Different Strokes (old)
Cat and Mouse Games & Growing Up
India and Pakistan are playing cricket
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
India and Pakistan are playing cricket! Again! But this time it’s not Rahul Dravid's Men in Blue vs. Inzi's Men in Green (thank god!). It's The Indian Veterans vs. The Pakistan Veterans and a three match series will kick start with a match at the NSK today. PTV, I imagine, are giving this live coverage, though I cannot confirm this as I haven’t bothered to tune it. Considerable controversy has been created by this series nevertheless.
The controversy stems from the fact that The Indian Seniors team includes the likes of Mohammad Azharuddin, the former Indian captain, and Manoj Prabhakar, both of whom are serving bans for match fixing. They had at first apparently been given permission by the BCCI it self to take part in the series despite their bans, which in Azharuddin’s case was a life-long one, but since then just about every one has denied they had anything to do with the series at all.
Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, got the ball rolling, “Azharuddin and Prabhakar have been invited by Pakistan and it is up to the Pakistan Cricket Board to stop them from playing in their country,” he told reporters, whilst also adding that the Indians Veterans Association was not an affiliate body of the BCCI. Vice versa The Pakistan Cricket Board was not to be left behind, "The Senior Cricket Board is operating on their own and they have invited Azharuddin and Prabhakar. We just support the Seniors Cricket Board and have allowed them to use our facilities" declared Shehrayar Khan, the ad-hoc chairman of the PCB, “It is up to the Indian Cricket Board to allow or stop Azhar and Prabhakar from playing" he added for good measure.
The PCB have however at the same time disallowed former Pakistan player Salim Malik, who is also serving a life ban for match fixing, from taking part in the senior series. Shehrayar Khan this time claimed this decision clearly fell in their “domain”. This obviously led to prime time soap episode 3, i.e. The Great Salim Malik Response: accusing the PCB of having double standards he told AFP “I have nothing to do with who is playing and who is not, but it’s disappointing that there are dual policies in cricket”.
Full postWG comes to Sheikh Zayed stadium
1st ODI of DLF Cup between India and Pakistan at Abu Dhabi: Pakistan, chasing 198, are 70/2 after 17.3 overs
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
1st ODI of DLF Cup between India and Pakistan at Abu Dhabi: Pakistan, chasing 198, are 70/2 after 17.3 overs. Irfan Pathan bowls the 4th delivery and Inzamam cuts it to left of point. The diving point fielder Yuvraj Singh denies non-striker Younis Khan a view of the ball as the latter bolts off the blocks expecting it to go past Yuvraj. But Yuvraj recovers from a rubbery full-stretch dive in a flash, ball in hand and flings it at the bowler’s end where Younis is now scampering back from mid-pitch. Throw comes at the wrong side of the stumps.
Pathan crosses the pitch and barely grasps the ball, arms outstretched. The momentum is taking him away from the stumps. Pathan twists his overbalanced frame and tries to back-flick the ball on to the stumps in a jiffy, quite unaware of the large distance Younis still has to cover behind his back, and misses a crucial runout chance. That missed opportunity rankles the bowler and anguish shows up on his face.
That little passage of play hits me. It fires a short circuit in me. A jump cut instantly transports my thoughts back to the age of the bearded doctor. Dr. William Gilbert Grace, WG in short.
“His most conspicuous act as a doctor is thought to have occurred when an unfortunate fieldsman impaled himself on the boundary fence at Old Trafford.”
Full postBangladesh lose Test but win admirers.
Bangladesh wasted their chance to spring a massive surprise on Australia in the First Test, and it was no surprise to anyone that the roused Australians would react with their customary vehemence to quell Bangladesh’s resistance in the Second Test
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Bangladesh wasted their chance to spring a massive surprise on Australia in the First Test, and it was no surprise to anyone that the roused Australians would react with their customary vehemence to quell Bangladesh’s resistance in the Second Test. So it came to pass, but the agency with which this was inflicted was perhaps an even greater surprise then Bangladesh’s inspiring First Test performance.
In a golden age of batsmanship, we cricket lovers have had a chance to see some delightful innings. Back in the 1980’s it was a rare thing for an Australian summer to be punctuated with a double century, but now it is a rare summer we don’t see one. However, I’ve never seen anything quite so unlikely as Jason Gillespie’s 201 not out at Chittagong.
It’s not that he can’t bat. Australia’s recent cricket history is dotted with examples of ‘Dizzy’s stout defensive efforts with the bat. Quite a few nations have experienced the frustration of trying to dig him out, and Australia’s top order batsmen know that they can bat normally and not worry about him giving his wicket away. However, his method of stern and stubborn defence is not especially effective in quick scoring.
This monumental innings by Gillespie did not see a change of his traditional modus-operandi. A stout defence, a cover drive, and a dab around the corner provided him with the bulk of his runs, and it was only after he was well into his second century that he became more adventurous. He was kept company for the bulk of his epic by the redoubtable Mike Hussey, who scored the most un-remarked upon 182 that he’s ever likely to score. Together they put on 320, and sealed the fate of Bangladesh who had been skittled on the first day for 197.
Full postPublic defender turns prosecutor.
In January of this year, Dave Richardson, the ICC’s General Manager, responded to a rising wave of umpire bashing by writing an article for Cricinfo extolling the virtues of the ICC elite panel of umpires.
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
In January of this year, Dave Richardson, the ICC’s General Manager, responded to a rising wave of umpire bashing by writing an article for Cricinfo extolling the virtues of the ICC elite panel of umpires.
In his ‘These guys are good’ speech, Richardson claimed that there was no reason to believe there was a problem with umpiring at the highest level, and cited a number of impressive statistics to back up his argument.
It seems strange then that only a few months after Richardson’s defensive article that he should be behind an effort to see players have the right to challenge umpiring decisions, along the lines of the system used in American football, using replays to support the challenge.
Richardson is reported to be the author of a document due to be presented to the ICC next month advocating these significant changes to current umpiring practises.
Full postBringing some perspective
Why am I writing this
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Why am I writing this? My biggest motivation is, there seems to be somewhere along the line, a lack of perspective in judging our cricket.
What are the facts? India has won a lot of one-dayers (mostly at home or at least on the sub-continent) recently, and a majority of them very convincingly. We have been average in tests.
We are looking for reasons for this seeming disparity. Which is fine. Are we to presume however, that the upswing in one-day form is solely or majorly a result of exceedingly good, current cricketing management? This would naturally imply that the former management was somehow vastly different from the present one and was to be blamed for the slump that occurred at the time.
Must we however, always look to management decisions and attribute results to supposed shifts in operational rationales? Perhaps, this is symptomatic of a society that makes heroes out of managers and seeks to canonize management principles into guiding lights of life.
Full postThe 'pathetic' number one
Fatullah stadium in Bangladesh was blessed with an amazing 1st Test match
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Fatullah stadium in Bangladesh was blessed with an amazing 1st Test match. Bangladesh have deserved every praise that came their way for displaying a new-found spirit . Euphoria over, let us now spare a thought for the other 'pathetic' side that participated in a contest few saw coming.
It is now official for the nth time. When the going gets tough Australian batsmen get going. Am I stating the obvious? Very few would have thought so when stumps were drawn on 2nd day of Fatullah Test.
Cricinfo's S Rajesh analyses 2nd innings batting displays of teams and observes in his Friday column:
"In absolute terms, Australia are the side which score the most number of runs in their second innings, which is hardly surprising considering the fact four of the eight most prolific second-innings batsmen in this period (since 1990) are Australians (qualification 1500 runs)."
Full postClose but no cigar
Before the First Test started, the Australian journalist Will Swanton smugly stated that beating Bangladesh would be a 'doddle': The doddles against Bangladesh will last about two days each and probably involve only one hit each for the Australians
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Before the First Test started, the Australian journalist Will Swanton smugly stated that beating Bangladesh would be a 'doddle':
The doddles against Bangladesh will last about two days each and probably involve only one hit each for the Australians. Runs will flow freely. Taking the new ball for Bangladesh will be some bloke who goes by the name of Shahadat Hossain. It may as well be the Blue Wiggle ... any batsman who doesn’t average 100 against that mob shouldn’t be let back in the country.
The quote wasn't online, but located by blogger Tim Blair. Needless to say, Mr Swantan is wiping some egg off his face now.
Bangladesh certainly won a lot of friends with a tiger-like display against Australia in the First Test, but while they showed admirable tenacity right unto the death, the plain fact is that they lacked one critical attribute that is vital for both tigers and cricket teams; the killer instinct. Cricinfo's Osman Samiuddin put the question squarely:
Even if we accept that Australia were tired - this was their 11th Test since October - five days ago nobody expected them to nervously chase just under a hundred on the last day with five wickets in hand. Five days ago, most expected the last day to be a day off. In this context alone, the performance is remarkable. But while everyone celebrates, Bangladesh might choose some serious contemplation instead. Should Bangladesh be happy they pushed Australia so close? Or should they grumble about having missed the opportunity to win it?Instead of patronising Bangladesh by praising how well they played, we owe it to them to take them seriously, and give them a bollocking for NOT finishing Australia off.
Ricky Ponting gets a lot of stick for his captaincy, but even still, since he took charge in early 2004, Australia have lost three Test matches. You do not get a chance to beat Australia very often, so when the Cricket fates send you an opportunity, you have to take it. That is what England did in 2005 to win the Ashes. How long will Bangladesh have to wait before they get a better chance then this to beat Australia. I imagine it will be quite a while, and they will rue this missed opportunity for a long time to come.
Full postA touch of the surreal
This is what makes cricket so addictive
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
This is what makes cricket so addictive. This absolute, ravishing unpredictability.
Let me do some sort of live commentary, as I can't think of typing up anything more substantial now, and perhaps sometimes the essence is lost in being too verbose.
Gilchrist and Warne have already gone, unsure of their feet, on a turning pitch. Similar to sub-continental batsmen on bouncier, seaming tracks. For some reason, the latter seems to be more celebrated, and somehow more widely recognized as a sign of failure of batting technique.
Now, a ball slips out of Rafique's hand as he attempts another curving away-spinner. The ball goes toward silly mid-off. As the ball comes to a rest behind silly mid-off and Aleem Dar thinks about signalling dead ball, Brett Lee strides to it. Behind the bravado, it is glaringly apparent that Australia are worried. Very, very worried. Similar sentiment was seen when a bunch of edges went wide of slip in Lee's opening spells in the second innings. The world's best team pushed into a corner by arguably the world's worst. Then Lee threw the ball back at the batsman trying to run him out. Now, he was attempting to beat a dead ball. Brilliant, delicious, unpredictable cricket.
Full postMy Aunt Doris
A distant aunt of mine is a psychic
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
A distant aunt of mine is a psychic. Well, actually, let me explain further. Up until fairly recently Aunt Doris (stage name “Doris Decker-Spirit Queen”) was viewed by everyone in our family as an affable albeit slightly scary fruitcake.
Imagine my surprise then, when last night during a routine family get together, Doris whips out her Ouija board and proclaims to be communicating with Coverdrivicus the Greek God of cricket. Our entire family (being the cricket nuts we are), put down our chopsticks and paid attention to what is transpiring to be some scarily accurate insights into the future;
Doris’s predictions;
“I see a big red bus. It is surrounded by thousands, no tens of thousands of people. The people are cheering and shouting. On top of the bus there are happy people, very happy people, wait….yes I see them now, they are the Bangladesh cricket team”
Remembering Sophia Gardens
The Fatullah Cricket Stadium in Narayangunj District near Dhaka is about a quarter of the globe away from Sophia Gardens cricket stadium in the British Isles
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
The Fatullah Cricket Stadium in Narayangunj District near Dhaka is about a quarter of the globe away from Sophia Gardens cricket stadium in the British Isles. But the events of this 1st day of the Test series between Australia and Bangladesh have reminded cricket followers of a particular match played between the same sides at the Welsh ground. Bangladesh supporters will hope that today’s proceedings at the Fatullah has the same impact on Test cricket in Bangladesh that that Natwest league match of 18th June 2005 had on their one-day outfit.
Ever since winning the cliffhanger of a final against Kenya at Kuala Lumpur in the 1997 edition of ICC trophy Bangladesh have always shown this ability to surprise big sides in international cricket whenever taken lightly. In one day cricket they have recorded knockout punches against each of their sub-continental big brothers and have occasionally scared a few other traditional Test sides rated as semi-Goliaths to Bangla’s David. The crowning glory was the in-your-face victory over Australians at Sophia Gardens last year that set the tone for the Antipodeans’ Ashes misfortunes later that summer.
Ability, therefore, was not a concern for the fledgling team. The bowling remains thin but that is no shame in this phase of early growth. Over the years though, Bangladesh supporters were let down by recurring non-performances from an unmistakably potent top order batting. For nearly a decade the Bangla batsmen betrayed a reluctance to do it the hard way, which is often the only way in international sport. Aftab Ahmed appeared to exorcise a limpet of a demon with that sixer off Jason Gillespie to seal the Sophia Gardens match. A spurt in Bangla’s one day performances indicates some truth about that take. Bangladesh have won only 15 of the 120 one day matches they played. Of the 15 wins though, no less than 6 have come in a remarkable period starting 18th June 2005.
Bangladesh appears to relish the opportunity to play against the Australians. They first took this formidable opposition by surprise when they batted admirably at Cairns during the second Test of their Down Under tour in 2003. And interestingly that match too had marked an upswing in Bangla’s performances in Test matches. One win and three draws in 22 matches (starting from the Cairns Test) is certainly no renaissance worthy of note. But no wins and a solitary draw in 20 matches till that point perhaps provides....well, an adequate perspective.
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