The best cricket quotes of 2012

“Some days you’re the windscreen, some you’re the bug” Michael Hussey puts things in perspective after the dropped catch by Angelo Mathews that brought up his hundred in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart. “The viewers have got no interest in what I’ve got to say because they switched off four or five hours ago.” Kevin Pietersen felt the pitch for the Nagpur Test was the worst he has seen. “I got hit by a monster, how do you think I am?” Mashrafe Mortaza was not amused after being hit on the ankle by a Chris Gayle stroke. [caption id=“attachment_571514” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Chris Gayle:“I sleep the whole day after breakfast to get in shape for the game.” AFP[/caption] “Only those who’ve played at least 150 Tests should be analysing Sachin’s game.” Bishan Bedi thinks nobody is qualified to talk about Tendulkar. “I’ve developed a new shot this week - a leave outside off stump.” New Zealand’s Lou Vincent gets cheeky about playing first-class cricket after Twenty20s. “If he drops me I’ll never speak to him again.” Graeme Swann lets England Test captain Alastair Cook know where he stands. “Where else in the world do you get the opportunity to basically kill someone with two bouncers an over? Or try, legally.” South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is happy with his choice of profession. “Cricket is not like a government job where retirement age is fixed at 60. A cricketer can retire at 30 or 60; it’s up to the player.” Virender Sehwag ways in on the retirement debate. “If Real Madrid don’t qualify, you don’t see Ronaldo.” Mahela Jawaywardene explains the absence of Chris Gayle in the 2012 Champions League T20 “Frankly, I am quite bad at analysing technique; you have seen my technique.” MS Dhoni proves he is never at a loss for words when asked whether Rohit Sharma was susceptible against the incoming delivery. “On the 1996 tour of England, I went to the gym only once - to see it and not to use it.” Fitness was not top of the mind when Sourav Ganguly began his career. “If we create a nuisance, please forgive us.” Unmukt Chand lets the mayor of Townsville know that India’s Under-19 team might be celebrating after they won the Under-19 World Cup in Australia. “It’s tough being me.” Kevin Pietersen says it all. “I had always asked him to have his hair cut, but he never listened to me. Then how was he ready to do such a big thing [at my behest]?” Salman Butt denies that he had any influence of Mohammad Amir’s decision to spot-fix “My choice as captain would be me.” MS Dhoni does not mince his words. “When someone gets a stomach upset, it’s because of the IPL. If someone gets an outside edge, it’s because of the IPL.” Ravi Shastri has enough of the “blame the IPL” camp. “I sleep the whole day after breakfast to get in shape for the game.” Chris Gayle reveals his IPL pre-match preparation routine. Gayle went on to lead all scorers with 733 runs. “Watching some of the bowlers’ actions today, I think I might have created a monster.” Arjuna Ranatunga, the former Sri Lanka captain, on the unintended consequences of defending Muttiah Muralitharan’s action. “It hasn’t yet sunk in yet but I’ve definitely lost around 50 kilos.” Sachin Tendulkar after reaching his 100th international century “I can assure you that nobody has been dropped.” Kris Srikkanth, then India’s chairman of selectors, wanted to leave no doubt that Virender Sehwag had only been rested for the Asia Cup. “They know what they are. You are naming three precious stones of the BCCI.” India’s media manager GS Walia answers a question about whether Gambhir, Sehwag and Tendulkar know they have become slow in the field. “From Kishore Kumar, we have gone to Sean Paul.” MS Dhoni reveals how the dressing room has changed with the introduction of younger players. “You die, you die. You don’t see which is the better way to die.” MS Dhoni makes it clear that losing is losing, no matter who the opposition is. “I’m not inside Sachin Tendulkar’s head. I wish I was sometimes.” Ricky Ponting’s response to being asked how Tendulkar might be dealing with the pressure of chasing 100 international hundreds. “Peter Siddle’s first Test wicket.” Peter Siddle shows his quick with when asked how he would describe Sachin Tendulkar. Please post your favourite sports quotes in the comments section.