Ind vs Eng 27-02-2011
After a long time today, I had a chance to watch the Indian team in a 50 over game. Although, I follow the team regularly, with the world Cup coming up, a lot of players were being rested while the others were being tested. The selectors finally picked a bunch and threw them in the ring.... where they face fierce competition while carrying the load of the nation's expectations...
The World Cup began a few days ago in Dhaka. Before today's match, India were sitting on a win against neighbours, Bangladesh. Not a comprehensive win, but a a winning start to the campaign never the less. After the Eden Garden's inability to host this match, the match was moved to Bangalore, where India had won their warm-up game against Australia, thanks to the spinners in the team. The team selection seemed fair in the afternoon, when Piyush Chawla was selected in front of our dear Sreesanth.
Sachin started slowly while Sehwag attacked the English bowlers. But soon he got out and Gambhir played a really good innings along with Sachin. When everyone had accepted the fact that 50 overs cricket is boring and slow between over 20-40, Sachin started shaping the Indian innings by scoring briskly in the middle overs and soon reaching his 47th century in ODIs. A master of the game, he exactly knew where the team total was heading.
But that's the sad part, only he realised how to carry the torch. Unlucky end to his innings meant the team lacked direction. Although, Yuvraj had been in for a while, he still does not look to me like a player in form. His selection for the squad is still a surprise. Though, it was clear that the English bowlers were going to bowl short to him, he was seen ducking to slow bouncers and shying away from other shorter deliveries for most part of his innings. He has managed to get a few runs on board, but he far from the being the shadow of a player he once was.
Virat Kohli, your man in form, was constantly demoted in the batting order to favour the hitters like Dhoni, himself and Yusuf Pathan. Dhoni too was clueless how to play on the this track and Yusuf and Virat were left with too little time to do anything. Both threw away their wickets in vain attempts to accelerate... and the team did not even play their quota of 50 overs!!!!!!
When we came onto bowl, the pitch offered nothing. Munaf was probably even more surprised than Petersen to give India her first breakthrough. It is a known fact that India is relying heavily on her spinners to seal the deal this WC but with the itch offering no help, the spinners were dumb struck on the field.
Chawla lacks experience and picking him one game, dropping him for the other is doing no good for his confidence. even after the game is over, he is probably not sure, if he made to the team because of his performance or Sreesanth's inability to bowl a few decent overs. Bhajji, over the years has learnt to block runs, but he does not know how to pick up wickets, if the pitch is not helpful. He must seek Kumble's help to do the same. His stats look good for the day of cricket, but he is supposed to be our strike bowler. He cant just plug the flow of runs and have the satisfaction of completing his job.
The most surprising event of the day is that the Captain too looked clueless. His bowling changes were not working, decisions were not going his way and England were cruising through the innings, scoring very comfortably until the 40th over. No team member or fan can say 'I knew India would do well at the end of day' looking at things in the 40th over. It is my sincere belief that the reason the match remained tied today, was because of the England's ability to squander winning games. There was no pressure on them, thanks to Strauss' fine batting display, but still they managed to technically 'lose' a match which was theirs.
After the game, Dhoni spoke like a manager at Old Trafford whose team, say Rotherham FC, were 'happy to take home a point from this game'. This is a definite eye-opener for the Indian team. They must realise that their bowling is weak. It lacks any sting whatsoever. They cant bank on three part timers finishing a quota of ten overs and also getting them wickets all the time. THEY HAVE TO PLAY ANOTHER BOWLER. The fielding needs upliftment. It is clear that they have worked on Munaf's fitness and attitude, but what about the rest???? You cant drop catches at this level. Nor can you allow your opponents to take easy singles and a boundary, every single over.... A score of 300 must be made difficult to get right from the beginning. One must learn from Australia's mistake of holding the record of highest runs in an ODI for just four hours.
An interesting development is the teams' nemesis today called Power Play 3. Both teams were in great shape till they had to take their powerplay. Yes, you cant pre-plan your power plays, but you can definitely select the attitude with which you go into your powerplay. Both the teams got themselves into worse positions after the batting power plays. It might just make this WC a little more interesting!!!!!
The World Cup began a few days ago in Dhaka. Before today's match, India were sitting on a win against neighbours, Bangladesh. Not a comprehensive win, but a a winning start to the campaign never the less. After the Eden Garden's inability to host this match, the match was moved to Bangalore, where India had won their warm-up game against Australia, thanks to the spinners in the team. The team selection seemed fair in the afternoon, when Piyush Chawla was selected in front of our dear Sreesanth.
Sachin started slowly while Sehwag attacked the English bowlers. But soon he got out and Gambhir played a really good innings along with Sachin. When everyone had accepted the fact that 50 overs cricket is boring and slow between over 20-40, Sachin started shaping the Indian innings by scoring briskly in the middle overs and soon reaching his 47th century in ODIs. A master of the game, he exactly knew where the team total was heading.
But that's the sad part, only he realised how to carry the torch. Unlucky end to his innings meant the team lacked direction. Although, Yuvraj had been in for a while, he still does not look to me like a player in form. His selection for the squad is still a surprise. Though, it was clear that the English bowlers were going to bowl short to him, he was seen ducking to slow bouncers and shying away from other shorter deliveries for most part of his innings. He has managed to get a few runs on board, but he far from the being the shadow of a player he once was.
Virat Kohli, your man in form, was constantly demoted in the batting order to favour the hitters like Dhoni, himself and Yusuf Pathan. Dhoni too was clueless how to play on the this track and Yusuf and Virat were left with too little time to do anything. Both threw away their wickets in vain attempts to accelerate... and the team did not even play their quota of 50 overs!!!!!!
When we came onto bowl, the pitch offered nothing. Munaf was probably even more surprised than Petersen to give India her first breakthrough. It is a known fact that India is relying heavily on her spinners to seal the deal this WC but with the itch offering no help, the spinners were dumb struck on the field.
Chawla lacks experience and picking him one game, dropping him for the other is doing no good for his confidence. even after the game is over, he is probably not sure, if he made to the team because of his performance or Sreesanth's inability to bowl a few decent overs. Bhajji, over the years has learnt to block runs, but he does not know how to pick up wickets, if the pitch is not helpful. He must seek Kumble's help to do the same. His stats look good for the day of cricket, but he is supposed to be our strike bowler. He cant just plug the flow of runs and have the satisfaction of completing his job.
The most surprising event of the day is that the Captain too looked clueless. His bowling changes were not working, decisions were not going his way and England were cruising through the innings, scoring very comfortably until the 40th over. No team member or fan can say 'I knew India would do well at the end of day' looking at things in the 40th over. It is my sincere belief that the reason the match remained tied today, was because of the England's ability to squander winning games. There was no pressure on them, thanks to Strauss' fine batting display, but still they managed to technically 'lose' a match which was theirs.
After the game, Dhoni spoke like a manager at Old Trafford whose team, say Rotherham FC, were 'happy to take home a point from this game'. This is a definite eye-opener for the Indian team. They must realise that their bowling is weak. It lacks any sting whatsoever. They cant bank on three part timers finishing a quota of ten overs and also getting them wickets all the time. THEY HAVE TO PLAY ANOTHER BOWLER. The fielding needs upliftment. It is clear that they have worked on Munaf's fitness and attitude, but what about the rest???? You cant drop catches at this level. Nor can you allow your opponents to take easy singles and a boundary, every single over.... A score of 300 must be made difficult to get right from the beginning. One must learn from Australia's mistake of holding the record of highest runs in an ODI for just four hours.
An interesting development is the teams' nemesis today called Power Play 3. Both teams were in great shape till they had to take their powerplay. Yes, you cant pre-plan your power plays, but you can definitely select the attitude with which you go into your powerplay. Both the teams got themselves into worse positions after the batting power plays. It might just make this WC a little more interesting!!!!!
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