Why is England going crazy over Steven Finn?

If I can recall correctly nearly every player that England have looked upon to deliver them from their poor record against Australia over the last decade has disappointed to a large extent. Yes, there have been some exception like Pietersen and Flintoff who flourished briefly before becoming vulnerable to personal and fitness-related issues. I still remember how gung-ho the English media was about players like Ronnie Irani, Ealham and Mark Alleyne, hoping that these players will be able to perform since their county records were supposedly great. Now, with the Ashes coming close, the English cricket media seems obsessed with Steven Finn and believe that he is another McGrath in the making. Whether this is due to over-optimism or simply because Finn releases the ball in a matter akin to the great Aussie bowler or due to a combination of both these factors, is beyond me. However, what still surprises me is that how the media in England starts hailing any new find as a potential Ashes winner. If you remember, Matthew Hoggard was placed on a same pedestal and was suppose to swing-out the Aussie batsmen but nothing of the sort happened, at least over a sustained period. There isn't a single English player in the last decade who has an Ashes record as consistent and significant as that of some Aussie players like Hayden, McGrath and Shane Warne. At best, some cricketers from the UK have surfaced from time to time and delivered brilliantly in small patches that simply cannot be equaled to records of these Aussie greats.....but then, reality isn't everyone's cup of tea, is it?

IPL3: Not jerking this—Daredevils do have an edge

You might say that I am blowing the same horn that has been voiced by some of the betting agencies who have placed the Delhi Daredevils as the most favored team to win the IPL3 but this isn’t so—the fact is that this is one of the most balanced sides in the third edition of the IPL. They have someone like Glenn McGrath waiting in the ranks and Rajat Bhatia hasn’t been listed for the first four matches though he is a very useful all-rounder. Further, there is an abundance of handy players in the side who can bat and bowl, including the likes of Sehewag and Dilshan who are good enough to win matches with their batting alone. Add to this mix, the likes of Gambhir, the Daredevil skipper, and DeVilliers and you have the most formidable batting line-up in the competition. The fielding standards too are at par with any other team playing in IPL3 and none of the players are scheduled to leave the side before the final match is played—a problem being faced by many sides in the competition, and none of the benched players are unfit or struggling for form. What all this means is that Daredevils are the only side that can field a full-fit and competitive side for each of their IPL3 league matches.

Asif's Day of Redemption

You can count upon a Pakistani paceman to deliver when the situation is most demanding and his presence in the dressing room is under scrutiny and these are the two conditions that prevailed when Asif bowled a magical spell to leave NZ at the crossroads of a certian loss. I have often called Asif a McGrath-like bowler although his antics are nothing like that of the Aussie great. Glenn McGrath was never in the news for what he did off the field and Asif seems to have spent more time appearing in court hearing and spending time with his team of lawyers to clear his name from an unending series of controversies.
That apart, he is a magnificient bowler. Even now he is not bowling as fast as he is capable of, seldom touching the 140 km/her-mark but the conditions that prevail in NZ, the moisture and the wind, are making it easier for him to take wickets. Further, the less said about the Kiwi batsmen the better - their footwork is awful apart from McCullum and Vettori and their ability to stay at the crease for even 2 hrs is highly suspect. Even the likes of Ross Taylor don't seem to understand that if they don't deliver, there is no second line of talent or more men in the dressing room to fall back upon - it is time the NZ batsment stood up to the challenge..for the moment though, Great going, Asif.