TESTing times for Cricket?

Test cricket could not possibly have been in a more competitive phase in the last few years as it is now with the differentiation between the top teams being as little as it has ever been. Unlike the past where the world has seen a categorical dominator for over a decade: be it the legendary West Indies side in the 70s & the 80s or the Steve Waugh & Ricky Ponting led Australian side, there are now more teams than just one playing great quality of cricket all over the world. 

Only if simple logic prevails, the popularity of test cricket should be more than ever before especially when some of the legends (Read Sachin Tendulkar & Rahul Dravid) are at the peak of their game and approaching milestones that will remain insurmountable for years to come and thus you'd imagine hysteria inundating a Cricket crazy nation where fans would go berserk to occupy any possible space at the Eden.

Empty Eden! Nooooo.....

Even the round the clock ballyhooing by the Indian media around Tendulkar's hundred wasn't good enough to woo fans to the ground as is clearly indicated by the disappointing turnout at the Eden which gives the lowdown that there are serious issues surrounding Test Cricket. There could be multiple reasons as to why Eden was such a depressing sight. Maybe an Australia or England touring could have made some difference to the turnout but shouldn't the sheer presence of Indian team have been enticing enough for congregation from all over Kolkata?    

To suggest that Test Cricket is dead in parts of the world while is still hyperbolic, it should entail the concerned authorities to cogitate and incorporate certain measures for revival of Test Cricket for it will always remain the purest form of the game.  

Pakistan win, India injury laden!

Pakistan today arrested the losing streak of the sub-continent teams in tests as they completed a seven-wicket victory over a much improved Zimbabwe. All Pakistan needed was to end the baffling stand between Taibu and Jarvis which resisted their bowling attack for 27.3 overs and 66 runs as Zimbabwe folded for a mere 141 in the second innings setting Pak a target of only 88 runs. To their credit, Zimbabwe picked up three wickets in Pak's second innings but the target was too insignificant to cause any panic in the visitors' camp. Debutante Aizaz Cheema made an impressive start to his career finishing with match figures of 8-103. Mohammed Hafeez was adjudged Man of the Match for his all round performance (century and 4 wickets).

Among other news, Tendulkar's injured toe ruled him out of the remainder of the ODI series making way for S. Badrinath. Alongside some rotten luck on this tour, India has had a string of injuries to its players with Tendulkar being the latest to join the list. Rohit Sharma was also ruled out of the series owing to injury to his index finger in the first ODI. Manoj Tiwari was named his replacement. Ahead of the second ODI, India would be desperately hoping for an injury free, DRS (Dravid Removal System) free game in quest of their maiden win on this tour.

A win still eludes India!

After The Great Indian Massacre in tests, came three straight wins against the county teams which not only uplifted the spirit of the injured, hurt, incomplete and clueless Indian team but also gave a reason for millions of its followers to look forward to the one off T20 and the ODI series that follows. And the atmosphere at the refurbished Old Trafford did suggest that the past was forgotten as Indian fans flocked in to witness what turned out to be a contest worth waiting for. 

England did look a better side on paper and indeed in the match but only marginally. While Alex Hales and Jos Butler made their T20 debuts for the hosts, Ajinkya Rahane and veteran Rahul Dravid did so for the visitors. MSD called it right and without the slightest doubt in his mind opted to bat first on a wicket which in the opinion of Wasim Akram wasn't tailored for a high scoring match.

The Indian innings started with two new openers, Parthiv Patel and the debutant Rahane looking confident to take the attack to the opposition. Rahane didn't seem like was playing his first match and played some exquisite shots to provide a much needed momentum to the Indian innings from the outset. Patel however didn't last long and perished to a slower delivery from Dernbach which brought to the crease India's best batsman on the tour, Rahul Dravid who at the start looked edgy but stunned everyone by smacking Samit Patel for three consecutive sixes. Meanwhile, boundaries kept flowing from Rahane's bat as he reached his 50. England then bounced back with three quick wickets to reduce India from 104-1 to 108-4. Dernbach's 4-22 triggered the Indian collapse and only thanks to Suresh Raina's cameo in the end that India managed to put up a decent 165 on the board. 

England didn't have the best of starts as Hales was caught in front of the stumps of the second ball of their innings which brought the dangerous Pietersen at the crease. The Pietersen-Kieswetter stand had started to look ominous before Kieswetter was dismissed by Munaf and only three runs later Dhoni's brilliant stumping off the part-timer Kohli got rid of Pietersen. Morgan however played a very sensible knock and guided the chase exceptionally well alongwith Bopara who didn't quite match Morgan's flair. Their partnership worked 73 runs before Munaf had Morgan held by Rohit Sharma. Morgan had almost done the job for England scoring 49 with 7 fours and a six at a strike rate of over 180. The match was well in balance at this point with England still needing 32 runs in 39 balls and Bopara and Samit Patel at the crease. Both played sensibly leaving only 13 runs to be scored off the final two overs. Munaf Patel bowled an excellent 19th over conceding only 3 runs changing the equation to 10 runs off the last over. Vinay Kumar started the final over with a wide and the next three deliveries getting hit for boundaries by a calm headed Samit Patel resulting in England's win in a close game. 

Jade Dernbach was adjudged Man of the Match!          

For all Rahul Dravid fans!

This video is a collection of some of his photos. A real treat for all Rahul Dravid fans!

Can Dravid avoid a whitewash?

For quite some time now, India have never looked like the side to be at the receiving end of a series whitewash but such has been the whiphand of England in the series that what was not even a fleeting thought in anyone's mind before the start of the series looks very likely. But this is still only very likely not an affirmation and with 'The Wall' still standing tall that may well only be a possibility. What is baffling to the mind is Indian batting is indeed not as bad as the series has made it look like. Yes, it is vulnerable to the short-pitched stuff, yes it is awkward in seaming conditions but not that bad to not even make 300 on the same pitches where the opposition has scored over 500.

With two days still to go in this test, much depends on how the batsmen or the tail plays around Dravid. It will be nothing short of a miracle if India manages to avoid the follow on. Doubts about Gambhir persist, but if he does come out and bat it will be a huge relief for India. The first session like always is extremely crucial and  Dravid and MSD (the two highest run-getters for India in the series) are the most capable of batting it out. If India can even stretch it past tea somehow, this test may well be the saving grace (desperately hoping that we put up an improved second-innings show)

A week that was!

A lot has happened and changed in the last week as India who at the beginning of the series didn't look like the minnows they have been made to look by an unwavering English side was forced to throw in the towel and England for the first time in the history became the World Test Champions. And I use the tag minnows for this Indian team which has looked horrendously vulnerable in English conditions. Two of the three test matches finished with more than a day to spare but one factor remained constant in all the three matches - huge margin of defeat. It seemed like England had already won the battle way before it had even begun. The last time Indians looked this badly defeated and were defeated this badly was when they toured Australia in 1999. What this series has also done is brought to surface the need to make pitches in India conducive to seam bowling which sort of got dumped in the last few years owing to India's better performance overseas. 

There's a very interesting battle going in the sub-continent where Australia is playing Sri Lanka. While SL comprehensively swept the T20 series 2-0, Australia is giving Lanka a dose of their own medicine in the one-dayers having won both the matches played so far and looking menacing as ever and will be eager to clinch the series. The one day series will be followed by Test series where SL have a clear advantage playing in their backyard a weakened Australian side. 

The Zimbabwe-Bangladesh series (completely overshadowed by the other two series and naturally so) witnessed Zimbabwe's historic return to the test arena with a thumping 130 run win over the ever so regressive Bangladesh. Zimbabwe's win was marked by centuries from Masakadza and Taylor and impressive show by the debutantes Jarvis and Vitori each picking 5 wickets each. Zimbabwe's good form extended in the one dayers with the hosts leading the series 2-0 and look well on course to win the series.    

Can India stop England?

There is something else far more serious and intense which has overshadowed all the build up to this very crucial Test which may well be the final block in England's way to the Numero Uno spot in World Test Cricket - riots. However it is less likely that the widespread outrage will affect the playing spirit of both the countries.

While India will be desperately looking to bring about a spin in their fortunes, England will not let them have it that easy. Indians have been completely outplayed by England in all the departments in the last two tests and the two-day game against the Northants also didn't do them much good. The Indian bowling attack in absence of Zak will have an uphill task and will need to bowl their hearts out if they want to stand any chance of restricting the English batting to a low total. Sehwag's return definitely comes in as a much needed relief at the top but it will be interesting to see how the rest of the batsmen perform. The team that boasts of arguably the best batting lineup in the world has failed to make even 300 in all the innings thus far.

England with two comprehensive victories are oozing in confidence and will play out of their skins to oust India as the new Champions in Test Cricket. They just need to carry their momentum in this test and will spell trouble for India. England will play with only one change as Bopara replaces injured Trott. This England side is indeed strong but not unbeatable and are quite vulnerable when chasing targets as their recent history suggests.

Key Players:

India - Sehwag, Dravid, Sreesanth

England - Pietersen, Bell, Broad,

    

Dravid announces retirement from ODIs and T20!!

Cometh the hour, cometh the man! The phrase hitherto been generously used for the 'selfless' Rahul Dravid who has always put team's interests above his own in all formats of the game, is going to have to be conferred upon someone else (atleast in the One day format) as he announced his retirement post the England series.

Quite evident from the announcement is his dumbfoundment at the recall as if suggesting that he has had enough of 'you call me only when you need me' game which only results in a 'win-loss' situation in favour of BCCI and thus many will agree that the timing of the announcement was just right before he got snubbed again from the one-dayers at home (Flat tracks and batsmen ain't really tested) later this year. 

Dravid's illustrious ODI career has largely been overshadowed by the genius of Little Master and has had to work hard, become multi-skilled to cement his place in the One-day format. He has always been the supporting hero who went unnoticed most of the times because he lacked the flair of a Tendulkar or a Sehwag but always was the first one to put his hand up in the interests of the team, be it keeping wickets or bat at different positions. Scoring over 10000 runs at an average of almost 40 and S/R of over 70 for a player who has always been labelled as a 'Test Player' is no mean feat.

As disappointed a Dravidian (term used for hardcore Dravid fans) I am today with his retirement I am happy that he will continue to render his selfless services in Test Cricket. 

Dravid called back to the ODI Squad!

A surprisingly good news for all the Dravid fans as 'The Wall' makes a comeback to the ODI Squad against  England. Dravid, who in the intial years was considered 'misfit' for the one-day format of the game, enjoyed great success as a batsman scoring over 10000 Runs in One-dayers. He was last recalled for the Champions Trophy in South Africa to strengthen the inexperienced middle order and was dropped six matches later to be recalled again only now when the batsmen have been tested under seaming conditions. The other marked changes in the ODI squad include omissions of Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh owing to their respective injuries. Yuvraj Singh has not played an ODI since World Cup as he missed the WI tour also due to chest infection. Sehwag has been named the vice-captain.      

Here's a video comprising some of the most weird dismissals in Cricket..

Finally, I am Blogging!!

It was on my way back home from work yesterday, on the bus and in an interesting conversation with a friend/colleague (who also blogs) that the idea of blogging struck me the way it never did before. It wasn't as if it was an alien concept to me but just that too many questions would hover around each time I thought of taking up blogging in the past. What to blog about? Am I a good enough writer to blog? were questions and fears that remained unanswered and unconquered for a long time until yesterday when I relinquished all the apprehensions and decided to write about what interests me the most in life, my passion - Cricket. My profession (Human Resources) is in no way connected with Cricket and this serves as an ideal platform for me to express views and connect with even crazier, strongly opinionated fans of this glorious sport. It's not just Indian Cricket that I find refuge in but also love the way it is played in different parts of the world. The Cricket season is at its busiest the world over and my attempt will be to keep pace with it. 

PS- Your comments, suggestions will only make me a better blogger!!