Cricket Quotebook: Rahul Dravid, Morne Morkel, Lord Condon and Others

Rahul Dravid,Lord Paul Condon,Rudi Koertzen,Hugh Morris and Morne Morkel round up this edition of What They Said, Really Meant and Definitely Didn't.

Dravid has the IPL firmly in his sights.

Morne has loads of time to watch the first Test highlights, over and over again.

Hugh Morris takes aim at the playing Twitteratti.

Rudi Koertzen presents the quintessential dilemma to Adam Gilchrist.

And Lord Condon is beaten down for proposing a T20 division.

Lord Paul Condon Has ‘Separate’ Plans for T20

What he said:

"You can either say T20 is such a crazy form of the game, you quarantine it.”

Lord Paul Condon, former head of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit, believes that the T20 format has engendered the growth of corruption in the sport.

Speaking to The Cricketer magazine, Condon said:

"

Probably the greatest trigger point (in the rise of corruption) was the explosion of T20.

The ‘anything goes’ party atmosphere allowed some really bad people back into the game. Some of the notorious fixers from early years started to re-emerge on the circuit in India, Pakistan, South Africa, Australia and the UK.

It almost legitimised the bad guys being back around cricket again, and fixers were even seen in promoters’ boxes and at matches. What up to then had been pretty tight and regulated, suddenly became a free-for-all.

"

Condon believes that players  felt that as long as they were not throwing a game, it was alright to spot-fix.

Condon said:

"I think the temptation was to do a little fix here and a little fix there and still win the match—and they were not seeing it as criminal."

In another interview to the London Evening Standard,the former Metropolitan police commissioner said:

"

I remember saying (at an ICC board meeting in 2008) you’ve got two choices.

You can either say T20 is such a crazy form of the game, you quarantine it. If current Test players go into that, they can’t come back to Test. But that would never work.

You’ve got to have a fit and proper regime, as you would with gambling, and a proper anti-corruption endeavour to monitor tournaments.

However, there was a lot of anger from the Indian representatives who said I had no right to suggest that. They felt I was challenging the legitimacy of the Indian Premier League.

"

Lord Condon urged present-day cricketers to aid the fight against corruption.

Condon said:

"In recent years, there’s been very little whistle-blowing from current players."

What Lord Condon really meant:

“I’m all for segregation—cricket-wise.”

What Lord Condon definitely didn’t :

“Would we need the ACU if not for T20?”

Rudi Koertzen Questions Adam Gilchrist’s Walking Ability

What he said:

"Would he do that if it was a World Cup final and he was batting with a No. 11 and Australia needed one to win?"

Former Test umpire, Rudi Koertzen, advocates the use of Decision Review System (DRS), simultaneously commending “walkers”.

Koertzen said:

"

It will stop batsmen from blatant cheating and encourage them to walk. If he has edged it and the umpire misses it and the hot spot and TV replays suggest the batsman has nicked it, he will be caught out. I really respect players like Kumar Sangakkara and Sachin Tendulkar who walk the moment they think they have edged the ball.

"

Koertzen , though, would not endorse Adam Gilchrist, a known walker, preferring to sally back the aforesaid query.

What he really meant:

“I know I wouldn’t.”

What he definitely didn’t :

“I’d want to be the third umpire—in this scenario.”

Hugh Morris Would Rather Players Not Monkey Around on Twitter

What he said:

“It is like giving a machine gun to a monkey. It can be fantastic or it can be an absolute disaster too.”

English cricket team’s managing director, Hugh Morris, believes that Twitter is for twits.

Morris was speaking at UK Sport’s world-class performance conference in London.

Morris said:

"

I kind of get Twitter...it’s a great medium for pushing out good messages when it is done really well.

When it’s done poorly it is a complete and utter nightmare for those of us trying to manage and lead teams.

"

The ECB boss’ comments will further spur debate as to whether sportspersons are best equipped to deal directly with fans and the media.

The immediacy of Twitter can be both a boon and a curse.

What he really meant:

“Twitteratti, Monkeyrazzi, it’s all the same to me.”

What he definitely didn’t :

“Let’s take this debate online—tweet me @HughMorris.”

Morne Morkel Highlights the Blur

What he said:

“The whole second innings thing is a blur. Luckily, there are highlights, so you can see it every 10 minutes on television.”

Morne Morkel enjoys catching the highlights of Australia’s dramatic second innings collapse in the first Test at Newlands.

Australia were shot out for 47.

What he really meant:

“It seemed like an action movie—fast forward.”

What he definitely didn’t :

“I’d have enjoyed watching the highlights more—had the Aussies won.”

Rahul Dravid Is Ready for the IPL

What he said:

"I’m preparing for the IPL."

Rahul Dravid jokingly answers a query as to why and how he uncharacteristically slammed a couple of sixes in his 36th ton in the second Test at the Eden Gardens against the West Indies.

Dravid said:

"

For six weeks with your IPL team, you’re hitting shots all the time.But I don’t think it’s just that. Whenever I’ve been in good form in my career, everything seems to flow. I pick up the length better and get fully forward or back. It’s also about not missing out on the fours.

 

"

What he really meant:

“Isn’t that more believable?”

What he definitely didn’t :

“IPL is excellent preparation for the ardours of Test cricket.”