India lack a serious power-hitter
Our readers give their opinions on Imran Khan, Zaheer Khan, whether Bhuvneshwar Kumar should focus on swing or pace, and the need for international cricket to return to Pakistan
16-Oct-2015
"A bowler has to improvise as more batsmen get exposure to him in international cricket, he needs to innovate to a version 2 or 3" • AFP
Reader: harshthakor
Mike Brearley is spot on in his analysis of Imran. I bracket Imran Khan amongst the top 10 captains of all time in cricket history who reminded you of a great military commander on the field. He knitted together a bunch of talented individuals into a cohesive unit making Pakistan the joint best Test team in the world with West Indies in the late 1980's. Imran was a great motivator of men who could get the best out of his players and could lift their morale even when their backs were to the wall. In the 1992 World Cup his leadership ressurected Pakistan from the grave. Imran shaped the destiny of his nation's fortunes more than any skipper of the 1980's.
Mike Brearley is spot on in his analysis of Imran. I bracket Imran Khan amongst the top 10 captains of all time in cricket history who reminded you of a great military commander on the field. He knitted together a bunch of talented individuals into a cohesive unit making Pakistan the joint best Test team in the world with West Indies in the late 1980's. Imran was a great motivator of men who could get the best out of his players and could lift their morale even when their backs were to the wall. In the 1992 World Cup his leadership ressurected Pakistan from the grave. Imran shaped the destiny of his nation's fortunes more than any skipper of the 1980's.
Imran did make some tactical mistakes in his career like in the 1982 Edgbaston test when his bowling tactics let England of the hook in the 2nd innings with the last pair scoring 79 runs.He was also too defensive at the Oval in the 2nd innings of England batting which arguably cost his team a win.
Reader: Saad_Parekh
Very well written article and finally addresses the issue that has been plaguing India for a while now in both T20Is and ODIs. India lacks a serious power hitter in the current lineup who has all the unorthodox shots to complement the textbook shots. All the other consistent performing teams have them (Warner & Maxwell for Aus; AB & Miller for SA, pretty much everyone in WI, Morgan Eng, McCullum, Ronchi & Anderson for NZ). The current Indian batting stock is behind Sehwag and Yuvi in terms of power hitting let alone the current state of the art. They seem to get away with it on smaller Indian grounds, but their limitations were obvious in Aus in last WC where they struggled to score big runs and accelerate at the end.
Reader: CricketFanIndUS
Bhuvi himself acknowledged early in his international career that he has some limitations. He had an injury layoff and then tried to get back in the starting 11 in tests and ODIs and that did not go so well for him. He is trying too hard and lost some important battles in the two T20Is. He is very important to India in test cricket as he can bat well in the long format and would be an easy pick in swinging conditions for his bowling alone. He has accuracy and that is very important. He will be analyzing his mistakes like the rest of the team and our support staff will hopefully give him the right direction. Like Manjrekar points out, he needs to stick to his strengths now and to an extent his limitations when it comes to true limitations. He stretched himself too far perhaps. Just a few series ago he has been our MVP I believe (in the last England series). A bowler has to improvise as more batsmen get exposure to him in international cricket, he needs to innovate to a version 2 or 3.
Bhuvi himself acknowledged early in his international career that he has some limitations. He had an injury layoff and then tried to get back in the starting 11 in tests and ODIs and that did not go so well for him. He is trying too hard and lost some important battles in the two T20Is. He is very important to India in test cricket as he can bat well in the long format and would be an easy pick in swinging conditions for his bowling alone. He has accuracy and that is very important. He will be analyzing his mistakes like the rest of the team and our support staff will hopefully give him the right direction. Like Manjrekar points out, he needs to stick to his strengths now and to an extent his limitations when it comes to true limitations. He stretched himself too far perhaps. Just a few series ago he has been our MVP I believe (in the last England series). A bowler has to improvise as more batsmen get exposure to him in international cricket, he needs to innovate to a version 2 or 3.
Reader:CricObserver1
Mark, Thank you for the emotionally charged article it definitely brought a tear to my eye. Pakistan Cricket need more advocates such as yourself to fight the cause for international cricket to return back to Pakistan. It is astonishing that this country continues to produce world class cricketers considering the lack of international games played in Pakistan over the past 6 years.
Mark, Thank you for the emotionally charged article it definitely brought a tear to my eye. Pakistan Cricket need more advocates such as yourself to fight the cause for international cricket to return back to Pakistan. It is astonishing that this country continues to produce world class cricketers considering the lack of international games played in Pakistan over the past 6 years.
I absolutely understand the security implications that make foreign nations reluctant to tour Pakistan. However as an international cricket community we can not give up on touring Pakistan. We don't want to be in a position where the game's 'big three' just have annual series with each other.
Lets face it cricket would be pretty boring without Pakistan. A team that can be absolutely atrocious one day causing Pakistani fans everywhere to break their TV sets to a team that can win the hearts and minds of a global cricketing community through the most breathtaking cricket that you would ever wish to see.
Reader: SyedMohsinHasan
World cricket needs to show courage and International players need to take that leap of faith and come to Pakistan to support cricket in the country which has provided the world game with some great cricketers and talent. It is time that other cricket boards show grit and determination and support cricket in Pakistan in these uncertain times which surely the country will overcome as it is working hard to eradicate the menace of terrorism. Not willing to play in Pakistan is betraying a nation that has been a helping hand to other boards in their times of need.
World cricket needs to show courage and International players need to take that leap of faith and come to Pakistan to support cricket in the country which has provided the world game with some great cricketers and talent. It is time that other cricket boards show grit and determination and support cricket in Pakistan in these uncertain times which surely the country will overcome as it is working hard to eradicate the menace of terrorism. Not willing to play in Pakistan is betraying a nation that has been a helping hand to other boards in their times of need.
Reader: Christianman1
My home team WI were playing the Pakistani tourists in the 3rd and deciding Test at Kensington Oval in the land of my birth, Barbados in April, 1988.. It was during a break in play when I asked Majid Khan, a Pakistani official, why cricket in Pakistan always seemed to me to be in turmoil. His reply? "We like to amuse ourselves."
My home team WI were playing the Pakistani tourists in the 3rd and deciding Test at Kensington Oval in the land of my birth, Barbados in April, 1988.. It was during a break in play when I asked Majid Khan, a Pakistani official, why cricket in Pakistan always seemed to me to be in turmoil. His reply? "We like to amuse ourselves."
West Indians have favored the Pakistan players because they seem close to ours in style. I think of all the other Test playing nations, Pakistan and India would rank high on fans' favorite lists.
Haven't thoroughly examined Mr. Khan's plan but on the surface, it seems worth trying. Hope things turn out well for Pakistan cricket because as Mark Nicholas opined recently, the cricketing world needs a strong Pakistan team. I wish them the best.
Reader: YogifromNY
Zak - thank you for your services to India. Fantastic bowler, thinking bowler. Towards the end, when your pace dropped off, your guile and experience more fhan made up for it. I have fond memories of the many batsmen you fooled (hello, Graeme Smith?!), and the constant encouragement and coaching you gave to the other bowlers. With you playing, the Indian bowling had added bite. You will be missed, sir. I truly hope you will return as a bowling coach for India.
Zak - thank you for your services to India. Fantastic bowler, thinking bowler. Towards the end, when your pace dropped off, your guile and experience more fhan made up for it. I have fond memories of the many batsmen you fooled (hello, Graeme Smith?!), and the constant encouragement and coaching you gave to the other bowlers. With you playing, the Indian bowling had added bite. You will be missed, sir. I truly hope you will return as a bowling coach for India.
Reader: y_a_l_a
One more star hanging his boots. For many years he has been the go-to man for the captains to get the break through wicket. If nothing is happening on the pitch, just wait for the ball to start reversing and bring Zaheer into the attack to get a wicket. During his prime, it didnt matter what pace he was bowling yet. He could swing the ball both ways and would put the brains to work to pick the wickets. He would setup the batsmen and make them look silly to the delight of Indian fans. His contribution in the 2011 WC will always be remembered. Wish him happy retirement and Hope he can serve Indian cricket in the role of a Bowling coach in near future.
One more star hanging his boots. For many years he has been the go-to man for the captains to get the break through wicket. If nothing is happening on the pitch, just wait for the ball to start reversing and bring Zaheer into the attack to get a wicket. During his prime, it didnt matter what pace he was bowling yet. He could swing the ball both ways and would put the brains to work to pick the wickets. He would setup the batsmen and make them look silly to the delight of Indian fans. His contribution in the 2011 WC will always be remembered. Wish him happy retirement and Hope he can serve Indian cricket in the role of a Bowling coach in near future.
Reader: Viv189
There are a lot of memorable Zaheer moments for me. His first coming into limelight in ICC Knouckout Trpohy in 2000, his role in India winning the Natwest Trophy 2002, his over-achieving partnership with Srinath and Nehra in WC2003, his back-to-back 5-fors in NZ and Aus in 2003-04 season before injuries started plaguing him, his ownership of Graeme Smith's wicket in SA 2006, TrentBridge 2007 ofcourse, his and Ishant's role in India defeating Aus in 2008 at home (Dhoni's first series as captain and Kumble's last), numerous ODIs at home with his reverse at death (defending 413 at Rajkot against SL comes to mind) and lastly WC2011 where his role in helping India win the Cup is a bit underrated I feel. And yes, he looked more similar to his Pakistani counterparts than the Indians in the way he had control over the reverse swing and his mentoring of younger bowlers. If only he had their fitness...Still we owe him a lot. Over to you, Ishant.
There are a lot of memorable Zaheer moments for me. His first coming into limelight in ICC Knouckout Trpohy in 2000, his role in India winning the Natwest Trophy 2002, his over-achieving partnership with Srinath and Nehra in WC2003, his back-to-back 5-fors in NZ and Aus in 2003-04 season before injuries started plaguing him, his ownership of Graeme Smith's wicket in SA 2006, TrentBridge 2007 ofcourse, his and Ishant's role in India defeating Aus in 2008 at home (Dhoni's first series as captain and Kumble's last), numerous ODIs at home with his reverse at death (defending 413 at Rajkot against SL comes to mind) and lastly WC2011 where his role in helping India win the Cup is a bit underrated I feel. And yes, he looked more similar to his Pakistani counterparts than the Indians in the way he had control over the reverse swing and his mentoring of younger bowlers. If only he had their fitness...Still we owe him a lot. Over to you, Ishant.
Reader: millsy24
So I finished my shift at the hospital and had this game on the radio. I had hoped to finish a bit earlier to get to the ground to watch the last couple of hours but wasn't to be. Down to the last over and the commentators were going off. So exciting to listen to.Yelling out "yeessss" with every run scored and people on the City West Link thought I was a nutter I think. Great fun and am going to go tomorrow to watch VIC and WA.
So I finished my shift at the hospital and had this game on the radio. I had hoped to finish a bit earlier to get to the ground to watch the last couple of hours but wasn't to be. Down to the last over and the commentators were going off. So exciting to listen to.Yelling out "yeessss" with every run scored and people on the City West Link thought I was a nutter I think. Great fun and am going to go tomorrow to watch VIC and WA.
Reader: Shaggy076
It shows brilliant attacking bowling wins one-day internationals. Starc did it in the World Cup and is dominating this series. I watched a bit of the NSW innings and thought WA went too defensive too early, keep the field up at mid on and mid off and force batsman over the top at least until the batsman has had a few successes in going over. Cowan was allowed singles and it released the pressure. NZ and Aus showed the format for success attacking bowling with attacking fields. Risks in batting creates wickets.
It shows brilliant attacking bowling wins one-day internationals. Starc did it in the World Cup and is dominating this series. I watched a bit of the NSW innings and thought WA went too defensive too early, keep the field up at mid on and mid off and force batsman over the top at least until the batsman has had a few successes in going over. Cowan was allowed singles and it released the pressure. NZ and Aus showed the format for success attacking bowling with attacking fields. Risks in batting creates wickets.
Compiled by Delisa Dsouza and Srikanth Ravishanker