Unlucky Sachin - Hatrick Poor Umpiring!

For the third consecutive time, the poor umpiring costs Sachin very much. The inform batsman is going through a lean patch because of bad decisions by the umpires.

In the on-going 5 ODI Series Fortis Cup in Sri Lanka, India have won the first three games and leading the series 3-0. Indians are sure to take away the cup.

In the first match, Dharmasena was at fault for judging Sachin LBW. The first match was played in Dambulla on January 28th. India was chasing 248 and the start was very important for India. The delivery from Thushara clearly pitched outside the leg stump. Though TV replays showed that the ball would hit the leg stump, as per rules, the ball pitching outside the leg stump should not be given LBW. When Sachin was on 5, he was judged poorly for LBW. But, India won the match convincingly by 6 wickets with 11 balls remaining.

In the 2nd ODI in Colombo on January 31, batting first, Sachin once again was judged poorly by Jerling. The ball clearly missed the leg stump, in fact would have hit the fourth stump. This is high stupdity that umpires are making blunders in crucial games like this. Sachin was given out for 6, one run more than last match. India won this ODI too by 15 runs.

In the 3rd ODI in Colombo in February 3, batting first again, Sachin once again was judged very poorly by Gamini Silva. The ball clearly missed the leg stump and he was very unlucky. He added one more to the previous match to make it 7 in this innings.

As usual, he did not show any dissent. The TV replay showed the ball missing the stumps and the coach Gary Kirsten also was not happy. The TV camera caught him shaking his head after him watching the replay.

Can this poor decision be stopped? Can umpires stand-up to their expectations? Three decisions cannot go against the same batsman!

ICC Should do something to ensure that they talk to the umpires regarding this!

Bad Luck Sachin! We are sure you will bounce back and score runs for India. We are sure that you don't mind this as long as India wins, but we want you to score as well and be part of the winning team! All the Best!

Gavaskar Hits Back At Ponting - They are Rattled

Sunil Gavaskar hit back at Australian skipper Ricky Ponting for his "uncalled for" remarks that the former India captain was no angel during his playing days.

Gavaskar mentioned that this comment indicated that Australian side was completely rattled to find a challenger in India.

"I think it was totally uncalled for and it is showing the world that they are rattled," Gavaskar said to a news channel. He further added "I think they have been a champion side and suddenly they find that they have a challenger in India. And therefore, it's not just Ponting but all the other statements that we have heard from other Australians. Probably they are trying to sell their books or whatever it is."

Ponting in his just published "Captain's Diary 2008" has lashed out at former Indian skipper and legend Gavaskar and other former players for often blaming the Australian team for on-field confrontations.

Ponting wrote, "I still have a vivid image of Sunil Gavaskar angrily trying to take his opening partner off the MCG with him in 1981 when he was given out lbw in a Test match, but to hear him today you'd think he was positively angelic when he was the best opening batsman in the word."

To this Gavaskar said, "Ponting would not have a clear understanding of the incident as he was just a child then. Ponting was just seven-year-old when MCG incident happened. He does not know the back-ground."

Ponting Digs at Gavaskar!

Ponting, the Australian skipper has digged at Gavaskar for his walk out in in 1981 in Australia. He said, Gavaskar was not an angle during his days. He is describing himself as a great batsman and an example but his behavior during the 1981 series against Australia in Australia does not say that.

Ponting, in his Captain's Diary 2008 wrote, "I still have a vivid image of Sunil Gavaskar angrily trying to take his opening partner off the MCG with him in 1981 when he was given out lbw in a Test match, but to hear him today you'd think he was positively angelic when he was the best opening batsman in the word."

Sure you can expect a return statment from Sunny soon.

Meeting Leak - Disgusting and Disrespectful - Dhoni

Dhoni denied the report by the Bengal Daily and also by the news channels about a rift between him and the selectors over the omission of RP Singh, his close friend from the India team for the next 2 ODIs.

The Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika reported that Dhoni was not happy with the selectors for dropping RP Singh and including Irfan Pathan. The paper further said that Dhoni threatened to quit the captaincy over this issue.

Dhoni, however denied the allegations but said that leak of the meeting is disgusting and disrespectful. He described the leak as "disgusting and disrespectful" the fact that matters discussed in selection meetings are leaked and reported in the media.

The Indian selectors chose Irfan Pathan over RP Singh, for the next two ODIs. I don't know where the report came from. What happens inside a meeting where the selectors, the captain and the coaches are there, when it comes out it is disgusting and disrespectful," Dhoni said, after India's training session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. "Things like this should not be happening. I'm not saying something happened at the meeting, but over the years we have seen things being leaked from meetings."

"This is the pinnacle of the sport. We are selecting 15 guys for the Indian team," said Dhoni. "There will be debates inside, and that information should not be put out in the media. If it is meant to come out, then I can say we might as well have the whole meeting telecast live on television. Nobody knows what was discussed except the eight guys in the meeting. And only they know whether it's the truth or not."

There might be a scenario where all of a sudden we might want to get in touch with RP Singh and Irfan Pathan. And you don't want RP to feel that I will go out of the way and stand and defend him and Irfan should not feel I don't want him in the team. I will stand and defend both these players and both of them trust me. My talks with them went off well."

"We have an important match coming up, and we chose instead to focus on that match," he said. "This is a selection thing and personally I don't discuss anything outside. To some extent it does distract us. The good part is that we trust each other - every player in the team trusts the other."

"We do not have players in this team with outstanding talent, which can win every game. But as a team we are outstanding. So for us the mantra is being a team, and these things will not break the trust we have in each other. It's important for us to be a team."

Rift Between Dhoni and Selectors?

Media reported a rift between selectors and Dhoni on the omission of RP Singh from the Indian side. One of the Bengali daily reported that Dhoni was not happy with the selectors and threatened to resign.

The selectors omitted RP Singh for the 4th ODI and brought back Irfan Pathan in the Indian team for the fourth ODI. Sachin was also brought back to the team while Vijay was dropped, though he did not play even one game.

The daily said that skipper Dhoni was not happy with the exclusion of RP Singh from the side and threatened to resign from the leadership position.

We have to wait and see what's going to happen before start of the next match on Sunday in Bangalore.

Ponting Hits Back at his Critics! Says hit Hurts!

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was completely hurt by the remarks from his critics which includes former Austrlian captains and few board members of Cricket Australia.

He used part time bowlers Hussey, Clarke and White. Though White is a regular spinner, he was not successful. So, he bowled only less overs in the first innings and also in the 2nd innings.

Ponting would have faced suspension for the team's slow over-rate, said he never felt not using regular fast bowlers was a "negative tactic, as depicted by his critics including Cricket Australia Director and former captain Allan Border.

He said, "To tell you the truth I am a little bit disappointed with some of the criticism, particularly from former Australian captains and CA board members. The thing I'm most disappointed about is htere seems to be this inference out there that I've put myself totally ahead of the team. Anybody that knows me or knows the way I play my cricket or operate around the Australian team or any team would hopefully not say that's the case."

"I'd like to think as far as team players go that there haven't been many who have ever played for Australia would do more than I have for the team," Ricky added.

Earlier, Border said, "I don't know what to make of all this. They go into the tea break on a high and come out worrying about over rates."

Warne expects Ponting to learn from Mistake!

The legend Australian spinner Shane Warne has expressed surprise over Ponting move on the fourth day of the final test against India in Nagpur. His tactics of using part time bowlers after team was really surprising because he always put team first.

"His tactics surprised me - and everyone else - because he is naturally an attacker," Warne wrote in his column in the Herald Sun. "The reason he is under pressure is that it looked like he put himself in front of the team, and that just isn't Punter. Having played with him for a long time, he was one of the guys that put the team first - always."

"If it meant throwing his wicket away in the chase for quick runs, he would do that. And there have been previous captains who would not do that. I just think he got it wrong this time and I'm sure he will be a better captain for the experience."

"Hopefully Ricky understands where everyone's criticism is coming from, takes it on board and does not wipe people," Warne said. "I'm sure if he thinks it through, he could do worse than ask Ian Chappell or Allan Border out for dinner and chat about it. He might just pick up something."

Ponting received criticising from all over cricketing world for his poor tactics. Though coach Tim Nielsen and Cricket Austrlia CEO Sutherland backed his decision, they were also surprised by his move.