Javagal Srinath - Leave Ishant alone

Srinath posing with a fan; He asks many such to leave Ishant on his own

Match referee and former fast bowler Javagal Srinath has asked people to leave Ishant alone and allow him to correct his line and length on his own.

Javagal Srinath -

Ishant is playing quite a few Twenty20 and ODIs and on such flat wickets any bowler is bound to go for runs. But he has wonderful potential. He has set very high standards for himself. The Test series against Sri Lanka is a great platform for Ishant to hit the line and length. It is a great opportunity to experiment and get back his rhythm.

Source - CricBuzz
Image Credit - Pritesh

Justin Langer appointed Australia' batting coach

In his role as coach, Langer will help the Australian batsmen perfect their batting skills

39 year old Justin Langer, who opened the batting in his 105 Tests that he played for Australia, is now appointed batting coach of the Australian cricket team.

Langer played for Somerset after his retirement from test match cricket. He was one of the treasured finds of Australian cricket.

Justin Langer -

I have been passionate about Australian cricket for many years so I am excited about playing a hands on role in the continued development of the Test team, particularly in the batting and leadership departments

Source - Yahoo News AU
Image Credit - Paulsh

Chanaka Welegedara says Sachin' wicket was the best of his three

 Sachin was undone by a beautiful in-swinger which crept to the stumps through bat-pad gap

28 year old Welegedera, who is playing only in his second test match, is excited on taking Sachin Tendulkar's wicket, a day after the legend completed 20 years in the international arena. Chanaka said the early morning moisture in the wicket promoted some movement which the Indian top-order batsmen were unable to counter.


Chanaka Welegedara -

Thushara was injured and I was told I am playing a few minutes before the toss. They did not want to take a chance with someone who was not hundred per cent fit at the start of the series. I bowled in good areas and Sachin's is the best of my three scalps.

Source - CricBuzz
Image Source - Geophin

Ind-Lanka series could be Muralidharan's last overseas tour

Murali hopes to sign of overseas test cricket with a victory

Sri Lankan off spinner Muralidharan said yesterday that the ongoing tour could be his last in his illustrious career. The 37 year old Sri Lankan has picked up 783 wickets, the most by any bowler in this form of the game. Murali hopes to wrap up his last overseas series with a historic victory, but after seeing the performance of the Indian batsmen on Day 1 of the first test, it looks unlikely.

Muttiah Muralidharan -

I have played enough cricket over the years. This could be my last tour overseas.

Source - Cricket365
Image Credit - SJ Jagadeesh

Michael Clarke keen to compete in All stars T20 blockbuster game

Clarke is interested in taking part in the blockbuster T20 game and celebrations.

Michael Clarke will compete against the likes of Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden in next week's All Stars Twenty20 blockbuster. Clark was keen to play in this one of a kind encounter and he requested the chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch to include him in the Australian side.

Michael Clarke -

I've spoken to Andrew Hilditch and told him I'm really keen to play. I think he's happy for me to play

The All Stars match will be conducted next Sunday, with four days left Australia's opening Test match against the West Indies in Brisbane.

The All stars eleven will have all the big hitters and former greats of Australian cricket. The Australian XI will be named only on Thursday.

Source - Yahoo cricket
Image Source - Kevin MCC

Gayle confident ahead of Australian challenge

If Windies can win the first test, the pressure will be transferred on to the Australians

Cricket is a funny game. And it gets real funny at times. Beating Australia in their home territory is not going to be an easy task, but the West Indian side is looking at firing early and winning the first test match at Queensland to put pressure on the hosts, which hasn't lost to anyone in the last 20 occasions in this venue.

Chris Gayle -

Every team is beatable, we know the task won't be easy. To beat Australia you have to be on cue from ball one. Batting is going to be very important, and our overall cricket has to be good to beat the No.1 team

Source- CricInfo

Tendulkar disappointed with lack of test matches in schedule

Tendulkar is not happy with the lack of test matches in the Indian calender

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, at a press conference on the occasion of his 20th year in international cricket, expressed disappointment over the lack of test matches in the Indian cricket calender. Sachin said the planned five tests this season, would not give our nation's youngsters a chance to know which level they were.

Sachin Tendulkar -

Ideally for any team to progress you need to play more Test cricket as that is where the real cricket is according to me. Test cricket is cricket of the highest level and since it is played across five days at the end of each day it allows you to regroup, re-think, come up with fresh ideas and plan for the next day. Sometimes in Twenty20 and ODIs even before you realise the match is over.

Source - CricInfo

Mascarenhas to replace Malinga in Tasmania's squad

Mascarenhas replaces Malinga for Tasmania

Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga would not compete in the Australian domestic tournament due to his commitments with the national side, informed Malinga's manager Charlie Austin today.

English all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas will take Malinga's place in the Tasmanian squad. Mascarenhas plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and has been on and off in the national side.

Source - ABC

Sreesanth says this is a new beginning

Sreesanth poses with a fan; He needs good wishes of many such to succeed in the upcoming series

India pacer S.Sreesanth says the Sri Lankan series is a new beginning in his cricketing career. He was dropped from the side after his antics during the IPL, where he was also accused of irritating Harbhajan Singh, who slapped him in return, after his team won the match.

Sreesanth has seen more controversies and dilemmas that wickets in international cricket. He was also warned by the BCCI after he misbehaved with a batsman during a state-level cricket match this year.

But Sree is confident that those incidents will stay in history. He says he's taken stock of Allan Donald's advise to swing the ball late, something which the legendary fast bowler did not see happening with Sree' existing action.

S.Sreesanth -

I know I am tagged with lots of negative publicity. But I am what I am. All I can assure every cricket follower in India is that when it comes to playing and preparation, I am as disciplined and dedicated as anyone else. This is a new beginning for me and my best years are ahead of me.

Source - CricInfo
Image Credit - Anil Kumar PJ

Irfan Pathan gets into a verbal brawl with Eden Gardens curator

Pathan's verbal outbreak has caused nothing but bad news

Pacer Irfan Pathan landed into another controversy yesterday when he engaged in a verbal brawl with Eden Garden's pitch curator Prabir Mukherjee.

The media persons were asked by Mukherjee to move outside the playing arena where Pathan was interacting with them. The spark ignited when Irfan got into the conversation and demanded the curator to allow the media to do their job. Mukherjee replied that it was his duty to maintain normalcy in the playing arena.

The man was right.

But Irfan continued to argue before Baroda coach Paras Mhambrey intervened and settled the dispute.

Source - The Hindu
Image Credit - Daarkfire