I agree with Javgal Srinath's comment that 2020 may stop producing batsmen with copybook shots and defence. While 2020 is a great entertainer in the shorter version of the game chances are that we may stop producing great batsmen like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin and Rahul Dravid. We must keep this in mind and it is important that the great 5 day cricket is not neglected.
Some kind of ratio needs to be drawn to ensure that matches in the various version played are carefully planned. The other option is to create a separate team for 2020 and the one day international matches so that we area still able produce quality batsmen of world class reputation. There is also a strong fear that if the focus is only on the shorter version of the game in the long run producing good batsmen will be a major concern.
Yes it is a great moment of glory for India to capture the 2020 world cup but we should not forget to respect the 5 day version of the game which is the original father and mother of cricket.
Lets ensure that the core of cricket is not killed with 2020.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
2020 a great eye opener. Dhoni leads from the front
Exactly 6 months back the Indian cricket team was written off after a very shocking performance in the world cup. The team was completely down and demoralized. But with in a span of 6 months the stocks are up after a good win in England in the test series and a spirited fight back in the one day internationals. The Indian team had tough stint of tours and the board decided to give a fresh and youthful look to the 2020 world cup team. This has really paid off and it showed yesterday when the Indian team won the first 2020 world cup after beating the traditional rivals Pakistan in a very pulsating and nerve wrecking match.
The 2020 has also helped us in discovering new talents for the shorter version of the game. India was seen as underdogs for the tournament and I recall Grahame Smith the South Africa captian commenting that India minus Dravid, Sachin and Ganguly is a weak team. Smith has to now take back his words after his team got booted out of the tournament and India finally winning this great action oriented 2020 world cup. The shorter version of game is here to stay as it is going to be a great entertainer for the cricket buffs in the years to come.
The 2020 has also given new life and hopes for the advertisers. More and more brands will take part in sponsoring this game at various levels. Dhoni and his boys in blues really surprised everyone by exhibiting some world class cricket. And oh.. what way to start as a captain. Winning the first 2020 world cup will usher in more courage and confidence in Dhoni and his boys. This is also an indication for the board to start scouting talent from smaller towns. As Gavaskar said that if the legend Kapil dev could be a great star for India when nobody knew about him I am sure more talent will be hidden in the non metros.
Lets hope and pray that this spirit is kept alive for the rest of the period to bring in more excitement and vibrancy to not only 2020 but also for one day internationals and the conventional test match cricket
Well done... Dhoni you have shown the world how to lead from the front.
The 2020 has also helped us in discovering new talents for the shorter version of the game. India was seen as underdogs for the tournament and I recall Grahame Smith the South Africa captian commenting that India minus Dravid, Sachin and Ganguly is a weak team. Smith has to now take back his words after his team got booted out of the tournament and India finally winning this great action oriented 2020 world cup. The shorter version of game is here to stay as it is going to be a great entertainer for the cricket buffs in the years to come.
The 2020 has also given new life and hopes for the advertisers. More and more brands will take part in sponsoring this game at various levels. Dhoni and his boys in blues really surprised everyone by exhibiting some world class cricket. And oh.. what way to start as a captain. Winning the first 2020 world cup will usher in more courage and confidence in Dhoni and his boys. This is also an indication for the board to start scouting talent from smaller towns. As Gavaskar said that if the legend Kapil dev could be a great star for India when nobody knew about him I am sure more talent will be hidden in the non metros.
Lets hope and pray that this spirit is kept alive for the rest of the period to bring in more excitement and vibrancy to not only 2020 but also for one day internationals and the conventional test match cricket
Well done... Dhoni you have shown the world how to lead from the front.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Well fought series.
Two diabolical decisions by Aleem Dar against Sachin and skipper Rahul ended India's hopes. After a great comeback after being down by 1-3 in the series the Indians failed to live up to the expectations in the finals . Every Indian hoped that India will come back with the Natwest trophy but these things happen in One day matches when everything goes wrong on that particular day.
Rahul finally decided to go with RP. While it paid of initially but the momentum could not be sustained as England comfortably snatched the match away from India. Peterson and Colinwood countered the weak Indian attack after the initial set back. Colinwood has played a stellar role in this series and lead the team from the front and manged to win the series inspite of his key bowlwers in the injury list.
As Nazir Hussain said the entire series was marked with poor decisions starting from the test series , it is time the ICC does something about umpiring. Technlogy should be inducted to enusre that the spectators get full full entertainment.
A long english summer has come to an end. A good series to remember for having won the test series and giving england a touogh fight in the one day matches.
Rahul finally decided to go with RP. While it paid of initially but the momentum could not be sustained as England comfortably snatched the match away from India. Peterson and Colinwood countered the weak Indian attack after the initial set back. Colinwood has played a stellar role in this series and lead the team from the front and manged to win the series inspite of his key bowlwers in the injury list.
As Nazir Hussain said the entire series was marked with poor decisions starting from the test series , it is time the ICC does something about umpiring. Technlogy should be inducted to enusre that the spectators get full full entertainment.
A long english summer has come to an end. A good series to remember for having won the test series and giving england a touogh fight in the one day matches.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Robin Uttappa saves Yuvaj Singh
Till he is playing cricket Yuvraj will never forget the 50th over which he bowled to Maschreanas. 30 runs in one over almost lost India the match. But thanks to the swashbuckling and hurricane innings from the Karnataka lad helped India salvage the situation and square the one day series to go full hog for the final at the mecca of world cricket Lords. Of course no body can and nobody has the right to steal the credit from the little master and prince of Kolkatta for having given a strong foundation to chased the mammoth total.
I strongly felt India played with lot of energy and positive attitude to make this happen. Each one of the team did their best. Having come so far from the behind we must lift the cup and bring back our glory after the world cup debacle.
The skipper would have come for criticism for having handed over the ball to Yuvarj when he had the option of using a regular bowler including the erratic and ever unreliable Agarkar. Rahul is in fix for the finals as his senior bowler kike Agarkar has time and again let him down in the recent one day series.
What will the skipper do ? Well he has limited choice. Including RP will be a problem as there will be 2 lefthanders. Munaf if included will be a huge liability on the field.
My recommendation is to us RP, so what happens if he is a left hand er. So long as he is restricting the runs which is what matters in final analysis.
So Saturday will be great feast at the mecca of world cricket Lords.
I strongly felt India played with lot of energy and positive attitude to make this happen. Each one of the team did their best. Having come so far from the behind we must lift the cup and bring back our glory after the world cup debacle.
The skipper would have come for criticism for having handed over the ball to Yuvarj when he had the option of using a regular bowler including the erratic and ever unreliable Agarkar. Rahul is in fix for the finals as his senior bowler kike Agarkar has time and again let him down in the recent one day series.
What will the skipper do ? Well he has limited choice. Including RP will be a problem as there will be 2 lefthanders. Munaf if included will be a huge liability on the field.
My recommendation is to us RP, so what happens if he is a left hand er. So long as he is restricting the runs which is what matters in final analysis.
So Saturday will be great feast at the mecca of world cricket Lords.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Not imposing follow on has help England regain confidence
The defensive strategy adopted during the second test by batting again has helped
England regain the lost ground. This is evident from the way they fought bak in the 3rd one day international at Manchester. Only India can do this. 7 wickets down
with the cream of the batting sent back India succumbed to some very clever ,shrewd and energetic batting from Ravi Bopara and Stuart Broad. What went wrong will be everybody’s concern but sad part is that we have no solution and we love
repeating our mistakes.
We make elementary mistakes in choosing the team. Our first focus should be on
the 2F’s ie fielding and fitness. This has been a perennial problem and we have
not managed to find some killer strategy to solve. In the Manchester match
Ramesh Powar and RP Singh were absolutely a disaster. Pawar with his beer
belly was a major liability on the field. The English batsman had marked him and ensured that they take extra run when the ball goes to him. And these runs were taken with all ease and comfort. Thank go we did not have Munaf that would have an added burden for Rahul to check on the runs. Apart from our fielding another huge drawback has been our running between the wickets. There is no desire or urgency to go for the extra run which makes a huge difference in the final analysis
Down by 2 matches India has to pull up all socks to bounce back. Well they
have done it in the past but past is history. Time has come to look at fielding and
fitness if we have to be in any reckoning for one day competitions. I hope the ICL
faction will keep this has the topmost issue in their agenda. Lets get team which
has full energy and power if we to have make match out of any matches.
England regain the lost ground. This is evident from the way they fought bak in the 3rd one day international at Manchester. Only India can do this. 7 wickets down
with the cream of the batting sent back India succumbed to some very clever ,shrewd and energetic batting from Ravi Bopara and Stuart Broad. What went wrong will be everybody’s concern but sad part is that we have no solution and we love
repeating our mistakes.
We make elementary mistakes in choosing the team. Our first focus should be on
the 2F’s ie fielding and fitness. This has been a perennial problem and we have
not managed to find some killer strategy to solve. In the Manchester match
Ramesh Powar and RP Singh were absolutely a disaster. Pawar with his beer
belly was a major liability on the field. The English batsman had marked him and ensured that they take extra run when the ball goes to him. And these runs were taken with all ease and comfort. Thank go we did not have Munaf that would have an added burden for Rahul to check on the runs. Apart from our fielding another huge drawback has been our running between the wickets. There is no desire or urgency to go for the extra run which makes a huge difference in the final analysis
Down by 2 matches India has to pull up all socks to bounce back. Well they
have done it in the past but past is history. Time has come to look at fielding and
fitness if we have to be in any reckoning for one day competitions. I hope the ICL
faction will keep this has the topmost issue in their agenda. Lets get team which
has full energy and power if we to have make match out of any matches.
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