Ajinkya Rahane

1) Ajinkya Madhukar Rahane was born on June 6, 1988, at Ashwi Khurd, a village in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra, India.
2) Ajinkya Rahane is known for his technically solid batting and his electric fielding. Off the field, Rahane also pursued karate and has a black belt in it. His mild mannered nature perhaps masks the dangerous qualities within.
3) He has been coached by the great man Pravin Amre right from his initial years and holds high respect for him.
4) Ajinkya Rahane also represented Indian junior cricket teams at his early age. In 2002, Ajinkya Rahane played for India U-15 along with Piyush Chawla. Later in 2007, Rahane also played for India U-19 along with Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ishant Sharma.
5) Ajinkya Rahane holds the record of being the first ever player in the history of cricket to hit 6 consecutive boundaries in an over in a T- 20 match. He smashed Sreenath Arvind from Royal Challengers Banglore to all corners of the park in the IPL 2012.
6) Ajinkya Rahane had a very rare First-Class debut in 2007, against Karachi Urban. This was for the Mohammad Nissar Trophy, a tournament contested between the domestic champions of India and Pakistan. Rahane opened the batting on debut at the National Stadium, Karachi and scored 143 runs.
7) During the 2011 tour to England, Rahul Dravid was included in the one-day side and Rahane received his first international call. The first assignment was a T20 International, which saw Dravid and Rahane making their debuts in the format. Rahane smashed 61 in 39 balls to announce his arrival. Batting at No. 3, Dravid hit a quick 31, which included three consecutive sixes. In tandem, they put up 65 for the second wicket.
8) Ajinkya Rahane Was praised by none other than the great Sachin Tendulkar in his book Playing it my way.
Tendulkar stated “I had known Rahane for years and had seen how much he loves the game. He has served cricket with complete dedication and commitment over the last few years. I said to him that he might feel hard done by what had happened in his career so far, but should continue to be the way he is, for I was sure Ajinkya would get another chance.” Now That is surely a compliment to remember for life
9) Ajinkya Rahane became 5th Indian batsmen to score centuries in both innings of a Test match. It was the Test match between India and South Africa at Delhi in December 2015 where Rahane scored 127 runs in the first innings and also scored 100* runs in the second innings.
10) During the fourth Test between India and South Africa at Delhi, scored centuries in both the innings of that match at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on December 2015. He was also awarded Man of the match.
Rahane is the fifth Indian to do so after Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar and Vijay Hazare.
11) Ajinkya Rahane scored a fine knock of 103 runs Vs England at Lords in 2014 and India went on to win a game there after 28 long years. This outstanding century brought Ajinkya Rahane a lot of applauds and his name was up on the Lords Honours Board.
12) Ajinkya accumulated a superb 1089 runs in his 2nd Ranji Trophy season in 2008/09, helping Mumbai clinch its 38th
13) It is said that Rahane was hit by three consecutive bouncers on his helmet at the age of 8, while playing at Dombivili by a bowler who was thrice his age. Rahane started crying but after sometime, he stood up and smashed the same bowler for five consecutive boundaries.
14) Ajinkya Rahane took 8 catches in a Test match against Sri Lanka at Galle in August 2015. It was the highest catches taken by any fielder (non-wicketkeeper) in a Test match. Rahane took 3 catches in the first innings and other 5 in the second innings.
15) With a lot of consistent performances in 2014-15, Rahane was awarded as the CEAT Indian Cricketer of the year quite unanimously.
16) Ajinkya Rahane got married to his childhood friend Radhika Dhopavkar on September 26, 2014.
17) In May 2016, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) recommended Ajinkya Rahane’s name for the Arjuna Award 2016.
18) Rahane favourite singer is Sonu Nigam while his role models in cricket have been Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.
19) Rahane’s dream is to own a Lamborghini and an Aston Martin.

Cricketers Who Started Out As Bowlers But Became Successful Batsmen

1. Kevin Pietersen

Pietersen had started playing cricket when his family used to live in South Africa He used to play local cricket for a team called Kwazulu Natal as an off spinner. In one match against Nasser Hussain’s England side, he had taken 4 top order wickets and despite batting at No.9 he scored 61 not out of 57 balls which impressed Hussain. Hussain then recommended Pietersen to secure a contract with an English County Side.
A big-match player, Pietersen’s talent has come to the fore whenever England have been in rough waters. Be it pulling Brett Lee with utter disdain or shimming down the track to hit Shane Warne out of the park, the 2005 Ashes series was a heady start for Pietersen who was soon going to become the most sought-after player in English cricket.
Kevin Pietersen, who started his career as an off-spinner, fancies bowling spin now and then but has failed to match the standards that he has set for himself with the bat. He only has 17 wickets (10 in Tests, 7 in ODIs) from 240 international outings. Clearly, those figures don’t make for a very happy reading.

2. Steven Smith

                                      
Steven Smith, who was given his chance on the international stage as a specialist leggie in 2010, was used as a floating all-rounder during the disastrous Ashes series of 2010-11. He became handy with the bat to give his team good support in the batting line up. But he finally became the most important batsman in the Test series against India where he went on to make heaps of records with the willow. He became the highest run-getter of the series for Australia and attained the prestigious rank of no.1 ICC Test batsman.
In the 2010 ICC T20 World Cup, Smith had taken 11 wickets at an average of 14.11 and ended up being the 2nd highest wicket taker of the tournament. But as troubles generally arrive in a person’s life, even Smith had started to face problems with his form after he was selected in the Australian team. He was inconsistently picked in the team as he was neither good with the ball nor the bat. But as time passed by, he worked hard on his batting with his junior coach Trent Woodhill.
In a stance that’s peculiar at best, Smith takes a leg-stump guard and shuffles across while the bowler’s still in his delivery stride. Just before the ball comes out of the bowler’s arm, he takes residence around middle and off-stump and works the ball effortlessly to all parts of the ground.

                                                                                           3. Shoaib Malik                                        
Shoaib Malik too started his career as a specialized off-spinner for Pakistan.
Although he wasn’t picked in the side for the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup, he essayed a fine comeback in the 2004 Asia Cup scoring heaps of runs playing an instrumental role in Pakistan’s victory.
Malik has had his moments of glory in Test cricket as well but with a technique that was found wanting in seaming conditions, he has failed to leave much of an impression in the longer format.

                                                                                            4. Cameron White                                       
Cameron White became a part of the Australian side as a leg spinner in the year 2008 against India. In the 4 Tests that he played, he took merely 5 wickets at an economy of 3.68. While his stint was not as long as he would have liked it to be, he can be proud of the fact that he has scored 2037 runs from 88 ODIs at a healthy average just under 35.

Kevin Pietersen Confirms He Won't Take Part In IPL 2018

Kevin Pietersen confirmed that he won't be playing in the next edition of the Indian Premier League.

Kevin Pietersen’s decision is expected to be a huge loss for the franchises.

Kevin Pietersen will bid farewell to English cricket this summer when his stint in the NatWest Blast playing for Surrey comes to an end.

The 36-year-old also announced that he won't be available for the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) as it comes at the end of his busy schedule. The reason for Pietersen's unavailability for both stints is that he's busy building a new home near Kruger National Park and wants to be more involved in wildlife conservation programmes.

The IPL comes at the end of my schedule. So I’m playing for Surrey now, in August-September. Then I play in South Africa in November, into December. I play in Australia all of December and all of January. Then I play the Pakistan Super League in February-March. So can’t play in India, it’s too long.

"I am still playing some of the best cricket of my career," he said. "I am 36 and I am fitter than I even was when I was playing for England. As long as I am fit and enjoying batting I will play on."

Pietersen pulled out of commentating on the Ashes this winter to play in a new Twenty20 league in South Africa which was launched on Monday in London.

"I came back from that first IPL, that second IPL and I was promoting it, and saying 'we've got to get more English guys into these set-ups'.

"It is nice to see the youngsters, (Chris) Woakes going out there, Stokes going out there. It was absolutely fantastic."

“Playing cricket is very important to me, but I’m heavily involved in wildlife conservation now and that will be my priority next summer.”

Top 10 Batsmen Of All Time

10 Greatest International Batsmen of all Time
1. Sir Donald Bradman (Australia)

Don Bradman was an Australian renowned cricketer. Bradman is rightly accredited as the greatest Test batsman of all time. Sir Don Bradman’s career Test average of 99.94 is the greatest achievement by any sportsman in sports history. Bradman was a name of patience, strategy, intelligence, fear and nightmare for bowlers.
Sir Don was given the title of “Knighthood” in 2009. Sir Don is undeniably one of the top ten greatest batsmen of all times in cricket history. A question arises here that why Sir Don Bradman has not placed at 1st in this ranking. Answer contains one reason that is, Sir Don scored majority of runs against England and during those days bowler were not aggressive and tactful as compare to these days.
Wisden tributes him in these words: “The greatest phenomenon in the history of cricket, indeed in the history of all ball games.”
His Amazing Average in test career remains One of the Seven Wonders in Cricket History.
                                                          2. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
                                    

Started playing cricket at a tender age of 16, Sachin holds the majority of batting records in cricket history. Tendulkar is considered the second best behind Sir Don Bradman in tests and in ODI’s, he is considered the greatest cricketer ever. Sachin was the first to score 10,000 runs in ODI’s and has totally scored 18,426 runs when he retired from ODI’s. In tests, Sachin has accumulated 15645 runs at an average of approximately 54. He was also the first batsman to score a 200 in ODI, score 100 international centuries and 50 centuries in tests. Sachin has also the world record of Most Man of the Match Awards in ODI’s Cricket History. Tendulkar has faced the most lethal bowlers during his playing days which included the likes of Waqar, Wasim, Akthar, Warne, Muralitharan, McGrath, Lee, Donald and many more.
“I’ll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for a six. I don’t think anyone apart from Don Bradman is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is just an amazing player.” – Shane Warne (Australia)
                                                           3. Ricky Ponting (Australia)
                                    

One of the most successful Australian captains and one of the All Time Successful Captain in Cricket History, As a player he is also the only cricketer in history to be involved in 100 Test victories. 
One of the highest run makers in his era. he scored 41 tests and 30 ODIs Tons in His Career. After being involved in over 160 Tests and 370 ODIs, Ponting is Australia’s leading run-scorer in Test and ODI cricket. He is one of only four players in history to have scored 13,000 Test runs.
According to former Australian captain Allan Border, what you see with Ponting is what you get, and “he wears his heart on his sleeve. Ponting was indeed a perfect batsman, perfect captain and perfect fielder. Ricky was famous for his perfect hook and pull shots.
                                                  4. Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies)                                   

Sir Vivian Richards was a greatest West Indian player. Sir Vivian was a right handed aggressive batsman. The people who had seen Vivian Richards playing, say that he was a most aggressive, fearless and devastating batsman. His bating was a nightmare for all the bowlers of the world. The word “swagger” is frequently used to describe his batting style. In his Test career, he scored 8,540 runs in 121 Test matches at an average of 50.23 and holds the record for scoring the fastest-ever Test century, from just 56 balls against England.
                                                5. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies)                                     

Sir Sobers is the One of greatest all rounder in cricket history. also the one the best batsman in cricket world ever seen. Garfield Sobers had very elegant shots and great pair of hands. In 1958, Sobers made a record of highest individual score in an inning, which could not be broken for 36 years. Lara scored 375 runs in 1994 and broke this record. Sobers was given the honorable title of “Knighthood” by Queen Elizabeth II. Sobers became the first player ever to hit six sixes in a single over of six consecutive balls. 
“I suppose I can gain some consolation from the fact that my name will be permanently in the record books” – Malcolm Nash after being hit for six sixes in an over by Gary Sobers.
                                                           6. Sunil Gavaskar (India)                                            

Sunil Gavaskar played for India in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Gavaskar was a greatest opening batsman in cricket history. During his era, he set the world record of test centuries and most runs. His record of 34 centuries remained unbroken for almost two decade which was later broken by Sachin Tendulkar in 2005.
Gavaskar could not be described as an attacking batsman, he had the ability of keeping the scoreboard ticking with unique shots such as the “late flick”. His focus of technical correctness over flair meant that his style of play was usually less suited to the shorter form of the game, at which he had less success. 

                                                       7. Brian Lara (West Indies)

Brian Lara is the only one greatest batsman in cricket history who played a test inning of 400 runs not out. He made this record in 2004 against England. A test average of 52.88 and an ODI average of 41 shows how good a player he was for West Indies during his days.
“Playing against him was a good test of your skills. Brian Lara is probably the only other guy in world cricket that pushed me like Tendulkar” – Brett Lee (Australia)
                                                         8. Rahul Dravid (India)                                      

Rahul Dravid has amazing ability in defense and play with patience. He has played lots of crucial innings in test cricket and ODIs. Dravid was rightly called an unbreakable rock of Indian bating line. Dravid has scored 36 centuries in Tests at an average of 53.19 and in one-dayers, Dravid has an average of 39.49.
“It does not get better than what Rahul Dravid did in this Test (the 2003 Test at Adelaide where he scored 233 and 72*). His batting was outstanding. Everyone has already exhausted superlatives so I would not bother myself with any additional praise but you could be sure my admiration for him has grown tremendously” – Allan Border, Former Australian Skipper on Dravid’s match winning knocks in 2003 Adelaide Test.
                                                     9. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)                                     

Jacques Kallis is one of the greatest batsman in world. Kallis is not only a good batsman but, is an excellent all rounder as well. Kallis is the only cricketer in the history of the game to hold more than 11,000 runs and 250 wickets in both one day and Test match cricket. with Average of 45 in ODIs and 57 in Tests. Kallis scored 13,289 runs in test cricket and 11,574 in ODI’s cricket.
“Whether on the front or back foot, he plays well on the on and off-side. Kallis is not Brain Lara or Ricky Ponting in terms of aggression or flair but he is rock solid and, added to that, has every shot in the book. Also his cover drive, straight drive and flick off the hip are right up there in terms of execution and attractiveness” – Micheal Vaughan, Former England Captain
                                                    10. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)                                               

Sanath Jayasuriya was a greatest Sri Lankan Player. Sanath revolutionized One Day International cricket with his aggressive bating and bowling tactics. All the bowlers of his era were afraid of him. Sanath never forgave any bowler while bating. Sri Lanka won the world cup of 1996 only because of Sanath Jayasuriya.Sanath played for Sri Lanka from 1989 to 2011.
“It is always a massive compliment to someone to say they changed the game, and his storming innings in the 1996 World Cup changed everyone’s thinking about how to start innings”– Glenn McGrath on Jayasuriya’s approach during 1996 World Cup.

12 Best Quotes On Virender Sehwag

In the history of game, Virender Sehwag will be remembered as one of the most impactful batsmen of all time.
Virender Sehwag has announced his retirement from all forms of International cricket and IPL. Sehwag has entertained millions of cricket fans all around the world ever since his debut in 2000.
One of the most destructive batsmen world cricket has ever seen, Virender Sehwag will always be remembered for his extra-ordinary ability to demolish the strongest bowling attacks and his fearless attitude. 

Here are some of the best quotes on India's irreplaceable opening batsmen :-

1) No matter how good and experienced you are, Virender Sehwag can kill your attitude - Brett Lee
2) A Batsman like Sehwag is never out of form - Mike Hussey
3) When Viv Richards retired I thought it was end of entertainment. But then came Virender Sehwag, the King of entertainment -Ramiz Raja
4) I have to learn from Sehwag how to play in the nervous 90's - Sachin Tendulkar
5) I would always have Virender Sehwag in my team. I want to watch him bat but not bowl to him - Shane Warne
6) Sehwag is the most unpredictable batsmen i have seen in my carrier- Glen Mcgrath
7) I Say it Again! I Never Saw Sir Viv Bat but I've Seen Sehwag Bat - Yuvraj Singh
8) He Is Don Of cricket - Bollywood Actor Farhan Akhtar
9) He is a gambler, a player who loves to take risks - Sourav Ganguly
10) Have to say Sehwag is the best player in the world to watch FEARLESS!- Michael Vaughan
11) I'd swap everything I've done in my miserable little life to bat like Virender Sehwag - British Journalist Piers Morgan
12) Having scored 298 and still hitting a six is something unimmaginable and you need to be a genius for that- Waquar Younis.

Jeff Thomson

1) Jeffrey Robert Thomson was born on the 16th of August 1950 in Greenacre, Sydney, New South Wales.
2) Jeff had an unusual sling-shot bowling action. In fact, his father Don bowled with the similar action. Years later one of his sons, Matt, replicated that action. Don’s two other sons didn’t bowl much, but whenever they did, the action was similar to their father’s.
3) Rod Marsh has stated that Thomson was the fastest bowler whom he has kept wickets to. In his opinion, Thomson bowled in excess of 160 Kmph and might have even touched 180 Kmph during his fastest spells.
4) Jeff Thomson always wanted a boat as a kid and as a toddler he always wanted toy boats. Jeff loved his beach excursions and fishing. 
5) Commenting on their bowling during the 1974–75 season, Wisden wrote: “ it was easy to believe they were the fastest pair ever to have coincided in a cricket team”.
6) Thomson attended the Condell Park Primary School and took up cricket there. From talking to girls to surfing to terrorising opposition team’s batsmen — his partner in crime was pacer Len Pascoe, then known as Lenny Durtanovich. Pascoe later went on to play 14 Tests and 29 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for Australia. 
7) Clive Lloyd corroborated Marsh's opinion when he said that Thomson was the fastest bowler he ever faced. 
8) In his early years, Thomson was equally good at cricket and soccer. He claims to have chosen cricket because it required less rigorous training than soccer. Once during a soccer competition, Thomson punched a referee as he was unhappy with several of his decisions as a result of which he was banned. 
9) England was called ‘Dad’s Army’ when they called 42-year old Colin Cowdrey to come in and do battle with the likes of Lillee, Walker, and of course, Thommo. Bowling to Denness, one of Thommo’s bouncers ripped from the surface and smashed into the sight screen on the first bounce. Colin Cowdrey, who witnessed the ball first said to Thommo on the way back to the latter’s bowling mark: ‘Good morning, my name is Cowdrey’. Needless to say, this did little to save Cowdrey as he was rendered with blow after blow on the body.
10) England skipper Mike Brearley had once famously described Thomsons’ pace: “Broken marriages, conflicts of loyalty, the problems of everyday life fall away as one faces up to Thomson.”
11) Thomson happens to be few of the living bowlers to bowl to the great Don Bradman. It was a rest day during a Test at Adelaide in 1978 and Thommo got the opportunity in backyard cricket. By his own admission, he thought, “I had just better bowl my leg-spinners as it wouldn’t look too good in the newspaper if I killed Don Bradman in a game of backyard cricket.” The 70-year-old Bradman faced him without any protection and smacked him. Thommo reckons that Bradman is the most remarkable batsman he bowled to.
12) The action of Jeff Thomson did not have a jump in the run-up, which meant that he was able to generate additional pace. As Richie Benaud would go on to describe the action, it was similar to that of a javelin thrower.
13) Thomson, a charming personality himself, married the pretty model Cheryl Wilson. The wedding flowers were supplied by the legendary Ray Lindwall.
14) In the World Cup 1975, Thomson once again proved his lethalness and this time against the minnows — Sri Lanka. Sunil Wettimuny and Duleep Mendis had launched a counterattack and this only infuriated Thomson who hit both the batsmen all over the body — targeting boots and ribcages. He sent both the batsmen to hospital. Wettimuny, hit on the boot was hobbling around in pain and Thommo famously said him, “Look mate, it’s [foot] not broken. But if you face up to the next ball, it bloody well will be broken!” After the match, Australian captain Ian Chappell introduced him as ‘The Ambassador to Sri Lanka.’
15) One batsman has described a bouncer from Jeff Thomson reaching the boundary board on the first bounce. One can only imagine the number of sight screens that would have been decimated by five ounces of the cricket ball when released by Jeff Thomson.
16) On January 27th 2016 Jeff was inducted in the Australian hall of fame
17) Graham Gooch was Jeff Thomson’s 200th wicket in Test cricket.

Ricky Ponting Picks His Best all-time IPL Playing XI

Ricky Ponting picks MS Dhoni as captain of his all-time IPL XI

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has picked Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the captain of his all-time Indian Premier League XI, which comprises of seven Indians and four overseas players

AB de Villiers, who has dominated almost every single bowler and on numerous occasions single-handedly took the Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory was left out of the playing XI.

Apart from that, big names such as Sunil Narine and Brendon Mccullum were not included as well.

Ponting’s all-time IPL XI:

Openers: Chris Gayle and David Warner

Middle order: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suresh Raina

Lower middle order and all-rounder: MS Dhoni (c and wk) and Dwayne Bravo

Spinners: Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh

Fast bowlers: Lasith Malinga and Ashish Nehra

Final Team:-

1) Chris Gayle (Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore)

2) David Warner (Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad)

3) Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

4) Rohit Sharma (Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians)

5) Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Lions)

6) MS Dhoni (c) (wk) (Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant)

7) Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Lions, Mumbai Indians)

8) Harbhajan Singh (Mumbai Indians)

9) Amit Mishra (Deccan Chargers, Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad)

10) Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)

11) Ashish Nehra (Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, Pune Warriors, Sunrisers Hyderabad)