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Showing posts with label Munaf Patel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Munaf Patel. Show all posts
Boredwaani: Bored of ODI Series - Shut Up and Listen!
After the tests come the ODIs, but nobody wants to play... Sachin, Sehwag, Bhajji, Zak, Gambhir, pRick, Watson and Johnson are all missing... but Ravindra Jadeja, Nohit Sharma and Yuvraj all return. Listen to Bored Members SP, Homer, Cricketcouch and Achettup try to make sense of whether anyone is interested, even the Fake One Down Player, in this "Bored of ODI" Series...
What should Irfan and Ishant do now?!
Indian cricket, one will do well to remember, faces some really weird selection policies. One day one guy gets chosen because of unmentionable reasons, is retained in the team for even more unmentionable reasons while the best ones rot on the sidelines. A case in point is our very own Che.
Irfan Pathan and Ishant Sharma are such cases again. According to a lot of opinions, these guys do not have anything much to offer these days. So nothing like, they do not make it into any of the Indian teams. Not even the Women's team, who nobody really watches or cares about. But these cricket players are boys and boys, well, will remain boys. They can not still and have to be up to something or the other, all the time.
As a bored member, I decided to find out what could these two men really do, now that they have no cricket to play.
Irfan Pathan:
Touted as the next Wasim Akram (for his swing), and the next Kapil Dev (for his all round capabilities) until only some time ago, this boy had some awesome credentials to his name. But something has gone really wrong, with his swing as also with the selection policies. Now, this boy is largely being touted as the next Vinod Kambli (for never truly realizing his potential).
However, the boy is a fighter. The boy can take up random jobs these days. It would really be perfect, because thanks to Greg Chappell's vision, the boy would any which ways not know what his job in any team really is. Cricinfo's latest suggestion is that he impersonate Munaf Patel. Never mind the fact that, Munaf himself is rotting in oblivion. And I am really in support of that. At least, that would be some job, and as nobody cares about Munaf either, nobody will care to point out Irfan's mistakes.
Ishant Sharma:
The boy who made Ricky Ponting hop in that famous (or infamous) Perth Test has lost some of his pace and length and also the confidence of the selection committee at the same time. What the boy should do now is to open his own Exercise Classes. He could make his students 'Hop, Skip and Jump', just like he made Ponting do all that. Never mind the fact that he will not be able to do so at his own bowling but on some Mika music. Also, he could take up some Dance classes. After the IPL Awards fiasco, some dancing tips are in the offing.
On being sidelined by the selection committee so brutally, it is important for these players to keep themselves really busy. Idleness can play havoc with the mind. (Ask me!) Keep yourselves busy guys, take up these jobs!
The Ins & Outs of India’s ODI selection Continued
You read about the Outs here, now how about the Ins
Jatman is in. And he brings with him his various avatars of Viru and Sehwag and Virender, there’s more to both the cricketer and the individual. In a few days he will be 31, wonder what that means to him?
Yuvraj is in, so much for bowling all-rounders like Yusuf Pathan. It’s an ODI series, naturally Yuvi will bowl and bat high up, but I’m more interested where and how he will field?
Munaf Patel. He has his moments, then he has brainless ones too. In the Challenger he bowled a madcap over to last man, Dinda. Two nothing short balls, 2 and 4 runs. He lost it, his team lost it too. Then when Dinda wanted to shake hands, he walked past, lifting shirt high enough to wipe brow sweat. It wasn’t a pretty sight. Then Munna returned the following day, and blew MSD’s India Blue apart. If there’s one lesson here, don’t save Munna for the slog overs. Better still, don’t save him. Spend all ten of him on the trot. Otherwise he gets the trots.
More than Munna the bowler, I like Munna the batsman – frankly he’s the only exciting batsman in the team. I’ve said so before, here – even against Mendis when the team was clueless, he swept with élan. The other day he played an ugly one handed sweep, it was breathtaking. He has it in him to the ugliest, most effective lower order slogger. Way uglier than Bhajji.
Ravindra Jadeja: Hope he gets his share of chances and converts. Hope, like him, another kid from Saurashtra gets a break too – where are you Che? Jadeja is only twenty, don’t hold that aginst him – give him as many chances as Yusuf, if not more – Jadeja bowls left arm spin, bats middle order and plays for the Rajasthan Royals. Who’s next, Warne?
Sudeep Tyagi – like the look of this 22 year old kid, esp. when he sends it down those 22 yards. Hope fitness isn’t a Catch 22 for him, and the Challenger is a pointer to bigger things to come. Be good to see a new quick like Tyagi make it, make the likes of RP, Ishant think more about their bowling now in their 20s. Can’t have everyone realising potential when they’re 30 plus. Jitu and Zaks are enough.
Agarkar inspires Munaf
The other day, the bowler with AA rating struck thrice. What does Munaf do – he strikes thrice too. If AA took 3 for 45, Munna topped that, 3 for 47. Also, he’s bowled 19 overs compared to AA’s 17.3, clearly he’s in demand. Not to forget, the Mumbai innings is far from over, he’ll be back tomorrow.
But it was yesterday that Munna went mad with the bat – 36 of 34 balls, take that, 2 6s, 3 4s. Clearly Munna could not inspire AA who picked 5 of 23. Another few innings like this, and there will be talk of Munna the all-rounder. See, this qualifies as talk too.
One only hopes this doesn’t distract him from his main job as a fielder.
The ugliest shot.
Last man, Munaf Patel at the crease for ONGC. Mangella bowls a slower one, Munaf drags it past a diving Uthappa at mid on for four. It was one of those shots where you’d think he hit it twice. The ball had no shape, neither did the shot – Munaf looked on, with those black holes for eyes. It was an ugly cricket moment, yet it was fascinating. Next, off drives one for four. Siva mistook it for one of Ishant’s. Such is life.
Also consider Munaf’s shot selection: Leave stumps, get in line with ball and play beyond point to third man. Played this ball after ball unless he was driving for four. On one such shot he called for a quick single that went unanswered. His response: “Areh Yaar!” So much sorrow in that voice.
Unfortunately, Ishant mistimed one to Uthappa. Siva didn’t mistake him for Munaf. And so, an ugly innings was cut short in its prime.
Q Moment 6 of IPL Match #53
Munaf's 3rd and inning's 5th over.
All length deliveries outside the off. Slight movement away.
Batsman plays and misses almost all of them.
Dot balls all of them.
One no ball in between, batsman gets caught behind off it.
dot, dot, nb, dot, dot, dot so far.
Final ball.
Same length.
Yashpal tries to cut, gets top edge to 3rd man.
Quite a catch by Quiney.
Quite an over from Munaf!
Regular Munaf
But sirjee, why do I feel that Munaf is a much safer fielder in RR colours. Is it me or is he actually a much safer, more predictable fielder under Warne? Is the Munaf issue merely one of management?
The Munaf Patel Joke Book
Why did Munaf Patel bowl so few yorkers earlier -
He mistook it for Bowl Fool!
And it got worse when skip said Bowl Bloody Full!
Neither did he like it when skip said Bowl Bouncer!
Or for that matter Bowl Short!
But it got outta hand when skip called him touchy.
Today though against DDD, Munaf got it right. Looks like he understands Warne's language. He bowled both Bloody Fool and Bouncer! What gets to him when plays for India? He barely has his wits about him for a Fool over. Looks like MSD needs to lay down the law. A thousand times at least.
How would they vote?
One of my friends was concerned, with the General Elections looming and IPL coinciding, that too in a different continent. How would his favorite Indian cricketers vote?
He being the most optimistic person I know (perhaps more optimistic than Munaf Patel – The fielder, while attempting a sliding stop) he was of the opinion that they would take a mid tournament break, chart a plane and comeback to vote. The most optimistic statement of his was that the cricketers are law abiding, constitution loving Indian citizens.
There were also a couple of others who were of the opinion that the Indian cricket team should be equated to the Indian armed forces in terms of their electoral rights, they should be allowed a postal vote. While I appreciate the love and concern we have for our cricketers rights, there are a couple of things we need to remember.
Indian army is not registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. As many of us might know, the President of India is supposed to be the Supreme commander of the Indian armed forces (not Sharad Pawar or a Lalit Modi, yet !!).
Indian armed forces truly represent the Indian citizens, it is a governmental body. BCCI is a private society who by their own admission to courts say that they don’t represent India. So why does one give BCCI (a private society) the same privilege the Indian armed forces get.
The average Indian cricketer is so well off these days that he need not necessarily vote to get his MP or ministers, he can buy one whenever he wants.
And even otherwise, I wouldn’t want to believe that anyone sitting abroad, especially the Indian cricketers (working or at leisure) would want to spend money on air tickets and time to come and vote. This is, unless you are Aamir Khan and that too because someone paid you (in cash or kind) to act in an advertisement and made you say that you would comeback (from your vacation) to vote. Now you have to because you have announced your intent in public and you would get sufficient PR if and when you comeback to vote.
The fifth bowler
After 60 overs Munaf Patel is paged to bowl his 6th over. Yuvraj bowled only two, for ten, had he been more effective, who knows? You know, it’s not as if Munaf, far away at some cold outpost, patrolling the boundaries is itching to bowl. How about some subtle hints – like a warm up drill, it is cold in Wellington, isn’t it?
That said, after being knocked for four, he bowls a yorker to that O’ Brien blogger. Now, taken for three, expect another yorker. Oh yes it is.
62.6
Patel to Martin, no run, Almost. Both Munaf and Martin tried their best.
It was the yorker but slipping just down leg,62.5
Patel to O'Brien, 3 runs, on the off stump line, punched away through cover point.
and previously
60.4
Patel to O'Brien, no run, the yorker arrives, dug out back to the
bowler.
60.3
Patel to O'Brien, FOUR, The follow on has been saved. It was
full and outside off stump, O'Brien slashes it past gully.
And another four of Munaf, what next, another yorker?
Who's your daddy?
It’s part of coaching lore that each Indian batsman is assigned a bowler as his batting student. Word is that Sachin’s boy is Bhajji, and VVS’ lad is Zaks. Going by the cuts and grins today, Viru’s kid has to be Munna. Begs the question, who’s Yuvraj’s daddy?
When India bats, as they did today, you can start your TV vigil with Viru, and wrap it up with Munna. In between there will be Dravid’s shift, and the usual Bhajji pyrotechnics, but the real madness is either side of midnight. You be insane to miss it.
The 138 kmph half volley
Easy run up, easy action
Minimum effort with the ball
The 138 kmph half volley
Minimum effort with the bat
Four
Easy come, easy go
The 2 over Munaf Patel spell.
You’ve come a long way baby
There was a time when the fast bowler talk hovered around -
When will we have one
When will Kapil Dev break Richard Hadlee’s record
Will Kapil Dev break Richard Hadlee's record
When will Kapil Dev retire
Will Kapil Dev retire
When will Javagal Srinath play a home test
Will Javagal Srinath play a home test
Kapil Dev has retired
Javagal Srinath has played a home test
When will India have a world class pace attack
Who will be the second quick
The Ides of March pose a new question –
Who will be India’s third seamer?
Over to John's O-bala, no-bala, Sam's Munaf, Achettup's Defence of Munaf and SP's Enough of Munaf
Bored Joke: when Munaf doesn't play, who does - Munafa.
enough of munaf...?
you name it he has it…
attitude problem…
injury problem…
fielding IS problem…
and yet such are the ‘riches’ of india's bowling attack that we fall back on him time and again…
the test will start on wednesday and we don’t know yet who will join ishant and zaheer to share the cherry…
will we fall back on munaf again or will it be from bala or kulkarni…
going back to munaf will send a wrong signal that being lackluster in attitude and in field does not matter in the end…
to me he needs a jolt...the shock may stuff some senses into the vacuum between his ears…though after seeing him floundering chances after chances…i am pretty sure he is beyond repair…usska maraj ab dava aur dooa dono ki hadein paar kar chuka hai...
i think balaji will make a good choice coz he swings ball both ways…though has lost a bit of pace but is largely accurate to make up for it…he makes the batsmen play and that’s what you want in seaming conditions…
what say?
The worst is the best.
Munaf Patel barely survives the bowler’s run up. He has already zoned in on mid off and how to scoop the ball to Ottayan.
In the first ODI though, he was not himself. Munaf swept with success. Something I haven't seen any other Indian batsman do repeatedly against Mendis.
This is not to say that the solution lies in the sweep. Could well be the reverse of that. Hello, KP?
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