[Surprise]

The Statesman

Top industrialists and Bollywood stars rode the cricket bandwagon as the big-ticket sport achieved a new meaning with unprecedented money pouring into the game that will be seen in a new professional garb called the Indian Premier League.
The likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Mukesh Ambani, the reigning deities of India’s film and business world, led a rush of more than $718 million as bidding fees for the eight teams on offer

“I will support cricket and not promote cricket, otherwise people will say I am promoting my films,” said Shah Rukh, in a dig at those who had said that when he was spotted with the Indian team at the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa

Mr Vijay Mallya of the UB Group admitted that he wanted the Mumbai team, but he was outbid by Mr Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance.
Mr Ambani won with the highest bid of $111.9 million. Mr Mallya’s UB Group came a close second with $111.6 million for Bangalore.
Deccan Chronicle put up the third highest bid of $107.01 million for the Hyderabad team, Ogilvy & Mather will be the advertising agency for IPL and Mindshare will do the media buying for the League, which will see an unprecedented media blitz.

[maddy42]

Well do u think this league will succeed? Forget about the money point but think will people actually watch it spending time in front of the tv?

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by maddy42

Well do u think this league will succeed? Forget about the money point but think will people actually watch it spending time in front of the tv?

Too much of anything is bad, i would say. But then again, how did the EPL come so far?

[snaronikar]

Originally Posted by maddy42

Well do u think this league will succeed? Forget about the money point but think will people actually watch it spending time in front of the tv?

Yeas it will work and people will watch it. Ours is a cricket crazy nation and they watch anything and everything. Media will also add their masala and hype the series. This certainly will be a hit.

[maddy42]

Well the point is why do you watch cricket is because its about pride of the country and etc etc. The regional games dont evoke the smae amount of interest as much as a game involving 2 countries. Well EPL has succeeded as they have this Club traditions with members of the paticular region supporting the particular club. Also one more point is the games over in 90 mins and also has some of the best footbol and footballers playing in it. Well the number of viewers they capture is huge.

[Surprise]

Great effort from Australian opening batsmen and now the lead has come down to 350+ with all the wickets in hand. COMmEN were saying that it will be very difficult for a new batsment to settle in as the pitch offers variable bounce to the spinners, hope we get a breakthrough


Cricinfo - Procter took Australians' word in Harbhajan hearing

"I have heard evidence from Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and Matthew Hayden that he did say these words. Harbhajan Singh denies saying these words. Both umpires did not hear nor did Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar. I am satisfied and sure beyond reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh did say these words.
"I am satisfied that the words were said and that the complaint to the umpires, which forms this charge, would not have been put forward falsely, I dismiss any suggestion of motive or malice."
Procter's decision came late into the night of January 6

[shuvc]

Ball spinning. Jaques gone. Hayden yet another century. Thats 3 this series.

[gkrishn]

Ishant started coming around the wicket for hyden... almost all ball was moving away from him. then one delivery....only one that swung back towards the batsman... which promptly breached the defense of hyden. Class act...

[maddy42]

Match is getting slow Ponting got to go

[Proxima]

A draw seems to be on the cards this time...

[Steeroid]

We're being told that the Adelaide wicket will change on days 4 & 5 - I hope it changes enough to give us a result. The day's play marked a return to the Grind from the pre-'90s era of test match cricket.

[Eddy]

Gilly retires. This test will be his last and the CB series as his last ODI hurrah.... One of the greatest entertainers gone :(

[markiv]

Aussie strength will be further diluted now that Gilchrist is also gone! Warne, McGrath, and now Gilly...........those are big shoes to fill. Already their bowling looks toothless albeit against an experienced Indian batting line up.
Add to that suggestions that Hayden is also to be "replaced".
The aura of greatness begins to fade away........

[Surprise]

Originally Posted by Proxima

A draw seems to be on the cards this time...

But for that India should bat well in the third innings

Aussies were just 100 runs behind India. They have another 60 overs to go for the day and if they could score another 180 runs (taken at same run rate, but any team will increase) its a lead of 80-100 runs. If they could push by another 80 runs on the final day.

India will have 180 on board and around 70 overs to play for the day. Thats going to be difficult as we might .......................

Hope that does not happen and we make aussies sweat at the field on final day

[ntomer]

Originally Posted by Surprise

But for that India should bat well in the third innings

Aussies were just 100 runs behind India. They have another 60 overs to go for the day and if they could score another 180 runs (taken at same run rate, but any team will increase) its a lead of 80-100 runs. If they could push by another 80 runs on the final day.

India will have 180 on board and around 70 overs to play for the day. Thats going to be difficult as we might .......................

Hope that does not happen and we make aussies sweat at the field on final day

exactly my thoughts. Aussies have batted themselves firmly into this match; and there is only one team which can lose from here - India.