Less than 24 hours before the mega-showdown at Melbourne, nostalgia, serenity, and a sense of history enveloped Indian newspapers, succinctly described by a headline in the Times of India, calling it ‘’calm before the storm’’.
There was also an interesting piece of statistics which said Australia have won each of their last eight matches on this ground beginning with that thumping 180-run win against India in 1999. India were whitewashed 0-3 in the 1999 series – a result ‘predicted’ by the then BCCI secretary Mr Lele even before the series had started!
For India too, this is their most successful ground in Australia as they have won two matches against Australia here, the last one being that famous almost ‘walk over’ match when under Gavaskar’s leadership, Ghavri and Kapil’s heroics with the ball helped India defend a meager total and beat Greg Chappell-led Australia.
The Hindustan times had an article ‘’Bowl India Bowl..Fast’, where the writer tried to convince that ‘’given the general lack of success that finger spinners have had in Australia, a lot is going to depend on India’s pacemen.
However, her opinion goes against what many experts believe. There looks to be a general consensus among many ex-players that India must carry their best attack on this ground even if they have to have two spinners.
They believe the ground will assist spin and help India if Australia play the fourth innings with marginally defendable total. Even Australia will bank on Hogg, a relatively inexperienced spinner, to make inroads in the absence of McGill.
Yesterday, even Ponting and Gilchrist had come out in support of Hogg.An interesting item in the Indian Express was on Gujarati community. They were full of admiration for Indian cricketers, little disappointed that fellow Gujarati Parthiv Patel was not there, and celebrated the re-election of Narendra Modi!
But come tomorrow, the politics of cricket will take the centrestage among the Indians and Modi will be forgotten. As of now, both the teams look eager to take the field. While Ganguly has remarked that he is not feeling any pressure as he goes for this century, Clarke is adamant that Australia will put the pressure back on the Indians.
It is indeed uneasy calm before the storm. In the battle of words, Indians have so far proved to be equal to the Australians. Come tomorrow, and they will be eager to back their words with action.
Meanwhile, Below is the link to Christmas and New Year wishes, which I have prepared for friends and readers of this blog.http://spiritualsolace.blogspot.com/2007/12/may-this-christmas-and-new-year-endow.html
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Soaring Hopes and a Mission not Impossible
Media Watch Dec 18
India’s departure for Australia was the biggest news in Indian Newspapers today.
''Indians fly off Down Under with Soaring hopes in tow'', was the headline in the Indian Express as the paper quoted Skipper Kumble that the experience of previous tours will come handy.
His optimism was reflected in his comment that ‘’We have the potential and the players to win the series.
Blog's Take: However, while the batsmen in the team have over 30,000 runs collectively, over 10,000 more than what they had when they toured last, they are also older by four years. The reflexes may not hold this time round against Lee and Tait. The last chance missed (in 2003-04) may well have been their last chance.
Meanwhile, Laxman was as down to earth as he has ever been, as he talked about the Australian potential.‘’They are the best so it is pretty simple that you have got to give your best against them,’’ he said. Jaffer too said that ‘’It will be a big test for me’’.
Blog's Take: Surely, and he will also need stability at the other end whether it is Sehwag, Dravid, Yuvraj or Karthik opening the batting with him. It takes two to tango. Noting illustrates it better than the exploits of Sehwag-Aakash Combo which had set the tone for the last series.
HT, well they headlined it ‘’Mission: Not impossible’’. However, the paper did say that the lack of more than one warm up match before the first test will be a big problem for India. The Times of India simply said ‘’Team off to Oz, looking to make history.’’
Blog's Take: Kumble and company can be justifiably aggrieved. With so much at stake, the issue needs to be addressed quickly. Players are not machines that they keep on performing relentlessly at the big stage in completely different conditions without adequate preparation. The absence of that opportunity to get tuned into conditions does make it a mission impossible for a team still grappling with batting combinations at the top.
In the Times of India, there was an interview with Sourav Ganguly where he said that India had done better outside the subcontinent in last six-seven years compared to Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In fact, he used the word ‘’wonderfully well’’.He felt that this knowledge of beating West Indies, Pakistan and England in away series and drawing with Australia last time, will help India immensely. He also quoted India reaching the final of ODI World Cup in 2003 and winning the 20-20 Cup as among the important factors.
Blog's Take: Ganguly has shown that he has the skills to go with the guts. A tremendous skipper, India will look at Ganguly for the kind of inspiration he showed in the recent series against Pakistan. Mission may not be possible, but that is possible!
India’s departure for Australia was the biggest news in Indian Newspapers today.
''Indians fly off Down Under with Soaring hopes in tow'', was the headline in the Indian Express as the paper quoted Skipper Kumble that the experience of previous tours will come handy.
His optimism was reflected in his comment that ‘’We have the potential and the players to win the series.
Blog's Take: However, while the batsmen in the team have over 30,000 runs collectively, over 10,000 more than what they had when they toured last, they are also older by four years. The reflexes may not hold this time round against Lee and Tait. The last chance missed (in 2003-04) may well have been their last chance.
Meanwhile, Laxman was as down to earth as he has ever been, as he talked about the Australian potential.‘’They are the best so it is pretty simple that you have got to give your best against them,’’ he said. Jaffer too said that ‘’It will be a big test for me’’.
Blog's Take: Surely, and he will also need stability at the other end whether it is Sehwag, Dravid, Yuvraj or Karthik opening the batting with him. It takes two to tango. Noting illustrates it better than the exploits of Sehwag-Aakash Combo which had set the tone for the last series.
HT, well they headlined it ‘’Mission: Not impossible’’. However, the paper did say that the lack of more than one warm up match before the first test will be a big problem for India. The Times of India simply said ‘’Team off to Oz, looking to make history.’’
Blog's Take: Kumble and company can be justifiably aggrieved. With so much at stake, the issue needs to be addressed quickly. Players are not machines that they keep on performing relentlessly at the big stage in completely different conditions without adequate preparation. The absence of that opportunity to get tuned into conditions does make it a mission impossible for a team still grappling with batting combinations at the top.
In the Times of India, there was an interview with Sourav Ganguly where he said that India had done better outside the subcontinent in last six-seven years compared to Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In fact, he used the word ‘’wonderfully well’’.He felt that this knowledge of beating West Indies, Pakistan and England in away series and drawing with Australia last time, will help India immensely. He also quoted India reaching the final of ODI World Cup in 2003 and winning the 20-20 Cup as among the important factors.
Blog's Take: Ganguly has shown that he has the skills to go with the guts. A tremendous skipper, India will look at Ganguly for the kind of inspiration he showed in the recent series against Pakistan. Mission may not be possible, but that is possible!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Lawson has thrown the challenge which India might not accept
The final day of the Bangalore test tomorrow holds intriguing possibilities. Pakistan’s coach Geoff Lawson has thrown the challenge that they will go for a win if the score is competitive.
In other words, he has dangled a temptation for India to make it 2-0 by putting Pakistan in a position where their batsmen will go in for their shots.
However, given the fact that it is not everyday that you win a series against Pakistan, it is highly unlikely that Kumble will give them a target of around 4.5 runs per over, which is the only realistic target on this kind of pitch.
India's lead right now is 220 and if the target is to be 315-320 in about 70 overs, the Indian batsmen will have to go at five runs per over in the morning session. That way India will reach the target figure in 18-19 overs, leaving Pakistan with around 70.
But the problem with that kind of target is that it does give Pakistan a realistic chance and it is India who are leading the series right now. Lawson would not have thrown this challenge at India if Pak were leading!
India will be more comfortable with a target score of around 340-345, the same at Kolkatta, and Pakistan having about 60 to 65 overs to chase that. At least five runs per over will be what they will demand of Pakistan to make. However, that will not be the kind of target Pakistan would like to chase. They will end that pursuit after the loss of just one or two wickets.
Anything above five is virtually impossible on this track, especially on the final day, and Pakistan can not realistically expect to chase a total which might need them to go at 5.5 to 6 runs per over. If they try, they will be in real danger of losing an uneven contest.
So Mr Lawson, you can take back your challenge. India would not like to share honours in a series which they have already won.
In other words, he has dangled a temptation for India to make it 2-0 by putting Pakistan in a position where their batsmen will go in for their shots.
However, given the fact that it is not everyday that you win a series against Pakistan, it is highly unlikely that Kumble will give them a target of around 4.5 runs per over, which is the only realistic target on this kind of pitch.
India's lead right now is 220 and if the target is to be 315-320 in about 70 overs, the Indian batsmen will have to go at five runs per over in the morning session. That way India will reach the target figure in 18-19 overs, leaving Pakistan with around 70.
But the problem with that kind of target is that it does give Pakistan a realistic chance and it is India who are leading the series right now. Lawson would not have thrown this challenge at India if Pak were leading!
India will be more comfortable with a target score of around 340-345, the same at Kolkatta, and Pakistan having about 60 to 65 overs to chase that. At least five runs per over will be what they will demand of Pakistan to make. However, that will not be the kind of target Pakistan would like to chase. They will end that pursuit after the loss of just one or two wickets.
Anything above five is virtually impossible on this track, especially on the final day, and Pakistan can not realistically expect to chase a total which might need them to go at 5.5 to 6 runs per over. If they try, they will be in real danger of losing an uneven contest.
So Mr Lawson, you can take back your challenge. India would not like to share honours in a series which they have already won.
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