Back to back 4-0 defeats in Tests were deflating, add the CB series insult and pain of losing to Bangladesh in the inconsequential Asia Cup were good enough reasons to keep away from blogging on cricket. And IPL, it stopped being serious cricket ever since Srini's croonies found IPL as platform to claw into Indian team and doom the fortunes. Add the agony of seeing Shahrukh Khan's team win this IPL (no offence to Gautam Gambhir, he is one of my fav batsman). So this were good reasons to stay away from blog.
Periodically I kept checking if Google deleted my blog, luckily it did not. So this is the end of the hibernation for me and I can assume that I am back on the blogging scenario. Though old fashioned, but the single reason of following Indian fortunes in blues and whites keep me going.
A lot has changed in the cricketing world since the last post. Australia have lost to England in ODIs and that has given a false booty to obnoxious English media to believe that their team is really going places. Well, if you ask me, they are a bullshit ODI team who wins only in their backyard riding on the caveat of seaming and swinging conditions that aid their bowlers. The same set of bowlers struggle abroad and the same set of batsmen like Bopara, Bell and of course Trott struggle to make runs abroad.
Pakistan lost a test series in 2 years and also the ODI series to SL. SL won their first test series after Murali retired. Sangakarra made 100s and went past Don Bradman. SA is in England and they are making noises about their chances in England about winning and gaining the # 1 ranking in Tests. Pakistan are now no 4 and sadly that is at India's expense.
Back in India, the ODI team is in Sri Lanka to start the new fresh season which is going to be a vendetta season. England and Australia tour India for 4 tests each and nothing short of 4-0 win would be acceptable. Also the Kiwis tour India in August and September and then the World T20 is in place.
The ODI team has been declared. Tendulkar, as he has been doing, has "rested" during this series in SL. Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan are out of the team. Good thing. Vinay Kumar is injured and Irfan Pathan is back in the team. Good thing again. Selectors have chosen a full strength ODI team almost (barring Yuvraj Singh who should return to the ODI and T20 fold once he has full fitness and GOD willing that should be very soon). So India should focus to win this ODI series 4-1 at least and get a good start to the season which is going to be very critical from batting point of view.
