tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91537076400157655402024-03-13T12:51:50.417+05:30sharing some simple but STRAIGHT POINTS...straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.comBlogger535125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-8174853484607935292012-08-17T14:00:00.001+05:302012-08-17T19:11:10.570+05:30sree kp...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
while everybody is taking sides either with kp or ecb... one thing with which everyone seems to agree is that the kp-gate could have been managed better...behind closed doors...sans selective leaks...<br />
<br />
since kp-gate is flooded with inane articles...for...against...i don't want to waste much time in adding my two cents...<br />
<br />
having said that...however...i particularly liked shane warne's views that a parent body and captain should be capable enough to manage different personalities...characters...<br />
<br />
that its not important to be liked by team mates...as every player in the team is there to do a job...and its the job of management to work around players to achieve team goals...<br />
<br />
this is where strauss and ecb have failed in my view...<br />
<br />
we too have a case here that desperately need attention and i genuinely feel dhoni in general and bcci in particular have failed in managing a career...<br />
<br />
sree santh's...<br />
<br />
he is a character...he can be a drama queen...he can be all this and that...<br />
<br />
but he can bowl...<br />
<br />
when he bowls...the upright seam and swing is a delight...not only to fans but purists alike...<br />
<br />
he might pump fists returning back to his mark...he might appeal a bit long laced with drama...he might stare a batsmen on his follow through...but he is not the first bowler to do that...he will not be the last bowler to do that...<br />
<br />
he can go overboard at times...but one thing which is clear and indisputable...he wants wickets with every ball he bowls...he is an attacking bowler with a heart...<br />
<br />
he is what we see...but we don't necessarily see what he is...<br />
<br />
if only he is not judged by his every expression...every flux of his muscle...every delivery he bowls...his every move on and off field...<br />
<br />
if only we don't follow him like he is a terrorist that can explode a bomb any minute...we might still able to save a career...<br />
<br />
a bowler who can bowl...a bowler that team india needs so desperately...but don't want to admit...<br />
<br />
i hope and wish that when he makes a comeback...he would be given due space but more importantly the management will do away with the glasses tinted with skepticism whenever he is around...<br />
<br />
ps: thanks balajhi of @nbalajhi to rekindle that old flame on twitter... </div>
straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-65975848866269553822012-02-09T13:56:00.000+05:302012-02-09T14:51:53.429+05:30sehwag is the real god...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
one can question the failing eyes of rahul dravid... baying for the blood of vvs and his failing knees... one can even question sachin whom we fondly call cricket god...<br />
<br />
but no one can question sehwag...<br />
<br />
the moment you see him looking like a tool by playing one of the most daftly manufactured shots... you will, without fail, see someone saying "well... this is the way he plays..."<br />
<br />
we want everybody to come out of their comfort zone be it gambhir, dravid, vvs or even 'god' sachin... but we will always be ready to resign with "well this is how sehwag plays..."<br />
<br />
whenever some question is asked of a batsmen in international cricket... the very batsmen is expected to come-up with answers to show his mettle... to show his acumen... but with sehwag you keep laying an open bait with the knowledge that he will keep falling to that trap like a religious ritual...<br />
<br />
this reminds me of a famous joke (without hurting the sentiment of anybody...)<br />
<br />
there was this sardar who whenever saw a kela lying on the road exclaimed... "o yaar... aaj phir isspay phisalna padega..."<br />
<br />
viru praa ji... tussi real god ho ji...</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-41491990137342122792012-01-04T19:09:00.000+05:302012-01-04T19:09:02.275+05:30team india performace review...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
our bowlers need helpful conditions to be successful...<br />
<br />
our batsmen don't...<br />
<br /></div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-73565115919761569512011-12-09T12:03:00.001+05:302011-12-09T12:36:54.369+05:30viru's double...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE8wjd9sT5PdhLfMdoNEFBUyru3l_rApAfZ7H100p8EKO-1ZhiRBqjdQl2b-94T1ZCh5OfzAOd6lGp9zSrd72-Pzk0pU30uDUhkSh1rTqYYIKtn2qyBnL9xtbm6wU6Tbnbz19N12RmPg/s1600/viru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE8wjd9sT5PdhLfMdoNEFBUyru3l_rApAfZ7H100p8EKO-1ZhiRBqjdQl2b-94T1ZCh5OfzAOd6lGp9zSrd72-Pzk0pU30uDUhkSh1rTqYYIKtn2qyBnL9xtbm6wU6Tbnbz19N12RmPg/s1600/viru.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
here's to the inevitability of the record... and many more if he somehow finds odis interesting...</div>
</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-22049386694042622002011-11-30T13:59:00.001+05:302011-11-30T14:41:28.805+05:30what last 'draw' test tells us about team india chances in australia...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
thank you golandaaz of <a href="http://opinionsoncricket-india.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">'opinion of cricket'</a>... his latest post <a href="http://opinionsoncricket-india.blogspot.com/2011/11/india-v-australia-early-preview.html" target="_blank">"India v Australia - An Early Preview"</a> made me write at sp after a long time... <br />
<br />
i liked the way he concluded the post...<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
Not all wins are equal. Neither are losses. Some loses reveal a lot more than we are willing to read into. India's 4 Test match losses in England were not just shocking and humiliating but it also served an indicator of many collective missteps that no one is willing to talk about. Also a win-loss transaction is not a zero sum game. What England gained from the 4 wins, India lost far more than that. England simply confirmed their standing, India brushed the loss aside as "bad luck" and swept their real problems under the carpet. India are no longer as good as they were a year back and it will show in Australia.</blockquote>
<br />
specially the last line...
to me india is not as good as year back was so profoundly revealed in last test against west indies team... we somehow managed a 'draw' while weakened west india team was further weakened by injury to their captain sammy... we managed draw against west indies which was reduced to only three front line bowlers and a part timer in samuels at home on such a pan cake of a pitch where a debutant, well almost, in ashwin who is not even a proper batsman scored almost run a ball...<br />
<br />
imagine if sehwag not made those runs he did upfront at the pace only he scores... we either would have lost or played for a draw... and that's the pinching reality...<br />
<br />
it seems that its written in the contracts of our illustrated seniors that run making has to be left to sehwag they can just carry on doing things at their own pace and comfort...<br />
<br />
in england we suffered from this aspect more than anything... there was no one in the team that could have forced the issue or arrest the slump despite no one from our illustrated seniors looked out of form there...<br />
<br />
at the twilight of their careers they need the push from upfront more than ever and its not a joke if india looks like batting on different pitch once sehwag departs...
so our chances in australia lies how well sehwag plays for if he fails there we might have a repeat of england... in spite of having the experience of more than 37000 test runs and more than 100 centuries at our disposal between fab 3 at the other end and dhoni stubbornly refusing to improve as a test bat...</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-61490398340841363622011-08-20T11:19:00.000+05:302011-08-20T11:28:28.438+05:30warm-up games were better in my days...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
so, it seems, we have seen apple falling from tree and discovered the law of gravity...<br />
<br />
the parallel of above analogy for team india's beyond dismal performance has boiled down to warm up games...<br />
<br />
even the bcci has seen the light and asked for one more warm-up game before the boxing day test... and lo... all team india being slow starter problem will be solved... <br />
<br />
this thought it so nobel and yet so simple that i am surprised how we missed it...?<br />
<br />
more warm-up games...<br />
<br />
i am sure (not even) the second xi players (which is a norm now for warm up games) will give enough match practice to our team... they will indeed push us so hard that we will be properly warmed before the boxing day test... never mind the fact that if that was the case... we would have been giving the same medical treatment to england team by now that we have been receiving... from the second test onwards...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_i-would-go-to-war-with-dhoni-by-my-side-gary-kirsten_1556275" target="_blank">this reminds me of what gary kirsten said in his last public appearance before he took the offer of coaching south africa team...</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
Kirsten thought before he joined the team, the Indian team did not know how to prepare for a game.<br /><br />
“If
I had to rate it out of 10, I thought the way the Indian players
practised was about 1 or 2. Basically, what I realised was there was no
connection between preparation and play. We just upped the ante on our
preparation and we had real purpose to everything we did and then the
Indian team probably became the hardest working and preparation team in
the world. From 2 we went to 7 or 8.” </blockquote>
<br />
are we missing a real story here...? </div>
straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-63282457290949118982011-08-08T15:04:00.014+05:302011-08-08T20:10:22.889+05:30is dhoni getting exposed...?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
dhoni, the captain, has every trophy in his cupboard that can make any captain envious...<br />
<br />
in one day cricket he is undisputed king and one of the most valuable batsman...<br />
<br />
but when it comes to tests... the doubts start to creep in... with his keeping... and batting...<br />
<br />
dhoni wicket keeping of late is almost everything that has made kamran akmal the butt of all jokes...<br />
<br />
he is not going for catches... fumbling with regular takes... standing some steps back only to gift himself some much needed time... and before you jump on me that in english conditions keeper requires bit of time to cover for late movement... you obviously missed the west indies series...<br />
<br />
it screws our slip cordon is one side-effect... <br />
<br />
dhoni collecting ball below knee is a regular feature... as is ball dissecting him and first slip with him stuck on his feet...<br />
<br />
india could have still afforded his keeping services given his batting was as stable as is expected of wicket keeper batsman... but here dhoni is regressing fast to say the least...<br />
<br />
when india plays at full strength... the batting line up of viru, gambhir, dravid, sachin, vvs, raina/yuvi/che precede him... followed by a lower order crisis man harbhajan singh... who has played more match winning/turning innings than dhoni for quite a while...<br />
<br />
one can clearly see the class in batting line up... and invariably at least two out of first six batsmen clicks for india big time and we manage to score a decent total if not outright winning total to give our bowlers a chance to force result... so dhoni not scoring on consistent basis goes un-noticed... india winning more matches than it loses also glosses over dhoni poor form with bat...<br />
<br />
so when team india loses (like in this series with england)... or plays understrength team that requires dhoni to step up as batsman... he gets exposed...<br />
<br />
a lot of dhoni being the next gilchrist is based on his odi career...
while in tests he is yet to prove his credentials with reasonable
consistency... <br />
<br />
he was and never will be a technically sound test batsman... his play is based on percentage cricket... so when there is slightest movement in that percentage towards bowler... he obviously finds it difficult...<br />
<br />
even gilchrist was not technically accomplished batsman... a lot of his batting was hand eye coordination... but what differentiated him with dhoni is... he trusted his instincts... <br />
<br />
if a batting line up of viru, gambhir, dravid, sachinn, vvs, raina/yuvi/che, dhoni followed by bhajji cannot make dhoni confident enough to go for shots... be the player he promised... be the player he can be... wonder what will...</div>
straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-57706608990008693052011-08-06T13:48:00.003+05:302011-08-06T13:53:02.184+05:30dravid hyperbole...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
dravid contrary to perception is one of the most aggressive... most ruthless player one would come across...<br />
<br />
only his method is different...<br />
<br />
when players like sehwag will smash you to submission... dravid will kill you step by step to the point that you will stop seeing light... you will yearn for the mercy... he will sap your last ounce of energy... he will kill all the hope that gave you the reason to keep coming back... and then he will kill that reason too... slowly but surely...<br />
<br />
dravid is the kind of torture tale that one reads... that how late one kept his victim alive while torturing him by taking one limb at a time...<br />
<br />
but of late he looked like the victim of the walls that he built around himself... he would often get the start but then the torture was as equal on him as on his fans... he showed some sparks in between but those were too far too few...<br />
<br />
the questions were being asked and rightly so... so in that regard... he could not have timed his two centuries more perfectly... for his sagging career...<br />
<br />
suddenly you can see pundits are falling over one other to get the dravid pie... the wall that seen as crumbling has suddenly taken a new lease of life... like tendulkar he too seems to have got the 'second wind'... not many thought was possible given his struggles in doing things that was his second nature...<br />
<br />
but on the back of two successive centuries... now everybody is hailing him as the ultimate crisis man...some even went on to proclaim that he is the lone crisis man in the team... <br />
<br />
as if all this while when dravid wasn't performing... team india didn't face any crisis at all... <br />
<br />
all this while team virtually carried him on the hope that dravid will show his class... and when he has started to show it... is it necessary to praise his contribution at the cost of ones that helped him stay in the team for as long as he did... at the cost of those who gave all the space he needed to perform the way he is performing now...?<br />
<br />
why it is necessary to belittle the contribution of one to show the greatness of other...?<br />
<br />
ps: just saw the tweet that dravid is recalled to the one day team... well well... india, it seems, has already started preparation for next world cup...</div>
straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-71315870259613383192011-07-17T15:48:00.005+05:302011-07-17T16:18:44.235+05:30please save my blog...i have never played competitive cricket beyond club level... in my school and college days i used to be a decent opener and reasonable off spinner...<br />
<br />
i have never seen test cricket live from the ground... not even an one day international... just couple of first class games and some ipl games...<br />
<br />
i don't even know if i can even bowl a decent bowl at international level... or even face a worst international bowler...<br />
<br />
but i do dare to blog on cricket...<br />
<br />
i said dare... coz these days, whenever i feel disappointed about certain aspects of team india performances... try to argue a cricket point... i am forced to shut up... <br />
<br />
the words are being invented to describe my sheer ineptness...<br />
<br />
ipl chastity protector...<br />
<br />
twitter trigger happy fan... <br />
<br />
the world's no.1 cricket team fan...<br />
<br />
a keyboard warrior.. <br />
<br />
i have been made to stand on the desk... <i>"how dare you question the decision of team management... do you even understand how difficult it was...?" </i><br />
<br />
<i>"you armchair pundit... you twitter happy fan... you pass judgement sitting on lounge in the comforts of your home... do you even know what it takes to face a 90mph ball snorting at your face...?"</i><br />
<br />
i am losing confidence now...<br />
<br />
for i know the next time i even show slightest disappointment or try to make a point... they, those have the grip of international cricket, would bludgeon me to submission using truck loads of stats as sticks to show me how it was not possible and how your observation lacked any cricketing sense coz of your background...<br />
<br />
although most of them too have not faced a single dross of ishant... never shared a dressing room with players... never been a part of team management... but who are we to question them...?<br />
<br />
they are the ones who have been bestowed by almighty to set the guidelines that would tell me when to feel disappointed or elated with performances of individual player or team... i dearly follow...<br />
<br />
suddenly my observations, however genuine (obviously from my point only), have lost the right to be well argued... or dissented in conclusion... and to show my daredevilry and sheer ineptitude its necessary to call me names...<br />
<br />
please save me and my blog...<br />
<br />
i used to be a simple fan of team india... and believe me when i say that it is not my fault that the team i used to follow, that was not even in cricket radar not many years back, has now become world no.1 ranked test team... <br />
<br />
or is there already a name been invented for my predicament...?straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-57204486457274847872011-07-02T13:08:00.004+05:302011-07-02T15:54:12.258+05:30DRS is full proof...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">who says DRS is not 100% accurate...? that it is not full proof...?<br />
<br />
the problem is with us who can't see its success... <br />
<br />
ever since the DRS was conceived it has been 100% successful... its a myth that DRS was conceived to prevent obvious howlers... no it was not... <br />
<br />
if that was the case a third umpire could have simply whispered gently into the on-field umpires' ear <i>"mate you have made a howler there..."</i><br />
<br />
but that would have been too simple... too silent and so nonchalant... <br />
<br />
bet bureaucracy to come up with system that tries to catch right ear with left hand from the back of head... hence the DRS in its current state...<br />
<br />
so the teams were given only two chance to overcome so called 'howlers' and after that left on the mercies on same 'harpers' to cry over them...<br />
<br />
the drama was ensured... when DRS was implemented... and even when not... the spot light was conveniently shifted from the ineptness of on-field umpires to the ineptness of teams to use the DRS...<br />
<br />
now nobody cuss umpires who make howlers anymore... but the teams who are inapt at handling DRS...<br />
<br />
fans, pundits alike have burned and will continue to burn midnight oil to give their two cents on DRS... cameras will continue to strip umpires off their whites... will continue to provide fodder to commentators... pundits and fans alike to engage on duels... <br />
<br />
in any case broadcaster are laughing all the way to bank for they have got the tool that can inflate emotions... flare tempers... act as trigger to initiate endless duels...<br />
<br />
DRS continue to polarise world... to the extent that if you are not with DRS... you are against cricket...<br />
<br />
there is a saying in hindi... <i>"jooari jeetay ya na jeetay... par jooaa khilaane waala hamesha jeetta hai..."</i><br />
(those who gamble may or may not win... but the one who provide the gambling platform always win...)<br />
<br />
do you still think DRS is a failure...?</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-49485468081317033872011-06-24T12:14:00.000+05:302011-06-24T12:14:19.883+05:30are you ready to look ugly...?most of times even in test matches you get batting beauties for pitches... at least for first three days... where ball will come onto bat nicely... quick out field and lots of open spaces coz captains won't look 'attacking' if they don't place catching fielders even on most patta wickets... with not very threatening bowlers around... <br />
<br />
so you will get value for your shots... look very 'positive' and pundits will fall over one another in singing praises for you...<br />
<br />
but along with patta wickets sometimes you will encounter pitches where scoring will be difficult... the bounce will be uneven... ball will rise off length... and off same length refuse to rise above knee level... scoring off square will get increasingly difficult and you will realise the shots on bounce, you are so fond of playing, have dried up... there will be lots of nudges... the ball will land in slip cordon on one tip... the shots won't have the timing you are known for... even half decent bowlers will trouble you... basically the pitch where you will not feel in... until you are really in...<br />
<br />
what you will do...?<br />
<br />
are you ready to look ugly...?<br />
<br />
sabrina park was classic pitch of the mold where if you wanted to be in... you would have to be prepared to look ugly... the classic examination of not only your talent... temperament... but your humbleness in accepting the fact that boss... here i will have to give a quarter to bowlers first... <br />
<br />
kohli's little innings was classic example in this regard...<br />
<br />
he wanted to play flowing cover drives... he wanted to show that he can carry his odi form to the test arena... he wanted to show he can still be positive... but he was not ready to look ugly... despite being in clear discomfort against short balls... he wanted to show he was not... rather than let the phase pass by quietly letting the ball go above his shoulder by ducking humbly underneath... he wanted to show he can ride on it... <br />
<br />
forgetting that, sometime in a test match, ducking too is quite a good option... it not only wears the bowlers out quickly... but force him to try something different... seeing that you are not being as disturbed by it as he wanted you to be...<br />
<br />
not everybody can play like dravid... not in slower terms of scoring... but on how to let the moments of indiscretion pass without minimum harm... force bowlers to bowl to your strengths... and when you have stayed there enough... unleash yourself on tiring bowlers... or till match situation demands it to go for leather... <br />
<br />
there was live example in front of some of our players who still think... its rather better to look 'positive' than look... struggling... ugly...<br />
<br />
hope next time... when they will encounter similar situations... pitches... they will be better prepared... for not for nothing we call it... 'test' matches...straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-91976012201260481492011-06-23T10:35:00.003+05:302011-06-23T12:29:54.235+05:30when dady bat... kids watch...as you grow up... your body slows you down... what you used to do in a flash even in a subconscious state... increasingly requires a conscious effort... your reflexes that stayed by you like a true lover... start to part with you in search of a young companion...<br />
<br />
you start to look more and more ugly doing your job and youngsters around you only enhance the effect... of effort... the predicament... in the watchful, glaring eyes of camera... fans...<br />
<br />
in that light one has to see rahul dravid's latest 100... <br />
<br />
it is not a coincidence that of all the batsmen struggling to score on this pitch... there is just only one centurion... rahul dravid...<br />
<br />
the problem with class not being uprooted with youth of today in team india is that even when class is not at the top of its game... its giving you a hundred in most precarious situation... and who knows... win you match too that is played over five days of intense scrutiny...straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-24670863154496576792011-06-01T18:51:00.000+05:302011-06-01T18:51:06.109+05:30why runner for batsman...?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">since the icc cricket committee has come up with horse loads of recommendations... not allowing the runner to an injured batsman has been the most argued point on twitter and elsewhere...<br />
<br />
the most common reason given against discrimination of providing batsman a runner is... even bowlers get injured but an injured batsman is allowed to keep batting with a runner...<br />
<br />
now visualise this scenario...<br />
<br />
a runner is allowed to finish run-up for an injured bowler...<br />
<br />
the absurdity of above visual is enough to give you clue why an injured batsman is allowed a runner... amongst other sane reasons...</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-50867077819209226642011-05-05T12:16:00.005+05:302011-05-05T16:47:24.528+05:30will they 'uncap' some players again...?'uncap' players...?<br />
<br />
what does that means...? if this is your question... read on...<br />
<br />
the selection of west indies tour is upon us and in lieu of most of the senior players taking rest... there will be lots of places up for grabs in our odi outfit...<br />
<br />
last time when team india traveled for west indies/zimbabwe series... selectors rewarded many players india cap based on ipl performances... so much so that many saw it virtually as an ipl xi squad...<br />
<br />
now i am not against players making the natural progression from a t20 to an odi... but there is small matter that as soon as a player gets selected for team india (even if he will be nothing more than a tourist there) he becomes the capped player and his ipl base price just hits the roof top in a matter of mere an announcement...<br />
<br />
ask manish pandey... he is the running symbol of 'capping' discrimination...<br />
<br />
the guy suffered the most in ipl 4 auction while certain saurabh tiwari, for example, while doing much less than pandey in ipl as well as domestic circuit, walked laughing all the way to the bank... <br />
<br />
i just hope we are not brewing another 'pandey' with the upcoming selection...straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-49452310539242366272011-04-27T17:37:00.003+05:302011-04-27T17:58:28.813+05:30why duncan fletcher...?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">now that the news of duncan fletcher has started to sink in... i started to wonder whether fletcher was the only realistic candidate to coach team india left with as the reports filtering out wants me to believe...?<br />
<br />
the template of team india coach was more or less set by gary kirsten...<br />
<br />
a coach that has a formidable record... a fierce competitor but not on your face kinda competitor... a trier who will keep coming at you... likes only his work do the talking... likes to remain in background... allergic to media... should have seen the game from close quarters to understand and know the demands of modern game... the more recent one the better...<br />
<br />
duncan fletcher meets some of the requirements but if only india not kept its eyes set obsessively on foreign shores it could have easily found the man that fits the above template to the T...<br />
<br />
anil kumble...<br />
<br />
the man is one of the best match winner india has produced... a fierce competitor but never crossed the line... genuinely respected in cricketing circles... one of the architect of team india being numero uno... knows all players inside out... specially could have been the guiding influence on young players hence could have handled the imminent transition phase more aptly than the most... never runs to talk to media but when he does cricket world listens... <br />
<br />
contrary to many beliefs... <i>"only one team was playing with the spirit of game"</i> statement kumble made did more in capturing the gravity of the sydney-gate... made them rise from the slumber to act than the so called arm twisting methods of bcci...<br />
<br />
has seen the game evolved from as close quarters as one could get... and most importantly knows exactly where the heart and mind is... of himself and that of indian cricket...<br />
<br />
but as i said if only bcci and team think tank were bit more flexible and not obsessed with looking over the shoulder...</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-84407568994066142322011-04-25T11:56:00.007+05:302011-04-25T16:39:54.843+05:30in praise of 'pundits' of game...lets look at these bowling figures...<br />
<br />
4 0 28 0 7.00<br />
4 0 19 2 4.75 <br />
4 0 41 1 10.25<br />
4 0 28 2 7.00 <br />
4 0 28 1 7.00 <br />
4 0 14 2 3.50 <br />
<br />
if batsmen like sehwag, gayle, watson, yuvraj, dhoni, hussey etc are already not nightmares for bowlers... just release them the fear of losing wickets and you would shudder to think what they can do to you if you are a bowler... <br />
<br />
its like you are thrown in a cage full of tigers who are programmed to fear for nothing... there is just no place to hide... only hope is to summon all your skills to combat them for your survival... <br />
<br />
it takes balls to come up with figures like above... specially if you are a wrist spinner bowling with boundaries resembling 30 yards circle... <br />
<br />
you won't be wrong in assuming that pundits would be singing praises... falling over one another to record their own sound bites... and if not all that at least you would think that there would be some buzz about the bowler...<br />
<br />
but you won't even get a passing mention if your name happens to be amit mishra...<br />
<br />
what, instead, we are hearing pundits singing songs on the 'comebacks' of players like rohits, jadejas, valthatys in a format that encourages them to not care for their wickets...<br />
<br />
well done mushy...<br />
<br />
by the way... you didn't find your name mentioned even in the title of this post...straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-65804749952593749732011-04-03T12:24:00.008+05:302011-04-03T14:40:09.163+05:30world cupped...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1Be9xcl9mV9KskU7rVxLettwTpiY968XIY8F8dmEivfyzdsTPoNY300zimgtFwLMF1uqVaB8dU6qDBAuhYJvu9n9q2WFWUxL3bU7DswhBgtMJssGZMzf9tHcuMzTcv1CV972O7fzZuE/s1600/world-champions.jpg" /></center><br />
<br />
at 31 for 2... with sehwag and sachin back in pavilion... chasing the total never been chased in world cup finals history... the odds were stacked against team india...<br />
<br />
india needed to chase that total... it was not only the world champions title that was at stake... but it was whether next gen cricketers had it in them to see team india through from that precarious situation... <br />
<br />
and our next-gen did make an emphatic statement...<br />
<br />
yes we are ready...<br />
<br />
without them performing the way they did... the world champions title would have felt bit hollow... at least to me... <br />
<br />
the glorious tribute to sachin was not only the world cup title that was missing from his otherwise illustrious career... but the feeling that yes... the baton has been passed on to right hands... the legacy is being carried forward... that even if when some of the stalwarts will walk into the sunset... they will sleep peacefully... knowing very well that the this team will keep going... to overhaul many more milestones...<br />
<br />
and in this light i heard what kohli, who played a crucial role in soothing the nerves in middle, said after the world cup triumph..<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"sachin has carried us on his shoulders for 21 years... now its our turn to carry him..."</blockquote><br />
thank you sachin... thank you gary... thank you team india... thank you for the wonderful game.... <br />
<br />
well played sri lanka... but we played little better...</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-2609045203644848962011-03-14T13:45:00.003+05:302011-03-15T14:02:59.217+05:30my mom is smarter than boycott's mom...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">sometimes it just takes a simple question to force you see light... bring some much needed perspective...<br />
<br />
after the match against south africa... another tsunami has struck india... it is called <i>'why dhoni opted to bowl nehra...?'</i><br />
<br />
you walk around park... only to find self appointed postmortem surgeons making reports on india's chances at the world cup... <br />
<br />
you switch any channel and the question was forced on to your throat like salesman hard-sells knowing he is getting short on monthly target... <br />
<br />
frustrated by what was going on... my mom simply asked me...<br />
<br />
<i>didn't we win the t20 world cup when joginder sharma bowled last over...?</i></div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-41050975058152343522011-03-08T12:12:00.008+05:302011-03-15T14:03:19.577+05:30why this fixation with 'domination'...?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">look around almost everybody is so animatedly disappointed with team india's performance so far... the reason being...?<br />
<br />
we are not dominating while still winning... we should blast our opponents out in our quest to win world cup... <br />
<br />
since the fall of oz empire... no team can be called the true dominating team in the world... in fact any of first 5-6 teams can defeat one another on its day... and for no reason this world cup is being called the most open world cup so far...<br />
<br />
but still the narrative seems set... just dominate...<br />
<br />
as if the world cup trophy will value less if we were to win in anything less than the domination fashion... as if it is written in holy books of world cup that only the team that win... sorry blast its opponent is entitled to the world cup trophy...<br />
<br />
the better suggestion to those seeking domination from team india will be to watch or play cricket on play-station where they can make team india do what they want it to do on field... coz i am more than happy if we score just one run more or restrict them to just one run less in our way to the win the title... specially given the conditions this world cup is being played in... the resources and limitations we have in certain aspect of game like fielding etc...<br />
<br />
in fact i feel better that team india is winning more and more consistently despite not playing 'dominating cricket'... which means team india accept, understand and yet prevail over the limitations instead of cribbing about it... which is the beauty of sport and the team i follow...</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-81359929642890035922011-03-01T20:24:00.006+05:302011-03-15T14:03:39.891+05:30Shane Warne can be a genius but prediction can be a fixing too<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It can't be said for certain, why Andrew Strauss, the England captain, called Shane Warne a genius, when he got to know that Warney had already predicted the outcome of the India-England match (that it'll be a tie).<br />
<br />
One can be very unsure for a couple of reasons: <br />
<br />
1) it may be a sarcastic remark by Strauss<br />
<br />
2) it may be a careless remark, as he was quite saddened by the fact that England managed to pull a tie, when India seems to have given them the game in platter.<br />
<br />
3) it can be a remark to distract the world from the real doings beneath.<br />
<br />
Please don't look the third reason with a raised brow, even if you want to. <br />
<br />
As -- Can't it be another fixing, involving English and India? With Warne having some role to play in it. He may have been a 'better' who is close to the bookies.<br />
<br />
After all -- How is fixing in its basic form explained ? <br />
<br />
<b>Isn't it ensuring a particular outcome?</b><br />
<br />
This outcome was known to Warne before hand; how? that is a matter of investigation, and going thru ups and downs; the outcome known before hand is ensured by the two teams.<br />
<br />
This not skeptism. This's looking things with an equal eye.<br />
<br />
<b>Had the cricketing fraternity taken the news that casually, if it involved Pakistan?</b><br />
<br />
What Pakistani players have been accused of is staging an outcome on the bookie instructions; playing a dot ball here, balling a no ball there! How can it be different from the issue we are discussing now?<br />
<br />
No one is defending Pakistan; or blaming England or India. What is being put forth is: doesn't Shane Warne's remark, demand an investigation into the matter?<br />
<br />
Warne's prediction, can be a work of a genius; but can't there be a possiility of a fixing?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-69607997180815668362011-02-28T14:28:00.001+05:302011-03-15T14:03:59.208+05:30what is pathan doing in the team...?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">india's campaign is just two match old but one can already see a spot being wasted... the no.7 batsman...<br />
<br />
sachin, sehwag, gambhir, kohli, yuvi, dhoni is the batting order to die for and on our wickets you won't see pathan batting too often to make an impact... <br />
<br />
dhoni is not using him to 'up the ante' like yesterday match when the situation was ripe to steal some quick runs but decided to send yuvi instead of him... although holding kohli, a last match centurion, was a daft move in first place but that is beyond the scope of this post...<br />
<br />
the less said about his bowling the better... even dhoni don't have any confidence on his bowling and there you go... its not hard to see the point...<br />
<br />
as we go more into the business end of world cup... i guess india will have to rethink its strategy... keep on wasting a spot as a protection for 'those days' or continue to give itself an option of a specialist bowler to throw ball to...</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-48974993811896548112011-02-15T14:47:00.004+05:302011-03-15T14:04:17.284+05:30dhoni's message is loud and clear...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">if piyush chawla was looking at dhoni with some positive intent after his match winning performance in the warm-up match against australia... dhoni was quick to dispel that in no uncertain terms...<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"Well, he has done really well in whatever games he has played. But I think he needs to contribute with the bat. One of the main reasons for his selection was our need to have a specialist spinner who could also bat a bit. If he could bat a bit better and contribute 15-20 runs then it would be good for the side. But as a specialist spinner he has done well in whatever games he has played," Dhoni said.</blockquote><br />
what dhoni is trying to say is that he don't need a 'specialist bowler' who will take four wickets in successfully defending 200 odd runs...<br />
<br />
but what he needs is a 'specialist bowler' who can contribute with 15-20 odd runs with bat and if, in doing so, he doesn't take 4 odd wickets in defending a small total is cool with him...<br />
<br />
and we blamed bhajji for going defensive all this while...<br />
<br />
chawla... now you exactly know what you have to do in next warm-up game against new zealand...<br />
<br />
not with the ball you stupid...</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-38529460776252477852011-01-21T13:24:00.005+05:302011-03-15T14:04:32.169+05:30seven batsmen irony...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">during the wonderful debate on my last post - <a href="http://www.straightpoints.com/2011/01/first-thoughts-on-team-india-world-cup.html" target="_blank">first thoughts on team india world cup squad selection</a> - and even elsewhere one point that stands out is that almost everybody considers it given that only way to go out in this world cup or even in general is... pick seven batsmen... that, naturally, i find bit baffling... <br />
<br />
the first thing that crosses captain's mind whenever he sees tinge of grass on pitch is how to beef up the batting to cover for the exaggerated movement of ball swinging or seaming or both...<br />
<br />
going by the same count... why not then the same captain should not trust his batsmen on patta wickets to come good and aid his bowling instead where the bowlers will be reduced to the level of just being there to make up for the numbers...?<br />
<br />
i think not only the cricket but fans too in general are getting more and more defensive and don't demand positive or attacking cricket from their respective teams...<br />
<br />
so next time when you see a captain deploying a fielder at the rope after just one hit to the fence... think again before calling him a defensive captain...</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-42766111619686336132011-01-17T14:26:00.002+05:302011-03-15T14:04:48.164+05:30first thoughts on team india world cup squad selection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">i for once in perfect agreement with the world cup squad selection...<br />
<br />
the selection seems to be an attacking one... for a change they have trusted batsmen to deliver and beefed up bowling...<br />
<br />
i was looking for one inspired, instinctive selection that has come in the name of piyush chawla... that, to me, seems to be the case of a request coming from team management down there in south africa...<br />
<br />
now if only they play harbhajan at no.7 and chawla at no.8 with three pacers... and sehwag coming down at no.4 in middle order...<br />
<br />
so my starting eleven will be...<br />
<br />
sachin, gambhir, kohli, sehwag, raina, dhoni, bhajji, chawla, zaheer, nehra, munaf<br />
<br />
<b>the squad...</b><br />
MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, Piyush Chawla, R Ashwin<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>update:</b><br />
more than anything i am surprised and baffled at the appointment of sehwag as vice captain... why opt for a reluctant leader when you have gambhir or even raina in your squad...?</div>straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9153707640015765540.post-53499421474738346102011-01-16T13:36:00.000+05:302011-01-16T13:36:42.487+05:30can we 'cap' the age instead...?ganguly's so called 'unceremonious' exclusion from ipl-4 has once again initiated an age old debate... <br />
<br />
when a player should hang his boots...?<br />
<br />
the stakes in cricket has increased to such a level that of late, and not even at ipl only, there has been growing tendency to overstay the welcome... to stretch the sell-by date as much as possible... to squeeze every ounce of past laurels before being forced to say good bye and some don't even get that... they get 'rested' instead...<br />
<br />
now i am of the opinion that a champion player should get the deserving send off respecting and befitting the services he rendered to his respective country... <br />
<br />
but what if that champion player refuses to see the light...? <br />
<br />
ideal situation is that selectors should keep the team's interest in mind more than anything else... that a player can never be bigger than team's cause or the game itself... but we don't live in perfect world...<br />
<br />
so despite knowing the writing on wall... selector do hesitate to take that hard call... they don't want to be seen as villains... specially if that players in question has the potential to polarize fans and cricketing fraternity alike a la ganguly...<br />
<br />
why not 'cap' the age then...?<br />
<br />
lets say if 36 years is fixed for the retirement of a cricketer... everybody will know and reconcile to the fact that given date will be the last he will see his favorite player play... no over the top drama... no fuss...<br />
<br />
selectors knowing the fateful date in advance cannot shrug their shoulders that they have been caught off guard by the mass exodus...<br />
<br />
selectors knowing that the end-date is nearing can plan and groom players in advance without much bothering about the backlash of untimely 'rest' they will be forced to give some of the 'champion' players...<br />
<br />
no deserving player will see his youth and prime form getting killed coz one 'great' player thought that he can still continue to milk his 'services'...<br />
<br />
why not...?straight pointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.com15