What does Sri Lanka's loss to South Africa mean to their hopes for a semi-final spot? Well, definitely not the end of the road but I am sure if one works out the permutations and combinations, it would leave them in a situation of needed to win all but one of their games. And looking how hot Australia is at the moment, it is likely that Sri Lanka would have to win their games against New Zealand, England and West Indies to be sure of securing a spot in the semifinals.
Can they do it? I think they are definitely capable of doing it provided the top order fires on a more consistent basis. It is well known that Jayasurya is sure to give a very good start in atleast every alternate game. Where Sri Lanka have been hurt in the past few games though is the poor form of Mahela Jayawardene and the lack of runs from Sangakkara. While I am convinced that Sangakkara's case is only temporary, Mahela's struggle with the bat is definitely a big concern.
After the amazing run in the Natwest series in England which saw him being named among Wisden's five cricketers of the year and firm his position as captain of Sri Lanka, Mahela has gone through a lean patch of 22 games in which he has scored just 1 fifty (85 against Bermuda after he was dropped off the first ball) and averages 25.11. Surely not the sort of numbers one would expect off him. And what this has done is placed enormous pressure on the inexperienced middle order consisting of Lanka Silva, Dilshan and Arnold. Sri Lanka really need him to get back to his normal fluency and touch to have any chance of progressing.
I think he is also currently batting at the crucial #3 position and while it gives him time to build an innings, he has been guilty of throwing it away after wasting too many balls. One option would be to play one of the lower order players at #3 or maybe even try Maharoof in that position and drop himself down the order. Of course, trying Maharoof there would mean that Arnold gets left out in favor of another bowler in the form of Dilhara FErnando. There may also be a case for giving Attapattu at the top of the order. Anyway, there are definitely issues to ponder for the team management. But the easiest solution would be for Mahela to strike form and get some fluent runs.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
The chokers are back
Check this out.. South Africa 206/5, need FOUR runs to win with 5 wickets in hand in 5.2 overs. Malinga is the bowler, he has had a horrible day going for 49 runs in 7 overs in a low scoring game. Match in the kitty you would suppose. But wait, this is South Africa, nothing is over till the last run is obtained. Then this happened:
44.5: Malinga to Pollock, OUT, BINGO! Finally Malinga strikes, that is a superb bit of bowling. It's a slower ball on the stumps, Pollock just does not pick it, plays inside the line of the ball and loses his leg stump. Even with the game all but gone Sri Lanka are fighting. Pollock played a good hand but now he's gone!
44.6: Malinga to Hall, OUT, ANOTHER! Andrew Hall goes off the very first ball! It's another speared-in yorker, Hall just about manages to dig it out, but he can't keep the ball down ... it bobs up into the air for the man at cover to pouch easily! Is there a twise left in this game
46.1: Malinga to Kallis, OUT, Would you believe it? Malinga has got the hat-trick! Full, furious, outside off stump, Kallis goes for a square-drive and nicks it behind. Loud appeal. Kallis stays rooted. Even louder appeal and Harper raises the fatal finger. SA eight down and choking real badly.
46.2: Malinga to Ntini, OUT, And then they were one! Malinga gets four in four. Unbelievable! Screaming yorker and Ntini drives, bat comes inside the line and ball crashes into the off stump. Malinga is slinging down magic deliveries and SA are nine down.
In between Vaas bowled an over where Kallis took a single off the first ball. Wondering if the last pair can get the 3 runs needed. Langeveldt just got a single as they negotiated the last four balls of the Malinga over. Surely they have to finish it off against Vaas before Malinga comes back to bowl his next over. Or Will we have a tie between these two teams again?. Surely everyone remembers the previous world cup where South Africa got the D/L wrong and ended up tieing the game. Will South Africa have another tie in World cup matches?
Vaas bowls a maiden to Langeveldt. Over to Malinga again and two runs needed. Something tells me Sri Lanka are actually on top here. South Africa win Pieterson gets the expected edged FOUR and South Africa hold on to win what must have actually been an easy and convincing 5-wicket victory. Surely, that must have sent a few jitters in the dressing room and I am sure other teams will pick on it to play some mind games.
44.5: Malinga to Pollock, OUT, BINGO! Finally Malinga strikes, that is a superb bit of bowling. It's a slower ball on the stumps, Pollock just does not pick it, plays inside the line of the ball and loses his leg stump. Even with the game all but gone Sri Lanka are fighting. Pollock played a good hand but now he's gone!
44.6: Malinga to Hall, OUT, ANOTHER! Andrew Hall goes off the very first ball! It's another speared-in yorker, Hall just about manages to dig it out, but he can't keep the ball down ... it bobs up into the air for the man at cover to pouch easily! Is there a twise left in this game
46.1: Malinga to Kallis, OUT, Would you believe it? Malinga has got the hat-trick! Full, furious, outside off stump, Kallis goes for a square-drive and nicks it behind. Loud appeal. Kallis stays rooted. Even louder appeal and Harper raises the fatal finger. SA eight down and choking real badly.
46.2: Malinga to Ntini, OUT, And then they were one! Malinga gets four in four. Unbelievable! Screaming yorker and Ntini drives, bat comes inside the line and ball crashes into the off stump. Malinga is slinging down magic deliveries and SA are nine down.
In between Vaas bowled an over where Kallis took a single off the first ball. Wondering if the last pair can get the 3 runs needed. Langeveldt just got a single as they negotiated the last four balls of the Malinga over. Surely they have to finish it off against Vaas before Malinga comes back to bowl his next over. Or Will we have a tie between these two teams again?. Surely everyone remembers the previous world cup where South Africa got the D/L wrong and ended up tieing the game. Will South Africa have another tie in World cup matches?
Vaas bowls a maiden to Langeveldt. Over to Malinga again and two runs needed. Something tells me Sri Lanka are actually on top here. South Africa win Pieterson gets the expected edged FOUR and South Africa hold on to win what must have actually been an easy and convincing 5-wicket victory. Surely, that must have sent a few jitters in the dressing room and I am sure other teams will pick on it to play some mind games.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Bangladesh dump India out of WC 2007 officially
Bangladesh beat Bermuda and comfortably made it to the super eights of the cricket world cup. They join Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa, England and Ireland in the next round of the World cup. I pick them to win convincingly against Ireland and also win against England :). I think Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and West Indies will be my favorites for the semi-finals now. New Zealand have progressed with 2 points but the injury to Lou Vincent is a major blow and I don't see then winning enough games to make the next stage.
Meanwhile, its time for the Indian team to head back and get a good break before a very hectic season. Its time for the people who matter to sit down and see how to take the team forward. I don't think its time to start thinking about 2011 yet. They need some short term objectives like how to make it to the top of the rankings in the two lists. The senior players need to decide about their commitment to the future of the team and the selectors need to decide if they see them in the future plans.
Lets hope something good happens out of this loss for the future of Indian cricket
Meanwhile, its time for the Indian team to head back and get a good break before a very hectic season. Its time for the people who matter to sit down and see how to take the team forward. I don't think its time to start thinking about 2011 yet. They need some short term objectives like how to make it to the top of the rankings in the two lists. The senior players need to decide about their commitment to the future of the team and the selectors need to decide if they see them in the future plans.
Lets hope something good happens out of this loss for the future of Indian cricket
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Go Bermuda, give us one more chance :-)
Can Bermuda stop Bangladesh tomorrow and give India a totally unexpected and according to many, an undeserving second life? Stranger things have happened in cricket. Go Laverock and Romaine and Hemp and others. You have the support of a billion people tomorrow :). It will not happen too often in your cricketing history when your aspirations will be so eagerly supported by so many people :).
Government and CEOs unite in fixing Indian matches :-)
In a latest startling revelation, it has been learnt that Indian cricketers were instructed to throw away their games against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and fail to qualify for the super eights. It is learned from unidentified source that the government was worried about potential fallouts from the whole nation being sleep deprived following games that last all night. The top CEOs from several leading corporations are also said to have chipped in with money to help fix the games. They are said to believe that the early exit will increase the efficiency of millions of employees in the organization as they will no longer be sleep deprived when they turn up for work.
Disclaimer This article is just meant to be a joke and has no truth to it at least to be best of my knowledge :).
Disclaimer This article is just meant to be a joke and has no truth to it at least to be best of my knowledge :).
Indian cricket team, I still stand by you
It doesn't feel too good when I read this or this. I think its really unfair to blame Chappell for this defeat. Also, I think the questions from reporters at his press conference yesterday after the loss were ridiculous and downright insensitive. I can't believe that the reporters think that the captain and coach were dancing up and down after the loss and didn't care whatsoever. To borrow a line from Dravid's interview: "Nobody realizes the enormity of the defeat than the players. The players are the one who put in a lot of time. They worked really hard for this. It is an opportunity they get once in four years. It is something that you really look forward to in your career. So no-one understands the enormity of this more than the players".
I agree with Dravid. All we do is sit back and criticize. But just imagine how much a player goes through. They all dream about winning the World Cup. I am sure there is no greater joy than leading a team to winning a championship. So, I am sure they are all disappointed a zillions times more than an average Indian fan, who takes to the streets and burns effigies and throws stones at public properties because he has nothing better to do. Rather, I wish we rally around the team and stand by them. If only people had put in more constructive efforts after the defeat against Bangladesh and rallied for the team, maybe things would have been different. Apart from the BCCI president, no one came to the support of the team and everyone slammed them for losing to Bangladesh and created undue pressure for the next game. But, any rational cricket fan will also realize that Bangladesh has worked so hard on its game and they are no longer the bunnies of cricket and are well capable of pulling off an occasional upset. They have spent so much more time in WI and have played a few tough games against the other minnows and were clearly better prepared. The tame win against WI in the warm-up followed by a long break clearly affected our rhythm and by the time we realized it, it was too late.
And we clearly lost to a far superior team in Sri Lanka. Once again, to blame the defeat to a lack of effort is silly. I think the strategy was good, just the execution did not pay off. Uthappa was clearly given the license to go after the bowling and he started off well before Vaas pulled off a blinder. Saurav could have carried on his anchoring role for a while longer given Sehwag was blazing away but once again, Murali pulled off a stunner. Anyone who watched Sri Lanka bat will remember the numerous inside and outside edges fly past keeper or slips for boundaries. Sachin had one and it crashed bang onto leg stump. It just wasn't our day guys. And 10/10, Murali would have nailed Dhoni with that delivery, it was a beauty to receive as your first ball. We just couldn't do anything. It just want not meant to be.
I was upset that we lost. I think we are a far superior team than Bangladesh and Ireland and once we find out feet, we can knock any team. One just needs to look back to the previous world cup to realize that we can be slow starters. Effigies were burnt last world cup too and Sachin came up and asked supporters to have patience and rally behind the team and they had one of the most sterling runs to the finals. However, the format of this Would cup just didnt give them the chance. Who knows, if Bermuda knocks off Bangladesh tomorrow, the team may come back strongly for all you know. One extremely bad day against Bangladesh caught us on the wrong foot and potentially caused our elimination from the championship. But that does not make the and hard work and processes wrong.
It is for this reason that I think its important for fans to rally behind the team and show support and faith. We have done the criticizing job a lot, let try the other option now. Greg started off two years ago, trying to streamline Indian cricket and introduce processes. Things worked beautifully before some people lost form and everyone scrambled for Greg's head. If we had shown patience, things might have been different, who knows. So, its time to show support to Greg and allow him to carry his process forward. Its time to bring the youngsters back and for the seniors to play the support role in building the team for the future.
I am not saying everything the team did is right. It still annoys me that they don't realize that some times the best option is to look for singles instead of hitting out. It annoys me that they can't hit the stumps with direct hits when it matters. It annoys me that they can't stop bowling wides and no-balls. It still annoys me that they cant win crunch games. It still annoys me that they don't show consistency in winning games. It still annoys me that a team with Dravid, Ganguly and Sachin cannot bully opponents. It still annoys me that the team cannot improve on its ground fielding, that the belief seems to be that 34-year old's cannot field well rather than the them taking an effort to improve like Murali showed . It takes a heart first to get things right. If your thinking is that I can score 10 extra runs to make up for my lapses in the fielding, you have lost half the battle. It still annoys me that there is a team starting with 'I' in the super eights of the World cup and that team is not India. But, I still want to stand by them and help them rebuild.
I agree with Dravid. All we do is sit back and criticize. But just imagine how much a player goes through. They all dream about winning the World Cup. I am sure there is no greater joy than leading a team to winning a championship. So, I am sure they are all disappointed a zillions times more than an average Indian fan, who takes to the streets and burns effigies and throws stones at public properties because he has nothing better to do. Rather, I wish we rally around the team and stand by them. If only people had put in more constructive efforts after the defeat against Bangladesh and rallied for the team, maybe things would have been different. Apart from the BCCI president, no one came to the support of the team and everyone slammed them for losing to Bangladesh and created undue pressure for the next game. But, any rational cricket fan will also realize that Bangladesh has worked so hard on its game and they are no longer the bunnies of cricket and are well capable of pulling off an occasional upset. They have spent so much more time in WI and have played a few tough games against the other minnows and were clearly better prepared. The tame win against WI in the warm-up followed by a long break clearly affected our rhythm and by the time we realized it, it was too late.
And we clearly lost to a far superior team in Sri Lanka. Once again, to blame the defeat to a lack of effort is silly. I think the strategy was good, just the execution did not pay off. Uthappa was clearly given the license to go after the bowling and he started off well before Vaas pulled off a blinder. Saurav could have carried on his anchoring role for a while longer given Sehwag was blazing away but once again, Murali pulled off a stunner. Anyone who watched Sri Lanka bat will remember the numerous inside and outside edges fly past keeper or slips for boundaries. Sachin had one and it crashed bang onto leg stump. It just wasn't our day guys. And 10/10, Murali would have nailed Dhoni with that delivery, it was a beauty to receive as your first ball. We just couldn't do anything. It just want not meant to be.
I was upset that we lost. I think we are a far superior team than Bangladesh and Ireland and once we find out feet, we can knock any team. One just needs to look back to the previous world cup to realize that we can be slow starters. Effigies were burnt last world cup too and Sachin came up and asked supporters to have patience and rally behind the team and they had one of the most sterling runs to the finals. However, the format of this Would cup just didnt give them the chance. Who knows, if Bermuda knocks off Bangladesh tomorrow, the team may come back strongly for all you know. One extremely bad day against Bangladesh caught us on the wrong foot and potentially caused our elimination from the championship. But that does not make the and hard work and processes wrong.
It is for this reason that I think its important for fans to rally behind the team and show support and faith. We have done the criticizing job a lot, let try the other option now. Greg started off two years ago, trying to streamline Indian cricket and introduce processes. Things worked beautifully before some people lost form and everyone scrambled for Greg's head. If we had shown patience, things might have been different, who knows. So, its time to show support to Greg and allow him to carry his process forward. Its time to bring the youngsters back and for the seniors to play the support role in building the team for the future.
I am not saying everything the team did is right. It still annoys me that they don't realize that some times the best option is to look for singles instead of hitting out. It annoys me that they can't hit the stumps with direct hits when it matters. It annoys me that they can't stop bowling wides and no-balls. It still annoys me that they cant win crunch games. It still annoys me that they don't show consistency in winning games. It still annoys me that a team with Dravid, Ganguly and Sachin cannot bully opponents. It still annoys me that the team cannot improve on its ground fielding, that the belief seems to be that 34-year old's cannot field well rather than the them taking an effort to improve like Murali showed . It takes a heart first to get things right. If your thinking is that I can score 10 extra runs to make up for my lapses in the fielding, you have lost half the battle. It still annoys me that there is a team starting with 'I' in the super eights of the World cup and that team is not India. But, I still want to stand by them and help them rebuild.
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