I’ve got no time for Pollard – Starc

The hatchet has not been buried between Royal Challengers Bangalore fast bowler Mitchell Starc and Mumbai Indians allrounder Kieron Pollard, who were fined for their ugly on-field spat at the Wankhede Stadium. Speaking to the Times of India, Starc said he had not talked to Pollard at all after the incident. “Kieron’s done that a lot in the past and I don’t think it’s worth talking about,” he said. “No, I’ve got no time for Pollard and I haven’t talked to him at all.”

“That sort of situation would probably warrant yellow and red cards if it ever does come to that. But I’m definitely staying out of that sort of thing anyway. It’s not in my nature to get involved in that sort of stuff. It was a heat-of-the-moment thing.”

Hussey hopes to fill in for McCullum
Australia batsman David Hussey was a late signing by Chennai Super Kings as a replacement for West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo, but he is likely to get a chance to play when New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum returns home for the birth of his child, which could rule him out of games on May 22 and 24. “The talk started a while ago, actually, with Dwayne Bravo having a sore shoulder,” Hussey told IPLt20.com. “So, Stephen Fleming rang me and asked if I would be interested in playing. I was lucky enough to be here commentating, and now, I can’t wait to play. I have sort of spoken to Fleming and he said that I will be a middle-order player, and with Brendon McCullum due to go home for the birth of his baby, I’ll definitely get an opportunity to play.”

CSK team official Russell Radhakrishnan told Hindu: “We have booked tickets for Brendon to fly out of India on May 21 and return on the 25th. His wife is expecting around that time, and if he leaves for home, he will miss two matches.”

You don’t have to have magic in T20s – Murali
Former Sri Lankan offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, says even ordinary Test spinners can be successful in T20 cricket because they don’t need to “buy wickets” in the shortest format. “You will get wickets if you bowl tight.” Murali told Deccan Herald. “You don’t have to be a big spinner, you don’t have to have magic in T20s but you have to have magic in Test cricket to take wickets, to some extent even in one-day cricket.

“Your mindset has to change. In Test cricket you have to buy wickets. You can’t keep on bowling maiden overs and waiting, because you won’t be successful. You have to have some tricks; you have to flight the ball, have variations. Test cricket teaches you so many things.”