Batsman Jonathan Trott named ECB cricketer of the year

Batsman Jonathan Trott has been named as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) men's cricketer of the year, as chosen by the British media.

Greenway, Trott and Valjee were all honoured by the ECB

Batter Lydia Greenway is the women's cricketer of the year with Umesh Valjee winning the disability award.

Warwickshire's Trott, 30, has taken his Test average up to an impressive 66.77 in the past 12 months, with his one-day international average at 55.65.

Trott was a key member of the side which retained the Ashes in Australia.

It was the first time England had won on Australian soil for 24 years.

He is currently third in the International Cricket Council's world rankings of Test batsman and seventh in their one-day list.

England's number three batsman hit a total of four centuries, including a superb 226 against Bangladesh last summer, during the 12-month spell the awards cover.

The awards cover the period from the start of last year's international summer in May to the end of the recent World Cup.

Trott also struck three one-day hundreds in that time, and five half centuries in the World Cup.

Having beaten his captain Andrew Strauss and team-mates James Anderson, Alastair Cook and last year's recipient Graeme Swann to an award based on votes from the cricket media, he said: "I am both extremely humbled and proud to have been named England cricketer of the year after what has clearly been the most enjoyable year of my cricketing career so far.

"It is an honour to represent England and it has been a privilege to be involved in such a successful, hard working team.

"I wouldn't have won this award without the commitment and support of my team-mates.

"This award really belongs to the entire England squad and management team that have provided such a supportive and professional environment that has allowed me to prosper as a cricketer and a person."

Trott currently has the highest Test batting average of anyone in history bar Sir Donald Bradman, among players who have won as many or more caps.

Yet it is more collective success for England which continues to fire Trott.

Asked whether they can move up from their present position at number three to become the top-ranked Test team in the world, he said: "I think it is definitely manageable.

"We are going to have to maintain the form we did through the Ashes.

"I am very hesitant to use the word 'special'.

"But with this group of guys at the moment, I think we might have the potential to push towards that.

"We definitely have the characteristics and desire of a group of players that one day may be able to be described in that sort of way."

As for the progress of his own career, he added: "You just have to prove it to yourself, and others.

"I'd had a great start [with an Ashes-clinching hundred on debut in 2009], and then maybe didn't do as well as I would have liked that winter in South Africa and Bangladesh.

"No-one's got a right to score runs at any stage. You always believe you can do it, but proving it can be the difficult part."

Trott was also praised by England team director Andy Flower for his efforts in the first Test against Sri Lanka earlier this week in Cardiff where he scored 203 to help the home side claim a famous win.

"Certainly I thought this was a superb innings by him - patient, efficient, and he put the bad balls away," said Flower.

"He set the tone not only for this game but the series and, we hope, batting for the summer.

"Any criticism of him in this instance is unfounded.

"He has been a very solid man to have in our side. I know he's been criticised for his strike rate in one-day cricket. I think in most cases that has been unfair."

Waqar impressed with Ireland

Waqar Younis,

the Pakistan coach, has backed Ireland to become tough opponents in their home conditions after his team played them in two one-day internationals in Belfast. Pakistan swept the series but, after a tougher test in the second game, Waqar was impressed with the hosts' showing.

Paul Stirling's hundred in Belfast was his first against a Test-playing nation

"I think they probably lack one or two batsmen in the middle order," Waqar said after the match. "They have a solid top order, but I think they struggle a bit in the middle order, although they missed a couple of players.

"They can make a good side, especially in these conditions. They are a side that attracts everyone. They are big fighters. They love their cricket and are definitely an upcoming team."

Ireland were missing Niall O'Brien, their regular wicketkeeper and a key middle-order batsman, through injury. After a disappointing collapse in the first game - they were bowled out for 96 - Paul Stirling ensured they got to a competitive 238 on Monday with his 109 off 107 balls.

It was Stirling's third one-day hundred but his first against a Test-playing nation. It was also his first hundred at home and he was happy to have done it against the Pakistan attack. "It is pleasing to get a century at any time but to get it against such a good bowling attack feels pretty good," Stirling said. "It's nice to do it in front of your home crowd and in front of some familiar faces and my family."

The 20-year-old Stirling averages an impressive 40.13 in his 31 one-day internationals but has often failed to make the most after getting a good start, like he did in the first game against Pakistan, when his dismissal for 39 sparked Ireland's collapse. Stirling said that he was working on converting starts by learning to restrain his natural attacking style.

"You have to turn those thirties into something bigger and hopefully that will come in the next few years," he said. "Sometimes I have to reel myself in. It was good batting with Ed Joyce up top; he was a calming influence and made sure that every ball I was focusing on the next one and not getting too far ahead."

Stirling's knock impressed Waqar, especially because it was crafted with proper cricketing shots. "I think he's a fine player. He doesn't slog," Waqar said. "He plays proper cricketing shots and you enjoy it as a spectator. Even I enjoyed every bit of it because he can hit the ball far; he has got good footwork. He's also young so he has plenty of time and he's not scared of playing shots against any bowler which is brilliant."

Ireland's improved performance in the second ODI was important as they needed to prove they can compete with the top nations before the ICC chief executives' committee meets next month to discuss the possibility of over-ruling their omission from the 2015 World Cup.

Hussey not averse to Big Bash rule changes

Micheal Hussy, has given a cautious thumbs-up to some of the proposed new rules for next season's Big Bash League. The eight-team tournament might include features such as a super-over in which the batting team has its runs doubled, and the possibility that spectators could keep balls hit into the crowd.

Michael Hussey is back home after playing a key role in the Chennai Super Kings winning the IPL

Cricket Australia asked fans to voice their opinions on the ideas via an online survey last week, seven months before the tournament is expected to kick off. Hussey has just arrived back in Perth after playing a key role in the IPL final victory for Chennai Super Kings, and he said the concept of the super-over "sounds all right".

"Who calls which over it is? The captain? I'd like it if I was batting, I'd call the super over as soon as I got out there," Hussey said. "I haven't thought about it too much but the concept sounds all right, especially if there was a Chris Gayle at the crease. He had a couple of overs in the IPL where he went for 27 and 34 runs off overs. It could almost be game over if he had one of those overs."

Hussey said the idea of fans being able to keep balls hit into the crowd had some merit. However, he said it was important the batsman was not disadvantaged for having cleared the fence.

"It depends how green the wicket is," he said. "If it gets to the 15th over and the wicket is still green, I don't want a new ball coming out, that's for sure. But I think it's a good idea, a bit like baseball, maybe a souvenir for a kid out there. They are going to need a lot of back-up balls of the same over range. I don't think it's the worst idea."

Another proposal would allow bowlers to send down two bouncers per over, which Hussey said was fair for what has otherwise been seen as a batsman's game. Hussey has never played a Big Bash match for Western Australia, having been on international duties during December and January ever since the tournament began.

He's just as unlikely to feature in this summer's tournament, with the eight city-based sides almost certain to be without Australia's star players due to international commitments. That looms as a potential problem for the Big Bash League, which Hussey said would never be as big as the IPL.

"It won't be of the same magnitude because of the volume of money they spend on their tournament compared with what we could spend on ours," Hussey said. "But I think in terms of the quality of cricket we can definitely compete, attract some overseas players.

"I guess we are a little limited in that we can't attract all countries because when they play domestically clashes with our summer. But we can attract some real quality international players and we know that our first class system and our core players are very, very good."

Shahid Afridi announces early retirement

KARACHI: Flamboyant Pakistani all-rounderShahid Afridi announced an early retirement from international cricket, in protest against his removal from the captaincy of the national one-day team.

"The people have given me lot of respect and love and I don't want to waste that working with this board who don't know how to respect players," an angry Afridi said.

In a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board, Afridi described the current set of administrators as a disgrace to Pakistan cricket.

Afridi who announced his retirement from all international cricket as a protest against the board for removing him as captain of the national one-day team told Geo News channel that nothing was greater to him than his self-respect. 
The experienced all-rounder said until the present board under the chairmanship of Ijaz Butt was in place he would not play international cricket.

"I will continue to play domestic and league cricket but not international cricket but it is not worth my while under this board which gave me no reason nor did it bother to hear me out before sacking me as captain," he said.

"I don't want to work with such disgraceful people. I don't know on what grounds they sacked me as captain. I worked hard on building up a broken team and turned it into a fighting combination. We played in the World Cup semifinal and yet they sacked me without hearing me out."

Afridi also claimed that there was a group of people belonging to the Punjab province in Lahorewho had always been against him.

"This group has always kept on working against me. They are the ones who keep on filling the chairman's ears against me. Maybe they don't want me to play because I get in the way of their plans."

Afridi also claimed that as captain he was never consulted in selection of teams nor was he sure about his captaincy before a series until the last moment. 
"This board never gave me a feeling of assurance that I would be captain. I would not know before a series until the last few days whether I was going to be captain and I can't continue to play under these circumstances."

Afridi also made it clear that he had spoken to some of his elders and seniors before taking his retirement decision and they supported him.

"I want to make it clear that till this board is there I will not play international cricket. When it goes and if people want me to play on I will consider a comeback," he added.

The retirement announcement came just a few days after the board chairman, Ijaz Butt had in a surprising move sacked the all-rounder as captain of the national limited overs team although Afridi had led the team to the World Cup semifinals and to a 3-2 win over the West Indies in the Caribbean.

It was after returning from the West Indies that Afridi ruffled the board feathers when he told the media that he didn't like people interfering in his work an obvious reference to an ongoing row with head coach, Waqar Younis over selection issues.

After issuing him a notice for speaking to the media on team issues in contravention of the players code of conduct the board while announcing the squad for the one-day series against Irelandreplaced Afridi as captain with Test captain, Misbah-ul-Haq who on Monday led Pakistan to a 2-0 win over Ireland.

Afridi after the sack also pulled out of the series against Ireland telling the board that he wanted to stay with his father who was under treatment in the United States.

Afridi defended his statement saying he had only spoken the truth and nothing else.

"I didn't speak against anyone nor did I criticize anyone by name. What I said was for betterment of team. But if they don't want me to speak the truth than I can't accept working with such people," he said.

"I didn't want any problems what I said was keeping in the benefits of the team. I can't continue to play under a board that does not respect senior players," he added.

Afridi had last year already retired from Test cricket after losing the first Test to Australia at Lords.

Afridi after his sacking also pulled out of the series against Ireland telling the board that he wanted to stay with his father who was under treatment in the United States.

But the all-rounder reached England from the US and on Monday made his retirement announcement from London.

Afridi who played 325 ODIs and 27 Tests told the channel that whatever he had said on returning home was in the better interests of the team.

Shahid Afridi 'quits' international cricket

After weeks of growing tension and speculationShahid Afridi, Pakistan's recently axed one-day captain, has announced his retirement from the international game. It is, however, a "conditional" retirement in protest against the way he has been "humiliated" by the PCB, a temporary self-imposed exile more than a permanent retirement. Afridi said he was ready to reverse his decision if and when a new board came into power.

This is not Shahid Afridi's first retirement from the game, though it is the first time he has quit the shorter formats

"There is nothing bigger than a man's respect, and the way the board has treated me, there is a limit to everything," an emotional, angry Afridi told Geo TVfrom London, where he is currently preparing for a Twenty20 stint with Hampshire. "I will not play under this board. If a different board comes in, I will definitely return but I cannot play under this board. When you have been humiliated like this, by dishonourable people, what is the point in playing on?

"The way I've been treated... the future doesn't look too good. I can't play under a board that doesn't respect its players. Because of this, under protest, this is a conditional retirement."

Afridi, a Pathan who has lived in Karachi all his life, also hit out at "a Lahore lobby that has been filling the chairman's ears against me," reviving an issue of regionalism that has been festering for some time now, and shows few signs of stopping; in recent weeks, Karachi officials have protested loudly against the PCB for not selecting players from the city.

The decision caps - for now - a saga that began last December effectively, when the board first began to hesitate in appointing Afridi captain. He was made leader for the New Zealand ODI series and then, only two weeks before the tournament began was he made captain for the World Cup. The impermanent nature of his appointments was one of the reasons for Afridi's unhappiness.

"I wasn't told anything when I was made captain, I wasn't given a tenure, I wasn't told what my squad would be, nothing," Afridi said. "I took a broken team along with me. When I took over the Pakistan team was in the middle of the spot-fixing crisis. Then the Zulqarnain Haider case happened but my side fought both against England and South Africa in the ODI series. Then we beat New Zealand, we got to the semis of the World Cup and beat West Indies there as well. Maybe I have become a thorn in their throats. It's better that I step aside for now as I have respect for myself."

But the tipping point came upon Afridi's arrival back from the Caribbean, growing differences between him and coach Waqar Younis over matters of selection being another concern. Then, he told reporters, "Although the differences in team management are not such which could not be solved, I feel everyone should do his job and need not interfere in other's work".

That led to the board issuing him a show-cause notice to explain his remarks, unhappy with his penchant for public straight-talking and his cosy relationship with the media; indeed it is understood a major concern of the board was their belief that Afridi was leaking news to the media. Incidentally, Afridi didn't touch on the selection issue at all when announcing his decision, though he did say that as captain, if he "didn't speak to the media, who else in the team would?"

Soon after his return, the board removed him from the ODI captaincy he picked up in June 2010, not giving any official reason for the removal. "We had very solid reasons to remove Afridi and I will reveal them when the time is right," PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said recently. "We haven't taken this action without any reasons."

That prompted Afridi to pull out of the two ODIs against Ireland; speculation was that he was unhappy over his ouster, though he said he had decided to miss the series due to his father's ill-health. It was around this time that stories began to appear that he may retire soon.

Afridi is not new to retirement. He first announced a temporary sabbatical from Test cricket in April 2006, in a bid to concentrate only on ODIs in the lead-up to the 2007 World Cup. He later returned to the side, and even led Pakistan's Test side at the start of their tumultuous tour of England last summer. He, however, once againretired from the longest format, as soon as Pakistan lost the first Test against Australia at Lord's.

How long the current impasse lasts is difficult to ascertain. Afridi, until the World Cup, was Pakistan's most effective and successful limited-overs bowler of the last three years. And his public popularity - he remains the most sought-after autograph in Pakistan as well as the only current player brands will invest in - ensures that the pressure on the PCB, and in particular the chairman, will be immense.

In any case, Butt's tenure has been pockmarked by constant instability - nine captaincy changes in Tests and ODIs, five different selection heads and three coaches - and regular spats with senior players: Mohammad Yousuf announced a brief retirement last year and Younis Khan wasn't chosen for almost a year after the pair were handed open-ended bans last year. Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan have also faced one-year bans (eventually overturned), while after the World Cup, Butt had a dig at Abdul Razzaq as well, saying that he should retire now.

Afridi will play in the Friends Provident t20 for Hampshire, and he will also be available for the inaugural edition of the Sri Lankan Premier League, while continuing to participate in domestic cricket in Pakistan as well.

Impressive Aravind admits to not bowling well in IPL final

CHENNAI: Royal Challengers Bangalore's left-arm seamer Sreenath Aravind, the third highest wicket-taker in the IPL this season with a tally of 21 wickets from 13 matches, expressed disappointment at the defeat in the final to theChennai Super Kings and felt that he also contributed to the loss by not bowling well. 

"I bowled on the wrong lines. It is a lesson for me. I have said it is a batsmen's game, but one day the bowlers too will dominate. It is part and parcel of the game," said the 27-year old who went for 39 runs in his three overs, but took two wickets. 

"We could have won this match. I was dreaming to win. It is unfortunate but part of the game. It was dream come true for me to take lots of wickets. 
"I was well supported by Zaheer Khan and Daniel Vettori and especially coach Venkatesh Prasad." 

While tacitly admitting that the absence of fast bowler Dirk Nannes (who was later replaced byChris Gayle), Aravind felt that it provided opportunity for other players. 

"Missing one player or some, it is part of the game. For that matter, we miss him, but it is a chance for youngsters to show their mettle and come up well in their career," said Aravind, a relatively late bloomer on the domestic circuit having made his first class debut only three seasons ago. 

However, Aravind has been a revelation in this year's IPL and was a key member in the team that topped the league table and eventually finished runners-up. 

"During the last two years, I have been improving a lot on each day by watching the seniors. I can say that in Karnataka, many people are helping me out in domestic circuit. 

"Players like Robin (Uthappa), Vinay (Kumar), (Sunil) Joshi and my coach Sanath Kumar have been helping me a lot. This has helped me to build my confidence levels. I am looking forward to do better," said Aravind. 
Taking an overview of his own performance in the IPL, he said: "Every delivery is a learning lesson for me. I have learnt how to bowl to good and experienced batsmen in such a competitive field. Zaheer Khan had been telling me how to hit right areas and bringing variations," he said.

Chennai Super Kings Win IPL

Chennai Super Kings have retained the Indian Premier League title after thrashing Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs in the final at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

Chennai Super Kings were in control throughout the match – their unbeaten home record never in danger – thanks initially to Murali Vijay and Michael Hussey, who got them off to the perfect start with a huge 159-run opening partnership.

Chennai Super Kings celebrate after winning the IPL.

The Super Kings didn’t look back, eventually piling on a total of 205 for five from their 20 overs. Royal Challengers Bangalore’s hopes of reaching that target were crushed in the first over of their innings, when Chris Gayle – the tournament’s leading run-scorer and winner of the “Golden Player” award – was out for a duck.

Gayle has been nothing short of amazing during IPL4, smashing a total of 608 runs in just 12 matches, so it was no surprise that the Chennai players went absolutely bananas after he was caught behind by M.S. Dhoni on R. Ashwin’s fourth delivery.

From that moment, it was a procession for Chennai Super Kings – their victory a certainty – and they restricted their opponents to a total of just 147. Gayle had such an impact on Royal Challengers Bangalore, the runners up in IPL2, that they became a one-man team this year, despite the presence of other big stars like A.B. de Villiers, Virat Kohli and Daniel Vettori.

In contrast, Chennai Super Kings have consistently played as a unit throughout the tournament. Everyone contributed, from Indian players such as Suresh Raina, S. Badrinath and R. Ashwin, to overseas stars like Hussey, Albie Morkel and Doug Bollinger.

But there’s one man who deserves special praise – Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is well on his way to becoming the best captain world cricket has ever seen. It’s been a fantastic year for Dhoni, first leading India to World Cup glory and then captaining IPL4 winners Chennai Super Kings, the only franchise to have ever won the IPL more than once.

Dhoni will now take a few weeks rest, missing India’s One Day International series in the West Indies, but he’ll rejoin the team for the Test matches there. Under Dhoni, India has risen to the No.1 ranked Test team in the world, while he also captained Chennai to the Champions League title last year.

Essentially he’s won everything there is to win in cricket, and he’s not even 30-years old yet.

R. Ashwin, left, celebrated with S. Badrinath and Suresh Raina after claiming Chris Gayle’s wicket.

Many people had expected the Mumbai Indians or Kolkata Knight Riders to win the 2011 IPL, but I said right from the start that Chennai Super Kings were set for glory with Dhoni at the helm. 

Lee backs Clarke to do a 'terrific job'

Brett Lee has said Australian cricket is in good hands with new captain Michael Clarke and that he expects former captain Ricky Ponting to still play a major role in the side after shedding the burden of leadership.

"Obviously, Michael Clarke has a great cricket brain; he's proven that when he's been vice-captain," Lee told the Sunday Telegraph. "He's the type of guy I think will do a terrific job for Australia.

"It's not like he's been thrust into the limelight now. He's had the guidance of Ricky Ponting and been vice-captain for a couple of years; he knows his game very well and the guys very well. He's respected by the guys so I think he'll do a great job - and full credit to Ricky Ponting to put his hand up to want to keep going and play cricket."

Lee said Ponting's ability is beyond question and so long as he has the drive to keep going, "he'll go on to bigger and better things as far as his batting goes."

Australia are currently in a process of transition in the wake of Ponting's decision to step down as captain and while Lee has retired from Test cricket, he has every intention of being part of the one-day set-up. "I retired from Test cricket a few years ago in order to prolong my one-day career, and the signs are good as far as the way I bowled during the World Cup. I was really happy with my performance there and happy with the way the body responded.

"I obviously want to play this Australian summer, I want to go to Sri Lanka in eight weeks and go to the Champions League and go to South Africa ... but it's about ticking off the little things. I'll give myself a week or two off from training, do some light gym work and get my running up."

Lee recently turned out for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and was full of praise for his team-mate James Pattinson, tipping him to force his way into the Test team this summer. "We've got some young guys coming through. I think James Pattinson is going to be a really good find for Australia. He was with me at Kolkata Knight Riders while I was overseas. I think he'll definitely play Test cricket this year."

He also asked the fans to be patient as Australia beings a new era after 15 years of unparalleled success. "We're going through a transitional phase and it's important that people realise that. You know we haven't got Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matty [Matthew] Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martin."

PCB urged to make long-term plans to play in UAE

The Emirates Cricket Board chief, Dilawar Mani, has urged the PCB to make longer-term plans to host matches in the UAE. On the Pakistan board's request, the UAE board will send a business plan with regards to hosting Pakistan's home series against Sri Lanka and England, which are to be played this season according to the Future Tours Programme. Mani, however, said planning the series so close to their commencement impacted the financial gains possible from it.

"I can confirm that the PCB has once again contacted us for the business plan to host their series and we will reply in the next two weeks," Mani told The Express Tribune. "The PCB wants to deal with us on a series-by-series basis and, at times, last minute. This is not normal and leads to them making financial losses. You can't come up with a good sponsor on a very short notice. I urge them to come up with the correct strategy and plan the series well in advance so that it helps them."

Mani's comments come at a time when the PCB is caught between a variety of factors in making a decision on home series. Foremost is the government of Pakistan's desire to see international cricket return to the country, a situation senior board officials will privately concede is impossible at present. The PCB had in fact asked Sri Lanka to consider playing the upcoming series in Pakistan but whatever little hope there was of that happening was destroyed by the recent attacks on a naval base in Karachi.

The UAE is a home of sorts, though the PCB has not entered into a long-term agreement with authorities there. The costs of hosting a series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are higher than would be the case elsewhere, but the benefits in terms of sponsorship could ultimately be greater.

The third option is one that the PCB has also explored: hosting a 'home' series at the venue of the opponent, as they did with New Zealand in 2009-10 or in another venue, like England, where they played two Tests against Australia last year. Though England is unlikely to be a venue again for a while, following last year's controversies, the board is also looking at hosting the 'home' series against Sri Lanka later this year in Sri Lanka itself. Even the series against England, which is to be played early next year according to the Future Tours Programme, could possibly be played in Sri Lanka, given that England are due to play Sri Lanka after the Pakistan series.

Mani said Pakistan could benefit from playing in the UAE as they would draw crowds there. The UAE hosted a one-day and Test series between Pakistan and South Africa last year and while the limited-overs games saw decent crowds, a combination of the heat and flat pitches left the stadiums almost empty during the Tests.

"Pakistan have good support here and we want them to make it worth their while to come and play here," Mani said. "They could play in Sri Lanka as well but that's up to them to decide. But here they will get immense support which works wonders for the team's confidence."

The series against Sri Lanka and England are scheduled for October this year and January next year, and both will comprise three Tests, five one-day internationals and a one-off Twenty20 international.

CSK vs RCB: Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore to win IPL 4

CHENNAI: The Super Kings are the emperors of India. 

In the battlefield called Chepauk, Dhoni's army ambushed the Royal Challengers to defend the citadel they had clinched in Mumbai last year. The Chennai mean machine started working from Ball One with M Vijay (95 off 52 balls) and Mike Hussey (63 off 45 balls) taking over and there was no looking back. 

Scorecard | Match in Pics 

Vijay never looked good throughout the tournament, but Dhoni stuck with him. And what a day the Chennai boy chose to come good! The right-hander, in an outstanding opening partnership of 159 runs off 14.5 overs with Mike Hussey (63), did the groundwork and built some towers on it for good measure as CSK raced away to 205. 

One man who could make a match out of it was Chris Gayle. But the shrewd Dhoni brought R Ashwin in the first over and the offie got the first two balls to turn away from the left-hander. Then came the killer ball which spun in and Gayle, on the back-foot, edged it to Dhoni. 

After that, it was just a matter of keeping it tight as Royal Challengers kept losing wickets at regular intervals to go down by 58 runs. 

But this final will be remembered by one and all for the way Vijay batted. He is highly rated and on Super Saturday he showed why. Shots were flowing from his bat like a stream as RCB skipper Daniel Vettori simply ran out of options. The crucial phase was when Vettori brought himself on, but Vijay showed excellent temperament. Vijay has the gift of timing and it was all so flawless on Saturday evening that a champion performer like Zaheer Khan looked helpless. And while Vijay was giving the fans all the reasons to cheer about, Hussey played the role of the guiding light to perfection. 

In the humidity of Chennai, it's not easy to keep it going, but the two kept pushing each other. Even the strategic time-out, which is generally taken after the 16th over, was brilliantly timed. Hussey and Vijay took it after the 13th to get their breath back and carried on with the onslaught. 

As the runs flowed, the shoulders drooped in the RCB ranks with misfields and overthrows creeping in. It all added to the Royal woes and finally, when Hussey got out trying to clear the long-on boundary, the game was all but over. One would have loved to see Vijay completing his second IPL century, but that was not to be. He got out in the 17th over, trying to clear the fence, but that didn't stop CSK from easing past the 200-run mark. 

Decision to play is player's call - IPL CEO

The decision to play is a player's call and no player is forced to represent his club or country, particularly when it's a case of injury, the IPL CEO Sundar Raman has said. "I think it has always been up to the player to decide," he told ESPNcricinfo. "Firstly, he has to see whether he is fit or not. And the BCCI physio will take a look at the player and subject to a satisfactory report, he plays.

"The player knows his body better than anyone else does and I don't think I want to sit in judgement on that. If the physio believes that the player is not fit to play a game, he would report that and the player would not play the game.

"Nobody is forced to play. Nobody is forced to play for the country. Nobody is forced to play for their club."

Concerns over players playing despite injuries have come to the fore following Gautam Gambhir's shoulder injury sustained during the World Cup and aggravated during the IPL. Gambhir, who captains Kolkata Knight Riders, played in his team's eliminator play-off on Wednesday hours after the team physio Andrew Leipus wrote to the BCCI that Gambhir needed four to six weeks' rest to recover. Gambhir, however, claimed he had not been aware of the seriousness of the injury and had not discussed the matter with Leipus prior to the game.

Raman refused to comment on the Gambhir issue. "I am honestly not in a position to comment on the Gambhir situation because the Indian physio has to see Gambhir, submit his report, take a view on whether he was fit not fit so it is too premature for me to say right now."

However, he added: "I don't think any player would want to carry or feign an injury and continue to go and play. A player knows his body. I believe they are professionals and if the player is injured, if there are any practices or processes that have not been put in place, that is for the administrative part of it to ensure that all of that is taken care of.

"The player takes the view of somebody who is an expert in that field and I think that's the way it is. I am looking at it as what would I have done? I would have listened to my body."

'TJ became my Dr Phil' - Warne

Shane Warne has told of his tearful farewell to his spin mentor Terry Jenner, who died on Wednesday, having been in failing health since suffering a massive heart attack in England in April last year. Warne has also described how a spray from Jenner back in 1992 helped transform him from an overweight fringe Test player into the world's greatest legspinner.

"When I spoke to TJ on the phone a few weeks ago - we said goodbye to each other - it was a very difficult thing to do and chat as it was so unlike all our others - this was it for the last time after 20 odd years," Warne wrote in a tribute on his website. "We both didn't say too much as we both didn't need too [sic] - we just knew.

"I did thank him though for everything he had done for me and tried to express how much his patience, advice, love and above all his friendship has meant to me and my family. We both shed a bit of a tear and said goodbye."

Long phone conversations had become a routine for the pair over the years, ever since they met at the Academy in 1990. Jenner had played only nine Tests for Australia during the 1970s but his understanding of legspin and cricket tactics, and most importantly his no-nonsense attitude, had appealed to Warne.

"TJ became my Dr Phil on all matters and levels - wherever I was around the world we would call and chat - we would plan to bring down the opposition batsmen, laugh and I would hang up feeling good," Warne wrote. "His knowledge of the game, not just spin bowling was amazing."

Throughout his career, Warne was famously dismissive of the role coaches played in the team environment, especially John Buchanan. But the exception was Jenner, who had spent time in prison for stealing from an employer and was trying to rebuild his life as an Academy coach under Rod Marsh when he first encountered a 20-year-old Warne.

"TJ, like his fellow players of that era are very straight and also very blunt - the best way to be in all aspects of life - no bull shit or fluffy rubbish," Warne wrote. "But, you did need a thick skin - mine was luckily - or shall we say had to develop very quickly, which looking back now and reflecting - has held me in good stead for all my life situations not just cricket.

"Underneath the ample frame and all that bravado was a very charming, caring, loving family man who was a giver to cricket and life. I think we met at exactly the right time in each other's lives, we where [sic] good for each other - maybe all the stars and moons where [sic] aligned, because we clicked instantly."

Warne recalled spending many hours bowling on Adelaide Oval's No. 2 under Jenner's watchful eye, and he remembered the encouragement Jenner gave after Warne took 1 for 150 on his Test debut against India.

However, there was also the occasional reality-check. In the winter after his first Test, Warne, 22, drove from Melbourne to Adelaide, bought a slab of beer and knocked on Jenner's door. Warne had been picked for Australia's upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, and he wanted to learn more from his mentor.

"Well the next 4-5 hours where [sic] life changing - I went to get 2 beers and he said what are you doing? I said as usual a few beers together! He said listen - you are so lucky to be selected to tour again and represent Australia, why don't you get serious, I said like how? I'm working hard!

"Rubbish he bellowed out, your [sic] fat, drink way to much beer and smoke like a chimney and have never had to sacrifice anything - bit rich I thought coming from TJ as he sucked back a beer and took a massive puff on his cigar!!! Ok then - what do I need to do you think? To start with give up drinking excessively every night, get fit, drop weight and at least look like a sportsman. Wow I thought, cop that! I said ok I will, you wait and see.

"The rest of the chat was an old fashioned honest heart to heart about life. I woke up feeling energised and started training hard. Every day I ran, did push ups, sit ups, ate properly and bowled for hours. Fast forward 3 to 4 months and I weighed 79kg, I had managed to lose 20kg and was ready for Sri Lanka I thought!"

Within a year, Warne was on an Ashes tour and bowled the so-called ball of the century to Mike Gatting, and he went on to amass 708 Test wickets. Even in Warne's final Test series, the 2006-07 Ashes, by which time he was 37 years old, he still listened to Jenner in the nets as Australia completed their 5-0 whitewash.

Jenner's funeral will be held at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, May 31.