What a pity. Sehwag deserved to break Brian Lara’s record for his sheer audacious stroke-play and remarkable confidence. Still, to be counted among the holy trinity – other two being Bradman and Lara – as the only cricketers to have surpassed 300 runs twice should be counted as a truly historic event in Indian cricket.
For last seven years, Sehwag has represented the breed of new Indians. Prepared to take career-threatening risks to promote that very career. He has been bullish all along – whatever be the stakes, whatever be his stock, and whichever be the opposition.
Strange that this man averages above 50 and still finds criticism coming his way after every few failures. Contrasts this with someone like Fleming, who finished his test career averaging just 40 and still gets more respect for his technique. Come on, technique is a very vague concept in modern day cricket, which has become all about scoring runs. Crowd come to watch Chauke, Chakke, and not one good leave after another. Dravid played his part yesterday, but was never appreciated. One only has to see three quick wickets falling today morning to assess his contribution. But that is today’s cricket, and Sehwag fits in perfectly.
Agreed that Sehwag has scored most of his runs in conditions tailor made for batsmen. But then one must also not lose of the fact he was almost pushed into opening just to break into a batting side which boasted of stars like Tendulkar, Dravid, Sourav and Laxman. And one must not forget his two great series in Australia including the one in 2003-04, when he opened with such distinction with Aakash Chopra.
One must acknowledge that Sehwag has done what even a great like Laxman could not do -- open with success. That will be the best way to appreciate what makes him what he is.
Just think of India in this match without Sehwag. Probably South Africa would have been batting this time, and thinking of what target to set for India on the fourth evening. He stole that satisfaction.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
It's the moment that matters
Breathtaking assault by Virender Sehwag, a man who averages a remarkable 50 in tests despite not being a natural opener. He just plays his natural game, because he knows of no other way of surviving.
No amount of praise can be enough for this man for taking the fight back to the South African Camp. It speaks volumes about a player’s temperament and commitment, if he can play a knock like this after fielding for over five sessions in Chennai’s soul-sapping heat.
If the South Africans thought they could out-pace India, probably they had not seen the videos of India-Australia battle. Sheer pace no longer terrifies the Indians. Bouncers are contemptuously dispatched to the thirdman or fineleg. Only a nagging line and length with reasonable pace can numb their mindset, and here the visitors must be missing someone like Shaun Pollock.
Lack of quality spinners on Indian tracks is another major disadvantage. May be, the Proteas can also think of approaching the future contests with five specialist bowlers.
The pitch may be dead as dodo, and South African attack toothless, still facing a first innings target of 540 can be scary for any team. India, to their credit, never allowed the opposition to get to them – either yesterday evening, or today morning. There was no place for fear. That should gladden the hearts of their supporters. The Indian fans, as they are, want fireworks even in a dull draw. Else there is no point thronging the stadiums, or watching on telly. Players like Sehwag ensure just that and, in the process, take the game beyond the realm of results.
No amount of praise can be enough for this man for taking the fight back to the South African Camp. It speaks volumes about a player’s temperament and commitment, if he can play a knock like this after fielding for over five sessions in Chennai’s soul-sapping heat.
If the South Africans thought they could out-pace India, probably they had not seen the videos of India-Australia battle. Sheer pace no longer terrifies the Indians. Bouncers are contemptuously dispatched to the thirdman or fineleg. Only a nagging line and length with reasonable pace can numb their mindset, and here the visitors must be missing someone like Shaun Pollock.
Lack of quality spinners on Indian tracks is another major disadvantage. May be, the Proteas can also think of approaching the future contests with five specialist bowlers.
The pitch may be dead as dodo, and South African attack toothless, still facing a first innings target of 540 can be scary for any team. India, to their credit, never allowed the opposition to get to them – either yesterday evening, or today morning. There was no place for fear. That should gladden the hearts of their supporters. The Indian fans, as they are, want fireworks even in a dull draw. Else there is no point thronging the stadiums, or watching on telly. Players like Sehwag ensure just that and, in the process, take the game beyond the realm of results.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Amla ka Hamla!
It was a very calculative effort and Indians were well and truly floored by an amiable adversary who (unlike the Australians) chose to let his bat do all the talking.
Hashim Amla is somebody you never expect will explode into your face. And he did not. A grafter par excellence, he just waited for poor deliveries and on a non-receptive pitch with a tiring attack, there were enough of them.
This ‘Amla ka Hamla’ was something India least expected. They could never have anticipated before the 1st innings began, that their biggest scourge will be a soft-spoken South African, whom Sreesanth had, literally, shown the door during the last tour.
The Protea innings was a terrific tale of small little partnerships. It was remarkable that none of the first six wickets, as South Africa crossed the reasonably safe mark of 500 on any wicket, fell one after another. Even the fastest consecutive dismissals of McKenzie and Kallis were nearly 14 overs apart! None of their partnerships in reaching 500 was of less than 40 runs, and it showed in the final result.
India do have their task cut out for now. Last 10-15 overs today should be the key to survival. With South Africa bowlers all buoyed up, the contest is going to be mighty interesting. Indians are good enough to recover, but a lot will depend on how openers negotiate the might of the Proteas.
Hashim Amla is somebody you never expect will explode into your face. And he did not. A grafter par excellence, he just waited for poor deliveries and on a non-receptive pitch with a tiring attack, there were enough of them.
This ‘Amla ka Hamla’ was something India least expected. They could never have anticipated before the 1st innings began, that their biggest scourge will be a soft-spoken South African, whom Sreesanth had, literally, shown the door during the last tour.
The Protea innings was a terrific tale of small little partnerships. It was remarkable that none of the first six wickets, as South Africa crossed the reasonably safe mark of 500 on any wicket, fell one after another. Even the fastest consecutive dismissals of McKenzie and Kallis were nearly 14 overs apart! None of their partnerships in reaching 500 was of less than 40 runs, and it showed in the final result.
India do have their task cut out for now. Last 10-15 overs today should be the key to survival. With South Africa bowlers all buoyed up, the contest is going to be mighty interesting. Indians are good enough to recover, but a lot will depend on how openers negotiate the might of the Proteas.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Openers Open what looked like a Shut Case Post-Australia
Remarkable first wicket partnership of 132 from South Africa. It may have done at least two things.First, it will have definitely settled the South African nerves for the rest of the series, and given them confidence that they can, once again, take on India in India (Remember the 2000 series loss which had ended India’s 13-year-undefeated streak at home!). The battle at hand is real. Now India will have to get past the Proteas before taking on Australia later this year, if they are to stake real claim to the number one ranking. They have the talent in all the departments, but, for now, also have a very gritty opposition in South Africans.
Second. It may have also shown the necessity of going in with five bowlers in conditions as testing as Chennai. In fact, in the subcontinent the team is better served with five batsmen-five bowler formula. The sixth batsman may or may not be able to score any runs, but an additional bowler will almost surely take some important load off the top-four choices.
To be fair to the Indians, it is not that their bowling was all at sea against the South African opening pair. The threat was very real in the first few overs and with little bit of luck, both the openers would have been back quite early. Somehow, even the best of deliveries simply failed to find the edge. But this very failure may have set the series beautifully. A crumbling South Africans in the very first session at Chennai would have surely found it very difficult to recover. But after such a great start, one can surely expect some electrifying contests in the days to come.
Second. It may have also shown the necessity of going in with five bowlers in conditions as testing as Chennai. In fact, in the subcontinent the team is better served with five batsmen-five bowler formula. The sixth batsman may or may not be able to score any runs, but an additional bowler will almost surely take some important load off the top-four choices.
To be fair to the Indians, it is not that their bowling was all at sea against the South African opening pair. The threat was very real in the first few overs and with little bit of luck, both the openers would have been back quite early. Somehow, even the best of deliveries simply failed to find the edge. But this very failure may have set the series beautifully. A crumbling South Africans in the very first session at Chennai would have surely found it very difficult to recover. But after such a great start, one can surely expect some electrifying contests in the days to come.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Cows, Cricket and Honesty
In a remarkably candid remark, recently retired Adam Gilchrist says he felt like a cow when he was auctioned in the Indian Premier League.The remark, made in mid-March, http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1156178 came up as a snippet in ToI again today. As link to a comment from ICL’s Inzamam, berating the auction.
IPL is all welcome. It is a tremendous initiative and remarkable financial success so far. Never has a domestic tournament with foreign participation galvanized the cricketing world so much. But one still feels nauseated, thinking of that auction which had reduced players to the status of commodities. It is not that they are not, but it was made so open, and glaringly evident!
Hopefully, some better way will be found out in future of distributing players with matching remuneration, but without the auction.
Meanwhile, a very interesting column appeared in papers today, where former skipper Sunil Gavaskar has talked about the recent ICC elections, hockey debacle, and hypocrisy in the cricket and hockey world. http://www.mid-day.com/web/guest/sports/news/article?_EXT_5_articleId=1053332&_EXT_5_groupId=14
It is a must read for any sports lover.
IPL is all welcome. It is a tremendous initiative and remarkable financial success so far. Never has a domestic tournament with foreign participation galvanized the cricketing world so much. But one still feels nauseated, thinking of that auction which had reduced players to the status of commodities. It is not that they are not, but it was made so open, and glaringly evident!
Hopefully, some better way will be found out in future of distributing players with matching remuneration, but without the auction.
Meanwhile, a very interesting column appeared in papers today, where former skipper Sunil Gavaskar has talked about the recent ICC elections, hockey debacle, and hypocrisy in the cricket and hockey world. http://www.mid-day.com/web/guest/sports/news/article?_EXT_5_articleId=1053332&_EXT_5_groupId=14
It is a must read for any sports lover.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Terrific Tendulkar
Whatever happens from now on -- and even if some brilliant Australian batting goes on to subdue the gallant visitors -- India have proved a point. The whole world now acknowledges that they are indeed serious contender to the Australian crown. What a turnaround after the World Cup disaster last year!
If some attributed their superlative show in the first final to law of averages (after all, losing eight out of eight finals would have been cruel mathematically!), they have been proven wrong.
While Youth has been a big factor in these triumphs in recent times, the exploits of Harbhajan and Tendulkar had a great deal to contribute to them. These two players took two major factors out of the equation. While Bhajji took anger out of the equation (by managing it well) and galvanized the whole team, Tendulkar took nervousness out of the Indian system with some audacious strokeplay.
On Sunday, it needed a great deal of character to bowl at Symonds and Hayden after what all had happened, and Bhajji did show the stuff he is made of, in the first ODI. But for his twin strikes, India would have still been ruing about the mountain they did not climb. But his strikes ensured a manageable chase, and then came Tendulkar!
While some authentic strokeplay has always been the hallmark of Tendulkar, it were his ariel exploits towards the point and thirdman regions (both on Sunday and Tuesday), which made a complete mockery of the Australian attack and gave heart, and much needed impetus, to the Indian batting.
Hopefully, all critics (including myself) have been silenced forever. We better be. Every time Tendulkar has been criticized (and he did deserve some of it in 2005 and 2006 for failing to measure up to his lofty standards), he has hit back in style.
It is not that criticism was always unjustified. But soon after, Tendulkar’s bat has made every critic eat crow. Be it Ian, Manjrekar, some monthly wage earning journalist, blogwriter, or free-lancer.
After today’s performance, whether it leads to an eventual series win or not, we must all shut up. Let Tendulkar retire as and when he wants to. Even if he wants to play till 58, he must be allowed. Men in blue seem to have become addicted to his presence and an electrifying knock from him has the potential to lift up everybody in the Indian team.
At the time of writing this post, Tendulkar is still few runs away from making his second consecutive century in Australia. If he makes it, it will be another remarkable feat from a remarkable man.
If some attributed their superlative show in the first final to law of averages (after all, losing eight out of eight finals would have been cruel mathematically!), they have been proven wrong.
While Youth has been a big factor in these triumphs in recent times, the exploits of Harbhajan and Tendulkar had a great deal to contribute to them. These two players took two major factors out of the equation. While Bhajji took anger out of the equation (by managing it well) and galvanized the whole team, Tendulkar took nervousness out of the Indian system with some audacious strokeplay.
On Sunday, it needed a great deal of character to bowl at Symonds and Hayden after what all had happened, and Bhajji did show the stuff he is made of, in the first ODI. But for his twin strikes, India would have still been ruing about the mountain they did not climb. But his strikes ensured a manageable chase, and then came Tendulkar!
While some authentic strokeplay has always been the hallmark of Tendulkar, it were his ariel exploits towards the point and thirdman regions (both on Sunday and Tuesday), which made a complete mockery of the Australian attack and gave heart, and much needed impetus, to the Indian batting.
Hopefully, all critics (including myself) have been silenced forever. We better be. Every time Tendulkar has been criticized (and he did deserve some of it in 2005 and 2006 for failing to measure up to his lofty standards), he has hit back in style.
It is not that criticism was always unjustified. But soon after, Tendulkar’s bat has made every critic eat crow. Be it Ian, Manjrekar, some monthly wage earning journalist, blogwriter, or free-lancer.
After today’s performance, whether it leads to an eventual series win or not, we must all shut up. Let Tendulkar retire as and when he wants to. Even if he wants to play till 58, he must be allowed. Men in blue seem to have become addicted to his presence and an electrifying knock from him has the potential to lift up everybody in the Indian team.
At the time of writing this post, Tendulkar is still few runs away from making his second consecutive century in Australia. If he makes it, it will be another remarkable feat from a remarkable man.
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