Boxing not so clever
Jenny Thompson looks back at the week that was March 5 to March 11
Jenny Thompson
11-Mar-2007
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World Cup broken
The administrators of the World Cup have had plenty of potential problems to anticipate - but they probably didn't expect the trophy itself to break. But it's been damaged in Calcutta where it was being displayed. A gold ring has broken from the wooden base of the trophy but the tournament sponsors LG, who were looking after the trophy, say it was already like that when it arrived.
The administrators of the World Cup have had plenty of potential problems to anticipate - but they probably didn't expect the trophy itself to break. But it's been damaged in Calcutta where it was being displayed. A gold ring has broken from the wooden base of the trophy but the tournament sponsors LG, who were looking after the trophy, say it was already like that when it arrived.
Sightscreen stops play
More problems in the Carribean itself where a temporary sightscreen, made of steel and fabric, caused havoc in Pakistan's match against Canada when it was blown over at the Frank Worrell Oval. Play had to be halted for an hour and two overs were lost per side, but at least this was only the warm-up phase. Pakistan had victory in their sights all along, with the screen the only thing to slip up.
More problems in the Carribean itself where a temporary sightscreen, made of steel and fabric, caused havoc in Pakistan's match against Canada when it was blown over at the Frank Worrell Oval. Play had to be halted for an hour and two overs were lost per side, but at least this was only the warm-up phase. Pakistan had victory in their sights all along, with the screen the only thing to slip up.
Fire it up
It's all going on for Pakistan. First they had three injuries to their squad, then came sightscreen-gate. Then they and the South African team had to leave their cornflakes behind when a suspected fire broke out in their hotel, disturbing their breakfast. Later it was revealed that there was a suspected gas leak on the eighth floor. Some of the players, it seems, performed to type - the fast bowler Mohammad Sami sprinting down the corridor like a hare, while Inzamam-ul-Haq was his usual laidback self. Shahid Afridi, though, was less explosive than when he's batting - when a security guard asked him to leave the hotel room, he merely went back to sleep, and had to be woken again. When the two teams came together for their warm-up match there was more chaos - play was held up for ten minutes because South Africa's batsmen were unhappy with the state of the pitch. The umpires waved play-on, though.
It's all going on for Pakistan. First they had three injuries to their squad, then came sightscreen-gate. Then they and the South African team had to leave their cornflakes behind when a suspected fire broke out in their hotel, disturbing their breakfast. Later it was revealed that there was a suspected gas leak on the eighth floor. Some of the players, it seems, performed to type - the fast bowler Mohammad Sami sprinting down the corridor like a hare, while Inzamam-ul-Haq was his usual laidback self. Shahid Afridi, though, was less explosive than when he's batting - when a security guard asked him to leave the hotel room, he merely went back to sleep, and had to be woken again. When the two teams came together for their warm-up match there was more chaos - play was held up for ten minutes because South Africa's batsmen were unhappy with the state of the pitch. The umpires waved play-on, though.
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From fires to floods
It wasn't a good week for batsmen in Worcestershire: there were plenty of ducks at New Road when the ground was deluged by flood waters up to your knees after the River Severn burst its banks. It's the fifth time that the picturesque ground has been submerged since December and the players will now undergo preseason training at a local school in a fortnight instead of the ground. However the club is confident the ground will be ready for when the season starts in April.
It wasn't a good week for batsmen in Worcestershire: there were plenty of ducks at New Road when the ground was deluged by flood waters up to your knees after the River Severn burst its banks. It's the fifth time that the picturesque ground has been submerged since December and the players will now undergo preseason training at a local school in a fortnight instead of the ground. However the club is confident the ground will be ready for when the season starts in April.
A Shaggy story
Sport and music are not necessarily happy bedfellows, and even in that restricted field, cricket barely fights its corner. But now adding a bombastic touch to cricket beats is Jamaican reggae star Shaggy, who's going to bust it out on a World Cup album entitled Caribbean Party. We're not saying you will, of course ... but you may just lover-lover it.
Sport and music are not necessarily happy bedfellows, and even in that restricted field, cricket barely fights its corner. But now adding a bombastic touch to cricket beats is Jamaican reggae star Shaggy, who's going to bust it out on a World Cup album entitled Caribbean Party. We're not saying you will, of course ... but you may just lover-lover it.
He's not kidneying
When people talk of giving their right arm to do something, they don't usually mean literally (not even Jacob Oram). But an Indian fan is so desperate to see his side play in the World Cup that he's selling one of his body parts to raise the fare - a kidney. Sarun Sharma, a clothes seller from Jamshedpur, hopes to receive £3,500 for the organ. "I am really serious," says a really serious Sharma. "What's wrong with the offer? I know several people who are living with one kidney."
When people talk of giving their right arm to do something, they don't usually mean literally (not even Jacob Oram). But an Indian fan is so desperate to see his side play in the World Cup that he's selling one of his body parts to raise the fare - a kidney. Sarun Sharma, a clothes seller from Jamshedpur, hopes to receive £3,500 for the organ. "I am really serious," says a really serious Sharma. "What's wrong with the offer? I know several people who are living with one kidney."
England player in punch-up shock
Most thoughts may be on the World Cup, but the English domestic season is also just around the corner. And in the blue corner this week was Alastair Cook, as Essex brought boxing into their first week of pre-season training on Thursday. Although the players' blows were strictly intended for punchbags a few ended up being directed towards a hapless team-mate or two. The allrounder Graham Napier said: "There were a few stray jabs aimed at Alastair Cook, in particular, to keep the rest of us amused." But Cook punched back: "Napes is so short he would never be able to reach me!" Out of England's one-day side he may be, but he's not out for the count.
Most thoughts may be on the World Cup, but the English domestic season is also just around the corner. And in the blue corner this week was Alastair Cook, as Essex brought boxing into their first week of pre-season training on Thursday. Although the players' blows were strictly intended for punchbags a few ended up being directed towards a hapless team-mate or two. The allrounder Graham Napier said: "There were a few stray jabs aimed at Alastair Cook, in particular, to keep the rest of us amused." But Cook punched back: "Napes is so short he would never be able to reach me!" Out of England's one-day side he may be, but he's not out for the count.
Mother-in-law's wise tongue
Mothers-in-laws often get a bad rap - but not so Nathan Bracken's. Lenore Rich has been revealed as his source of inspiration. Indeed, if Australia are ever in need of a new bowling coach, Bracken reckons he may have the answer: Lenore. "She tells me the same thing she always does, to back my ability and it's the same thing Troy Cooley says to us every day."
Mothers-in-laws often get a bad rap - but not so Nathan Bracken's. Lenore Rich has been revealed as his source of inspiration. Indeed, if Australia are ever in need of a new bowling coach, Bracken reckons he may have the answer: Lenore. "She tells me the same thing she always does, to back my ability and it's the same thing Troy Cooley says to us every day."
Poker non-millions
Cricketers may not receive the same wages as footballers but fortunately for their wives and girlfriends, they don't spend as much on gambling either. Following recent reports of a culture of gambling pervading team morale at West Ham, the Daily Mail conducted their own investigation into the ruinous evils of poker games in England's cricket team. The six regulars are batting coach Matt Maynard, who has supplied the cards and the counters, plus Michael Vaughan, Freddie Flintoff, Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood and Jon Lewis. What did the investigations reveal? An England spokesman said: "The money involved is minimal. I don't think anyone's going to be too upset at being $10 down after a fun evening."
Cricketers may not receive the same wages as footballers but fortunately for their wives and girlfriends, they don't spend as much on gambling either. Following recent reports of a culture of gambling pervading team morale at West Ham, the Daily Mail conducted their own investigation into the ruinous evils of poker games in England's cricket team. The six regulars are batting coach Matt Maynard, who has supplied the cards and the counters, plus Michael Vaughan, Freddie Flintoff, Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood and Jon Lewis. What did the investigations reveal? An England spokesman said: "The money involved is minimal. I don't think anyone's going to be too upset at being $10 down after a fun evening."
Quotehanger
"There's no way I could make any money out of a book after how I performed." England's errant spearhead, Steve Harmison, explains why he is giving the proceeds of his Ashes tour diary to a children's charity, Bubble Foundation UK
"There's no way I could make any money out of a book after how I performed." England's errant spearhead, Steve Harmison, explains why he is giving the proceeds of his Ashes tour diary to a children's charity, Bubble Foundation UK
Jenny Thompson is assistant editor of Cricinfo