Cricket: Preview to Ashes 2013

The Ashes 2013 is starts today. England vs Australia the oldest and one of the fiercest rivalry the game of cricket will know. The pomp and pageantry and history and anecdotes and how the teams have fared over a period. The heroes, the villains the gripping plot the climax and the anti thesis. A drama that unfolds. It wasn't so when Australia were ascendancy few years back. In 1987 it started it all, when Allan Border, like Michael Clarke supposedly led the worst team to land on shores of England for the conquest of The Ashes.

They lost the previous Ashes which was played in Australia was lost primarily due to Ponting's obstinacy more than anything else. Aussies found themselves in a quagmire which cost them the series. But then this time around after getting steam rolled in India perhaps a more Aussie like display would helped Aussies the most. Mickey Arthur sacking may have helped them in that direction.

Aussies the challengers

The Aussie player to watch are, the batter of fast bowlers Pattinson, Siddle, Starc, Harris, Watson with the happy knack of picking wickets. Lyon and Steve Smith with spinning capabilities. The bowlers look to get wickets, but its the batting they seem to bring on to the pitch. Aussies need to get back to the drawing board playing cricket, build partnerships play out sessions and look for safety first and perhaps English tendency to collapse in heaps probably will assist them. Warner and Watson have to come good if Aussies have to put a brave challenge. Clarke may be should bat at number four. Haddin as a keeper batsman will make the batting order.

Batting is a bit of a lag for the Aussies on current form. It will be very interesting what eleven plays for Aussies in the first test and how they sort their batting woes, perhaps will set the tone for the series. I wonder if they play both Watson and Steve Smith, gives them more options. They should probably look at what SAfs did in England and look to build. But I dont think Poms will offer those kind of pitches to Australia.

England's Ashes to loose.

Poms seems to have most bases covered. A test opener, a nibbler in form of Trott, Jet booster in form of Pietersen. A touch player in Bell. I am no fan of Bell he is the most incomplete batsmen in history, Warne use to invite him to bat and claim his wicket on will. But I guess Warne wont be bowling in this series. Prior remains a hand with the bat and English tail wags when required and fends off attacks when it come to saving tests, they saved a couple of those when Australia played last in England. Monty Panesar being the hero with the bat in the Cardiff test which was drawn. Broad is a bowler to watch. He is lethal in English conditions.

I have been not so good in predicting the series. Last few have been awful especially since India lost home and away test to England. Aussies are chasing the ghost a little bit. Aussies must resolve to put up a good fight.

The men who may matter.

The players to watch out for during the series are, Pietersen, Clarke, Watson, Starc, Warner, Clarke, Trott, Broad, Root, Anderson. Also the man on the button taking calls on DRS referrals.

Cricket: Dhoni wins Champions trophy

There is always this saying that keeps going around, which says captain is as good as the team. Napoleon said once something to the effect that he doesn't fear an army of hundred of lions led by a sheep but fears an army hundreds of sheep led by a tiger. Dhoni got his team, he won. There are light years between Dhoni and others captains in the latest contest that saw India winning Champions trophy. Yes team matters, there have been these brilliant performances, starting but not limiting to Jadeja and Dhawan, who won the golden ball and golden bat respectively. The fielding was superlative through out the tiurnament. It made a just above decent (pace) bowling look brilliant. The top order clicked and middle order had little chances and on their way to winning the trophy, got exposed in the final a little bit, but they won all the matches, at times they looked to be losing ground but came back to win eventually.

Champions of champions

India beat previous winners, South Africa and West Indies, Sri Lanka. The first match against South Africa, which started well for the Indians. Steyn didn't play as he was ruled out on fitness grounds, Morkel broke down middle of the game, rest of the bowling didnt posed enough challenge. Sharma cut loose early and Dhwana caught up to match stroke for stroke. Sharma characteristically holed out, Dhawan went on to score his second century in as many international innings. 

There were more twirls to the mustache which were to follow. Indians faulted a late charge by Jadeja and Indians ended up scoring 334. In the end it proved just enough to secure a win.

South African charge saw, Bhuvanesh claiming Ingram as the first wicket, Yadav then claimed Amla with one that took the inside edge, Amla was a man in hurry and a big wicket to restrict SAf chase early. Devilliers promoted Peterson up the order probably showed his cards to soon. Peterson and Devilliers kept building a strong base. Jadeja through a brilliant fielding spectacle claimed Peterson run-out, the trap was set for the choke. Jadeja then claimed Dumiy LBW and the bubble was just about to meet the needle, from 155 for 2 they were reduced to 188 for 6. The danger men were all in the pavillion.  Then Indian just made sure SAf were in the hut and just deflated SAf chances. McClaren did play well, if only one of the SAf batsmen had stayed long enough on the crease.

West Indies were next.

West Indies started well. Gayle obviously like T20s, started well, but then got out as he was looking to build on. West Indies look half baked if Gayle doesn't fires. So it was wickets, run wickets, wickets, run wickets and Runs. Charles played well, but once spinners came of, he played to many shots instead of holding on. Darren Bravo was almost on his way to score an infamous 36 not out, but his misery too ended soon. Jadeja just ran through the middle order taking fie wickets, with subtle changes of turn and bounce and spin and West Indies batsman had little clue. Jadeja has come a long way, in the last T20 world cup in West Indies he was nowhere as good as a bowler, and to come from there and win the golden ball is something.

Sammy however restored faith in tottering innings I think Sammy should be batting three down and should shoulder the responsibility of building an innings from 25 to 40 over. He scored last 50 of West Indies runs on his own. He caned Ishant Sharma, epitome of Indian bowlers inabilit to bowl at the death. A very interesting chased one would have though, Indian reply was one worth looking forward too.

Talented Mr Sharma and Messrs Dhawan started the Indian chase. Sharma with some daft touches, square drives and pulls, started to make West Indies attack very very ordinary Sharma is an innovative modern day player, but he is at his innovative best when it comes to getting out. He managed to get a tickle on the inside edge flicking the bal leg side,one of the more embarrassing ways to get out if there is one. Nanine claimed both the wickets that feel meanwhile rampaging Dhawan kept building on and scored is second ton of the series. Karthick meanwhile helped himself to a half century as West Indies dropped catches and chance of posing a challenge to Indian reply. The Juggernaut had just started to roll.

A farce called Pakistan cricket team.

Pakistan are the most dangerous when they are down and out. They have been down and out for quiet some time. Yes there are these occasional flashes of bizarre freakness but thats about it. Pakistan seem to have a very ordinary team, wickets fall like nine pins. If you bat first and score a decent score of 240 to 260 you pretty much in drivers seat. But Indian were ticking all the boxes on paper, Pakistan seemed unable to put up a decent team on the paper. They limped to an embarrassing 165 in nearly 40 overs. It was such an eyesore of an innings. It wasn't a Pakistan we knew; it was such a shame that there was such a hype for this match and when it ended there wasn't even a whimper about it. Pakistan have to go back and search for wood to find a decent drawing board before thinking of going back to the drawing board. Indian had a cake walk over Pakistan, didn't even look like a worthy of a practice game of clubs,which one feels are more competitive. Pakistan were out bowled and blown in the field. Kohlis run-out of Junaid just stood for the metaphor of the match and Indian's Dominance. 

Rain didn't exactly help matters, but that doesn't rob way the fact that Pak played like a true minnow.

Another walk in the park, OK jog.

Lankans came off from a tough match where they beat England chasing down 293, which at one stage looked more than enough score to defend. But against Lankans, Indians won a crucial toss and invited Lankans to bat. Indian bowlers made the most of the bowling conditions and ball swirled and swung on the string. Reduced to 41 for 3 and Dilshan injured. Jayawardene and Matthews tried building a partnership. Jadeja once again put his hat in the ring by having Jayawardene bowled. 

Mahela is a big fish, he plays with a silken touch and perhaps one of the better batsman who can play spin bowling. It was a big wicket. Other fell trying to up the ante and Indian restricted Lank an score to 181. A jog in the park was ensured.

Talented Mr Sharma and Dhawan opened the innings, Sharma fell as expected when least expected should have looked to finish the match with a quiet 60 but went for glory and tried an ugly hoick only to get bowled top of off stumped. Embarrassing way to get out. Kohli started cautiously and just build on it. Dhawan was doing the hitting and kept going, before he was smartly stumped. India were in cruise control before more dibble and dabbles, whip and slashes and we were into the finals.

Finals England.

The match was on 23 Sunday, anyone remotely a cricket fan saw the entire Indian campaign at least 5 to 6 times as rains tried it best to get a wash out and England India to be joint winners. The match was 5 minutes away from wash out but rains retreated and a 100 over match was reduced to 20 over a side match.

Indians started cautiously. The rain started and stopped at times Indian batsman were hitting it to covers and stealing singes, at times they were running to the pavilion as the covers came on. 66 for 5 and in deep soup, Sharma bowled again. Dhoni and Raina scored a single between them, Karthick fell to a swipe, Dhawan did his bit but Kohli and Jadeja added quick runs to just push the Indian score at more than run a ball. Just enough cosnidering the condtions and England had to do the chasing.

English had the match to loose. Yadav started the rot, got one to bounce more and Ashwin caught Cook at first slip. Trott was looking comfortable against pace but Indian spinners had sorted out how to bowl on English conditions. Ashwin, was looking to make it rip. He went round the wicket straight away. Trott having dabble previous over to spin , looked very cautious. Went down the wicket, Dhoni stumped him in a flash, Root, holed out on sweep and England were looking very very insipid.

Bell got stumped which was clearly not out and may have just turned the match or nearly turned it in Indians favor Bopara, living under a sword did his bit with eh ball, claiming three wickets earlier, started to build with danger man Morgan. Ishant was back to his merry ways, of gifting one boundary ball per over. Morgan and Bopara looked dangerous Ishant got clubbed for a six and then bowled two wides, Indians looked in a precarious position and need a stroke of luck or a mistimed stroke from the batsman. Morgan has such a good eye, was lulled into a weird stroke lobbed an easy catch at mid wicket, Indian came back next ball, Bopara smashed a pull and Ashwin caught one and India merely had to hold on to the 20 over and victory was there for the taking. 

Butler got bowled from a beauty from Jadeja and Indians had their hands on the trophy. One more wicket, courtesy a run-out and fat lady was clearing her throat.

Ashwin had 14 to defend in the last over, with such conditions loaded in favor of Ashwin, he bowled a cool last over even after being stuck for a boundary.

India deserving winners.

Cricket: Dhoni achieves the brown wash

So, how many pundits, fans, expert, seers saw Dhoni leading his team beating Aus 4-0, especially after we didn't win a session against England in England (and lost a player to injury every match), Aus in Aus, lost the series in England. Dhoni led the team. A team which didn't have Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Laxman, Zak, half baked Bhajji and a reclusive if not redundant Tendulkar. Dhoni and young men and his demolition of impossibilities, T20 World cup, World Cup, ODI wins in Aus, 4-0 brown wash of Aus is one for the history. Dhoni has got to be beyond simple lucky Captain. He seem to have a trick up his sleeve even if things are against odds.

Dhoni with bat, gloves and his decisions on the field and trivially, the selection of players - Kumar, Jadeja, Pujara, Murali, Ahswin, Dhawan and a de-selection of the other whole lot. He is on the money with his decisions. Another point which may not be highlighted would be Tendulkar now where close to the highest scorer on the either side. I dont know how far is his retirement. I hope he does it, sooner rather than later. India meanwhie have quickly found their reciepe for success at home, hopefully the young guns will keep performing. There are many things that are swept under the magic victory, but more on that later.

Aussies never came for the tour.

The result would have been different if Aussies had there senses more grounded. Warner led the Aussie batsmen in misery. A few players were playing for the selection of the Ashes. Starc and Clarke gt injured. A few people forgot to make their PPTs. I know in hindsight all looks sorted out. There would lots of short coming and worthy criticisms when you are BrownWashed and have lost the series 4-0. Warner led the charge of batsmen's misery, he hardly got the foot right. Phil Hughes would have felt what Mark waughs and Ricky Pontings felt touring India when they saved more runs on the filed and take more catches each inning rather than score runs. It seems 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 are specialist positions for batsmen of touring parties to India. While the opener must adapt, he should also set the course. The number three must ensure there is no cat amaong pigeons and should either keep up the momentum if he comes after a long partnership or charter the ship if he comes to early. Number five batmen must be a capable run maker and a busy player. The Number 7s and 9s will always make runs because of inherent gene to dismiss the tail is absent in Indian bowlers. Here odd must chase the evens so to speak.

Clarke cant.

Clarke escaped some streaky chances while scoring his century in India, he has a dozen already! But from than on, he was a driver of a dash car who found himslef dashed whatever he did. Often he ended up dashing himself. One felt the agility while implementing plans was not their, some selections were improper, some bet looked good while taking them on but fizzled out. Dhoni would have felt the same way in Aus not to long ago. However the scoreline doesnt truly reflect the how the Aus team played. They were very ordinary to say the least, very timid, almost like Poms of old. When Clarke was scoring double hundred by the innings, and he would have been told Jadeja, would claim five time in six innings, he would amused to bit and scored another double. it seems game of cricket is game changing roulette, favour people who willing to stick around.

The fourth test and complete Brown Wash.

Ausssies come in this test with a new captain, won the toss, batted first. The fortunes (outcome) unchanged. Indian spinners set the tone. Ashwin & Jadeja spin twins, third was Ojha who did his bit. Aussies slumped before Siddle used the long handle and bought a semblance of respectability to the score. Aussies compiled 262 on a pitch in which accumulation of runs was increasingly going to get difficult as the game progressed. They said it was a fourth day pitch. Jadeja providing crucial break through keeping things tight. Siddle scored first of his two half centuries in the match, preferring too stick to basics, rather than gauge the situation of the match, look at the bowling and take stock of situation. He came he saw and he clobbered. It was some proper cricketing shots, well timed one at those. It would have been entertaining for top order. Aus folded for 260 odd on a weary pitch, India had to have big runs.

Indians started well with Pujara the third opener of the series along with Vijay put on an opening partnerships and then rest of the team faltered. Indians are too casuals playing offies. The new line for offies will be round the wicket bowling into the stumps and straightening. It strangles run making and boundary hitting, something Indian seem to do very easily for an off spinner turning it into them. however Aussies didnt exploit the reversing ball to great effect as Indians invariably found a way around to score runs and build partnerships. However in this match they couldnt. Lyon was very good, taking wickets on will so to speak. Tendulkar being the bunny... for this match. Indians casually came and went and Lyon proved his worth in the place. Indians preffered to camp on the crease rather than offer something for Lyon to think about. A slender 10 run lead and the game was in the balance.

Aussies started in bravado but Jadeja turned it on literally.He claimed Maxwell and Warner in quick successions. He utilized the pitch to maximum, the natural variations combined with the wavering pitch to either produce a magic delivery or a wicket taking one. Jadeja looked ominous as other bowlers chipped around claiming wickets regularly and Aus shot out cheaply for the last time in the series. jadeja claimed five wickets and a few send offs. Siddle sizzled with second half century of the game, a first in the history of the game for number Nine.

Murali should be shown this dismissal just to embarass him when he starts believing too much. Why play a reverse sweep on a crumbling inefiled to an off spinner when shot making comes naturally to you? Why? Kohli is the second one, Lyon got in rhythm and he looked less secured. A couple of wickets and Lyons had almost set the pigeons among the cat. Pujara meanwhile was definitely in the zone and carried on while other held fort. A very good innings considering Indias traditionally not so good batting performances. Ref: Barbados 120. Dhoni and Pujara combined to seal the door on Aus faces not before paiting them Brown. 

Aus in India or India in Aus who was the worst? I mean is it wrong for the a cricket fan to ask for a more equal playing field? At least ICC should allow to have a player exchange formula so that between baords more players can get an experience of playing in local match abroad I think it will help. Indian batsmen and bowlers will help immensely. Why doesn't BCCI used it muscle power to get our Players a deal in County cricket or in first class cricket in SAf and Aus or NZ or whatever? I often wonder. If players get a chance to play in alien conditions the game of cricket will be better. There is a scope of allowing exchange of players for a few season for first class level.

However everything said and done, the Ashes will see a different Aus team. Indians have their work cut out once the tour of SAf starts later this year. SAf is the team to beat, not sure we have the bowling, batting or fitness for the tour.

An Aussie Brown-Wash is a rare feat, time to savour Dhoni & Co. Well done guys, thanks for the thrill.

Cricket: Two up in Hyderabad

India in Aus had no clue, went on to lose the series 4-0. Aus are touring and perhaps facing the similar kind of result. Indian teams performances lie somewhere between, the ebb from the massive loses in Australia (and England) tour and stupendous highs from the wins in this series. Dhoni had drawn lot of flak for string of poor performances. Captains form reflected and amplified his team’s (poor) performances. But that stupendous double by Dhoni in Madras and commendable team performances in Hyderabad would have made his detractors mumble under there breath. We as fans are assured considering his performances and carry his team along, that Dhoni know much more about things and how to deal with them. Dhoni has done well, he delivers, get more choices in the team. Jadeja’s selection along with Murali Vijay would have raised a few eyebrows before the test began. Indian now has an unsalable lead with their hands on Border Gavaskar trophy. The geniuses who were critical of Dhoni as a captain and keeper have moved on to graze on greener pastures.

What can Clarke do?

There are many things Clarke can do which he hasn’t done till yet in the series.

Not win the toss (some how)

Consider to bowl first if and when you do win the toss

Look to bat once and only once in the test.

Bat yourself in top four, if not in top three? Perhaps open? Watson, Warner and Clarke have to click, TOGETHER.

Identify the top spinner in the squad. Play him in for the rest of the series.

My Aus XI (in Batting Order) – Watson, Warner, Henriques, Clarke, Cowan, Hughes,Wade, Pattinson, Doherty, Lyon, Johnson.

All those wondering about where Aus will go from here… especially the Ashes, don’t worry, English condition are not alien to Aus players. England have the core of players have a good core But SAf beat them at home. You got to play your hand with the cards you got. Clarke forgot conventional rules of how the game is/was played not necessarily apply in India. I think Clarke ability (read agility) as a Captain seemed to have been exposed. You can't have Haydens, Gilchrist, Martyns, Waughs, Warnes, McGraths with you all the times. They are once in a generation cricketers. Aussies want the present players to impose themselves. Warner and Watson have to perform. Batting and Bowling has to click.

Dhoni has his (sleeves and) pockets full.

I am not sure we have a better man to lead Indian cricket team on the field as off now. Dhoni is the best thing to have happened to Indian cricket in last few years. He performs or perishes, get his own team, set his own standards and excels them in process. Often what people see as achievements he sees them as milestones and simply moves on like someone driving on highway on a clear day. There would be lot of noises on inclusion of Viijay and Jadeja,ut we must now applaud Dhoni's decision. Jadeja and Murali both had important contribution. Sehwag has Bhajji for company to plot their futures as to what they want to do next.

Pujara, Murali and Ashwin Relay-Marathons.

Clarke won the toss, which was high point of the day and before the first session, Aus seemed to be focusing on what was written on a nonexistent wall. Four wickets down, in first session. An Aus fight back in the second session and Indian rope trick, that saw Aussies declaring after five wickets fall in the last session. The declaration seems foolish one but if they would have taken couple of wicket than it may have been looked brave indeed. But wasn't to be. Pujara and Murali Vijay both under various bars of pressure, came to gather, to hold the Aussie bowling charge at bay in the first session and then blossomed for the rest of the day. They scored a combined of 294 runs in the day. The helpless Aus bowlers struggling to even create chances on their own. Pujara has the great skill of building big scores based on temperament and poise. In many ways Pujara reminds me of Michael Vaughan. He fought a hamstring to get to his hundred and pave the way for massive first innings score for India. Sehwag contemplating what would have been.

It was more restrained and stoic innings for Murali. He was subdued and played well within himself, giving up panache' to get a very well compiled and almost a stoic century. I hope this gives him some satisfaction to pursue innings different from his natural style. He should look to collect more runs in the series. Vijay looked more at ease as the innings went on and complemented Pujara, stroke for stroke. But also looked happy to play second fiddle to Pujara for extended times of better part of the day. Pujara went on to get a very good double, a second double for the Indian team in two matches. Vijay kept going forward. His dismissal triggered a collapse of sorts as Indian tried to bat Aus out of the game. Dhoni smashed a few although Virat and Tendulkar should have done that. Indian got out for 500 plus and A crumbling pitch waited for Aus to surrender.

Ashwin. He was nearly the man of the match in the Chennai test where Dhoni just too the game away from Aus. 12 wickets in the first game, six in the second. 18 wickets in four innings, three five wickets haul. The flight and loop is back. There is visibly less reliance on variation and more on control . The wickets are there the taking, hopefully Bhajji has got his cue. Ashwin well supported by Jdeja through the series. Ashwin averaging less than 17 and Jadeja at 19. the virtues of spinning a ball on driving length along with natural variations bringing rich hauls to the lesser spinners.

The road ahead with is clear, claim the third test and hopefully and faster pitch on the fourth test for the more even contest.

Cricket: India relieved with win

Indians win the opening test of this test series against Aus. It is much to the relief of many fans, may be some of the players and good wishers of Indian cricket. Indians seem to have most check boxes ticked (almost?). There are always some check boxes which seem not so important, another blog for these kinda check boxes on some other day. Hint Opening batting, opening bowling. However, Ashwin 12 for in the match Dhoni's brilliant 224, Virat 106, he should have not spoil it by throwing it away. Tendulkar was sure and confident of his foot work. I am wondering what Murali Vijay and Ishant Sharma may be feeling, they hardly contributed towards anything. Ishant bowled couple of spells in the match, Vijay came out to bat couple of times. Sehwag form a major worry for now. India won.

Good toss to lose?

Wonder if Dhoni was lucky in many to have lost the toss? Bat first is the theme for most visiting teams, cause no one wants to chase on a crumbling pitch with the spinner making the ball turn and shoot, and spit venom like cobra, or the pitch bursting and exploding without a caution. Dhoni got lucky perhaps? What it doesn't do is to lend credit to theory but it does give lot of clues. Clarke perhaps came with a mindset not wanting to bat last on a raging turner (if at all), but it's in hindsight you always find more possibilities.

Aussies started well while batting first with Warner and Cowan laying a good foundation. A group of wickets and Phil hughes and openers fell in quick succession. Not sure is Phil Hughes will get more games. Watson started purposefully but than trapped leg before by Ashwin's faster delivery. Warner's wicket pushed Aus deeper into misery but than man if for the Aus captain guided the Aus team to a very good total. Moises Henriques batted well and game a good company, singles and boundaries started to come b more easily. Bhajji at least offered one delivery shot and wide or wayward delivery in each of his generous overs. Aus tailed wagged and the lower half contributed 230 runs for the last five wickets, most contributions from Clarke himself. Indian spinners took all the ten Aussie wickets.

Clarke is one batsman apart from Amla who could readily sleep walk on to the pitch and get a century if not more without breaking sweat. Clarke a man in prime form, posses daft touches and quick feet to alter the length of the bowler and play horizontal shots either side of the wicket or race down the wicket and hit the spinner in the air and over the top. A very formidable batsman in the prevailing conditions even against the Indian spinners. There is more expected out of Warner and Watson, simply because they are more accustomed to Indian conditions (IPL!). We are assured though in the next match a better prepared and better prepared Aus team will be seen competing. Dhoni's climb just got steeper.

India assured is reply.

12 for 2 and this innings had all the ingredients to see another of those famous collapse like the one in the previous series against England. Sehwag forms so poor that he is finding new ways of getting out. Murali Vijay didn't have much to sing and dance about, cleaned up by Pattinson before he could get into position. Sehwag tried to survive but his misery didn't last long, got out in a weird and funny manner, the ball lobbed back to hit the bail. Tendulkar's first stroke was that of assurance which all of India sought for better part of last season, a pitch up delivery timed to perfection and the ball went screeching towards the boundary, two more boundaries in next three deliveries and Tendulkar was back. Pujara and Sachin steadied the ship and chartered the course towards this chase. Pujara who seem to have good temperament and technique for test matches should look to build on a rare slip of concentration from him and he missed an incoming delivery. Pattinson was a raging bull. Virat Kohli, who seemed quiet for most of the English series also build up on the platform provided by Pujara-Tendulkar partnership, further flayed the Aussie attack and India saw end of second day with just 3 wickets down. Tendulkar and Kohli looking good on the crease both making fifties. In the backdrop of previous series a follow-on avoided seemed quiet an achievement.

Calm and the storm.

A nervy and intriguing first session on the third day. Lyon broke through Tendulkar, who was incited into a full ball spinning off break. A classic off spinners dismissal. Tendulkar beaten by spin and dip of the delivery. The calm went and the storm stepped in . Its not often that an Indian batsmen gets an applause that matches Tendulkar's reception but the Indian captain is in that league. Indian captain looked resolved and up for the challenge. Dhoni straightway started counter attacking. Aus bowlers bemused and besmirched but not up to the challenge, Kohli and Dhoni got a partnership going and Aus seem to loosing the grip on the match. A fifty run partnership in ten following overs. They got a solid partnership that got the score closer to Aus first innings. India felt out of the jail. Kohli got a very good century.

Kohli got out to weird kind a shot, it wasn't required as well. Dhoni has better capabilities to flay the ball and counter attack. Kohli hit an "over smart" stroke and holed out to mid on, Lyon again inciting an unwarranted stroke. This shot cost him a big chunky hundred, may be a double century for the taking. Kohli should have tried that stroke after crossing a score of two hundred. It would have been more productive. Kohli needs to score big chunky hundreds when he gets opportunity. Test match hundreds and victories are hard work and rare, why leave it away to someone else when the game is in balance?

Talking of balance, Dhoni has the swagger and the will. He may not be the most pleasing, perfect batsman to watch, but thats not the story. I really don't know how many people have hit a double century in two and half session with in a day. Dhoni has. He went on from strength to strength the longer he stayed at the crease the harder he hit them over the boundary, the harder it was for the bowlers to get him. He kept smashing them all afternoon. The bowlers were just smashed out of the attack, more than one bowler was taken out of the attack more than once, Henriques, Lyon, Starc. He should obviously bat at number six. Dhoni's method to his madness lies in his resolve , purpose and guts. It was a a huge turn around. 

I think I can dare say that Dhoni's innings was right up their with Laxman-Dravid partnership on the fourth day of THAT Eden Gardens test. He batted well with Kohli ad then did well to shepherded the tail, Ashwin and Bhajji should have done more, along with Kohli off course. Bhuvnesh on debut was his best partner. Bhuvnesh's task was simple, get on the strike for fourth and fifth ball and defend. If he was in strike than may be hold the fort or get a single. He did well. Bhuvnesh scored 21 runs in partnership with of 140 with Dhoni, as the lead swelled at nearly 5 an over. Well done Bhuvnesh.

Aus fight it to out the end.

Aussies had read the script. It was spin all the way. Batsman came and went and batsman were bluffed with the pitch and guile of the spin. Indian spinners claimed two wickets in the match. The one with most test wickets claimed just three in the entire test match though he supported Ashwin, well. Bhajji should read what Rahul Dravid has written for him on Cricinfo for him to find his mojo, right now its lost somewhere. The guile, the intrigue, the bite of the wicket, the hunger all seem missing from Bhajji's bowling. Ashwin came back from an indifferent English series. But stands right next to Dhoni with his 12 wickets in the match. Jadeja provided the break through when required. It was up to Henriques to put on some fight. He deserves a promotion as the best Aus batsman prepared to grind it out on a powdery pitch to lead the fight.

India had 50 runs to chase, Murali Vijay tonked a six, got out, Sehwag got out prodding, another new way of dismissal for him. The best part of the second innings was Tendulkar smashing two sixes of the first two balls he faced, Pujara completed the formality of claiming the winning run courtesy a bye and India completed a test victory much to relief for us Indian cricket fans.

The following part is the preview of the series post I couldnt post on time. :(

Like for like; this Aus vs India series makes an intriguing contest. It may not be the strongest Aus team to India, but then its not been the strongest India team to host Aus at home either. Indians in the previous series just imploded against England, after winning the first test. We prevailed against NZ and West Indies in previous season simply because we were playing at home and factors were in our favour. England just clobbered us. Aussies would want to do the same. Can Aussies attack and will Indians provided a challenge are some of the questions to be answered as both teams are in Transition and would look to build up from this series?

Aussies and their challenges.

Hussey more than Ponting would be missed very dearly. Both gentlemen have retired now. The batting onus is on cruise-to-double-century-in-a-day the inform Aussie captain Michael Clarke, Watson, Warner. Warner is a refined Sehwag for better or for worst. Watson, remains the key. Watson, Warner, if fit and Clarke should occupy first three of the four slots, but Aussie batting lean on Indian pitches... Aus new/old ball bowlers are a key. An indifferent bounce and reverse sewing is the name of the bowling aspect in the sub continent. Aussies do have their pace battery in place, Siddle, Starc, Pattinson, Johnson and other, it will be interesting which and how many spinners will be playing in the Aussie XI. Aussies looked more settled in the bowling department, this is not to suggest they are lean on batting. Aussies are much in flux and yet to form a team, though the core is in place. As we know by now opening the batting is no big deal in India, I am curious to know how many Aussies batsmen are queuing up to bat in India. Indian bowlers are pretty ordinary on current form and fitness. I think the focus should be on the bowlers, how there perform in tis series. Indian batsman have different challenges though.

Indian resistance and defense.

A good set of bowlers will win you more matches. If you look at the teams of the recent pasts you will see that great teams had some terrific bowlers, West Indies, Aussies for better part of last three decades. Safs seem to have bowlers bowling in terrific combination. One of the reason why Pak is formidable in conditions is the bowlers that they have. In India its different. The bowlers in India are hard to find and harder to remembers From out of no where the bowlers look pedestrian and out of nowhere they pick couple of wickets but they get back to being pedestrian too soon. India has produce some stellar batsmen, who have scored heavily at home and also delivered in alien conditions in last decade and a half. Indian bowling struggles at home and away. Often what goes under the radar, is bowlers performance when touring abroad and results are unfavourable. I am not sure if its to do with the lack of fitness or lack of ability of some other issue with our bowlers. India has won matches abroad when bowlers have contributed if not bettered the performances by out batsman. India needs bowlers, able to get back us in the game when all looks lost. For know Solomons Keys need to be searched to find four good seamer and three good spinners, who induce a mistakes and claim wickets and at times bowl a hostile spell and claim victories. It is a far fetched team considering there are more bowlers on recuperating rooster than the playing one.

I am not sure if its Tendulkar's last season/series. He has done everything a batsman could do. He carried the dreams of an entire generation. He should consider retiring at the end of the series not before flaying Aussies like he has done when they have toured earlier. Pujara looks good for now. Kohli seems just off the boil, Raina and Yuvraj unsure. I was surprise to know Zak wasn't playing, injury of a break, I don't know. I hoped he would play a big series He has couple of left handers, whom Zaks loves to bowl.

If the present Australian team is the weakest to tour India, then present Indian team is the weakest to host Australia. There are too many check boxes to fill, Dhoni's captaincy and batting prowess, Sehwag form, Tendulkar's career, middle order partnership of Pujara-Kohli-He-whoever other.

Although thin on experience, this Aus-India series will be interesting to see specially if India wins. :P

Cricket: Turn around in Kochi

A match that played out like a perfect script. Indian top order struggle, Yuvraj plays a cameo, Raina-Kohli build, Dhoni-Raina combine to raise the platform, Dhoni then takes the charge and Jadeja rides the luck and takes the score to a formidable total. Then the rookie bowlers strike, England crumble, a few partnerships and then a signature of old yore of England and India march home with an emphatic victory.

Forget other things,take One Day at a time.

India seems to be struggling at the top. Rahane seems to be chosen for the long haul, but right now he looks like he has booked a camping trip with Rohit Sharma. Rahane needs to score runs in the bulk. It is the way it is. A few low rung scores will do him more harm than ever. As we know Rohit Sharma is talented but than Manoj Tiwary's quantum of bad luck is Rohit Sharma quantum of talent. Poor chaps Tiwary, doesn't seem to fit in the game. Gautam Gambhir Sir Ga-Ga has done everything to get dropped, lady luck is also frowning upon him but management and selectors want to make sure then don't drop him just for extended poor run with the bat. He is walking wicket and run making is not on his current to do lists. Ishant Sharma could well give him company. Lambu and Sir Ga Ga are a perfect foil each other. You could blindfold them both, ask Ishant to bowl and Sir Ga Ga to bat and bowl against each other all day, at the end of the day, Ishant may still not claim his wicket and sir Ga Ga may still raise his hand and asked to be dropped from at least, this exercise. Both seem to have lost it for the time being. I hope these guys strike gold sooner rather than later. India slams in excess of 280.

IPL is almost on the horizon, they will surely find form then long wit all the others, Sharmas, Pathans, Patels, etc.

Raina gets on with his game.

Raina may be a picture imperfect, but he makes runs when there is a need. It sets him apart from Kohli's and Rahane and others. Yuvraj can turn the game in matter of overs, but he still to get on to his full rage. There are glimpses though, especially some of the knocks in T20 against Pakistan I know he got unlucky in Kochi or else he alone would have taken us in excess of 300. But now for Raina. At juncture he finds himself is a precarious one, but over a period he has shown he can deliver. He has scored almost 4000 runs at an average approaching 36 with a strike rate 91. He has vulnerabilities. A worth off spinners would love to bowl at Raina. He is prone to short ball as well. But when given a chance he may wobble but he delivers. He played with ODI finishing school with likes of Dhoni and Yuvraj.

India high on MSD.

MSD averages 58 as a captain thats for ODIs spread over 6 years and 130 ODIs. He is a complete ODI batsman, belligerent and gutsy. His 113 against Pakistan almost set a tone for him this season. You can expect a lot of helicopters being set free. He is simply outstanding Cook acknowledged a fact. He is just lethal at the end of the innings. Dhoni just got stuck into England bowling in the second ODI.. he may look t play a boring and subdued inning, running hard singles but his ability to change gears and just start launching sixes at will and finish the innings sets his apart. He just lead the front from the front. Jadeja, then took it one step forward and just flayed Dernbachs last over and gave India a tough total to defend.

England – start, stop; crumble.

Bell shocker drive off Shami which ended up in Dhoni's gloves perhaps set the tone for English bowling, Bhuvneshwar Kumar grabbed his chances and claimed three wickets with lot of guile. Pietersen played characteristic flash in pan innings bowled by Bhuvnesh. Eoin Morgan cam and went and so did the English chances. The England middle order mere completing the formalities of making and appearance. England woes didn't end while they where leather hunting. Jadeja bowled a spell of 7 overs for 12, claiming couple of wickets. I think the batsman who got out to Jadeja must seriously look at their games against spin. I mean Samit Patel tonks Jadeja for sixes. England loose by 127 runs. Its very inspid so to say.

The Indian team is over balances in favour of batting. It is no secret. I think this over balance will be exposed when we play big tournaments where its up to the bowlers to set the tone. A good win but lot of worries on bowling department front.

Cricket: Road ahead after dismay

The bitter fruits we have today were borne from a tree that took root in the past. If Indian team wants to be a competitive team in conditions domestic and alien, then time is right for a person who has conviction and vision to come forward and with determination revive Indian teams Test fortunes. England played really well. It is a team in ascendancy for sure. They have a bowling attack for various conditions and batting line ups. A batting order that's firm. A set opener in captain Cook in prime form. An aggressive and mercurial batsman in Pietersen, a work horse in Trott and Bell.. A good keeper-batsman in Prior and a tail that wags and adds more than 80 runs or more for last four wickets. Its pretty much what a test team ought to be, which India isn't on current  capabilities form and fitness.

It's the swing and the spin, stupid.

You know words forming a sentence are open to interpretation e.g. “India is a graveyard of bowlers” now look at Indian bowlers. Zaheer, Ishant, Irfan, VRV Singh, RP Singh, Praveen Kumar, Balaji, Sreesanth, Munaf and many many more have burst on to the scene and disappeared when one blinked an eye. Then there are spinners, Kumble retired, Bhajji just went out of the boil, he looks docile and listless, a very sad scenario. Ashwin and Ojha are raw earning their ropes. I hope BCCI is doing some good work to unearth bowlers and restoring the not so fast bowlers to bowling ftness. The World cup 2011 indeed was victory a miracle considering not many of our bowlers find a place even in the second squad of Pak, Saf, Eng, Aus even WI. I know world cup was a different format. The point is our bowling department mere completes the team. I dont think batsman fret facing our bowlers. We have been in almost perennial dearth of a fast bowler/s, bowling at the peak of prowess, claiming wickets on all condition for more than 10 years. There are too many variables in there, simple there is not enough incentive to be a fast bowler or the system to find one. The stand and wallop pitches on domestic scene don't necessarily encourage any type of bowling.

As I said BCCI seems to be rich in cash flow, there is enough expertise on bowlers, I don't think too much is being done at least nothing is seen in the face of the recent results. The fact is, it is a collective lapse, cant really say batsman have done wonders and bowlers have bought back teams, on foreign tours of Eng and Aus bowlers buckled mid innings (often at the start) too many injuries, not enough match bowling, batsman and bowlers did little to inspire or please, capitulation was on the cards simply because pipeline of bowlers was bone dry and getting drier with every passing tour. Any sport is about balance, with an indifferent batting in alien conditions, batsman preferring to play their natural attacking shot making which either ended in slips or back on to stumps was a big embarrassment

Bowlers win test matches. The next crop of super stars have to be bowlers if Indian team has to be the top teams.

Its time to build again.

Its time, bitter pill was swallowed so that game can move ahead At this point in time it seems we need to swallow lot of pills and work towards getting on top of the tree in five years time. I don't know if Sachin alone is responsible to take a call on his retirement, can the board compel him of one more series, what are the stakes of the sponsors of Indian team and brand that Sachin endorses in his retirement. Should he have retred once Indi won the world cup?If looking forward should he retire at the end of next season, will he play in SAf late next year, many question. One is to make a pool of 25 to 30 players with two to three keepers, 4 to 5 spinners, 8 to ten seamers, 3 openers and other batsman. The senior players like Sehwag, Bhajji, Dhoni, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Zaheerj must be forced to chose any two of the three formats. I think Dhoni must give up gloves in T20 cricket. The captaincy must be split into limited and test cricket. There should be a cap on Indian players who opt to play test to appear in just 8 to 10 of 14 or whatever matches. There are subtle but definite steps that should be taken to safeguard test match cricket.

Old school of India cricket.

Indian batsman flunked the finger spinner test, they played like the English batsman, stuck on the crease, playing against the turn. We need to find the batsmen who step out and whack it out of the park and then sit back and cut, someone like Sidhu is you want a picture in mind. Old school test match batting seems to be extinct now, playing for time, session, pulling things back bit of old doggedness of boring but sustaining cricket. I think its time to get people of elder generations like Rayudu and Kaif into the test team, give them a decent run. I don't know who the next Indian spinner is on the horizon, one who keeps bowling length and hopefully his variation is not that delivery that pitches right once a spell. I mean one who attacks a spinners' length and batsman's stumps and can do that all day, in any conditions. Whats the incentive in India to be fast bowlers. The some of the time tested quality batsmanship witnessed in Aus vs SAf series along with top notch bowling on both side saw a conteswt keenly followed by cricket fans all over the world. It is that finesse and quality that was delight to watch. I feel there is that quality, Kohli-Dhoni partnership showed us in the last test. But we can be better. If the situation demands that spending time on the wickets keeping the team intact is primordial than natural game suited to flat feather beds must be curtailed when ball is doing tricks.

Indian board Must Do's

Get men responsible of producing a very competitive first class set up. Money is shouldn't be the issue, I think. They must flex there muscles, to have our domestic players to play couple of seasons, in Aus, Saf and England other places too if they can. They have money on the table and people acknowledge their clout. I pity they cant do that, Dravid and Zaheer gained immensely with their county stints. It helped Indian team to no ends. I am no authority of the pitches that first class set up is played about its not good enough to produce a stream of complete test batsmen and bowlers, may be there is some scope of things to be done there. IPL is a decent breeding ground to have a look at what our players have to follow, at least it is an avenue for Indian fans o see what talent is learning their trade on our circuit.

Its time to work of the slack and make a team for the next generation. If we don't find answers to some tough question India cricket may see a slide like many other teams have did in the recent past.

Cricket: England lose Motera test

India won the first test at Motera, Ahmadabad with 9 wickets to much delight. It look obvious on the end of the second day, probable of the third day, wishful at the end fourth day and finally on the fifth day with more than a session to spare. The Indian camp saw performances from Sehwag, who with a run ball century deflated a flagging English attach, Pujara scored a commanding and comprehensive double century, Ojha, toiled for more than 460 deliveries, got 9 wickets, finally stamped and concluded the script that Indian batsman write. The English camp meanwhile went in with weird selections, and came back with not too many performances. Captain Cook had a good match with the bat, but will have to do more going into the series.

Surely they didn't read anything from Shane Warne's column.

The Great Indian Rope trick, cricket version.

Well , Indian cricket equivalent of the Great Indian Rope trick. If you win the toss, at first, bat long, bat once, get the Indian batsman to cheer the crowd and let Indian bowlers rest their feet for first four session if not more. Indian batsman will come up with brilliant, sparkling magnificent poetic centuries, double centuries, and compelling, fifties. These were batsman would have only edged to ellipse of keeper when sailing beyond the high seas. The repeated failure against one kind of bowling in one kind of pitches and its repeat is daunting for the Indian fan. If Indian Team were in a position that Poms were in while traveling, we would have ended the test match by lunch on the fourth day. This is a premise of Great Indian Rope trick, Foreign Edition.

However the Oracle came true, Dhoni woke up on the right side of bed, got down at the right time from the bus, place his right leg on the ground as he went out for toss, stood on the right side of Cook while tossing up the coin, made the right call, India won the toss, made the right call of batting first, Sehwag and Dhoni, said to each other. “Right, Here we go.”

Alright, the same bowlers who were bowling 85 miles and above and swinging it like Beckham, look military medium, something like a canon fodder for phlegmatic Sehwag. I think Sehwag would have prayed for this kind of bowling. He would sleep walk to a century on this type of attack. The English bowling being as uninspiring as English weather. The quicks queued to bowl, Sehwag skewed it over deep point, they kept coming, he kept dispatching. Sehwag scored and Gambhir got some good time in the middle, he too like Sehwag has been off the boil. One of the first on endless reasons, of India's debacle on overseas tours. It got rectified though, a good meaty partnership, and an hour into the second session, England were looking like they lost the plot even before deciding to looking at one. Sehwag knock was interesting and uncharacteristic, because he didn't decide to go jogging by getting into a car. He warmed up and then went to beat leather with willow, runs flowed on their one. The tone was being set, rhythm was there, everything is fine when Indian Openers score a century partnership, Indian don't loose. Sehwag finally getting out on 117 for a very poor shot.

Swann song, Indian batsmen worries against finger spinners.

Graeme Swann had taken just four wickets against the SAf when SAfs toured England, four wickets. The worlds best spinner, playing in his own backyard claimed four wickets against a spin reluctant SAf batting line up. Indian batsman seemed to got stuck into Swann, before Swann decided to get stuck into Indian batsman.

Spinners, get wicket by inducing a stroke which is not to be played, be deceiving the batsmen, by varying the flight, pace, spin imparted on the ball resulting in batsman to gauge which shot he has to play. Swann at one point claimed all the four or five wickets to have fallen. These are big names. Any spinner will vouch for the fact that Indian batsman are hard to bowl to on Indian wickets, let along claim their wickets. Swann proved his class, claimed the top wickets. Gambhir went to cut one to a delivery that hurried, bounced low and disturbed the off stump. Sehwag was out sweeping again an uncharacteristic shot played at a time when he could have held the fort so to speak for some more time. Kohli's dismissal was the best of the lot, the ball was flighted, inviting Kohli to drive

Marathon runners – Cook and Pujara.

They build there innings and struck boundaries with percentage shot, hitting the boundary with a shot they was natural for them. Pujara and Cook kept rotating the strike and kept building the partnerships. Pujara has like camping in with his bad and pads, Cook, we know can bat forever. They seem to be unfazed almost ignorant about batsman coming and going at other end. It seemed they played the delivery rather than a situation of the match. Pujara scored a double ton. He has everything running for him, including comparison with a behemoth Rahul Dravid. The comparisons will also be there, but for that to happen, first few knocks and first matches especially at home (India) is unfair to Pujara and Dravid. Pujara has lot to prove and has enough ability to do it. I just hope we compare Dravid and Pujara after later has has played in Aus, Saf and England at least once especially in those places. Cook showed glimpses of resolved and kept chipping away, but injudiciousness of strokeplay of Trott, Pietersen, Bell failed to compliment Cook's efforts. Cook came back to bat again, as Dhoni asked England to follow on. Cook just dropped the anchor. This time a more authoritative display against spinners. on a fourth and fifth day pitch when Indian spinners were expected to run through the English batting line up. A few unimaginative strokes did seem to help Indian cause but, Cook then with Prior bought some respectability to English scorecard and made sure Indian will have to bat again. A fine 176 by Cook. He like batting here.

Ojha tweaks England.

Indian pitches are frustrating for the bowlers. Ojha bowled more than 70 overs, 9 wickets. I think he deserved a Man of the Match. 9 Wickets, is a lone effort, especially in the second innings when he held one end up and took wickets when required. Ojha and Pujara did well for themselves in the match as young guns. Ojha claimed Pietrsen wicket in both the innings, Pietersen may be guilty of getting out playing strokes which he didnt have too. It would have been embarrassing getting bowled, with middle stump flat or getting bowled second time over round the legs. Pietersen dimissal kept England in check.

So did Cook and Prior and Swann. Sehwag need to continue to do well. Yuvraj looked good for a century but got out caught in the deep of Samit Patel full toss.

England need to realign their selection template and game to the pitch on the ground. In India set template or set game plan don't work.

Cricket: Preview T20 World Cup

T20 frenzy kicks off from today in Sri Lanka. 12 teams clash to the shortest format of Gentlemens game. My quick 20 takes -

1. Weather could play a spoil sport,which will tumble the points table.

2. David and Goliaths, punt on a minnows beating a top Test teams.

3. Expecting big sixes, swinging yorkers, ace fielding,the team with best bowling and fielding will win the Cup.

4. Lots of cricketers play T20 leagues in Aus, India, England and Lanka. - Oram, Pollard, Vettori, Afridi etc.

5. Games within games, some making comeback Yuvraj and Kallis, some facing wilderness, Pietrsen debuts on the analyst corner.

6. All Rounders on premium – Kallis, Oram, Morkel, Afridi, Razzaq, McCullum, Dhoni, Angello Matthews, Sammy.

7. Myster Spinners -  Ajmal, Afridi, Narine, Mendis, Ashwin, Balaji.

8. Ace fielders - Guptill, Pollar, Raina, Virat, Imaran Nazir, DeVilliers, Warner.

9. Game changers with the bat - Gayle, Raina, bravo, Angello, Baristow, Warner, Watson.

10. Game changers with the ball - Gul, Afridi, Mendis, Narine, Steyn, Watson.

11. Teams to watch out Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa.

12. Minnows to watch out for Ireland, Bangladesh, Australia.

13. Twitter, FB is in, Live telecast may see a blip in T20 at least at the group stages.

14. This is the most open tournament of cricket is last 10 years or more.

15. SL tend to be low and slow, the pitches are relaid and hopefully they wont be slow and low.

16. Toss could be a very big deal.

17. Dhoni and Co look very good if you consider a batting unit, only.

18. Future stars that may emerge will still have to grind it out in Test match areans.

19. A brilliant piece of felding, consecutive boundaries, run outs may just change the game on its head.

20. May the best team win.

Cricket: Second test and series win

India took the series 2-0 against New Zealand. It looked a cruise after Dhoni hoick one out of the park for a six and claim victory in a match that swayed both ways. New Zealand stepping straight into the Test arena without a practice game against a tough team at home. More on that after the review of the series. Pujara and Kohi, stepping into Laxman and Dravid shoes. A big responsibility. They have done satisfactory considering what they would be weigh against for next few seasons if not next few years.

Indian pitches Bowler's graveyard?

Indian is not for the people who come on with their wares and sell them using techniques know to them. It doesn't work in India. The traditional seam and bounce of pitches of Australia, SAf and erstwhile West Indies, is missing neither there is swing of English pitches that prevail here. The lack of bounce, reverse swing, cross seem cutters are the order of the day. The bowlers have to mix it all up along with the conventional bowling. A change in length too, too short or too full will make the batsman look really cool and the fielding captain a fool. Martin proved it in some extent in the first test, let down by butter finger catching. Southee truly nailed the Indian batsmen in the first innings in the second test. I mean seven wickets on any pitch is commendable especially against, Indian batsmen on Indian pitches. Indian pitches calls for innovation and different mindset for the bowlers wanting to claim success against Indian batsmen.

The difference was fielding.

Indian fielding was top class, Dravid and Laxman did what they did with the bat but apart from exemplary batsmen they were good catches as well. Fielding was the difference, NZ dropped catches at crucial moments, which widening of the series to 2-0. NZ are expected to be good fielding side but catching for some reason was not class. Sehwag took some awesome catches off spinners, close in catching was also really very good. Ashwin and Ojha with the ball, Pujara and Kohli have ticked most boxes, now it's the question of consistency over the period.

Rosco and Southee come to rescue on the front

Ross Taylor shares the dais of audacity with Sehwag. Ross Taylor came out with intent and batted with intent, he matched fire and fire and at given point in time he literally swept the Indian spinners all around the park. A very comprehensive strokeful century just lit up the chances for NZ, but sadly in the end, he was out sweeping, and in the second innings he almost undid Southee's good work. Ross Taylor will get better, I don't know if Vettori will come back as captain. But I think McCullum on top of the order is asking a bit too much. He should be batting at five or six and keeping wickets. A little jig at the batting order and some more players will to bid their time at the crease will help Kiwis, coz we know they are good with in fielding and bowling. Southee kept it on the string and Indian batsmen were caught napping, injudicious shot selection did them in. They fell away like nine pins, but by then India had almost closed in on NZ. It was NZ onus to set a challenging target for India on the fourth innings. It was not before Virat scored a century, a brilliant effort, he deserved it, he had time to settle on the crease, he may have got one in the first test, wasn't to be. He got one in trying circumstances in the second test,with the team against the wall. He literally cashed in on Tendulkar's poor run. The challenge for Ojha, Ashwin, Pujara, Kohli, and Yadav and may be Raina  is to build upon this fabulous start of the season and take it forward when tougher challenges come along.

NZ third innings wasted chance.

It was time for Indian spinners to come to the fore, that that they had not bagged wickets in the previous innings or match. The field set up just helped in compelling the batsman to think on the defensive. Ashwin ran thought the Kiwi batting line up, it was a wedding procession. Ojha fed Rosco for sweep shot, he bit more than he could chew, he was trapped leg before. Kane Williamson almost, played the perfect forward defense only to edge one to Sehwag. Ashwin churned out classical off spinners dismissals. Kiwis would have liked to have some more runs but Indian bowlers kept them in check. A solid start would be enough to seal the series.

Final Innings chase.

Indians traditionally haven't been good chaser. It was always preferred to set the total and wait for the mistake. In the last years (from 2000) in tests and ODIs arena under the aegis of Dravid and Laxman, batsman have learnt to construct and map out the chase. Indian fans have been witnessed to remarkable back to the front chases, be it series victory in that Lords final when Yuvraj and Kaif came together at 128/5 to chase down 327, be it record number of chases in times when Dravid was captain, no one may want to forget Dhoni's six to claim India's world cup victory. There are various reasons to it, one of them is stringing partnership. Sehwag and Gambhir almost exploded scoring at a fair rate before both convinced themselves to get out, a fragile partnership, Pujara showed glimpses of his mettle, a flurry of wickets and Virat and Dhoni, master of chases in current form and abilities guided the ship home and ensured a victory.

Two cents worth of advice to The Custodians of the Game.

If ICC is indeed serious about Test Cricket and all that the song and dance about IPL should stop. It is the mandate of ICC to see whats happening in test Arena, how to make it more competitive, how to balance DRS and tradition? How the tour should be structured?The top three or four teams should play five test match, I am pointing to England South Africa series. I don't remember when India last played five test series.

A good cricket contest will have people following, be it a T20 an ODI or Test. There is scope for cutting down ODI, have three or four teams tournaments in different venues. England had played an ODI series against Aussies, we might as well have had a very competitive tri-series, which sadly never happened. We would have cheered for a five match test series, which didn't happen. An ideal tour should have a three matches ODI series, a full first class match, a practice match followed by Test series and ending with a couple of T 20 matches. Thats ideally speaking. But if a tour is suited around this formula, quality of cricket will improve which would mean more following and probably more revenues. It is easier said than done, but it should be done for the sake of cricket followers for whom the game is played.

Cricket: Indians win first test

India won the match by innings and 115 runs. Ashwin took 12 wickets in the match. NZ were all out for 159 and 164. Pujara scored a mammoth 159, considering, he was number three a position guarded by Dravid for so long, along with guarding the top and middle order. Pujara, should look to build on, not only for this series, but also for rest of the season and collect as many runs before Indian team flies abroad. Dhoni seems to be getting his team. He should have got more runs. His pe3rformances will be crucial for team doing well at home.

India batter first, which wasn't much of rocket science. Sehwag and Gambhir started well. Gambhir and Sehwag should have pushed on and got more runs. A bad form and tough opposition are never far away, they did well but more is expected considering the fact the opposition will get tougher and chances of runs lesser as the long seasons prevails Its vital to get into habit of making runs rather than try playing an indifferent rash shot. Infact, Gambhir, Sehwag, Kohli holed out to shots uncalled for. Kiwis dropping catches didn't help matters. Sehwag, Pujara both being let off. Pujara and Kohli added a delightful partnership Many reckon there will be more to come from these two. Kohli made a good 50 and got out when he had a century for the taking. Raina got out caught behind of a glove. Dhoni started cautiously and just when he was about to cut loose, he holed out to mid on. Ashwin with some quick fire runs and Pujara ultimately getting out, Indian posted a very good competitive score of 430 plus.

Kiwis started strong. McCullum looked good, but was caught at cover not keeping an ambitious drive on the ground. McCullum is poor selection on the top. He is more likely to get more runs when Kiwis are 150 for 5 (or less). McCullum is hard to dislodge and Van Wyk although looks good as a keeper doesn't help the balance of the side. Kiwis should change their batting order to Guptill, Franklin, Williamson, McCullum, Taylor, Flynn drop Van Wyk get another batsman, get Southee playing. A bit more responsive and responsible fielding and they should do better. Ross Taylors performance with the bat is crucial. I mean leaving an off spinner of length or line is inviting problem. He should know. Kiwis showed bit of a fight in the second innings following on but then we all now wickets tend to fall in a heap in Test cricket. From 105 for 2 to 164 all out. Kiwis were caught in the spin, literally. The second innings' story is pretty much a repeat of the first. Indians caught well though, some stick some don't but Indians really converted half chances which reflected in the margin of victory.

I don't know if Bhajji is watching it, but Ashwins flight and line looked good. Bhajji is out of the reckoning for tests. I don't know if he would be the first choice bowler in T20. Ashwin and Pujara co-scripted a comprehensive win. But I think I would love to see Ojha and Ashwin inviting the batsman a little more. It's when the batsman obliges to drive can he offer chances of getting out caught with fielders round the bat or getting bowled etc. It is something that Indian teams think tank should take note.

I guess Indians have ticked most of the boxes which had to be ticked at the start of the season. The second test is in Bengalluru, starts this Friday The weather may impinge again.

Cricket: Preview NZ vs India

New Zealand tour of India starts tomorrow. India are tough cookies to crack at home, it's the land of tigers for sure. It is the green pastures abroad that irks Indian cricket fans. NZ were beaten by Gayle and West Indies in West Indies now have sailed to India shores from Caribbean. Virender Sehwag part of welcoming entourage. Indian are in top five of the test table, six to eight points separate the teams on the top. NZ in the bottom of the table. Indian team on paper boast of some big names on prevailing conditions. NZ struggling to cover all bases. Vettori; NZ best selector, coach, physio, captain, bowler, batsman, strategist is missing out on injury having sat out a game in West Indies, perhaps struggling with an injury since days of IPL. Vettori's injury has just loaded the odds that bit more against NZ. However, this series has more than what meets the eye. This series is not for cricket fans who are anticipating India taking the series winning every match by an inning just after tea on the third day. I reckon it might just get close. The ICC ranking and team strength on paper is academic. The action on the pitch is what is of primary essence.

NZ – discipline of sticking to the basics.

We must expect Kiwis to come up with a disciplined performance with bat, ball and field every time. They have been a very good fielding sides. A good fielding sides can convert half chances into wickets, a run out invariably changes course of a match, more so in a test match. The opening batsman is not much of a thought on Indian pitches, any decent batsman, who has patience to stick around will do good. I don't like the idea of McCullum in the top order as a good one. He earned his reputation on finishing tight matches. He is a waste on top of the order. I wish to see Guptill and Williamson occupying two of the three top order, followed by Taylor and McCullum, Southee and Chris Martin with opening spell with the ball, Franklin as a first change. If they play a spinner, Dhoni may send them a Diwali-Christmas invite. It is an early start of the season, here in India. There will be a bit more bounce off the pitch, so deliveries that stay below the knee may rise sharply towards the knee cap. It's not something Indian batsman may lose their yawn. But then thats the slight and only advantage Kiwi bowlers should expect. I don't know if it is fair to say that subcontinent pitches are graveyard for fast bowlers. They should look to employ different skill set. Bowl stump to stump take advantage of indifferent bounce. They have option of bending the deliveries back with reverse swing. Zaheer would be there for their reference. They have the option of using a split field, a slip, two in the gully and two catching cover, one catching a short mid wicket,a third man and rest patrolling the boundary.

Complacency galore on Indian ranks.

Indian will be competing with complacency and NZ. Its fresh start to long and competitive season. The Poms and Aussies will already be making notes. India find themselves devoid of two vital cogs, Dravid and Laxman. Dravid hung his boots. Laxman who was born under the Damocles sword, live under it, blossomed under it, perished by it. It is bizarre that all of us, thought Laxman was the one replaceable when team didn't get the right set of results. I feel, looking back every innings of his was an attempt to bargain lease for one more innings. More on him in the following part of the blog. I just hope the youngsters “Do it for Laxman”.

The struggle with complacency will be a tough fight. If NZ prove to be more than sum of the parts, we could have a good series. It is time for Sachin to change his batting order. I don't know if it is prudent to break the opening partnership. Sehwag and Gambhir to open. Raina, Pujara, Rahane, Kohli, Badrinath are in the fray for two slots. I don't know why Kaif and Ambati Raydu are not in the fray. I have high hopes from Ambati Raydu. I guess he likes to get on with things and not sit and pose of talent and ability. Hyderabadi for Hyderabadai, I was hoping Raydu would replace Laxman. I will forward to the series to see if some of my questions will be answered.

These few questions are -

Will India play seven batsmen four bowlers?

If Irfan include can we have three seamers,two spinners?

Does Tendulkar have to play two down?

Should Rahane open the innings?

When does that tipping point arrives when questions of Tendulkar's retirement turn from why to why not?

There are two spinners Ashwin and Ojha, is there another new spinner on a distant horizon?

How is this series paves the way for rest of the season, when Poms and Aussies tour later in season?

Guys, do it for Laxman.

Indian batting line up boasted of Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman. They all have had their critics and fans. Ganguly started with a bang and ended without a celebration. As his ODI performances grew his test prowess waned. Tendulkar was the acclaimed prodigy and did most things right to prove to be one. His success in scoring runs and being humble both at once is an enviable achievement. Sehwag is a maverick, his run scoring audacious ability is independent of pitch, bowling attack, match situation. Dravid a perfect test batsman, loads of temperament and skill and hunger for runs.

Laxman was in many ways had few these qualities of each of his team mates and still had something more, a signature uniqueness of his own. He had the audacity of Sehwag's strokes, the panache and grit of Dravid, exhilaration of Tendulkar, Ganguly's timing to script a performance. But in many ways he was unique. If you can flick a spinner, like Shane Warne you are good, if you can flick and score runs off Shane Warne when he is round the wicket, you are very good. If you can flick Shane Warne and score a boundary when he bowling at his peak and pitch is turning you are brilliant. If you can flick Shane Warne, bowling round the wicket on the fourth day out of the rough for consecutive boundaries on will you have to be Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman. He did it on will. He has his best scores against the Aussies. I think his five of his best seven scores have been against Aussies. It wasn't an Aussie attack with erratic seam bowlers and a left arm orthodox darting at leg stump. It was the time when it consisted of three excellent and one a very good one. 

He did excel and thrilled audiences with some brilliant counter attacks against odds. Off course his 281 at Eden comes to the mind. He and Dravid batted out the whole of the fourth day and turned the flagging series on its head. There was another one with Dravid at Adelaide. Aussies had scored 550 odd at 5 an over, Ponting going berserk Dravid and Laxman came together and stitch a strokeful 300 plus runs partnership, it bought the Aussie house was bought down. There was a 165 he made once in Sydney, India lost. The best score of the team after his 165 was 25. he flicked and cut all day with a strokeful century. He could carve out a stroke through the eye of needle at backward point and straightish mid wicket. Then there were so many rescue acts, Mohali, Durban, Monera, St Johns. He did it all, with an endearing smile. A chapter of cricket when batsman with touch scored runs has ended.

It was with such grace and style,just like flavours of Dum Biryani of Old Hyderabad City. He was as classic as styles of Nizams. The Nizams commanded a 21 gun salute one of only five princely state in the days gone by. Laxman of all deserves one.

A salute to The Very Very Special Laxman.

Cricket: Review SAf vs England

Success has many fathers, failure is always an orphan. In last few seasons,teams have climbed on the top, stayed there for few seasons and saw themselves on the wrong side of slope. Its all the more reason, to look back at the great Australian, team and their performances 1995 to 2005-2007. It was a complete team. Two fine openers, and gritty middle order batsmen, a most fearsome, batsman/glove man ever to play the game. A wizard tweaker and a metronome fast bowler along with very capable pace battery. Their fielding was top notch, their motivation, ability and fitness were source of intimidation. They prevailed in all conditions home and abroad. It was as if they would walk into a contest as the lone competitors and walk away with series win against all opposition under all circumstances. No team cricket team in modern times held such a swagger.

Now follows the review of the series between SAf and England.

England looked lack lustre. We all know that problems don't come in drip of water from a leaking tap, instead they come as a flash floods. England players looked out of boil. The bowlers hardly showed any inspiration, their batsmen shone in bits,not many partnerships worth the note. Then there was The Pietersen issue. He shoots from the hip and invariable his aim is his own toes or fingers tips. I mean it is not the sole reason for a very feeble show put up by English. We expected a contest when the best two teams on top of the table met,it ended in a whimper, after reading the scoreline of 2-0 looks more like a no contest..

When problems do come, so much ambiguity and collusion and distortion of thoughts take root in the thought process that mind goes numb and rigid and dense. Strauss may confess to this very fact. It need some inspiring selection and imagination, both for much missing. Strauss is not the most expressive and imaginative captain to play test matches. He is likely to search for his handkerchief when its time to pull the rabbit out of the hat. His own form too didn't inspire much. He just scored 107 runs,at times Morkel was on top of his mark and Strauss was marking his exit standing on top of the batting crease. Cook and Trott looked clueless. Bell the most incomplete batsman across an age. Only Rohit Shama on current form will give him a run for his money. Pietersen meticulously keeps shooting his own foot. He took four wickets and scored a hundred only to be inevitably be dropped. He went too far one way, took a u-turn came back a long way and reached a point where he thought he had travelled a long road and still found himself just behind the start mark. Surely there would have been a subtle and smarter way to resolve issue. English players can't even blame IPL for their misery, so at least for England IPL cannot be a valid excuse.

This also brings down the excellent setup and the coaching staff which we thought we were brilliant a season. There is more to it than support staff that win you matches. England have taken a step back to the lost 90s when they lacked imagination. The provisional success of England especially against teams of the sub continent and WI was based on green pitches and in form pace attack. SAf had a better pace attack purely on the form of fitness and ability which almost negated the advantage to zilch A team may have a bowler and batsman out of form and still the team may do well. But if a newbie in Baristow and talismanic batman Pietersen lead your batting and bowling averages respectively, its time to rush to buy a new drawing board. The seeds of English capitulation were sown in series in UAE against Pakistan. England never recovered.

South African charge, inspired by Mark Boucher.

Not everything went in favour of SAf from the word go. A freakish career ending injury was hardly an auspicious start to the tour. England in England one would have thought at the start would fight fire with fire but wasn't to be. Boucher has been such an inspiration who everyone holds in high esteem. Everyone in SAf squad would swear by grit and determination of Boucher. It was grit and determination that saw SAf come up triumphs. His injury provided SAf with an extra zip if ever they needed one. SAf have always been tough mean competitors. They have always been good fighters and disciplined in approach. At times one would scoff when they would choke. Gary Kirsten seemed to have replaced this choke with an extra spark plug. His success with Indian team and now with South African team is surely no coincidence. Steyn, Morkel, Philander with the wickets, Amla, Smith, Kallis with the runs, Duminy and Rudolph with meaningful contribution lead an all round and complete assault which saw England being bought down the ladder.

Ama kept batting, England bowlers would have seen enough of him but couldn't have a clue as to whats operating within Amla. He kept one end up, scoring runs, and the entire SAf team batted around him.

At the last session on the series, at one point there were four possibilities, a win either ways, draw and a tie. Baristow, Prior and Swann kept the SA in check, if only for a more meaningful partnership, this test match could have been one of the best comeback in the game by England. It wasn't to be. Also, Tahir operating round the wicket, didn't help matters. Tahir is not threatening enough or imaginative enough to use outside the leg stump line to good effect. Murali and Warne could don't think many bowlers can tie batsman down, claim wickets and make run getting difficult. Smith used him far too long from round the wicket. Prior was amused to say the least.

Two wickets in two balls sealed it for South Africa in the end. Philander with another five-for

I don't know who prepares cricket schedules or who they are settled. But surely whoever is in-charge of setting up schedules has no clue of the pulse of test cricket fans. I mean when top teams are playing is three test matches good enough? Isn't it a shame? Surely a lousy series against Aussies could have been done away with a couple of ODI from SAf should have done away with for a full five test match series. It is such a whimper. It is something that takes the interest away. I mean ODI are struggling for survival. If top teams are playing, it will give your more revenue if you play longer test series and shorter ODI series. T20 will get you the money anyways.

Cricket: Oval test review

Success and failure are part of life and sports. But Success tends to make us a reluctant students and failure is a hard task master. Failure and your enemy can be the best teachers you will come across. England went into this match in robes of numero uno team in test matches, lost it all. SAf were suppose to pose a stiff challenge,but England sitting on past laurels were caught napping when SAF batsmen were forging meaty partnerships. Smith, Amla and Kallis scored century with the bat and Anderson, Broad, Swann and Bresnan scored a century with their bowling. The batsmen helped themselves to big scores in the very first inning of the tour. The ball is literally in English bowlers court and they need to bounce back.

Well within the means, day one.

The English had a bad start, losing the captain Strauss in the first over, Morkle claiming him LBW with a delivery in the very first over, that was hitting middle of middle stump, following that dismissal, the SAf just looked very subdued all day. Trott and Cooked helped themselves on a slowish, docile pitch. SAf bowlers meanwhile had a tough day, were operating pretty much on half accelerator and second gear. English batsman through the first and second session kept scoring by mean of a good solid partnership, between Cook and Trott. They kept scoring the round against SAf bowlers who were not even half throttle.

Storm in the tea cup.

In the first two sessions SAf bowlers managed just a single wicket, after tea, Trott nicked a wide delivery and went caught behind. Pietersen fresh from retire, re-retirement from limited overs and IPL walked in, scored a few boundaries good looked for more. But there is no batsman playing International cricket who flatter to deceive like Pietersen. He came, he scored, he edged and he was gone. He scored a 40, got out. The English woes started when he went out. His dismissal was that point on the cliff when the descend started and ended with England capitulating with an inninsg to spare. After that no partnership lasted more than 10 overs or so for probably the whole match.

Day two exact opposite of day one, un-redux.

It seemed Steyn was just warming up. He kept the run flow in check on day one, build up to day two. We all know SAf didn't have all the practice they thought that was required. After summing and sizing the conditions on day one,SAf bowlers were back and back in style. Dale on top on his mark and peering down English batsman on the other end of the pitch. The bowler with one of the best strike rate in Test Match history was beginning to ask question without the batsmen having a sniff of a hint, The English batsmen came and went with their bats tugged into their arms and tail in between their legs. They were cruising at 271 for 3 and were reduced to 313 for 7. Cook, Bell, Bopara, Bresnan found themselves on bull eye of a raging Dale “Steyn Gunn” . The English lost their last Seven wickets for 114 runs. An interesting and a very long tale with no twists was about to unfold. England found themselves 385 all out.

1/1 bring on Hashim Amla.

Alviro Petersen got out for a duck. SAf were in a spot of bother Amla is a man of few words. It does not reflect his repertoire of strokes. Broad and Swann had worked him out when SAf hosted England in South Africa few years back. Both were at sea against Amla as he started rebuilding, hoisting his sails and steering the SAf ship away from England's grasp. Smith meanwhile seemed looking to get into an exclusive club of batsman who have scored century in their 100th test. He ground himself on the pitch and then pulverized the attack. When the big bliff Smith scores, he bludgeons bowling attack and makes a very big score. Smith and Amla cautiously stitched a very meaningful and vital 200 runs second wicket partnership. The English bowlers looked more helpless with each passing over. The second and third day being the easiest to bat on a traditional test match pitch. SAf batsmen are traditionally know how to trade caution and aggression, flair and grit. Smith was being outscored for a while by Amla. But story changed once he breezed past his fifty.

Amla being very choosy of what to play and how, every on middle and leg was played straight down, taking LBW out of equation. Every Indian batsmen wanting to score runs should get the CD of Amla innings and should force to see every ball he played. He for better part of the innings chose to stay in the middle there by scoring runs. He did this by playing percentage shots, his strengths, dab behind third man and cover, flicks to midwicket square leg if the ball pitched outside the line of leg stump. Amla scored a hundred and another hundred and another hundred in the same innings. A triple hundred in a test match is tough to get, getting against the Number One team in their own backyard is something worthy of respect.

Jacques Kallis the greatest unacknowledged.

Jacques Kallis is a Colossus. He has taken wickets scored century taken catches. He is a perfect team man. He came into this series with an average of 29 at the start of the tour. Flintoff was all over him last time around. He looks more eager now. Boucher injury has given him an extra reason, if ever he required one. He and Amla made sure England bowlers keep bowling, two days on the field is never fun. It means that team that behind the contest will never catch up and will have to play beyond their measure to get out of the jail. Kallis exactly ensured that. Amla, Smith and Kallis helped each other and SAf boasted a score of 637 for 2. The jury is out whether Smith called them in too early, it is perhaps the right call considering SAf won the test.

Not quiet England, the team.

English bowlers presented a very tired and lack luster body language. Yes there was nothing in that favour, Strauss is most into the box kind off campaign. I can ever see him instigating or engineering a turn around. His batsman score his bowlers take wickets. Pakistan humbled them in Dubai earlier this year. They were all at sea. Philander claimed Cook early, if there was anyone who could have batted for a draw it was Cook. Steyn, Morkel and Tahir broke the back of the batting line up. Steyn with the second new ball cleaned up the tail, Tahir collected three and Steyn five and SAf completed one of the most astounding victories we have witnessed. They won by an inning and 12 runs, losing only two wickets in the match. A superb effort.

England should bounce back probably on more responsive bouncier pitch.