Nothing can ever fill the scars caused by that humiliating defeat. The Indian batting 'greats' were treated like school kids by the likes of Tuffy, Oram, Styris, Cairns and of course Bond. That series was a hard blow to the Indian curators who used to prepare low turinig tracks which assists the spinners from ball one on day one. From that series onwards, the Indian pitches became either flat tracks or sporting strips, unless Team India is traling in a series when specific instructions are handed out to the curators to prepare a rank turner. (Just like the one on which the last test of the home series against SA was played)
Re: A 5-0 series whitewash would be a sweet revenge
by Ramdas Nayak on Dec 10, 2010 11:55 AM
It is not new that every test playing Country will prepare pitch to suit its own bowlers rather than the opposite team's. There is absolutely no need to show that we are neutral in that respect. No Country wishes to lose series before it starts. All is fair in love and cricket.
Kohli has still got to learn a lot if he wants to achieve Greatness. HE should know the fact no matter what form you are in and no matter how much ever you scored in your previous games, when you walk out to bat in the middle you start from Zero. What an Attrocious shot to play second ball. Just demonstrates arrogance. Glad he got out. Hope he gets his head right. Indian youngsters may achieve stardom and they may have the talent but I am afraid they lack humbleness and perhaps is indicative of the direction the whole country is heading towards. This lot wud never achieve the greatness of the teams in the past like old Windies or Even Indian WC Squad 1983. They have to learn to display the grace in victory and humbleness in defeat. Sharms shud have walked. Such blatantly clear that dismissal was. Its the gr8 sportsman spirit of NZ that Mccullum was laughing with Sharma inspite of that pathetic decisdion. Thank GOD we have UDRS for WC. Imagine a critical decision going against indian in the WC. ICC shud force it on BCCI. BCCI shudnt have any say. ICC makes the rules of the games.
Winning convincingly over NZ tends to paper some cracks in the Indian team. One of them is fielding.Nehra is a liability as are Zaheer, Harbhajan,Ishant, Praveen and even Ashwin.Easy singles and twoa are given away as the fielders trot after the ball. There is no anticipation or spriteliness in movement. Some of them don't bend but merely stick out their foot to stop the ball from crossing the boundary rope.Most of them throw awkwardly.When one sees teams like Sri Lanka,Australia,NZ,SA throwing themselves at every ball it highlights how unathletic our fielders are generally!Pity that fielding has degenerated so much in India. In the Eighties one had Azharuddin,Kapil, Mohinder, Binny,Madan Lal,Yashpal,Srikanth etc who were tremendous fielders. India's win in 1983 was largely due to their excellent fielding!Don't cricketers these days follow the adage "catches win matches" or "a run saved is a run made"?
It is going to be a toss up between Kohli and Pathan for the batsmans slot in WC. Everyone knows how dangerous pathan can be in Indian pitches.
Also with Sachin,Gambhir and Dhoni in the team, Kohli might find it difficult to find a place as a steady performer. It all boils down to how Kohli performs in SA odis.
Re: Kohli vs Pathan
by super hero on Dec 10, 2010 01:17 AM
If India consistently makes 270-300 in SA odis, then India can afford Pathan. But if India fails in batting, Kohli will be selected
Re: Had a chance to watch one of the ODIs
by Ramdas Nayak on Dec 10, 2010 12:07 PM
Munaf sleeps on the field. Harbhajan dives after the ball goes past him. Yuvraj does not concentrate, Zahir seldom chases the ball and finally Nehra thinks that he is there only to bowl.
Re: team for the world cup
by Sudarshan S on Dec 10, 2010 07:54 AM
Sorry no bench for Rohith. Doesnt even deserve to be in the squad. What has he done. Avg of 28 nispite of centuries against monniows Zimbabwe and other minnows. He is tried and failed player. Also he is dishonest. Must have walked after such a clear dismissal that umpire did not see. It was so blatant. It was the NX good sportsman spirit that MCcullum was having a lugh wit sharma about that diusmissal. Tell me an innings where this guy has performed. He shud have made usof that reprival from the umpire and scored big. But gets out and throws his wicket. Its a shame people take his name in the same breadt as Raina and Kohli. This guy needs to go. Period.
Re: India team for world cup
by Safety Solutions Inc. on Dec 10, 2010 12:59 AM
minimum 4 full time ballers and then all rounders and part timers... 3 bowlers will not do
