In today’s cricket sports news, learn more about the role that the oil behemoth plays in the landscape of cricket demonstrates, once more, the Saudi regime’s ability to fit in with the sporting canvas. Meanwhile, Roger Binny’s induction as BCCI president on Tuesday is opportune and necessary following years of upheaval and court challenges surrounding India’s largest sports regulatory body. Lastly, The first sculpture of a female cricketer in Australia will be placed at the SCG in January, but Rachael Haynes is poised to miss out.
Aramco Cricket Deal Shows Sport Ignores Reality for Income
Original Source: Aramco cricket deal again proves sport will ignore reality for revenue
Aramco, a Saudi oil company, rebranded three years ago. Subtle is the word here: the company’s emblem, a white star on a blue and green background, was kept. But the blue became a little bluer, the green a little greener, the typeface became grey lowercase, and “Saudi” and the Arabic character above it were eliminated.
This was Sam Curran’s logo as he prepared to bowl for England against Pakistan on Monday in their final Twenty20 World Cup warm-up. A belt of Aramco billboards, blue as the sky and green as life, glowed in Brisbane’s night. Curran scrutinized the ball in his hands and set his sights on Aramco-branded stumps 40 yards out.
Curran notices the images or their meaning? Let’s take a wild guess: no. But why? To be an international cricketer in 2022 is to be festooned with nonsensical phrases and icons: some on your uniform, some on the pitch, some on your player-of-the-match check. This is your world’s wildlife. To expect a player to question it is like asking an ant crawling across Guernica for an opinion.
Just like that, Aramco walks in, pulls up a chair, and melts into the painting. A few days ago, the International Cricket Council announced it was awarding one of its top-tier sponsorships to a company responsible for extracting the oil that has produced more than 4% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions since 1965, that has recorded lavish profits as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and that is owned by a regime that has sanctioned torture and murder for its own ends.
Still, the ICC press release looked ahead. All seven T20 World Cup venues will have Aramco recycling devices to promote “sustainability and innovation.” “We are happy to welcome Aramco into the ICC family of global partners,” said CEO Geoff Allardice, smiling with the pride of a man who feels he is not so much losing the ICC’s moral authority on human rights, gender equality, or the climate disaster as gaining a son.
This isn’t a sea change or a red line. Nor are we discussing to the steady entry of contaminated money into cricket, from authoritarian countries to mass polluters to cryptocurrency corporations with a disastrous environmental footprint. One effect of sport’s adoption of immoral revenue streams is how words and messages have become separated from their meaning, how administrators and governing bodies increasingly deliver nonsensical remarks. Two words are missing from the ICC’s Saudi oil sponsorship announcement. Two words: “oil” and “Saudi.” Believe them? If so, who?
The average World Cup fan probably has no idea where the inoffensive lowercase term branded at mid-off, on the boundary rope, and on recycling machines came from. By doing so, “Aramco” enters cricket’s linguistic subconscious: DLF maximum, Popchips Superchargers, Aramco player of the match.
In the 1990s, Aramco began horizontal drilling at its Shaybah oil field. Instead of drilling many wells in multiple locations, you establish a lattice of underground wells from a single bore, some of them kilometers long, to tap deep crude deposits. The surface shows minimal activity. But an invisible network of tentacles and drill bits driven by computer modeling is sucking the ground beneath your feet dry.
Thus, the world evolves. Out of sight, out of reach, beyond your understanding, and from the inside.
What you see – a golf tournament, an Anthony Joshua jab, Bruno Guimares mounting a challenge, Curran licking his lips and grasping the ball – is a tiny part of the entire. A palimpsest of competing words and images, whose cumulative impact is bewilderment, makes no sense to us.
In 37C heat, Durham played an ODI. Byju’s. Jamal Khashoggi killed. ICC and Aramco share an emphasis on sustainability and innovation. Emirates. West Indies have 68 balls to score 98. India has long-term growth potential, Aramco said Sunday. Booking.com. Singh to lefties is a smart matchup.
Roger Binny is the New BCCI Chief
Original Source: Roger Binny: Meet the man replacing Saurav Ganguly as BCCI chief
His appointment as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday is opportune and necessary after years of turmoil and court disputes.
When I met Binny, he had already created a name for himself in school sports (hockey, football, athletics).
I was at college selection trials trying to make a squad with Karnataka’s top youth cricketers and university players (and future stalwarts of the game).
Binny, a college freshman, also tried out. He didn’t.
He’d opened the batting for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy (India’s best domestic tournament) and the Irani Trophy against the Rest of India and was close to playing for India.
The Irani Trophy is a tournament between the Ranji winners and the best players from the rest of India.
His modesty and awareness of cricket protocol remained. In the end, he didn’t play. The bank ultimately got him to sign up.
India won the 1983 World Cup thanks to Binny’s 18 wickets.
Cricket was his future, and he was an all-rounder off the field as an international, talent scout, selector, coach, and administrator. His qualifications are unmatched by any former BCCI president. A grassroots man achieving the top job is part of the promotion’s joy.
When India won the second Test in England in 1986 (and the series, 2-0), it was thanks to Dilip Vengsarkar and Binny (5-40 in the first innings).
Three years ago, Binny’s 18 World Cup wickets helped India win. 6-56 happened in a drawn Test against Pakistan in Kolkata (previously known as Calcutta).
Still, Binny has a quirky record in India.
Domestically, he blasted quick bowlers over extra cover for six off the back foot. In international cricket, his swing and unorthodox action plagued the best.
Double century in Ranji Trophy and 451 (unbroken) opening partnership with Sanjay Desai was national record for 19 years. Wherever he played, he was a great fielder with a flat throw and safe hands.
Binny has been in a coach
In 27 Tests, 72 ODIs, and first-class cricket, he averaged 34 and took 205 wickets.
Under pressure, he played his best Test innings. In Mumbai’s Jubilee Test against England, he opened batting and bowling.
In its 94-year history, the BCCI has had only two other full-time Test players as presidents: Sourav Ganguly and Maharajkumar of Vizianagaram (1954-56). Shivlal Yadav and Sunil Gavaskar played ad hoc.
Neither Binny’s personal history nor the cricket board will weigh heavily on him.
In spite of internal politics and special interest from politicians and their families, national cricket teams have rarely been influenced by boardroom drama in recent years.
India’s thoughts and words affect the game globally as the most influential national board.
Here lies Binny’s biggest challenge. He’ll have to balance white-ball and red-ball cricket so the former doesn’t dominate and the latter retains its value.
Binny with World Cup winners Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, and Syed Kirmani.
Domestically, he must assure first-class cricket, women’s cricket, and lower-level players can afford to play.
The BCCI’s secretary has real power, and the president steers rather than decides the destination.
Binny’s cricketing credentials may or may not surpass those in his team with little background in the game. He must strike a balance.
Most crucial are his equanimity and ability to get others to work together.
Good guys must sometimes stop bad guys. How Roger Binny does will define his legacy.
First Women’s Cricket Statue to Be Unveiled, but a Legend Will Be Left Out
Original Source: History to be made with first women’s cricket statue but star who has ‘done it all’ to miss out
The first sculpture of a female cricketer in Australia will be placed at the SCG in January, but Rachael Haynes is poised to miss out.
Cricket Australia, the SCG, and Venues NSW are aiming to unveil the statue before the Australia vs. South Africa Test on January 4.
Haynes’ name has been tossed about in WBBL circles after the Sydney Thunder skipper ended her 13-year international career.
There are 73 known monuments and sculptures of male cricketers in Australia, but the statue will be made in bronze this month, leaving Haynes out of the race.
Sydney Sixer Emma Hughes backs Haynes over Betty Wilson and Belinda Clark.
“Why not Rach? She’s won the T20 World Cup, Women’s World Cup, and Commonwealth Games. I don’t believe anyone would be dissatisfied with Belinda Clark or Betty Wilson, but Rach must be in the conversation, said Hughes, who is recovering from an ACL injury.
“If she’s not first, she can be second.”
Haynes scored nearly 4000 runs across all three forms, including 98 on Test debut against England in 2009, but her own appointment to the Recognition of Women in Cricket Working Group stands in her way.
Lisa Sthalekar and Rina Hore, executive director of the Bradman Museum, are also members.
Kayo and Fox want to webcast and broadcast a record amount of women’s sport hours to address the imbalance of public acknowledgment for women in sport, not just statues.
The blockbuster coverage has included AFLW, NRLW, Netball Internationals, WBBL, LPGA, and select Ladies European Tour tournaments during September and October.
Alana King, a Perth Scorcher and breakout Australian star, said she loves seeing women on TV. Long overdue.
“Younger generations see all these different codes as avenues to play professionally and make a life playing sport – the best job in the world.”
Kayo’s dedication to women’s sport includes a record amount of broadcast hours in September and October. Only Kayo Sports has every WBBL match live and on demand.
Summary of today’s Cricket/Sport News
Overall, The cooperation between the ICC and Aramco represents a common commitment to innovation and sustainability. Emirates. West Indies require 98 runs from 68 balls. Aramco said in a statement released on Sunday that India has significant long-term growth prospects. The oil giant’s prominence in cricket demonstrates once again the Saudi regime’s ability to integrate into the sporting landscape.
On the other hand, after years of turmoil and court disputes concerning India’s wealthiest sports regulatory organization, Tuesday’s election of Roger Michael Humphrey Binny as head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was both overdue and essential. Binny also has to strike a balance between the desires of his cricket-illiterate teammates and his own expertise in the sport.
Finally, recent international retiree Rachael Haynes is likely to be overlooked for the first sculpture of an Australian female cricketer, which will be unveiled at the SCG in January despite a late surge of nominations from her peers. Haynes’s name has been bandied about in WBBL circles ever since the Sydney Thunder captain ended her 13-year international career, which culminated in a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.