Things We've Learned From The IPL Today (21/04)

April 21:

Punjab v. Rajasthan


Star among stars... Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals)
It didn't take long for Warne to start dominating matches through sheer presence, but the more noteworthy part of today's performance is that he appears to have found himself his best wicket-creating ally since Ian Healy... Kamran Akmal. A veritable virtuoso at the art of appealing early, loudly, and often, Akmal looks set for a nice stint aiding Warne in manufacturing wickets out of nothing more than two sets of vocal chords, the tension in the air, and the weak will of an insecure umpire.

Old-timer on an egg-timer... Mahela Jayawardene (King's XI Punjab)
Maybe it was the nerves about the big occasion. Maybe it was confusion at getting overlooked for Simon Katich in the team's first game. But dancing down the pitch on your 4th delivery in order to get thoroughly stumped by a reality TV loser (see below) is no one's ideal IPL debut.

Catch from the catchment... Dinesh Salunkhe (Rajasthan Royals)
Jennifer Hudson went from finishing 7th in American Idol to getting an Oscar in 2007. Dinesh Salunkhe goes from coming second in Cricket Star to winning a Catch from the Catchment honour at Outside the Line. See, kids, dreams can come true. We used to joke that you could grab some random person from the street to bowl with Shane Warne or Glenn McGrath and they'd be made to look like matchwinners. No need to joke anymore. (Although, to be fair, Salunkhe was also a candidate in the Royals' first game, after a very measured batting performance coming low down the order. It also doesn't hurt that Salunkhe's face looks just like Junior's from Cool Runnings, or that he's got the same body language as Alfonso 'Carlton' Ribeiro, from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.)

3 Bullets to the head...

• Unquestionable low point of the tournament so far -- Ranjit Fernando and Ian Bishop plugging Diet Pepsi in the commentary box for about a minute, while pretending it was all just part of the conversation. Do you have to hand in your dignity at the door, fellas, or do they let you keep it in your lockers while you're working?
  
  
• The best euphemism I've ever heard for "This guy is a dirty chucker!" comes courtesy of Ian Bishop, while watching a slo-mo replay of S. Trivedi's action: "His arm is a little, um... 'flexy' on release."
  
  
• Dinesh Salunkhe at his 'best':
  
  

Comments

[miriam]

isn't that Murali in the clip?

[J Rod]

I liked Ian Bishops whole demeanor on the flexy arm.

I believe he also said, he has an interesting action. I agree, it's very interesting for a chucker.

[lefty j]

If chucking gets wickets, then i'm all for it.