Hey skipper!
What a fabulous shot that was. It was one of those shots when the nation went on it's feet and fans mostly men had burst into tears. What an amazing moment it was. I am falling short of words to describe the feeling I went through. You stayed there till the end and won the World Cup. Thanks a lot.
But skipper that was April 02, 2011. A lot has happened since then. I don't remember when was the last time you played a memorable innings in a Test match. The ongoing series was one of the most anticipated ones in the recent times and everybody expected competitive cricket. But we never looked like a No. 1 team. Whether it's Pietersen's double century, Bell's century under pressure or Broad's hat-trick, it has been the home team which has played competitive cricket. We have never been able to make a mark.
You were the skipper of the World No 1 test team and a lot was expected from you. You have just scored 46 runs (28, 16, 0, 5) in the last four innings. You know what captain? Bresnan who has played just the second match in the absence of Tremlett has scored 101 runs in the two innings apart from taking seven wickets. And not to forget, most of the shots he played were quality shots.
Your helicopter hasn't kicked off so far in the series. Your bowling efforts have been ordinary. Your wicket-keeping too hasn't been impressive. You body language has looked defensive. I won't even give you the credit for reinstating Ian Bell. That was a team decision. Moreover you know very well, what would have happened to the team's image if he hadn't been reinstated. Now people would remember it in the spirit of the game and would praise your decision. So like always fortune once again came up with something good for you.
While the team was struggling, we expected you to at least boost up the players with encouraging words. Instead of doing so, this is what you had to say at press meet, “Getting used to the condition it takes a bit of time because every country where you play cricket, it’s a bit different. The length and the line that you are supposed to bowl becomes very different. It you are playing in Australia its completely different length and line when you compare it to England. So I think you take a bit of time.” MSD how can you say that being the skipper of a World No 1 test team and what do you mean by that. You also said that the team is known to gain a late momentum while touring abroad. Skipper just answer a question of mine. Does this mean that whenever you tour abroad, fans should begin to watch the match since second match onwards, since the first game is the one which you use to gain momentum?
When I look at the captain of the other teams, I feel as if you are not the right choice for the test team. Andrew Strauss might be struggling of form in the ongoing series but are you aware that he has scored 9 test centuries since 2009 which is the maximum by any batsmen since then. The skipper of a World Number one team has to be someone who leads by example. And when I say lead, it doesn't only mean setting up a great field and rotating bowlers wisely, but consistent performances with the bat. I hope you are getting me skipper?
I agree you are one of the best skippers but as far as test cricket is concerned I doubt your abilities to be there in the team let alone lead as a skipper. I reckon Wriddhiman Saha and Dinesh Kartik for me are great substitutes with great strokes and not just helicopter shots. And as far as the captaincy is concerned, well we have many contenders for that.
It might be a rude letter skipper, but once you lead a team whose fan following crosses 1.2 billion people, one has to take the right decisions.
And trust me you are really fantastic as an ODI skipper as long as you keep playing the World-cup-final-like innings.
Truly yours,
Ardent cricket fan.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Brutal Sehwag vandalizes Bangladesh.
Sehwag began Indian proceedings with the word ‘go’! He had earlier mentioned his intentions of being revengeful towards Bangladesh and he was up to his promise when he began the Indian innings with a boundary. He scored a boundary off the last ball of the first over as well giving a great start to the Indian innings.
Bangladesh won the toss and chose to field keeping in mind the fact that on most of the occasions, the team batting second had won matches at the ground. But Indian players who carried the painful memories of the 2007 World Cup were all determined for a super show. Sehwag was at his usual best as Bangladesh players were forced to chase leather all across the ground.
Tendulkar added 69 quick runs with Sehwag for the opening partnership and when he looked all set to score a huge one, he was run out. Gambhir walked in next and added another 83 runs for the second wicket before being bowled by Mahmadullah. India’s man-in-form Virat Kohli walked in with his usual confident body language and went on to score his debut century playing some of the finest of shots we have ever seen from him. On the other hand Sehwag at one time looked to hit a double century. His valiant innings however came to an end after he reached his highest score in ODI’s-175. India reached to a massive score of 370 runs.
Bangladesh made it sure that it was not a one-sided contest. With an early assault from Imrul Kayes who scored 34 off 29 deliveries, Bangaldesh reached their 50 runs in the fifth over. The very responsible Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique played cautiously adding 73 runs for the second wicket. But the increasing run rate was a bit too much and nobody came up with an attacking approach to reduce the run rate. Bangladesh managed to score 283 runs at the end of 50 overs and they clearly hinted that they are a much improved side and in case if they were chasing something close to 300, they could have made a match out of it.
The comprehensive victory over a competitive Bangladesh would have for sure pumped up the cricket fans.
The real test lies ahead. India will face England in their next match on February 27 to be held in Bangalore.
Bangladesh won the toss and chose to field keeping in mind the fact that on most of the occasions, the team batting second had won matches at the ground. But Indian players who carried the painful memories of the 2007 World Cup were all determined for a super show. Sehwag was at his usual best as Bangladesh players were forced to chase leather all across the ground.
Tendulkar added 69 quick runs with Sehwag for the opening partnership and when he looked all set to score a huge one, he was run out. Gambhir walked in next and added another 83 runs for the second wicket before being bowled by Mahmadullah. India’s man-in-form Virat Kohli walked in with his usual confident body language and went on to score his debut century playing some of the finest of shots we have ever seen from him. On the other hand Sehwag at one time looked to hit a double century. His valiant innings however came to an end after he reached his highest score in ODI’s-175. India reached to a massive score of 370 runs.
Bangladesh made it sure that it was not a one-sided contest. With an early assault from Imrul Kayes who scored 34 off 29 deliveries, Bangaldesh reached their 50 runs in the fifth over. The very responsible Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique played cautiously adding 73 runs for the second wicket. But the increasing run rate was a bit too much and nobody came up with an attacking approach to reduce the run rate. Bangladesh managed to score 283 runs at the end of 50 overs and they clearly hinted that they are a much improved side and in case if they were chasing something close to 300, they could have made a match out of it.
The comprehensive victory over a competitive Bangladesh would have for sure pumped up the cricket fans.
The real test lies ahead. India will face England in their next match on February 27 to be held in Bangalore.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
No pardon for Eden Gardens
Commonwealth Games already marred the country's image with the issues of corruption and the interference of political parties to probe into the crores of loss, which they referred to as the loot of public money. The general public did not take a keen interest as the Games didn't include cricket.
As the nation blindly follows cricket as a religion, 2011 was a year which the masses had been desperately waiting for. And why not, in a country where it is the unofficial national game, being the hosts of the 2011 World Cup is an occasion worth huge celebrations. But keeping in mind the preparations of the CWG, there was a fear if we could meet up to the standards for the venues on time. And the fear came true.
The news came on January 27, when the ICC ruled out Kolkata as a host venue for the group B match between India and England scheduled to be played on February 27, after its inspection team was suspicious if it would be ready on time. The fans of Bengal have recently witnessed a major shock after Ganguly went unsold in the IPL auctions 4. Eden Gardens brought news that has further disheartened them.
Everybody from the finance minister to the other officials were approached to extend the deadlines for the stadium but all went in vain as ICC did not further risk by extending the deadline.
The point is very debatable. Why are we not able to deliver stadiums within the deadlines? It’s nice to see people lending hands to help the work get completed but at the same time it is really embarrassing for the country. Time has come, where we need to overcome our childhood mentality of delivering projects after the deadlines, specially when the country's pride is at stake.
As the nation blindly follows cricket as a religion, 2011 was a year which the masses had been desperately waiting for. And why not, in a country where it is the unofficial national game, being the hosts of the 2011 World Cup is an occasion worth huge celebrations. But keeping in mind the preparations of the CWG, there was a fear if we could meet up to the standards for the venues on time. And the fear came true.
The news came on January 27, when the ICC ruled out Kolkata as a host venue for the group B match between India and England scheduled to be played on February 27, after its inspection team was suspicious if it would be ready on time. The fans of Bengal have recently witnessed a major shock after Ganguly went unsold in the IPL auctions 4. Eden Gardens brought news that has further disheartened them.
Everybody from the finance minister to the other officials were approached to extend the deadlines for the stadium but all went in vain as ICC did not further risk by extending the deadline.
The point is very debatable. Why are we not able to deliver stadiums within the deadlines? It’s nice to see people lending hands to help the work get completed but at the same time it is really embarrassing for the country. Time has come, where we need to overcome our childhood mentality of delivering projects after the deadlines, specially when the country's pride is at stake.
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