It is a known factor that REDIFF is still financially deep in red. And why not ? If guys like Prem Paniker are chosen as correspondent and commentator. I don't understand how a dude like Paniker, with full of regional bias and practically no knowledge of cricket, is given so much importance. A whole hearted thanks to the Indian team management to prove yet again that Dravid is disastrous as a captain. Dravid may have scored 86 but see how many balls he faced for scoring those runs. Even after playing 250 ODIS he does not have the ability to pierce the field in the slog overs & the guy is said to be in peak form !! If Ganguly was the captain, more than 100 allegations would have been made against him. Its surprising to see not a single comment against Dravid's captaincy. It requires intelligence to check people like Afridi on fire, which unfortunately Dravid does not have. How ridiculous it was to bring Kumble and Mongia within 15 overs, which helped Pakistan run away with the match. Unfortunately from now on you people won't be able to give the often repeated excuse of blaming it on Ganguly.
"But the balding bowler stuck to his guns and bowled with an upright seam, kept the ball in the corridor of uncertainty and had it swing either way."
i've never come across a description like this before. people have used the adjectives, tall, lanky, stocky, muscular, etc. to describe a bowler because these adjectives can affect his style of bowling. is it just me or "balding bowler" sounds like a wierd attempt at forced alliteration.
Afridi played superb innings and he deserves commendation. He meant business from the 1st over and completed 100 in style.
Contrast this with Afridi's counterparts in Indian team. They looked like amatures, mere pedestrians. They too merrily watched Afridi hitting all Indian bowlers, forcing them to howl.
More than the defeat its heartening to see the plight of our team in not checking the blind drunkard 'Afridi'. The article was well written, am a fan of you from now Deepthi...
Seriously, I feel that India should stop playing cricket with anyone for time being. All they have to know is when you step for a war, You have to kill or get killed till the last second. No retreat. If they get this message they can definitely do well. I seriously doubt, its another ploy by the Indian govt as part of cricket-peace intiative. Why should there be 6 matches rather than 5 or 7? Isnt this to some how orchestrate to a 3-3 situation and the two sides are at ease.There will be a definite winner if its 5 or 7 match contest. Veeru is a hit/flop situation. His valour depends on how many times he survives in that game. It all depends on the fielding side that day, that determines what veeru's scores. Also I guess the less said about the India's or world's "best batsmen". I donot think Sir Bradman would have left his side like sachin does. Its high time for Sachin and Ganguly to take break and take stock of their assests and businesses else they will be ruining them also. There is a saying "Our ancestors drank ghee... We are licking lips". We cannot bank on the past laurely. Common give a break "... silences his critics". with just only one innings thats all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>Zaheer was the only Indian bowler who stood up to the Pakistani colossus. Though he was slogged for 30 in 23 balls, it was nothing compared to the fate the rest of the bowlers suffered.
It's not a proper interpretation isn't it? Zaheer bowled a lot of balls to the sedate Salman Butt. But the only bowler who looked decent was harbhajan.
Btw, 3 overs [balaji,kumble,mongia] went for 67 runs to afridi.
My interpretation is given the movement in the wicket, dravid could have sent kaif,yuvraj or himself as one down. as kaif, yuvraj were not in the best of touch he should have come down as 1-drop.
furthermore this was a blitzreig by Afridi which none stood a chance.
i just can't understand that if u have part time spiners like sachin,sehwag,yuvraj and mongia in ur team then what is the need of taking two specialist spiner.a part from this why agarkar is getting ignored.as far as one-day cricket is concern he is one of the best player for india.he is also the most experienced fast bowler.he is also in the 15 member squad but not got chance in a single match.so,i hope that the indian team management will think about this and we will see him in action in the next game at kotla,delhi.the team desperitly needs him..........
