Category: Cricket

The Indian cricket team has been struggling to find an all rounder ever since Kapil Dev’s departure. Forget about a star bowler like Kapil. India badly needs someone who can score 3-50 runs and be counted to bowl 10 consistent overs in every match.

The Indian team management strategy of unearthing this elusive player is completely baffling. India has played three matches and not once has anyone who fits that profile been given his quota of overs to bowl. Venugopal Rao never got to bowl in the two matches he played. Then he was dumped from the team. Raina seems to have developed into a run out specialist. He gets to bowl the last over to give away the winning runs. Kinda like giving the young boy a candy. JP Yadav is busy warming the benches while Ganguly and Sehwag get to cover for the 5th bowler! Firstly, how can you unearth an all rounder unless you experiment with those who fit the profile?

India went into this series knowing fully well that the fifth bowler-all rounder slot was crucial. Then, we select a few newbies and never try them out! Why were these guys selected if the captain does not have the confidence to try them out? What kind of message does it send to these newcomers? In my opinion the captain must select a couple of bowlers who he thinks are the going to be his 5th, 6th and 7th bowling options and then make sure they bowl in every single match. That’s the only way they can identify this key player.

India won thanks to Dravid (so what’s new about it!). No sign of trying Venugopal Rao as an all rounder. Can’t see the point of having a batsman coming so low down the order if you don’t plan to use him as a bowler. Sounds like Raina is a favorite of Chappell and Dravid. Hopefully, he’ll deliver consistently. If he does, he can certainly seal his slot for the next World Cup.

In any case at least Dravid is consistent about using Sehwag as a bowler unlike Ganguly who had the habit using Sachin, Sehwag, Yuvraj and himself very infrequently. For instance, you’ll find Sachin bowling 10 overs in one match and not bowl at all for the next 3-4 games. Likewise for the others. Unless they are used regularly as bowlers we can’t count on them to play the role of the backup bowlers. Sounds like Dravid has firmed up on Sehwag as one of his backup bowlers.

The next match should be interesting with Ganguly back in the side probably at the expense of Raina, Venu Yuvraj or Kaif. Both Kaif and Yuvraj blew a good opportunity to cement their spot in the team. The WI match is hardly a test. The true test is against SL and particularly Muralitharan.

India start off the season with a “lousy” performance. I don’t understand the logic of playing Venugopal Rao in the all rounder slot and not being tried as a bowler. I guess the target was too small for the new captain to experiment. Thankfully he scored some runs to hold his spot at least for next match. With Laxman likely to come in the next match and Ganguly to follow in the one after, two slots from this team are sure to open up.

Jayasurya with a broken shoulder is good enough to stand up to the Indian bowling and take SL to victory. That speaks volumes about how pathetic our bowling is. As for the batting, Muralitharan is still a mystery for most Indian batsman (barring Sachin, Ganguly and Dravid).

At least for now I don’t see much change in India’s performance. The team is performing exactly as it did after the tour to Pakistan last year (2004).

VVS opening in one day games. Suresh Raina, Venugopal Rao two definite World Cup 2007 prospects in the Indian team. JP Yadav for the all-rounder spot. The end of Agarkar? — Sounds like Chappel had something to do with these changes? I suspect that with VVS opening, Dhoni might be retained for the slog in the last 15 overs. Something India has always struggled with.

Badani and Sriram (in particular) must be wondering what more they need to do to return.

Its pity that England barely put up a fight chasing 420 in the last innings. England needed a Rahul Dravid to play the anchor role!

Vaughan is hopelessly out of form and I suspect might end up in “Ganguly” mode as the Ashes progresses. Flintoff’s batting form is in bad shape too. Pieterson has sealed his position with two fine knocks. The Aussies have proved once again that they are an incredibly strong test side. I’ll be surprised if they loose even one test this series.

Man, what a start to the Ashes! Wonderful days play. I hope the series remains as engaging! I never expected England to bowl so well. The comeback by the Aussiesis is quite typical. McGrath is a genius. 500+ wickets and the guy is still so brilliant.

It will be really cool start to the Ashes if Engaland manages a victory here, perhaps with some heroics from Pieterson! Dream on 🙂

Aussie thulped England. When Gilchrist gets going, then all bets are off for the opposition. Gillespie returned to form too. Hayden badly needs a break. In general, I think the Aussies are a better test team than a one-day side. So having won the one-day series don’t be surprised if they make a clean sweep the test series. I don’t think England has the bowling depth to get Australia out twice. I think all this talk about Aussie vulnerability will be a thing of the past, once the Ashes get going. In any case, should be a good series.

Aussie lost their first ODI to England. What a comprehensive defeat! England has done a wonderful job and now have a huge psycological edge after winning the first ODI. The pressure is on the Aussies.

I think Aussies are making a mistake by persisting with the same team match after match. Gillespie needs to be replaced. While Hayden needs a break. Shaun Tait and Katich deserve to be brought in.

Its a pity the new rules had little impact on the match.