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...?
the template of team india coach was more or less set by gary kirsten...
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...
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...
anil kumble...
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...
contrary to many beliefs... "only one team was playing with the spirit of game" 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...
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...
but as i said if only bcci and team think tank were bit more flexible and not obsessed with looking over the shoulder...
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or shall i say their short pitch problems...
our five wise men led ably by shrikanth the ‘cheeka’ who was known for his attacking batting came up with the idea to take the bull by its horns... so he called dravid back to save india from blushes against the perceived threat of short pitch bowling weapon that cricket world threatened to unleash on our youngsters...
must say dravid did his job the way only he could have done... the bowlers around world were so frightened to see him in team india that they forgot to use the weapon which was invented and marked for our youngsters only... the proof is evident by the fact that there was not even a single casualty of short pitch bowling since dravid returned...
what dravid did in these few odis... gary kirsten couldn't even manage to do in spite of being with team india for so long... so well done dravid!
but now that the age old short pitch bowling nemesis of our youngsters has been laid deep down in grave for never to surface again in future... the five wise men have asked dravid to take well deserved 'rest'...
youngsters of india can't thank him enough coz he came like a breath of fresh air that provided much needed oxygen to their sagging... ailing careers... they can breathe easy now... that the demon has been laid forever... for good...
hail five wise men! hail dravid!
take a bow!!
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can you show the footage of umar akmal's innings to our 'we always play our natural game' brigade...?
thank you in advance...
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i read this news on cricinfo in which gary kirsten noted that more than the complacency factor...fatigue is going to be the biggest challenge for team india in t20 world cup...
but my disagreement with gary is not on this statement but what he went ahead on stating that india will be playing with only two full time spinners in t20 world cup...
one i know he is talking about...pragyan ojha...
but harbhajan singh? full time spinner...? in t20 format...?
c'mon garry...after so much time you have spent with team india as a coach...i expected better assessment from you...
here are bowling performances of players in ipl 2009 so far...included in t20 world cup...for your reference...
click on image to enlarge...
now decide for yourself...who is part time bowler...who is full time...
the bowlers with lessor skills are not afraid to flight the ball...getting more purchase from the same pitches...getting more drift...and more importantly wickets...but the bowler with more than 500 international wickets and 600 first class wickets...is reluctant of doing the basic things even an average spinner is doing even in t20 games...is
bowling darts after darts...match after match...
why?
is he afraid...? is he more interested in protecting his so called 'the turbanator' image he has left long way behind...? does he even deserve to be there in t20 world cup squad...?
at least i don't think so...
ps:
was it me...or anyone else also noticed that in yesterday's match between mumbai indians and delhi daredevils...harbhajan appeared as if he was suffering from constipation...?
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हाल ही में संपंन्न भारत-ऑस्ट्रेलिया सीरीज के फ़ैसले भले ही इतिहास में दर्ज हो गये हों, जीत का जोश ठंडा हो गया हो, परंतु मेरे मन में अभी भी एक टीस उठ रही है जो एक जबाव तलाश रही है।
चयनकर्ता चयन के लिए सराहे गये और खिलाड़ी प्रदर्शन के लिए। किसी ने बल्लेबाजी को तो किसी ने गेंदबाजी कोश्रेय दिया। किसी ने शेत्ररक्षण को तो किसी ने टीम का मिला जुला प्रदर्शन बता कर इस जीत को अलंकृत किया।
परंतु इस मुकाम को पाने में किस की प्रेरणा थी, किसका निर्देशन रहा, किसी ने शायद सोचने भर की भी ज़रूरत नही समझी।
जी हाँ, मैं भारतीय टीम के 'द्रोणाचार्य' गेरी किर्स्टन की बात कर रहा हूँ। जिन्हे साक्षात होते हुए भी अद्र्श्य शक्ति मान लिया गया।
चैपल तो खूब चर्चित हुये...क्योंकि वो किसी ना किसी तुनकबाजी की वजह से सुर्ख़ियों में रहते थे। मीडिया और अख़बारों में भी उनके खूब चर्चे थे।
परन्तु गैरी मितभाषी हैं, प्रष्ट्भूमि में रहते हैं पर काम अच्छा कर रहे हैं। चोट ये भी उतनी जोर की मारते हैं पर आवाज नही करते।
फिर भी इस नाम की आवाज़ कहीं से नही आई...किसी ने इनकी सराहना में दो शब्द कहना भी उचित नही समझा।
क्या गेरी सचमुच इस अनकहे सम्मान के अधिकारी हैं?
आपकी राय जानना चाहूँगा।
English Translation
Dear English Readers,
The crux of the post is....
'The Unsung Hero' relates to recent indo-aus series where selectors and players were admired immensely, but the praise for one man was found missing everywhere. Not a single word was heard for his contribution behind the scene.
Yes, this is all about Gary Kirsten....
Through this post I want to know your comments if Gary should also be given some recognition for his contribution and efforts so far or not....
PS:
It is encouraging to see that you are taking interest in my Hindi posts also. Thank you very much.
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when i read this news in TOI about gary kirsten, particularly this highlighted portion:
Asked about what he can give to Indian cricket, the South African said "Having played the game at the highest level, I can add some value and my experience. There are experienced players in the team and together we can bring some very successful couple of years."
On what he would like to improve, he said "I think we need to talk about that behind closed doors. You know various strategies and hopefully you see results on the field but they are a special team and have some good performers.
its early days yet, but i think he will turn out more of backroom kinda guy...not media attention hugry like that certain darn guy, as soulberry would agree, who would have gone on and on what HE want to do, what will be HIS strategies and finally making dig at someone or other...
it also goes to show that if you are clear in what you will say and say it straight not even media can misquote you...that if you are prepared, confident about what you will be doing and how you will be doing...you dont have to shout from roof top to stuff theories in peoples head...coz the result will be there for all to see and it will give far more credibility to your profile...
as sidhu used to put it...
' you are not rewarded for aiming at target, you are rewarded for hitting the target'
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now that gary kirsten is the front runner for the post of team India coach...every one in media is having a field day on why we need foreigner for the post...don't we have any worthy at home to select...a foreigner will never understand our subcontinent culture...and so on...
now, i am just fed up of this national foreign coach debate and especially foreign coach will not understand our 'subcontinent culture'...
now what is subcontinent culture...is it this...
sir please come to nets we will give you dollies so that you will feel you are in good knick...
oh no sir, don't bowl with full steam in nets otherwise you will be exhausted by the time match will start...
out of form??? not getting enough runs???...dont worry sir...i have solution ready, please tie this 'taveej' in you arm and lo, your form will return with the ashirvad of baba shri 100000000001...
not comfortable facing short pitch stuff...sir...duck the same way you duck uncomfortable questions...sir...
bowling wides...no problem sir, i will ask umpire to shift stumps exactly to the place where your are bowling...
fielding drills...no problem sir...i will have two rounds of ground on your behalf...you just sit and enjoy sunshine...have ordered a glass of juice to freshen up you a bit...
catching problem??...sir the way you are catching sponsors, endorsements...this will certainly help in catching the ball...you just have to think it like endorsement is coming your way...
worrying about your place in side...sir i was master of 'political science' i have already met selectors and 'briefed' them about how 'committed' you are to over come your lack of form which is not good for just past few months...and within next couple months you will start showing some results...
done worry about the young lad sir...he is not a threat...he doesn't know how much "work, time and efforts" we are putting to be "where we are"...i have briefed this to our president also...he too understands it...sir be thick skinned and enjoy till it lasts...
if none of above...then i really don't know what to understand when one says about 'he wont understand our subcontinent culture' ....
please can someone explain...???
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