Muttiah Muralitharan is talking about a new ball that apparently does all sorts of magical things when it leaves his hand.
Whether the mercurial spinner will unveil this mysterious wonder ball against the Rest of South Africa outfit in Lenasia is doubtful.
Of course, after the boring series against Bangladesh, a bit of psychological wrestling before next week's first Test will certainly be welcomed by those responsible for promoting the series against the Sri Lankans.
The president of the newly formed Indian Cricket Players' Association (ICPA), Mansur Ali Khan 'Tiger' Pataudi doesn't think that the association will be an exclusive club representing the interests of only the country's top players.
"It will involve the state units and we'll look after the welfare of players from all over the country," Pataudi said on Wednesday.
Reiterating what ICPA secretary Arun Lal said at it's formal launch on Tuesday, Pataudi made it clear that the association was not keen on a confrontation with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
"I'll speak to the BCCI brass very soon on the issues," he said. "The players have to travel around for most part of the year. Basically, we want to do the talking on their behalf."
Pataudi, however, admitted that running the association wouldn't be a very easy task. "We all have to work together to ensure that," the president said.
Life after international cricket for Mark Waugh is set to follow a well-worn path into Channel 9's commentary team.
Nine director of Sport Gary Burns said discussions with Waugh's management began yesterday about him joining old team-mates Mark Taylor and Ian Healy behind the microphone.
"But I'm not sure he's a certainty this summer for the CCP (Central Commentary Position)," Burns said yesterday.
"He's going to play first-class cricket for NSW this season and that goes on at the same time as the international season. He commentated in the mid-winter season here - the one-dayers against Pakistan - and went well."
But Burns baulked at the idea Nine was keen to secure Waugh.
Mark Waugh will continue to be paid by the Australian Cricket Board until the end of June despite retiring from international cricket on Monday.
Waugh remains one of 25 players who have ACB contracts, all of which run throughout the current financial year. Waugh's involves a retainer worth around $400,000.
Waugh's agent Leo Karis said he was assessing offers from "a couple" of English counties keen to have Waugh play for them next northern summer.
The MCC are to allow girls on to their young cricketers programme for the first time from next year. The move is a further relaxation of the MCC's status as a traditional all-male preserve and follows the introduction of female members three years ago.
The young cricketers scheme offers promising players privileged coaching and education at the global home of cricket. Each year up to 18 players are recruited for what can be a four-year programme of intensive training. Graduates include Denis Compton, Ian Botham, Mark Waugh and Martin Crowe.
