(contd.)Beside the side looked more ‘united’ which resulted in the turn around. Further, dropping Ashwin in the last 3 ODs was a wrong decision for sure.Induction of Raina, Yuvi, Nehra, Bhumra, Pandya etc. that brought about a better balance to side . It is a strategic move with Dhoni having plenty of bowling and ‘finishing’ options which looks a clincher now. So what next for T20 WC ? The playing XI indeed has the typical ‘winner’ looks needing say another leg spinner for support role but inclusion of Pawan Negi who enjoys Dhoni’s confidence is also welcome. Negi is a good bat too. Manish Pandy gets another chance to prove himself and Virat’s resting is also welcome. Couple of observations on T20 WC preparations. While Indian spinners will have advantage but batters other than Virat and Rohit will have to work harder given the surface will not be as conducive to stroke making as they found in Aus. So likes of Dhawan, Pandey,Yuvi,Raina and above all Dhoni must be conscious of the changes and adaptation needed. The SL home series and the Asia cup will be the ideal preparatory series before the WC. Finally, during WC more India matches at Dharmshala with flat track and smaller ground could go against Indian spinners. So, avoid KO matches for India at Dharamshala.
So 3-0 whitewash in reverse this time around for once with Aus at the recng. end and first ever in Aus for India! Well, it could be argued that Aus had 2nd string bowling attack but fact remains the complete reversal is no mean achievement coming after the 4-1 drubbing in the one dayers. From that point the series win becomes very significant and an all time achievement for India and Capt Dhoni under intense scrutiny. But how did the unexpected turnaround happen anyway ? Actually the 4-1 one day series loss was much closer than the score line suggest. It was the failure by team India that scored 300 runs consistently to just push that ‘delta’, the incremental another 30 runs that would have made all the difference. In the first 3 matches the ‘sluggish’ start was the cause why by 40th over India were short by 40 runs and thanks to new ICC rule and a weak ‘tail’ India couldn’t accelerate sufficiently. The acceleration from start to middle overs to end looked to lack the ‘intensity’ of the batters to take the side to a safe total or over the line till the final one dayer. In first 3 matches R/Dhawan’s SR was around 50 and was the main cause for pulling down the run rate of the side. He accelerated from the 4 the match and never looked back thereafter till the end of the T20 series. India almost won the 4th OD but for the collapse of MO led by Dhoni &Co !This changed ‘intensity’ and momentum was ca
Re: WITH LESSER 'INTENSITY' THAT 'FINISHING' FELL SHORT IN ODs-I
by damodaran mohan on Feb 02, 2016 06:24 PM
(contd.)This changed ‘intensity’ and momentum was carried on by the openers and the top 3 in the T20 series .
INDIAN BATSMAN WERE NON TESTED BY QUALITY BOWLING ON THIS TOUR AS AUS PLAYED WITH OUT ANY OF THEIR FRONT LINE FAST BOWLERS STARC/HAZELWOOD/CUMMINS & PATTASION. HAD THEY BEEN PLAYING I AM SURE INDIAN BATSMAN WOULD NOT HAVE SCORED THIS AMOUNT OF RUNS IN WHOLE SERIES SPECIALLY ON AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS
Australia posted a match winning score today. but i had that feeling, Australia would be no match to INDIA's fire power in batting in T20 matches. no team in world 20 cricket at the the moment has such bench power as the side that played this T20 series. my advice to our Indian bowlers is, give your very best so that the fire power batsmen of Team India do not have to finish off the match in favour of us in the last ball of the innings.
