Lawyer bats for Andre Russell, maintains he is a clean athlete

Following a one year ban imposed on West Indies allrounder Andre Russell by anti-doping panel in Kingston, Jamaica for violating whereabouts clause, Russell's lawyer Patrick Foster has called his client as innocent and described him as a clean athlete. 

A three-member tribunal comprising Hugh Faulkner, Dr Marjorie Vassell and Dixeth Palmer, a former Jamaica cricketer, found Russell guilty of being negligent in filing his whereabouts on three separate occasions within a 12-month period in 2015. That - under the World Anti-Doping Agency rules - amounted to a failed dope test.

Manish Pandey - The New Manoj Tiwary?

Natural talent is a huge quality to have in any sport and cricket is no different but like every sport, there are teams in cricket who strive for talented players and there are teams who do not know how to use them. Back in 2009, when the technically sound batsman Manish Pandey  batting as an opener,became the first Indian batsman to score a century in IPL he would have expected an easy road ahead. Eight years later, he finds himself struggling to make into India's T20I side as a lower order batsman while his place in ODI and Test sides is all but confirmed.

Virat Kohli- The Captain's way ahead

Sachin Tendulkar, a man who led his team to many wins with his bat, left many critics in awe and his gave his fans countless moments of joy. In 1996, when a successor for India's then most successful captain Mohammad Azharuddin was to be finalized, selectors had an easy decision to make however, everything seemed come crashing down when India's blue eyed boy fell short of ideas during his reign as captain between 1996-97 to 1999-2000.

Doing it the left handed way

They say Cricket is a batsman's game and there is nothing to blame them. The pitches that gave wicked bounce and swing that made the batsmen look foolish seems a distant memory. The fact that the rules are now made very batsmen friendly and that the size of the edges of the modern day bats have become huge has only drifted the game in the batsmen's favour further.There were calls that it will make the bowlers lose interest in the game and that cricket will be reduced to a mere runfest instead of being an proper contest between bat and ball. However, players have always found a way to tackle tough situations. The bowlers have now developed new weapons in their armory like slower bouncers, cutters, doosra, carrom balls etc. to all sorts of mindboggling shots being played by the batsmen these days.

Little masters

Cricket is a game where not only skill of a player is given much significance, but good physic including the tall height for a player is given utmost momentousness too. We have often come across many cricket cognoscenti, critics and commentators referring to tall height of a player and how it gives him preeminence over the players with relatively shorter height. It is in fact, up to certain extent, true that tall height does give them a catbird seat as it helps gaining extra bounce to a bowler and long reach to a batsman.

One short of a legend

As published on Planetcricket

We sometimes think ourselves to be lucky to have been born in an era where we got the chance to witness so many cricketing legends. From Steve Waugh to Brian Lara, Warne to Murali but there are people who consider themselves ill-fated for this very reason. No, they are not their rivals; in fact they are their teammates! These people are none other than the talented players who are either reduced to playing a second fiddle role to their legendary teammates or worse they don’t get much opportunity due to the side being heavily packed by the big names.Cricket has always produced legends and also such tough lucked players for whom one should feel for. Their performance or feat often remains unnoticed. Its unfortunate for such cricketers who are otherwise brilliant but their performances gets overshadowed by their legendary teammates more often than not. For the most part of their career, they have to wait for long periods to get a chance to showcase their talent at the highest level and if they do get such an opportunity, only some are able to make their own name and not get outranked by the players whom they have to fill the big shoes of.

Battle of the Blues:133*

As published on Planetcricket

Cricket is often referred as a gentleman’s game but when it comes to matches, nothing is better than watching or being a part of a clash between arch-rivals – be it the Ashes or India vs Pakistan – the intensity in such games is so high that its unbelievable. Such games are known to generate some outstanding cricket and are the prime reason why cricket is loved the world over.

World Champions-A Year Later...

As published on Planetcricket

25 June 1983, a day that Indian cricket could never forget. On a fine morning at the Mecca of cricket -Lords- (in The Times' words) "Kapil's men turn world upside down". This was the day, when the cannon fodder had turned cannon. This was the day, on which India not only stunned the world to beat world champions and the most feared outfit, West Indies, but also inspired several thousands of children back home take cricket as a sport. That proved to be the foundation for Indian cricket to uplift themselves to the next level.

Bangldesh:Tigers Of Tomorrow

As hosts Bangladesh make a steady start against Pakistan in the final of Asia Cup chasing the target of 237, one, even if he/she is not is a Bangladeshi supporter, would be hoping (unless of course you are a Pakistan fan) that Bangladesh once again pull it off and get their name in the history books! They had been outstanding on their way to the final. They not only have played some excellent cricket but the fact that they have managed to beat the World Champions and finalists of last two World Cups will give their morale a huge boost!

The Man With Midas Touch

As published on Planetcricket

As the members of Indian cricket team walks past the fans, many of them are seen trying their best to get the autograph of their stars. Amongst them is a bright eyed young boy, looking very happy on getting the autograph of Asish Nehra. Few years down the line, he is touted as the next big thing of Team India. He is none other than Virat Prem Kohli.

Rahul Dravid - Game's Gentleman

June 1996. It was the second Test of the 3 match series in which two batsmen made their debut. While one of them -Sourav Ganguly- went on to make century before being bowled by an Allan Mullaly delivery, the other one was unlucky to get out on 95 getting caught behind off Chris Lewis. While Sourav Ganguly's innings was celebrated, not many take a note a not of Rahul Dravid's slow innings (strike rate of 35.58) which had no out of box shots or any power hits. It was plain copy book style of cricket that the young man played.Both these players went on to become two of the most reliable batsmen of Indian cricket and even went on to captain the side. However, while the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar enjoyed being in limelight more often than not, it was Rahul Dravid who was India's man in crisis. Rahul Dravid was a master of playing every shot in the book. He was a complete team man and had gained immense respect even from the rivals through his skill and selflessness.

Leg Spin - A Fading Art

As published on Planetcricket

Its a fine morning of 1993, Mike Gatting is standing in utter surprise. He and many others were stunned. It wasn't because Gatting lost his wicket; it was the manner in which he got out. The ball turned from way outside the leg stump to disturb the off stump of the right hander. Yes, it was the "ball of the century" and the bowler was none other Shane Keith Warne, one of the greats of the game.