Over four wonderful days in Mysore last week, Indian cricket reconnected with its romantic past. With every season, the past recedes further and the romance is strengthened by distance. We remember things that never happened, recall events through the filter of fantasy. Heroes of the past are larger than life; the triumphs they authored take on a hue that current successes will take a long time to match.

Yet, except for the detail that Karnataka failed to win the title, the Ranji Trophy final was probably the best the team was involved in. Especially since unlike in the past triumphs, the heroes were future stars rather than established players. But it was more than that. For one, there was more action, more excitement than in the entire one-day tournament that was being held around the same time in Bangladesh.

The final was at the other end of the scale from the IPL – it needed no gimmicks, no hype, no commentators paid to sing its praises. Spectators didn’t have to be enticed into the stadium with promises of heart-stopping action on field and off it. There were no cheer leaders, and yet fans clung on to trees, occupied nearby structures, hung on to every available space.

More importantly – a throwback to an earlier era – they cheered good cricket from both teams. After Ajit Agarkar’s final catch, there was a stunned silence where disappointment, relief (from tension), excitement were all nicely mixed. The faces said it all. And then there was spontaneous applause, as the visiting team were given a standing ovation.

It is tempting to say that the Ranji final transported us back into a more innocent time but that would be taking it too far. This was no innocent knock in the park; some of the player behaviour was appalling. The teams played hard, and sought to take every advantage in the modern fashion. Quick reaction from the umpires and the match referee might have kept the emotions of an Agarkar in check. There was too the terrible sight of a team lining up to hurl abuse at a dismissed batsman.

But when this match is recalled years from now, it will not be the player behaviour or the official weaknesses that will be recalled, but the quality of the batting and bowling, and Read more…

Administrator India Domestic Abhimanyu Mithun, Abhishek Nayar, Agarkar, Blogs.CMDN.com, Cricket, Cricket Blogs, Dilshan, IPL, Javagal Srinath, Jonty Rhodes, Karnataka, Manish Pandey, Mumbai, Mysore, Ranji

Jonty Rhodes has an interesting suggestion for livening up the middle overs in ODI cricket.

“All the Power Play overs, including the one by the batting side, should be taken by the 31st over. They could bring in this rule. This way you could have plenty of action between overs 20 and 30. And the last 20 overs are bound to be interesting in any case,” the former South African cricketer told The Hindu.

The 40-year Rhodes was an inspirational cricketer who revolutionised fielding during his time. He often ruled at point, making blinding saves and coming up with sensational catches.

Rhodes will always be remembered for his fielding but has a useful batting record in both Tests – he has 2532 runs in 52 matches at 35.66 – and the ODIs – the right-hander has notched up 5935 runs in 245 matches at 35.11.

He took 34 catches in Tests and 105, in the ODIs. Rhodes also saved countless runs with his anticipation, reflexes and astonishing flexibility.

Rhodes welcomes Twenty20 cricket and says cricket’s latest version has brought new fans to the game. “A lot of families are coming to watch the game which is good. The stands are getting filled up in South Africa,” he says.

He adds, “Twenty has made the game faster. The batsmen are playing a lot more strokes and the standard of fielding has gone up.”

However, Test cricket remains the foremost form of the game for Rhodes. “You should not tamper with the rules for Tests. They should stay as they are. You ask any of the cricketers Read more…

Administrator Views Andrew Flintoff, Blogs.CMDN.com, Champions Trophy, Cricket, Cricket Blogs, Jonty Rhodes, ODI, South Africa, Test match, Twenty20