37833 The ‘Gabba Test confirmed that Australia deserves to be ranked number five in Test cricket’s pecking order. If there was a cholesterol test for cricket form then Australia should be worried. It is apparent the selectors cannot tell the good cholesterol from the bad. The first diagnosis Hilditch and his team of spin doctors got [...]

Article link: Finding survivors amongst the first Test casualties. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> The ‘Gabba Test confirmed that Australia deserves to be ranked number five in Test cricket’s pecking order. If there was a cholesterol test for cricket form then Australia should be worried. It is apparent the selectors cannot tell the good cholesterol from the bad.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/01/finding-survivors-amongst-the-first-test-casualties/feed/ 55 And on the Third Day England was banished http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/11/28/and-on-the-third-day-england-was-banished/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/11/28/and-on-the-third-day-england-was-banished/#comments Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:50:46 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=37745 It is a game of millimetres. Hussey is hit on the pads in the third over and Aleem Dar raises the finger. Hussey refers the decision and it shows the ball pitched outside leg. The new ball has some bite and caution is Mr. Cricket’s companion in the opening overs. England will rue this moment [...]

Article link: And on the Third Day England was banished. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> It is a game of millimetres. Hussey is hit on the pads in the third over and Aleem Dar raises the finger. Hussey refers the decision and it shows the ball pitched outside leg. The new ball has some bite and caution is Mr. Cricket’s companion in the opening overs. England will rue this moment for the rest of the series.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/11/28/and-on-the-third-day-england-was-banished/feed/ 53 Hussey rises from the Ashes to rescue country and career http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/11/27/hussey-rises-from-the-ashes-to-rescue-career/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/11/27/hussey-rises-from-the-ashes-to-rescue-career/#comments Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:41:52 +0000 Vinay Verma http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=37711 If ever there was a man made for the hard yakka it is Simon Katich. In so many ways, he is the unsung hero of Australian cricket and also another reason why Australia is not even lower than currently ranked. He is the no frills matador at the crease. There is no ceremonial flourish of [...]

Article link: Hussey rises from the Ashes to rescue country and career. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> If ever there was a man made for the hard yakka it is Simon Katich. In so many ways, he is the unsung hero of Australian cricket and also another reason why Australia is not even lower than currently ranked. He is the no frills matador at the crease.

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