i fully agree with the columnist. Also laxman and zaheer should be drafted only for the tests. Pl dont destroy the careers of yuvaraj and jadeja. Jadeja should be immediately brought into one day squad. He may do wonders in 2007 world cup. Pl decide firmly whether yuvraj should be there in the tests or not so that he can concentrate. At the first place he should not have been brought to the tests only. Is it mandatory to have aspecialist opener when we dont have one, the list for the sake of having one bangar.. deepdas..wasim.. akash..gambhir... and waitng in the wings sriram..dheeraj..mane... all domestic heroes but otherwise.. Instead of wasting like this ganguly should agree to open in tests. He is a class apart as a opener. He would have got more centuries by now.Wright was enough as he is doing a good job and then what sunny is doing there.. as a batting consultant and to that limit fine.
Here is the tour of the year. Our cricketers couldn't have asked for a better opposition. Here, both the teams, India and Bangladesh are evenly matched with respect to talent, quality of cricket played and mental/physical toughness. Here, you will see all our "otherwise impotent heroes" (Sachin included)blasting away centuries and playing like champions. Our team is so talented that it can lose to Bangladesh as well. This tour has been cleverly planned. Sachin, Sehwag, Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman will all blast away runs and the ever idiotic media will project them as "demi-gods". Once back home, they will again be showered with lots of commercials that will make their purse fat like a pig. At the end, cricket will be at the receiving end ! Challenge my thoughts ? Dare you ?
Its good to keep kumble on rest for test cricket. He is a good player for both One day & tests. But he having an advantage of picking more wickets when he do long spells , which is only possible in tests. Now in one dayers Harbajan is enough for india as they having enough part-time spinners in the side who can give good support to Harbhajan. More than that Baji is having a tallent of picking quick wickets , which is required in one dayers. In case india playes in a spin wicket then they can consider kumble as 2nd spinner. they can also include him as a special case for important matches or finals if required. Kumble is very good in giving break threw's before 15 overs if all the other ballers are going for runs. He having his variations in his balling which he can deliver in long spells. Kumble is already aged 35 & india should keep him for tests as if he retiers now there is no other spinners who can give baji a support. Kumble-Baji spell is a good & danger combination against any team.
Best wishes to kumble to get that 500 ! ! ! mark soon
I agree with your column, though not for the reasons mentioned. Kumble, in any case, is not made for the one-day game. The Indian think tank has also been going in with Harbhajan (whenever he is fit) for the ODI's along with any 3 of Pathan, Zaheer, Nehra, Balaji and Ajit depending on fitness and form. We need to get the best team in and that's why Kumble should be rested from the ODI scene. The same is true for Laxman, too. In Laxman's case obviously, the India team management thinks too highly of Laxman's value in the ODI scene. But then a younger and athletic person would be useful in the field, too where invariably India gives away 20-30 extra runs. Both Laxman & Kumble should be preserved only for Tests.
The article was good till this comment: "Shane Warne has a better average of 61 at 24.22, but then he did not have to bowl on pitches tailor-made for batting."
-HUH????? --which test in Australia ever ended under 3 days? --Warne does not bowl in spinner friendly pitched either (except for Sydney).. --Warne's wicket gets shared by others..Kumble for the larger part of his career was the sole wicket tacking bowler.. -Warne's record abroad is phenomenal. --Kumble never bowled against fellow Indians who are the best players of spin..In the sole one day in Lords (MCC vs rest of world), where he bowled against tendulkar, he went for 34 runs in the first 3 overs against him..
Kumble has a respectable place in history...He is arguably the best Indian slow bowler till date.. Cherish that..Give him his due...But comparing him to the Sultan only demeans his stature.. Please exclude Warne in any column on Kumble..
Ashish, Good to see all the accolades given to a simpleton like Kumble - for a change the media is highlighting a person whose commitment has been taller than Mt. Everest. Kumble never played the game like he is someone special. Like he has the magic bowl - like he has the charisma - his raw material is hard work and never say die attitude.
Hence if we give him special treatment which he never invited - then something will not be correct. Let Kumble be the same good Kumble like we have for 14 years. Don't put any frills on him.
By giving Kumble his independance we are giving respect to a silent soft spoken person who has been the pillar of Indian spin bowling.
Hats off to a bowler who is equallt in the league of all time great spinners.
