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First the selectors refused to drop him. He refused to score runs. Didn’t matter. He refused to take wickets. Didn’t matter. Then they stopped playing the IPL highlights package, and everyone realized, Yusuf doesn’t score run in real-time anymore. He was dropped.
But today’s Ranji game could prove devastating. He scalped No.10 Hooda. Figures of 1 for 12. And then, take that you *#$% 65 of 47, 6 4s, and 4 6s (how lyrical). Tomorrow if he scores a hundred, it could even undermine Bhajji’s – is that a bad thing? Which begs the question, who of the two is a better batsman? And of course, an even more relevant question, who of the two is a better bowler?
While Bhajji fires with the bat when you least expect him too in tests, Yusuf’s test career hasn't fired off so far. A thought just came to me, why not undermine the Kiwis some more, play Yusuf against them.
Ridiculous? Hardly, he’s played 37 ODIs, and threatens to, with each domestic whirlwind, play a 38th. That I cannot take. With each Ranji knock, he demeans our Gross Domestic Product. I say, recreate an international environment each time Yusuf chews his way to the centre. Bouncier pitches, bouncier deliveries, 6 bouncier(s) per over. Why the hell doesn’t he go South Africa and play there? England? Australia, c’mon Shane, work something out for your favourite sunny boy.
The day Yusuf learns to counter the short ball, he will chew less, and blow more bubbles.
Oh no, it’s Yusuf Pathan again
Mumbai Indian v Delhi Indian
(Unrelated but had to share, Dheeraj's FB status - Spare a thought for Yusuf Pathan. My comment: He doesn't think, why should we)
Manifestations of the demon
Somerset were to play the Eagles (they did yesterday), it was a crucial encounter. They needed their top order to fire, help them post a good total on board. So that their bits and pieces bowlers would step in to give them a helping hand. Even before the ink dried on the strategy map there was ink on someone’s passport - The stamp of goodbye, the mark of departure or whatever you would want to call it. The passport belonged to one Marcus Edward Trescothick, the same man who had to leave half way from a party that toured India and again in the midst of an Ashes campaign.
Marcus was (rather is) fighting demons from within, demons that wouldn’t want to see him leave the shores of England to play. After a concerted fight Marcus seemed to have managed to cage the demons during a tour of UAE early this year. He landed in India on a positive note, though he didn’t make any notable contribution, his team banked on his experience. After all he was the top dog in the last county season.
But Marcus did well to fight them, in fact he nearly vanquished them before this reappearance. Demons, they have their way.
Manoj Prabhakar said he is a glorified luggage handler. One could understand Prabhakar’s frustrations. For, in a cricket team the luggage handler is the booker… Well err… I mean the one who takes care of the travel arrangement of the touring party. I am sure Prabhakar thought he was the master Booker, every bookie’s friend and a smart cookie who tries deflecting the blame. So why someone else? (BTW, did he aim his potshots at Russell Radhakrishnan or Venky ??)
Nonsense apart, Venkatesh Prasad is probably one of the qualified coaches in India, he did well while as the coach of Karnataka. Whatever said about his speed, he was an intelligent bowler and was successful too. If he was not, any of Ashish Winston Zaidi, Dodda Ganesh, David Johnson, Abhay Kuruvilla & Paras Mahbrey would have played more tests than him. Add their numbers together it would still be lesser than Venky’s. I am sure he contributed something atleast.
He was perched on top of the open bus savoring the T20 win, he was on top of the world when some commentators called India’s bowling attack the best in the world.
But that was before the demons had their way.
Robin Singh or Robbing Singh, call him whatever. He is one of the earnest figures in Indian cricket, again one of the few qualified figures. Hardworking and sincere, that is how most of his peers describe him. I am sure Sachin Tendulkar wouldn’t have recommended his name as Mumbai Indians coach for nothing.
Sachin called him just before the demons ejected him. And then, the demons had their way.
Rahul Dravid, whatever said he definitely is an all season’s player. He is one of the most successful ODI players India has ever had, someone who brought solidity into the middle order. He has more been a silent samurai than a cricket player. For, he’s had to slay the demons all through his career.
Does anyone remember Jaywant Lele ? Rahul Dravid is not fit for ODI’s he proclaimed and had him dropped from the team. Dravid fought his way back. And then it was the Colonel’s turn, he had to stand down as captain (I thought he was a rather successful captain) and saw himself dropped from the ODI team.
And then came the bouncers, those were the demons down Rohit Sharma & Suresh Raina’s alley. They saw the resurgence of Dravid, but it was shortlived. The next place where the Indians play ODI’s is at home where it doesn’t bounce that well.
So the demons had their way.
Demons have had their way either by themselves as the Trescothick story illustrates or through a demoniac as in the case of Venky, Robin & Rahul.
Many variants of demon but their objective is the same, elimination. Raina’s, Bhajji’s and even Dhoni’s run for that amulet, the day when the demons would chase you is not too far.
News from the Caribbean
Thus spake the Fake One down Player...
"I know knifes were out, but I was confident the might of my cricketing abilities and aptitude would win them over.
Let me give you guys a lowdown on the list of master stokes (I am sorry to mention) I had to my credit yesterday.
I won the toss and elected to bat
I played Karthik, most importantly I gave him enough confidence that he agreed to open the innings (reluctantly though)
I decided I would send Yuvraj one down today. I know what you guys are saying, but you are wrong. I knew Rohit would be no-hit yesterday too, that is why I didn’t count him as the one down player
When I came in the ball was doing many things, we had to see through those many things. And keep the scoreboard ticking. That is precisely what I did. I scored my runs at 89.13 coming in a difficult position, where the objective normally is consolidation
And look at how Harbajan played today, it was me who gave him tips how to hit and coached him at the nets
While we bowled…
I wanted to test Nehra’s fitness to the fullest. I still remember what he said then, I would never forget. But he responded well. He understood his responsibilities and most importantly has mellowed down too. And see how he foxed Gayle ? I suggested he bowl that ball.
I decided I would keep Harbajan for the end, see how Ravi bowled a maiden and Pathan gave only 4. And did you see my field setting ?
Before the 49th over you might have seen a mini conference before Ashish Nehra was handed the ball. I had decided even before the first ball of the innings was bowled that Nehra is the one who would bowl the 49th.
I just wanted to make it look like it was a collective decision, just in case. To ensure we take collective responsibilities in case of any eventuality
All this said, did you guys see how I won a thrilling match for India.
For all those who took their knifes out, let me sing a Eagles song I am hearing right now, “Stab it with their steely knifes, but they just can’t kill the beast”
See you later !!"
