Tarot card reveals Vettori is key to RCB's fortunes; Sehwag's DD hold upperhand
Virat Kohli will definitely feel the pressure to perform. He's probably had some sleepless nights too, but if he can get himself out of this mindset, then he will definitely be the one who could provide a change around for the team. The “Six of Cups” guides that he can help himself if he feeds of his recent successes © Getty Images
Tarot reader Shruti Chopra looks into her cards to give CricketCountry.com readers insights into what lies ahead in the IPL matches. Starting today, she will write at length about each IPL match, the rival captains, key players on both sides and the likely trend of the match.
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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Bangalore starts their campaign in this competition on Saturday. The King of Swords – it represents strong planning and great pep talk - is not supported well by the other cards, hence there is a danger that they may end up over-thinking their game
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It will be very important for RCB’s Daniel Vettori to be a more enforcing captain, which he may not be able to do, since the Eight of Cups suggests he may lose his enthusiasm during the match. For Bangalore to do well, it will be crucial for Vettori to fight off this negativity and keep himself in the game. His heart will have to be in it.
Key players
Virat Kohli will definitely feel the pressure to perform. He's probably had some sleepless nights too, but if he can get himself out of this mindset, then he will definitely be the one who could provide a change around for the team. The Six of Cups guides that he can help himself if he feeds of his recent successes, which would help him take off.
Vinay Kumar may not have the best start, but will stabilise towards the end of his bowling spell.
Zaheer Khan should provide stability in the bowling attack and may even be miserly in conceding runs.
Chris Gayle will need to shift gear according to what the team needs. He will be able to adapt but yet will show glimpses of theFool card – the one who just takes his risks and plays his natural game.
Delhi Daredevils
Delhi's recent win against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has given them a huge leap of confidence. They have fed off their success, which has made them mentally stronger. They have worked on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and are well prepared to fight. Delhi's weakness is that they may just end up fighting too hard; they will need to direct their aggression better as guided by the Strength card – It's not always about physical power, but also about how well you use your mental strength to direct your game.
There will be some strong partnerships and individual successes for the Daredevils to be proud of. A lot of it would be due to the support given from the entire team and its management. The team effort will be quite obvious.
Virender Sehwag will, at times, follow the decided plans, but then won't. There is a method to his thinking, but as the Seven of Cups hints, it would be important that he doesn't get too confused with all that would go on in his mind. The cards advise that if he sticks to what has been pre-decided then it would be more beneficial for him and the team.
Key players
Irfan Pathan will definitely work hard to make the best of his opportunities by bringing the previous game's form through with him.
Umesh Yadav will start well and would have worked on a separate bowling plan, but may not be consistent towards the end of his bowling spell.
Aaron Finch would be like Chris Gayle; he would need to play freely if he is to reap rewards. He'll need to be the Fool for his team and play without any inhibitions when required and slow down when needed.
Morne Morkel will be another player that will have great energy and a good start. He will need to stick to his line and length towards the end of his spell.
What lies ahead?
Is Bangalore expecting rains on Saturday? The cards indicate some delay.
It won't be such an easy match, but I would go with Delhi Daredevils, since they should do the basics well - and that's what should see them through.
(London-born Shruti Chopra was introduced to cricket by her two older brothers. She spent some of her childhood time inDelhi and became an Indian cricket fan. She has remained an unflinching and passionate Indian cricket fan even after moving back to London, setting 3.00 am alarms to watch India play Test matches. It was during the 2011 World Cup that she brought together her passion for cricket with her profession of Tarot Reading, looking at the cards in the hope of spotting an India win coming through - which it did! You can know more about Shruti via Facebook, Twitter and her website)
IPL 2012 missing high-profile presence of Yuvraj, Warne & Symonds
Shane Warne (L), Yuvraj Singh (C) and Andrew Symonds © AFP
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a confluence of cricket that has transcended international boundaries. Despite featuring a host of international stars, there are a few heavyweights who wouldn’t grace the tournament with their phenomenal talent. Injuries, retirements and auction have robbed the cash-rich league of their presence.
Yuvraj Singh’s is probably the biggest, high-profile absentee from the tournament. His fight against cancer has endeared him to the masses even more and the prayers for his quick recovery have intensified with each passing day. Almost every day, we hear from different players about Yuvraj’s value and how he would be missed. There are murmurs that he may be able to take the field in May, but a comeback to top level cricket at that stage would be premature.
If Yuvraj’s illness wasn’t enough, Pune Warriors also had to deal with Graeme Smith’s unavailability. The South African Test captain picked up an injury that has ruled him out of the season. Pune were further dented by the injury to James Hopes – a player they acquired from the Delhi Daredevils. Ishant Sharma’s ankle injury has ruled him out of the season and Deccan Chargers would be a touch poorer without his services.
Injuries aside, the IPL auction is a major culprit in denying the Indian fans a sight of some of the best international cricketers. On the one hand it can make a few millionaires, but on the other players of real quality can go unsold. Though the franchises come into the auction with a well-chalked out strategy, it’s unfortunate that some of the best players do not find a spot in their plans. Although some are lucky to ink a deal in the aftermath of the auction – an event that presents them a new lease of life.
England players Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Ravi Bopara and Matt Prior failed to attract any bids – a surprising event considering their game
Kevin O’Brien, the Irish star, too found no takers. The brilliant hundred against England during the 2011 World Cup brought him the limelight as the world took notice of his hard-hitting talent. His non-selection was bizarre considering the franchises’ eagerness in acquiring players who can take it to the opposition even in the face of adversity and turn the game on its head.
Flamboyant West Indian cricketers such as Kieron Pollard, Kevon Cooper and Narine to name a few have caught the eye with some thrilling performances, but some of their compatriots haven’t been as fortunate. Ravi Rampaul has been a consistent performer in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for the West Indies and has always been a thorn in India’s flesh. During the game against India in the 2011 World Cup, he scalped five victims and followed it up with a good outing on a tour to that country later that year.
Dwayne Smith is an internationally-renowned T20 specialist and has been a part of the Mumbai Indians and Deccan Chargers’ squads in the previous years. On his day, he can destroy the bowling with humongous hits and also contribute with his nagging medium-pacers.
Fidel Edwards’ pace can be a very threatening proposition for batsman especially due to his slingy action. Yet, when their names were called out, none of the teams expressed interest.
Peter Siddle and Vernon Philander – two bowlers who have dominated Test cricket during the last few months - didn’t garner interest during the auction. Siddle’s performance against India was brilliant, to say the least. On the other hand, Philander has been scintillating since his debut and keeps producing match-winning spells game after game. It is true that the teams look for players who can perform specific roles in T20 cricket, but a quality Test bowler can be trusted to replicate his success in the shortest format of the game.
While some of these oversights may surprise us, VVS Laxman’s non-selection was expected. Laxman was never considered a T20 cricketer and his slow fielding and poor running between the wickets didn’t help his cause. The nightmares in Englandand Australia exposed his waning abilities and the franchises ignored him.
Through all that, we have had two big names calling it a day from cricket after successful stints in the league. Shane Warne’s association with the IPL was memorable as he scripted a fairytale triumph for Rajasthan Royals in 2008. As a leader, he inspired and mentored many young cricketers in the side. He didn’t get a chance to lead Australia in the long run, but the IPL highlighted what international cricket missed.
Andrew Symonds was one the biggest buys during the first auction in 2008. Even as his international career fell apart, the IPL allowed him to hone his skills alongside the very best and prove that he still had it in him. However, a poor season with the Mumbai Indians in 2011 may have been a huge factor in him calling it quits. That put curtains on the career of one of the most dangerous all-round cricketers in recent times, albeit a controversial one.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a club-level cricketer with an analytic mind and a sharp eye. It was this sharpness which spotted a wrong replay in IPL4 resulting in Sachin Tendulkar’s dismissal. Some of his analytical pieces have come in for high praise from cerebral former cricketers. Nishad can also be followed on Twitter)
Tarot: Raina, Morkel & Bollinger look CSK's dangermen against DC
Chennai Super Kings batsman Suresh Raina will be a live wire – energetic, free spirited and will play his natural game © AFP
Tarot reader Shruti Chopra looks into her cards to give CricketCountry.com readers insights into what lies ahead in the IPL matches. Starting today, she will write at length about each IPL match, the rival captains, key players on both sides and the likely trend of the match.
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Deccan Chargers
The Chargers are confident and raring to go, but there maybe glimpses of some mental weakness at the beginning of their game. It's just a bit of nervousness and as the game
The stand-in captain, Cameron White seems to be a weak link in the team. He carries such hidden potential as suggested by the High Priestess, and although he will try hard to direct his fiery energy into his captaincy, he may not be as successful as he would like to be. Luckily, he has some strong players in the team that will understand and support him.
Key players
Dale Steyn will show glimpses of being highly temperamental, which he will try and fight by staying focused, but it’s looking difficult for him to be able to do so. He would need to calm himself down before every over if he wants to achieve this.
Manpreet Gony would be energetic on the field and in his play overall, but unfortunately, it won't be well directed.
JP Duminy should definitely be played. He has the ability to change the game and show some great ability to bring about energy required for the Chargers.
Daniel Christian is a great find and an asset. He will be able to play a balanced game, be in command and direct the team towards their desired result. The Temperance and Chariot reinforce that the balance he will manage to maintain may just be key.
Chennai Super Kings
Dhoni's Super Kings are definitely carrying some past baggage (from their loss to Mumbai Indians) and this may still be playing on their minds. What's great is that they go into the game with the desire to re-gain their balance by being sharper and more calculative. Despite this, it will be crucial that the team doesn't forget that they will need to implement all that is discussed in team meetings. This implementation will be down to the captain and each player supporting and reminding the other.
Captain MS Dhoni, being ruled by the Seven of Cups and the Ace of Wands, may feel confused and will try his best to fight through this by taking some independent calls on the field. But will it work out? It won't be that easy, especially since he's not that confident. Dhoni will be lucky with the type of support his team will give him which may ease his burden.
Key players
Suresh Raina will be a live wire – energetic, free spirited and will play his natural game. It won't all be frivolous hitting; instead, he'll be like the King of Swords – working on a game plan throughout the match, as a fielder, bowler and batsmen.
Ravichandran Ashwin may not have the best day with the ball, but may end up being an important support with the bat if required.
Doug Bollinger will be strong, balanced and may hold an important key to the game as guided by the Hierophant, where you will find him playing an intelligent game.
Albie Morkel will be another great support as Raina will be. Morkel will use his cricketing mind very well when required. The Sunreflects great positivity and energy that he will bring to the team.
Who looks stronger?
This is a very tough one. I am tempted to say Deccan Chargers, but then the type of support Dhoni's boys should give him, it's a tough one to call.
(London-born Shruti Chopra was introduced to cricket by her two older brothers. She spent some of her childhood time inDelhi and became an Indian cricket fan. She has remained an unflinching and passionate Indian cricket fan even after moving back to London, setting 3.00 am alarms to watch India play Test matches. It was during the 2011 World Cup that she brought together her passion for cricket with her profession of Tarot Reading, looking at the cards in the hope of spotting an India win coming through - which it did! You can know more about Shruti via Facebook, Twitter and her website)
Spirit of Eden Gardens surfaces in all its glory in the KKR-Delhi IPL game
Eden Garden is an amphitheatre which - especially under the splendour of the flood lights - lives up to its divine name, it is perhaps the most historic of all cricket grounds along with Lord’s and MCG. Eden has an unparalleled dimension – a crowd the like of which can be found nowhere else © Getty Images
On Thursday, as rain pelted the city, the Eden Gardens showed once again that the spirit of the Kolkatans is unique. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the chequered history of the passionate and excitable Kolkata crowd who has had a long and eventful association with the game.
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Along with the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Eden Gardens is possibly the closest that a cricket stadium comes to the Coliseum of Rome. And accordingly, much too often the excitement that throbs in the crowd spills on to the green, rewinding time back to the era of bloody armoured combatants.
A for Appreciative, B for Bloodthirsty
When Glenn McGrath walked out to bat with India pressing for a remarkable victory after VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid had battled logic and history to come back after following on, Tony Greig had exclaimed on television, “It can be hugely unnerving. Thousands of Bengalis bearing down on you, shouting themselves hoarse, waiting for your head to be chopped off.”
An amphitheatre which, especially under the splendour of the flood lights, lives up to its divine name, it is perhaps the most historic of all cricket grounds along with Lord’s and MCG. And in spite of the richer amalgam of tradition and anecdotes that seems to be etched into each square inch of the other two, Eden has an unparalleled dimension –a crowd the like of which can be found nowhere else.
Indeed, with a capacity of nearly 100,000, which has never been officially counted or verified, and each spectator louder and more passionate than his mate in the next seat, it has become a site of pilgrimage for every noble young man to don the flannel for his country – to prove his mettle in front of the vociferous thousands who can be immensely partisan, incorrigibly rowdy, but has never hesitated to applaud each and every landmark of players from around the world.
I have seen men like Darryl Cullinan and Steve Waugh do surprised double takes when awash with amazing applause on reaching their hundreds. Having raised the bat to their dressing rooms on arriving at their milestones, many overwhelmed visiting players have been forced to acknowledge the crowd as well – a crowd they had been fighting all along.
However, even as Eden cheers the achievements of one and all, the public thirst for victory – the most emphatic version of it. They are seldom happier than when the Indian side reduces the opposition to resemble the bloody decapitated gladiators of ancient Rome. Greig was not far from the truth in his remark about a new batsman walking into this sweltering cauldron.
The pressure
I have often sat in the stadium wondering whether some of the miraculous results could have been possible but for the crowd that had assembled, the fortunes of the game swinging in unexpected arcs, as the providential space around the ground is bent by the enormous mass appeal.
Would India have managed to defend the low score against South Africa with Sachin Tendulkar bowling that remarkable last over to Allan Donald and Brian McMillan in the Hero Cup semi-final had the match been played on any other ground in the world? Would VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid have managed their first Houdini act, and would Harbhajan Singh have managed to turn things around on the last day of the epic 2001 thriller if the Eden had not egged the team on faithfully even after they followed on?
For pure viewing pleasure, the Eden Gardens is probably not the ideal ground, unless one is lucky enough to grab a seat in the Clubhouse and is blessed with the equanimity of a Zen master. Elsewhere, the spectators’ seat much closer to the ground, there is no wire netting in their line of vision. There is silence during the overs – the rustle of the feet as the bowler runs up, the crisp sound of the willow striking the leather and the ball thudding in to the wicket keeper’s gloves trickle through to the ears. For the connoisseur of the game, Eden is perhaps one of the worst grounds to be in. The seats are often far away to view the ball without squinting. One can forget about hearing anything but bugles, whistles and the crudest swear words.
Yet, the atmosphere, charged and heavy with a hundred thousand expectations, is an experience that has to be indulged in with all senses.
And C for Chaos
Not always has the atmosphere been associated with happy memories. The pent up passion has often broken through the restraint of good senses – always at a premium at the ground – and made its way down the steps, entering the playing area in disgraceful exhibitions.
Riots have disrupted matches more often than one cares to remember. Against West Indies in 1966-67, public dissent ending in a fire caused several of the visiting cricketers to run for their lives, straight to their hotel from the ground. In 1969-70, Bill Lawry’s Australians were on the verge of picking up stumps to defend themselves when the spectators threatened to invade the grounds after a dubious decision.
I remember as a child witnessing in disbelief as Sunil Gavaskar, and even his wife, Marshneil, were disgracefully pelted with fruits by the raucous public, leading the maestro to threaten to boycott the ground – a threat he did carry out in 1986-87.
The bottle-throwing incident of the 1996 World Cup semi-final is one of the darkest chapters of the history of Indian cricket. The spectators, who had come in anticipation of an Indian victory, assumed it completely within their rights to stop the match if the result was otherwise.
The captain of the Indian team during that match, Mohammad Azharuddin, who had been roundly abused during the fracas, refused to raise his bat on reaching his hundred in 1996-97 against South Africa – one of the most brutal innings he has ever played.
In 1998, when Sachin Tendulkar was declared run-out after a collision with Shoaib Akhtar, the crowd reaction was uncontrolled enough to force the authorities to evacuate the stands in order for the Test match to be completed.
When Team India were made to look like the visiting team!
When Team India were made to look like the visiting team!
In 2005, in one of the most ignominious and shocking displays of unchecked deification and cult worship, after Sourav Ganguly had been dropped from the side, the 100,000 spectators cheered South Africa to victory in an One-Day International, leading Indian captain Dravid to remark that they had been treated in the same way as Gavaskar.
Right from 1946-47, when the Calcuttans had forced the selectors to reinstate Mushtaq Ali for a ‘Test’ against Australian Services XI, there has been an inclination of the city crowds to try and influence the result by forcing themselves into the game.
The spectators themselves have often suffered from excesses of enthusiasm. Fights and police intervention is always on the cards – although the worst tragedy at Eden befell them during a football match between the local giants Mohun Bagan andEast Bengal in 1980. Sixteen fans perished and hundreds were injured in a stampede during the derby game.
Spirit – of the game or whatever
Crowd problems notwithstanding, the spirit of the stands of this magnificent stadium has always been magnetic. All through the years into the early years of this century, it was the only ground in the country where Test matches and ODIs always witnessed near capacity crowds. With the advent of the T20 tamasha that masquerades as cricket, attendance in the more traditional formats of the game has dwindled. Eden Gardens has been no exception. The curious politics involving the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Jagmohan Dalmiya have not really helped matters either, culminating in the embarrassment of a World Cup match being whisked away due to abysmal preparation.
The spirit, however, may have switched allegiance, but lives on.
As rain pelted down on the city and the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) and Delhi Daredevils was delayed interminably, the capacity crowd at the ground waited fervently for some action to take place. Perhaps the weather gods too were swayed by the power of collective prayer and a 12-over-a-side game finally materialised as reward for persistence.
Times have changed, so has the game and whatever peripheral garnishing it carries along with it. The action is now truncated drastically, while the associated sound and fury louder and glossier than ever. It is heartening to see that the indomitable spirit of Eden has managed to shift to the new form and stick to it with the same unwavering ardour that characterises it.
(Arunabha Sengupta is trained from Indian Statistical Institute as a Statistician. He works as a Process Consultant, but purifies the soul through writing and cricket, often mixing the two into a cleansing cocktail. The author of three novels, he currently resides in the incredibly beautiful, but sadly cricket-ignorant, country of Switzerland. You can know more about him from his author site, his cricket blogs and by following him on Twitter)
Pattinson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus should be too hot for WI in the Test series
The series is a big opportunity for the three quick bowlers - James Pattinson (L), Peter Siddle (C) and Ben Hilfenhaus © Getty Images
By David Fisher
Ahhh…Australia vs West Indies in the Caribbean! It was mythical stuff when I was growing up. I’d read about the fearsome fast bowlers baying for blood. The crowds cheering every body blow of the battered and bruised batsmen. I remember being captivated reading about exotic venues like Sabina Park and Kensington Oval. In particular, I remember reading about Allan Border’s 98 in Antigua and Wayne Phillips’ 120 at Kensington in 1983-84 and wishing I was there at the venue itself.
Then came pay TV and we got to watch it live; Steve Waugh confronting Curtly Ambrose; an overweight Greg Ritchie part of a pitch invasion. Cricket in the Caribbean was just brilliant.
Nowadays, of course, cricket in the Caribbean conjures up much different images. Excitable but small crowds. The unbeatable machine is now a rag-tag team with a bit of talent, who don’t win much and struggle with the legacy they’ve inherited. TheWest Indies will never be the side they once were. Probably never even be close.
What does this mean for touring sides?
A West Indies tour now isn’t something to fear. It is an opportunity. Even the minnow nations can go to the West Indies and think they’re a chance.
As a player, though, a tour to the West Indies is a catch-22 situation. Do well, that’s fine, it was to be expected. ‘It’s only theWest Indies’. Fail, and eyebrows raise….’what happened there….it was only the West Indies!’
For this Australian team, that’s certainly the case. Australia should be far too strong for the West Indies. It’s hard too see them having the firepower too bowl Australia out twice AND score enough runs to win a Test.
While Australia should win 2-0 or 3-0, it’s actually a risky series for a couple of players. It is a good opportunity for Ed Cowan and Dave Warner to further establish themselves at the top of the order. I’d expect to see Cowan’s no-fuss style
Likewise for Michael Clarke, the opportunity beckons to further build on his outstanding record with the bat as captain. If fit, he should be amongst the runs.
The real question marks in this series hang over Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting. Both players, Ponting in particular, answered their critics brilliantly against India. The murmurs about Ponting though started again during the Commonwealth Bank Series before he was eventually dropped. Both players will be hungry for runs, particularly given the selectors have blooded Peter Forrest in the 50 over side. Forrest has clearly been blooded with a view to graduating to the test side.
For Hussey and Ponting, this is where the catch-22 strikes. A big series for them will have their critics shrugging, ‘It was only the West Indies’. A poor series, and those same critics will be that bit louder…..’They’re too old, after all, it was only the West Indies’.
It’s also a big series for Shane Watson. He’ll be the new number three. His batting dropped off in 2011 as he took more responsibility with the ball. Watson needs to re-establish himself. He has a great opportunity to do this.
The series is a big opportunity for the three quick bowlers – James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus. Siddle and Hilfenhaus are both in career best form and full of confidence. Likewise, James Pattinson will be itching to get back in the test arena and enhance his fast growing reputation. I really can’t see the West Indies batsman resisting Australia’s pace trio too many times.
In many ways, the bowler to watch for Australia will be Nathan Lyon. He has been given a good run, the captain has faith in him and he finished the Indian series on a high.
Of course, it would be remiss to write about the Australian side’s prospects against the West Indies without touching on the wicketkeeping spot.
Brad Haddin leaving the tour has given Matthew Wade a massive opportunity. A successful series, and Matthew Wade will be Australia’s keeper for the immediate future.
Should he fail, however, then it will be all bets off for Australia’s next series with perhaps Haddin, Peter Nevill, Chris Hartley and a possible fit again Tim Paine all eyeing the wicketkeeping spot.
What about the West Indies?
While I think they’ll be cleaned up, they are capable of having their moments. Their hopes of being competitive will rest with a couple of individuals who through their own performances, may be able to lift the side. It’s doubtful though that they have the quality in 1-11 to sustain enough pressure to beat Australia over five days of cricket. Australia were poor in the ODI series, but the test side I different and as we saw last home summer against India, much more disciplined.
There seems to be a bit of a circus building up over Chris Gayle’s availability and I have to wonder, whilst on his day his quality isn’t in doubt, whether they’re best served by not playing him if he isn’t 100% committed. If Gayle does play, he is certainly capable of the type of innings that can switch momentum. The player I’m looking forward to seeing the most is Darren Bravo, who has made a fantastic start to his short test career. On the whole though, the West Indies batting line up is far too inconsistent to put big scores on a disciplined Australian attack who, has we saw against India, now bowl well to good plans.
The West Indies’ real problems are with the ball. An inability to take 20 wickets on a regular basis has plagued the West Indiesin recent years. That is why they have just two wins from their past 21 Tests.
Sunil Narine could have changed that. He has troubled the Australians in the ODIs and would have been the one to watch in the Test series. He is untried at Test level though and only has a handful of first-class matches behind him. Sadly, he isn’t available as he is playing the IPL instead, which is a real shame.
Generally though, their pace attack is honest without putting fear into any batting line-up. On a flat track – they may have some long days in the field.
Overall, with Australia’s firepower, confidence and experience, I can’t see anything less than 2-0 or 3-0. That being said, the inner child in me who grew up in awe of the West Indies wouldn’t mind if they took a Test off Australia….
Tests
April 7, 2012 – First Test, Kensington
April 15, 2012 – Second Test, Queens Park
April 23, 2012 – 3rd Test, Windsor Park
(David Fisher, a 30-something cricket fan from Sydney. His first day at the cricket was the 1982-83 Ashes Test, and he has been a regular at Australian matches at the SCG since. When time allows and work doesn’t get in the way, he writes the blog,From Beyond The Boundary Rope)
Sourav Ganguly set to script new chapter as Pune Warriors' captain in IPL5
Sourav Ganguly has always been a fighter and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he performs beyond expectations at age 39 © Getty Images
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
The build-up of Pune Warriors India’s second season has been rocky and marred by controversy. The Sahara-Board of Control for Cricket in India
During their debut season in 2011, Pune started off by showing promise with clinical performances. Under the leadership of World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh, the team looked formidable with some renowned international stars. However, it all went awry as they ran into a prolonged losing streak. Despite having some good players, the side didn’t click and played mediocre cricket. A year later, they have added new players, but would miss the recuperating Yuvraj - a player who can put in stellar tournament-winning performances.
A look at the Pune roster gives one the impression that they have packed team with foreign recruits. There are a few good Indian players, but the major game-changers are from overseas. With the cap of four foreign players in the eleven, it is a dangerous to completely rely on their contributions. If one goes through the IPL record books, one would find that the successful teams have had major contributions from the Indian players and they can make or break the side’s campaign.
Amongst the Indians in the squad, Robin Uthappa seems to be the only impact player who can turn the match on its head. The only problem is that he isn’t very consistent and can be frustrating at times. When on song, Uthappa can tear apart any bowling attack and the shortest format gives him the freedom to express himself. Pune need a major contribution from him as they would be without the talismanic Yuvraj.
At the age of 39, Sourav Ganguly is on the verge of writing a new chapter in his celebrated cricketing career. Picked from obscurity by Pune during the 2011 season, he got a new lease of life after being ignored at the auction. The strangest thing was that he came in as a replacement for the injured Ashish Nehra - a fast bowler. It was a decision that seemed more emotional than one based on cricketing logic. Furthermore, his appointment as captain (for this season) too doesn’t seem to have much behind it, apart from the fact that there isn’t anybody in the squad who can take up the mantle.
Ganguly was never the fittest player or the swiftest mover on the field. It is clear that he isn’t the cricketer he was a few years ago. Although he may have played the domestic season for Bengal, to expect him to maintain high standards in the exacting format of T20 is a tough ask. His fielding, in particular, would come under intense scrutiny and may cost Pune a few runs. Nevertheless, he has always been a fighter and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he performs beyond expectations.
The biggest challenge before him would be to lead the side and field one with the perfect balance. The make-up of the side is different from that of last year with a number of players coming in. Michael Clarke, Marlon Samuels, Tamim Iqbal, Steven Smith and Luke Wright are the new international stars in the squad. The Australian captain’s addition was a huge surprise as he hasn’t played T20 cricket for quite some time and also isn’t a renowned hitter. His form during the Australian summer would have been the biggest factor in his inclusion and the change of heart.
Apart from the new recruits, they already have Alfonso Thomas, Jesse Ryder, Angelo Mathews, Nathan McCullum, Callum Ferguson and Wayne Parnell in the international pool. To pick four players from the combined list is a tough proposition and the Pune think tank would have made a proper plan to solve the dilemma. The only respite is that Clarke wouldn’t be available till the end of this month and Mathews would arrive after the ongoing Test between Sri Lanka and England is done. Thus, the problem is a little smaller for the time being.
Ashok Dinda is the major addition to the Indian camp. His recent domestic form would hold him in good stead and Ganguly’s presence as skipper may help him adjust to the new side. Nehra, Uthappa and Rahul Sharma would be the certainties and other spots would be a toss up between a number of Indian players.
Rahul’s performance during the 2011 season was the only bright spot in an otherwise forgettable campaign. It was that encouraging outing that put him on the national selectors’ radar and fast-tracked his ascendancy to the Indian team. He should aim to replicate his success of the previous season and hope that it delivers the results for Pune. Murali Karthik is the other spinner in the line-up and if the two are played together, the opposing batsmen would have a tough time in the middle overs.
The domestic players such as Monish Mishra, Mithun Manhas, Ali Murtaza and Raiphi Gomez to name a few must make vital contribution, similar to the ones made by Ambati Rayadu for Mumbai or Rajat Bhatia for Kolkata. That can make a huge difference for the side and take the pressure of the heavyweights in the line-up.
The Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium is gearing up for a tryst with the IPL and Pune would hope it brings them good luck. If the IPL opening ceremony wasn’t enough, cricket fans would have to bear another celebrity extravaganza when Pune plays its first game at the new venue. A cricket fan would hope that they do not forget to add a sporting essence. Wishful thinking one may say.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a club-level cricketer with an analytic mind and a sharp eye. It was this sharpness which spotted a wrong replay in IPL4 resulting in Sachin Tendulkar’s dismissal. Some of his analytical pieces have come in for high praise from cerebral former cricketers. Nishad can also be followed on Twitter)
Dravid will carry forward Warne's legacy for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2012: Menaria
Ashok Menaria (c) caught attention of everyone by scalping the prized wicket of Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar in the fourth edition of Indian Premier League © AFP
By Amrut Thobbi
Ashok Menaria will be one of the many talented cricketers to watch out for in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League. He caught attention by scalping the prized wicket of Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar in the fourth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).
The all-rounder’s success is not limited just to the IPL; he has proven his mettle in the Ranji Trophy as well. His three back-to-back centuries in Ranji Trophy last season made the national media sit up and take notice of his talent. Shane Warne hailed Menaria as the next big thing in Indian cricket.
In an exclusive interview to CricketCountry, Menaria talks about Rajasthan’s success story in Ranji Trophy, his contribution to Rajasthan and his dismissal of Tendulkar.
CricketCountry (CC): Rajasthan have won back-to-back Ranji Trophys in 2011-12. What do you attribute this splendid success to?
Ashok Menaria (AM): I think a lot of credit should go to the administration. They take complete care of the players. Last year when I suffered a groin injury, the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) decided to send me to Germany for surgery. Also, the seniors in the team are very supportive; especially our captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar. His contribution has been huge.
CC: After two victories, do you think Rajasthan can now be considered a powerhouse in Indian domestic cricket?
AM: No. You can be a powerhouse only if you have big players from your team representing the country one day. Teams like Mumbai have had five players representing India in the past after winning Ranji Trophy. Until Rajasthan have a major representation in the national team, one cannot say they are force
CC: Do you think selectors have been unfair on Rajasthan cricketers?
AM: I wouldn’t say they have been unfair. No matter how many runs you score or take wickets in one Ranji season, you can’t become a polished cricketer overnight. I guess we will have to be more consistent to get an opportunity to play for India.
CC: Following Vineet Saxena’s outstanding 2011-12 season, Sunil Gavaskar felt the national selectors should give the Rajasthan batsman a chance in the Indian team. How important are such accolades to the morale of players?
AM: If you win back-to-back Ranji Trophy, the whole world sits back and takes notice. Now if someone of the stature of Sunil Gavaskar appreciates individual performances, then it’s definitely a morale booster for the entire team.
CC: Your best performance this season has been 230 runs against the Railways in the group stages of the Ranji Trophy. Can you describe that innings?
AM: I was out of form last season. I struggled badly in the two matches preceding the Railways tie. The poorly-prepared pitch made matters worse. But as I played few deliveries, I realised the wicket is not as bad to bat as I thought it would be, and that runs can be scored on the track. I decided to first spend some time on the wicket early and started scoring after a while. The rest is history.
CC: You scored a hundred against Baroda in the second innings of the Ranji Trophy final last year. How do you rate that innings, compared to this year’s double hundred versus the Railways?
AM: I think the hundred scored in the final last year has been my best innings so far because when I arrived to bat our team was in a precarious condition. We were struggling at 60 runs for the loss of four wickets. We were under immense pressure in that match. To score a century under pressure was immensely satisfying for me. It helped my team win which counts more than anything else.
CC: The specialty of this ton was that it was third in a row in the last Ranji season – and that too in your debut Ranji Trophy season. How did you motivate yourself to perform with such splendour as a debutant?
AM: I think playing my natural game was the key. After returning from the surgery in Germany, I was a bit confused as how to approach my batting. Should I play my natural game, which is aggressive, or alter? That was the question bothering me. Our skipper Kanitkar suggested I play my natural game. He opined that whenever I batted aggressively, team’s scoring rate improved. His advice helped and I stuck to my natural style of play which paid dividends.
CC: Tendulkar was stumped off your bowling in IPL 4 which is brilliant, as the maestro has been stumped only once in Test cricket. What were your thoughts on getting the prized wicket?
AM: Obviously I was jubilant. Sachin Tendulkar is my idol, God. Playing with him is an achievement in itself. I got the video of that dismissal which I watch as an inspiration.
CC: In the IPL, you have had the opportunity to brush shoulders with international cricketers like Graeme Smith, Rahul Dravid, and Shane Watson. What did you learn from these cricketers?
AM: Last year was my best cricketing year in both Ranji Trophy and the IPL. The aforesaid cricketers are legends of the game. They are very friendly and cooperative. Moreover, playing with and against players of these statures automatically lifts your game. After playing high quality cricket, the domestic cricket doesn’t seem even half difficult.
CC: In 2009, you were entrusted with the responsibility of captaincy of the India U-19 team on the tour to Australia. You were successful on that tour winning the ODI series 2-1. How was the experience?
AM: It was a great experience as it was the first time I represented India and that too as a captain. This victory was special as it was inAustralia as conditions are challenging to play there.
CC: The IPL 5 will be the first season where Rajasthan Royals will be without Shane Warne. Will it affect team’s performance?
AM: Last year we did well. Unfortunately we lost few matches and ended at the fifth position. This year, the team is quiet strong even without Warne. But I am sure in his absence, Rahul Dravid will do well in leading the team.
CC: What do you think has been Shane Warne’s biggest contribution to Royals?
AM: Discipline. I think he laid the foundation. The set up is there. We just need to implement things that have already been structured.
CC: How do you rate Warne as a captain?
AM: I think he is the best captain for juniors. He gives a lot of confidence to juniors. He shows you how to play big cricket. His ways make you mentally fit.
CC: What can we expect from Ashok Menaria in the IPL 5?
AM: I would like to play with more maturity. Last year I did not deliver as per my potential owing to lack of maturity in my play. I hope I can display better cricket this year.
(Amrut Thobbi, an engineering graduate now pursuing Masters in journalism, is an ardent cricket fan. His passion for writing inspired him to give up a sales and marketing job, which he does not regret. By writing on cricket, he wants to relive his dream of becoming a cricketer. He has also worked as a freelance writer in education and technology sectors)
Cricketing Rifts 15: Vaseline controversies that soured India-England relations
The controversial gauze strips on John Lever’s forehead © Getty Images
The Dhoni-Sehwag rift may have been true or blown out of proportion by the media. However, far from being unique, discords such as this have been commonplace in the history of the game. In this series, Arunabha Sengupta looks at some of the most famous feuds of cricket. In this episode he revisits the famed Vaseline wars that rubbed the gloss off the noble game.
John Lever and the Vaseline episode
For someone who put his foot in his mouth earlier in that year, Tony Greig managed to be the impossible charmer in India. He would win over the journalists and administrators with his praise of Indian umpires, blow kisses at the ladies’ stands and, when the things got boring on the ground, would summon Derek Randall to do a couple of cartwheels or flick his hat in the air and catch it on his head. The support he got with his gimmicks was electric.
Under his expert instructions, the entire team struck up a brilliant rapport with the fans on the other side of the fence. As Derek Underwood recalls, “They were never on our side, but they weren’t terribly anti-England.”
Mihir Bose, in his Magic of Indian Cricket, states that Greig was idolised by millions and stressed the importance of the connection he and his team made with the crowds around the country. Indians are tremendously susceptible to flattery, particularly from a foreigner ... and he used the Indian crowd to help him defeat the Indian team, and in Robert Marlar’s memorable phrase, became the Clive of cricket.
Greig’s achievement was more remarkable because on paper his team was actually weaker than the Indians. But, with the support of the home
However, much of his excellent PR work was undone in the next Test at Chennai.
England recovered from a shaky start to reach 262 and India had been reduced to 126 for seven by lunch on the third day. The English version of the story goes that during the break John Lever, the left-arm medium-pacer, asked physio Bernard Thomas to do something for his sore foot. While looking for medical supplies, Thomas found some Vaseline smeared gauze and suggested that Bob Willis and Lever apply these strips above their eyebrows to prevent sweat from running into their eyes.
While Willis quickly realised it to be useless, Lever retained the strips for a few overs. By then, opposition captain Bishan Singh Bedi was at the crease. Once Lever had tossed the gauze to the ground, umpire Judah Rueben picked it up and showed it to Bedi and Greig, before reporting his discovery during the tea-break.
Journalists who enquired about the on-field discussions quoted Bedi as saying that England had used Vaseline to swing the ball in the first Test, adding that it was disgusting that the visitors would stoop so low.
The English version suggests that Bedi, who was bearing the brunt of criticism, on the verge of going down 0-3 in the series, opted to use this as an excuse for the poor performance of his team.
Intentional or not, the use of Vaseline had soon turned the crowd sentiments on its head. A huge banner appeared on the fourth day saying, “Cheater Lever go home. Tony Greig down down.”
The ball in question was apparently sent to the Forensic lab in Chennai, and a report came back stating that traces of Vaseline had been found on it.
Greig and Lever were furious that such aspersions were being tossed around. Lever was particularly disturbed to hear that members of the British media had set up camp on the doorsteps of his parents back home.
However, according to the biography of Tony Greig by David Tossell, some Indian players told Lever and Greig not to worry because Bedi had been especially keen to divert criticism of his captaincy while in the south of the country, where he had far less support.
The incident soured the relationship between the two teams. “From then on we stopped going into their changing room and kept our distance,” remembers Lever. “In the end we were cleared, but I could never forgive Bedi. He knew what I could do; he had seen me swing it in England.”
Imran Khan: Is it an Indian habit to make excuses?
Bedi was far from finished in his affair with cricketing creams.
Having gone through a captaincy ending and career crippling tour of Pakistan in 1977-78, he returned to the neighbouring country as a columnist in 1982-83 as Imran Khan and his band of men were making mincemeat of the Indians.
Having won the second Test at Karachi with some magical bowling, Imran had the most successful match of his sparkling career during the next Test at Faisalabad. Between taking 11 wickets in the match as only a bat carrying 127 by Sunil Gavaskar withstood his assault, he also took time off from firing down his mysterious thunderbolts to score a 121 ball 117 with 5 sixes.
According to the veteran journalist Rajan Bala, after his heroic showing, the Pakistan captain was disgusted with something Bedi had written about the lubrication methods used by the Pakistan fast bowling machinery.
“Is it an Indian habit to make excuses?” Imran supposedly asked. “Nothing seems to be wrong with their players. Everything is wrong with us, our grounds, the pitches, and now, I understand, the ball.” He went on to say that he was willing to invite a couple of Indian umpires to officiate in the remaining Test matches and Pakistan would still win. He further added that Sarfraz Nawaz was a master of preserving the shine of the old ball with sweat and saliva – the secret of the movement the bowlers generated.
In his book Days Well Spent, Bala says that he had been sitting on the boundary when last man Dilip Doshi’s stumps were sent cart-wheeling by Imran. The ball had trickled to where Bala had been sitting and he had returned it to the fielders converging upon it. There had seemed to be a greasy substance on it.
However, Bala writes that when he mentioned the slimy material to Imran, the Pakistani great retorted, “Must be something your batsmen left behind.”
Vaughan, VVS and Vaseline
During the second Test at Nottingham, a fine partnership was being stitched together between the celebrated comrades in arms, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, when a James Anderson delivery missed the Hyderabadi artist’s attempted prod and went through to Matt Prior behind the stumps.
As the bowler and the slips went up in a spontaneous appeal, umpire Asad Rauf thought long and hard and said not out. Unconvinced, the fielding side demanded a review. Third umpire Billy Bowden watched the replays, took help of the Hot Spot technology, but could not detect an edge. The decision remained Not Out.
It was then that Michael Vaughan sent out his infamous tweet, “Has Vaseline on the outside edge saved the day for Laxman?”
It is an urban legend among cricketers that Vaseline can somehow confuse thermal-imaging technology. However, there is no scientific basis for the rumour. In fact, according to men involved with the actual science behind the technology the reality is actually opposite. Chinmaya Joshi, a junior undergraduate student involved in a UDRS-related project by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab says, “the impact of the ball on the bat would have been even more pronounced, if vaseline or petroleum jelly was indeed applied on the bat.” His team member Siddharth Khular adds, “It was also (shown) by BBG Sports, the Australian company that pioneered the snickometer system, that Vaseline cannot hide the Hot Spot.”
Yet, it did not deter Vaughan, a prolific Tweeter, from sending across the 11 words that wrecked as much havoc as the same number of men had done under him during the 2005 Ashes series.
Stuard Broad, in the meantime, said that he had “sarcastically had a cheeky feel of (the edge of Laxman’s bat) when the ball went past. There was no Vaseline, no liquids or anything else on there. I think it was just the Hotspot not showing the very faint edge."
The reactions to Vaughan’s tweet were understandably strong and condemning. Not only did the allegation try to open a perhaps non-existent can of worms about substances used by batsmen to outwit the television umpire, it was also a crooked arrow of slander aimed at one of the most gentlemanly of all cricketers.
Sunil Gavaskar advised Laxman to take Vaughan to court, and Sanjay Manjrekar alleged that the former England captain was seeking cheap publicity.
And of course, Vaughan had to endure a torrent of insults on Twitter from offended Indian fans. Ultimately, he responded, “I think their [sic] has been a slight over reaction to Vaseline gate... Taken to court!!!?? Sense of humour required for many I think.”
However, not too many were inclined to laugh.
(Arunabha Sengupta is trained from Indian Statistical Institute as a Statistician. He works as a Process Consultant, but purifies the soul through writing and cricket, often mixing the two into a cleansing cocktail. The author of three novels, he currently resides in the incredibly beautiful, but sadly cricket-ignorant, country of Switzerland. You can know more about him from his author site, his cricket blogs and by following him on Twitter)
Pragyan Ojha sustains trend of performing brilliantly in IPL opener
Pragyan Ojha finished with figures of 4-0-17-2 against Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday. Those figures came at an economy rate of 4.25 – outstanding by Twenty20 standards © AFP
By Karthik Parimal
Very rarely has Pragyan Ojha failed to mesmerise us with his bowling abilities. When Suresh Raina and Dwayne Bravo looked settled and poised to post a mammoth total on the board, the Mumbai Indians (MI) needed a bowler with a calm demeanour, someone like Pragyan Ojha, to stem the run flow and snatch away the advantage from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Ojha obliged and bowled a spell that left CSK reeling to a point of no return.
Ojha has made it a habit to come up with a splendid performance in his side’s very first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He represented the Deccan Chargers (DC) prior to this season, and in three of those previous four seasons, Ojha bowled a spell similar to the one he bowled Wednesday against CSK.
Although his contributions went almost unnoticed on all such occasions, he played a crucial role in tilting the advantage in favour of his side.
Below are his performances during his franchise’s first match in each of the previous editions of the IPL:
IPL 2008:
This was DC’s first game
At one stage, KKR were cruising at 68 for three, but two quick strikes by Ojha put them in a precarious situation at 88 for five with two new batsmen at the crease and needing 23 to win from 21 balls. KKR went on to win the game in the final over with five wickets to spare, but Ojha ended with respectable figures of 4-0-18-2.
IPL 2009:
It was payback time as both these sides met for their first match of the second edition of the IPL. The tables were turned this time around as KKR folded for just 101 and DC made mincemeat of the total in just 13.1 overs. However, one thing remained constant and that was Ojha’s performance with the ball. He sent Aakash Chopra and Laxmi Ratan Shukla packing, but not before suffocating KKR by cutting off their scoring options.
RP Singh’s brilliance overshadowed Ojha’s heroics, but nonetheless it was a fine partnership with the ball between the former and the latter. Ojha’s final figures in that match read 4-0-14-2 and he went on to become the second-highest wicket taker during DC’s victorious campaign that season.
IPL 2010:
Yet again the draws had decided that DC was scheduled to take on KKR in its first match of IPL3, and yet again it was Ojha - despite being wicketless - ended up as the most economical bowler. KKR at one stage looked down and out at 31 for four, but reconsolidated in a tremendous manner to finish at 161 for four in their allotted quota of 20 overs. Ojha was the only bowler who was treated with respect and who’s bowling KKR failed to capitalise on.
He finished with figures of 4-0-19-0, and albeit being wicketless in the first game, he bagged the Purple Cap that season for being the highest wicket-taker overall with 21 wickets in 16 games.
IPL 2011:
This was the only season that turned out to be a damp squib for Pragyan Ojha. He was taken to the cleaners by Rajasthan Royals in DC’s first game that IPL and copped miserable figures of 3.5-0-44-0. He also didn’t feature among the leading wicket-takers that season and relinquished the post of being the frontline spinner in the team to Amit Mishra.
IPL 2012:
A change in franchise and Pragyan Ojha was now slotted to play alongside some big names. With his performance in Mumbai Indians’ first match against CSK, Ojha proved that he belongs to the big stage. Like mentioned, he struck at the right times and didn’t let CSK take advantage of the impetus they initially obtained. He finished with figures of 4-0-17-2 at an economy rate of 4.25 – which is quite splendid by Twenty20 standards.
If Ojha can continue to replicate such performances throughout this IPL, it could augur well for the Mumbai Indians. Moreover, it will send across a strong message on a national level if he could dominate in the presence of seasoned spinner Harbhajan Singh.
(If cricket is a religion and has many devotees, Karthik Parimal would be a primary worshipper. This 23 year old graduate student, pursuing his Masters in Engineering, could be an appropriate example of how the layers of what inspires, motivates and keeps one happy run deeply in our daily lives. He, unlike others, is not too disappointed about not making it big by playing for the country, but believes that he plays the sport every day with his heart by watching and writing on it)
Levi provides joy for Mumbai Indians, but Sachin Tendulkar's injury a concern
Tags: Nishad Pai Vaidya, Richard Levi, Lasith Malinga, Sachin Tendulkar, CSK vs MI, MI, CSK, IPL, IPL 5, IPL 2012,
Richard Levi's real test would be when he has to bat on some of the lower and slower pitches © AFP
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
An uncharacteristic Chennai wicket produced a relatively quiet opener for the Indian Premier League (IPL), 2012. The reputed spinner’s haven was unusually two-paced with a hint of bounce which that astonished both teams. Chennai’s collapse may have been unexpected, but it was Richard Levi, T20 cricket’s latest sensation, who rose to the occasion and lived up to his billing. The burly batsman from South Africa bludgeoned the ball to all parts of the ground and took no time in making an impression on the passionate Indian fans.
Levi’s success on his IPL debut can be attributed to the bounce in the Chennai pitch. Early in the innings, the ball was coming on to the bat and it took off from most areas. It was easier to face the new ball - something Levi capitalised on thoroughly. He managed to play quite a few deliveries through the line and was comfortable sweeping the spinners. In fact, the grass on the wicket would have encouraged the fast bowlers and some of them did extract some good bounce.
The fastest T20 international hundred brought him the limelight and his latest knock would gladden the Mumbai Indians team management. However, one would have to wait and see how he adjusts to some other wickets in the country. The one on Mumbai’s home
The Mumbai bowling was splendid. It wasn’t just a Lasith Malinga show; the other chipped in to make it a team effort. One of the biggest surprises was their decision to play Abu Nechim Ahmed ahead of Munaf Patel and Rudra Pratap Singh. Considering Munaf’s success during the last season and RP Singh’s good track record in the competition, they should have been front-runners to partner Malinga. Probably Mumbai want to give the youngster a chance at the start of the season to see how he goes and then consider possible alterations.
Pragyan Ojha’s inclusion has certainly taken a lot of the pressure off Harbhajan Singh. During the 2011 edition, Harbhajan had a lot to do in the middle overs and didn’t have a strong bowler at the other end unless Munaf or Malinga bowled an over or two. With Ojha coming in, Mumbai can strangle the opposition from both ends with their spin and dent them with wickets in the middle. Kieron Pollard, too, was accurate and caused quite a few worries to the Chennai batsmen.
Through all that, Sachin Tendulkar’s injury may send jitters in the Mumbai camp. The six he carved over mid-off gave one the impression that he was positive and had an uncluttered mind. The freedom in his approach would have had a lot to do with the burden of captaincy taken off his shoulders. Traditionally, Tendulkar has played some of his best cricket after giving up captaincy - the 1998 season being the case in point. It is for this reason Mumbai needs him in their eleven as a free-flowing Tendulkar can make their campaign a highly successful one.
The defeat of the Chennai Super Kings in their fortress would have taken quite a few by surprise. To be very fair, the surroundings were similar, but the nature of the battleground had changed. The batsmen were puzzled by the wicket. With the exception of Suresh Raina, none of them got going. At one stage, they looked good for 150-160, but just fell apart in the face of disciplined bowling and brilliant fielding.
Nevertheless, if the wicket continues to maintain its shape, Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have to rethink a few strategies. As one of the commentators mentioned, such a surface may prevent Chennai from playing to its strength - the spinners. Three spinners in the line-up wouldn’t help their cause and the inclusion of an extra fast bowler may be a better option. They can take a cue from Mumbai’s strategy of playing two spinners and four pacers. Pollard’s military medium did well and Chennai must look at that performance and take a call on a third seamer.
Ringing the alarm bells on the basis of this performance would be premature. In fact, one can expect to come back very strongly.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a club-level cricketer with an analytic mind and a sharp eye. It was this sharpness which spotted a wrong replay in IPL4 resulting in Sachin Tendulkar’s dismissal. Some of his analytical pieces have come in for high praise from cerebral former cricketers. Nishad can also be followed on Twitter)
Cricketing Rifts 14: When West Indies made Greig's life miserable for using word 'grovel'
The Sun, a British tabloid, carried the picture of Tony Greig walking on all fours, with the caption, “Okay, so I’m grovelling now.”
The Dhoni-Sehwag rift may have been true or blown out of proportion by the media. However, far from being unique, discords such as this have been commonplace in the history of the game. In this series, Arunabha Sengupta looks at some of the most famous feuds of cricket. In Part 14 of the series, he writes on how the West Indians hounded and humiliated Tony Grieg for his insensitive choice of words.
When they are down, they grovel
Perhaps no single word in cricket has fired up retribution in throbbing veins as much as Tony Greig’s infamous “grovel.”
West Indies had just arrived in England in 1976. The past few series had not been too comfortable for them. Australia had thrashed them 5-1, with Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson blowing them away. Back home, they had just about managed to beat India 2-1 by unleashing a bouncer barrage in the final Test.
Yet, when they landed in England and battered MCC in a three-day game
On the eve of the first Test at Trent Bridge, Greig sat on the roof of Hove’s pavilion and spoke on Sportsnight, the flagship midweek sports program of BBC. With time, his frustration became more and more palpable with the line of questioning that seemed to indicate that England had absolutely no chance of competing in the series. He finally fixed his gaze at the camera and said the words that would continue to haunt him for years.
“I like to think that people are building these West Indians up, because I am not really sure they’re as good as everyone thinks they are,” he started and touched upon their defeat in Australia and struggle at home against India. “Sure, they’ve got a couple of fast bowlers, but ... you must remember that (if) the West Indian get on top they are magnificent cricketers, but if they’re down, they grovel. And I intend, with the help of Closey and a few others, to make them grovel.”
This guy needs to be put in his place
Greig himself says that he used the word as a reaction to the needling journalist who was writing England off, and most of the team mates like Alan Knott and Bob Willis maintain that there were no racial overtones in the choice of the verb. However, the fact remained that a white South African captain of England had used it in relation to a bunch of black West Indian cricketers.
While opposition skipper Clive Lloyd gave him the benefit of the doubt as far as racism is concerned, the other West Indians reacted differently. Gordon Greenidge felt that Greig was much too intelligent and articulate to have been guilty of a slip of tongue. Viv Richards checked the dictionary definition of the offending word and later remarked, “In other words, he was going to have us down on our knees, begging for mercy! This was the greatest motivating speech the Englandcaptain could have given to any West Indian team.”
Michael Holding remembered, “Everybody took exception to the comment. We thought, ‘This guy needs to be put in his place.’... He was a white South African. It smacked of racism and apartheid. He got our backs up and made us more determined.”
Even Greig’s father called him up and asked whether he possessed a dictionary.
Lloyd, while not pressing the charges of racism, did mention that he was furious with Greig for stereotyping the West Indian squad as happy-go-lucky Calypso cricketers. Andy Roberts remembers the captain saying, “I need not say anything more, our man on the television has just said it for us.”
Wrong times, bad timing
The timing could not have been more awry. Britain, in 1976, was not really the heaven of racial harmony. From the late ‘40s, there was a growing resistance to immigrants from the Caribbean, and according to many of the white population, the black community was the focal problem that led to economic hardships. In 1976, immigration numbers were being discussed in the Parliament. And in Greig’s homeland, black students in the South African township of Soweto were rallying against the mandatory use of Afrikaans for more than half their subjects, leading to a confrontation with the armed police leaving 100 dead, 800 injured and 250 arrested.
The jeers and hate mail Greig received for his choice of words was quite natural in the circumstances.
On the very first day of the series, chants went around the ground – “gro-vel, gro-vel.” The West Indians gave it back in the field as well, with Richards, Greenidge and Fredericks smashing the bowlers throughout the series, and Holding, Roberts and Wayne Daniel terrorising the English batsmen when they batted.
And while the deliveries spat venom and went through like balls of fire, the speedsters always managed to find an extra yard of pace whenever Greig was at the crease. In the first Test, Roberts sent the first ball fizzing past his cap, bowling faster with every passing minute. The seventh ball could hardly be followed by the naked eye as it hurtled across and sent the off stump flying miles.
The first two Tests ended in draws, but the West Indies steamrolled England in the next three.
I can’t handle it anymore
At the Old Trafford, during the third Test, Greenidge and Richards plundered the English attack for second innings centuries, and Lloyd declared on the third afternoon setting an impossible target of 552. The 80 minutes that followed have now gone down in the folklore of cricket as the scariest of sessions. On a steamy day, with heavy atmosphere, storms threatening, crowd chanting – Holding unleashed pace that put the fear of God in the hearts of those who witnessed it. Close and John Edrich, aged 45 and 39 respectively, were pummelled mercilessly, sometimes painfully enough to make the knees buckle. In the pavilion, Derek Underwood refused to pad up as night watchman. At the end of the day, the two veterans were still together, with 21 on the board, Close having one run to show for his efforts and a torso that was a welter of bruises, grazes and blood blisters.
Despite the heroics of the old men, England folded the next day for 126. And while the rest of the batsmen were peppered with short stuff to have them caught fending, the West Indian pace attack relished knocking over the stumps of theEngland captain.
In three Tests till then, he had managed a top score of just 20. According to Holding, “Greig’s bravado and choice of phrase made him a marked man.” Team mates dreaded the moment he joined them at the wicket, fearing a pumped up attack. David Steele in fact walked down and told him, “I wish you hadn’t bothered to come in. It was a good game until you arrived.”
Lloyd reflects, “Every time Greig came to the wicket, our bowler seemed to gain an extra few miles an hour from somewhere.”
While the team collapsed to a 425 run defeat, Greig sat among the ruins of the innings in the dressing room, turned to his old pal Alan Knott and whispered, “I’ve had enough, I can’t handle it anymore.”
However, a resilient man if there ever was any, Greig did score 116 and 76 at Headingley, but could not prevent West Indians from winning a close game by 55 runs.
Who’s grovelling now?
In the final Test at The Oval, Richards hammered the final nail in the coffin with a merciless 291 as the West Indies piled up 687. Dennis Amiss battled bravely for a double century, but his most unsettling period at the crease was when Greig joined him just as the second new ball was being taken.
“We are going to smash these buggers out of sight,” Greig remarked, and Amiss pleaded, “It’s nice out here, don’t upset them.”
When Greig launched into Holding and Roberts, driving them to the cover fence, Amiss nearly paid the price by having his head ripped off by a bouncer from the latter. When Greig was bowled by Holding, the crowd, with a big West Indian population, went ballistic. However, Amiss jokes, “It was the first time I have ever been pleased to see the Englandcaptain get his leg stump knocked out of the ground.”
On the fourth afternoon, Greenidge and Roy Fredericks piled up 182 runs in just 32 overs in the second innings after Lloyd had chosen not to enforce follow on. With the clock approaching six, the declaration was announced more as an act more humane than cricketing. With a target of 435 against a rampaging Holding who had taken eight wickets in the first innings, Greig, according to biographer David Tossell, understood the personal symbolism of the moment. He headed to the Harleyford Road side of the ground, where the open stands were crammed with West Indian fans. Smiling broadly, he dropped to his knees and crawled forward. The crowd erupted and Tony Cozier exclaimed on BBC, “For three or four paces he has, in his own words, grovelled.”
The British tabloid The Sun carried the picture of Greig walking on all fours, with the caption, “Okay, so I’m grovelling now.”
The West Indians, however, did not relent. As Holding picked up six more in the second innings to bring them victory by 231 runs, Greig lost his leg stump to a lightning-fast yorker, the fifth time he had been bowled in the series.
(Arunabha Sengupta is trained from Indian Statistical Institute as a Statistician. He works as a Process Consultant, but purifies the soul through writing and cricket, often mixing the two into a cleansing cocktail. The author of three novels, he currently resides in the incredibly beautiful, but sadly cricket-ignorant, country of Switzerland. You can know more about him from his author site, his cricket blogs and by following him on Twitter)
Gilchrist, Valthaty, Marsh & Hussey pack firepower for Kings XI Punjab
Australians Adam Gilchrist (left) and David Hussey (right) bring in huge value for Kings XI © AFP
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
If the Kolkata Knight Riders were about controversy, glitz and glamour for a major part of the last four seasons, Kings XI Punjab weren’t far behind. In 2008, Punjab dominated the competition along with Rajasthan Royals and powered through to the semi-finals. However, it has been a very bumpy ride for them since as they underperformed on the field and ran into unwanted controversies off it. A newlook
During the initial stages of the 2011 season, Punjab’s campaign was eerily similar to Rajasthan’s famous triumph of 2008. Gilchrist was leading a side devoid of big names, but had the firepower to win. Paul Valthaty, a previously unknown commodity, took the competition by storm and was amongst the leading runs getters in the championship. The overall campaign was patchy with victories and defeats coming in clusters.
The Punjab squad is almost the same with only a few notable changes. Dinesh Karthik has gone to the Mumbai Indians. He has been replaced by Rajagopal Sathish. Azhar Mahmood, Harmeet Singh, James Faulkner and Ramesh Powar are the new recruits. Dimitri Mascarenhas missed the last season, but is available now. However, there is a cloud of doubt around Stuart Broad’s availability. The England player returned home from Sri Lanka owing to injury and it isn’t clear whether he would be fit to play in the IPL.
The top-order is Punjab’s biggest strength and a lot would depend on their performance. Gilchrist and Valthaty form a destructive opening combination and aren’t afraid to take their chances. Although Gilchrist isn’t the player he was a few years ago, he continues to show fight by playing a few blinders. The only problem is that he hasn’t played competitive cricket since the last year’s IPL. Going into the season, he may be a touch rusty and would take time to adjust.
Shaun Marsh forms a vital part of their setup as he has been a massive force in the IPL. The 2008 season witnessed him touch dizzying heights on his way to clinch the orange cap. In fact, he was Punjab’s highest run-scorer in 2011 as well. Off late, he hasn’t been in the best of form. The Australian summer has been a nightmare and the IPL presents him the opportunity to get back to run-scoring ways. The shorter format may allow him to break the shackles and express himself.
Abhishek Nayar and Mandeep Singh are the front-runners amongst the Indian batsmen to make it into the playing eleven. Mandeep is a precociously talented batsman who has done well at the domestic level. Nayar has been a part of the Indian team in the past aiming to get back into contention.
The rest of the line-up would depend upon the foreign players Punjab chooses. Mahmood and Mascarenhas would stake their claims as all-rounders. However, there is also a David Hussey who is an absolute asset in T20 cricket. Ignoring him is a difficult proposition. While taking this decision, Punjab also have to consider the bowling options.
Punjab’s spin bowling department is strong and they have variety. Powar is an off spinner in the classical mould. Piyush Chawla,Punjab’s joint-highest wicket-taker of 2011 can be effective with his leg-breaks. Apart from the two India players, Punjab have two left-arm spinners - Bhragav Bhatt and Bipul Sharma. With such a rich pool, Gilchrist may be able to rotate the spinners and take a few chances depending on the surfaces.
Ryan Harris would lead Punjab’s fast bowling attack that has the likes of Praveen Kumar, Shalabh Srivastav, Faulkner and Broad. In all probability, Harris should be the only overseas fast bowler in the eleven considering the limit on foreign players. With Gilchrist, Marsh and Hussey at the top, it is difficult for Mahmood and Mascarenhas to get games as all-rounders. This is because Harris is a strike bowler and benching him wouldn’t be the best idea.
Gilchrist knows a thing or two about clinching the IPL title from near obscurity. In 2009, he led Deccan Chargers to an IPL victory at the back of their bottom-table finish in 2008. The situation he finds himself with Punjab is contrasting. They did decently well in the previous edition and have a launching pad for the future. The added responsibility of coaching is another challenge. Will Gilchrist amaze yet again?
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a club-level cricketer with an analytic mind and a sharp eye. It was this sharpness which spotted a wrong replay in IPL4 resulting in Sachin Tendulkar’s dismissal. Some of his analytical pieces have come in for high praise from cerebral former cricketers. Nishad can also be followed on Twitter)
Will Rahul Dravid's Rajasthan Royals live up to Shane Warne's legacy?
The father figure of Shane Warne (above) will be missed by Rajasthan Royals for his tremendous man-management skills and mentoring of youngsters. His successor Rahul Dravid has a task on his hands © Getty Images
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
Rajasthan Royals’ fairytale triumph in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2008 tugged the hearts of cricket fans around the world. It was Shane Warne’s inspirational leadership that transformed a side that was considered one of the weakest on paper into champions. One can say that the IPL owes a lot to Rajasthan for the success of season one as it was their charge that caught the attention of the masses. Rajasthan’s nomination for the Laureus Sports
Four years down the line, Rajasthan’s fairytale seems a distant memory. In the seasons that followed, they have failed to make it past the league stage and have struggled to maintain the high standards they set in 2008. There have been the odd flashes of brilliance where they showed tendencies of regaining the magic of old, but those sparks fizzled out with the passage of time. Consistency has been missing - something they unfailingly displayed during the first season.
It would be Rajasthan’s first outing without the services and guidance of Warne. Even though Rajasthan haven’t been a successful unit in the aftermath of the famous victory, Warne continued to remain a father figure - respected by one and all in the franchise. He showed tremendous man-management skills and mentored quite a few youngsters. It isn’t just his bowling, but his mere presence in the dressing room would be missed tremendously. This is where the new captain, Rahul Dravid has to step in and take charge.
Dravid’s recent retirement may help take the pressure off him and allow him to enjoy his game. It would be a challenge to fill into Warne’s shoes, but he has been in a similar position in the past. During his initial days as India captain, Dravid had a young side at his disposal and was successful in producing positive results. However, his leadership credentials came under severe criticism during the first season when he led Royal Challengers Bangalore. The faith shown by the Rajasthan management has given him a chance at redemption.
The Rajasthan squad under Dravid is a relatively stronger unit when compare to the one Warne captained last season. The core of the side hasn’t changed much and the new recruits have added more firepower to the line-up. Shane Watson, Dravid and Johan Botha would be the senior men who would take most of the responsibility and guide the team. Watson wouldn’t be available until the end of April and Botha may have a bigger role till then.
The most interesting buys by Rajasthan are that of Brad Hogg and Brad Hodge. It is clear that the team management have kept the age factor aside and have completely based their selections on performance. A remarkable comeback by Hogg has seen him travel around the globe as a T20 cricketer and Rajasthan have done well to include him keeping Warne’s departure in perspective. Hodge may not be the youngest batsman, but continues to be a force in the shortest format.
Owais Shah, Dinesh Chandimal, Kevon Cooper and Shantakumaran Sreesanth are some of the other new additions to the squad. With their inclusions, Rajasthan have stronger options for each spot when compared to the ones they had last year. The inclusion of Chandimal gives them a valuable wicket-keeping option and that may allow them to play the extra bowler or the batsman. In the past they have been forced to play stumpers who haven’t been very effective with the bat.
A lot would be expected of Ajinkya Rahane as he has grown into a better cricketer over the last year. There were notions that he isn’t a very effective T20 player - a belief that was brushed aside during his blistering T20 international debut. Dravid and Rahane would be the certainties in the top order with Botha being a floater. Paul Collingwood’s availability is fantastic news for them as he is a utility player in the format. However, there would be huge competition for spots in the playing eleven with Shah, Hodge and Chandimal staking their claims as batsmen.
Ashok Menaria would play as an all-rounder and would be expected to contribute in both departments. His talent attracted rich praise from Warne and a good season in the IPL may put him on the selectors’ radar for the upcoming ICC World T20. Hogg’s wealth of experience would be useful to him and the youngster must pick up quite a few tips from the Australian.
Coming to the fast bowling, Rajasthan would find themselves in a tricky situation as far as selection is considered. Cooper is a medium-pacer and would only make it into the eleven based on the combination Rajasthan opt for. In fact they may be forced to play both Shaun Tait and Sreesanth - two bowlers who can be a captain’s nightmare on their bad days. Although both the pacers can be dangerous, their erratic tendencies are well documented and playing them together is a huge gamble. Apart from them they have a number of Indian domestic fast bowlers with Siddharth Trivedi leading the pack.
The first challenge for Rajasthan would be to strike consistency and maintain a winning momentum. Isolated wins wouldn’t help their cause and they need to prolong such runs to make it through to the play-offs. Warne has left a legacy for them to live up to. This is probably their best chance since 2008.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a club-level cricketer with an analytic mind and a sharp eye. It was this sharpness which spotted a wrong replay in IPL4 resulting in Sachin Tendulkar’s dismissal. Some of his analytical pieces have come in for high praise from cerebral former cricketers. Nishad can also be followed on Twitter)
