20.99 Cricket Blog

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:04:00 +0000

Ricky Ponting’s progress will be closely watched

Amidst the headlines captured by the common wealth games, as it draws nearer , there is some cricket being lined up as well .The Australian team is here to play two tests , followed by three One Day Internationals .Both Mohali and Bangalore , venues for the tests should be able to hopefully produce result.

The last time India played Australia at Mohali, Australia were handed a heavy defeat of 320 runs margin and that should certainly give them a lot of confidence .India enjoy a good record at the PCA stadium in Mohali, only losing to the West Indies in the first match played on this ground, while the ground has produced five draws out of nine matches played.

With Bangalore also reciting the same tale of eight draws out of seventeen tests played so far, it should be interesting to note that the declaration might just be an important factor to compel a result .While India has rewarded Cheteshwar Pujara’s form and consistency at the domestic level , his name would only be in the team sheet if there is an injury amongst the top six in the batting line up .Suresh Raina would occupy the number six slot after his fruitful tour of Sri Lanka , with Sachin Tendulkar Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman constituting a potent middle order.

The last time India played Australia in 2008, Dravid had a forgettable series aggregating 120 runs at an average of 17.14 in 7 visits to the crease. While Rahul Dravid would be aware of that statistics and keen to settle the scores with the Australians, runs in this series would pep up the confidence to do well against south Africa and New Zealand in future .The batting would determine the winner in the series as Australians would have done their homework on Virender Sehwag continues to get attention of the opposition .

The Australian spin department looks suspicious with no real match winner and one wonders what happened to Jason Kreja after his 8 wicket burst in Nagpur, during the last Australian trip in 2008.

It would be also an important series for Ricky Ponting. Ponting’s last ton came nine months back against the Pakistan and he is showing signs of decline already and this series well might ascertain if the time is ripe to hand over the captaincy reins to Michael Clarke. He averages 40 in the last ten test matches and looks a far cry from the batsman he once was, with 209 coming in a single outing to the crease, way below his career average of 54.66.

From an Indian standpoint, Harbhajan Singh, doubtful starter for the Mohali test would be wondering how to bring that strike rate down, as he appears to have lost his wicket taking ability.

Shane Watson has started of f the tour in style with back to back hundreds and should give Indians food for thought.

A series win in India will give tremendous tonic to Ricky Ponting for his next high profile assignment. He must have spent endless time mulling over the combinations to register an Ashes win on his illustrious resume.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:20:00 +0000

Yuvraj Singh is down but not out!

The selectors have once again showed who is in charge by showing the door to Yuvraj Singh. Though it can be argued that he was always living on borrowed time, Yuvraj was given far too many opportunities at the test level to translate his promise as a fine one day batsman to mature number six for India, after Saurav Ganguly left the international scene.

Yuvraj Singh always had the style and flamboyance and may have won many matches for India, However he always was an uneasy batsman finding it difficult to get his bearings in the longest format of the game often confused with the pace of scoring runs .Yuvraj Singh, just 29, would believe that he might have got the wake up call at the right time, after having a sedate tour of Sri Lanka in July where he was unwell and the indifferent form did not help the cause either. However it is worth pondering if the route is some what identical to what Ajay Jadeja traversed, having played 15 tests over the 9 years as an international cricket, dazzling only at the One day format, only time will tell.

With Rahul Dravid ,VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar well in the twilight zone , Yuvraj will have to quickly scale up to the test level , as the breathing space just gets tougher , with the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara , Rohit Sharma , Virat Kohli captivating the selectors , as good investment option for the future .It is interesting to note that even if Yuvraj would been a part of the squad picked for the home series against Australia , would he be in the playing eleven , now withstanding the form of Suresh Raina.

Given the flair and the success Yuvraj enjoyed at the international level it is quite easy to forget that test cricket can be very rude surprise, but remains the sought after thing on the resume of a international cricketer.

On the more positive side, Yuvraj, the one day batsman will probably play a more significant role in the upcoming world cup in the subcontinent .Have the selectors dropped a hint to Yuvraj to concentrate on getting amongst the runs in the one day format?

Yuvraj Singh has a lot of work to do for sure.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:30:00 +0000

Will Test Cricket pass the stiff test ?

With English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff ‘s retirement from test cricket , what was just a premonition is now looking an unpleasant reality . The commercials of T-20 beast is hovering to wolf down test cricket, with favours from injuries and excessive cricket .The timing of the decision is interesting, but the rational behind is not incongruous .It came between the Ashes test series and Flintoff giving into the body’s voice to stop , that has been battered due to a spate of futile surgeries. Meanwhile, he safeguarded the future by focusing his energies on T-20 and 50 over version of the game.

Forsake test cricket and embrace one day format and T-20 is the latest trend . Few years ago, the players opted for the longest format , to prolong their career .Shane Warne , Steven Waugh , Brain Lara, Steve Harmison gave the highest honor to tests and sacrificing the limited over internationals.

But with the unprecedented success of IPL , the winds have reversed the direction .The injuries take a toll on the international cricketers , with rehabilitation period some times making them unavailable for months. And often, it becomes difficult to come back in the reckoning with full fitness and same vigor ,not to mention the unaltered mindset . Then ,avoiding the demands of test cricket comes an easy option , the staggering money associated with it swings the pendulum in the favour of T-20 and to a lesser extent 50 overs internationals. Twenty20 is where all the revenue is, where all the sponsorship is, where all the crowds are, where all the players are heading!

Donning the whites and playing test cricket, an ultimate dream for any youngster few years ago is now passé .

The spectators are declining to turn up any more, with empty stadiums and benign tracks undermining the balance between the ball and the bat . There is every chance that many of the players, too, will soon be reluctant to pitch up for Test cricket.Still young and in the late 20s and early 30’s players might secure their future by premature retirement .The world heard about Chris Gayle’s thoughts about the test cricket and Flintoff’s decision will not retard the doomsday for tests.

Countries like Australia and England are still safe but signs in India and West Indies are a matter of concern and bourgeoning schemes in the US to come up tournaments on the lines of IPL , the carrot is out for the stars who are uncertain in tests and yet have still cricket left in them .However, it will take away charismatic match winners like Flintoff , further eroding the thin base of test cricket

So, is excessive cricket also a catalyst to accelerate early retirements? The all rounders always a rare breed, is the most susceptible to the demands of the crammed international calendar, with the surge of T-20, the pressure will only increase many manifolds .The bowlers and all rounders will be at risk as well , with varying degree .While the batsman is already finding it difficult to maintain the consistency in all the three formats, eventually being probed on adaptability all-time .Then there is distinct possibility of developing technical flaws as there is no time to look at one’s game. The final outcome indifferent form and in some cases mental fatigue, with a dip in motivation .

Is the time ripe for having a relook at the test model ? Will the introduction of pink balls and the concept of test championship , revive test cricket .Only time will tell. But there is certainly a injection required to energise test cricket , else it will be anachronistic.

Where is the ray of hope amidst dark clouds ?
The first Test match of the Ashes series between England and Australia has been a resounding success .While the second test only adding to the excitement .The critics and sceptics being won over by five days of enthralling cricket on the field and the spectators delighted .Watching Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar blocking their way to the end of play to keep Australia away from the crease at Cardiff .This was followed up with Flintoff sending down 10 high octane overs to seal the deal for the Englishmen This brought back all the drama , nervousness and suspsense of the Ashes series.The icing on the cake was gross collection of £6m with a seven figure profit on that.Still, there is hope …
.A test match drawn after the opposition couldnot take the final wicket , scoring 400 plus to win a test , changing the natural game to suit the team needs , dour defence to save the test , applying the skills on a barren track to claim a five for , are memories that is test cricket’s gift to us.Thats the ultimate test of character and mental toughness of a cricketer defying all odds . In that , test cricket will always remain special.
The surge in the Twenty20 game is unstoppable as the spread of mushrooms in rainy season. The greater challenge lies in bringing back the crowds and arrest the fall in television revenues. A compelling contest with late starts and night games may be the starting point of revitalising the traditional form of cricket
The ICC has its plate full, with that an opportunity is there to change the game of test cricket !

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Ponting will be tested

England carried the advantage of freak escape into the second test and ended the Lords jinx with a 115 runs victory and a 1-0 lead in the Ashes. .This is hard test cricket for you .And the wrecker in chief was Andrew Flintoff who sent out 10 high quality overs unchanged, to end with a man of the match award.

Now then , England suddenly are looking a potent outfit with a good bowling attack. Graham Onions was straight and full on most occasions while Graeme Swann extracted a fair turn from the surface. Jimmy Anderson probed with a nagging length and immaculate direction with a fair support from Stuart Broad .But one man chose the occasion to leave a mark on the last test at Lords .Andrew Flintoff. Bowling consistently in excess of 150 Km/h he defied pain to script a famous win for England . One just wonders if Flintoff would have been fully fit for most part of his 77 tests and had pitched the ball up the way he did at Lords , how many more wickets he would have added to his kitty !.

The match appeared to go down to the wire after the Cardiff show. But any thoughts of that soon vaporized when Brad Haddin edged one outside off stump towards the second slip .Then onwards it was just delaying the swift conclusion.

It was the bowling that made the difference, eventually .Australia was always going to be a depleted bowling attack after Brett Lee’s loss due to injury .Mitchell Johnson went for pace and sprayed the ball around whereas Ben Hilfenhaus maintained a steady line and length just outside off stump and consistently troubled the English batsman with his swing was the only bright

Michael Clark must find a mention for the way he timed the bowl and was decisive off either foot . This was a top effort repeatedly penetrating the covers area for boundaries and he got able company in Brad Haddin who is trying his best to fill up the void of Adam Gilchrist .

Australian captain will be severely tested hence forth , not many times one finds the Australian team trailing in the series .
At 1-0 down, and after surrendering their 75-year sovereignty of Lord’s, Australia are in unfamiliar Ashes territory. In fact, the last time they trailed England so early in the series was in 1997. However they went on to win the next three Tests.
Having lost most stalwarts to retirement, he will have to make some tough decisions and the name which comes under scrutiny is Mitchell Johnson who has failed to carry the load of a strike bowler in Lee’s absence

What an advertisement for Test cricket these two matches have been. This after the T-20 fever threatens to suffocate test cricket. There is a big break before the third test and it remains to be seen how Ponting gets his combination right .Will Ponting the batsman again come to Ponting the captain’s rescue ? .At the moment the plate looks full for skipper Ponting .With Lee looking least to be risked against Northamptonshire, Stuart Clarke is the only realistic choice if Ponting takes the bold decision to leave out Mitchell Johnson .Whereas Shane Watson will be seen as a batting all rounder , which does not aid Australians to make a strong statement of intent towards taking 20 English wickets . If he decides to go with five specialist bowlers , who will be left out ?
Testing time ahead for Ricky Ponting !

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:14:00 +0000

By this time Yuvraj Singh should have been a regular in the Indian middle order and a certainty in the Test Team, after eight seasons of international cricket and a proven match winner. However, he still turns over in bed, plump up his pillow, with the inscrutable question; does he belong to the test level? The elegant lefthander has been left out of the Indian squad for the Emerald Isles in late July ,with selectors using the word “rested “!

Once again, he has hit a roadblock. So, is he the next Michael Bevan then? Too premature to say for sure! even if a popular website has written him off.

While the years gone by saw the stylish lefthander mature as one of the mainstays of Indian batting in limited overs version, what was left in oblivion was Yuvraj the test batsman .The test team line up is studded with some heavyweights and it is difficult to make a batting slot your own. In 2006, when Ganguly was no longer in the frame, and Yuvraj looked assured of his place in the Test side, with a successful season in ODIs. However, with Ganguly reinventing himself in South Africa and Laxman scoring runs consistently, Yuvraj loosing his spot was a foregone conclusion.
The “process” has been a interesting one for the southpaw .Having announced the arrival into the international scene with a blistering 84 and some acrobatic catching against Australia in the Nairobi Mini-World Cup in 2000-01. Since then it’s been a rollercoaster ride. He had a lean trot and was dropped immediately for the one-dayers against Australia.The primal talent quickly gained a reputation as a finisher scoring at a brisk pace, with an undefeated 98 against SriLanka in 2001. But the scene in test arena was not similar .He initially struggled to break into strongest middle order batting line up in the world .This was quickly followed by exploring opportunity as an opener only to realize later on that his natural habitat is indeed the middle order.
While ODI brought smiles on Yuvraj’s face, he has found the transition to Test cricket far tougher than expected. Getting out after doing all the hard work and playing too many shots, have been the nemesis of the Punjab lefthander .Another aspect that has been found wanting is his footwork. Early in his career, he was clearly troubled by spinners and often got caught on the crease, leading to dismissals. But the question is does spin puts Yuvraj in real spot of bother? Out of the last 7 innings that he padded up in tests, he was dismissed by spinners thrice .Yuvraj jabs at deliveries, cannot pick up the length let alone read the spinner of his hands , goes for premeditated sweep shot and brings down his own downfall.
All the three test tons have all come against Pakistan in quick time but to regain his spot he will have to take leaf out of Laxman and Ganguly , who have mastered to match potential with performance and more importantly construct the innings , with attaching high price for their wicket. The only plausible reason for his dramatic demotion lies in the cluttered mind and desperateness to prove his credentials at the Test Level
Playing against quality spin exemplary judgment of the turn and bounce and more significantly precise understanding of the whereabouts of one’s wicket in addition to playing the ball dexterously late.
Any thoughts of wearing the whites again would require a different mindset and to temporarily rein in the natural ambition to hit boundaries. As Geoff Boycott realized early in his career batting isn't about how many boundaries you hit, it's about how many runs you make.Yuvraj's record of 1050 runs at an average of 32 in 20 Tests, suggests there has been more dust than gold. But the average of 32 will improve, as he realizes his flair and learns the intricacies of test cricket

While one might argue that the selectors have shielded him against the likes of Murali and Mendis, to break his confidence completely or were wary about his performance on the slow tracks .The key is to just lie low, focus on the game and stick to ones strengths and come back strong
Few can time the ball as sweetly as Yuvraj at his best and has all the making of a great test batsman.Yuvraj has always been a creature of confidence. When his mind is unfettered, his footwork decisive, and intent positive, he scores runs. It is when he is tentative - especially outside the off stump against the fast bowler, or sweeping instinctively against the spinner - that he is in the most trouble. Confidence comes from making runs, from playing big innings but equally, it comes from feeling that you belong in a team. The answer of the question posed at the start, would be an emphatic affirmative, only if Yuvraj alters his approach.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:13:00 +0000

Legacy of umpires under threat!

Change is inevitable goes the cliché .The game of cricket has certainly seen lots of these in the recent past .But the one that will have a lasting impact would be the present proposal of reviewing a decision of the on field umpires .Prima-facie , it may look promising and with all the right intentions. However in the longer run it might just clip the powers of the umpires world over, if the trialing of the Umpire decision review system is successful

It is needless to mention the scrutiny the modern umpire is subjected to, with the stakes high as never before .Interestingly the need for the change gathered momentum with the infamous decisions against the Indian side, in the tour down under .India went on to loose the series

.

The system, to be tested in this year's Sri Lanka v India three-match Test series starting on July 23, will allow the fielding and batting sides three unsuccessful appeals to the umpire per innings to change a decision if it is perceived to have been incorrect. The on-field umpire will consult with the third umpire, who will review available television coverage of the incident before relaying fact-based information back to his colleague. Slow-motion replays, the wicket-to-wicket "mat", sound from stump microphones and ball-tracking technology up to the point of impact on the pad will be available for use by the television umpire.

Sure, the game is being taken to new level, with the aid of technology with certain sects advocating if the technology is there then why not use it. Does it mean premature death of the umpire as the discretionary authority on the field?

As they say, the umpiring decisions gone in favour or against evens out in the longer run. The stoppages resulting from the referral will slow down the game .The next question is whether technology is always foolproof?Notably, the LBW decisions which are corroborated by Hawk eye technology do not take into account the playing conditions , bounce .At best ,it is a guesstimate of the trajectory of the ball hitting the pad .If this is not enough , it does not factor the swing of the ball .Then ,there are cases in which doubt still lingers on the legitimacy of a catch , because of the optical illusion, even the slow motions are inconclusive .The game would be bereaved of moments , when a plumb LBW appeal would be turned down , a non existent nick being adjudged out on a crucial juncture of the game .The umpires who are the protagonists to the drama surrounding all these will be cornered .

Time will tell, with all the intent with which ICC has brought the use of technology will take the game to a next level or reduce the status of the umpires.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:02:00 +0000

Steyn is the new gain !

Dale Willem Steyn gives an impression of a tiger that has just tasted blood, and become a man-eater. Aggressive, fiery, with the celebrations he involves in after every scalp he claims, he is the new face of the South African pace attack .Fast bowlers come in a variety of flavours. South Africa had Shaun Pollock who was relentless and untiring all through out his career, Allan Donald had the stare to sweat the batman along with the impressive in dipper and beautiful bowling action while Makhaya offered stamina and longevity with an unusual angle to discomfort the batsman . Nel has on field antics and sporty nature .But Steyn unlike all these is uncommon is like a fresh breeze, which energies you with a normal height and build , unlike most fast men, has an ability to take someone’s head off with a shiny red cherry.

Perhaps the most captivating trait is he can swing the ball away from the right-handers in excess of 90 miles an hour consistently and possesses a near unplayable yorker .He bowls pretty straight and delivering the ball from very close to the stumps, which explains the number of clean bowled dismissals. The ascension has been an accelerated one for Dale who seemed unripe on his test debut in 2004 .Steyn announced himself to Test cricket with a fast in-swinging delivery that left Marcus Trescothick ‘s stumps rearranged .However ,he faded from view after three matches against England in which he took eight wickets and conceded more than 400 runs. He had another go early in 2006 and, since then, he has become a nemesis to the batsman world over

To top it up, Dale Steyn signed off a dream season in Test cricket by sweeping all the major honours at the South Africa Cricket Awards on Tuesday night. Steyn won all the four awards he was nominated for which included SA Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year, SA Players' Player of the Year and the SuperSport Fans' Cricketer of the Year.

The progress has been steep .However,Steyn needs to add one more arrow in his quiver and that is a genuine in swinger, which will fetch him a fortune .With now a new responsibility of the spearheading the attack, he has his task cut out .But his rise would be closely monitored, with real litmus test will come in England.

Steyn’s potential to join the very best who have marked out a run-up would be dependent on how quickly he develops a slower delivery and off cutter , which will eliminate the predictability ,the control to bowl the three quarter length , most importantly remain injury free .Plus, the real test of character will come when he will have a fewer wickets to show in good batting conditions .

So far its been a fairytale Picking up 78 wickets at 16.24 a piece in 12 tests ,and playing a dominant force behind South Africa's home series wins against New Zealand and West Indies with an unbelievable strike rate

He has stated that "he loves the buzz from bowling fast" and that he wants to be the quickest in the world

While Brett Lee is the most improved bowler and arguably the best fast bowler in the world ,Steyn has been a transformed bowler and looks the only bet to dethrone him .

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:39:00 +0000

Change and Virender Sehwag are poles apart .Is not it ! .Clearly the most gifted and exciting batsman , who shot into prominence with his 69 ball hundred against the Kiwis six seasons back .Purists argued that he would struggle in tests and bowlers will sort him out quickly, even if he would shine in the shorter version .Well, as it turned out, he was run away success in tests and continued to struggle in limited overs version .As the form deserted So much so that , once certainty , he was dropped and asked to sort out his batting .If the recent form and the approach is anything to go by Virender Sehwag has changed his approach for good .The recent batting display in the Asia Cup , with scores of 89 ,59 makes an interesting reading , while the strike rate has been in excess of hundred or in close vicinity , the slashes , the upper cut , the high risk shots have definitely come down .However the result still remains the same, Sehwag sizzler.
Sehwag is back to his merry ways. But the significant question is has Sehwag finally learnt the art of shot selection?
Well the skipper concurs on this. "That [shot selection] is why he [Sehwag] scored 80 [89] runs," Mahendra Singh Dhoni, his captain, said later. "You have to pick and choose. A batsman like him can score easily at one run per ball. He just has to pick and choose."
To the time when he was termed a Tendulkar clone, Sehwag has had a roller coaster ride .
Often in the past, he has frittered away the advantage to the adventurous endeavors The problem plaguing Sehwag range from ineptness against the short ball to the inability to find the right pace of scoring .
Being off-color in ODIs with the last 50-plus score for India was against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup he lost his place in the XI. He was picked for the CB Series earlier this year, but after consistent failures India preferred Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa to partner Sachin Tendulkar. Sehwag looked in terrific touch and is capitalizing on it in the absence of Tendulkar, after a good IPL, where he was amongst the top run getter.
Though he continues to dominate in the Test arena, Sehwag's one-day form dipped alarmingly - after January 2004, he went through a period of 60 matches where he averaged under 29. Despite his fitness levels dropping and his one-day spot being under threat - he was dropped from the side for the home series against West Indies in early 2007. He was a surprise pick for the Test team to tour Australia after not being named in the initial list of probables.
How has the change in fortune occurred then .Well, work with his longtime coach A.N.Sharma has definitely reaped encouraging results. Now the focus has shifted to play as much as balls as he can .
He is taking guard on middle stump, rather than leg stump. as a result he has cut down his tendency to reach for deliveries outside the off stump or feel for the balls outside off stump . The second change was that Sehwag made a slight back-and-across movement in the lead-up to playing a shot. as against his still stature while playing the shot, something like Ponting .But the most important adjustment has been bat for longer periods and pace the innings after getting the eye in.
Then came the scores of 63 and an imperious 151 - his first century in the team's second innings - to help India draw the Test in Adelaide. And hold on! ,in the first Test against South Africa in Chennai, he made an even more resounding statement, rattling off the quickest triple-century in Test cricket
Sehwag's technique is unique and unorthodox, often backing away lack of footwork, with his timing often attributed to his eyesight. But what remains his forte is he sees opportunity in every ball. Sehwag can see possibilities that don't exist for the less flaired . What appears a risk to many is for him an opportunity to create a boundary .He will immediately forget that he has been beaten on the previous delivery and the next ball will disappear for four .
Having stamped his authority in tests with an enviable success, what remains to be seen whether he can replicate the same in ODIs and reset the bar for himself.
One thing is clear though , Sehwag will have competition for the opening slot in ODI’s if he tries to play out most of the overs and paces his innings well.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:37:00 +0000

When he first made his debut against Australia, he was unfortunately given out on 96, missing out on a debut hundred, only one thing was known at that time and that he has promise. Little did he knew that this lad would decimate the attacks world over and become the first Australian batsman to pass the 10,000-run mark in both Test and one-day international cricket. As Ponting Ricky Ponting's ascended to the exclusive 10,000-run club, one just wondered looking at his reaction whether he is unaware of this milestone. .Only Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar have previously posted 10,000 runs in two forms of the game, and both are widely recognized as the greatest batsmen to have represented their countries. That is sufficient to give an idea of what Ponting has acheived

Commended by Academy coach Rod Marsh as the best teenage batsman he had ever seen, Ricky Ponting began with Tasmania at 17 and reached international standards at a young age for a batsman, making his One Day International and Test debuts in 1995 at the age of 20. However, the fairytale rise to the top was not unhindered though. Surely though, it has again sparked a debate which gets more contentious as he continues to pile on heaps of runs at international level

Is he the second best in the all time test annals?
Closer look at this career so far makes an interesting reading. The first half saw him coming in at number six, with not much to offer as he was more often than not batting with the tail and often plagued by disciplinary issues. With the retirement of fellow Tasmanian David Boon, Ponting was elevated to the No.3 position in the Test team for the series against the West Indies in 1996-97 in Australia. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands after initial hiccups. After his first 30 Tests in just under four years his average was a modest 38.62, and after rising into the mid-40s had dipped again to 40.50 after 45 Tests. Since then the average has consistently risen; his averages in recent calendar years are 70.93 in 2002, 100.20 in 2003, 41.00 in 2004, 67.13 in 2005 and 88.86 in 2006 38.6in 2007 and 61.12 in 2008 so far.
To the times in the 1990s there were off-field indiscretions that led him once to admit publicly to an alcohol problem He has had his setbacks, against probing seam attacks and high-class finger-spin, which, when out of form, he plays with hard hands, not to mention to be an LBW candidate early on, as he tries to play across the line, .Not only he has lived through all this but also overcame the issues and became the protagonist of one of Australia's most successful teams. Champion players adapt quickly and learn from their mistakes and emerge as better players with every adversity. Having lost his place in the team several times due to lack of form and discipline issues and with many lessons learned, Ponting's growing maturity was recognized by the CA when he saw off competition from Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist to succeed Steve Waugh as Australia's one-day leader early in 2002. Ponting led the successful 2003 World Cup campaign from the front, clouting 140 not out in the final, and acceded to the Test crown when Waugh finally stepped down early in 2004.
He became the first Australian captain since Allan Border in 1986-87 to taste defeat in an Ashes series. The result hurt and the pain lingered throughout the next summer, but he regrouped to start an amazing streak of 16 wins in 17 Tests, culminating in the 5-0 demolition of England to regain the urn in the most emphatic way. Ponting was Man of the Series as Australia became the first team in 86 years to achieve an Ashes cleansweep and his 576 runs at 82.28 confirmed him as the game's modern master. The summer was tarnished slightly when England handed Australia their first tri-series finals loss for 14 years and he missed the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy defeat with a back injury. Each lowlight was quickly forgotten as he ensured a third consecutive World Cup win and his second as an undefeated captain.
Steve Waugh believes his successor will hold the game's run-scoring record when he retires. The world's leading stroke player, he finished 2005 with 1544 runs and posted twin hundreds three times in five months, joining Sunil Gavaskar on as the only other man to achieve the feat, and the double effort in his 100th Test at the SCG was magnificent. He followed up with another 1333 runs in 2006 and owns more centuries than anyone but Sachin, Brian and Sunny. Frighteningly, he is far from finished.
One days and Tests alike, Ponting dominance grew, as the years went by .The great and perhaps the single most critical factor was his ability to attack the oppositions into submission and back his strengths He has scored over 10,000 Test runs at an average near 60, but since the February 2002 tour of South Africa (when he was elevated to the ODI team captaincy) he has scored 24 of his Test centuries and averaged above 74, leading to comparisons with Sir Donald Bradman.
Following the England tour, Ponting retained the captaincy and began a rich run of batting form. In the 2005-06 season, he scored a century in both innings of a Test match three times and became the first player to score a century in each innings of his 100th Test match. He is only the second player (after Sunil Gavaskar) to score centuries in both innings of a Test match 3 times and the first to do so in a single season. In the first game of the 2007 World cup he made 113 runs against Scotland.
Most significantly he has made a great impact with his batting .In the wins, he averages 64.38, which is decorated by 27 centuries .And add to his role to effecting a run outs with direct hits and his safe pair of hands in the slips .
Just like grades in the management course indicate little about the managerial acumen, statistics are only part of what makes a great player, but if Ponting (59.13) continues on his current run riot, he will soon pass South Africa's Graeme Pollock (60.97) as the owner of the second-best batting average in Test history.Bradman, however, continues to stand apart from the rest in the annals of Test cricket with a record of 6,996 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 99.94
At 34, he is at the acme and is a serious threat to every major Australian record barring the magical Bradman's average of 99.94 and Hayden's highest score of 380.howver Ponting will sit pretty between Sir Don bradman and the all time great Australian batsman.
Critics might then take a recluse to fact that these days averages now are probably five to seven runs higher than they used to be as boundaries have been brought in . Only looks susceptible against quality finger spin, as he suffers in the subcontinent, some feel it’s the final frontier he is yet to conquer. However nobody can dispute his insatiable appetite for runs and ability to convert the starts into big centuries with exceptional consistency.
Given all the facts and the enormous progress he has made taking every adversity in his stride , we must congratulate Ponting for this rare feat .It is the time to applaud , celebrate and take notice of one of the modern greats of the game as the golden 13-year period that has accounted for many Australian victories and every major trophy continues.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sun, 11 May 2008 03:44:00 +0000

Banned !

Revolution in the cricket is not unheard of and the bats haven’t remained far behind too in the race. Certainly, these days even mishits and edges clear the fence comfortably for a six. This is enough to give an idea of the strength of the modern bats.
With the International cricket chiefs have forbidden hi-tech cricket bats, to provide an equal battle between the ball and bat. Bowlers around the world will get a breather, with the odds highly tilted in favor of batsman. The move follows the development of bats that use materials such as graphite and titanium in their lightweight handles, giving extra power to batsmen. “The new rule changes will ensure bat handles are made with cane, wood, twine and rubber”, according to a statement from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)
The new laws, passed with overwhelming 98.6 percent support, were designed to give a good contest between bat and ball, amidst complains that the game is becoming predictable and has lost the “glorious uncertainty” which it is famous for .In recent times, the game has been transformed completely with unprecedented money pumped, pitches made much more batsman friendly, the boundaries becoming shorter. Whether or not, the extra graphite sticker provides additional strength is uncertain.
However, with increased fitness and emphasis on training methods , the modern batsmen has become fitter and have enough strength to clear the boundary , with the game seeing more hard hitters of the cricket ball than ever .How much of a difference it makes to cricket remains to be seen though .
Interestingly, the graphite coated bats rose into prominence with Ponting hitting the purple patch ,scoring 1,544 Test runs at an average of 67.13 in 2005 - the second highest calendar year tally in history - then opened 2006 with twin centuries in Sydney in his 100th Test. Ponting had run into rough weather, when the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was investigating if his bat was complying with the rules of the game.
In addition to setting out the materials that can be used in bat handles, the new laws also state that the handle cannot exceed 52 percent of the bat's total length. This will have an impact on the batman using to long handle to greater effect, which is an integral part of run feast we see today. It also restricts the thickness of materials that can be used to protect and repair bats. So, we are going to see less strapping over the blade now .
Kookaburra, the manufacturer maintains that the graphite covering acts as a protection against splitting, yorker damage, toe damage. In stark contrast, Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick, Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs, who use Gunn and Moore bats have no graphite backings. And still when they play the shots it stays hit .The debate of the graphite coating adds rigidity and strength to the bat is not fully substantiated as the MCC has made no assessment of the power of the bat with graphite coating.
When Dennis Lillee walked out in the middle against England at Perth 29 years ago with an aluminium bat, he was soon told to send it back again. Lillee faced only four deliveries before concern was expressed about the condition of the ball and he was forced to switch to a traditional willow. Unlike Lillee's bat, however, the ball-striking face of the blade is unadulterated wood.
The bowlers meanwhile have a reason to smile.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:43:00 +0000

Track Statistics!

They say the matches are won in the mind and by playing hard competitive cricket. Pitches really do not matter much.

Is it?

In the recently concluded series pitches were different on all three occasions.
Starting the first match with a perfect placid track which became memorable with Sehwags triple century , ended in tame draw , then came the strip where the South African pacemen exploited the conditions which are very similar to what they find at home .So much so that Indians were bundled before lunch on the first day with the match producing the result in three days .There was an anticipation the Kanpur track will be definitely a turning one giving the advantage to the hosts .On the first day it showed signs of up and down with the ball keeping low in the first session itself , really testing the batsman’s judgment about the bounce and adjustment that he is willing to make .

India had to win this game to square the series and hence there was an anxiety to produce a track to suit the hosts. India went into the game relying on their strength that is spin and again almost got into the jail, had Ganguly not played one of his best innings and tail wagging with India gaining a decisive lead
This series also showed Test cricket is all about wining as many as sessions as you can.
Alternately, one bad session can ruin the entire good work done, with South Africa suffering the fate in the last test.
There is no doubt that the home team would like to have the first mover advantage by preparing a track which would suit them .. More often than not captains, coaches and if that is not enough, the media with the traveling team joins in to add fuel to the fire. The touring team should always be prepared for this reality

However ,one must give credit to the Smith for not complaining one bit about the surfaces they got which is in stark contrast to Ricky Ponting’s team which lost the Mumbai test on a dustbowl

Well played South Africa!

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:04:00 +0000

Cricket Cricket Everywhere!!

Come April18th, and a new era will be ushered, as the Indian Premier League (IPL) will take the center stage, and with the sport poised to reshape its future .
The Twenty20 competition, promoted by the Indian cricket board featuring stars from world over, has eight teams bought by franchises. Apart from the usual glitter, what it has certainly done is opened avenues for fringe players to make a mark and accomplish financial security.

Playing Test cricket is the cherished dream for most of the players. But now any boy being raised in Kolkata's streets or the chawls of Mumbai will now aim at fighting his way out by playing cricket of 20 overs per side. This revolution has something for every stakeholder involved . The tournament marks the first time that international cricketers will put aside national allegiances to play for privately-owned and city-based teams. This was bound to happen when cricket boards and ICC make massive money and leave the cricketers impoverished with a meager percentage.

Sure! Cricket rules the roost in the subcontinent and hockey as a national sport can be best described as forlorn territory. But does that mean ODIs will strangulate as Test cricket did when the limited over format was first introduced. The emerged money spinner is T20 format with unprecedented investments from all quarters. This will shift the attention completely, with high profile players willing to retire to feature in the multi-million dollar earning potential . This will catalyze a pattern in which players in their prime will opt out of their national sides .Consequently , the 50 over game will be at risk .
Does the ICC have the say in ensuring player do not succumb to tempting contracts.

Where is key to resolve this standoff? The supreme body would have to study and respect the history of the game .In the past, it tried to resist World Series Cricket and lost the battle of the Australian television rights to Kerry Packer. Mere resistance just for namesake would just delay the inevitable i.e. loosing the battle to private entrepreneurs .There is a distinct possibility that too much cricket can be boring and suddenly cricket itself becoming its own enemy .Probably there could be a official duration allocated period for Twenty20 tournaments, leaving enough time to meet rigors of 50-over competitions and tests to be contested between the traditional members .Not only will it ensure in getting the itinerary right but also result in offering greater options for the viewers and players creating a Win -Win situation.

Whether or not it is run away hit or an eye opener that nationalism will reign supreme, only time will tell.
Meanwhile, it’s a huge opportunity for ICC to preserve the hen which lays golden eggs!

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:28:00 +0000

Making it Big!

Prima facie , the breed fast bowler evokes images of being an aggressive , strongly built with a teasing attitude who is not ready to give an inch .Add to it the tendency to give a stare for every shot hit by the batsman, you have a mould of a fast bowler ready to make life miserable for batsman . The description doesn’t quite match with Ishant Sharma though.
Blessed with a good height, lanky, with tarzensque hairstyle he brings back memories of Javagal Srinath of 1992, when he first broke into the international circuit.

The youngster reposed the faith, the selectors showed in him by picking up wickets of the front line batsman regularly on the tour down under.

The one thing that sets him apart from the present crop of bowlers is the pace at which he moves the ball either ways at speed consistently in excess of 140 Km/h which makes the batsman hurry onto their shots .Clearly, he adapted quickly to the Australian conditions well and pitched the ball up, when a young lad would be tempted to pepper the batsman with short pitch stuff. The height helps him to extract disconcerting bounce from the surface. The run up looks smooth and often one sees the possibility of using the shoulders for getting the ball to jump. As he comes over the wicket and almost a similar style as the Javagal Srinath , he plants doubts in the mind of the batsman whether to leave or to play , and induces the batsman to make mistake . Given the promise that he presents, India have to handle Ishant with care , as one would be tempted to play in every single game .

At the MCG, the cricket lovers watched exhibition of quality fast bowling to the world’s best batsman, Ponting. The spell he bowled to Ricky Ponting was clearly one of the best in quite some time
where troubled him with his immaculate line and angle Ponting was clueless with the deliveries almost pitching at the same spot, with some holding its line and some darting back in towards him .He scratched his way through for a 9 over spell before nicking one to Dravid .What was heartening to see the stamina and the maturity in line and length.
He is only 19, and it is amazing that he is not overawed by the occasion of playing for India .As the time progresses developing a delivery leaving the batsman would make him more lethal .But as his career shapes up, he will have to learn the finer aspects of fast bowling, using the crease judiciously and using the slower ball as a potent weapon, to add variety to his repertoire
Looks like the spin bowlers paradise and land of elegant batsman has got a new exciting fast bowler.
Ishant will have to be carefully nurtured and shielded against huge expectations and injuries
There have been more gains for India on the tour of Australia. The injured Rudra Pratap Singh bowled with great spirit in the Test series. Like Ishant, he can surprise batsmen with unexpected bounce.Zaheer Khan, nursing an injury, is back in with a vengeance and Munaf would only improve from here on.
India’s pace attack which was considered as a Achilles’ heel before the tour began has unraveled a young fast bowler, ready to take on the mantle of a strike bowler. Indian cricket is poised at an interesting juncture with a potent pace attack and healthy competition for places

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:48:00 +0000

Shaun Tait decided to quit cricket indefinitely at the age of 24, sounds hard to believe when he should be thinking of giving sleepless nights to batsman around the world .To give credit to Tait he indeed was honest to admit that the motivation has dipped and needed time to rejuvenate. In recent years, Tait has undergone shoulder and elbow surgery as well as suffered a range of hamstring and lower back injuries which have been painful and difficult to overcome.
Constant glare from the media, pressure to perform, recurring injuries and lesser time to unwind have a telling effect on international cricketers and unfortunately more applicable in Tait’s case. Strangely enough, India which is seen as cauldron of expectation because of sheer appeal of the game has not had any victim of the too much cricket or even mental illness.
Gone are the days when an international side used to play 15 ODIs and fewer tests. The modern player doesn't play Ranji or domestic cricket. It has been replaced by an endless round of international matches, so they don't get a chance to unwind. It means players are being worked into the ground and the burden of playing non-stop cricket is taking its toll. While their can be no obvious symptoms, the performance starts to drop and then escape looks an easy option.
Moreover, the amount of cricket that is being played not only poses threat to physical and mental drainage but also runs the risk of getting bored with having too much cricket to watch. In the past players like Boycott, Trescothick, Harmison has had a taste of stress of it in varying measures
It also calls for an unoblivious attitude from the ICC. International cricket brings in million dollars and there is no way the game's administrators will stop their money-grabbing ways. Sure there are commercial interests , but the tight rope walk would have to be done if more international cricketer will have to be protected from burn out . Hence it is imperative for Cricket administrators to take a proactive step sooner than later
What remains to be seen is whether the decision to pack away his kitbag was the right one for Tait. One just gets the feeling that Tait will come more focused and much more improved cricketer post the break .

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:43:00 +0000

While the entire cricketing fraternity was showering rich accolades on Adam
Gilchrist, cricket lovers around the world were shocked by his decision to quit international cricket . The Adelaide Oval looked like an arena where he would run the show, that he exhibited for nearly a decade one last time.

Undoubtedly, Adam Gilchrist was the most breathtaking cricketer of his generation combining freedom to play strokes and entertainment to the public matched by very few at the highest level. Irrespective of the clothing Adam Gilchrist wore he had a very uncomplicated “hit the ball” approach. It’s a sight to cherish Gilchrist in his elements with that tremendous bat speed and top handed grip which intimidates the opposition to submission with an uncanny ability to hit the good balls, with steady head and sublime balance. In slog overs he abandons the textbook, whirling his bat like a gladiator, caring only for the scoreboard and never his average Amidst the breed of wicket keeper batsman Gilchirst clearly is a run away success with the ability to change the complexion of the game and also evoke intimidation .Alternately, he changed the way the wicketkeeper are looked at , getting the side off to flier and putting more pressure on the bowling attacks and keep wickets.

If Sanath Jayasuriya revolutionized batting at the top of the order in ODIs ,Adam just took that to a different level, and made indelible mark in the longer version coming in at number 7 .
It was not the amount of runs Gilchrist scored or the records he set behind the stumps but the manner he achieved them that will leave a enduring impression. In simple words, he changed the face of cricket .In the era of the wicketkeeper-batsman, Andy Flower, Alec Stewart, Mark Boucher and, most notably, Kumar Sangakkara have all given their captain lot of options to play with, but none of these has so obviously dictated matches in the way the unparalleled left-hander did.
Scoring at a strike rate of 82 per hundred balls is unprecedented in Test Cricket , achieved by Gilchrist - and none has launched as many as 101 sixes. His range of stroke are beyond imagination , as England were on the receiving end in Perth last winter when he blasted a quite extraordinary 57-ball hundred, just a single delivery outside the world record held since 1986 by Sir Vivian Richards. Unbelievably, he has played his 96 Tests consecutively. Icy reception at the Gabba did not faze him on debut against Pakistan as he took five catches , scored 81, hasn’t missed a single match since then.
Voted Australia's greatest one-day cricketer an year ago and, as if to acknowledge that, he sent a good Sri Lankans on leather hunt at the World Cup final last April with a vintage display of stroke-making. The 149 he made is the highest score in a final and none who saw the innings will ever quite be able to believe its dazzling display of class and power.
More importantly, he was a gentleman who respected his opponents and the game in equal measure. He clearly understood its origin and his willingness to walk if he knew he was out was admirable
Disadvantaged by his relatively tall stature for a pure wicket-keeper Gilchrist's skills as a wicket-keeper are sometimes questioned .Keeping wickets to Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath is a tribute to his skill behind the wicket, managing many stumpings, missing few catching chances, and letting through few byes.as he went past Healy's 395 dismissals in 26 fewer matches
The chasm will be immeasurable and may haunt the game. For the game to lose both him and Warne in the space of a year is a dreadful blow. Warne is a maverick; Gilchrist was revolutionary. Both though have been such special cricketers that it is hard to get these in a long long time to come

One more pearl has gone from the Australian string

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:07:00 +0000

Good Bye Polly

The world of cricket saluted a new fast bowler in Dale Steyn as Pollock bade farewell to the international arena , where he dazzled for long .
The leading all-rounder just probed away on and around off stump, relentlessly all these dozen of seasons with unerring accuracy. Gifted with the genes from one of the finest left-handed batsman Graeme(Uncle) and spearhead of the 60s bowling attack Peter(father), Shaun had carried both abilities. Regarded as the bowler who would come extremely close to the stumps and high arm action, he had mastered the ability to bring back and leave batsman and that unyielding line made life difficult for batsman across the world .The world first saw the glimpse of the orange haired Pollock in the summer of 95. .
The summer of 96, South Africa, discovered a potent new-ball partnership with Allan Donald and this pairing was the catalyst of much of South Africa's success during the latter half of the 1990s. The emergence of Pollock inspired Donald to greater heights as the latter found himself with a partner who both complemented and challenged him. Arguably, the straightest bowler in world cricket, Pollock is able to move the ball both ways at a lively pace pinned down a number of batsmen year after year. At the start of his first-class career, though, he was both slippery and aggressive. As time progressed, maturity and ability to produce performance under pressure came to the fore. The finest hour came in Adelaide against Australia in 1998 when he probed on hour after hour in scorching heat to take 7 for 87 in 41 overs on a perfect batting strip. This was an exhibition of stamina and courage which he never lacked.
Pollock's career has been one of great distinction. In 108 Tests he took 421 wickets -- the most by any South African -- at an outstanding average of 23.11. It was only in the past two years that the average went up from about 21. He made 3781 runs at an average of 32,31 to enter into the cricketing annals as one of the world's best all-rounders.
He captained the country in 26 Tests, forced into the job after Hansie Cronje's fall from grace in 2000. The biggest challenge of his career - to lift a shocked and crestfallen South African side. He had a solid start to his captaincy, where he led SA to victory over Australia. Then he lost some credibility after a 3-0 drubbing in Australia in 2001-02. And, soon became predictable with his captaincy .He was criticized for lack of out of the box thinking. Eventually, he was sacked as captain after the 2003 World Cup, taking the blame for the debacle against Sri Lanka when SA read the Duckworth Lewis sheet incorrectly.

Critiques might argue that he has underperformed with the bat, but most test teams would be delighted to have him in their side even if he never scored a run. But on numerous occasions , he saved the day for South Africa with his batting.
Plagued by lack of pace over the past two years, he took it all with a grace and dignity singularly lacking in players today. Inherited from the great Pollock family, he embraced all the old values of fair play and grace under fire. Needless to say that he was great role model for younger players , with his clean image , and flawless behaviors on and off the field.
Pollock missed the first Test against Australia at home in early 2006 with a back injury and was relegated from opener to first-change by the third. Amidst all this, slowly he became the first South African to take 400 Test wickets. Pollock continued his fine form against the touring Pakistanis next, despite being surprisingly rested for the final Test . Though his nagging brilliance around off stump remained his pace and ability to take wickets at the top of the order has dipped. He made a strong statement by winning the man of the series award twice in a row. Frugal with the ball and useful with bat he offered prized balance and breathing space for his captain.
Pollock wanted to go on his own terms; courtesy the South African selectors were reluctant to clearly decide about his future role. But, he chose the right time before he had to experience the ignominy of being axed.
The future looks bright; as the likes of Morne Morkel and Steyn, who has been earmarked as the successor to Pollock, have shown promise to carry South African Cricket into a new era. However, they have huge shoes to fill in the likes of Pollock and his predecessor, Allan Donald.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:50:00 +0000

Umpires win matches

The Sydney test would be known for the umpiring decisions than cricket on display. It not only helped Australia to take an unassailable lead but also sparked the debate whether technology should be more used to minimize the human errors, so that there is deadlock to the extent that it jeopardizes the tour. Finally it was alleviated when ICC blinked and removed Bucknor from officiating in Perth.
There is still a scope for improvement of umpiring and the way out is to have a pool of umpires which have not crossed the sell by date .Umpires are not only facilitators but have a role of diffusing a volatile situations at various junctures in the match.
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All good things must come to an end. Bucknor has had a long career and before his performance dumps him out of ICC Elite Panel, he must go as a dignified man. Mark Benson, elevated to the ICC Elite Panel in April 2006 should have handled the situation better given that umpires are not only arbiters but have a critical role to play in diffusing tricky situations. Hence it becomes imperative to groom more umpires and have rigorous checks for them before they officiate at the highest level. Also, the role of a captain is significant to ensure that the game is played in the right spirits .Wining is important but at a price that Ricky Ponting has paid.
The Australians are known to play hard and aggressive cricket but sometimes in the process , the spirit is often forgotten .The captain is often termed” as good as his team” and Ricky Ponting must know that a lot of yongsters look upto the present international cricketers as role models .Whether or not the player must exhibit a high moral rectitude and walk if they know they are out or wait for the arbiter to decide as that is his job would continue to be point of contention. More often than not , the true self comes out whether to be what one is or think about the team and still hold ground if it is all about winning . If ICC promotes Cricket, should it also not play a crucial role in protecting that spirit?

A little bit of animated faces , a grin from the bowler , a few words exchanged makes an interesting scene for the viewers. But when it crosses limits , that’s when its not cricket .The Australian crowds can be nasty not to mention the media .In modern cricket, where the stump microphones can catch almost everything and lip readers can interpret what is being said players are under the scanner as never before .That is where the role of umpires and match referees come into the scene ,who can calm the player down. It would be interesting to see if Brad Hogg also meets with the same sentence as Harbhajan did .
Organizations have different cultures, so does various cricketing countries .Some words may be offensive in one part of the world while the same might not be in other parts .Its very hard to demarcate or categorize words which are offensive or otherwise

Meanwhile, the ball is in ICC’s court. To promote cricket and yet maintain the sanctity of the game are challenges it faces currently.
While banning on field chattering may be taking an extreme step but ensuring restraint among players for the usage of words might just alleviate the situation.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:11:00 +0000

Cricket is great leveller is not it ..Just a few days back , India were on a high following their series victory over the arch rivals .
India did everything right on the first day after their openers put on a century stand , thanks to a steller performance from the Indian skipper .

But after that phase , when the time came to put the hands up and to be counted for , Indian batting line up played into the Aussie hand .rahul Dravid got bogged down and took 61 balls to get off the mark and when that happens , the bowlers stick to the line and length , and its hard to score off this aussie attack

India made a tactical blunder by leaving Sehwag out of the palying eleven as he still is a lethal waepon ready to unleash..

Dravid looked scratchy and uncertain during his stay and thought about survival .And thats where the problem started to come .He is taking far too efforts to succeed , when you do that , you often sink more .India would even be more dejected not because th conditions were quite similar to the subcontinent and the pitch had no demons .

having said that the aussie were relentless and unerring .Their fielding truely world class the gives them an extra dimension.India should take a leaf out of the way the openers played .

Its impearative to play good positive cricket and sieze the initiative .India would be ruing on the opportunities missed .
As I kept mentioning in earlier India must now use their weapon Sehwag , untried untested and a wild shot in the dark .But then , this is the time when the risk has to be taken ...lest it will be too late .
The senior batsman will also need to convert their starts into a big one .Somebody from the top four will have to galvanise the team with an epic performance

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 07:12:00 +0000

The best of Ganguly

Career Summary:
Mat I NO Runs HS1 HS2 HS3 Ave 100 50 0

Overall 99 161 14 6346 239 173 147 43.17 15 30 9

Ganguly’s Best :

131 Vs England

After a four year hiatus, and being termed as product of the quota system, Sourav Ganguly played with tremendous composure to carve a sublime 131.
It was an exhibition of batsman ship of the highest quality with a flurry of boundaries on the off side. Connoisseurs relished the silken drives, the sweet timing and the lazy elegance.
Ganguly had truly arrived on the international scene setting the expectations wagging whilst the critics took the usual recourse to explain the spectacle as nothing but a by-product of luck.

144 Vs Australia
Precariously placed at 63/3 skipper Ganguly was positive from the outset He hit the crease running, and drove through the off side with panache and surgical precision Equally decisive on either foot and leaning into the drives he stroked, caressed the ball to the fence. The timing was spot on, and soon the placement matched it. By the time he racked up 144, India was out of woods. An emphatic riposte to his critics, not only did Ganguly set the MCG ablaze with delectably timed drives off either foot , but also sent out a strong signal and did much to set up the series.

239 Vs Pakistan

Depleted with Tendulkar’s absence, India was reeling at 61/4,Ganguly put his hands to up to be counted, stitched a mammoth 300 run partnership partnering with Yuvraj Singh , to bat Pakistan out of the match.. Batting with unusual composure and resolve, the Prince of Kolkatta sent the hapless Pakistani bowlers on leather hunt, compiling a career best 239, his first double ton. What was brought to the fore was the improved footwork and the decisiveness of his stroke-making combined with a shorter back-lift and upright stance.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:55:00 +0000

The Prince of Kolkatta would not have written a better script! .Back to back hundreds and the last one a career best effort , a monumental239 .Critics might say , he has scored those runs against an attack deviod of Shoaib Aktar and an inexperienced attack.
But the credit should be given to the way he took India out of the woods when they were reeling at 61/4 .Ganguly averaged over 50 during his first 2000 runs or so .Post the Tour Down under, 1999 that average kept dropping .He was always found wanting against the short pitch stuff and technical flaw of opening the face of bat soon and play too much on the square on the off side .
This was also the time , when Ganguly was the helm of the affairs and even though Ganguly the captain was doing well , Ganguly the batsman certainly was not .
Interestingly Ganguly's form in limited over internationals hit the purple patch and he was really scoring centuries and the year 2000 saw score 9 of them .
But the poor test form continued where he was either a culprit of playing far too many shots too early or throwing it away after getting starts.

All that changed ,when he was stripped of captaincy first and then unceremoniously dropped from the team .And all of a sudden it seemed all over .

But then there was a change in the selection committee and he got a look in again and corroborated his selection with a classy half century in South Africa.He was the top scorer in that series .
There was looking back since then , turning the year 2007 as the most successful year aggregating 932 runs , with still 3 innings to come .

The fire is still there, what has improved, is his shot selection and the application now and he looked more determined . Moreover he is playing in 'V' initially and then once set displays the entire range of shots.
He always was a seasoned campaigner .
But as they say , when the oil in the lamp is about to finish , it glows at its best.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:48:00 +0000

What a news ! finally Sehwag is back in the Indian team after a five month hiatus .

Virender sehwag has always an enigma and he will remain one .Initially tipped to make it big in ODIs with his ability to play aggresive and fearless shots, he did the opposite. Amidst cricket pundits speculating his premature death in Tests , He made them eat humble pie by scoring hundreds in bowling friendly conditions ,opening the innings .Who can forget the scintillating hundred in Trent bridge and breathtaking 195 in MCG! and Sehwag truly arrived after the superb debut hundred in Bloemfontein in the company of little champion.The acme came with a charactertic six off Saqlain over mid on to register his acme in record books to become the first Indian to score triple hundred .

The runs came thick and fast in longer version of the game but clearly he had to struggle in the one day variety
Reasons were he was found wanting against the deliveries targetted in and rib cage area and vulnerable against out side off stump .
But he poor shot selection and playing a rash shot was awhat was acause of concern

The selection of shots is what i think will make Sehwag more effective .he always had the ability to destroy the bowling

Now that he has got a chance at the expense of one of the most consistent batsman , he should not fritter away this opoortunity .But questions will linger about his position in the batting line up

Ganguly and Tendulkar have done extermely good in the last few matches and it would not make sense to accomodate sehwag here
My ideal thing would be asking Sehwag to bat at no 3 . This is clearly
themost unutilaised place and all the top teams have a solid no 3 .Ponting . Kallis Bell have made this postion their own . and thats where your best batsman should be coming in .

While it was just a matter of time , before the selectors decided to go in for najafgarh maestro
Rahul dravid will get some time to think about his batting .The man who was "rested" is Rahul Dravid who averaged a disapponiting 8.88 in the last ten games , is surely in the most lean phase of his career .Rahul just gives me the feeling that his is unclear baout his postion in the side and hence is not able to score amidst constant shuffling with the batting order.

Having said that , Sehwag will have to score runs to repay the faith that selectors have shown in him lest it might well be his last chance

After all somebody has rightly" it one thing to have talent and its another to use it "

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:42:00 +0000

India managed to pull off a sensational victory in the Chandigarh ODI!.What a response by the team ,when they had their backs to the wall. I mentioned in my last blog about the Tendulkar and Ganguly factor .Well,it is corroborated yet again .
The openers laid a solid foundation for the middle order to capitalize.Tendulkar , I think really brought all his experience into play ,and played a sheet anchor role ,after having the rub of the green on his side . He still has a lot to offer to Indian cricket . Ganguly , looked relatively better and played some gorgeous shots . Its been an incredible nine months for Ganguly ,since his comeback against South Africa. Both stalwarts have one thousand runs in the calender year in 25 and 26 games respectively.Dhoni made some really good moves in this game .Promoting Yuvraj and himself higher up the order was a tactical , that paid off in the end . The last over bowled by Bracken was quite critical to the outcome of the match ,where he was clobbered for 20 .

The wickets of Symonds and Hayden were the turning points . Full credit to the men in blue , for they kept their nerves even when everything looked over for them .Moreover, the 48th over by Kartik ensured , the Aussies have an impossible 17 runs to get , from tail enders. From the Aussie's point of view , they should be dejected to lose the game from a position of strength ,25 were needed off 19 ,with a set Symonds at the crease. The Aussie game plan is very much revolving around pyrotechnics of Symonds and controlled aggression from Hayden .Gilchrist has not quite fired at the top and has thrown ,when he looked set for a big one .Aussies were hurt with the sundries conceded, they would have this at the back of the mind the next game .

In addition to this ,Brad Hodge should make way for the inform Haddins . Hodge is clearly struggling

The IPCL ground in Vadodara is a typical high scoring venue .The last time India played here ,the little champion got an unbeaten 100, and India scoring 340 , So,the Mumbai maestro has fond memories of this ground.Interestingly, the team batting second has won four times out of seven.

India should again believe in batting first,which has won them numerous matches ,if they win the toss.

A run feast awaits though!

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 06:40:00 +0000

The balance seems to have been restored with Australia winning the Hyderabad ODI, after the shocking defeat in T 20 semifinals against India.They now lead in the seven match series 2-0 .This time they got off to solid start from the two left handers and the more I see Hayden ,the more he amazes me . Its hard to ball at him ,being equally strong on either foot. Also, he can break the shackles anytime and has a wide array of shots.

I am surprised that Ganguly didn't find a place in the playing eleven .The politically correct excuse was he "did not fit into the scheme of things" .Well, for starters,he has averaged 52.16 in 25 matches since his return and clearly hitting the ball well .Plus it is a proven fact that he is a big match player .To me that was a decision , which definately affected India's chances .The man is placed at the third spot top ten " man of match " awards list with an aggregate 33 MOM . and it is this ability which clearly advocates his case .Dhoni would know the reasons for the same and this is certainly going to ruffle some feathers .Ganguly at the top of the order along with his partner Sachin can give that solid platform to chase big totals , not to mention the pressure it creates on the opposition .

While it is a fine idea to blood youngsters in the team amidst T20 euphoria ,we should not go overboard and undo the right completely.

I mentioned that Harbhajan Singh would be closely scrutinized as well ,in the last two seasons or so his bowling average has increased from 28runs a piece to 32 ,and if India has to do well , he should be among the wickets. India will have to forget the defeats and go with a fresh mind& the belief that they can win on Monday .The seniors will have to seize the initiative for such an important game.

As far as the selection for the next two ODIs ,Sehwag would consider unlucky to be missed out .He did score runs in South Africa and more importantly the way he scored those runs ,bringing back memories of Old Sehwag .He should be given an opportunity ,now that he is in good nick .The inclusion of Murali Kartik is good move by the selectors ,as the Aussies are not great players of quality spin and then there are more than half a dozen right handers in the Aussie team.He is also not afraid to toss the ball up and would be beaming with confidence, after a successful stint with Middlesex.

The man of moment Yuvraj Singh ,what an innings he played! .Yuvraj with his high backlift , forceful shots , cracking pulls and silken flicks is a joy to watch , for he makes batting look so easy . As Rameez Raja mentioned on Cricinfotalk , he should be batting higher up the order , as he would get more overs .

Rahul Dravid has had an unusually quiet series , so does Tendulkar by his own standards. Gautam Gambhir always had problems with the incoming ball and Uttappa should play in "V" and avoid working the ball on the on side , at the start of inning. Mind you, the aussies will try to exploit the weak areas ,so expect no favours from them .On the other hand , Clarke Symonds are just batting too well at the moment .

I just get the feeling the Indians will bounce back and from some where , we are going to see a match winning hundred or a four for , in the next match.But to start off with , Ganguly should be picked.

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:13:00 +0000

Todays match was completely one way traffic with Aussies dominating the game for most part of the day .Barring that phase, when they were 8/2 ,they showed tremendous resilience and application on a soggy wicket to reach the score in excess of 300. Hayden just kept the scoreboard ticking with timely boundaries and it amazing to see his shot selection .One of the secrets of his tremendous success at international level is the ability to leave good balls outside the off stump and then capitalize on the starts that he gets,not to mention the way he changes gears.

Brad Haddin carried from where he left and I think he handled the spinners well.From the Indian point of view ,again it would be imperative for Harbhajan to ponder ,if he is doing thing the right? He role is to take wickets and at the moment ,he is bowling flat and the line has also shifted to middle and leg ,rather than outside off and middle .
The other thing is he is not giving the bowl flight , to get it above the eyeline Plus, he has to bowl much slower to negate any pace being used by the batsman .

A captain would prefer a bowling analysis read 3 for 55 or 60 than 0/40
The momentum is clearly with the aussies.

Tendulkar was looking to invent shot and paid the price for that .I also got the feeling that he was not at ease on to the on a pitch where the ball was not coming on .Tendulkar should stop worrying about playing long innings and just should play his natural game.

To trail by 0/1 ,Indian top order must fire and the seniors will definitely have to take more ownership .Its also interesting to note that barring Tendulkar who averages 45 against the aussies ,Ganguly and Dravid average 22 and 29 respectively much below their career average of 41 and 40 respectively.All the big three would know that .

The pitch at Hyderabad has a reputation to be belter ,so it would be a good toss to win.
It would be worth watching what tactics Dhoni comes up with!

noreply@blogger.com (SpensersDelite) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:56:00 +0000

The first match between India and Australia was a damper ,with rain gods having the last laugh .
The Australian innings was resurrected by the partnership of Clarke and Haddin and they did take the game away from the Indians with that 144 runs partnership for the fifth wicket .Haddin also grabbed the opportunity with both hands , and once Gilchrist decides to hang his boots from ODI , we would see more of Haddin.

India was dictating terms to the opposition , with the Aussies reeling at90/4 .
Time and again , India have shown that they can let slip the match away easily and today it again came to the fore .
Having said that Clarke applied himself brilliantly and milked the bowl around ,capitalizing on the loose deliveries .He got an able partner in Haddin .I also think there were too many boundary balls bowled .Indian should not be carried away with their World Cup T 20 triumph . The 100 overs game is a different affair altogether. The game comes to you and slips from you at various points in time .

Clarke scored a superb century ,with his side in real spot of bother and he has definitely grown as a batsman in the last eighteen months or so .This stems from the fact that he had a good Ashes series aggregating 389 runs which included two tons and a World Cup kitty of 439 runs .He is one of the rare cricketers to have scored test centuries on both the home and away debuts.What has changed is he is more selective in the shot making and has learned to pace his innings .The development of "pup" would be closely watched though.

India were patchy and they will have to get their act together .What was suprising to see Romesh Powar was taken off with 4 overs still his sleeves.
He is wicket taker and was getting good purchase from the wicket too. Dhoni would definately be tested here, as he is now leading a mixed side with three ex skippers.

Moreover, the opening combination of Ganguly and Tendulkar should be persisted with .That would definitely help the Indian side .Kochi is lot humid and the track remains a batsman's paradise.We should see a high scoring game there .

For the time being ,the Indian think tank should be praying that Ganguly comes through the fitness test for the next game.