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IPL 6: like it or lump it - 3 cricket bloggers chat, somewhat bitterly, obviously they got no IPL contracts.
Showing posts with label bored cricket crazy indains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bored cricket crazy indains. Show all posts
Looking ahead, the future's so bright I gotta wear shades
Post the England tour, the FTP looks like this
5 ODIs vs England at home
3 Tests 5 ODIs versus West Indies at home.
4 Tests and 8-11 ODIs versus Australia away
3 Tests and 5 ODIs versus Pakistan at home.
3 Tests versus Sri lanka away.
3 Tests versus New Zealand at home.
T20 WC at Sri Lanka
4 Tests versus England at home
7 ODIs and 1 T20 versus England at home.
4 Tests versus Australia at home.
This is the lead up to the Test playoff/Championship in England.
Following this
3 ODIs versus Zimbabwe away
7 ODIs and 1 T20 versus Australia at home.
Doing the sums, between September 2011 though November 2013, India play 24 Tests, 38 ODIs and 2 T20s, most of them at home.. This does not include the games played in the ICC Test Championship, the T20 WC, IPL and Champions League games.
Working with the numbers above, India play 140 days of cricket over a period of 2 years. Which brings up the question of workload, rotation and rest.
Right now, including all of the injured players, India can safely boast of a roster that is 47 deep.
Openers:
Virender Sehwag
Gautam Gambhir
Murali Vijay
Abhinav Mukund
Ajinkya Rahane
Middle Order:
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
Yuvraj Singh
Cheteshwar Pujara
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Ambati Rayadu
Suresh Raina
Manoj Tiwary
Manish Pandey
WicketKeepers:
MS Dhoni
W. Saha
P. Patel
N. Ojha
D. Karthik
Slow Left arm spin:
Pragyan Ojha
Ravinder Jadeja
Off Spin:
Harbhajan Singh
Leg spin:
Amit Mishra
Right Arm Fast:
Ishant Sharma
Praveen Kumar
Munaf Patel
Abhimanyu Mithun
Umesh Yadav
Varun Aaron
Left Arm Fast:
Zaheer Khan
RP Singh
Jaidev Unadkat
ODI/T20 specialists:
Yusuf Pathan
Siddharth Trivedi
R. Ashwin
Piyush Chawla
Rahul Sharma
Bhargav Bhatt
Iqbal Abdulla
Irfan Pathan
Sudeep Tyagi
Dhawal Kulkarni
R. Vinay Kumar
Saurabh Tiwary
Ashok Menaria
Now, the above categorization is not a strict one ie: players classified as ODI/T20 specialists can pretty easily be moved up into any of the other classifications and vice versa. And it also does not consider some players like Badrinath, who can be slotted into the above list if so desired.
Now, working on the presumption that we need our best XV for overseas tourneys and that the kids need atleast 10 tests before they can find their feet, does this current itinerary allow us to do so?
Does the current itinerary allow us a rotation policy, given that 17 of the 24 tests are going to be at home, as will 24 of the 38 ODIs?
Does this schedule give us the bandwidth to ensure that the emergent kids can take the next step up?
Does the schedule allows us the cushion of managing the retirements of the big 3, and in all probability Zak?
I believe the answer to all the above questions is yes.
The only problem , if it may be called that is, do we have the stomach to absorb a few defeats along the way? And I qualify that argument by stating that despite the best batting lineup in a generation, we have never been more than good fighting, attritional side, never a dominant one.
And are we, as a people, ready to go easy on the insta gratification/insta punditry that seems to be our leitmotif when things begin to go even slightly wrong? Are we willing to give ourselves a long enough rope and not go knee jerk every time a kid does not come good?
Because if we are, we not only have the tools and the resources, but also time on our hands. Given the ages of the kids under consideration, a little patience now will go a long way in ensuring our competitiveness for an extended period of time.
And just to make things that much easier, the number of home games mean that the ride will be smoother than we expect.
The future is now in our hands.
5 ODIs vs England at home
3 Tests 5 ODIs versus West Indies at home.
4 Tests and 8-11 ODIs versus Australia away
3 Tests and 5 ODIs versus Pakistan at home.
3 Tests versus Sri lanka away.
3 Tests versus New Zealand at home.
T20 WC at Sri Lanka
4 Tests versus England at home
7 ODIs and 1 T20 versus England at home.
4 Tests versus Australia at home.
This is the lead up to the Test playoff/Championship in England.
Following this
3 ODIs versus Zimbabwe away
7 ODIs and 1 T20 versus Australia at home.
Doing the sums, between September 2011 though November 2013, India play 24 Tests, 38 ODIs and 2 T20s, most of them at home.. This does not include the games played in the ICC Test Championship, the T20 WC, IPL and Champions League games.
Working with the numbers above, India play 140 days of cricket over a period of 2 years. Which brings up the question of workload, rotation and rest.
Right now, including all of the injured players, India can safely boast of a roster that is 47 deep.
Openers:
Virender Sehwag
Gautam Gambhir
Murali Vijay
Abhinav Mukund
Ajinkya Rahane
Middle Order:
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
Yuvraj Singh
Cheteshwar Pujara
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Ambati Rayadu
Suresh Raina
Manoj Tiwary
Manish Pandey
WicketKeepers:
MS Dhoni
W. Saha
P. Patel
N. Ojha
D. Karthik
Slow Left arm spin:
Pragyan Ojha
Ravinder Jadeja
Off Spin:
Harbhajan Singh
Leg spin:
Amit Mishra
Right Arm Fast:
Ishant Sharma
Praveen Kumar
Munaf Patel
Abhimanyu Mithun
Umesh Yadav
Varun Aaron
Left Arm Fast:
Zaheer Khan
RP Singh
Jaidev Unadkat
ODI/T20 specialists:
Yusuf Pathan
Siddharth Trivedi
R. Ashwin
Piyush Chawla
Rahul Sharma
Bhargav Bhatt
Iqbal Abdulla
Irfan Pathan
Sudeep Tyagi
Dhawal Kulkarni
R. Vinay Kumar
Saurabh Tiwary
Ashok Menaria
Now, the above categorization is not a strict one ie: players classified as ODI/T20 specialists can pretty easily be moved up into any of the other classifications and vice versa. And it also does not consider some players like Badrinath, who can be slotted into the above list if so desired.
Now, working on the presumption that we need our best XV for overseas tourneys and that the kids need atleast 10 tests before they can find their feet, does this current itinerary allow us to do so?
Does the current itinerary allow us a rotation policy, given that 17 of the 24 tests are going to be at home, as will 24 of the 38 ODIs?
Does this schedule give us the bandwidth to ensure that the emergent kids can take the next step up?
Does the schedule allows us the cushion of managing the retirements of the big 3, and in all probability Zak?
I believe the answer to all the above questions is yes.
The only problem , if it may be called that is, do we have the stomach to absorb a few defeats along the way? And I qualify that argument by stating that despite the best batting lineup in a generation, we have never been more than good fighting, attritional side, never a dominant one.
And are we, as a people, ready to go easy on the insta gratification/insta punditry that seems to be our leitmotif when things begin to go even slightly wrong? Are we willing to give ourselves a long enough rope and not go knee jerk every time a kid does not come good?
Because if we are, we not only have the tools and the resources, but also time on our hands. Given the ages of the kids under consideration, a little patience now will go a long way in ensuring our competitiveness for an extended period of time.
And just to make things that much easier, the number of home games mean that the ride will be smoother than we expect.
The future is now in our hands.
MasterDebate #3 UDRS with @TheCricketCouch
Subash-masterdebate by bored cricket
Bored Member The Cricket Couch is on, listen up, MasterDebate #3.
Why Kohli and not Kumble was retained by the Bangalore Royal Challengers
Kumble is shown into Sid Mallaya’s office by a buxom secretary. Seeing her, he coughs the obligatory cough.
Kumble: Hi Siddharth
Sid Mallaya (laughs): You can call me Sid…we’re friends, we know each other….right babes (asking secretary)
Secretary: Eh…
Kumble (briskly): You know I'm the Karnataka State Cricket Association President, and with that comes an added responsibility…just yesterday I was at the stadium in a suit…
SM: It was pretty ill-fitting….
Kumble (ignoring): Eh…Rahul thought it was smart…anyway, now I have to be a certain way, dress a certain way in public
SM: Whatever…
Kumble: So when I play for the Royal Challengers, I will have to wear a suit
SM: No way man…what’re you saying…you’re kidding right
Kumble: I’m very serious. These are not silly games anymore – this is politics. You can’t afford to have the KSCA President running around in some red and gold jump suit
SM (To secretary): Get me Dad… (and to Kumble)…man, next you’ll say, you wanna bowl in a friggin’ head bandage…
Kumble: Yes, people have very fond memories of the bandage…I even got Lara out in that
Virat Kohli breezes into Sid Mallaya’s office
VK: Hey Sid, wasup?
SM: Hey Vir, what will you wear for the IPL…
VK: What? The Bangalore Royal Challenger’s jersey of course.
India to rest everyone for 4th and 5th ODIs
After another pointless game, this time in Baroda, India will play only debutants for the fourth and fifth one-dayers. However, as it’s also the Ranji season, most of the first class players will be unavailable for selection. Che Pujara, will however make himself available to lead a team of retired players that will include Arun Lal, Ravi Shastri, LS and Sunny Gavaskar amongst others.
Naturally this will leave a void in the commentary box, one the BCCI is hoping, cricket bloggers and enthusiasts will fill up. This will be an honorary job, and the compensation will be limited to board and lodging. If interested, please mail us at bcciwrites@gmail.com
Laxman, an average cricketer.
I like averages. Batting averages, bowling averages, the whole lotta them averages, and while they don’t always single out your average Joe, it’s ok by me.
Over time I’ve noticed how Laxman’s average has climbed, from his 44 point something, up and up, and when I look at it now, it’s 47.40. That’s gotta ring to it; if he ends his career with that, Azhar can approach him, and open a gym called 47.40. Anyone know what Azhar’s gym was called?
When I look at his 47.40 average, I think of Laxman as a player with a 50+ average. How would that be, does he deserve a 50+ avg, what am I saying, who deserves an average, it’s calculated. Going by the crates of runs he’s scored in the last few years, he’s almost negated some of those early years, that were all about sexy 30s, and a cut to gully or point’s hands.
When I look at his 47.40 average, I think of Zaheer Abbas’ 44.79 average. Zaheer’s average surprised me, going by runs he scored against India, I expected his average to be 99.94
And now it hits me, while a 50+ average sounds swell for VVS, it doesn’t quite cut it for me – in my book of averages, he’s more a 71.47 player. Here’s to more not-outs. Here’s to our man, Laxman.
The Ponting - Zaheer saga, Part 1
in the Ponting - Zaheer Saga, what you think is not what they think. Here is the what and how:
two days before the Mohali test, at a 5 star hotel somewhere in Mohali
The Aussies are all in a room, drawing strategies to bring the downfall of India and to take home the Border-Gavaskar Meme. Everyone seems to be serious. Suddenly, Ponting takes off his earphones mumbling something to the tune of "who put Radiohead in my iPod?"
Then, convinced that everyone had stopped thinking and talking about the Indians, he proclaimed: "this is your skipper speaking. North, look here! Your concentration levels are so low I would not be surprised if even if someone as bad as Zaheer Khan bowled you while you were shouldering arms. Ok, where was I. Yes, we play Ind... Dougy!!! stop that singing. No wait, as a punishment you have to sing it loud so that everyone can listen and make fun of you. On my count. 3....2...1...go..."
Bollinger, not at all ashamed, stuffs a $100 bill which he had been playing with into his pocket and starts singing:
I like IPL 'cos it is good
I love IPL because I should
if there was a song to sing
I sing it and IPL you bring
I think IPL when I am sad
''cause the IPL it makes me glad
now there's nothing left to say
so lets go get auctioned...
to this tune.
Ponting gets more upset and starts spitting on his palm. "See, this is what becomes of people who just care about money. Look at Pup, look at me. We have the power of restraint, a willingness to just represent our beloved nation." Pup smiles in servitude. Ponting continues, "Don't all of you think that we should not sell ourselves like Bollinger has?"
Everyone else, apart from Pup, responds in chorus:
IPL is good
IPL is good
IPL is good
... and Stuff
IPL is good
IPL is good
IPL is good
let's go think some IPL
to be continued...
find ankit here
Main dekhega
"It's wonderful that we have been able to play so much Test cricket. In the last few years we have played a reasonable amount of Test cricket. At one stage, in the early nineties, I hardly got any Test matches. Couple of Test occasions there were just two or three Tests in a year. It was disappointing. That is not the case now." - Sachin Tendulkar, after overtaking Steve Waugh as the player with most test appearances.
After an indirect thank you from Sachin himself, the match fixers at the BCCI, uhm.. I mean the match schedulers at the BCCI have done one better. I like the schedule for the current series against Australia, it's ensured that all the weekends over the next month will see cricket. They've taken a step to make sure that if the game's happening at an empty stadium, at least people elsewhere get to watch it on TV.
The first test began today, which works out fine because I don't have to watch India on the first day of a series, normally the worst show we put on. I get to watch them turn up over the next two days and mount a legendary fight-back, bowling Australia out in a dramatic session, then Sachin & Dravid consolidate over day 3 after Viru & Gambhir get us to a quick 100 before falling in quick succession. Worst case scenario Australia declare after punishing us for a day and two sessions before bowling us out for a huge first innings lead in two sessions.
The second and unfortunately last test does one better by starting on a Saturday. Imagine Dhoni's CSK luck with the toss, puts the batsmen in against the Aussie quicks on Bangalore's pacy, bouncy pitch. Probably the worst case scenario again. I think we'd be better off bowling first. No, wait. Never mind.
And finally, a gentle easing out with the three ODI series beginning and ending on Sundays, the middle one, a day/night match rescuing a Wednesday.
So yeah, dear BCCI match fixers, thank you for scheduling matches on weekends, which I thought you had a policy against after looking at the SA tour schedule from earlier this year. Good on you!
PS: I''ve already missed Zak mouthing off Pricky. I hope they ration out the excitement over the next few days with focus on the weekend.
by Crownish
blogs at FCKING BLOG (Fantasy Cricket Kings Blog)
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