Backing Ashvin for success in West Indies ODIs

R Ashvin, the tall 24 year old spinner from Chennai and one of the vital cogs of CSK's twin IPL titles. He has been hailed   as country's second best spinner after Harbhajan in ODIs at least. He has just played 9 ODIs, 2 in World cup, 5 in NZ series and 2 in that ill fated Zimbabwe tour. But he has earned a place amongst fans to be brave hearted and a constant trier. He doesnt held himself back from tossing the ball up in the powerplays in ODIs and T20s, he  gets thrashed but more often than not he picks up wickets. 

He proved that in the IPL and CLT20 that he can be a very good new ball bowler and he often started the attack in the world cup (against West Indies and Australia - 2 games he played).  Got Watson in the Quarters in the first 10 overs. And then he was dropped for  the next 2 games. He again proved his mettle in the IPL when he constantly grabbed Chris Gayle in the final and a game before when later was rampaging. 

MSD has handled this man very well and its fortunate for Ashvin that MSD is also India captain. When he returns for the England ODIs, Ashvin would be keen to perform well in the West Indies ODIs and sneak a place in the starting XI ahead of Harbhajan Singh. Its most likely that Harbhajan would always play ahead of him in conditions favoring just one spinner, but if Ashvin could keep Bhajji on toes, only the Indian bowling attack would be benefitted. 

After Kumble's shoulder surgery of 2001, India hasnt had an attacking spinner in the ODIs. Harbhajan fitted that role very well in early 2000s but in last few years he has become more of containing bowler than an attacking bowler. He cannot be always relied to grab wickets in pressure situation, something which Kumble always did for Azharuddin and Tendulkar in 90s. 

India has tried a lot of spinners in supporting role to Harbhajan after Kumble bowed out of ODIs -- Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra (very few ODIs), Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawala, Ravinder Jadeja etc. But none of them have been able to cement their places in the starting XI. Also Sehwag's dodgy shoulder in last 2 years havent helped India's cause,  he has proved many times he is better off spinner than Harbhajan Singh. 

If Ashvin is able to replicate his IPL success in ODIs and T20Is for India then not only he would be a serious contender for Tests but also India would have much better bowling attack as compared to now. He is in the team in West Indies only for the ODIs, but if he puts up a strong performance, say 2 wickets on average per game and giving away 4.5 - 5.5 runs an over, he would be very tough to ignore for the tougher tours coming up later this year. 

And thats when Ashvin would be just Ashvin and not IPL Ashvin.

India win by 16 runs in the first T20I

India began the tour well by winning the 1 off T20 against a depleted West Indies side. This win was India's first ever in T20Is against West Indies. Strange fact given how weak the Windies has been over years now and yet India had to wait so long for the win. 

The short ball woes, it looked would return again to haunt the inexperienced lads, when Dhawan got out to Samy in 3rd / 4th over. That was a nothing shot and Dhawan had no clue what to do for the delivery. Patel and Kohli then rebuilt for a while before Sammy returned to take 3 more wickets to leave India at 4/56.

Kohli, Raina and Patel dismissed.  And then our Chennai hero Dabrinath settled to a run a ball knock which was sufficient on the uneven, turning pitch and alongside Rohit Sharma he led India to a decent 159/6 after a miraculous 72 runs off last 5 overs. 

West Indies were given early blows by Munnabhai and IPL Ashvin, but Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo batted without sense and urgency till 16th over without losing further wicket and any sense of urgency to win. And when the surge came, it was too late for them as run rate had already climbed 17 a over. Hyatt and Barnwell put up a fight though, it was an easy win for India by 16 runs. 

What is very disgusting to see is 3 good players of T20 -- 2 of them hyped in the IPL were not part of Windies team. Gayle, Pollard and senior Bravo. WICB has to get its act straight to get its best players playing in a team to have any chances of revival in the international cricket, else its all downhill for them.

Fartatunga

Shut the fuck up Arjuna Ranatunga

Afridi Soap Opera

Afridi sacked

 

Afridi retired

 

Afridi interview and he rips apart Ijaz Butt

 

Afridi's NOCs revoked making him ineligible in Hampshire and possibly Srilanka Premier League

 

Afridi appeals to Mr 10 %

 

Afridi accepts show caz notice charges and pleads guilty....

 

What next ?

 

Return to captaincy ? Out of retirement ? Sing Butt praises? Or ban  ? And then revoked ?

 

 

Sri Lanka's shocking collapse

Sri Lanka set themselves on a shocking loss when they couldnt bat long as they do and their typical walls floundered. And Jimmy Anderson didnt even bowl.  When the test set to be a dull draw, the SL provided excitement by folding out for mere 82 thus giving strength to the theories that they play well only in their home grounds and of course Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.  The likes of Mahela, Sanga, Samaraweera, Jayawardhena Prasanna, ParaXXX flopped and England romped home by inns and 14 runs when none expected them to.

 

Problems with SL team are huge. They have politicians at their back, they have match fixing allegations and now they also have a dope test failure in their ranks, who unfortunately was one of their top scorers of the World Cup. How much runs did he score with that effect and what games were affected by that needs to be investigated. And its just fair that they lost the world cup final to India. A team of cheats, fixers, dope failures doesnt deserve to be world champions.

 

SL bowling was always going to be a worry in absence of Murali and Malinga, now the ineptitude of their batsmen in 2nd innings also raises more ? on their mindset in playing Tests outside BD and SL. The facts that they havent won a test in SA, Aus and India is a testimony to their poor mindset when they travel abroad. They cite FTP as reason to inability to play more in this countries. But who has stopped them to adopt themselves to the conditions in this countries. They arrived in England and good 2 weeks before, had 2 tour games, won both of them and yet when it mattered, they lost.

 

Sangakara and Jayawardhena, their bullies scored just 70 runs amongst them in both innings and it was unlikely 100 from PJ that gave a decency to the first innings score of 400. 6 batsmen theory isnt going to work for them. Especially when the 3 of 4 top batsmen (by SL standards) fail. They cannot play 2 spinners in conditions that aid seam and swing. And if one of the 2 spinners read MM, then it was ok, but if its Herath and Mendis, then its a shot in own foot.

 

Surprisingly none of Sangakara and Jayawardhena have spoken now on this loss. Well before the test started, the Jayawadhena feeder talked a lot about mindset and for brief I admired the guy, but now no more.

Club vs Country after IPL

The IPL has taken one more World Cup winner down with the injury list and now following members are either not available or are resting:

 

1. Virender Sehwag

2. Gautam Gambhir

3. Yuvraj Singh

4. Sachin Tendulkar

5. Che Pujara

 

Sehwag, Gambhir played almost full IPL through their injuries and withdrew at the end of their franchisee's campaign to go for further treatment. Gambhir played full IPL for KKR and when he was to lead India in WI he opted out of the  tour due to the injury.

 

Tendulkar has played entire IPL till today's loss and now he wants to skip the Windies test tour too to be with his family.  Arrogance.  Why couldnt he have skipped the IPL or part of it to be with his family? Why skip the test tour of West Indies? What if it was England tour?

 

Even more bizzare case is for Gambhir, the most expensive buy of IPL 4 and man who won the final for India. He is not only the best player of spin in the world but also a very valuable cog in the ODIs and Tests for India. Now India's and world's best opening pair wont be around in Windies. Why did Gambhir play through the IPL with a sore shoulder? Did Dildo Khan force him to? Did he inform BCCI about this? Does he qualify of being guilty to chose club over country? Is he right to play full IPL and skip test / odis of West Indies.

 

Still India shall win both ODI and test series in West Indies, but this entire episode leaves a very bad taste in the mouth and I hate IPL now.  Its just killing the soul and spirit of world cricket. Indian players have set a very bad precedent in the world by skipping the national tour and playing the crappy IPL.  Even worse is the role from BCCI who manages both and it needs to decide where does it loyalty lie? IPL or world cricket?

 

As a result the Tamil Nadu folks have made a comeback in the Test team and instead of Delhi lads, Chennai lads would open for India in Tests. The new Mukund and the failed Vijay. Also finding a place in the test team is Dabrinath, the same lad who failed when given the chances. Mukund sounds good prospect, would be keen to see how he performs.

 

Just 4 fast bowlers and 3 spinners. Riches. 2 of the fast bowlers are Sreesanth and Munaf Patel, that says the strength of the attack.  They both were termed as "best pace attack of last 15 years" in 2006 when India under Dravid won the test series, but then Munaf had pace then, now he has just a nagging length and no pace. Sreesanth has everything except what it takes to excel in the middle of the ground.  3 spinners in West Indies is again a poor selection. Now suddenly Pragyan Ojha is back in contention...Basis of what? IPL? He failed miserably in the IPL.

 

Probable XI :

 

1. Mukund

2. Vijay

3. Dravid

4. Laxman

5. Raina

6. Kohli

7. Dhoni

8. Harbhajan

9. Ishant

10. Zaheer

11. Freesanth

 

The batting order suddenly looks depleted and the opening pair seems wobbly. Thanks to the IPL and player priorities. Tendulkar especially is the one to blame the most.

England Vs Sri Lanka Preview

ts time to come out of decent hibernation after an intense world cup and long boring IPL to preview the start of some interesting cricket around the globe. Its time for SL vs Eng, WI vs Ind and then the biggest drawcard of the year India vs England in England.  The undercurrent to the series Ind vs Eng in Eng is the fact that India have not lost to England in any test series home and away in 15 years.  But that series for later, as both the teams have to account one more opponent before they square off against each other starting Lords on 21 July.

 

Pakistan are done with the Windies tour and they are going to Ireland under a new captain in ODIs, yet again. What's new? Nothing, they are going to be up against Ireland and they should be able to win the series comfortably, but you never know if Ireland combine well to upset the stanis yet again like in 2007.

 

West Indies are doing some brave talk to take on India in the upcoming series, but thats 15 days away. Only chance WI could have against India is in T20I where they are yet to lose against India. 

 

Time now for SL vs England.

 

England come from an Ashes triumph and SL come into the series out of Murali's retirement and Malinga's bowing out of the Tests.

 

SL have a lot of new things in their stable viz a new captain, 2 ex-captains, no match winning bowler who thrived when none delivered (at least he took wickets in England, if not won them the series) and inexpereinced pace attack. No Malinga, no Vaas and no Kulasekra. Nuwan Pradeep is out, Dilly Fernando is under injury cloud. Anyways he has had a stop start career and never delivered outside SL. But he got some wickats in the tour games and he would be leading the pace attack. How SL win the test matches without Murali would be a huge think to watch.

 

The batsmen might still pile on runs mostly ex captains and Dilshan, but how would they take 20 wickets is a huge question. Its an imperious stat that they havent won a test since Murali's retirement (5 tests in their own home turf, 2 against India, 3 against WI in a rain affected series). They have Mendis, they have Herath and of course Randiv, but would they deliver in England and would the pacers continue to rattle Ashes winners is a huge question.

 

Dilshan is an attacking batsmen who can set the tone of a test match, but he is no Sehwag in terms of consistency. Plus he is captain now and has added responsibility of seeing the Lankans through a torrid times in terms of non cricketing things affecting them.

 

How does SL fare in this test series would depend a lot on the starts he and ParaXXXX provides and how much ex-captains build up on that. Will be a keen thing to watch if Samaraweera continues to make runs in alien conditions and how the keeper Jayawardhena makes runs here.

 

On the other hand England do not have that many concerns as does SL. They wont have Colly around, they would have Broad back and Steve Finn shall compete with Tremlett for a spot in the final 11. How does Anderson torment the visiting lions shall be another deciding factor in the outcome of the series. He comes after a disastrous world cup, but he is a different proposition in tests in home conditions.

 

It would be a metronomic achievement if SL win at least a test here given their bowling resources and shocker if they win the test series....After all their coach is hell bent to prove that England are the best team in the world in Tests conviniently ignoring the Test rankings all the time.

16 men to Windies

The 15 for the ODIs and T20 leg of the Windies tour:

 

1. Gambhir

2. Patel

3. Kohli

4. Raina

5. Yuvraj

6.  Sharma

7. Pathan

8.Ishant

9. Harbhajan

10. Ashvin

11. Munaf

12. Saha

13. Dabrinath Bussumaniam

14. Vinay Kumar

15. Mishraji

16. Praveen Pehelwan

 

Except a couple of choices or make it 3, the selection looks all rite.

 

Dabrinath, Rohit Sharma and Saha.

 

Sharma was ignored for the world cup team. Since  the world cup and now, Sharma hasnt played any domestic cricket or international cricket except the IPL. So if selectors have

decided not to keep IPL as benchmark for this team selection, how is Sharma back in the team?

 

On the similar grounds how come Dabrinath is rejected for World cup and selected for this tour when the only form of cricket he has played is IPL.

 

And if IPL is the criterion for selection, then why have selectors ignored Rayudu, Rahul Sharma and may be Manoj Tiwary?

 

And what good has Amit Mishra done between World Cup and now except in IPL?

 

The positive side of selection is good to see no Vijay and Boss DK in the team, however DK is spurred on having being left out in favor of PP. He has hit 5 sixes out of nowhere in my home town IPL game.

 

May be a reminder to Cheeka that if somebody gets injured and there is an opening may be I can play. Not as keeper but may be as a batsman.

 

Aka India's Kamran Akamal.

Team selection to Windies ODI leg

IPL is yawning and the matches dont draw any more interest in the watching. The race to the top 4 in "play-offs" is too predictable and is more likely to be between MI, CSK, KKR and RCB. RCB doesnt draw any more interest since there is no Kumble and there is Dilshan.  CSK is full of players who pretend "I am good to play for India after my IPL stint",  KKR's owner's theaterics and his handling of Ganguly makes me disinterested in team.

 

And MI is useless if Tendulkar gets out early.

 

So the sole point of focus is the team selection for ODIs vs West Indies tomorrow.  The key points are:

 

This is first selectorial meeting since the epic memorable World Cup triumph.

 

Not many world cup winning players are going to be available for the series.

 

Dunc Fletcher is expected to attend this meeting, though he wont be around in WI (media reports).

 

Tendulkar, Dhoni, Zaheer, Sehwag, Nehra wont be touring either due to fatigue factor or injury concerns.

 

Questions would arise on participation of Tendulkar, Dhoni and Zaheer in IPL and opting for rest in ODI series vs WI. 

 

Who would be selected for the series would be bigger question and point of interest. The same old and tried idiots who have failed or new IPL stars of 2011? Will Boss DK, Dabrinath,  Jadeja and Rohit Sharma continue to brand themselves as immigrants who never deliver and always deported when the original players retur? Or will the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary,  Rahul Sharma find their way in the team and then go the Dinda, Gony way?

 

Who would be the skipper in absence of Dhoni and Sehwag? Would GG be the captain for the ODI/ T20 leg and then assume role of vice captaincy full term for all 3 formats?

 

Will Freesanth continue to occupy a slot in ODIs and not deliver?

 

All this questions shall be answered when the 5 wise men meet in Chennai tommorrow to decide the "bench strength worthiness" of India.  And will this team correct the previous scoreline of 1-4 in ODIs in 2006.

 

 

IPL Musings

IPL is well in the 2nd half and the trends are clear emerging:

 

• Mumbai Indians are going strength to strength. Barring an undercooked performance against Royals, they have looked the team to beat. Tendulkar, Rayudu, Sharma, Symonds, Pollard, Harbhajan and Malinga have been too hot to handle. They fire collectively or else most of them fire at one or the other occasion.
• Rajasthan Royals are firing despite the hot and cold opening pair. The bowling looks good with Shane Warne showing off his brilliance. Ross Taylor is the binding factor as is Johan Botha. Dravid looks solid but is unable to accelarate. Watson has lost his form he showed all the months leading upto the world cup. But none is complaining.
• Kolkata Knight Riders are on a roll, something they never saw in previous 3 seasons.  They are slightly ahead of MI in the terms of NRR and sit comfortably on the top of the table.  Gambhir, Kallis, Pathan and Abdullah are key players.
• Deccan Chargers are fused blown out and they look good to end up in the bottom half of the lot. They are pathetic in every department. Plus continous inclusion of Cameron White is hurting them.
• Kocchi Tuskers are inconsistent, their captain has a knack for media flare, giving statements, questioning opposition tactics and getting out in bizzare fashion. When on field, all the talks of character and flair vanish quickly.
• Pune Warriors are going through a disaster and even Sourav Ganguly's excellence wont save them. Pity to see th man of the tournament of the world cup sliding new lows in the IPL. Good thing is none would remember this month and half, as compared to the previous month and half for Yuvraj Singh.
• Delhi are too dependent on Virender Sehwag. Barring him there is no daredevilry left in the team.
• Punjab are living upto their billing of the weaker teams and Paul Valthaty is now sorted out.
• Bangalore are without Kumble and that shows in the hot and cold performances in this season. The openers havent fired consistently and the Dilshan factor wont exist for them for last 4 games.  Virat Kohli is lone player for them in form and the franchisee is more in news for th frenzied kisses between the son of the owner and the Bollywood dumb damsel he dates.
• Finally Chennai Super Kinks have been unbeatable in their own ground, but they aint unbeatables. 4th on the points table, they are worried about the batting form of the captain fantastic who also leads India. 

The selection committee meets in a week's time and it remains to be seen who all are rested and selected for the ODI leg of the Windies tour. Wont be a bad idea to rest key players who also form the crux of the Test line up -- Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gambhir, MSD, Zaheer and Harbhajan for the ODIs. And instead send a young team may be led by Gambhir or somebody else comprising of players like Manoj Tiwary, Ashvin etc who have come good this IPL consistently.