Fallen Australian heroes

9/21 for a team that not so long ago was world beater and perhaps the greatest Test team of the modern era. The scoreline of 47 might have saved them from holding the pitiful record of lowest Test score, but it has certainly raised a lot of uncomfortable questions over the ability and composure of Australian team. They have now been bowled over under 100 for 3 times in last 15 months or so in different countries. 98 in MCG, 47 in NewLands and 88 in Headingley.

When ball moves, Australiam batsman shievers. Perhaps Shahid Afridi should have quipped on a moving leg of Aussie batsman on facing Shoaib Akhtar.

There have been demands for axing of 3 players who havent been performing at all. Mitch Johnson, Phil Hughes and the once great Ricky Ponting. 

Johnson has really struggled over past few Tests and hasnt got the wickets a spearhead is expected to. 33 wickets at 43 in 12 tests over 18 months dont do the justice to a bowler who has to step in the shoes of likes of Bret Lee and even Glenn McGrath.

Shane Watson is overworked, he is the best Australian bowler over last 18 months with 3 5-fors but he also opens the batting and that makes him prone to batting failures. 

Their batting isnt the same as it was even in 2008, let alone 2007.  The likes of Ponting are in terminal decline, what it seemed a slump, is now a prolonged decline. Perhaps selectors would need to take a call on his future sooner than later. 

The media back home in Australia is impatient and is gunning for the heads of the fallen heroes of NewLands.

And it would be great that this slump continues till the end of their summer at least India is then able to win its first series in Australia, which they were denied in 2004 and 2008.

Anti IPL rheoterics

Sport and politics are different. If Australia is not going to play any more in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Zimbabwe... If they only play in some countries, world cricket will die and IPL will take over.

Muralitharan spoke.

He fears IPL shall take over cricket if Australia dont play in SL, Pak and Zim.

He himself has been part of IPL for 4 seasons, champion team for 1 year and even he was part of defending CLT20 team. He has made millions of dollars playing for IPL in 4 seasons and he would be back for 5th season too. Then he shall forget this high moral talk of IPL taking over the cricket.

If he feels IPL is so daemonic and monster, then stop being a part of it. Who's asking him to be part of that venture if he feels his country's cricket is going to be rolled over and dead by IPL ?

Its time the Lankan cricketers take a unified stand -- vs or with IPL. And stick to it. Not long back 3 or 4 of their top class cricketers chose to stay back for IPL instead of touring to England.

India's through to the semifinals

Australia's World cup run has ended. And in what a style. India was the team who did it. They have twice ended their run of 17 tests wins and now 12 years of unbeaten World cup run has been ended by the team called India. 

None gave India the chance to beat Australia today given the way they played in the league games. League games saw India taking few games easy and most of the experts called India a undeserving favorites. 

India has never thumped minnows. Thats Lankan speciality. India is known to beat big teams. Australia to be precise. The quality that two teams produce is of highest order. No half measures. Emotions run high, banters and everybody gives more than 100%. 

Everybody within the 2 teams want to win and not give an inch to the other team. And probably thats the reason why Tests or ODIs between this 2 teams are sparkling and intense. 

Today's game was no different. It saw Ricky Ponting ending his century draught. It saw Indians fielding the best in the entire tournament. It saw MSD handling his bowlers too well and rarely earning plaudits from the pundits in the commentary box. 

Tendulkar was at his imperious best before walking yet again. Gambhir was furious when he was out run out in the 3rd attempt, but that was his fault. Yuvraj replied to his anger saying he is not Viru and  they havent batted together that much. Point taken. 

India committed harakiri but then Yuvraj the man came to the fore yet again. What a world cup he is having. 341 runs and 12 wickets with 4 MoM awards. He is India's man of the moment. Not too long ago his commitment was questioned and so was his place and attitude. He's replied to every one those who questioned him. 

Virat Kohli continues to be an ass finding newer ways to get out. MSD continued his wretched run and when he departed at 187 the match was boiling towards Aussies but then in came Raina and the next 2 overs that got us 27 runs changing the equation dramatically in India's favor. 

Think about the commitment of Bret Lee. He was injured on head just above left / right eye and yet he bowled last 2 overs. He wanted to win it. But India had some other plans.  India are through to their 5th semifinal and 3rd one at home. This time they should go one step better. Beat Pakistan and go through to the finals. 

Today was that day when everything went right for India -- the fielding, bowling and batting. Ashvin took 2 wickets. How many runs did he give ? 52. Did he turn the ball square? How many wickets he got with peach of a ball ? Wild slogs both time to get Ponting and Watson.  He has not done any better than Chawla.

India have to think about Munaf what to do about this guy. He is listless, needless and useless. Anybody can hit him for runs. He doesnt take wickets, he cant field and he is even lax on the field.  Either play Nehra or get in Sreesanth. 

Today's win provides an deep feeling of satisfaction. India has come to full elements. And it would take huge effort from Pakistan to stop India from playing finals.  But thats for another day. 

Ponting has had his moments under sun for 12 years in World cups  but now its time for new champion. New team to take the reins. And hopefully it would be India, for the consistent run it has shown in ODIs post 2008.

Wooohooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo we are in semis. 

Two reasons why India would win against Australia

Rewind to 1996

Venue : Bangalore

Teams : India vs Pakistan

India were 3rd in their group behind Australia and SL.

Pakistan were 2nd behind South Africa. South Africa was  group topper

Pakistan were defending champions. (1992)

India had lost out in the first round of the previous world cup (1992).

India had defeated Pakistan in Bangalore by 39 runs ending career of Javed Miandad.

Pakistan captain Wasim Akram was under fire for pulling out last moment in the game.

Sachin Tendulkar opened the innings with Navjot Siddhu.

Now back to 2011

Venue : Motera

Teams : India vs Australia

India finished 2nd in group, Australia finished 3rd.

South Africa are group toppers in B group.

Australia are defending champions

India crashed out in first round of 2007 world cup.

Ricky Ponting is under fire for poor batting form and lot of other reasons

Sachin Tendulkar opens the batting for India even now with Virender Sehwag.

The fact that India are playing defending champions in 2011 as in 1996 and also they knocked out in the previous world cup as now, this should be enough indicator of who should have the last laugh on Thursday in Motera.

If Pakistan can find a lot of similarities in their world cup wins and conclude that they can win this one, then well even we have it.

India win by 80 runs

India won and they play next Australia. Australia's quest for the 5th title is going to end in Ahmedabad and Ponting is going to continue walking to his ODI sunset. Doesnt matter if he does not walk on the field.

India won by 80 runs however not before getting a scare when Devon Smith and Ramnaresh Sarwan were batting with ease. That time, the Indians had given up on the chase and they looked despirited, deflated and even disinterested.

It took Zaheer to strike once again as in England game to bring India back in the game and after that Windies choked or they just didnt have it in them to win from the strong position they had for 2nd game in running. R Ashvin made his way to the team on his home ground and got 2 wickets. Well he didnt inspire a lot of confidence as in that he shall turn the bowling woes to riches. He got 2 wickets, which even Nehra got that day and even Chawla got. 

He didnt turn the ball square on a pitch he knows more than anybody else other than Tendulkar. He didnt bowl that many carrom balls....So whats the hype and talk all about? Harbhajan Singh was useless in the first spell but then it took his maiden over to get Zaheer strike off Smith's stumps in his 2nd spell. 

Munaf Patel, well he is as useless in the team as is Yusuf Pathan, the fuddi Pathan. Good for nothing lads. Cant bat, cant bowl and cant field. 2 liabilities. Munaf did a ugly swipe in the 50th over 5 balls 2 soon. Ashvin hit the ball to a 4 in the 49th over and he looked to take score past 270 but our Munnabhai couldnt stick around yet again. This lad was insipid in the field and when he bowled. He looks so disinterested and he sleepwalks the game. Why is he even in the team ?

Sachin Tendulkar walked when he was not out given by Steve Davis. He should not have walked and should not walk in the knock out games ahead esp against Australia. He didnt nick it and there is no snickometer for the DRS. So even if there was a review, he would have got away. But then the man has played his cricket with integrity, so he wont compromise against it. 

Gambhir again threw away the start he got. Kohli and Yuvraj then took the score to 173 when it looked India would cross again the 300 mark, but it was a distant dream. They collapsed yet again losing 7 for 50. Rampaul took 5 as did Bresnan and Steyn previously. 

This kind of performance wont be good enough to win the world cup. So India has to address the batting powerplay and middle order batting below 4 once again. That just cant do in the quarters especially when the next 2 games are against Australia and Pakistan(if both win).

Australia's world cup unbeaten run ends

Ricky Ponting must decide when to quit playing ODIs. When he failed the Ashes, it was believed the motivation to win the 4th title in row would get him some runs, but he has scratched around like a dog with just 102 runs in 6 games in the world cup so far. 

Today he was insipid with the bat, with the ideas and major force responsible for the loss after 12 years in the world cup. 

He just didnt bring on his best bowler of the day Bret Lee when 2 quick wickets fell and they still needed 34 runs to win. Instead he continued with Krejza and thus lost the game. Thoo.

He hasnt decided to quit, he still wants to play on. He insists the runs would come on and may be the quarters would be the one match where he'd get those runs. 

Australia losing a game after 12 years to Pakistan and ending up 3rd in the group is just not done. They have been slow starters, they have been insipid with the bat and ball both. They just dont show up their side of champions they have been for last 12 years. 

And no wonder they folded out for 176 in an idiotic RPS wikat, yet they could have made a match out of it given their opposition was PAKISTAN -- side always susceptible to a collapse any point of time.

Pakistan continued to be a mystery and dont know if this is going to get them the world cup. Afridi continues to behave like a kid when he has bat in his hand and Umar Akamal continues to fool the world with his talent. I wonder what makes him fake those injuries?

And the biggest negative factor of the game was their keeper Kakkumal didnt drop a catch!!!!!!!!!!

Sangakara is afraid to play in Mumbai

We were surprised when we learned that we will have to travel to Mumbai to play that game. I thought hosts play at home," he said. "Playing the New Zealand game is beyond our control. You can't change that now. That's gone now and we need to be up for the task."

The man is hell scared to play in India, especially in Mumbai cos its here in this city his team was streamrolled by Sehwag in 2009 Test series. 

But how come he didnt know the itinerary before hand the tourney began? Is he scared to play in India? Well of course, he wont have the slow, low turners on the Wankhede track and of course he  wont have Russell Arnold singing constant praise of every Sri Lankan player in the team. 

Listening to Russell Arnold is even worse than listening to the trio of Athers, Hussein and Beefy or Arun Lal, Sivramkrishnan etc. 

Just a FYI to captain articulate, India is also one of the host countries of this world cup and they played their first game in Mirpur, BD. We didnt hear any such weird comments from Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

They were lucky to have escaped with a no result against Australia. They now play against Zimbabwe who would be crushed and then they play against New Zealand in Mumbai when they would be crushed. 

Lankans have rode all the luck in the previous world cups  to have been called the most consistent team in the world cups post 1996. They got 2 forfeits and one default in 1996 and then they won the tournament. Ditto here. 3 easy wins against Canada, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Defeat against Pakistan, no result against Australia and a possible defeat against NZ in Mumbai is making Sangakara make such weird statements.

THooo

Why should Australia win

Let Australia take care of Sri Lanka tomorrow so that the latter dont play easy opponents in the quarters and make an exit soon. 

But if they dont, then want to see India hammer them again in the semis to avenge the 2007 and 1996 defeats that rankle to this day. I want to see Sehwag hammer Dilhara Fernando in the stands for infinite runs, let Yuvraj take care of Herath, Sachin tackle Murali and well of course Dhoni take the sting out of Malinga.

Last time when SL lost to Australia in final of 2007 world cup a lot of SL fans cried cheating when Gilchrist had squash ball in his gloves. The media had an excuse of "fixing" when they lost to Pakistan. So what excuse cooks up next is remains to be seen. 

Ireland should have been in Lankan group and Kevin OBrien should have hammered Mendis and Murali to that famous win. 

Expect R Premdasa to be slow, low yet again where you'd see a lot of strangling, a lot of bickering behind the stumps 

Whats even more pathetic is that the Aussies would be playing Lanka in 7 years time. Bangladesh has played 3-4 times in that duration, India has hammered them many times in this 7 years.But the Aussies, they were never invited fearing a whitewash.

Go Aussies!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.

Team Preview : Australia

Team preview series marches on and today its turn of the defending champions and the numero uno team in the ODIs currently Australia.

Australia have been the team to beat in the previous 3 world cups. They have dominated ruthlessly in the previous 3 editions so much so that they are yet to lose a world cup game in 12 years. Ever since Shoaib Akhtar rocked Steven Waugh's stumps in England, 1999 Australia have not been able to lose any game. They came close to losing a few but every time they found somebody or the other as a matchwinner and sailed through. Steve Waugh in the Super 6 vs SA, Shane Warne in the semi-final vs SA in 1999, Andrew Symonds vs Pakistan, Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel (bat and ball) vs England and Bret Lee vs NZ in 2003.

Ricky Ponting has won both world cups as captain in 2003 and 2007, thanks to the players he had at relm like McGrath, Lee, Gilchrist, Hayden, Bevan (2003), Hussey (2007) etc. None of them are around this time (most of them have retired and Hussey is injured), so the aura has certainly diminished in past few years. Ponting himself has been a shadow of past with just 3 hundreds in 3 years in this format.

Run up to the world cup

Australian aura began to diminish late 2008 when they lost home and away to South Africa. Even before they had lost to India in the last edition of CB series early 2008.  They continued losing their great players -- Gilly in 2008 and Hayden, the last of them in 2009. Bret Lee was injured most of the times. Mitch Johnson is erractic. The notable series wins Australia had in this duration was 4-2 against India in 2009 with a depleted team, 6-1 against England home and away(every time they lost the Ashes), 5-0 against Pakistan and West Indies. And of course NZ.

The losses that came to them were 0-1 to India in 2010 that kickstarted the defeats amounting to 7 in the 3 formats and a loss to Sri Lanka in homeyard. Phew how can Sri Lanka win in Australia vs Australia. Now you imagine the decline.  They also lost 2-3 in England but recovered in the time to beat England 6-1 in the home series.

The team

Opening Pair : Brad Haddin, Shane Watson

Middle Order : Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, David Hussey, Cameron White, Callum Fergusson, Tim Paine (reserve keeper and opening bat)

Bowlers: Shaun Tait, Bret Lee, Mitch Johnson, John Hastings, Steven Smith, Doug Bollinger and Jayson Krejza

Likely XI

Haddin, Watson, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, White, Smith, Johnson, Lee, Krejza, Bollinger / Tait

Strength

The biggest strength of the australia is the pace attack, which could also turn to the biggest weakness. Given the fact that Lee and Tait are super express bowlers who can wreck any batting line up on any pitch any conditions (including Lankan too), they are very much prone to injuries. So Ponting would have a job at hand to carefully handle the 2 super pacers.

Besides Johnson and Bollinger are good bets too.  Bollinger has had good success in Indian pitches in the IPL-3 and almost every one in the team has a fair experience of Indian conditions.

Weakness:

Batting form continues to worry the team fans. Ponting coming from a injury break and his form before the finger injury does not inspire much confidence. Clarke has been in a long rut and now his reputation of best Australian player of spin has been shredded. The batting is prone to collapses and is a bit weak against spin  that was exposed yesterday in the warmup game vs India in Bangalore by Chawla and Harbhajan.

Expectations:

4 years back, they would have been by default world champions, but now the things have changed.  Given the form and the run up to the world cup a title win would be a miraculous achievement, but a semi-final finish would be a worthy one. Anything less than that means Australia's aura has been finished for good.

Match Days

2/21 vs Zim at Motera

2/25 vs NZ at Nagpur

3/5 vs SL at RP, Colombo

3/13 vs Kenya at Bangalore

3/16 vs Canada at Bangalore

3/19 vs Pakistan at RP,Colombo

Expected to win against Zim, NZ, SL, Ken, Can and a tough one against Pakistan :)

Awful Australia

Australia have lost the Ashes 1-3 after 24 years in their backyard and this is the most shameful defeat they have suffered in years. They used to lose to India before but not after giving a fight or a tussle. This Australian team had no bones for fights, they didnt anchor and they just crumbled in every aspect. They could not bat for long partnerships, could not take early wickets or break long partnerships, their batting collapsed in heap in almost every Test.

The openers, middle order, lower order of batting just did not have any courage to dig anchor and just hang in there. The bowlers bowled a lot of lose balls, they were not consistent throughout. If they had England on mat for first 3 days of the series, they thereafter allowed an easy route to success by folding out for 98 in the must win test in MCG.

Hughes tried to be Sehwag but could not even score a 50 in 3 tests he got to play in. Watson continued to make 50s which were of no use to anyone. Ponting was horrible in batting, Clarke was useless and Hussey, Haddin were only shining spots of the bleak summer. Even they folde out after holding the fort for the first 3 tests.  If one test Johnson was a world beater he was hit mercilessly in 2nd. Bollinger never threatened, spinners were least talked the better. Hauritz was discarded for Beer and Doherty, who not only floundered but also failed to take wickets.

All in all a very disappointing summer for Australia. The only chance of redemption in the future is the world cup in India. If they are able to win it, the chances of which appear very less, they would do a huge boost to themselves.

Else the future is bleak for immediate times. Their next Test assignment is against marathon batters Sri Lanka in August in SL. Till then if they find the personnel and right attitude to win it would be good for them, else the horrible 80s are due to return for them.

Gough dont cough shit!!!

"For me, we're the best team in the world at this moment. I've watched the South Africa-India series and I see nothing to worry about. India are fantastic in their own country and have some great individuals but I'd fancy this England side to beat them every day of the week,"

This words of wisdom are from a man who missed more Tests than he played. From a man who chickened out of the Ashes 2002 and was never successful abroad or home. So poor was the standard of the team during his playing days that he was considered their best bowler and probably he still holds the most ODI wickets for England. 

He is talking probably nosense shit out of sheer chivalry ignoring the facts, figures and history. If England were to  beat India every day of the week, then what stopped them from beating India in a TEST series home and away for good 14 years.  14 years is a goddamn long period. It took 14 years for India to shed off the Durban monkey off its back, but probably it would take more 14 years for England to beat India in a TEST series. 

Now almost everybody of this playing 11 were part of the Chennai Test in 2008 which England lost despite setting a formidable target of 387.  Swann debuted in that series, they had almost same batting unit -- Strauss, Cook, Pietersen, Bell, Collingwood, Prior and of course no Gough.

Gough dont cough!!!

England have just retained the Ashes in Australia, they have not won the series in Australia. England conquered Australia when the later was at its weakest in last 17 odd years. India gave hard fight to Australia in Australia in 2003 and 2007 when they were at their peak of the powers and had their greats playing. India was at almost even with Australia when it came to battling out the tests. 

On the other hand before 2005 Ashes which England won cos there was no McGrath in the tests which they won, they were pathetic travellers. Long back in 2000s start they were labelled worst Test playing nation just for their spectacular collapses in the tests home and away.  They were whitewashed 0-5 in last Ashes campaign. 

They have lost to India, South Africa at home in last 3 years. Wins only against pathetic Test playing teams like West Indies, Pakistan and of course Bangladesh but not before Tamim Iqbal did kam tamam in 2 consecutive Tests...

What shit Gough is talking about? Perhaps he needs to go back to school to learn the history and mathematics. Or perhaps he needs to have his vision checked to get rid of colonial hangover.

Cricketing World

Pakistan have won the last T20 and avoided a clean sweep in NZ. They also ended the 6 match losing streak in T20s. And this time the Palak Paneer guy came good again with allround effort.

I am bit skeptical of planning PCB had for the team in the run up to the World Cup. 3 T20s and 2 tests in addition to 6 ODIs. Whats the meaning of 3 T20s? What purpose does it serve?

By the way they are the only team who have to give the 30 names for WC provisional squad. And they are hung up as Kakkumal, Shoaib Mirza and Danis Kaneria meet PCB's "integrity committee to decide over their future in cricket. Now what happens and what would happen is anybody's guess in Pak cricket.

Zim and BD are done playing their last games before the world cup and they sit idle for the next 43 days in the run up to the World Cup.

And perhaps SL and WI too.

SL are still a "formidable" side going to World Cup. I dont believe this. They are always formidable, they are always romantic side, they are fairy tale and what not. They have not played any serious cricket for over a month since that dubious and fart win over Aus in ODI series in Aus.  Yet they are formidable. For a change you have not heard from Sanga in long time. So have I. And thats good.

The rest of cricketing fraternity is busy playing Tests or ODI cricket.

Australia are moaning about Ashes loss and how useless Ponting is now. England have everything revolving around Ashes and they dont seem to think beyond Ashes. Perhaps they should stop playing cricket in between Ashes series.  Yet they want to be # 1. And Collingwood could be on his way out from Tests at least.

Clarke is the captain for the Sydney test and most probably for long term too. He is having a rut in the batting department and that has invited a lot of doubts over his choice of captaincy.

The Australian batting is no more formidable as it used to over  2 years before.

Katich or Hughes do not inspire confidence. Watson makes 50 but does not convert 100s. Ponting stopped making 100s since long time. Hussey is the only batsman, Clarke is metrofexual and Steven Smith as # 6 is fart.

Compare that to the likes of Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Gilchrist as good as 2007.  More than the batters they are missing Shane Warne, Gillespie and of course Glenn McGraw (Bill Lawry style).

Wont be a surprise if they lose the world cup in India next year.

Possible semi finalists:

1. India.

2. England

3. South Africa

4. Australia / Pakistan if neither of this teams implode or explode.

1 more day of 2010 and I would finish off 4th year of cricket blogging starting 2007.  Pretty good journey from a world cup to world cup.

Response to Graeme Smith 's questioning India's # 1 status

Ok this reading compels me to write a post.

India are top team in the Tests in the world for more than a year now. And this has not come down to India just cos of the mathematical formulae that go beyond calculating the ICC rankings and all. The results home and away reflect the consistency India has had over past 3 years starting England 2007 or perhaps before than that.  India reached # 1 ranking last year and has hung to it for 1 year and counting now. Its not like South Africa who reached # 1 in both formats of the game and slipped no later than they reached.  

There have been verbal volleys from the coach and the captain of SA how India have to win to prove their # 1 ranking. What if India wins? What if SA lose yet again to take 20 wickets? They failed to take 20 wickets in consecutive tests against weaker Pakistan which had no Yusuf in their ranks. They have not won a Test series at home beyond last 2 series. They drew against England and lost to Australia just after they won in Australia.

Same Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel failed to shut out the Pakistani batsmen in Sheikhland, who had been bruised and hurt by England in England and in Australia before.

"We've been touching the No. 1 and 2 spot for the past two-and-a-half-years and we've played some good cricket around the world. We pride ourselves on big series like this one". Smith says. But they have not clung on to that spot. They are not even 1, 2 or 3 in ODIs.

Their batters have been getting big runs every where but they have choked when it came to hitting the nail hard to win a series. They won in Nagpur in India but lost in Kolkata. So if they are tough nuts why did they lose out in India 2 times after winning first test every time. Why did they fail to dismiss Pakistan 2 times in 2 tests in last series they played?

Last year they drew against England but 2 times out of 3 in first 3 tests they were in winning positions but failed out to take last English wicket to win 3-1. So who is tough and who deserves a # 1?

India or South Africa?

India have consistently won test matches in absence of first choice bowlers most part of the times. They've found out somebody in the bwoling department who stands out and delivers.

In batting they have made 400 runs in 7 consecutive games and passed 300 in one of every 25 Tests they have played in since 2008. They have not lost a series in last 2 and half years.

South Africa have not won a Test series in their own backyard in 2 years, their own conditions pacy and bouncy aiding their fast bowlers, they still failed to take 20 wickets every Test they played. Their batsmen plundered runs, but their bowlers lacked the firepower to take 20 wickets consistently.

On the other hand India -- having a so called "world class bowling attack" have taken 20 wickets in alien conditions and in supporting conditions. They won in SL, when SA were blanked 0-3. They won in NZ. India saved test matches, won test matches, chased targets in 4th innings, won convincingly, made huge scores in first or second innings of a test giving enough time to their depleted bowlers to take 20 wickets.

If Sehwag does not do it, then Dravid does, if not Dravid then Laxman. Sachin always performs.

And whats this hype about the dislike for short balls? Who fails against them? Sachin? Dravid? Laxman? Sehwag?  If its just 2 batsmen -- Gambhir and Raina who are prone to short balls, then why label the entire team as succeptible to the short stuff. Try short stuff against Sehwag. Once or twice you might succeed, but be ready to face the music then. Remember 319? Remember this year's Kolkata test?

Does South Africa invite that awe which Australia had? They've never won in SL, India. They last won in India 10 years back and since then they have lost 1 and drew 2. They were blanked 0-3 in dead pitches of SL 4 years back.

Australia consistently whitewashed them this decade home and away until 2008 when they won 2-1 but lost the home series 1-2. They won in England but drew in home. They failed to shut out Pakistan who are at their weakest in terms of batting in their history.

It'd be better if Smith has a look at the side he's got and then do a pot shot to India. India has experienced customers who are too good to fall in this verbal childish trap of so called mind games. Focus on the play in the middle dude and not on the verbal volleys.

Ashes update

Run fest continues on Adelaide Oval in the Ashes and Australia continue to plunder low depths in the batting and bowling departments. 

Kevin Pietersen ended his 19 month wait for a Test century and what a way to bring it with a double 100. He is playing on 213 on day 3 end of the play and if England continue to bat on day 4 for say session and half, he would be good for a triple 100, first one after Gooch's 333 for England.

The pitch is spectacularly flat and if it does not crack up or deteriorate on day 4, Australia would feel good to bat out and earn a safe draw. They have men except North to do it and English attack would be fatal only if the ball would swing. Ball swung on day 1 and Jimmy Anderson reduced Australia to 3/2.  Once Aussies were bowled out, the pitch went from Australian to Sri Lankan second test in a row.

Australia have to sort out the batting woes of Clarke, Ponting and Katich to pose some formidable score and sort out their bowling combination -- especially spin department to stand a chance to win at least one test.

Its sad to see Australia in such a situation but then this is cricket and the Aussies are now on the receiving end of what they did to the other teams in their era of domination.

Ashes ke Bahane

Its all set for the Ashes. Gaba awaits the action on Thanks Giving day. The closest fought Ashes would begin that day when Ponting's hurt men would take on Strauss's roaring soldiers.

Everywhere its being said that the roles are reversed, the Aussies are new Poms and Poms are new Aussies.  In the fact that the Aussies are yet to win a Test after they sent Afridi to retirment, they are going in Ashes test on the back of 3 back to back defeats. Some thing which none of this players have witnessed before.

As for England, they have improved a lot since the dark days of 90s and early 2000s when they were the worst team playing test cricket. Collapses, ego and paper tigers in Atherton and company made them a natural loser in every Ashes series they played. Since Vaughan took over, the tides have changed. They have won 2 Ashes series post 2004 and lost one 0-5. They drew in South Africa, lost in West Indies, India.

They have a lot of batsmen who are in good form. But its the bowlers who are in better shape than the batsmen.. The batters still have Cook, Pieterson, Trott, Collingwood who have had horrid times off late in Tests, so its the bowling attack that gives England the competitiveness that was lacking in them all this years.

Swann, Finn, Anderson and Cribber Broad make the attack for England.

Johnson, Siddel, Hilfy and Doherty form the attack for Australia. Nowhere in comparison with the great attacks that have taken the field in the past, but the guys are honest triers and work hard. Esp Hilfenhaus, he is the most improved bowler in the tests around.

I would still bet Australia to win this Ashes. 5-0 is a dream, but a 2-1 or 3-1 victory would not be ruled out.  Gabba and MCG are sureshot Australian wins, while Perth may be English win. Draws  could be the results on Adelaide and SCG. But we never know.

The next 3 months are very exciting for Test cricket, for its great Lanka taking on rejuvenated Windies and bottom rung of teams India taking on South Africa and England taking on Australia.

Lanka Win takes character stocks to high

I find it frustrating to find early morning that Sri Lanka won.

Damn. Australia cant win anything.

Sri Lanka won with 1 wicket with some "magical" innings from Malinga and the cribber tantrum thrower Angelo Mathews (I remember 2 times he threw tantrums when he collided with a player and when out threw bat and stuff).

Good job. Series win on the horizon.

But also on the horizon is the blabbering and rants from SangaNanga and Mahela Mahila in their press confrences and blogs respectively.

SangaNanga has already begun savioring the magical and awesome win vs Australia as he finds Australia a very great place to come to. Today MCG looked like it was a Sri Lankan ground. Yuck...those boring grounds when the fans just dance on the boring drumming and band playing in the background.

The problem with Sri Lankan assesment is that they think that every win in any format takes the to another plane/level in the game and their performers are world class.  They do not have a core set of players they stick to .

They chuck players too soon and bring new players every new series. They continue playing weak teams and if not weak teams, they have India playing them.  Their main batsmen continue to be SangaNanga, Mahela Blabba, Dilshan and in bowling only Randi is sure of a spot in the test team. Rest they keep chopping, frying, changing. Their next big thing soon become thing of past in a matter of series. Masaraweera, Mendha, Lahiru Timmu, Paragraph and so many others have come and gone. So tough to remember all their players except 5 or 6.

They'd still go the quarters or semis in the world cup cos they are going to play their most games at the Lankan backwaters where any foren team can hardly win thanks to the slow low wikats and strangling tactics by the bowlers who since their inception learn to bowl negative lines.

This team can never be an exciting team. Pakistan for all its fallacies and evils are still a team to watch cos we dont know what they'd come upto.

Ashes Noise

The 2 old worn out super powers of Cricket -- England and Australia are busy planning mind games and tactics for Ashes something which has lost relevance in last decade.  England are no 4 in the test rankings and Australia are no longer the dominating ones. Yet the media and cricket pundits from this 2 countries make us believe that the Ashes is the cricket series which would save the cricket world from the evil clutches of Asian cricketing bloc.

No wonder the English authors call Australian preparation to the Ashes as bulls hit as they have been playing 2 Tests and 3 ODIs in India and 3 ODIs home vs SL.  No first class games as they say for preparing for the Ashes. Few players are playing but then English media wont look at them.

What ideal preparation does England have? They won 3-1 in a series with Pak which nobody knows if all Tests were rigged or fixed or how many of them were clean and how many of them were not.

Then they went for a boot camp in Germany only to return with injured James Anderson, their best bowler in swinging conditions. Australia does not have swinging conditions like SA and England.

KP is in the worst form of his life and he is doing everything except what he should do -- make runs.

So is that an idealistic build up to the Ashes?

There are many in England team who believe they have best chance to win in Australia in 24 years.  They have been making tall claims on the back of batting prowess of Strauss, Cook, Trott, KP, Collingwood, Morgan, Bell.  Except Strauss and Trott none of this batsmen are in any kind of form. They just managed to get through the Pakistanis because the latter were busy rigging the game.

And do not forget they did not win a single Test on the last tour to Australia.

Johnson, Bollinger, Siddle, Hilfy should be handful for Australia to run through the feeble English batting lineup 2 times every Test. And the batting of Katich, Watson, Ponting, Hussey,Clarke, North and Haddin / Paine may not be like the Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Martyn, Gilchrist of 2006, yet this line up is strong enough to post a total of 400 plus and leave England reeling with the walking wickets like Cook, KP, Collingwood and Bell / Morgan.

In short, the Ashes would not be that important a cricket series as it used to be may be in 1980s or earlier. Its the contest of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka thats more important for the life of Test Cricket to be longer. 

Summer of 1986 : India vs England in England

My first tryst with the cricket watching goes back 24 years in 1986 when India toured England and later had Australia touring India. That was a span in Indian cricket when the team was on top as it won 2-0 in England, drew 0-0 with Australia at home including a memorable tied test in Chennai, 2nd one in the history and probably the last one till date (not sure but I guess there was one England Zimbabwe Test drawn too).

I was just 7 then and I was introduced to cricket watching by my father.  Before 1986 I vaguely remembered the Benson & Hedges world series win when Ravi Shastri was declared champion of champions and had won an Audie. That was 1985 and earlier that year around January India had toured Australia and had lost a ODI on Jan 26, 1985 or 1986. That was republic day for India and Australia day (later Australia thumped India again on this day in 2000). I remember coming from school and heading to my uncle's place for my cousin's 4th bday celebrations.

Those days DD used to transmit the live cricket and the level of commentary was too good for today's commentary in DD. There was Dr Narottam Puri and some Akash Khanna (not sure his name, but he was bearded and presented World of Sports every Sunday at 4 PM on DD).

My first series of following cricket was the 1986 England tour when Kapil Dev was captain. India had just landed in  England sometime in May and Kapil had given an intentful statement 'Hum yaha jeetne aaye hai".  I joked with my father on the breakfast dining table 'wat if he loses'.  That was not to be, India won the Test series 2-0 and the ODI series was drawn 1-1.

T20 was good 18 years below its invention and only time somebody heard of T20 was in the club cricket when teams play 10/20 over games with tennis balls (at least in India or may be in Stan)

I remember Gavaskar and Srikanth(yes Cheekanth) opening the batting for India with Dilip Vengsarkar in the middle order. Azharuddin was then 1 yr old in Indian cricket and was an excellent slip fielder. I remember he took a diving catch to his left in 2nd slip published in newspapers then. Gooch had caught Maninder Singh in 2nd slip after English keeper (not remember who he was) dropped him, then Gooch dropped him and then keeper dropped again and in next attempt Gooch kicked the ball through his feet and Maninder got out.

There were few England players : Fowler, Redford, Lamb, Ellison (he was a keeper?), Graham Dillie (I thought he used to come running from boundary to deliver), John Embury, Phil Edmonds(both were baldies), Gooch of course, Ian Botham did not play. And the captain David Gower.

Without referring to any literature, I remember India had Sunny, Cheeka, Azhar, Vengie, Shastri, Chandu Pandit, Raju Kulkarni (lol), Chetan Sharma, Roger Binny,  Madan Lal etc.

The ODIs were referred as Texaco trophy. The ODIs were played on Saturday and Monday. India won first ODI by 8 wickets and lost the 2nd one. Gavaskar hit the boundary and was out caught in the slips. 1-1.

Later on I followed every tour India made and every tour India had.

In 1986 after Australia toured India in came Lankans and they were thrashed 2-0 with India making its highest score of 7-676 (broken 18 yrs later in SCG) and Azhar out for 199.  Sri Lanka then had even more unpronounciable names than now. Laebroy, Ratnayke brothers, Mendis, Ranatunga, Roy Dias, Don Anurasiri etc etc.

1987 was a year when Sunil Gavaskar retired from Tests in Bangalore after an epic 96 vs Pakistan and later that year India almost won the world cup only to lose in the semis.

There were many tours that happened listing down below:

1987 : India vs Pakistan in India

World Cup in India

India vs West Indies in India

1988 : India vs New Zealand in India

1989 : India vs West Indies in West Indies. India lost horribly in ODIs and Tests

          India vs Pakistan in Pakistan

1990 : India vs New Zealand in New Zealand

          India vs England in England

          India vs Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka

And so forth....

The summer of 1986 was memorable for me as  I began the tryst with cricket which is still ongoing with same intensity as it was in 1986. 24 years of watching cricket and supporting India. 21 years of those one thing has been constant and unchanging -- Sachin Tendulkar.

Turmoil

Turmoil in world cricket.

PCB as usual. They celebrate the news that Oval ODI was not fixed. What a joke.  Ijazie should really dress himself as a joker everyday to the work and press conferences.

Kiwis are unexpectedly reeling under a 0-4 whitewash. Oceanic cricket is in turmoil. Aussies lost 0-2, Kiwis 0-4.

Deshis are on an unexpected high, thanks to Siddons and Shakib. Great stuff for them. Only if they maintain their consistency and hunt down Sri Lanka every time they play. They would do a great service to the cricket world.

India has its own demons of ODI cricket where the selectors are hell bent to rest players at a very wrong junction of time. India are now just 12 ODIs away from the opening game against BD in the world cup and they have only 10 ODIs to play with the core group of players for the world cup. How many of the core players would actually play those 10 ODIs is still a question given that the selection committee is a buffon and a basket  case.

West Indies have a new captain and a vice captain. Enough said on them.

England are all about Ashes and they are not giving a damn to the world cup. They wont win it anyways.

Australia has its own set of problems with the seniors coming floppers in the Tests and the ODIs being only strong point for them at the time.

Entropy level right now in the world cricket is high and the men in focus are usual jokers and clowns in PCB.