The microanalysis continues!

The analyses continue as News channels go into overdrive. And why not? There is perhaps great competition between the Quota issue and the cricket and a winner will be tough to find. But the most recent group of experts to comment on the issue included the eminent failure Rohan Gavaskar, the strictly domestic Milind Rege and Nari Contractor. And here is the outcome of one of the polls they did:

What was the cause of India’s defeat in the World Cup?
And the verdict was a fractured one with 41 per cent saying that the Indians were tentative and nervous while 23 per cent said that we were good enough. While 33 per cent blamed the Indians for being over confident, three per cent said that opposition was better.

1. 41% said India was tentative and nervous
2. 23% said they were good enough
3. 33% said they over overconfident
4. 3% said the opposition was better

I, for the life of me, cannot understand what the people in point 2 are alluding to. Was India good enough to win or what? In which case, it is the same as what point 4 implies, no? If India was good enough to win and still lost, the opposition was better. Strange these surveys are!

Oh and they (the public) does want Sachin to go.

Technorati Tags: Cricket, Cricket World Cup, Gavaskar, India, Survey

Jumbo rides away into the sunset…

Anil “Jumbo” Kumble has finally decided to hang his boots. Some may argue it’s about time, some may feel that it’s come too late. But you have to allow someone as good as him a chance to go out on a high. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.

Speaking at his retirement, he said, “I wanted to retire after 2003, but senior people in Indian cricket told me that I still have some more time.” Despite recent events, Kumble remains one of India’s greatest spinners of all time and is India’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs. (Kumble’s ODI Record)

Some say the ‘emergence’ of Harbhajan led to his decline over the years, but he had his moments even with Harbhajan. The void that Kumble now leaves behind is going to be a big one to fill.

Among some of his best bowling efforts is the 6/12 against the West Indies in 1993. Kumble debuted at a time when Narendra Hirwani was still considered at his peak and Indian spin bowling was spearheaded by Hirwani and Maninder Singh. But just three years after his debut, he made his mark against England (in a Test series) with Rajesh Chouhan and Venkatapathy Raju.

His ODI career was always a little up and down especially after some considered his bowling to be more ‘medium pace’ than spin. Apparently this reduced his effectiveness but the numbers don’t show that. Of late, he was seen more behind a telephoto lens in the dressing room as opposed to on the field. A useful batsman, his best innings of 26 against Australia in a losing cause in Adelaide in 1999-2000.

Speaking about the World Cup debacle, he said, “We are not running away. But we also have to take care of families and we know how knives are turning on us. If you [the media] want to sit and discuss amicably, we are ready to explain.”

Goodbye Jumbo. Hope we find at least a glider to replace you!

Technorati Tags: Anil Kumble, retirement

Alas and alak!

Glenn McGrath may just be right when he says that “nobody will beat us”. The only question that now remains is “Who is nobody?”. Is it the frail South Africans? No, they have already lost. Is it the unsure English? Perhaps. But what happened in February is more an aberration than the rule. Is it the perky Sri Lankans? Maybe. But they don’t seem to have the stomach. The upstart Kiwis? They do seem the most likely… The stuttering Windies? No chance!

One therefore has to look to the Irish and Bangladeshis for hope. These are two most underrated teams and are yet in the second round with the big boys. And Australia won’t take them lightly but in the big world of the Super Eight, they are true nobodys. Hence, the theory suggests it will indeed be Bangladesh and/or Ireland who can beat Australia.

Unless of course he meant that “nobody” can beat us. In which case, it makes more sense. This is all a result of India’s loss. I have lost the ability to think straight. I still think he meant “The nobodys can beat us”. And he seconds his thoughts:

“I don’t say anything I don’t believe,” he said.

Oh, this uncertainty!

Satire and Cricket…

Wait… isn’t that better known as Indian Cricket? Excellent observations here from Sriram. Must read.

Technorati Tags: Cricket, Satire, World Cup

Bangladesh banned?

Or so a rumour mail would have most of us believe… I have also checked with reliable sources in the media and so far, this has not been confirmed. I have been asked by two unconnected people about this. Apparently, the Bangla team tested positive for drugs and have been banned. India, it would seem, is to return and play in the Super Eight.

Yeah, right!

Don’t believe this unless confirmed. So far it hasn’t been.

Technorati Tags: cricket world cup, bangladesh banned, india, super eight

Still hungover?

After last week’s drinking binge, Freddie? NO? Then why leave practice?

“He’s not taken a knock he’s just not feeling too good. There is a bit of that around,” a team official said.

It’s the drink, we say!

Technorati Tags: Andrew Flintoff, England, World Cup 2007

The end of the world?

(Image: CricketNow.in)

As Indian cricket (which comprises the collective conscience of the administration, players, fans and even the business interests) comes to terms with the shock of not being there for the second stage of the World Cup, uncomfortable questions are being raised. For one, the blame game has begun in all earnest and Greg Chappell is the fastest out of the blocks! In a recent statement, he has pointed fingers at everything and everyone but himself. So much for a team player!

Rahul Dravid is still considered a good captain, but a successor is apparently being looked for, at least by the media, while the rest of the top order is also being questioned. In fact, the bowling too is under scrutiny. This witchhunt is as much a part of Indian cricket as any skill the players may possess and while some heads are bound to roll, one hopes there no wholesale changes. It was this very team that we gave a great chance of bringing home the cup and two bad games doesn’t make them a bad team. Maybe bad motivators in the team, but not a bad team.

Continue reading »

Gee. That was fast.

Rahul Dravid’s back in Bangalore. He stays pretty close to where I am… maybe I should visit him. Let out some steam…

Goodbye India?

Thank you for the memories. Not.

The threat of rain

There is a serious threat of rain at the moment in the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka match. Should this game be washed out, it would put Sri Lanka at 3 points, Bangladesh at 3 and India at 2. So the India-SL match will effectively be a knock-out unless the Bangladesh-Bermuda match is won by Bermuda! All Bangladesh would need is another washout.

Scary times to follow!