Dhoni has his favourites. RP Singh was tagging along for a while (not merely in his Hummer SUV but also the Indian team). RP finally got his boot but Ishant is the current favourite. Since VB series way back in 2008, Ishant Sharma has struggled with his line and does not deserve a place in Indian team.
While I am glad that Dravid has been sacked, his selection in first place and his subsequent decent performance meant a very shabby treatment of a senior cricketer. Not the first one and certainly will not be the last one
Ravindra Jadeja is a good pick - despite his T20 struggle against England - he has all makings of a decent cricketer. What baffles me though is continued non selection of Badrinath. A good fielder and a solid middle order batsman has consistently missed the team selection. Pragyan Ohja can count himself unlucky -- I would have picked him ahead of the over rated Harbhajan Singh. And what to say of Munaf Patel - just amazing the number of times he comes back to the team -- must have beaten Agakar and Mohinder Amarnath for no of comebacks :-)
Coming back to the 7 ODI series against Australia, I think is a meaningless series. A complete waste of time -- There is too much cricket for viewers and cricket is losing value esp ODI and T20. I for one, cannot wait to watch India vs Sri Lanka test series -- no greater sight in cricket than watching Dravid outwit Ajanta Mendis. Bring the tests on !
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Saturday, 26 September 2009
India must play two spinners
Grew up watching Javed Miandad hit Chetan Sharma for the match winning six at Sharjah 1986 -- my first recollection of India vs Pakistan high voltage encounter. Next few years India regularly lost to Pakistan save & except Asia Cup 1988 at Dakha courtesy a five wicket haul for Arshad Ayub. Tables turned in 1996 when Jadeja taught a lesson to Waqar Younis on how not to bowl in slog overs. India has been dominating since. 2004 and 2006 series wins in Pakistan has merely strengthened our strangehold.
Todays game at Centurion though will have Pakistan as favourites thanks to injuries to Sehwag, Zaheer and Yuvraj. India appears to have a fairly weak non explosive batting line up. Ditto for Pakistan - lack of form of Younus, Misbah and Md Yousuf means fairly weak batting line up. The match clearly would be won by the better bowling up where Pakistan seems to have a clear edge with form of Umar Gul.
Having said this, India invariably has found someone putting their hand up in recent encounters and would not put it against someone like Ishant running thro Pakistan top order. My heart says India, head says Pakistan.
My India team today would be:, Sachin, Gambhir, Dravid, Dhoni, Raina, Pathan, Kohli, Bhajji, Mishra, Ishant, Nerha. Yup two spinners for the slow turner at Centurion Park. Amit Mishra is a relative unknown to Pakistan and certainly a better bet than out of form RP Singh (who seems to have support MS Dhoni !!)
ps: After more than one year England has won two sucessive ODIs! Wow. Watch out for British media claiming English team is best in the world
Todays game at Centurion though will have Pakistan as favourites thanks to injuries to Sehwag, Zaheer and Yuvraj. India appears to have a fairly weak non explosive batting line up. Ditto for Pakistan - lack of form of Younus, Misbah and Md Yousuf means fairly weak batting line up. The match clearly would be won by the better bowling up where Pakistan seems to have a clear edge with form of Umar Gul.
Having said this, India invariably has found someone putting their hand up in recent encounters and would not put it against someone like Ishant running thro Pakistan top order. My heart says India, head says Pakistan.
My India team today would be:, Sachin, Gambhir, Dravid, Dhoni, Raina, Pathan, Kohli, Bhajji, Mishra, Ishant, Nerha. Yup two spinners for the slow turner at Centurion Park. Amit Mishra is a relative unknown to Pakistan and certainly a better bet than out of form RP Singh (who seems to have support MS Dhoni !!)
ps: After more than one year England has won two sucessive ODIs! Wow. Watch out for British media claiming English team is best in the world
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Needless Hype
England has barely beaten a team they should have walloped. The hype in British media is beyond comprehension. English cricket team is ranked #5 in the world way behing SA, SL and India. They are incapable of beating any of these three teams at home or away.
I agree Pom bashing has been my trait every since East India company came to Surat in 1608 but when it comes to cricket I am fairly unbiased in my views :-)
The stanard of cricket in this Ashes series has been extremely poor. The cricketing skills exhibited by both sides would have made the recent Indian Emerging players team that toured Australia proud. Maybe we should have watched Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh ODI series.
Having said this, a word on Freddie Flintoff - a remarkable cricketer who raises his game when he plays tough opposition. English and world cricket will miss him sorely.
I strongly feel Ravi Bopara should come back into the team in place of Ian Bell. He is a top quality player but # 3 was way up the order for an aggressive player like him. He should play at 6. A fully fit Kevin Pietersen should repalce Paul Collingwood and bat at # 4.
Coming back to Australia, hats of Ricky Ponting for putting up a fight with a very weak team. They will need to make some changes -- Despite his century, I would still sack Mike Hussey; Brad Haddin (a very poor wicket keeper) and Stuart Clark should get the boot. Shane Watson shld bat down the order with Phil Jaques at top of the order with Katich.
More in next blog, now back to work :-)
Sunday, 16 August 2009
A Retrograde Step
If a team requires a veteran who has not played ODI cricket for two years, to play short pitch bowling of Dale Steyn/ Fidel Edwards at Champions trophy in South Africa, the team stands no chance of winning.
Reinstating Rahul Dravid in ODI team is a very short sighted retrograde step. A very disappointing move by Kris Srikanth & Co. If Dravid is in India ODI team, Ramprakash is a shoo into English team for 5th Ashes test. And where is Pragyan Ohja ? Amit Mishra is a good bowler no doubt but what mistake has Pragyan Ohja done?
I agree Rohit Sharma deserves to be sacked. They should have instead gone for either Badrinath or Cheteshwar Pujara.
In conclusion, Srikanth would be well recommended to read Edward de Bono.
Just as I finish the blog, cricinfo informs that Jonathan Trott has replaced Ravi Bopara -- so no Rampakash. Well done to Geoff Miller & co.
Reinstating Rahul Dravid in ODI team is a very short sighted retrograde step. A very disappointing move by Kris Srikanth & Co. If Dravid is in India ODI team, Ramprakash is a shoo into English team for 5th Ashes test. And where is Pragyan Ohja ? Amit Mishra is a good bowler no doubt but what mistake has Pragyan Ohja done?
I agree Rohit Sharma deserves to be sacked. They should have instead gone for either Badrinath or Cheteshwar Pujara.
In conclusion, Srikanth would be well recommended to read Edward de Bono.
Just as I finish the blog, cricinfo informs that Jonathan Trott has replaced Ravi Bopara -- so no Rampakash. Well done to Geoff Miller & co.
Monday, 15 June 2009
Abject & Meek Surrender
Abject and meek surrender best describes India's performance agaisnt England in T20 match. India bowled without any intensity and batted as if they were playing test cricket.
To lose to English side is really pathetic. Jadeja and Gambhir never even attempted to score big in first 10 overs. Whatever happened to our big hitters? Where were the Yuvrajs and Pathans. Ravinder Jadeja a rookie looked completely out of depth and his 35 ball 25 was a model for how not to bat in T20.
Ishant Sharma as predicted earlier looked out of class. He bowled at 140 without any swing or seam; without mixing it up. I'm afraid in this form of the game unidimensional bowling would be punished severely. Whatever happened to his inswingers ???
Dhoni's captaincy was miserable. Decision to promote himself to No 3 in last match against West Indies and to promoter Jadeja to no 4, were un-Dhoni like thinking.
As a captain he lacks aggression which unfortunately has impacted his batting as well. For more than a year now, it appears Dhoni has lost all his shots and is merely looking out for singles all the time. What happened to the batsman who scored 148 against Pakistan in his 3rd ODI?
In summary, this has been a very disappointing campaign without any planning of any sorts. Team appeared very tired after such a long season and administrators should look into some sort of planning especially before such a big tournament.
To lose to English side is really pathetic. Jadeja and Gambhir never even attempted to score big in first 10 overs. Whatever happened to our big hitters? Where were the Yuvrajs and Pathans. Ravinder Jadeja a rookie looked completely out of depth and his 35 ball 25 was a model for how not to bat in T20.
Ishant Sharma as predicted earlier looked out of class. He bowled at 140 without any swing or seam; without mixing it up. I'm afraid in this form of the game unidimensional bowling would be punished severely. Whatever happened to his inswingers ???
Dhoni's captaincy was miserable. Decision to promote himself to No 3 in last match against West Indies and to promoter Jadeja to no 4, were un-Dhoni like thinking.
As a captain he lacks aggression which unfortunately has impacted his batting as well. For more than a year now, it appears Dhoni has lost all his shots and is merely looking out for singles all the time. What happened to the batsman who scored 148 against Pakistan in his 3rd ODI?
In summary, this has been a very disappointing campaign without any planning of any sorts. Team appeared very tired after such a long season and administrators should look into some sort of planning especially before such a big tournament.
Saturday, 6 June 2009
My money is on the Aussies
World cup T20 Preview:
India or SA seem to be everyone's favourite to win the tournament. I would pick a resurgent Aussie (I hate the team though) team to win the tournament.
I think the way Super 8 groups are being formed (not as per standings but as per seedings), India are in a potentially very strong group in Super 8s.
Possible groups could be:
1. India
2. Netherlands (given England have lost)
3. Australia
4. South Africa
The other group would be:
1. Bangladesh
2. Pakistan
3. West Indies (or Srilanka)
4. Newzeland
I think second group would see Newzeland & Pakistan going thro to semi finals. The first group is group of death with 3 very strong teams - the three favourites in the same group.
I suppose Australia & SA should make it thro to the semi finals from the other group.
Much against my heart, I feel India could potentially self destruct against a strong SA & Australian team. The Team would be fatigued after tough rigour of IPL and I honestly dont fancy our chances. Plus Indian team never plays well with favourites tag. Remember 2007 -- we won because no one even considered as the dark horses - a team w/o Sachin, Sourav, Rahul & Zaheer. I hope I am proved wrong
India or SA seem to be everyone's favourite to win the tournament. I would pick a resurgent Aussie (I hate the team though) team to win the tournament.
I think the way Super 8 groups are being formed (not as per standings but as per seedings), India are in a potentially very strong group in Super 8s.
Possible groups could be:
1. India
2. Netherlands (given England have lost)
3. Australia
4. South Africa
The other group would be:
1. Bangladesh
2. Pakistan
3. West Indies (or Srilanka)
4. Newzeland
I think second group would see Newzeland & Pakistan going thro to semi finals. The first group is group of death with 3 very strong teams - the three favourites in the same group.
I suppose Australia & SA should make it thro to the semi finals from the other group.
Much against my heart, I feel India could potentially self destruct against a strong SA & Australian team. The Team would be fatigued after tough rigour of IPL and I honestly dont fancy our chances. Plus Indian team never plays well with favourites tag. Remember 2007 -- we won because no one even considered as the dark horses - a team w/o Sachin, Sourav, Rahul & Zaheer. I hope I am proved wrong
Stick with Viru - Gambhir at the top
Rohit Sharma's imperious form has meant India has yet another selection headache. I would still stick with tired and tested dynamic duo of Viru & Gambhir at the top. Viru can change a game single handedly and must remain at the top. No one in the team can change a game in matter of 2 overs as Viru can.
My team would be
Gambhir
Viru,
Raina
Yusuf Pathan
Yuvraj
Rohit
Dhoni
Bhajji
Zaheer (Irfan Pathan if injured)
Ishant
RP Singh
T20 is a game where you need 6 hitters spending 3-4 overs at the crease. We need guys who can score from ball~1. Dhoni is not thee same come to crease hitter that he was he came on the scene. He scratches around for couple of overs before he starts even attempting to score big. He should bat lower down the order and not at one down.
On another note, happy to see England lost to the Dutch. English T20/ODI team is still playing in archaic/traditional manner which will never win them a single match. They have look around other teams & play modern ODI cricket. I cannot understand how guys lik Collingwood are in the T20 squad, let alone the captain. He could not even be part of 4 foreign members of Delhi in the IPL. Cannot fathom English cricketing brain.
More tomorrow,
cheers
My team would be
Gambhir
Viru,
Raina
Yusuf Pathan
Yuvraj
Rohit
Dhoni
Bhajji
Zaheer (Irfan Pathan if injured)
Ishant
RP Singh
T20 is a game where you need 6 hitters spending 3-4 overs at the crease. We need guys who can score from ball~1. Dhoni is not thee same come to crease hitter that he was he came on the scene. He scratches around for couple of overs before he starts even attempting to score big. He should bat lower down the order and not at one down.
On another note, happy to see England lost to the Dutch. English T20/ODI team is still playing in archaic/traditional manner which will never win them a single match. They have look around other teams & play modern ODI cricket. I cannot understand how guys lik Collingwood are in the T20 squad, let alone the captain. He could not even be part of 4 foreign members of Delhi in the IPL. Cannot fathom English cricketing brain.
More tomorrow,
cheers
Sunday, 3 May 2009
India T20 Squad
Indian team for T20 cricket world cup is to be announced on May 4. Here is my pick:
1. Viru
2. Gambhir
3. Raina
4. Yuvraj
5. Dhoni
6. Yusuf Pathan
7. Badrinath
8. Irfan Pathan
9. Harbhajan
10. Zaheer
11. RP Singh
Others
12. Ishant Sharma
13. Pragyan Ojha
14. Praveen Kumar
15. Dinesh Karthik
May be suprising to a few but I have kept Ishant Sharma out of my preferred playing 11. There has been a sharp decline in his wicket taking abilities for the past six months and he has not made any progress at all with his game. It would be a toss up between Pathan and Praveen Kumar to replace him. In swinging conditions either of them can be an handful. Though Praveen is currently a much better bowler than Irfan, I would give Irfan the edge given his far superior batting abilities.
RP Singh is another bowler who is outstanding in overseas conditions -- he gets steep bounce which makes him a different bowler altogether. He has to be in the playing 11.
At no.7, I would prefer Badrinath over Rohit Sharma. Badri has been in fine form in all forms of the game. In the IPL he has been playing well at No. 4 for Chennai. He deserves a look in -- Rohit Sharma has had numerous opportunities and its only fair that Badri gets a fair run.
Dinesh Karthik is in as a back for Dhoni.
As far as selectors go, I think they would prefer Rohit over Badri in the fifteen else expect them to go along with my team.
1. Viru
2. Gambhir
3. Raina
4. Yuvraj
5. Dhoni
6. Yusuf Pathan
7. Badrinath
8. Irfan Pathan
9. Harbhajan
10. Zaheer
11. RP Singh
Others
12. Ishant Sharma
13. Pragyan Ojha
14. Praveen Kumar
15. Dinesh Karthik
May be suprising to a few but I have kept Ishant Sharma out of my preferred playing 11. There has been a sharp decline in his wicket taking abilities for the past six months and he has not made any progress at all with his game. It would be a toss up between Pathan and Praveen Kumar to replace him. In swinging conditions either of them can be an handful. Though Praveen is currently a much better bowler than Irfan, I would give Irfan the edge given his far superior batting abilities.
RP Singh is another bowler who is outstanding in overseas conditions -- he gets steep bounce which makes him a different bowler altogether. He has to be in the playing 11.
At no.7, I would prefer Badrinath over Rohit Sharma. Badri has been in fine form in all forms of the game. In the IPL he has been playing well at No. 4 for Chennai. He deserves a look in -- Rohit Sharma has had numerous opportunities and its only fair that Badri gets a fair run.
Dinesh Karthik is in as a back for Dhoni.
As far as selectors go, I think they would prefer Rohit over Badri in the fifteen else expect them to go along with my team.
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