This headline is not strictly accurate.
It’s true that India haven’t picked MS Dhoni and it’s also true that they have picked Shivam Dube.
The misleading part is that they haven’t picked Shivam Dube instead of MS Dhoni because Dube is an all-rounder and Dhoni is a wicketkeeper (or possibly was a wicketkeeper – there seems to be some debate about tenses at the minute).
Cricinfo reports that MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors, commented on the Dhoni decision by saying that India were “moving on” and focusing on Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper instead.
Prasad’s contract as chairman of selectors is due to expire imminently. We’re very excited to see whether it’ll be renewed.
In other news…
…returning from work today, I noticed excitedly that Scotland are playing Bermuda and that a Leverock is playing. Kamau, nephew of “rotundster in chief” Dwayne Leverock.
Imagine my disappointment when a svelte speedster saved a few runs on the boundary and Bish solemnly informed us that the athletic fellow in question was Kamau Leverock. This is a sad day for girthful cricketer lovers everywhere.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/364148.html
Kamau Leverock.
…but wait…
…despair turns to delight.
Onias Bascome, everyone. Well portly.
https://images.app.goo.gl/f4uFnx1pL9TpghZC6
From a family of Bascomes, except that dad spelt the name Bascombe and/but dropped the silent b for his offspring.
Top quality sizing and spelling. Onias Bascome.
Onias is an anagram of Saino. Maybe Saino’s is where he buys all his fish fingers etc.
He doesn’t look like the “say no” type – Onias looks more like a lad who has sat down “on-he-arse” to indulge in his own buffet bowling.
Whatever you do, do not confuse the big fella Onias with relative tiddler brothers Oronde or Okera, both of whom are also playing in today’s match.
A lot of Os in that family. Did they manage the full Olympic rings?
Watching Nigeria Saturday morning and there’s a lot of O-name action in that team.
Onikoyi & Onwuzulike at the crease as I type but probably not for long against a rampant Ireland.
So with Oyede and two Okpe’s to add, it is the Nigerians who win the Olympic Rings race, leaving the Bascome family seething with a mere four Os.
A mere Audi.
The random Dube has thanked his father saying his dad is “his whole and soul, everything”. He goes on to clarify that his father is his backbone also, in case you were stupid enough to assume that it wasn’t part of “everything”. I already like this kid.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27918044/dark-days-shivam-dube-ready-player-indian-team-needs
In more other news, Papua New Guinea are playing Singapore in a T20 World Cup qualifier and not one sub-continental expat in the team! Hope they make it
Am I allowed to say that the PNG team are eating most of their opponents for breakfast?
No, I’m probably not allowed to say that.
In truth I have been fascinated with the place since I was a boy. The documentary embedded in the following piece is still fascinating. I showed it to Daisy a few months ago and she was utterly enthralled by it:
http://ianlouisharris.com/1974/12/11/ongkas-big-moka-television-documentary-11-december-1974/