Indian Premier League and Cricket News by IPL Cricket Forum

Editorial - Dr Mohit Goyal

The inaugural season of the Indian Premier League has thrown up many surprises. One of them which has had praises and accolades from all corners has been the inspirational leadership of Shane Keith Warne.

Owners of Rajasthan Royals, Emerging Media had been confident right from the word go, on the back of their long association and involvement with world sports. And the spinning wizard has helped them keep their heads high.

The blonde from Victoria has been wielding magic right from his first test scalp, Ravi Shastri, to his last, 708^th in the form of English Andrew Flintoff. In between, he regularly produced unplayable deliveries and the big turning leg break that bowled Gatting round his legs in the 1993 Ashes proved only a trailer of things to follow.

After retirement he joined the English county Hampshire and led them very successfully but his captaincy grabbed most eyes only at the Indian Premier League probably owing to its higher viewership.

Dhoni and Warne have by far been the two best men at their teams’ helm in this season of the Indian Premier League - IPL. Dhoni’s work has been a little easier with Hayden and Hussey scoring big and his sterner test is likely to be when both of them have left for international duties.

Warny on the other hand has led a comparatively inexperienced bunch to some superb wins. He has shown excellent skills and mindful attitude by giving simple straight instructions and not complicating things for the youngsters. He has one instruction for each player and they have to carry it out on the field.

Graeme Smith and Kaif have been told to play the role of anchors when only one of them is at the crease. Pathan, Watson and Ravindra Jadeja have the clear instructions to go bang bang from the start. In bowling Watson bowls out and out quick; Munaf and Tanvir keep it straight and full while youngster Siddharth Trivedi tries out variations like bouncers, yorkers and slower balls. On the field he cheers up his team members and keeps them on their toes.

In the match against Kolkata at Jaipur he yelled at a fielder in the ring who did not follow the ball to the boundary and because the fielder on the boundary had to slide to stop the ball and get up and throw it back, it conceded an extra run. This incident was the testimony to the great cricketing brain that dwells in him. It has been a joy watching him lead this side. He is very intense in the nets which motivates other players watching a man sweat it out in the 38^th summer of his life.

Many people from cricket and media have previously talked about the leadership potential that vested in him. But controversies which gave this spin wizard the nickname “Hollywood”, took their toll. Incidents like supplying team and pitch information to bookies, taking banned substances and some bold uncalled for comments got him out of the reckoning for the captaincy of the Australian national team and left everyone wondering, “Did world cricket miss out on a charismatic captain?”

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