Cricket: Bhajji makes a thrilling end.

I don’t know if any other team can make a match this exciting but Indian team for better or worse makes one sided match interesting and exciting. This match can be review by reviewing how Bhajji’s day fared. It would pretty much, explain what things went right or wrong for the team. It’s been a while since I blogged on cricket, I would like to present a warm greetings, to anyone who visits my blog only for reading cricket post. I don’t know if anyone does, but then, I am learning to be gracious host.


Punter makes a right call.

Punter, got his call right and that the thing he would like to do. Set targets. He in this way backs his bowlers, Siddle, Johnson, Lee and Watson and says to the batsmen that if the fight it out and make a decent score the fragile mindset of Indian batsmen would be put under pressure and may wilt even when everything might be going fine. Watson came and went, but Punter again build a o platform for Hussey & Co to latter exploit the meek Indian bowling, Hussey has now put the previous Ashes defeat way behind and looks good and more consistent. Cameron White also compiled a good half century. He holed out to Raina, as he skied one off Nehra, I thought it was lucky break. Praveen Kumar, was unlocked in no time, Hussey smacked couple of boundaries and it was only last good over by Ishant that restricted kangaroos, to 293.


Bowling proving to be a heavy burden.

Indian bowling the traditional weak link not likely to blow away any self respecting Test team. Bhajji is woefully out of form; yes he did well in Sri Lanka. He would do well against Sri Lanka anytime, but his performance in South Africa during Champion’s Trophy wasn’t exactly thrilling. Bhajji went for a 5 an over without getting any wickets. He proved too expensive and ineffective. Apart from a decent bowling, in final against the Lankans, seeing Bhajji bowling doesn’t convinces me that he will set cat among the pigeons and turn the game around. I may be guilty of having that image of Bhajji, of years ago when he amassed bag full of wicket against Aussies including a hat trick. He has done well in patches. I think Bhajji needs to reassess his bowling as well as how others play him.

I don’t know about the future but Bhajji doing well is vital for this series. He has to stand up and deliver.


India batting, seemed out of sorts, lost and rusty.

Sehwag started with lots of gusto and gung ho but it was lost pretty soon. Tendulkar played the match but never seemed to be quiet there. I played and prodded to no effect. I wonder if there is a team cause for which, Sehwag and Gambhir are the best opening pair for this team. The advantage, they open in all form of the game. It must be remembered that we always, not have had, a settled opening partnership especially in Test. Sachin and Sourav formed a great opening for a good while. But for the sake of team Sachin, should drop down the batting order. Dravid, being dropped is inexplicable and unwarranted. Yusuf Pathan being dropped is also equally inexplicable.

Often in life, business, profession, or cooking, you have to use your resource in the right order, to avoid screw ups. Isn’t is about dong right things at the right time? The emphasis is getting both right, time and things. I think batsmen are good and look hungry the point is batting order needs to be rejiged. Dhoni, Gambhir and Tendulkar all seem to be batting at wrong places.

Aussies lead the seven match series 1-0, six more matches to go.

P.S.: The test of pudding is in the eating, especially if you had chicken tikka, chicken kadhai, tandoori roti and a super chilled beer for dinner.

Happy Week.