You can skip this post if:
1) You are not a cricket fan
2) You don't like test cricket
3) You like to read only extremely small posts
There is something I love about winter. I dunno what it is. I just feel good in winter. Of course there is the
occasional cough n cold, but my spirits are definitely high. Also, the last three India's tours of Australia have started in Winter.
The first India's tour of Australia I actually remember watching was the 2003-04 tour. That was one Legendary tour, especially if you are big test fan. Ahhh Nostalgia. I remember waking up early to watch. Bunking college. Sometimes, rushing to the bakery next to college to catch the action. Then sit in the park for hours analysing the match with fellow cricket freaks.
Ganguly started with an awesome century. Laxman, Sehwag, Sachin came in with big knocks. But the highlight of it all was Dravid's double century. Taking on the giants and leading India to its first test victory down under in over 22 years.
Ever since, whenever Ind toured Aus, I have woken up early and followed the game.
I remember being very tense earlier this year when India was set to play Pakistan in the World cup. I kept shouting at everyone in office. I had the same feeling a couple of days before the boxing day test.
All my hopes of watching India win a tour in Australia are pinned on the current tour. Not because its the best Indian team to go there. But because its the worst Australian team to be fielded in quite a while. In fact, their current team is nothing in comparison with the current Indian Team. All said and done, the Indian team itself is highly in experienced. Out of the playing 11, Dravid, Sachin, Sehwag, Zaheer and Laxman can be said to have experience. That's just 45% of the team. IMHO it should be 7/8 members of the team with 4-3 fresh blood at most.
The first test culminated a few minutes ago as I write this and India who looked on top earlier on, have been crushed by an awesome performance from the ozzies. Full credit to the Australians. They deserve the win. But it got me thinking, how can a side with a handful of seniors beat a side with a couple more of them?
The answer lies in the pitch that was prepared. It was an even pitch. A light green top with something in it for the bowlers but a lot in it for the batsmen as well. The bounce ensured it came onto the bat, but the grass gave some opportunity to the seamers.
Umesh Yadav was a good find. I'm sure Pattinson was the same for them. Both have good futures for their respective teams if groomed well. Something tells me Mallya has his eyes on Pattinson.
Yet all the batsmen crumbled and only the best of the best managed any knocks: Dravid, Sachin, Ricky, Hussey. The Indian batsmen have been spoon fed with batting pitches in India. They put up a great show in India and look like clowns on alien soil.
This is a wake up call for curators in India to make some green tops in the future. Of course, there is always the theory that a pitch must be made in favour of the home side. But with that mentality we will go back to being bad tourists as we were famously known for in the 70s and the 80s. At least at the end of a home series or when we are in a commanding position in the series, green tops should be made so that the batsmen are groomed for even pitches.
In a nutshell:
I still think the current team has what it takes to win this series. Probably 2-1. All they gotta do is play it session by session, patiently.
This fan has no nails left to bite! WE HAVE TO WIN THIS. Damn I'm so tense.
1) You are not a cricket fan
2) You don't like test cricket
3) You like to read only extremely small posts
There is something I love about winter. I dunno what it is. I just feel good in winter. Of course there is the
occasional cough n cold, but my spirits are definitely high. Also, the last three India's tours of Australia have started in Winter.
The first India's tour of Australia I actually remember watching was the 2003-04 tour. That was one Legendary tour, especially if you are big test fan. Ahhh Nostalgia. I remember waking up early to watch. Bunking college. Sometimes, rushing to the bakery next to college to catch the action. Then sit in the park for hours analysing the match with fellow cricket freaks.
Ganguly started with an awesome century. Laxman, Sehwag, Sachin came in with big knocks. But the highlight of it all was Dravid's double century. Taking on the giants and leading India to its first test victory down under in over 22 years.
Ever since, whenever Ind toured Aus, I have woken up early and followed the game.
I remember being very tense earlier this year when India was set to play Pakistan in the World cup. I kept shouting at everyone in office. I had the same feeling a couple of days before the boxing day test.
All my hopes of watching India win a tour in Australia are pinned on the current tour. Not because its the best Indian team to go there. But because its the worst Australian team to be fielded in quite a while. In fact, their current team is nothing in comparison with the current Indian Team. All said and done, the Indian team itself is highly in experienced. Out of the playing 11, Dravid, Sachin, Sehwag, Zaheer and Laxman can be said to have experience. That's just 45% of the team. IMHO it should be 7/8 members of the team with 4-3 fresh blood at most.
The first test culminated a few minutes ago as I write this and India who looked on top earlier on, have been crushed by an awesome performance from the ozzies. Full credit to the Australians. They deserve the win. But it got me thinking, how can a side with a handful of seniors beat a side with a couple more of them?
The answer lies in the pitch that was prepared. It was an even pitch. A light green top with something in it for the bowlers but a lot in it for the batsmen as well. The bounce ensured it came onto the bat, but the grass gave some opportunity to the seamers.
Umesh Yadav was a good find. I'm sure Pattinson was the same for them. Both have good futures for their respective teams if groomed well. Something tells me Mallya has his eyes on Pattinson.
Yet all the batsmen crumbled and only the best of the best managed any knocks: Dravid, Sachin, Ricky, Hussey. The Indian batsmen have been spoon fed with batting pitches in India. They put up a great show in India and look like clowns on alien soil.
This is a wake up call for curators in India to make some green tops in the future. Of course, there is always the theory that a pitch must be made in favour of the home side. But with that mentality we will go back to being bad tourists as we were famously known for in the 70s and the 80s. At least at the end of a home series or when we are in a commanding position in the series, green tops should be made so that the batsmen are groomed for even pitches.
In a nutshell:
I still think the current team has what it takes to win this series. Probably 2-1. All they gotta do is play it session by session, patiently.
This fan has no nails left to bite! WE HAVE TO WIN THIS. Damn I'm so tense.
