Archive for the ‘Bret Lee’ Category
Ashes day 1
Strauss, Cook, Bopara didnt score high and got carried away in hype and hoopla. Fell to cheap dismissals.
Hilfy and Johnson have been the bowlers for the Australia who have bowled quite well. Somehow Australia right now lack a genuine pace bowler like Lee who could run down the opposition in a torrid spell.
Not so long ago Clark was their best bowler, but he is not in the side today. Hauritz hasnt bowled that bad so far. Right now Ponting is trying to run through the 80 overs to may be get the new ball. 17 more balls to go right now.
Australia would be happy to restrict England below 335 or 340. All in all a good Test match cricket on day 1 of Ashes.
Session wise scoreline :
Session 1 : Australia
Session 2 : England
Session 3 : Australia so far.
Bret Lee seals his spot
Rameez Raja ‘s Ranjeet moment of the day
When the 2nd wicket for DC fell, Roy came in and Rameez Raja welcomed him with the statement on air while commenting. ” Andrew Symonds played a MATCH WINNING innings of 60 against KXIP on saturday”.
Really? Lost the plot? I thought DC lost it to KXIP when Bret Lee won the game by hitting winning runs and getting Preity di pappiya and jhappiya. It happens mate. When you spend lot of time with Ranjit in the commentary box, you are due to pick some wrong habits. Never mind as long as this is just a slip of tounge. Would ja correct the statement mate?
India wins emphatically in old age cricket
This series is comparable to the Ashes 2006-07 down under where a mass exodus happened for Australians and so it did for India. We have lost 2 of our greatest cricketers – one who was a greatest skipper of the country and the other one who was greatest match winner we ever had but never got his due. The moment he knew he wont be fit enough for the deciding test of the series, he quit. That’s Anil Kumble for you. His bowling skills were fading and his shoulder wasn’t able to cope up the responsibility of delivering major quota of bowling, he quit. And he did it in style. The mental strength and the spirit was unmatched throughout his career.
The so called old aged cricket simply outclassed the new age cricket. The aggression, the intent, the motivation and the spirits of the game always rested on one side of the teams and that was WE the INDIANS. This victory is one of the greatest wins achieved in the history of Test cricket. Beating a team best in the world by 2-0 with no corner left unconquered is a big achievement and it couldn’t have come up unless everybody in the team could have contributed. It was the opening partnership of Sehwag and Gambhir/ Vijay that led the foundation, with not so solid contributions from the WALL, supreme batting display by the middle order often calming the tempers and adjusting the tempo of the game by Sachin, VVS and of course Laxman. When in trouble rescued by Dhoni and so were the contributions from Zak and Bhajji in batting. AK contributed with bat, not so much with ball, but kept the spirits of the team high with a dream and today we have achieved that dream of beating the best in the world without loosing anything.
If batsmen were supreme, then so were the bowlers. Ishant was the pick of bowlers and then Zaheer Khan often got his bunny Hayden for major part of series. Bhajji contributed in his way though not as the way he would have liked to. Mishra delivered when the onus was given to him and he could be heir apparent to AK but he has got a long way to go. Ishant Sharma has evolved to an altogether different class and now he is ready to deliver goods everywhere. Very important for India to preserve this rare commodity and use him sensibly.
The seniors have slammed their critics and after Mohali victory, the media didn’t have a word to say against them. Sachin Tendulkar achieved personal milestones, but never lost the cause of winning the series against Australians. He has scored 900 runs against them in 8 tests this year with 3 hundreds and 3 fiftees which has helped team win 3 Test matches to 2 losses against the mighty team. If Laxman appeared lax in first 2 games, he stuck with a mighty return to form so much so that Aussies had to wait for 324 runs to finally dismiss him. Ganguly never distracted from his ultimate mission to overcome the Aussies in his last hurrah and not only did he score a wonderful 100, but also rescued India in Bangalore and Delhi with gritty knocks. This is Ganguly’s team. He has made it with his skills and acumen. Dhoni, Sehwag, Bhajji, Zaheer prospered under his leadership. He transformed the team from a ordinary team to a team of world beaters. And what a fitting farewell he gets. With a victory in the series and gaining back the Border- Gavaskar trophy after 5 years.
Australians were out-thought, out classed in every department. They got their team composition wrong and it was shocking to see the tactics on the day 4 last session when they had last chance to seal the series and retain the coveted trophy. Slow over rate for sure is going to land Ponting to trouble. He should be lucky that the next 3 series he plays are against weaker teams of NZ and SA, so he would escape the scrutiny. But for sure the Aussies are no more invincible. It was shocking to see them fold up in 50 overs. Patience lacked and nobody showed intent to save the game. Except Hayden nobody wished to stay on the crease.
Lee had a forgettable tour with just 8 wkts and trouble with Ponting in 2nd test didn’t help him either. Clark would learn how to ball on unhelpful wkts. Johnson took wkts but leaked out rains. Siddle was ok in the only test he played. Cameron White never looked menacing with bat and ball. And Krejza had a crazy debut, leaking 360 runs for 12 wkts. He might be or might not be a good spinner for Aussies, but then he s got to look into the runs he concedes for the wkts he takes. Except Hussey, no batsmen lived upto his reputation. Watson is no Symmo and Haddin is no Gilchrist either. Perhaps Aussies need back Roy and for good he is eligible to come back to the folds again.
This is a beginning of new age for Indian cricket when it moves to transition from a greatest middle order to a pretty thin and relatively less famed middle order, though for few months to come RD, ST and VVS would be there. But they wont be playing forever. And unfortunately the new aged batsmen aint patient or gifted as this 4 greats. And MSD is the best of leader for India in this new transition.
Kudos to India and a bid adieu to AK and SG…..
Australia’s intent and Nagpur test in delicate balance
Aussies finally managed to reduce the lead to 86 from what one time it seemed it would be 100+. Match still hangs in delicate stage and much would depend upon how Sehwag bats tomorrow 1st session and how Krejza bowls. India would need to atleast give 3 and half sessions to Aussies to chase the target of 300+ should India bat long and fast. A possible distraction could be Saurav Ganguly’s final international innings. He could even be promoted to # 3 ahead of RD to have a go at Aussies for one last time….
Australian strategy and runs scoring today was ridiculous and little less than 100 runs in first 2 sessions spoke how much Aussies have given up a hope to win this Test and retain the BG trophy. What were they trying to do by scoring at a snail pace ? Have they lost the zeal to win ? Or may be Bret Lee ‘s absence mattered big time to them ? Even if Australian bowling is ridiculous, they have been batting decently and are expected to have a go on India tomorrow to try and dismiss them cheaply.
Dhoni tried restrictive strategies to good results. Dried the runs in 1st session and then all out in 2nd session. Results were instantly to see. 230/2 to 270/6. That’s what restrictive style of cricket does and Aussies have never been known to play below run rate of 3…The “new age cricket” certainly isn’t helping Australia’s case. Except Gilchrist and Jacques, this batting line up still remains the same as the one which played entire last year since the retirements of Langer, Martyn and bowler duo after Ashes 2006. But the approaches remain stark contrasted.
Tomorrow ‘s day could also be a deciding factor for RD to book a place for England Tests or be dropped and hence retire. If that happens, it would be disastrous for India and certainly not affordable right now when already 2 of the 5 greats have walked into a retirement.
Cricket watching is going to change drastically the next time India plays a test match and the results of Kumble’s retirement are already showing up with Mishra showing no signs of being hair apparent or even 40% of his form in Mohali. After the 5-for in Mohali, he s got just 4 wkts in 3 innings. Plus he cannot bat and he cannot ball. Heir apparent to Anil who could bat decently well for 25-30 runs and hangin there in crunch times.
India and Australian perspectives out of Mohali Test
News of spats between Bret Lee and Ricky Ponting, urgent SOS to happily retired Shane Warne are the 2 of the immediate fallouts of the huge defeat Australia suffered in 17 years to India. That’s what a defeat does to a team. A team which was rarely outplayed and comprehensively beaten by a team which is its bitter rival. Defeat is something which has hardly been noted by this generation of Australian players. Many players came and went by, but were never a part of a series losing team. Adam Gilchrist was part of just 2 teams which lost a series in his entire 96 test career of 9 years (2001-02 in India, 2005 Ashes). If you check for records for max wins, this Australian team and the one which had retired players like Langer, Pidge, Warney and Gilly would always figure on top.
I am not sure if the spats news between Lee and Ponting are true, as they come from ever unreliable media. But something was terribly missing from this Australian team. The killer instinct or the belief that takes them home even in despair (example when Langer and Gilly chased 369 in Hobart Test, 1999 vs. Pakistan) was clearly lacking. Emotions gripped the brutal ruthless Aussies which was evident in the Hayden’s approach to Zaheer in 2nd innings. Yes he wanted to overcome the daemon of Zaheer, but then in the process he fell to the obnoxious weed Harbhajan Singh. The fire was needed but with caution. Till date 516 runs have never been chased successfully and perhaps might not be in the future. The batsmen made mistakes, India’s bowlers kept the formidable line-up (yes it still is ) in check even without their captain and greatest wicket taker in the match.
The bowling lacked imagination for Australia in the 1st innings when Tendulkar and Ganguly stole the thunder back from Australia when they were reduced to 4/153. Perhaps after that Australia couldn’t crawl back to the game. A lot has been said on lack of quality spinner in the side and nothing optimistic picture looms on the horizon. Without a quality spinner Australia are always going to struggle in the sub continental conditions. The fast bowling wasn’t up to their reputation with Lee being conspicuously absent from the attack on day 4 morning session. After 201 runs behind, only way for Australia to crawl back was to dismiss India under 150 and have a go at target less than 350.
It’s still not lost for the Aussies. They can still win the next 2 tests and retain the trophy, it would be uphill task. Next they enter to Delhi which is India’s fortress and Kumble ‘s adopted home ground. 8 days break should be enough for them to introspect and ease out the gaps between their actual standard of the game and the one they put up in Mohali. Mohali has shrugged off its batting friendly draw wicket image and India have now beaten England and Australia in Mohali after losing to the Windies in 1994 to level the series.
320 run victory is India’s biggest in terms of runs and it definitely sends up positive signs for the future. MSD is ready for test captaincy as well. Captaincy brings out best in MSD and he sparkles in his batting, not to say his tactics. But only after Kumble retires which could be at the end of the season (NZ tour). He was a difference between the 2 sides. If Ponting was scoffing at Lee and pointing to walk to Sehwag, then MSD was up to the task and was quick to grab the initiative whenever presented. 2nd day morning session could have been anybody s game until he stepped in and made 92 forging partnerships with Saurav. Innings of 92 and 68 should eliminate doubts regarding Dhoni’s Test capabilities. We often tend to forget in the euphoria that he has quite often played substantial innings in Tests too. A match saving 70s in Lord’s test, a 50 in Delhi test in 2007 vs. Pakistan which won India the match after Shoaib blast, the 37 in Sydney test alongside Kumble and then a quick fire 68 in 3rd test of Windies which actually set up a target of 300+ for WI. He is not only having the best average amongst Indian wicketkeepers, but also the best strike rates amongst contemporary Test batsmen.
India had lots of positives coming out of the game. The opening partnership looks settled for now and long time to come meaning curtains for Chopra and Jaffer. The middle order isn’t a problem. Sachin Tendulkar is back in love books with the media and the fans alike. Rahul Dravid looked fluent in the 1st innings before he chopped one onto his stump, his fielding was superb. Ganguly showed he is not yet finished and he forced few people to request him to take back the retirement. How rubbish. Laxman is the one who now needs a go and well Delhi Test could provide that.
Bowling attack looks settled for most part. Mishra’s debut augurs well for us and though he might have to wait for few more games to be a permanent fixture in the side, he is a very good find of the series. Alright, one bad Test doesn’t make AK a bad bowler and then he is the captain. Let’s not forget that. Zaheer and Ishant were awesome. The way Ishant has scored points over Ponting says about his class and belongingness to the highest level. He is for sure the next Indian superstar in bowling unless he doesn’t fade away to success and glory. Very rarely it happens that we encounter fast bowlers outplaying spinners in home series. For sure this is a good sign to come.
This was a team effort with everybody contributing to the cause with the exception of Laxman. The next test is 8 days away and for sure its going to be another gripping affair. Hometown for Sehwag, Gambhir, Sharma, Mishra and Kumble. The same ground where Tendulkar made his debut as Indian captain against the same team and won. The same ground where Tendulkar broke Gavaskar ’s record of most Test hundreds and besides its also the same ground where Anil Kumble took 10 wkts in an innings. India have won last 7 tests played out here and it would be 8 in a row now.
On a parting note for the Mohali Test, Ponting sounds miffed with Indian chatting and banter in the game. Isn’t it double standards ? Didn’t Aussies do the same in Sydney and moreover we won within the spirits of the game unlike Aussies who broke every available courtesy and decency in that eventful Sydney test. If Aussies receive few sledges and banters in return, they appear defensive and naggers, but when they do it then its alright with them. It doesn’t work this way Ponting.
“Bit of chit-chat is something okay with all and it’s only when you overstep the line that the umpires intervene. And umpires intervened a couple of times, like the one involving Zaheer Khan yesterday”.
All in all the better of the 2 teams won and it should be good enough to the obsessive media to highlight the positive part of it and not crib on impending retirement of the senior players. Of course some point of time they would go and we won’t be lucky enough to get superbly and immensely talented players like the Big Five playing together in a Test match, the crux of the players which changed the way country played Test cricket home and away.
End of Symmo ?
Barring Symmo out of the Indian tour, the gloss of the series has been lost. I fear the next generation of players from both teams wont be able to sustain the intensity and passion we have seen in the series in this decade. The classic tag might soon be archived. The maverick nature of pros like Bhajji and Symmo is essential to keep the flare alive for the series. Would you shell out hard earned money to watch McGain bowl to Rohit Sharma or a Suresh Raina ?
Aussies have chosen a weak team, which gives India an edge to start with. Experience is the key in crucial series and India has aplenty of it. Even if you take out 109 out of the cumulative experience, you got 150 from Tendulkar, 132 from skipper, 97 from VVS, 125 from RD, 70 from Bhajji and 60 from VS + 53 from Zaks. Stack that against Aussies and you see India way ahead of the fiercest rivals.
Only 4 players — Ponting, Hayden, Katich and Clark(Pup) have played a Test in India before. And Hayden, Ponting are injured. Aussies lack a genuine spinner. Ok McGain is a M, but he is not Mendis or a chuck, so Indians wont submit to him. Krezza is a rookie, Boulinger and Siddins wont get a game. So its more or less in the hands of Lee, Johnson and Clarke to share the load of bowling.
Jacques and Watson/Katich/Hayden ‘s opening pair doesnt look as intimidating as Hayden and Langer. Batting looks a bit settled with Clark and Hussey as main anchors.. It would be the last time the Fab 5 of Indian cricket would take on the Aussies home or away. And nothing short of classic series win would suffice for the greats of Indian cricket.
Whatever be the team compositions, the series promises to be a cliffhanger and close one. Depends if it would be classic as 2001, 2003 or 2007. Wish that Symmo is out for now and would be back soon. He would be certainly missed, after all we have not forgot that he took the Test away from us in Sydney no matter riding on luck and bad umpiring.
