IPL 2017: RPS Skipper Steve Smith Will Not Take Tips From MS Dhoni

#IPL #IPL 10 #IPL 2017

#IndianPremierLeague

#Australia #Skipper #SteveSmith may have just ended a draining Test series against #India, finishing on the losing side, but he won't brook any unsolicited advice as he begins his #Leadership role with #IPL side Rising Pune Supergiants (#RPS)

Steve Smith was a slightly #Controversial appointment to lead the new #Franchise in place of #MSDhoni, the former India skipper who has only played as captain in the previous nine IPL #Editions.

RPS team owner, Sanjiv Goenka, said on Thursday at a team #News #Conference that the change was 'amicable', having earlier explained that the change was made in the best interests of a #Team that had finished seventh out of eight teams on its debut last year.

Asked about the switch to IPL and playing with three other captains, Steve Smith first said he looked forward to interacting with the different leaders. "Centrally, it will make my job easier. The #IPL will be beneficial to me. There are a lot of international #Players and I will get to share the #DressingRoom with them. I will know what people from different parts of the world are thinking," Smith said.

However, when pressed about whether he would welcome constant inputs from the seniors -- #AjinkyaRahane and England all-rounder #BenStokes were also in the podium -- he was categorical.

"There are plenty of guys to talk to, but it is important not to have too many opinions. If opinions are coming from left, right and centre, it can cloud your judgement," Smith said. "I'll try to stay as clear as possible, but it can be difficult sometimes if there are too many opinions."

#MSDhoni had played in the IPL only as #Captain for nine years before he was replaced by RPS owner, Sanjiv Goenka. Smith will have plenty of captaincy challenges as India's match-winning bowler, #RavichandranAshwin, is also part of the team.

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IPL 2017: Kerala Speedster Basil Thampi Makes Debut For Gujarat Lions

#IPL #IPL10

#IndianPremierLeague

#Kerala pacer #BasilThampi, picked up by #GujaratLions for #IPL10, feels that being a part of this #T20 tournament is a big opportunity for young #Domestic #Players like him.

"#IPL is a good #Platform for young domestic players, who get a chance to play with and against international players and for me its a big opportunity," #Thampi told media persons here at Saurashtra Cricket Association (#SCA) stadium in #Khandheri.

Thampi was bought during the IPL auction by Gujarat Lions for Rs 85 lakh against his base price of Rs 10 lakh.

The bowler would be paid much higher than experienced #MunafPatel and #ManpreetGony, who will also play for Gujarat Lions in IPL10.

However, the young pacer considers #T20 #Format as a big challenge particularly for the bowlers. "#Bowling is a big #Challenge in shortest format of the game, but luckily I am getting tips from skipper #SureshRaina and experienced bowlers like Praveenbhai (#PraveenKumar) and Munafbhai (Munaf Patel)," he said.

Gujarat Lions chose Thampi as the team #Franchise owner wanted to make its bowling department stronger and the new entrant has an ability to bowl around 140 kmph consistently.

Gujarat Lions will play the first match against Kolkata Knight Riders (#KKR), 

#KKR co-owners #Bollywood star #ShahrukhKhan and actress #JuhiChawla are expected to be present during the match to cheer up their team.

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Ind v Aus Test Series 2017-Steve Smith Unloads Foul Mouthed Cheating Accusation

#IndvAus #TestSeries 2017

#Test Match 4 - #Dharamshala

Australian captain #SteveSmith is embroiled in another #Cheating #Scandal only this time he is the one pointing the finger.

An #Angry Smith appeared to mouth the words "f------ cheat" after India's #MuraliVijay had claimed a low #Catch which was later overturned by the video #Umpire.

 

Smith's 'f------ cheat' outburst Smith's 'f------ cheat' outburst

Australian skipper Steve Smith is caught on camera mouthing the words 'f------ cheat' after India's Murali Vijay had claimed a low catch. 

The Australian camp refused to weigh into what Smith said on Monday night but the visitors are now open to claims of double standards after Smith's foul-mouthed dressing room outburst.

The Vijay incident was a line-ball call where even with the aid of close-up video angles it cannot be conclusively proven whether the fielder had gotten his fingers under the ball.

It is common for players in such situations to let the video umpire deliberate but Vijay rushed off the field to pad up in preparation to open India's innings. #Australia's #Batting #Coach #GraemeHick believed #Vijay should have stayed until a final #Verdict was reached. 

"Having fielded in slip or close to the bat myself sometimes you're not 100 per cent sure. He would have felt that go into his fingers and felt it was a clean catch," Hick said. "Once the batter or whoever it may be is gone to the review than fair enough, maybe the fielders should stand around and wait. "The process is in place. At times the series has been a little bit heated but I think this game has been played in very good spirit and he obviously thought he had a clean catch. It goes upstairs, come back and get on with the game."

Jadeja and Wade's sledging caught on mic

 

#Jadeja and #Wade's sledging caught on #mic. Stump-microphones have recorded Matthew Wade's and Steve Smith's row with Ravindra Jadeja on the third day of the final Test.

"You called me it. I just want to know what it is," Wade was heard saying on the stump effects mic said after Jadeja addressed him in Hindi.

"I just want to know what it is, hello?

"We're alright, I'll get a selfie with him at the end of the game. We'll put it on Instagram", Jadeja said after play: "I was just telling Wade that we will meet and have dinner once you guys have lost the Test."

Meanwhile, India regain Border-Gavaskar trophy

  

India regained #BorderGavaskarTrophy by beating Australia 2-1 in the test series. On Day 4, India wasted no time chasing their 87 runs to victory and not even two early wickets from #PatCummins could stop them.

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Ind v Aus Test Series 2017 : Steve Smith Disappointed With BCCI For Mathew Wade Clip

#IndvAus #TestSeries 2017 #India

Here's the Story:

Australian #Skipper #SteveSmith revealed that he was very disappointed with #BCCI's action of releasing a commentary-free version of the #Spat between India's #RavindraJadeja and Australia's #MatthewWade. 

According to Smith, what's said on the field should stay on the field and the BCCI was not right in releasing the video on the internet. 

"I was a little bit disappointed that the BCCI sieved through the #Archives to find a #Conversation out on the #Field that was happening between Matty and Jadeja. I think it's happened between both sides this series so the fact that they've done that to us is a little bit disappointing. Usually what's said on the field should stay on the field," Smith said in the #PostMatch #PressConference.

Smith also offered the members of the Indian #CricketTeam to join them for a beer in the dressing rooms after the end of a thrilling #TestSeries in which both the teams gave more than 100% to get the bragging rights of the #Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

According to ABC Grand Stand's Alister Nicholson, Steve Smith opened up to him and said he asked India's skipper in the fourth Test, #AjinkyaRahane, if they could join India for a beer in the dressing rooms.

For your information, the see-saw four-match Test seriessaw #Sledging and other #Controversies hogging the #Limelight more than the on-field performances. Both the teams were involved in #Abusing the opposition throughout the series. 

What happened actually?

During the first session of Day 3 of the fourth Test, Jadeja was threatening to take the game away from the Aussies with a sublime 63. In a ploy to unsettle the Saurashtra all-rounder, the Australians began to sledge him; wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and Smith himself got involved in a war of words with Jadeja and the on-field #Umpire, #IanGould had to interfere to maintain peace.

It all began with Wade saying something to the Indian all-rounder, and the entire episode was heard on the stump mic. BCCI released the video without any commentary in the background, which then went viral on the internet.

Later, there was one more instance when Wade asked Jadeja the meaning of a Hindi cuss word that Jadeja might have directed at him. The video of this went viral on the internet but this time, it wasn't BCCI's fault as they didn't release the video.

It is good on Steve Smith's part to invite the Indian team for a beer after a long series which is the best way to end a series filled with animosity. At the same time, BCCI could have made sure that the video of the spat between Wade and Jadeja was not made public as what is said on the field, stays on the field. 

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IndvAus Test Series 2017 - India Regain Border-Gavaskar Trophy At Dharamshala

#INDvAUS #TestSeries 2017

#DHARAMSALA: #SteveSmith says #Australia have taken giant strides to slay their subcontinental demons despite their brave campaign in #India ending with a heavy defeat in the deciding #TestMatch, by 8 wickets.

 

In one of the most intense series in recent memory, the last test match finished in anti-climactic fashion after Australia capitulated in their second innings leaving India just 108 to win and their #Bowlers were unable to conjure the miracle required to retain the #BorderGavaskar #Trophy.

Unfortunately for them, a series that had seen numerous momentum swings had no wicked final twist as India showed why they are the best #TestTeam in the world, particularly on #HomeSoil.

 

The visitors hunted for clumps of wickets but instead bowed out amid a flurry of boundaries from an Indian #Batting line-up undaunted by the fourth-innings run chase.

Australia never appeared a genuine winning chance, their only cause for optimism coming when Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara fell in the same over with 60 still needed.

Led by #LokeshRahul's sixth half-century of the series, the world No.1 test side sealed a seventh consecutive series victory midway through the first session, cruising home by eight wickets.

Although bitterly disappointed to fall at the final hurdle, the Australians, who had lost nine consecutive Tests in Asia before this series, exceeded all expectations this campaign.

India were without #ViratKohli, their inspirational, though out of form, captain; they had been given an unusually bouncy subcontinental pitch and they had won the toss.

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Irfan Pathan posts emotional letter to his fans on Twitter after IPL 2017 snub

#IPL2017 #IPL17

#IndianPremierLeague

#IrfanPathan was one of the big names to go #Unsold in the Indian Premier League (#IPL) #Auction which took place in #Bengaluru on Monday, but the 32-year old all-rounder is not ready to give up on his career.

#Pathan, who has played for a number of IPL teams overs the years, took to #Twitter to share a very emotional message with his fans and followers. 

Talking about the challenges faced in his career, Irfan wrote:

"In 2010, I had undergone 5 fractures in my back. The physio had told to me that I might now be able to play cricket ever again and should rather give up on my dream. At that point of time I told him, I can bear any pain but cannot the bear the pain of not playing this beautiful game for my country."

The #Gujarat #Cricketer was clearly hurt after being overlooked by the IPL franchises, but he promised to fight back and to not give up on his career.

"I worked hard and not only played cricket again but made a come back to the #Team #India. I have faced many obstacles in my career and life but never gave up, that's the character I have and will possess."

Pathan missed a majority of last season due to injuries, but he had a good run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in which he picked up five wickets in four games with an economy rate of 6.28.

With a base price of Rs. 50 lakhs, Irfan could have been picked. However, the combination of injuries, combined with loss of form in the domestic circuit probably influenced the teams and that can be the reason why he went unsold.

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IPL 2017 Does Ben Stokes Deserve Windfall? Yes Says Ian Botham

#IPL2017 #IPL10

#IndianPremierLeague

#England all-rounder #BenStokes was picked up by #RisingPuneSupergiants (#RPS) for IPL 2017.

England legend, #IanBotham says "box-office" Ben Stokes deserves every penny of the more than £1.7 million ($2.1 mn) that the England all-rounder will rake in playing in the Indian Premier League. 

Stokes set a record for an overseas player in the cash-rich #Twenty20 competition when RPS shelled out for him at last week's auction. The 25-year-old Stokes has come up through the ranks at #Durham, where Botham is the newly appointed chairman having finished his illustrious playing career with the English county. 

Botham, one of the outstanding all-rounders of his generation, said he was glad that #Stokes - set to have fresh responsibilities with England as vice-captain to new Test skipper #JoeRoot - was being well-rewarded.

"He is getting for the #IPL what most guys going to China to play football are getting for a fortnight's wages," Botham told a news conference at Durham's #Chester-le-Street headquarters.

"Cricket needs to move and I think players deserve the rewards. It's a precarious living. You can have an injury and never play again and I think people realize that now."

Stokes's aggressive style has been compared to that of Botham in his pomp and the former England captain said: "I am very pleased for Ben. He is box office -- that's why he went for what he went for (in the IPL).

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ICC CT17 - 5 Interesting Aspects To Look Out For As Countdown Begins

#ICC #Cricket #ChampionsTrophy 2017 #CT17

Starting June 1, 2017, the top eight One-Day International sides in the world will come and clash for the #ICC #Champions #Trophy 2017 in #England and #Wales. The opening match will pit #England, the host, against #Bangladesh at The #Oval in #London, which is one of three venues that will be used for the tournament.

The Final of this tournament is scheduled on June 18 (with a reserve day in place), when the finalists face off at The #Oval. #Edgbaston and #Cardiff will be the other two venues to share the responsibility of staging the 15-match tournament.

1- Every Match Becomes Crucial: The eight teams will be divided into two groups of four; each will play the three other sides in their respective group once in a bid to make it to the semi-finals. The short and intense nature of the tournament makes it such that there will be high stakes on the outcome of every match with every match absolutely crucial.

2 -Truckload of runs: Going by the trend in the recent #bilateral series between #India and #England, the modern #ODI game continues to be conducive to heavy run-scoring and fans can expect much of the same at the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. 

3 - Next Gen: Several exciting #Young #Players can be expected to make their global 50-over tournament debuts. In the bowling department, Bangladesh's #MustafizurRahman, South Africa's #KagisoRabada, India's #JaspritBumrah and Australia's #AdamZampa are some of the names to keep an eye out for. 

Among batsmen, India's #KedarJadhav, Pakistan's #BabarAzam, England's #SamBillings and #JasonRoy fit the bill, while #MitchellSantner from New Zealand and #MarcusStoinis from Australia are among the more promising all-rounders yet to feature in a marquee 50-over tournament.

4 - Open nature of tournament: This looks like it could be the most competitive ICC Champions Trophy of all time with little to choose between all eight sides. Pakistan — ranked No. 8 — recently won an ODI against No. 1 ranked Australia on their home-soil in a further indication that no game can be taken for granted. 

Across the board, teams have adopted a more aggressive, fearless approach towards the 50-over game, which has helped bring down the chasm between the teams. On account of the sharp and uncompromising format of the tournament coupled with the qualitative similarity of teams, the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 can be expected to deliver intense competition.

5 - Bangladesh Returns to Champions Trophy: The Bangladesh #Tigers haven't qualified for the ICC Champions Trophy since the 2006 edition. Much has changed for the team in the last two years. Its defeat of England to make it to the knockouts of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 deserves special mention. It then went on a winning spree in the format defeating Pakistan, India and South Africa in successive ODI series at home. It is ranked No. 7 — one above Pakistan — and kept #WestIndies out of the competition. It is yet to prove its credentials overseas, and this tournament presents it with the ideal opportunity.

Whatever happens, it's going to be a memorable tournament, roll on June 1st 2017.

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