Mumbai Diary: Sunday shorts

Sushil Nadkarni, Winston Davis, A black hen

India-born Sushil debuts as USA cricket administrator
IAN Chappell, Clive Lloyd, Michael Holding, Alvin Kallicharran and Shaun Pollock need no introduction to Indians. They have all toured here as senior members of their respective teams. Their popularity also sits well with cricketer Sushil Nadkarni, who now resides in America. Nadkarni joins these illustrious names on a high-powered American Cricket Federation (ACF) panel that aims to further popularise cricket in America. In fact, Nadkarni has become the first American cricketer to be part of the AFC
advisory board.

Sushil Nadkarni

At 23, Pune's Nadkarni, after having played under-19 cricket for India and figuring in the Ranji Trophy, migrated to Texas in 1999. Seven years later, he scored a hundred on debut for USA against the Cayman Islands in the ICC World Cricket League.
According to an ACF press release, ‘Sushil (in 2008) recorded the highest score in any format for USA with his 197 against Suriname, and then two years later, against the Cayman Islands again, he scored the United States' fastest-ever century in 50-over cricket, accomplishing the feat in a mere 54 balls. Sushil finished his career ranked second in overall runs for USA, both in T20 and 50-over cricket with a batting average of 51.31, and led the American squad at the 2012 World T20 Qualifier in
the UAE.'

Considering how much Nadkarni loves quick-scoring, there is every chance things will move swiftly for the USA on the global scene. In his words, "having played competitive cricket at all levels in USA since 2001, and for the USA National Team since 2006 until my recent retirement in December 2014, I hope to share key insights and learn new ideas while working with the group."

Look who's come to take the Metro
Mid-week, on a dull and drab day, we stood on the Andheri escalator trying to rub sleep out of our eyes.

Then, we blinked, and blinked again. Someone before us, who had taken the electronic stairs up, caught our attention - a black hen. While a selfie would have scared it away, we aimed the camera at the bird before the guard could shoo it away. And pose it did.

Southee performs similar feat as pioneer Davis sleeps

On Friday, New Zealand pace bowler Tim Southee became only the fourth bowler in World Cup annals to bag seven wickets in an innings when he had England in sixes and sevens (pun unintended) at Wellington.

Winston Davis

The first one to record such a feat - West Indies' Winston Davis (56) - lives in Worcester, England and despite being paralysed neck down through an accident suffered in 1997, he follows the game closely.

Southee's feat reminded Davis of his seven-wicket burst against the Australians at Leeds in 1983 but the problem was, he didn't get to see the Kiwi in full flight on television in England on Friday. Not because the TV set was misbehaving, but because the game was over at around 6.30 am UK time - before he woke up! Davis, who was not exactly a late-riser, learnt about Southee's 7 for 33 on teletext. It was a short game on Friday with Southee destroying England in 33.2 overs and New Zealand getting to their target in the 13th over.