Aus vs Zim Review

Now you know one thing what not to keep around Ricky Ponting when he returns to he pavillion after being dismissed at a score he doesnt expect he would make.  Dont keep any alive persons around, dont keep electronic equipments around, may be some soft toys would do.  Smashing a LCD tv in the dressing room is very kiddish thing to do, something which under 10 age kids do when they dont get the things their way.  This just goes onto show how much damn frustrated Ricky Ponting is on the turnaround of events.

Yet he continued his unbeaten runs as captain in the world cup, Australia stretched their unbeaten streak to 30 games without being undefeated and 25 to last loss.

Yet the stature of World Cup champions or the stamp was missing. Victory by 91 runs and Zimbabwe stretching till 46 odd overs is pathetic for a bowling unit tht boasts of fearsome trio of Johnson, Tait and Lee.

The spinners of Zimbabwe much of whom are unheralded and by no means threatening were able to strangle Australians for the start of their innings. The opening pair of Australia got a start of 32 in 13 overs against dibbly and dobbly pacers of Zimbabwe. Much in the contrast with what Hayden and Gilchrist used to get in their pomp.  Haddin did not get a start, he looked scratchy. Ponting got starts in the warmups but did not get one in the real contest. And probably thats what led him to damage the LCD in the dressing room. Or was he an agent of Congress party to do a damage in Modi ruled GCA ground?

Clarke got a 50, but the other batsmen except Watto just scratched around like dogs do.

Zimbabwe by the way showed no intent to chase the target of 263 at any point of their chase. Yet they raced on till 170. If they could have taken the powerplay before 45 overs, that could have given a scare to the Aussies and more frustrations from Ponting and perhaps more damage from the ground. May be Ponting should be kept away from any room which has costly equipments in it.  The Zimbabweans did not opt for 3rd power play, only that they reached 45th over and they had to be provided batting power play, they had to take it.

If Aussies dont get their tasks cut out and improve hereon, they are sure to end up well before the finals stage and then you can imagine more damage and frustrations from Ricky Ponting.

Such games in addition to the Can vs SL and NZ vs Kenya are disgrace to the world cup which is the largest and grandest showcase for 50 over games. It should be sans of any blemishes and easy victories. And for that the ICC should kick out the minnows who do not benefit by playing bigger teams in 1, 2, ,3 ,4 world cups. Have 1 or 2 associate teams which compete hard and are capable to scare any top ranked team. May be Netherlands and Ireland fit that bill. Certainly Kenyans and Canadians dont fit that.

weekend Cricket

So the first T20I in US soil resulted in Kiwi win over Lanka. Lanka had the wicket its way.  Slow and low.  Low bounce and turn. Yet they lost by 33 runs. Failed to cross 100 in 2 of 4 T20Is.

In other game West Indies lost by 66 runs to South Africa.  Yawn!!!

Hashim Amla plays a ODI and scores a 100. Shows what kind of bowling attack WI has. They have not won in 4 years against SA in ODIs.

England are considering resting few of their victorious players against the low key BD series this week.  That includes Colly, Broad and few others. 

Indian biggies are resting and the C team would take on weakened Lankans and Zim in Zim after 5 years. Thats India's first tour of Zim in 5 years, the last one being a wretched one when Greg Chappell began his disastrous coach tenure with the team and soon after Ganguly was ousted.

Cricket would be yawning till the Pakistan vs England and Pakistan vs Australia series begin. Lets see if Pakistan win anything in Tests in Old Blighty. They have failed to win a Test in 3 years since 2007 or (prolly they beat SL last year once).

Zimbabwe Botches Up. SL Prevail.

Zimbabwe botched it up to kick Lanka out of the tournament. What were they thinking. 43 off 5 was not a huge target. They must be kicking themselves up. They would have saved us further torture having to see Sangakara blabber. Were they  playing a ODI in 5 overs ?

Or they had a myopic vision failing to see the hovering cloud cover ?

All is still not yet lost for them mathematically but they'd certainly rue that they botched up a guhe chance to kick Lankans out of the tournament.

All the more pitiful to see Jayasurya coming at 7 and holding onto what he does the best. Any day he is a better batsman than Kapudegra, Mathews, Silvermal and Sangakara, but the ego makes him come at 7. He should feel he's had enough of Sanga and call it quits. And Mahela scored a 100. IPL form continues.