If the economic crisis bludgeoning the European economies had to be used as a parameter to find a parallel situation in the world of cricket, the New Zealand cricketing fraternity would be the most probable option for me. The reasons are not to hard to find for this rather pessimistic but real analysis. Performance of the Kiwi players has been on the decline for nearly four years. Apart from Vettori and a once-promising Ross Taylor, the team does not seem to have any other player who can engage respect or awe from the cricketing fans. To make matters worse, McCullum has turned into a specialist T20 players
which has turned the batting crisis into a nightmare for the Kiwis. There is no semblance of team balance or what sort of talent mix rolling out from New Zealand dressing room. Ask any cricketing fan to name at least five Kiwi cricketers and chances are that he or she will stare back at you, bemused. Nearly every match that features the New Zealanders has a similar pattern to it, i.e. the Kiwis are outplayed, outclassed, outwitted and outsmarted. Relegation to a non-Test playing status? Naah!! This won't happen since the ICC has always been a weak, gutless decision-making "authority".
Showing posts with label T20. Show all posts
Showing posts with label T20. Show all posts
How ‘global’ really is IPL3?
The third edition of the IPL is upon us and if you look at the configuration of the tournament in terms of international players participating, an immediate question comes to the mind—how ‘international’ is the International Premier League? I am not talking about the widespread disregard for T20 and the utter dismay of some former players, frowning upon how IPL is spoiling international cricketers by paying them excessively. I am concerned about its status as a globally competitive event. For starters, most of the current Australian cricketers have opted out,
stating that they would rather take rest and prolong their careers for their national teams rather than wallow in the riches of IPLIII. Secondly, you really cannot expect lots of Pakistani players to be playing, considering the current unrest in the relations of India-Pakistan. Further, England players too have refrained from participating in the aftermath of the two of their biggest stars, Flintoff and Pieterson failing miserably in the first edition—you may already know that Flintoff is away with a serious injury and Kevin Pieterson is badly out of form. Considering that nearly every current Indian player is playing and the number of international players that can be fielded isn’t a major proportion by any means, is this actually a global-scale cricketing event? I would rather look upon it as a India’s premier T20 championship that allows some international cricket players to participate. But I guess, when so much money is involved, the reality really doesn’t matter, does it Mr. Modi?
stating that they would rather take rest and prolong their careers for their national teams rather than wallow in the riches of IPLIII. Secondly, you really cannot expect lots of Pakistani players to be playing, considering the current unrest in the relations of India-Pakistan. Further, England players too have refrained from participating in the aftermath of the two of their biggest stars, Flintoff and Pieterson failing miserably in the first edition—you may already know that Flintoff is away with a serious injury and Kevin Pieterson is badly out of form. Considering that nearly every current Indian player is playing and the number of international players that can be fielded isn’t a major proportion by any means, is this actually a global-scale cricketing event? I would rather look upon it as a India’s premier T20 championship that allows some international cricket players to participate. But I guess, when so much money is involved, the reality really doesn’t matter, does it Mr. Modi?
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