Saturday 24 September 2011

Shaun Tait

Shaun Tait Biography:

Shaun William Tait (born 22 February 1983 in Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia) is a professional Australian cricketer. Tait plays domestic cricket for South Australia and is also a representative for Australia at Test, One Day International and Twenty20 International level. He is a right arm fast bowler. Tait's delivery action is unique and marked by significant lateral twisting of the spine. The 'slingy' nature of his action has led to comparisons with former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson. Dubbed \"The Wild Thing\", Tait is considered one of the fastest bowlers in the world and delivers the ball with phenomenal speed, at around 150 km/h, and occasionally faster. One delivery was measured at 160 km/h in an One Day International on 4 February 2007 against New Zealand. Despite his speed, Tait has often been described as \"erratic\" and is capable of bowling many extras. His unpredictability, however, is seen as a weapon to some, and his exceptional strike rate seems to confirm this. Tait has also been criticised as \"expensive\", however others have mentioned that this is irrelevant, as his main role as a \"strike bowler\" is to take wickets rather than keep the run rate down.

Shaun Tait

Zubin Surkari vs Shaun Tait:

Fastest Ball - Shaun Tait 100.1 mph (161.1km/h) :

Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir Biography:

Gautam Gambhir (born 14 October 1981, in Delhi) is an Indian opening batsman. He has been a member of the Indian national cricket team since 2003 (ODIs) and 2004 (Tests). Gambhir had been a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket with an average of over 50 but his two successive double-hundreds in 2002 (one of them against the visiting Zimbabweans) made him a strong contender for India's opening slot. He became only the fourth Indian batsman to score a double century in a tour game at home; the previous three being Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Sachin Tendulkar. Gambhir was educated at the Modern School, New Delhi. Gambhir was selected in 2000 for the first intake of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. He made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in the TVS Cup in 2003. In his third match, he scored 71 and was named Man of the Match. His maiden century {103 off 97 balls) came against Sri Lanka in 2005. In 2004, he made his Test debut against Australia in the fourth and last Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy but did himself no favours by getting out for 3 and 1. He made amends in his second Test, however, scoring 96 against the South Africans. His maiden Test century came against Bangladesh in December 2004. Gambhir then made a number of starts in the home series against Pakistan in 2005, but was able to make only one half-century in six innings. He made 97 in Zimbabwe later that year, but failed to reach 30 against Sri Lanka at home, repeatedly struggling against Chaminda Vaas, and was subsequently dropped from the Test team. He was replaced in Tests by Wasim Jaffer, who made a double hundred and a hundred in seven Tests. He has often been criticized as not being able to convert his starts of 20 and 30 into larger scores and his string of poor scores is continually cited as evidence for this assertion. While he has been out of the Test team, he has played a number of One Day Internationals for India between 2005 and 2007. However, he was not selected for the 2007 Cricket World Cup as the selectors opted for a top-order of Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, and Sachin Tendulkar. After India's first-round exit from the tournament, Gambhir was selected for the One Day International on India's 2007 tour of Bangladesh. Gambhir scored his second century on that tour and was subsequently selected for the One Day International on India's tour to Ireland in 2007. He scored an unbeaten 80 against Ireland in the first game of that tour and was awarded the man of the match award for that effort. In the post-match interview, he indicated that performing more consistently was a top priority for his career as he had done so in the past. If he does become more consistent, he could cement his place as a One Day International opener in the Indian cricket team. Gambhir was selected in India's squad for the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, which India went on to win in South Africa, beating Pakistan in the final. Gambhir performed well in the shortest form of the game, ending the tournament as India's top run scorer, with 227 at an average of 37.83, including three half-centuries which included a crucial 75 runs off 54 balls against Pakistan in the final. 2008 started well for Gambhir. At home, he scored an unbeaten 130 in the Ranji Trophy final to help Delhi beat Uttar Pradesh by nine wickets just two days before the team for the ODI tournament in Australia was to be announced. Gambhir was forced to miss the Test series in Australia due to a shoulder injury. In the 2007-08 CB Series, he scored an unbeaten 102 at the Gabba against Sri Lanka in a match washed out due to rain. Three weeks later at Sydney, he scored a career-best 113 off 119 balls against Australia, in a high scoring match which India lost by 18 runs. He finished the CB series as the leading run-scorer with 440 runs. In 2008 Gautam finally solidified his place in the Indian Test team with a string of high scores. Opening the batting with Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag, he scored 858 runs at over 61 in seven matches as of December including a double century vs. Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However in the same match he was involved in controversy when he was found to have thrown an elbow at Australia all-rounder Shane Watson while taking a run. Gambhir denied the charges in a media conference, claiming the elbow was unintentional, but pleaded guilty in the hearing and served a one-Test ban for the incident.

Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir Vs Kamran Akmal Clash | India Vs Pak Cricket Fight:

IPL 2009: Best of Gautam Gambhir:

Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle Biography:

Christopher \"Chris\" Henry Gayle (born 21 September, 1979 in Kingston, Jamaica) is a West Indian cricketer who plays international cricket for the West Indies and domestic cricket for Jamaica. He is a hard-hitting left-handed opening batsman who can bowl right-arm off spin when called upon. Gayle has a variety of quality shots that he can perform. Gayle played for the West Indies at youth international level after he made his first-class debut aged 19 for Jamaica. He played his first One Day International 11 months later, and his first Test match 6 months after that. Gayle, who normally opens the innings when he plays for the West Indies, is a destructive batsman who is most effective playing square of the wicket. In July 2001, Gayle (175), together with Daren Ganga (89) established the record for opening partnerships at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo when they put on 214 together against Zimbabwe. However, generally speaking he had a slow start to his international career, but invigorated it in 2002, ending the year with three centuries against India in November and becoming the fourth West Indian to score 1,000 runs in a calendar year. Along with Vivian Richards, Sanath Jayasuriya and Brian Lara he is the only player in One Day International history to have three or more scores of 150. In 2005, Gayle was dropped for the first Test against South Africa along with six other players following a dispute over sponsorship issues. He returned for the second test but had a poor series until the fourth Test, where he made his career-best: a match-saving 317. It was the first ever triple century against South Africa and up until Mahela Jayawardene made 374, it was the highest individual Test score against them. In August 2005, Gayle joined Worcestershire for the rest of the English season, playing eight matches. He made two half-centuries in three first class matches and two half-centuries in five one-day matches, and won one Man of the Match award in the one-day National League. However, Worcestershire were relegated after Gayle made 1 in the final match against Lancashire. Gayle was named Player of the 2006 Champions Trophy, where the West Indies nearly defended the title which they won in 2004, being defeated in the final by Australia. Gayle scored three centuries and totaled 474 runs, 150 more than any other batsman, and also took eight wickets in as many matches. Gayle, in keeping with the rest of the West Indies team, had a poor World Cup in 2007. He recorded a series of low scores; the one exception being a blistering 79 off 58 balls against England in the West Indies' final match. Gayle currently holds the record for the highest innings in a Twenty20 International, having scored 117 against South Africa in the World Twenty20 Championship, and, to date, is the only batsman to have hit a century in the Twenty20 format, hitting ten sixes in the match. He is currently the only cricketer to have hit centuries in all three formats of international cricket. In April 2008, Gayle was auctioned by the franchise Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premier League, but missed the opening games due to an ongoing Sri Lanka tour to the Caribbean. When he finally joined the team, he missed out on the action due to a groin injury he picked up during that tour. Afterwards, he had to leave to join the West Indies team for a home series against Australia, thereby not playing in the inaugural version of the IPL at all.

Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle 92 (40) vs Queensland, 2010/11 KFC Big Bash:

Chris Gayle 152* vs South Africa 2003/04:

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar Biography:

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was born on April 24, 1973 in Mumbai, India. He went to Shradashram Vidyamandir, a high school in Mumbai, where he began his cricketing career under his coach Ramakant Achrekar. He attended the MRF Pace Foundation during his schooldays to train as a fast bowler, but Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who saw him training, was not much impressed and suggested that Tendulkar should focus on his batting instead. As a young boy, Tendulkar would practice for hours at the net, and was driven hard by his coach Achrekar.

While at school, his extraordinary batting skills got noticed by the sports circuit. People felt that the young boy would soon become one of the greats in cricket. In the 1988 season, he scored a century in every inning that he played. In one of the inter school matches that year, he had an unbroken 664-run partnership with friend and team mate Vinod Kambli.

When he was 14, Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar a great Indian batsman of that time, gave him a pair of his own light pads. This touching gesture greatly encouraged the budding cricketer, who 20 years later broke Gavaskar’s world record of 34 Test centuries.

In 1988, when he was just under 16, he scored 100 not out in for Bombay against Gujrat. This was on his first-class debut. He then scored a century in his first appearance in the Deodhar and Duleep Trophy. Mumbai captain Dilip Vengsarkar picked him up after seeing him batting Kapil Dev in the nets. That season he was Bombay’s highest run-getter. In the Irani Trophy final, He made an unbeaten century. He scored a century in all three of his Irani Trophy, Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy debuts, and became the first player to do so. He was selected for the tour of Pakistan next year.

At the very young age of 16, Sachin played his first Test match against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989. In this Test, he received several blows to his body at the hands of Waqar Younis, a pace bowler. He made just 15 runs. In the last test in Sialkot, he had a bloody nose from a bouncer, but he went on playing. He scored better in the subsequent games, scoring 53 runs of 18 balls at Peshawar.

In the 1990 Test in England he scored a century at Old Trafford. The English were highly impressed by his disciplined display of immense maturity. He played many types of strokes. His off-side shots from the back foot greatly impressed the English. Though short in height, he confidently faced short deliveries from the English pace bowlers. His great performance made him look the embodiment of Gavaskar, India’s former famous opener.

During the 1991-1992 tour of Australia Tendulkar scored and unbeaten 148 in Sydney and another century on a bouncing pitch a Perth.

At the age of 19, Tendulkar was in England, playing for Yorkshire in 1992. He scored 1070 runs at an average of 45.25 while playing for the English county as the first overseas player.

n the 2003 Cricket World Cup, he made 673 runs in 11 matches which enabled India reach the final. Although Australia won the trophy Tendulkar was given the Man of the Tournament award.

Shortly after this Tendulkar developed a tennis elbow and he was out of cricket for a while. But by 2005, he was back in form. He played well against Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Tendulkar performed very well against Bangla Desh and he was adjudged the Man of the Series in the Future Cup against South Africa.

Today Tendulkar is a national icon to fans all over the world. He is the most worshipped cricketer in the world. Tendulkar has been granted the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Shri, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Padma Vibhushan by the Indian government.

Personal Life

In 1995, Sachin married Anjali, a doctor and the daughter of Gujarati industrialist Anand Mehta. They have two children, Sara and Arjun. Tendulkar now sponsors 200 underprivileged children every year through a Mumbai-based NGO.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar 91 vs England | Oval Test - 2011:

Sachin Tendulkar 124(92) - India vs Zimbabwe Final at Sharjah 1998:

Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist Biography:

Adam Craig Gilchrist was born on the 14th of November 1971 in Bellingen New South Wales, and went to Deniliquin Primary School. He wanted to be the world’s fastest bowler, until he saw a pair of shiney wicketkeeping gloves on the shelf of a Shepparton shop in country Victoria. Stan and June Gilchrist, realising how fascinated the youngest of their four children was with the gloves, later returned and bought them. It was Adam’s Christmas present that year, 1981, and it was the start of his wicketkeeper career, which will have taken him to South Africa, England, New Zealand, India, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the West Indies as his career goes by. Within two years, Adam and his young mates from Deniliquin Primary School had created history, becoming the first country team to win the Taber Shield (a knockout competition for primary schools in New South Wales). Adam was the wicketkeeper, opening batsman, and captain of the team. “He would’ve opened the bowling if he could’ve. He wanted to be in everything.” Stan said of his son. “Adam wanted to be the fastest bowler in the world before he spotted those gloves. Then he wanted to be Rod Marsh - there and then. In 1984, secondary school-teacher Stan was on the move again. This time it was from Deniliquin, in the bottom of New South Wales, to Lismore at the top of the state. Leg-spinner Stan became captain of the local cricket team. Adam 13, cut his teeth in the cricket arena with his siblings, Jacki, Dean, and Glenn, and was promoted to first grade following impressive performances with bat and gloves. “It’s hard to judge on country tracks but I thought he could make a good keeper. He could take me no worries,” Stan said.

Adam Gilchrist

IPL 2009 Powerplay: Adam Gilchrist:

Adam Gilchrist 149 World Cup Final:

Brett Lee

Brett Lee Biography:

Brett Lee entered the world on November 8, 1976. He is the second of three sons born to Bob and Helen Lee; his siblings being older brother Shane, and younger brother Grant.

Brett grew up in Wollongong, New South Wales where the young Lee family had chosen to settle. His father worked at BHP steelworks, and he continues to work there today as a qualified metallurgist.

Soccer, basketball and skiing in the Snowy Mountains were three of the early sports that Brett and his brothers were introduced to during the school holidays, and on the rare times they were indoors, they were encouraged to play the piano. According to Helen, they were all good, but Brett didn't have time to learn because he couldn't sit still for 5 minutes!

Fortunately, Brett loved his cricket and showed an instant talent for it - all three Lee boys did. In Brett's first "real" game of cricket, when Brett was just 9 years old, he took 6-0 in one over, all bowled (side note: if that wasn't a sign from above, then I don't know what is!). Some of the opposition team members started crying, and soon enough, parents from other opposition teams started complaining that Brett was just too fast! Even Brett's own mother felt sorry for the opposition!

Brett loved seeing batsmen backing away and stumps flying - a common sight against his bowling at this age - but he wasn't prepared for the damage a cricket ball could do. He claimed his first "victim" at the age of 12. As Brett says, "I remember hearing this really loud crack and I saw him stumbling. There was blood all over the pitch. I felt sick; it shocked me. As much as I wanted to bowl as fast as I could at that age, seeing the results made me think I'd gone too far."

The next few years saw Brett continue his steady rise through the cricketing ranks culminating in his selection in the Australian Under-19 team for a tour of India in March '94. A back injury soon after forced Brett to lay low for a while, but with his unwavering determination and hard work, he ensured that the injury wasn't going to be the be all and end all of his cricketing career.

In '97-98, Brett's efforts were rewarded when he was selected to make his first-class debut for NSW in a Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia. It just took the one match for Brett to make an impact on the state scene, and the bruised and beaten Warriors team returned home to WA saying that the NSW Blues had perhaps discovered the fastest bowler in Australia.

Just one month later, Brett received higher honours when he was chosen to play for Australia "A" against South Africa. He took two wickets in the match, but more significantly, he managed to screw up his back again. The stress fractures from his previous injury had re-opened. This time the recovery took much longer and he was put in a brace for more than three months. "It went from my head to my bum, I looked like Frankenstein, and was bascially off my feet for 14 weeks. The rest of the season was a write off."

But things weren't all doom and gloom for Brett with his second back injury. Six months earlier he received a job offer from Barclay's Menswear store to sell suits. Brett jumped at the opportunity. His employer, Richard Bowman, says, "He was taught all about sizes, fittings, fabrics and techniques. He fell straight into it. He loved clothes, and I allowed him to dress in our suit and shirts. That was the beginning of the walking public relations machine."He continues, "Schoolgirls go nuts over him." "...we once had a mini-riot out the front of the shop...there were girls screaming...when I heard the noise I immediately thought there had to be a pop star somewhere. I can understand how young girls adore him. He's just so clean and keen. So pure."

After his 21st birthday, Brett moved to Sydney to be closer to work. He shared an flat with NSW cricketer Rod Davison near the city.

Having spent the following season regaining the lost strength in his back and playing for his club and state side, Brett was soon nearly firing at his brilliant best. The next 1999-2000 season proved to be an good one for Brett. He had several great performances taking wickets at an impressive strike rate. He was again rewarded for his efforts by being named in the Australian Test squad to face Pakistan in the third and final Test at the WACA. He did not make the final playing XI and was given the 12th man duties. But Brett being Brett saw it as a positive thing because he "had the chance to get a feel of the Test match, the team, and the dressing room without the pressure of having to perform."

Boxing Day Test 2000 - Brett makes his Test debut! He takes a wicket in his very first over, another soon after, and then takes three in his fourteenth over! 5 wickets on debut - a fairy tale start!

His ODI debut was also a memorable one, with big brother, Shane also being named in the squad - their first ODI for Australia!

Since then, apart from a couple of injuries, the rise of Brett Lee as a world-class cricketer has continued at a meteoric rate. He has continued to tear the hearts out of the opposition teams with his fearsome fast bowling, and has proved to be a useful tail-end batsmen with the ability to whack huge sixes and provide entertainment for the crowds.

Brett's status these days, is like that of a superstar. He resides in the trendy Pyrmont area close to Sydney. He also has endorsements and sponsorship offers being thrown at him left, right and center. But there has no better indication of Brett's popularity than when he was named runner-up in Cleomagazine's annual Bachelor of the Year competition in 2000.

On June 3, 2006, Brett married Elizabeth (Liz) Kemp in Fitzroy Falls on a private estate belonging to Alan Jones. They have a son, Preston Charles Lee (born on November 16, 2006). Brett and Liz confirmed their separation in August 2008. While rumours quickly surfaced, the reasons for split are private.

Following the retirement of bowling great, Glenn McGrath, Brett became the spearhead of the Australian bowling attack in 2007/08 and he has since produced the best bowling of his career. He has stepped up and revelled in the responsibility of being the main man, so much so that he has put many an Opposition on the back foot, such is the respect they have for his speed and accuracy.

At the peak of his powers, in February 2008 Brett was voted Australia's Test Player of the Year and claimed the Allan Border Medal ahead of opening batsman Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting. He has snared five wickets in an inning 9 times, while he took a career best 8 for 110 against the West Indies in Antigua in 2008. Brett attributes his new found success to patience and maturity, and the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait name Brett as their mentor.

On the 22nd of November, 2008 at the 'Gabba, Brett reached another major milestone in his Test cricket career by claiming his 300th wicket. In claiming the scalp of J. M. How, he became only the fourth Australian player – after Dennis Lillee (who took a total of 355 wickets), Glenn McGrath (563) and Shane Warne (708) – to achieve the milestone.

Brett is an enthusiastic and motivated sportsman that is grateful for all of the opportunities that have come his way. He remains a grounded person who is generous with his time.

Outside of Cricket Brett has a number of other interests. He has a love of music and plays in a band, 'White Shoe Theory' and will release their album in 2011. He was formerly a member of two other bands, 'Six and Out' and 'The Gas'. He first launched his music in India with Bollywood star, Asha Bhosle, and their single, "You're the One" (which he co-wrote the lyrics) went to No. 1 in the Indian music charts.

Brett has also launched his own fashion label whilst still finding time whenever possible to fit in a spot of fishing.

Brett Lee

Brett Lee Hattrick:

Brett Lee FASTEST OVER SEEN IN NEW ZEALAND 2005:

Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram Biography:

Wasim Akram born 3 June 1966 is a former Pakistani left arm fast bowler and left-handed batsman in cricket, who represented the Pakistan national cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International matches.
Wasim Akram is regarded as one of the best fast bowlers in cricket history. He holds the world record for most wickets in List A cricket with 881 and is second only to Sri Lankan off-spin bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of One Day International wickets with 502. He is considered to be one of the founders and perhaps the finest exponent of reverse swing bowling.
The revolutionary nature of reverse swing initially resulted in accusations of ball tampering by cricket critics, although the skill of the reverse swing delivery has now been accepted as a legitimate feature of ability in cricket. Wasim Akram's later career was also tarnished with accusations of match fixing by critics, although these remain unproven.
On 30 September 2009, Akram was one of five new members inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram- The King Of Swing !!

Wickets by Wasim Akram in Cricket World Cup 1992 Final: