There are two ongoing test matches and both have them proved that no matter how flat the wickets are, no matter how inventive the batsmen have become and no matter how enterprising shot-making has become, one simple, fact cannot be altered — most contemporary sides cannot handle even average-quality spin bowling if it is dished out on a sustained basis.
Just look at the Pakistani side. They were supposed to struggle against the fast, Aussie bowlers but they have fallen prey to a fiver from Hauritz. No disrespect towards Nathan Hauritz, but by no means is he a match-winning Tweaker. By no means Hauritz can be described as a big spinner of the ball. He is simply a line and length, off-spinner who has the ability to stick to a line and wait for the batsmen to commit a folly and usually that doesn’t work since the pitches are so flat these days that all sorts of strange, counter strokes can be played to negate whatever little spin he is able to generate. The same applied to Kumble for a long time when he could take buckets of wicket at home because the pitches were up and down but was redundant in overseas conditions because simply pitching the ball between the stumps didn’t make an impact. The same applies to South Africa. Graeme Swann does have the talent to make the ball dip in the air but he cannot spin it an impressive extent even if his own life dependent upon it. He simply owes his wickets against South Africa to the Proteas batsmen being apprehensive on the slight indications of some, meagre turn on a wicket that is slowly wearing out.
The final result — two average spin bowlers have delivered what are potentially match-winning spells.
Both SA and England stuck with lower-order batsmen: Lack of Aggressive Bowling?
I realize that saying so would mean undermining the usual tenacity shown by the Proteas bowlers but the fact remains that England was able to save the first test match purely due to the inability of the South African bowlers to dismiss the late batting order of England. For starters, they allowed Graeme Swann to make a half-century and give England's total
a sense of respectability and on the final, decisive day of the test match, the South Africa bowlers just kept bowling outside the off-stump or so short that the ball never made an impact. I was wondering what happened to Ntini and his ilk who would get under the batsmen chin and in their toes as soon as the number seven onwards batting of the opposition took stance against them. Is it just lack of intensity or are the bowlers bowling too much of the regular line and length type bowling? The same holds true for England in the second test match against South Africa. They could have easily restricted South Africa to about 270 but then Steyn took over and carted the England bowling to all parts. Stuart Broad kept bowling what is generally regarded as the conventional, decent line, without trying to bounce out Dale Steyn. I believe England are missing someone like Harmison and Flintoff whose height and overall bowling style made them a headache for the lower-order batsmen. Onions and Anderson merely kept on pitching around the good-length area without trying out the slower balls or yorkers that are becoming so useful these days, considering the amount of ODI and T20 cricket being played…just strange!!
a sense of respectability and on the final, decisive day of the test match, the South Africa bowlers just kept bowling outside the off-stump or so short that the ball never made an impact. I was wondering what happened to Ntini and his ilk who would get under the batsmen chin and in their toes as soon as the number seven onwards batting of the opposition took stance against them. Is it just lack of intensity or are the bowlers bowling too much of the regular line and length type bowling? The same holds true for England in the second test match against South Africa. They could have easily restricted South Africa to about 270 but then Steyn took over and carted the England bowling to all parts. Stuart Broad kept bowling what is generally regarded as the conventional, decent line, without trying to bounce out Dale Steyn. I believe England are missing someone like Harmison and Flintoff whose height and overall bowling style made them a headache for the lower-order batsmen. Onions and Anderson merely kept on pitching around the good-length area without trying out the slower balls or yorkers that are becoming so useful these days, considering the amount of ODI and T20 cricket being played…just strange!!
Pakistan bowled too short to make an Impact
Pakistan had an excellent opportunity to dent Australia's batting confidence in the first test matched but as it turns out, their bowlers just weren't up to the mark when it come to bowling, actually, wicket-taking deliveries. Most of the bowling was just too short. It seemed that the Pakistani bowlers got too excited by the lure of bowling on a bouncy track and kept on pitching it
so short that the ball just didn't make the kind of impact most experts were believing it would make. Nearly every bowler seemed obsessed with trying to bounce out the Aussie batsmen, ignoring the fact that these batsmen are more equipped than most to play the short ball and bouncers don't work if you keep bowling them with mundane regularity. I believe the real ace with the Pakistanis lies in their ability to swing the new and the old ball and that is what they should be concentrating upon rather than trying to further their speed-guns or trying to hit the helmets of the batsmen. Rauf hasn't played much cricket but he does look like a good, line & length type bowling if he can just pitch the ball, a bit further up. Even Ajmal was guilt of not floating the ball - something that has given him bucketful of wickets. The fact that even Nathan Hauritz got stuck into the Pak bowling underlines the fact that the bowlers weren't threatening. Pakistan can still bail themselves out, they do have the firepower, it just needs to get on the right radar.
so short that the ball just didn't make the kind of impact most experts were believing it would make. Nearly every bowler seemed obsessed with trying to bounce out the Aussie batsmen, ignoring the fact that these batsmen are more equipped than most to play the short ball and bouncers don't work if you keep bowling them with mundane regularity. I believe the real ace with the Pakistanis lies in their ability to swing the new and the old ball and that is what they should be concentrating upon rather than trying to further their speed-guns or trying to hit the helmets of the batsmen. Rauf hasn't played much cricket but he does look like a good, line & length type bowling if he can just pitch the ball, a bit further up. Even Ajmal was guilt of not floating the ball - something that has given him bucketful of wickets. The fact that even Nathan Hauritz got stuck into the Pak bowling underlines the fact that the bowlers weren't threatening. Pakistan can still bail themselves out, they do have the firepower, it just needs to get on the right radar.
Is Tendulkar using a lighter bat?
This may seem too trivial to point out right now, but this question had been raised by some journalists at Kirsten, the Indian coach, and it seems that the answer to the question is a big, Yes. The thing is that Tendulkar had been plagued by many back and shoulder injuries in the last two-to-three years and many experts believed that his extremely thick bat, given his size and height limitation combined with the amount of cricket he was playing was a major reason for this. However, Tendulkar always refuted such theories and the runs kept coming-off his heavyweight bat carrying the MRF signature. It was during 2009 that Tendu had a change of sponsors and MRF exited and may be this was the reason that prompted Tendu to change his bat. He is now batting with an Adidas bat and it seems that this piece of lumber is much lighter than what he was using before. The results are evident in the way he is approaching the short-pitched ball, overcoming it with tender footwork and just dabbing upon it rather than playing those cracking, lifted off-drives. In fact, he seems to be getting more comfortable with merely pushing at the ball in vacant spots on the field and taking twos and threes, not that his boundary-scoring ability has suffered in any way, but his entire body language is more fluent than before, particularly the way he is playing delicate late-cuts around the third-man region. I feel that if he could replace those century-old pads of his, more weight would be lifted off his body, adding to his overall durability...now that such questions are bound to arise. I know, this sounds a bit too intrusive and talking about things that may seem insignificant but then cricket is 50% Tendulkar to me so obsessing over him is beyond my control.
India’s ODI Reality Check — Struggling Against Under-Strength Teams, worthy of being numero uno?
The Indian team’s ODI performance hasn’t been the greatest in recent months and despite that the team is in reckoning to win the numero uno ranking profile, courtesy of the present point-based ICC calculation system and India’s decent performances during the first half of 2009. It should be highlighted that this recent dip in performance is deeply disturbing considering that India have been facing under-strength teams. First Australia and now SL are here without many of their star players being left due to form-based issues or due to injuries. Further, these are home series and ideally, India should be winning the series quite comfortably. However, that is not the case.
They struggled a lot against the limited bowling resources of Australia and their own bowling attack has been repeatedly put to the sword by a Sri Lankan batting line-up wherein only the top four batsman can be considered regular members and potential match-winners and among that too, Mahela Jayewardene is desperately out-of-form. So what does this say about Dhoni’s men? They are vying hard for the top ranking status but where are the ODI performances to back the claim? If the bowling cannot hold its own in a home series with nearly a full-bench with most of the regular bowlers bowling, what does this indicate for the future? Secondly, the Indian batsmen are doing pretty good but usually when they are setting-up targets. They failed miserably when trying to chase reasonable targets and it seems that if the captain, Dhoni, doesn’t fire in the middle-order, it does seem to collapse against sustained short-pitched bowling.
They struggled a lot against the limited bowling resources of Australia and their own bowling attack has been repeatedly put to the sword by a Sri Lankan batting line-up wherein only the top four batsman can be considered regular members and potential match-winners and among that too, Mahela Jayewardene is desperately out-of-form. So what does this say about Dhoni’s men? They are vying hard for the top ranking status but where are the ODI performances to back the claim? If the bowling cannot hold its own in a home series with nearly a full-bench with most of the regular bowlers bowling, what does this indicate for the future? Secondly, the Indian batsmen are doing pretty good but usually when they are setting-up targets. They failed miserably when trying to chase reasonable targets and it seems that if the captain, Dhoni, doesn’t fire in the middle-order, it does seem to collapse against sustained short-pitched bowling.
Referral System does undermine the on-field umpire
I still cannot make-out the use of having on-field umpires when the players can just make signal to send up a decision for review. Yes, this initiative does mean that the ICC is trying hard to make the game more progressive and transparent but what it does not do is make the game simpler, in any way. Let us be clear about one thing, with so many computer-generated images that are flashed on our TVs, it was just a matter of time that the same technology was used in making actual decisions. But then, if we are using technological inputs for making decisions, then why not go the full-circle way and make the on-field umpires merely a component of the entire decision making, communication process. The present system makes mockery of the decision making ability of the umpire who is already under a lot of scrutiny with every appeal being showcased a thousand times on the huge screens installed at the grounds and the crowds seem to get very vocal and very upset if they realize that a mistake has been made. The ICC needs to be clear about what it wants to establish in a clear-cut manner - on-field or off-field umpiring and then stick with it rather than trying to blend two formats and make the entire process more confusing and controversial. What needs to be understood that the two, on-field umpires are placed at the core of the entire action on the field. If a system makes them mere referral mediums, then it compromises their air of authority and with so much being said about the antics of some international players, this would indirectly impact the ability of the umpires to regulate the behavior of players,
Pakistan may have the answers to the Aussie Challenge
The first test match between Australia and Pakistan is upon us and to me, it seems that Pakistan does have the resources to beat Australia in the Aussie backyard. For starters, their bowling line-up is the most penetrative, even more than that of South Africa and marginally better balanced that Australia’s bowling resources. Pakistan bowling has benefited from the return of some former players who had wandered away into the ICL and those who have made decent comebacks. With Mohammed Sami being added to the mix of Mohammed Asif, Umar Gul and Sohail Tanveer, along with the every-improving Mohammed Aamer, Pakistan’s arsenal is varied and penetrative if you consider that Saeed Ajmal is a very decent off-spinner. It should be noted that Australia would be missing the services of an injured Ponting and Michael Clarke too may not play all the matches. These are unarguably two of their best spin counterattacking batsmen and without them, the side would have to come to terms with the guile of Ajmal. The big concern lies with Pakistan's unreliable batting line-up that is known to crumble at the slightest hint of sustained, short-pitched bowling. None of their openers has overseas credibility and with Younis Khan unavailable due to some strange personal issues, the middle-order is very vulnerable to collapsing within 70-80 overs. With Peter Siddle and Bollinger in top bowling form, it would be difficult for the sub-continental batsmen to keep the balls out of their rib-cages and none of them are decent pullers of the short ball.
To some extent, the fact that Pakistan are coming off from a decent tour of New Zealand should help them get quickly familiarized with the kind of bowling that awaits them but then, the Kiwi bowling attack doesn’t match the Aussie bench in terms of pure aggression and horse-power. Still if one chooses to be optimistic, Pakistan's bowling alone can win them the series, provided internal issues are sidelined and cricket becomes the only focus for the team… otherwise, we are all too familiar with how crazy things can go with this team but yes, their uncertainty may well become their biggest weapon.
To some extent, the fact that Pakistan are coming off from a decent tour of New Zealand should help them get quickly familiarized with the kind of bowling that awaits them but then, the Kiwi bowling attack doesn’t match the Aussie bench in terms of pure aggression and horse-power. Still if one chooses to be optimistic, Pakistan's bowling alone can win them the series, provided internal issues are sidelined and cricket becomes the only focus for the team… otherwise, we are all too familiar with how crazy things can go with this team but yes, their uncertainty may well become their biggest weapon.
Two, very interesting test-match finishes: 5-day games are back!
It has taken a sustained show of good test matches on our TVs over the last month or so, to ensure that viewer interest in the longer format of the game has been rekindled, to a certain extent. The third test match between WI and Australia has had a very familiar ending with the Aussies being able to beat the islanders very comfortably along with displaying their typical over-the-top, 'backyard' gestures that we have all gotten used to by now.
However, it was heartening to see the last pair, numbers 10 & 11 bat so spiritedly from the West Indies camp. This is something you don’t get to see too often and lower-order batsmen from the Windies are regarded as easy rollovers. On the other hand, the South Africa versus England test match was probably the most engaging piece of cricket being broadcasted last week. The fact that the match made it to the last ball of the match is ample testament to the fact that when played on the right kind of surfaces there are many takers for test matches even in this T20-obsessed cricketing generation. Further, there are more potentially interesting test match games coming-up with the impending Pakistan tour of Australia 2010 and the second test match between South Africa – England. I personally believe that the contest in South Africa if fairly even between the two sides and every match will produce results. The two teams are so similar-looking that it is hard to choose a favourite at this time.
However, it was heartening to see the last pair, numbers 10 & 11 bat so spiritedly from the West Indies camp. This is something you don’t get to see too often and lower-order batsmen from the Windies are regarded as easy rollovers. On the other hand, the South Africa versus England test match was probably the most engaging piece of cricket being broadcasted last week. The fact that the match made it to the last ball of the match is ample testament to the fact that when played on the right kind of surfaces there are many takers for test matches even in this T20-obsessed cricketing generation. Further, there are more potentially interesting test match games coming-up with the impending Pakistan tour of Australia 2010 and the second test match between South Africa – England. I personally believe that the contest in South Africa if fairly even between the two sides and every match will produce results. The two teams are so similar-looking that it is hard to choose a favourite at this time.
Swann: Purposeful Without Hogging Limelight
He was regarded as an off-spinner who never really did spin the ball but to silence all this critics, Graeme Swann of England has risen to be a very effective ‘spin’ bowler. Some analysts might comment that the word ‘slow’ should be used instead of ‘spin’ but considering the negligible amount of any worthwhile spin that is extracted by spinners in contemporary cricket, such differentiation is uncalled for. Swann is a different type of bowler, using more drift in the air than spin off the pitch. This makes him very different from the likes of Mendis or Harbhajan Singh who are essentially finger spinners. Muralitharan’s name should not be used here because he is in a category of his own.
However, if all the other spinners are compared at the moment, Swann seems to be the most quiet and unassuming of the achievers with little being said about him in the media and little or no on-field antics — a quiet, consistent performer. Swann has already totalled more than 52 wickets in just 13 test matches. You would need to remember that he has done so without playing on sub-continental wickets. He has always come in when the side wanted to contain runs rather than get wickets and surprisingly, Swann has managed to do both with little fuss. I would personally rank Swann a bit ahead of Bhajji, simply because he has been taking wickets consistently and his bowling is improving with nearly every outing. His immediate competitor seems to be Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan who is a more traditional off-spinner, keeping it slower in the air, and giving the ball a chance to rip-off the surface of the pitch. Further, Swann has the amazing ability to bowl decently with newish balls too. His arm-ball and the drifter that turns into a low-yorker like delivery haven’t been decoded by many batsmen and his recent fiver against the South Africa is testament to his growing stature.
However, if all the other spinners are compared at the moment, Swann seems to be the most quiet and unassuming of the achievers with little being said about him in the media and little or no on-field antics — a quiet, consistent performer. Swann has already totalled more than 52 wickets in just 13 test matches. You would need to remember that he has done so without playing on sub-continental wickets. He has always come in when the side wanted to contain runs rather than get wickets and surprisingly, Swann has managed to do both with little fuss. I would personally rank Swann a bit ahead of Bhajji, simply because he has been taking wickets consistently and his bowling is improving with nearly every outing. His immediate competitor seems to be Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan who is a more traditional off-spinner, keeping it slower in the air, and giving the ball a chance to rip-off the surface of the pitch. Further, Swann has the amazing ability to bowl decently with newish balls too. His arm-ball and the drifter that turns into a low-yorker like delivery haven’t been decoded by many batsmen and his recent fiver against the South Africa is testament to his growing stature.
England-South Africa Test: Quality 'Test-match Bowling' on Display
The first test match between South Africa and England is underway and it would be fair to comment that it is turning out to be almost, an ‘ideal’ test match. I say that because it has nearly all the contents of a result-oriented, engaging test match. For starters, both of the teams have struggled to reach 400 in their respective first innings. Just like Geoffrey Boycott, I support the idea that best test matches are those wherein scoring in the region of 350-400 needs some serious application. Secondly, the bowling standards from both the sides have been impressive. Bowlers from both camps have combined penetrations and patience by bowling long, disciplined spells. Every batsman has had to invest a lot of time in reaching 30 runs or so, before feeling comfortable at the crease.
Now that the second innings of South Africa is underway, it would be even more interesting to see how many runs they can put-up on the board, considering that they have lost nearly half their side for just about 50 runs! Yes, that does create the impression that there is evil in the pitch but that is not the case. It is simple, sustained, pressure bowling by the English bowlers, who have created a remarkably young and effective bowling unit, presently being led by Swann. The South Africa seem susceptible against most types of spin bowling and they haven’t been able to digest what Swann has been dishing out to them. The contest is about to get even more engrossing once the final innings of England gets underway and Paul Harris and Ntini are pressed into action on a pitch that is steadily offering some exploitable uncertain bounce to bowlers who are patient enough to hold their off-stump line. It does seem strange that batsmen from both sides cannot comprehend straightish spin bowlers but that is making the battle more result-oriented. For a change, you find premium being put on boundaries and batsmen are ready to take a hit or two on their helmets.
Now that the second innings of South Africa is underway, it would be even more interesting to see how many runs they can put-up on the board, considering that they have lost nearly half their side for just about 50 runs! Yes, that does create the impression that there is evil in the pitch but that is not the case. It is simple, sustained, pressure bowling by the English bowlers, who have created a remarkably young and effective bowling unit, presently being led by Swann. The South Africa seem susceptible against most types of spin bowling and they haven’t been able to digest what Swann has been dishing out to them. The contest is about to get even more engrossing once the final innings of England gets underway and Paul Harris and Ntini are pressed into action on a pitch that is steadily offering some exploitable uncertain bounce to bowlers who are patient enough to hold their off-stump line. It does seem strange that batsmen from both sides cannot comprehend straightish spin bowlers but that is making the battle more result-oriented. For a change, you find premium being put on boundaries and batsmen are ready to take a hit or two on their helmets.
Making things ugly… definitely, an Aussie thing
This may sound a bit biased to some but the fact remains that the ugliest of on-field cricketing confrontations have involved Aussies over the last decade. They call it ‘ruthless aggression’, Down Under but it seems more like staged, stereotype acts of verbal abuse that are now getting ridiculously, repetitive… and I say this in reference to the latest to victim to the Australia’s cricketing abusing tradition — Suleiman Benn, the West Indian spinner, in the ongoing test match between the two nations.
Mitchell Johnson had absolutely no reason to get so physical with Benn over something so trivial as accidental contact between the two. Johnson’s actions seemed to be directed at up-keeping the Australian habit of being ‘sour losers’. However, this time they hadn’t even lost. It is just that during the second test of the series, for the first time in a long time, the WI had put up some sort of a resistance. It is obvious that this mere semblance of some resistance among the opposition team members and the fiery innings played by Chris Gayle during the WI reply in the ongoing test match rattled the Australians. This time Brad Haddin too joined in the confrontation with Benn, though there was absolutely no need for his opinion, since the controversial proceedings had little to do with him…but then, it wouldn’t have been a typically Aussie thing to do, i.e. stepping-in in and getting physical without any reasoning whatsoever. When your captain, Mr. Ponting himself, is looked upon as someone dishonest enough to claim ‘grounded’ catches (remember the test match against the Indians last year and Ponting’s sullen face when he was asked about the same during a post-match conference?), you cannot expect anything better from the men that he commands.
Mitchell Johnson had absolutely no reason to get so physical with Benn over something so trivial as accidental contact between the two. Johnson’s actions seemed to be directed at up-keeping the Australian habit of being ‘sour losers’. However, this time they hadn’t even lost. It is just that during the second test of the series, for the first time in a long time, the WI had put up some sort of a resistance. It is obvious that this mere semblance of some resistance among the opposition team members and the fiery innings played by Chris Gayle during the WI reply in the ongoing test match rattled the Australians. This time Brad Haddin too joined in the confrontation with Benn, though there was absolutely no need for his opinion, since the controversial proceedings had little to do with him…but then, it wouldn’t have been a typically Aussie thing to do, i.e. stepping-in in and getting physical without any reasoning whatsoever. When your captain, Mr. Ponting himself, is looked upon as someone dishonest enough to claim ‘grounded’ catches (remember the test match against the Indians last year and Ponting’s sullen face when he was asked about the same during a post-match conference?), you cannot expect anything better from the men that he commands.
Unfair Criticism: England Aren’t Bowling That Badly
The first test match between England and South Africa is currently underway and it seems that many commentators and cricket analysts have been complaining about the lack of penetration in the England bowling line-up. I would just like to say that the English bowling isn't all that bad as it is made out to be — it is just that the deck on which they are bowling is too flat to be considered a typical South African wicket. This has been happening to South Africa pitches over the last three years in particular, wherein they are turning into batting paradises alike sub-continental wickets.
Stuart Board and Anderson didn’t bowl badly at all and Swann too was consistent with his line, outside the off-stump. It is just that there was nothing off the square and even the expected moisture in the air had deserted the Englishmen. Further, with a resolute Kallis standing firm in the middle, whatever little that the pitch had to offer, seems nullified. Don’t be surprised if the English batting reply is as good as that of the Proteas.Most cricket analysts have been harping on the fact that the England attack has a ‘sameness’ about it but it should be understood that bowlers like Graham Onions and Anderson are typical English bowlers and the likes of Harmison were a blip in the regular supply of bowlers coming from the UK over the past decade. Yes, Flintoff’s aggression is missing but you would need to comprehend that how much of uncertain bounce, Freddie could have extracted from this very, placid track?
Stuart Board and Anderson didn’t bowl badly at all and Swann too was consistent with his line, outside the off-stump. It is just that there was nothing off the square and even the expected moisture in the air had deserted the Englishmen. Further, with a resolute Kallis standing firm in the middle, whatever little that the pitch had to offer, seems nullified. Don’t be surprised if the English batting reply is as good as that of the Proteas.Most cricket analysts have been harping on the fact that the England attack has a ‘sameness’ about it but it should be understood that bowlers like Graham Onions and Anderson are typical English bowlers and the likes of Harmison were a blip in the regular supply of bowlers coming from the UK over the past decade. Yes, Flintoff’s aggression is missing but you would need to comprehend that how much of uncertain bounce, Freddie could have extracted from this very, placid track?
IPL’s maker, Mr. Lalit Modi, on his way out??
If recent reports are to be believed, Mr. Lalit Modi, the brains and the body, and perhaps every that matters, behind the IPL is about to be booted out owing to his increasing obsession with favouring his clout in the IPL and Rajasthan cricket administration. Now his reputation is has become that of a limelight-hogging businessman who won’t listen to any opinions or even care for even considering any proposal that tries to streamline his baby — the IPL in any way.
It should be understood that with increasing concerns about IPL causing international players to deviate from the seriousness of performing national duties, many suggestions were put forth for Mr. Modi to consider. Instead, he was planning to further, increase the size of the IPL franchise by including two more teams and increasing the number of preliminary games by at least three more. I think, this absolute disregard for authority and that too within the Indian cricket’s administrative structure just became too overbearing for many BCCI personnel, many of whom have their own political clout and regional affiliations to impose upon any decision-maker. While the IPL is still a hot commodity and players are ready to join this money-minting bandwagon, it would be interesting to note how many of them actually support Modi, now that IPL's maker finds himself a bit cornered?
It should be understood that with increasing concerns about IPL causing international players to deviate from the seriousness of performing national duties, many suggestions were put forth for Mr. Modi to consider. Instead, he was planning to further, increase the size of the IPL franchise by including two more teams and increasing the number of preliminary games by at least three more. I think, this absolute disregard for authority and that too within the Indian cricket’s administrative structure just became too overbearing for many BCCI personnel, many of whom have their own political clout and regional affiliations to impose upon any decision-maker. While the IPL is still a hot commodity and players are ready to join this money-minting bandwagon, it would be interesting to note how many of them actually support Modi, now that IPL's maker finds himself a bit cornered?
India's almost drops the Rajkot Match...400+ is simply inadequate!!
This had to be one of the most ordinary fielding efforts by the present Indian side, under Dhoni, wherein they kept on dropping sitters and their fielding for a major part of the Lankan innings was literally, sub-standard. It will not be an exaggeration to say that they almost lost the match owing to their poor efforts in holding on to simple catches and backing-up the throws to avoid follow-ons.
What is even more strange is that good fielders like Kohli and Raina too kept on missing the ball...it appeared as if the entire squad had a sighting problem where they couldn't get themselves in line with the ball. I would say that India really haven't edged past the Lankans by achieving this Rajkot win simply because they were run ragged until the last ball, where one of India's rare, consistent bowlers in the last few months, Ashish Nehra, ensured that he bowled according to the field and somehow ensured that the batsmen weren't able to get under the ball and ease it through the off-side. What is also worrying is that India during their batting were looking content for a score of around 385, when it was plainly visible that a score of somewhere around 450 was there to get. After the 30-over mark, most of the Indian batsmen fell to careless strokes, just trying to up the run-rate needlessly, as it was already around the 8.00 runs per over mark. It was only Virat Kohli and Jadeja's sensible effort towards the last five overs that ensured that the team managed a score in excess of 400 or else, the match would have been lost even before entering the final over of the match. I can only hope that the Indian team realizes that this is not a comprehensive win by any means and that they drop the habit of taking things easy rather than dropping catches. They have been letting teams come back and steal away wins from them in the last six months or so. The Series against Australia had a semblance of being casual in the field and the series result could have been in India's favour had they shown more intensity and planned their batting in a more structured manner when chasing/setting-up scores. This old habit of just going through the motions simply because a huge score has been put-up and putting in the real effort to field the ball, only in small patches during the match has to go, if India want to become serious contenders for world championship in any format of the game...something the Aussies do very well> no matter what stage of the game it is, they seem so vigilant and enthusiastic.
What is even more strange is that good fielders like Kohli and Raina too kept on missing the ball...it appeared as if the entire squad had a sighting problem where they couldn't get themselves in line with the ball. I would say that India really haven't edged past the Lankans by achieving this Rajkot win simply because they were run ragged until the last ball, where one of India's rare, consistent bowlers in the last few months, Ashish Nehra, ensured that he bowled according to the field and somehow ensured that the batsmen weren't able to get under the ball and ease it through the off-side. What is also worrying is that India during their batting were looking content for a score of around 385, when it was plainly visible that a score of somewhere around 450 was there to get. After the 30-over mark, most of the Indian batsmen fell to careless strokes, just trying to up the run-rate needlessly, as it was already around the 8.00 runs per over mark. It was only Virat Kohli and Jadeja's sensible effort towards the last five overs that ensured that the team managed a score in excess of 400 or else, the match would have been lost even before entering the final over of the match. I can only hope that the Indian team realizes that this is not a comprehensive win by any means and that they drop the habit of taking things easy rather than dropping catches. They have been letting teams come back and steal away wins from them in the last six months or so. The Series against Australia had a semblance of being casual in the field and the series result could have been in India's favour had they shown more intensity and planned their batting in a more structured manner when chasing/setting-up scores. This old habit of just going through the motions simply because a huge score has been put-up and putting in the real effort to field the ball, only in small patches during the match has to go, if India want to become serious contenders for world championship in any format of the game...something the Aussies do very well> no matter what stage of the game it is, they seem so vigilant and enthusiastic.
Raina's batting position quandary should be resolved now
The ODI series between the Lankans and India is about to begin within two-three days and while the batting line-up and the first-choice bowling options pretty much confirm themselves without the need to think too much about anything, I am a still concerned about how Suresh Raina is being handled. I can clearly remember that in his comeback season, Raina was given a chance to bat at number 3/4, and he did a very good job, scoring much very critical half-centuries. However, during the 'Mini' World Cup, he was found wanting against the short-ball and further, his compulsive pulling habit further did him in.
However, the way he was quickly yanked back to the number 6 - 7 slot after just one average tournament outing wherein the entire team had actually failed as a unit, was a bit surprising. Further, since that debacle, Raina has never been given another chance in the top four, fearing that his limitations against the short-pitched stuff might get further exposed. But does the Indian team really need to think about such an issue so seriously when it is clear that Suresh Raina is being wasted, almost finds himself confused, in the lower middle order, where he is invariably asked to come-in when the runrate is around 8-runs per over mark or the batting order has tanked? Just look around the nine, main test playing nations and nearly every team has a handful of batsmen who cannot handle quality, pacey bowling. Then why this special treatment for Raina? Even Ganguly was found handicapped when bowlers started hitting around the rib-cage length but he did overcome the issue because he was persisted with, as an opener.
However, the way he was quickly yanked back to the number 6 - 7 slot after just one average tournament outing wherein the entire team had actually failed as a unit, was a bit surprising. Further, since that debacle, Raina has never been given another chance in the top four, fearing that his limitations against the short-pitched stuff might get further exposed. But does the Indian team really need to think about such an issue so seriously when it is clear that Suresh Raina is being wasted, almost finds himself confused, in the lower middle order, where he is invariably asked to come-in when the runrate is around 8-runs per over mark or the batting order has tanked? Just look around the nine, main test playing nations and nearly every team has a handful of batsmen who cannot handle quality, pacey bowling. Then why this special treatment for Raina? Even Ganguly was found handicapped when bowlers started hitting around the rib-cage length but he did overcome the issue because he was persisted with, as an opener.
Vettori might have delivered the knock-out punch
The last of the three test matches between Pak and NZ had tilted seriously in favour of the Pakistani team with Kaneria having taken a five-wicket haul when no one was expecting the ball to turn. Well, to be honest, most of the wickets were handed out to him due to the inability of the Kiwis to come forward and meet the ball before it gained that decisive curve.
However, Vettori has delivered once again, augmenting and cementing his position as a contemporary all-rounder and not just another handy, low-order contributor with runs. His batting was simply awesome in terms of being choosy about his strokes. I cannot recall Vettori having made a more crucial century in his entire test cricket history. And now it seems that another comeback man in the series, Tuffey, has taken a liking to Vettori's mold and probably for the first time he contributed handsomely with a well-made 80. With a total of 450+ runs on the board, it will take some doing for the Pakistanis to turn the match around as they have to counters Vettori's bowling on a slowing pitch and overcome the first innings lead before even imagining of bowling-out the Kiwis on the final day. For now, it seems like a 2-1 result in favour of New Zealand unless they do something drastic to undermine their chances in this match.
However, Vettori has delivered once again, augmenting and cementing his position as a contemporary all-rounder and not just another handy, low-order contributor with runs. His batting was simply awesome in terms of being choosy about his strokes. I cannot recall Vettori having made a more crucial century in his entire test cricket history. And now it seems that another comeback man in the series, Tuffey, has taken a liking to Vettori's mold and probably for the first time he contributed handsomely with a well-made 80. With a total of 450+ runs on the board, it will take some doing for the Pakistanis to turn the match around as they have to counters Vettori's bowling on a slowing pitch and overcome the first innings lead before even imagining of bowling-out the Kiwis on the final day. For now, it seems like a 2-1 result in favour of New Zealand unless they do something drastic to undermine their chances in this match.
Kiwis just cannot handle Pak bowlers
The final of the three test match series between Pakistan and the Kiwis is underway and it is very clear that no matter how little the Pakistani batsmen will score, their bowlers can always pull the game back, courtesy the poor batting on display by the Kiwi batsmen. It is not just the spin of Saeed Ajmal or Kaneria that they are struggling against, nearly every Pakistani bowler has got his number on a Kiwi batsmen.
Vettori must be scratching his head, trying to find at least two batsmen to bat at the top of the order who can at least play out a session without giving the jeepers to the men in the dressing room. What is amazing is that these are the kind of pitches that the Kiwis have been brought up on and yet, their footwork against swing bowling is almost non-existent. All of them are happy to be perched on the backfoot, waiting for the ball to swing and do something before they commit themselves to a stroke and by the time they do so, their stumps are shattered or they are caught plumb, in front of the wicket. As things stand now, it is again up to the latter half of the lower-middle order of New Zealand to somehow bail out the team, as the top-order has crumbled to Kaneria who has been absent from the wicket-taking scene for some time. Asif first and now Kaneria, it is like a comeback season for the Pak bowlers against suspect, under-par Kiwi batsmen.
Vettori must be scratching his head, trying to find at least two batsmen to bat at the top of the order who can at least play out a session without giving the jeepers to the men in the dressing room. What is amazing is that these are the kind of pitches that the Kiwis have been brought up on and yet, their footwork against swing bowling is almost non-existent. All of them are happy to be perched on the backfoot, waiting for the ball to swing and do something before they commit themselves to a stroke and by the time they do so, their stumps are shattered or they are caught plumb, in front of the wicket. As things stand now, it is again up to the latter half of the lower-middle order of New Zealand to somehow bail out the team, as the top-order has crumbled to Kaneria who has been absent from the wicket-taking scene for some time. Asif first and now Kaneria, it is like a comeback season for the Pak bowlers against suspect, under-par Kiwi batsmen.
After Test-match glory, India's poor going in T20s is re-surfacing
It might have been largely unnoticed owing to India’s decent ODI status and their extremely improved test rankings, but their showing in the T20s has been on the downslide ever since they became champions at the inaugural T20 World Championship. It is hard to pinpoint the reason for this but it seems that the bowling department isn't able to come good, as there are no seamers who can hit the block-hole with regularity.
It is precisely the same reason, turned opposite, that is working for Pakistan’s success as the current World Champions of T20 and their continued success in this format. With Umar Gul and Mohammed Aamer bowling a good, yorkish length repeatedly and with Ajmal able to fox-out the batsmen, scoring runs against them isn't very easy. Similar is the case with the Lankans, who have Malinga and Kulusekera who generally are adept at bowling tight overs when the batsmen are going crazy. The same cannot be said about India wherein they have more line-and-length bowlers who are also handicapped in terms of bowling some pacey, short-stuff that can curtail the run making.
It is precisely the same reason, turned opposite, that is working for Pakistan’s success as the current World Champions of T20 and their continued success in this format. With Umar Gul and Mohammed Aamer bowling a good, yorkish length repeatedly and with Ajmal able to fox-out the batsmen, scoring runs against them isn't very easy. Similar is the case with the Lankans, who have Malinga and Kulusekera who generally are adept at bowling tight overs when the batsmen are going crazy. The same cannot be said about India wherein they have more line-and-length bowlers who are also handicapped in terms of bowling some pacey, short-stuff that can curtail the run making.
Not Knee-jerking this... why are Yusuf, Rohit Sharma backed so much?
Please understand that this is not a knee-jerk reaction to India’s defeat in the first T20 match against SL. This has been happening over the last two seasons. For some strange reason, the selectors and the likes of Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri seem to be very vocal about the abilities of Rohit Sharma and Yusuf Pathan.
The elder Pathan for one is touted as the missing all-rounder that the team needs though he has never done anything even close to substantial to justify this faith. Similar is the case with Rohit Sharma who despite a string of failures, now combined with injury-enforced breaks and an average domestic season is back in the reckoning though he has never actually delivered when it mattered the most — so why are these two players being imposed upon us as the ‘young’ stars of the team that ‘will’ win the 2011 World Cup for India? Ravi Shastri seems to have a blind faith in Pathan’s ability to score match-winning innings, though every time he comes out to bat, an average, ridiculous dismissal is always guaranteed and he isn't a spinner by any measure — when is the last time you saw Yusuf turn the ball in any imaginable way?? Even when playing for the Rajasthan Royals, Yusuf has not been the greatest of performers considering that that his team depends a lot on his batting, often looking up to to finish the matches, but he has done that very, very seldom.
The elder Pathan for one is touted as the missing all-rounder that the team needs though he has never done anything even close to substantial to justify this faith. Similar is the case with Rohit Sharma who despite a string of failures, now combined with injury-enforced breaks and an average domestic season is back in the reckoning though he has never actually delivered when it mattered the most — so why are these two players being imposed upon us as the ‘young’ stars of the team that ‘will’ win the 2011 World Cup for India? Ravi Shastri seems to have a blind faith in Pathan’s ability to score match-winning innings, though every time he comes out to bat, an average, ridiculous dismissal is always guaranteed and he isn't a spinner by any measure — when is the last time you saw Yusuf turn the ball in any imaginable way?? Even when playing for the Rajasthan Royals, Yusuf has not been the greatest of performers considering that that his team depends a lot on his batting, often looking up to to finish the matches, but he has done that very, very seldom.
3 Day test cricket..is Weekend cricket a solution?
Ian Chappell recently said that he wanted test cricket to be formatted in a style wherein only three days of cricket would be played, with nearly seven hrs of cricket every day. Yes, he did make sense in saying that the matches should be scheduled over the weekend, from Friday to Sunday, but does this assure of better viewership in a substantial manner?
I mean, the game is suffering more from boredom induced by dead pitches rather than lack of crowds in the stadium and I don't agree that stretching proceedings beyond 100 overs is an actual solution. Yes, day and night test matches do make sense and are needed but the more critical need is to ensure that test matches are played on result-oriented pitches with some breathing game in the cricketing calendar. Test matches are played on slow, turning Lankan wickets wherein the chances of the Lankan side winning are always high and matches are often scheduled on weekends, but the attendance is stadiums is not every average, why? simply because the pitches are such that the day's proceedings can be foretold to a large extent, taking out the surprise element from the game and as a result, the crowd's attention cannot be engaged. Weekend cricket just doesn't seem like a very effective solution Mr. Chapell.
I mean, the game is suffering more from boredom induced by dead pitches rather than lack of crowds in the stadium and I don't agree that stretching proceedings beyond 100 overs is an actual solution. Yes, day and night test matches do make sense and are needed but the more critical need is to ensure that test matches are played on result-oriented pitches with some breathing game in the cricketing calendar. Test matches are played on slow, turning Lankan wickets wherein the chances of the Lankan side winning are always high and matches are often scheduled on weekends, but the attendance is stadiums is not every average, why? simply because the pitches are such that the day's proceedings can be foretold to a large extent, taking out the surprise element from the game and as a result, the crowd's attention cannot be engaged. Weekend cricket just doesn't seem like a very effective solution Mr. Chapell.
Pakistan's fielding standards set new benchmarks for being hopeless
If you did happen to miss the second test match between Pakistan and New Zealand then consider yourself lucky in a way for you didn't have to witness what must be one of the worst fielding displays by any team. At one point, commentators from both the nations, Pak and NZ simply said that they had 'resigned' to the fact that this Pakistani side was hell-bent on mocking the demise of the NZ innings by delaying it via dropping a catch, nearly every 20 mins! Shoaib Malik was actually seen retracting his hands from a simple, straightforward catch that came his way in a manner that suggested that he was instructed no to accept a catch - yes, some of the catches were so simple that Waqar Younis who on air commentating actually said that he had seen school cricket games that had set better fielding standards. An the biggest irony - even after so many lef-offs the Kiwis were still sent packing> you can call it the talent of the Pakistanit bowlers to deliver despite the utter chaos that was unleashed around the stumps or another nail in the coffin of test cricket.
ODI’s Suggested ‘25x4’ Format has Distinct T20 Flavoring
It would be an understatement to say that the contemporary format of ODIs is fighting hard for its existence. The constant criticism that it faces, seems to be echoing louder with every passing day. Among all the suggested alternatives to make the format more appealing, only one proposition has found favors among the ICC’s conservative hierarchy and many ex-cricketers.
It was the maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, who suggested that the ODI game should be reinvented by introducing four innings instead of the current trend of every side having once chance to bat. According to him, each innings should be of 25 overs only. This essentially means that each side would be batting and balling in two, separate installments. The proposal has already caught the attention of many ICC bosses and some of them are willing to give it a go-ahead by introducing it in the English county circuit. Some purists say that this format would be a bit too confusing, since most viewers would find it difficult to keep a tally of the scores over four innings in a single day. However, I really don’t think this argument makes much sense. In our times, having access to information on a 24x7 basis is no longer a challenge and hence, any concerns about viewers getting confused are unfounded. In fact, trying to read into the scoreline after each innings might just be an added incentive for people to check upon the match’s progress.
So is there anything wrong with the suggestion? My personal opinion is that it tampers with the current format too extensively. We have already seen what the T20 game is doing to the game. Teams are constantly on the lookout for players who can score a quickfire, 20-30 runs, seldom batting with any elegance. Considering this, ODIs still breed batsmen that have some basic batting technique and the bowlers’ mettle isn't tested on the grounds of being able to contain runs only.
If the 100 overs are split into four installments of 25 overs each, aren't the players being indirectly told to treat a one-dayer like a couple of back-to-back T20 games? I have no doubt that an excess of five overs in this suggested alternative won't be able to stop the madness of T20 seeping into the ODIs and changing its very essence.
Yes, there are advantages such as reducing the impact of weather conditions that often render teams at the mercy of the toss. The recently concluded tri-series in Sri Lanka is ample proof that the ground conditions could pre-decide the fate of the match — every team that batted second in this tournament, lost.
Therefore, splitting the 100 overs between the two teams in an alternating format would distribute the weather-related implications. However, it is still bound to change the ODIs beyond recognition. Aussies who lost the Ashes rather comprehensively have whitewashed the English team, leading the seven-match series, 5 to nil and these variations is worth preserving. Introduction of changes based upon Tendulkar’s perspective would mean making the ODI game considerably similar to the T20 format and hence, slowly eradicating the fundamental nature of one-dayers.
I am not against introducing changes but they should complement the fundamentals of ODIs rather than trying to eliminate them. Perhaps the ICC should try to correct its own mistakes that initiated the downfall of the ODI game, i.e. making the game bend too much in the favor of batsmen by allowing games on dead, lifeless pitches that don’t offer anything to the bowlers. Had this issue been dealt with in time, the aura of ODIs with the game constantly seesawing between the bowlers & batsmen would have sustained viewer interest and the present fiasco would have never emerged.
I guess, self-introspection is a lot tougher and the ICC is no different. The easy solution obviously lies in hosting numerous ‘meetings’ in plush resorts and five star offices to suggest wholesome, unwanted changes and you don’t have to be an ODI enthusiast or discriminator to understand this.
It was the maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, who suggested that the ODI game should be reinvented by introducing four innings instead of the current trend of every side having once chance to bat. According to him, each innings should be of 25 overs only. This essentially means that each side would be batting and balling in two, separate installments. The proposal has already caught the attention of many ICC bosses and some of them are willing to give it a go-ahead by introducing it in the English county circuit. Some purists say that this format would be a bit too confusing, since most viewers would find it difficult to keep a tally of the scores over four innings in a single day. However, I really don’t think this argument makes much sense. In our times, having access to information on a 24x7 basis is no longer a challenge and hence, any concerns about viewers getting confused are unfounded. In fact, trying to read into the scoreline after each innings might just be an added incentive for people to check upon the match’s progress.
So is there anything wrong with the suggestion? My personal opinion is that it tampers with the current format too extensively. We have already seen what the T20 game is doing to the game. Teams are constantly on the lookout for players who can score a quickfire, 20-30 runs, seldom batting with any elegance. Considering this, ODIs still breed batsmen that have some basic batting technique and the bowlers’ mettle isn't tested on the grounds of being able to contain runs only.
If the 100 overs are split into four installments of 25 overs each, aren't the players being indirectly told to treat a one-dayer like a couple of back-to-back T20 games? I have no doubt that an excess of five overs in this suggested alternative won't be able to stop the madness of T20 seeping into the ODIs and changing its very essence.
Yes, there are advantages such as reducing the impact of weather conditions that often render teams at the mercy of the toss. The recently concluded tri-series in Sri Lanka is ample proof that the ground conditions could pre-decide the fate of the match — every team that batted second in this tournament, lost.
Therefore, splitting the 100 overs between the two teams in an alternating format would distribute the weather-related implications. However, it is still bound to change the ODIs beyond recognition. Aussies who lost the Ashes rather comprehensively have whitewashed the English team, leading the seven-match series, 5 to nil and these variations is worth preserving. Introduction of changes based upon Tendulkar’s perspective would mean making the ODI game considerably similar to the T20 format and hence, slowly eradicating the fundamental nature of one-dayers.
I am not against introducing changes but they should complement the fundamentals of ODIs rather than trying to eliminate them. Perhaps the ICC should try to correct its own mistakes that initiated the downfall of the ODI game, i.e. making the game bend too much in the favor of batsmen by allowing games on dead, lifeless pitches that don’t offer anything to the bowlers. Had this issue been dealt with in time, the aura of ODIs with the game constantly seesawing between the bowlers & batsmen would have sustained viewer interest and the present fiasco would have never emerged.
I guess, self-introspection is a lot tougher and the ICC is no different. The easy solution obviously lies in hosting numerous ‘meetings’ in plush resorts and five star offices to suggest wholesome, unwanted changes and you don’t have to be an ODI enthusiast or discriminator to understand this.
India's number #1 ranking shouldn't be criticised
Media across the UK and Australia has been shouting hoarse, saying that India's elevation to the number one rankin test cricket is misplaced since India won a lot of matches playing on home pitches that were heavily titlted towardsthe home side's advantage. Well, they should try and calculate how many one-sided, boring encounters have taken placebetween Australia and the West Indies over the past ten years. How many times has Australia cleaned-up the WI sideswithin three days to amass a whole lot of points in the test ranking system when former Aussie players themselvessay that the WI team is not worthy of being a test match outfit!!
Further, aren't England and SA too driving the advantageby using seamer-inclined pitches against sub-continental teams knowing that conditions back in the Asian continent are the exact opposite? Isn't the Australian test team's ranking bloated by series victory over Zimbabwe and Bangladeshisides? Isn't is plainly visible that Australia built their numero uno ranking by blanking-out unmatched, underprepared sidesfrom England and the WI series after series in the Ashes and the Frank Worell Trophy? Every cricketing nation wantsto exploit its home conditions and India has done no different...so stop whining about it. If Australians were so sensitive to the quality of the competition and the fairness in terms of matching the sides evenly, they could have played a few test series without including Warne or McGrath - that didn't happen and in fact, both of them were streteched to hang-on towards their last years just to ensure that Australia could win back the Ashes after having ceded it to the Poms after years of one-sided, hopeless encounters.
Asif's Day of Redemption
You can count upon a Pakistani paceman to deliver when the situation is most demanding and his presence in the dressing room is under scrutiny and these are the two conditions that prevailed when Asif bowled a magical spell to leave NZ at the crossroads of a certian loss. I have often called Asif a McGrath-like bowler although his antics are nothing like that of the Aussie great. Glenn McGrath was never in the news for what he did off the field and Asif seems to have spent more time appearing in court hearing and spending time with his team of lawyers to clear his name from an unending series of controversies.
That apart, he is a magnificient bowler. Even now he is not bowling as fast as he is capable of, seldom touching the 140 km/her-mark but the conditions that prevail in NZ, the moisture and the wind, are making it easier for him to take wickets. Further, the less said about the Kiwi batsmen the better - their footwork is awful apart from McCullum and Vettori and their ability to stay at the crease for even 2 hrs is highly suspect. Even the likes of Ross Taylor don't seem to understand that if they don't deliver, there is no second line of talent or more men in the dressing room to fall back upon - it is time the NZ batsment stood up to the challenge..for the moment though, Great going, Asif.
That apart, he is a magnificient bowler. Even now he is not bowling as fast as he is capable of, seldom touching the 140 km/her-mark but the conditions that prevail in NZ, the moisture and the wind, are making it easier for him to take wickets. Further, the less said about the Kiwi batsmen the better - their footwork is awful apart from McCullum and Vettori and their ability to stay at the crease for even 2 hrs is highly suspect. Even the likes of Ross Taylor don't seem to understand that if they don't deliver, there is no second line of talent or more men in the dressing room to fall back upon - it is time the NZ batsment stood up to the challenge..for the moment though, Great going, Asif.
Is Ravinder Jadeja worth the investment?
The Indian team for the upcoming ODI Series against Sri Lanka 2009 has been announced and it seems that the selectors and Dhoni have put their faith in the all-round capabilities of Jadeja. The lef-arm spinner from Saurashtra has been in the frame for some time, and has been promoted as the solution to India's inability to find a genuine all-rounder.
However, I don't believe that he has the makings of being such an effective player unless he is tried out at the top of the batting order since he simply cannot pulverize the bowling towards the end of the innings. Yes, his bowling is pretty useful on most pitches as containing runs is the foremost parameter for bowlers these days but then it is his batting during crucial stages that has come for some criticism in the recent past. I just don't see him developing into a good finisher like Bevan, but he could be more useful at number 3-4. Then again, a problem crops-up, since India has a long list of strokemakers who want to bat up the order and there is just no way that Yuvraj Singh can be demoted in terms of being the preferred number four Indian bastman.
However, I don't believe that he has the makings of being such an effective player unless he is tried out at the top of the batting order since he simply cannot pulverize the bowling towards the end of the innings. Yes, his bowling is pretty useful on most pitches as containing runs is the foremost parameter for bowlers these days but then it is his batting during crucial stages that has come for some criticism in the recent past. I just don't see him developing into a good finisher like Bevan, but he could be more useful at number 3-4. Then again, a problem crops-up, since India has a long list of strokemakers who want to bat up the order and there is just no way that Yuvraj Singh can be demoted in terms of being the preferred number four Indian bastman.
Too many wrongs with the West Indies to recover
The ongoing, Frank Worrell 2009 test series between the WI and Australia has revoked extreme reactions from a lot of former players who deem that the Caribbean team is no longer fit to play test cricket. I believe omitting them from test cricket will not resolve anything. The problem lies with the team's internal issues that range from frustration of players on being denied due payments by the WICB and the subtle regional undercurrents that are bothering the team's dressing room. Sehewag's ODI predicament
There is no other way of saying that it was extremely sad to see Sehewag get out on 293, just seven runs short of becoming the cricketer to have scored most test centuries. Looking at his amazing test record, I wonder what is the reason behind his modest average of just about 33.00, considering that most ODIs are high-scoring run affairs, these days. Further, it seems that the ODI format just fails to bring the best out of Viru, irrespective of how mediocre the bowling may be. His humble average in the 50-over format could be due to the fact that he is not sure about the run rate that he should be maintaining in comparision to test cricket wherein run rate is not his first priority and he can select balls to hit or like the T20s wherein he can madly slash at every ball, since that is what is expected of every opening batsmen batting for just 20 overs. Still, considering his record and his appetite of runs, Sehewag's ODI batting average is a baffling fact.
Lack of sponsors for Indian team..hard to believe!
It is really hard to comprehend the story that is being put forth by the BCCI wherein they say that they have just somehow managed to get an extended sponsorship deal from Sahara for another six months due to severe shortage of capable sponsors who are willing to pay the deamanded amount. This is when the BCCI is supposed to be the strongest and the most cash-rich body in the cricketing world and is about to host the next World Cup (2011)! What is even more baffling is the fact that analysts say that this has little to do with aftermath of the economic recession and more to do with team sponsors not getting enough media exposure or positive market sentiments out of their association with the Indian team> again, something shocking considering how the Indian cricket players are worshipped at home and by Indian fan community across the globe.
Murali Vijay does look the part
I hope this is not regarded as a knee-jerk reaction: I was watching Murali Vijay's knock of 87 today and it seemed that India have found a potential replacement if either Dravid or Laxman do hang up their boots some time from now.
Yes, it is a big statement to make but words like 'class' and 'lovely shots' are synonymous in describing how this young man bats and on ocassions his ability to time the ball through the off-side is indeed very, very special, i.e. VVS. I wish he can roped in as being the next big thing from the indian top order and is carried around for ODI campaigns too wherein he can be rotated with someone like Tendulkar to give some rest to the master blaster. This would serve a double purpose as Vijay would get the time to realize the responsibilities he would soon be entrusted with and the Little Champion's aging career could get a extended a bit.
Yes, it is a big statement to make but words like 'class' and 'lovely shots' are synonymous in describing how this young man bats and on ocassions his ability to time the ball through the off-side is indeed very, very special, i.e. VVS. I wish he can roped in as being the next big thing from the indian top order and is carried around for ODI campaigns too wherein he can be rotated with someone like Tendulkar to give some rest to the master blaster. This would serve a double purpose as Vijay would get the time to realize the responsibilities he would soon be entrusted with and the Little Champion's aging career could get a extended a bit.
Chasing #1 Test Spot but can India hold on to it?
The media in India is going crazy with the fact that if India can win the last of the test matches against Sri Lanka, they would occupy the number one test ranking for perhaps the first time since the official ranking system was launched. However, one question begs to be asked - unlike the Aussies who turned out to be absolute rulers as the number one ranked test team, can India actually hold-on to the spot for a substantial period of time?
Their middle-order might be one of the best in the world right now, but a few seasons from now on and some of the big names are bound to retire. Where are the worthy replacements? Where are young, tear-away fast bowlers who can win test matches on their own? Even Bhajji has no one who can be called his ally in terms of a dependable, back-up spinner. I honestly believe, we are reading too much into the ranking updates. Let us get real, the points will come and go but the real test is of the fact that whether a team can be heads-and-shoulders above its immediate competition.
Their middle-order might be one of the best in the world right now, but a few seasons from now on and some of the big names are bound to retire. Where are the worthy replacements? Where are young, tear-away fast bowlers who can win test matches on their own? Even Bhajji has no one who can be called his ally in terms of a dependable, back-up spinner. I honestly believe, we are reading too much into the ranking updates. Let us get real, the points will come and go but the real test is of the fact that whether a team can be heads-and-shoulders above its immediate competition.
Brad Hodge Joins the list of 'could-have-been-greats' from Australia
Brad Hodge joined the list of a few former Australian players, particularly batsmen, who promised a lot but could not really deliver when they were launched in the international scene. A few other names that instantly come to mind are that of Greg Blewett and Stuart Law. Both were rated highly by the likes of Allan Border and Greg Chapell but just like Hodge they made tons of runs in the Aussie domestic circuit and made outstanding captains for their respective county sidesbut could not cement their places in the national side. Blewett for one was hailed by many as the next big thing to come from Australia before the likes ofPonting and Gilchrist came to the fore and stole the limelight. However, here is still saying goodbye to Hodge as he retires from first-class and competitive cricket.
Any surprises for India ODI team against Lankans?
I am not expecting much in terms of any new faces being inducted in the Indian team that is soon to take upon Lankans in an ODI and T20 series. The fact is that there are some very impressive faces in the domestic scene but it is up to the selectors to be brave enough to try-out some of these. Rajat Bhatia and Virat Kohli's name came to the fore. Both belong to Delhi and bring the same type of street-smart cricket that has been shown by the likes of Gambhir and Sehewag. Hoping that Rohit Sharma does not get another chance simply because he has done anything really impressive when playing in domestic matches. It would be worth a try to give Praveen Kumar more chances to perform as an all-rounder. In terms of spinners, Ojha could be used to give Bhajji a much-needed rest but then Bhajji has been contributing with the bat and Ojha is your typical number 11 who just cannot put bat to ball.
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