14 Friday 11th April, 2008

Alec Stewart repre- Greed and sented England in 131 Tests and cap- Successful Test tained them between 1997-1999. He also arrogance briefly captained the side in 1993 and and The Indian Premier 2000. He retired at League (IPL) is in the the age of 40 in process of transforming 2003. the franchising and mer- cricketers live chandising of cricket in India: if it has sold itself for more than a billion dol- lars for a ten-year period, it has been able to auction players for sums ranging from $50,000 to $1.5 million. for longer But the transformation is clearly for the worse, if we Cricketers who play more many reasons why cricketers were "gentlemen" can go by the akratic way Test matches can expect to successful cricketers would who came from privileged in which the IPL has enjoy a longer innings in life, be more likely to live longer backgrounds or high-ranking sought to dictate terms and according to research. than those deemed less suc- jobs and were able to take conditions for the accredi- A study of England play- cessful. One suggestion is time off work to play in tation of journalists. IPL Commissioner and Indian Under the guise of pro- ers found that those who rep- that they benefited from the important matches. Cricket board Vice-President Lalit tecting its intellectual Modi. resented their country more kudos they earned and this As expected, the study property rights, it issued a than 25 times had an average stayed with them for the rest found that the privileged set of guidelines for media and without limit in time” life expectancy of almost 80, of their lives, meaning they "gentlemen" lived to an aver- bristling with unaccept- all photographs and compared with 73 for those were less likely to be stressed age age of 77, three years able conditions. The most images requested. Or the blanket prohibition on the who played fewer than 25 and suffer ill-health." longer than the working- outrageous condition in use of pictures taken by a times. He looked at 418 cricketers class professionals, who had the original accreditation guidelines was this clause: newspaper or news agency The research, published who played for England an average life expectancy of “For the avoidance of for online use or syndica- today in the British Journal between 1876, when the first 74. doubt, IPL shall be entitled tion. Or the quantitative of Sports Medicine, suggests Test was played, and 1963. The study appears to sup- to use and reproduce, free limit (of six) imposed on that cricketers who were The average life expectancy port research carried out by of charge, worldwide and the number of photo- more successful were happier for those who played more Canadian scientists among without limit in time any graphs that may be uploaded by a newspaper because of the acclaim they than 25 Tests was 77.95, com- actors. They found that and all or news agency on its web- received and were therefore pared with 73.25 years for the Oscar winners lived up to six photographs/images cap- tured by the Accredited site. less likely to suffer illness. others. years longer than actors who Party at any ground and The news agencies faced However, those who The research considered did not win an award. the Accredited Party shall monetary demands in reached the pinnacle of their players' social backgrounds, The findings make happy make the same available November 2007 from careers by captaining which influences how long reading for promptly [within 24 hours Cricket Australia before the Brisbane Test against England did not live any people live. During the years wicketkeeper/batsman Alec of a match] to the IPL...at Sri Lanka; but a one-match longer than those who did studied, cricket players were Stewart, England's most his/her cost.” But with the Editors boycott had a salutary not, the study found. classed as either "gentlemen", capped cricketer, who was 45 Guild of India and the impact. FIFA dropped Professor Paul Boyle, from who tended to be wealthier, on Tuesday. He played in 133 Indian Newspaper Society curbs on digital publica- the University of St Andrews or professional "players", who Tests before his retirement in teaching the fledgling a les- tion of photographs during in Fife, who carried out the were working class. 2003. son or two in real politik, the 2006 football World Cup research, said: "There are Until 1963, many English Telegraph IPL Commissioner Lalit following a worldwide boy- Modi promised a revision cott threat. Last year, the of the guidelines based on rugby World Cup ran into a the discussions. similar problem from However, as the Editors international agencies Guild has pointed out cor- before a compromise was Sidebottom Berry highlights rectly, the revised terms reached. These sports bod- and conditions “still con- ies have much to learn tain clauses unacceptable from the progressive, open, to the media and would and access-promoting atti- re-affirms IPL rising aggression seriously affect the inde- tude of the International pendence of the editors, Olympic Committee. especially when it comes to After all, where will The editor of the 2008 Wisden from international teams downwards.” the selection and use of professional sport be with- Cricketers’ Almanack has called on the The editor’s notes also focus on the interest photographs.” out media support, cooper- game’s world administrators to clamp England and Wales Cricket Board’s fail- No self-respecting media ation, and goodwill? Greed down on physical aggression. ure to oversee their commandment to organisation is likely to and arrogance and a total England paceman Ryan people will play.” Scyld Berry - editing the 145th edition the England team - namely ‘thou shall be Sidebottom admits he would Former England accept the IPL’s over-the- lack of common sense of the famous yellow-jacketed book, first or second in the world in Test and seem to be driving the IPL be interested in playing in claims the which goes on sale on Thursday - claims one-day cricket, and reach the final of a top demand that newspa- the Indian Premier League. ECB will not be able to retain along a path of confronta- bodily contact is sullying the traditional global one-day tournament by 2009’. pers and news agencies The England and Wales such a tight grip on their tion, which will surely image of the sport. England are currently ranked fourth must make available to IPL Cricket Board recently hard- players over the situation. bring on a media boycott. In his maiden ‘Notes by the Editor’ in and seventh in one-day “for use and reproduction, ened their stance towards the The IPL is run by the free of charge, worldwide The Hindu star-studded Twenty20 tour- Board of Control for Cricket section, Berry suggests 2007 was charac- internationals while they have yet to nament by confirming no in India and is backed by the terised by an alarming increase in such win a recognised tournament, placing centrally-contracted players International Cricket on-field incidents. them level with Zimbabwe and would be taking part. Council. “I fear the day is approaching when a Bangladesh on that front. Batsman With such big money on high-profile, televised cricket match will Berry insists the England team has to Mosley future has already complained it is offer to players, he feels it is see an outbreak of physical violence on become the absolute priority for the “ridiculous” that England inevitable that English play- the field - and nothing could be more ECB with grassroots cricket and county players cannot feature in the ers will play. injurious to all concerned,” Berry wrote. affairs very much secondary. lucrative new league, even Gooch said: “Preventing physical violence on the “We all know from the glorious sum- hinges on key vote though it clashes with the “Accommodation will be pitch - as more and more matches are mer of 2005 that nothing makes the start of the domestic season. made between our board and played for more and more money - will sport grow in every way so much as the Max Mosley’s future as members (of the FIA) are Other countries have the players. There’s a lot of require vision and leadership.” success of the national team,” Berry FIA president will be decid- unhappy with the situation allowed some of their players sabre rattling but it will all England bowler James Anderson was wrote, reflecting on the Ashes win of ed by a vote of confidence and feel he should reconsid- to sign up with Indian fran- be sorted out in the end. fined 50% of his match fee in a shoulder- three years ago. at the organisation’s er his position, while others chises for the six-week event “I don’t think people will bumping incident with West Indies bats- “Many more people watched and extraordinary general feel that it is simply his pri- but so far Dimitri want to be at loggerheads man Runako Morton last summer while played than the usual white, male, mid- assembly on 3 June. vate life. Mascarenhas of Hampshire - with each other. among others “the worst example came dle-class constituency. To be the best has His position has been “But unless he can con- not centrally contracted - is “Either in the Kanpur international when to be the primary objective of the under threat after the News vince the FIA that there the only English play- players on Gautam Gambhir ran straight down the game’s governing body. Nothing less.” of the World newspaper was no Nazi element, it will er to fully join. central con- claimed that Mosley took be a very, very tough fight pitch and straight into Shahid Afridi”. England duo Ian Bell and Ryan The only other tracts will part in a “Nazi-style orgy in ahead for him.” Berry praised the International Sidebottom, England bowling coach Englishman involved is have to have a torture dungeon” An FIA statement read: Gloucester- their Cricket Council for outlawing the prac- Ottis Gibson, for his stunning final-sea- Mosley has denied any “The FIA can confirm that shire’s remu- tice of throwing the ball ‘at’ the bats- son hurrah with Durham, Shivnarine Nazi connotations and apol- the members of the senate Jeremy neration man rather than ‘to’ the wicketkeeper Chanderpaul and Zaheer Khan were ogised for any embarrass- have unanimously approved Snape, who greatly during matches. named as the celebrated five cricketers ment. the proposal of the presi- will work enhanced But he added: “Now the ICC must be of the year. The secret ballot, which dent of the FIA that further as a high- or they will no less effective in preventing physical Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul- will take place in Paris, to the recent press coverage perform- have to be violence. Haq is featured amid a quintet of greats comes after Mosley himself relating to his private life, ance coach accommodat- “For once this taboo is broken, it who failed to make the Wisden big five asked for the meeting. an extraordinary general with ed within the could rapidly spread, just as sledging - during their careers. Mosley has come under assembly should be con- Mascare- contract.” sustained personal abuse - has spread (cricket365.com) intense pressure to resign, vened.” nhas’ with several Formula One The 67-year-old missed Rajasthan Ryan car manufacturers and last week’s Grand Prix in Royals. national motorsport organi- Bahrain after F1 supremo Sidebottom, Sidebottom sations expressing their dis- Bernie Ecclestone admitted named as one approval of his conduct. the Bahraini royal family of Wisden’s five South African team asks for But Mosley, the son of “would not like” his atten- cricketers of former British Union of dance in the Kingdom. the year, hopes Fascists leader Oswald, has Mosley has been FIA a way can be enhanced security after threat taken a defiant stand and is president since 1993. His found for taking legal action over the position is elected by the England’s best to claims. FIA membership of nation- play. KANPUR, India (AP) - South Africa's The threat to the test match was BBC sports news corre- al automobile clubs and He told BBC touring team has sought security assur- revealed Wednesday by the CNN-IBN news spondent Adam Parsons motorsport bodies and his Radio Five Live: “It’s ances from the Indian cricket board follow- channel, which quoted unnamed police believes Mosley has a diffi- latest four-year term does down to England and cult task to hold onto his not expire until October I’m contracted to them. ing reports that militants plan to target the sources in New Delhi as saying they had job at the head of world 2009. “The calendar is very third test match starting Friday in this information about a possible attack by motorsport. hectic and to play for northern city of Kanpur. Islamic militants during the five-day “There is a great deal of England you represent your South Africa team manager Logon match. concern in motorsport and country and I’m concentrat- the FIA - they are taking a ing on that. Naidoo wrote to the BCCI expressing con- Kanpur's senior superintendent of battering over this,” said “If there is a window for cerns over the players' security, a top police, Ashok Kumar Singh, earlier told Parsons. the IPL then I would love to Indian cricket official told the The reporters that 4,000 security staff would be “He isn’t denying play in it, of course.” Associated Press on condition of anonymi- deployed at the test match venue, including involvement in the orgy and Another England player to the element of embarrass- voice his approval for the ty because he was not authorized to talk to police reinforcements and equipment from ment involved but he is new tournament is opening the media. districts surrounding the city. denying Nazi batsman Alastair Cook. Naidoo had also contacted Indian police India has been hit by several terror references. Cook claimed the IPL was officials seeking safeguards. attacks in recent years, including the July “He also says “excellent for cricket” and that if he wins could “only benefit the Kanpur city police and BCCI officials 2006 Mumbai train blasts that killed more the court case, sport” if it proves successful. subsequently held a meeting with South than 200 people - attacks India blames on then he will He added: “Issues will be African team management on Thursday to Pakistani-backed militants. donate the sorted out as to when explain the security arrangements made South Africa leads India 1-0, going into money to the England players could play FIA founda- in it and if the opportunity inside the ground, around the stadium and third and final match of the series. tion. M Ml