15/08/2010

Split Innings Format and Players Honesty

ODI: Split Innings Format

Is it there a need to revitalise One Day Cricket format?

Frankly, it appears the cricket boards are over reacting. I believe ODIs are a vibrant format. It is only the pointless matches, for instance, New Zealand playing a tri-series along with India in Sri Lanka, which lacks support.

However, I also believe that cricket boards should find new formats to draw new converts. So why don’t they introduce the split-innings one- dayers as a new format?

Fitness:Can we leave it to the players?

Each time India loses heavily, the players divert the attention to the BCCI. Typically, they will claim that the scheduling is so tight that they have no rest and blame the loss on losing key players to injuries.

However, we all know that most Indian players are loath to declare themselves unfit and carry on playing with niggles. By performing below par, they are undermining the team.

The Chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth has come out with a good suggestion:
Honesty. "Nobody but the player himself has the best idea of how fit he is or if there's even the slightest injury scare. I can tell you that from my own experience as a cricketer. Any number of physios and fitness trainers can assess the condition, but in the end, the player has to be honest and talk.
Sadly, the players are never honest and continue playing through injuries. Instead of depending on players I believe the BCCI should ruthlessly drop those injured and put the nation’s interest first.

08/08/2010

Laxman helps India Level Series

Laxman with Raina see India through a series leveling Test match win against Sri Lanka.

V.V.S.Laxman:

Laxman century was as usual classy and shorn of unnecessary flourishes and saw India register their 35th Test match series overseas. His calmness at the crease blunted the Sri-Lankan bowling attack and the young buck Raina stepped in and capitalised on it.

Laxman’s calmness is the exact antithesis of Dravid’s calmness. Yesterday if it was Dravid instead of Laxman, he would have becalmed the India run chase. This would have aggravated jangled nerves in the dressing room and thus triggering an infamous 5th day batting collapse.

Suresh Raina:

There has never been a doubt about Suresh Raina’s talent and in his debut series he has met expectations. This brings up comparison with Yuvraj Singh. Personally, I believe, Raina is a much better bet, mainly because success or should I say opportunities came too early and easy for Yuvraj, whereas Raina had to wait a long time.

Murali Vijay:

For me, Murali Vijay’s performances through out the series were a disappointment. Like a typical of Tamil Nadu player he has failed to make use of the opportunities that has come his way and is now in danger of being sidelined like Badrinath. This lack of consistency is particularly galling as I envisioned him replacing Dravid as India’s number 3.

India – Sri Lanka Test Series:

Another boring series has come to an end thus marking the beginning of yet another boring One Day Series between the two.


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