with everything about recent test match stated in blogs and elsewhere covering almost all aspects...i am glad that my faith on Kumble was largely right when i posted "Challenges before Kumble"...
although its early days yet...but given his experience the job seemed nothing new to him...he turned out to be an aggressive captain quite contrary to many who thought he will be bit defensive in his approach...
i liked his approach and homework he did for the match and some points stands out, according to me, not necessarily in this order:
- he did not wanted to get distracted by media's bizarre selection reactions by dropping any of laxman or ganguly...coz he had faith in laxman and did not wanted him to sit out and we all know how one part of india reacts when ganguly is dropped...so by keeping the same line he steered cleared of all the tamasha which could have distracted him in his first test as captain and teams preparations for the first teast match. thats why he made the statement "yuvi have to wait" well ahead of first day of test match...so there wont be any kite flying and everyboday will remain focussed to the job and preparations...
- by giving more overs, than any test captain, to ganguly he made it clear to ganguly and everybody that he perceives his role in the team differently than many...
- by giving more overs to ganguly he caught pak off guard coz in first innings they just could not decide whether to attack or defend him and they played to kumble hands in second innings when they blindly decided that they will attack ganguly...triggering the collapse...
- by not giving enough overs at one stretch to harbhajan (specially in first innings) he clearly made the point to harbhajan that his bowling did not inspired that much confidence in him...that lead to improved showing of harbhajan in second innings...though i feel that he is still far away from his 'test' form (still in one day bowling mode..shooting down bowls on leg stump and not giving enough air and loop to the deliveries)...
- by being honest at press conference that he merely wanted to change ganguly's end and not taking the credit of great move that was there for his taking...it requires guts...
- the way he has backed dinesh is also remarkable coz thats what a player specially youngster looking to cement his place in the team wants, is the captains backing...and by backing him openly has thrown a gentle reminder to karthik that his performance is monitored...
what you say?
18 comments:
Perhaps by bringing ganguly on at a critical stage meant the Pakistan batsmen couldn't stop laughing and therefore they gave some wickets to him.
ha ha ha..UJ
truly thanksgiving day....
Superb... nice post... Kumble seems very clear in his thoughts which is a good sign.
uncle J rod... it took me 10 mins to write this comment as I couldn't stop laughing... so i assume your point has to be true :).
He is right-brained. Yes, I had guessed right.
scorpicity
there seems to be clarity both in thoughts and action of kumble and i guess thats why harsha bhogle in his recent column said that be prepared for more surprises...
dinnie
left or right J has unique sense of humor...
SP, I was referring to Kumble. I never heard Kumble's humor, though.
Hi Straightpoint (Pan)
Kumble used his team mates in a different way. He make experiments like Dhoni did in One days. No one can think that Ganguli can be asked to bowl with new ball, but he took chance and get success.
Bcoz Kumble has a long experience and have played under 5-7 captains and what he did, I think, were based on his past experience.
But still he should have faith on Yuvi.in place of Karthik...
Keep posting Pan
SP,
Your point about Bhajji's test form is true.
He is still stuck in the ODI mode.
SA,
you mean that yuvi should be made to open the innings??? this is the last thing India wants now...
OT,
i think kumble must have had a word with him after the test match and we might see different harbhajan in his favorite ground, eden.
Everyone loves Michael that is Yuvraj Singh. Only way to get him in the team is drop Dinesh karthik and ask YS to open. as simple as that.
welcome back ashu!! nice to have you here...
as i said somewhere if dk has to give way to yuvi...than i will ask dravid to open the innings...he has done it in past...and virtually doing it every other innings now...this will not burden yuvi with opening as this really is not his game...
Kumble had a great start to his captaincy. I see him staying there for some time.
DK has been India's most succesful test batsman this year - I dont think he can be dropped.
welcome q and thanks for your comments...
yes i dont see him getting toppled in near future...
if you read my post i am not for dropping DK... was just projecting hypothetical situation what if DK is dropped...
SP I know u're not in favour of dropping DK - I was responding the the rebel.
Can't argue with any of those points SP. They are straight and to the point.
Kumble impressed in his very first outing. This series is far from over and will provide opportunities to test him further. I expect Pakistan to come back hard with their bats in Kolkatta and Ganguly isn't a surprise weapon anymore. The second test will be an even bigger one, especially now that he has gone on record as saying he'd like to finish it up here itself.
Thus far, what we have seen is good and comforting to the basic Indian fan. We need a quiet period of growth after the shrill years of recent past.
you are right...SB
its time that we grow positively and silently coz its been so much of non-sense happening around it will do india mch needed favor...
...and i think kumble is the right man at right time happening...his assured and calming influence with vast experience can ensue just that...
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