The X-factor

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan batsman, and India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Virat Kohli have been bought by the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the second round of the Indian Premier League’s player auction in Mumbai on Tuesday. Misbah, who nearly took Pakistan to victory in the ICC World Twenty20 last year, was bought for US$125,000.

Dimitri Mascarenhas, the England allrounder, was signed on by the Jaipur franchise for $100000, making him the first England player to be auctioned at the IPL. There had been a question mark over the participation of English players - excluded from the first round of the auction - in the IPL season, as it overlaps with the beginning of the county season. However, his county, Hampshire, has said it will give Mascarenhas the necessary no-objection certificate.

One of the decent wrist spinners called it a day after the CB series finals along with Gilly. It was none other than Brad Hogg. He has taken many wickets in the shorter form of the game although he failed to prove his mettle in the test matches. He became famous for a reason. Once, after getting sachin bowled, he went and asked for his autograph. He showed the picture in which Sachin was bowled by hogg and asked him to sign in that picture. Sachin coolly smiled at him and signed the picture and added a small note. He said that he will never get out to Hogg again. And, he is still keeping his word. Hogg has never taken Sachin’s wicket ever after and he was in fact a victim of his long handle quite a few times. So, bye bye hoggy!!! God is cricket!! Dont ever play wid him!!!

Adam Gilchrist’s final international batting performance was so short, the supporters who were a minute late returning from dinner missed it. Instead of going out with a bang, Gilchrist disappeared in three balls and the closest he got to an explosion was when he was crowded by photographers as he tried to exit the field.

Australia’s nine-run loss in the second CB Series final marked Gilchrist’s retirement at the age of 36. He contributed 2 before playing back and edging Praveen Kumar, finishing with 9619 runs in 287 one-day internationals. During a quiet game by his ultra-high standards, he did not add to his 472 dismissals.

After that racism row, in which Harbhajan singh was found to be guilty and was banned for 3 tests, the BCCI appealed to the ICC to revoke that ban as Bhajji was innocent. The hearing took place yesterday and finally, Bhajji was cleared of his racism charges and was fined with 50% of his match fees. So, this comes as a great relief to the Indians who are known to be the most cultured lot and always stand against racism. So, it has once again been proved that India is the best than the rest. Meanwhile, Australians are furious at the ICC for revoking the ban but after all justice has been meted out to India!!

The final frontier, as it is called by many, which is nothing but the fourth and final test between India and Australia at Adelaide got over today. India saved the match by drawing the match. Sehwag played a brilliant innings of 151 and helped in frustrating the Aussie bowlers to the core. As, the test ended in a tame draw, the series was won 2-1 by Australia but India had played its best cricket in this series and deserved more than what this scoreline suggests. The 4th test also marked the end of an illustrious career of the best wicketkeeper batsman in history, Adam Gilchrist. Months after his interview in which he had said that he isn’t thinking of retirement, he has suddenly announced his retirement and this comes as a shock for the cricketing fraternity. Sad that he couldn’t make it big in his final series but atleast he retired when his team was in a peak form. Bye Bye Gilly!! We miss U!!!

The God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar is getting better as his age is getting older and older. He is indeed justifying the fact the Old is Gold!! Today at Adelaide, he reached yet another flamboyant unbeaten century. The characteristic of this hundred was predominantly attacking batting. He scored his 39th test ton at the strike rate of 77 and is looking good for more on the 2nd day tomorrow. He is indeed proving to be an invincible batsman who will always be a nightmare to the bowlers. Joining Shane Warne is the left arm spinner Brad Hogg who has been absolutely murdered in this series by the God!!! So, hope the God leads India to another famous victory in Aussie soil.

The final test between India and Australia is going on now and it is turning out to be a tough battle once again. Irfan Pathan, the make shift opener of the Indian cricket team has been removed early by Mitchell Johnson. Sehwag is batting flamboyantly and that is the only positive for India in the first hour of the day so far. Hope, India build better partnership from now on and build an unassailable score.

Tomorrow, its going to be the final test. Indians who are upbeat after beating the Aussies at Perth, are now looking to square the series. Though they have lost the Border-Gavaskar trophy already, if they are able to beat the Aussies again in Adelaide, it will be a great morale booster for the Indians because they have been the closest challengers to the Aussies so far. Also, they can create some energy ahead of the VB series which also features Sri Lanka. So, lets wait and watch the climax.

Knighthood in Cricket is something that is equivalent to the Nobel Prize. It is a highly honorable achievement for the person to be awarded knighthood. There have been very few cricketers who have been knighted. The ones I could remember are Sir Donald Bradman(Aus), Sir Vivian Richards(WI), Sir Jack Hobbs(WI), Sir Len Hutton(Eng), Sir Richard Hadlee(NZ), Sir Frank Worrell(WI), Sir Richie Benaud(Aus), Sir Ian Botham(Eng), Sir Garfield Sobers(WI), Sir Everton Weekes(WI) and Sir Clyde Walcott(WI). They have done a great job for their country. Now, its the time for an Indian to be honored with this great award. No prize for any guesses. Because the answer is quite obvious. Its none other than our very own Master Blaster, the Cricketing God Sachin Tendulkar. Its a latest news that England prime minister Gordon Brown has said that Sachin should be given knighthood. If it happens, then it will indeed be a great achievement for Indian cricket as well. Sir Sachin Tendulkar!! Wow!! What a great feeling to every Indian!!! Hope it comes true!!!

It is now time to know what is hot and happening in cricket. After the 3rd test got over with India thrashing the Aussies pretty convincingly under 4 days at Perth, it was now time for the selectors to choose the squad for the VB series featuring Australia and Srilanka. Laxman, after the form he showed, was expected to make it to the ODI squad just like he did in 2004. But, it was not to be. The selectors backed by MS Dhoni have taken some brave decisions by dropping Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman from the VB series. Gambhir, Suresh Raina and Sreesanth have been recalled for the VB series where as Piyush chawla gets the nod ahead of Murali Kartik. The team is young and is most likely to match the other sides with its fielding. Munaf Patel also hasn’t been considered for the VB series. Thats it for the cricket news!!!