Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Bowling at Perth - India battles the Aussies
I have been watching the first days' cricket at the on-going India V Australia test match at Perth and would like to make a remark. I believe Australia did not bowl enough balls in the right area today. There is a key to bowling at Perth, its the bounce. Bounce can be very encouraging for a Fast bowler however it can also bring about their downfall.
I feel the right line to bowl on a wicket like Perth is a foot (12") outside Off-stump. This is because it becomes difficult to handle the bounce when you are playing away from your body. Most of the dismissals will be in the form of Catches to Keeper, slips or Gully. With the bounce, the bowler can get carried away and start bowling short and fast, trying to hit the Rib-cage of the batsman. That is all fine and can/should be used as distracting tactics. That's how Bret Lee bowled today, beautifully setting up the batsman for the wicket taking delivery. His wickets don't come in one ball they come as a result of well thought of overs.
India can learn from Lee who puts the ball in the right areas consistently and looks to take wickets every over. He is always working on a plan. Sometimes Indian bowlers especially, RP Singh, who is a magnificent swing bowler bowls too many balls doing the text-book things. He needs to read the conditions and use them to his advantage more often. I would love to see an Indian quick pick up 5 wicket haul here in Perth in the first innings, that would help the team immensely and also lend experience to the side, more importantly, it will tell the Australians, We have got what it takes to get you out twice and on the last day of test match.
I feel the right line to bowl on a wicket like Perth is a foot (12") outside Off-stump. This is because it becomes difficult to handle the bounce when you are playing away from your body. Most of the dismissals will be in the form of Catches to Keeper, slips or Gully. With the bounce, the bowler can get carried away and start bowling short and fast, trying to hit the Rib-cage of the batsman. That is all fine and can/should be used as distracting tactics. That's how Bret Lee bowled today, beautifully setting up the batsman for the wicket taking delivery. His wickets don't come in one ball they come as a result of well thought of overs.
India can learn from Lee who puts the ball in the right areas consistently and looks to take wickets every over. He is always working on a plan. Sometimes Indian bowlers especially, RP Singh, who is a magnificent swing bowler bowls too many balls doing the text-book things. He needs to read the conditions and use them to his advantage more often. I would love to see an Indian quick pick up 5 wicket haul here in Perth in the first innings, that would help the team immensely and also lend experience to the side, more importantly, it will tell the Australians, We have got what it takes to get you out twice and on the last day of test match.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Cricket's Ugly Face
Australia has done it again, they have secured their half of the Border-Gavaskar trophy being played between them and Indians currently down under. In the process they have also managed to equal a world record of most consecutive wins ever by a team in Test Cricket, number is 16. Amazing achievement one must say. So does Australia reach new highs by securing this record win by defeating the Indians with 8 minutes of play time remaining on Day 5 of Sydney Test???
Unfortunately, the answer is Not Quite.
Hardly anyone is talking about their world record after the Test. Though Cricket Australia has been trying hard to let the media and Fans know, but no one cares about it at the moment. The Test win has been marred by the 'racial' accusations made by Ricky Ponting and his team against Harbhajan Singh of India.
Honestly, it makes me crack up a bit when I hear Australian team's response about these accusations to the media. Take a look ...
Andrew Symonds wrote: "I was standing nearby and when I saw what happened, I thought, 'Hold on, that's not on'. I'm a firm believer in sticking up for your team-mate so I stepped in and had a bit of a crack at Harbhajan, telling him exactly what I thought of his antics. He then had a shot back, which brings us to the situation we're facing." So, why did he not elaborate "... a bit of a crack at Harbhajan" part of it. There could be offensive/abusive/insulting comments there. Mind you they all fall in the level3 offence criteria with which Harbhajan was charged.
Ricky Ponting said in a Press Conference to an Indian Reporter: "If you are questioning my integrity for the game, you should not be standing in this room." This was in response to a catch he claimed of MS Dhoni, when TV cameras showed (from all angles) that he had touched the ball on ground before getting full control of the ball.
Adam Gilchrist justifies appealing for dismissals where he is not sure whether the batsman is out or not (however, there is no room for his doubt unless he is not watching the ball)
These statements all point to one thing, Australia play their cricket in a Hard and [what they consider] Fair way.
The series now at 2-0 in Australia's favor does not leave India much to conquer, however, they way I look at it the Indians have everything to play for, Pride, honour, majesty, title of who plays the game fair. Take a look at this video ...
Indians should come out all guns blazing on the Perth wicket with 5 bowlers and knock the Australians off their arogant, prejudiced, self-comforting safe zone. This Indian team has played some good cricket in last 10 days and its about time the luck starts favoring them.
Chak De India ...
Unfortunately, the answer is Not Quite.
Hardly anyone is talking about their world record after the Test. Though Cricket Australia has been trying hard to let the media and Fans know, but no one cares about it at the moment. The Test win has been marred by the 'racial' accusations made by Ricky Ponting and his team against Harbhajan Singh of India.
Honestly, it makes me crack up a bit when I hear Australian team's response about these accusations to the media. Take a look ...
Andrew Symonds wrote: "I was standing nearby and when I saw what happened, I thought, 'Hold on, that's not on'. I'm a firm believer in sticking up for your team-mate so I stepped in and had a bit of a crack at Harbhajan, telling him exactly what I thought of his antics. He then had a shot back, which brings us to the situation we're facing." So, why did he not elaborate "... a bit of a crack at Harbhajan" part of it. There could be offensive/abusive/insulting comments there. Mind you they all fall in the level3 offence criteria with which Harbhajan was charged.
Ricky Ponting said in a Press Conference to an Indian Reporter: "If you are questioning my integrity for the game, you should not be standing in this room." This was in response to a catch he claimed of MS Dhoni, when TV cameras showed (from all angles) that he had touched the ball on ground before getting full control of the ball.
Adam Gilchrist justifies appealing for dismissals where he is not sure whether the batsman is out or not (however, there is no room for his doubt unless he is not watching the ball)
These statements all point to one thing, Australia play their cricket in a Hard and [what they consider] Fair way.
The series now at 2-0 in Australia's favor does not leave India much to conquer, however, they way I look at it the Indians have everything to play for, Pride, honour, majesty, title of who plays the game fair. Take a look at this video ...
Indians should come out all guns blazing on the Perth wicket with 5 bowlers and knock the Australians off their arogant, prejudiced, self-comforting safe zone. This Indian team has played some good cricket in last 10 days and its about time the luck starts favoring them.
Chak De India ...
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