The Surfer
What comforts await KP in India?
After their Stanford debacle, England face some serious challenges during their tour of India, writes Vic Marks in the Observer
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
After their Stanford debacle, England face some serious challenges during their tour of India, writes Vic Marks in the Observer. They are up against a strong Indian batting line-up that has been particularly harsh on overseas spinners, and the captain-coach relationship between Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores is still far from ideal.
Since his appointment Pietersen has not shied away from being the main man. So how influential is Moores now? He did not appear to be proactive in Antigua, merely recognising afterwards that there were lessons to be learnt. How well does he dovetail with his captain? There is no evidence yet that he is capable of building a truly fertile relationship in the way that Duncan Fletcher did with Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan. That captain/coach relationship is crucial. Pietersen cannot do everything.
In the Sunday Telegraph, Steve James says England still have much to prove in one-day cricket, especially away from home and they must be wary of more big-money issues in India.
Kevin Pietersen's single-handed renaissance of England's one-day cricket at the end of last summer is already a distant memory. Now a chap called Distraction appears in England's line-up. He is a man of money. And he will be in India.
Dravid should bat lower down
With Rahul Dravid's slump continuing, Rajan Bala, writing in the Bangalore Mirror , makes the case for VVS Laxman to take the pivotal No
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
With Rahul Dravid's slump continuing, Rajan Bala, writing in the Bangalore Mirror, makes the case for VVS Laxman to take the pivotal No. 3 batting slot.
Full postOne would not be surprised if Dravid is going through conflicting thoughts and one of these might well be that the man, whom he began with, Ganguly, has already called it a day. Then Anil Kumble has gone, so Indian cricket is clearly going through a process of rebuilding. Is he a part of this process?
Does Test cricket want to survive?
After a day when only 166 runs were scored, Peter Roebuck was so bored by the cricket that he thinks spectators ought to have been paid to watch
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
After a day when only 166 runs were scored, Peter Roebuck was so bored by the cricket that he thinks spectators ought to have been paid to watch. He writes in the Sun-Herald that the worst thing about all the accusations of defensive cricket this series is that they are true.
At the very time the five-day game is most vulnerable it has been treated with contempt. Cricket is not let down by snorting fast bowlers prone to occasional lapses but by the sort of tactics and tacticians prominent during this self-absorbed series. Far from nurturing a game they supposedly cherish, they have harmed it.
In the Times of India, Bobilli Vijay Kumar takes a different view. He praises Dhoni's tactic of packing the offside field and choking the runs by keeping the attack a foot outside off stump.
And in the Hindustan Times, Pradeep Magazine marvels at the new world-class stadium in Nagpur but is unhappy with the lack of effort to attract crowds to the Test.
Full postHow India undid the Australians
New Zealand are looking to take inspiration from India on how to overcome the Australians
Judhajit
25-Feb-2013
New Zealand are looking to take inspiration from India on how to overcome the Australians. Dylan Cleaver in the Herald on Sunday feels one of the tactics would surely be to curb Ricky Ponting, who has been reduced to mere mortal in the ongoing Test series. While Iain O'Brien could serve as an Ishant Sharma for New Zealand, across-the-seam bowling coupled with the lack of a world-class spinner may also prove to be Australia's Achilles heel in their next assignment, at home to New Zealand.
The other tactic India have used more successfully is across-the-seam bowling, an art that has become trendy again, particularly on flat, dry pitches. Basically, once the immediate effects of the new ball have worn off, in the subcontinent that could be before the first 10 overs is complete, their bowlers will bowl across the seam to hasten the process of roughing up the ball that, in turn, hastens the arrival of reverse swing.
Something seems broken in Dravid
Peter Roebuck is surprised that Rahul Dravid's lean patch has extended for so long and points out two faults: a) his strokes seem to have lost power and b) his front foot is moving laterally instead of forwards
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Peter Roebuck is surprised that Rahul Dravid's lean patch has extended for so long and points out two faults: a) his strokes seem to have lost power and b) his front foot is moving laterally instead of forwards. Read on in the Hindu.
Dravid’s famous wall was built with cement not dust. As a rule, too, heavy batsmen fall back before those light on their legs. They start to lumber, arrive a fraction late to play their shots and make a mistake. Dravid is as light as a dancer. His footwork and reflexes ought to be unchanged from his days of clover.
Australia's ugly spin reality
If you think you know how bad Australia’s spin options are – you really don’t
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
If you think you know how bad Australia’s spin options are – you really don’t. Forget about Cameron White’s straight’uns and Jason Krejza’s confusing cameo in this Test, says JRod on the Wisden Cricketer blog.
Back home the truth is even uglier. Three games into the domestic season and the number one spinning wicket-taker is Marcus North with six wickets.
Marcus North is a batsman, a good one and as a spinner is someone you bowl before a break, or when your state doesn’t want to pick a real spinner. His career first-class bowling average is 44.
Why Ranatunga should remain SL board president
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Former captain Arjuna Rantaunga has just completed a turbulent first year as the president of the Sri Lankan board. Nirgunan Tiruchelvam writes in the Island that while Ranatunga hasn't done the best of jobs, he deserves to remain in the post.
The finance are in a shambles, with no takers for the TV rights. The players resent him. His former prodigies Jayasuriya and Muralitharan are openly defying their mentor. Bridges have been burnt with the Indian board
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Full postGibbs: One last chance, please
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
Rob Houwing, in his comment piece on the Sport24 website, laments the absence of Herschelle Gibbs in the Bangladesh series, and writes that despite Gibbs' lack of form and his problems off the field, South Africa are still in need of a player of his class.
The Proteas’ one-day team is in transition, and it needed to be after the 0-4 humiliation in England. It cried out for new blood, but whenever that requirement arises, you also need a few old-stagers to stick around and provide stability.
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Gibbs is an enigma, wrapped in a contradiction. He is a compass that either ensures good courses or goes crazy; a GPS, to use more modern lingo, that is alternately focused and orderly like his wardrobe at home and then ziggy-zaggy haywire.
Another example of a burgeoning malaise
Kumar Sarna, a talented opening batsman, holds a Victoria rookie contract and represented Australia at the Under-19 World Cup
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
Kumar Sarna, a talented opening batsman, holds a Victoria rookie contract and represented Australia at the Under-19 World Cup. But as Brendan McArdle explains in the Age, Sarna has returned to the land of his birth, India, to see what opportunities await him.
Two months ago, Sarna's dream was to play for Victoria, but a string of disappointing performances at club level have scuppered his hopes. Now, in the eyes of many, he is turning his back on a system that embraced him to search for an easier option in cricket's new land of milk and honey.
His move will not exactly shake the foundations of Australian cricket, but it reflects the ever-changing focus among many of our top players, as well as those on the levels below. In cricket's current climate, if a player isn't happy with his lot, he will seek opportunities elsewhere.
Full postOnce rejected Krejza spins miracles
Peter Roebuck, in the Age , looks at the remarkable achievement of Jason Krejza in capturing eight wickets on Test debut.
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
Peter Roebuck, in the Age, looks at the remarkable achievement of Jason Krejza in capturing eight wickets on Test debut.
With the possible exception of family members, did any Australian seriously expect Jason Krejza to take a swag of wickets? Australia has been struggling for wickets all campaign and suddenly one bloke took eight in one fell swoop. In a trice, he has become the team's second-highest wicket-taker on tour. Good on 'im. He has a big heart.
Krejza was amazing. His head could easily have dropped as he was repeatedly ignored in the last few weeks. Everyone capable of sending down a spinner of any description was preferred to him. Players were flown in from Melbourne, the ball was tossed to occasional colleagues and still he was not given his chance. At one stage, he looked about as likely to get a go as the manager's wife.
Full post