Get your basics right - says TOI?

Look at this simplistic article by Times Of India -

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/quickies/1156427.cms

Now Greg, why don't you just read the last few pages (I have not understood the idea of breaking a 500 words article into 10 page slide show?) and get going?

TOI - everyone knows that one should bat well, bowl well, field well and "strategize" to win matches. No big Deal. You (if you have forgotten) are a news paper - tell us something which we do not know or just don't tell me anything.

I agree with you on the first few points (pager huh). India is at rock bottom and needs to pull up its socks before it has to qualify for the ICC championship.

As for the new format, it is just great. More on it in the next post

Ganguly - We need you.

Ganguly - we have lost you somewhere. We need you back.

We need the man, who was so sublime on the off side that you were second to GOD. We loved the way you caressed the ball past the packed off side field. We loved the way you came charging down the pitch for a spinner and hit the big one -- bigger than even Tendulkar's heavy bat could produce.

We need the man who beleived in himself and the team. The leader who made Steve go beserk, the champion who hit SL out of the park, the captain who set the tone in Aus.

We know you are out there somewhere. Come on... Come Back.

Beware - if you do not make a BIG comeback, your post is already in danger. Your ban has made it easier for us to see life without you. And if it turns out even a bit rosy - you will be out. We would then put you through the test of winning your place back. You can do it. I would like to beleive so.

New Rules for the ODI? My take

My take on this (as if it matters)

1. I am a bit apprehensive about the changes. Maybe it is the inertia for change. But I agree with Sachin that it will take sometime for all of us to actually figure this out. Not only the pros and cons, but overall usage of the rules. Lets wait and see.

2. This does add a bit of spice to the middle overs where everything was getting predictable.

3. On the contrary, the game is becoming more and more lop sided to teh batsmen. Good luck bowlers --- soon u all will be mere ball boys like Tennis -- Twenty Twenty is another nail in their coffin. I would like to see some more balance between the ball and the bat. how about allowing as many bouncers as possible? All 6 of them.

4. I do not sincerely think that this complicates the game. It does give more options to strategize to the captain. But complex is not the word I would go for

5. I still think that genuine all rounders like (Flinntoff, KP, Klusner) will give an edge to the side. Albeit, a lack of all rounder will no longer be that big a handicap.

6. The substitution rule also gives bowlers some more teeth, where you do not have to bowl in tandem with a part time bowler.

7. 20 overs of field restrictions will also mean more massacre from the likes of Hayden, Sehwags, Adams etc. But splitting the over could mean that I as a bowling captain can wait until likes of Laxman walk in to try out the quota of last 10 overs.

As I said, gives the captain (or the think tank) more options.Lets wait and seeBTW - anyone has any takes on how we can introduce any more bowler friendly rules?

Basically you will now need players (middle order) who can up the tempo of their game in a flash and will not have the luxury of "settling in".

Laxman, Kaif, Kumble (Yes as a batsman) cannot do that (so far).

To some extent Dravid and Mongia tooWhereas, Sehwag, Dhoni, Sachin, Ganguly, Harbhajan, Pathan, Zaheer can do it.

Most of the tailenders though cannot dig it in if required and Dhoni yet has to prove his utility with some more knocks.The fielding restrictions really make it interesting now.

This rule can be used by the bowling side to a lot of advantage.


My belief is that India lacks genuine all rounders since Kapil has retired.

We need to groom Irfan into a good all rounder. However most of the others vying for that spot (Manoj P, Robin Singh, Reetinder S, Anil Kumble etc) have at the most been utility players. They are either good batsmen who can bowl a bit or bowlers who sometimes have a good day with the bat.

I am not sure how we can actually breed all rounders, but surely we can groom some potential players. Irfan is the best in the lot as long as he can keep himself fit. Prem - do you know of any good budding prospects. "selector" has given quite a comprehensive list.

What is ur take on the breed per se?

Rain Rain Go away

Finally the rain stopped of what could have been an enticing battle between the giant Aussies and wannbees England.

It was not a clashes of the Titans per se, but the match was evenly poised and we lost an opportunity to witness a good game. Ok Whatever, let us move on.... we have a whole month of Aussie Eng cricket to bore ourselves with

I will be looking forward to Ashes.

Sachin - Leave him Alone

Media, Fans, Worshippers, Haters - Cut the CRAP.

Sachin -- Is he a GOD? -- NO - Is he a good player of the game -- YES -- Is he a good batsman -- YES -- Is he a great player -- I would say YES ... not because of his cricket abilities but because of his ability to stay out of any controversy.

The Media and the indian fan following are hunting for a Sachin story (pro Sachin or against him), but rarely you see him getting into that. I think he is too smart for that.

Why doesn't the media, past players, current players just leave him to do what he does? PLAY cricket. The Indian Fan following is "eccentric" and known for knee jerk reactions. We fans are unfair to the players. It is one thing to support a player or criticize a player, but most of them go beyond it. We have had incidents when stones are hurled at the players or their family. This is insane.I am OK with players calling someone GOD etc---- as long as the Player does not start beleiving that and keeps his / her feet on the ground.

I would RATHER condone the other lot (sometimes the same people actually) who cannot critique but can hurt a person. This IS UNFAIR.

BTW - We are going to do the same "godess" thing to Sania. Poor thing, she plays amazing , but if she cannot cope up with the media and the fan following, the wolves will kill her. She can give a call to Sachin and ask how to keep them at bay.....


Sachin -- IS HE OVER? it all depends on what you want him to be ---

One thing someone rightly mentioned is that he will probably walk into the team even today. All those who worship him should understand (even your GOD SRT said it) that there obviuosly will be a difference between his game years ago and now.

Those who pass their time by demonising him and saying that he never played for the team have to understand the same thing. His role in the team has changed. If the team asks him to bat out---he will and can bat out. If the team wants him to blast --he can and will hit out.


Icon or Champion Sportsman?

Who is required asks Rahul?Do you want a player who is an ideal person but does not deliver when it matters (I have not named examples to avoid debates) OR Do you require a John Mcenroe who curses on the court, breaks his raquet, abuses linesmen, but WINS the match....Hmmm -- interesting question.

My Take - Surely a Champion - I will love to have a Symonds in the team if he wins me matches (Do not get me wrong - Symonds is no Champion yet).

But on the same Yardstick - I disagree that Sachin is not a champion Sportsperson. He has won us Games. you ask did he win imp games? did he win us Finals? did he play at the crucial times?Well, sometimes he got you to the Finals.... didn't he? Remember game against Zim -- required to win in 40 overs --- Sharjhah --- required to beat the Run Rate ---


Now I am not a Sachin Worshipper or basher at all.

I LLLOOOOVVVVEEE watching good cricket and I have obviously relished when Tendlya has given a good beating to good bowlers.

BUTlook at this absurd article --- another one which misses the point http://cricket.indiatimes.com/qu...ies/ 1152669.cms

GUYS - Sachin, I would say will know better than anyone what to do. And who are these so called experts who are now saying Kapil and Chappel are not champions. huh?

Aussies take a pounding

The Australian team has suffered a major loss (they are just not used to
it) when they lost to Somerset today. This makes the series more
interesting now.

The England team must be thinking that they too can beat the Aussies.
But mind you Mike, it is not an easy job. All the eyes are on the Ashes
and everything that happens before that is presumed to be a weathercock
signal for the series. The upcoming One Dayers will also be looked upon
as a pre cursor to the main show. The mind games will now begin.

That is the best thing about Test Cricket, you have to strategize way
before the actual D Day. It is like a war, and not like a skirmish (one
dayers).

Regards,
@mit

Greg - Leave him alone

We all are so obsessed with our Cricket team that...