[Eddy]

I agree. I would swap Nayar with Jadeja in my squad.

Edit: Thank God for no a Munaf-less squad !!

[Rocky_Balboa]

And no place for the upcoming wicket-keeper(!!?) Robin

[pjay_in]

I don't know how many of you have heard about this guy. Quite a few of you must have heard about him, considering that users of leading cricket forums on the web have been going ga ga about this mystery man over the last couple of months.

Atul Sharma. An Indian quickie who's been kept under wraps for God knows what reason. A bowler with a slingshot action (like a javelin thrower) who can deliver the ball at 105 mph. No typo here. An athlete who has been built to last, one who can give a sprinter a run for his money.

For those who don't know already, the story goes like this: He has been undergoing training at the academy of Ian Pont, the express quick bowling guru in England, for the last 3 years. Like you see in movies, during the 3 years of training the world knows nothing of him and he keeps getting better and better under Ian Pont. After 3 years he is ready for the action, the quickest bowler in the world.

The story leaked out at a time when he was signed on by Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2009. Atul Sharma became the hot topic of discussion on cricket forums (especially Indian and Pakistani forums). There was also an interview of Ian Pont published, without revealing too many details about him. Ian Pont refused to share any video footage of his training or bowling action till the time was ripe.

Come IPL, everyone was expecting Shane Warne to uncover his 'secret weapon'. And what an anticlimax! The secret weapon turned out to be Kamran Khan. And he is nowhere near express quick, though he shows some promise. The RR team list given on IPL website did have an Atul Sharma, aged 37 years (can you believe that - an unknown player aged 37).

Again the forums were awash with talks about the 'Atul Sharma hoax'. Now more people believed the story to be a hoax, though there were eternal optimists who still wanted to stay with the story.

Just as the furore was dying out, Ian Pont has gone ahead and posted a video of Atul Sharma training, on his website. The guy shown on the video lives upto the reputation - a real athlete like never seen before in Indian ranks. And the website mentioned that Atul Sharma is indeed in the RR team, but has not played so far due to an injury he suffered in an accident during practice.

So Atul Sharma looks real. Let us wait and see if he can bowl at a good line and length, if he is indeed pacey.

Those who want to read more about him, just google Atul Sharma Fastest Bowler and you will hit a lot of pages.

[Eddy]

West Indies One Day Squad:

Rested : Zaheer, Raina, Sachin
Out: Irfan, Munaf. (Great decision)
In: M Vijay, Nehra, Abishek Nayar, Badrinath

Tendulkar and Zaheer rested for West Indies tour | Cricket News | West Indies v India 2009 | Cricinfo.com

[sam_boy]

Originally Posted by Eddy

West Indies One Day Squad:

Rested : Zaheer, Raina, Sachin
Out: Irfan, Munaf. (Great decision)
In: M Vijay, Nehra, Abishek Nayar, Badrinath

Tendulkar and Zaheer rested for West Indies tour | Cricket News | West Indies v India 2009 | Cricinfo.com

All the guys complaining of the "F" factor ( fatigue) are still there .......

[normally_crazy]

Am simply loving the way the 12th man from England is coming in over after over and getting on Ponting's nerves - super stuff.

The last wicket partnership is really awesome.

I still think Ponting should have gone with his fast bowlers - he would have less overs to bowl but a lot more chances to get the Nos. 10 and 11 out.

[karanraheja]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Am simply loving the way the 12th man from England is coming in over after over and getting on Ponting's nerves - super stuff.
The last wicket partnership is really awesome.
I still think Ponting should have gone with his fast bowlers - he would have less overs to bowl but a lot more chances to get the Nos. 10 and 11 out.

When the physio and 12th man came out (2nd time ) i wished all cameras were towards ponting at that time . That look on ponting s face was brilliant . As long as aussies don win, im lovin it !

[Eddy]

Awesome match yesterday. What atmosphere in the final few overs, with each ball being cheered like a Sachin century

[Eddy]

Interesting scoreline in the second test too. Ashes really living upto its hype. It will be wonderful if England can pull it off here !

[chanu]

England now seems to be hanging on flintoff's brilliance aka bothams & patch work by the rest of the team. Australians have also slipped off their pedestal. Both teams are looking for heroes sitting be the side of their ageing stars

[Eddy]

Interesting final day coming up. Go pommies go !!

[normally_crazy]

Wonderful fightback by Clarke and Haddin. I thought the Aussies would fold up for less than 200 the way they were going.

Absolute intense last day coming up. Go Pommies Go.

[safari_lover]

Brilliant knock by Clarke, yesterday. He was in sublime touch!! Well supported by Haddin too.
I think England should win this, unless the weather plays the spoilsport.

[chanu]

Is this series the start of ponting's end as the captain of the ill fated australian team. Is clarke knocking the doors of captaincy. His form now has fallen of a brilliant pedestal, showing only occasional brilliance OR is it that his support cast is not performing as expected. Anyways ponting seems be on decline

[kannan666]

@ 353 for 6, it would be a really miraculous effort from the Aussies if they can get the remaining 169 runs.However, guess while Clarke is there, there is still a glimmer of hope.