Cricket:: England captain Andrew Strauss calls it a high day

By Dr. Abdul Ruff

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Dr. Abdul Ruff, Specialist on State Terrorism;Chancellor-Founder of Centor for International Affairs(CIA); Independent Analyst;Chronicler of Foreign occupations & Freedom movements(Palestine,Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Xinjiang, Chechnya, etc.) Former university Teacher; website: abdulruff.wordpress.com

/ abdulruff_jnu@yahoo.com.

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Sport people do not generally retire on their own and in many cases they are not allowed by the sports leaders to retire. Cricketers in England, unlike those in India, seem to enjoy freedom to quit as and when they feel the need or urge to do. Indian sports-military ministries and cricket board and mafia-lords do not let the top cricketism players retire in honor after playing for sometime, even when they continue to fail bringing insult to Indian nation by their "poor form".. It is not just Sachuin Tendulekar, who is supposedly worshiped even by MPs and MLAs as a major Hindu god, but generally about every so-called "big"player. They have a terrible stake in not getting rid of them and replace them with new blood. These big agents use the cricketers to mint money, both black and other and are engaged in money laundering. Cricketmafias of India are very strong and do manage to win matches and bogus ranks as well as records, more for the 'special" individuals than the team. Even though Indian regime made Sachuin a member of Parliament to sit with his worshipers and enjoy the political mimicry, he prefers to stand at the crease expecting the bowers to offer his post-last-one hundred runs so that his bogus "record" remains unbreakable for  many years, but the bowlers now continue to ignore his extra "desire" as well as his worshipers and fellow gods. The bowlers keep him under 20 runs. Tendulekar knows his time is up already and he must retire at least now. But the ministries that "fix" sport wins do not let  him go. They see an advantage in keeping him even as an underdog in order to gains  extra runs for other bat-boys. Generally, the bowlers  make Sachuin suffer at the crease but once he is out of the crease, they offer too many runs to other batboys possibly to simply annoy Sachuin but the strategists  consider that attitude as a boon because, after all, India team benefits from that. If opponents offer 100 plus for another batboy that solves India problem. So, Sachuin can stand at the crease and sit in the parliament alternatively.   

In a surprise move, England captain Andrew Strauss has retired from all forms of cricket. Strauss said: "For me the driver to it all quite frankly was my form with the bat. In truth, I haven't battled well enough for a long time now. I think I have run my race." He denied his decision to quit was influenced by the furore over Kevin Pietersen's axing from the team. During his time in charge, England were ranked the world's best Test team for the first time. "I've been speaking about it for a while," he said. "I first spoke to Andy Flower about it prior to the Kevin Pietersen incident rearing its head, it just hasn't been a consideration at all. "I first spoke to Andy about this a few weeks ago and said I'm considering it and would talk to him at end of the South Africa series, by the time I spoke to him again my mind was made up and I think he knew that." Strauss was insistent he was clear on his future before the news of the texts broke on the eve of his 100th Test match at Lord's. Many say Strauss was a superb captain and think Pieterson's antics had something to do with it though. Strauss sent letters to members of the England team explaining his decision to retire and they responded by sending him 100 bottles of dirty wine

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The opening batsman also led the side to home and away Ashes triumphs on a run of victories that saw them crowned as the world's number one team for the first time since the rankings were introduced. Strauss added: "I am extremely proud of everything I have achieved as a cricketer and I have found myself very fortunate to play in an era when some of English cricket's greatest moments have occurred. I have loved every minute of it. "It hasn't been something that occurred overnight. It has built over a few months. "I would like to go out on my own terms with my head held high - and I think this is the right time."

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England cricket captain Strauss skippered his country in 50 of his 100 Tests and is handing over to one-day captain Alastair Cook Strauss's retirement is overshadowed by an unsavoury controversy surrounding star batsman Kevin Pietersen. The former captain was said to be the subject of "provocative" text messages that Pietersen sent to South African opponents during the 3-0 series defeat by the Proteas. Cook said, "That's a huge hole to fill - and unfortunately it might mean I have to take the first ball now." It was a sign of the high regard the dressing room held him in, a view Cook voiced as he paid tribute to his predecessor.

By defeating England in England in Test series and removing it from the top slot, South Africa became the number one in test cricket. Also, The Proteas' victory took them to the top of the International Cricket Council one-day rankings and ended England's run of 10 wins from their last 10 completed ODIs. Hashim Amla hit 150 as South Africa beat England by 80 runs in the second one-day international at Southampton. The tourists' 287-5 in 50 overs was built on an 89-run opening partnership between Amla and Graeme Smith (52). Chasing 288 at a run-rate of 5.76 an over, England lost wickets regularly as they were dismissed for 207 in 40.4 overs.

Amla reached his 150 in the final over of the South Africa innings with a beautifully timed late cut off Finn, but was caught off the next ball by Bresnan at short third man. South Africa become the first country to top the ICC rankings in all three formats of the game. England drop to third in the ODI rankings behind India. Cook, 27, will take charge of his country for the first time in the four-Test series against India in November.