So I met Ricky Ponting today

But he wasn't half as interesting as the Journalist Mike Coward, who was extremely generous with his time at the lunch table as we discussed the Australia v West Indies tied test, and a series of interviews he did with some of the world's best players recently. I asked him if Tendulkar is a good interview, to which he replied "He's magnificent". He was also full of praise for Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble "wonderfully articulate men".

Coward interviewed Ponting after the lunch, and the questions asked were pretty much standard fare- the role of T20 in modern cricket, player workloads etc. He was also asked about Brett Lee, and Ponting talked as if Lee had probably played his last game for Australia, saying something like, "It's amazing that Brett has been able to play so much for Australia considering the stress he puts on his body" etc...

Philip Hughes was also at the function, dressed very much like the bogan, in patterned jeans and a leather jacket (it was a smart casual function). John Howard was in attendance as well. Proud to say that I didn't shake his hand.

The most interesting people were the ones that haven't been excessively media trained. Coward, and another guy who had been managing Eden Gardens in Calcutta during the IPL. He said that a lot of the international players wanted to go home during the IPL after the Bangalore blast, and that Sanga showed him the shrapnel scars on his back from the team bus shooting early last year.

Interesting stuff.

I have met Coward a few times and agree, he is good value for a good old fashioned cricket conversation.

I'd love to have a chat about cricket with Mike Coward over a couple of bottles of good red.

Henry wrote:But he wasn't half as interesting as the Journalist Mike Coward, who was extremely generous with his time at the lunch table as we discussed the Australia v West Indies tied test, and a series of interviews he did with some of the world's best players recently. I asked him if Tendulkar is a good interview, to which he replied "He's magnificent". He was also full of praise for Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble "wonderfully articulate men".

Coward interviewed Ponting after the lunch, and the questions asked were pretty much standard fare- the role of T20 in modern cricket, player workloads etc. He was also asked about Brett Lee, and Ponting talked as if Lee had probably played his last game for Australia, saying something like, "It's amazing that Brett has been able to play so much for Australia considering the stress he puts on his body" etc...

Philip Hughes was also at the function, dressed very much like the bogan, in patterned jeans and a leather jacket (it was a smart casual function). John Howard was in attendance as well. Proud to say that I didn't shake his hand.

The most interesting people were the ones that haven't been excessively media trained. Coward, and another guy who had been managing Eden Gardens in Calcutta during the IPL. He said that a lot of the international players wanted to go home during the IPL after the Bangalore blast, and that Sanga showed him the shrapnel scars on his back from the team bus shooting early last year.

Interesting stuff.

Good post. See Trev, it's not that hard.

No sledging of Ponting? Dissapointing.

We need a 'Historic Flaming Bails Moments' section on this board. Trev not taking a shot at something/someone just because it's Australian? WIBF.

Come on, he did have a crack at Fill Ewes . . .

He's definitely trying to get chummy with someone.

Trev I mean, not Phil.

tac wrote:Come on, he did have a crack at Fill Ewes . . .

He said Hughes was a bogan. Statement of fact in my book taccy.

Was or has?

Zat wrote:

tac wrote:Come on, he did have a crack at Fill Ewes . . .

He said Hughes was a bogan. Statement of fact in my book taccy.

Yes, zatty, but he also had a pretty sad crack at his dress sense . . . I mean, who notices that?

tac wrote:

Zat wrote:

tac wrote:Come on, he did have a crack at Fill Ewes . . .

He said Hughes was a bogan. Statement of fact in my book taccy.

Yes, zatty, but he also had a pretty sad crack at his dress sense . . . I mean, who notices that?

taccy, are you suggesting Mudge would fit in with this crowd?

If I knew who "that" crowd was . . yes . . .

I wasn't the only one who commented on Hughes's scruffiness.

Check your PMs tac.