Sambit Bal

Editor-in-chief, ESPNcricinfo

@sambitbal

Goodbye to India's batting greats

This series was meant to be a fitting final trophy but has ended in tears. An era is over in more ways than one

23-Jan-2012•Sambit Bal

An embarrassing capitulation

India have returned to the dark ages of overseas tours, when the failures of their batsmen led to crushing defeats

06-Jan-2012•Sambit Bal at the SCG

Ponting stoops to conquer

The story of Ponting's battle and redemption must count among the most compelling and uplifting in cricket. Not merely had it been test of skills, but also of character

04-Jan-2012•Sambit Bal at the SCG

Gambhir facing his toughest test

India's struggles with the bat in Australia start at the top, with the form of their opener Gautam Gambhir

03-Jan-2012•Sambit Bal

Festive Sydney a welcome change for India

The SCG Test has always been a part of the city's New Year's celebrations. Would it be too much to ask the cricket to match up to the fireworks?

02-Jan-2012•Sambit Bal in Sydney

India's batting woes abroad continue

The fact that India were rolled over twice by Australia's second-choice pace attack suggests the failures in England were not an aberration but confirmation of a trend

29-Dec-2011•Sambit Bal at the MCG

MCG pitch gives Test perfect narrative

The MCG has provided the pitch and the stage to two less-than-perfect teams to weave together the perfect narrative that has kept everyone - batsmen, bowler, and spectators - interested

28-Dec-2011•Sambit Bal at the MCG

Thank god for swing, but what about the DRS?

The return of one of the less practised arts livened up the year, and there were other things to cheer as well

28-Dec-2011•Sambit Bal

Good on the field, grim off it

It has been a strange kind of year. The quality of the game has been high, but there's no getting away from the fact that it is poorly managed

27-Dec-2011•Sambit Bal

Ponting's century drought continues

The stage was set for Ricky Ponting to make his first hundred in almost two years, and while he looked fluent at the crease, in the end the wait continued

26-Dec-2011•Sambit Bal at the MCG

Can Kumble set a moral benchmark?

The accusations of conflict of interest against him don't have to bring him down; they could provide an opportunity for him to enhance his stature

10-Oct-2011•Sambit Bal

'A bad captain can make a great team look ordinary'

India's youngest and most distinguished captain on the importance of honesty, transparency and inspiration when leading a side

22-Sep-2011•Interview by Sambit Bal

Learn the lessons of failure

Things are not likely to get better for India in a hurry. Those in charge of the game in the country must brace themselves and manage the descent as best they can

24-Aug-2011•Sambit Bal

Are England great or India wretched?

A supposedly marquee series has grown increasingly surreal and thrown up plenty of questions

22-Aug-2011•Sambit Bal at The Oval

England belong at the top

England will have to take their winning game to the subcontinent to tick off a crucial box, but they have a few ingredients that suggest their grip on the top ranking will be firmer than India's

13-Aug-2011•Sambit Bal at Edgbaston

Sehwag's moment of madness

India needed to survive 13 overs but Virender Sehwag was dismissed first ball, attempting an ambitious drive, for the second time in the Test

13-Aug-2011•Sambit Bal at Edgbaston

India outclassed by better-prepared rivals

If India haven't managed to be the team they could have been, they must ask a few tough questions of themselves

01-Aug-2011•Sambit Bal at Trent Bridge

Dhoni chooses grace over gamesmanship

MS Dhoni's decision to recall Ian Bell has set an example worthy of emulation

31-Jul-2011•Sambit Bal at Trent Bridge

Tale of the tails

On the second day at Trent Bridge, Rahul Dravid and Stuart Broad shined. But what could be the decider in the series is the distinct difference in capabilities between India and England's lower orders

31-Jul-2011•Sambit Bal at Trent Bridge

Nottingham and the joy of swing

Swing and movement worked their magic at a venue known to produce outright results, but India need to scrap in tough conditions to keep the series truly alive

29-Jul-2011•Sambit Bal at Trent Bridge

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