Never underestimate the predictability...

... of both stupidity and some ex-cricketers. If you want more reasons why Bishen Singh Bedi is the Indian equivalent of Fred Trueman (in making statements), some more popped out of this rather useless Rediff contribution of his.

First, the irony of him saying "He (Virender Sehwag) must shed a few pounds to look a competent athlete" is hard to ignore, even if there is any reason in that statement - I don't know. But defining the look of a competent athlete is perhaps best left to others. Then Bedi gets his facts horribly tied up as if mixing up an armball with a chinaman. He says:

The Pakistan coach was most familiar with the D/L method as he have been part of the South African team in a World Cup tie at Sydney when the Proteas were required 23 runs off one ball. Bob Woolmer was early and wise to keep his boys posted about the D/L method.

Now,

1. Bob Woolmer had no part to play with the SA team of 1992 in that World Cup (IIRC). He became coach sometime after 1994.
2. The Duckworth-Lewis method was not introduced until 1999.
3. The 1992 Cup was played under a rain rule suggested by Richie Benaud (and perhaps others), so they should be blamed (But then I'm sure Bedi has more respect for a great player than a bunch of "lousy mathematicians").

Finally, this infuriating statement: "the result had to be decided by that lousy mathematician duo of Duckworth and Lewis. What a pity that cricketers have to leave their unfinished work to the unknowns, who may have never played the game." Well, it comes back to asking whether playing the game at the highest level has anything to do with coming up with a rain rule system. D/L is perhaps not the best system, but it remains the fairest one known so far and its heart is definitely in the right place (I don't know about the alternative system some Indian suggested - however the same criticisms will be levelled against that as well). Even if some cricketer can't understand it, why does he have to bother - just follow the printout issued to you! What other way is possible to finish a match, Mr. Bedi?

Further suggested reading for him: The Duckworth Lewis Method and this article by Harsha Bhogle mentioning the topic. My problem with these sort of columns are that they are full of criticisms but not one bit of it is constructive and useful for anyone.