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 Sehwag the Audacious

The game of cricket is said to be one of golden uncertainities, Sehwag is embodiment of that saying. Its Sehwag audacity and bovine nonchalance  towards batting that makes his batting more captivating. He has been described as King of Entertainment (Never mind if Ramiz Raja). It is safe to safe sehwag been a big game changer in fortunes of Indian cricket since he has arrived on the scene. Yes he is audacious, its either none or all from Sehwag.

My Audacious XI

This wasn't an original part of the blog post. But let me suggest an all time audacious Eleven. The "audacity" would be see it to believe it performance. Its like they drag their feet to to this 4 mile replay race and end up doing it as good and easy as a walk in the park. So here is my audacious Test/ODI/T20 eleven, based on players I have seen playing in last 10 years or so, there could have been equally maverick player earlier too  but my team would consists of Sehwag, Gayle, Gibbs, Lara, Afridi, Gilchrist, Flintoff, Warne, Murali, Shoaib and  Bond

Sehwag the audacious.

Sehwag one of te most audacious batsman the game has scene in this generation. He would go on the record and say 200 in ODI is no big deal only to find himself in the worst slump of form (&fitness) to be dropped and then not even selected for the previous Aussie tour, only to come back from no where and just announce his arrival with commanding some may say decimating form. His stroke play is unique so is his mindset, he is always looking to score runs, preferable make those runs without running around too much. He prefers getting over the line with a boundary, he like to start his innings with a boundary. He greets every new bowler with a boundary if not hitting it over the boundary. In the world cup earlier this year, he face first delivery of the innings and dispatched it for a boundary, he did that in every match. Sehwag in this innings too greeted all the bowlers with the boundary. Sehwag either delights or dismay. The deal is if he is around for 40 overs or so,you wont return feeling bored, I am also talking about Test matches here.

There are so many factors/variables when a batsman goes out to bat, weather conditions, pitch, type of bowling, type of cricket ball, opposition, form and fitness, situation of the game, ya ba da ba doo; ya ba da ba doo, Sehwag just dusts these things away with his bat and if it is in his area, he will smash it and he will keep smashing and dispatching it away all day for good. Sehwag been a bit off the boil for ages now, since his surgery  following IPL. He missed couple of tours. His return in England saw him bag a pair. There wasnt much joy when Sehwag is not smashing it all over. There is tour to Australia which is coming up next, Sehwag's form with the bat may just prove vital to tilt the balance in our favour. It is good to get him run and a good match practice before the big tour.

The cast of Sehwag show.

Indian batsman werent reaping riches of runs as supply seem to have run dry. Sehwag often wanders into oor form only to hunt the treasure chest of runs back. The famed never mind depleted batting order came to the party in time. Sehwag and Gambhir got going. It seems to the untrainted eye, that sehwag provides the power, Gambhir the direction. Gambhir is no slouch with the bat, if you get thrilled seeing Sehwag, Gambhir dazzles with inspiring strokes. The two took India to 176, before run out claimed Gambhir. India kept a right left combnation going. Sehwag was on song, all Raina had to do was to keep Sehwag company, it the middle overs Indians seemed to be in cruise control. Sammy played his cards but Sehwag had the aces.

Raina got a much reprieved 50 giving Sehwag company. Sehwag scored a double, most by a captain. India registered their huge total. The game was sealed, only West Indies had to come forward and do the formalities.

The spinners picked wickets. The West Indies lost the match by 153 runs and lost the series 1-3. The next match is academic. The most seniors players should opt for an early flight to Australia.

Cricket: India win series

India won a compelling and now comfortable looking test match. Like the one in Delhi this match too ended on the fourth day, with more than four sessions of the match remaining. The low slow turner has found West Indies to skid and slide into boring and now a trademark feature of West Indies batting. The last West Indian inning while following on was a refreshing change to witness, their batsman play gutsy meaty knocks. It was refreshing to see their second innings effort especially after their first innings slump.

Dravid the one who breaks the glass ceiling while the other soar the skies.

There are many ways to see how the batsman has performing over the period of time, it could be by number of centuries or half centuries scored, number of runs,the average runs scored etc. Let's look at Dravid purely on the basis of partnerships that he has stiched with other batsman. Its amazing how he has weaved big chunks of partnerships with most of his colleagues, these are not just hundred runs, these are like double, triple , quadruple century partnerships, these are serious numbers. It is the luxury of Dravid that we have while other batsman can play strokes while Dravid provides assurances of solidity in technique and classy test book shots. I think we the fans can praise him but I believe his colleagues would be the only ones who would know his worth. Dravid is into his swan song, perhaps counting down to last of his couple of seasons. His batting numbers are mind boggling and need to be judged independent of all the other batsman of his era, including Tendulkar. His true might would be know and felt immediately after his retirement.

Meanwhile typcical of Dravid who broke the glass celieing and let other soar into the sky. I am not trying to start any Dravid vs Tendulkar debate. Dravid professionalism, strong sense of discipline and his work speaks for himself. Tendulkar was destined as a prodigy and he to all his credit did everything to justify and excel it. Dravid like Tendulkar remains a perfect example of poise and everything that is good. Dravid set this game up by stitching partnerships, Laxman cashed in and Dhoni just hammered it in. All the batsman leading the front with centuriesas India piled on the agony and West Indies found themselves chasing a wild goose with a score in excess of 630.

Big tour wants a big scores.

India will set sail for Australia, its the best chance we have to beat Aussies in Aus. The opening is crucial on any wickets let alone bouncing Aussie pitches. Sehwag and Gambhir need to be in habbit of batting for long hours and making big scores, just to be in the right mindset. A run making mindset, top fitness and some runs under the belt is one of the way to set the right tone, if Aussies are to be challenged. Gambhir and Sehwag need to turn out big numbers in one of the two possible innings before ODIs are played. I also wonder if it would have been wise on the Board to schedule ODIs first and then may be the Test matches on livelier pitches. I think that would keep our batsman in better tuned for Aus. A set of lively pitches and West Indian bowling with like of Edwards, Roach, Rampaul would keep Indian batsman in tune. I guess in some way it would helped Indian bowling as well.

Harbhajan is being un-missed.

There is no doubt of Bhajji's class, but it was more to do with his mental aspect that seems to paint a very sorry figure. He was being smacked away for fours, when he bowled around the wicket. There is not a single weak link to be in found in his bowling a closer look suggest all links withered away weak. He bowling round the wickets to right hand batsman is saying to the batsman, I have surrendered now would I get a consolatory wicket. The last I heard of Harbhajan was he took One wicket in 28 overs playing in a Ranji match. It doesnt exudes much confidence. It will be tough to say if Bhajji will be off to Australia or not. There is this guy called Ricky Ponting though, who Bhajji would claim to be his bunny, it was the time when Ponting was making big runs big time. Out of form Ponting and distant from any form Bhajji isnt my idea of contest. Bhajji need not find something new, its just needs to search for some of the old good things he did. Ojha and Ashwin has got truck load of wickets. Bhajji isnt a popular name right now. But then life is stranger than fiction.

Indian bowling attack is impressive.

A lot of teams farring well have very potent bowling attack, a couple of steaming fast bowlers, a spinner full of guile. I think we didn't expect a lot from the Indian bowling attack, Ashwin and Yadav were on debut, Ojha was making a comback. Ishant was in that esteemed injured list from the tour of England. It was our batsmans cake to bake. The bowlers however have done really well, triggering collpase of a fragile West Indian batting. It seems to be all falling in place. The question is if untested Zaheer and Munaf and Bhajji make it to the squad for Aus. I dont know if the previous tour to England hurt us a lot but certainly there was a whole squad players who were injured. If a fully fit squad with sufficient match practice doesn't go to Aus dreams of winning a test will be as distant as the next galaxy.

West Indian batting sum of some missing parts.

West Indian batting has been on terminal decline any new age cricket fan. They will find it hard to believe that at one point in team, West Indian team was one of more feared teams, of all times. I have always remember them as a team on decline. It hard to pin point if Chanderapul is an oasis or a lost island of the Caribbean. He is simply tremendous, keeps piling the runs, looks odd with his stance but keeps making runs. It requires and perseverance and determination. I wonder what motivates him. Even if two West Indian batsman stick with him, their team would be a better batting team. There bowling a bit wayward but it is good. Its their batting that falters regularly.

India has won the match and the series, Dhoni whould give up his gloves for the next test. One of the big three must be rested. Yuvraj should be asked to bat a bit higher. It must be made sure that its a pace qnd bounce there, youngsters should be tried even if that means losing a test or two.

Cricket: Third test preview & other things

Well, other things first. BCCI is now whipping boy of everybody. Any cricket writer or ex-cricketer associated with media come out only to spit venom about BCCI. There are many of ex-cricketers who were part of champion teams of their times now are champions who blame every wrong-doing in and around cricket on the BCCI. I mean is UDRS is panacea for all of cricket’s pathos? Dhoni latest dismissal in the on going test series off the Edward no ball was an embarrassment to all cricket watchers. Chanderpaul dismissal off Bhajji was the other extreme. I mean Indian cricket is doing well in present times; Indian cricketers are doing well on and off the field. The Indian team is the current World Champions in ODI cricket, they are the top few teams in crown of cricket, the Test matches, and they have won the inaugural T20 World Cup. Dhoni being centre of this success, figuratively and literally.

All this hoopla about UDRS/DRS seems to be headed in a wrong direction. I wonder if it is just to do with an Indian Cricket Board or success of India cricket or presence and support whether Indian team is playing in Jamaica, Durban, Adelaide, Wellington, Trent Bridge, or where ever. There is this huge Indian expats in cricket playing nations, so unlike previous years, where there was hardly any support for Indian while playing abroad, there is a good number if not equal crowds for venues abroad wherever Indian plays.

Those residing in shattered glass houses, cry of pain

Australia are on the descending curve, I mean three innings defeat in a five match test series that too at home against England, in during the previous Ashes says a lot. The Ashes in hindsight was a no contest, it was a shame to see Aussies whipping and crying in between matches, moan and finding excuses cursing everything. They did everything except to introspect and take hard calls; the present Aussie team beat previous English teams when it came to crying and complaining about everything rather than accept they were beaten fair and square. There is one thing for sure, Australia is one on the places, where Umpiring, is pretty poor, Indians have seen that repeatedly, Sydney Cricket ground being the latest incidence, certainly its not last by any chance.

A couple of things, other than the other things. West Indies are there is turmoil in the West Indies board and cricket played by West Indies is boring, it is amazing how turmoil with the Board, administration, management and selection committees affects cricket teams. Is it a good idea to rejig and reform the board and a settled Board and other assured stake holders would lead to a more commanding performance by the respective teams? The Colin Cowdrey lecture by Sangakkara calls for something similar when it comes to the Sri Lankan Board. I am not sure if Australian Cricket Board is functioning as well as it did when Aussies were by far the first team and distance with the other teams stood second.

BCCI is not holding DRS back, they have a few reservations. I think other boards are not at mercy of BCCI. They can decide pacts for including technology for improving the game. But then it is easier for an ex-international (sans nationality) to point at BCCI. But if I am not wrong, BCCI is more focused on issues, which is rank higher in their priority lists. If we don’t want to host Bangladesh or play five test in England and Australia then the other boards should mind their own business. BCCI generates majority of revenues, have a bigger fan base, and earn more revenues for the ICC than all other Test playing countries put together. The fan base is only growing. If pink was the colour of health then health of cricket is bright dark pink. It is easier to cry hoarse about BCCI rather than take a dig at their respective cricket boards. We know what happens when players turn against their own board, of all people the legendary Kapil; Dev faces wrath of Indian board.

The silly point is ... 

The other aspect is they all want to use technology, but everything comes at price, so does this DRS technology, so which means boards/administrations may have to share the costs. When it comes to costs, BCCI can take the calls. I hope that people are not crying hoarse because they simply want BCCI to be forced into the loop so that BCCI being the chief revenue engine bears the burden of DRS. If that happens, people may enjoy the advantages of technology while BCCI bears the costs. DRS or no DRS decisions in the cricketing field play even in most cases over the time.

Preview to third test.

Rain ensured there was no realistic chance to enforce a draw, good test teams must play out a day to ensure a match is drawn, and West Indies did play out the day riding behind the storm. Chanderpaul’s dismissal was as ordinary a decision as some other we have seen, Dhoni, Raina being the victim more than once. Laxman got among runs, Ishant bowled as well as he could, Samuels fought well, should be batting one down in the next test. Praveen Kumar was off the boil, Kohli looked to attacked but then Edwards peppered him up. Bhajji aka Harbi rode is luck, never threatened taking a wicket. Carlton Baugh did give him one. Bhajji is increasingly seems to tread like a stock which people get afraid of when the stocks starts climbing up. His wickets are more about batsman committing a mistake rather than he inducing a mistake. Its not the same thing, its poles apart. I was wondering is Gambhir and Yuvraj and Zaheer are free and available for selection why not play them in the third test, there is no practice like match practice.

India have everything to play for and West Indies would love to gate crash the series victory party. West Indies can force the issue with the ball, but its their batting which is too obvious at the moment, there are a couple of injury worries for Indian side. I wonder if all is well then Ishant, Munaf, Praveen and Mishra make up the best Indian bowling this Indian squad has to offer. Indians have a higher pedestal to step up to, rain may mar this test as well, but last time they won a series in West Indies they followed it up with a series win in England too. I hope the history repeats itself.

West Indies were a sorry 99/5 when this post was last updated.

This post is a second edit.

Cricket: India wins Jamaica Test

India team on a Caribbean Cruise (read tour) cruised (read won) in the first test. The victory seemed rather emphatic at first. If you are, someone who really looks at the result then you are narrow minded and too focused only the result. Life like many other phenomenon happening around us at times give results even before it comes to end. We go through hell and heaven everyday, often life happiest and bizarre moments seem to be sew together, it very difficult to spot the difference even under the lens of time.

However, Indian victories in overseas test use to be rare celebrations. I don’t think that’s the case anymore. We won the Caribbean tour (not cruise) the last time we toured there. We have test series win in Pakistan and England; we have won matches in Australia and South
Africa where it was considered blasphemous even to think India could win a test. There are many factors for this, more experienced battery of seamers. The Indian batsmen now don’t turn cherry red with shyness when they see green pitch. The team has a settled batting
opening pair (not in this case) of Gambhir and Sehwag. A very dependable and a broad middle order of Dravid, Laxman, and Tendulkar,not in that order. It started with Ganguly who challenged everybody (except himself) around him. He did great things as a captain but it didn’t translate for Ganguly the batsman while he was leading the team. Dravid was the architect for many of those victories.

Monday morning blues.

A new Monday and three new caps – Mukund, Kohli and Praveen Kumar made their test match debut. Mukund play for Tamil Nadu, Praveen Kumar has been a bit of a protégé who can swing the ball. Kohli has gone from strength to strength. I am not workaholic and Monday morning till the morning coffee in office often overflows with agony. It was agonizing to see batsmen came and go to needless shots. Vijay had just creamed Rampaul for a delightful extra cover drive. He fell trying to ride the bounce and getting caught at point. Mukund, was bowled, beaten for pace. Laxman and Dhoni didn’t do much. Dravid seemed in control, but got out for 40, Virat Kohli
played what was to be a listless debut. It was lunch at Sabina Park and I struggled to gulp down my dinner. India 86/6. I never curse the Monday morning louder. I wonder whose idea it was to start a Test match on  a Monday morning.

Bhajji Raina turn the tide.

Bhajji’s decline as a bowler has given rise to Bhajji the batsman. He increasingly looks to compensate his waning bowling prowess with his thumping batting. He had a 146 run partnership with Raina, The partnership saw the change in momentum. A greedy Indian cricket
follower would have liked both of them getting centuries. It wasn’t to be. Bhajji’s hitting helped us ramp up the runs and the run rate. Bhajji’s sense of timing as a batsman is very good. It was a very compelling and a crucial partnership and helped India recover and post a decent score of 246. It was pitch with variable bounce and spin. The ball kept swinging all day. West Indies lack the inspiration within their batting ranks. Ishant Sharma making a comeback and Praveen Kumar is on a debut. There was a lot on twitter to be follow as the test match unfolded. It was an interesting observation that I read – Dravid, Laxman, Dhoni perhaps the best India players of spin (playing in this series) were out to West Indian leggie, Bishoo.

The fragile West Indies batting

A fragile batting has a new name. Once famous calypso batting is now synonymous to fragile, benign, and spineless entity. There is no more Fire in the Babylon, it’s turned in ashes and dust. There was a time when no one wanted to play West Indies because of the brute, hard hitting batting orders and charged up bowling attack. The times have changed and no one wants to play West Indies, because of their batting offers a boring and lacklustre display. It doesn’t matter if they are 250 for 2 in the first innings of the match. The Windies batting collapses are as recurring as digits in the fraction of 1/3. West Indies batting has been in turmoil and decay. I wonder if the rot can ever be stopped. There are a few bits and pieces there may be a Gayle or a Sarwan but collectively they are far too less then the sum of the parts. The question is can couple of batsman stand up to the challenge of building an innings of batting the sessions of tests. I mean all the West Indies batsmen need to do is to forge partnerships look to bat for time, play percentage cricketing shots. I guess that has to be tackled at the formative stages. I don’t know much about the setup of their first class cricket setup and people who are running it. It is
alright to talk about going back to the drawing board. But some sense and determination and perseverance has to prevail for pride to return to West Indies cricket.

West Indies started with caution, Adrian Barath impressed, but that’s about it, Chanderpaul and Bravo meanwhile did look to get a partnership going, it did for a while but then it was not too long before wickets went in a heap. The scenario had changed completely in a day of test match cricket as West Indies ship was sinking on the Jamaican port. West Indies innings folded for 173, giving an invaluable lead of 70 runs at the end of the first innings

Slipping over the same banana skin.

It is something for everyone to see, Indians begin there third innings with a mini collapse. Murali Vijay went in the second over without scoring, I wonder if he had got time after getting out, to see Dravid play and learnt a few things on how to build an innings. Mukund did the hard part only to falter when he should have kicked on. Dravid edged one but was dropped, by Sammy. Laxamn still to get a feel to score freely on the number 4 slot. A lesson perhaps to shift Kohli at 4 and Laxman followed by Dhoni and then Raina, for this series. Dravid bottled one end up, while the shots were played from the other end. Dhoni shot when he got out was futile one. Raina was
unlucky so was perhaps Bhajji. Harper being the culprit. Amit Mishra played some really good shots against Edwards, Indian tail rattling the opposition. Dravid meanwhile played a calm hand and kept ensuring the West Indies don’t have a chance to to comeback. He was out
trying to up the ante. Dravid reached a hundred with a single and know has notched up 32 centuries.

West Indies second innings, another collapse.
Sarwan and Chanderpaul have scored heavily against India, Chanderapul hardly gets out against India. The two look really out of place in this series. But I think the best combination and batting order for West Indies could be Gayle, Barath, Chanderpaul, Sarwan, Lendl, Baugh, Sammy, Bishoo, Rampaul, Roach, Edwards. But in this innings, West Indies did start in the top gear, and the fifty was up in no time, Sharma getting some stick but Praveen Kumar and Sharma stuck at the end of the third day Windies reached 133 for 3. Chanderapul and Darren Bravo on to the crease. The first session of the fourth morning saw as many as six batsmen make an appearance leave without making an impression. The game was sealed soon after lunch and India secured what seemed an easy win.

There is often a case that we may learn from defeat/loss. There is a likely hood we may consciously over look a few things when we are in a ascendancy. The fact is opening slot doesn’t look good. Laxman and Dravid were playing a test match any practice match. Bhajji
and Mishra have there work cut out. I consider Bhajji very luck even to be in the squad let alone playing. Bhajji’s admirable batting performance is not to big to cover for his inability to take wickets especially against teams not adapt at playing spin. This tour cannot be taken as just another assignment before the English tour. The condition there would be anything that the Indian would be seeing in West Indies. Munaf should replace Bhajji in the next match.Raina looks more likely to take wickets on current form.

Indians got a deserving break to acclimatize, Windies may spend some time to ponder about their next game plan. I don’t know what wrong. But I would like to believe cricket needs three to five teams challenge each other at par for cricket to sustain test matches, Aussies were by far the number one team for better part of last 15 years, but at present there is a let down. Poms did win a couple of match and series. SAfs do really well at home, Morkel and Steyn will blast most batting line ups. Pakistan are more mercurial then quick silver. Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman will retire inevitably. This would be like two Wisden record books going out of circulation. I mean
imagine your team devoid of nearly 35,000 runs, 450 tests, 250 and more catches, 80 test centuries, and handful of wickets. The probable fillers of these shoes would spell like Raina, Pujara, Kohli, Sharma, probably Rayudu etc.