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Look at this scorecard.
Now look past the fact that India A won. Done?
Now look past Jaidev Unadkot's stunning match figures. Done?
Now look at these sets of numbers
2-130 (Mukund, 37.4 ov), 3-188 (Rahane, 50.2 ov), 4-202 (Pandey, 54.5 ov), 5-206 (Tiwary, 58.6 ov), 6-206 (Pujara, 59.2 ov), 7-207 (Ganapathy, 60.4 ov), 8-207 (Iqbal Abdulla, 60.5 ov), 9-230 (Kulkarni, 69.6 ov),
and
3-102 (Phillips, 31.6 ov), 4-106 (Fletcher, 35.2 ov), 5-125 (Walton, 43.3 ov), 6-125 (Bernard, 47.1 ov), 7-164 (Edwards, 60.3 ov), 8-176 (Russell, 64.2 ov), 9-256 (Khan, 81.1 ov), 10-257 (Tonge, 81.4 ov)
How often has this happened with Indian cricket that we let slip a winning position and equally, we allow a team that is down and out, back into the contest?
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory was the hall mark India's cricket in the 80s and the 90s. That it should be the leitmotif for the next generation of India's cricketers is a matter of concern.
Also read: ET strikes
A matter of concern!
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6 comments:
It looks like they were a bowler short, but they did do far better with the top order than with the tail in the 2nd innings. 13 wickets on first-class debut for Unadkat though, insane!
I think you're being a little harsh, though. Winning in seamer friendly conditions with any Indian seam attack would have been challenging. I was disappointed by the performance of the batsmen, though.
What is Dhaval Kulkarni doing in the India A team? He clearly is not quick enough to play for India and isn't ever going to be. Unless he has suddenly discovered a lower middle order batsman in himself somewhere, he shouldn't be wasting space.
Rishabh,
Unadkat, at one stage in the second innings, bowled 17 overs unchanged. And that effort showed towards the ed when there was not much left in the tank to finish off the tail. And that was the part about Che's captaincy that was most disappointing.
The other disappointing factor is the imbalance in the side.To accommodate three openers, Che, Tiwary and Pandey are batting one spot below where they usually bat for their Ranji teams. If Ganapthy and Abdulla, both of whom can bat, are the designated all rounders, with Tiwary chipping in with his leg breaks, then Rahane can be moved down the order or the 3 openers rotated so as to bring balance to the side or to play the additional bowler.
And Tyagi has yet to get a game.
Cheers,
Anonymous,
I would have though that seamer friendly conditions are precisely what give Indian bowling its teeth. And Dhawal had a five for versus Yorkshire in the opening game - neither Madan Lal nor Roger Binny were quick enough, neither was Amarnath, but they could make the ball wobble in the air and off the seam.
If Dhawal can do that consistently well, we have a potential third seamer.
And didn't Dhawal score a 50 odd in the Ranji finals?
Cheers,
Yes, I do believe that Dhawal Kulkarni is a good potential. However, he needs to be managed well.
If he makes his debut in Indian conditions and looks ineffective, he will be dropped. If he makes his debut in seamer friendly condition and performs well, the expectations will increase. Then once he is back in Indian conditions and not able to deliver, more problems!
Playing as a seam bowler for India can be a double - edged sword. The sheath needs to be strong...
Shridhar,
Which is why this Ranji season, his third, is going to be crucial. After a dream start, he had a fairly indifferent season last year so his development as a bolwer will be hinged on how he performs this year.
Cheers,
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