20th-century Cricketer Quotes

Sports officials must work with more responsibility to develop sports. Even under the good governance government some Sports Ministry officials don't carry out their duties properly as they are influenced by money and power. It is always sports clubs, institutions and sports personnel who pay the price for all misconducts of officials. To change this trend sports authority must take the necessary steps.

Arjuna Ranatunga

I did not say that I wanted to stay over here. I still want to play for Pakistan and my state side there – my priority is with Pakistan for as long as they need me in Test cricket. In fact I am always there for them in any form of the game – Pakistan has given me the name to be playing cricket in England. If ever Pakistan didn't select me for three to four years in a row in any form of cricket then, and only then, would I think about coming over here.

It has been a disappointing few months for all of us. We let down the fans, we let down the whole country. All we can do is stick to one combination, not try and change the team too much. Quick decisions won't solve this matter, we got to try and be patient.

He can be so rude to people that sometimes you just want to punch his lights out.

The chief secret of comfort lies in not suffering trifles to vex us, and in prudently cultivating our undergrowth of small pleasures, since very few great ones, alas! are let on long leases.

To be No. 1 in sport you have to have a narrow tunnel vision. Dedication. You want to call it selfishness, arrogance, whatever. It's dog eat dog. There are no prisoners taken; there's none expected.

He [Arjun Nair] started as a batsman and the bowling took over, now he's picking up the batting again, which is good because it is important he offers something [more] than his bowling. Finger spin in Australia is challenging at the best of times and you just have to give yourself more opportunities to be selected. In this professional age it is important he offers as much as possible to maximise the number of opportunities he gets. Fielding is another aspect, like all young cricketers. Arjun needs to make sure he nails that because you can't afford any deficiencies if you want to break through.

If one-day cricket was pyjama cricket, then Twenty20 is underwear cricket.

Navjot Singh Sidhu

Before 1914 it was beauty that counted in cricket - elegance of strokes, stylishness of bowling action, quixotry in captaincy. The gallant gesture was just as important as the mammoth score, the picturesque as the efficient.

Our cricket was completely uninhibited by tactical thoughts or any other subtleties. We were never coached, all our practice came from playing in the streets of Signal Hill, where we lived, and some of us would get hauled off to jail by the police if we were caught. Playing in the street was an offence for us.

Basil D'Oliveira