The IPL and Cricket Australia stand-off

If I remember correctly, almost all cricket associations around the world had backed IPL. Why then the reported stand-off between IPL and CA?

 

Was CA concerned that the Australian cricketers would prefer playing in the IPL rather than for their nation or was it concerned about player's burn –out?

 

Unsurprisingly, it is none of the above, it is the money.

 

"The Australian board is concerned that its players might endorse products that clash with its own deals, as part of their IPL agreements."

 

If it happens, CA stands to lose quiet a substantial sum. Obviously CA can't let that happen.

 

 

An umpire selection panel

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to appoint a four-member selection panel for the appointment of umpires before March this year.

 

A move I welcome with one reservation. I would prefer the appointments to be for just 1 year. It will keep the umpires on their toes and prevent complacency setting in and more over it gives the ICC leeway to get rid of incompetent and biased umpires.

 

 

On catches and excuses

During my long cricketing career, I have dropped many catches. The beauty is I can still vividly recollect most of them. Some of catches were difficult but the majority of them were catches a two year old would have caught.

However, more than the catches I was known for my inventive excuses. There was one, I will never forget.

Since I was well know for my ‘goals’ (letting the ball through my legs) I was unanimously made the first slip. Readers may recollect that I had mentioned that I was an animated fielder, particularly when my Captains sister used to watch us from the balcony. Fittingly on this memorable occasion, I dropped one with her watching.

I really do not know how it happened, but all I remember was I had just turned to take my stance (after a lot of waving to her), when the ball (tennis ball) hit me flush on my nose. Never one to accept blame, I immediately trotted out the excuse, that I was blinded by the wicketkeeper. This elicited disbelieving laughter; through my swelling nose, I saw that my Captain was still fuming and looked menacing.

I understood later what happened. The Captain had seen me waving to his sister and snatching the ball away from the bowler’s hand he had run up to the slips. Seeing me, turn he had thrown the ball with full force, which as you all know caught me on my nose.

Needless to add I was banished to long on and never batted above No.11.

Can you recollect any of your ‘dropped catches’?

Race row - is it good for cricket?

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor says the Harbhajan Singh-Andrew Symonds controversy is good for the promotion of cricket, at least in the short term.

 

''I guess it's detrimental in the short term but there's no doubt that controversy breeds news and people like me talk about it on TV. That is a promotion for the game and you could say maybe not the right promotion but it does promote the game. Hopefully in the long term it will bring more new spectators to the game and they'll stay with the game,''

 

I beg to differ. It is important to attract the right kind of followers. Unseemly controversies attract polarized followers who view the game through a prism of hatred, jingoism, racism and false national or regional pride.

 

What cricket wants is followers who view it as a refined sport, fans who spend money to watch Symonds /Harbhajan exhibit their skills, fans that come to applaud and not to throw bottles.

 

Your thoughts?

David Lloyd tips England, Pietersen and Strauss

Undeniably, New Zealand, hit by a spate of premature retirements, is the weaker side. Therefore, there is nothing surprising to see David Lloyd predicting England to win both ODI's and Test series against New Zealand.

 

However, I contest his claim that Pietersen and Strauss will score the bulk of the runs. Pietersen's cross – batted heaves are a recipe for failure in New Zealand. Strauss is another big joke; for the last one year he has done nothing of significance.

 

For me, Cook and Bell are the key batsmen and as for Vaughn, he is simply coasting on his accomplishments. I am also looking at a fit Collingwood to counter punch in the middle order.

 

Your thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

Let go or call off the series

I have grave misgivings on continuing to play in Australia.

 

All parties concerned say the Symonds – Harbhajan saga is finished but in the same breath, come out with statements indicating otherwise.

 

Take for instance Vengsarkar, the Chief of Selectors, he wants Procter's head. The less said about FICA President Tim May the better. He, if I am to understand correctly, wants ICC and CA mulcted.

 

The Australian players follow him. If reports are to believed the Australian cricketers are sending a letter to the CA expressing solidarity with Symonds and indicating their anguish at the lack of support from their association.

 

No one, I say no one wants to let go. All of them want retribution and everything short of bloodshed and mayhem.

 

Taking a cue from the players, officials and associations, the highly excitable public has started their rough and ready justice.

 

As a precursor, there are reports that Murali had egg thrown in his face. If this is the fate of an unconnected person, imagine what is in store for India.

 

To prevent relations from deteriorating further, call off the series and conduct it later at a neutral avenue.

Sri Lankan Cricket - Solidarity in hope of a loan?

There are conflicting reports emanating out of Sri Lanka on the Harbhajan ban.

 

We heard the great white chief Ranatunga saying that Sri Lanka may have quit one-day series if Harbhajan's was slapped with a ban.

 

The beauty is, this supposed walk – out became known after the repeal of the ban, a brazen attempt to cozy up to India without antagonising Australia.

 

This impression gained ascendancy when numerous reports of cash strapped Sri Lankan CA relying on the BCCI for financial support. So now, this belated statement of solidarity would have worked if Ranatunga had ensured that everyone in the Sri Lankan CA knew that the walkout talk was an eyewash.

 

Unfortunately, for Ranatunga, he forgot to tell his Captain Jayawardene about this ploy. The result Jayawardene has unwittingly revealed Harbhajans ban or no ban they were always going to play.

 

Aha! The talk of a walk out was for milking India for a loan.

 

Now, Ranatunga has the unenviable task of proffering explanations to the BCCI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muzzle Sreesanth

In an obvious reference to sledging, Sreesanth says, “We can give it back with interest.”

Henceforth he should be

until he agrees to keep his mouth shut.

Captain Gaurav Ganguly?

I just came across a spoof on BCCI's emails (Inbox).

Article continues below

The most funny of all the purported messages is the one from Chandu Borde (Fifth from the top). Considering his age and his well known habit of mixing up the names it is highly plausible. The beauty is he is supposedly unaware that Dravid is the Captain.Hilarious.

Click on this link for better viewing. http://www.indusladies.com/forums/forward-messages-and-jokes/20143-bcci-s-inbox-before-t20.html

Uncompromising cricket and all the other assorted rot.

Will Ponting ever learn? Here he is as usual pulling the Aussie bullshit:

"We tend to play uncompromising and fair, that's the way we Australians play cricket. We take as much as we give," he said.

Someone should get through to his midget brain that everyone plays uncompromising and fair cricket. Therefore, what makes it Australian?

We have seen for past decade and more what it means. It is just an excuse for bad behaviour.

Pointing should first learn to look beyond his nose, understand that cricket is not his grand father’s property (I use it in the Indian sense), and stop trying to make the obvious profound.

By the way, what is this “we take as much as we give”? Is this what Hayden described as a glitch in the Aussie radar?

 

Dhoni permits chitchat

I ask what the hell?

 

Have they forgotten that they are playing international cricket. A nations pride is at stake and a chartered jet is idling on the tarmac.

 

This is serious business, cut out the chitchat, and get to the core.

 

Go and ground the Aussies to dust.

 

 

 

 

On Walkers and Walking

Bob Simpson on why he decided against walking:

The two main reasons for that were: 1) Most of the major controversies of that time were caused by the so-called walkers turning their backs on umpires and trying to bluff their way through an appeal despite being out. They relied on their reputation as walkers to get away with it.

2) A number of umpires felt that the batsmen walk after an obvious snick when they had a good score, but stay put even after making a fine contact with the ball when they only had a few runs on the board.

I may be a cynic, but I doubt if I have ever seen a true walker.

 

Actually, as a guy who has done these and more, I agree with Simpson.

Your thoughts?

Yuvraj unwilling to risk himself

Yuvraj should have been rearing to play and prove himself. Sadly the facts speak otherwise.

Though Yuvraj has been declared fit by physio John Gloster but he is reluctant to test himself out in the first ODI against Australia in Brisbane on February 3.

If the physio has given him a clean bill of health he should play.Readers may remember he pulled the same stunt during the T20 semis. The only charitable reason I can think of is that he trying to prove his indispensability to the team.

The selectors should not permit him to pick and choose when or where he plays.

 

 

The last word on the racism row

That's it guys- this blog feels it is time to leave this topic and go on to other things in cricket.

Disclaimer: However this blogger reserves the right to return to it at his discretion. :)

IPL- Will it choke other sports?

There is a real danger that IPL will suck up all the advertising money, leaving other sports starving for sponsors.

Here are some facts:

A closely fought bidding war recently saw business tycoons and film stars putting in big money to buy the eight IPL teams for anything between Rs272 crore and Rs441 crore.

The next round of auction on February 8 will determine which cricketers will join which team. Media planners are keenly watching the development, and would decide their exact game plan soon. But they are already saying that the advertising pie will grow with IPL coming in.

It is plainly obvious that the IPL will draw many eyeballs and which in turn will attract sponsors and advertising.

However, if it becomes wildly popular, as I believe it will be, will there be any money left for other sports?

If there is no sponsor interest, then staging them will prove financially disastrous. Consider this factor too , if there is no advertising revenue, the TV channels will ignore these events thus depriving them off much needed exposure.

Seriously, IPL proves alluring to the money bags, it could sound the death knell for all the other sports.

The real reason why Bhajji's ban was overturned.

Wonder why CA succumbed?

Cricket Australia was anxious to have the charge dropped because it feared its board would be sued for a figure understood to be about $60 million if India quit the tour. India's broadcast partner, ESPN, owns the lucrative contract to beam cricket from Australia into the subcontinent. If ESPN sued successfully, it could take 10 years to recoup the losses, Cricket Australia told the players

Don't you get it? BCCI with its money power bought ESPN and ESPN now owned by BCCI threatened to sue.

Boohoo! Poor CA, poor Ponting, poor Symonds and by the way poor stump mike.

Yuck!

Manohar does a Jethmalini

Old timers may remember the ploy Ram Jethmalini used to defend Harshad Mehta.

For the benefit of those who missed it, here is a brief. Harshad Mehta was a hotshot stockbroker who was accused of bribing Narasimha Rao, our then PM. One crore rupees in a brief case was supposed to have changed hands. Mehta employed Jethmalini as his advocate. At a press conference Jethmalini physically proved that carrying one crore in a briefcase was impossible. I do not know whether this demo had any legal validity, however nothing more was heard.

Our man V R Manohar, the BCCI-appointed lawyer for defending Harbhajan seems to have taken a leaf out of Jethmalini’s book.

Here he is explaining how he brought upon Bhajji’s acquittal.

"It was also explained that Harbhajan knew Symonds only as an Australian player and nothing more about his race or religion,"

Where is the question of intent when there is no prior knowledge? Cheers Mr.Manohar you have blasted the allegations to kingdom come.

A copy of what the stump mike picked up

I reproduce what NDTV says is an exact word for word copy of the conversation between Harbhajan, Symonds, Hayden, Clark and Ponting

 

Symonds: We don't need it, do it to your teammates (on Harbhajan patting Brett Lee on his back with his bat)

Harbhajan: Audio inaudible

Symonds: Don't yell, go and yell at your teammates

Harbhajan: Audio inaudible

Symonds: (First part inaudible) what monkey, big monkey, you don't know what you've said.

Hayden: You know this is a S*** word, this is racial vilification. This is the second time you're doing this

Hayden: You don't know what you have done.

Harbhajan: Audio inaudible

(Audio inaudible when Sachin tries to calm things down)

Ponting to Harbhajan: (First part inaudible) You have had it, you've had it, mate!

Harbhajan to Ponting: He started it, not me.

(Audio inaudible when Ponting goes to Bucknor)

(Audio inaudible when Benson is talking to Harbhajan. Lip movement suggests Benson saying, "Did you say it?")

Harbhajan: (Audio inaudible but lip movement suggests) "No, no, I didn't say that, I didn't say anything."

 

 

One immediately notices that there is no Clark anywhere in this transcript. Unfortunately, to a rabid Indian fan, it looks like a set –up. Nevertheless, it is clear Harbhajan was abusive that a waiting Hayden, Symonds and the rest pounced upon.

 

The transcript shows Procter in poor light. He clearly has a warped sense of the law. In this he said-she said situation; he should have gone by the evidence. Instead, he concluded the lack of evidence in Harbhajan's defense as evidence of crime.  

 

Another person who comes of badly is Symonds. He was the instigator who knowing well Harbhajan's explosive temper set about riling him. Surely, if this wasn't deliberate then what was the neccesity for him to 'stick up for his friend' when Lee himself wasn't bothered. In addition, wants one to ask Symonds, tell me mate, what bothers you if Harbhajan pats Lee on his backside? Are you sticking it up there?

 

Pati Patni aur Woh!

Pardon my Hindi. I just wanted to draw your attention to the fact that Sri Lanka, who make up the trio in the tri-series, are in Australia and looking to redeem their reputation.

Avid cricket fans are likely to salivate as Sri Lanka not only beat India comprehensively but also went on to lose to Australia in the WC finals. All in all a cracker of an ODI series is in sight.

If we consider their WC form, then we cut a sorry figure, as both Australia and Sri Lanka are far ahead of us.

How many of you are bold enough to say that India is the favorite?

Technorati Tags: Tri-Series,ODI,India,Australia,Sri Lanka,WC

India- a worthy No.2?

Being a true sportsman,Ponting rained wholesome praise on India:

"It was an enjoyable series, a hard-fought contest over the last one month. India played some very good cricket and proved that they are the number two team in the world," Ponting said.

I feel it is a bit premature, India has to beat South Africa comprehensively to be a worthy No.2.

Do you agree?

 

Technorati Tags: ICC rankings,Cricket,India,Ponting,SA,Australia

Bhajji is toast

A stump mike 'transcript' evidence has caught the BCCI by surprise and the buzz doing the rounds is that the 'evidence' puts Harbhajan and even Sachin Tendulkar in poor light.

Indications are that the BCCI would refuse to accept it as evidence, however the question remains, whether their refusal stands up to legal scrutiny.

Looks like Harbhajan is toast.

A Way Out

It is unlikely that Harbhajan will escape unscathed. For one it will reflect adversely on all parties concerned.

If it were to happen, India and its cricketing body will stand accused of ‘flexing their financial muscles’. The Australian players will be pilloried for employing dirty tricks, in this case racism, to subjugate their opponents and the ICC will be slammed yet again for being weak- kneed.

Normally this sort of situation an acceptable political compromise is the norm. However, there is one uncompromising element in this mix, the Indian players. They are adamant that Harbhajan is innocent and unwilling to compromise. This adds a complexity to the situation as they have taken the high moral ground by excusing Brad Hogg.

How do you think they will resolve the situation?

 

Technorati Tags: Harbhajan,Symonds,racism,hearing,ICC,BCCI,Australia,India

Test matches earn more than ODI's

Here is an excerpt from an ECB media release.

The review concluded "excluding overheads and financial costs the average Test match generates a total contribution of about £1.5m for the club".

"On the same basis the average one-day international generates an average total contribution of £240k. 

I was under the impression that Test matches were a losing proposition. The truth is other wise. Both make money, however Tests score over ODI's.

ICC associate members oppose reduction

The associate members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) have opposed moves by India and Pakistan to reduce the number of teams at the next World Cup in 2011.

They allege, “what they actually want is reduce chances of their elimination at the preliminary rounds.

To ensure this, they have suggested only two groups of 14 teams, instead of the current four groups of four teams each.”

I believe the associate members. Do you?

The End Game

The Test series is winding down and Harbhajans ban coming up for review. The BCCI has started cranking up the pressure and as a first step; Procter’s ruling been made public and now the second step

IN AN ominous sign that Bollyline is about to turn toxic, Indian cricket powerbroker Lalit Modi has warned there will be Australian "casualties" from the Sydney Test.

It is an obvious attempt to remind the CAB and the players particularly the 'accusers' that they have a lot to lose. Undoubtedly, the ban will be overturned citing lack of corroborative evidence.

The End game is on.

IceRocket Tags: Racial abuse,Harbhajan,Symonds,CAB,BCCI,Ban,hearing,IPL

Tactical claims

Interesting end to the game today, the teams accused each other of playing for a draw.

India's opening batsmen Virender Sehwag accused the Australians of batting defensively because they were "scared" of losing while Australia's Matthew Hayden claimed the Indians had resorted to bowling wides to restrict their scoring opportunities.

Will India claim ‘moral superiority’ (victory) at the end of the series?

 

Technorati Tags: Indian,Australia,Sehwag,Hayden

Rethinking Azharuddin’s Captaincy

One off field event summed up my impression of Azharruddin’s captaincy. I remember a press conference, Azharuddin when asked about the Warne threat; replied that he has four people (batsmen) who can take care of him. This led me to consider him a Captain who largely relied on his players to come through or to be more exact expected his players to pull their weight.

However, Mark Taylor lists Azharuddin as one his favourite captains because, “The fields he set for spinners would be very good. He’d been captaining for some years before I did and I found those field settings imaginative and effective.”

I would have never associated the word imaginative with Azharuddin or his captaincy. (Despite his apparent lack of imagination, his taste (Sangeeta Bijlani) was impeccable). Maybe, I should revisit my opinion on Azharuddin

Would you rate Azharuddin’s captaincy as ‘imaginative’?

Technorati Tags: Captain,Cricket,captaincy,Azharuddin,Mark Taylor

Sachin needs to change to a lighter bat

I know that we have all discussed this threadbare in different forums. However, Spiro Zavos article “Sachin Tendulkar’s bat is too heavy” has some fresh insights. He argues that Sachin probably would have an even more imposing record with a lighter bat.

However, I’ve noticed that Tendulkar often misses with his cross bat shots, the cuts and the hooks that were easy pickings for Don Bradman. To me the reason for this is obvious. The bat Tendulkar uses is just too heavy to get up and then through with his cross bat to deal with the shorter deliveries. Unlike say Brian Lara or Don Bradman, Tendulkar does not make a huge number of massive double centuries. Again, I believe that the heavy bat just gets too heavy over the course of a long innings and he makes a mistake of timing he might not have made with a lighter bat.

I agree with Spiro Zavos, albeit with a difference. I think Sachin needs to change to a lighter bat.

Maybe it is due to wear and tear or even due to the minor changes he had made in his grip to prevent a recurrence of tennis elbow, it is evident that Sachins arms are not as steely as they were before.

Therefore, I posit that the recent spate of ‘played on’ dismissals are due to a combination of weakening forearms and a heavy bat.

Do you agree that Sachin needs to change to a lighter bat?

Technorati Tags: Sachin Tendulkar,Bat,Weight,Heavy,Cricket,India

Will IPL Kill Ranji and Duleep Trophy?

Our very own Kapil ‘ICL’ Dev think so.

I am really concerned if there would be interest left for Ranji and Duleep Trophy matches, the Irani up match, or the matches involving juniors. This way you are luring players into a world where the dazzle of big money can create a disturbing influence, he warned.

On the contrary, these tournaments will draw more players. It will be provide the ‘wannabes’ a platform to display their skills. Granted the money will attract them, nevertheless these tournaments will survive.

What do you say?

Technorati Tags: Cricket,IPL,ICL,Kapil Dev.Duleep Trophy,Ranji Trophy

ICC Contemplates Action Against Sunil Gavaskar

Amidst accusation of bowing to the BCCI, the ICC managed to wriggle out of the mess in Sydney. Despite other pressing affairs, they have now opened a new front; they have taken on Gavaskar in a belated bid to enforce discipline in their ranks.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is all set to take action against it's Cricket Committee chairman Sunil Gavaskar for his outburst against match referee Mike Procter, who had slapped a three-Test ban on Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for racist abuse.

Since I am not well versed in the ICC rules, I take it “they have a strong case against Gavaskar”. However, if the BCCI comes out in support of Gavaskar and ICC loses the case, is it another example of BCCI flexing its muscle?

IceRocket Tags: BCCI,ICC,Gavaskar

How Procter found Harbhajan guilty

I cannot make head or tail of Procter’s statement on Harbhajan ruling.

On one side, it seems he has arrived at the decision going by the evidence proffered. The problem is that all the corroborative evidence comes from the Australian side. That is outwardly logical but how does he negate the motivation. On the other side, he dismisses Tendulkar’s statement saying that he was nowhere near the scene of the ‘crime’.

Apart from this at the end, he says, “Once I had read the verdict to the players, I heard submissions from Chetan Chauhan and Dr.M.V.Sridhar. I gave them some thought five to ten minutes and then I imposed a penalty of a three Test-match ban.”

If we are to take the last statement at face value, it seems that hearing took just a few minutes, but then how does he account for the hearing that went past midnight.

Any conspiracy theories?

IceRocket Tags: Harbhajan,Symonds,monkey chants,racial abuse,India,Procter,Australia

ODI's - Dhoni and his 'select' boys have to deliver

Soulberry in his blog post King, Dhoni and Yuvraj muses on the controversy surrounding the omission of Ganguly from the ODI team.

Primarily the story doing the rounds in the media is that the physical trainer King’s report that the lower half of Ganguly could collapse (calf muscles?) caused Dhoni and Yuvraj argue against his inclusion.

Most of the media are reporting the same and Dhoni’s ill –advised press conference has made one believe that there could be some truth to the story, atleast the part played by Dhoni..

In principle, I am with Dhoni. As a Captain, he desired to have a team of his choice and the selectors have done the right thing in giving him just that.

Surprisingly Vengsarkar has also come out smelling roses and commended for supporting his Captain.

Now it is for Dhoni and the boys he has put his faith in to deliver.

Technorati Tags: ODI,India,Australia,Sri Lanka,Tri-series,Dhoni,Yuvraj,Ganguly

Adelaide Test - India goes with a makeshift Opener

Despite the openers, putting in better performance in the last Test, India has gone in with a makeshift opener. (At the time of writing, Irfan Pathan was already out for nine).

I fail to understand the logic behind this. The Perth Test had amply proved the value of genuine openers. Our openers averaged a partnership around 40’s, whereas Australian openers failed to average 30. The initial partnership undoubtedly contributed to the Indian win.

The decision to include five bowlers is a sound strategy. It would have a far greater impact if they included Karthick at the expense of Dhoni. In my estimation, Karthick matches Dhoni in wicket keeping skills. Additionally, he, Karthick, gives us the flexibility to bring in five bowlers without going in for a makeshift opener.

Will we rue this decision?

Technorati Tags: Adelaide,Test,Indian Eleven,Australia,Openers,Jaffer,Kaarthick,Dhoni,Pathan

Go with five bowlers

If we are serious about winning at Adelaide we need to have five bowlers. The best combination would have Karthick in place of Dhoni.

Karthick is ideal because he can open and obviously keep wickets.This will ensure that we don't go into a crucial Test match with a patently uncomfortable Dravid or an untried Irfan trying to stay afloat at the top.

Technorati Tags: cricket,dhoni

Technorati Tags: Kaarthick,Irfan,Indian Eleven,Adelaide

Hayden's 'surge' and 'counter' strategy.

Hayden has revealed that he will take an off-stump guard to counter our swing bowlers. Additionally he has indicated that he will be standing well outside the crease to negate the swing and look to walk down the pitch.

 

Now that Hayden has revealed 'all' here are some suggestions to counter his 'surge'.

 

An immediate strategy that comes to the mind is to bowl short –pitched deliveries. Another is to bowl Harbhajan first – up with the new- ball and disarm him with a doosra.

 

However, the best way to counter his 'surge' would be to bowl an in swinger that will sting his um…-nether regions.

 

Any suggestions?

 

England teases Australia

The ECB yesterday unveiled the logo for the 2009 Ashes series and along with it they are releasing a 'viral video' teasing the Australians about their 2005 Ashes loss.

 

It will be interesting to watch how the Australians react. I assume that they give a hiding that will leave the England 'smarting'?

 

 

Can you trust a grounds man's word?

Report suggests that the Adelaide pitch is a turner. Not that one distrusts the grounds man's word; it is just that one other worthy had spoken of a fast pitch last week. The pitch was so fast that the match ended in four days.

 

The knowledge and expertise exhibited by the one at Perth has heightened the regard one had for these Super soaker trundlers.

 

Nevertheless, one is still constrained to ask, can we trust the Adelaide grounds man? Is he as capable as the one in Perth?

 

If so, should we pack the side with our version of pace bowlers?

 

 

 

 

 

Glitch on the radar, Hayden's Challenge, Adelaide Test and all that.

One report carries it as glitch on the radar and another says it is a glitch in the radar. All said and done it was Hayden's way of saying the defeat at Perth was just a blip on the Aussie radar. As we all know Hayden is tireless player and tireless he is for in the same breath he has challenged India to prove their superiority at Adelaide.

 

Readers may remember it was just yesterday another and certainly a more garrulous former opener; Sidhu had challenged an honourable Indian selector. Its Hayden's turn today – I mean to challenge.

 

Of the two Hayden's challenge is more invigorating. Just imagine a shoot out between Sehwag and Hayden on Day 1.Better still imagine a shoot out between Sidhu and Hayden.

 

Dare to guess which way the ball would swing?

Tait shelves thunderbolts unsheathes reverse swing

Those of you, who thought Tait was capable of only bowling thunderbolts, be warned he can bowl a mean reverse swinging delivery.

 

Here is his skipper Ricky Ponting, working up lather:

 

"Tait also has the ability to bowl reverse-swing in Adelaide. With his low arm action and the amount of backspin he imparts on the ball, he usually makes it reverse swing more, and earlier, than other bowlers."

 

Good for you Tait, maybe a 170kmph reverse swinging ball will shore up your reputation.

 

 

Sidhu's hyperbole

Sidhu has challenged chairman of selectors Dileep Vengsarkar to an open public debate on Ganguly's omission.

 

"I challenge Mr Vengsarkar to an open debate. If he can convince me on why he dropped Ganguly then I will leave NDTV for a lifetime, otherwise he has to quit. You can't drop because you don't like somebody's face. Otherwise bring in Hema Malini," said Sidhu.

 

I urge Vengsarkar to take up the challenge and win.

 

1)      It will get rid of Sidhu for good.

2)      I prefer Priyanka Chopra playing for India.

 

How will Australia respond?

Having lost a Test, that too after playing in a most 'un' Australian manner, it would be interesting to watch Australia's response.

 

Will they return to their 'snarling' and 'warring' ways or will they continue in the present vein?

 

Personally, I would like Australia to continue their 'Perth' behaviour and respond thus

 

After losing the fourth Test of the 2005 Ashes series at Trent Bridge, Ponting's side went 874 days without experiencing another, including a record-equalling 16-Test winning streak that was ended at the WACA Ground on Saturday.

 

How would you like them to respond?

 

ODI squad – I am ambivalent

Laxman never had a chance and Dravid’s exclusion was expected. However Ganguly’s exclusion has come as a nasty surprise. My dear friend Niranjan has come out with a silly inflammatory statement as usual.

Now to the crux of the issue, have the selectors chosen the best possible ODI squad?

I would say, no and then yes.

No, because we have excluded Ganguly and saddled with a Yuvraj who has a game leg. Yes, because they have done a good job keeping an eye on the future.

There is one other reason, purely emotional, for my ambivalence. I feel it would be churlish to deny all those wonderful young men who won us the T20 World Cup.

Would you say that my emotional reasoning is justified?

Can sledging win you games?

Often the ECB and its assorted cohorts come out with statements that make you wonder whether they are living in the present.

 

Look at this recent example.

 

"Geoff Miller, the new national selector, says England will be allowed to sledge their opponents in next year's Ashes series, providing they do not go too far."

 

An incredible woolly headed statement. God save England if they believe that sledging is what it takes to win the Ashes.

WACA Win and Beyond

This is a most satisfying win. Not only because it was against Australia but also for the fact it was hard fought. There were battles, battles within battles and then the ultimate triumph.

To me the man of the match award should have gone to the WACA pitch. The hype surrounding it suckered the Australians to pack their side with four pacers, two of whom proved mere passengers. Australia could never recover from their ineffectiveness.

Luckily for India they got the best combination for the Test. I say luckily because, were he not the Captain, the hype surrounding the pitch was such, Kumble would have been replaced by a medium pacer.

As usual the umpires had a large say in deciding the winner. The Symonds decision knocked the wind out of Australia’s sail. If anything, it proved how bad umpiring can seal a team’s fate.

Need we say anything more about Laxman? This is the second time Laxman had a major part in denying them the record 17 consecutive wins. For Australia, Laxman and the No 17 are jinxed.

What does this win mean for India? Not much, it will keep their fans in good humor.
However, there are negatives, for example you can be sure that in order to accommodate Harbhajan and Irfan, Jaffer will have to make way. Worse one can already visualize Sehwag being deemed a bowler for the sake of balance in the team in the near future.

Altogether this victory has left us with more question than answers.

The curious case of the part time bowlers

There was a passage of play yesterday when Ponting used Michael Clarke and Symonds for an extended spell. It was an important phase of the innings as Laxman and Dhoni were the only recognised batsmen left. Yet Ponting bowled the part spinners for much of the afternoon

The theory floating around was that Ponting was using them to speed up the over rate and save himself from suspension.

I think escaping the suspension would have been the last thing on Ponting’s mind. His pacers Lee and Clark had bowled outstandingly through out and needed a breather. The obvious choice would have been Tait and one of part timers. Unfortunately, Tait was just a pale shadow of himself and Ponting had no other recourse but to fall back on his part timers.

In retrospect it helped Laxman and Dhoni settle down and enabled India to put up a daunting lead.

Dread and Hope at Perth

Day 3 at Perth, Australia need 348 runs to win and India need a further 8 wickets to bring up a victory.

Had it been 525 runs and 4 wickets, an Indian fan would have slept well. This one is a neither here nor there score, guaranteed to give him a sleepless night.

A day he will welcome with mixed emotions where he will be at once looking forward to the days play anticipating an Indian win and at the same time dread watching it fearing defeat. A 'thrishanka' swarg state.

All said and done an Indian fan knows that by day end the victor will be known, unfortunately by then he will have died a thousand deaths.

Will he be spared? Will India romp home?

Where is Tait?

He of the mighty thunderbolts.
The one who devours batsmen for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The slinger who was supposed to make the most isolated city in the world his own.
Where is he?
Back to sucking his thumb?

The Scoreboard at the WACA

51 years and still going strong, the WACA scoreboard should be classified an antique.

Will it record an Indian victory?

WACA SURPRISE

Surprise! For once the Australians are doing the running.

The Indians are already 170 runs ahead and even if they fall prey to their second innings malice, they are sure to set a score of 300 plus. Luckily for the Australians, their batting collapse has ensured they will have enough time to chase down whatever target the Indians set.

Apart from the usual imponderables in cricket, the match has been reduced to who can handle the pressure better. What Kumble had said about the WACA pitch found an echo in Gilchrist’s statement when he said that it is now reduced to sheer mental strength. Obviously the Aussies have that in plenty, but for once let us hope the Indians do the star turn.

WACA - Day 2 - Australia on the backfoot

India serves two exquisite delicacies on day two of the second Test against Australia at Perth:

 

1) Australia dismissed in just 50 overs.

 

2) Kumble's 600 th wicket and the victim is SYMONDS.

 

The reason I put Kumble's feat second was it was just a matter of time, a sure thing which was bound to happen if not today then tomorrow, whereas bowling out Australia in 50 overs is a rare occurrence.

 

Would you rank them differently?