Cricket: England gain hold

Michael Clarke would be a very lonely man as all leaders of any loosing campaign could be. He has his plate full with things he got to do to salvage something out of the Ashes 2013 venture. There are simply too many reasons to restrict the causes that has made Australia look very ordinary over last few seasons. Cook on the other hand and go on to the field do whatever he likes and result seem to fall in his lap, straight away very easily. 

England are playing ruthless cricket for the moment. I thought a series will be a well fought one but what I see leaves me a bit bemused. Australia had set such benchmarks, leaving teams only to compete second, fitness of players, awesome batting line up where everyone had capability and record of turning the match on its head, scoring runs, taking catches, triggering collapses. The bowling was envy of all, a wizard of leg spin, three excellent front line bowlers, marginal decisions or the rub of the green was often with the baggy green corner.

 All this has been repeated ad-nauseum. It is history. If Australian cricket continues in its current state,they will be getting framed in an image. An image of being Once a great team. Its something how West Indies were in last fifteen years, they just fell from the roof tops.

Poms first.

Poms enjoying the Ashes, batsman are queuing up to score and bowlers even part timers are queuing up to bowl and claim prized scalps. They have taken a 2-0 lead and look good to hold on to the Ashes. Australia have come back from a deficit of two games to win the ashes just once but for that too happen someone has to play a Bradmansque series or perhaps Bradman would have more clues. 

England can claim lot of comfort from the fact the big three of Cook, Peitersen and Trott haven't really fired with the bat. But I guess for the moment its Bell, and the lower order thats firing on both sides. A striking feature that the best bats haven't dented this Ashes so far. Bell in the first test, Root in the second the fact that both these innings came while England were in a spot of bother would have made the England camp a very happy one. 

Anderson and Swann meanwhile have made a run away start. Broad is a handful on English conditions. Anderson claimed a bag full of wickets at Trent bridge, Swann took 9 in the match to skittle Aus out for 128. He scored some good runs with Broad at the end when Aus tried cleaning up the tail. The hung on and scored at a brisk rate to balloon English total to 360 instead of a subtle 325. 

Fans loving it when Australia keeps loosing it. 

The cricket fans who very often hard done by Aussies coming from behind and winning impossible matches or stringing consistency which was beyond imagination. I mean we grew up knowing Australia would win, they were hard to even compete. But no such complains any more. Cricket fans in places other than Australia are having such a jolly good time. It such a relief that they got battered by England in England, than England beat them in Australia than Saffers did it twice while visiting Australia. Yes India got blanked out Four Nil. Dhoni would have enjoyed a chuckle when Australia toured India and India turned the tables. Spinners doing the damage. Even Bhuvnesh Kumar new to test matches enjoyed bowling to Aussie batsman on placid Indian pitches. 

Its the snobbery and the sledging or the mental disintegration as suggested by Steve Waugh, now I am sure they wont have much to say about their current form and performance. There use to be a lot of lip and lot of swagger. 

Aussies use to be the big bullies. When they were winning series after series the tongues kept wagging and the juggernaut kept rolling. England didn't win a sniff for better part of twenty years till 2005. When Flintoff lead the bull charge. India did win at home against the Aussies at home. But now it seems all quiet on the field front. Pattinson did it last series against Graeme Smith with Aus hosted Safs. It was all in a bad taste, you play and play fair and you win gracefully Aus at times didn't do it right, there have been so many infamous incidents, often including Indian players. I guess when the Aussies started getting paid same coin and with same intensity, they didn't like their own medicine very much. There were numerous occasion in which players from all over get very partisan treatment from the Aussie fans and media and often that fueled the lip players would get on the pitch even more. Aussies at home were unbeatable. I would wonder why, know I am beginning to wonder what it would have been to form unrelenting gaze under which key players from opposition were kept under the grind the time they stepped on Aussie shores. 

All that now seems to thing of the past. Yes as a marquee contest of the Cricketing world Ashes perhaps rules the roost, Indian and Pa fans may contest that, but its crickets oldest rivalry a fact which cannot be contested. Aussies seems to have fallen rather quickly from their all conquering ways. Its now time for us fans to pile on the dismay for the Aussies as Cricket Australia sees humbler days. Its not only that Australia have fallen, other teams have equally done well. Saffers have done well away from home, England have done well too, Pakistan is only playing away from home. Dhoni would look to build on, starting in limited overs format abroad, advantage at home and perhaps if his bowlers come of age than a run away from home in tests.

Tough road ahead.

The rot in performances, I mean the enormity and the rapidity with Aussies have fallen perhaps reflect the board,an odd blip in a series may be understandable but capitulation of this magnitude, tell us more about how cricket Aus have abandoned the grass roots, premier Big Bash, a T20 is played in prime cricketing season, in front of sparse crowds. In last handful of seasons no Aussie batsman has stamped his authority Aussie batting looks fragile, bowling looks decent but its hard to finish the marathon with a limp.

Aussies should have corrected their course before the end of previous Ashes, they didn't They were too large to fail, I don't know how players of over 35 years will take the Aussie cricket forward. Aus will be better fared if they threw the newbies in the bout and plan a road to recovery. For the time being, team selection, batting order, intensity, performances, camaraderie within in the team are few minor issues Cricket Australia and people who are well wishers of Australian cricket team would like to consider. 

England lead Australia by 2-0, three more tests to go.

 

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: 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: Indians undone by spin

England have shown,test matches are won,when wickets are taken by bowlers and runs are scored by batsman. Ahmadabad seemed a timid match,like reading from a cliche' Bollywood the script. Dhoni asked for bounced and English spinners turned the table on Indian batsman, literally. Indian played with three spinners, none of them looked even closely as threatening as English spinners. The flurry of wickets on the first day set Indian on back foot. Cook and Pietersen, just rode the Indian bowling. I mean how tough it is for a spinner to purchase their wickets by constantly inviting the batsman to drive. Bhajji has almost lost it. Ashwin kept firing at middle and leg on Cook who kept dabbing most of the time, and turning it when the opportunity arrived. Indian batsmen lost on turn and bounce!

 

Often when playing at home,Indian problems get masked in the limelight of victory. I think we should welcome bouncy pitches, this result withstanding. I mean I don't know how easy is it for our batsmen, go wake up on a flight, disembark and bat on a bitch where ball is bouncing and climbing to chest high. I hope Indian bitches continue to turn and bounce. There is hope that emanates from this series of events.

 

Fingers, palms together closed fist and knock out punch.

 

Indian batsman of yore would use their feet, testament to this fact are bowling averages of Murali and Warne in India and other illustrious spinners before them. The new age Indian batsman, with heavier bats, bought up on flat-graveyard-for-bowlers pitch, tend to play from the crease. There was just one shot from Ashwin when the batsman got adventurous stepped out and smacked Swann for a six. The next delivery predictably was short pitch on middle and leg. The weariness to camp inside to the crease rather than getting to the pitch of ball and hitting over the top of all around the ground is the bane of Indian batsman today. If you play and prod against the spinner, your luck will run out sooner rather than latter. 

 

Beaten by the pace and bounce of Spin.

 

Indian batting team scores in an inverse relation to the bounce on the pitch. Swann and Monty bowled fast on a turning pitch aided with bounce Their missing ingredient however was an invitation to drive. It is another skill that the Indian spinner lacked. Bhajji has been the chief exponent on how not to get wickets and spin. There could be various reasons for Bhajji being off the boil for last couple of years or more. I would just like to highlight. That in the last world cup (payed in India) he just had few wickets and for better part of tournament, Indian leading spinner had same number of wickets as Prosper Utseya of Zimbabwe. Its been that sad for Turbanator. Bhajji stock delivery is one which sees to crash land, on leg (sometimes) out of leg stump(more often than not) offering a single if not a boundary. I don't know if any batsmen visiting India would not welcome Harbhajan bowling. Bhajji has lost it.

 

Cook Pietersen together bake the cake.

 

England had one meaningful partnership and guess that was enough. Cook and Pietersen just pulverized a toothless Indian attack.. Indian bowlers had no clue where to bowl. Cook held one end up. Pietersen played a very crucial knock. He hammered at will He plays a high risk game, when it does come off, England look very good. He took this game with the scruff of the neck and just flayed it all along. He never looked to get out. His body language was proactive and he was in control. He out paced Cook for most of the partnership. It was very good attacking batting. His marathon innings ensured India were chasing a wild goose. English spinners did the rest. England won by 10 wickets a very good effort.

 

Looking back was it...

 

Was it the best toss to lose for England? Some careless batting, by the middle order and then some club class bowling saw us chasing the game. Pujara did hold one end up but feeble batting attempt by Sehwag, Kohli, Yuvraj and out of form Tendulkar just put us in a gridlock and we lost it from there. There are lot of lessons on offer provided team learns them and hopefully come out in Kolkatta as a better.

The series is now 1-1 with Indian Team on the back foot, this is now England's series to loose.

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: 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.

Cricket: Preview SAf tour of England

South Africa Tour England for English summer of 2012. It is the fight for the Numero Uno status in the Test Arena. South Africa the eternal bridesmaid will eye a series win and repeat the victory of 2008. If only this was a full five test match series. I don't know who sets the cricketing calendar but surely this person is oblivious of want the fans are queuing up for. A premier Test Series like this one in which the top bracket teams are playing deserve a five test series. I believe premier ties like Indian-Pak, Indian-Aus, Aus-SAf, SAf-Eng deserve to be a five test series, if it means sacrificing a few dead ODI of T20 so be it.There was an additional wish that was lingering in my mind, an ODI series of Aus-SAf-Eng it would have been perfect. I think its the best series that never happened in some time now. It is sad to say the least. SAf start this series with absence of Mark Boucher. I know these two teams playing offer a lot but an indifferent English weather is the key to whole series.

Mark Boucher a Hero.

How brilliant was Mark Boucher? I mean yes he was best compared to Gilchrist for better part of his career. But I am sure Boucher could hold on to this game his own. His qualities, abilities and performances defy and outweigh his career stats. He was one player you would look forward to when the team wasn't doing good. He got out on a freakish injury when he was struck by a bail that flew off to hit his eye. It perhaps the saddest way to bow out. If you could imagine, its something like an opera singer gearing up for that finale only to retire because of sore throat. It is indeed sad and anti-climatic, unworthy and rude to someone like Mark Boucher. I hope Boucher provides an inspiration and hopefully South Africans will have some additional motivation to push for series win. Whoever replaces Boucher will have a huge role to fulfill. I thought in last few seaso Boucher was given a raw deal. He shouldnt have been dropped for 2011 World Cup considering he was the most adapt at playing spin especially on sub-continental pitches. He wasn't the first choice keeper for limited overs cricket for some time. Boucher has 999 dismals to his name. A huge Mountain to climb if somebody has to emulate and better him.

South Africa on the chase.

South Africa is one of the better teams, considering, discipline, fintess and ability to make runs especially in English condition. Smith, Kallis, De'Villers along with (Alviro) Petersen, Amla, Duminy and Rudolph. The SAf bat around Kallis who averages 29 against England in England, hoping he does better, considering he averages around 56 in tests otherwise. Kallis will have to do well if South Africa wishes to upstage England in their backyard. Smith will remember previous English tour with some sense of fondness, he has done well and he will have to set the tone and swagger as he opens the batting. Amla is a key componenet and provides variety in the Saf line up. DeVilliers is a top athelete and has had a very good last couple of season. He will be keep with Boucher injured may just alter his game. Rudolph knows the English condition as he has played first class county there, not sure he will have a role to play. Dumiy need to find more peaks to climb after some good performances early on in his career in Australia. But English attack is on ascendency and will test Duminy if and when he plays.

Dale Styen Gun will be al ready to fire on all cylinder with a formidable bowling attack. He is a key memeber who can have significant influence by taking and inducing wickets. Morkel, Philander, Tahir, Kallis, DeLange and other. It is a ver formidable attack Steyn will look to destroy and Morkel will look to bounce, Philander will look to outwit with cunning use of swing and seam. Tahir should play all tests. But Saf dont use spinners in an attacking role. Tahir himself will look to keep things tight. It will be interesting to see how Smith uses Tahir, SAf haave in recent years not have a leg spinner an attacking option. Smith should attack with Tahir,it will be very interesting how things unravel in the spin department. SAf will be facing Swan who is on top of the game at the moment.

It will be intersting. Dale versus Peitersen will be a treat to watch. I already cant wait to see this contest.I am not sure what playing eleven Saf choose but I hope their starting eleven is - (Alviro) Petersen, Smith, Amla, Kallis, DeVilliers, Rudolph, (Albie) Morkel, Steyn Philander, (Morne) Morkle, Tahir. 

 The English Challenge

English team seems to be one of the most settled teams, Strauss, Cook, Bell, Trott, Pietersen, Bopara, Prior, Broad, Swan, Bresnan, Anderson and others. They have enough in the batting line up to make run. The bowling also balances each other out in bowling. Anderson can seem to string the ball and bend it on will, Broad and Bresnan keep the batsman honest.  Broad has had very good few season. But SAf provide the English the toughest challenge since Pak toured England. Then English were faced wih some other challenges ad found themselves in some fix. Strauss and Cook like to bat long. Pietersen provides the oomph while Trott will provide the soothing effect, Bell and Bopara the key. English have enough riches with their tail often coming to fore front and scoring runs. Te bowling line up has variety in pace and spin. Swann will l pose some very interesting questions. Swan will be hoping he gets some purchase from the pitches.

The advantage they have had is they have already played a few test coming into this test. They will hope to get SAf early. Smith vs Strauss is another contest to look forward too.The weather and pitches hold key. 

The link to blog on previous tour of South Africa to England. 

Cricket: Preview of third test

There are a few possible reasons, which cause teams to lose test matches. It is the inability (a combination of form, fitness, or skill) to bowl out the opposition teams or to bat out sessions in order to collect runs (co-incidentally a combination form, fitness or skill).It is hard to pinpoint the possible reason or combination of reasons to justify the current performances of Indian team. The couple of tricks were missed in West Indies; a full team should have played there. Gambhir, Tendulkar, Zaheer. It would have given the team management a headache of plenty rather than dismay of dearth. The pace bowling looks a decent attack. Praveen Kumar and Ishant are in good touch. Praveen Kumar finds himself bowling on pitches to be cut out for him. He has bowled a lot of overs. The question over Zaheer still lingers. I don’t know if he will play the next test, if he plays will he bowl 100%, if he does bowl 100% will he last the entire duration of 5 days. Will he last the whole test? If he does last the whole test, will he be available for the next test? Only time will tell.

Men in form

The form of PK, Dravid, Laxman and Bhajii’s no more available for selection could be some of the few positives Indian team may wish to take forward. All eyes are surely on Sehwag. But Sehwag wont be 151 not out when he comes to bat. The rules of games are such that he would walk out with a big O against his name and he will have to come out and start his innings from there. He doesn’t come with assurance that he will score. At this point in time, we can all wish that he has recovered from his injury and has enough fitness to last a test match.

International sport is increasingly a function of fitness. A fit cricketer will prove to be more valuable than one with higher skill and a dodgy fitness. The Aussies ruled the roost because they were supremely fit team. SAfs may lack panache and skill of teams from the sub-continent but they have been a very good team since there re-admission. Rahul Dravid can give a run for the monies to all the youngsters in the India’s ODI XI. Rahul Dravid is the leading sun scorer for this series. It is too good to be just a coincidence.

The least likely scenario

There is a lot of intrigue lot of un-answered questions and lot of ordinary display of cricket we have seen in last couple of test matches, including the ones in West Indies. The excuses and alibis will be complex. The easier thing to do would be to just play the time. We must field our fittest XI and just play. The batsman should look to bat five sessions. If Dhoni and Raina are to come at say 450 for 4 or 500 for 4 after say 160 overs, next 20 overs can make up for the meagre run rate. I hope this tour dust turn out to be something like the tour of Australia in 98-99 when Sachin was the captain, the one in which he was given LBW when stuck on the shoulder.

Its been only once that a team was 2-0 down and came back to square and series and then won the fifth and final test to win the series. Don Bradman was the captain of that team. I was hopping for a 1-1 result. Shane Warne suggested 2-1 in favour of England. I hope things fall in place for Indian team, Sachin, Sehwag Scores, Dravid grinds out, Laxman flicks them along the ground, between the fielders, Dhoni tonk the bowling. Zaheer takes wicket virtually under stealth, Praveen Kumar keeps gliding in. Ishant makes a few batsmen hop and every one plays well to pull one back and make the final test a fitting finale.

I wonder when I last crossed the boundaries of optimism and step into utopia.

Spirits and Exorcism.

So this is what I happened. It was the last delivery before the tea interval, Eoin Morgan played a stern clip off his pads towards square leg, Praveen Kumar ran and dived to keep the ball in play, mean while the batsman, Morgan and Bell had ran three. The ball was hurled to the batsman end, the bails were dislodged when it was seen that batsman was not in the crease and defending his wicket. The appeal was made and the third umpire was consulted. He declared Bell out. A lot of it around that time is open to interpretation and sources. Bell was out. He has agreed to that. I think the spirit of cricket saw that and flew into haunt the fame while the game was in recess for the tea interval. Dhoni withdrew the appeal. The spirit was happy after that. I think he did the right thing. Anyways Bell early dismissal would have no bearing on the result of this game, considering the margin with which we were beaten. Boycott said that we looked like Bangladeshi’s in disguise.

Its time to get all things right and justify our abilities and our rankings.

Cricket: English overhaul Indians

India lost first match of another over sear test series. England coasted home with 196 runs. Indians has conceded a lead of more than 190 runs and since then they were just doing the catching up. The international sports scenario increasingly gives equal importance to fitness and skill i.e. physical and mental aptitude. England was the fitter team. Indian team was hamstrung (Zaheer), bugged (viral, Tendulkar) and bruised (Gambhir). Sehwag had already in the injured list. This further tilted the balance in favour of England. England seems to be in control for most of the match except for a session when Ishant Sharma set the cat among the pigeons taking 3 wickets in 16 balls.

Hindsight, foresight and the mental hide & seek.

The rules of leading a life are learnt in hindsight and life is led with a foresight. There is a clear deficiency of both when it comes to BCCI & Test match cricket. BCCI has been big and bold about their (monopolistic) business and given a lot of support to Indian players. If Gambhir, Zaheer, and Yuvraj were fit before the second test started in West Indies, shouldn’t they have boarded a plane to Caribbean and played the third test? Gambhir looked out of sorts for obvious reason; Zaheer broke down after taking two wickets. Gambhir’s injury was freakish and something, which one feels good if we avoid it. Sachin was down with a viral. Sehwag remains unavailable for first two tests. Dhoni needs to make better plans and take some tough decision about the composition of his bowling attack. There was enough rub off the green in this match especially in the second innings on the last day. May be things would change for the good. The best performers in this match for India, Ishant, PK, Dravid, Laxman, and Raina to an extent had a good but a gruesome tour of Caribbean and primed themselves to another fighting test series against the number one contenders. At least it wouldn’t have done any harm

Pietersen finds form.

The one thing Indian team has done is let the Poms get back to form. Indian bowlers bowled incoherent line and lengths and let the English batsman get into the groove, Strauss, Bell, Pietersen, Prior all had good knocks and got used to the conditions and Indian bowling. Indian batting on the other hand helped bowlers find their rhythm and expose the chinks in the batting order. Pietersen is not a batsman you will see and say that this guy will guts it out to find form. Pietersen is a compulsive stroke player who has been scratchy for a couple of seasons now. Zaheer broke down and with no bowling all rounder or Yuvraj Singh chucking pie at Pietersen. He helped himself to a big meaty double century and England posted a huge total that India couldn’t match. Pietersen was restrained for better part of the innings. He played the type responsible innings, where strokes were cut down on all that was flashy and trenched deep for survival. He played a very compelling innings under indifferent batting conditions. He will be the key to English fortunes for the rest of the series.
The other bowlers toiled hard most of the match on the other hand at times, it was toil to watch Harbhajan bowl.

Singh is King-pin

Bhajji needs to shrug it off and think the batsman out. The fizz is mellow, the lengths and lines are meek, timid, and defensive. I mean he can bowl all day round the wicket without getting a decent first class player out. He bowling round the wicket reduces his chances of a bat pad kind of dimissal. He should look to aim at the outside edge of the bat and invite the batsman to play forward on the off side around fifth stump. He should invite the left hand batsman to drive of the front foot with the turn. Dhoni can help him by keeping a short fine leg for a miscue sweep, a forward short leg. A short cover and midwicket for the mistime drive. He definitely seems to have lost it and just trudging around for a year. He lost of ideas and seems fixated bowling defensive trying to contain the batsman. He is neither controlling runs nor taking wickets. Indians were effectively bowling with little more than two bowlers. Ishant and PK looked good. Bhajji should make it large and look to do that soon.

Rahul Dravid is a professional and disciple of patience.

Rahul Dravid has numbers to show that would put any batsman in awe. He is technically perfect of this generation. Dravid holds one end up. We just choose to observe the magnificence of other stroke players around him. It is the comfort that Draivd provides and the partnership he strings with the other batsman that keeps the Indian ship sailing. I mean how many batsmen can score at the rate of Sehwag. How many are as impeccable as Tendulkar, Laxman over the years has become a very dependable bet. Raina is fast learning the tricks of the trade. Rahul Dravid form will continue to direct how performance of Indian team. He scored a century in tough conditions when the stroke makers were guilty of injudicious stroke play. It was Dravid's watertight technique. But his drive, off the front or back on off or legside, remains pristine and delight to watch. You can have photographs of his strokes and it will be a cricket handbook of batting.

Yes, he is orthodox batsman. The Russian orthodoxy would be impressed if anyone of those guys follow cricket. However, expecting him to play like a Sehwag would be like asking Sehwag to play like Dravid. It simple won’t happen. Yes, he was beaten and dropped but he did carry on providing a little bit of respectability to the score. He knows how to weather a storm and build an innings so crucial in Test matches to keep going. Dravid making runs was one of the few good points for the team from thsi match.

PK swing karo.

Praveen Kumar has the talent of get the ball to swing. He bowled tirelessly after Zaheer left hobbling. He seems to almost glide from a shortish run up. His ability to get the ball swing both ways makes him crucial bowlers in the English conditions. I wonder if he could get it to reverse swing. Zaheer and Ishant can get it to reverse with a good degree of control. Zaheer may not (should not) play in the second test. I wonder if PK and Ishant would open the bowling in the next innings. I hope PK claims more wickets because these would be one of the better bowling conditions that he is likely to get for a long time.

Indian cricket is some where in between the hype of a victory and hysteria of a defeat created by the traditional media. There will be tragic losses and exhilarating victory. The game is bigger, more important is to support the team through thick and thin that the game offers. One bad day doesn’t make a bad season. The second test starts at Trent Bridge starts on Friday.

Cricket: Preview India vs England

England hosts India for four tests five ODIs and a T20. It is billed as the series the number one team, India vs. the number one contenders, England. If you look at the official rankings, Indians are on the top. I think India South Africa, England are the top teams, each on their day capable of upsetting the other two, Indian have squared series with South Africa home and abroad. SAfs have lost of English in South Africa, while English haven’t won a series against India in England or anywhere for last ten years or so, the previous series played in England in 2002 series was drawn, Indian won in 2007.

This series see the teams’ line up and balance each other man for man. In the openers, Strauss and Cook square against Gambhir and Mukund. Gambhir is coming back after missing a few test, so he is likely to be edgy. Mukund looked good but may want to consider resetting himself for English conditions. Zaheer would get an opportunity to bowl at two left handers in Cook and Strauss. Sehwag not likely before the third test as I write this, Johanthan Trott has been collecting runs, playing sense and ticking the strike over. He may not have the aura of a big stroke player but he is least likely to step in the trap to prove his bravado. Rahul Dravid is perhaps an institution when it comes to batting at number three. Dravid’s form will make set the tone how the team performs. If Dravid is fluent and controls the tempo, then he would lay strong foundations and Indians would do well, if he doesn’t then Indians may struggle for just that bit. I am not adding Sehwag to this, coz he is injured. There is no point discussing what an injured player could have done. But it just shifts the favour of the balance towards the English.

Tendulkar, will score runs. It is the matter of time. Indian middle order of Tendulkar, Laxman, Raina and Dhoni will compete with Pietersen, Bell, Morgan. Bell seems to be in form, but Pietersen's form is a worry. I hope he has a good series. It would be fun seeing Morgan against Bhajji. Then Prior vs. Dhoni, both good, but Dhoni has aura and Prior has his gloves. The bowling is where this series gets very exciting. Laxman hasnt had a century there in England. Laxman may want to cash in on this series big time. He has had a decent workout in West Indies, his sublime touch in English conditions would be great to watch.

Zaheer, Praveen Kumar, Munaf, Ishant, Sreesanth are all available for selection (fingers crossed). I mean when was the last time, place for three seamers and five were available for selection? There is variety as well, Kumar and Sreesanth will swing it, Ishant will queue up to get use of any bounce, Munaf has control. Zaheer has everything. Sreesanth will also look to do something, it could be bowling as well. The team up against, Bresnan, Broad, Tremlett, Anderson. A very good attack. I have a feeling even the seam attack tends to balance it out. The key lies some where between the fingers you may guess. Swan vs. Bhajji is perhaps the one to watch. Swan and Bhajji are both off spinners, Swann has a bagful of wickets, Bhajji is struggling for rhythm. Swan clearly has an edge. The difference is Swann would be bowling to Indian batsmen who are comfortable facing spin bowling, especially off spin bowling. English batsmen have had a traditional weakness to collapse against any kind of bowling.

Strauss has been a reluctant captain, who has learnt the trade after he got the job. Dhoni it seems was destined to be this Captain Cool. Dhoni is still to lose a series. Dhoni will always have a few tricks up his sleeves. Strauss will be efficient and clinical and methodical, Dhoni will Strauss guessing. Dhoni would want to score here with the bat. 

It is unlike the series in West Indies, where India had field new players. Raina, Laxman and Ishant were the big plus from that series. Gambhir and other making comeback. I am also looking forward to English commentators for this series. They are fun to listen.

I think 1-1 may be a fair result for the series.

Cricket: Moving on hapless

India’s stupendous win over Ireland (???) gives rise to more questions than answers. All those who follow cricket and some of us Indian team fans have to confess that Indian batting excites us more then our bowling. A team almost chased 338 so I think if there is a batting collapse while we bat first, bowling in its present form will be shredded or second scenario,the wheels coming off from are toothless bowling then the opposition sets us a steep chase and if the top order collapses then an unsavoury result hopes to meet us soon. It will not be ill fate it would be our own misdeeds. If we are praying that our bowling shines once in a while then we must aceept the top order will collapse once in a while.

Yuvraj looking ragged for more than a season now, would be thanking the Irish, and would have treated them with double Patialas of Irish beers in huge mugs. A five-for and fifty made him look ominous. He would do well against the SAfs as well, ball turning away from batting line consisting of Amla, Kallis, De Villiers, Van Wyk, Du Plessis all right hand bat. Yuvraj would fancy his chance considering SAfs collapsed more than once when we were there in South Africa, guess we could trigger another collapse to see of the SAfs, easier said then done though. There are couple of shot that convince me that Yuvraj isn’t in his prime, a flick of Johnston when he moved from 45 to 49 and the shot at which he got out in the match vs England, Yuvraj in his prime would have cleared the boundary by some margin. The interesting question to be asked is, if Yuvraj’s best a thing of the past or is he priming himself to knock the winds out of the opposition?

Harsha Bhogle calls him Khade Khade Pathan. Yusuf Pathan blocks blocks and bangs. I am vying for Pathan-Razzaq-Aridi blast it would be such a fun. Pathan came on after Dhoni went hammered and dented a few over the ropes and without further ado got India couple of points.

Bhajji, exudes no confidence at this point in time, he kept feeding Strauss with cut and sweep, can remember him bowling only two or three deliveries which invited batsmen to drive on the front through covers. At this point in time, even the Aussie off spinner Jason Krezja offers better average and economy compared to Bhajji. The last time when we got to a world cup final, Nehra, Zaheer and Srinath were on fire and had bagged more than a dozen wickets each. Yes, it was South Africa, seamer friendly condition. I think teams like SAf, may be west Indies as well along with possible quarter final teams from other group Pak, Aus, Lanka would fancy having Bhajji bowl to them. Bhajji in this phase of form, he would provide the teams an ideal platform for the death overs where we know we are bound to go in excess of 7.5 to 8 an over (by very conservative estimate). There is minor concern of leaking singles and not rotating the strike enough which is well covered in the shimmering shinning boundary hitting habbits of our batsmen.

Any team winning a toss against India should fancy chasing the score because our bowling is a threat to our batting prowess.

England vs. SAf.

Indians look bunny rabbits on swinging and seaming wickets, SAfs look equally cute on typical Indian wickets where spinners are in charge and make the cherry spin like a top. I remember seeing the English innings, the second ball of the first over of the match that Peterson bowled pitch middle and went past Strauss’ pad wide down leg, if a SAf spinner I turning it proverbial mile the match was not to last full 100 overs. Strauss got out when he skied one to de Villers who took a tumbling catch. Half as good as pie - Pietersen followed Strauss when scored read 3-2. It was 15-3 when bell got out. Then mysteriously Smith took Peterson off the attack that was perhaps one of the turning points of the match. There were a few turning points in the match which happened before the toss took place, Collingwood sitting out, personally I believe whatever his form, he should be batting in the top order, could be a useful bowler. The SAf decided to play Wan Vyk, which is an excellent move. I think the game hasn’t turned so modern that you can do without a specialist keeper. But the fact is SAfs have left their best fire fighters home, Boucher and Albie Morkel, both were worth of their places, their experience, and their record speaks for them. Morgan and Hussey are joining their teams are injuries have forced teams to switch players, wonder if there is any injury concern in SAf would Boucher and Morkel be called for? SAf may pay heavily by dropping Boucher and Morkel. The future will unravel this mystery in the next near future.

SAfs did a U-turn and escort Poms to the victory post.

SAfs seems to be cruising with Amla and Smith providing them a solid paternship, in a low scoring match one wicket can trigger couple of wickets more. Kallis is still searching for runs in the tournament and on the other end De Villiers has already scored back to back centuries in first three games,. SAfs seem to have been caught in a slumber when the slip 4 wickets in a span of three runs, and Poms were right back, Wan Vyk and Steyn Gun did provide a partnership but then Poms saw an opportunity to pull the rug under SAf feet. At some point in time during the match, Poms beating SAfs would have had the same odds as Irish beating Poms.

The Indian side is in desperate search of either Bhajji hitting form soon or some other form of bowling inspiration, chances are thin is bowling reaming hapless and fielding remains a window decoration.

Cricket: Review India vs England

I think this would be one result that both the teams would accept, unwillingly. The two teams converged to the result courtesy some excellent play some poor effort by both the teams at different times. You know you have seen a magnificent knock when Tendulkar’s ton is worthily over shadowed. Andrew Strauss cut and swept his way to a brilliant 158, sad he could see it through.

Batting too good, bowling too bad.

You cannot win a marathon with legs tied. If be pack our batting order with batsmen then we should back to get to any score. Dhoti winning second toss is succession was his consecutive win of tosses, a rarity in recent past.
I wonder having packed sides with batting first, you would want to chase because you know the bowling is week. I mean we scored 338 and the match got tied courtesy a poor finish. We didn’t even completed our quota of over and last seven wickets went for 33 runs. The highest point of the game for Indians was when Tendulkar raised his bat to a fighting century after that it was pretty a spiral downwards till the point Zak trapped Strauss leg before.

Bowling attack consisted of three and a half bowlers.

Indians have traditionally had weak bowling attacks. We are now compelled to use filling bowlers to make ends meet. But going with four bowlers where each bowler can bowl maximum 10 overs is stretching optimism that bit (delta) too much. If a bowlers have an off day you are doomed and if you are defending a sub 250 score then prayers will get you more results then acts on the field. This is where Pakistan are so good, have always found to play 6 bowlers at times 7, and at least five of them having ability to bowl their 10. It is a huge advantage. South Africa too invariably have more than one all rounder. Aussies have been anomaly where they field four really specialist wicket taking bowlers, with very good fielding, the dearth of fifth bowler is hardly felt. Poms have various kinds of batting and bowling all rounder, Collingwood, Bresnan, Wright Broad. If these four play, we can expect at least 35 overs from them and ability to score 100 runs run at run a ball. Invaluable.

Flat, flatter; flattest.

Place the words pitch, bowling, skill, appropriately in the preceding sentence. I would place it a flat pitch, flatter bowling, flattest skill. I mean how many cover drives did we see Strauss playing against all the combined bowling. I don’t remember more than three. He was fed with deliveries, which he kept either cutting or sweeping, taking the slip of the equation. The fielding placement was done in a manner, which encouraged both stroke play and singles. Zaheer bowled perhaps the worst opening spell of the season. He was feeing batsmen on both sides of wicket, preferably short obliging what batsmen set their eyes for. It was incredulous. Bhajji is approaching 400 test wickets, no mean feta, off all people Bhajji should now that best chance for him to get wickets is extending an invitation for batsmen to drive him through the covers, it brings in the LBWs, bowled, edges, caught behinds. The most shots I remember seeing off Bhajji were cut and sweeps no invitation offered to play the drive, Chawla finding his way back had ideal opponents in Poms, any other side would have ensured Chawla hit out of the attack. I mean imagine same bowling attack and we bowling fist against teams like Pakistan or South Africa the top teams in this competition. There are reasons beyond this it is an observance that the muscle in the bowling won more matches then magnificence of batting. Sachin Tendulkar’s whole career bears eye wtiness to this fact. The cricket matches are won by restricting the opposition and taking wickets is the only way to do that.

Batting order need a rejig.

Gambhir, Kohli or Pathan much be dropped to make way for another bowler, the problem is which bowler will replace them and bowl line and lengths with discipline and claim wickets or put pressure to ensure wickets at other end. Pathan did make a century in South Africa but for him to be effective he must come when there are 12 to 15 ovrs where he can get in. The finish role will have to be done by Dhoni coz Yuvraj is also off the boil, with the best form seem to have deserted him. But I hope this 50 is welcome return to form for Yuvraj following couple of ordinary seasons.

Tendulkar’s ton out shone.

Strauss superlative effort out shone a very good Tendulkar century. There is little doubt that if Sachin bats 40-45 overs he would get a century. His century was full of attacking stokes though the start was slow but early caution was packed off to the winds when Collingwood was walloped two sixes in an over and Swann saw two huge sixes sailing over to the leg side off consecutive delivers, Tendulkar was turning the tide and time for his team. There were useful contributions from Sehwag and Gambhir and Yuvraj. He was thoroughly out shone by Strauss who displayed a commanding presence and hunger to score big runs. He shepherd the innings for as long as he could and it had to be superb delivery from Zaheer to bring an end a superb innings.