The Aussie tour !

 Been ages since I put pen to paper or rather print to thoughts ! So welcome back folks to my cricketing blog

As first test looms ahead ag Australia, it is easy to predict a 4-0 win in favour of Australia particularly given our failings in New Zealand.  Funnily, I anticipate a Indian run away victory at Adelaide in the D/N test. Historically, our bowlers have won matches when conditions have been good for bowling.

Teams continue to underestimate our bowling strength. Bumrah, Shami, Umesh and Ashwin would be more than a handful for an injury hit Aussie squad. I expect Virat to play one defining innings before leaving Australia.

So folks expect a good win for India, followed by strong comeback by Australia

My Indian team for first test

1. Rahul

2. Mayank

3. Pujara

4. Kohli

5. Rahane

6. Vihari

7. Pant

8. Ashwin

9. Umesh

10. Bumrah

11. Shami

Forget Warne...Kumble for a comback ?

Read a super piece in cricinfo titled "Year of Denial for India". After displaying hithero unseen patience, Indian selectors have finally made significant changes to the team.

I still have a few thoughts on the team composition. Sehwag as I have blogged earlier has to move to the middle order. Virat Kohli is by far (despite recent failures) our best batsman has to play at 3/4.Dhoni should be allowed to play with freedom sans captaincy.

Bowling cupboard is bare. Clearly Kumble's absence is felt and would be felt more than Tendulkar's. Umesh Yadav is decent and for sheer lack of options Ashwin, Ohja would be in the team. I would still back Praveen Kumar to play for India -- wonder why he has been sidelined

My top team would be:

Gambhir
Rahane
Pujara
Kohli
Sehwag (c)
Tiwary
Dhoni
Ashwin
Ohja
Praveen Kumar
Umesh Yadav

Playing fast bowling

When I used to turn out in my college matches, I used to stride out to the middle with an arrogant gait but underneath there was a fear of getting hit by the brand new red cherry. And I showed how not to play fast bowling. So does Suresh Raina even today at international level. Earlier this week I was very impressed by the Jonny Bairstow, his composure and technique against fast bowling. Here was a man who was hit several times by Darren Sammy (who bowls only at 120/125 ks), Kemar Roach and got caught of short balls just a month back. At Lords he was tackling Steyn, Morkel very confidently.

Wonder why Suresh Raina for all his prodigious talent is not able to fix his short coming against short ball. Sourav Ganguly was certainly not the best against the short ball but you have to admire he found a way to tackle and play the short ball (however clumsy he looked) and averaged 42 in international cricket.

Suresh Raina needs to merely look at Jonny Baristow to figure out how he has managed to seemingly overcome his shortcomings. You dont need to pull everything thrown at you which seems to be the route Raina is taking. For such a classy ODI player, suprising that he has not found his feet in test cricket. With Dravid and VVS moving on, Indian cricket needs someone of Raina's quality to step it up.

Glad to see Badri back in the squad. On the team composition & batting order - a few comments. Agree with Sanjay Manjrekar that you cannot have Sehwag and Gambhir opening against South Africa in 2013. Ideally combination for the NZ test would be:
Rahane, Gambhir, Kohli, Sachin, Pujara, Sehwag, Dhoni,Ohja, Ashwin, Zaheer, Umesh Yadav.

Looking forward to the start of a new season of test cricket. Should be great fun.

Mr. Grace, VVS

VVS Laxman & Rahul Dravid will rank in that order as the top Indian match winning batsmen in test cricket. The man for the crisis - VVS has won/ saved several matches for the India. He was one of the best fourth innings batsman in test cricket and the Indian will certainly miss his quality. His mental fortitude is legendary and needless to say his 281 (Eden), 96 (Durban 2010), 75 (Jamaica 2006), 81 Mohali (2010), 110 (Colombo 2011) were incredible contributions. Neither Gavaskar nor Tendulkar have won as many matches thro their 4th innings contributions. Yet he was always the least regarded amongst the quartert of SRT, SG, RD and VVS.

VVS was a fantastic entertainer. Along with Mark Waugh, VVS Laxman defined grace in batsmanship. It was sheer joy to watch him laze into his drives and his signature flicks onside a la Azhar were sheer magic. I remember a 16 ball 30 against South Africa at Durban 2001 - short quickfire innings but his regal drives and majestic pulls left a lasting impression.

A very selfless cricketer has batted up and down the batting order. Very impressive to see him go back and play Ranji trophy. The Hyderabad team will immensely benefit from his experience.

Thanks VVS for the entertainment.

Kris Sri''C'ant select a team

Indian T20 team for the World Cup in Sri Lanka has been announced and to my mind a few shockers.

I have great respect for the talent, flamboyance and deeds of Yuvraj Singh. But dont think he should be playing T20 World Cup - he hasnt played any competitive cricket since April 2011 World Cup and to bring him back to World Cup directly is shocking. Clearly it appears that the sympathy wave more than logic has been the winner.

Rohit Sharma: Mumbai has to have its reps in the team even someone of Rohit's class or rather lack of it. L Balaji is a superb IPL player but quality in IPL means nothing at international level. At his pace he would go for 40 runs atleast in 4 overs

Piyush Chawla: Cant bat, bowl or field.

Bhajji's inclusion did raise my eyebrows but then there is sheer lack of bowling quality. Atleast in shorter version of the game, Bhajji is as good or as bad as any other spinner sans Ashwin

I am bit dismayed by the absense of Praveen Kumar. Best way to contain a team in T20 is to take wickets and Praveen Kumar with the new ball is still a force. Likewise would have played Rahane instead of Rohit Sharma.

As regards the test team against NZ, I am sure Suresh Raina against one of the worst bowling attacks on Indian soil would come good. So would Tendulkar and Laxman !! Anyway good to play a weak team at home and boost confidence ahead of sterner tests against Australia and England.

ICC - Irrational Cricket Council

ICC proposed changes to restrict no of fielders outstide 30 yard circle in non power play areas to 4 is quite ridiculous. The reason given by ICC is to "improve the balance between bat and ball".

As such ODI is very batting oriented and this move will ensure ODI is even more skewed towards the batsman. More often than not, you will have fielders at third man, sweeper cover, long on and deep square leg as the four fielders leaving yawnings gaps across the field. Totals in excess of 350 will be comfortably chased down.

Is this what viewers want to see? I am not too sure. I enjoyed India vs West Indies tied match of 1992 series in Australia when both teams scored 126 rather than 434 chased down by SA vs Australia at Joberg few years back. Likewise, England beating SA after scoring 170odd in last yr's world cup was more enjoyable than India vs Eng 338 tie.

ICC has been tinkering with the ODI format too often and not all changes have been thought thro. Like the 20 over powerplay which has now been brought back to 15 within 6 months.

Instead of trying to get ODIs to be as exciting as T20, ICC should reduce no of ODI to keep the viewership. There are too many meaningless ODIs. For example, England is visitin India later this year to play 7 ODIs !! Incredible ! Time to improve quality by reducing the quantity and not by tinkering the rules.

Random cricket mumblings

IPL should be only about cricket. The quality of cricket has been good for a change plus number of matches have been close. Bollywood, stupid anchormen/women dancing, late night parties and Danny Morrison should be banned. Value of the brand is purely from the product ie T20 cricket with international cricketers and local players locking horns.

On cricketing note, sehwag/ Gambhir have joined the increasing tribe of Indian stars who perform only at IPL level. Rohit Sharma / Bhajji/ Irfan Pathan epitomise this cult. Raina has lost the ability to shine in any form of the game. Dhoni it appears is all set to retire after T20 World Cup !

Tendulkar should play the annual MPs cricket - think it is a play off between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs. However with Kirti Azad in Lok Sabha bowling line up (albeit it slow off spiners), think Tendulkar will struggle !

On international scene Duncan Fletcher must be licking his lips on extending his contract - after all India has only home series coming up with Sri lanka, Australia, New Zealand, England! All of a sudden bingo our ranking, ratings go up. I just hope Ravi shastri and Sunny Gavaskar are not recruited by Neo Sports for commentary.

Given the form of Sehwag at top of the order may be time to move him down. Gambhir/ Rahane should open with Kohli at 3, Tendulkar, Laxman (both will not be axed till retirement) and the classy Kohli to follow. Bowling will continue to be of club level quality with only Zak providing ammunition. Rest of the bowling is thrid rate - so pick whomever you want - will not make dent in even lancashire 2nd eleven. Where is the next Anil Kumble ?