Hollywood Ashes, and Boonie's Twenty20 debut
An Ashes Twenty20 in Hollywood, a 70-year ban, and Butcher sings again
Jamie Alter
21-Jan-2008
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Leg-before in LA
Even C Aubrey Smith, founder of the Hollywood Cricket Club, couldn't have scripted this one. Mike Whitney running in to bowl at Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart at the non-striker's end, Russell Crowe keeping wicket, Mel Gibson crouched at first slip, and Steve Waugh looking on from mid-off. Daniel Radcliffe aka Harry Potter, Robbie Williams, Jude Law, Kevin Pietersen, Simon Jones and Robert Key padded up in the pavilion. No fantasy this, it's the G'Day USA Hollywood Ashes Twenty20 match, a showpiece that took place on a community sports field in the Los Angeles San Fernando Valley. The match, an Australia v England affair, in case you didn't notice, was scheduled for the day previously reserved for the Aussie Rules exhibition game, and Waugh looked forward to renewing Ashes hostilities. "If we've got Braveheart and the Gladiator on our side, we'll be sweet," said Waugh, referring to his Oscar-winning team-mates, Gibson and Crowe. "We've exchanged messages on the phone and we've talked a little about it and he [Crowe] wants to know if he's first or second change. I'll let the Gladiator do what he wants."
Even C Aubrey Smith, founder of the Hollywood Cricket Club, couldn't have scripted this one. Mike Whitney running in to bowl at Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart at the non-striker's end, Russell Crowe keeping wicket, Mel Gibson crouched at first slip, and Steve Waugh looking on from mid-off. Daniel Radcliffe aka Harry Potter, Robbie Williams, Jude Law, Kevin Pietersen, Simon Jones and Robert Key padded up in the pavilion. No fantasy this, it's the G'Day USA Hollywood Ashes Twenty20 match, a showpiece that took place on a community sports field in the Los Angeles San Fernando Valley. The match, an Australia v England affair, in case you didn't notice, was scheduled for the day previously reserved for the Aussie Rules exhibition game, and Waugh looked forward to renewing Ashes hostilities. "If we've got Braveheart and the Gladiator on our side, we'll be sweet," said Waugh, referring to his Oscar-winning team-mates, Gibson and Crowe. "We've exchanged messages on the phone and we've talked a little about it and he [Crowe] wants to know if he's first or second change. I'll let the Gladiator do what he wants."
Typically, Waugh started the pre-game banter by sizing up the opposition. "I know Robbie Williams is a big soccer fan and I'm not sure about Jude Law, but I know Daniel Radcliffe loves his cricket so I'd say he'd be the danger man." Waugh, however, said there wouldn't be a booze ban on his team. "We might play better with a few on board," he said. Jones, on the comeback trail with three months to go till the English county season, said he wasn't going to let it rip at Gibson and Crowe.
Boon makes a comeback
David Boon and his trademark mo returned to the cricket field in a Twenty20 game for University Lions, and there was plenty of cheer, even when he walked off after being bowled for 2. Boon's Twenty20 debut attracted about 600 spectators and wherever the 47-year-old went, the ball ran the other way. Having nearly run out his partner calling for a risky single to midwicket off the third ball he faced, Boon was cleaned up with his sixth, attempting a booming drive. Not the most promising comeback, but the Tasmanian icon can still draw a crowd.
David Boon and his trademark mo returned to the cricket field in a Twenty20 game for University Lions, and there was plenty of cheer, even when he walked off after being bowled for 2. Boon's Twenty20 debut attracted about 600 spectators and wherever the 47-year-old went, the ball ran the other way. Having nearly run out his partner calling for a risky single to midwicket off the third ball he faced, Boon was cleaned up with his sixth, attempting a booming drive. Not the most promising comeback, but the Tasmanian icon can still draw a crowd.
Three cheers ...
England batsman Owais Shah and allrounder Ravi Bopara have reason to smile. They've made the list of nominations for the British Asian Sports Awards. The awards, which celebrate the achievements of British Asian sporting talent from across the UK, take place on February 16, and Bopara and Shah made it through the first round of judging after being selected from hundreds of UK entrants across a wide range of ages and abilities. Not bad for a player who made three ducks in a row and another who didn't get into the team for the Test tour of Sri Lanka recently.
England batsman Owais Shah and allrounder Ravi Bopara have reason to smile. They've made the list of nominations for the British Asian Sports Awards. The awards, which celebrate the achievements of British Asian sporting talent from across the UK, take place on February 16, and Bopara and Shah made it through the first round of judging after being selected from hundreds of UK entrants across a wide range of ages and abilities. Not bad for a player who made three ducks in a row and another who didn't get into the team for the Test tour of Sri Lanka recently.
Softly-strumming Baz
Mark Butcher has found a way to beat the cold English winter. A year after he partnered Sarah Brightman in the BBC prime-time singing show, Just the Two of Us, the former England batsman took to the studios to record his debut album. Butcher, when not captaining Surrey, performed regularly in popular West-End nightspots over the last year, and apparently the response prompted him to write his own stuff. "I'm really excited about it as it is something I have always dreamed of doing. To be able to go in and record ten or 11 songs, nearly all of my own work, is a really good opportunity," Butcher told Surrey TV. That's not all: Butcher fans will be interested to know he's also written a book...
Mark Butcher has found a way to beat the cold English winter. A year after he partnered Sarah Brightman in the BBC prime-time singing show, Just the Two of Us, the former England batsman took to the studios to record his debut album. Butcher, when not captaining Surrey, performed regularly in popular West-End nightspots over the last year, and apparently the response prompted him to write his own stuff. "I'm really excited about it as it is something I have always dreamed of doing. To be able to go in and record ten or 11 songs, nearly all of my own work, is a really good opportunity," Butcher told Surrey TV. That's not all: Butcher fans will be interested to know he's also written a book...
Hail Prince Lenin
While Indian cricket fans celebrated their team's stirring win in Perth, one man took the Harbhajan Singh race row to the Supreme Court. Seeking direction to the BCCI to call the national side back from Australia as it allegedly failed to protect the dignity of the country, Prince Lenin, a Lucknow-based advocate, filed a Public Interest Litigation. "BCCI should discontinue the ongoing Indian Cricket team's tour to Australian Continent, as they have failed to defend and protect the dignity, prestige and respect of the nation from being humiliated in front of entire world," wrote Lenin. Then, the clincher: the advocate also contended that BCCI should be restrained from using the name "India" for its team as it did not represent the nation in any tournament. I can see the new jerseys - Harbhajan, Punjab; Yuvraj, Punjab; Tendulkar, Mumbai; Ganguly, Bengal ...
While Indian cricket fans celebrated their team's stirring win in Perth, one man took the Harbhajan Singh race row to the Supreme Court. Seeking direction to the BCCI to call the national side back from Australia as it allegedly failed to protect the dignity of the country, Prince Lenin, a Lucknow-based advocate, filed a Public Interest Litigation. "BCCI should discontinue the ongoing Indian Cricket team's tour to Australian Continent, as they have failed to defend and protect the dignity, prestige and respect of the nation from being humiliated in front of entire world," wrote Lenin. Then, the clincher: the advocate also contended that BCCI should be restrained from using the name "India" for its team as it did not represent the nation in any tournament. I can see the new jerseys - Harbhajan, Punjab; Yuvraj, Punjab; Tendulkar, Mumbai; Ganguly, Bengal ...
70-year cricket ban hit for six
On the heels of the infamous 'Bollyline' controversy at the Sydney Test, comes the news that a retired 84-year-old doctor has been allowed back into his club side after being banned for calling a team-mate names - 70 years earlier. Dennis Hibbert, who jeered at a fellow fielder and called him a "big fat fool" after he let a ball through his legs back in 1938, has been allowed back into Kimberley Institute Cricket Club near Nottingham. The ban was lifted after Hibbert attended a funeral tea in the pavilion last year and was reminded that the ban had never been annulled. Club secretary Jim Dymond said: "It must be the longest on record," while Hibbert - now a grandfather of five - said: "There are very few people who have been banned for 70 years from anything. But now I've been purged from my sins and admitted back. My family thinks it's a hoot." And Harbhajan thought he had it bad with a prospective three-Test ban.
On the heels of the infamous 'Bollyline' controversy at the Sydney Test, comes the news that a retired 84-year-old doctor has been allowed back into his club side after being banned for calling a team-mate names - 70 years earlier. Dennis Hibbert, who jeered at a fellow fielder and called him a "big fat fool" after he let a ball through his legs back in 1938, has been allowed back into Kimberley Institute Cricket Club near Nottingham. The ban was lifted after Hibbert attended a funeral tea in the pavilion last year and was reminded that the ban had never been annulled. Club secretary Jim Dymond said: "It must be the longest on record," while Hibbert - now a grandfather of five - said: "There are very few people who have been banned for 70 years from anything. But now I've been purged from my sins and admitted back. My family thinks it's a hoot." And Harbhajan thought he had it bad with a prospective three-Test ban.
The World's Biggest Sleepover
Cricket clubs across the UK have been invited to participate in a special night in an attempt to get into the Guinness Book of World Records. This doesn't involve floodlights and white balls, but rather requires children to sleep for at least seven hours - though not in their own beds. The idea is to cram a bunch of tots - over 40,000 are expected to take part across over 1000 sleepover venues, as well as some youngsters in America, Australia and New Zealand - and break the world record for the largest simultaneous sleepover (the record is currently held by 33,093 participants in the 2006 Giant Sleepover). The best part? Complimentary breakfast cereal courtesy Kellogg's the next morning. Can you imagine the mess on the field afterwards?
Cricket clubs across the UK have been invited to participate in a special night in an attempt to get into the Guinness Book of World Records. This doesn't involve floodlights and white balls, but rather requires children to sleep for at least seven hours - though not in their own beds. The idea is to cram a bunch of tots - over 40,000 are expected to take part across over 1000 sleepover venues, as well as some youngsters in America, Australia and New Zealand - and break the world record for the largest simultaneous sleepover (the record is currently held by 33,093 participants in the 2006 Giant Sleepover). The best part? Complimentary breakfast cereal courtesy Kellogg's the next morning. Can you imagine the mess on the field afterwards?
Dum Dum Dum
This has to be a first. A case of forgery in junior cricket has come to light in Kolkata, sending shock waves through the cricket fraternity. Soumen Ghosh smashed 301 off 126 balls, including 32 sixes and 19 fours, in a CAB junior league match, but one Masrum Sarkar was credited with the feat. Howzzat? Well, it appears a crooked official swapped Masrum for Soumen by changing pictures and this was missed by the two umpires, who cleared both teams. The pictures in the official file will have to be stamped from next year on, affirmed a more honest official. Kachrapara CCC v Shilpashree Dum Dum CCC will never be the same.
This has to be a first. A case of forgery in junior cricket has come to light in Kolkata, sending shock waves through the cricket fraternity. Soumen Ghosh smashed 301 off 126 balls, including 32 sixes and 19 fours, in a CAB junior league match, but one Masrum Sarkar was credited with the feat. Howzzat? Well, it appears a crooked official swapped Masrum for Soumen by changing pictures and this was missed by the two umpires, who cleared both teams. The pictures in the official file will have to be stamped from next year on, affirmed a more honest official. Kachrapara CCC v Shilpashree Dum Dum CCC will never be the same.
Quote of the week
"Ek aur over karega?"
Anil Kumble asks Ishant Sharma if he'll bowl one more over after having bowled seven on the trot. Ishant did and got the wicket of Ricky Ponting, first ball
"Ek aur over karega?"
Anil Kumble asks Ishant Sharma if he'll bowl one more over after having bowled seven on the trot. Ishant did and got the wicket of Ricky Ponting, first ball
And, for good measure...
"They have done it for cricket with the 20/20 rules. They should now do it for Parliament."
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell, in a blog written during a Commons debate in which he was not called to speak, warns fellow politicians to cut the crap and keep their debates to three minutes
"They have done it for cricket with the 20/20 rules. They should now do it for Parliament."
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell, in a blog written during a Commons debate in which he was not called to speak, warns fellow politicians to cut the crap and keep their debates to three minutes
Jamie Alter is a staff writer at Cricinfo