Normally, I do not write post match views on any cricket match that is not a final. However, yesterday's match between India and Australia was worthy of one even if it was just a quarter of a final. Hence, I am breaking my self imposed protocol and reliving India's triumph in cyberspace.
For one thing, the dew didn't play a part at all and my gut feeling that India would prevail without dew did turn out to be right. Midway through the match, I felt Australia were probably 10 runs above par but the sheer class of the Indian batting made such speculation pointless.
Simply put, it was a nerveless and well planned chase. Execution was good for the most part barring a frenetic 15 minutes when two well-set Indian batsmen seemed bent on gifting the Aussies an early Easter Egg. Fortunately for India, the batsmen seemed to realize that Easter was still a good month away.
My pre-match performers did play their parts. I did expect SRT and Yuvi to play pivotal roles. Sehwag was a bit disappointing but Gambhir and Kohli made up for it. Ashwin deserves a special mention with the ball and on the field with good support from the bankable Bhajji and Zak.
Yet, my most fulfilling prediction was not an Indian performance. I firmly felt Captain Ricky would bounce back like a cornered tiger and he truly demonstrated how a legend is created and sustained. He has spent the last decade creating a legendary status as one of Australia's all time greats, next only to Bradman; he spent three hours yesterday to make sure that his legend will be recounted over and over again in cosy bars and campfires. He left his indelible mark on the game and on its marquee event by demonstrating true Aussie-style, workmanlike batsmanship (ala steve waugh albeit with a lot more batting class)
Had it not been for Captain Ricky's batting, we would have had another one sided quarter final. The onus is on me to make a comment on the second semi-final - everyone's dream game - IndoPak.
At this stage, I feel it will be a tight contest but India will win comfortably in the end. India will be battling their own big match nerves, if any, but so will Pakistan. India's superior overall skills should see them through comfortably.
I would have really liked to see India playing both Sri Lanka and South Africa en-route the prize but alas, one can't have everything in life. For now, I only wish India good luck on the 30th and hope to catch them on the 2nd at Mumbai.
The Prize is indeed, nigh!!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Prince and the Dew
In spite of the title, this post is about cricket! The Dew refers to the presence or lack of it in the second half of the day-nighter quarter final between India and Australia which begins in about five hours at the Motera in Ahmedabad, India.
The Prince in the title refers to the eponymous Yuvraj Singh who, I reckon, will play a pivotal role in about five hours time! The big question of course, is who will prevail, who will face off against a confident Pakistan outfit in the semi final at Mohali.
Its late March and the festival of Holi has been celebrated. Holi heralds the summer in India and with that, dew in the late evening should be absent. However, the facts belie such expectations. If there is dew, no matter how well the fielding side dry the ball, the pitch will quicken up and given a dearth of express bowlers in the Indian line up, dew will make batting easier should Australia chase an Indian target. Even a target of 320 isn't safe!
If India bat second chasing around 300, it will be a cracking contest given that Australia do have 2 quality fast bowlers and a mercurial Shaun Tait who will find an added zing with dew around and the ball staying a touch low.
If there is no dew at all, or the dew comes in too late to matter, I reckon, India will pip Australia to the finish line, no matter what.
Enough said about dew; lets talk about the Prince! The Prince should have been king by now, but alas, a string of injuries, a not-so-fancy attitude and other conspiring factors have kept the throne from the prince - the throne of a cricket great that is!
That being said, there is a pivotal battle to be won today. If the Prince leads his side to triumph today, he will stay to battle another day. The throne is just 3 games away and he is in decent form with both bat and ball to make a telling impact on the outcome of this world cup. His captain believes in him, has stood by him during the leanest phases and now its time for Yuvraj to repay his captain's faith.
There are other gladiators of course, on both sides. There is that demi-god called SRT who is still searching for that elusive triumph in a world cup; then there is that maverick Sehwag, the warrior Zaheer and the belligerent Harbhajan. On the other side, there is that legend who answers to the call of Captain Ricky. All is not well with Ricky. He looks rusty for runs but super fit, he tries to project assurance but his charges keep slipping every now and then, his future as captain seems threatened. The cornered tiger metaphor seems apt on Ricky right now!
Its a very difficult battle to predict, what with so many variables and warriors. With so many heroes around, this match runs a close parallel with the Trojan war. Who's who, is anybody's guess!
O India, May the fours be with you, all the way!
The Prince in the title refers to the eponymous Yuvraj Singh who, I reckon, will play a pivotal role in about five hours time! The big question of course, is who will prevail, who will face off against a confident Pakistan outfit in the semi final at Mohali.
Its late March and the festival of Holi has been celebrated. Holi heralds the summer in India and with that, dew in the late evening should be absent. However, the facts belie such expectations. If there is dew, no matter how well the fielding side dry the ball, the pitch will quicken up and given a dearth of express bowlers in the Indian line up, dew will make batting easier should Australia chase an Indian target. Even a target of 320 isn't safe!
If India bat second chasing around 300, it will be a cracking contest given that Australia do have 2 quality fast bowlers and a mercurial Shaun Tait who will find an added zing with dew around and the ball staying a touch low.
If there is no dew at all, or the dew comes in too late to matter, I reckon, India will pip Australia to the finish line, no matter what.
Enough said about dew; lets talk about the Prince! The Prince should have been king by now, but alas, a string of injuries, a not-so-fancy attitude and other conspiring factors have kept the throne from the prince - the throne of a cricket great that is!
That being said, there is a pivotal battle to be won today. If the Prince leads his side to triumph today, he will stay to battle another day. The throne is just 3 games away and he is in decent form with both bat and ball to make a telling impact on the outcome of this world cup. His captain believes in him, has stood by him during the leanest phases and now its time for Yuvraj to repay his captain's faith.
There are other gladiators of course, on both sides. There is that demi-god called SRT who is still searching for that elusive triumph in a world cup; then there is that maverick Sehwag, the warrior Zaheer and the belligerent Harbhajan. On the other side, there is that legend who answers to the call of Captain Ricky. All is not well with Ricky. He looks rusty for runs but super fit, he tries to project assurance but his charges keep slipping every now and then, his future as captain seems threatened. The cornered tiger metaphor seems apt on Ricky right now!
Its a very difficult battle to predict, what with so many variables and warriors. With so many heroes around, this match runs a close parallel with the Trojan war. Who's who, is anybody's guess!
O India, May the fours be with you, all the way!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sreesanth Should Play
I am penning this during the innings break of the last league game of WC2011. India have been bowled out once more within fifty overs and its beginning to feel a bit embarrassing now.
Its likely that the Indian bowling will defend a score of 268 but whatever the result, Sreesanth must be brought back for the knockout games if India are to prosper. Dhoni seems oblivious of the presence of Sreesanth in the squad but its time for him to overlook Sree's antics and realise that he is the only seamer other than Zaheer who is capable to taking wickets.
Its likely that any second seamer chosen, will go at six or more an over but amongst Nehra, Munaf and Sree, Sreesanth is the only one who seems to pose a wicket taking threat to the opposition.
If India are to go far in this competition playing only four bowlers, Dhoni would rather have four wicket taking bowlers that one dibbly dobbly medium pacer like Munaf or a woefully out of form Nehra.
May India win!!
Its likely that the Indian bowling will defend a score of 268 but whatever the result, Sreesanth must be brought back for the knockout games if India are to prosper. Dhoni seems oblivious of the presence of Sreesanth in the squad but its time for him to overlook Sree's antics and realise that he is the only seamer other than Zaheer who is capable to taking wickets.
Its likely that any second seamer chosen, will go at six or more an over but amongst Nehra, Munaf and Sree, Sreesanth is the only one who seems to pose a wicket taking threat to the opposition.
If India are to go far in this competition playing only four bowlers, Dhoni would rather have four wicket taking bowlers that one dibbly dobbly medium pacer like Munaf or a woefully out of form Nehra.
May India win!!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Associate Problem
"To be or not to be" allowed is the question when it comes to Associate member participation in international cricket tournaments. The Australian Cricket Board and the ICC are not very popular with the associate members for their strong stance in curtailing the playing field to 10 teams in the 2015 World Cup.
Although the move may seem harsh on the associate members, it makes a lot of business sense. The ACB, unlike the BCCI, does not have an inexhaustible trove of sponsors. Moreover, there are far fewer sporting arenas for international cricket down under as opposed to India. Simply put, the ACB cannot afford to see more than 50% of the matches being mismatches and being watched by a handful of patrons in arenas like the MCG that seat more than 100000.
Of course, there are a couple of ways around this. Firstly, the ICC could make the World Cup a 16 team tournament with 4 groups of 4 each with the top 2 qualifying to the next round. In the next round the 8 qualifiers could be put in two groups of 4 with the top two in each group playing the semi finals. That would bring the total matches to 39 and still allowing more teams to participate.
From an economic perspective, the cricket boards could agree to host some group matches on club grounds. This is not something new. Before cricket started rolling in the big bucks, international matches were held at club grounds. If you don't believe me, check the ground where Kapil Dev made his epic 175* in the 1983 World Cup. Given modern broadcasting requirements, moving camera equipment to small grounds could be a hurdle. This, is however a logistics issue and not a technical hurdle. If the club grounds are chosen in and around a metropolis (Melbourne for example has a whole lot of such grounds like the one India played their warm up match on their last tour down under), the production teams could still move to and from such smaller grounds (India played their warm up at an oval with moderate stands and less than a couple of kilometers from the MCG!!)
Even small club grounds could have temporary tents set up for patrons and bring the cost of hosting the match down to a fraction of hosting it in a place like the MCG. The players' match fees could be footed by their respective boards with the ICC taking care of paying the Associate members' teams. In this way, the host nation could survive a whole lot of mismatches during the tournament from a monetary perspective.
The other risk is that of having a test playing nation being upset by a minnow at the group stage. Now, that might be a big threat when you have groups of 3 (ala 2007 World Cup) but with groups of 4, the risk is significantly reduced. With group matches starting simultaneously (ala Fifa world cup), every match could be afforded a reserve day in case of natural calamities.
Although the move may seem harsh on the associate members, it makes a lot of business sense. The ACB, unlike the BCCI, does not have an inexhaustible trove of sponsors. Moreover, there are far fewer sporting arenas for international cricket down under as opposed to India. Simply put, the ACB cannot afford to see more than 50% of the matches being mismatches and being watched by a handful of patrons in arenas like the MCG that seat more than 100000.
Of course, there are a couple of ways around this. Firstly, the ICC could make the World Cup a 16 team tournament with 4 groups of 4 each with the top 2 qualifying to the next round. In the next round the 8 qualifiers could be put in two groups of 4 with the top two in each group playing the semi finals. That would bring the total matches to 39 and still allowing more teams to participate.
From an economic perspective, the cricket boards could agree to host some group matches on club grounds. This is not something new. Before cricket started rolling in the big bucks, international matches were held at club grounds. If you don't believe me, check the ground where Kapil Dev made his epic 175* in the 1983 World Cup. Given modern broadcasting requirements, moving camera equipment to small grounds could be a hurdle. This, is however a logistics issue and not a technical hurdle. If the club grounds are chosen in and around a metropolis (Melbourne for example has a whole lot of such grounds like the one India played their warm up match on their last tour down under), the production teams could still move to and from such smaller grounds (India played their warm up at an oval with moderate stands and less than a couple of kilometers from the MCG!!)
Even small club grounds could have temporary tents set up for patrons and bring the cost of hosting the match down to a fraction of hosting it in a place like the MCG. The players' match fees could be footed by their respective boards with the ICC taking care of paying the Associate members' teams. In this way, the host nation could survive a whole lot of mismatches during the tournament from a monetary perspective.
The other risk is that of having a test playing nation being upset by a minnow at the group stage. Now, that might be a big threat when you have groups of 3 (ala 2007 World Cup) but with groups of 4, the risk is significantly reduced. With group matches starting simultaneously (ala Fifa world cup), every match could be afforded a reserve day in case of natural calamities.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Its ON!!
My last post sounded a warning to India about their World Cup opener. I felt, like many cricket pundits that the opener was more than a banana skin for the pre-tournament favorites, India.
However, I hadn't counted on Virender Sehwag treating this game as a revenge game. If I had known that, I would have never been so naive to sound out my warning to India. Now, that apocryphal banana skin has been dumped where it belongs - in the dust bin. Bangladesh have been appropriately down-sized as far as their tournament aspirations are concerned. Its a long tournament and Bangladesh still look good to make the quarter finals at the expense of West Indies or even England.
India still proved that their major handicap in this tournament would be the lack of an out and out strike bowler up front with some pace! It is for this very reason that I do not see India as my favorite to go all the way. Yes, India will make the semis along with Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Pakistan are the dark horses in this tournament but they are too mercurial to make my principal semi final line-up.
I am going to hang my neck out and make a bold prediction - Australia will not make it to the finals. They will falter in the semis. I know this prediction may come back to haunt me but I just feel, the Australia batting no longer evokes fear and inevitability in their opponents. Moreover, Australia no longer have a Warne to win them games from hopeless situations (ala WC96 semi final and WC99 semi final). I will not overlook their loss to India in the warm up match - that loss was most un-Australian as losses go - even if it was only a warm up! The team that could lose such a match, even in practice, does not seem likely to go all the way.
The team with the best balance is undoubtedly, South Africa. However, the Proteas have often flattered to deceive but this time, with a good spin attack (Johan Botha and Imran Tahir), I reckon, the Proteas to be the favorite to win the cup.
My money for the bowler of the series is on Brett Lee while the batsman of the series is more open to debate. Amla could be the one or even Kallis. I do hope, SRT will play some more memorable innings as he has so often done in bygone world cups.
Undoubtedly, I want India and especially SRT to win the cup. I would give anything to see a World Cup medal adorning the neck of my favorite cricketer, SRT. However, the mind does not agree with heart - cold logic suggests that India are extremely batting heavy - they have the weakest new ball attack amongst all the test playing nations.
From a team balance perspective, I expect the Proteas to go all the way. However, cricket, like any other sport is not pure skill and silverware isn't amenable to sporting logic. The silverware ultimately rests on the shoulders of those that want it most. It is that unsatiable hunger for the ultimate prize that finally claims the prize. Based on the evidence of the opening game, the Indian team seems like one on a single minded mission - to correct the wrongs of the last two world cups.
Undoubtedly, every other team is equally driven to win the trophy, but the initial evidence suggests that India just want it a wee bit more!! Ultimately, I hope my heart triumphs over the mind and the sheer support of more than 1 billion hearts brings triumph to India in WC2011.
However, I hadn't counted on Virender Sehwag treating this game as a revenge game. If I had known that, I would have never been so naive to sound out my warning to India. Now, that apocryphal banana skin has been dumped where it belongs - in the dust bin. Bangladesh have been appropriately down-sized as far as their tournament aspirations are concerned. Its a long tournament and Bangladesh still look good to make the quarter finals at the expense of West Indies or even England.
India still proved that their major handicap in this tournament would be the lack of an out and out strike bowler up front with some pace! It is for this very reason that I do not see India as my favorite to go all the way. Yes, India will make the semis along with Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Pakistan are the dark horses in this tournament but they are too mercurial to make my principal semi final line-up.
I am going to hang my neck out and make a bold prediction - Australia will not make it to the finals. They will falter in the semis. I know this prediction may come back to haunt me but I just feel, the Australia batting no longer evokes fear and inevitability in their opponents. Moreover, Australia no longer have a Warne to win them games from hopeless situations (ala WC96 semi final and WC99 semi final). I will not overlook their loss to India in the warm up match - that loss was most un-Australian as losses go - even if it was only a warm up! The team that could lose such a match, even in practice, does not seem likely to go all the way.
The team with the best balance is undoubtedly, South Africa. However, the Proteas have often flattered to deceive but this time, with a good spin attack (Johan Botha and Imran Tahir), I reckon, the Proteas to be the favorite to win the cup.
My money for the bowler of the series is on Brett Lee while the batsman of the series is more open to debate. Amla could be the one or even Kallis. I do hope, SRT will play some more memorable innings as he has so often done in bygone world cups.
Undoubtedly, I want India and especially SRT to win the cup. I would give anything to see a World Cup medal adorning the neck of my favorite cricketer, SRT. However, the mind does not agree with heart - cold logic suggests that India are extremely batting heavy - they have the weakest new ball attack amongst all the test playing nations.
From a team balance perspective, I expect the Proteas to go all the way. However, cricket, like any other sport is not pure skill and silverware isn't amenable to sporting logic. The silverware ultimately rests on the shoulders of those that want it most. It is that unsatiable hunger for the ultimate prize that finally claims the prize. Based on the evidence of the opening game, the Indian team seems like one on a single minded mission - to correct the wrongs of the last two world cups.
Undoubtedly, every other team is equally driven to win the trophy, but the initial evidence suggests that India just want it a wee bit more!! Ultimately, I hope my heart triumphs over the mind and the sheer support of more than 1 billion hearts brings triumph to India in WC2011.
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