ICC should make Test Cricket more attractive for spectators

The England cricketers and their supporters are in jubilant mood now that Australians have been knocked out of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup tournament.They reckon that they have already won the Ashes beginning early next month.

It is not sport to count the chickens before they are hatched.But England are doing just that and if complacency sets in then it can lead to disaster.

The Australians cannot still believe that they have dived out of the Twenty20.They flew in here determined to carry away the Twenty20.It is the only trophy they have not engraved their names on.

They were confident of doing just that because they had the sharp shooters to target all opponents.They failed and have now set their sights on the Ashes battle against England and when it comes to the established game what cricket is all about,they will be a different kettle of fish.

Test cricket is a different ball game.It is not a “asking,hitting game”,or a “come or go Chicago game”.These games were invented because of the inability of the International Cricket Council,the guardians of the game to make Test cricket more attractive to the spectators who were shunning the established game and flockling in their numbers to take in the instant action that is being dished out in this mock cricket.that is a slur on the time honoured game of Test cricket.

It is not for us to tell.But the know alls are firmly entrenched as office bearers in the ICC and they must concentrate on doing things for Test cricket and not introduce other games and gimmicks to attract spectators.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India,eupohric over its success in the Indian Premier League,have now slated another tourney come October in India.

The Americans are planning a similar one in the US.It is time for the ICC to act and see that there is no over kill of this style of game.

It is sad that the cricketers too are laying more emphasis on this game,and treating Test cricket as a poor relation.Obviously this stems from the fact that there is a lot of money to be won and so their liking for this game.It is the ICC that should take the blame for this fiasco.

The ICC must know when and where to draw the line.They should know when enough is enough. A bad trend that is emerging is that the Board of Control for Cricket in India is trying to take on the powers of the ICC and show that they are the ones who could call the shots.Now that is something that the ICC must guard against and nip in the bud.

Aussies in line for a pay rise

The Australian cricketers who were bounced out of the World Cup Twenty20, are in line for a pay rise.Their bosses and union representatives revealed that the players salaries could rise by 736,000 pounds per player during the next 12 months.

This good news came the Aussie way,just 24 hours after their loss to Sri Lanka in the ongoing tournament.The deal announced by the Australian Cricketers” Association and Cricket Australia covers the next two winters. This is a sequel to the income generated from the game in Australia having gone up and so the share of the players have gone up.

But the Aussie cricketers have been hit in the pocket after failing to keep up with the required over rate in their six-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka.

Chris Broad, the match referee acting under the regulations of the ICC fined Ponting 10 percent - around 150 pounds - of his match fee,while the players were docked five percent.

By their being knocked out of the Twenty20,the Australians have been given an extra week to prepare for the Ashes battle.

Lewis in Boxing”s Hall of Fame

Remember Lennox Lewis,the British Heavyweight Boxing Champion - Lennox will be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame,which is the highest honour bestowed by the United States.

Lennox will become only the second British world heavyweight champion of the modern era to be acclaimed - Bob Fitzsimmons was the first to receive such acclaim who reigned 112 years ago.

Lennox will now join the illustrious company of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Kack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Larry Homes, and his hero Jack Johnson, The ceremony will take place in Canastota, New York. 20,000 people from all over the world are expected to attend the ceremony.Lewis will take his mother and wife,both named Violet,son Landon,five,and dughter Ling,there,to share the joy.