Now that Rahul has redeemed himself with a series win over England in England after 21 years and thus buried the WC debacle ,it is time he steps down.He can focus on his batting.Yuvraj can takeover despite his attitude problems.But Yuvraj shd open in place of Jaffer or else he has to replace Dhoni.It is time to look ahead.
The celebrations at the end of the third test indicated that the whole team was behind the decision not to go in for the follow on.India's bowling was not looking effective to get 10 wkts.While it was ok not to impose the follow on,Dravid's own batting was strange.If only India gave itself 10 more overs and hel the catches,it could well have been 2-0.There seems good vibes between Dravid,Ganguly and Tendulkar.That was good to see.
RE:Most wrost capten ever india had
by GR on Aug 14, 2007 09:01 AM
Luckily for 'hundreds' of 'Indian cricket' fans like me, the ICC considers it a series win. lol
RE:RE:Most wrost capten ever india had
by Sarath Chandra on Aug 14, 2007 09:11 AM
On a personal note, I am enjoying your messages GR. I personally believe people are being unfair to Dravid, who just led his team to a series victory outside the sub-continent (discounting zimbabwe). Something none of our past heroes since Kapil Dev in 1986 (?) achievedd.
RE:Most wrost capten ever india had
by Kunal Sahay on Aug 14, 2007 09:40 AM
right on...People feel that they have a right to comment because..well...do they have the right...even when they are no cricket pundits themselves, are always wrong and think cricket is an easy game that they can play in their backyard because maybe it appears simple to them sitting and watching in their living room.
is not a good captain. This series win was due to great bowling and good batting. To top it off, Dravid didnt bat well throughout the series. If anybody else had been going through a bad patch like this, he would have been dropped for a test or two. But Dravid continues. I always thought Dravid to be a better captain and player than Ganguly, but I guess now I have become a fan of Ganguly.
RE:Dravid
by Chris on Aug 14, 2007 11:18 AM
So Mr or Ms savior, Ganguly won without good bowling or batting? I suppose that Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Kumble, Zaheer, Harbhajan were playing cards in the field. Grow up! No captain won unless his team performed. So please stop making thoughtless comments and savor the win! People can criticise all they like but only Dravid after Kapil Dev won a series in England and how nice it was to see Tendulkar and Ganguly ecstatic about this. This team had no politics, no spy vs spy. It was all about playing like a team.
RE:Kudos to Indian Team and Thumps down to Rahul Dravid
by chrsvd pavan kumar on Aug 14, 2007 09:56 AM
just admire u for those perfect words to describe a boneless captain india has ever produced. Even Gavaskar was a "play for draw" captain, but not stooped this low in his career for a series win.
Dravid's decision not to follow on was not just wrong. Seriously it smacks of Match-fix. I am not saying this in anger. If you evaluate all things, it only points at that. After taking a decision to bat again, did he try to score well. Heck, No. I am sure this is his record-slow run-taking. Even English who had every reason to play like that in the their second innings also could not maintain such low rate, They must have hit a few boundaries in sheer boredon. Rahul did not even do that. Again the catch that you spilled just rubs salt to the wound. You have let India down. You have let the fine performance by your team mate down. Especially, your long-time team mate Kumble. Why did not you try Sourav in the second Innings. In the first Innings too you gave him only a few overs. The next sntence I am writing is by anguish. It may be just my emotion: I feel that you are jealous of your team mates stealing the lime light. you were afraid that Kumble will earn a great credit. You have done that with Sachin earlier (declaring when he was on 195). Dravid, I was a great fan of yours. Now I suspect your every move, Ofcourse - I know I am no one compared to you. But the problem for you would be that I am one of the millions who are feeling like this. That is why I write this - Even though you will never read this, there will be some who will have chance to tell you this; they will.
RE:Dravid is wrong.
by Suman Bhat on Aug 14, 2007 08:46 AM
Let me tell you why you are so correct. Suppose Dravid enforce follow on or bat quickly to score more runs.India cant loose from both the possibilities.
If at any stage Dravid felt bowlers are tiring and england are going after the runs.He would have got sachin and kumble bowling in the rough from round the wicket.THATS IT..WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO FROM THAT POSITION WOULD HAVE BEEN STILL A DRAW.
Dravid played for a draw intentionaly.thats a shame
RE:Dravid is wrong.
by Crick fan on Aug 14, 2007 09:05 AM
Our cricketers are almost politicians when it get to saying anything to cover up themselves. With over night the bowlers were tired as per Captain. In the morning they got the last wicket quickly. The way they batted it looks the batsman were in no mood to bat in 2nd innings instead.
Azhar was the most successful captain before Ganguly became captain..Now Dravid is the most successful captain..I am sure Yuvraj or whoever replace Dravid becomes even more successful..ultimately the most important thing is that India should keep winning. This shows that Indian Cricket is improving.
RE:Notion of Best Ever Capatain is Wrong
by Suman Bhat on Aug 14, 2007 08:42 AM
Indian cricket went a step back when Dravid played for a draw from a winning position.
RE:Notion of Best Ever Capatain is Wrong
by GR on Aug 14, 2007 08:57 AM
Dude, I wanna hear what you'll say 1 month down the line when your passion has cooled!
RE:Notion of Best Ever Capatain is Wrong
by SliMShADy on Aug 14, 2007 08:46 AM
YOU are disgrace for your very existence...instead of cherishing this moment, u r sulking...U r a pathetic loser in life. U too go take a hike son.
Get a life, you losers! Will you ever see the bigger picture - 1-0 series win!
All you friggin armchair critics need to give your rusty brains a break. When you haven't come close to winning anywhere in 21 years, wtf would you have done?
The way you guys are going after Dravid is shameful. It really is.
RE:Series win
by Libran on Aug 14, 2007 08:48 AM
Sorry GR. Rust or no rust that is the true feeling. This Desh*Drohi, Mitr*Drohi, fan*drohi has let us down. Every one who is writing here knows Rahul is not going to read this. This is the safest way to vent some one's anger. No harm done to any one.
RE:RE:Series win
by GR on Aug 14, 2007 08:56 AM
He has let no one down, pal. I know Rahul is not gonna read this, but if millions of ppl like you are gonna keep cursing him, then hundreds like me need to make our opinions felt.
And you know what, I don't have a problem with u all criticising him. All of us armchair fans can do no better. Lets not forget we won the series. My grouse is with people like Kapil Dev who declare on tv that India should have enforced the follow on. Why is he behaving like an armchair critic!! Zaheer bowled below par yesterday .. and the pitch was beautiful. What if England had racked up a 500 score on day 4 and 5? And then India's famed 4th innings collapse tendencies! Poof! Suddenly 1-0 becomes 1-1! What would you and I have said then?
Maybe next time when India tours England and that Indian cpatain finds himself in a similar position, he will not have a 21 year old burden on his head. Maybe he will enforce the follow-on!
RE:Series win
by Anand Vardhan on Aug 14, 2007 10:25 AM
I agree to a good extent Mr. GR. But let me know, if we fans are not interested in cricket, where these demi gods will hide their face? What happened to the other bowlers and Anil Kumble? They should have not bowled with Zaheer on that day and then given the ball the next day too. And for god's sake don't take Kapil's name, coz' he is far too good a positive captain than this tame Dravid. If they played for a win and finish on a losing note, even then there would not be any qualms dear GR. People writing here know the difference between being defensive and being positive. Dravid was really coward in his attempt for a series win.
It could have been a 2-1 or a 1-1. But the manner in which he has demoralised the morale of the team and of course the crores of fans back home is more debatable.
And why not we have the right? I am a simple clerk and i strive to do my best whenever i take up a work. I am not a cricketer and hence i dont know how to play. But he is a cricketer and his work is to play cricket and entertain and not bore us with such useless draw.
RE:Series win
by sandeep sharma on Aug 14, 2007 09:20 AM
My dear friend that's the mentality we have been carrying for all our lives & that's the precise reason we don't win. I can surely imagin that you have a very smart & active brain, but what you are not looking at is this is a win in 21 yrs... 21 yrs is a long tim & the precise reason is the play safe mentaility that's visible from your comments. yesterday India needed just 5 wickets most of them tailendrs & if u calculate we lost around 4hrs as India batted again, due to which we drew the match which we could have won. ITS NOT ABOUT A MATCH OR SERIES WON IN 21 YRS, IT's THE CONSISTENCY WITH WHICH WE CAN WIN. ITS A SHAME THAT WE HAVE WON ONE TEST SERIES IN 21 YRS.
RE:Series win
by Chris on Aug 14, 2007 11:29 AM
Easier said in hindsight Mr Sharma! As it was England hit 360 . And they were six down. If they had hit 460 with the extra time, you can bet that our batsmen would have screwed up. Dravid's decision is not pretty or romantic but very practical and pragmatic. I am sure Sachin and Saurav also would have thought the same way. As it is even Kumble was ineffective on the 5th day.
RE:Series win
by Nitin Chadha on Aug 14, 2007 08:48 AM
1 thing was so so crystal clear. Indian team wasn't playing for a WIN in the final test. The question is, 'Where is the hunger?' So you just want a win or do u want a comprehensive win? Please, dont talk about last 21 years, even though its a reality, its more of a mental stigma, and its' high time we overcome this. Last 2 days, the game was a big drag, which is not in favour of the game spirit. As many of us would agree, we wouldn't have lost the ghame anyhow. However, a follow-on would have given us a fair cahnce to lead 2-0 in the series. Congrats INDIA for the Series WIN ! On the downside, we became too content with 1-0 series win. Say it being cautious, defensive, OR say it being paraniod, or lack of self-belief !
