The biggest talking points from the cricketing world this week.
Goodbye Tony
In just over a year, cricket has lost two of its most distinctive and authoritative voices. Richie Benaud’s loss in April last year was immeasurable. The passing away of Tony Cozier this week has been no less. For the last 50 years, Cozier was indisputably the voice of West Indian cricket, as objective through its giddiest days as through its worst. Not that he was coldly objective either – part of his greatness came from his ability to ally, seemingly naturally, precisely the right kind of passion to that objectivity. There were days when you could hear the indignation in his voice of course, because such were the displays the West Indies put up in the last 20 years, but that he mostly reserved for his columns. On air, Cozier’s was as smooth a voice, as hypnotic a lilt, as you could hope to accompany the watching of a Test match, especially in the Caribbean. Suffice to say, watching cricket in the region will not be or sound the same.
Hello Dravid and Jayawardene
If you asked cricket fans who the most thoughtful cricketers of the last two decades were, chances are that the majority would answer one of Mahela Jayawardene or Rahul Dravid, or both. Both were widely respected captains and players, and have since had differing but intriguing forays into coaching. So their appointment to the ICC’s cricket committee should only be considered a good thing. Though it slips past unnoticed often, overshadowed by the attention given to the ICC’s political maneouvrings, the committee is important in the on-field steering of the game. It is they who are responsible for recommending the changes to the rules whereby the game is played. At the end of this month, the committee will also be given two very important presentations about the efficacy of the Decision Review System (DRS) as well as a proposed new calendar structure for international cricket – the presence of Dravid and Jayawardene for issues such as this feels somehow comforting.
Safety within limits
"You can make the game of cricket a lot safer by playing with a tennis ball, but that's not how Test cricket has been played and it would obviously be a very different game." That was James Sutherland, chief executive officer of Cricket Australia (CA), speaking in response to the findings of a CA-commissioned report into the death of Phillip Hughes. This report found that neither greater head protection nor a quicker ambulance response would have saved Hughes. But Sutherland was referring to a state coroner's inquest which is likely to go beyond the report and, according to ESPNcricinfo, raise questions about short pitched bowling and tactics. It is not going to make for easy listening in any case but Sutherland at least sees the need for balance. "[W]e do need to find the right balance in the circumstances to not compromise the way the game's played and not compromise the way in which the players are best equipped to show their skills."
Indian Premier League game of the week
Chris Jordan had a wonderful World Twenty20 where he showcased his abilities as a death bowler – when in rhythm, he was hitting yorkers at will. He has not been so good since and nearly lost Bangalore their game against Punjab last week. Punjab needed 17 off the last over, bowled by Jordan to win: he defended it, only just, conceding 15.
Players of the week
• Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers: Is it really fair that this pair is able to play for the same side? No, less so after this week when they put on 229 for the second wicket against Gujarat Lions. Both hit hundreds, and it was their fourth century partnership in this tournament. It was Kohli's third hundred alone this season and the wonder is that Bangalore are still third from bottom.
Match-up to watch this week
• Gujarat Lions v Kolkata Knight Riders: Gujarat were comfortable winners the last time these sides played in Kolkata. That day, the home side was indebted Shakib Al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan for even getting them a total to try and defend. Both sides have hovered near the top of the table and this could be an important game in deciding how they end up.
Stat of the week
112
The number of runs scored by AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli in the last five overs of their innings against Gujarat Lions. That is the highest number of runs scored in the last five of any Twenty20 match and it included two overs that went for 30 each.
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