The Cricket world is crazy and happening place and since its headquarters moved away from the boring English heart to Dubai, it seems it has added a lot more fun and fast pace frenzy. It has added more color, plenty of glamour and a whole load of controversies. This will be more in the 20-20 mould with slam-bang style and plenty being covered without much of a drag. So keeping in the spirit of the theme, let us just get started with the Cricket news, views and reviews…

• India beat Australia at Mohali:

Well done India, just do not drop the ball on the next one and start getting beaten.

• Sachin Tendulkar becomes the highest run-getter in Test Match Cricket:

Did the fireworks need to be so long after the achievement? It was ridiculous in a way… a 15 minute break for scoring 15 runs.

• Ian Chappell wants Dhoni to be immediately given the Test Captaincy:

The Chappell brothers are hell bent on destroying Indian Cricket it seems… As coaches, instructors and from commentary box. Wonder when Trevor will get involved in all this.

• Pakistan Sacks coach Geoff Lawson:

Well, it is better to be sacked than to die with a heart attack in the job!

• Intikhab Alam is appointed Pakistan’s new coach:

So, when is he being sacked? Maybe that is news for next week!

• Australian media is running a campaign asking Shane Warne to come back to test cricket and help their men in India:

I’m sure Warne is just happy playing two months a year, being captain finally and earning loads of cash. Moreover that gives him 9 whole free months to send SMSs to… Next, we want Bradman from the grave to bat for Australia at No.3!

• Ricky Ponting says that his side was outplayed at Mohali:

So, Ricky finally woke up from that deep slumber that he was in for five days on the field. Good for you Punter!

• Sourav Ganguly says he will stick to retirement plans despite the century:

Considering that there are no immediate tours to Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Kenya, I can totally understand his sentiment.

• Zaheer Khan was fined 80% of his match fee for going past Matthew Hayden and having a word with him after Hayden was dismissed:

Oh Common! I am sure Zaheer was just consoling Hayden after the dismissal. Anyway, it might be better to fine them 80% of their “endorsement cash” rather than match fee. Then they will all fall in line.

• Adam Gilchrist slams Sachin Tendulkar in his autobiography (yet to be released) by calling him a bad sport and a liar!

This was an apparent misinterpretation from the media. India fumed, Harbhajan had a few more not-so-nice words for Gilchrist and Gilly got free publicity for his book… So basically it all ended well.

• Gilchrist calls up Tendulkar and clarifies on the issue:

Now that he got his cheap publicity, maybe he just offered him a 10% share in the profits!

• Steve Waugh clarifies that Gilly never meant to create a controversy and the Sydney Test was an integral part of his retirement tour and so had to be discussed.

Really!! You think this is controversy? Wait till “Politically Cricket: Left-Out in Power” comes out. What? Wondering what that is? It will be Ganguly’s autobiography. When that hits the market, you will see true controversy.

Quote of the Week:

• Gilchrist recollects how Warne pissed him off over the years and claims that Shane called him an “A*** Licker” when he was playing for Western Australia against Victoria.

For starters, it goes to show that with a talent like that of Warne, you can get away by calling anyone anything. On top of that, it might be true to an extent as, if only Shane was more of a “kiss the bosses a***type” himself, he would have been Aussie captain well ahead of Ponting and Gilchrist. That is why we love Warnie… Screw the rules and spin the ball, Shane!

That does it for this week. Make sure you do not miss “Small Talk” every Sunday and if you think that we missed on anything or just want to say anything, then feel free to drop it in the comments box. As you can see, we are not shy at all up here. Till next Sunday, have a great week folks and tune into the Third Test at Kotla…