In my earlier message i totally skipped touching on this topic which i really wanted to after having read Mr. Editor's analysis about Kumble's ability. Sir, if you think Kumble is only as good as the pitch, it still leads me to think how many bowlers can really decimate the opposition consistently under a given set of conditions? Well Kartik is no doubt a good budding up leg spinner, but what on earth makes him comparable to Kumble already? and you talk about Kumble's spinning ability show me some turn (i mean real turn ) when Karitk bowls. I thought people would be wondering why Kartik was chosen over Kumble for the ODI, since Kumble is one heck of bowler when it comes to containing..no matter what the pitch is like (this is owing to the fact the he doesnt turn nor does he rely on it). and yes the leading wicket-taker in Indian cricket ought to take a look at advice by such erudite set of people and i bet he should quit cricket if he has to live with such rash remarks. - Mani
Its a grim reality that everyone reluct to accept, though shewag, rahul, tendulkar can hit form sometimes or after, its a frank that the most matches we have lost is bcoz of the bowlers inability to have a match on the hold. One more important perspective is that what murali karthik can do for this world of competitive cricket of spinners,did he turn any matches by himself by taking many wickets, and iam ready to challenge anyone that he was never a match winner and he cant be a match winner anymore.(except offcoure he has taken 3 wickets greatly turning pitch in bombay in last test against australia). Really if batsman wants to hit the ball he can hit it anywhere around the ground, i dont feel any pressure he can apply on batsman mind. Its quite ridiculous to have him as important spinner and most importantly he is bowling in the most critical middle overs to sustain the run rate, ohh!!! what a crazy idea. Try out some other youngsters and dont have him in team just to have some spinner in our team. Wishes for indian team in forthcming matches.
NOTE: KINDLY PASTE MY MESSAGE AS THIS TOPIC HAS BEEN IGNORED BY MOST PEOPLE AND LET OTHERS KNOW ABOUT THIS GRIM FACT.
It is nothing new. We often fails to clinch the last wickets soon for the lack of a strike bowler. After claiming 6 wickets, India allowed pakistan to reach 245 in the Karachi test. In one historical matches before, I remember the last pair of pakistan took 154 runs to win a test match against India. The pair of Asif Iqbal and Inthikab Alum scored those runs and won the match for their team. Inthikab Alum's contribution was just 9 runs , I remember. Asif Iqbal tormented the Indian bowlers by taking singles in every over and kept the strike. However good our players they lack the punch and killer instinct. India could have reached 350 - 370 runs by sensible batting in the first one day, as they were 270 odd runs after 30 overs or so. But our players buckled unnecesserily. This story still continues and will continue. None of our batsman never click together. Whereas in the Karachi test, Pakistan top batsmen all were scored 50 runs. Who can forget the last ball winning six of Javed Miandad. That is called determination. Our players lack anything that is determination and the urge to win - Sasi, Trivandrum
Sachin, Saurav, Laxman are reminders of their glorious past...They are worn out engines which should hav been replaced a couple of seasons before...
Dravid, Sehwag are weak in firepower and consistency respectively...
Of the bowlers...none of them seem to be decent, let alone special...
Kaif is in the team on the basis of his fielding alone, He doesnt have either fire-power or consistency...
Yuvraj is a mixed bet...he seems to have improved a lot in recent times...but his also weak in the consisitency part...But still a good bet.
The only bright rays in the horizon are MS.Dhoni and I.Pathan, both are good strikers of the ball. May be they dont have the class associated with players like Sachin, Dravid or Laxman, but they can sure tear apart any attack. And thats what India needs at the moment...not classic players who are ineffective. Moreover Dhoni and Pathan add flexibilty to the side, although Pathans performance as a bowler are seriously deteriorating.
So Indian needs to develop a new pool of players, youngsters who can hit hard, who have the power and a decent technique, who can go for the big shots at will and dont end up in the fielders hands more often than not.
when any one analyse why indian cricket always buckle irrespective of batting strength, it is none other than the seniors contribute for the debacle succeming to pressure. Take the case of the first ODI at Peshwar. It is only Sachin's untimely out and the Wall's collapse at the crucial stage. No body could guss when our seniors are going to shed fear-factor? Again no one could guss when any one of our boulers could able to bowl right on the wicket as Asif in Pakistan.
so you are actually calling the team who never got down the number three spot for more than 2 years now to be a finsihed team? well, the facts doesnt say that though. india lost just one away series in the last 3 years.
The points raised are all relevant, and were relevant even three months back. Somebody made a comment just one defeat and the vultures are back. We have been preparing docile pitches and making hero of our boys. The opposition knows our strengths and weaknesses better and prepared likewise. How many of us really believed that the results against SA could be replicated in Capetown/Perth/Sabina Park grounds. There is nothing wrong to commend a good performance. But expectations should be based on reality. It is time that we realise our true strengths weaknesses. The point to ponder is in what way did Greg Chappel and his hand picked team contributed towards the Indian Team from the status left by his predecessor.
Good article. India needs international standard bowling coach preferably a ex-fast bowler(viz., Holding,Akram, Waqar,Lilee or Hadlee ect.)and two spinner coach: 1)one for off-spin( Prasanna or Venkat)and 2)another for legspin (Qadir, Bedi ect).
Greg Chappel has failed in improving the bowling department and before it is too late, Mr Pawar, Pl. take necessary action. Thanks.
