I'm sure many of you wonder how all the different cricketers spend their time off the field, what they do in their free time, and so on.

We read about a lot of the off-field activities as well.

Such as Michael Vaughan and his real estate investments, Shane Warne and his nurses, Shoaib Akhtar and his genital warts, Imran Khan and his love child, Andrew Symonds and his "binge drinking", to mention a few.

Shahid Afridi's off-field activities, however, seem to be of a very different kind.

Karma - Bottom 2 from last year, top 2 this year.

Battle of the top 2 - Australia vs South Africa. Gilchrist, Symonds, Harris up against Kallis, Boucher, and Van Der Merwe. Not to forget, Lehmann vs Jennings.

Balls - Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers were the only 2 teams who had the balls to emulate last year's champions by appointing retired international cricketers as their captains.

It looks like I was wrong.

Andrew McDonald makes the Ashes squad and Andrew Symonds doesn't!

How in the world does that happen?

I wasn't the only one who was wrong.

I am already waiting for the Jrod to wake up from his slumber and do a piece on how McDonald made it, but Symonds didn't.

Maybe Dirk Nannes only agreed to wake McDonald up if it was to tell him that he was going to England.

All the other usual suspects and Graham Manou are in.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter who the Aussies pick or not.

Its not like England will win because of a few players in it and a few out of it.

The Australian squad for the Ashes is going to be announced tomorrow and apparently the Australians are nervous.

Really?

What is there to be nervous about?

For one, I'm not even sure if they are nervous. Cricinfo claims they are with the headline, "Australians face nervous wait".

So who exactly is waiting nervously?

Again, Cricinfo's sub-headlines are:

"Watson closes in on Ashes call-up"

"Ponting backs Symonds"

"Nervy Hughes awaits call-up"

"McDonald sweats"

They have got to be kidding me. I mean seriously.

Shane Watson closed in on his Ashes call-up as soon as he hit that 40 odd in his 1st hit against Pakistan.

Don't tell me the Aussie selectors had not shoed him in right then - the sight of Watson scoring gets them off, we all know that by now. And that century in the final hit would have sealed his spot.

Ricky Ponting doesn't need to back Symonds. Its quite obvious the selectors are going to pick him as well.

The 50 against Pakistan in the 2nd ODI and the subsequent appearance at the press conference with Micheal Clarke to sort of seek redemption at the hands of the media and talk up an Ashes spot made it quicte obvious that Symonds had one foot on the plane.

The oddest one is about Phil Hughes.

Why in the world is he nervy?

Does he, or Cricinfo, actually think that after scoring centuries and 150s in his debut test series against South Africa, and then knocking ton after ton at Middlesex is going to keep him out of the Australian test team?

Even the one about McDonald amused me.

He has no reason to sweat. He should just chill out and a book a summer holiday to some part of the world.

Obviously with Symonds and Watson on that plane to England, McDonald is not going anywhere.

So who is nervous? and why are they?

The Australian fans surely aren't. They're pretty sure the Ashes are coming home.

So are the English for that matter.

Besides the obvious of commenting on the game, I believe it should also be to be insightful and informative.

But all the commentators have managed to do in the IPL is go gaga over some sponsored phrases, and make one blunder after another.

Some blunders by the commentators can be forgiven considering the kind of intense cricket that is being played in the IPL.

But some are just sinful.

For example the one Rameez Raja and the ones that followed him made when Sangakkara stumped Andrew Symonds.

For those who missed it, I'll try and describe what happened.

Yuvraj bowled, Symonds missed and fell way out of the crease, Sanga missed the ball, dived to get it and dislodged one bail in the process, got the ball, and broke the stumps with it.

While the third umpire was viewing the replays, Rameez Raja went on about how it was not out because one bail had been dislodged by the glove before Sanga had the ball in hand.

Now Rameez was not alone in what he thought.

I thought the same thing. It happens to the best of us.

The problem does not lie in what Rameez Raja said. It lies in what happened after the 3rd umpire gave it out.

Here I was sitting surprised as to how the 3rd umpire could have given it out. Did he not see the bail drop before Sanga got the ball and broke the stumps?

I waited for the commentators that replaced Rameez to say something.

I expected them to scrutinize the decision.

I expected them to explain the 3rd umpire's decision.

Either say that the 3rd umpire was wrong, and if not, then explain why he was right.

But none of that happened.

The commentators remained quiet and did not discuss the Symonds dismissal at all.

I found out through Homer and Sam that Symonds was in fact out; according to the rules, if one bail has been dislodged the stump does not need to be uprooted, the other bail can be dislodged to run or stump the batsman out.

Why didn't the commentators explain that?

Is it not their job to educate the viewers as well?

Was it not their job to explain why Rameez Raja was wrong and the 3rd umpire right?

Now all it looks like is that Rameez Raja's buddies swept his blunder under the carpet!

And continued with their non stop nonsensical act that they call commentary.

Rohit Sharma couldn't do it twice in two days, could he.

After leading the Chargers to an improbable victory last night against the Knight Riders, Rohit Sharma was in the same position again.

Only this time he needed to get 10 runs less than the 21 he got managed last night.

Yet he couldn't do it.

Almost, but not there.

I wonder what it is about the bowlers that they end up bowling no balls and wides when up against Rohit Sharma.

Can't be just luck.

I also wonder what the result would have been had the 3rd umpire been awake and not drunk when he gave Andrew Symonds out.

That was such a BIG NOT OUT!

How did he not see the bail drop before Sanga got the ball?

Thanks to the 3rd ump, whoever he was, the Kings XI are still in it.

The IPL race to the semis is still wide open!

Which two out of Deccan, Rajasthan, Kings XI, and Bangalore?

How drunk the commentators have been during the IPL has been a topic of a number of discussions in various forums.

Their tongues have slipped more often than not; and at most times they have just shown us what an uninformed bunch they are.

Their incompetency, or rather slips of tongues, have best been covered here.

For most commentators, it has been the 1 or 2 slips during a match; but today Rameez Raja topped them all.

His tongue slipped and then it kept slipping, all in one breath!

Andrew Symonds walked out to bat and Rameez started talking.

"He was in Dubai and Abu Dhabi involved in a 50 overs series with
Pakistan and a 20-20 game as well running himself into form."

My my Rameez, were you and I watching the same Pakistan vs Australia series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Alright so Symonds ran into some form during the 2nd ODI where he scored a match winning 50 odd, but in the other innings he was far from his best and definitely was not running into any kind of form.

In fact, besides that 50 odd, he had all single figure scores; he fell first ball in that 20-20 game against Pakistan.

Rameez didn't stop there. He went on.

"He has already made an impact in the IPL scoring a 60 off only 36
deliveries in his first match. Match winning knock that!"

Symonds made an impact alright. That was one awesome knock that he played against Kings XI Punjab.

Only that it wasn't a match winning one - Deccan Chargers lost that game!

I reckon it will take a lot of drinking for another commentator to top Rameez's slips.

In the first edition of the IPL, last year, Deccan Chargers were the favorites and were tipped to take home the trophy.

With Gilchrist, Symonds, Gibbs, Afridi, R Sharma, they definitely had the biggest power hitters in their ranks, and hence the high expectations.

Their campaign, however fell flat and all they managed was 2 wins out of 14 matches!

Yes only 2!

But this season, when no one gave them a chance, the Chargers have managed to win 4 out of 4 and are sitting happy at the top of the table.

So what is different this year?

1. For starters they've got a new uniform, which is a whole lot cooler than what they wore last year.

2. They've got a captain whose playing and leading from the front and not sitting injured in the dressing room.

3. Herschelle Gibbs is actually firing on all cylinders unlike last season.

4. They've got a genuine attack bowler in Fidel Edwards.

5. Afridi and Symonds are busy in the desert.

6. Rohit Sharma is not the only one doing the scoring.

7. Som, I just put the 7th down for you - you can fill the blanks.

They were the team I was supporting last season.

They were the favorites last season.

Their team had the best name in the IPL last season.

Well, they still have the same name, but they have come to the party a year too late.

Doesn't matter. I can still put my weight behind them. So what if Afridi is not there!

A semi final spot at the moment looks a sure shot, while the trophy very likely.

Go Chargers!

With the series tied at 1-1, the stage is set for the Abu Dhabi leg of the Chapal Cup series between Pakistan and Australia.

Both the teams left Dubai on Friday night after their 2nd ODI and got to Abu Dhabi late at night.

They have been practicing at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Academy for the last 2 days and are set to clash in the 3rd ODI tomorrow at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket stadium.

After my 2 week stint at Dubai Sports City, I am also back in Abu Dhabi and will be witnessing the next 3 ODIs from the crowd as just a fan rather than as a part of the event management team.

The Dubai Sports City experience was awesome.

The media centre was buzzing with Pakistani and Australian journalists and a few Indian ones as well that worked for local dailies in the UAE.

The photographers area was crowded and right next to the Australian dressing room, so witnessing Tim Nielsen on the laptop, and the players mingling was intriguing.

The press conferences showed me how journalists put words in cricketers' mouths and how they keep pestering on the same thing again and again.

The post-match presentations were the best.

Standing right next to the players and hearing random stuff, like Shahid Afridi wondering why so many people were a part of the presentation party, was amazing.

Though being in the thick of things was a lot of fun, it was also hectic.

And since I was only hired by Dubai Sports City and not the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council, I am looking forward to being just a fan within the crowd at the cricket ground tomorrow.

I am supposed to report back to Dubai Sports City in time for the 20-20 on 7th May, however I have a big urge to witness the first ever 20-20 international in the UAE from the stands rather than from among the officials.

But we'll see about that when the time comes.

Coming back to Abu Dhabi, the news is that the pitch here is way more batsmen friendly than the one in Dubai.

If that is true, we may expect some high scoring games as that is what the fans are looking forward to.

With the series tied, the next 3 games are crucial for both sides, with tomorrow's being even moreso.

Shahid Afridi has had a great start to the series, while Andrew Symonds struck form in the previous ODI.

I feel tomorrow's result would depend a lot on which of these two plays the more instrumental role.

I'd be surprised if Shoaib Akhtar plays his 3rd consecutive ODI, but word is that he is raring to go and eager to pick a wicket up.

Pakistan is expected to go in with the same side, while Australia may bring in Stuart Clark or Ben Hilfenhaus instead of Ben Laughlin.

By the way, I heard an Australian journalist pronounce his name as "Lock-Lin". I always thought it was "Laugh-Lin". You know - laugh?

Also watch out for Ahmed Shehzad, the 17 year old Pakistan opener. He was unfortunate to be run out by Salman Butt in his debut game, but if he gets going tomorrow I can assure you that it will be a treat.

The Pakistan middle order comprising Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, and Misbah is due some runs and there's no better place than Abu Dhabi to get them as all 3 have very good records at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Prior to today, I had attended 4 press conferences during my stint at Dubai Sports City - 2 each with the captains, Younis Khan and Micheal Clarke.

All 4 times the captains were accompanied by the coaches, Intikhab Alam and Tim Nielsen.

However today, at the post-match press conference, Micheal Clarke was accompanied by Andrew Symonds.

I'm not sure whether it was because of a request from some of the Aussie journalists that were there; or whether it was an initiative taken by the Australian team management.

Either way, what that did was turn the entire attention of the press conference room away from the Australian captain and on to Andrew Symonds.

He was asked all sorts of questions regarding his comeback and his time out of the team.

"How did it feel like missing all those games for Australia?"

"Do you feel vindicated by the innings you played today?"

"Do you think you have silenced your critics by today's knock?"

"Were you upset at missing all the cricket during your time out of the team?"

"How important was today's knock for you?"

"Do you think this series was a trial for the Ashes for you?"

In response, Symonds basically said that it was frustrating sitting out of the team, he felt helpless watching the team lose without being able to help out, its great to be back, he's pleased with the knock he played today and with the fact that it came early in the series than later, and that it was an important knock considering that he was coming back into the team.

To the critics question, he smiled and said that he was too old to worry about his critics cause there were so many of them.

That comment was met with laughter around the press conference room.

One journalist from Dawn asked Symonds whether today's knock compared with his century against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup, which brought him into the limelight.

While that question was being asked, Symonds and Clarke had a smile on their faces and as the journalist finished the question Symonds responded with a "No."

That was met with even more laughter. You had to be there to see the funny side of that answer. It was the timing.

He then went on to answer the question by saying that he understood what was being asked, but both the knocks were quite different given the phase he was in, in his career.

Micheal Clarke was asked only 2 questions during the entire press conference.

The first one was about how he felt regarding the victory.

The second one was by an Aussie journalist, Andrew Stevenson, who mentioned to Clarke that Younis Khan thought (during his press conference) that Australia was still the number 1 side in the world and asked what Clarke thought about that.

While asking that question, Stevenson pointed out that Australia had lost 10 of it 16 ODIs during 2009.

Clarke's response was, "We would like to believe that we are the number 1 side, especially after a win. Its a huge compliment when the opposition says this about you and moreso when its the opposition's captain. We still need to improve in a lot of areas such as our fielding."

During that time I kept thinking - 10 losses out of 16? Damn!

I guess with Symonds back and in form, that stat will definitely improve.

The press takes a walk in the corridors - from the media centre to the TV & Radio commentary boxes to the 3rd umpire room and onwards to the corporate boxes.

Billy Bowden enters the 3rd umpire's room.

I requested Billy for a pic and he was out with his best pose in a second! He's umpiring the 1st ODI on Wednesday.

The square being worked on by the groundsmen. They're calling it a batting paradise.

The Security waits, outside the players' room, for the Australians to arrive.

Micheal Clarke smiles as Tim Nielsen mentions that Symonds makes a few dollars playing for Australia as well.

The ICC's Anti Corruption & Security Unit's head, Retd. Col. Nur Khan, gets a brief from the security men on the arrangements.

The Australians arrive at the stadium.

Clarke had already finished his press meet and was waiting in the players' lounge. Shane Watson (in flip-flops), was in front of the line along with this man whom I did not recognize.

I managed a word with Watson, Symonds, and Marsh and basically said the same thing to all of them - Welcome back to the Australian team. I was met with smiles and thank yous with Symonds having the biggest smile of all.

Arrogant Aussies? What arrogance? Not even a hint of it.

Stuart Clark is HUGE!

And Bracken is taller than I imagined.

There were a few guys I did not recognize - probably Callum Ferguson and Doug Bollinger.

As Symonds walked into the ground, someone threw a ball at him. I'm not sure who it was.

Micheal Clarke looked like a lonely figure sitting on the steps outside the players' lounge. That's Shaun Marsh standing right behind him. You can also see Symonds going back into the lounge.

The players waited for the lights to come on, did a few light excercises and some fielding drills. They have a full fledged practice session tonight.

After the journalists were done obsessing over "why don't you tour Pakistan", there were a few other questions as well.

One reminded Clarke of the fact that Australia had not won an ODI series this season, to which Clarke said that he was aware of it and that he wants his team to work harder.

Particularly the top 4.

He said that the batting needed to improve and wants his team to capitalize on the moments during which his team is ahead of the opposition.

When questioned about Symonds coming back into the team, Clarke talked about how important it was to have him in the absence of Ponting and Hussey.

Who would have done the drinking otherwise I wondered.

Someone asked Tim Nielsen how he motivated people like Symonds who is missing the IPL, where he makes a lot of money.

Nielsen's response was brilliant - "you make a few dollars playing for Australia as well".

His petition landed David Hussey a position in Australia's ODI team.

This morning his favourite Victorian, Bryce McGain, was announced in Australia's 15 man squad for India.

Uncle J Rod of Cricket with Balls has been going on about Bryce McGain for a year now, which is as long as Cricket with Balls has been up on air.

And finally a year later Cricket Australia selectors have bowed down to his demands.

I'm sure Uncle J is over the moon over McGain's selection and we at Well Pitched are happy for him and for McGain and also at the prospect of seeing yet another leg spinner from Victoria.

If McGain is even half as exciting as the last Victorian leg spinner to play test cricket, it'll make the Australia v India test series even more interesting than it already is.

Its a shame that Symonds isn't going as it would have been quite a watch to see the Indian public take a dig at him.

Nonethless it should be one entertaining test series. Can't wait for some cricket to start.

Before the start of the Indian Premier League the prospects of watching a team led by VVS Laxman and including Gilchrist, Afridi, Gibbs, and Vaas taking on a team led by Yuvraj Singh and comprising of Sangakkara, Jayawardene, and Irfan Pathan would have been nothing less than a Clash of the Titans.

The Deccan Chargers and the Kings from Punjab though have had less than ideal starts to their campaign.

Both teams lost their first few matches but have picked up recently with the Chargers winning their last one convincingly and the Kings winning their last two.

Its a downer that both teams have lost Symonds and Lee since the 2 going toe to toe, or for that matter, Lee bowling to Gilchrist would have been gruelling contests to watch. And Sreesanth also misses his chance of a bowl to Symonds.

But the match still involves some exciting stuff to watch out for:

• Adam Gilchrist and Herchelle Gibbs opening the batting - Pathan & Co. will be trembling at just the thought of this.


• Vaas bowling to the Lankan batting supremos - King Sanga and Jayawardene.


• A battle of the Indian bowling attack - Pathan on one side, RP on the other. Both have attacked for India before. They have for the U19 team as well. Here they are on opposing sides.


• Ajitesh Argal, India's U19 pacer could come in for Lee - he is an exciting prospect.


• RP bowling to Yuvi with Sanga behind the stumps. And Vaasy bowling to Sanga and Gilchrist behind the stumps.


• Will Sreesanth get into Gilly's face? Or is he a changed man after the slap?


• Everyones been waiting for Afridi to fire. After watching Symonds and Gilchrist blaze away, Afridi is raring to go. We could be in for a treat of he fires after Gilly and Gibbs.

This and Preity Zinta and a whole lot more at 2:30PM GMT.

(one of our readers and an ardent admirer of Ms. Zinta pointed out that I had been spelling her name wrong. I made a conscious effort to get it right this time round)

Two days ago, Adam Gilchrist faced up against Glenn McGrath in what could have been a battle of the giants in the on going Indian Premier League. However, Asif snared Gilchrist in the 2nd over and not much of Gilly vs Pidge was on display.

Tonight, if Gilchrist manages to get through the new ball attack of Munaf Patel and Shane Watson, he will come face to face with Shane Warne!

Just imagine - Gilly rips apart Patel and Watson. The Chargers race to 60 of 6 overs. Warne takes the ball in his hands. Gilly on strike. Warne on his run up. Will Gilly smash Warne all round the park? Will Warne get the better of Gilly? Which Aussie will come out on top?

This is an even bigger battle than the Gilchrist vs McGrath one.

Its common knowledge that Warne and Gilchrist didn't see eye to eye on a number of issues. It was Gilchrist to whom Warne lost the vice captaincy of the Australian team. And we all know that Warne has always held that grudge against the former Aussie stumper.

There is a lot of mutual respect between the two though, and both have come together hundreds of times to dismiss batsmen from around the world. Tonight however, the 2 come face to face as the Deccan Chargers take on the Rajhastan Royals.

The Chargers have one of the most dangerous batting line ups in this competition, but they haven't fired yet and the team from Hyderabad has lost both its matches. Gilchrist, Symonds, Afridi, R. Sharma, and Laxman on their day can destroy any attack - will they be up to the mark today against Warne's men?

The Royals have won 1 and lost 1. The team has been united and inspired under Warne's captaincy. Warne shouting out for the the young Ravindra Jadeja to pat the boy on the back after his match winning knock against the Kings from Punjab, just shows how Warne is as a leader.

They may seem like an Aussie outfit with Lehmann and Watson helping out on the field, but the young Indian stars are made to feel as much a part of the team as the others. Warne's confidence in the leg sipnner from no where, Dinesh Salunkhe, is what this team is all about.

The Royals have been strengthened with the arrival of Greame Smith and Younis Khan, but only one of them will play instead of Lehamnn probaby as Warne, Watson, and Akmal are sure starters.

Kamran Akmal keeping to Warne with Afridi on strike and Warne bowling to Symonds are other things to watch out for today.

But one that beats all is that Greame Smith will in all probability take the field under Shane Warne tonight. Both have crossed paths before in opposing sides and there have been plenty of verbal volley thrown at ach other. Tonight, however they both come together to try and script a vitctory for the Rajhastan Royals.

Where else will you get this?

No where but the IPL!

Its tonight and its at 230pm GMT. Don't miss it.

Yesterday's Indian Premier League matches showed a different side of 20-20 cricket than what was on display during the first 2 days.

There were no 200+ scores, there were no smacking 50 ball centuries, and both the games were close encounters with the result determined only in the last 2 overs.

The first match between the Knight Riders and the Deccan Chargers was played out in front of a packed Eden Gardens stadium that was as loud as a WWF crowd in Madison Square Garden cheering Hulk Hogan in the 80s and early 90s.

But the crowd did not get what they came for. Sure the home side won thanks to a magnificent innings by David Hussey, but the curators got it completely wrong with the pitch. On a day when a belter should have been the order of the day to entertain a vociferous crowd of about 90,000, the curators threw in a shocker.

Even though it was the lowest scoring game of the IPL thus far, it provided with the potential scene of the tournament. It was the SCENE STEALER in my books.

The Chargers' Andrew Symonds was at the crease and Ishant Sharma had the ball in his hand. At the start of his run up before he started his run to bowl, Ricky Ponting approached him. Ponting uttered a few words to Sharma before moving back to his position, and in ran Sharma to deliver to Symonds.

Here I would like to quite Archana Puran Singh from Zee TV - "Wah Kia Scene Hai!!".

Translated that means, wow what a scene, and indeed it was.

What do you reckon Ponting said to Sharma?

Did he say - "Just do to him what you did to me in Australia mate".

Or did Ponting reveal some unknown secret about Symonds' batting weakness?

Intriguing to say the least. This is what the IPL is all about!

Andrew Symonds and Yuvraj Singh joined Dhoni and Sachin in the millionnaires club as Symonds was picked up by Hyderabad for $1.35 million. Big bucks being thrown around here. Looks like Symmos spat with Bhajji and the whole racism row didn't have much of an impact on his value. Symonds joins team mate Adam Gilchrist in the Hyderabad Team. Deccan Chronicle have now spent over $2 million on the two Australians.