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After Long criticism and ceaseless comments, at last Brian Charles Lara has decided to hang up his boots.
” I gave extensive consideration to this,” said Brian Lara. “I want everybody to know that on Saturday I’ll be playing my last international match. I’ve already spoken to the board and the players about this.”
This brings an end of era. Cricketing histories greatest batsman with the highest test score under his belt has finally decided to retire. Lara’s career was full of ups and downs. He started his career in 1990 and became captain of West Indies first time in 1997 which ended in 1999, Lara was once again made captain in 2003 for a series against Australia , but Lara’s captaincy tenure was full of controversies, the pressure if his captaincy was clearly shown in his batting but though as a great player he continued playing and made 400 in a test match against England in 2004. Brian Lara has a hip of records in his name, which puts him, way ahead of another batsman in his age and makes him a true legend.
Lara is the father of an eight-year-old daughter called Sydney whom he had with Trinidadian journalist and model Leasel Rovedas. Sydney is so named as a tribute to one of Lara’s favorite grounds, the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Lara scored his first Test century- the highly acclaimed 277 in the 1992-93 seasons.
“Another thing that I’m proud of is that I’ve been knocked down so many times, both as a player and a person, and come back. I need to thank my parents for that, for being able to go out there in the face of adversity and perform. It’s a family trait.” Full Story »
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The green astro-turf destroyed Indian Hockey, Indian hockey players who were legends on green grass seemed out of place on fine astro turfs, Now the game seem to be dominated by the fast, powerful and burly teams like South Africa, Argentina and other who started there hockey from astro-turfs.
The same thing is going to happen to Indian and Pakistan’s Cricket. The heavily pushed 20-20 Format by ICC will not raise its head in Indian - sub continent and might even damage the whole cricket scenario of this region. A child in any sub-urban Indian city dreams of playing test cricket in India and I think it will take ages for the grass root level of cricket in India to play fast cricket as 20-20 requires. In a country where a ground like Eden Garden capable of handling 1, 00,000 spectators gets jam packed for 5 days test match between India and Australia, 20-20 cricket is of no use, since it was only invented to make the game popular in countries like UK and other European countries where people don’t have time to watch a full day’s cricket.
20-20 is a game of power hitters like Shahid Afridi and Shewag , its not for likes of Tendulkar or Dravid , who play slow and steady. Even this type of cricket don’t need you to be full knowledge of cricketing shot, someone with power of hitting the ball out of ground will be a instant hero , but the fan of Indian sub-continent who is addicted to see the stylish game of Gavasker to Tendulkar wont like the pajama version of game.
ICC’s dream of promoting cricket with 20-20 might increase revenue for ICC but if 20-20 takes over one day or even test , then you wont see any other Shane Warne or a Murlitharan , because 20-20 has no respect for bowlers and even batsman with class wont find any place in this version of cricket.
20-20 is a modern version of cricket which might get place in fast paced countries but in places like Indian and Pakistan it might not find that good place. But one thing that might help the game by introduction of 20-20 is that bookies, match-fixers will be out of place since they cannot predict the game. Anything can happen in 20-20, on a good day, even Bermuda might beat India.
20-20 is a new beginning; there much hype about it but i fore-see more mayhem coming with it. In the long run it’s going to reduce the fun out of game. In the name of entertainment it’s going to change the face of a cricket team.
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Cricket could be a part of 2010 Asian Games to be hosted in Guangzhou, China, if the Asian Cricket Council gave its consent, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said on Tuesday.
OCA General Secretary Randhir Singh, also the Secretary of Indian Olympic Association, said China, although not a cricketing country, was keen to have the sport among the disciplines when it holds the quadrennial event.
“Following China’s nod, we sent a proposal to the ACC but they are yet to get back to us with the details about the format and other things,” Singh said.
“They have not got back to us so far. They have to decide if cricket will be a part of the Games in 2010 and get back to us. As far as we are concerned we are ready,” he said.
Cricket has been part of the multi-disciplinary Games only once so far, in 1998 at Kuala Lumpur. It received a lukewarm response at that time and since then did not make it to any of three editions held thereafter.
But the success of Twenty-20 cricket in England and its potential in other regions could very well change the scenario.
