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Indian star Yuvraj Singh celebrated his birthday with three wickets, 60 off 25 balls and more:

“There was lot of cake on my face. MS (Dhoni) held my hands and the rest of the players kept applying it all over my face and I could not see who all the culprits were. But I will take revenge once I come to know their names.”

This week’s …

Shameless treachery “Both sides have such bad batsmen. That’s my honest opinion, they’re useless.” Napier groundsman, Phil Stoyanoff, slags off New Zealand (and Pakistan)

Plea “I hope you use (the quote) in context and use it with restraint.” New Zealand Cricket public affairs manager, Stephen Hill, asks the media not to do what we just did above

Most destructive batsman “One-day cricket is batsman’s game.” Virender Sehwag, who played a large part in helping India to 414 for 7

Most destructive batsman ever? “I don’t think I am anywhere near Sachin or Vivian Richards. It’s you media people who are making this up.” Sehwag

Off-off relationship “I wouldn’t say it’s a priority of mine to have Kevin as a friend.” Graeme Smith

Self-sledging “At the moment when Hauritz is bowling to me, it’s like I’m bowling to myself. He really doesn’t turn the ball too much, that’s for sure.” Chris Gayle

Suffix “They’ve done a lot of preparation with Goochy, Mushy and Frenchy.” Ashley Giles-y

Test series “It’s going to be a bit macho.” Ashley Giles

Fierce determination “If you asked me, do I want to play for England tomorrow, I’d say yes, but I wouldn’t want to put all the hard work in.” Michael Vaughan

Commentator “I won’t say what the players want to hear. In that way, I don’t see my role as that much different to when I was captain.” Michael Vaughan

Doosra “I tried it in Adelaide, but no one would have seen it, so that’s how well it’s going. We’ll have to wait and see if I can land it a bit better here.” Nathan Hauritz

Role model? “I’m there for these young blokes if they want to ask me questions or they want to learn about what to do and what not to do and when to have a good time and when to hang back a bit.” Andrew Symonds

Slow and steady

Apparently, bowling into the wind turned the West Indies’ fastest bowler into Paul Collingwood.

“As a batsman, facing Kemar Roach bowling at the wrong end was nicer,” said Shane Watson.

Admittedly, Ricky Ponting did have to retire hurt, but it wasn’t that bad: “There’s no break in his elbow or anything like that,” said Watson.

Much like facing a spinner really.

Think that you know stuff?

Find out that you don’t with the Christmas Quiz that appears in the latest issue of The Wisden Cricketer – on the shelves today.

It’s tougher than ever but with tickets to Lord’s and Headingley PLUS a whole new cricket library up for grabs – it’s worth dusting down Wisden, cranking up Cricinfo and earning it.

The TWC confessional

Sam writes: “Back in 1989, I enrolled on a winter coaching course at the Gloucestershire County Ground in Bristol. I was only eight, so was reliant on my mother to drive me to the nets and she insisted on accompanying me to the door of the sports hall.

“One day, the start of the coaching session was delayed because Jack Russell was practising ahead of an England tour to the West Indies. When he finally exited the nets, fully padded up and carrying two bats under his arm, my mother turned to me and almost shouted: ‘Gosh he seems to be taking himself a bit seriously.’

“As if the prospect of facing the battery of West Indian fast bowlers was not enough, he also had to contend with some sledging from people who should have known better.

“Jack, on behalf of my mother, sorry.”

Do you have a cricket sin to confess? Have you stood behind the nets at Old Trafford before a Test muttering about Marcus Trescothick not moving his feet? Be absolved of all your cricket-following sins by emailing the TWC Confessional at [email protected]

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