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Team selection- a farce

Krishnamachari Srikkanth did not say it in so many words but the selection committee chairman gave ample hints that lack of fitness cost Yuvraj Singh his place in the Indian team for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.
Chief selector Srikkanth said his committee laid a lot of stress on the players' fitness while selecting the Asia Cup squad.
Fitness has been a problem with Yuvraj, who seemed to have gained weight of late and was seen fielding in the deep and not in his customary point position. Srikkanth said fitness was one of the main criteria while picking the Indian squad and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was happy with the selection. A lot of stress was given on the fitness of a player. Fitness and fielding are very important. We have gone through the record of last one year and did a detailed analysis. It was a lovely discussion with the captain. This is the best possible squad and I think the captain is also convinced. In recent past, we lost some matches or struggled in some matches because of poor fielding. So the selectors are trying to put lot of stress on fielding. Consistency was another factor in the selection process. We also put stress on consistent performance. Lot of players have done consistently well and apart from the seniors, we blooded some youngsters as well so that they know what international cricket is all about. Talking about India's tri-series debacle in Zimbabwe where the second-string squad under Suresh Raina lost twice to the hosts, Srikknath refused to call it a setback.Whatever said and done we could not field a winning combination for some time now.
We lost the 2007 World Cup miserably, followed two consecutive losses in the T-20 World cup Super 8 matches and in between we lost the Idea Cup and the Champion Trophy. Even in the home one day series against Australia we were beaten 2-4. And now the loss in the Tri-series to minnows in the world of cricket. All this is happening because of poor selection. The selection process is simply farce in India. That is the major reason for our repeated reverses in the Premiere Tournament in World of Cricket. Bouncing deliveries are a cause of concern to Tendulkar as well as Sourab Tiwari. So there is no question of an excuse saying that the second XI lost. Even the first XI suffered an ignominy of an innings defeat in a home test match against South Africa when Dayle Steyn ripped apart the cream of so called Indian super stars. Now the rested players are taken back because the second XI lost in Zimbabwe. But when the first XI lost in West Indies in T-20 for the second time we just ignored the same. Thus we were not able to put up a good show in any form of the game and the farce selection is the root cause for the debacle India suffered everywhere. Dina, Ashwin got one more chance to prove their worth while Sourab Tiwari got the nod to fill in the Mumbai quota. Once Sachin return back to one day format Tiwari will give way to him. The only surprise is the dropping of Yuveraj Singh. The way Sachin Tendulkar is opting out of major matches does not augur well for Indian Team. Seniors should come forward to prop up the weak batting order just like Mahela Jayawardne and Chanderapaul are doing for the Sri Lankan and West Indies side respectively. Tendulkar is ready to play test matches against Sri Lanka so that he can score many more hundreds and keep his record clean. His presence in the side should help India win matches regularly.

Simply Superb Bradman!

Sachin is best in the present day cricket but Bradman was at his best in all levels of the game, even during Body-line series without headgear and against genuine fast bowling. Bradman is having two triple centuries and 10 double centuries in tests whereas Sachin does not have single triple century in Test cricket. Don's compare both.
Subject: Don Bradman's Twenty-20 cricket style
Bradman considers Adelaide Oval to be the most scenic of the Test venues he played in his long and illustrious career. But the prettiest Ground he played on was Brockton Point, Canada. " You look across the bay and the behind the bowlers's arm the water ran around the back and you'd see the Ferries lazily playing along at the the back of the sight screen" he remarked.
Don was not only a test cricketer but he played twenty-20 cricket as well in test match cricket as well. He scored 2 triple century, 17 double hundreds and 10 centruies to finish with an astonishing average of 99.94. But for his first ball dismissal in his final innings he could have crossed 100 runs average in each of the innings played in test cricket. While scoring a triple hundred he scored one before lunch, one before tea and one in between tea and close of play to remain unbeaten 300 plus at the end of the day. He was given the honour Sir by the Queen Elizebath. During his entire career Don Bradman scored 46 sixes illustrating how rarely he lofted the ball. However, during his knock of 256 for Lithgow at Blackheath, New South Wales in a second-class fixture, Bradman and Wendell-Bill added 102 in three 8 ball overs. The Don's contribution was 100 in that.
The sequence:
First Over: 6,6,4,2,4,4,6,1 - Total 33 runs
Second Over: 6,4,4,6,6,4,6,4 - Total 40 runs
Third over: 1,6,6,1,1,4,4,6 - Total 29 runs
In all 102 runs off 24 balls (ie) IN three 8 ball overs.
Bradman is the only skipper to have won a five test series after losing the first two games till 1970s.
That was against England in Australia in 1936-37. When his team lost at Brisbane and Sydney he had two ducks. In the next three tests, he came with 270, 212 and 169. Hedley Verity, England left-arm spinner, got Bradman out eight times in Tests, the most by any bowler. It wasn't 100 all the way for Bradman in the 3 tests he played at Old Trafford. He didn't even reach a fifty in 4 innings averaging 27. Batting in the fourth innings in Australia, Bradman got no hundreds in 8 tests ( averaging 46.83). of these Australia lost 5 won 2 and Draw 1. He was not only a Bodyline player before the World Wars but also a Twenty-20 player of the present genration of contemporaries

Zaheer on the injured list

India’s pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy, according a report on The Times of India. Zaheer underwent a surgery on his troublesome left shoulder, in South Africa three backs back. While the news gathered momentum back home on Thursday, the surgery actually took place in July. ‘‘The news was kept under wraps as the player wanted it to be that way, so that no one troubled him during the crucial first phase of recovery,’’ a source presently accompanying the left-arm seamer in South Africa informed.
India's Zaheer Khan is mostly out of action until November
Zaheer damaged his left shoulder while attempting a dive during the IPL in South Africa in May. ‘‘Zaheer had trouble rotating his shoulder and underwent a month-long rehabilitation under Dr Mark Ferguson’s guidance. The muscle strengthening exercises provided good relief, but it was only temporary. For best results, Zaheer was recommended surgery as the medics felt he would need it at some stage in the future. So he agreed and is now very happy post surgery,’’ said the source. recovery period in Zaheer’s case is expected to last anything between three to five months. Zaheer was in a jovial mood and could be seen joking with the staff at Rose Bank Clinic in Johannesburg where Dr Ferguson’s OPD is located on the first floor. The sling from Zaheer’s arm is not there now and even the scars on his left shoulder have vanished. One cannot make out that he’s had surgery,’’ the source added. Speaking about Zaheer’s overall health, the source said, ‘‘He’s put on a little weight but is cheerful. He is very keen to hit the gym but has been advised rest. His recovery has been excellent and the doctor, his rehab staff and physio are all delighted with his condition.’’ Currently staying with a friend, Zaheer is expected to be back home in a week’s time.

Tondulkar--The Shining Star

At a time when critics were writing off, the seasoned Sachin Tendulkar, the little master came out trumps with a double century, the first of this kind in one day International At Gwalior..He was relieved man as this knock helped his side to achieve a huge win after a narrow stop of him helped India to win at JAIPUR. Cricket is a team game where performance is the name of the game. Sachin's unbeaten double ton proved he is still good to play competitive cricket for couple of years more. Form is temporary and class in permamnent is correct in case of Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin is such a good sportsman and he knows the time to retire. He will retire before people ask "why not he is retiring' With his double century India achieved great MOMENTS in International cricket in 20 years cricketingcareer of the MASTER BLASTER. Sachin is a fighter to the core and he will not shirek responsibility. Indian Government should honour this little master for all his deeds in the field of play all over the world. He should be honoured by the President of India. His success story is a lesson for other youngsters,who take up cricket as a career. What a sport Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Just when we thought we have seen the best of Sachin Tendulkar’s batting, the master walked in with his mighty piece of willow and produced something that has never been seen in limited over cricket — a double century.
In the Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior, Tendulkar’s phenomenal innings made him the first man in the history of cricket to score a double century in ODIs. His undefeated knock of 200 powered India to a colossal total of 401 for 3. Tendulkar looked in glorious touch right from the beginning, as he unleashed some magnificent shots from his repertoire. Like a genius at work, he carved out boundaries with finesse and power on both sides of the wicket. Wayne Parnell was welcomed to the bowling crease with an immaculately timed cover-drive and an effortless flick for four. Steyn wasn’t treated any differently as the maestro pummeled him for powerful drives on the off-side and a couple of pulls. While the master placed the ball like an artist, he also thumped it authoritatively with lofted drives down the ground and over the extra-cover fence. Tendulkar’s incredible innings exhibited his class, sublime touch and sheer genius. The batting virtuoso flattened bowlers’ morale with each of his 25 boundaries and three sixes. He was in the zone and it showed in the way he found the gaps and dispatched the ball to the fence.The redeeming feature was the world wanted Tendulkar to make a double century in a remarkable career in one day cricket and he obliged with a special knock . The master notched up his 47 Test century at Kolkota and now made 46 one day centuries and crossed the landmark of 30,000 international runs. Tendulkar was the epitome of caution during his unbeaten knock of 20o plus. Salute Sachin Tendulkar for his heroics with the bat in both forms of the game. Now it is upt BCCI to include him in the T-20 form also for the next World cup so that he will score tons of runs in Twenty-20 cricket as well.

Unfair Umpiring

An umpire is the only single person who, alone can make or ruin a game of cricket. If he makes it, your average cricketer takes the fact for granted. If he ruins it, your cricketer grumbles, forgetting that, for far too long, cricketers have paid too little attention to the umpiring of their matches.The recruitment of umpires, especially at lower club level, is often left to chance and the standard of umpiring can thereby be unacceptably low. Apart from the familiar sight of members of the batting side joylessly serving half-an hour stints, one might find cricketers unfit through injury, social members with little to commend them save a wish to oblige, casual spectators pressed into service for the afternoon and willing enthusiasts, uninformed and untaught, entertaining themselves without giving the players much satisfaction. Retired players ostensibly the most likely potential umpires, frequently makes themselves available but although their experience provides invaluable background, the finer points of an exciting are apt to escape them, as few players have more than a passing knowledge of the Laws.

It is quite imperative to note that players learn by experience. When Gary Sobers was asked to follow-on in West Indies in a match curtailed by rain for 4 days, the leeway ought to be 150 runs and not 200 runs as in the case of 5 day game. Gary was surprised but quickly learned from the mistake. Boycot was once caught red handed for not knowing a basic rule in Australia. Hit wicket rule is mispelt and misused as well. My brother was given out HIT WICKET when he was in the process of taking a run and the bat fell on the wicket. That compelled him to learn the Laws of the Game and he became one of the first rate umpires in DDCA. It is all in the game. At times umpires forced to give decision so that an outright win can be possible to attain points in a league game. Again, if you give a star batsman out LBW, the fielding side will look at you with a strange look as you committed a murder.

An umpire should be professional in the best sense of the word "phelgmatic, unobtrusive, dignified, courteous of absolute integrity and every prepared to didschrge his duties fearlessly and impartially. INDIAN UMPIRES ARE JUST BEGINNERS AND NOT GOOD FOR EVEN LEAGUE STANDARD LEAVE ALONE OFFICIATING IN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL MATCHES. The good umpire is dedicated to the task of conducting a game so that the players get the utmost enjoyment from it. This needs the highest possible standard of umpiring and he devotes a portion of his leisure to studying, refreshing debating points of law and interprtation and improving his technique in every way seeking to ensure that he becomes a master of his craft. The finest umpires are those who appear to make the fewest mistakes. Even our best umpires can be mistaken in fact, but the possibility of errors may be reduced by acquiring a thorough knowldege of the Laws of the Game and by unremitting concentration. Without the ability to concentrate, or the self-discipline to attain concentration, all else is to no avail.

As far as Indian cricket is concerned we do not have an ICC panel umpire and we are not promoting one for sometime now. No proper selection of umpire is taking place in this country. In India no talent is required for Umpires but a GODFATHER can promote an ordinary umpire to International Standard. Our umpires does not posses proper eyesight nor proper hearing to know the faint snick. To add salt to the wound we do not have referral system in India for some odd reasons. So, the field umpire's decision is final. In the Jaipur one day International six decisions were dubious. The field umpires Tarapore and Saheba did not deserve another chance and Hazare was pathetic in decision making inspite of making use of the third eye. Most of the umpires are drunkards and hence sighting the ball early in the morning or during a night gameis a difficult proposition for them with hang over and wrong decisions are likely to be handed over to the touring teams in future also. Some of the Indian umpires are not worried about even wides and no balls and the move cut a sorry figure in the standard of our umpires. Narrow margin of victory achieved is due to ignorance of laws of the game and its application by our umpires and not because of extraordinary bowling, batting and fielding ability of Team India. Our umpires lack physical fitness and their movements are restricted. In a close encounter, the umpire ought to have gone to the boundary line and verify the truth of Tendulkar's fine fielding on the boundary line. We simply favor the home team for monetary benefit and for getting more chance. BCCI is not worried because such decisions are going in favor of India all the time.
TO ERR IS HUMAN BUT ERRING ALWAYS IS JUST FAVORITISM. We feel sorry for South African side and other touring teams coming to India. When they land in the Airport we apply Thilak and Garland each member of the touring team and thereafter we hand over dubious decisions so that the home team can win by hook or crook. It is indeed shame for the four Indian unfair umpire Hazare, Saheba, Tarapore and Harharan. Let them go to England and do some second XI county matches to gain experience and then do Ranji level. Till that time we can seek the assistance of ICC Panel umpires for all the home matches. Sriniwas Venkatraghavan should be in charge of Umpire's Committee and not a bureaucrat to handle such a sensitive issue. That is my clarion call.

One Day Wonders--At Last Harbhajan's Place gone to Ashwin, an allrounder from Tamil Nadu

Young Tamil Nadu off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was rewarded on Tuesday for his consistent performance in domestic cricket with a berth in India’s 15-member ODI squad for the first two matches against South Africa later this month. The 23-year-old Ashwin, who is also a useful batsman lower down the order, was the only new face in the squad which will miss the services of prolific opener Gautam Gambhir because of a groin injury. Lanky Baroda all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, who hit a double century in West Zone's record run chase in Duleep Trophy final, and Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar forced their way back into the squad announced by BCCI secretary N Srinivasan after a selection committee meeting.

Seasoned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has made himself unavailable to attend his sister's wedding while dashing batsman Yuvraj Singh was also not considered as he has not recovered from a wrist injury. "Harbhajan Singh has declared himself not available for the first two ODIs due to personal reasons. Gautam Gambhir is not available for the ODI series due to groin injury," a BCCI release said.

The selection of Ashwin was very much on the cards after Harbhajan had made himself unavailable. The Tamil Nadu spinner has so far captured 103 wickets in 28 first class matches for an average of 29.43. As a batsman, Ashwin has scored two centuries and six half-centuries in his aggregate of 1,085 runs, which explains his utility in the shorter format of the game. Despite selecting the side as per the whims and fancy of our negative captain, who simply depend on toss and the pitch to keep up his home record. When Team India tour regularly to Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies and New Zeland we can know exactly about the number one rating of the home team. As far as the selection is totally farce and the team is as per Dhoni's choice and not as per merit as done in other countries.