Articles

Put the skates on!

Put the skates on!

Put the skates on!
The spot fixing case needs to move at a fair clip to bring back the credibility factor in Indian cricket IT’S been exactly one year since the spot fixing and betting scandal broke out in Indian Premier League-6. And the developments, without doubt, caught the Indian cricketing establishment off-guard. They were rather caught napping, oblivious to the fact that speculation doing the rounds for a few days, hinted at some players …

Read More...

Good, bad and ugly side of T20 cricket

Good, bad and ugly side of T20 cricket

Good, bad and ugly side of T20 cricket
Good, bad and ugly side of T20 cricket I enjoyed watching the 10th DY Patil T20 cricket tournament at the DY Patil Stadium in Nerul over the last few days. Along with the facilities provided, the running of the tournament has been excellent – so smooth as if it’s on auto pilot! All credit to the team in charge of the event. The quality of T20 cricket is at par, if not …

Read More...

Wake up call to Mumbai

Wake up call to Mumbai

Wake up call to Mumbai
THE Mumbai-Maharashtra rivalry goes back a long way and on most occasions, Mumbai came out on top – many a time from behind with that khadoos attitude. Having taken a handsome first innings lead of 122 runs, only bad, irresponsible batting could have put Mumbai in trouble and that’s what the hosts did at the Wankhede Stadium. This pitch that was well prepared by Sudhir Naik, has completely exposed the …

Read More...

Staying Power Needed

Staying Power Needed

Staying Power Needed
Staying Power needed HAVING thrived on flat or turning pitches at home, India’s batsmen were clearly finding it difficult to negotiate the bounce and seam movement in the first two one-day internationals against South Africa at Johannesburg and Durban. Adaptability is the key to performing consistently in international cricket. Batsmen or bowlers who adjust their technique and methods quickly according to the conditions are the ones who will perform while …

Read More...

Resign to protect the game, Sir!

Resign to protect the game, Sir!

Resign to protect the game, Sir!
MOST cricket administrators of the past were humble and had great regard for former cricketers, unlike today. Few have become too powerful and that power has gone to their heads thus breeding ultimate arrogance to push the noble game of cricket into quick sand. Now is the time for good administrators alongwith former Test cricketers to raise their hands and rescue the game. The image of the game has taken a big …

Read More...

BCCI needs to rap on the knuckles of those not falling in line

BCCI needs to rap on the knuckles of those not falling in line

BCCI needs to rap on the knuckles of those not falling in line
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the selection committee needs to be complimented for backing captain MS Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher despite losing eight overseas Test matches in a row in England and Australia. Dhoni led India to victory in the home series against New Zealand and averted threat to his job as a leader. The Sandeep Patil-chaired selection committee has fully been generous in their …

Read More...

‘Man was making plans and God laughed’

‘Man was making plans and God laughed’

‘Man was making plans and God laughed’
The Mumbai Test showed that when a team is highly motivated, determined and focused on the job at hand, crisis can be turned into opportunity. It’s characteristics of a team that is hungry for victory. And England has shown that they are hungrier than Team India. Man proposes, God disposes The plans of depriving the England batsmen practice against spinners in the run-up to the Test series has failed. The question to …

Read More...

England-back to basics

England-back to basics

England-back to basics
England must go back to the basics England batsmen except for Alastair Cook, who looked relaxed mentally and physically, had the right anxiety level and that reflected in his early judgment of the line and length of the delivery, which helped him in decisive footwork and decision making. He was sure of his defence and the close-in fielders were not a distraction. He made one mistake and got out to some clever …

Read More...

Big test for Duncan Fletcher

Big test for Duncan Fletcher

Big test for Duncan Fletcher
Big test for Duncan Fletcher and Team India It’s not easy to fill in the crater created by the retirements of two greats, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. But it’s extremely important that Team India’s Generation Next quickly establish themselves in the Test arena. In that respect, the India-England Test series starting on Thursday is critical for the home team. The series is equally important for Duncan Fletcher. His two overseas stints …

Read More...

Harbhajan’s – Up’s and Down,

Harbhajan’s – Up’s and Down,

Harbhajan’s – Up’s and Down,
Harbhajan’s – Up’s and Down, Time to go up again!!! India captain MS Dhoni is making the right noises. He said that there is hardly any off-spinner who could hit the rib-cage area of the batsmen. Harbhajan Singh responded to that statement: “Even I have not seen anyone hitting the rib cage. But I would like to bowl like that if I get to bowl on a good spinning track”. This reaction, I …

Read More...