[extreme_torque]

Worth a read
Cricinfo - Money for nothing

[diabloo]

Ponting had expected around $200~$300K, He got $400K and still unhappy?
He is unhappy because uncapped Aussie players like David Hussey ($625K) & Cameron White ($500K) got more.
Its a case of, "I was happy with mine, but they got more than me and so I am not happy".

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Reality bites hard....

Originally Posted by diabloo

Ponting surprised at his low price - Ponting went to Kolkata for $400,000. "I thought I might have been able to attract a little bit more than that," Ponting said.

[CaAT]

Flashback to the 1950s when India was undertaking her fourth tour to England. Vinoo Mankad, India's star all rounder, was signed by the Lancashire cricket club Haslingden for a princely sum of 1000 Sterling Pounds. Not wanting to lose this money, he did the unthinkable. He asked Indian cricket board to compensate for his loss of revenue in case he was selected for the test matches!

This incident would pass off as rather insignificant, but remember we are talking about the 1950s, when cricket was played for fun, pride and everthing else, but certainly not money! It was ok to live in extreme poverty like Vasant Ranjane - India's fast bowler of 1950s - did, or even die in obsurity like JG Navale - India's first ever test keeper. But making money from cricket? Tauba, Tauba!

Fast forward to the 70s. I have seen many posters talk with nostalgia about the heady days of Sunil Gavaskar. If there is one cricketer who can be called as the Harbinger of commercialisation of cricket in India, then it is Sunny himself. Here is what former Indian captain, MAK Pataudi, had to say about him. (Excerpts from Mihir Bose's book - Maidan view) :

In Bombay only money seemed to matter, and there was more than one way to make it. Gavaskar found them all. Advertising, film producing, writing articles (on the same match, but for different publications), taking fee for organizing matches, writing instant books which were spiced to sell better, appearance money and signing contracts with manufacturers of sports equipment. He became the first millionaire through cricket, rich enough to buy a flat in the centre of Bombay. In a capitalist cricketing country, he would have been considered a genius. In India they began to call him a mercenary, and within the team he became the envy of some of who felt that their contribution to Indian cricket was not much appreciated. Why should Gavaskar hog all the publicity as well as the money? The answer was simple: he had reached those dizzy heights to which no Indian cricketer in his right mind would even dream of aspiring. As importantly, he was articulate where others were dumb, he was controversial where other dared not to be, he could even be witty and this made him ideal material for the media and advertiser.

Over to the 1990s when Mark Mascarenhas bid for the 1996 WC. He promised an astonomical USD 10 Mn for that event. Back then, that kind of money was unheard of in Indian cricket. It was the beginning of the quest of cricket finding it's market value.

Well into the first decade of the new millenium, Sachin Tendulkar bagged a Rs 200 Crore contract from Iconix.

Last year ESPN Star bagged the ICC rights for USD 1.15 Bn.

So friends, don't blame IPL or ICL or the Stanford League for commercialisation of this wonderful game. The process of commercialisation is as old as the game itself. These are just pit stops in the game's long journey.

Allow the market to determine cricket's true value. If the IPL or Dhoni flops, be rest assured that market will correct them on its own.

If they succeed, then fifteen years down the line, Dhoni's Rs 6 crores or Ishant Sharma's Rs 4 crores could well look like peanuts, much the same way as Vinoo Mankad's 1000 Sterling Pounds contract of 1952 looks now.

[Eddy]

Ban T20 cricket says the left. Absolute crap/

Left demands ban on Twenty20 cricket -India-The Times of India

[finneyp]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Ban T20 cricket says the left.

I support this ban! T20 will kill cricket!

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by finneyp

I support this ban! T20 will kill cricket!

T20 cannot be banned for the reason this guy is quoting

"Describing Twenty20 cricket as a "gamble" involving "widespread betting" and "free investment of unaccounted money", Dasgupta alleged that a cabinet minister was involved in the "caricature of the game and looting cricket lovers."

I think the more prudent thing would be to reduce / remove T20 till the under 21 level to let the youngsters learn the game the proper way.

But you cannot ban anything. If it is entertainment and its selling, then

[normally_crazy]

Ok, seems like we are in for another huge 100+ run defeat here. Its time we started taking a serious look at Mr Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar and his consistent (non)performances.

[Surprise]

Sachin did well in the test series and has good starts in first few matches in the current ODI series. Failed to convert those starts into big ones. He always tries to bounce back to secure his place and Iam sure he will score 50+ in one of the next two matches (assuming IND into finals).

With Yuvaraj getting into form last match, I guess that we will give a good fight in this match

[Surprise]

Originally Posted by Surprise

I guess that we will give a good fight in this match

Oops!! Shewag got out for clarke and the change always works fine for Ponting\

EDIT-1: Rohit Sharma gone.

[normally_crazy]

Originally Posted by Surprise

Sachin did well in the test series and has good starts in first few matches in the current ODI series.

SR Tendulkar 7 innings, 128 runs, H S-44, AVG - 18.28, SR-73.98

[snaronikar]

YS also edged to Gilli. India tottering at 61/4 right now. Its a uphill task. Good show by Aussies in all the three departments of game.

[karanraheja]

I think we should bring in Suresh Raina in for a match. Or atleast bring in
Badrinath in the next tournaments. Badrinath i guess should be a better option than Uthappa. Though I think Uthappa is really good but he has not been very much consistent in last few months ( irrespective of his batting order)

[pmbabu]

Well, getting the highest score batting second at the SCG was not enough to win the match. Nevertheless, we got a lot closer and hopefully will win the final tie against the Sri Lankans on Tuesday. For the first time in this series Aus did not take the bonus point while winning.

Ponting and Symonds got back into their groove just right in time for the finals. What with Brett Lee once again proving that he is currently the best fast bowler in the world with another 5 wicket haul.

Guess it's business as usual - it's an series for the Australians to lose!

Meanwhile, the U-19 team has been impressive as well beating England today by 7 wickets and reaching the Semi Finals of the U-19 ICC WC.

[Surprise]

I was surprised when heard that we lost the match by just 18 runs as we lost our first 4-5 wickets quickly.

Good show guys. Hope we get into the finals by beating SL in next match and give a tough fight to aussies

[LLL]

Originally Posted by diabloo

Symonds stunned by IPL offer - Symonds was taken aback after learning that the Hyderabad franchisee of the IPL has bought him for a huge USD 1.35 million.

Ponting surprised at his low price - Ponting went to Kolkata for $400,000. "I thought I might have been able to attract a little bit more than that," Ponting said.

I will be supporting every IPL team except Hyderabad and Kolkata. Because they brought these 2 aussies. Would have been nice to see them going "unbought" into reserve pool.