Arm Ball

This is in reply to the post from Dilip where he reckons India would be kicked out in the first round itself.

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1. Tendulkar
2. Gambhir
3. Dravid
4. Yuvraj
5. MSD
6. Raina
7. Pathan
8. Bhajan
9. Ishant
10. RP
11. Nehra

Bhajan would play. Doesnt matter if he is hot or cold. Choice could be between Nehra and Mishraji. We have already a lot of slow bowlers. Tendulkar can bowl. Besides Bhajan there is Pathan big, then there is Raina who rolled his arms with success in IPL – 2. Not to forget the Prince of Patiala and Parties — Yuvraj Singh.

Batting order could be a floater. Dravid, not many people would remember was a best finisher India had before Dhoni floated and Kaif faded. So who knows. But then the purpose which Dravid is in the team would serve is at 3.

I doubt if SL bowlers have that capability to bowl short at Indians. Cos the most likely ones to fall to the short balls now comes late as 6. Raina bhai wont come on top for sure. And Kulasekra doesnt have ability to bowl short if he plays. And who is Thushara ? Is he going to bowl short ? And then I dont know who else would be SL fast bowler. They come in and go as fast as an actress changes her dress in a typical Indian movie (Hindi and regional included). Would Herath play ODIs too ? Would Dilly Billy Silly play his ice cream scoop shot against Indians too ?

What about Bond ? Shane Bond ? Is he still as strong as he was pre-ICL. Not sure. Only thing that would go against the Blues would be the off-season rustiness. Especially for likes of Bhajji, Yuvraj and captain who have spent more time in driving Hummers (one of them w.o number plate ), partying, ads shoots and stuff like that. Indians havent been the best of the starters. Let me recall.

2008 : Post IPL, Indians started off well but lost 2 finals and then the dreaded botched biased partial Mendis series before they gathered their abilities to win ODI series and then set the ball rolling which hasnt stopped even as yet.

2007 : The break after WC was great infact. BD series win followed by SA series win (2-1), Ireland win, Scotland win, England test series win.

2006 : Was pathetic.

So off late not much data to say if Indians have been rusty or shining on the return. And with no Rohit Sharma, the contenders to fall to short stuff is pretty low. Forget Tendulkar, Dravid, Yuvraj and MS falling to short stuff. Gambhir , hmm, well he wont. Raina and Pathan would bat lower down the order, so the short stuff wont worry them.

Good omens. Sri Lanka for ODIs is always welcome. Always a victory. 2008, 2009 and again a 2009.

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. MS Dhoni
4. Zaheer Khan
5. Yuvraj Singh

in addition to some decent performers like :

1. Praveen Kumar
2. Harbhajan Singh
3. Suresh Raina
4. Ishant Sharma
5. Pragyan Ojha (though just 9 ODIs old)

indicates that the mission youngistan launched in 2008 CB series hasnt quite worked out as per the expectations. The core players who perform have remained the same all through out the 2000s. The ones who made their debut and mark under Sourav and Rahul. The top scorers in last 2 year bull run in ODIs starting Pakistan series home are same who have been the top performers in 2003 world cup and then in subsequent years.

Dravid was dumped after just one poor series in India vs Australia and more for his age. But the fact remains that India has found no good batsman than him in the conditions prevalent in WI series 2nd ODI. When the ball swings, there are no better batsman than Sachin and Rahul at the crease. I dont know if Rahul would ever play a ODI in his remaining career, but he is way better than the likes of Sharma, Raina and Karthik including Y Pathan even at 36.

The core batting group for India remains Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar (choosy in ODIs), Yuvraj, Dhoni even today which was no different than the Sourav era or even Dravid era. So what different has Mr Vengsarkar led selection panel achieved ? Threw caps at will to some undeserving players like Sharma and Y Pathan who has more ducks than 50s in his career so far. Vengsarkar was instrumental in rise of Tendulkar 22 years back, but he failed in the vision to bring similar players or half the 10% of talent of Tendulkar to the forefront. The replacements of injured players are those who cannot be relied to be long term players in ODIs.

You cannot expect the likes of Badri, Karthik or Sharma to play for India for even 2-3 years with their temparament. Screw quota allegations or being hater of TN charges on me, the field performances suggest that the likes of Raina, Sharma and Pathan — the 3 next big things predicted in 2007 have failed. The mission 2011 has lost its direction a bit for now.

The bowlers look even more concerning. Barring Zaheer Khan and occasionally Praveen Kumar on swinging wickets, there are no express bowlers of caliber of even a Umar Gul who supposedly thinks reverse swing is an art gifted by GOD or even Bret Lee or Albie Morkel. Spin bowling is in tatters. Harbhajan is a bowler who likes more to contain than strike. Ojha is relatively new to the field, but its difficult for him to pip Harbhajan and find a consistent place in the team XI.

There is a question of intent on the so called young gifted players in the side. Are they motivated enough to play for the country? Why is it they shine in IPL, but fail to make any impact in ODIs or not considered worthy enough to replace a Dravid or a Tendulkar in the Tests. Laxman would be the last one to go of the Fab Five in Tests, but with whom he would rally along when Sachin and Rahul are gone ?

It took a while for Ganguly, Dravid and Kumble to make a mark in the ODIs. Tendulkar made his 1st 100 in 6 years but then a Indian 100 in ODIs was a rare phenomenon. It was hard to believe then that it was Siddhu who hold the record for most 100s in ODIs. If they took some time, but then there was never a question mark on their intent and competency. More over their attitude. It never struck to the viewers then that this players wont be the ones they turned out to be.

We dont even see the spin bowling today to be as reliable as it was when Kumble was in his peak in ODis. It was Azhar who used to throw the ball to Kumble in first 15 overs and he used to strike back immediately. Now is there anybody who has the attitude of Kumble, let go his skills. His attitude was even evident in IPL – 2 final which was inconsequential by every means. Not only he did lead by front, but delivered with the ball too. I bet if you can expect that today from his partner and so called lead of bowling.

A number 8 team in ODis beats the best ODI team of last 2 years with 100 balls to spare and 8 wkts in hand. Thats ridiculous to say the least. And picture turns even more pessimistic to see the way the likes of first 3 and then the next 3 after 4 and 5 went. If the likes of RP singh can last for 75 balls, then why not Mr Sharma or Mr Pathan ? Or for that matter Mr IPL Dancer ?

Its time to look for new players for the slots of Rohit Sharma and Yusuf Pathan. May be Pathan can be a good bet in WC’11 in home conditions, but he would certainly be a cropper in abroad. Its time to look for players who are hungry to make their mark in the international cricket, not necessarily the best of talented players but the ones who are ready to put their best and even beyond that for the country, not just IPL or domestic cricket.

I rest my case.

I was away from the world of cricket and internet travelling to a distant land. So missed the LIVE action of World T20. However, the excitement is just about unfolding with the 7 games being over and results being a mixed bag. 4 teams have almost made it to the Super 8 stage and 2 would be decided almost today. Not an open format though, the IPL was more closer than this when the final 4 were decided in the last league game. The minnows have had it, the stronger teams have been punched hard on their face, the world champs have began emphatically and the runners up are in the dangers of being knocked out in the first round itself.

The world t20 began with a very exciting result when Netherlands beat England by 4/6 wkts in the tourney opener. English media was quick to rub the loss as the worst ever and blackest day in the history of 195 years of Lord’s. Too quick though, when in their next do – or – die league game, England thumped Pakistan by 48 runs, which is a big margin in T20. This result means England are through to the super 8s. And today Pakistan would need to win big against Netherlands. So that’s two fold a task. Win and win big.

SA and NZ had no difficulty in brushing aside Scotland who began well surprisingly in the rain shortened game on Saturday. This 2 sides are through to the next round and the winner of the tie between this 2 teams would decide the groups, the teams go in. SA have looked the most convincing team in the tournament thus far, though they played against a weak side. That has been the SA story. Start well, win all the games and then choke when it matters the most. Hope that this time, Graeme Smith would have different script for his team.

India beat Bangladesh convincingly by 25 runs though the critics would have their share of Dhoni bashing when he struggled to hit the ball. Ojha looked strong and Bhajan deceived. Zaheer was rusty. The way India played as a team sounds warning to the other teams in Super 8 stage that it would be very tough to beat this team. The only matter of concern is when Sehwag returns, who goes out?

Australia have suffered a great deal with the loss of Roy and perhaps they should have thought if sending back Roy was a wise move or it was an battle of egos between Roy and Pups. They face a do or die situation tonight and if they lose, they would be out for the first time in 17 years in the first round itself in any ICC tournament. (1992 World cup being the last). Ponting and Watson disappointed in the batting, Lee was treated like a school kid by Gayle during his 50 ball 88. Australia still might get through the Super 8 stage given they play SL who have been lackluster in the run up to the tournament. Australia have very little time in their hands to turn around the things. If SL lose, they still have a game to go against WI to make up for the loss.

One word on Pakistan. You cannot expect a team which has not won a single game in the tour to scamper through and go to the finals. Be it for cricketing reason or be it the emotional reasons. Pakistan have been simply rubbish over the tour. They have had no plans, they have had no will to play through. Emotional outbursts over Lahore wont always buy them a cover for their shabby performance. If they have to show their might, they have to show in the cricketing paradigms. “I have no idea why our fielders are unable to field properly. Maybe they are under certain pressure. It is not as if we are not working hard but we are not just getting it right for reasons unknown to me.” This kind of answers are lamentable. And then this one “”Even if Butt scored 28 as an opener we’ll have to think about him [for the next game] because of his fielding,“. Public outcry no no. He has demotivated the opener. And then this one “Kamran Akmal is a senior batsman but he can’t somehow take the responsibility. We need a senior guy in the top order who can play the anchor role”. Rustiness and lack of cricket won’t be an excuse to cover their below par performances for long. Another loss and the entire Pakistan team could be renewed including the ouster of selection committee and the PCB management. That’s how it’s always been across the border. For me they were never the side who looked good to go to semis. Why doesn’t Younis Khan go up the order at 3 and anchor the innings. # 5 is bit too low for this man, who is unfortunately the best batsman of the team. Will he take the leads ?

I fancy Ireland beat Bangladesh and Australia beat Sri Lanka.