Sunday 26 April 2009

Living the high life in Lalit Land

In the IPL, as in most utopian fantasies, nothing is ever wrong. In a bizarre little television interview this morning, Paul Collingwood, cheeks flushed and grinning like a Moonie, told the world what a fantastic time he was having as a Delhi Daredevil. Neither he nor the interviewer felt bold enough to mention that Colly can't actually get in the team. He's coming home on Friday. 

That's the very day that the Telegraph and Times report that Colly will be named as England's T20 captain - albeit an England captain who can't quite cut it for the Delhi Daredevils. 

The ECB don't usually bother leaking stories unless they're contentious - Michael Vaughan is their regular subject - so perhaps this one has just escaped organically. Yet Collingwood's credentials hardly bear scrutiny. He gave up the limited over captaincy because the pressure of it was affecting him and up until a week ago was no more than lukewarm at the prospect of doing it again. He is, as ever, the expedient choice. 

Will Colly's grin be as fixed on Friday, once he's home from North Korea - er, make that South Africa - and finds himself 'unveiled'? And will he answer the question 'So Paul, how did you enjoy the IPL?' in quite the same way?

NB: The bookies have England at 10-1. You might as well make it 100-1 boys: it's essentially free money... 


5 comments:

Ceci said...

The commentators and the interviews are so carefully tailored to to be Modi-friendly...

England players - with the honourable exceptions of Dimi and Ravi, have not been v glorious in the IPL... and I see that Ryan Mclaren, grievously missed by Kent, is languishing amongst the also-rans.

Oh and a six is a six for goodness sake, not a DLF maximum (but I think you've already had a go at this!)

Q said...

Its nothing to worry abt.. Even Glen McGrath and David Warner cant get into the DDD side!

The Old Batsman said...

Good point Q - Glenn and Colly, joined forever by their exclusion from the DDs! By the way, I didn't do anything to your other comment - dunno why it's not showing up. Maybe I pressed something.

Q said...

Which comment are u talking abt?

Its there on the other post titled "pls explain Lalit"

The Old Batsman said...

I knew it had something to do with Lalit...