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He is facing 19 charges in total relating to alleged offences perpetrated between December 5, 2023 and April 12, 2024

AAP15-Apr-2024Former Australia Test cricketer Michael Slater has been remanded in police custody after being charged with more than a dozen offences.Slater, 54, had his case mentioned in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.He is facing 19 charges relating to alleged offences perpetrated on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on various dates between December 5, 2023 and April 12, 2024.The charges include domestic violence offences of unlawful stalking or intimidation, breaking into a dwelling with intent at night, common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm and choking or suffocation.The former opening batter and TV commentator was also charged with breaching bail and ten counts of contravening a domestic violence order.Police confirmed they arrested a 54-year-old Noosa Heads man at a Sunshine Coast address on Friday following alleged domestic violence incidents over several days.Slater has been remanded in custody with the case due to be mentioned in the same court on Tuesday.After making his debut during the 1993 Ashes tour, Slater played 74 Tests for Australia, amassing 5312 runs at an average of 42.83 with 14 centuries. He also played 42 ODIs.Slater retired from cricket in 2004, and embarking on a successful TV commentary career.

You can give them all the benefit of doubt you want, but the officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India rarely fail to disappoint

Commentary by Anand Vasu11-Jul-2005

Jagmohan Dalmiya: excuses, excuses © Getty Images
You can give them all the benefit of doubt you want, but the officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India rarely fail to disappoint. Their latest move – indefinitely postponing, for the second time, Bangladesh’s tour of India – reeks of a narrow-minded and maverick attitude. The BCCI, it seems, has respect neither for Bangladesh, nor for the ICC’s 10-year tours and fixtures program.Step back to November 2000. Bangladesh took the field for their first-ever Test, at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. Although the decision to grant the country Test status was eventually a unanimous one within the ICC, few will disagree that it was Jagmohan Dalmiya, and the Indian board, for their own reasons, who spearheaded the process. Now, five years later, Bangladesh are yet to make their maiden full tour of India.Since being granted Test status Bangladesh have played Tests in Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, West Indies, and most recently in England. Ultra-conspicuous by its absence is the big brother from across the border, India, who waste no opportunity in championing Bangladesh’s cause. But, that is proving to be a matter of mere convenience for the Indian board.Bangladesh’s presence in the fold of Test-playing nations certainly helped the BCCI at the ICC bargaining table. In no uncertain terms an Asian bloc comprising four votes was formed. The BCCI wasted no opportunity in standing tall and defending the Bangladeshis – when it came to words, that is.But deeds tell a different tale. The Indian board invited a Bangladesh XI to play in the Duleep Trophy last season. Having done so, they treated them like unexpected and unwanted house-guests. The board rescheduled virtually every fixture – both dates and venues – at the drop of a hat. The most obvious case was their match against Central Zone. Bangladesh were unhappy when told at the last minute that the match had been moved from Jaipur to Delhi, and livid when they learned that a friendly match had been played, only 48 hours prior, on the very pitch they would use. Would the BCCI dare to do this to a visiting Australian or English team?In this case the BCCI has said that the proposed month for Bangladesh’s tour – October – is unsuitable because the ICC Super Series would be on at the same time. But that ICC had announced the dates for the Super Series months ago, and the BCCI knew full well their key players would be involved in the jamboree. What’s worse is the second excuse the board has put forth – that October is a month when two of India’s biggest festivals, Diwali and Dussera, happen, and this makes it inconvenient to host Bangladesh. Have we forgotten, that only last year, India played against Pakistan in a one-dayer to celebrate the board’s Platinum Jubilee, on Diwali day?The bottom line is that India are not trying especially hard to fit in Bangladesh – and the onus is on the BCCI, since it was they who postponed Bangladesh’s visit the first time around – because the tour does not mean much financially. The BCCI has bent over backwards in the past to accommodate full series, only Tests, or preferably only one-dayers, against the likes of Australia, England and Pakistan. That’s the role commerce plays in today’s high-stakes business of cricket.But it cannot be merely about the bottom line. The ICC has put in place a 10-year programme where each team plays against everyone else home and away in that period. If the BCCI cannot respect the Bangladeshis merely as a Test country, or for matters of finance, they should do so because it is the right thing to do. Because the ICC cannot function smoothly if a board chooses to be a law unto itself.

The Ranji Trophy is set to kick off from November 23 and Cricinfo previews the Elite Group’s teams in bunches of three

Anand Vasu and Jamie Alter18-Nov-2006

Hemang Badani’s contributions with the bat will be crucial for Tamil Nadu this season © AFP
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu have consistently fielded strong teams in the Ranji Trophy and yet they have won the competition only twice in the history of the tournament. WV Raman, the former Tamil Nadu and India batsman, is now their coach, and he was a member of the team that won in 1987-88, led them to the final in 1991-92 and was also in the mix when they reached the final in 1995-96. After reaching the finals in both 2003 and 2004, they were thwarted by Mumbai, and have since failed to make it to the knockout stage.Under Raman, a shrewd thinker of the game and a clever motivator of men, there’s every reason to believe that a change in fortunes is on the cards. Only the faithful – many of whom come to the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk year after year to watch their team – will expect instant results.”We’ve got a fair amount of strength in the medium-pace department. And the advantage is that we have a settled middle order,” Raman told Cricinfo. “If we fall short anywhere it is in the spin department, and the fact that there has been a lot of chopping and changing in the opening combination. They need a bit of time to settle down.”That said, Tamil Nadu, who play all but two of their games at home in Chennai – their away games being against Delhi and in Rajkot against Saurashtra – should have no excuse to fail to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition.What they did last seasonTamil Nadu won only one of their seven matches in the last season, and that was against Bengal when Hemang Badani made an invaluable 157 in thesecond innings, supported by Sridharan Sriram (96) after both teams had collapsed in the first innings. Crucially they lost two matches outright,to Mumbai and Maharashtra, and this hurt their chances badly, leaving them with only 11 points at the end of the league matches, and well behindMumbai’s 16. “The ability of players to raise their game when it comes to big matches is a key issue,” said Raman. “Also the team as a whole needsto maintain focus for the eight-week period.” (Click here for Tamil Nadu’s batting and bowling stats last season.)Men to watchS Badrinath has been spoken about in hushed tones in Chennai circles foryears now but was only pitchforked intothe national mainstream last year. An outstanding fielder at point, or anywhere elsein the circle, and a batsman who has grown from being a grafter to one whocan express himself freely, Badri topped the Ranji averages in the lastseason for anyone who had played five games or more, racking up over 600runs at just under 80 with an unbeaten double-hundred in the bag. Another key person to look out for in the forthcoming season will be LakshmipathyBalaji – how soon, and how strongly he comes back to full potency remainsto be seen. Then, there’s always Badani. Although his chances of playing for Indiaappear bleak, he is a vital member of the Tamil Nadu squad, and when he scores runs the team usually does well.HaryanaHaryana have never been a domestic heavyweight – they’ve only featured in two Ranji finals -but have produced Kapil Dev and two domestic stalwarts – Rajinder Goel, whose tally of wickets remains a record till today, and Amarjeet Kaypee, whose run-scoring ability is yet to be surpassed. They haven’t thrown up any stars in the past decade but two current players are creating a buzz – Mahesh Rawat, the young wicketkeeper-batsman, and Joginder Sharma, the allrounder who has represented India. Amit Mishra, the talented legspinner, was talked about as a potential national player but has since faded away. There’s a batting line-up capable of posting match-winning scores, but it’s in the bowling department that Haryana lacks penetration. What they did last season:
Haryana’s 2005-06 campaign read one win, one loss, and four draws. Sitting third from the bottom in the points table, they were a far cry from the big two in their group – Baroda and UP. Mahesh Rawat and Sachin Rana scored the bulk of the team’s runs, but only three batsmen made hundreds. The bowling was even more disappointing: Joginder topped the list with 34, followed by Rana with 23, but the next on the list was Mishra with 14. No back-up bowler left a mark, and to his credit Joginder turned in fine spells throughout the season. (Click here for Haryana’s batting and bowling stats last season.)Men to watch:
If pre-season form is a yardstick, Rawat and Joginder will be the men to carry Haryana. Rawat, who scored his maiden first-class hundred against Punjab last season, opened this year’s Duleep Trophy season with two hundreds – 115 against Central Zone and an unbeaten 104 in the title triumph over Sri Lanka A – and a half-century against East. Joginder has been Haryana’s most successful bowler over the past three years, and his batting has evolved significantly. With two successive hundreds and a ten-wicket haul at the start of the 2004-05 Ranji Trophy season, he won a place in India’s one-day squad for the tour to Bangladesh, and played three ODIs. In this year’s Duleep Trophy, he picked up hundreds against Central and East and a half-century in the final. Hopefully for Haryana, the buck won’t stop with these two talents.Rajasthan

Can Vikram Solanki help Rajasthan compete with the big boys in the Super League? © Getty Images
A powerhouse in the 1960s, Rajasthan has faced a steady decline since and never been able to relive the glory years. Things are slowly looking up, though, as a promotion to the Elite Group suggests. The biggest news has been that of the overseas imports, Vikram Solanki and Kabir Ali, from England. The Worcestershire cricketers will turn out for Rajasthan in the Super League of the Ranji Trophy as well as in the domestic one-day competition. .The Lalit Modi-let Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has seemingly changed the face of the state’s cricket, first remodelling the Sawai Mansingh Stadium and then installing state-of-the-art facilities at the academy. Still, without a large talent pool, Rajasthan will need to play out of their skins in the Elite Group.What they did last season:
Rajasthan made the jump up to the next level despite going down by an innings and 34 runs to Saurashtra in the division final. There were two outright wins, no losses and vital first-innings lead points in the league matches. Undoubtedly, Jadeja’s presence had a huge impact on Rajasthan’s season, both tactically and statistically. Barring Jadeja – who scored 684 runs at 97.71 – no batsman averaged more than 34.00 and there was just one other centurion, the former ODI batsman Gagan Khoda, whose stock has slipped over the years. How Rajasthan cope against more formidable opposition remains to be seen. (Click here for Rajasthan’s batting and bowling stats last season.)Men to watch:
Sanjay Gill is a senior right-arm medium-fast bowler who has been among the wickets for Rajasthan in the last few seasons, and if the side hopes to be incisive with the ball, Gill will be a key figure. He had a devastating spell against Orissa last season when he picked up career-best figures of 6 for 20 from 17 nagging overs and bowled them out for 94. Nikhil Doru, the wicketkeeper, and Rahul Kanwat are capable batsman and have bailed Rajasthan out of trouble more than once.

Apart from his cricketing career and the death threats he received in Zimbabwe – culminating in his eventual exile – Henry Olonga’s other claim to fame is his music

Will Luke19-Nov-2006

Buy this CD for £10Apart from his cricketing career and the death threats he received in Zimbabwe – culminating in his eventual exile – Henry Olonga’s other claim to fame is his music. A talented tenor, he was spotted by the London-based Australian composer and conductor, Barrington Pheloung after appearing on the BBC. However, his first album, , is a move away from his tenor-cum-gospel upbringing. It’s Boyzone meets Westlife, Henry Olonga style.Aurelia is the latin for chrysalis, or the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly, several of which can be seen in the sleeve notes. However the cover also has a mystical, ghostly green depiction of Aurelia Borealis: the magnificent Northern Lights. Is it an insect in change or an electrical discharge? Either way, both could describe Olonga’s turbulent life.The music is accessible, modern and shiny and is a good example of what he is capable of as a singer. Also, the influence of Robbie Bronnimann as his producer is unmistakable. Bronnimann has mixed and produced for the Sugababes, Howard Jones and other acts and is as much his work as Olonga’s.Indeed it’s difficult to tell how much influence Olonga had on the 10 tracks, each of which are named with a wistful longing to a better, safer and happier time. “You Deserve,” “Rise Again” and “Make It All Count” could describe his career as a cricketer quite aptly.It’s equally difficult to know its intended market. Teenage girls might enjoy the syrupy lyrics and gentle nature of the album, but fans of Olonga’s voice might be better off waiting for his second album which, he promises, will bridge popular music with classical. He is nothing if not a charismatic, determined character and, after all his trials, this is an impressive first album. But unlike the chrysalises littered in the sleeve notes, he hasn’t quite broken free – yet.

Stats highlights from the fifth day of the Sydney Test between Australia and India

S Rajesh and HR Gopalakrishna06-Jan-2008

Michael Clarke’s nine Test wickets against India have cost him 5.11 runs each © Getty Images
Australia’s 122-run win was their 16th in a row, which equalled their world record for the most number of successive Test wins. Under Steve Waugh they had won 16 at a stretch, from October 1999 to March 2001. The next Test against India, in Perth, will give the Australians a chance to win their 17th and create a new record. Michael Clarke’s golden arm against India has fetched him nine wickets at an average of just 5.11. He has bowled just 16.1 overs for his wickets, which means a strike every 10.7 balls. There were five centuries in the Test, one on each day of the game. Only twice have more hundreds been scored in a Sydney Test – in 1924-25 there were six in a game between England and Australia, while West Indies and Australia combined to give as many in 1968-69. Michael Hussey’s unbeaten 145 lifted his average back into the 80s. After his first-innings 41, his average had dropped to 79; it’s now gone up to 84.80. Andrew Symonds’ 162 not out and 61 was the tenth instance of an Australian scoring a hundred and a half-century in the same Test against India. The last player to do this was Damien Martyn, who scored 114 and 97 in Nagpur in 2004-05. Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar became only the fourth pair in Tests to bring up a century of partnerships. In 100 innings, the two have added 5048 runs at an average of 52.58. The three other pairs who have batted together on more occasions have predominantly been openers. Yuvraj Singh’s poor run overseas continues. In his last nine Test innings outside home, he has only scored 59 runs at an average of 7.37, with three ducks. The two catches for Dravid in Australia’s second innings lifted his tally to 163. Only Mark Waugh (181) and Brian Lara (164) have taken more catches in Tests (excluding wicketkeepers). Adam Gilchrist’s two catches on the fifth day means he now has 367 catches in Tests, one more than Ian Healy. Only Mark Boucher, with 391, has more catches in Tests.

While their home country deals with the aftermath of its elections, four young Zimbabwean cricketers are focusing on the future during a stay at Australia’s Centre of Excellence

Brydon Coverdale21-Apr-2008
Friday Kasteni played for Zimbabwe at the World Cup and has his sights set on playing Test cricket someday © Cricket Australia
With questions over an audit of the board’s finances, a postponedfirst-class tournament, and a potential change of government that may alsoalter the way cricket is run in the country, the game in Zimbabwe has plentyof major issues simmering at the moment. But somewhere in the midst of itall, there is a focus on improving the nation’s future cricketing prospects.Half a world away from the aftermath of an election that could oust RobertMugabe after 28 years, four of the country’s most promising young playershave grabbed an opportunity to learn from the world’s best. The quartet istaking part in a six-week programme at Australia’s Centre of Excellence inQueensland thanks to an arrangement between Cricket Australia and Zimbabwe Cricket.They are under the tutelage of John Davison, the journeyman who played withVictoria and South Australia, captained Canada, and is now a developmentcoach at Australia’s academy. Over the coming weeks the young men will haveaccess to several of Australia’s leading coaches, as well as an eagerly anticipated chance to net with the Australian players.The best credentialled of the Zimbabweans is the batsman Friday Kasteni, whoplayed three ODIs during 2007, including at the World Cup, and is viewed asan important player in the country’s future. Regis Chakabva, another batsmanwho has represented Zimbabwe A, is also in the group, along with the left-arm fast bowlers Tendai Chisoro and Prosper Tsvanhu. Walter Chawaguta, an assistant coach of the national team, and Shepherd Makunura, who is in charge of the Zimbabwe Under-19s, are also upgrading their skills.Kasteni, 20, said the chance to use Australia’s world-class facilities was amajor bonus in his development. Late last year he was part of a squad thattrained at Zimbabwe’s academy, which lost its pavilion to a fire in 2006.However, Kasteni said other facilities remained. “The pavilion burned but the housing is still there and the ground is stillthere, all the practice facilities are still there.”We used to practice from 6 till 5. I was part of that squad around November-Decemberlast year, but they haven’t picked the guys yet for this year’s intake.”Although the Logan Cup, Zimbabwe’s first-class competition, has been delayed this year, Kastenihas had a chance to get some first-class action during the past few monthsin the Zimbabwe Provinces side, which competed in South Africa’s ProvincialThree-Day Challenge. He said it was difficult when Zimbabwe’s owntournaments were postponed, but there was still a chance to play regulargames, either provincial limited-overs fixtures, or matches for his Harareclub on grounds he described as “okay”.”If we’re not playing first-class cricket we play club cricket,” he said.”Last year I didn’t get to play much of it because I was finishing studiesbut this year I’ve played almost every game. I think I’m near to being inthe Zimbabwe team with all the work I’m putting in.”A grim picture has been painted of cricket in Zimbabwe over the past fewyears as leading players have left the country and the quality of thedomestic competition has suffered. But Kasteni believes that wheneverZimbabwe finally start playing Test cricket again, they will be able tohold their own. “With the amount of cricket we’re playing, yes, I thinkwe’ll be able to get there,” he said. “The local guys coming up are gettingcompetitive.”Kasteni and his countrymen are keen to see first-hand the training methodsused by Australia, who will be at the Centre of Excellence preparing fortheir West Indies tour in early May. A left-hand opener, Kasteni is lookingforward to analysing one of the world’s best at that role. “Mostly I’d liketo see their batsmen, guys like Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting,” he said.”Especially Hayden – I want to see how he trains and how he attacks theball.”
The boys and the two coaches: Tendai Chisoro, Regis Chakabva and Friday Kasteni (front); Prosper Tsvanhu. Walter Chawaguta, Shepherd Makunura (back) © Cricket Australia
Exposure to some of the world’s top Test players will be a major boost forthe young Zimbabweans, who hope to find themselves playing Australia on thebiggest stage in the coming years. Davison, who has already spent two weeks working with the youngsters, said learning about the attacking style of cricket played in Australia would be particularly beneficial.”We hope they can expand their game and back themselves,” he said. “Both the batsmen are very good players and know their games pretty well. The bowlers are a bit more raw and need a little bit more refining. Troy Cooley [Australia’s fast-bowling coach] is back from holidays soon and he’ll work with them.”During their first few days, the quartet practiced with some of Australia’s best young indigenous cricketers, who were selected from the state and territory squads at the national indigenous tournament, the Imparja Cup, at the Centre of Excellence for aone-week training course. A couple of Twenty20 matches featured players fromboth groups – Kasteni was pleased to make 35 and 86 not out – and the Zimbabweans will also spend three weeks working with the annual intake of Australian Institute of Sport scholars.Kasteni said his Australian stay was already helping him understand his own game much better and he hoped to impart some of his knowledge to his young team-mates when he returned to Zimbabwe. “The resources here are great and the coaching is great,” he said. “I think I’ll be able to help them with batting strategies, how to prepare to bat. The way I approach my game will be different after this.”

This Indian team has taken giant strides over the last year and a half, but when the pitch is flat, and when the batsmen are hard to dislodge, they seem to switch off

Sidharth Monga in Napier27-Mar-2009Just two days after they were expected to sail through the series, the Indian team has hit rough waters. Criticisms over defensive captaincy, poor approach in the field, and lackadaisical attitude in preparations – they arrived in Napier half a day before the Test started – have already started pouring in.Seventy-nine for 3 in reply to 619 for 9 reads worse than it actually is, but New Zealand, too, were 23 for 3 at one stage, and one partnership changed the whole script of the game. These are cruel conditions for bowlers, or so say the Indians. The surface is as flat as a road, the outfield is fast, the square boundaries are short, and Jesse Ryder is in imperious form. Like Virender Sehwag said yesterday, there aren’t many ways to stop a batsman once a partnership gets going, as the Indians found out when Ryder and Ross Taylor got into their strides.The two top-order wickets that India lost today were the results of tired shots, from men who had spent 155 overs in the field. However, it could be a tough task for New Zealand tomorrow if a couple of batsmen get stuck in and build a partnership. Zaheer Khan, who bowled 34 overs for three wickets, didn’t have words that will encourage the New Zealand fast bowers. “We’ve given it everything we’ve got, as a bowling unit we’ve tried everything,” Zaheer said. “Lot of runs have been scored in boundaries, and it is difficult to stop boundaries. It’s frustrating for the fast bowlers.”Zaheer did give it his all with the new ball, often beating the bat and missing the outside edge narrowly. Ishant Sharma kept running in hard through the day. Munaf Patel looked uninspired, but his looks don’t count for much. Harbhajan Singh lacked in variations, but not in effort. The bowlers’ intensity flagged only after lunch, when the ball lost its shine, and it seemed India had resigned themselves to their fate and were waiting for the declaration.The bowlers deserve the benefit of doubt, but where the Indians let themselves down badly was in the field. On such a beautiful batting pitch where wicket-taking opportunities were always likely to be rare, it was imperative that India took every chance that came their way. Instead, India’s slip fielding was well below par.An injured finger kept Sachin Tendulkar away from the slip cordon, but Yuvraj Singh, who took his place, could have made it 31 for 4 with a sharp chance, and later he dropped James Franklin when India were sensing a comeback late on the first day. Rahul Dravid missed a tough one – he would back himself to take about 50% of such catches – just before Ross Taylor had reached his century, and Taylor punished India for that reprieve.This Indian team has taken giant strides over the last year and a half, but there is one criticism they haven’t completely wiped off. When the pitch is flat, when the batsmen are hard to dislodge, they seem to switch off, and lack the discipline to make run-scoring difficult for the batsmen.It was seen not long ago, in Delhi against Australia, coming on the back of a thoroughly comprehensive win in Mohali. When Australia started getting partnerships there, India’s intensity dropped a few notches, catches were dropped, and the pressure was eased. Sometimes it is that discipline and hunger that separates a very good side from a great one, and India, admittedly in difficult conditions, were found wanting today.

Twelve years into his international career, South Africa’s wicketkeeper is still the epitome of fighting spirit and reliability under pressure

Jon Cardinelli15-Sep-2009His critics believe he is finished, but does Mark Boucher care? He has dragged South Africa back from the brink on countless occasions, and yet several hacks prefer to focus on his batting average. He is the most accomplished wicketkeeper in Test history, but there are still people calling for a change.Perhaps Boucher should care, but he doesn’t. Perhaps he should feel the need to prove the naysayers wrong, but if he did, he would forego the very quality that makes him special. Boucher is the pressure man, the player for the big occasion. He won’t average 50 or hit seven hundreds in a calendar year, but he’ll win you games. He’ll come across as arrogant in the post-match interview, the lemon-sucking expression accompanied by a curt response to a stupid question. But again, if he repressed this attitude, he’d lose all his clout.”I first worked with Mark when I was coaching at the Warriors,” recalls South Africa coach Mickey Arthur. “He captained the side and I always had faith in his cricketing brain. He was also the kind of leader who was never afraid to have his say, and as a player he was a true fighter.”Mark’s a tiger, and if I went to battle, there’s no one I’d rather have beside me. He’s fiercely loyal and will never turn down a challenge. He’s an invaluable member of our team.”The stats may not reflect Boucher’s value when he strolls to the crease, but Arthur admits there are other stat bars that tell a more accurate story, highlighting his game-winning ability.Boucher’s wicketkeeping virtues have never been in doubt. He has 475 scalps in Test cricket and 406 in ODIs – record figures that are set to rise as long as he’s fit and favoured. But it’s not just his work behind the stumps that has won him acclaim. His batting contributions played a significant part in his winning the South African Cricketer of the Year Award in 1998, 2000 and 2006. He was also named as one of ‘s five Cricketers of the Year in 2009.So what does he think about the criticism and the recent calls to step aside? The rise of AB de Villiers has prompted a fierce debate. De Villiers seems set to become one of the batting greats and has the ability to keep wicket. The ingrates reason that, closing in on 33, Boucher needs to make way for the future. But is comparing the two really comparing apples and apples?”I know it sounds like I’m trying to protect my position, but I just don’t think AB should play keeper,” Boucher says. “He’s too special a batter, and to put pressure on him from a keeping perspective is going to hamper his batting average.”Most players’ batting averages take a dip when they are asked to keep. Kumar Sangakkara wasn’t doing well when he was keeping, and I see his average has gone up since he stopped. AB needs to be averaging around 55 at Test level, but he’s not going to do that if he has to worry about keeping too.”Boucher’s viewpoint is shared by Arthur. There’s no plan to replace Boucher with de Villiers, and there’s no long-term plan to groom de Villiers as a successor when Boucher eventually calls it a day. “You can’t compare AB and Mark because their roles in the team are vastly different,” affirms Arthur. “Mark’s our best keeper, while AB is in the team as a top-order batsman.

“Mark’s a tiger, and if I went to battle there’s no one I’d rather have beside me. He’s fiercely loyal and will never turn down a challenge. He’s an invaluable member of our team”Mickey Arthur

“In an emergency, we would look to AB to keep wicket, but we don’t view him as a successor to Mark. Ultimately AB will bat at No. 4 in both versions of the game. We really want AB to become the best batsman on the planet. It would be unfair to burden him with the keeping responsibilities, as that could cause him to average 10 less than he should. When you have a player of that talent, you don’t want to hamper his ability to score.”We have identified two potential successors in the Dolphins’ Darren Smit and the Titans’ Heino Kuhn. Both are good keepers and have the ability to chip in with the bat.”Boucher averages less than 30 in both forms of the game, but when he does get going you have to wonder how good he would have been had he given keeping a miss. He has scored five Test centuries and 29 fifties, and his value in the ODI arena is well documented: he has 26 fifties and a sparkling 147 not out to his name. But since his 1997 debut, where he replaced Dave Richardson, it has always been about keeping first. Batting has been important, but only in the team context.”Mark is first and foremost a wicketkeeper,” says Arthur. “I think he has averaged less than he would have had he not worn the gloves, but that’s his role. That’s not to say we’ve ever doubted his ability. I can’t speak highly enough about what he has done for South African cricket.”In the Test set-up we usually go with six specialist batters, four specialist bowlers and our best wicketkeeper. From a batting perspective, Mark’s role is to marshal the tail.”In the one-day game Mark has become one of the best finishers in the world. At the end of an innings he can be devastating, whether he’s helping us set a formidable target or getting us past the opposition score. He’s capable of the big shots, but his experience is so crucial during those knocks. When he’s out in the middle, it helps other guys like Albie Morkel.”Boucher admits his personal goals are not that of a normal batter. When he walks down from the dressing room and onto the field, he’s thinking about how he can help South Africa. “I never look at averages and stats because they don’t really tell a story. Don’t get me wrong, I love scoring hundreds, but there are other things you look to achieve when you perform my kind of role.”I like to bat aggressively and take the bowling on, but I’m a team man. I’ll do what the team requires. My average may be a bit lower because of my responsibilities in the team context, but I’m a wicketkeeper-batsman, not a specialist batsman. My goals are not the same as those of an all-out batter.”I will never rest on my laurels and I will never voluntarily give my position away”•AFP”There are some knocks I’ll never forget, and those are the ones scored under pressure. In one of my first visits to India, we were in a difficult position and I came in and scored 27 not out to help win the game. That was like a century to me because of the conditions and context of the match.”That Test innings I played at Edgbaston last year was also very special. The series was on the line and although I didn’t score much [45 not out], I helped us towards that winning total.”If you are going to measure Boucher’s worth, you may as well do it in kilopascals. He has the ability to hit a cricket ball into the stands, but what sets him apart is how calm he is under pressure. “Everyone remembers guys like AB, Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs for that 438 victory [in 2006], but Mark was the guy who got us home,” says Arthur. “The ODI win in Sydney this year was thanks to his batting performance, an important innings that allowed us to go to a defining 2-1 lead in the series. Mark’s a player capable of hundreds, but he’s also capable of playing those momentum-swinging knocks that sometimes prove [to be] the difference.”Fighting spirit is something that’s become synonymous with South African cricket. Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald and Gary Kirsten are just three players who were renowned for it when Boucher first arrived on the scene, and Boucher credits them for contributing to his mental development. But deep steel, according to him, is something you cannot acquire. You either have it or you don’t.”I’ve played squash since I was very young and I think it has shaped my mentality as a cricketer. Squash is the type of game where you’re always fighting for the upper hand, and if you are down, you need to fight hard to come back. You need that fighting spirit to be a good squash player. You need to be a fighter if you’re going to deal with that pressure and rise above it. That’s what makes you a hardened sportsman, and I believe that’s what gave me the base to perform under big pressure in cricket.”Some people claim to enjoy the pressure. Some people ask me if I enjoy the pressure. Truth be told, I don’t think anybody enjoys it. It’s more about understanding it and understanding how to beat it. Some people will go into their shells when they’re under pressure, while others respond with an aggressive approach.”Richardson was 38 when he retired from international cricket, and while Boucher isn’t sure about matching that feat, he’s determined to soldier on for as long as he’s able. “I will never rest on my laurels and I will never voluntarily give my position away,” he says. “That may be the wrong thing to say, but I’m very competitive and I have plenty more years in me. I only think about my goals two years at a time. I definitely have another World Cup in me and I’ll decide where to after that.”My body’s still in good shape and I’ve never told anyone that I’m looking to retire. After the World Cup, I’ll be 35, but if I’ve still got a lot to give, why can’t I carry on for another few years?”

“I’ve played squash since I was very young and I think it has shaped my mentality as a cricketer. You need that fighting spirit to be a good squash player”Mark Boucher

Boucher had a limited opportunity when South Africa toured Australia back in 1997, but was awarded a full-time position when they travelled to England in 1998. For over a decade South Africa came close to beating England in England, while the same period witnessed a string of failures Down Under. There was a breakthrough in 2008, with South Africa following up a Test series win in England with an unprecedented triumph in Australia. Boucher was at the heart of both victories, and as a seasoned campaigner drew the most satisfaction from the results.”We’d come close before in England, but because Australia are our arch-rivals and so much is made of beating the best on their own track, the win against the Aussies meant the most. The Proteas have been referred to as a team that choke in big contests, so it was satisfying to prove to the world, and to the Aussies, who initially tagged us as chokers, that we can rise above the pressure.”Boucher has achieved more than most and is by no means finished. However, he’s not so arrogant as to believe he’ll play forever. A couple of goals remain before he eventually passes the baton. South Africa need to become the undisputed kings of Test cricket, and they need to atone for their past World Cup sins by capturing the crown in 2011.”The past two years have witnessed a turning point in South African cricket,” he says, as if the recent success is an appetiser for things to come. “In any winning team, the key to success is consistency over an extended period.”Look at the Springbok team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. They were together for four years before they won in France. It’s not only about building a family, but also about being dynamic and ensuring things continue to develop. That’s why Mickey’s done extremely well to bring people like Jeremy Snape and Duncan Fletcher into the mix. There’s no danger of stagnating.”I’m very excited to be a part of something so special. We’ve achieved so much over the past two years, but we haven’t fully reached our potential. We can get a lot better and as long as the leadership core remains intact, we will continue to achieve our goals in years to come.”

The losses still hurt, the hunger for runs is still there; most importantly, he still enjoys the game to the fullest. And that’s how he wants to be remembered

Dileep Premachandran31-May-2009It’s been more than 48 hours since the Mumbai Indians lost to Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals in Durban. Standing on the metal steps that lead up to the press-conference area at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth, Sachin Tendulkar is looking somewhere far away. His team have been all but eliminated from semi-final contention after a loss to the Chennai Super Kings, but it’s the one that got away at Kingsmead that continues to haunt Tendulkar. “There’s no way you should lose a game when you need just six to win with nine balls to go,” he says, voice shot through with disbelief.”We lost to the Kings XI by two runs as well. I can understand a team being bowled out for 85 when chasing 120, but to bat through the overs and not get the runs… that’s inexcusable.”Like most of the greats, Tendulkar hates losing. And as the security guard watches nervously, he talks to me with an earnestness that is almost vehement. There’s a perception that many players are on the IPL gravy train for the big-fat pay cheque; players who “shouldn’t be here”, as Ray Jennings put it in his wonderfully candid way. Tendulkar is not one of them. Some players prefer to walk out to Kylie Minogue’s music. In his present mood, you sense that Tendulkar would opt for REM’s “Everybody Hurts”.For Tendulkar, like for Glenn McGrath, who spent the entire second season of the IPL on the bench, winning is pretty much everything. This is, after all, the man who once admitted that he found it tough to let his son win when they played with a little bat and ball.A week after our meeting in windy Port Elizabeth, I see him again. The mood isn’t any better. Mumbai have been thrashed by Delhi Daredevils. A campaign that started promisingly with victory in the opening game at Newlands against the fancied Chennai lies in tatters. Five wins and eight defeats, seventh on the table.At the press conference he bites down on some words, tries hard not to point fingers. But his disappointment is an open wound. Here for the money? You must be joking. As he prepares to leave the stadium and the 40-minute drive from Centurion to the team hotel in Sandton, we arrange to talk. Over the phone. I still have another game to watch, and Manish Pandey, a 19-year-old with a baby face, pounds out a heady century.I slip unnoticed into the press-conference room and dial the number. It makes sense to ask Tendulkar about the IPL experience. After all, most of the South African contingent has grilled him about the way their nation has embraced the tournament. And when we first chatted, a fortnight into the competition, he had mentioned just how much of a strain the interminable travel was. “It’s been very good but it was tough as well, especially to lose so many close games,” he says after a small pause. “We should have won them, but we just didn’t finish the job.

“That was a decision I took two years ago, not to play Twenty20 cricket for India. I felt my body was struggling and I wasn’t able to give 100%. I didn’t want to be a burden on the team. If you have one loose link, it’s unfair on the other guys”

“Also, playing away from home has been different. People back home, not just in Mumbai but right across India, had been looking forward to this IPL season. That it didn’t happen at home must have been hard on them. It’s always different when you can’t watch it live. The home games are very big back home. The atmosphere is something else. And you get pretty much everyone backing the home team. But I sort of knew that people would turn up and appreciate good cricket in South Africa. The crowds have been fantastic.”Given how well some of the senior players have done in the IPL, it’s hardly surprising that there has been innuendo about how useful their experience would be in English conditions. But Tendulkar himself has no regrets about missing out on the World Twenty20. Sure, he’ll be at some of the games, but he’ll also be at Wimbledon, enjoying some time away from the spotlight that has been his lot for two decades now.”That was a decision I took two years ago, not to play Twenty20 cricket for India,” he says. “I felt my body was struggling and I wasn’t able to give 100%. I didn’t want to be a burden on the team. If you have one loose link, it’s unfair on the other guys.”The team did well, more than well, in South Africa [2007]. It’s a settled side now. I felt I should not disturb the combination. One-day cricket and Test cricket are different, because I’ve been part of the team for so long. But if I was to force myself into the Twenty20 team, it would mean a reshuffle that I don’t want.”Even after such a gruelling IPL season – each of India’s 15-man squad played a part – he remains confident that MS Dhoni’s team can retain the trophy they won in improbable circumstances in the Highveld two years ago. “I think we’ve definitely got a tournament-winning squad,” he says. “It looks fantastic, in all respects. The batting, bowling and fielding are equally strong, and the morale is very high.”Along with the seniors’ debate, there have been young players catching the eye. Before Pandey’s brilliant innings, there was Sudeep Tyagi with his seam bowling, and Pragyan Ojha with his left-arm spin. But when you ask Tendulkar about the young players that he has watched in the tournament, and their long-term potential, he shies away from judgments. “I don’t think this is the right format to judge a player,” he says. “One-day cricket or Tests reveal far more about a player’s ability. With Twenty20 you can sometimes have days when everything you try just comes off.”Celebrating his 36th birthday with his surrogate family•AFPHis own career has revived spectacularly after the struggles with injury. There were two Test centuries in Australia, and though he failed in Sri Lanka, centuries in Chennai and Hamilton played a huge part in series victories over England and New Zealand. There were also two magnificent innings in the CB Series finals against Australia in March 2008, when he rewound the clock to Desert Storm times and single-handedly tilted games India’s way.A few more straight-drives and paddle sweeps and he’ll have 30,000 runs in international cricket. Barring Don Bradman’s, which acquire a near-mythical status as the years pass, Tendulkar owns practically every batting record in the game. What makes the man tick, what makes him get out of bed every morning and choose the less-than-easy option?”I enjoy playing cricket,” he says with a laugh. “It’s the simplest answer and the one people seem to find hardest to believe. I love being out there. I have a lot of fun. There are always various challenges to occupy you, and also the pride that comes with playing for India. That’s still a huge thing, because it’s all I ever wanted as a child. I don’t think my feelings are any less strong now.”Ever since he was a teenager scoring hundreds for fun in Mumbai, it’s his sense of calm that has set him apart. Few events have shaken that composure down the years, and none quite like the terror attacks in Mumbai last November. The siege at the Taj Mahal Hotel took place just around the corner from his restaurant, with its cricket-themed walls and personally chosen menu.”That was a tragic experience,” he says after a long pause. “I don’t think anyone expected that something of that nature could happen. It was just terrible. I dedicated the victory against England [Chennai] to the victims and their families, because I felt it was the least we could do. Winning a cricket match was not going to make people forget what had happened to them, but if they smiled even for a second, we had been able to do something. It was only about diverting minds, however briefly. It was a huge loss for everyone, and not something that can ever be measured in terms of wins and losses.”In that context, was that century the one he cherishes most? “Definitely,” he says. “The mood of the entire nation was so low. And on that last day, we finished so strongly. It was my most important hundred.”

“Right now, things have been going well. I want to focus on the next engagement. Winning the World Cup is the ambition of every cricketer. I’m not alone in that. But it would be special

In his wonderful biography of Sunil Gavaskar, the late Dom Moraes titled one chapter “The Halcyon Years”. These are such days for Tendulkar, for whom the finish line is in sight. But even as he approaches it, he’s enjoying every moment of being part of a side that appears equipped to take on all-comers, home and away. Having spent much of his career as part of a team that struggled, especially away from home, what does it now feel like to be senior statesman and a member of a side that’s challenging for top honours in every form of the game?”It’s terrific,” he says, the mood lifting. “I find it a real pleasure to be part of this team. We’ve got the quality to compete with the best, and it’s exciting when you do so well.” The emphasis is on enjoying the moment, rather than worrying about which boxes still remain to be ticked. “I don’t look to set targets, honestly,” he says. “I play as hard as possible, and when things happen it’s a great feeling. I don’t disclose targets. But for example, it’s nice when you go to Australia and do well there.”For most people connected with Indian cricket, though, the World Cup remains a Holy Grail. Tendulkar, who grew up watching the Kapil Dev generation, has mixed memories of both 1996 and 2003, when mountains of runs off his own bat weren’t enough to cover for inadequacies elsewhere. And he insists that he won’t put pressure on himself by over-egging the World-Cup pudding. “I don’t want to look that far ahead,” he says. “Right now, things have been going well. I want to focus on the next engagement. Winning the World Cup is the ambition of every cricketer. I’m not alone in that. But it would be special.”His children, Sara and Arjun, are now old enough to nurture ambitions of their own, and the time spent away from them is accepted with something approaching resignation. “I guess you have no choice,” he says of the touring life. “When the children grow up, they’ll know why their father was away for so long. And hopefully, they’ll be proud of me and what I did.””The mood of the entire nation was so low. And on that last day [in Chennai], we finished so strongly. It was my most important hundred”•AFPFor 20 years now the team has been his surrogate family, and there have been those that have left a deeper impression than others. “There have been many that I’ve shared the Indian dressing room with, but I’d make special mention of Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri,” he says when asked about those who helped shape him. “My coach, Ramakant Achrekar, my brother Ajit, and my father were the others that have given me the most.”On the field, not much has changed. Abdul Qadir once mentioned milk, before he was smashed for sixes in Peshawar, and there was the uncomfortable task of testifying in the Harbhajan Singh “racism inquiry” not so long ago. Banter has been part of the game ever since the good Doctor Grace told a bowler that the crowds had come to watch him bat, and not to see him bowl. Tendulkar wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’d like to think that I’ve been friendly with everyone,” he says. “Whatever happens is only on the field and you don’t need to get too personal. I don’t expect friendship out there. They are competing as hard as you are, and looking to win against you. As long as you bear no grudges, I have no problems.”Jack Fingleton immortalised Victor Trumper with . The Archie Jackson story lives on through the words of David Frith. In Tendulkar’s case words aren’t even necessary. There are so many thousands of hours of archival footage, and even those born years after Waqar Younis bloodied his nose on debut have watched his finest hours on youtube and commemorative DVDs. But what if it was possible for him to choose how he’s remembered after leaving the game? He thinks for a while. “As somebody who enjoyed the game as much as he could,” he says. “I’ve played fair and hard and loved every minute of it. That would be the best way to be remembered. And also as a team man. While you’re achieving team goals, your own milestones will pass by.”

The younger Morkel brother is now more confident of his role in the team and can’t wait to team up with Dale Steyn against India

Firdose Moonda03-Feb-2010If Morne Morkel had a bit more cheek, he could be mistaken for Bugs Bunny. He already has the trademark front teeth, the geeky smile and last year he could well have been heard asking the question, “Er … what’s up Doc?”, as he searched for an answer to his bowling conundrum. Now that Morkel has solved his dilemmas, he walks with the same sassy swagger and wide-eyed excitement as the popular rabbit.All he needs is a carrot, or three, to chew on. If vegetables don’t take his fancy, Morkel has a few other things to mull over, especially since re-establishing himself as a key cog in South Africa’s bowling wheel. He was the second highest wicket-taker in the recent series against England, with 19 wickets at an average of 21.47. He and Dale Steyn accounted for more than half the wickets the South African bowlers claimed in the series.He looks an entirely different man to the one dropped from the national team less than a year ago. What changed? “Opening the bowling has made a huge difference,” Morkel said. “I prefer bowling with the hard ball and, now that I am doing that, I also have greater clarity about my role in the team.”Morkel, 25, cites the lack of lucidity in team tactics as the main reason for his slump in form towards the end of last season. “I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do, I was trying everything everyone told me and I ended up trying too hard and getting everything wrong.”Mickey Arthur, the former South Africa coach, agreed Morkel was swamped with a barrage of opinions and questions during the series against Australia and none of them helped him. “He was hearing so many things from the outside about how he was bowling and he wasn’t sure what to believe. Because Morne is such a nice guy, he gave everybody who wanted to tell him something the chance to do so, and that only confused him more,” Arthur said.At the time, the South African team had lost three consecutive Tests, including two at home to a rampant Australian side. The administrators were more concerned with avoiding a series whitewash than mending a few broken players and Morkel became one of the casualties. He paid the price for taking only six wickets in two matches of the home series at the 49.83. “I was very disappointed to be dropped, especially since I knew there was nothing wrong with my action. It hurt a lot to see what was being said about me in the papers and it was a really bitter pill for me to swallow. The only consolation was that I was giving my spot up to Albie [his brother], so that softened the blow a little.”Morkel went back to his franchise, the Titans, where it was left to Richard Pybus, then the team’s coach, to do the mending. “Just like anyone in the early 20s, he was still trying to figure out his place in the world and work out who he was,” Pybus said. “He knew what worked for him in terms of preparation and he needed to build the confidence to do the things that worked for him, instead of what they were doing in the national set-up.”Morne Morkel’s career timeline

2003-04: First-class debut for Easterns.
2005: Spent much of the season injured, but caught the eye of Allan Donald at a fast-bowling camp.
2006: Earned a franchise contract with the Titans.
December 7, 2006: Took 4 for 74 for Rest of South Africa v India in Benoni, including the wickets of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar.
September 2007: Takes nine wickets at 13.33 at the World Twenty20 in South Africa, to end the tournament as South Africa’s most successful bowler.
2008: Joint highest wicket-taker (with James Anderson), taking 15 wickets at 33.46 as South Africa win the Basil d’Oliveria trophy in England for the first time in 56 years.
December-January 2008-09: Takes nine wickets in three Tests against Australia at 42.66.
March 2009: Dropped from the third Test in Cape Town against Australia after indifferent performances in the first two Tests.
August 2009: Not included in Champions Trophy squad after taking just seven wickets in five ODIs from January.
November 2009: Recalled to the one-day squad after showing promising domestic form.
January 2010: Jumps 24 places in the world Test rankings, moving to seventh after taking 19 wickets against England.

Pybus studied video footage with Morkel and confirmed there was little wrong with his action, except that his timing was “a bit out”. The pair soon established that the root cause of Morkel being dropped was a self-belief issue. “I need to clear my mind and refocus,” said Morkel. “I had to learn to concentrate on the moment and only control the controllables.”Pybus said he believed Morkel learnt to be less concerned with what people were saying about him. Arthur advised him to “stop being too nice and become nastier.” It’s hard to say if Morkel has developed a mean streak, but his wickets tally is increasing. He took 18 wickets in five SuperSport Series matches at an average of 21.55, which earned him a recall to the national side. He also formed distinct objectives about his career: “My goal is overtake Makhaya Ntini’s record.” He currently has 74 Test wickets.Morkel also wants to cement his new-ball partnership with Steyn, believing the two can form one of the most formidable pairings in the game. “Dale and I complement each other because he has pace and swing and I am quick with bounce.” Before his resignation, Arthur said that with Morkel, Steyn and left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell, South Africa’s bowling future looked very healthy indeed.Morkel recognises the India tour will be a challenge for the relatively unhardened South African attack and says they know many questions will be asked of them, especially as the bowlers only managed to take 20 wickets once in the four-match series against England. “There were very small margins for us in that series, we could have taken 20 wickets three times, but we didn’t. It’s going to be a lot tougher in India because the wickets are not as bouncy , they won’t have as much grass and we are going to have to get the ball to reverse.”For that, Morkel may hope he has Bugs’ legendary talent for disguise. That, and a bit of cheek, could turn this sweet younger sibling into a real, aggressive force in fast bowling.