Loves Cricket Lives Cricket

New Zealand straitjacket England on slow day at...

anand-ayan — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:35:47 -0400

New Zealand straitjacket England on slow day at Lord’s
England v New Zealand, 1st Investec Test, Lord’s, 1st day from England v New Zealand

…all because they do not wish to see anyone else suffer the way...

anand-ayan — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 06:17:00 -0400

…all because they do not wish to see anyone else suffer the way they do.

нαρρу Bιятн ∂αy to Harold “Dickie” Bird ..The Don of...

anand-ayan — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 01:19:26 -0400

нαρρу Bιятн ∂αy to Harold “Dickie” Bird ..The Don of Cricket Umpires
http://lovescricket.tumblr.com/

1933
Cricket’s first, and only, superstar umpire is born. When Harold “Dickie” Bird took up umpiring after a modest first-class career with Yorkshire and Leicestershire, the thought that he would eventually write the bestselling sports autobiography in British history would have seemed utterly ludicrous. But he did, after a 66-Test career that ended emotionally and tearfully at Lord’s in 1996. Since his retirement he has become something of a media personality, with a series of books and videos stocked with familiar anecdotes that suggest he may have started to believe his own publicity.

Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, 1st Test, Harare, 1st day Taylor’s...

anand-ayan — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 03:35:38 -0400

Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, 1st Test, Harare, 1st day
Taylor’s ton leads Zimbabwe fightback
Zimbabwe 217 for 4 (Taylor 105*, Waller 55) v Bangladesh

Brendan Taylor celebrates his opening-day hundred, Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, 1st Test, Harare,

Gary Neville : Never knew Gary Neville Played cricket and...

anand-ayan — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:40:10 -0400

Gary Neville : Never knew Gary Neville Played cricket and shared a batting partnership with the Great Aussie Matthew Hayden !!!!

A piece from interview from telegraph :Michael Vaughan interviewed Gary Neville

MV: On to cricket. I have always wanted to ask this question. At that under-15 Bunbury festival, when you bust your finger, if that hadn’t happened and you had scored four or five hundreds, would you have chosen cricket over football?

GN: My mind was made up on United. I signed for them when I was 14 but I enjoyed my cricket more between 14-16 than I did football. Before that I was an unspectacular child cricketer, but then I started playing with Lancs under-14s. I started getting better and played a decent level of club cricket with Matt Hayden and Franklyn Stephenson. But really [brother] Phillip had a bigger choice to make.

From 12-13, he was outstanding at cricket and beating records set by Mike Atherton and John Crawley. He had a genuine choice but he followed me because of the passion for watching United, but to this day I would have liked to see Phil go on and play for Lancashire. I was never good enough and you can confirm that.

After Jonty Rhodes if there is/was a better fielder in cricket...

anand-ayan — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:45:59 -0400

After Jonty Rhodes if there is/was a better fielder in cricket it has to be Ricky Ponting … That was one hell of a catch …

And I just can’t seem to get enough Steyn …..

anand-ayan — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 03:36:37 -0400

And I just can’t seem to get enough Steyn …..

beneaththepool: Blundstone rainbow. Getty

anand-ayan — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 02:08:31 -0400

beneaththepool:

Blundstone rainbow.

Getty

Matt prior the Savior !!! not out 110r 269b 182m 20x4 Prior...

anand-ayan — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:58:34 -0400

Matt prior the Savior !!! not out 110r 269b 182m 20x4
Prior scored a brilliant and composed hundred on 5th day of the 3rd test to save the test for England and he is only the 5th wicketkeeper to score a century in the 4th innings of a Test

ιηтєяvιєω :Umesh Yadav ‘Feels good to be the fastest...

anand-ayan — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 02:01:44 -0400

ιηтєяvιєω :Umesh Yadav

‘Feels good to be the fastest bowler in India now’

Meet Umesh Yadav, aka Babloo: motorbike-loving, healthy-eating, former fruit-stealing speed demon

Tell us something we do not know about you.
Because they always see me smiling on TV, most people think I am an outgoing and chatty person, but actually I am very shy.

Your friends say you were naughty as a kid and that your parents always scolded you for bunking school.
As a kid I was always adamant about getting what I wanted. My parents would try to tell me that I could not always get what I wanted but I would cry and get it in the end.

I loved playing cricket, like most kids do, so I would not think twice before bunking classes. There were times when I escaped school after lunch to play matches. My teachers would complain and my parents would scold me and sometimes even spank me for my misbehaviour.

What’s this about you being an expert at stealing fruit from trees?
We would move as a group and climb trees, jump fences and steal fruit - in the evenings, so that the neighbours would not know exactly who we were. Oranges, mangoes and tamarind were our favourites.

Have you always naturally been a strong athlete?
My dad, Tilak Yadav, moved to Nagpur from his native village in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. As a youngster, he used to wrestle. He always followed a good training regime and put us through the same cycle. He would never allow us to sleep for too long. We would run 2-3km at 6am. My dad always believed in getting fresh air. I would run barefoot on the sand to improve my stamina. That helped me in my athletics from school to university level. I mainly competed in 100m, 200m, 400m hurdles, and long jump.

What is the fastest you have run 100m in?
10.56 seconds.

We hear you once trained to become a police constable.
My dad wanted me to study so that I could survive in the city, doing some respectable work. Before I took up cricket seriously, I applied to become a constable in the Nagpur city police. But I was rejected because I was not a graduate. The cut-off for selection was 145 points and I fell short by two. Lucky! God wanted me to become a cricketer, not a policeman.

Is it true that you are quite fussy about eating healthy food?
When I am in Nagpur, even if I return home at midnight, I only eat at home. On tours I am always on the lookout for healthy food.

What’s good in Nagpur apart from oranges?
Saoji’s [a popular chain of restaurants] chicken. I love it. They serve really spicy and oily food. I only visit them once in a while now. My friends keep asking me to join them when they go, but I try to avoid it.

Tell us about your tattoos.
There are five on my left hand - from my shoulder to my arms. The top one across my shoulder is of Lord Shiva - I have been a devotee since childhood. Below it is the maha mrityunjaya mantra, then a depiction of the Virgin Mary, as a mark of respect and love for my mother, who passed away in 2011. She knew I had the ability and supported all my wishes. By the time I was able to fulfil her dreams, she passed away. I also have “blessed child” written on my arm, and the fifth tattoo is a symbol for luck.

You seem to have a soft spot for motorbikes. How many do you own?
I have always enjoyed riding motorbikes. I do not own too many. I just have a Ninja and a Royal Enfield.

What is the fastest ball you have bowled?
About 152kph, against Sri Lanka in Hobart during the CB Series last year. I am the fastest bowler in India right now. It feels good.

Do you remember the wickets of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in the 2009 Duleep Trophy?
How can I forget that? It was a magical moment. It was one of the first turning points of my career. Against Rahul bhai, it was an inswinger and the bat-pad went straight to silly mid-on. Laxman bhai edged to slips [to the keeper]. I was dazed and confused about how I had got the wickets of such big batsmen. That proved to me I had the ability.

Tell us something about Virender Sehwag, your captain at Delhi Daredevils in the IPL.
Last year during a home game, Rajasthan Royals needed two runs off the final delivery. Ajinkya Rahane was facing me. He had already hit me for a six two balls earlier. Before running in for the final delivery, I asked Viru paaji what I should bowl. His answer was: “Mujhe kya pata kya dalna hai? Bowler tu hai. Tu daal jo tujhe daalna hai” [“How should I know what you should bowl? You are the bowler. Bowl what you want to”]. His witty response eased the pressure I was under in that tight moment. Rajasthan lost the match by a run.

In the IPL you have also had the opportunity to share time with the likes of Glenn McGrath. Is there anything he said that you treasure?
I met McGrath during the 2009 IPL, which I could not play because I was injured. During our chats, he said something very interesting. He said there are many bowlers but the good bowler is someone who is consistent. The one who can maintain form is a good bowler. I always try to keep those words in mind each time I make a mistake.

Okay, quiz time: which ground have you played the most number of international matches in?
I think Melbourne. Melbourne. [Reluctantly accepts Adelaide, where he has played one Test and two ODIs.]

What is your nickname?
To everyone in Nagpur - friends and cricket fraternity - I am Babloo. In the Indian dressing room, they call me Umya or Umi, mostly.
By ~Nagraj Gollapudi
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
PIC © Love’s Cricket Live’s Cricket

Dat send-off !!!Like a Boss !!He's Steyn. He'll get away with murder.

anand-ayan — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 02:10:18 -0400

Shikhar Dhawan is the first Indian to hit a Test debut 100 as an...

anand-ayan — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 07:37:39 -0400

Shikhar Dhawan is the first Indian to hit a Test debut 100 as an opener ..
185Runs 168balls 33x4 2x6 and still counting

Photo

anand-ayan — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 03:49:31 -0400

Classic Prior : Scored 23 out of which 5 were boundaries...

anand-ayan — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 02:42:15 -0500

Classic Prior : Scored 23 out of which 5 were boundaries …
Matt Prior struck five boundaries on the off side, New Zealand v England, 1st Test, Dunedin, 2nd day

Impressive Performance on Debut By Neil Wagner … Neil...

anand-ayan — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 02:39:16 -0500

Impressive Performance on Debut By Neil Wagner …
Neil Wagner trapped Kevin Pietersen lbw first ball, New Zealand v England, 1st Test, Dunedin, 2nd day

Nick Compton was bowled without scoring, New Zealand v England,...

anand-ayan — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 02:36:41 -0500

Nick Compton was bowled without scoring, New Zealand v England, 1st Test, Dunedin, 2nd day,

The McCullum family enjoy a moment together, New Zealand v...

anand-ayan — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:25:17 -0500

The McCullum family enjoy a moment together, New Zealand v England, 1st Test, Dunedin,

♥ love for the game=unlimited ♥

anand-ayan — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:29:15 -0500

♥ love for the game=unlimited ♥

New Zealand XI v England XI, Tour Match, Queenstown -

anand-ayan — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:21:49 -0500

New Zealand XI v England XI, Tour Match, Queenstown -

David Warner isn’t He Reminding us Jonty of 92 WC ♥

anand-ayan — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 08:27:20 -0500

David Warner isn’t He Reminding us Jonty of 92 WC ♥