Lanka Lost but Cricket at its best..

The Series that India just won…

The game was never looking like a contest in the second half despite the fact that India had lost its valuable openers in Sehwag and Sachin.. the only time that Sri Lanka probably had some thing to smile about..

These days with so much of improvement in the batting skills.. so much working out the strategies to garner a win from almost a defeat.. that can not take away any credits from the kind of batting display that the Delhi duo put up in the middle of the cricket Mecca of India.. Eden Gardens has always been special.. Eden Gardens will always remain special.. Eden Gardens tonight witnessed the highest score by the team batting first but only too easily defeatable score..

I would like to put to rest the speculations that the day night cricket brings along with it.. the teams that get to chase have double folded advantage so to say.. first the bowlers especially the slower ones find that grip is missing.. the second factor that goes against the side batting second is the slippery ground conditions which make fielding around a bit uneasy if not outright difficult.. so in cases where two teams are more or less equal in their batting and bowling resources… I would say that team batting second has a distinct advantage..

Not much can be done about to quell such factors that are natural and leave little scope for adjustments.. yet would say that having restricted Lankans to 315 runs was a great battle won in the first half itself.. if one could just leave the third game aside where despite fluent start Lankans failed to cross 250 mark the other three games proved that cricket has far more bend in favour of batters than bowlers.. and what can one really do to avoid that.. batsman have been aided by the technological advancements in video training and finding out better stamina and strategy to extend their stay at the wickets and if one of the batsman has to be of the kind of Sehwag or Dilshan a couple of dropped chances turn the whole complexion of the game..

Of late fielding world wide has come to a stage of stagnation.. the batsman have found it easier with known blocks improvised shot playing and better understanding of bowlers.. the game had never ever been so much so favourable to batsman not even in the days when Bradman or Richards were crafting their innings to perfection.. that batsman like Miandad, Gavaskar and Aravinda or a Border or Gower or even modern times Sachin and Dravid.. all had to build their innings in sensible rather than with the ruthlessness of Sehwag, Afridi or Jayasuriya and not to forget Dilshan in this particular year that was 2009.. they have all collectively changed the way the batsman score runs.. only old timer who played his cricket in this manner successfully could be Adam Gilchrist.. and if it is credit to the game it has to go to Twenty20.. you like it or not the day is not very far when teams would not only make 400 runs but like Lankans almost showed at Rajkot those runs wiould be chased down too..


There is far too little to pick up from which team is best.. I don’t believe in ranking.. especially not in a ranking system that has much less vision to incorporate margin of victory as a criteria.. if a team looses narrowly it can not be same as team loosing by huge margin of wickets, runs or balls to spare.. I know India had been loosing by huge margins in the ld days..but just look at the statistics barring one or two exceptional games they have been doing fairly well.. they did so well against Australia just a few months ago and still lost the series should not go to pull their ranking barometer terribly down.. they might have lost but they were almost there to win two games that they had lost.. Australia of late is not the same force as it used to be a couple of years back.. for whatever reasons yet Australians dominated the first two editions of IPL like none other..


The time has come that if we want all the three formats of the game to survive we have to have parallel cricket taking place.. I mean teams like India, Pakistan and Australia and South Africa for that matter could have parallel teams for Tests and limited over versions..

I being an Indian can easily pick 30 players who could be assigned the jobs of representing my country in international cricket comprising of five days Test cricket and Limited overs cricket.. in fact I can compose three teams if the ICC allows a three way participation of India in cricket at different formats..

Let us first talk of Test team –

1. Sachin Tendulkar
2. Manish Pandey
3. Dravid
4. Laxman
5. Rohit Sharma
6. Dinesh Karthik
7. Harbhajan Singh
8. Zaheer Khan
9. Ishant Sharma
10. Munaf Patel
11. Iqbal Abdulla
12. Piyush Chawla
13. Balaji
14. Ajnkya Rahane

I think the team looks quite balance and could possibly be led by either Dravid or Laxman in case Sachin does not want to lead India. It has good batting as well as bowling options that are more suited to Test cricket.

Coming next to Limited Overs team –

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
4. Yuvraj Singh
5. Suresh Raina
6. Virat Kohli
7. Irfan Pathan
8. Ravindra Jadeja
9. Praveen Kumar
10. R.P. Singh
11. Ashish Nehra
12. Pragyan Ojha
13. Yusuf Pathan
14. Abhishek Nayar
15. Pradeep Sangwan
16. R. Ashwin

If there are people who want to play both the form of the games I would not mind the top four batsman of Limited over games could choose to switch their roles with their equivalent counterparts and some specialist bowlers from Test could also be allowed to play a few games in the limited version.

The players which could shuffle are well known to all.. the experienced batsman in limited version and bowlers with rich Test experience could switch sides to maintain the balance.. In case of people like Sachin, Sehwag, Dhoni and Harbahajan could be allowed the freedom to choose one team from the other.. the other rotations could well depend upon the kind of opposition teams the test and Limited version teams are likely t be playing at the same time.

I can still name few of the reserve players for either team:

Test: Mohammad Kaif, and Parthiv Patel, Vriddhiman Saha
Limited Version: Manoj Tiwary, Shikhar Dhawan, Mahesh Rawat and Venugopal Rao

The connoisseur of cricket would say I have been more tilted in favour of Limited version. That is not true. I do foresee a mixing up of players from one team to another from time to time so that Sachin if he plays five Test matches in a year also gets to play atleast 6 to 7 Limited version games as well. Similarily if Sehwag plays 20 Limited version games he also gets to play atleast 3-4 tests in a calendar year. I have just choosen these two senior players as an example.. the numbers here are only exemplary than being exact. I would love that some of the players are always engaged in the playing eleven of one or the other team – i.e Gambhir, Yuvraj, Sehwag, Dhoni, Harbhajan and Praveen Kumar.

I would also love the limited version team to play more number of Twenty20 games. Say one could play equal number of ODIs and T20 games. With so much mileage available for having two teams India could easily take part in 7 to 10 Test matches and as many as 20-20 games each of ODI and Twenty20 in a particular season. This would also allow them to take breaks as an when they want or to apply to play cricket in teams from other countries.

The board could allow 10 days leave to senior cricketers (Five players at a time) to play in some premier leagues of other countries (During the times when they are part of one of the above two teams). The non-member players i.e. the cricketers who have not been considered for playing in one of the teams could simply apply to be allowed to play in International Premier leagues ( something similar to IPL).

The senior players should however also make a commitment to participate in the domestic cricket tournaments where they must play in atleast any of the 5 games, if selected, and not playing for one of the above two teams. However, the 5 games need not compulsorily be of Ranji Level. Playing in national IPL league could be counted as one of the games. I had talked earlier about national and international versions of Premier leagues.

I think the issue of captaincy could rest with only few people and preferably I would love Sehwag, Gambhir or Dhoni to lead the Limited version teams when some of them are not playing in the side. In Test cricket the choices could rest between Dravid or Lakshman if one of the Sehwag, Gambhir or Dhoni are not into the Test side. Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina could be their understudies.

I wish India also sends promotional teams ( comprising of the other available talent) into countries which want to participate and progress in cricket in future say the upcoming teams like Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, UAE, Kenya, Bermuda, Scotland et al. and help organize atleast 3 International games in countries which offer to support cricket and host the games featuring the top world teams or even top IPL teams. Developed countries like US, China, Germany, France, Japan may thus be allowed atleast to have a couple of T20 International games.

If the BCCI and ICC pay heed to such suggestions I think cricket could definitely be far more widespread than its presence base of just 9 Test cricket playing countries. Let us hope then that sooner or later the game of T20 finds its way into Olympics. India would have a chance to win Gold with so much of talent available at their disposal.

Abhaya Sharma

Mumbai 25th December 2009 1.50 AM IST

My Preview - Third ODI at Cuttack

My preview - Third ODI at Cuttack..
Virender Sehwag gets to captain India by default.. Dhoni has been served a two match ban.. it is all right.. team India if they play as a unit should not solely depend overtly on its captain or any player for bringing home the positive results..

I see this as a great opportunity for the team who is likely to have a different look than what we had been used to.. I for one have the opinion that India should use its players judiciously.. no, no, not the way the IPL has imposed a 12-match for India players.. first how do you decide which players come under that definition.. there are some of hem who get to play only in the few games.. there are some who rarely miss a game.. yet again there are some who are playing pivotal role for their IPL teams.. it does not make sense.. probably IPL is not willing to cut down on the total number of games as it directly equates with their earnings in ground as well as broadcast merchandise.. it is unfair to have two games at the league level and have just one game at the closing stages of the tournament.. I don’t like that..

If I were Lalit Modi I would not only add two more Indian teams I might just ask four more teams from other countries one each from Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan (or even a team each from the other test playing nations i.e. Sri Lanka, New Zealand, West Indies and even Bangladesh) . In that scenario there would be either 14 or 18 teams depending upon whether four foreign teams are allowed or eight foreign teams take part. It would be worthwhile to retain only eight teams and making way for two or four groups in the league stage picking either two teams each or one team each depending on number of groups. These four teams could then be allowed to play a super league where they each play the other twice and the top two teams alone fight it out in a best of three finals. To serve a 12-match restriction on Indian players seems like telling them who is the boss.. the administrator or the players.. I vote against such a scheme of things even if I am ridiculed by the players themselves who may love to play just 12 matches and earn what they deserve as endorsements.. it could mean lack of commitment too..

Coming back to the third one day cricket game Virender Sehwag may not find much options in case Yuvraj fails to clear the fitness test.. though sources say he should be playing in all probabilities.. that would make balance in two sides.. if he does not get to play Viru’s India would decisively start as underdogs.. their bowling and fielding has come under scrutiny even batsmanship will get affected severely if Yuvi too is present as a spectator..

My choice for team may for the first time match exactly with what XI would be doing the service at Cuttack later in the day :Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh (Virat Kohli), Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma.

I have preferred to give a chance to Ishant as both Nehra and Khan have been far too expensive I could not drop the in-form Khan so I included Sharma in place of Nehra (though I would have loved if selectors had picked Irfan instead of Sharma.. it is all right).

Abhaya Sharma, Mumbai

Post Script: I wish Sehwag very best in today’s game. I hope India could still strike a balance if they play the above XI.. more so if Yuvraj is fit enough.. a half fit Yuvraj should not be included as it could backfire in the absence of Dhoni as well.. I feel it is time that Sachin and ganbhir come to the rescue of India in the hour of crisis.

Addendum

IPL reformulation- Another way for conducting IPL

India could host a version of national IPL where state teams could all participate in say eight top teams first taking part in a shorter format- like four teams in each group playing out each one in their group just once. The top four teams qualifying for finals and for international IPL league where eight more world teams lock horns making international IPL a total of 12 teams divided into six teams each in a group playing just game each at league level. The top three teams from each group then playing a super league to decide the winner by playing a best of three finals between the top two teams of the super league. That should be in interest of the game globally and in the interest of players.

However, I would not mind if players are allowed to play for whichever team they like to represent in the International IPL. Some Indian players too could be allowed to play or take part for other countries. Say Yuvraj Singh playing for Pakistan and Praveen Kumar for England or Virender Sehwag playing for Australia and Dhoni for South Africa, that is just to enunciate my opinion and plan. It is nearly in the same spirit as Kallis plays for Bangalore or Lee for Kings XI. The decision must be lying with the team owners and willingness of players to switch sides and it must not change during a season of IPL so to say. That could be some great excitement. That alone could pave way for far more teams in the world to make a competent XI by hiring players from other cricket playing countries.

It should also be emphasised here that International IPL matches be then counted at par with Twenty20 Internationals by ICC. I only wish that these suggestions are taken as positive suggestions and not as criticism of IPL administrators.

India posts the highest second innings winning total..

Dear Auro the commentator (Extra Cover)

A good performance from you as well as the team India!

I was bemused to find that you did appear on commentary box along with Murali Kartik.. it was quite some fun.. es[pecially when you said gaya, gaya and I don't like that man in the red shirt..

The best part was the googly that you bowled about your observation about the wides.. I would say what a great observation about assigning the reason for so many wides in such a short format.. very well said sir.. the bowler does try to dislodge the concentrtion of the batsman by conceding a single.. moreover when a batsman is predetermined to hit everything that is hurled at him.. these wides are likely to produce wickets in this format.. no, no, you were perfect in your observation even if both kartik and Attapattu could not read your observations.. they see everything from pure cricketer's angle where as these wides have human angle to it.. chauka maarega.. ab maar..

Well, I am extremely jubiliated for the win.. I did my part well.. at the beginning of the Indian innings I did walk out to get milk and smoke a cigarette.. later I tried to hang the clothes that were lying in the washing machine.. in the meantime India had started off well.. tobe frank with you did not believe ndia had much chance to start with but I remembered what you said to a request hurled at you to say something to Sehwag and Gambhir and you said chhakka maaro, chhakka maaro.. good that the team heard your answer.. ther were as many as ten sixes in the Indian innings and five from the birthday boy Yuvraj Sixing..

When I really found that India was doing not so bad I asked Amrit to put on the Television Inda had just then lost the Gambhir.. I was tempted not to watch the game lest Sehwag gets out.. apane dil ko arra karake maine socha jo higa dekha jaayega.. Dhoni continued to bat at number 3.. no problems.. I crossed my fingers when Viru was nearing his only second fifty in his entire T20 career.. when he did manage that I was satisfied.. I had thought that if he scores 50 off 30 balls India had fair chance of taking the game and he did get it in some 28 balls.. when I started expecting too much from him a century or atleast surpassing the highest score by an Indian (75 by Gambhir) he just disappeared from the scene while playing for another six and was caught at mid-off.. it was a charactteristic Viru knock.. 64 from just 36 balls.. and he laid a good foundation with two fifty run partnerships first with Gautam and then with the skipper.. that Dhoni and Yuvraj nearly won the game with their third wicket partnership of 80 runs.. it was quite evident that partnership matter in every format of the game.. that India could post the highest winning total in the short history of T20 cricekt when they surpassed Lanka's 206 and making 211 for four they had won a T20 game after 4 straight losses..with five balls to spare.. and with six wickets intact..

There were sixes in every top three scores of the Indian innings 64,46 and 60 * while India won the game by six wickets chasing Lanka's 206 for 7..
It was a memorable game.. I would not mind going out every time Sehwag has to bat.. He did play some commendable cricket.. Good team work..

Earlier Three wickets to Yuvraj singh and a wicket during your commentary had made some dent to Lankan innings which appeared to get past 215 that they made last time.. Kumar would always ask himself why he did not toss the ball to Sanath.. probably he answered it too well in the end..

A great contest now seems to be in the offing for One day series soon after..
Love and Thanks to Sehwag, Dhoni and Yuvraj for a memorable Indian win at last after a long time..

Abhaya Sharma

The Question of the Hour! Cricket!! Auro!!!

Dear Auro

I assume that you are playing Guru Gary and Abhaya Sharma poses these Questions to you which are are not exactly questions but some sort of premonitions about team India and the rise and rise of cricket not in India but in the world as well..

1. Is Sehwag going to make the fastest century in the game's shortest format. He must be determined to make it look possible. He may need to last just 30 balls for that.

2. Would Ganbhir be a better choice for leading the 20 compared to Yuvraj Singh in place of Dhoni. irst Dhoni must admit that he does not mind handing over the reins to another man.

3. Is there some scope for a true all-rounder to emerge in India for T20 games. Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan could both fill the bill. They need to be in the 15 before they can make it to playing XI.

4. Was India's victory in the first edition a gift of Misbah ul Haque. That only Haque could answer best. The man who accounted for him is another all-rounder Joginder Sharma, who is best forgotten by team India despite being a brillaint fielder.

5. Is there an analogy between India's lack of form in T20 Internationals and launching of IPL. The kind of money some individuals have made without proving their worth requires a review of their endorsements.

6. Would IPL open up itself to foreign teams participation in future to promote T20 and cricket on global scale.

7. Would BCCI allow some of the Indian players to play for other teams if they do not get enough opportunities with their present franchisees. Manish Pandey not playing all the games in Champions T20 league!

8. How and when would ICC allow more teams participation into world T20 cup instead of just picking top 2 teams from the non-test playing countries. I would love to see 24 teams participating in the next world cup. I know format and fixtures are already up!

9. How does BCCI take this proposition to have parallel cricket i.e. having Test and Limited overs cricket simultaneously. Say The Test team playing in England and Limited overs (ODI and T20 sides) playing in South Africa. people could choose to play one of it at a time and be allowed to switch roles.

10. Whether BCCI could allow an Inter-city Twenty 20 criceket featuring some top 20 Cities in the country and featuring only players f Indian origin. India could exhibit far more talent and unearth some of that for national duities from that large database of players. See, one does not have to depend upon some 30 to 40 players for national duty all the time though out the tournaments round the whole season and for years together.. Let them face competition from New Kids on the Blok.

Abhaya Sharma

Include Kumar if possible..

Respected Brother
Sadar Charan Sparsh

I think India should not mss the opportunity to replace Sreesanth with Praveen Kumar as the former has tested positive for swine flu. India should be allowed with the lasy minute replacement for the strike bowler who missed the first game due to Diarrohea..

If Dhoni, Srikkanth and Guru Gary put up the request I think ICC or Sri Lankans for that matter should not object..

In such an eventuality of inclusion of Praveen Kumar in the T20 team, India would be somewhat reinforced in the bowling department and have a slogger available to them during the batting..

I would then love to play the following eleven later in the day..

Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma (or Praveen Kumar), Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Praveen Kumar (or Rohit Sharma), Ashwin, Nehra, Sudeep Tyagi and Ishant Sharma.

I would have loved India to bat second.. the other day they did quite well.. only Lankans played much better cricket and the Indian middle order faltered more than the usual.. India should bat second and try to restrcit the Lankans within 200.. They can win if they are able to get Praeen Kumar.. in case it is not possible.. I would love to keep Yusuf Pathan in the side in his place. Ojha and Pathan need to be rested. I would like Sehwag and Yuvra to bowl a couple of overs each if need arises.. which I know would definitely arise when Lankans get in command..

Play your natural game and I would only say that Sehwag could be little less ruthless in the beginning and take few more balls for his initial 20 runs say 20 in 15 balls and then gear up to fifty.. it is quite surprising that he has only 1 fifty from around 13 games that he has played for India n T20.. he could make a substantial difference to the scheme of any Lankan Plans with his batting powers.. only if he displays them at all.. I would not be happy with 30 from 10 balls from him I wish that he makes 50 from 30 balls.. still a 10 runs per over..

I also pray that Yuvraj is able to keep captaincy issue of Kings Xi Punjab.. I am sure one day he would lead India in T20.. it could be very soon.. but he should apply himself better to the task assigned to him.. foremost is his batting and fielding skills.. he should not drop sitters any more..

Good luck to team India and whatever be the result of the game I would definitely watch the game.. I missed nearly 70 percent of the first T20.. I would not miss even a single ball.. I would not even miss the extra cover for a meeting with Auro.. Is that you brother who is going to go to Chandigarh..

Love
Abhaya Sharma

PS If for some reasons Kumar can not be included there is absolutely no harm in calling the state man Harbhajan to do the services for India.. though I would prefer Kumar to take care of Kumar.. If India has to bat first they should at least register 200 plus runs on the board if they have to really make a fight of it..

I am not disappointed with the first Twenty 20 result..

I am not disappointed..

The result of the first Twenty20 game is not a cause for disappointment for India. It should not be. Yet we have to learn lesson from every game and there were a few things that immediately come to the mind specially in the team selection and execution of plans.

First team selection – India did not have even one quality all-rounder in the current team. No, no, it is not that we do not have one or two of that kind, it is only that we did not play them for this important version. In the current scenario Twenty20 is more about having one or two all-rounders not necessarily of Kapil Dev’s caliber Praveen Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan Pathan and Virat Kohli can all fill that bill. It was only that not even one of them found a place in the 15 forget in eleven. The second most important point to be observed is about the fielding skills. Sri Lanka won the game more because they fielded like a champion side. They not only held catches they did cut out several boundaries which made a great difference to the outcome. Thirdly, India for some reasons, went for more runs than was expected or anticipated by the captain and he did not have faith on his earlier support to Yuvraj with the ball. I know Yuvraj or Sehwag might not have made too much difference yet if the score was below 200 India could have given it a fighting reply instead of the 29 run defeat.

The middle order crumble was the most authentic reason for the defeat. From 93 for 1 to 105 for 5 to 129 for 7 only batsman could be blamed after such a fluent start provided by the openers. Gambhir now becomes the only batsman in the world to have 6 half centuries against his name. Sehwag should have decided to take it easy after two near chances. I know the catch that was dropped and the run out that Lankans missed did not make much of a difference as Sehwag failed to capitalize on these chances that he was offered. He did not have much choices seeing what the target was on the board. If not 40 extra runs, India did give away atleast twenty runs more than they should have. Sharma for a change bowled his first spell magnificently yet none other could control the flow of runs and India had stiff challenge on the board when they went in to bat second. It is all right, I must also add that India were outplayed by the visitors in every department. It was not only Kumar the skipper who made life miserable for Indian bowlers Kapugedera’s 47 from 20 and 22 runs from one of the Nehra over by Sanath were as instrumental in crafting and drafting of an imposing 215 runs at the end of 20th over.

I know there is no point in crying over spilt milk yet fielding was below par and having a long tail, though it quite wagged to take Indian total to some respectability were the main reason for dismal if not a disgusted show by Indians. The batting order also has some errors. It seems Yuvraj or Raina might have been the optimum choice at the fall of Sehwag’s wicket. Gambhir had to take upon the role of Sehwag was not that good an idea, we all know Gambhir is the best batsman who if he hangs around can accelerate his innings almost at will despite his registering the second fastest fifty in T20 Internationals and by becoming the first India batsman to get past the 500 mark he had done a commendable job to keep India in the hunt. The sudden middle order collapse made life difficult for Indian spectators. That is cricket though at its uncertain best. Who could think that Nehra could hit the leather as hard as he did to hit two huge sixes.
This is not the end of the world, Indians can still make amends and if allowed to make a few changes should try to inculcate atleast Praveen Kumar in place of Sreesanth if not anyone else for his upset stomach.

It would not be possible for the India to play the XI that I am going to talk of here. I shall however say that Guru Gary has done few things right by making people like Nehra learn few traits required for this format of the game. I know what Nehra’s batting skills were for all his career yet he did not appear the same with the bat though he did not appear the same with the ball earlier when he conceded some extra runs to Sanath. It is T20 cricket and I can not say nothing about bowlers. It is a batsman and fielding oriented version. Yet full marks to Ishant for his first three overs yielding only 7 runs. The target otherwise would have been far more than the 215 for 5.

Here I state what Gary Kirsten should expect from his team collectively, first and foremost comes the fielding abilities second comes consistency with the bat and last but not the elast scope for inclusion of as many all-rounders in the side, no, non, not the makeshift all-rounders like Yuvraj, Rohit or Raina, the genuine ones.

If I were to select the team for T20 I would have picked the following eleven –
Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh and RP Singh.
My four reserves would be Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey, Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma

If one looks up at XI there are as many as five changes lower down the order but you would immediately realize that I have probably kept the best fielding unit as the topmost priority. Even if one does not allow me to change it so drastically atleast two changes in Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan are a bare minimum. Unfortunately the reserve players with the current team may not be having much desired qualities to make the replacements. I would continue with the same team or include Sreesanth, if he is fit on 12th in place of Dinda and accept the defeat as coolly as cool possibly can be. With this set of 15 players it is not even hypothetically possible to beat this Lankan outfit to be able to equalize the series. Yet, one must not give up the fight.

I sing the Bob Marley song for the team India. Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight..

India is number one in Test Cricket..

India is Numero Uno..

India achieved what seemed to have alluded them over last 77 years of ytheir test cricket history.. I am proud of the achievement would be an under-statement.. I am really proud of their feat given the way they started this test series on the brink of a defeat or rather an innings defeat in the very first test at Motera.. that they did commendable job to turn the tables by not only saving the first test but also winning the next two at Kanpur and Mumbai by an innings.. how many times a team would have achieved such level of great performance.. even if India had not been adjudged number one in the test rankings.. this fact alone gives a great satisfaction..

Contrary to popular belief this team has not achieved something as big as India had achieved when it first beat West Indies in West Indies when Sunil Gavaskar arrived on the Indian cricket scene or India under Kapil Dev got better of the then cricketing giants West Indes in the 1983 World cup.. No, No, I am not taking away any credits from these set of palyers who have amongst them some of the best in the Test cricket History that India has played for 77 years.. India has not been at the bottom of the tables for last four or five years in test cricket in fact they have been always enjoyed being number two or three many a times.. so this escalation is not as good as the channels have been trying to tell us..

No doubt.. India under Dhoni has been doing well.. no doubt Indi has Sehwag and Gambhir as probably the best opening pair in the world.. nno dubt that India has had Sacin Tendulkar amongst them for 20 years.. No doubt India has had the services of wall the Dravid and Mr. Dependable in Lalshman.. No doubt India has been having far more medium pace options that Nehra and RP Singh do not even get a look in.. no doubt even after the departure of the Jumbo Kumble we still have the services of Harbhajan Singh.. yet I would suggest that if with the best eleven men available if India did not reach the mark a few years ago under Saurav Ganguly it has to be credited to Dhoni to get the best out of his star players under the circumstances..

Cricket in all its formats in the recent past has become overtly dependent upon batting skills and that is where team India has been bestowed with some big names.. as Kapil dev said India has nearly five batsman with averages above 50 in test cricket so they are definitely the best batting side at present.. the ranking does not appeal too much to me..I would have far loved Virender Sehwag to have achieved his third triple hundred as such opportunities do not knock at your doorstep every other day.. it is all right.. he plays his game the way he plays.. he is not to be blamed but I have right to feel upset about it.. even if he is not.. I have been following cricket more seriously since 1971 as a school boy at Kendriya Vidyalaya Port Blair where we used to play book cricket in the class.. sometimes even during the ongoing lessons.. I had always wanted to bat as Viswanath ahead of Gavaskar.. I know Gavaskar was far more talented than his later to be brother-in-law Gundappa Viswanath yet I had far more respect for the stocky Viswanath for his square cuts and cover-drives.. I know there have been many batsman in India and world who play better than him.. yet I would rate vishy the very best for me.. no, no, it has nothing to do with the meeting with him at Kotla dressing room prior to Australia tour..

I would not mind sharing a few thoughts about the present team.. Sehwag was very nearly not considered amongst even thirty players for an Australian tour.. not in very distant past.. when not because of me but for Ian Chappell and Imran Khan the selectors had included him at the very last minute.. such behaviour hurts me even if Sehwag says it is all right.. how could you not consider someone who had a triple hundred in Test cricket against Pakistan.. form is one thing and class completely another.. especially in test cricket.. There have been many cases of unfair selection policies in past .. who could be a better example of explicitly defining the wrong acts of Indian selection process than the man of series at the 1983 world cup.. Mohinder Amaranth was arguably the best hooker and probably had a strong defence against world’s best pace bowlers yet he had been in and out of the team several times.. Could Vengsarkar and Patil explain away their apathy towards Sehwag who was about to emerge the soul player to score three triple centuries.. and has maximum double centuries by an Indian.. I would like to ask Mr Bishan Singh Bedi taking a dig at his mother when talking of his cricketing abilities.. would they come forward and say in as many words what the feel of the batsman now.. it was quite ironic that Dilip handed him the man of the match or man of the series award.. what must have been going n in his mind thinking of his past assumptions of the mercurial opener.. it is all right.. let bygones be bygones.. but I know let Sehwag fail in couple of games over a year and their swords would again be dangling at his head..

No, no, I am not blaming BCCI for not playing too much of test cricket.. they did play lot of cricket though.. I see no logic in holding an away and home games for the IPL teams in the league stage other than for making money.. otherwise how does one explain that India has only played only 18 T20 Internationals..

And to all the test supporting cricketers who say that they have far too little of Test cricket fo them in the coming days.. they should compare themselves with some of the world’s top teams about the number of test matches each would have played in the last two years.. India would definitely be ahead of many of them if not all..

I would love to see that India does give proper opportunities to the youngsters at the right time otherwise they should not complain about the slump that may arise when Sachin, Dravid and Lakshman disappear from world cricket which is very close on time scale.. I know that there is no dearth of pace bowlers in the country at present a fact that Nehra and to some extent even RP Singh do not find a place in their Test squad.. that is a healthy situation so to say.. every one is out to prove better than the other.. India talks of lack of genuine all-rounders yet Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan are sidelined without any serious consideration.. if you do not provide opportunities and express faith in the ones that are available where is the question of new all-rounders to emerge on the horizon..

I know few would take my writings as faithful and sincere and label me anti-BCCI or whatever better names they may get to.. yet the fact is that India has had good players all along yet because of the unfair selection process India had not been able to achieve the ranking which has come their way after 77 years.. Ask anyone India has been playing just too much of cricket.. if they have achieved it now it is a result of last three four years of commitment that the players have been displaying on the field..

I would rather want the team to do better in Twenty20 and even ODI than in test cricket. I do not agree with either Kapil, Sachin or even Sehwag that Test cricket is the best form of cricket.. with less than 10 countries playing test matches it is nt a big deal.. I know for sure that in 2012 if this earth survives then Twenty20 may have some 20 or 30 strong teams vying for supremacy in the world of cricket.. a format where India failed miserably under their most able and most talented players available in the world championship that was held in England..

If some ranking system is in place for T20 Internationals India would not be in top 3 despite the fact tha they were champions in the first edition of the world championship.. Wake up India and win the two t20 games on 9th and 12th of December and more importantly play the format more often at the international level than at premier level where money is the only criteria and glory of the country comes second.. IPL should definitely have more teams and a new competitive format that is not aimed at making money but promoting the sport at national and international level.. I do not like that IPL teams should represent India in champions league tournament.. where other countries did better than all the three IPL teams as probably they were more united by their nationalistic configuration.. Should we not have a national trophy for T20 where state teams could then go on to take part in world chamion’s T20 league.

I hope no one takes my comments as biased against anyone in the country.. I love India and I shall continue to love India.. take as much pride in the test rankings though I would rather prefer to have the similar feat being achieved in the other two formats of the game which according to me are far more popular amongst the cricket lovers as is evident by the gate money..

I wish Virender Sehwag has heard my plea to achieve something miraculous in ODIs.. there has no one who has scored a double hundred.. being an opener and given his style of batting he is far more capable Indian to achieve that.. if he also happens to be World’s first would be an icing on the cake.. So what are you waiting about Viru.. go ahead and smack those 200 runs in one of the five games and take India to number one position in the one day version as well..

Congratulations to team India.. I felt the money that has been distributed to these test players should have also been awarded to some of those who did contribute to India’s supremacy in the last three years if not last five years.. Important names that should have definitely been considered to be included in the list are Saurav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan and Ashish Nehra if not more..

Abhaya Sharma
December 7 2009 10:30 AM IST

A Message for Sehwag

Dear Sehwag,
I don’t know if I have this right to be so upset and perturbed for you not achieving the milestone.. yet I was visibly upset and I only prayed that I did not behave badly yet did with Amrit.. the poor sould was at the receiving end as he spent time with badminton tournament in school rather than finding time for studies.. God must forgive me for my behaviour.. It is not he who is at fault, it is me.. I need to show more interest i his activiites than in Cricket and cinema.. he got a couple of hard handed drives on his back on his return from the games.. where he offered to saty back for referring even agter his games were over..

There is some deformity in my mind.. my father and mother brought up 11 children and barring my eldest sister everyone is a minimum of a graduate and here it is me.. who is struggling to cope up with him.. finding myself engrossed with this and other blogs and Virotechnics.. I must be ordered sanity by the almighty.. I have to spend more time with him.. graft his innings carefully and nurture his growth naturally.. I should have been not so upset with your failure to register the third triple hundred when I know that the way you play the game you would definitely come up with the third century on another good day like thursday the December 3 of 2009..

I read your interview in DNA and i am a relieved man.. you are not expressing your dismay even if you have just missed the mark by a whisker.. it is all right.. I did get a itchy feeling to travel all the 20 odd Kilometers to Brabourne but did not do so as I know that my watching you playing is superstitiously not to the best for you as a batsman.. I know I should not feel that way.. and I think these are just 6-7 coincidences that you get out the moment I decide to watch your game..could there be a connectivity.. scientifically trained mind wants to discard such theories but the observer in me suggests that next time you are nearing the milestone I shall definitely hide the TV remote or just walk out of home for a cigarette..

I have still not returned to normalcy after what happened to the proceedings of this game’s early third morning.. don;t feel dejected for me.. it is all right I shall come out of it and also learn to behave more rationally with the situations..

I wish that you achieve the milestone in the next time you play the full test innings.. meaning even if you have to bat here second time which I doubt would be required at all.. you should apply yourself well in the next full test match.. did I say I do not like India to play so much of test cricket.. I change my stance.. I take a fresh guard to test cricket and shall not mind if Test cricket survives and survives as the longest form of cricket..

I offer to tell you that there is another opportunity to create history besides this three triple hundreds.. no batsman in the world has made a double hundred in one-day cricket.. I have a feeling that you could target that in the series that follows the two T20s that India plays on 9th and 12th.. I shall feel honoured to be your supporter.. no, no not just for the sake of being a KVIAN or an Indian alone I respect your being a talented natural cricketer..

Love
Abhaya Sharma

Virender Sehwag on the verge of his third triple century

History may well be rewritten as and when Virender Sehwag scores his third triple Hundred.. I may not go to Brabourne stadium after all, as when I watch him playing on TV he gets nervous and gets out.. today.. the moment I opended the TV a wicket had fallen.. I sincerely thanked God that that it was not him.. he has to do it for me.. I know he is capable of more than just 3 triple hundreds.. so first he should get his third tomorrow.. and create history..

Respected Brother

Sadar Charan Sparsh

Oh! what a scintillating start to the third Test's second day. India with a stupendous effort from an unbeaten 284, the third highest runs in a day behind Bradman's 309 and Hammonds 295 runs in a day, the great batting display by him makes one to believe that Test cricket is going to saty alive and up on its feet if batsman like him are at the crease..

India take a 50 run lead with three days remaining and nine wickets in hand.. More important than anything else would be the 16 more runs needed by Viru to complete his third triple hundrd in Test cricket.. then it will be Jay ho.. He would be alone at the helm of test cricket with three such outings Bishan Singh Bedi should better go and ask his mother as to whether he would get there to score his third triple hundred of test cricket.. jokes apart.. if he did not want to do it today he is serious about it.. and for once I would also like to caution the dashing swashbuckling Sehwag to play cool cricket in the first hour of the morning..

Viru has rose to the challenge well and should get a chance to do so.. he shoul sleep well.. he should not think too much about it.. he can let Dravid do the most of the batting in the first few overs and take his time to settle as if taking a fresh guard..

This test in 9 out of ten cases would not end as a draw.. and in 10 out of ten cases India can not loose it from here.. what does that mean t Test cricket.. it kicks well and moves ahead even if Abhaya Sharma does not like it as much.. things are changing for him as well.. I have been a staunch supporter of Viru.. in fact a couple of day back I wanted him to lead the Test side, err.. I had mentioned Sachin.. yet I know Sachin himself does not want to captain the side..so next best man is Viru..Dhoni the One day team and Yuvraj to be the leader of T20 team..

Somewhere, some of my comments and views are being paid heed to.. the two squads for T20 and ODI are a proof enough.. I feel if there are three captains they can all play under the other in the different formats and gel well like never before.. That could only lead to quality team work and togetherness.. I ain't against Dhoni.. he has been doing good job.. but should he be allowed to walk away with such huge endorsements as being the captain of all the three Indian teams.. I do not like it that way.. let best performers be acknowledged with the chunk of money they rightly deserve..

Whether or not Sehwag wants to lead.. whether or not Yuvraj wishes to be the captain of one of the teams.. I am sure honi bhaiya would be releived if he has to just manage one of the teams.. One day cricket is most important as of now.. Twenty20 may soon become important in future if Test cricket has to survive it has to have good performing leaders..

The teams that have been announced are probably a good job.. only I felt that Kumar could have also been considered for T20 as well.. and Sreesanth despite his wicket taking abilities is not a suitable bowler for T20.. no expensive bowler can be taken in T20 and for that reason I feel that even shant Sharma could have been considered to be rested for some more games.. this appeasement of players like granting them places in either of the ODI or the T20 is not good.. it should have been on merit.. Mishra is one case I feel have been most unfortunate he is a genuine wicket taker and it was just for his performance on a batting paradise that he had been judged and dropped.. one should not be so cruel to youngsters.. it is all right.. there are quite a lot of new faces in the T20 some of whom should make their presence rewarded.. I do think that Tyagi might just be a certainty.. and so also Ojha for both the games on 9th and 12th.. when one can pick only 11 in a team I do find that ODI team is far more balanced than T20.. My only exception to ODI team is Virat Kohli ahead of Rohit Sharma and for T20 there is doubt if Sreesanth and Ashwin deseved to be there ahead of Irfan and Kumar.. In fact Yusuf too has not been in good nick in the games he got.. he could have made way for Abhishek Nayar..

Brother you may be thinking that it is too difficult for BCCI to satisfy Abhaya Sharma.. so be it.. I badly want three captains for team India and a mix of players in these formats as per their talents.. India is capable to emerge supreme in all three forms of the game if they mix their resources well.. I know you have a liking for test cricket as that was the kind of cricket that was being played during your youthful days.. I have seen all three formats of the game and feel there should be far more T20 cricket even at domestic level.. say Inter city between some top 50 cities of the United States of Indian subcontinent remember that concept.. do you.. I think that is the first article I posted on abhayaamitabh.blogspot.com if you do need to refresh your memories..

Well, Well, right now you must be concentrating on premier of PAA.. we are all eager to know how the day went.. what kind of responses did ou get from the fraternity than from media.. I was wearing a media card on Bachchan Sandhya but I am not from th fourth estate at all.. I am an ordinary human being..

Love to all

Abhaya Sharma

Post Script: If Sehwag does get to a triple hundred for the third time.. we could all rejoice in a great way.. I would not mind going to Brabourne stadium tomorrow if it is feasible for me.. despite my pronounced lack of interest in Test cricket.. I shall just give it a try.. For it is going to be a historric moment of Test cricket and for a fellow KVIAN..

Post Lunch of Day 3 ( Second Test at Kanpur)

Cricket Update:

When 6 wickets fell for India on day 2, I knew India would comfortably win this test match.. and Sreesanth was a surprise package.. I know he may be expensive but he does get wickets and he has proved that again with his three wickets in the first session of day 3 leaving Lankans trotting at 138 for 5..

I am sure India would make them follow on and possibly win by an innings later tomorrow or latest by the fifth day morning.. this test would be far more difficult for Lanmkans to save themselves compared to India in the first test.. where wicket had nothing for bowlers at Ahmedabad..

Kanpur is known to be a vicious turner.. the last test here was over in three days when South Africa got a drubbing.. ICC had then criticised Kanpur track a great deal.. it is all right to make wickets more suitable to our bowlers.. every country does that I remember India had got out for 42 runs in one of the England test match at Lords in early 70s.. Did any council came to support team India then..

Test Cricket is a different ball game. I had wanted them to concentrate on T20 so that many more countries could come and compete in the game.. they thought it is not cricket yet let me tell here that T20 would bring glory and globalisation to cricket like never before..

I am convinced in my mind that five years from now the number of teams in world T20 would double if not go beyond that.. I hope India does get to play more T20 Internationals.. IPL is OK but playing for one’s country has much more at stake.. I would be waiting eagerly for the two T20s that India plays after the Test series.. We should also plan T20 Asia Cup as all the four subcontinent teams have good cricketing talent.. I hope BCCI is reading what I have to say here on future of cricket..

The raising of the endorsement contract fee is understandable but only for India seniors.. To rope the women and the other India teams is not so gullible an idea.. One can rather have different kind of amount fr three Indian teams the Test, the One Day and the Twenty 20..

I also wish tha atleast 20 to thirty players represent the country in the three different formats depending on the nature of their game.. I would go still further to suggest three different captains for the three teams..

I know Dhoni is doing a great job presently yet I would rather love to have Sehwag (if not Sachin) as captain for Test cricket, Dhoni to lead in One dayers and Yuvraj Singh to skipper the Twenty 20 side.. I have nothing against Dhoni as I have nothing in favour of the other two yet it may give a good balance to the three teams.. good luck team India for the 9th and 12th December.. the twin T20 cricket games.. even number is not appropriate.. it is all right.. if India could level 1-1 would be good enough..

More later

Abhaya Sharma

First Test loss to Sri Lanka is imminent..

India on the verge of conceding the edge to Sri Lanka..

Indian players would be subjected to a humiliation of different kind after succumbing to B team of Australia recently.

If the ongoing display of cricket at Motera is any indication of events to come India may well be handed over its first loss to Sri Lanka at home. There could be much more than just the loss. It could well turn out to be an innings defeat if Sri Lanka decide to amass 300 run lead before calling in for declaring their first innings of the first Test at Ahmedabad.

Mahela Jayawardene in the company of Prasanna Jayawardene has ensured one that ri Lanka can not loose from here. The duo with double hundred partnership for the sixth wicket would want to consolidate their teams propects of winning.

What India can do is to restrict the flow of runs to minimum in the first session of the fourth day and if possible contain the Lankan’s without achieving a margin in excess of 300 runs which could only delay the inevitable.

India if they have to play for five sessions and manage a draw would have reaffirmed the faith of people like Abhaya Sharma to back them up in Test cricket. Needless to say that India has been playing far too much cricket and its showing its negative impact already.

India has not used the services of Virender Sehwag with the ball despite the fact that he has provided breakthrough on many occasions in past. If Harbhajan and Mishra have failed collectively to buy wickets Viru may not be necessarily a success story yet is there any harm in throwing the ball to him and expect a miracle to happen. If I were Dhoni I would have done so long long back much before asking Yuvi or Sachin to try their arm.

I had almost decided to not write on Test cricket but this is an odd occasion when I want to tell my teammates to perform collectively and somehow mange to save the first test. Not just to deny the Lankans a well deserved first win in the country but also to define the mood of the game in future contests of the series. The team that draws first blood might just as well go on to not just win the Test series but also turn the tables on more fierce fight for honours in ODI and a couple of T20 Internationals, only the 19th and 20th that India is going to play.

Dhoni Bhaiya if you wish that team and country supports you well please do something to ensure that Lankans do not take an unassailable or albeit a winning lead of 300 plus runs with more than five sessions to get 10 more Indian wickets.

Indian batsman would be put to a difficult task at their hand as they would probably be first trying to avert an innings defeat and slowly create a situation where Lankans either do not get to bat or have an unachievable target when they come to bat for second time.
That would mean that India decides as to who among its batsman would go on to preserve their wickets and who would go for scoring at brisk rate to have substantial runs that seem to be necessary.

If I were Kumar I would have declared my first innings closed at 591 for 5, the overnight score just to expect a couple of early wickets in the early hours of the game and then make sure that India do not get to a total that is not achievable in whatever time remains in the second innings. I know Kumar and Lankans would not dare to do that. They would rather have 300 plus runs on the board and understandably believe that India is not able to bat for five sessions to save the tests. The psychological advantage that comes with the 300 runs is too big to be lured into an early declaration.

I would expect Virender Sehwag to not contain himself when he comes to bat. I would also not want Yuvraj Singh to restrict his shot playing. The two would be my best chances of putting some decent score if Sri Lanka has to come to bat second time. Dravid, Gambhir have to play the stay at the wicket with Sachin and Dhoni doing the dual role of keeping the wickets intact and also scoring some valuable runs. Do not just play to while away the time. Some of you have to score some runs as well and tha is really important. I only wish that wicket does not start to turn as is expected on the fourth and final days of a test match. India is depending too heavily on factors other than performance to save the first test match.

- Abhaya Sharma

Beware of the Lankan Tigers!

I know cricket is a game of uncertainties.. yet not as much as a flip of a coin.. it is not simple to beat a good cricketing tam.. and Sri Lanka have proved that over last two decades they have been a great force.. They have amongst their ranks some of the finest batsman and bowlers in the world today.. Dilshan has been in the peak of form.. Kumar is elegant in any form of the game and Jayawardene stabilises their batting.. Samarweera proves to be the man on a mission.. With Murali not so effective these days he is still far better than Harbhajan or even all three spinners of India combined.. India can not afford to make spinning wickets.. their best bet would be to provide batting wickets and tha may lead to superfluos drawn games.. which have actually become rarity these days.. some teams and players have taken the onus on them to get the results at any cost to keep the faith of public in the oldest and arguably the toughest form of cricket. toughest may not necessarily have to be the best..

I have been watching cricket for nearly 35 years.. Earlier India was so bad at winning that we Indians used to take pride if or team could draw a test match against some of the ebst teams of the world.. the first great overseas victory in 1971 against West Indies was something like beating the best in the world.. Now the teams like Sri Lanka and New Zealand also find them to be beaten at their home grounds..

India should paly Test cricket if they really wish to do so.. yet I would say if the team looses to Sri Lanka (they have never won a test in India) one should not get surprised.. Indians have been playing awful lot of cricket.. they are human beings and not money making machines that BCCI has been encashing.. Otherwise how can one explain two games for each team in IPL and so few T20 Intl that India has played..

India has been doing much better in cricket after that World cup victory in 1983.. yet we have to win the cup for second time where as some lesser teams have won it more than once.. it is time to think ad act.. We have great talented players but they are not nurtured as well as they should have been.. I am not an enemy of BCCI but then they have to be acting responsibly with heir available strength..

Good Luck team India.. it is going to be far tougher tournament than the ODI series.. Lankans are far more balanced side than injury marred Australians.. beware of the Lankan Tigers

India Needs to change...

India needs to change its captain.. with such a loss against the depleted Australian side that is the first reaction that I have to offer..

MSD has to take a back seat.. someone else.. somone senior should hold that mantle of captaining the Indian side in ODI.. Test matches and even T20 cricket (Dhoni was a failure as a captain in the world T20 championship as well..)

To my mind comes only one name capable of leading the side and still command respect from all the players.. and that name friends is that of Schin Tendulkar.. the living legend in the cricketing arenas..

I know he has not had best of times as a captain.. probably those were different times.. cricket was different then.. the team was different and above all cricket too was different.. it has changed a great deal after the advent of T20..

I feel Sacin Tendulkar deserves to be given one more chance to lead India in Test matches as well as in one day internationals.. and if one has to have a one cpatain theory.. I would not mind leading him in the Twenty20 as well.. though I would rather love to have someone different in that format.. even Dhoni would do for that as a contender amongst Viru and Yuvraj.. but for Test cricket and ODI I think we should put our best foot forward.. Sachin understands the game as well as few others in the world of cricket.. why not give him the responsibility to lead India..

Oh there could be this bias against Test cricket in my mind.. it is my opinion that it is not important anymore.. and if the ODI cricket could bring in some changes as ICC is thinking about doing away with limitatons of a bowler to be allowed only 10 overs.. it would be a very welcome move.. Test cricket needs far more attention to be changed to suit to the needs of the modern times.. I vaguely remember Hundred Overs Test cricket that was once suggested by me.. it could really be one innings affair.. it could well be finished in two or maximum three days.. as such in ODI cricket we do see 100 overs being bowled in a day.. so two day test cricket does not make much of an irony..

Coming back to the captaincy issue I feel Sachin Tendulkar captains the side when he is playing.. that also eans that he should not be playing every series on the earth that India is playing.. yeap.. I do want him to come forward to play against only top five cricket countries in Australia, South Africa, Pakistan (if we choose to play them), Sri Lanka and England..

India should also rotate its players appropriately.. I see no point in playing Gautam, Sehwag, Yuvraj and Dhoni playing in each and every game.. three of them should be played at a time and thus introduce our newer players to prove their mettle..

I also feel that despite India having a large number of medium pacers three bowlers should be rotated from the available pool of Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Ishant Sharma, R.P. Singh, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth and even Sudeep Tyagi..

For spinners slot I feel that we hae not been considering two regular spinners in ODI asking our part-time bowlers to do the job.. I was myself of such an opinion earlier yet wish that India does play two spinners from the following in Test and ODI - Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra, Shadab Jakati and even Piyush Chawla..

We also have to look for wicket keepers slot for the games where Dhoni is being rested and there are two names that come to my mind Dinesh Karthik and Parthiv Patel though I feel Naman Ojha is no less in class.. atleast with the bat..

I would rather love to have 30 to 40 players playing for India in a season some may get as many games as 7 out of 10 some with 5 out of 10 games and some just playing in two to three games from a pool of 10 games.. that way our players would fnd themselves with less fitness and fatigue problem than has been witnessed during current times..

Most importantly India should play more bi-or tri-lateral T20 Intls and cut down the IPL drastically.. I see no reason why each team should play the other twice.. one game should be enough.. a best you could have more games among top four teams and may be a best of three final..

Players of India who should get a ODI chance besides the prsent team

Batsman who could serve on rotational basis - Rohit Sharma, Manish Pandey, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Shikhar Dhawan, S. Badrinath, M. Vijay and Manoj Tiwary

Medium pace bowlers who should get some of the games - R.P. Singh, Dhaval Kulkarni, Sreesanth, Balaji

Spinners - Pragyan Ojha, Shadab Jakati, Piyush Chawla, Iqbal Abdulla and Anil Kumble ( if he continues to play at IPL why not for India too!)

All-rounders - Abhishek Nayar, Joginder Sharma, Venugopal Rao and Rajat Bhatia
Wicket Keepers- Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel and Naman Ojha.

My list may not be as comprehensive as BCCI could work out with more statistics and form of the players.. yet this could be viewed as a possible way of explaining my opinion..

I hope India does not allow the Sri Lankans their first test win in India but going by the amount of cricket that Indian cricketers have been playing there is every likelihood of such an event to take place.. I would not be surprised if India looses the Test series.. I can not be wishing that being Indian but that is my worst fear.. there is a limit of each individual to play continuous cricket and still excel all the time..

I would not be watching Test cricket yet I would be following it up.. I have a felling that India played better cricket in the recent ODI series despite the fact that they lost the series 4-2 it could have easily been the other way round had India won those two close games at Vadodara and Hyderabad..

I think I should wish the team best of chances to not allow Sri Lankans to walk away with some glorious memories.. I know Kumar, Dilshan and Mendis would be thinking that it is the best opportunity to knock down Indians.. they are not entirely wrong if they think that way.. though I have a feeling the Test series would end up as a drawn series..

Shocking Defeat at Guwahati

Respected Brother
Sadar Charan Sparsh

I was not here yesterday for I thought we should keep an off day- a Sunday for retrospection for recollection of the fact that there should be some time that should exclusively be for the family - a small family at that comprising of wife Savita and 11 year (completing that on 16th this month)- yet there is more to family.. to the house that we call as home.. to the other matter of fact acts that deserve attention..

There is a newer post from London from you yet decided to write here as well.. more so for I find that it is after some time that you have again been generous with some photographs.. there is no dearth of pictures, songs and photographs that are available here on the net.. bigbgroup excelling in compilation of each and every event concerning you.. yet the significance of these pictures has that added attraction as it has been directly shared by you with us.. shared by the head of the family with the rest of its members.. I find that interesting.. as much interesting as we get our daily posts from you.. thanks for it all the same..

I say that yesterday was not one of the best days in Indian cricket.. a team that had been having clear advantage over the opponents did not put up a good show or should I correct myself and say put up a miserable show.. my dejection can not be hidden though I do not consider that winning is everything.. I do not believe in winning as much as playing good sound cricket.. it was this aspect that took a suffering in Guwahati.. first and foremost my wrath has to be worn by Viru.. he has let me down.. I had put off Television.. I did not put On the FM gold.. and I did not even came to Internet till I found that India had not only lost Viru.. even Sachin and Gambhir had disappeared from the crease.. oh what a sad display of batting to be reduced to 27 for 5 and was it 75 for 7 or 81 would not matter.. if it were not for Praveen Kumar and Jadeja India would not have had even three figure score on board.. but I knew 170 was not enough..

India gave up the fight.. they did not rely on Kumar or Nehra to be bowled enough overs.. what a sad and bad captaincy on part of MSD.. Is it some forces are working against him.. that he hogs the limelight ( by getting priceless Ad money..) when the team actually wins or looses.. that is not something new.. Kapil Dev was shown the doors by none other than someone whom he gifted his first Pads, bats and the other important cricketing gear.. that people in India have for far too long been having players selected for zone representation than merit alone.. that Arun Lal (Sorry friend! for such a mention) could not find a role in the Delhi team but went on to play for India and Sunil Valson probably the best seamer after Kapil Dev did not get to play even a single game for the country.. it not only hurts it saddens the mind and body refuses to accept.. that reputations are craved for far too much than the display of form.. otherwise how could Manish Pandey who has a century in the T20 format in IPL2 did not get to play all the games for CLT20.. and far worse.. why does he not even find a mention in the 15 players for India.. Why does an Amit Mishra or a Rohit Sharma fail to be considered for few games.. it seems that team India does not want to red such kind of comments from someone who did not even represent his school.. college was out of question (Hindu and Stephens had greatest talent at display in university level cricket).. moreover.. if playing and knowing the game alone could be important for commenting do you hear what our top players really have to say.. instead you choose to diminutize someone as great as Kapil Dev..

It is all right.. if the team India thinks that Abhaya Sharma should not write such articles.. it will definitely be followed up but not before the case is heard and necessary actions implemented. I wish that India does rotate its players including Sachin Tendulkar.. that India should provide caps to alteast 5 new players in a year.. that India should play as a unit when they are playing with the psyche of the millions who throng to the field to cheer them up.. nowhere in the world would you find such crowds for ODI cricket anymore after the advent of T20.. yet India chooses not to play the format at International level.. but does not mind minting money playing only at league level, yes IPL maybe good but not same as playing for your country.. this was shown in the champions league of T20 where all the 3 IPL teams were dusted as there was no national feeling.. India too should have their own T20 league and instead of IPL teams the top two Indian T20 teams alone should qualify to play in the champions league of T20.. I am not against the IPL.. it s probably a good way of integrating international players for a display of extremely entertaining and fighting cricket..

More later

Love to you but if you get a feeling that I am not really happy with MSD after yesterdays games it would be 100 percent true feeling.. I think it is time for Sehwag and Harbhajan to take a back seat and let some others try to win the last game at Mumbai..

Introducing Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

Introducing Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar..

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was born on April 24 in the year 1973 made his debut in Test cricket on November 15 1989 against Pakistan at National stadium Karachi where he just made a humble beginning scoring 15 runs in 24 balls with the help of 2 fours coming four down in a drawn encounter under the captaincy of Krishnamchari Srikkanth.

It was on December 18 the same year i.e. 1989 that Sachin got to play in his first one day international game that was the second game of the Pakistan tour. Sachin came in to bat at number 5 faced two balls for a duck in the rain curtailed 16 over game which Pakistan won by 7 runs.

It was on first December 2006 that he played his first Twenty20 International game against South Africa when he scored 10 runs off 12 deliveries in the game which India won by 6 wickets.

Such humble beginnings despite the fact that he was a great potential and was likened to be the next Tendulkar by those who had seen him playing his cricket for Mumbai just a year back.

Did his sedate beginnings reveal anything of what was to follow in the next 20 years. Probably not much. Here are some facts of the little master blasters 20 cricketing years. He celebrates his 20th cricketing birthday on November 15 a few days from now Sachin Tendulkar has exhibited some great cricketing genius.

1. Test Cricket – 159 matches – 12773 Runs - 42 Hundreds and 53 Fifties and 248 not out as his highest test score with an average of 54.58 make him the biggest Test player of the world. He has 44 Test wickets against his name wit 3 for 10 as the best bowling efforts. He has held 102 catches and has hit 51 sixes in his Test career

2. One Day Cricket - 435 matches – 17168 Runs – 45 Hundreds and 91 Fifties and 186 not out as his highest one day score with an average of 44.59 make him the ideal one day player. He has taken 154 One day wickets with 5 for 32 as his best bowling efforts. He has held 132 catches and has hit 181 sixes in his one da career.

3. Twenty20 International - Has represented India in only one Twenty20 game the first that India played and won with 10 runs against his name and took 1 wicket for 12 runs and took a catch in that game.

These statistics do not reveal much of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar despite being very-very impressive and probably one of the best in the two formats of the game. He was likened to be the Asian Bradman of cricket..

It was only yesterday that we discovered that Sachin Tendulkar in spite of his 36 years and 196 days and such a huge cricketing career behind him still has a great appetite for scoring majestic runs for his country.

In the hindsight I shall inform the readers that Sachin was named thus by his grandfather after Legendary Music Director Sachin Dev Burman.. whom I had just covered on 31st October here on brother’s blog and also posted it to http://abhayafriends.blogspot.com.

Sachin Ramesh Tendulakar – Tendaliya- Tendua, Master Blaster & Tendy is actually mesmerizing the whole country with his music composed on the cricket field as he weaves magic with his bat..

Abhaya Sharma
Mumbai, India November 6 2009

Post Script: I have been far too critical of his playing for so long.. I take each and every word spoken against the genius.. such players are not born every day such players are not born in every country.. such players are hard to find who play cricket for 20 years with the same zeal and determination.. Hats off to you Tendaliya..I would love to see that you continue to play cricket as long as you wish.. It is indeed a treat to watch you bat when you are on a song.. I personally had been rating Kapil Dev as the best Indian cricketer ever.. but today I can say that you are the best cricketer in the world.. Cricketing Pundits would not take exceptions to my statement about you..

This article would also be available at my cricketing blog tha was initiated for IPL2
http://abhayaipl2.blogspot.com/

( Of course with a picture of Sachin that has just been downloaded from cricket.org)

The result does not matter..Hyderabad

The game tha just concluded a few hours from now at Rajiv Gandhi Interntaional stadium Uppal, Hyderabad was an absolute thriller..
Australia - 350 for 4
India - 347 all out.

The Australians fielded so well and despite some early chances to Sehwag thay were as sharp on the field as sharp could be..

Yet the day would cleatly belong to the grand old man of Indian cricket.. who is all but 36 years of age but is already playing in his 20th year.. friends please join me to congratulate Sachin Tendulkar.. for his 175 chanceless innings..

In the end one can just say that this game would be remembered as the third game India played and the third game India lost at this venue..and it is ironical that Deccan Chargers who have it as their home ground have played as many as 9 games on this venue and lost all the nine.. some strange coincidence that science and statistics can not explain..

In the light of a mere 3 run defeat I choose not to find any fault with anyone in the Indian camp.. I would only say that MSD only half heard me when he played Munaf but not also Mishra.. it is all right.. it is a game after all and not the battle field..

Love and better lick next time..

Sehwag.. You definitely do get out as and when I watch your innings.. In the next game I shall not watch the game when you are on the crease..

Sachin Tendulkar - Congratulations on completion of 17000 runs in one day cricket and scoring 45th century and registering your second highest score in the format.

Praveen Kumar.. If you had enough experience of International cricket you would have dived full length while completing the second run.. it is all right.. You are doing well and living upto my expectations..

Raina.. The way things were going between you and Sachin there was no need to show such agression at that point of time.. Such a valuable partnership ended a couple of overs earlier.. it is all right.. jo beet gai so baat gai..

Munaf Patel - I know there was nothing in wicket for you.. no problems.. I do not think MSD could give you another game.. not in this series for sure..

Watson, Marsh and Ponting made sure that India is set the toughest target of the series.. they would have never thought that India could come so close to winning this one.. They have to be careful with these bunch of Indians in the next two games as well..

In the hindsight.. after loosing the first game at adodara by 4 runs India had won the next two games.. after loosing by three runs we expect that India wins the next two deciding games as well..

Love and regards
Abhaya Sharma
For scorecard click the link given below:
http://www.cricinfo.com/indvaus2009/engine/current/match/416240.html

The Team India at Hyderabad ..

MSD include Mishra and Munaf..

If I were Mahendra Singh Dhoni I would make scope for inclusion of Amit Mishra and even Munaf Patel. What would be more difficult would be to find out who would be the two players whose place these two take up. Given the kind of overconfidence that has been shown in Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh it would be a monumental decision to find place for two bowlers.

India had done well in the series yet the winning combination minus Gambhir did the trick for Australia for leveling the series at Mohali. The seven match series is now reduced to a new 3 game series if we exclude the four games that leave the two sides leveled at 2-2.

I would rather be little strong in inclusion of Munaf Patel for Ishant Sharma. One can not take his place for granted. Some people may argue that even Johnson went for far too many runs in the last game could he be replaced. The situation for Australia is different they are laden with far too many injuries. It is highly commendable that injury depleted Australians have managed to level the series at Mohali. Ishant Sharma has to be rested, no, dropping is not the right word. And one of Jadeja or Raina has to be rotated for making scope and space for Mishra to be reined in. Gambhir anyway walsk in for Virat Kohli.

My team for Hyderbad might look something like this –

Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Sachin, Dhoni, Raina, Harbhajan, Praveen Kumar, Amit Mishra, Ashish Nehra & Munaf Patel.

Yes I also wonder if I could rest Jadeja from my scheme of things.. yet that is what I propose for I know that Mishra would be a far too improved bowler and Raina too can bowl if the need arises. Rainas fielding capabilities and his far too better batting skills made my decision making somewhat simpler.

I know Mahendra Singh does not give any heed to whatever I have to say about team composition yet I must add here hurriedly that whichever team wins at Hyderbad is going to be winning the series. I may be too premature in saying so yet it is an important game in no uncertain terms.

May we then have for the firs time an Indian XI that has been listed by one Abhaya Sharma. I know Dhoni would disagree.. I would rate his decision superior to my line of thinking.. after all he has led the country admirably.. he has far too greater knowledge of the game and conditions that the team has to face. He alone can be the best judge of the situation. I did have something up against him when he did not show confidence in Kumar and with four games already been played his contribution has been exemplary except in the first game where he went for 77 runs. He assured of his place with a scintillating 40 runs in that game to scare the Australians along with Harbhajan Singh. He should play all the seven games if does not suffer injury. Harbhajan too despite his poor show in his own craft is doing well with the bat so I can not touch him or rather I should not touch him. I however have great sympathy for excluded Jadeja.. his bowling efforts does not warrant for me to drop him yet I know that he is primarily taken as a batsman and that is the reason that I have chosen Raina over him in the final XI. I must add without any hesitation that Jadeja the bowler is quite a find of the series.

Australians have always been adding up to the list of their injury woes.. even if Moises is not as dangerous yet the inability to include him as a regular bowler today would not be in the interest of the Australians. They are far too depleted side and if India does not register a series win against them now it would not be as simpler in the years to come.

Abhaya Sharma
Novmber 5 2009 9:10 AM IST

Match report Nagpur ODI Hindi

आदरणीय भाईसाहब
सादर प्रणाम

आपके रोचक लेख को पढ कर मन सदा ही प्रसन्न हो जाता है एकाध फोटो जोड़ने से उत्साह और भी बढ जाता है ।

मिले सुर मेरा तुम्हारा
तो सुर बने हमारा ..

यह पंक्तियां सदा ही हमारे एक होने के संकेत देती है, सुरेन्द्रनाथ जी अवश्य ही धन्यवाद के पात्र है - अगर किसी को इस मधुर रचना की नैट पर कोई लिंक ज्ञात है तो यहा लिख भेजें ।

कल नागपुर में भारत की जीत से कुछ एक बातें उभर कर समने आती हैं -

1. आस्ट्रेलिया जैसी सशक्त टीम भी चोटिल खिलाड़ियों की परेशानी से बाधित हो सकती है ।
2. महेन्द्र सिंह धोनी उर्ह माही उर्फ़ धोनी भैया उर्फ़ कप्तान साहब .. (यह आखिरी मेरा अपना जोड़ा हुआ है ) ने एक बार फिर सिद्ध कर दिया है कि वे वस्तव में मात्र भाग्यशाली कप्तान ही नही एक प्रभावशाली कप्तान भी है ।
3. भारत ने सात विकेट पर 354 रन बनाकर, 350 रन से अधिक का लक्ष्य आस्ट्रेलिया जैसी टीम के विरुद्ध पहली बार यह अजूबा कर दिखाया है ।
4. प्रवीण कुमार को तेज गेंदबाज न कहें तो न कहें पर आस्ट्रेलिया के बल्लेबाजों को जिस तरह उन्होने बांधें रखा अपने आप में काबिले तारीफ है । धोनी भैया कम से कम अब तो मान जाओ कि वह एक अच्छा क्रिकेटर है ।
5. हरभजन सिंह की गेंदबाजी उस दौर से गुजर चुकी है जब वे बल्लेबाजों को छकाने में कामयाब हो सकें ।
6. अच्छी से अच्छी टीम के 350 से उपर का लक्ष्य देखकर हाथ पांव फूल जाते है ।
7. अगर टीम को अच्छी शुरुआत मिले तो भारत आसानी से 350 रन से अधिक बनाने में सक्षम है, अगर मै गलत नही हूं तो हमारी टीम इस मामले में आस्ट्रेलिया से भी आगे है ।

चलिये आज का पत्र यहीं समप्त करता हूं, सहवाग, गंभीर, धोनी, रैना, प्रवीण कुमार तथा रविंद्र जडेजा सब के सब ही मैन आफ दी मैच थे । टीम को एकजुट देखकर अत्यंत प्रसन्नता हुई ।

मेरा भी योगदान रहा, मैने कल भारतीय पारी 10.1ओवर के बाद इसलिये देखना छोड़ दी कि खिलाड़ियों को मेरी नज़र न लग जाये ।

आपका अपना अनुज
अभय शर्मा
29 अक्टूबर 2009

Match Report, Nagpur ODI - October 28 2009

Respected Brother
Sadar Charan Sparsh

India has crossed the 350 or more runs on the board for the twelfth time (most by any team) and only team to score that batting first against Australia..

This is the third time in this calendar year that team India has crossed the mark.. they earlier scored 363 and 392 against Srilanka and New Zealand in February

India has done it thrice against each of the Sri Lanka and Newzealand

India has a highest total of 413 for 5 against Bernuda in the 2007 world cup.. it was a different matter that they were eliminated at the group stage in that tournament

India does not have a score of 350 plus only against South Africa of the top eight world teams

Out of the 12 occasions only thrice did team score 350 plus runs against minnows i.e. on nine occasions they achieved the feat against top cricket playing countries

India has achieved this feat five times under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership

Congratulations team India.. I would not mind considering lifting a ban on myself to not to watch ODI cricket.. but don't ask me to watch Test cricket as well.. ungli thama raha hoon kalaai hi mat thaam lena or else I would be forced to sing..

dheere dheere kalai lage thaamane
inko ungli thamana gazab ho gaya ...

Love you all
Abhaya Sharma

Dhoni to Surprise Ponting

Respected Brother
Sadar Charan Sparsh
Now that you are beating most of us in sending post after post… eh in some competition with Angel or likes of her.. anyway.. this is not a complaint, it never can be a complain..
The more I think.. the more I realsie that it is not easy to come up with creative bust on the blog.. the more I read.. the more I find that people are here for more than just fun.. some try to propagate their own languages too.. that is noting wrong.. it might be of some help for those qho really wish to learn German.. I hope I have thanked the contributor without breaching my self-imposed restriction of naming individulas.. yet my German experience has to wait.. I may prefer to first get my hands on to Bangla.. oh no, not for the living but for some of the immortals that Bengal produced.. How fortunate I would consider myself if I could someday read Gitanjali in Bangla or even Sharat Literature in the language it originally emanated from. wishes.. Well, Genie can you make me a Bangala Aladin.. I shall feel indebted to you even if do not pay or offer any alms..lol
Good to see that some Sanjib Guha on DNA expressed my own sentiments regarding the ODI tourney in progress or should we say that has barely begun.. I have had a change of heart.. I shall not mind ODI if it could replace the Test cricket.. if they say test cricket is the real test of nerves.. ODI is just proving out to be reflecting that same feeling.. the bowlers and batters both have to apply themselves to tasks at hand.. what I know now is that Dhoni may after all be reading me and needing some help.. oh no, not my help as a bowler but as a strategist.. surprise.. that is the word I would like to whisper into his ears.. even if the Ponting too reads this he would just know that some surprises are coming.. what surprises.. I can not elaborate.. he has to do that himself in consultation with his senior players like Sehwag and Yuvraj.. no. no if he does wants to incorporate as naive as a Virat or Ravindra into his think tank there is absolutely no harm.. The think tank could be deciding on what composition they paly.. on what batting order they evolve.. more importantly plan for each players fielding abilities and expectations from him.. there is no stopping to work out on such issues as who bowls when and who bats where besides who chooses to be i or out of the circle during power plays.. these Dhoni bhaiya are some of the questions tha should concern team India..
Go ahead and play your best cricket.. I am not miffed at the loss at Vadodara.. now, if Bombay has to be categorically Mumbai why Baroda can’t be also only Vadodara.. it is all right.. What new name have they suggested for Nagpur.. Oh they haven’t done it as yet.. I am sorry.. snaketown would be the literal translation.. santara nagar could specify some of its innate attributes.. what else.. does it really matter.. if Nagpur were to be aprt of an IPL team they could also come up with Nagpur Netters.. oh it does not mean well.. do names have always supposed to reveal some significance.. I did not know.. hardly live upto the name that has been given to me.. many Sukhrams provide lots of dukh and some of the nainsukhs hardly able to see.. aankh ke andhe naam nainsukh.. where am I going.. stop..
Love and hopefully India does well tomorrow.. as i would not be watching the first half for sure.. I am from a working class Yaar.. I say this as many of the games which I see India does quite badly.. in the opener Harbhajan and Praveen could do well only after I went to sleep.. if they want me to sleep to win.. I shall do that for Nagpur game too.. I sorely need some good sleep too..
Crieckt fanatic
Abhaya Sharma
PS Dhoni bhaiya don’t lead the team that I said after the loss of the first game.. Ponting has probabbly seen that surprise him with some bold changes from that.. Good luck at Nagpur..