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So which is the world’s greatest sport?Cricket, Soccer, Basketball, Motorsports?Is Team game more fun or individual sport more exciting?If I say Golf is the best sport in the world, (and even if the majority of world population supports it, would it then be considered the best sport, or wouldn’t that just make it the most popular sport.)But I guess, a reasonable yardstick is indeed ‘popularity’. The sport that most people follow gets the most support and this helps it gain widespread popularity. Cricket is a sport that is mostly played the countries that are part of the Commonwealth Nations and is the most watched and followed sport in India. So in terms of numbers, (with a billion people in India and say another half a billion from the other cricket playing nations put together) Is this then one of best known sport in the world?Sport revolves around skilled athletes, words like ‘endurance’ ‘stamina’ ‘strength’ ‘skill’ are very much relevant in the scheme of things. Other elements like history and legacy of the sport, the physical and mental endurance level of athletes also feature as important criteria in making a sport gain recognition and acceptance.But what do you think is what’s important to make any sport the ‘best sport’?Should we remain self contained in the IPLs and T20s or should we do more to get accustomed and make our mark in the world sports arena?

Bowling is a specialized skill in Cricket. Youngsters who are interested in cricket and want to be a good bowler. I would like to share some of the tips, which I have experienced on the cricket ground as a bowler. Bowler is of three types. The first one is a fast bowler, medium pacer and a spinner. I will teach you step by step that how you have to work on it. “Legs” play an important role in bowling. If you are a fast bowler, then your energy level must be high. Few exercises for fast bowlers i.e. sprints, cycling, running, gym, swimming and a strict diet. In strict diet the most important thing is non-veg, green vegetables and fruits. Liquid intake must be good as a bowler, along with good night sleep and balance mentality.For a fast bowler, you need to have a good height, maybe six ft. If you are not six ft tall, then no worries. If you are interested in bowling that is enough for you. The next plus point will be your physical appearance. If you don't have a good physical appearance, then don’t feel uneasy. Join a gym and free hand exercises will help you a lot to give you the strength and physical shape.A spinner is of two types. An off-spinner and a leg-spinner. If you are left handed, it is always an extra advantage for you. But being right handed player doesn't mean you are worthless. You have your own recognition.While practicing bowling, few things you have to take care of…no-ball, wide-ball and the place where the ball lands on the wicket. Bowl always on targets. Mark the place where you want to bowl and try to land the ball at the target. It is a habit, develop it.A smooth run up and finishing part (when you release the ball) is very important...if you have a smooth run up, but if your finishing part is not good, then you cannot be a good bowler. So you have to work out for it. Keep your wrist straight while releasing the ball. If the season bowl lands on seam, then your ball will get a good bounce and the batsman will always find it difficult to pick that ball. This thing is applicable only for fast bowlers.For spinners, if you are an off spinner, then the ball must land outside off-stump and then turn to middle stump and if you are a leg spinner, then bowl on the middle stump and turn it to off stump. Use your bowling crease for bowling very wisely. Sometimes you come close to the stumps and sometimes you are bowling little away from the stumps. The batsman will face some problem reading the ball. To be a good medium pacer, you have to maintain a good line and length. Good swing of your hand and broad shoulder will be an asset as a medium pace bowler.Once you feel you are good at bowling, then start playing matches. Always target to get five wickets in a match. This hunger for wickets will be the key for your success. Every day in the nets implement the things, whatever I have discussed with you…don’t miss it. Try to bowl as many over’s as possible in the nets and get the batsman out as many times as possible. This temperament will boost your confidence in matches.Always remember never degrade yourself if you are not performing. You may face too much criticism or fail to perform. Don't lose your mental balance? Always digest your failure and re-create yourself and play the next match with fire.

Advertising is the life and blood of a sporting fest like IPL.Cant imagine an IPL (or any cricket match on TV) with no ads!Ads squeeze in at every possible opportunities; during drinks break, or an interruption caused for a ball-change, player being treated for a spasm etc. etc.While some TV commercials are amusing, there are others that simply put us off…(the ‘seen them all’ re-run ads are the ones that often turn us off).So whats the best way to get an ad-free uninterrupted ‘cricket-only’ action???Well, you just got to buy the ticket and be at a match!It was only yesterday that I witnessed a ‘live’ match at a stadium…(Mumbai Indians vs Deccan Charges at Wankhede stadium, Mumbai). It was incidentally, my first ever cricket match that I went to see that involved big international cricket stars. And at the end of it, I would love to re-live the experience any time again (watching Steyn rocketing in with his lethal deliveries and hearing the crowd exult are things that you got to experience from close quarters)Lots of things change: like there are no TV replays that repeats an action if we may have missed, theres no expert commentator explaining tactics, game-plans to us, and of course, there is always a danger of getting hit by a giant-six!All I can say is that if anyone hasn’t been at a match, you got to be at one!I am sure all of you will have lots (perhaps more interesting) of similar ‘hair raising experiences’ to share, will like to hear them all….An IPL match with no ad-breaks?Advertising is the life and blood of a sporting fest like IPL.Cant imagine an IPL (or any cricket match on TV) with no ads!Ads squeeze in at every possible opportunities; during drinks break, or an interruption caused for a ball-change, player being treated for a spasm etc. etc.While some TV commercials are amusing, there are others that simply put us off…(the ‘seen them all’ re-run ads are the ones that often turn us off).So whats the best way to get an ad-free uninterrupted ‘cricket-only’ action???Well, you just got to buy the ticket and be at a match!It was only yesterday that I witnessed a ‘live’ match at a stadium…(Mumbai Indians vs Deccan Charges at Wankhede stadium, Mumbai). It was incidentally, my first ever cricket match that I went to see that involved big international cricket stars. And at the end of it, I would love to re-live the experience any time again (watching Steyn rocketing in with his lethal deliveries and hearing the crowd exult are things that you got to experience from close quarters)Lots of things change: like there are no TV replays that repeats an action if we may have missed, theres no expert commentator explaining tactics, game-plans to us, and of course, there is always a danger of getting hit by a giant-six!All I can say is that if anyone hasn’t been at a match, you got to be at one!I am sure all of you will have lots (perhaps more interesting) of similar ‘hair raising experiences’ to share, will like to hear them all….

To play cricket the first thing you should have is interest. Then everything starts from that...Now the next thing you must ask yourself that why you want to play cricket. You get the answer that you have a dream, and you want to achieve it. Then fine go for it. Don’t stop yourself?Cricket is divided into three things, batting, bowling and fielding. Fielding is mandatory. You have to develop your fielding skill. For fielding, you have to check up. What is your height? Are you tall or short? If you are tall, your legs will be your strong point. If you are a short guy, your body movement will be too fast.Then your arms are the next thing you have to check up. As personality is concerned...are you average built or less built physically, less bother about it. Anyone can have a good arm. So don’t be much concerned about your physical appearance. Just see how far you can throw the ball from the boundary line to the wicket keeper. Check this at grounds where the distance will be different....then only you can figure out your throwing skill. The technique is always keep your arm closer to your body while throwing the ball. The best thing about this technique is your shoulder will be safe. Otherwise if you are use to throw the ball with wrong action, then possibility is there that you can injure your shoulder.Adopt techniques in cricket. Then only you will be able to reach a level and last long in cricket, where as fielding is concerned. You will be always being noticed because of your good fielding.Now the next thing is how good you are in catching the ball. There is a technique in catching the ball. Try to take your body close to the ball, while taking a high catch or a parallel catch. Your body must follow your hands. This technique will help you not to drop the catch. It’s a habit, make it a habit. There is situation that it is impossible to take your body to the ball. No problems just take the catch and focus on the ball should always be maintained.People, who can get a coach, were you can train yourself for fielding. Then it is well and good. Otherwise you can go on your own. It is a day to day process. Don’t rush for it?For fast running, there are various kinds of sprints. You have to try these things. Every day you have to count that how many sprints you can make before playing cricket. For stamina, you must go for jogging. You have to check it. That how long you can do jogging. You have to field in cricket ground for matches that may last one hour, two hour or a half day, or even it may take a full-day fielding. You have to think in this way and start adopting things necessary for fielding.One thing you must be sure of that after leaving the ground. You must not have pain in your legs. You have to spend long hours going for stretching exercise, and it will relax your pains of your body. Your food intake is very essential for your body. Your mind must be relaxed time to time. So these are the basics of fielding. There are many other things you can implement in fielding. Concentrate more on your fluid intakes. One more suggestion for you all is to be in the company of good cricketers. This will always help you. At some point if you have dropped a catch, or missed a ball. Don’t be bothered about it or if any of your teammates made a fun of you or abused you. No problem just wait for another catch. In cricket, there is always a second chance, be prepared for it and don’t worry, enjoy the game of cricket with good fielding ability.