I agree with every line that you have written but that’s not my point. If Gibbs had dropped that catch in the semi final, then it would have been an absolute what if moment. Even otherwise this could have been a what if moment but I have a problem when this is hyped up based on the semi final’s result which should ideally be an independent event – If you have to give weightage to performance in the preliminary stages of the world cup, then SA should have got a reservation for their clean slate in the league stages of the 1996 world cup.
Pakistan won the WC in 1992 but they only qualified for the semi finals by a whisker and that too with extraordinary help from weather gods. But that’s not what made them win the WC as much as that gem from Inzamam or that deadly spell by Wasim. You can comfortably ignore Wasim or Inzamam and argue that Pakistan won it purely because of luck – if the game against Eng wasn’t rained off, they would have lost because of which they wouldn’t have qualified for the semi finals and therefore that is the most critical factor – the butterfly effect!. In any event with multiple causes we can take our biases for the causes and go to any limits to justify them...
When Kapil Dev took that catch, we could have sensed that it could be “that” catch. I think the SA rain rule example is not in sync here. When Azhar won that toss and elected to field, most of us immediately felt it was not wise – why bat under pressure in a critical match, might as well set a target and defend. (Also I wouldn’t really call it a what if moment anyways!). When Steve Waugh handled the ball, I was watching the match live in the stadium from “D” Stand and trust me everyone in the stadium sensed that this was a break that could turn the match. On all these occasions our hunch that this could be a crucial moment is right only in retrospect and could have so easily gone wrong – I am completely in agreement with you on all this.
Now thanks for that Robin Jackman’s commentary* – That’s exactly my point. That Razzaq drop could have proven to be insignificant if Sachin had got out the next ball. But would he have said something like “oh boy. How crucial that dropped catch is going to be in deciding who’ll be the winner of this WC” in this case? I don’t think so. I can only imagine him saying something like “Oh boy, Has Gibbs given Australia another chance to get out of the jail and make it to the semi final”.
Unlike other examples that you have given, with the Gibbs' dropped catch, one could have only sensed that this is not curtains for Australia yet in this WC and nothing more. C’mon don’t tell me one can foresee a tie in the semi final which would make the result of this match absolutely critical and therefore this drop could prove to be catastrophic to SA’s chances of reaching the finals!
*If I remember right, the exact comment on that Razzaq dropped chance was "he might live to rue that"
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
How crucial???
Any mistake only becomes big in retrospect and not at the moment. When Kapil caught Viv Richards at Lord's surely nobody would have thought India had the upper hand and will go on to win the world cup. The most realistic thought would have been, now the match would go beyond 40 overs possibly. But WI lost the match and then in retrospect that catch became crucial. Surely Viv neednt have played that shot....He had all day to score a century!!!
Or take the case of the semi finals in World Cup 92-the dubious rain rule which robbed SA from going to the final, one of the culprits for 22runs - 1 ball was SA themselves by bowling only 45 overs in the stipulated time.
When Azhar won the toss and decided to field in 96 semi final, and India got two wickets in the first over, nobody was complaining, but when Sachin got out, and the wicket started turning square everybody started complaining that Azhar should have batted. Azhar had history(he had won the previous two finals batting first with Kumble being deadly) and the chance to change things but he didnt. If Gibbs hadnt dropped the catch there probably wouldnt have been an Aus-SA semifinal in the first case, because Steve was the only one who was holding the innings.
If Gibbs hadnt dropped the catch we wouldnt have had a heartstopping semi final, so we should be thanking him for that!!!
Lets take another Steve Waugh What if moment in the same series you quoted. Steve Waugh handling the ball in Chennai, Aus were 347/3 with Hayden and Waugh batting beautifully...take that into the context of the series... For all that Hesh has said about the Kolkata test match, Waugh asking India to follow on is also a What if moment!!!
Dean Jones said that he had many oppurtunities to take two runs but took only one because he wanted to conserve energy during the chennai test 86... Nobody complained at that time, nobody would do after the match either, but Jones himself feels if he had converted just one oppurtunity it would have been enough.
I can quote you a comment Robin Jackman said when Razzaq dropped Tendulkar on 32 in 2003 world cup... "How crucial is this gonna be in deciding the fate of this match?"
We all know how crucial that was!!
Or take the case of the semi finals in World Cup 92-the dubious rain rule which robbed SA from going to the final, one of the culprits for 22runs - 1 ball was SA themselves by bowling only 45 overs in the stipulated time.
When Azhar won the toss and decided to field in 96 semi final, and India got two wickets in the first over, nobody was complaining, but when Sachin got out, and the wicket started turning square everybody started complaining that Azhar should have batted. Azhar had history(he had won the previous two finals batting first with Kumble being deadly) and the chance to change things but he didnt. If Gibbs hadnt dropped the catch there probably wouldnt have been an Aus-SA semifinal in the first case, because Steve was the only one who was holding the innings.
If Gibbs hadnt dropped the catch we wouldnt have had a heartstopping semi final, so we should be thanking him for that!!!
Lets take another Steve Waugh What if moment in the same series you quoted. Steve Waugh handling the ball in Chennai, Aus were 347/3 with Hayden and Waugh batting beautifully...take that into the context of the series... For all that Hesh has said about the Kolkata test match, Waugh asking India to follow on is also a What if moment!!!
Dean Jones said that he had many oppurtunities to take two runs but took only one because he wanted to conserve energy during the chennai test 86... Nobody complained at that time, nobody would do after the match either, but Jones himself feels if he had converted just one oppurtunity it would have been enough.
I can quote you a comment Robin Jackman said when Razzaq dropped Tendulkar on 32 in 2003 world cup... "How crucial is this gonna be in deciding the fate of this match?"
We all know how crucial that was!!
How critical was that Steve Waugh's dropped catch?
In my response to Ramki’s what if’s in cricket, Ramki made the following comment: “Both of us missed gibbs dropping steve waugh...surely that is a what if moment?"
Surely that is a what if moment? You gotta be kidding… If that is a “what if” moment then almost half of the dropped catches in the history of cricket is a “what if” moment. The biggest problem with that incident is that it got its hype not so much for its criticality in that match but rather a retrospective romanticisation of it after the semi final ended in a tie. Admittedly it was a great innings under pressure and if Gibbs had caught it, it could have been curtains for Australia in that world cup. But it could have been the same against India too. What if Sachin had played a blinder in that chase and took the game away from Aussies! The equation for Australia was simple – win every match in the super six stage to reach the semi final and that’s what they did.
Now once the semi final spots were known, Steve Waugh’s innings was sunk – it had no more value (well, almost!). In an Australia vs South Africa semi final in a world cup how many of us would put our money on a tie for a result? It could so easily have been another of the South African humiliation by Australia or yet another Zulu show which could have taken the game away from Australia (and he almost did!) Now what happened on this occasion was not only that a highly improbable event happened but that combined with some amazingly complicated rules of the tournament ensured that Australia got through to the finals. Let us not forget the fact that SA didn’t lose the semi-final!
Because Steve Waugh’s innings helped Australia win the previous match against SA in the super six stage which helped them get through to the finals as they had a superior head to head record (as per the tournament rules!) that it got hyped even further. And only in retrospect did that Gibbs’ dropped chance seem to be so expensive! “You just dropped the WC mate”* became such a legendary story but that would have looked so foolish if Australia had lost the semi final! This is almost like the butterfly effect in Chaos Theory but surprisingly a lot of people bought into that story…
*Apparently Steve Waugh had made a similar comment “you just dropped the test match mate” to Sourav Ganguly in that famous Kolkata test in 2001 when he dropped Steve Waugh at leg slip early in his innings and we all know the result of that match!
Surely that is a what if moment? You gotta be kidding… If that is a “what if” moment then almost half of the dropped catches in the history of cricket is a “what if” moment. The biggest problem with that incident is that it got its hype not so much for its criticality in that match but rather a retrospective romanticisation of it after the semi final ended in a tie. Admittedly it was a great innings under pressure and if Gibbs had caught it, it could have been curtains for Australia in that world cup. But it could have been the same against India too. What if Sachin had played a blinder in that chase and took the game away from Aussies! The equation for Australia was simple – win every match in the super six stage to reach the semi final and that’s what they did.
Now once the semi final spots were known, Steve Waugh’s innings was sunk – it had no more value (well, almost!). In an Australia vs South Africa semi final in a world cup how many of us would put our money on a tie for a result? It could so easily have been another of the South African humiliation by Australia or yet another Zulu show which could have taken the game away from Australia (and he almost did!) Now what happened on this occasion was not only that a highly improbable event happened but that combined with some amazingly complicated rules of the tournament ensured that Australia got through to the finals. Let us not forget the fact that SA didn’t lose the semi-final!
Because Steve Waugh’s innings helped Australia win the previous match against SA in the super six stage which helped them get through to the finals as they had a superior head to head record (as per the tournament rules!) that it got hyped even further. And only in retrospect did that Gibbs’ dropped chance seem to be so expensive! “You just dropped the WC mate”* became such a legendary story but that would have looked so foolish if Australia had lost the semi final! This is almost like the butterfly effect in Chaos Theory but surprisingly a lot of people bought into that story…
*Apparently Steve Waugh had made a similar comment “you just dropped the test match mate” to Sourav Ganguly in that famous Kolkata test in 2001 when he dropped Steve Waugh at leg slip early in his innings and we all know the result of that match!
Monday, October 26, 2009
I can't believe my eyes...
Let Ramki come back with his all time dream team. In the meanwhile I can't wait to discuss about the 20 greatest Indian cricketers of all time picked by 30 eminent cricket journalists and ex-cricketers in the first edition of Sports Illustrated Indian edition. Before I could jump into one choice which had me absolutely dumbstruck, let me give the list here:
1. Sachin Tendulkar
2. Kapil Dev
3. Sunil Gavaskar
4. Anil Kumble
5. Rahul Dravid
6. Vinoo Mankad
7. M.A.K.Pataudi
8. Virender Sehwag
9. Bishan Singh Bedi
10. C.K.Nayudu
11. Vijay Hazare
12. Sourav Ganguly
13. B.S.Chandrasekhar
14. Vijay Merchant
15. Gundappa Viswanath
16. Subash Gupte
17. M.S.Dhoni
18. V.V.S.Laxman
19. E.A.S.Prasanna
20. Mohd.Azharuddin
To begin with, I have a few points to disagree with on this list. As big as Pataudi's influence on Indian Cricket is, does he deserve a spot ahead of the spin trio or Sehwag? Can a genuine batsman without a test century and with a test average of 25 be considered one of the top 10 cricketers that India has ever produced? I have read a lot about the legendary stories of C.K.Nayudu but with due respect to him, we shouldn't have taken him into consideration at all for compiling such a list. One can argue the same about Vijay Merchant but whatever record he has is still good enough and add that to the "what he could have been had he not belonged to the world war II era" factor. Back that up with his first class record which is second only to the Don - I would even argue that he deserves a higher spot than No.14 that he's been given.
Eventhough I disagree with these selections,I must also confess that I understand that the eminent panel considered these players standing in the game especially in Indian Cricket during their respective eras and based their evaluation on that. Also I have the disadvantage of being much younger, so I can't claim to have seen them and argue against these selections. But one selection which as I mentioned before had me completely dumbstruck was M.S.Dhoni at 17, ahead of Laxman, Prasanna and Azhar!!! I can't believe my eyes...I reckon even Dhoni would be shocked to see this...
Dhoni is a great ODI batsman with the numbers to back up his reputation and a very good captain too. But this list should be and is primarily picked on performances in test cricket. Thats why its no surprise that Yuvraj Singh has missed out. Also none of the players' have been downgraded from their deserving standing because of poor ODI performances. Except for Sourav and Dhoni none in the list have a superior ODI record as compared to Tests, but standalone Sourav's test record is damn good and his captaincy also weighed heavily in his favour and despite that he is positioned at 12. So surely ODI cricket is not given too much weightage in this selection process.
Now let's come to the more pertinent question - How good a test cricketer is Dhoni? He's just starting to find his feet in this format even though he's been in the team for 4 years now. A couple of match saving efforts in Pak and England and two memorable attacking innings against Australia at home - these are the highlights of his career. I think even Matt Prior or Geraint Jones would have such a test match CV! This is not to dilute Dhoni's credentials as a test batsman - I would back him to end his test career with a much improved record and a lot more match winnings innings under his belt. But standing today, he is an average test cricketer despite considering his wicket keeping responsibilities.
Compare that with Azhar's 22 hundreds (some masterpieces in there) and 6215 runs at an average of 45.03 and we are not even talking about his style and grace and extraordinary fielding. And his captaincy record is not too bad either. If the argument is about him being a match fixer, then he shouldn't have been considered for selection in the first place and if he was then he should be given his due. If I disagree vehemently with Dhoni being ahead of Azhar, I would disagree with him being better than Laxman even more - its a joke! And I think Ian Chappell would be more disappointed on seeing Dhoni being rated ahead of Prasanna than Prasanna himself!
Really what's it with Dhoni? There's so much hype about him and his captaincy that I can't quite comprehend! I have always liked his batting and his captaincy has been good in general but to heap so much praise on him so early in his career is a puzzle that I can't quite solve...What's the hurry guys? Let's wait to see if he fulfils his early promise and if he does then we have enough time to felicitate him, celebrate him, include him in the all time greatest Indian team, all this and much more but if and only if he goes onto fulfil his promise!
1. Sachin Tendulkar
2. Kapil Dev
3. Sunil Gavaskar
4. Anil Kumble
5. Rahul Dravid
6. Vinoo Mankad
7. M.A.K.Pataudi
8. Virender Sehwag
9. Bishan Singh Bedi
10. C.K.Nayudu
11. Vijay Hazare
12. Sourav Ganguly
13. B.S.Chandrasekhar
14. Vijay Merchant
15. Gundappa Viswanath
16. Subash Gupte
17. M.S.Dhoni
18. V.V.S.Laxman
19. E.A.S.Prasanna
20. Mohd.Azharuddin
To begin with, I have a few points to disagree with on this list. As big as Pataudi's influence on Indian Cricket is, does he deserve a spot ahead of the spin trio or Sehwag? Can a genuine batsman without a test century and with a test average of 25 be considered one of the top 10 cricketers that India has ever produced? I have read a lot about the legendary stories of C.K.Nayudu but with due respect to him, we shouldn't have taken him into consideration at all for compiling such a list. One can argue the same about Vijay Merchant but whatever record he has is still good enough and add that to the "what he could have been had he not belonged to the world war II era" factor. Back that up with his first class record which is second only to the Don - I would even argue that he deserves a higher spot than No.14 that he's been given.
Eventhough I disagree with these selections,I must also confess that I understand that the eminent panel considered these players standing in the game especially in Indian Cricket during their respective eras and based their evaluation on that. Also I have the disadvantage of being much younger, so I can't claim to have seen them and argue against these selections. But one selection which as I mentioned before had me completely dumbstruck was M.S.Dhoni at 17, ahead of Laxman, Prasanna and Azhar!!! I can't believe my eyes...I reckon even Dhoni would be shocked to see this...
Dhoni is a great ODI batsman with the numbers to back up his reputation and a very good captain too. But this list should be and is primarily picked on performances in test cricket. Thats why its no surprise that Yuvraj Singh has missed out. Also none of the players' have been downgraded from their deserving standing because of poor ODI performances. Except for Sourav and Dhoni none in the list have a superior ODI record as compared to Tests, but standalone Sourav's test record is damn good and his captaincy also weighed heavily in his favour and despite that he is positioned at 12. So surely ODI cricket is not given too much weightage in this selection process.
Now let's come to the more pertinent question - How good a test cricketer is Dhoni? He's just starting to find his feet in this format even though he's been in the team for 4 years now. A couple of match saving efforts in Pak and England and two memorable attacking innings against Australia at home - these are the highlights of his career. I think even Matt Prior or Geraint Jones would have such a test match CV! This is not to dilute Dhoni's credentials as a test batsman - I would back him to end his test career with a much improved record and a lot more match winnings innings under his belt. But standing today, he is an average test cricketer despite considering his wicket keeping responsibilities.
Compare that with Azhar's 22 hundreds (some masterpieces in there) and 6215 runs at an average of 45.03 and we are not even talking about his style and grace and extraordinary fielding. And his captaincy record is not too bad either. If the argument is about him being a match fixer, then he shouldn't have been considered for selection in the first place and if he was then he should be given his due. If I disagree vehemently with Dhoni being ahead of Azhar, I would disagree with him being better than Laxman even more - its a joke! And I think Ian Chappell would be more disappointed on seeing Dhoni being rated ahead of Prasanna than Prasanna himself!
Really what's it with Dhoni? There's so much hype about him and his captaincy that I can't quite comprehend! I have always liked his batting and his captaincy has been good in general but to heap so much praise on him so early in his career is a puzzle that I can't quite solve...What's the hurry guys? Let's wait to see if he fulfils his early promise and if he does then we have enough time to felicitate him, celebrate him, include him in the all time greatest Indian team, all this and much more but if and only if he goes onto fulfil his promise!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Would it have been any different?
Dude, Whats unfair in this? Do you think my team would have been any different even if we didn't speak for 5 years. Except for Bevan everyone in your team was also in consideration in my team - including Moin Khan! So the only thing unfair was I picked the team before you did! I dont think you were discussing Lara or Deano or Bond the other day. Any team that you and I pick independently, at least 5 or 6 players will be common and probably around 3 players we'll surely disagree on.... So what are you complaining about. Let's fix it. Forget my team, you come out with your all time best ODI team without any constraints - pick whoever you want to, then I'll come with mine.
PS: BTW I forgot to mention my captain for the ODI team, it is Shane Warne! And if any of you think its because of his exploits in IPL, pleaseeeeee. For the short span that he was the captain of Australia during C&B tri-series between Aus, Eng and SL in 1998-99, Taylor's legacy of positive attacking captaincy appeared to continue in Australian Cricket and the results were attractive too with 10 wins out of 11 ODI's. If he had behaved a little better, he would have been the captain of the Australian team during its most glorious phase.
PS: BTW I forgot to mention my captain for the ODI team, it is Shane Warne! And if any of you think its because of his exploits in IPL, pleaseeeeee. For the short span that he was the captain of Australia during C&B tri-series between Aus, Eng and SL in 1998-99, Taylor's legacy of positive attacking captaincy appeared to continue in Australian Cricket and the results were attractive too with 10 wins out of 11 ODI's. If he had behaved a little better, he would have been the captain of the Australian team during its most glorious phase.
Friday, October 23, 2009
This is unfair!!!!!
Well, What can I say? This guy just wrote the top order I was discussing with him the other day.....MY TOP ORDER!!!!!!!!! And now he is asking me to put together a team to challenge his "all time odi XI"... ho ho ho!!!
Hmmmm....... all right..here we go...
Sanath Jayasuriya- When this guy gets going, there are exactly two batsmen in ODI to match him for stroke play(who by the way are in the other team, no marks for guessing who they are!!!!!) and only one batsman to match his audacity(no marks for guessing who that is either!!). A guy who could change a match with his all round ability.
Mark Waugh- Definition of lazy elegance. This guy makes it all look so easy...whether bowling medium pace(which he used to early in his career) spin, pouching unbelievable catches, those back foot cover drives that only Sachin or Lara can rival and those powerful hits down the ground(just ask Darren Gough or Vettori...launched them respectively at Headingley and the Perth roof!!!)
Miandad- Your loss is my gain..... De Silva would have been a shoo in for No.3 on the basis of just one innings he played in the semi final against India....and being an Indian does not stop me from watching it again and again.....but since you picked him..I would go for this guy, who has atleast 4 orthodox shots and 3 unorthodox shots for every delivery. Someone, who could be Bevan or Klusener depending on the situation and do the job as if its a stroll in the park...
Martin Crowe- Anybody who saw Crowe in full flow during WC 92 wouldnt doubt this pick. Pity, his career was cut short by injury.
Bevan- Who else but St.Michael? The best one day finisher next only to Zulu.
Kapil Dev- Chris Cairns, Imran gave a very tough fight, but two things put this man up in front...1. He is an Indian( come on man...i am a selector now..I have to be biased, its cliche!!!) 2. Is definitely a better bowler than the other two in ODIs.
Jonty Rhodes- Crowe at first slip, Waugh at second slip, Jonty at point, Jayasuriya at cover, Bevan at mid on, Wow....
Moin Khan- Another surprise pick for some, but a clutch player, who always comes good in pressure situations, not to mention a brilliant wicket keeper.
Saqlain Mushtaq- One ball to Damien Martyn was enough for this....The ball pitched middle and leg and took the top of off stump, like a leg break....This guy has one of the best strike rates in ODI cricket.
Ambrose- I would pick Ambrose, even if I am selecting a football team! From a whole array of West Indian bowlers, why this man? He could be economical like Mcgrath and he would get wickets like Waqar, plus a handy lower order batsman.
Waqar Younis- If Ambrose can get wickets like Waqar, why do u need Waqar? Simply because its Waqar!!! Only one word defines Waqar perfectly- inevitability. You know, he is gonna bowl full, you know its gonna pitch round about off and middle, you know its gonna be fast and swinging, you know you would have already kept your bat perfectly in line, but its inevitable!!! the ball is going to hit the stumps or pads!!! Bowls like a millionaire but the one bowler, opposition batsman pray that he shouldnt be on song!!!!
12th Man- Chris Cairns- He could just about fit in anywhere in the team....
P.S- Yes, my team is definitely weaker than yours....but remember 1983???
And the next time we pick teams like the way its done in backyard cricket, alternatively....
Hmmmm....... all right..here we go...
Sanath Jayasuriya- When this guy gets going, there are exactly two batsmen in ODI to match him for stroke play(who by the way are in the other team, no marks for guessing who they are!!!!!) and only one batsman to match his audacity(no marks for guessing who that is either!!). A guy who could change a match with his all round ability.
Mark Waugh- Definition of lazy elegance. This guy makes it all look so easy...whether bowling medium pace(which he used to early in his career) spin, pouching unbelievable catches, those back foot cover drives that only Sachin or Lara can rival and those powerful hits down the ground(just ask Darren Gough or Vettori...launched them respectively at Headingley and the Perth roof!!!)
Miandad- Your loss is my gain..... De Silva would have been a shoo in for No.3 on the basis of just one innings he played in the semi final against India....and being an Indian does not stop me from watching it again and again.....but since you picked him..I would go for this guy, who has atleast 4 orthodox shots and 3 unorthodox shots for every delivery. Someone, who could be Bevan or Klusener depending on the situation and do the job as if its a stroll in the park...
Martin Crowe- Anybody who saw Crowe in full flow during WC 92 wouldnt doubt this pick. Pity, his career was cut short by injury.
Bevan- Who else but St.Michael? The best one day finisher next only to Zulu.
Kapil Dev- Chris Cairns, Imran gave a very tough fight, but two things put this man up in front...1. He is an Indian( come on man...i am a selector now..I have to be biased, its cliche!!!) 2. Is definitely a better bowler than the other two in ODIs.
Jonty Rhodes- Crowe at first slip, Waugh at second slip, Jonty at point, Jayasuriya at cover, Bevan at mid on, Wow....
Moin Khan- Another surprise pick for some, but a clutch player, who always comes good in pressure situations, not to mention a brilliant wicket keeper.
Saqlain Mushtaq- One ball to Damien Martyn was enough for this....The ball pitched middle and leg and took the top of off stump, like a leg break....This guy has one of the best strike rates in ODI cricket.
Ambrose- I would pick Ambrose, even if I am selecting a football team! From a whole array of West Indian bowlers, why this man? He could be economical like Mcgrath and he would get wickets like Waqar, plus a handy lower order batsman.
Waqar Younis- If Ambrose can get wickets like Waqar, why do u need Waqar? Simply because its Waqar!!! Only one word defines Waqar perfectly- inevitability. You know, he is gonna bowl full, you know its gonna pitch round about off and middle, you know its gonna be fast and swinging, you know you would have already kept your bat perfectly in line, but its inevitable!!! the ball is going to hit the stumps or pads!!! Bowls like a millionaire but the one bowler, opposition batsman pray that he shouldnt be on song!!!!
12th Man- Chris Cairns- He could just about fit in anywhere in the team....
P.S- Yes, my team is definitely weaker than yours....but remember 1983???
And the next time we pick teams like the way its done in backyard cricket, alternatively....
All time Dream ODI team
At a time when the existence of ODI format is in serious question, lets give it due respect. So as a continuation to the all time dream test team, here is my all time dream ODI team:
Sachin Tendulkar – Need I say more?
Adam Gilchrist – It’s a pity that Greenidge, Haynes or Jayasuriya miss out but that’s what Gily has done to the game!
Viv Richards – As great as he is in Test Cricket, he is even greater in ODI cricket!
Brian Lara – I know his ODI record in the second half of his career was not as illuminating as the first half, but really how can I not pick Brian? The only person whom I would drop Brian for in any team is Sachin and he’s already there…
Aravinda De Silva – Was a toss up between Miandad and De Silva but went with De silva for no real reason actually! Most underrated of the modern greats probably rightfully too for the number of times he used to throw his wicket away in the early part of his career. But he more than made up for it in the second half of his career.
Dean Jones: The quintessential ODI middle order batsman who can either pierce or clear the field comfortably even in the middle overs. Infact he was an ODI batsman far ahead of his times during his playing days…
Lance Klusenser: To say that there has not been a greater finisher in ODI cricket is not an exaggeration at all and to say that there will never be another finisher like him is not blasphemous either!
Wasim Akram: Over the wicket or around the wicket, new ball or old ball, opening the bowling or bowling at the death – Akram will always be my first choice fast bowler…
Shane Warne: It had to be Warne – I have not seen a greater spinner in ODI cricket. Murali was not even in contention since he is unfathomably defensive for such a great bowler in ODI cricket.
Michael Holding: The wisden in its introduction to Holding says “No-one in the game has bowled faster” and let me comfortably add that no-one in the game has bowled better either…
Shane Bond: If one bowler could single handedly decimate one of the greatest teams of all time consistently, then he ought to be picked ahead of even Joel Garner……
12 the man: Joel Garner. Would rely on Klusener, Richards and Sachin to manage the 5th bowler’s quota between them on most occasions, but if I need to go in with 5 bowlers then would swap De Silva or Deano with Garner.
Sachin Tendulkar – Need I say more?
Adam Gilchrist – It’s a pity that Greenidge, Haynes or Jayasuriya miss out but that’s what Gily has done to the game!
Viv Richards – As great as he is in Test Cricket, he is even greater in ODI cricket!
Brian Lara – I know his ODI record in the second half of his career was not as illuminating as the first half, but really how can I not pick Brian? The only person whom I would drop Brian for in any team is Sachin and he’s already there…
Aravinda De Silva – Was a toss up between Miandad and De Silva but went with De silva for no real reason actually! Most underrated of the modern greats probably rightfully too for the number of times he used to throw his wicket away in the early part of his career. But he more than made up for it in the second half of his career.
Dean Jones: The quintessential ODI middle order batsman who can either pierce or clear the field comfortably even in the middle overs. Infact he was an ODI batsman far ahead of his times during his playing days…
Lance Klusenser: To say that there has not been a greater finisher in ODI cricket is not an exaggeration at all and to say that there will never be another finisher like him is not blasphemous either!
Wasim Akram: Over the wicket or around the wicket, new ball or old ball, opening the bowling or bowling at the death – Akram will always be my first choice fast bowler…
Shane Warne: It had to be Warne – I have not seen a greater spinner in ODI cricket. Murali was not even in contention since he is unfathomably defensive for such a great bowler in ODI cricket.
Michael Holding: The wisden in its introduction to Holding says “No-one in the game has bowled faster” and let me comfortably add that no-one in the game has bowled better either…
Shane Bond: If one bowler could single handedly decimate one of the greatest teams of all time consistently, then he ought to be picked ahead of even Joel Garner……
12 the man: Joel Garner. Would rely on Klusener, Richards and Sachin to manage the 5th bowler’s quota between them on most occasions, but if I need to go in with 5 bowlers then would swap De Silva or Deano with Garner.
What if....my version
Like I had the first mover advantage in the previous topic, you have it this time which makes my task relatively tougher. You have picked the cream of our cricket watching career already – but really that’s a silly excuse isn’t it?
This is mine:
1.What if Indo-Pak partition didn’t happen?
2.What if Shane Warne was born in India?
3.What if Sachin had connected that doosra from Saqlain cleanly?
4.What if BC Cooray didn’t come in the way of that Richardson’s thunderbolt of a sweep?
5.What if India had been knocked out in the first round of T20 World Cup in SA?
6.What if Healy had caught that Lara’s outside edge in Bridgetown?
7.What if that scoop of Kasprowicz was dropped by Geraint Jones?
8.What if Walsh wasn’t such a wonderful sportsman (remember he didn’t mankad Saleem Jaffar in the 1987 WC which cost them a semi-final berth)
9.What if Barry Richards had a long career (and did a Hussey)? – so that we would have known the real greatness of the man!
10.What if Steve Bucknor didn’t turn both deaf and blind at once in Sydney?
These are surely not my top 10 what if’s, but these are the 10 most spontaneous ones as of now…
This is mine:
1.What if Indo-Pak partition didn’t happen?
2.What if Shane Warne was born in India?
3.What if Sachin had connected that doosra from Saqlain cleanly?
4.What if BC Cooray didn’t come in the way of that Richardson’s thunderbolt of a sweep?
5.What if India had been knocked out in the first round of T20 World Cup in SA?
6.What if Healy had caught that Lara’s outside edge in Bridgetown?
7.What if that scoop of Kasprowicz was dropped by Geraint Jones?
8.What if Walsh wasn’t such a wonderful sportsman (remember he didn’t mankad Saleem Jaffar in the 1987 WC which cost them a semi-final berth)
9.What if Barry Richards had a long career (and did a Hussey)? – so that we would have known the real greatness of the man!
10.What if Steve Bucknor didn’t turn both deaf and blind at once in Sydney?
These are surely not my top 10 what if’s, but these are the 10 most spontaneous ones as of now…
Let us talk cricket
One day, some of my friends and colleagues in office casually started a chain of mails on my all time dream XI, which ran into more than 30 loops by which time we realized that except for 4 or 5 of us no one else in the long mailing list responded. Then we thought we can’t afford to continue this - one, we were spamming their official mail boxes unnecessarily during work hours, and two, we gave the impression to the passive participants in the mailing list that we were jobless – however true that might be, is not a smart thing to admit on official mail ids!
So we decided to move to a blog where we’ll discuss on everything under the sun that has to do with Cricket and started this blog: http://letustalkcricket.blogspot.com So, if you are this almost great cricketer so long as someone hasn’t played with you or seen you play, if you think you know more cricket than most of the legends of the game, if you had spent more time in talking cricket than playing during your upbringing days, you are most welcome to join us in the blog!
So we decided to move to a blog where we’ll discuss on everything under the sun that has to do with Cricket and started this blog: http://letustalkcricket.blogspot.com So, if you are this almost great cricketer so long as someone hasn’t played with you or seen you play, if you think you know more cricket than most of the legends of the game, if you had spent more time in talking cricket than playing during your upbringing days, you are most welcome to join us in the blog!
What if..........
“The greatest of all mysteries is What if”, writes Forsyth in his book The Odessa File.
As the book is about the Holocaust, that’s a big what if. This comes in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination. What if Kennedy had gone in the car with the roof closed?
How would have that changed the history of the world? What if the Nazis had won the second world war? These are questions for which you would never know the answers unless, you believe in parallel universes where u have a different version of the events going on.
So what has that got to do with cricket? Well, here are my ten biggest What ifs in cricket.
1. What if Viv Richards hadn’t played “that shot” or connected cleanly?
2. What if Donald had run instantly in the last over?
3. What if rain hadn’t intervened during the SA-England semi final WC 92?
4. What if Ravi Shastri had refused to take the single of the fourth ball of the final over leaving him two balls to get two runs at Chennai?
5. What if Gatting had come down the track and connected the slow looping leg break on the full?
6. What if Azhar had opted to bat in the semi final of WC 96?
7. What if Mcgrath hadn’t stepped on the ball before Edgbaston ’05?
8. What if Steve Waugh had opted to bat in the second innings of Calcutta Test?
9. What if Kapil Dev had chosen someone else other than Chetan Sharma to bowl the last over?
10. What if Mike Gatting had not played the reverse sweep?
So what are your what ifs?????
As the book is about the Holocaust, that’s a big what if. This comes in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination. What if Kennedy had gone in the car with the roof closed?
How would have that changed the history of the world? What if the Nazis had won the second world war? These are questions for which you would never know the answers unless, you believe in parallel universes where u have a different version of the events going on.
So what has that got to do with cricket? Well, here are my ten biggest What ifs in cricket.
1. What if Viv Richards hadn’t played “that shot” or connected cleanly?
2. What if Donald had run instantly in the last over?
3. What if rain hadn’t intervened during the SA-England semi final WC 92?
4. What if Ravi Shastri had refused to take the single of the fourth ball of the final over leaving him two balls to get two runs at Chennai?
5. What if Gatting had come down the track and connected the slow looping leg break on the full?
6. What if Azhar had opted to bat in the semi final of WC 96?
7. What if Mcgrath hadn’t stepped on the ball before Edgbaston ’05?
8. What if Steve Waugh had opted to bat in the second innings of Calcutta Test?
9. What if Kapil Dev had chosen someone else other than Chetan Sharma to bowl the last over?
10. What if Mike Gatting had not played the reverse sweep?
So what are your what ifs?????
My team's batting is weak???
I wouldnt accept your statement that your bowling attack is weaker than mine, just for the sake that I have Imran. Sobers can double up both as a pace bowler and a spinner, and he can provide more than an adequate back up for the other 4. When you got Holding, Lillee, Akram and Murali, what difference is it gonna make who the fifth bowler is?
Which brings us to the other statement you made that my batting is weaker. Lets just analyse that a little bit. You have Gavaskar, Taylor, Richards, Sachin, Lara, Sobers, Gilli and Akram, considering his batting abilities are very underrated.
Why is my line up weaker than this?
You are probably saying this because of my middle order, consisting of Border, Dravid,Sangakkara, Imran who wouldnt be on par with your line up ( come on man, who can rival Viv, Sach and Brian) but i wouldnt call them weak.
I am thinking of posting an all time one day XI.....
Which brings us to the other statement you made that my batting is weaker. Lets just analyse that a little bit. You have Gavaskar, Taylor, Richards, Sachin, Lara, Sobers, Gilli and Akram, considering his batting abilities are very underrated.
Why is my line up weaker than this?
You are probably saying this because of my middle order, consisting of Border, Dravid,Sangakkara, Imran who wouldnt be on par with your line up ( come on man, who can rival Viv, Sach and Brian) but i wouldnt call them weak.
I am thinking of posting an all time one day XI.....
Mouth watering contest....
That’s the way to respond. Oh boy, that bowling line up is scary, Imran is the killer pick there. I gave a slot to Taylor purely for his captaincy but that seems to be a little too luxurious in retrospect. But then I expect him to compensate for that by handling Murali better than any other captain who has handled him before. Remember he brought the best out of Warne by setting attacking fields and encouraging him to bowl an attacking line and length. If there was a weakness that I could point out in a near flawless career, it was that Murali tended to get defensive too soon. I am sure that under Taylor’s captaincy that would never happen, which would make him more potent.
Compared to your bowling line up, mine looks a little weak purely for the fact that I have only 4 genuine bowlers (for all my respect for Sobers, I cant see him as a consistent match winning bowler) whereas you have 5 absolute match winners with the ball – Imran provides such a great balance along with his leadership qualities – How did I miss him???
But my batting line up has a clear edge over yours. It would make a great contest man. Now that you have picked a 12th man (indirectly helping me to resurrect the balance of my team a bit), let me also pick one. I would go for Richie Benaud – a great leg spinner who doesn’t quite get his due in the modern day media only because of their obsession with Shane Warne and a very handy batsman too. Add that to the fact that he was a brilliant tactician as well. – So when I feel I need a better balance I’ll swap a batsman with Benaud.
Let the games begin...
Compared to your bowling line up, mine looks a little weak purely for the fact that I have only 4 genuine bowlers (for all my respect for Sobers, I cant see him as a consistent match winning bowler) whereas you have 5 absolute match winners with the ball – Imran provides such a great balance along with his leadership qualities – How did I miss him???
But my batting line up has a clear edge over yours. It would make a great contest man. Now that you have picked a 12th man (indirectly helping me to resurrect the balance of my team a bit), let me also pick one. I would go for Richie Benaud – a great leg spinner who doesn’t quite get his due in the modern day media only because of their obsession with Shane Warne and a very handy batsman too. Add that to the fact that he was a brilliant tactician as well. – So when I feel I need a better balance I’ll swap a batsman with Benaud.
Let the games begin...
Thursday, October 22, 2009
All time best!!!!
I have tried to pick a team that doesnt have the players whom hesh picked, as my aim was to pick an all star XI which would challenge hesh's XI...Here we go...
Greenidge-Poor man's Viv Richards.....He didnt have that swagger,charisma and he didnt bowl, those are the only differences.
Sehwag- Probably the best man to terrorise, Holding, Akram, Lillee and Murali.....
Bradman- I can only say one thing...thank you for not picking him...
Border-VC- Street fighter to the core....
Dravid- Once again thank you!!!!!!
Sangakkara- If it isnt gilli..its sanga!!!!
Imran-Captain --- somebody who could change the state of the game, by example, or by
tactics....both in batting and in bowling...border and imran, plotting to get somebody like Viv or Lara.. Wow!!!
Marshall---A fast bowler with a spinner's brain.....Playing alongside, holding, roberts, and then in the latter half with walsh and ambrose and still getting 376 wickets is no mean feat!!!
Roberts---Sunny said once, that he would rather face holding than roberts..and thats enough....
Warne---- Well.... lets just say...he floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee!!.
Ambrose--- Stone cold assassin.....
12th man-Kumble-somebody who is intense enough to put his concentration absolutely on the water and towels he is gonna deliver....will definitely be needed..and on a spinning track...with Warne...beautiful....( I know u didnt pick a 12th man and thats why i picked Kumble, bcos I know you would hve picked him!!!!!)
So ready for the game???
Let's get started - My all time Dream XI
To start the blog on an auspicious note, I am starting with a post that I wrote a couple of years ago.... Feel free to agree or disagree with the choices, but more importantly, come out with a team - your best XI that can take this team on.
All time Dream XI
What does a cricket enthusiast do when he is utterly jobless? Well, what else? Select an all time dream cricket team, which doesn’t have any meaning or relevance. Now that I am jobless, I decided to come out with my dream team of all time.
Here it is:
Sunil Gavaskar: Epitome of a test opener. Has all the patience in the world to wear a fast bowler out and has the repertoire of shots to then cash in on it.
Mark Taylor: Should have been Sehwag purely on batting merit. But then I need my dream captain for my dream team.
Viv Richards: For the sheer intimidation factor!
Sachin Tendulkar: By God He’s God!
Brian Lara: The most gifted talent to have wielded the willow ever.
Gary Sobers: Its gotta be Sobers! The most natural cricketer.
Adam Gilchrist: The sight of Gilly walking out to bat after dismissing such a top order can be the most disheartening sight for any bowling attack.
Wasim Akram: The left hand of god!
Michael Holding: Wow! The Rolls Royce. Arguably the greatest fast bowler of ‘em all. If you doubt it ask Geoffrey Boycott!!!
Dennis Lillee: The most complete fast bowler.
Muttiah Muralitharan: The Magician who’s conquered all teams and conditions except the Prince of Trinidad. But, then how does it matter when the Prince is his teammate!
Is any team game enough to take us on?
All time Dream XI
What does a cricket enthusiast do when he is utterly jobless? Well, what else? Select an all time dream cricket team, which doesn’t have any meaning or relevance. Now that I am jobless, I decided to come out with my dream team of all time.
Here it is:
Sunil Gavaskar: Epitome of a test opener. Has all the patience in the world to wear a fast bowler out and has the repertoire of shots to then cash in on it.
Mark Taylor: Should have been Sehwag purely on batting merit. But then I need my dream captain for my dream team.
Viv Richards: For the sheer intimidation factor!
Sachin Tendulkar: By God He’s God!
Brian Lara: The most gifted talent to have wielded the willow ever.
Gary Sobers: Its gotta be Sobers! The most natural cricketer.
Adam Gilchrist: The sight of Gilly walking out to bat after dismissing such a top order can be the most disheartening sight for any bowling attack.
Wasim Akram: The left hand of god!
Michael Holding: Wow! The Rolls Royce. Arguably the greatest fast bowler of ‘em all. If you doubt it ask Geoffrey Boycott!!!
Dennis Lillee: The most complete fast bowler.
Muttiah Muralitharan: The Magician who’s conquered all teams and conditions except the Prince of Trinidad. But, then how does it matter when the Prince is his teammate!
Is any team game enough to take us on?
Lets talk cricket
IF YOU ARE THIS ALMOST GREAT CRICKETER SO LONG AS SOMEONE HASN'T PLAYED WITH YOU OR SEEN YOU PLAY, IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW MORE CRICKET THAN MOST OF THE LEGENDS OF THE GAME, IF YOU SPENT MORE TIME IN TALKING CRICKET THAN PLAYING DURING YOUR UPBRINGING DAYS THEN THIS IS SURELY THE PLACE FOR YOU.
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