S10M03

The Gambhir-Lynn show – a one sided affair!

Another match with shabby fielding – dropped catches

Praveen Kumar and Shadab Jakati bowled better than Shivil Kaushik, Dhawal Kulkarni, MS Gony and Dwayne Smith, but what was Raina thinking when he didn’t have James Faulkner in the starting XI?

The Gujarat Lions bowlers just waited to be hit around the park as Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn toyed with the ball. The Aussie in particular was severe in treating the bowlers with disdain, picking 8 sixes and the Man of the match.

Kolkata Knight Riders have set the pace for the race to higher NRR in style, this match will ensure they stay ahead in the event of equal points in the table.

Rajkot dished out yet another humiliating 10 wicket loss to the hosts, after that Warner-Dhawan hiding last year.

However, a heartening feature of the Gujarat innings was the form of Dinesh Karthik, who has been a revelation this year in the domestic circuit. Leading his team, Tamil Nadu, two national trophies, the wicket keeper batsman surely had his morale high and is bound to knock on the doors of the selectors for the Champions trophy if he continues to perform thus.

Like the earlier matches Suresh Raina benefitted from few dropped catches and pedestrian fielding to post a half century.

Fielding in the shortest version of the game plays a very important part, what with a few runs saved and crucial run-outs effected changing the course of the game and the eventual results. Coaches have their task cut out in ensuring the players keep their nerve in the face of pressure and concentrated on their fielding as much as their bowling and batting.

Brief Scores:
Gujarat Lions 183 for 4 (Raina 68, Karthik 47, Kuldeep 2-25) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 184 for 0 (Lynn 93*, Gambhir 76*) by 10 wickets

Man of the Match: Chris Lynn

S10M02

Bowler management comes to the fore!

6664611 – Seems a phone number straight out of an Australia telephone directory.

Well, almost but then those were the numbers that had an impact on the game at Pune where the home team skipper learnt a lesson or two in bowler management, same goes for the Rohit Sharma too!

Four sixes and a four were what Hardik Pandya scored off the last over to take Mumbai Indians to a respectable 184 from an almost uncompetitive 154. While the power hitting skill of the batsman is not at all in doubt, it speaks more about the thoughtless bowling of hapless Ashoke Dinda.

It’s really a wonder how captains haven’t read a bit of history of their team mates who have been extremely charitable in the end overs. Dinda has been an average bowler in all the years in IPL and has some very forgettable performances in the death overs.

While the spectators get a treat when batsman go hammer and tongs at bowlers for the adjective-redefining-display giant screens that scream Humungous or Mammoth, it also puts to shade some extraordinary bowling of the likes of Imran Tahir, Adam Zampa and Rajat Bhatia, who quite literally had the visitors on the mat.

To his credit Steve Smith redeemed his composure from the brutal assault on his senses (avoiding the phrase ‘brain fade’ here) by scoring the required runs at the end with much aplomb. 

The Rising Pune Supergiants must also thank Ajinkya Rahane who set the ball rolling with his classy innings that kept the required run rate in check throughout.

As much as Dinda was a bad choice for the last over, Rohit Sharma too must have rued the fact that he used up his frontline bowlers early to be left with an injured Kieron Pollard to bowl the last over, when 13 had to be defended.

Skippers need to do a bit of homework to get their game plan right, more so in the bowler management department, and of course the ground fielding too.

There was couple of outstanding catches in the match, one each from both sides with Mayank Agarwal and Nitish Rana put in great diving efforts. But then just two matches and this edition of IPL is already being remembered for the number of sitters being put down. Catches that have gone begging have had immense impact on the result, with both the Man-of-the match performers being the prime beneficiaries.

Brief Scores

Rising Pune Supergiant 187 for 3 (Smith 84*, Rahane 60) beat Mumbai Indians 184 for 8 (Buttler 38, Hardik 35*, Tahir 3-28, Bhatia 2-14) by seven wickets

Man of the Match: Steve Smith

S10M01

Defending champions begin with a bang!

SunRisers Hyderabad repeat 2016 final to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season opener

When Yuvraj Singh hit a boundary to get to his half century, the crowd roared in appreciation, but off the same ball, at the other end was another half century that told a different story. Yuvraj’s 51 came off 23 balls, while Aniket Choudhary took just 21 balls to reach exactly 51 runs taken of his bowling. RCB’s cup of woe was full with its wayward bowling and some ordinary fielding.

The Rajiv Gandhi International stadium at Uppal, Hyderabad wore a carnival atmosphere as the entire stadium bathed in a sea of Orange and Red, yes the visitors too had ample support as seen in the loud cheers for the Chris Gayle sixes.

David Warner lost the toss but didn’t lose the opportunity to hit a six off a free hit, batting first. However his stay at the crease was short-lived, his opening partner Shikar Dhawan who started slowly compensated with four boundaries in a Watson over to up the ante.

The free hitting Moises Henriques was only overshadowed by the arrival of the evening’s crowd favourite Yuvraj Singh. In the absence of the Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Yuvi garnered the maximum cheer for his batting, catching and also for his wave to the crowd from the boundary while fielding.

The cool breezy night also belonged to the SRH bowlers Bhuvaneshwar, Ben Cutting and Ashish Nehra all bowling with discipline and success. But the loudest appreciation came for the IPL debutant Afghanistan bowler Rashid Khan who picked up a wicket in his first over and added one more to cement his place for the future games.

  

A 200 plus score in the season opener is just a taste of things to come in a run-feast of a tournament.

Brief Scores:

Sunrisers Hyderabad 207 for 4 (Yuvraj 62, Henriques 52, Chahal 1-22) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 172 (Gayle 32, Bhuvneshwar 2-27, Rashid 2-36) by 35 runs.

Man of the Match: Yuvraj Singh. 

Lights… Camera… Action…!

S10M01 

The Season 10 of the most popular Indian Soap Opera is here.

The Indian Premier League – Cricket’s biggest entertainment-cum-sports extravaganza provides a platform for not just the Indian actors but quite a few stars from across the World to showcase their talent.

A few hours away from Match 1 between the defending champions Sun Risers Hyderabad (SRH) and the last year runner up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and the excitement is palpable.

There has been lot of talk in the media about is IPL losing its sheen? Are the injuries to Indian national players, including the captain Virat Kohli robbing the tournament of its interest? The answer to both is a firm NO.

The world’s most popular and most followed Twenty20 tournament has always been one that threw up many surprises. It’s not all about the established international names, but some unknown /ones who stand up to be counted and shine bright. Among a few names that immediately come to mind are Paul Valthaty, Sanju Samson and Pravin Tambe. There have many more… Yes, they may have not gone on to don the national colours or consistently make headlines, but they ensured that the surprise element is sustained.

While Test cricket continues to be the prima donna and the connoisseur’s delight, the shortest form of the game is quite a hit across the world and in an era that is governed by smart phones and news in 140 characters – T20 is surely the answer to keep the interest in the game going.

While there are no pre-tournament favourites yet, unlike the Chennai Super Kings of yore who always started as one, the eternal bridesmaid RCB is a strong contender for its maiden title. Don’t write off the twin two-time champions Kolkota Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians to make it three, nor the mercurial Kings XI or the unpredictable Delhi Daredevils to open their account. The outgoing teams of the year Rising Pune giants and last year’s table toppers Gujarat Lions too have it in them to create equal opportunities.

As I key in these words, 2 hours away from the inaugural ceremony before the match, my daughter and nephew are ready and waiting for me to take them to Uppal, where I will cheer for my home team SRH. I firmly believe the David Warner side is well balanced to retain the title.

Yes, I am predicting a SunRisers encore!

Bring the Game On !!!

A gruelling Indian Summer of Test Cricket for the Oz!

 

"I have played against some of the best Australian sides. In my opinion, looking at the composition, this is the weakest Australian side to tour India. I don't think this team has the wherewithal to cope with a quality Indian side in the Indian conditions," ~ Harbhajan Singh

After succesive Test series wins against West Indies, New Zealand, England and Bangladesh, the last three at home, Indian Test team is surely on a high led by the batting machine Virat Kohli, who has scored a double hundred in each of them. While England have been by far the best of the four opposition teams, Australia, unlike Harbhajan's assessment, are no pushovers and can pose more problems to the home team than the Englishmen.

This Aussie team is surely missing the legendary Glenn McGrath and his infamous 5-0 prophecies. Mitchell Starc may not match the Pigeon in prowess nor have the firepower, as a team, to predict a whitewash. 

Steven Smith along with Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson and newly-appointed England skipper Joe Root can match Virat Kohli in batting exploits, but not in captaining his side in the sub continent conditions.

IPL winning SunRisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner is in peak form and knows the Indian pitches and conditions better than the rest. 

He can single handedly turn around a match on its head within a session, but his adventurism can also be his undoing. Smith can count on Warner to take the team to flier but needs to share some of his spin handling secrets with Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh and the rest.

Spin will play a major role, and the Don Bradman of spin - as Steve Waugh referred to him, Ravichandran Ashwin will again be the most potent weapon in the Indian armour along with the stingy and testing Sir Ravindra Jadeja.

Nathan Lyon, like Monty Panesar of England did, can make hay in the dry grass-less Indian pitches but then he is up against the Pujaras, Rahanes and Murali Vijays who on their day can make one forget even a rare Kohli failure.

The early summer heat in India is a factor that can drain the best of cricketers and Indian pacemen hopefully won’t need to break much sweat in these conditions.

I personally feel this is going to be a 3-0 Indian win series. But don’t simply write off the Aussies – they can spring a surprise – watch out for Dharmasala – The World No.1 Test team with its 19 match unbeaten streak may get a jolt after all!

Bring on The Aussies, the team that has lost its last 9 Test matches in Asia – Give us some quality cricket in Whites before the pyjama caravan called IPL spoils all the fun! 

---------------------------- Pics courtesy: Internet ---------------------------------------

Down - Down Under, but not really OUT !

When Kraigg Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich got together on 67/5 chasing 152 for a West Indies win against Pakistan in the 3rd Test at Sharjah on November 3, there was hope for the die-hard Caribbean fans like me. Hope of a revival of sorts, of the years when Test Cricket was ruled by the West Indies, eclipsing the Australian domination – the dream return of the lethal domination. 

While the series was lost, Jason Holder's team won the Test with 5 wickets. It is quite premature to call that win as the beginning of the end of the Calypso slide, it sure does brighten up things for a beleaquered team, and fans across the World.

Australia meanwhile lost 3 Tests on the trot in Sri Lanka and their Test supremacy already on the wane looked to make up on home turf against South Africa minus AB de Villiers.

The Perth Test ended early for Dale Steyn, but the Proteas beat the hosts comprehensively with just the 3 frontline bowlers - Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and the debutant Keshav Maharaj.

Much was expected of the Aussie response in the Hobart Test - well - 16 of the 20 Aussie wickets to fall in the Test were single digit scores. That sums up the disastrous performance, South Africa could win by an innings and 80 runs despite scoring just 326 is testimony of their bowlers' domination.

Barring David Warner, in the midst of mixed form, the rest of the batsmen are woefully out of their wits in facing the SA attack. Their bowling too seems pedestrian in spite of Mitchell Starc's occasional brilliance.

The Aussie team of the 70s terrorised the world with Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson before the West Indies unleashed the pace quartet and a superlative batting line-up. The brilliance of Clive Lloyd with Viv Richards, Greenidge, Haynes and co meant sheer domination for over a decade and half - best captured in the documentary film - Fire in the Babylon. The following two decades had the Aussies led by Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and to an extent Michael Clarke create an aura of invincibilty. 

The South Africans have been quite unpredictable over the years, no I'm not referring to the 3rd letter of the Alphabet for their Limited Over performances, but their Test match cricket has seen quite some ups and downs. The team has slowly evolved from the shadows of Wessels, Cronje, Kirsten, Pollock, Greame Smith and Kallis era. However, without the mercurial ABD and the injury ridden Steyn ruled out, the expectation from the inconsistent Faf du Plessis led team has not been too high. The series has been decided ahead of the day-night Test, the hosts have a lot at stake. 

Steve Smith, the skipper, just months ago was considered among the best Test batsmen in the World along with Virat Kohli, Joe Root and Kane Williamson. He has to put the five match losing streak behind and regroup the team at the Adelaide Oval, for ahead of them is another grueling visit to the sub-continent.

India, while a tough opponent at home, also flatter to deceive. After cleaning up the Kiwis, the hosts were pushed to the brink by England, who arrived licking their wounds from a Bangla Tigers’ inflicted humiliation. The Aussies, sure will take note of the English journey, for the chinks in the Indian armour is starting to get exposed.

I am not sure if the Windies will ever regain their lost glory, but the Aussies cannot be written off, their resilience is commendable - for now they are down - but they will rise again.

Pic Courtesy: Internet

England start as firm favourites

In their use of DRS, they have no love lost for Asian umpires

After a comprehensive defeat to Bangladesh in the 2nd Test, England start their Five Test Series in India at Rajkot on Wednesday November 9th as firm favourites.

Well, they come with a huge experience of having used the Decision Review System (DRS) extensively, while India gets its first exposure in Tests.

Let's take a recent sample - a moot case in point!

The 1st Test between Bangladesh and England held at Chittagong, from Oct 20 to 24, 2016 had a unique record of sorts – the number of umpiring decisions reviewed has been the highest ever in a Test match since the introduction of the DRS. The two on field umpires for the match were CB Gaffaney from New Zealand and HDPK Dharmasena of Sri Lanka.

Both teams Bangladesh and England used the DRS to equal measure of 13 times each, while Eng had a higher success ratio of 54%, Bangladesh managed to get only 31% decisions against them overturned (Review Upheld). Of the 12 batsmen reviews (both teams included) 50% were upheld. However the Bowling reviews worked in favour of the Umpires with 64% of their decisions vindicated (struck down) and just 36% overturned (upheld).

10 of Umpire Gaffaney’s decisions were under scrutiny and he scored 70% success with only 3 decisions being overturned. Umpire Dharmasena’s decisions had more reviews – 16 in all, with 50% of his decisions being overturned and 50% vindicated.

England exercised their review more against Dharmasena’s decisions with 85% of their total reviews against the Sri Lankan Umpire and had 55% success, While 62% of Bangladesh’s reviews were of Gaffaney’s decision and with just 25% success.

The take away from the statistics is a bit obvious – the Englishmen don’t trust the Asian umpires much, while the hosts were more in favour of the Sri Lankan’s decisions.

It is also pertinent to note that the increase in the number of reviews does not necessarily vindicate the use of technology as much as it is supposed to put the men in the sun under the scanner.

Summary

Total Reviews: 26

Total Review Upheld: 11

Total Review Struck Down: 15

Reviewed by England: 13 – Upheld: 7, Struck Down: 6

Reviewed by Bangladesh: 13 - Upheld: 4, Struck Down: 9

Reviewed by Batting Team: 12 - Upheld: 6, Struck Down: 6

Reviewed by Bowling Team: 14 - Upheld: 5, Struck Down: 9

Umpire Gaffaney - 10

Review Struck Down: 7

Review Upheld: 3

Umpire Dharmasena - 16

Review Struck Down: 8

Review Upheld: 8

The Complete list of Decision Reviews during of the 1st Test: Bangladesh v England at Chittagong, Oct 20-24, 2016

(Courtesy: http://www.espncricinfo.com/)

1.      Over 11.6: Review by Bangladesh (Bowling), Umpire - CB Gaffaney, Batsman - GS Ballance (Upheld)

2.      Over 23.4: Review by Bangladesh (Bowling), Umpire - CB Gaffaney, Batsman - MM Ali (Struck down)

3.      Over 26.5: Review by England (Batting), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - MM Ali (Upheld)

4.      Over 28.2: Review by England (Batting), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - MM Ali (Upheld)

5.      Over 28.4: Review by England (Batting), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - MM Ali (Upheld)

6.      Over 47.4: Review by Bangladesh (Bowling), Umpire - CB Gaffaney, Batsman - MM Ali (Struck down)

7.      Over 83.5: Review by Bangladesh (Bowling), Umpire - CB Gaffaney, Batsman - AU Rashid (Struck down)

8.      Over 93.2: Review by England (Batting), Umpire - CB Gaffaney, Batsman - AU Rashid (Upheld)

9.      Over 102.1: Review by England (Batting), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - SCJ Broad (Upheld)

10.  Over 105.5: Review by Bangladesh (Bowling), Umpire - CB Gaffaney, Batsman - SCJ Broad (Upheld)

11.  Over 42.6: Review by Bangladesh (Batting), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - Tamim Iqbal (Upheld)

12.  Over 64.3: Review by England (Bowling), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - Mushfiqur Rahim (Struck down)

13.  Over 78.2: Review by England (Bowling), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - Shafiul Islam (Struck down)

14.  Over 81.1: Review by Bangladesh (Batting), Umpire - CB Gaffaney, Batsman - Mehedi Hasan Miraz (Struck down)

15.  Over 84.1: Review by England (Bowling), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - Sabbir Rahman (Struck down)

16.  Over 0.5: Review by Bangladesh (Bowling), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - BM Duckett (Struck down)

17.  Over 9.2: Review by England (Batting), Umpire - CB Gaffaney, Batsman - JE Root (Struck down)

18.  Over 68.4: Review by Bangladesh (Bowling), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - AU Rashid (Upheld)

19.  Over 75.4: Review by Bangladesh (Bowling), Umpire - CB Gaffaney, Batsman - SCJ Broad (Struck down)

20.  Over 80.2: Review by England (Batting), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - GJ Batty (Struck down)

21.  Over 9.4: Review by England (Bowling), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - Tamim Iqbal (Struck down)

22.  Over 27.5: Review by England (Bowling), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - Mominul Haque (Upheld)

23.  Over 29.6: Review by Bangladesh (Batting), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - Mahmudullah (Struck down)

24.  Over 70.5: Review by Bangladesh (Batting), Umpire - CB Gaffaney, Batsman - Mehedi Hasan Miraz (Struck down)

25.  Over 81.1: Review by England (Bowling), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - Taijul Islam (Upheld)

26.  Over 81.3: Review by Bangladesh (Batting), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - Shafiul Islam (Struck down)