The curious case of Harbhajan Singh

Read more Harbhajan Singh- On a decline ?

Ashes 2010 preview with Lawrence Booth and Jarrod Kimber in Amit Masram’s Cricket Central show

Lawrence Booth, acclaimed English cricket writer and award winning Daily Mail columnist and Jarrod Kimber , the maverick Australian writer preview the Ashes 2010 series, predict the player to watch out for and the plan to win the Ashes with Amit Masram on the Cricket Central show .Ashes 2010 preview with Lawrence Booth and Jarrod Kimber in Amit Masram\'s Cricket Central show

Cricket Central -Ricky Ponting Prolific 196 against England at Gabba ,2006

[Audio http://itzzamit.podbean.com/mf/web/3d9qfp/Commentary.mp3]

New dawn for West Indies cricket ?

]

Balls matter !

 

Swinging both ways

 

India retained the Border Gavaskar trophy against Australia and further consolidated their number one ranking in test matches .The test series, having produced results in both the test matches , amid popular fear of pale draw ,made the battle between bat and ball pulsating, The joy of test cricket is back with reverse swing coming to the rescue of “bowlers”.

The series again reinforced the aid bowlers get when the SG ball is used as it reverses and then it is up to the skill of the bowler to use it to his advantage. The reverse swing was the most important weapon that Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones unleashed in the summer of 2005 to win the Ashes, after twenty years. Though the dukes ball were used then but it certainly created a lot of buzz and captivated the attention of the crowds.

It is worth contemplating whether the different  cricket balls can restore the balance between the bat and the ball, which is heavily loaded in favour of bat at the moment?

With the pronounced seam of the SG ball, Zaheer Khan made the ball to talk and struck at the right time, to enable his side a great chance to force a result. Zaheer Khan reaped rich reward of 12 scalps for bowling extreme precision with the old ball and often to one side of the wicket with a consistent line. This tilted the game towards the Indians. With the successful run of T-20 cricket and no respite for bowlers around the world, thanks to some real flat tracks and boundary ropes shrinking like jobs in journalism, a thought needs to be spared to the tribe called “bowlers “who toil hard and gets punished .Who would not love to see batsman scoring those fours and sixes and dominate the bowlers .However, this has turned the sport into a computer simulated game, with a predictable result, the bat dominating the ball almost at will!

While there is a lot of debate of whether to have one ball across the world or to have different balls to test the players mettle to adapt and champion the conditions. It may well be solution to answer of an equal contest between the bat and the ball .And, unsurprisingly; this can produce more results and bring crowds back to the test matches.

VVS Laxman –Love for Australia continues to grow

The Australian skipper Ricky Ponting fades away in history after failing to register a win against India. This is one of the few boxes that still need to be ticked on this illustrious résume.Come November, when the Ashes gets underway, all this disappointment will be gone and Ricky Ponting will have renewed his motivation to get  “Ashes winning captain” alongside his name.

 

VVS Laxman- Reaching the acme of success.

 

While the Indian experience may have dented the confidence of the Australian team, it is no secret that lack of spin bowling options cost them the series. There is also truth in the allegations that field placing also played a significant  part in releasing the pressure on the opposition by letting them the easy singles.

Ponting would have had the feeling of déjà vu, when VVS Laxman walked out to bat in the first test at Mohali. While it’s a different matter that Australia still lost the Bangalore test, their third successive defeat since 1988. Laxman played a stellar role to help India get out of an imminent defeat, with the support of Ishant Sharma, as India sneaked with a victory by one wicket.

It almost escapes our attention that his batting average shoots up to shade more than 55 , against the Australians as opposed to  his overall career average of 47.He not only showed he relishes the Australian bowling attack but also reminded us that he still remains the  unsung hero to many Indian wins from hopeless situations, amid the often featured Sehwags, Dravids and Tendulkars .Laxman’s  prolific form and resurgence in the last 3 seasons tells a story in itself as he scored 2626 runs at an astounding average of 66.27 , with 6 tons.

With most of his runs in the last three years coming in the winning cause and through the most precarious situations, often batting with the tail, he is a complete team man who doesn’t bat at his favourite number three position. As five more tests are to be played in this season, against New Zealand and South Africa, his confidence and assurance will be the key to consolidate India’s position as number one test team in the world.

Ricky Ponting’s progress will be closely watched

Amidst the headlines captured by the common wealth games, as it draws nearer , there is some cricket being lined up as well .The Australian team is here to play two tests , followed by three One Day Internationals .Both Mohali and Bangalore , venues for the tests should be able to hopefully produce result.

The last time India played Australia at Mohali, Australia were handed a heavy defeat of 320 runs margin and that should certainly give them a lot of confidence .India enjoy a good record at the PCA stadium in Mohali, only losing to the West Indies in the first match played on this ground, while the ground has produced five draws out of nine matches played.

With Bangalore also reciting the same tale of eight draws out of seventeen tests played so far, it should be interesting to note that the declaration might just be an important factor to compel a result .While India has rewarded Cheteshwar Pujara’s form and consistency at the domestic level , his name would only be in the team sheet if there is an injury amongst the top six in the batting line up .Suresh Raina would occupy the number six slot after his fruitful tour of Sri Lanka , with Sachin Tendulkar Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman constituting a potent middle order.

The last time India played Australia in 2008, Dravid had a forgettable series aggregating 120 runs at an average of 17.14 in 7 visits to the crease. While Rahul Dravid would be aware of that statistics and keen to settle the scores with the Australians, runs in this series would pep up the confidence to do well against south Africa and New Zealand in future .The batting would determine the winner in the series as Australians would have done their homework on Virender Sehwag continues to get attention of the opposition .

The Australian spin department looks suspicious with no real match winner and one wonders what happened to Jason Kreja after his 8 wicket burst in Nagpur, during the last Australian trip in 2008.

It would be also an important series for Ricky Ponting. Ponting’s last ton came nine months back against the Pakistan and he is showing signs of decline already and this series well might ascertain if the time is ripe to hand over the captaincy reins to Michael Clarke. He averages 40 in the last ten test matches and looks a far cry from the batsman he once was, with 209 coming in a single outing to the crease, way below his career average of 54.66.

From an Indian standpoint, Harbhajan Singh, doubtful starter for the Mohali test would be wondering how to bring that strike rate down, as he appears to have lost his wicket taking ability.

Shane Watson has started of f the tour in style with back to back hundreds and should give Indians food for thought.

A series win in India will give tremendous tonic to Ricky Ponting for his next high profile assignment. He must have spent endless time mulling over the combinations to register an Ashes win on his illustrious resume.

 

Yuvraj Singh is down but not out!

The selectors have once again showed who is in charge by showing the door to Yuvraj Singh. Though it can be argued that he was always living on borrowed time, Yuvraj was given far too many opportunities at the test level to translate his promise as a fine one day batsman to mature number six for India, after Saurav Ganguly left the international scene.

Yuvraj Singh always had the style and flamboyance and may have won many matches for India, However he always was an uneasy batsman finding it difficult to get his bearings in the longest format of the game often confused with the pace of scoring runs .Yuvraj Singh, just 29, would believe that he might have got the wake up call at the right time, after having a sedate tour of Sri Lanka in July where he was unwell and the indifferent form did not help the cause either. However it is worth pondering if the route is some what identical to what Ajay Jadeja traversed, having played 15 tests over the 9 years as an international cricket, dazzling only at the One day format, only time will tell.

With Rahul Dravid ,VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar well in the twilight zone , Yuvraj will have to quickly scale up to the test level , as the breathing space just gets tougher , with the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara , Rohit Sharma , Virat Kohli captivating the selectors , as good investment option for the future .It is interesting to note that even if Yuvraj would been a part of the squad picked for the home series against Australia , would he be in the playing eleven , now withstanding the form of Suresh Raina.

Given the flair and the success Yuvraj enjoyed at the international level it is quite easy to forget that test cricket can be very rude surprise, but remains the sought after thing on the resume of a international cricketer.

On the more positive side, Yuvraj, the one day batsman will probably play a more significant role in the upcoming world cup in the subcontinent .Have the selectors dropped a hint to Yuvraj to concentrate on getting amongst the runs in the one day format?

Yuvraj Singh has a lot of work to do for sure.

Will Test Cricket pass the stiff test ?

With English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff ‘s retirement from test cricket , what was just a premonition is now looking an unpleasant reality . The commercials of T-20 beast is hovering to wolf down test cricket, with favours from injuries and excessive cricket .The timing of the decision is interesting, but the rational behind is not incongruous .It came between the Ashes test series and Flintoff giving into the body’s voice to stop , that has been battered due to a spate of futile surgeries. Meanwhile, he safeguarded the future by focusing his energies on T-20 and 50 over version of the game.

Forsake test cricket and embrace one day format and T-20 is the latest trend . Few years ago, the players opted for the longest format , to prolong their career .Shane Warne , Steven Waugh , Brain Lara, Steve Harmison gave the highest honor to tests and sacrificing the limited over internationals.

But with the unprecedented success of IPL , the winds have reversed the direction .The injuries take a toll on the international cricketers , with rehabilitation period some times making them unavailable for months. And often, it becomes difficult to come back in the reckoning with full fitness and same vigor ,not to mention the unaltered mindset . Then ,avoiding the demands of test cricket comes an easy option , the staggering money associated with it swings the pendulum in the favour of T-20 and to a lesser extent 50 overs internationals. Twenty20 is where all the revenue is, where all the sponsorship is, where all the crowds are, where all the players are heading!

Donning the whites and playing test cricket, an ultimate dream for any youngster few years ago is now passé .

The spectators are declining to turn up any more, with empty stadiums and benign tracks undermining the balance between the ball and the bat . There is every chance that many of the players, too, will soon be reluctant to pitch up for Test cricket.Still young and in the late 20s and early 30’s players might secure their future by premature retirement .The world heard about Chris Gayle’s thoughts about the test cricket and Flintoff’s decision will not retard the doomsday for tests.

Countries like Australia and England are still safe but signs in India and West Indies are a matter of concern and bourgeoning schemes in the US to come up tournaments on the lines of IPL , the carrot is out for the stars who are uncertain in tests and yet have still cricket left in them .However, it will take away charismatic match winners like Flintoff , further eroding the thin base of test cricket

So, is excessive cricket also a catalyst to accelerate early retirements? The all rounders always a rare breed, is the most susceptible to the demands of the crammed international calendar, with the surge of T-20, the pressure will only increase many manifolds .The bowlers and all rounders will be at risk as well , with varying degree .While the batsman is already finding it difficult to maintain the consistency in all the three formats, eventually being probed on adaptability all-time .Then there is distinct possibility of developing technical flaws as there is no time to look at one’s game. The final outcome indifferent form and in some cases mental fatigue, with a dip in motivation .

Is the time ripe for having a relook at the test model ? Will the introduction of pink balls and the concept of test championship , revive test cricket .Only time will tell. But there is certainly a injection required to energise test cricket , else it will be anachronistic.

Where is the ray of hope amidst dark clouds ?
The first Test match of the Ashes series between England and Australia has been a resounding success .While the second test only adding to the excitement .The critics and sceptics being won over by five days of enthralling cricket on the field and the spectators delighted .Watching Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar blocking their way to the end of play to keep Australia away from the crease at Cardiff .This was followed up with Flintoff sending down 10 high octane overs to seal the deal for the Englishmen This brought back all the drama , nervousness and suspsense of the Ashes series.The icing on the cake was gross collection of £6m with a seven figure profit on that.Still, there is hope …
.A test match drawn after the opposition couldnot take the final wicket , scoring 400 plus to win a test , changing the natural game to suit the team needs , dour defence to save the test , applying the skills on a barren track to claim a five for , are memories that is test cricket’s gift to us.Thats the ultimate test of character and mental toughness of a cricketer defying all odds . In that , test cricket will always remain special.
The surge in the Twenty20 game is unstoppable as the spread of mushrooms in rainy season. The greater challenge lies in bringing back the crowds and arrest the fall in television revenues. A compelling contest with late starts and night games may be the starting point of revitalising the traditional form of cricket
The ICC has its plate full, with that an opportunity is there to change the game of test cricket !

Ponting will be tested

England carried the advantage of freak escape into the second test and ended the Lords jinx with a 115 runs victory and a 1-0 lead in the Ashes. .This is hard test cricket for you .And the wrecker in chief was Andrew Flintoff who sent out 10 high quality overs unchanged, to end with a man of the match award.

Now then , England suddenly are looking a potent outfit with a good bowling attack. Graham Onions was straight and full on most occasions while Graeme Swann extracted a fair turn from the surface. Jimmy Anderson probed with a nagging length and immaculate direction with a fair support from Stuart Broad .But one man chose the occasion to leave a mark on the last test at Lords .Andrew Flintoff. Bowling consistently in excess of 150 Km/h he defied pain to script a famous win for England . One just wonders if Flintoff would have been fully fit for most part of his 77 tests and had pitched the ball up the way he did at Lords , how many more wickets he would have added to his kitty !.

The match appeared to go down to the wire after the Cardiff show. But any thoughts of that soon vaporized when Brad Haddin edged one outside off stump towards the second slip .Then onwards it was just delaying the swift conclusion.

It was the bowling that made the difference, eventually .Australia was always going to be a depleted bowling attack after Brett Lee’s loss due to injury .Mitchell Johnson went for pace and sprayed the ball around whereas Ben Hilfenhaus maintained a steady line and length just outside off stump and consistently troubled the English batsman with his swing was the only bright

Michael Clark must find a mention for the way he timed the bowl and was decisive off either foot . This was a top effort repeatedly penetrating the covers area for boundaries and he got able company in Brad Haddin who is trying his best to fill up the void of Adam Gilchrist .

Australian captain will be severely tested hence forth , not many times one finds the Australian team trailing in the series .
At 1-0 down, and after surrendering their 75-year sovereignty of Lord’s, Australia are in unfamiliar Ashes territory. In fact, the last time they trailed England so early in the series was in 1997. However they went on to win the next three Tests.
Having lost most stalwarts to retirement, he will have to make some tough decisions and the name which comes under scrutiny is Mitchell Johnson who has failed to carry the load of a strike bowler in Lee’s absence

What an advertisement for Test cricket these two matches have been. This after the T-20 fever threatens to suffocate test cricket. There is a big break before the third test and it remains to be seen how Ponting gets his combination right .Will Ponting the batsman again come to Ponting the captain’s rescue ? .At the moment the plate looks full for skipper Ponting .With Lee looking least to be risked against Northamptonshire, Stuart Clarke is the only realistic choice if Ponting takes the bold decision to leave out Mitchell Johnson .Whereas Shane Watson will be seen as a batting all rounder , which does not aid Australians to make a strong statement of intent towards taking 20 English wickets . If he decides to go with five specialist bowlers , who will be left out ?
Testing time ahead for Ricky Ponting !