Saturday, 14 August 2010
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Monday, 12 July 2010
Friday, 9 July 2010
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Twelve years of roller coaster cricket, Harbhajan Singh the zealous and often fanatical cricketer, is yet to recognize his talents in the trade, perhaps. At least, Mutthiah Muralitharan, the phenomenal off-spinner of the modern era entertains a thought that is not so far from this. Bemused? You are entitled to. The sardar has 355 test wickets at 30.94 from 83 tests. The great Dennis Lillie and Malcolm Marshall crossed the same barrier in 70 tests.
In winning matches for his country, if he is second, it is just because of the overshadowing influence of a colossal presence in the form of certain AR Kumble for the first decade of his career.
Yet what marks the first reference?
Simple. Murali who just recently commented that it is only the turbanator, he thinks could over take the 800+ landmark that he is likely to set others to cross. It is hard to stretch the imagination that far as the years left for Bhaji is too enormous a factor to be ignored. 800 is a far cry for the thirty-year-old off-spinner largely because of the fact that he would need at least 60 wickets per year for the rest of his career.
At the current rate, he might need 13-15 test matches a year if he has to entertain any hope of reaching that far. His present average is a shade under 7 which had been an even par average for the Indian cricket team for the last 20 years or so. So where would Harbhajan end up? Well, where he is destined.
What went wrong? Was he a gross underperformer? Nay…..
There is a theory that is pertaining to cricketers that they mature at an age of 30. Hence, the stage may be set for a second take off. And this time around very much like Murali he has none alongside him to threaten and grab a share. It is all the more a fight for himself now. A fight that he has not been on the winning side always.
Eight hundred is an illusive landmark. It might well be an elusive one as well. Further, it is all the more illogical to have a run for that, as Murali has been the lone spinner of the Sri Lankan line-up for the better part of his career. Hurling down enormous number of deliveries innings after innings for over 16 years now.
Bhaji has to head in a different direction. He has less bowling responsibilities to handle with as compared to Muralitharan, but a higher degree of pressure on performance from his fellow countrymen than his opposite number does.
It is all about handling the pressure, they say, don’t they?
In winning matches for his country, if he is second, it is just because of the overshadowing influence of a colossal presence in the form of certain AR Kumble for the first decade of his career.
Yet what marks the first reference?
Simple. Murali who just recently commented that it is only the turbanator, he thinks could over take the 800+ landmark that he is likely to set others to cross. It is hard to stretch the imagination that far as the years left for Bhaji is too enormous a factor to be ignored. 800 is a far cry for the thirty-year-old off-spinner largely because of the fact that he would need at least 60 wickets per year for the rest of his career.
At the current rate, he might need 13-15 test matches a year if he has to entertain any hope of reaching that far. His present average is a shade under 7 which had been an even par average for the Indian cricket team for the last 20 years or so. So where would Harbhajan end up? Well, where he is destined.
What went wrong? Was he a gross underperformer? Nay…..
There is a theory that is pertaining to cricketers that they mature at an age of 30. Hence, the stage may be set for a second take off. And this time around very much like Murali he has none alongside him to threaten and grab a share. It is all the more a fight for himself now. A fight that he has not been on the winning side always.
Eight hundred is an illusive landmark. It might well be an elusive one as well. Further, it is all the more illogical to have a run for that, as Murali has been the lone spinner of the Sri Lankan line-up for the better part of his career. Hurling down enormous number of deliveries innings after innings for over 16 years now.
Bhaji has to head in a different direction. He has less bowling responsibilities to handle with as compared to Muralitharan, but a higher degree of pressure on performance from his fellow countrymen than his opposite number does.
It is all about handling the pressure, they say, don’t they?
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Barely into the formalities of the third edition of IPL. CSK is not out of their dug-out and already there seem to be a pattern developing. Two teams, MI and KKR are on a different war-foot altogether with a great level of fearlessness tagged around them. MI lacks a bit of momentum in the middle overs though the young sensations like Rayudu and Saurav Tiwari would prefer to differ in this regard.
They miss a Bravo and Dumini for sure and the newest sensation and the 700000M man Pollard could be the most welcome edition to an otherwise fragile middle and tail portion. Arguably they have the best bowling combination up front and the west Indian pair should cover up for the meagreness in the back-up bowling. One wonders where Abhishek Nair is going to be fitted in.
Te KKR side sans two of the greatest strikers McCullum and Gayle isn’t perturbed an inch. The new found energy level is the most welcome sight of the SRK owned team and two wins on the trot is the best thing that Ganguly and his men can hope for. Alas! Can’t remember Saurav diving across the turf even in his prime!
RC is not posing a real challenge to any body. Not sure the aging legs and tiring minds are the exact wants of the T20 format. With due respect to the greats Kallis and Dravid, they draw a picture of a Mark3 ambassador car amidst the new generation fast machines. The first season was far worse with Chanderpaul and Wasim Jaffer complicating the issues. They badly miss Ross Taylor to begin with. Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa will have to shoulder the brunt for the time being.
RR is all set prove their critics wrong and Vow! What a blitzkrieg it was by the elder Pathan. It wasn’t all about form. It was just astonishing power hitting, right out of the blue. The 39 ball hundred would have made even the great Richards stand and applaud, leave the lesser mortals alone.
VVS Laxman! Dear oh! Dear! Isn’t it the most pathetic of sights to see him slogging across desperately in order to be on par with Gilchrist? Hope he realises this sooner rather than later and continue to be the ever charming test cricketer for ever.
They miss a Bravo and Dumini for sure and the newest sensation and the 700000M man Pollard could be the most welcome edition to an otherwise fragile middle and tail portion. Arguably they have the best bowling combination up front and the west Indian pair should cover up for the meagreness in the back-up bowling. One wonders where Abhishek Nair is going to be fitted in.
Te KKR side sans two of the greatest strikers McCullum and Gayle isn’t perturbed an inch. The new found energy level is the most welcome sight of the SRK owned team and two wins on the trot is the best thing that Ganguly and his men can hope for. Alas! Can’t remember Saurav diving across the turf even in his prime!
RC is not posing a real challenge to any body. Not sure the aging legs and tiring minds are the exact wants of the T20 format. With due respect to the greats Kallis and Dravid, they draw a picture of a Mark3 ambassador car amidst the new generation fast machines. The first season was far worse with Chanderpaul and Wasim Jaffer complicating the issues. They badly miss Ross Taylor to begin with. Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa will have to shoulder the brunt for the time being.
RR is all set prove their critics wrong and Vow! What a blitzkrieg it was by the elder Pathan. It wasn’t all about form. It was just astonishing power hitting, right out of the blue. The 39 ball hundred would have made even the great Richards stand and applaud, leave the lesser mortals alone.
VVS Laxman! Dear oh! Dear! Isn’t it the most pathetic of sights to see him slogging across desperately in order to be on par with Gilchrist? Hope he realises this sooner rather than later and continue to be the ever charming test cricketer for ever.
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