The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : ‘Passion for Test cricket still there’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 24, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

‘Passion for Test cricket still there’

Special Correspondent

— Photo: Sandeep Saxena

FRANKLY SPEAKING: M.S. Dhoni and Lalit Modi, chairman, Champions League Twenty20, snapped during the T20 Champion award function on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: India ODI skipper M.S. Dhoni saw a future where more and more players would be honest in taking a decision regarding their fitness. He was speaking at the inaugural awards function of the Twenty20 Championship here on Thursday.

Dhoni was asked this question in reference to his decision to opt out of the Test series in Sri Lanka. "With so much of cricket being played today it is tough for the player to stay fit all the time. A time will come when more and more players would wisely decide to be choosy in order to avoid injuries," said Dhoni. Dhoni refused to accept that Test cricket was on a decline in terms of spectator response. "I don’t agree. There is enough passion for the game and I don’t see Test cricket struggling to survive."

Part of the game

On the exchanges between players during international matches, Dhoni said it was part of the game. "It livens up the proceedings. Don’t read much into it"

He had support from Australian opener Mathew Hayden who observed, "I think if two hungry dogs are pushed into the ring, it’s bound to have tension. In a Test match, pressure mounts over five days and it’s only likely that every now and then, there would be some tension. Every player wants to show that extra competitive edge."

At the ESPN-sponsored awards function for cricketers who have performed in Twenty20 competitions in several countries, Pakistan left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir won the honours for the best bowling figures in a match (six for 14) for Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural edition of the IPL while Kolkata Knight Riders’ Brendon McCullum won the highest individual score award for his 158 against Bangalore Royal Challengers.

The other award winners: Shaun Marsh (best batting average, 68.44 in IPL), Graham Napier (best batting strike rate, 195 for Essex Eagles, England), Yusuf Abdullah (best bowling economy, 4.32 for Nashua Dolphins, South africa), Charl Langeveldt (best bowling strike rate, 9 for Nashua Cobras, South Africa), Laxmi Ratan Shukla (best bowling strike rate in an innings, 1.6 in IPL) and Tyron Henderson (best batting strike rate in an innings, 280, Middlesex Crusaders, England).

Inaugural Champions League T20 groupings: Group A: Chennai Super Kings, Victoria Bushrangers (Australia), Titans (South Africa) and Middlesex Crusaders (England).

Group-B: Sialkot Stallions (Pakistan), Rajasthan Royals, Western Australia Warriors and Dolphins (South Africa).

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport