The Australians have been knocked out of the T20 tournament in the first round, does any one still have doubts about the downfall of the once mighty Australians????
I guess with this all the doubts are cleared, they were in the toughest group , I agree...But still the world champions should have made it at the cost of Windies of the Lankans if their claims of worlds strongest team are to be true. But things can happen to you, like it happened to India in the '07 World cup, they were out in the first round because a loss to minnows Bangladesh. OZ going out of the tournament isn't definitely as bad as that, but at least their domination in the last ten years is to be remembered this is a very shameful exit and thus the those days are gone. The young team needs a lot of International exposure before they start to show their worth, but the most important thing is they should not be under extra pressure of high expectation.
but why were the groups so unbalanced I did not understand . I guess ODI rankings were used or may be some criterion was used which obviously looks weird. The thing would have been balanced swapping West Indies for Bangladesh.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The scores are not enough......
power plays are going for big runs while chasing, getting 80+ in 6 overs is not a big deal at oval, we have seen the teams do it today Aussie even though lost 3 wickets as early as four overs made 170 at the end but the score this point does not look enough, as West Indies has already made 83 in 6 overs, without loosing a wicket. The other day India has won over Pakistan with 3 overs to spare, clearly the scores are not enough the picthes being conducive for batting and the chasing teams have a lot of advantage, because I see teams do not so what a good total would be to defend.. may be their targets are less, I say to win make 200, for a 50-50 chances make 180-190.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
India Vs Pakistan ... Isn't it just a warm up match?
Ask the crowds at the oval yesterday, surely the answer would be no!!!!!! both the teams knew it was quite a match and were serious about getting a result in their favour. It would be such a confidence booster winning over arch rivals.
Younnis won the toss and decided to bat, and at the crease were a 17yr old and a 19yr old. Pakistan's inconsistency with the opening par forced them to try new combinations. At this stage I thought their inexperience will come into play and I expected two quick wickets for India, Shahzaib Hasan the 19yr old was bowled out by Praveen Kumar, and Ahmed Shehzad the 17yr old was almost out thanks to harbhajan for dropping a sitter. Never drop a catch when you are put in that fielding position to take it, It distracts the bowler and the batsman becomes more focused. That was clearly seen yesterday. Shehzad hit 5 fours racing to 25 in just 13 balls on the other side was the inform Kamran akmal, who joined Shehzad and put Praveen Kumar, RP and Irfan all over the park. Indians were sloppy in the field too, Yuvraj's misfield went for a four. Indians received a wake up call when Pakistan were already 45-1 in 4 overs, I started getting mad by the way they got those runs. Bowlers gave batsmen width, balls were short of length. Now Dhoni introduced Ishant into the attack and Shehzad was to face him, after a couple of dot balls he thought of giving strike to Kamram which resulted in a run out and superb fielding from Suresh Raina. That started a fall and they started loosing quick wickets they were down to 45-4, this has certainly balanced the flamboyant start, they also lost shoaib malik who looked good. That brought my favourite batsman in Pakistan team Misbah to the crease, on the other end was younnis I was sure they would take Pakistan to a good score. The track was flat, It had no visible swing and no turn for spinners all they had was some bounce. Misbah and Arafat batted well at the end and Pakistan made 158 in the allotted 20 overs.
On Indias bowling performance the problem with the combination still persists, RP failed to find his length in this match too. Irfan and praveen are too slow, If their is no swing then these guys will struggle. Then who should bowl the power play overs, Ishant is one we need two more at least should be praveen. Rp train in the nets man, get your rhythm back, using Irfan in power play could be dangerous in these pitches as he has got no pace. Other problem is if sehwag is back where will Rohit play. It would be interesting to see.
Indians should guard themselves from complacency, It will cost them matches and this T20 matches can turn big time in a couple of overs.
With the target of 159 I was sure with the Indias batting line up and with Yuvi back in the squad they would reach it, but how easily was the question. Rohit and Gambir batted superb and at the end of power plays made more runs than Pakistan did without loss of a wicket, I said to myself Imagine what a Pakistan fan would be feeling at this moment, he would have gone mad. I enjoyed Rohit and Gambir batting thoroughly. The only problem they looked like having was running between the wickets. Gambir survived a close run out and was sent back in couple of other occasions too, all those things are to be taken into account when deciding the opening pair, because there are good fielding sides which will surely take the advantage of misunderstanding.
16 overs gone India needed 18 from 24 balls, I thought for a moment that something was different about this bowling attack today they did not bowl no balls, and to start of in the next over went for 17 runs which included two wide balls, a leg nob, a height nob for bowling the second bouncer and an over throw four. Winning runs came with a wide ball in the next over.
India are looking good this is certainly a crushing victory, It is to be watched out who the playing XI be, It is getting difficult for me to make a combination as I'm not getting the clear picture of the Injuries to the side and also, If RP finds his rhythm in the net, he should be taken or else Irfan should be played with two spinners.
There is going to be a cracker of a contest this world cup for sure all we fans will have a great time, hope Indian team lives up to the expectations
Younnis won the toss and decided to bat, and at the crease were a 17yr old and a 19yr old. Pakistan's inconsistency with the opening par forced them to try new combinations. At this stage I thought their inexperience will come into play and I expected two quick wickets for India, Shahzaib Hasan the 19yr old was bowled out by Praveen Kumar, and Ahmed Shehzad the 17yr old was almost out thanks to harbhajan for dropping a sitter. Never drop a catch when you are put in that fielding position to take it, It distracts the bowler and the batsman becomes more focused. That was clearly seen yesterday. Shehzad hit 5 fours racing to 25 in just 13 balls on the other side was the inform Kamran akmal, who joined Shehzad and put Praveen Kumar, RP and Irfan all over the park. Indians were sloppy in the field too, Yuvraj's misfield went for a four. Indians received a wake up call when Pakistan were already 45-1 in 4 overs, I started getting mad by the way they got those runs. Bowlers gave batsmen width, balls were short of length. Now Dhoni introduced Ishant into the attack and Shehzad was to face him, after a couple of dot balls he thought of giving strike to Kamram which resulted in a run out and superb fielding from Suresh Raina. That started a fall and they started loosing quick wickets they were down to 45-4, this has certainly balanced the flamboyant start, they also lost shoaib malik who looked good. That brought my favourite batsman in Pakistan team Misbah to the crease, on the other end was younnis I was sure they would take Pakistan to a good score. The track was flat, It had no visible swing and no turn for spinners all they had was some bounce. Misbah and Arafat batted well at the end and Pakistan made 158 in the allotted 20 overs.
On Indias bowling performance the problem with the combination still persists, RP failed to find his length in this match too. Irfan and praveen are too slow, If their is no swing then these guys will struggle. Then who should bowl the power play overs, Ishant is one we need two more at least should be praveen. Rp train in the nets man, get your rhythm back, using Irfan in power play could be dangerous in these pitches as he has got no pace. Other problem is if sehwag is back where will Rohit play. It would be interesting to see.
Indians should guard themselves from complacency, It will cost them matches and this T20 matches can turn big time in a couple of overs.
With the target of 159 I was sure with the Indias batting line up and with Yuvi back in the squad they would reach it, but how easily was the question. Rohit and Gambir batted superb and at the end of power plays made more runs than Pakistan did without loss of a wicket, I said to myself Imagine what a Pakistan fan would be feeling at this moment, he would have gone mad. I enjoyed Rohit and Gambir batting thoroughly. The only problem they looked like having was running between the wickets. Gambir survived a close run out and was sent back in couple of other occasions too, all those things are to be taken into account when deciding the opening pair, because there are good fielding sides which will surely take the advantage of misunderstanding.
16 overs gone India needed 18 from 24 balls, I thought for a moment that something was different about this bowling attack today they did not bowl no balls, and to start of in the next over went for 17 runs which included two wide balls, a leg nob, a height nob for bowling the second bouncer and an over throw four. Winning runs came with a wide ball in the next over.
India are looking good this is certainly a crushing victory, It is to be watched out who the playing XI be, It is getting difficult for me to make a combination as I'm not getting the clear picture of the Injuries to the side and also, If RP finds his rhythm in the net, he should be taken or else Irfan should be played with two spinners.
There is going to be a cracker of a contest this world cup for sure all we fans will have a great time, hope Indian team lives up to the expectations
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Favourites for the T20 world cup?
Who will be the favourites for the T20 world cup, many have already opined the defending champions are the favourites. It can be argued that the defending champions are the best team on paper and there should be no question about that. More importantly it is the experience playing in the IPL is also said to be a positive for the Indian team.
But the last time India started as favourites was the 2007 world cup, where we were out in the first round itself. But things have changed a lot since then. The influential captaincy of Dhoni is with us, and I hope we reach at least the semis of the tournament and may be retain the cup itself, but before predicting I would like to see more matches, and see how India will play as a team. The players should be sharp in the field and while batting they should defend themselves from complacency.
For me the biggest figure while chasing down is the middle overs, where India can make it a no contest for the opposite team, instead they play too slow and the opposition is right back in the game. Last over heroics can save the game else we loose thus making the chances 50:50 or even less in our favour, we have seen that happen in the warm up match, until the 17th over was bowled we would have won the match easily. two good overs 17th and 18th together with just 5runs and a wk saw the match, much to the kiwis delight, we had 21 runs from the last over, but the batsman was neither Rohit nor was he playing for the Deccan chargers, that is why I say Rohit down the order will be a great asset while chasing. he will be great batting in the final overs and Sehwag I hope he gets fit in time and also back to his smashing form.
So others teams which are strong are South Africa and Newzealand neither of them have ever won a world cup ever, but my predictions are they would make to the semis with India.
But the last time India started as favourites was the 2007 world cup, where we were out in the first round itself. But things have changed a lot since then. The influential captaincy of Dhoni is with us, and I hope we reach at least the semis of the tournament and may be retain the cup itself, but before predicting I would like to see more matches, and see how India will play as a team. The players should be sharp in the field and while batting they should defend themselves from complacency.
For me the biggest figure while chasing down is the middle overs, where India can make it a no contest for the opposite team, instead they play too slow and the opposition is right back in the game. Last over heroics can save the game else we loose thus making the chances 50:50 or even less in our favour, we have seen that happen in the warm up match, until the 17th over was bowled we would have won the match easily. two good overs 17th and 18th together with just 5runs and a wk saw the match, much to the kiwis delight, we had 21 runs from the last over, but the batsman was neither Rohit nor was he playing for the Deccan chargers, that is why I say Rohit down the order will be a great asset while chasing. he will be great batting in the final overs and Sehwag I hope he gets fit in time and also back to his smashing form.
So others teams which are strong are South Africa and Newzealand neither of them have ever won a world cup ever, but my predictions are they would make to the semis with India.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Warm up match against New Zealand
The performance of many of the Indians in the match was very disappointing, especially when they could not restrict them well even after playing 6 main line bowlers was a far cry. Only three players played exceptionally well Rohit , Raina and Ishant. My predictions about Rohit and Raina were right, but Ishant bowled exceptionally well, I thought he was out of form but was very focused, RP never got his line correct not even for a single ball, was very disappointing. But yesterdays match is an answer for who should sit out, the majorly out form Yusuf Pathan, Irfan can take his place. When Zaheer is back he can probably replace RP is he does not find his line still or Irfan, who looks mediocre with both bat and ball.
So the line up should be:
Virender Sehwag
Gautam Ghambir
Suresh Raina
Yuvraj Singh
Rohit Sharma
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Irfan Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Praveen Kumar
Ishant Sharma
RP singh
Ravindra jadeja though made 41 is not a match winner as he took equal number of balls to do it, I opine any one pacing his innings like that will be able to make that score and especially in the 15th over both he and Irafan were humiliated with full toss balls and both of them failed to clear the boundary. Jacob oram put Jadeja under control going for just 3 runs in the crucial 18th over. So this man I doubt his capabilities of raising to the ocassion and especially when there are match winners like the six batsmen in the team I have written above, he stands no where.
So the line up should be:
Virender Sehwag
Gautam Ghambir
Suresh Raina
Yuvraj Singh
Rohit Sharma
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Irfan Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Praveen Kumar
Ishant Sharma
RP singh
Ravindra jadeja though made 41 is not a match winner as he took equal number of balls to do it, I opine any one pacing his innings like that will be able to make that score and especially in the 15th over both he and Irafan were humiliated with full toss balls and both of them failed to clear the boundary. Jacob oram put Jadeja under control going for just 3 runs in the crucial 18th over. So this man I doubt his capabilities of raising to the ocassion and especially when there are match winners like the six batsmen in the team I have written above, he stands no where.
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