September 19, 2010
Cricket is still alive! That was one hell of a match that went down to the wire, burnt the wire and proceeded to the Super Over. Chennai Super Kings’s tactics vs. the Aussies was a treat to watch. While many may take issue with Ashwin bowling the super over, I think Dhoni’s choice was a decent one. Maybe my choice would have been Raina, and yes, that’s a mighty gamble. But that’s the thing with gambles; if you pull it off it looks great, if you don’t it looks ridiculous.
Victoria Bushrangers did well to tie the match. Liked to see the spunk from Peter Siddle. The tournament is still alive for them as well. CSK’s aren’t in too much trouble, so this result opens up the table for their group a bit more. It’ll be interesting to see who makes it.
Having said all that, I think the tied result needs to stay that way even in a T20. It’s a significant result with a special meaning.
2 Comments |
Champions League, Chennai, Cricket, Dhoni, India | Tagged: Ashwin, Ashwin Ravichandran, Champions League, Chennai Super Kings, CSK, CSK Super Over, CSK vs. Victoria Bushranges, India, Indian cricket, Peter Siddle, Raina, Super Over, Suresh Raina, Tied T20, Victoria Bushrangers |
Permalink
Posted by vmminerva
March 1, 2009
For those who are crying about the death of Test Cricket, where are you? What are you watching? Sorry, SL and Pak, but I couldn’t survive even 5 overs of that Test match. While Paul Collingwood and Ravi Bopara added some excitement to a mostly boring match, with the result of the result still undecided, there is still some life in that one. But this one is a cracker of a Test match, with today’s play worth every minute of the Sunday afternoon/evening.
Jacques Kallis turned the tables for South Africa today with an inspired spell of bowling, one which he hasn’t produced for some time. This is what South Africa have been missing for some time – an in form Kallis. If he can pitch in 80-100 odd with the bat, this match may be South Africa’s. Four Australian wickets fell in matter of 5 overs and the Aussies were slowly but surely lost grip on this Test. The only disappointment for me was Dale Steyn. I was expecting a fiery over to Peter Siddle after what Steyn received from the latter yesturday.
After wrapping up Australia for 207, the hosts put up a solid start. If Smith didn’t throw his wicket away with that mistimed shot, the outlook would be almost euphoric. The task is yet a good ask – 276 runs from 90 overs with 8 wickets – that’s a health 3 odd runs an over and some strokes of luck. I’ll be rooting for South Africa! Go Kallis! Go South Africa!
Side note: The umpiring has been pathetic to say the least. Fellow blogger Soulberry and Som have done a better job – one with concern and the other with humor – in describing just how hopeless the umpiring situation is. Blind as bat Bucknor is with Billy Bowden, who is slowly but surely loosing my respect. Given the way things have gone, one would think the series is being played in Australia for they have had the benefit of some of the most ridiculous referrals. The umpire referral system is a joke – we have three huge egos clashing instead of two. Interestingly, they seem to have a ploy of sticking to togather in their “crisis”. Can we stop the referral system and move on, please?
4 Comments |
Cricket, Pakistan, Paul Collingwood, Umpiring | Tagged: Australia, Australia's tour of South Africa 2009, Cricket, Dale Steyn, England, England's tour of West Indies, Greame Smith, Jacques Kallis, Johannesburg, Kallis, Pakistan, Paul Collingwood, Peter Siddle, Ravi Bopara, Siddle to Steyn, Smith, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Steyn, Test Cricket, Umpiring, umpiring review system, Wanderers Cricket stadium, West Indies |
Permalink
Posted by vmminerva
October 22, 2008
India triumph over Australia to go 1-0 up in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2008-09 with a historic win in the second Test at Mohali. Team effort and proactive captaincy made this possible. Australia have been bringing the best out of India for the past 5 years now, with each victory arguably better than the other in quality.
Congratulations, India! A well earned victory! Cheers!
But the series isn’t over yet and there is still some good work to do.
Where now from here for India? India need to keep the intensity just where it is, if not turn it up another notch. The bowling attack with Ishant, Bhajji and Zaheer is rocking. Mishra had a compelling debut. Delhi will be key and the selectors will have one hell of a task picking a playing XI. I shall save that for another discussion, but I must add that for once, I’m glad that this selection isn’t my job!
India’s batting is still a bit of a concern. Ganguly has been the best performer so far – he’s looked solid in defence, characteristic in attack and has played his natural game. Viru and Gambhir closely follow. There are still a few question marks around the others in the batting order with respect to solidity, based on current form.
As for the Aussie, I would give anything to hear from Greg Chappell. 🙂 I’ll save my comments on him till the end of the series. Ponting has some sorting out to do. Clarke is good only in patches. I don’t understand how Shane Watson and Cameron White made it to the side. The only reason I can think of is thier familiarity to the conditions from IPL. Watson, course played for the Rajasthan Royals and White, rather unimpressively for Bangalore Royal Challengers. I find it hard to believe that the Aussies don’t have anything better in the closet. Haddin has a long way to go – an average keeper and below-average Test batsman. Siddle was hyped beyond proportions, might be (along with Johnson) the better ones from the newer lot. Lee is obviously out of form/rusty. Two players hold the key – Hayden and Hussey. While lashing out at the apparent lack-of-quality/experience in the Aussie line up, in the back of my mind, there is this dark thought that India might face this very situation (maybe even worse with the batting) when the Fab four disappear from the scene. But that is not for this day.
This day, we celebrate for going one step ahead to re-gaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy! Cheers!
13 Comments |
Bhajji, Cricket, Dhoni, Dravid, Ganguly, India, India-Aus series, Indian cricket, Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Tendulkar, The Big 3 of Indian cricket, Zaheer Khan | Tagged: Amit Mishra, Amit Mishra's debut, Aussie team, Australia, Bangalore Royal Challengers, Bhajji, Border Gavaskar Trophy, Brad Haddin, Bree Lee, Clarke, Cricket, Dhoni, Dhoni captaincy, Dravid, Fab Four, Fab four of Indian cricket, Gambhir, Ganguly, Gautham Gambhir, Greg Chappell, Haddin, Harbhajan, Harbhajan Singh, Hayden, Hussey, Ind vs Aus 2008-09 Day 5, India, India vs. Aus 2nd Test Mohali, India win 2nd Test at Mohali, IPL, Ishant, Ishant Sharma, Johnson, Lee, Michael Clarke, Mishra, Mitchell Johnson, Mohali, MS Dhoni, Peter Siddle, Ponting, Rajasthan Royals, Ricky Ponting, Sehwag, selectors, Shane Watson, Siddle, Sourav Ganguly, Tendulkar, Test Cricket, The Big 3 of Indian cricket, The Big Three of Indian cricket, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Watson, Zaheer Khan |
Permalink
Posted by vmminerva
October 15, 2008
The Mohali Pitch will not be the “usual Mohali” pitch. It will have bounce initially but will turn later. God! What does this mean? What do we do if we lose the toss?
Pacers and Kumble can use the bounce. But what if Ponting has figured out Ishant? Have all the Aussies gotten a hang of Kumble?
“Danger man” Stuark Clark may not play? But Peter Siddle may debut. What if our middle order can’t figure him out – given our records from a Lee in ’99 to Chris Tremlet in 2007 and Ajantha Mendis in 2008 (bowlers on debut)?
What if we can’t get Hussey at all?
It’s raining in Mohali. What could that mean?
Seriously, is it just me?
6 Comments |
Anil Kumble, Cricket, Dravid, Ganguly, India, India-Aus series, Indian cricket, Kumble, Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Sourav Ganguly, Tendulkar, The Big 3 of Indian cricket | Tagged: 2nd Test Mohali, Ajantha Mendis, Anil Kumble, Australia, Australia's tour of India 2008, Bret Lee, Chris Tremlet, Clark, Cricket, Fab four of Indian cricket, Hussey, India, India against bowlers on debut, India-Aus 2008-09 2nd Test Mohali, Indian cricket, Indian middle order, Ishant, Ishant Sharma, Kumble, Lee, Mendis, Mohali, Mohali pitch, Peter Siddle, Ponting, rain in Mohali, Ricky Ponting, Stuark Clark, Test Cricket |
Permalink
Posted by vmminerva