Let's pray for England win in England vs. SA test series

England start their test series campaign against SA tomorrow. Let us support and pray for them to win the series handsomely for India's cause. Lest they do, South Africa can inch up towards numero uno slot in ICC test ranking.

Consider this the other two top teams, namely South Africa and Australia, are playing 7 and 10 tests respectively in next 12 months. And India is playing only 2 tests and that too against low ranked Bangladesh. Only God can help India in retaining the top ranking.

Trust Sehwag to entertain you - Always

Sri Lanka in India ODI Series - 1st ODI
2009/10 season

Excerpt of converation between Ravi Shatri and Sehwag at the post-match ceremony.

Ravi Shastri to Virender Sehwag: "You are usually a chilled out character. But with the last over going on, and you sitting above [since he was injured and off the field], were you a bit tense?"

Sehwag: "Not at all. I was actually supporting Sri Lanka. My superstition is that whenever I support India, they lose. So I was supporting Sri Lanka."

Indian fielding was good at Rajkot

Sri Lanka in India ODI Series - 1st ODI
2009/10 season
India dropped only 3 catches while fielding in one day international at Rajkot against Sri Lanka. 3 catches in 50 overs compares favourably to 11 catches dropped in last T20 internationals (40 overs).

I wonder how India win matches even after pathetic fielding and patchy bowling! Indian batsmen must be really very good.

Sri Lanka's Sehwag

Journalists, media-men, commentators and common folks like us have nick named Dilshan as Sri Lanka's Sehwag. I wonder if it is a compliment to Sehwag or to Dilshan.

Forget Sehwag! This is interesting.

Well! Forget Sehwag for a bit. I enjoyed reading comments more than the insipid article. But credit goes to author for evoking such comments.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/article6942221.ece

Quote Unquote - Sachin Tendulkar

http://www.cricinfo.com/sachinat20/content/quote/index.html?object=35320

Dravid's Omission - A few perspectives

Indian cricket team has been announced for the FIRST 2 one dayers against Australia. The logic of announcing a squad for 2 one dayers beats me. The Indian cricket team selections are far from logical...most of the times.

Even though it should not have surprised me but Dravid's omission is more baffling than other selection matters. I am not sure what selectors found out in 6 one dayers (that Dravid played) to throw him out of the team.

Dravid dropped for Australia ODIs

I had a premonition that something like this will happen. Excerpt from my earlier post:

Dravid returns to play one-day matches
Dravid's inclusion was not a good decision. What is done cannot be undone but selectors should start thinking about the time when Sehwag returns to the fold; who will they drop?

There are many plausible reasons for Dravid's non-inclusion:

1. He may not be among the playing 11 - If he was not good enough to play in 11, why was he selected 3 months ago. What has changed in 3 months?
2. To show some respect as he cannot be included in the playing 11 - What kind of respect are selectors showing by giving him the boot?
3. Nation comes first - When Dravid was included in the squad 3 months ago, it was thought that (with his sound technique) he will serve India better than the youngsters. Today, how can the same youngsters be better than him?
4. Youngsters have learnt their lesson - What kind of message are selectors giving youngsters by flip-flopping? Youngsters may still think they are demi-gods.

There might have been some plausible reasons that I am not able to fathom. But was it too difficult (3 months ago) to foresee that this situation might come? Dravid should not have been selected in first place. Or is it too difficult now to give a respectable and reasonable exit to Dravid?

I really feel for Dravid. He has done everything that team required and still he had faced difficult moments. How many people in the world cricket has made more than 10000 runs in both forms of cricket in their career? I sincerely hope that Dravid gets over the ignominy of unceremonious dumping soon.

It is not that the team selection has been poor. I am only making a comment on Dravid's omission. The selected team is good and should be able to beat Australia.