Will Test Cricket pass the stiff test ?
With English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff ‘s retirement from test cricket , what was just a premonition is now looking an unpleasant reality . The commercials of T-20 beast is hovering to wolf down test cricket, with favours from injuries and excessive cricket .The timing of the decision is interesting, but the rational behind is not incongruous .It came between the Ashes test series and Flintoff giving into the body’s voice to stop , that has been battered due to a spate of futile surgeries. Meanwhile, he safeguarded the future by focusing his energies on T-20 and 50 over version of the game.
Forsake test cricket and embrace one day format and T-20 is the latest trend . Few years ago, the players opted for the longest format , to prolong their career .Shane Warne , Steven Waugh , Brain Lara, Steve Harmison gave the highest honor to tests and sacrificing the limited over internationals.
But with the unprecedented success of IPL , the winds have reversed the direction .The injuries take a toll on the international cricketers , with rehabilitation period some times making them unavailable for months. And often, it becomes difficult to come back in the reckoning with full fitness and same vigor ,not to mention the unaltered mindset . Then ,avoiding the demands of test cricket comes an easy option , the staggering money associated with it swings the pendulum in the favour of T-20 and to a lesser extent 50 overs internationals. Twenty20 is where all the revenue is, where all the sponsorship is, where all the crowds are, where all the players are heading!
Donning the whites and playing test cricket, an ultimate dream for any youngster few years ago is now passé .
The spectators are declining to turn up any more, with empty stadiums and benign tracks undermining the balance between the ball and the bat . There is every chance that many of the players, too, will soon be reluctant to pitch up for Test cricket.Still young and in the late 20s and early 30’s players might secure their future by premature retirement .The world heard about Chris Gayle’s thoughts about the test cricket and Flintoff’s decision will not retard the doomsday for tests.
Countries like Australia and England are still safe but signs in India and West Indies are a matter of concern and bourgeoning schemes in the US to come up tournaments on the lines of IPL , the carrot is out for the stars who are uncertain in tests and yet have still cricket left in them .However, it will take away charismatic match winners like Flintoff , further eroding the thin base of test cricket
So, is excessive cricket also a catalyst to accelerate early retirements? The all rounders always a rare breed, is the most susceptible to the demands of the crammed international calendar, with the surge of T-20, the pressure will only increase many manifolds .The bowlers and all rounders will be at risk as well , with varying degree .While the batsman is already finding it difficult to maintain the consistency in all the three formats, eventually being probed on adaptability all-time .Then there is distinct possibility of developing technical flaws as there is no time to look at one’s game. The final outcome indifferent form and in some cases mental fatigue, with a dip in motivation .
Is the time ripe for having a relook at the test model ? Will the introduction of pink balls and the concept of test championship , revive test cricket .Only time will tell. But there is certainly a injection required to energise test cricket , else it will be anachronistic.
Where is the ray of hope amidst dark clouds ?
The first Test match of the Ashes series between England and Australia has been a resounding success .While the second test only adding to the excitement .The critics and sceptics being won over by five days of enthralling cricket on the field and the spectators delighted .Watching Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar blocking their way to the end of play to keep Australia away from the crease at Cardiff .This was followed up with Flintoff sending down 10 high octane overs to seal the deal for the Englishmen This brought back all the drama , nervousness and suspsense of the Ashes series.The icing on the cake was gross collection of £6m with a seven figure profit on that.Still, there is hope …
.A test match drawn after the opposition couldnot take the final wicket , scoring 400 plus to win a test , changing the natural game to suit the team needs , dour defence to save the test , applying the skills on a barren track to claim a five for , are memories that is test cricket’s gift to us.Thats the ultimate test of character and mental toughness of a cricketer defying all odds . In that , test cricket will always remain special.
The surge in the Twenty20 game is unstoppable as the spread of mushrooms in rainy season. The greater challenge lies in bringing back the crowds and arrest the fall in television revenues. A compelling contest with late starts and night games may be the starting point of revitalising the traditional form of cricket
The ICC has its plate full, with that an opportunity is there to change the game of test cricket !
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Ponting will be tested
England carried the advantage of freak escape into the second test and ended the Lords jinx with a 115 runs victory and a 1-0 lead in the Ashes. .This is hard test cricket for you .And the wrecker in chief was Andrew Flintoff who sent out 10 high quality overs unchanged, to end with a man of the match award.
Now then , England suddenly are looking a potent outfit with a good bowling attack. Graham Onions was straight and full on most occasions while Graeme Swann extracted a fair turn from the surface. Jimmy Anderson probed with a nagging length and immaculate direction with a fair support from Stuart Broad .But one man chose the occasion to leave a mark on the last test at Lords .Andrew Flintoff. Bowling consistently in excess of 150 Km/h he defied pain to script a famous win for England . One just wonders if Flintoff would have been fully fit for most part of his 77 tests and had pitched the ball up the way he did at Lords , how many more wickets he would have added to his kitty !.
The match appeared to go down to the wire after the Cardiff show. But any thoughts of that soon vaporized when Brad Haddin edged one outside off stump towards the second slip .Then onwards it was just delaying the swift conclusion.
It was the bowling that made the difference, eventually .Australia was always going to be a depleted bowling attack after Brett Lee’s loss due to injury .Mitchell Johnson went for pace and sprayed the ball around whereas Ben Hilfenhaus maintained a steady line and length just outside off stump and consistently troubled the English batsman with his swing was the only bright
Michael Clark must find a mention for the way he timed the bowl and was decisive off either foot . This was a top effort repeatedly penetrating the covers area for boundaries and he got able company in Brad Haddin who is trying his best to fill up the void of Adam Gilchrist .
Australian captain will be severely tested hence forth , not many times one finds the Australian team trailing in the series .
At 1-0 down, and after surrendering their 75-year sovereignty of Lord’s, Australia are in unfamiliar Ashes territory. In fact, the last time they trailed England so early in the series was in 1997. However they went on to win the next three Tests.
Having lost most stalwarts to retirement, he will have to make some tough decisions and the name which comes under scrutiny is Mitchell Johnson who has failed to carry the load of a strike bowler in Lee’s absence
What an advertisement for Test cricket these two matches have been. This after the T-20 fever threatens to suffocate test cricket. There is a big break before the third test and it remains to be seen how Ponting gets his combination right .Will Ponting the batsman again come to Ponting the captain’s rescue ? .At the moment the plate looks full for skipper Ponting .With Lee looking least to be risked against Northamptonshire, Stuart Clarke is the only realistic choice if Ponting takes the bold decision to leave out Mitchell Johnson .Whereas Shane Watson will be seen as a batting all rounder , which does not aid Australians to make a strong statement of intent towards taking 20 English wickets . If he decides to go with five specialist bowlers , who will be left out ?
Testing time ahead for Ricky Ponting !
England carried the advantage of freak escape into the second test and ended the Lords jinx with a 115 runs victory and a 1-0 lead in the Ashes. .This is hard test cricket for you .And the wrecker in chief was Andrew Flintoff who sent out 10 high quality overs unchanged, to end with a man of the match award.
Now then , England suddenly are looking a potent outfit with a good bowling attack. Graham Onions was straight and full on most occasions while Graeme Swann extracted a fair turn from the surface. Jimmy Anderson probed with a nagging length and immaculate direction with a fair support from Stuart Broad .But one man chose the occasion to leave a mark on the last test at Lords .Andrew Flintoff. Bowling consistently in excess of 150 Km/h he defied pain to script a famous win for England . One just wonders if Flintoff would have been fully fit for most part of his 77 tests and had pitched the ball up the way he did at Lords , how many more wickets he would have added to his kitty !.
The match appeared to go down to the wire after the Cardiff show. But any thoughts of that soon vaporized when Brad Haddin edged one outside off stump towards the second slip .Then onwards it was just delaying the swift conclusion.
It was the bowling that made the difference, eventually .Australia was always going to be a depleted bowling attack after Brett Lee’s loss due to injury .Mitchell Johnson went for pace and sprayed the ball around whereas Ben Hilfenhaus maintained a steady line and length just outside off stump and consistently troubled the English batsman with his swing was the only bright
Michael Clark must find a mention for the way he timed the bowl and was decisive off either foot . This was a top effort repeatedly penetrating the covers area for boundaries and he got able company in Brad Haddin who is trying his best to fill up the void of Adam Gilchrist .
Australian captain will be severely tested hence forth , not many times one finds the Australian team trailing in the series .
At 1-0 down, and after surrendering their 75-year sovereignty of Lord’s, Australia are in unfamiliar Ashes territory. In fact, the last time they trailed England so early in the series was in 1997. However they went on to win the next three Tests.
Having lost most stalwarts to retirement, he will have to make some tough decisions and the name which comes under scrutiny is Mitchell Johnson who has failed to carry the load of a strike bowler in Lee’s absence
What an advertisement for Test cricket these two matches have been. This after the T-20 fever threatens to suffocate test cricket. There is a big break before the third test and it remains to be seen how Ponting gets his combination right .Will Ponting the batsman again come to Ponting the captain’s rescue ? .At the moment the plate looks full for skipper Ponting .With Lee looking least to be risked against Northamptonshire, Stuart Clarke is the only realistic choice if Ponting takes the bold decision to leave out Mitchell Johnson .Whereas Shane Watson will be seen as a batting all rounder , which does not aid Australians to make a strong statement of intent towards taking 20 English wickets . If he decides to go with five specialist bowlers , who will be left out ?
Testing time ahead for Ricky Ponting !
Saturday, July 19, 2008
By this time Yuvraj Singh should have been a regular in the Indian middle order and a certainty in the Test Team, after eight seasons of international cricket and a proven match winner. However, he still turns over in bed, plump up his pillow, with the inscrutable question; does he belong to the test level? The elegant lefthander has been left out of the Indian squad for the Emerald Isles in late July ,with selectors using the word “rested “!
Once again, he has hit a roadblock. So, is he the next Michael Bevan then? Too premature to say for sure! even if a popular website has written him off.
While the years gone by saw the stylish lefthander mature as one of the mainstays of Indian batting in limited overs version, what was left in oblivion was Yuvraj the test batsman .The test team line up is studded with some heavyweights and it is difficult to make a batting slot your own. In 2006, when Ganguly was no longer in the frame, and Yuvraj looked assured of his place in the Test side, with a successful season in ODIs. However, with Ganguly reinventing himself in South Africa and Laxman scoring runs consistently, Yuvraj loosing his spot was a foregone conclusion.
The “process” has been a interesting one for the southpaw .Having announced the arrival into the international scene with a blistering 84 and some acrobatic catching against Australia in the Nairobi Mini-World Cup in 2000-01. Since then it’s been a rollercoaster ride. He had a lean trot and was dropped immediately for the one-dayers against Australia.The primal talent quickly gained a reputation as a finisher scoring at a brisk pace, with an undefeated 98 against SriLanka in 2001. But the scene in test arena was not similar .He initially struggled to break into strongest middle order batting line up in the world .This was quickly followed by exploring opportunity as an opener only to realize later on that his natural habitat is indeed the middle order.
While ODI brought smiles on Yuvraj’s face, he has found the transition to Test cricket far tougher than expected. Getting out after doing all the hard work and playing too many shots, have been the nemesis of the Punjab lefthander .Another aspect that has been found wanting is his footwork. Early in his career, he was clearly troubled by spinners and often got caught on the crease, leading to dismissals. But the question is does spin puts Yuvraj in real spot of bother? Out of the last 7 innings that he padded up in tests, he was dismissed by spinners thrice .Yuvraj jabs at deliveries, cannot pick up the length let alone read the spinner of his hands , goes for premeditated sweep shot and brings down his own downfall.
All the three test tons have all come against Pakistan in quick time but to regain his spot he will have to take leaf out of Laxman and Ganguly , who have mastered to match potential with performance and more importantly construct the innings , with attaching high price for their wicket. The only plausible reason for his dramatic demotion lies in the cluttered mind and desperateness to prove his credentials at the Test Level
Playing against quality spin exemplary judgment of the turn and bounce and more significantly precise understanding of the whereabouts of one’s wicket in addition to playing the ball dexterously late.
Any thoughts of wearing the whites again would require a different mindset and to temporarily rein in the natural ambition to hit boundaries. As Geoff Boycott realized early in his career batting isn't about how many boundaries you hit, it's about how many runs you make.Yuvraj's record of 1050 runs at an average of 32 in 20 Tests, suggests there has been more dust than gold. But the average of 32 will improve, as he realizes his flair and learns the intricacies of test cricket
While one might argue that the selectors have shielded him against the likes of Murali and Mendis, to break his confidence completely or were wary about his performance on the slow tracks .The key is to just lie low, focus on the game and stick to ones strengths and come back strong
Few can time the ball as sweetly as Yuvraj at his best and has all the making of a great test batsman.Yuvraj has always been a creature of confidence. When his mind is unfettered, his footwork decisive, and intent positive, he scores runs. It is when he is tentative - especially outside the off stump against the fast bowler, or sweeping instinctively against the spinner - that he is in the most trouble. Confidence comes from making runs, from playing big innings but equally, it comes from feeling that you belong in a team. The answer of the question posed at the start, would be an emphatic affirmative, only if Yuvraj alters his approach.
Once again, he has hit a roadblock. So, is he the next Michael Bevan then? Too premature to say for sure! even if a popular website has written him off.
While the years gone by saw the stylish lefthander mature as one of the mainstays of Indian batting in limited overs version, what was left in oblivion was Yuvraj the test batsman .The test team line up is studded with some heavyweights and it is difficult to make a batting slot your own. In 2006, when Ganguly was no longer in the frame, and Yuvraj looked assured of his place in the Test side, with a successful season in ODIs. However, with Ganguly reinventing himself in South Africa and Laxman scoring runs consistently, Yuvraj loosing his spot was a foregone conclusion.
The “process” has been a interesting one for the southpaw .Having announced the arrival into the international scene with a blistering 84 and some acrobatic catching against Australia in the Nairobi Mini-World Cup in 2000-01. Since then it’s been a rollercoaster ride. He had a lean trot and was dropped immediately for the one-dayers against Australia.The primal talent quickly gained a reputation as a finisher scoring at a brisk pace, with an undefeated 98 against SriLanka in 2001. But the scene in test arena was not similar .He initially struggled to break into strongest middle order batting line up in the world .This was quickly followed by exploring opportunity as an opener only to realize later on that his natural habitat is indeed the middle order.
While ODI brought smiles on Yuvraj’s face, he has found the transition to Test cricket far tougher than expected. Getting out after doing all the hard work and playing too many shots, have been the nemesis of the Punjab lefthander .Another aspect that has been found wanting is his footwork. Early in his career, he was clearly troubled by spinners and often got caught on the crease, leading to dismissals. But the question is does spin puts Yuvraj in real spot of bother? Out of the last 7 innings that he padded up in tests, he was dismissed by spinners thrice .Yuvraj jabs at deliveries, cannot pick up the length let alone read the spinner of his hands , goes for premeditated sweep shot and brings down his own downfall.
All the three test tons have all come against Pakistan in quick time but to regain his spot he will have to take leaf out of Laxman and Ganguly , who have mastered to match potential with performance and more importantly construct the innings , with attaching high price for their wicket. The only plausible reason for his dramatic demotion lies in the cluttered mind and desperateness to prove his credentials at the Test Level
Playing against quality spin exemplary judgment of the turn and bounce and more significantly precise understanding of the whereabouts of one’s wicket in addition to playing the ball dexterously late.
Any thoughts of wearing the whites again would require a different mindset and to temporarily rein in the natural ambition to hit boundaries. As Geoff Boycott realized early in his career batting isn't about how many boundaries you hit, it's about how many runs you make.Yuvraj's record of 1050 runs at an average of 32 in 20 Tests, suggests there has been more dust than gold. But the average of 32 will improve, as he realizes his flair and learns the intricacies of test cricket
While one might argue that the selectors have shielded him against the likes of Murali and Mendis, to break his confidence completely or were wary about his performance on the slow tracks .The key is to just lie low, focus on the game and stick to ones strengths and come back strong
Few can time the ball as sweetly as Yuvraj at his best and has all the making of a great test batsman.Yuvraj has always been a creature of confidence. When his mind is unfettered, his footwork decisive, and intent positive, he scores runs. It is when he is tentative - especially outside the off stump against the fast bowler, or sweeping instinctively against the spinner - that he is in the most trouble. Confidence comes from making runs, from playing big innings but equally, it comes from feeling that you belong in a team. The answer of the question posed at the start, would be an emphatic affirmative, only if Yuvraj alters his approach.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Legacy of umpires under threat!
Change is inevitable goes the cliché .The game of cricket has certainly seen lots of these in the recent past .But the one that will have a lasting impact would be the present proposal of reviewing a decision of the on field umpires .Prima-facie , it may look promising and with all the right intentions. However in the longer run it might just clip the powers of the umpires world over, if the trialing of the Umpire decision review system is successful
It is needless to mention the scrutiny the modern umpire is subjected to, with the stakes high as never before .Interestingly the need for the change gathered momentum with the infamous decisions against the Indian side, in the tour down under .India went on to loose the series
.
The system, to be tested in this year's Sri Lanka v India three-match Test series starting on July 23, will allow the fielding and batting sides three unsuccessful appeals to the umpire per innings to change a decision if it is perceived to have been incorrect. The on-field umpire will consult with the third umpire, who will review available television coverage of the incident before relaying fact-based information back to his colleague. Slow-motion replays, the wicket-to-wicket "mat", sound from stump microphones and ball-tracking technology up to the point of impact on the pad will be available for use by the television umpire.
Sure, the game is being taken to new level, with the aid of technology with certain sects advocating if the technology is there then why not use it. Does it mean premature death of the umpire as the discretionary authority on the field?
As they say, the umpiring decisions gone in favour or against evens out in the longer run. The stoppages resulting from the referral will slow down the game .The next question is whether technology is always foolproof?Notably, the LBW decisions which are corroborated by Hawk eye technology do not take into account the playing conditions , bounce .At best ,it is a guesstimate of the trajectory of the ball hitting the pad .If this is not enough , it does not factor the swing of the ball .Then ,there are cases in which doubt still lingers on the legitimacy of a catch , because of the optical illusion, even the slow motions are inconclusive .The game would be bereaved of moments , when a plumb LBW appeal would be turned down , a non existent nick being adjudged out on a crucial juncture of the game .The umpires who are the protagonists to the drama surrounding all these will be cornered .
Time will tell, with all the intent with which ICC has brought the use of technology will take the game to a next level or reduce the status of the umpires.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Steyn is the new gain !
Dale Willem Steyn gives an impression of a tiger that has just tasted blood, and become a man-eater. Aggressive, fiery, with the celebrations he involves in after every scalp he claims, he is the new face of the South African pace attack .Fast bowlers come in a variety of flavours.
Perhaps the most captivating trait is he can swing the ball away from the right-handers in excess of 90 miles an hour consistently and possesses a near unplayable yorker .He bowls pretty straight and delivering the ball from very close to the stumps, which explains the number of clean bowled dismissals. The ascension has been an accelerated one for Dale who seemed unripe on his test debut in 2004 .Steyn announced himself to Test cricket with a fast in-swinging delivery that left Marcus Trescothick ‘s stumps rearranged .However ,he faded from view after three matches against England in which he took eight wickets and conceded more than 400 runs. He had another go early in 2006 and, since then, he has become a nemesis to the batsman world over
To top it up, Dale Steyn signed off a dream season in Test cricket by sweeping all the major honours at the South Africa Cricket Awards on Tuesday night. Steyn won all the four awards he was nominated for which included SA Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year, SA Players' Player of the Year and the SuperSport Fans' Cricketer of the Year.
The progress has been steep .However,Steyn needs to add one more arrow in his quiver and that is a genuine in swinger, which will fetch him a fortune .With now a new responsibility of the spearheading the attack, he has his task cut out .But his rise would be closely monitored, with real litmus test will come in England.
Steyn’s potential to join the very best who have marked out a run-up would be dependent on how quickly he develops a slower delivery and off cutter , which will eliminate the predictability ,the control to bowl the three quarter length , most importantly remain injury free .Plus, the real test of character will come when he will have a fewer wickets to show in good batting conditions .
He has stated that "he loves the buzz from bowling fast" and that he wants to be the quickest in the world
While Brett Lee is the most improved bowler and arguably the best fast bowler in the world ,Steyn has been a transformed bowler and looks the only bet to dethrone him .
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Change and Virender Sehwag are poles apart .Is not it ! .Clearly the most gifted and exciting batsman , who shot into prominence with his 69 ball hundred against the Kiwis six seasons back .Purists argued that he would struggle in tests and bowlers will sort him out quickly, even if he would shine in the shorter version .Well, as it turned out, he was run away success in tests and continued to struggle in limited overs version .As the form deserted So much so that , once certainty , he was dropped and asked to sort out his batting .If the recent form and the approach is anything to go by Virender Sehwag has changed his approach for good .The recent batting display in the Asia Cup , with scores of 89 ,59 makes an interesting reading , while the strike rate has been in excess of hundred or in close vicinity , the slashes , the upper cut , the high risk shots have definitely come down .However the result still remains the same, Sehwag sizzler.
Sehwag is back to his merry ways. But the significant question is has Sehwag finally learnt the art of shot selection?
Well the skipper concurs on this. "That [shot selection] is why he [Sehwag] scored 80 [89] runs," Mahendra Singh Dhoni, his captain, said later. "You have to pick and choose. A batsman like him can score easily at one run per ball. He just has to pick and choose."
To the time when he was termed a Tendulkar clone, Sehwag has had a roller coaster ride .
Often in the past, he has frittered away the advantage to the adventurous endeavors The problem plaguing Sehwag range from ineptness against the short ball to the inability to find the right pace of scoring .
Being off-color in ODIs with the last 50-plus score for India was against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup he lost his place in the XI. He was picked for the CB Series earlier this year, but after consistent failures India preferred Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa to partner Sachin Tendulkar. Sehwag looked in terrific touch and is capitalizing on it in the absence of Tendulkar, after a good IPL, where he was amongst the top run getter.
Though he continues to dominate in the Test arena, Sehwag's one-day form dipped alarmingly - after January 2004, he went through a period of 60 matches where he averaged under 29. Despite his fitness levels dropping and his one-day spot being under threat - he was dropped from the side for the home series against West Indies in early 2007. He was a surprise pick for the Test team to tour Australia after not being named in the initial list of probables.
How has the change in fortune occurred then .Well, work with his longtime coach A.N.Sharma has definitely reaped encouraging results. Now the focus has shifted to play as much as balls as he can .
He is taking guard on middle stump, rather than leg stump. as a result he has cut down his tendency to reach for deliveries outside the off stump or feel for the balls outside off stump . The second change was that Sehwag made a slight back-and-across movement in the lead-up to playing a shot. as against his still stature while playing the shot, something like Ponting .But the most important adjustment has been bat for longer periods and pace the innings after getting the eye in.
Then came the scores of 63 and an imperious 151 - his first century in the team's second innings - to help India draw the Test in Adelaide. And hold on! ,in the first Test against South Africa in Chennai, he made an even more resounding statement, rattling off the quickest triple-century in Test cricket
Sehwag's technique is unique and unorthodox, often backing away lack of footwork, with his timing often attributed to his eyesight. But what remains his forte is he sees opportunity in every ball. Sehwag can see possibilities that don't exist for the less flaired . What appears a risk to many is for him an opportunity to create a boundary .He will immediately forget that he has been beaten on the previous delivery and the next ball will disappear for four .
Having stamped his authority in tests with an enviable success, what remains to be seen whether he can replicate the same in ODIs and reset the bar for himself.
One thing is clear though , Sehwag will have competition for the opening slot in ODI’s if he tries to play out most of the overs and paces his innings well.
Sehwag is back to his merry ways. But the significant question is has Sehwag finally learnt the art of shot selection?
Well the skipper concurs on this. "That [shot selection] is why he [Sehwag] scored 80 [89] runs," Mahendra Singh Dhoni, his captain, said later. "You have to pick and choose. A batsman like him can score easily at one run per ball. He just has to pick and choose."
To the time when he was termed a Tendulkar clone, Sehwag has had a roller coaster ride .
Often in the past, he has frittered away the advantage to the adventurous endeavors The problem plaguing Sehwag range from ineptness against the short ball to the inability to find the right pace of scoring .
Being off-color in ODIs with the last 50-plus score for India was against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup he lost his place in the XI. He was picked for the CB Series earlier this year, but after consistent failures India preferred Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa to partner Sachin Tendulkar. Sehwag looked in terrific touch and is capitalizing on it in the absence of Tendulkar, after a good IPL, where he was amongst the top run getter.
Though he continues to dominate in the Test arena, Sehwag's one-day form dipped alarmingly - after January 2004, he went through a period of 60 matches where he averaged under 29. Despite his fitness levels dropping and his one-day spot being under threat - he was dropped from the side for the home series against West Indies in early 2007. He was a surprise pick for the Test team to tour Australia after not being named in the initial list of probables.
How has the change in fortune occurred then .Well, work with his longtime coach A.N.Sharma has definitely reaped encouraging results. Now the focus has shifted to play as much as balls as he can .
He is taking guard on middle stump, rather than leg stump. as a result he has cut down his tendency to reach for deliveries outside the off stump or feel for the balls outside off stump . The second change was that Sehwag made a slight back-and-across movement in the lead-up to playing a shot. as against his still stature while playing the shot, something like Ponting .But the most important adjustment has been bat for longer periods and pace the innings after getting the eye in.
Then came the scores of 63 and an imperious 151 - his first century in the team's second innings - to help India draw the Test in Adelaide. And hold on! ,in the first Test against South Africa in Chennai, he made an even more resounding statement, rattling off the quickest triple-century in Test cricket
Sehwag's technique is unique and unorthodox, often backing away lack of footwork, with his timing often attributed to his eyesight. But what remains his forte is he sees opportunity in every ball. Sehwag can see possibilities that don't exist for the less flaired . What appears a risk to many is for him an opportunity to create a boundary .He will immediately forget that he has been beaten on the previous delivery and the next ball will disappear for four .
Having stamped his authority in tests with an enviable success, what remains to be seen whether he can replicate the same in ODIs and reset the bar for himself.
One thing is clear though , Sehwag will have competition for the opening slot in ODI’s if he tries to play out most of the overs and paces his innings well.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
When he first made his debut against Australia, he was unfortunately given out on 96, missing out on a debut hundred, only one thing was known at that time and that he has promise. Little did he knew that this lad would decimate the attacks world over and become the first Australian batsman to pass the 10,000-run mark in both Test and one-day international cricket. As Ponting Ricky Ponting's ascended to the exclusive 10,000-run club, one just wondered looking at his reaction whether he is unaware of this milestone. .Only Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar have previously posted 10,000 runs in two forms of the game, and both are widely recognized as the greatest batsmen to have represented their countries. That is sufficient to give an idea of what Ponting has acheived
Commended by Academy coach Rod Marsh as the best teenage batsman he had ever seen, Ricky Ponting began with Tasmania at 17 and reached international standards at a young age for a batsman, making his One Day International and Test debuts in 1995 at the age of 20. However, the fairytale rise to the top was not unhindered though. Surely though, it has again sparked a debate which gets more contentious as he continues to pile on heaps of runs at international level
Is he the second best in the all time test annals?
Closer look at this career so far makes an interesting reading. The first half saw him coming in at number six, with not much to offer as he was more often than not batting with the tail and often plagued by disciplinary issues. With the retirement of fellow Tasmanian David Boon, Ponting was elevated to the No.3 position in the Test team for the series against the West Indies in 1996-97 in Australia. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands after initial hiccups. After his first 30 Tests in just under four years his average was a modest 38.62, and after rising into the mid-40s had dipped again to 40.50 after 45 Tests. Since then the average has consistently risen; his averages in recent calendar years are 70.93 in 2002, 100.20 in 2003, 41.00 in 2004, 67.13 in 2005 and 88.86 in 2006 38.6in 2007 and 61.12 in 2008 so far.
To the times in the 1990s there were off-field indiscretions that led him once to admit publicly to an alcohol problem He has had his setbacks, against probing seam attacks and high-class finger-spin, which, when out of form, he plays with hard hands, not to mention to be an LBW candidate early on, as he tries to play across the line, .Not only he has lived through all this but also overcame the issues and became the protagonist of one of Australia's most successful teams. Champion players adapt quickly and learn from their mistakes and emerge as better players with every adversity. Having lost his place in the team several times due to lack of form and discipline issues and with many lessons learned, Ponting's growing maturity was recognized by the CA when he saw off competition from Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist to succeed Steve Waugh as Australia's one-day leader early in 2002. Ponting led the successful 2003 World Cup campaign from the front, clouting 140 not out in the final, and acceded to the Test crown when Waugh finally stepped down early in 2004.
He became the first Australian captain since Allan Border in 1986-87 to taste defeat in an Ashes series. The result hurt and the pain lingered throughout the next summer, but he regrouped to start an amazing streak of 16 wins in 17 Tests, culminating in the 5-0 demolition of England to regain the urn in the most emphatic way. Ponting was Man of the Series as Australia became the first team in 86 years to achieve an Ashes cleansweep and his 576 runs at 82.28 confirmed him as the game's modern master. The summer was tarnished slightly when England handed Australia their first tri-series finals loss for 14 years and he missed the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy defeat with a back injury. Each lowlight was quickly forgotten as he ensured a third consecutive World Cup win and his second as an undefeated captain.
Steve Waugh believes his successor will hold the game's run-scoring record when he retires. The world's leading stroke player, he finished 2005 with 1544 runs and posted twin hundreds three times in five months, joining Sunil Gavaskar on as the only other man to achieve the feat, and the double effort in his 100th Test at the SCG was magnificent. He followed up with another 1333 runs in 2006 and owns more centuries than anyone but Sachin, Brian and Sunny. Frighteningly, he is far from finished.
One days and Tests alike, Ponting dominance grew, as the years went by .The great and perhaps the single most critical factor was his ability to attack the oppositions into submission and back his strengths He has scored over 10,000 Test runs at an average near 60, but since the February 2002 tour of South Africa (when he was elevated to the ODI team captaincy) he has scored 24 of his Test centuries and averaged above 74, leading to comparisons with Sir Donald Bradman.
Following the England tour, Ponting retained the captaincy and began a rich run of batting form. In the 2005-06 season, he scored a century in both innings of a Test match three times and became the first player to score a century in each innings of his 100th Test match. He is only the second player (after Sunil Gavaskar) to score centuries in both innings of a Test match 3 times and the first to do so in a single season. In the first game of the 2007 World cup he made 113 runs against Scotland.
Most significantly he has made a great impact with his batting .In the wins, he averages 64.38, which is decorated by 27 centuries .And add to his role to effecting a run outs with direct hits and his safe pair of hands in the slips .
Just like grades in the management course indicate little about the managerial acumen, statistics are only part of what makes a great player, but if Ponting (59.13) continues on his current run riot, he will soon pass South Africa's Graeme Pollock (60.97) as the owner of the second-best batting average in Test history.Bradman, however, continues to stand apart from the rest in the annals of Test cricket with a record of 6,996 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 99.94
At 34, he is at the acme and is a serious threat to every major Australian record barring the magical Bradman's average of 99.94 and Hayden's highest score of 380.howver Ponting will sit pretty between Sir Don bradman and the all time great Australian batsman.
Critics might then take a recluse to fact that these days averages now are probably five to seven runs higher than they used to be as boundaries have been brought in . Only looks susceptible against quality finger spin, as he suffers in the subcontinent, some feel it’s the final frontier he is yet to conquer. However nobody can dispute his insatiable appetite for runs and ability to convert the starts into big centuries with exceptional consistency.
Given all the facts and the enormous progress he has made taking every adversity in his stride , we must congratulate Ponting for this rare feat .It is the time to applaud , celebrate and take notice of one of the modern greats of the game as the golden 13-year period that has accounted for many Australian victories and every major trophy continues.
Commended by Academy coach Rod Marsh as the best teenage batsman he had ever seen, Ricky Ponting began with Tasmania at 17 and reached international standards at a young age for a batsman, making his One Day International and Test debuts in 1995 at the age of 20. However, the fairytale rise to the top was not unhindered though. Surely though, it has again sparked a debate which gets more contentious as he continues to pile on heaps of runs at international level
Is he the second best in the all time test annals?
Closer look at this career so far makes an interesting reading. The first half saw him coming in at number six, with not much to offer as he was more often than not batting with the tail and often plagued by disciplinary issues. With the retirement of fellow Tasmanian David Boon, Ponting was elevated to the No.3 position in the Test team for the series against the West Indies in 1996-97 in Australia. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands after initial hiccups. After his first 30 Tests in just under four years his average was a modest 38.62, and after rising into the mid-40s had dipped again to 40.50 after 45 Tests. Since then the average has consistently risen; his averages in recent calendar years are 70.93 in 2002, 100.20 in 2003, 41.00 in 2004, 67.13 in 2005 and 88.86 in 2006 38.6in 2007 and 61.12 in 2008 so far.
To the times in the 1990s there were off-field indiscretions that led him once to admit publicly to an alcohol problem He has had his setbacks, against probing seam attacks and high-class finger-spin, which, when out of form, he plays with hard hands, not to mention to be an LBW candidate early on, as he tries to play across the line, .Not only he has lived through all this but also overcame the issues and became the protagonist of one of Australia's most successful teams. Champion players adapt quickly and learn from their mistakes and emerge as better players with every adversity. Having lost his place in the team several times due to lack of form and discipline issues and with many lessons learned, Ponting's growing maturity was recognized by the CA when he saw off competition from Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist to succeed Steve Waugh as Australia's one-day leader early in 2002. Ponting led the successful 2003 World Cup campaign from the front, clouting 140 not out in the final, and acceded to the Test crown when Waugh finally stepped down early in 2004.
He became the first Australian captain since Allan Border in 1986-87 to taste defeat in an Ashes series. The result hurt and the pain lingered throughout the next summer, but he regrouped to start an amazing streak of 16 wins in 17 Tests, culminating in the 5-0 demolition of England to regain the urn in the most emphatic way. Ponting was Man of the Series as Australia became the first team in 86 years to achieve an Ashes cleansweep and his 576 runs at 82.28 confirmed him as the game's modern master. The summer was tarnished slightly when England handed Australia their first tri-series finals loss for 14 years and he missed the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy defeat with a back injury. Each lowlight was quickly forgotten as he ensured a third consecutive World Cup win and his second as an undefeated captain.
Steve Waugh believes his successor will hold the game's run-scoring record when he retires. The world's leading stroke player, he finished 2005 with 1544 runs and posted twin hundreds three times in five months, joining Sunil Gavaskar on as the only other man to achieve the feat, and the double effort in his 100th Test at the SCG was magnificent. He followed up with another 1333 runs in 2006 and owns more centuries than anyone but Sachin, Brian and Sunny. Frighteningly, he is far from finished.
One days and Tests alike, Ponting dominance grew, as the years went by .The great and perhaps the single most critical factor was his ability to attack the oppositions into submission and back his strengths He has scored over 10,000 Test runs at an average near 60, but since the February 2002 tour of South Africa (when he was elevated to the ODI team captaincy) he has scored 24 of his Test centuries and averaged above 74, leading to comparisons with Sir Donald Bradman.
Following the England tour, Ponting retained the captaincy and began a rich run of batting form. In the 2005-06 season, he scored a century in both innings of a Test match three times and became the first player to score a century in each innings of his 100th Test match. He is only the second player (after Sunil Gavaskar) to score centuries in both innings of a Test match 3 times and the first to do so in a single season. In the first game of the 2007 World cup he made 113 runs against Scotland.
Most significantly he has made a great impact with his batting .In the wins, he averages 64.38, which is decorated by 27 centuries .And add to his role to effecting a run outs with direct hits and his safe pair of hands in the slips .
Just like grades in the management course indicate little about the managerial acumen, statistics are only part of what makes a great player, but if Ponting (59.13) continues on his current run riot, he will soon pass South Africa's Graeme Pollock (60.97) as the owner of the second-best batting average in Test history.Bradman, however, continues to stand apart from the rest in the annals of Test cricket with a record of 6,996 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 99.94
At 34, he is at the acme and is a serious threat to every major Australian record barring the magical Bradman's average of 99.94 and Hayden's highest score of 380.howver Ponting will sit pretty between Sir Don bradman and the all time great Australian batsman.
Critics might then take a recluse to fact that these days averages now are probably five to seven runs higher than they used to be as boundaries have been brought in . Only looks susceptible against quality finger spin, as he suffers in the subcontinent, some feel it’s the final frontier he is yet to conquer. However nobody can dispute his insatiable appetite for runs and ability to convert the starts into big centuries with exceptional consistency.
Given all the facts and the enormous progress he has made taking every adversity in his stride , we must congratulate Ponting for this rare feat .It is the time to applaud , celebrate and take notice of one of the modern greats of the game as the golden 13-year period that has accounted for many Australian victories and every major trophy continues.
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