Match fixing – not on my phone!

My relationship with ICC security man Ron Hope is great. He came and bollocked me just before the T20 international in Trinidad for having my mobile phone in public view within touching distance of the players changing room. “But it was turned off,” I protested. “Doesn’t matter,” he growled through a smile. “They have been the scourge of international cricket in the past and I don’t want to see yours anywhere near the players.” Fair point. We’ve had breakfast together since and laughed about it – as well as having some interesting chats about match-fixing and corruption. It will never go away.
Remarkable to see and hear how easy it is for former internationals to trash the quality of cricket played in Trinidad. Zimbabwe, nervous and desperate to make a favourable impression with the rest of the cricket playing world watching, crashed to 0-3 after three overs. It was almost too painful to bear. Even I, as the ‘outsider’, would have happily been swallowed up by the earth.
But the fightback was doughty, if not heroic, and the bowling plan was executed to perfection. The spinners were supposed to be defending a total of around 140 in the ‘blueprint’ but restricting the home side to 79-7 in reply to 105 was an extraordinary effort. The spinners were brilliant and the fielders tigerish. But there was not a word of credit from anyone, anywhere, for the effort, determination and skill displayed by the Zimbos. I guess they’ll just have to keep doing it…

It’s been a long time

“Where are you?” said the message on Skype from a cricket friend in India. He was at the first test in Nagpur and couldn’t believe he couldn’t find me, anywhere.

“Zimbabwe” was my reply. Then he was really curious.

I love touring India, it really is one of my favourite countries, I have been nine times and was almost booked on a flight to make it double digits but instead I accepted an invitation to return to Zimbabwe after a prolonged absence of seven years. I  am about to start work on the inaugural ‘Zim 20’ domestic cricket tournament involving the five local Franchise teams as well as the Namibian ‘Desert Vipers.’

Harare Sports Club has never looked so good and, to be absolutely honest, Zimbabwe Cricket has never had more of a buzz. Sponsors who abandoned the game during a decade of decay during the 2000s have returned and along with virtually all of the players who felt alienated enough to leave the game, and often the country, at some point in the last ten years.

Everywhere there is talk of ‘drawing a line in the sand’ and moving on for the good of the players and sake of the game. What is the point in dwelling on past disagreements and continuing to hold onto grudges that are past their sell-by dates?

I have an open mind at this stage but the administrators at Zimbabwe Cricket have not only invited me to speak to whomever I wish but actively encouraged me to do so. Not only am I free to write and broadcast my findings, I have been requested to do so. All in good time…

Mahendra Singh Dhoni esq

Dear MS,

Greetings from Cape Town, trust you are well and looking forward to a very busy schedule coming up, as always.

I must say that, from an outsiders’ point of view, seven one-dayers against Australia seems a bit excessive. Surely you’ve got a pretty decent idea of which is the better team after five? Or even three!

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Giant Helping Hand

Time for a ‘feel-good’ story, something positive and uplifting to raise the spirits until they soar with hope and belief in the goodness of mankind.

It wasn’t just because the weather was stunning at De Zalze golf estate last Friday, nor that the company in the fourball at the Jacques Kallis Foundation golf day was hearty and in-form. It was, as always, because of the unmistakable look in the eyes of boys whose lives have been irreversibly changed for the better.

Read more at SuperCricket

Cobras call in big guns for Champions League

Despite understandable concerns about T20 ‘overkill’ with the inception of the Champions League comprising domestic teams from India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, there is a small but nonetheless undeniable sense of excitement building as the tournament approaches hot on the heels of the ICC Champions Trophy. READ MORE