The WEEK in NEWS:

* Sri Lanka wins a super stunner first test against Pakistan. Pakistan continues to stare down the barrel in second test by managing mere 90 runs in first innings.

* Buchanan’s book creates furore in India.

* Australia dominates the first ashes test. Scores a marathon 674 with four centurions.

* Ponting scores his 37th century, nears Sachin’s record.

* Sunil Gavaskar celebrates his 60th birthday in puttaparthi, India.

* West Indies field their second strength side after a stalemate in the talks between WICB and its contracted players.

Quotes of the WEEK:

# “Yuvraj Singh in a sense tries to be a modern day Ganguly, but I dont think he has the charisma or the dignity with which Ganguly carries himself.”

John Buchanan in his new book titled “The Future of Cricket: The Rise of Twenty 20“.

# “You have to be inventive and fearless. And I don’t see those qualities as part of Sachin’s makeup at this stage of his career”.

John Buchanan in his new book titled “The Future of Cricket: The Rise of Twenty 20”

# “Anything coming out of Australia does not surprise me anymore”.

Harbhajan Singh

# “No one wants to be a bowler as a kid because its rubbish, so when ever I get chance to bat, I go out and play with a smile on my face.”

Garame Swann, England

Story of the WEEK: John Buchanan’s dirty Indian Tales

The base mantra for incresing the TRP of your favourite TV shows is to put something unusual and controversial substance and taking a dig on a Celebrity. This trend has off late crept into the release of new books. To increase the sales of your book, you put something that insults the Players dignity and modesty by inventing certain cock and bull theories. So is the case with John Buchanan’s new book titled “The Future of Cricket: The rise of Twenty 20.” But then he touched no mean players, rather he doubted the credentials of the demi gods of Indian Cricket. The four players/pillars of Indian Cricket: Sachin, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman are not fit for T20 internationals.

Further, To salvage some space for himself in the KKR camp by comparing Yuvraj and Ganguly. He states Ganguly carries himself with lot of charisma and dignity. Which the Australian realised after refuting him from captaincy in this year’s edition of IPL. He tried to create an imbalance between Yuvraj and Ganguly, which would never be possible. He did not spare even the players of earlier generations by targeting Sunil Gavaskar stating he is biased by tradition.

It has become a habbit of sorts for all the former coaches and players by writing a book and creating controversies. And such stiring stories are needed to sell these books. These stories are more sponsered by the publishers than the truth. Most of these books are part fact and part fiction.