Bulletin

The CWI statement said that the board "is now in the process of seeking to put all of the approvals and logistics in place within the Caribbean, including seeking permission from the various National Governments to facilitate the movement of players and support staff, using private charter planes and conducting medical screenings and individual COVID-19 testing for all members of the touring party". … [Read more...] about Cricket West Indies gives ‘in principle’ approval for England tour

"The effects of this pandemic have been distressing for everyone - the worst crisis of our lifetime - and at present, we cannot be certain when the situation will be rectified," Johnny Grave, CWI chief executive, said. "We recognize that this will cause financial pain for all our staff, players, coaches and umpires across the Caribbean, but having kept everyone on full-pay since the outbreak in March we have no choice but to take decisive action from next month onwards. … [Read more...] about Covid-19 crisis: Cricket West Indies announces temporary salary and fund cuts

A few weeks later in the Caribbean, you were on the scene of another ball-tampering controversy. Dinesh Chandimal denied a charge of altering the condition of the ball - but was later found guilty - and his team refused to take the field on the third morning of the Test. Why did that incident blow up in the way it did?St Lucia. It was crazy. We tried asking the question. The thing was, Javagal Srinath, a brilliant man and very good referee, spoke to both teams before, concerning what happened in South Africa. Umpires are not going to catch players. Unless you do it right in front of my face, I'm not going to catch you. I've said this a million times and people look at me stupidly. But cameramen will catch you, so if you think you're not going to get caught, I can guarantee you are going to get caught, because one camera will be designated to watch where that ball's going all the time. I didn't get why Sri Lanka were so hostile. … [Read more...] about Ian Gould: ‘Modern umpires have thrown away their egos because they understand DRS’

FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintYears later, or weeks later, or days later, when they talk about this series, regardless of the result, they will talk about two Dale Steyn spells that started the first two sessions of the third day of the Cape Town Test. Perhaps the 11 best overs anyone can bowl for just two wickets. It was perfect outswing bowling at high pace, often pitching leg, missing off, too often too good for the batsmen. And if it can be considered possible, after that wicketless first spell, Steyn came out to bowl even better. If one were to strain and look for a possible criticism, it was that he bowled just one straighter one and two bouncers in the first chunk of five overs. Everything else was close to perfect. There wasn't even a no-ball; loose balls were a distant thought altogether. … [Read more...] about Tendulkar and Steyn sizzle in a battle for the ages

That Srinath allowed Sri Lanka such a lengthy grace period is because the team was in constant contact with him and the other match officials. In fact, there was one false start - Sri Lanka had taken the field to resume play before being hauled off it again by team management. In the time they were on the field, Chandimal was in discussion with at least one umpire. … [Read more...] about How the ball-tampering episode unfolded in St Lucia