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Post of the Week # 3: Please Vote

Zap_Brannigan

By Zap_Brannigan
in Cricket Talk

Post of the Week # 3: Please Vote  

  1. 1.

    • Varuns' "First digit law (Benford's law) applied to Cricket"
      10
    • Bumper's "ICC to bring in revolutionary policies to counter match fixing"
      4
    • Gaurav92's "In the Conference room"
      8

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Zap_Brannigan Newbie

Zap_Brannigan

Posted
Posted

Varun's "First digit law (Benford's law) applied to Cricket" wins the POTW # 3. Congrats !! and enjoy your 10 million ICF $ . 1.

The first digit law (from 1938 !) basically says that in that most lists of real-world numbers, the first digit has some standard uniform distribution. The first digit is 1 around 30% of the time, 2 occurs 17% of the time, 3 occurs around 12% of the time, etc.. until 9 Just for kicks, I thought of checking if the law is valid for runs scored by individuals in all international cricket matches (Tests, ODIs, T20s), and damn.. it matches it to a tee !! screenshot20100913at120.png
+------+-------+
| f    | freq  |
+------+-------+
| 1    | 34393 |
| 2    | 20111 |
| 3    | 14060 |
| 4    | 11782 |
| 5    |  9462 |
| 6    |  7704 |
| 7    |  6168 |
| 8    |  5279 |
| 9    |  4290 |
+------+-------+

(Note that the above doesn't count 0s)

2.
ICC to bring in revolutionary policies to counter match fixing ICC president Haroon Lorgat today revealed that the ACSU is about to bring in revolutionary policies to rid the game of corruption. "To start with, we will launch a self-service website for bookies and players to register themselves. This will help us identify all the bookies and players involved in fixing. We have separate categories for spot-fixing and match-fixing to track them separately" "Second, we have offered some leading Pakistani players the chance to redeem themselves by turning themselves into informants. This has been a huge success", Haroon Lorgat proclaimed triumphantly. "Following this move about 30 Pakistani players have turned informants all blaming each other. We now have more informants than fixers. But we have to honor our commitments and pardon our informants". "We have been more effective than Scotland Yard, after all", he continued. When asked about ICC's long term initiatives, Haroon Lorgat was cautiously optimistic. "We have had numerous meetings with different boards discussing variety of issues such as abolishing player salaries and offering them as bribes, appointing coaches to fix games, designating 20% of the games every year as candidates for fixing, legalising drugs, betting, mugging, money laundering and prostitution. Such progressive moves are essential to counter match fixing. Ofcourse this will all take time to implement. But some countries like Pakistan have already successfully implemented these policies. Others are expected to catch up by 2014". "Finally, We believe currently the players dont have any deterrent to avoid fixing games. There we are contemplating bringing in a three-strikes policy, by which, a player is allowed no more than three fixes in his career before being banned. This will surely disincentivize fixers and help clean the game", explained Lorgat with confidence. ICC is surely looking serious this time and is all set to cleanup the mess that has been haunting cricket for the last two decades. In the mean time, Mr. Sharad Pawar has reportedly approved a 200% bonus for himself and his executive staff at the ICC for this stellar progress on the fixing issue.
3.
Taking a break from some serious sessions that they have to undergo' date= once in a week, for a couple of hours, our fast bowlers decide to take some time off and meet up with each other and have a nice talk about the week that went by and also discuss about what they will be doing in the upcoming week.In the conference room is Irfan and others are just joining in.A secret CCTV Camera have been installed in the conference room by the Indian Team management to keep a track of what these bowlers talk in the room. ================================================================= Irfan : Oooommppph.Again, i am the first one to come, and everyone else is late.They will never learn to be punctual and on time as I do. Meanwhile the trainer of the India team who is also watching the Live telecast of the conference via the CCTV is thinking "What a liar, damn....he was never on time when it comes to taking fitness and yoga sessions, and now saying that he is punctual.....hmmm" (In the interim, Sreesanth and Nehra enters the room.) Irfan : Hello guys, I was first to come and you all were late, hmmm. Sree : Thats because we had to come leaving aside whatever little work we were doing, and you come here on time(or before time) because you don't have anything particular to do, isn't it ? Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: Sree : Anyways, Irfan how is your injury now. Irfan : What injury ? Sree : The injury that you had on you ankle. Irfan : Injury on my ankle,I don't even know where my ankle is, so forget about the injury.But seriously, who told you ? Sree : Well, everyone knows that, selectors said that you weren't fit to play and thats why you were not selected. Irfan : Uhhhhh. These selectors.....I am seriously fed up now with these fools....I mean what right do they have to declare me injured anytime they want ? They don't pick me even after I am playing well.And thats the best way they could defend their decision.One second, I thought you were declared injured as well, isn't it.So are you really injured ? Meanwhile the selectors are taking some deep breaths with a wry smile on their face as they know what to do with Irfan now :). Sree : Well not really, but I told the selectors to declare myself as not fit to play because I am undergoing rehabilitation, as you know we are playing too much cricket with Sri Lanka, I am bored to bowl at them again and again.Actually bowling to same batsman ever again on those featherbed of tracks not conducive to fast bowling and getting hammered is of no use, it will only make you go a level down. Irfan : Yes you are right. Meanwhile Praveen joins them. Praveen : Hello everyone.And Irfan how is your injury now ? Irfan : PK.I am not injured, get that in your mind for God's sake. Praveen : But selectors told me that...(Interrupted by Irfan) Irfan : They don't want to pick me, and thats the only way they defend themselves. Praveen : But they don't pick you because your form doesn't convince them. Irfan : What else should I do ? I mean, I do well in domestic games, I had a great season, I had a great IPL with the bat.I am fit to play, I mean what else do they want me to do ? Sree : The only problem with you is that, when the domestic season ends,there ends your form as well. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Irfan : Oye Sree, you have no right to say this, you haven't played any domestic games this time round to decide that. Sree : But still I am way ahead of you in the fast Bowlers' priority list of the selectors. Praveen : Who told you Sree ? I just saw the list.You are not way ahead, but just about ahead of Irfan, who is at the last position.You must have seen some other list, then.May be injury list. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: The selctors also couldn't stop laughing on this as they too are watching the CCTV cam clip. Meanwhile another member joins in. Munaf : Hello guys.Sorry for being late, I was busy practising in the nets. Sree ; Oh Munna, we all know how lazy you are when it comes to taking session, tell me where were you actually. Munaf : Hey.I am a changed man now, I take regular sessions, to get back into form with the ball. The bowling coach as well as the physio were looking at each other perplexed.they looked at each other and said "Have wee seen Munaf in the ground,practising this week?".The physio said "I don't know about you but I haven't seen him since the Lanka series..." Irfan : Hey Munna, don't forget to practice your fielding as well.You know you are a liability on the field. Munaf : Hey Irfan, you know what, you are a liability on and off the field.on the field with your bowling and fielding, and off the field as the captain and selectors are answerable to the Media and the general public at large for the Blunder that they made. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Irfan ; Munna I am a better fielder than you. Munaf : And I am a better bowler than you.And the selectors are searching for a bowler and not a fielder, mind you. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Munaf : With all the questions first up, I forgot to ask about Irfan's injury, how are you feeling Irfan ?Actually I am very thankful to you and Sree, whose injury made my comeback possible.Now as I have performed well, I am sure of a place in the Playing XI for the upcoming World Cup. Irfan : Goddddddd......Munna Just get out...plz....And yes I am not injured, its the selectors that..(interrupted by Sree) Sree : Ok.Lets not discuss that further, Munna you may prepare as much as you want, I will make the cut in the final XI before you, I guarantee that. Munaf : Only time will tell that.Bye everyone, I have to go now for a fielding session followed by another fielding session. Irfan : Two fielding sessions, you serious ? Here,the trainer is scratching his head and asking himself "Two sessions?Munaf could have easily said something else to make himself look stupid there, but he chose to look even more stupid...Dear oh Dear..." Munaf exits. Sree : Given the kind of fielder he is, I am not at all surprised. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Praveen : Hey Sree, you just said that you will make the comeback and be a part of the Playing Xi before Munaf who has done well.How can you say that, given that you are out of practice ? Sree : I have the Perfect seam position of a fast bowler. Irfan : Big deal ? Even I have that. Sree : Yes of course, until you release the ball. Praveen : And the one that lands on the seam is unfortunately pitched 18 inches wide of the off stump and it swings into the boundary. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Irfan : You are saying this, as if you have a better seam position. Praveen : I have a better seam position than you, and plus I have the swing that you don't have. Irfan : Swing......I had it once upon a time.But since then, have been just trying to find it. Sree : Keep finding it, I am sure you will get it before the 2019 World cup surely. Meanwhile another member joins in. Ishant : Hello everyone, how are you all, and yes Irfan how is your injury now ? Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Irfan ; Well I am absolutely fine now.Its the selectors....(interrupted by Sree once again) Sree : Hey Ishant tell me, you have been consistently inconsistent in the limited opportunities you have got.Still you are given chances every now and then.Why ? Ishant : Thats because I have extra pace and bounce in my armoury. Praveen : But you don't have the brain to use it to your advantage.Your pace can be described as "Faster you bowl the faster is dispatched to the boundary".And your bouncers aren't well directed. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Ishant : You don't have it so you mustn’t say anything on that. Irfan : But still, I never get chances even after performing better than you. Ishant : Thats mainly because we already have some spinners doing well, its better to take someone who can actually spin the ball rather than one who just has the pace of a spinner and no spin. Irfan : This is insult of the highest magnitude.....Just get out Ishant before I lose my temper.You know what Ishant, we have a somewhat similar career.We came into the limelight because of performing well downunder when we were 19, and after that the benchmark of expectations were too high to achieve so we kept fumbling in our way and finally lost our place in the side.See yourself now, once you used to bowl at higher 140s, and i used to bowl at higher 130s, now you bowl and mid 130s and I...(after a pause), well thats not important, but what is important is that you realise whats coming ahead of you, that is your future, it looks pretty bleak to me. Ishant : Hey buddy, calm down yaar.Yes perhaps somewhat same looking career, but i know how to change the track.I am leaving now as I have a very important meeting with SRK.He is going to tell me something about IPL 4.His plans and so forth.Ok Take care everyone, Byee... and exits Praveen : I know what SRK must be telling him in the meeting after seeing such consistent performance from him in all the editions of IPL. Sree : What ? Irfan : What else ? He will be itching to say this "You are thrown out from KKR for the next IPL, mark yourself as available as we don't want to be at the bottom anymore, and if someone wants to sink down deeper into the table, can pick you up from there". Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Irfan : Now lets get serious on our discussion.What is the basis for selection in the team ? Sree first you. Sree : Its basically "Form and Consistency". Irfan : Ah, there you go.I have been consistent and in good form as well.Still I am not picked.I tell you , yesterday only, I was bowling for my club against the Under-17 school team in the triangular tournament in which the third team decided to drop out seeing me involved in the tournament.I was playing a T20 game, and bowled 3 overs, got 3 for 40.See, that means I am a wicket taker, one wicket every over.They all love me very much,as I am their strike bowler, and talking about consistency, I have been the highest wicket taker amongst the fast bowlers in my team in that tournament and only because of my efforts, we were the runners up in that tournament. Sree : Then,in that case, you must play for that club all your life. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Irfan : Its a waste talking to you.....PK you tell me the other basis of selection.Both for ODIs and Tests Praveen : Being a fast bowler in ODIs means, you have to bowl well upfront and also come back in the death overs and bowl well by restricting the run flow as well as getting wickets when the batsman are looking to go after you.So you must have good variation of slower balls, yorkers and bouncers in your bag to outfox the batsman. Irfan : Oh Yes I have the slower balls.I have some good variety of slower balls. Sree : Yes of course, Slow, Slower and Slowest. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Irfan : Sree I do have decent mix of slower balls. Sree : Thats what I am saying, you have the slower balls, but thats what you have, no yorker and no bouncer, so thats why you are ineffective.In fact you must have a quicker ball in your armoury to outfox the batsman for a change. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Praveen : And for Tests, The basic fundamental is to pitch the ball on the mat and end up getting it caught by one of your slip fielders. Irfan : I possess that quality as well. Sree : Arey Irfan, with that he meant pitching the ball in the mat and getting the outside edge of the bat, and then finally reaching the slips, but your ball does everything except getting the edge, but still you make sure it lands in the slips..tremendous potential you have I must say.Rare Talent. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Irfan : Errrr.This Insult is of the highest magnitude once again.....I am seriously leaving now, but before that let me tell you IPL has been a very bad omen for me, ever since then, I have lost my place in the side. Praveen : Then why do you play IPL ? Irfan : Fool, where else will I get money from ? And I hope that they don't dump me for the next edition as I don't have any endorsements now. Sree : "Now", what do you mean Now, you never had any. Nehra : :hysterical::hysterical: Irfan : Sree you...... and exits. Praveen : Hey Sree even I am leaving now since I have to get down to the gym to get some extra fats out. Sree : Ok PK. Byee PK exits. And the gym person(also watching the CCTV Clip) surprisingly says "Goshh, Praveen talking about working out at the gym during the time when the gym is under renovation ?????And the biggest irony is that none of the bowlers are objecting..." The assistant sitting next to him said "Sir, none of the fast bowlers will know that, because even they haven't entered it since ages...I think Anil Kumble and even VVS Laxman works out more than them...." Sree : Hey Nehra, have you just come here for a laugh ? You seem to be doing nothing except laughing all this while ? Nehra : Its simple isn't it "Lets enjoy everything we do." And today, I enjoyed the catfight, it was great fun.So I decided to not say anything but just listen and enjoy. Sree : Smart boy eh.Ok even I have to leave now as I need to practice some dancing steps. Nehra : But you are under rehab ? Sree : Hmmm, thats my fitness secret, dancing keeps me fit, its my way of rehabilitating. Nehra : Hmmm preparing yourself as a cheerleader for IPL 4, as it is you will be thrown out from your side and will not be taken by anyone else seeing your performance so far. Sree : Errrrr.Ok Byee I am going now. Sree exits in disgust. Nehra : Hmmm.Now that everyone is getting serious to cement their places, I better start working hard and take some sessions, but before that let me have a month's rest, after that I will try and take some serious sessions every week for at least a couple of hours.Need to inquire now, where the team is supposed to take the training... Even he exits now. Meanwhile everyone except Krish Srikanth exits from the room. Cheeka is thinking "Looking at things now,the dream of World Cup is looking distant.My job is getting tougher because I will have to select the fast bowlers, and the way they are practicing, I don't think they will turn up well in World Cup, I will be blamed for picking the wrong side and the decision will be marked as a Selection Blunder".Don't want that to happen.Just going now to give the resignation letter to the board, so that my reputation doesn't go astray for that squad selection.If these fast bowlers don' work hard, why will I take the risk....Its time now to put on the Yellow Jersey back and be the official mascot of my Franchise and get some quick bucks from the Boss (whose first name is yet unknown to many).The job of being a selector is now becoming more and more difficult.So its time to shift gears from the Test to T20 mode.Mr Shetty, here I come with my Resignation Letter...
There has been some confusion regarding what is a post and what is an article. I feel that SJS50's piece is too lengthy and informative to be considered not an article and will probably be nominated for Article of the month. Sorry if it offends anyone. Anyway, this week, there are just 3 posts nominated with MTC's posts nominated for next weeks POTW.
Texy Veteran

Texy

Posted
Posted

Varun's: hocuspocus with all the numbers....sala nerd and a well built one Bumper's: informative article Gaurav's: good attempt...not overtly funny though..it's zandu balm funny not hajmola funny my vote goes to Bumper

ZodiaC Newbie

ZodiaC

Posted
Posted
He didnt want it this time. Besides i made a mistake in the title that said i would close it on 17th instead of 18th. So i kept 17th this time.
He didn't want it? Where did he say that? :finger:
Roshanrocks Newbie

Roshanrocks

Posted
Posted
Nywayz voted for Gaurav for the sheer effort
this is bull sheet SJS efort was much longer and much better and he was emininated and sent to the articles section even though he never intended it to be an article.... on the other hand G92 posted his piece intending it to be an article and it ends here in the POTW section absolute bull sheet :hitler:

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