What is Spot Fixing?

Spot fixing reports has engulfed two ODI matches of the England v/s Pakistan Series in the UK. The first ODI at Lords and the 3rd ODI at The Oval are under the scanner. Even the apex cricketing body - ICC - has acknowledged the way the games were played is suspicious and has initiated an investigation.

What is this spot fixing?

John Etheridge - Chief Cricket writer has written in The Sun

...the final result is not the point of spot-fixing. This insidious, twilight activity involves manipulating passages of play such as the number of runs scored in a block of overs.

What's the point of sport if the opposition might not be trying as hard as they can all of the time?

Spot fixing tends to manipulate the smaller moments of the game not its end result. Spot fixing could target specific ball or a specific over or a set of balls / overs of the game. It does not attempt to directly manipulate the result of the game, but certainly does impact the sportsmanship as the players do not deliver their best all the time..
In cricket, it could be as simple as requiring a player to bowl particular number of wide balls in a particular over or something like that - or requiring a bowler to bowl a no-ball at a particular ball in a particular over- or - it may require a batsman to miss a particular ball in a particular over or a series of balls.

Fixing is an illegal activity associated with the betting market. Knowning the outcome of a particular event improves the odds in favour of the fixer. Spot fixing in cricket is popular where bets are placed on every single ball.

The popularity of cricket has increased many fold in the last few years drawing a lot of  attention from the betting community.

More Spot Fixing News

What's happening!! Cricket used to be a noble game. It has always been played with a lot of dignity and pride.

But, its credibility has taken a massive beating over the last month. Earlier reports of 3 Pakistani cricketers being involved in spot rigging during the 1st ODI between England and Pakistan shook the sport and its fans, now ICC accepts that even the 3rd ODI between the same two teams at The Oval is not above suspicion.

In fact, The Sun - an English tabloid - has claimed that is that submitted to the ICC inspectors before the match started information about how the scoring pattern during certain parts of the game would flow and the actual scoring in the match turned out to be very much in its information.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has said that a full scaled investigation would be carried out into the match and re-iterated the zero-tolerance policy of ICC toward corruption in cricket.

ICC will have to act swiftly and decisively to ensure that such occurrences do not repeat and restore the people's faith in the fairness of the event.

Andrew Symonds shines at Nagpur

Australian middle order batsman and all-rounder - Andew Symonds - was the man of the day at Nagpur in the 6th ODI against India on 14 October 2007, Sunday.

A consistent and reliable player - Andrew - played true to his reputation.

His unbeaten century (107 in 88 balls) paved the wave for a huge total of 317 that the Australian side compiled when they batted first after winning the toss. As a bowler he proved himself to be the most economical - 10 overs 39 runs.

All in all - he stood out as the single name that played an important role in Australia's 18 run win against India.

Vadodara game brought India to its knees

The Indian cricket team which was up to now basking in the rays of the Twenty20 victory has been humbled by the Australian side.

Neither the Indian batsmen nor bowlers were able to cope up to the Australian attack. Loosing all wickets for a meagre 148 left scope for lot of criticism from all types of cricket loving audiences.

The Australians on the other hand have played consistent cricket. A steady game - consistent batting and bowling performances. They were on top during the 5th ODI palyed at Vadodara right from the word go.

It brought back memories of the ICC World Cup 2007 played in West Indies in March-April 2007, how the Indian cricket team was not able to even make it to Super 8 Series.

MS Dhoni is captain of Indian ODI team

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, first arrived on the One-Day international cricket scene in Dec 2004 at Chittagong against Bangladesh. He made is Test Match debut almost a year later in Dec 2005 in Chennai against Sri Lanka.

Within 3 years, he has been selected as the Captain of the One Day International team of India. He shall lead the ODI team on the forth coming Australian tour.

The captain's berth had been recently vacated by Rahul Dravid when he put in his papers after the returning home from the England series.

The quest to finalize the captain for the Test Match teams is still on. Sachin Tendulkar has, reportedly, turned down the offer for the position.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is also the captain of the Indian Twenty20 team that is playing in ICC World Twenty20 - South Africa 2007.