I have always been telling on here that our media,former players like Gavaskar and current ones like Bhajji Sreesanth etc are only focussing on Sledging the AUssies and completely ignoring their greatness,they have won 4 WCUPS and 2 without losing a single match and also won series after series for almost 15 years,so its high time we give them the credit and start focussing on the game to counter them than some stupid verbal diarrhea....they are too good and we are no way number2 team,thats just a myth,we are no different to any touring team there and look at our ODI record against them last 10 years or so you will find the huge gap..
Seeing this performance against a bowler like Stuart Clark with pace of mid 130s wonder what india will do against Shaun Tait... who consistently bowls at around 150kmph (=93.2miles)... woh this much miles to our indian bowlers in Kmph
I wonder if that really is applicable to Dravid. If it is, then former opener SS Das is also deserves this. See the similarity in their batting styles, Dravid: Wait for bad ball and hit when it comes. it might come after 100 good balls SS Das: Wait for a ball on leg side so that he can guide it to leg side and get his runs. Leave aside all off stump balls
I believe Tendulkar is the most technically correct batsmen in India. He has variety of shots and often invents new ones. Remember the six at thirdman off Shoaib, paddle sweep, fine leg glance even when the ball is directed on off stump (alth he is yet to learn reverse sweep)
Has anyone heard channel 9 commentary? Aus wants India to play their game.. I think India's approach was fine, see off new ball and then we have attacking batsmen to score big. Just that this approach didn't work out ... give support to Dravid (he took new ball shine off ... only he should have rotated the srike a bit).
Aus ex cricketers and media will now target Dravid, Jaffer with pressure,, thats what they do to visiting teams. Our team needs to stand behind Dravid (as sachin did) as we need him to give fight to aussies.
Just day 2 guys ,,, same bunch of guys made aussie sweat last time and also on 1st day .. lets hope we get day 3-4 and beyond !!
RE:2 days
by Nishant on Dec 28, 2007 12:52 AM
One can see of the new ball playing confidently.
One can see of the new ball by offering chances (hoping they are not taken), getting crammed up, sending the wrong signals to the people in the dressing room and positive energy to the opponent, taking 40 balls to get off the mark.
Dravid did the second. And yes, he saw off the new ball.
Having said that, i believe Dravid has to perform for India to win. He holds the key. But for today, he realy suckd man!
There are few mistakes committed by Indian team. 1. Having Dravid and Jaffer as openers, will make them one of the slowest opening pairs of all time. Australia clawed back into the game in first 10 overs itself. 2. We should have played with Virendar Sehwag instead of Jaffer or Dravid. He too might have failed but it was worth gambling than having Dravid as an opener. 3. Running between the wickets is horrible. No one could have imagined this kinda cricket. Both Jaffer and Dravid locked to the same end for long periods of time. So many singles are not pushed as twos and twos are not pushed as 3s. Only Sachin did that. He did run for others too. 4. As batsman who stayed for a while in the middle Ganguly should have taken as much strike as possible. This could have saved Yuvi and Dhoni not facing Clark immediately. Ganguly never bothered this one.
Remedies for these mistakes: 1.Drop either Jaffer or Dravid for next week's match. 2. Dont push someone as opener If he's not really an opener on a moving pitch. 3. Play aggressive cricket. This is the only way to counter Australia in Australia. If you play for survival, at the very moment you're a goner.
Above all, Sachin and Sourav showed some aggression which is good for Indian team indeed. They're gonna be the mainstay of the Indian batting this tour.
There are too many things running into Dravid's mind. If possible we can rest him at least a match or two.
RE:It was a big mistake playing Dravid as an opener
by Pankaj Tiwari on Dec 27, 2007 11:35 PM
One question .... Have you ever played competitive cricket ? The Aussies deserve credit for tough cricket the scores wouldnt have changed much whether it was sehwag or anyone else. Jaffer scored a double ton against Pakistan, Dravid is a fantastic player . Sehwag averaged 13 in the entire domestic series he is lucky to be on the tour
RE:It was a big mistake playing Dravid as an opener
by Suman Bhat on Dec 27, 2007 11:48 PM
today master blaster did not blast or tiger did not roar..where was superstars when team require their service blabbering so much in front of media%u2026. Ganguly said he missed many 100s bcuz of batting up in order why he did not come forward to opening??
what about failure of jaffer, laxman dhoni yuvraj and harbjan wktless???? Here no other Indian batsman is ready to open, cos they all are under tremendous pressure even playing in their regular slot, but not Dravid. Dravid is the savior not only for Indian cricket and to other Indian batsmen too. What about failure of jaffer dhoni yuvraj laxman and harbajan wktless
RE:It was a big mistake playing Dravid as an opener
by Raj on Dec 28, 2007 12:03 AM
Whats wrong, Suman? everytime our batsmen fail, you say why they don't deliver when required? Do you mean their performance is required only few games?
People like you critisize everytime player fails saying they don't deliver when required .. how come India have one 4 tests against Aus in last few years when entire world (apk, eng, SA, NZ, WI) all put togther have won only 5)?
give a break, this is sport, people fail 20% innings on atleast .. hence avg in 50's ,, else we would have 11 Bradman ..
If you want praise Dravid, then do that, you don't have to critisize every other player to praise Dravid.
RE:It was a big mistake playing Dravid as an opener
by James Baker on Dec 28, 2007 12:17 AM
Suman has a point. Why Sachin didn't score his 200? Why can't Ganguly score his 100 now?? why they have to depend on Dravid to give them a good start all the time. Why for once they can't do the job by themselves? They always depend on others like Kumble and Dravid.
RE:It was a big mistake playing Dravid as an opener
by Suman Bhat on Dec 28, 2007 12:53 AM
even laxman, dhoni yuvraj jaffer failed and bajji wktless why dravid always made a scapegoat and blamed?
RE:It was a big mistake playing Dravid as an opener
by Nishant on Dec 28, 2007 12:49 AM
Go get a life.
It doesnt take rocket science to know that Dravid sucked today!!
Laetn to admit that!
Atleast for taoday! when some1 scores 5 of 66 balls and sends the message to the opponent team that we are crammed up and struggling he doesnt deserve the 'saviour of Indian cricket' atleats for today!
and you are a clown to have criticised Sachin n Sourav today when they arew the only ones who have scored decently!
They will fail in the near future, then you can bark. So you gotta wait dear friend. When the time is right, do bark. not today!
Dravid sucked. Period. Tomorrow he can score a 300 and we will al hail him as the Wall. Right now the Wall has too many holes and cracks.
RE:symonds
by James Baker on Dec 28, 2007 12:25 AM
Don't worry about Kumble, he can take care of himself. Why don't you look at the mirror and check who is laughing at who?
