CRICKET ONLY & ONLY CRICKET

It looks as though the ICC just wants to be in the news all the time whatsoever. It was not too long ago that the ICC attracted a lot of criticism for its world rankings pertaining to the all time best batsmen and bowlers from all over the world. This from the obvious fact that no single bugger on the earth would ever agree with the rankings that the ICC had put up a fortnight ago. Still, the ICC is reluctant to change the rankings and on the other-hand justifies its act. Never-mind, for people are least bothered regarding these ratings, for the fans have different ratings for the players and everyone knows as to who stands in the all time best of the players.

Now, the ICC is found to drop another bomb by bringing into the international cricketing arena a once experimentally imposed rule of referral. The ICC had introduced a referral rule on the fielding side, wherein, the fielding side can force the umpires to refer the decision to the third umpire in-case the fielding side captain is not convinced about the decision given by the umpire. Perhaps, even before the ICC introduced the referral system, Sourav Ganguly forced the umpires to refer the decision of a catch to the third in the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

Anyway that is a different issue altogether. Coming to the issue under conversation here, it was not fair for the ICC to just try putting the referral system inspite of the Sydney test issue well in front of us. Rather than introducing it as a trial, it should have been made a rule for life time of the game. Forget it! Then, when the ICC introduced the rule, it had stated that three dismissals could be forced to be referred to the third umpire. This was just fine. But, what was the problem in it for scrapping the rule all of a sudden?

Why couldn’t this rule be extended indefinitely? And the latest news is that the number of such referrals has been reduced to two from the existing three that was before scrapping the same. Isn’t this just ridiculous? This shows that the ICC is playing a hide n seek game with the game of cricket. Introduce some rule that is quintessential and then remove it without any justification. And on the other hand introduce some nonsense rules and then continue doing so, like it did by introducing an extra power-play and the rule of a free hit which was not at all needed. It would not be a surprise if the ICC stays the existing two referral system too if it thinks that it is losing out on media attention. Lets just wait and see whats in store.

This was one such thing that each and every cricket fan over the world (other than Australia) were looking for since a decade or so. And today, for the third time since 2003, the Aussies have lost their number 1 spot to South Africa yet again. And once again like it happened in the past, Australia are sure to limit the Proteas’ joy, when they are confident of regaining the top spot yet again in one day international rankings, where they are pretty sure of beating the Kiwis in the latter part of the Common Wealth Bank series that would be starting on Sunday.

Australia had lost its top one position in early 2007 when it lost five ODI matches (3 to New Zealand and 2 to England) just before the world cup 2007, where South Africa had wins against Pakistan and India. And yet again in early 2008, Australia lost the Common Wealth Bank series to India and South Africa beat Bangladesh and West Indies to move to the top spot. Now, in early 2009, South Africa have yet again done it for the third time in succession. But, it would not be a surprise if Australia win all five games against New Zealand to ragain their lost glory.

But,  South Africa’s next full fledged tour would be against the same Australians when they tour South Africa down under. So, as the South Africans, even the Australian’s run would be numbered unlike on the previous occasions where it was just a matter of a few game before Australia jumped back to where they belonged to. Taking the form of the current Australian team and the South African team as well, Australia will have to compromise with their top one spot for long. And South Africa this time can enjoy being at the top position for long. So, it would be better if the Proteas start partying once their home tour against Australia gets over.

And the Proteas’ success doesn’t seem to end just here. They can even claim to be the number one test team as well, in addition to being the number one one day team. This would be so, if they beat Australia during their tour. And, there is a greater chance of the South Africans beating the Aussies. So, it looks like a double treat is in store for the South Africans. Probably, it would be the second nation after Australia to have enjoyed being at the number one position in both the tests as well as the one day rankings.  Once th ODI series against New Zealand gets over, the Australians would be bidding a farewell to the top spot which they’ve held for almost a decade or so.