3 Down, 1 To Go!!!

After closely following the ODI series Vs Pakistan, I for a moment felt, if cricket has moved back to the era of 80’s? Oh yeah, 250 was the highest score in 3 matches. If you did not watch the games and simply read the scorecards, numbers as 157, 167, 165, 227 etc., are sure to raise the suspicion, did they play in dustbowl?

Never mind. You can be confident that cricket was not played in dustbowls. Few changes to playing rules (Only 15 overs of power play instead of 20, 2 new balls from each end, Only 4 fielders allowed outside the 30 yard circle during non-power play overs) and little effort from the curators to provide lively tracks – ODI Cricket has moved to a new era!!! Because they were all India-Pakistan matches, stadiums were mostly full. Otherwise empty stands are sure to rule ODI, if scores less than 200 are regular feature. In other words, the seeds are sown to bring curtains to ODI cricket. Wait!!! I hear somebody say - it was already done with the inception of T20 and Franchise Leagues. Let’s do this topic another day.

As a cricket lover, I thoroughly enjoyed watching these games. After all I’m very much fatigued watching non-stop run scoring and slam-bang cricket (no respect for bowler whatsoever) for some time now (especially in subcontinent). And these games when ball did the talking, it sure brought relief. Also I should say I was little startled by the EFFECT of rule changes. I honestly did not expect the impact of 2 new balls coupled with more men inside the circle to be this BIG. However, it still remains to be seen as how the run rate pattern would be in a typical sub-continent surface.

I’m sure it is due to the tours of South Africa, New Zealand, England, Australia and World Cup 2015 (at Australia-New Zealand) BCCI has moved on a rapid pace to change the nature of the tracks.  And they did not mind the temporary loses. Also they did not bother chopping few heads in the name of World Cup 2015. If all this is done with that vision – BCCI, take a bow!!! Also please rub this attitude in Test Cricket too.

After watching this series, I’m definitely excited by the arrival of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shami Ahmed. On a circumspect note, I tend to think two new balls (couple with surface) is what showing Bhuvneshwar Kumar in better light. After all, the new ball stays newer for a longer time than usual that assists the likes of B Kumar good. I think it is for this same reason Dhoni finished B Kumar in the final ODI as early as possible. Anyways, we will have a good idea when young Kumar features in Test Cricket. With respect to Shami Ahmed, I personally feel he is more in the mold of Ishant Sharma (bowling predominantly back of length deliveries). I just hope he is not as unlucky as Ishant. The good thing about Shami is he tried bowling Yorkers towards the end. I’ve been screaming for a while that India should use this opportunity of 4 T20’s and 8 ODI’s to narrow down the bowling resources for the Test series against Australia. At the half way stage, I’m definitely delighted by the promises offered by Kumar and Ahmed. In the same line, I would have been happier had the selectors tried a new spinner (like Jalaj Saxena) instead of Ashwin for the England ODI’s. In other words, Ashwin deserves a break for the non-stop cricket he has been playing all along. And India needs to validate the spin cupboard.

Sehwag Axe

Sehwag axe was on the cards for a while now. Especially Dhoni’s announcement as skipper for the T20’s (despite World T20 defeat) against England and Pakistan confirmed the axe. The move of selectors pursuing with Dhoni made the statement, “The New India to be built around Dhoni!!!” Sehwag’s tiff with Dhoni hardly helps the Delhi Marauder in the large scheme of things. This day, it turned reality. First he was dropped from T20 playing XI, then dropped from the T20 squad, then dropped from the ODI XI and now dropped from the ODI squad too. Sehwag’s poor performance made the exit painless for Dhoni & Selectors as they could avoid the public wrath. I’m sure his days are numbered in Test Cricket too, unless he stages a grand come back in all formats when the head of administration changes. I’m sure Gambir must be feeling the pinch already. I’ve no doubts Gambir will be dropped starting from the first ODI (if not after) against England. It is very evident India need to play 5 bowlers (B Kumar, S Ahmed, Ishanth Sharma, Ashwin and Jadeja) in the revised playing conditions/rules. Dhoni will take the 6^th spot. That leaves, India to play only 5 batsman. Of the 5, Kohli, Raina and Yuvraj Singh are automatic selections. That leaves Pujara, Rahane, Rohit Sharma and Gambir to fight it out for 2 spots. It will be insane to drop your best batsman (especially when he was called up as Save Our Soul measure). Which means Gambir will pave way for Rahane as Rahane has warmed the bench long enough.

For those who think Sehwag deserve a chance as much as Rohit Sharma in the Squad - If Rohit Sharma is regularly benched, nobody is going to care much. However the same is not possible with Sehwag. The management will be compelled to answer many questions for every game Sehwag not selected and India lose it.

Bottom line: Zaheer Khan, Tendulkar, Sehwag and Gambir featured in the CB Series at Australia. A year now, it is 3 down and 1 to go!!

Dinesh

Cricket Lover

"A Ton in Vain" made SENSE...

I simply could not believe the events that unfolded at Chepauk on Sunday (30^th Dec 2012).  By the way, I still cannot believe what happened last time I was in Chepauk to watch an India – Pakistan (ODI) encounter. It was 1997. I should say I was lucky to have got the tickets. I was sitting in the stands alongside my friends. A jam packed stadium chanting “Gumthalakkadi gala gala gala… ooh aah ooh aah” was blowing away the roof top. By the way, none knew the meaning of this phrase.

The high octane crowd was all set to witness their home team thrash the archrivals. But then nobody knew that Saeed Anwar had other plans. Thanks to his cramps/injury that aided him a by-runner to take on the sweltering heat & humidity of the Special Chennai Summer (more than the Indian attack). In the end, he badly bruised the home team with a masterful 194 that still remain vivid in my eyes. Not to mention the three consecutive sixes he hammered Anil Kumble. In other words, Saeed Anwar simply executed the Indian attack this day. The real beauty was the quick turnaround of the crowd’s attitude. Rather booing for the home team’s failure, a wise crowd quickly started acknowledging Saeed Anwar’s mastery. For a moment, it appeared as though Pakistan was playing in Pakistan. Not to let down the fans, the home side fought brave (despite early exit of Tendulkar) in the mammoth chase of 327. Rahul Dravid essayed a beautiful 100 in the company of Vinod Kambli. Robin Singh tried his best to create some false hopes towards the end. Anyways, a fitting result for a fitting innings. And, the record stood tall for the highest individual score for more than a decade.

After 13 years, Chepauk produced yet another remarkable innings, in an India-Pakistan encounter. This time from the Indian camp. It was easily one of the best Captain’s knock (Dhoni innings too) that I’ve witnessed in some years of watching cricket. Tottering at 29/5, in walked M.S. Dhoni to play an innings totally out of character. May be, this has become his new character in the recent days. After all, the 99 he scored against England in the final Test came under similar circumstances with a similar structure. A very laborious start mostly in the survival mode, then raising hopes to live thru the day (and living up to it), managing useful partnerships with Raina and Ashwin, eventually launching himself to a blistering finish to score 113 that took India past 225. This surely goes a notch higher than the World Cup Finale. Unfortunately, a historical innings did not change the course. Pakistan remained victorious yet another time at Chepauk. For convenience I’m ignoring Tendulkar’s mastery. If you take that into account, then Pakistan prevails over India at Chepauk irrespective of the format. Oh yeah, they still need to play a T20 here for confirmation.

I’m able to observe some refreshing changes in Indian Cricket. Of the 4 T20’s and 1 ODI played in the recent days, the least 3 of them were played in lively tracks. The selectors showed the willingness to move forward by dropping Sehwag in the T20s. However, I was pleasantly surprised when Ravindra Jadeja was dropped for the last T20 and the first ODI against Pakistan. Usually that doesn’t happen, considering he got into the Test lineup, soon he was drafted into the squad. Again, I won’t be surprised if he comes in place of Rohit Sharma for the second ODI. It is a pity Rahane keeps warming the bench even in ODIs. It is a blessing in disguise that Tiwary got injured in domestic cricket. Otherwise he would have given him company in the perennial bench warmer list.

I would be personally delighted if India fields the following XI for the second ODI.

Sehwag/Gambir, Rahane, Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Raina, Ashwin, Jadeja, B Kumar, Shami Ahmed, Ishanth Sharma/Dinda.

It would not be bad idea if Pujara is drafted into the ODI setup sooner than later.

Moving ahead, it is nice to see young Bhuvaneshwar Kumar shaping up good. Hopefully he will answer some of India’s bowling woes as they take on Aussies in the Test series. From the current crop I only see Umesh Yadav and Pragyan Ojha as the two bowlers who are ready to take their places in the lineup. Ashwin is clearly not in any league as Harbhajan Singh to be the lead spinner. However, Ashwin is decent enough to cement his place as a 5^th bowler, in other words as a genuine all-rounder. If B Kumar can last the distance (all 8 ODI’s before the Test series) with good performances, he is good to cement his place in the side as the third bowler. This leaves one bowling spot vacant. From the looks of it, it appears, India will settle that spot to the leg spinner (Piyush Chawla). But, if they chose to go the seamer way (depending on the surface), that spot should go to Ishanth Sharma. It is a not bad idea to have a good look of Shami Ahmed (in the ODI’s) before deciding on Sharma. After all, Ishant Sharma never takes wickets. Not just identifying the bowling pool will resolve our miseries. It is important that the same set of bowlers play all the 4 test matches to get the rhythm/combination/chemistry going (like Panesar, Anderson and Swann played almost all test matches in tandem). It is a no brainer that Dhoni takes his spot as wicket keeper batsmen. Now what left to address is the batting setup. Pujara, Kohli and Tendulkar are sure shot to take their spots. That leaves the two openers place vulnerable. Gambir and Sehwag can break into side only by reputation and not by performances. May be it is time to drop one of them and blood Rahane. But to do that with authority, Rahane should play the reminder of ODI’s.

Rahane, Gambir/Sehwag, Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli, Dhoni, Ashwin, B Kumar, Ojha, Chawla/Shami Ahmed/Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav

For now, the above would be my test line up for the Aussie series. Let’s see, if this goes a makeover during the course of the remaining ODI’s. Hopefully we would be able to boil down to our captaincy candidate by then.

Bottom line: Wishing you all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year. May this New Year bring better fortune to Indian Cricket.

Dinesh

Cricket Lover