Left field
The Reuters global sports blog
from India Insight:
In Dada, Yuvraj finds a way to use his unutilised hair gel
Yuvraj Singh has finally found a way to make sure the hair gel lying unused in his cupboard is not completely wasted.
The Punjab cricketer, known for experimenting with hairdos, has gone completely bald following chemotherapy sessions in his battle against cancer.
In his absence, Yuvraj's former India captain Sourav Ganguly is leading Pune in this year's Indian Premier League and the 39-year-old provided what could be the lasting memory of IPL5 after castling Delhi's Kevin Pietersen at Ferozeshah Kotla on April 21.
Ganguly darted across the field at a speed unexpected of a cricketer never known for his athleticism even in his prime, pumping air and jumping in joy, his thinning hair dishevelled by the evening wind.
from India Insight:
Sari-clad cheerleaders add Indian touch to IPL franchise
The upcoming session of the Indian Premier League (IPL), India’s glamour-packed cricket tournament, will see a sartorial anomaly come to life -- cheerleaders wrapped in saris.
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s IPL team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, has decided to cover their cheerleaders in one of the most traditional Indian outfits -- a marked departure from their 2008 wardrobe when a lot of skin, from midriff to thighs, was on display.
from India Insight:
IPL Kochi on its way out?
It's intriguing arithmetic. After adding two new franchises to its stable, the Indian Premier League now runs the serious risk of going into its fourth edition with seven cricket teams, one less than the original eight.
In that March 21 news conference in Chennai, Lalit Modi, still one month away from a dramatic dumping, was doing what he does best -- reeling off mindboggling numbers.
More Freelance Flintoffs might serve England well
Andrew Flintoff’s decision to forego a contract with England and set himself up as an elite cricket freelancer has provoked a fair amount of grumbling in the media, with words like “mercenary” and “snub” being bandied about all over the place.
But whether you consider Flintoff’s decision ungrateful or not, consider for a moment whether it might not work out to England’s advantage.
Twenty20 – Perfect for the future or a cricket cannibal?
In an ideal world Twenty20, cricket’s newest and shortest format, should be hailed as the perfect way forward for a game still played by barely 10 teams at the highest level.
The World Twenty20 which begins in England on Friday is expected to draw huge crowds and television audiences, pointing to the galloping popularity of the three-hour game, the sporting equivalent of a Hollywood action flick rather than the Bollywood drama of a five-day test.
India fears Davis Cup decision may spark other no shows
Indian officials will be keeping their fingers crossed that Australia’s decision to boycott next month’s zonal Davis Cup tie in Chennai over security fears will turn out to be an isolated case and not one which will set a precedent for other sporting events.
India has ambitions of becoming a global sporting destination and over the next two years, the Commonwealth Games, cricket World Cup, a Formula One race, hockey World Cup and badminton world championships are all scheduled to take place in the country. However, the ambush of the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore last month triggered fears that sport could become a target for more attacks in South Asia.
IPL can succeed in South Africa
It’s a busy time in the cricket world. Pakistan has been told it can’t host matches in the 2011 World Cup while the second edition of the Indian Premier League, this time being played in South Africa, starts on Saturday.
IPL fans are preparing themselves for what should be 59 scintillating Twenty20 matches, played at a frantic pace by the very best players in the world.
-
Resident Left Field Expert
-
