All is well, that ends well !!
So goes the Shakespeare saying but is all well in Indian cricket, after y'day's win? Are the demons in Sachin's mind gone? Is Indian bowling, as good as what it looked y'day or more important - is the big 3 ready to rock and roll on a WC stage? I would not rush into such conclusions, after having seen 3 decades of Indian cricket.
Lara committed harakiri by inviting India to bat, perhaps imagining that India will somehow cave in and they will have repeat of Chennai match. Well !! Such plans will work, if you have genuine wicket takers of the calibre of the fast bowlers of yester years from WI but not with a ragged Powell and a part time Smith opening the attack. Lara was afraid to throw in Taylor and Bradshaw for some reason and Uthappa began to free his arms quickly. He thumped an extraordinary 6 over point and arrogantly hit Powell over his head for another. He got out next ball but the stage was set. Uthappa has to quickly realize that there has been a ton of others before him, who had tried this bang-bang pyro techniques and have not been able to repeat this for long. Even Gilchirst, who can turn it on when he wants, does not go bang bang for every ball. There will be phases where Uthappa should simply bide his time' otherwise, he will end up as another Afridi or Sehwag.
Ganguly on the other hand, was in a dream touch, moving effortlessly and caressing the ball with characterisitic ease, without over hitting it. His pull 6 was a treat to watch and I have to say that I was first in the line to call for his head earlier but in this new avatar, all his weaknesses of the past - like not running the single or over dependence on 4s are all gone. Dravid was his usual circumspect self, playing the anchor role and when SG fell, one could visualize a repeat of Chennai scare since Sachin was not looking forceful either. Agreed, Sachin eventually hit a 100 but with 2 sitters drooped, it is not as if, he had hit a 100 during a successful chase or when wickets had fallen around. He was helped Dhoni, who played in his own style, pumping 6s everywhere. When it comes to judging Sachin, the bar is much higher and hence I am still not contended enough to say that the demons have gone out of his mind. Let us not rush to celebrate too much since his horror show against Paul Harris mere weeks ago, forced an Indian test loss. India is going to play Bangla in WC and I remember that there is more than one good left arm spinner there so as to remind Sachin that life is a great leveller.
In the WI innings, Agarkar snuffed any hopes with a peach of a delivery to clean up Gayle and when Lara was run out (unfortunately), it was all over. Pathan did not look threatening but at least stayed away from the shambolic show he put up in SA. In the end, it was an easy win for India. India played a XI , which in paper is probably their starting XI for WC but still there are lots of questions to be answered. Is Yuvaraj back for sure ? Can they afford to go with 2 spinners in XI? Can Kumble be a better bet than Powar? Is Pathan worth a spot for a 5th bowler? Can Uthappa deliver abroad? Some answers may emerge in the forthcoming SL series.
Lara committed harakiri by inviting India to bat, perhaps imagining that India will somehow cave in and they will have repeat of Chennai match. Well !! Such plans will work, if you have genuine wicket takers of the calibre of the fast bowlers of yester years from WI but not with a ragged Powell and a part time Smith opening the attack. Lara was afraid to throw in Taylor and Bradshaw for some reason and Uthappa began to free his arms quickly. He thumped an extraordinary 6 over point and arrogantly hit Powell over his head for another. He got out next ball but the stage was set. Uthappa has to quickly realize that there has been a ton of others before him, who had tried this bang-bang pyro techniques and have not been able to repeat this for long. Even Gilchirst, who can turn it on when he wants, does not go bang bang for every ball. There will be phases where Uthappa should simply bide his time' otherwise, he will end up as another Afridi or Sehwag.
Ganguly on the other hand, was in a dream touch, moving effortlessly and caressing the ball with characterisitic ease, without over hitting it. His pull 6 was a treat to watch and I have to say that I was first in the line to call for his head earlier but in this new avatar, all his weaknesses of the past - like not running the single or over dependence on 4s are all gone. Dravid was his usual circumspect self, playing the anchor role and when SG fell, one could visualize a repeat of Chennai scare since Sachin was not looking forceful either. Agreed, Sachin eventually hit a 100 but with 2 sitters drooped, it is not as if, he had hit a 100 during a successful chase or when wickets had fallen around. He was helped Dhoni, who played in his own style, pumping 6s everywhere. When it comes to judging Sachin, the bar is much higher and hence I am still not contended enough to say that the demons have gone out of his mind. Let us not rush to celebrate too much since his horror show against Paul Harris mere weeks ago, forced an Indian test loss. India is going to play Bangla in WC and I remember that there is more than one good left arm spinner there so as to remind Sachin that life is a great leveller.
In the WI innings, Agarkar snuffed any hopes with a peach of a delivery to clean up Gayle and when Lara was run out (unfortunately), it was all over. Pathan did not look threatening but at least stayed away from the shambolic show he put up in SA. In the end, it was an easy win for India. India played a XI , which in paper is probably their starting XI for WC but still there are lots of questions to be answered. Is Yuvaraj back for sure ? Can they afford to go with 2 spinners in XI? Can Kumble be a better bet than Powar? Is Pathan worth a spot for a 5th bowler? Can Uthappa deliver abroad? Some answers may emerge in the forthcoming SL series.
posted by Crick_Love at 9:50 PM
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