Sri Lanka leveled the series in South Africa with a 208 runs victory on the fourth day of the second Test in Durban. Incidentally, it was their first Test win on the South African soil.
Sri Lanka set 450 to win and the hosts put up a lame display and thus setting the stage for a thriller in Cape Town next week. Only AB de Villiers (69) and Dale Steyn (43) – who put on 99 runs for the seventh wicket offered resistance.
For Sri Lanka, Rangana Herath did the star turn and took five wickets for 79 to seal Sri Lanka's first ever Test win in South Africa. This win is also the first test victory for Sri Lanka since the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan.
Herath finished with match figures of nine for 128.
28/12/2011
Cricket’s new fangled myths
Glen Turner has written an excellent opinion piece questioning the wisdom of inculcating team culture in cricket.
He takes a dig at this emphasis on
"leading by example, role models, desired behaviours, opinion-shapers, trust and honesty, induction processes and so on. All this and more to get players job ready and in between times I suppose they can do some practice and play the odd game. I thought you only had to drink Speights to be the perfect man".
I believe he has it right and more than aiding in a cricketers development, these management theories has actually impaired it. For instance Greg Chappell's who appears to believe in the 'chaos theory' brought in some new fangled ideas and not only managed to shatter many a Indian cricketers morale but also managed to regress Indian cricket.
07/12/2011
Can Cricket Australia sack itself?
Cricket Australia (CA) has embarked on a mission impossible.
David Crawford, will present a report to the CA board recommending a nine-man independent commission replace the 14-man board of elected state delegates.
The nine members will be chosen as follows:
- Each state will nominate a board member with no state or club ties
- The six new delegates will then appoint three other independents with specific expertise
Undeniably, these recommendations have value. It remains to be seen whether CA can get the buy in from the state boards as earlier attempts failed because of the intransigence of the state boards.
04/11/2011
Cricket corruption: First ever-criminal convictions
Undoubtedly, a criminal conviction for cricket corruption is a major breakthrough, but where does it leave cricket?
I would say that cricket administrators, cricketers and cricket fans have a long way to go. The evidence of the past weeks confirms what we cricket lover's long suspected-cricketers are mere mortals and corruption in cricket has permeated corrosively to now challenge its existence.
Obviously, it is not the time for cricket administrators to rest and believe the game has been cleansed and inoculated from further remissions.
Similarly, it is not time yet for cricketers to believe there are no black sheep in their midst. In fact, it is the time for them to be watchful and on their guard.
Importantly, it is not time yet for cricket fans and fanatics to lose hope and conclude that every match is fixed and players corrupt. It is the time to support the game with renewed fervor and show the match-fixers and other assorted charlatans that in spite of their shenanigans they still love the game.
I would say that cricket administrators, cricketers and cricket fans have a long way to go. The evidence of the past weeks confirms what we cricket lover's long suspected-cricketers are mere mortals and corruption in cricket has permeated corrosively to now challenge its existence.
Obviously, it is not the time for cricket administrators to rest and believe the game has been cleansed and inoculated from further remissions.
Similarly, it is not time yet for cricketers to believe there are no black sheep in their midst. In fact, it is the time for them to be watchful and on their guard.
Importantly, it is not time yet for cricket fans and fanatics to lose hope and conclude that every match is fixed and players corrupt. It is the time to support the game with renewed fervor and show the match-fixers and other assorted charlatans that in spite of their shenanigans they still love the game.
13/10/2011
Are Indian’s natural cricketers?
According to Zaheer Khan, fast bowling does not come naturally. In an interview, he said, "It's not a natural thing. Indian bodies are not designed to bowl fast but that said, it's not very different from bowling outside India. Basically you have to spend a lot of time understanding yourself, your art, and then find out what works for you and what doesn't. It also involves a lot of hard work".
Though Zaheer Khan limited himself to fast bowling, I could not help but mull whether Indian's are natural cricketers. Are Indian's built for playing cricket? Are they flexible enough to take the constant crouching and stretching cricket involves? Can their bodies adjust to long periods of inactivity and sudden bursts of activity?
I sincerely, doubt that we are as a nation natural at sports. Limiting myself to cricket, I believe Kapil Dev to be the only natural cricketer from India and barring him we are 'unaturals' at cricket.
Do you agree?
Though Zaheer Khan limited himself to fast bowling, I could not help but mull whether Indian's are natural cricketers. Are Indian's built for playing cricket? Are they flexible enough to take the constant crouching and stretching cricket involves? Can their bodies adjust to long periods of inactivity and sudden bursts of activity?
I sincerely, doubt that we are as a nation natural at sports. Limiting myself to cricket, I believe Kapil Dev to be the only natural cricketer from India and barring him we are 'unaturals' at cricket.
Do you agree?
04/04/2011
World Cup 2011-My takeaways
Match of the tournament: Undoubtedly, the finals played against Sri Lanka. It had all the ingredients of a thriller. High stakes-the World Cup, a worthy opponent -Sri Lanka who appeared to have messed up their chances batting first, recouping to set a stiff target in the last five overs. Heart-ache--Sehwag and Sachin out in quick succession, leaving the Indian fan wondering whether it was all over. Flourish- Dhoni's last ball six that brought down the curtains and his far away look captured by the cameras. The final had it all.
Best innings: Raina's unflustered cameo against Pakistan in the semi-finals, set up the game nicely for India. Gambhir innings in the finals run a close second. However, the way team India was playing, gave the impression that if not for Gambhir some one else would have stepped up.
Best ball: Munaf slow leg cutter that bowled Razzaq, during the India vs Pakistan, World Cup semi-final. It put paid to whatever hope the Pakistan team had on over running the Indian total.
Biggest disappointment: Losing to South Africa. There is no two-ways to look at it. The Indian team choked against the "chokers".
Key to India World Cup 2015 campaign: Plan for Zaheer's replacement. Devise a sound strategy. Identify and persist with the team that fits that strategy.
What are your takeaways?
Best innings: Raina's unflustered cameo against Pakistan in the semi-finals, set up the game nicely for India. Gambhir innings in the finals run a close second. However, the way team India was playing, gave the impression that if not for Gambhir some one else would have stepped up.
Best ball: Munaf slow leg cutter that bowled Razzaq, during the India vs Pakistan, World Cup semi-final. It put paid to whatever hope the Pakistan team had on over running the Indian total.
Biggest disappointment: Losing to South Africa. There is no two-ways to look at it. The Indian team choked against the "chokers".
Key to India World Cup 2015 campaign: Plan for Zaheer's replacement. Devise a sound strategy. Identify and persist with the team that fits that strategy.
What are your takeaways?
03/04/2011
ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 team of the tournament
ICC has released the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 team of the tournament made up off familiar suspects.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 team of the tournament: Sachin Tendulkar (India), Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, WK and captain), Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka), AB de Villiers (South Africa), Yuvraj Singh (India), Shane Watson (Australia), Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Dale Steyn (South Africa), Zaheer Khan (India), Muttiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka). 12th man: Tim Southee (New Zealand).
As expected. India has the largest representation with the familiar name of Sachin Tendulkar. I do not know what has made Kumara Sangakkara worthy of being the Captain. For me the best captains of the tournament was Shahid Afridi or Vetorri. The New Zealand captain was saddled with an average team and yet made it to the semi-finals. Similarly, Afridi had a team that was ready to implode. However, he still brought the team to the semi-finals.
The inclusion of Mahela and Sachin appears based more on their reputation than for any consistent performances. One concludes this team was made to appease a particular quota and is purely an political exercise.
Dedicating the World Cup to Sachin, India and all that
I know I am a minority, but tell me why the Indian players carried Sachin on their shoulders during the first lap around the stadium. I am also at a loss to understand who let his children join the victory parade.
Surely, it is time the nation as an entity comes out of its Sachin fixation and start giving the likes of Gambhir, Kohli, Raina,Yuvraj and Dhoni their due. It is also time we stopped attributing victories to Sachin’s experience or presence in the team.
Surely, it is time the nation as an entity comes out of its Sachin fixation and start giving the likes of Gambhir, Kohli, Raina,Yuvraj and Dhoni their due. It is also time we stopped attributing victories to Sachin’s experience or presence in the team.
India Wins World Cup-2011
* India overcome Jayawardane and Malinga challenge
* Gambhir anchors India innings
* Dhoni pilots India to victory
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck a six to bring the World Cup to India on Saturday after 28 years. Chasing a target of 275, India won by 6 wickets and with 10 balls to spare at the Wankhede stadium, Mumbai, thus becoming the first country to win a World Cup on home soil.
Dhoni and Gambhir were the architects of the successful run chase. Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh ably supported them.
Winning a controversial toss, Sri Lanka went on to post a competitive total. Mahela Jayawardene paced his innings beautifully to score an unbeaten 103 and helped Sri Lanka reach 274. However, the India batting over ran the target even though Lasith Malinga provided the Sri Lankan’s with a perfect opportunity by getting rid of Virenedar Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar cheaply. Sadly, the Sri Lanka bowlers were unable to capitalize on the breach and appeared to have lost hope once they confronted a resolute Gambhir and tigerish Dhoni.
Gautam Gambhir came in at a time when the Indian run chase could have either become bogged down or crashed like a house of cards. He played an innings that slowly but surely brought India back in control by completely nullifying the Murali threat. He was always on the look out for runs and rotated the strike in such a way that gave Dhoni sufficient breathing space to find his form. Unfortunately, with his century a stroke away, Gambhir lost his head and lost his wicket.
Thankfully, Dhoni and Yuvraj carried on and completed the formalities. As usual, the BCCI reduced this sublime moment, by immediately announcing that the Indian team members will receive one crore each. They could have done better by announcing this in a meeting felicitating the Indian team.
* Gambhir anchors India innings
* Dhoni pilots India to victory
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck a six to bring the World Cup to India on Saturday after 28 years. Chasing a target of 275, India won by 6 wickets and with 10 balls to spare at the Wankhede stadium, Mumbai, thus becoming the first country to win a World Cup on home soil.
Dhoni and Gambhir were the architects of the successful run chase. Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh ably supported them.
Winning a controversial toss, Sri Lanka went on to post a competitive total. Mahela Jayawardene paced his innings beautifully to score an unbeaten 103 and helped Sri Lanka reach 274. However, the India batting over ran the target even though Lasith Malinga provided the Sri Lankan’s with a perfect opportunity by getting rid of Virenedar Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar cheaply. Sadly, the Sri Lanka bowlers were unable to capitalize on the breach and appeared to have lost hope once they confronted a resolute Gambhir and tigerish Dhoni.
Gautam Gambhir came in at a time when the Indian run chase could have either become bogged down or crashed like a house of cards. He played an innings that slowly but surely brought India back in control by completely nullifying the Murali threat. He was always on the look out for runs and rotated the strike in such a way that gave Dhoni sufficient breathing space to find his form. Unfortunately, with his century a stroke away, Gambhir lost his head and lost his wicket.
Thankfully, Dhoni and Yuvraj carried on and completed the formalities. As usual, the BCCI reduced this sublime moment, by immediately announcing that the Indian team members will receive one crore each. They could have done better by announcing this in a meeting felicitating the Indian team.
20/02/2011
A complacent India beat Bangladesh
The Indian team performed adequately to beat Bangladesh in the World Cup 2011 opener. Despite this being a World Cup opener and a ‘revenge match’ the Indian team was complacent while batting. Similarly, the inadequacies in the Bangladesh team helped the Indian bowlers to restrict them to 283, and win by a large margin of 83 runs.
Batting first, the Indian batsmen batting had Bangladesh on the ropes until the end of the second power play. When they should have gone all out to score in excess of 400, they showed lack of intent and let the Bangladesh bowlers restrict them to 370 with some clever, negative bowling.
Similarly, the bowlers, especially Sreesanth, were able to assert themselves only when the Bangladesh batsmen got ahead of themselves. A stronger team would have made India pay for their complacency and lack of intent. India has the potential to go beyond the semi-final, but they have to shed their complacency when playing lesser teams and take each match seriously.
Batting first, the Indian batsmen batting had Bangladesh on the ropes until the end of the second power play. When they should have gone all out to score in excess of 400, they showed lack of intent and let the Bangladesh bowlers restrict them to 370 with some clever, negative bowling.
Similarly, the bowlers, especially Sreesanth, were able to assert themselves only when the Bangladesh batsmen got ahead of themselves. A stronger team would have made India pay for their complacency and lack of intent. India has the potential to go beyond the semi-final, but they have to shed their complacency when playing lesser teams and take each match seriously.
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