For all those who are not following Ashes

The article is extremely harsh but true...Australia needs better bowlers

Sorry, Haury

Random Musings

• England has saved the first test. Whew! And what a test it was; Australia was so close to winning it. Even though there was no result, it was a very good advertisement for test cricket. The stadium was full and every ball was being cheered by crowd.

• Hindsight is always 6/6. After Pakistan lost the last test match many analysts questioned team composition. Checkout Former players question team composition Pakistan's cricket is troubled by many factors and team composition could be one of them. In my opinion, rather than criticizing the team after they lost the game (which they could have easily won), former players should try to improve Pakistan cricket as a whole. I think, whatever the team composition was, they should have overcome a paltry target of 167.

• John Buchanan has written some abrasive statements in his new book titled 'The Future of Cricket: The Rise of Twenty20'. It seems, after following various media reports, Buchanan has created some new controversies. Read Buchanan takes swipes at Indian stars to checkout what Buchanan has written. Buchanan has got it bang on - these controversies (whether true or untrue) will make the book profitable. Read one of earlier posts Buchanan and the art of remaining profitable to know more about Buchanan style.

• There has been some rumor about Saurav Ganguly running for BCCI chief's post. Yes, it is just a rumor and Ganguly himself has not commented anything. But if he does become BCCI chief, it would be best thing that has ever happened to BCCI. It would be a rare occurrence when an esteemed cricketer, like him, holds such a vital administrative position in BCCI.

• It feels very sad when you read headlines like Advantage Bangladesh for preview of 1st test match between WI and Bangladesh. I do not have anything against Bangladesh; in fact, I want them to become a serious test playing nation. But the fact is that they are enjoying this advantage because of weakened WI side not because of their own strengths.

Selectors and Rahul Dravid

Indian selectors have included Rahul Dravid among 30 probables for ICC Champions Trophy.

Dravid among Champions Trophy probables

In my opinion it is a regressive step. It is not the Dravid's ability to perform but the timing of the move that disturbs me. Dravid is a great player with sound technique; he has won many a battles for Indian cricket. I have high regards for him and I am sure he will succeed if given a chance and may even perform better than youngsters.

However, Dravid is not in frame for One Day cricket for almost 2 years. Since then other batsmen have performed well. Indian team has seen golden period in two years - they have lost very few one day games. The new batsmen have played some brilliant cricket and have filled the void left by Dravid.

Some media reports have suggested that Dravid inclusion has to do with inability of current crop of cricketers to face short pitch bouncers especially after poor showing at T20 Word Cup. It is true that Raina, Pathan and Sharma do no have technical proficiency of Dravid (everyone can't be a 'The Wall'). But what do selectors want to achieve by announcing Dravid's name? There could be 2 reasons but none of them makes sense to me:

1. To tell new crop of players that they lack technical proficiency of a master and there is a competition for them - There can be only one Dravid. Raina, Pathan or Sharma can't match his technical proficiency. They have earned their places in the team as they too have something which wins matches for India. Every player is unique and we must respect his talent as it is. Let us continue to trust these youngsters as long as they are performing well for the country. If they do not produce the goods then so be it. Selectors have built a team that will serve India for a long time to come.
2. To show some much needed respect to Dravid in twilight of his career - In last t 2 years Dravid would have taken non-inclusion in one day squad in his stride. By announcing his name among probables, selectors are only demeaning him. What was the point of dumping him earlier after a stray poor series?

I shred to think what will happen if, after all this, selectors fail to include Dravid in final 14.

Ponting's real test

Ponting is thought to be greatest Australian test captain ever by many leading analysts. He has led Australian cricket team successfully over last 5 years. Consider this:

1. Australia's winning percentage of tests under his captaincy is more than any other Australian captain.
2. He has always led from front by contributing heavily in middle order. His batting record speaks volumes - a batting average of more than 50, more centuries than any other Australian. (He may even go on to become leading century scorer in the world - Most Hundreds in tests)
3. His team hold the record of winning most tests on the trot.
4. He was Man of the Series as Australia became the first team in 86 years to achieve an Ashes clean sweep.
   

Did Ponting make Australia near invincible or was there some other factor in play. Australia was already number 1 test team before Ponting took over. What made them number 1 team? The answer is Steve Waugh.

Ponting took the baton from Steve Waugh as a test captain at the beginning of 2004 (by that time he was already captaining one day side). He not only inherited the captaincy from an extremely successful captain but also inherited hugely talented players. His playing 11 included Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Langer, Hayden, Gillespie, Martyn, Lehmann, Lee and Ponting himself. All of them were match winners in their own right and all of them had impressive records. It was next to impossible that anyone could beat the team comprising of these players.

The credit must go to Waugh for making an unbeatable outfit. The players and the team was nurtured by Steve Waugh. All these match winners (except for Lee and Ponting) have since then retired leaving Australian team in dire straits. Neither CA nor Ponting realized what would happen once these were not available. They didn't take any preventive action to fill their places at right time.

Today team is bereft of greats' services and half of the team consists of bunch of inexperienced players. Australia started losing there domination near the end of 2007. 2008 was the worst year for them in recent history - they lost test series to India and SA.

It is true that Ponting has services of Clarke and Hussey but apart from them there is no one in the team who can match the previous team's greats. It is also true that they won the test series again SA in their own backyard with new players. But the real test for Ponting has already begun.

1. Can Ponting leave behind a good team to relive the great moments?
2. Can he create a near invincible team?
3. Can he relive Waugh's legacy?

Only time will answer these questions. If Ponting is able to successfully lead his team for next two years and pass over a winning combination to next captain (most probably Clarke), history will remember him forever.

BBC - Buchanan Bashing Continues

As reported by Cricinfo

Martyn lashes out at Buchanan over 2005 Ashes

An excerpt

"All comments by Warne and MacGill are right and you'd find that 99% of the group from that era would agree," Martyn said in an interview with the Wisden Cricketer. "They're just the only guys who've got [the courage] to say it. The management team didn't plan right, we had a not-very-good, quick preparation in Brisbane and then we landed and away we went.

Future of test cricket

It is interesting to read the comments of die-hard test cricket fans in the following story



ICC chief suggests four-day Tests