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Sight Screen

Friday, October 21, 2005

Some global updates(-worma)

First up..some not-always-meaningful controversies doing the rounds...

The first one around the Super Series...firstly they collected a bunch of players, many of them coming from off-season, to fight against a well oiled battle tank...and then there are these complaints about attitudes and fitness and what not. As I said earlier, why expect 'commitment' from them towards a cause which hardly anyone believes in....in fact which hardly fits the definition of a 'cause' IMO!

Anyways...now Inzy denies having any problems with Smith. Also says his mind was distracted by the earthquake. Also this one about the Wright-Shoaib spat.

More than these reports, I enjoyed these 'mock' Super Series Diaries of Smith (here and here). Dan seems to have used the news/analysis/rumor/info bits about players very well into this 'out of context' diaries. My personal favorite...the Shakespearean appearance of a ghost-like Vaughan to haunt Smith at all crucial moments...hilarious stuff. (Thanks Prakash Thulasiraman, I presume one of our readers here, for pointing these out to me)


Anyway, the other controversy around the breath mints and reverse swing...which I referred to a couple of days back. We read yesterday how Bracken tried to do some damage control, and how Jones came out rebutting(especially in context of Ashes). Here's a take by Tim de Lisle in Guardian.
For now, the only undoubted mint is the one the England players are making. In truth, they won the Ashes by being fearless, well-led, united, and having a magic ingredient: extra strong Flintoff.
I think this should close the matter, as far as England's Ashes success is concerned?


Some other bits of news...

Cricinfo has yet another blog after recently launching the Surfer. This one is more of a discussion forum for the cricinfo 'experts' with no scope for readers' comments. Not yet atleast. I'm not too impressed, I must say...but do visit and judge for yourselves.

Waugh has 'handwritten' his autobiography...and injured his writst in the process!..boy, he sure did retire at the right time ;-). But seriously...this one, titled Out of My Comfort Zone, might be worth catching.

And Harsha's new column about RD's captaincy stint. As usual of Harsha, a very balanced piece...interesting bits, for me, are
More interesting, can he separate personal form from the fortunes of the team? A year ago I had done a business programme on CNBC and Sourav Ganguly had said, "I have told Rahul that when you become captain you will have to separate your two roles. That is the most difficult part."
and
On the way though he will have to rub some people the wrong way. He has hardly ever done that and it will be interesting to see how he reacts to people who have a voice but for whom he has no time. There are many of those in our cricket
And on a lighter side, atleast I have started liking the artistically creative titles that Harsha has started conjuring for his articles :-)

And finally...me stepping gingerly on a mine-field(;-)...SG seems to have 'earned' a recall to the national team(?)

posted by worma at 5:10 AM

38 Comments:

  • sahir...yes Patel is looking much improved..from what little I saw of him in Challenger

    Jaffer, I wonder if he has a chance of getting back(what's his age?)...but anyways as of now we dont have a vacancy in test opening slot. And I'm not sure how effective are the backup bowlers for South Zone...because besides Balaji, they didn't look to have much teeth...any idea?

    About VRV....yes he sure did catch the eye in Challenger...and if he keeps performing thus..he would get a chance soon....also Misra bowled well, it seems. He should be our next test spin hopeful...has been around for a while..and is considered pretty good.

    By Blogger worma, at 06:29  

  • Worma..Too many surprises in the SZ team or maybe I am out of touch with reality. There is no Vidyut, no Aiyappa(touted as the fastest in the country)or for that matter Rowland Barrington. Not sure when are we going to see the likes of these youngsters. Sriram is neither here nor there.His path needs to be made clear.By whom?? By when ??

    By Blogger RR, at 06:41  

  • ravi1010: no idea for the newcomers...but have they played Duleep trophy yet? About Sriram..well he's a 'regular' on the domestic scene...some national discards become like that...do well in domestic..Kambli, Mongia(?) etc are example.

    sahir: I believe the no-ball issue can easily be sorted out with good coaching and practise...maybe at domestic level he hasnt been encouraged to sort it out.

    About jaffer vs Gambhir....firstly being a good fielder can never be a factor in chosing a test opener. Batting strength is the lone decide...and even if you are right in saying jaffer is better than GG, I dont see how GG can be discarded at this stage. Do you?

    Lets see once that position opens up..although I see Jadhav having a higher claim there? I think Jaffer has been considered as tried and failed...but I may be wrong

    By Blogger worma, at 06:50  

  • sahir ok..got the point. Haven't followed Jaffer's domestic exploit closely, so can't comment. Take your word for it :-)

    Although tombaan I see no reason to bring Yuv and Kaif into this! Those guys have got the chances(through failures) in ODIs...and that too because they showed *immence* promise early on..did well for a while...and then went through the lean patch. I see no way of comparison

    By Blogger worma, at 07:31  

  • reverse sweep: yes Jaffer had to face his first few series outside the subcontinent...probably not a good way to debut as a batsman....or atleast it shouldn't be judged by the same criteria as..e.g GG...who had his first few series at home..and relatively comfortable(except for that first game against Aus..where he failed)...which allowed him to ease into the team...ahh well...thats how it goes in cricket

    Powar can get in only as an allrounder...atleast I didn't find his bowling good enough for a specialist attacking spinner (ofcourse if we dont want an attacking spinner..its a diff issue) from what little I've seen of him

    By Blogger worma, at 08:55  

  • reverse..sure he can still struggle at international level...but IMO this inning has shown enough to justify his recall to our main team for another chance at the top. And I say this especially because SG wasn't actually *dropped* from the team on performance....was he? Had we played the SL series just after return from Zim, I dont think he would have been dropped from ODIs(unless injured) although he *might* have been stripped off captaincy.

    Even otherwise...had he scored this innings in Challenger against A/B team(which had similar bowling attacks..and less chances of actually bowling attackingly) would you still have said he needs more time?

    Anyways...the point is...the selectors were not taking his candidature(as a player) as a case of a freshman...its more of proving fitness and 'resonable' form (I know this is subjective..but anyways a ton ought to cover it?)...which i believe they would have seen today.

    By Blogger worma, at 09:02  

  • reverse...I talk about his performances in ODIs(where I've seen him a bit) and Challenger(again in ODI format). I did not find him fitting as an attacking ODI spinner (yes in ODIs they have a very fine balance to maintain between retriction and attack...no?). While all the performances that you mention are from longer version.

    But who knows...these performances may still help him getting a recall.

    I think what I wanted to convey was that I dont see him being selected as a specialist spinner over bhajji (and who looks like improving his indfferent form) or even Karthik

    By Blogger worma, at 09:06  

  • reverse..agreed...and I understand what you mean. His 170 was in the middle or struggle....even some of his county performances were that way...

    inoc...if he gets back for the last 4 ODIs...I expect him to play...because someone got a place in the side due to SG being injured....obviously he has to move out(and if he has performed well....then that should be noted and kept in mind)..thats how a strong bench strength develops...and maintained :-)

    By Blogger worma, at 09:14  

  • reverse...VRV got 4 wkts...but why do you say not impressive? he was brought into the attack against SG...did trouble him initially...and then once SG went he cleaned up the rest...looks ok to me..no?

    btw..where did Chappell speak about opening with Santh? Although that does sound believable in case Santh plays. Kind of suprise package for SL..possible to upset their top order..who've seen enough of our regulars. And AA bowls well with old ball(in case he plays)

    By Blogger worma, at 09:21  

  • inoc...hmm...yep valid point...but not likely to happen :-)...all I can say is...thats the way pressure works in international cricket...SG's feeling the heat of constant scrutiny....but not unjustly....anyone in his position, and esp in India, would have felt it...

    By Blogger worma, at 09:23  

  • reverse...well VRV was brought into the attack after the fall of 3(4?) wkts...so had to take lower order scalps :-)...but anyways..I'm not promoting him...haven't seen him much....and yes sure his accuracy is not good enough..even in Challenger.

    And thx for rediff tip...looks like a new post..and opens for me atleast.

    By Blogger worma, at 09:29  

  • Good to feel Gang's getting into RUNS.
    Can anybody comment whether VRV Gagan or AMIT bowled at his uncomfort areas or were they preapproached by Gangully not to bowl there.
    I think everybody over here agree's that Gangully has/had few weaknesses that were exploited more often in International arena.
    Just interested if anybody knows if he was bowled in those area's ?.

    By Blogger Pankaj Tripathi, at 09:34  

  • inoc...yes that last point you made....thats the key....he may keep on getting these runs on domestic games (even in county)...but its the runs in international matches that counts...so get him back asap...lets see how we copes....well if he fails (over a deserved period of time) then sure let him go back and score tons of runs in domstic before claiming a place back.....but first give him a chance to 'lose' it

    By Blogger worma, at 09:36  

  • reverse...fyi...I saw Salvi's name in the list for Mumbai Board President's XI squad thats going to face SL tomorrow....that should be a brief indicator of 'where he is' :-)

    By Blogger worma, at 09:38  

  • pankaj...read the cricinfo report (the Rahul Bhattacharya article) to know answers to those questions...oops..that sounded like an advertisement ;-)

    By Blogger worma, at 09:39  

  • I do think all this talk of santh 'not being better than agarkar' is crap. firstly is agarkar some kind of benchmark ? And whoever saw him to make this comment how much of him did he actually see ? I saw him in the challenger and he bowled some pretty great deliveries ... but that does not mean i should start hailing him as the next dennis lillee ... similarly whoever is worried about him not being 'better than agarkar' should take a break

    By Blogger Gaurav, at 11:10  

  • i find that even till today unfo the focus in india is on the player and not on the team - it is like SG is back and he shud return to the team not that the team needs SG - with this inns he has definitely made himself a top contender whenever a vacancy arises - point is it shud arise - not be made FOR HIM. and we will get to know only after the 2 odis. btw personally i do believe the team will require him with the top stars out of form and MK out with injury

    By Blogger Gaurav, at 11:13  

  • rajesh...I'm talking about cricketing loss of place...not moral...so lets not even discuss that inflammable issue :-)

    and btw...what I am wishing for SG to be granted is purely for the 'cricketer' in him...and any other 'mortal' in his position should be granted this...

    and what is this 'position' which SG is in?...well a position of, as you said, an experienced player of proven record who has not yet lost his place in the side purely on cricketing merit. Of course IMO.

    By Blogger worma, at 11:14  

  • To continue on the path Rajesh has taken.
    There was no doubt about ability of Ganguly to score in first class matches (Zim and Bang included).
    am I being too harsh on Gangu ?

    By Blogger Pankaj Tripathi, at 11:15  

  • @pankaj
    no ur not being too harsh on SG. perhaps u r being a bit harsh on Bangladesh ??

    By Blogger Gaurav, at 11:17  

  • yep !! I enjoyed the diary more then other articles, speicially Inzi bursting twice and Sohib not changed with his attitude.
    I serioulsy think Sohib should be shown door, just because of disciplinalry reasons.

    By Blogger Pankaj Tripathi, at 11:18  

  • LOL GK

    By Blogger Pankaj Tripathi, at 11:19  

  • gk...your point is valid...it should be about the team...but then its made of individual players..isn't it? And immediate results (even if we win the first two ODIs) is not always the *only* goal...right? If we want to have a long term good team...then the sooner we find out the future place(or lack) of SG in it, the better?

    And btw, as I said earlier....a good performance by some fringe players...who got chance because of absence of SRT earlier and SG now...should not mean they get a priority *above* these players? I've seen so many times when Aus has rested its stars(or injured) the bench players have come in...and had match winning performances!...and still relegated to bench when the stars return. Thats how a strong bench strength is ensured.

    And btw...I use the word 'star' in a cricketing performance sense here...not as in adoration/popularity value of the players

    By Blogger worma, at 11:20  

  • @prasad
    tests are a long way away mate. i do believe as far as tests go, SG shud be an automatic choice over YS

    By Blogger Gaurav, at 11:21  

  • Prasad,
    Lets wait for yuvi to face murali for that .
    I somehow have faith in yuvi and think he ist he best allround player for one day in India.
    Batting , bowling , fielding , running,playing slow,playing fast , opening etc...

    By Blogger Pankaj Tripathi, at 11:22  

  • mayur...I hope you do realise that those Smith 'diaries' are just mock creations by Dan....no actual relation to Smith.

    By Blogger worma, at 11:25  

  • @worma
    i dont think a few odis or 1 series here and there wud make too much of a diff in the long term. so whether SG makes his comeback in the 3rd game of this series or the start of the SA series shudnt matter too much to him or the team.

    and btw it is not exactly as you say when it comes to australia - of course we all know how lee was kept out of the test team for a year by kasprowicz even after he had recovered from injury - and at the start of the bangalore test last year the inside story was that gillespie and kasprowicz were the only players whose place was fixed and there wud be a straight fight between mcgrath and lee for the third spot - might have been true too - of course mcgrath won - and the rest is history

    By Blogger Gaurav, at 11:25  

  • worma,
    And finally...me stepping gingerly on a mine-field(;-)...SG seems to have 'earned' a recall to the national team(?)

    Going by your logic about keeping ODIs and tests separate, SG was never dropped from the tests. As per Nair, he was dropped (whether injured or not) from the ODIs. And the Duleep trophy is a 4 day match. So how can his success in this match be used to judge him for ODIs?
    How in God's name did you find the link to Smith's diary? My stomach's still hurting from the laughter.

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:25  

  • prasad, dont think anyone has such doubts. I am sure Inzi would have burst into tears if these were genuine.

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:32  

  • gk...you take the wrong example for Aus....Kasper and Lee were better than Lee...and was a direct fight between them...they were not fringe players...its like bhajji and Kumble fighting for a ODI spinner spot

    The right examples are what Hodge, Katich, Maher, Bracken etc have done as ODI players in absence of Symonds, Hayden, Gilchrist, McG etc...and these guys still got back their spot.

    toney: can you point out where Nair or anyone said SG *lost* his place in ODIs or any other reason than injury? If that is the case...then all he has to do is prove his fitness (in any form of the game) and be back? As SRT did.

    In fact its only our 'understanding' that he has to prove a 'reasonable' amount of cricketing form also....which i think he did with this innings. It does not anyway mean anything about his ODI or test form at int level....that we need to judge when he plays at that level

    And btw...about my original point of not mixing test and ODIs too much...that is for understanding the value and potential of a player in international games of the two forms.

    Those Smith diaries...thanks to a reader Prakash..he sent it to me...made my day as well :-)

    By Blogger worma, at 11:37  

  • oops...I meant Kasper and Gillespie were better than Lee

    By Blogger worma, at 11:40  

  • sorry, my mistake. Nair said RD's elevation to captaincy had nothing to do with SG's injury. SG's place in the team was never discussed by Nair.

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:42  

  • worma, if Lee is better than Lee, then Lee should be dropped and Lee should be given a chance to see if Lee is really better than Lee.

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:43  

  • Abt keeping the ODIs and tests separate, your argument was for Sehwag who you said continued to be a good test player and fared poorly in the ODIs and you were asking to keep this separate.

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:44  

  • toney LOL ;-)

    By Blogger worma, at 11:45  

  • toney...maybe I'm not able to put in words....but I do hope you see the diff between Sehwag's difference in form in test and ODI..and this issue of SG having to prove his decent cricketing form in Duleep to convince the selectors that he is ready for itnernational cricket?

    By Blogger worma, at 11:48  

  • http://in.rediff.com/cricket/2005/oct/21sree.htm

    More experiments akin to the Indanoil cup in store.GC seems to be working more like a maverick.

    I posted this in the general discussion...."Let's all face the bitter truth. Inspite of all the review committee meeting, the uneasy truce etc, GC will extract his pound of flesh before he even remotely talks of getting SG into the team.. i get this sinking feeling that RD has already bought into this idea...While he mentions being happy about SRT coming back, no one seems to have referred to SG and expectations of him coming back....Maybe a bit too early or the gag is really on.....almost like a Damocles' sword hanging over anyone who even remotely moves their lips"

    From the lnk posted, it seems to be heading that way. GC is willing to talk of Kaif , Nehra and AK(not seen to be in the ODI schemeof things)but no mention of SG.Well..guess there were no questions on that..prolly a strict pre press conference brief

    By Blogger RR, at 11:50  

  • Steve Waugh injuring his wrist because of hand-writing the whole thing...my god that guy is committed. His autobiography will be bought the day it comes out !!!

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 12:50  

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