I had to keep on reading the news again and again unable to believe it in my eyes when I saw it for the first time on the television and on the news channels. The West Indies had beaten Pakistan by 40 runs in the first test at Providence. I had not much of a surprise when the West Indies had two consecutive wins against Pakistan in the last two one dayers which came after they had lost three matches earlier to the sub-continent nation. Of course, that was four in a row for the teams considering the West Indies' ten wicket loss to Pakistan in the quarter-finals of the world cup.
But, a test victory for West Indies against Pakistan is indeed something really worth of a praise for the hosts not only for their victory but also for their win in a test match when the spectators all over the world would have other opinions regarding the test status retained for the West Indies by the ICC. Had I been the ICC chief, I would have stripped the West Indies of their test status after Brian Lara retired. I just can't recall when last did the West Indies last win a test match against a decent opposition barring Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
Likewise, my doubt to you readers is whether the West Indies have won a test match against even Bangladesh for, all I can remember West Indies doing was to lost both the test matches to Bangladesh on their last tour at home two years ago. Since 2007, the West Indies have never faced India in test matches be it on tour or at home. And they have not won a match against South Africa despite the teams meeting each other every year. Can anyone of you tell me when last did West Indies meet England and Australia and New Zealand recently?
Pakistan's dreams have been shattered once again when they lost the first test by 40 runs yesterday. Pakistan, we hear was and is and after this test will always be looking for a test series win against the West Indies in West Indies. Way back in 2005, the Inzamam-Ul-Haq led Pakistan team snatched a win in the 2nd test at Kingston after losing the 1st test at Bridgetown by 276 runs. This time also, all odds favor Pakistan to win over West Indies in the second test starting on 20th at Basseterre but will have to wait for another tour to relish their dreams.
Showing posts with label Shivnarine Chanderapaul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shivnarine Chanderapaul. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Start of The West Indies' ODI Debacle
Until recently, the West Indies had trouble only when it came to test cricket but now, the West Indies have started extending their dismal performance even in the one day international matches as well. After getting whitewashed in the recently concluded 2 test match series against England by a 2-0 margin, now, it looks as though it is the turn of the ODIs to follow suit. Last time in 2004-2005, when the West Indies had played England on two occasions successively, they had lost 7 out of the 8 test matches played but, they had a better run in the one dayers.
First, the West Indies leveled the 5 match one day series with both the West Indies and England winning two matches. And then in the return series, in the Natwest series involving West Indies, England and New Zealand, England failed to make it to the finals of the tri series then. Not to mentioned that West Indies lost the finals to New Zealand without giving the Kiwis a tough time on the field. But, this time, the West Indies have shown signs of collapsing in the one day matches as well. Out of three matches, with the first one being abandoned owing to rain, the second one was a one sided affair with the game being completely dominated by England.
West Indies were nowhere in the game from the beginning of the match. First, they not only lost all their wickets for a partly score of 160, but also could not bat their complete quota of 50 overs. The West Indian batsmen were bowled out for 160 in just 38.3 overs. And in the second, no attempt was found to be made by the West Indian bowlers to make things difficult for the English batsmen either. The English batsmen were able to reach the target of 161 in just 36 overs, with as many as 14 overs remaining. I wonder as to how come players like Chandrapaul, Ramdin and Sarwan couldn't cut lose despite being known for their big hitting ablities!
It was fascinating to see Paul Collingwood do the trick with both the bat as well as with the ball. Collingwood ended up with figures of 3/16 from his alloted 6 overs and then scored a 50 ball 47 that included 4 hits to the fence and one huge six. A glance at the scorecard of the match would suggest that it was a shortened game with each team being allowed to play just 39 over, when the West Indies' batting chart reading 160 in 38.3 overs from the allotted 39 overs and the England chart reading 161/4 in 36 overs. But, that was not the case. It was as though that England were playing some minnow team and not the team that has had 2 world cup wins in the past.
First, the West Indies leveled the 5 match one day series with both the West Indies and England winning two matches. And then in the return series, in the Natwest series involving West Indies, England and New Zealand, England failed to make it to the finals of the tri series then. Not to mentioned that West Indies lost the finals to New Zealand without giving the Kiwis a tough time on the field. But, this time, the West Indies have shown signs of collapsing in the one day matches as well. Out of three matches, with the first one being abandoned owing to rain, the second one was a one sided affair with the game being completely dominated by England.
West Indies were nowhere in the game from the beginning of the match. First, they not only lost all their wickets for a partly score of 160, but also could not bat their complete quota of 50 overs. The West Indian batsmen were bowled out for 160 in just 38.3 overs. And in the second, no attempt was found to be made by the West Indian bowlers to make things difficult for the English batsmen either. The English batsmen were able to reach the target of 161 in just 36 overs, with as many as 14 overs remaining. I wonder as to how come players like Chandrapaul, Ramdin and Sarwan couldn't cut lose despite being known for their big hitting ablities!
It was fascinating to see Paul Collingwood do the trick with both the bat as well as with the ball. Collingwood ended up with figures of 3/16 from his alloted 6 overs and then scored a 50 ball 47 that included 4 hits to the fence and one huge six. A glance at the scorecard of the match would suggest that it was a shortened game with each team being allowed to play just 39 over, when the West Indies' batting chart reading 160 in 38.3 overs from the allotted 39 overs and the England chart reading 161/4 in 36 overs. But, that was not the case. It was as though that England were playing some minnow team and not the team that has had 2 world cup wins in the past.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
West Indies Win The Lucky Draw
Well with as many exciting encounters in cricket at present in progress, there are equal number of boring encounters as well on the other side of the cricketing world. The excitement includes the ongoing clash between Australia and South Africa for the number one spot in test cricket and the boring one being the West Indies' tour of New Zealand, which has so far not been taken seriously by either of the teams out there. None of the test matches that were played, were played with the spirit of winning or atleast having the opposition in a spin. Such was the situation with teams like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. But, the late entries to the same have been West Indies and New Zealand.
Both the teams out there are found to play the games just for the sake of it. Thank god that they were not played in a cricket crazy country like India. Had it been, the sponsors would have had to think twice before going in for such matches. And that too in this era where recession has taken a toll! Anyway, issues like that should not really matter us. However, this is been found to clash with the timings of the Australia-South Africa test matches. The preference obviously going to this rather than the West Indies-New Zealand stuff. But, what about the ones who'd prefer a one day match over a test?
And also its been a long time since a one day international has been up. And the cricket fans would obviously be craving to watch some wonderful one day encounters. But, thanks to the boring West Indies-New Zealand series which has stripped them of the spirit of waiting for a one day match to kick off. This leaves the cricket fans wth no other option than to wait for the one day series between Australia and South Africa to kick off after the third test and the two T20 matches that follows. Neither were the two T20 games interesting if the expectations are to be believed. So, will the game of cricket be able to flourish in these nations wtih such a bad approach?
Lest, there are three more one day matches to go. The first one being cancelled and the second was reduced to 28 overs a side, which the West Indies clinched luckily. None of the players from both the teams making the talk of the hour makes the matter still more worse. Especially after the retirement of Stephen Fleming and Shane Bond, the New Zealand team have no big names that would be found on the fans' lips, with someone like Scott Styris and Jacob Oram making news only for injuries rather than the way they play their game of cricket. And even the West Indies are no different in this regard, with the only consolation being Shivnarine Chanderapaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Ok..a little bit of Chris Gayle. Not too bad....
Both the teams out there are found to play the games just for the sake of it. Thank god that they were not played in a cricket crazy country like India. Had it been, the sponsors would have had to think twice before going in for such matches. And that too in this era where recession has taken a toll! Anyway, issues like that should not really matter us. However, this is been found to clash with the timings of the Australia-South Africa test matches. The preference obviously going to this rather than the West Indies-New Zealand stuff. But, what about the ones who'd prefer a one day match over a test?
And also its been a long time since a one day international has been up. And the cricket fans would obviously be craving to watch some wonderful one day encounters. But, thanks to the boring West Indies-New Zealand series which has stripped them of the spirit of waiting for a one day match to kick off. This leaves the cricket fans wth no other option than to wait for the one day series between Australia and South Africa to kick off after the third test and the two T20 matches that follows. Neither were the two T20 games interesting if the expectations are to be believed. So, will the game of cricket be able to flourish in these nations wtih such a bad approach?
Lest, there are three more one day matches to go. The first one being cancelled and the second was reduced to 28 overs a side, which the West Indies clinched luckily. None of the players from both the teams making the talk of the hour makes the matter still more worse. Especially after the retirement of Stephen Fleming and Shane Bond, the New Zealand team have no big names that would be found on the fans' lips, with someone like Scott Styris and Jacob Oram making news only for injuries rather than the way they play their game of cricket. And even the West Indies are no different in this regard, with the only consolation being Shivnarine Chanderapaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Ok..a little bit of Chris Gayle. Not too bad....
Friday, December 19, 2008
Chandreapaul And The Rest
Well..the series between New Zealand and the West Indies is found to witness some of the great encounters, with West Indies unexpectedly putting up a tough fight against the New Zealand. This was not completely confirmed, in the first test, and, in the ongoing second test at Napier, it is pretty evident that the West Indies have realized as to what position in the world of cricket they stand today. Else, what else was possible by the West Indies team, other than improving their performance atleast a little bit? In the first test at Dunedin, West Indies fell just 15 runs short of the first innings total of 365 in the first innings. At the end, the match was forced to draw, for reasons well known. However, the West Indies did have something to prove what so ever.
And in the second test at Napier, things are pretty much clear, when West Indies tried to show what they are capeable of doing. Still, things are not satisfactory, as far as the West Indies are concerned. This because, it has been a one man show for the West Indies, not only in the ongoing series against New Zealand, but from a long period of time. It is Chanderapaul most of the time who comes in handy for West Indies, whenever their face needs to be saved. And things were no different this time either. It was Chanderapaul's unbeaten 126 that helped West Indies put up a score of 300+ in the first innings at Napier. This especially afte the retirement of Brian Lara after the world cup in 2007.
Even in the last series against Australia, it was Chandrapaul who was awarded the man of the series, despite West Indies losing the series 2-0. This was for the scores of 118 & 11, 107* & 77*, 79* & 50 in the three tests that were played. The rest of the players' discussion is meaninglss here. In the earlier tests against Sri Lanka, Chandrapaul scored 86* to level the series. May be this time for a change, there were others like Ramnaresh Sarwan and co to support this man. 118 in the first innings at Port Elizabeth had earlier seen West Indies snatch a rare win against the Proteas, only to lose the series 2-1, where Chandrapaul scored 65* & 70* at Cape Town, and in the following game he was forced to keep himself away from the Durban test.
At last, I would like to cite the scores of the same in the tests against England in May-July 2008, 74 at Lords, 50* and 126* in the third test at Manchester (after being absent for the second test), followed by 136* & 70 in the fourth test at Chester Le Street, and despite all these mind blowing performances, West Indies lose the series to England 3-0. This is only some of the many instances where it has been only Chandrapaul and the others failing miserably. This I've seen in Inzy, who in between 2004 and 2007 used to be the architect of many Pakistani wins just like Chandrapaul for West Indies. I still remember the way West Indies were crushed by England 7-0 in two four match test series in 2004, and Chandrapaul being awarded the man of the series.
I hope that now one would wonder as to why West Indies never turn out to shine and end up losing so miserably against each and every opposition. And the result could be no different with only one out of the eleven playing to his capability. For, there are players like Sarwan and Gayle who can with the bat, and Edwards who can with the ball. And imagining the fate of West Indies cricket with Chandrapaul retiring?
And in the second test at Napier, things are pretty much clear, when West Indies tried to show what they are capeable of doing. Still, things are not satisfactory, as far as the West Indies are concerned. This because, it has been a one man show for the West Indies, not only in the ongoing series against New Zealand, but from a long period of time. It is Chanderapaul most of the time who comes in handy for West Indies, whenever their face needs to be saved. And things were no different this time either. It was Chanderapaul's unbeaten 126 that helped West Indies put up a score of 300+ in the first innings at Napier. This especially afte the retirement of Brian Lara after the world cup in 2007.
Even in the last series against Australia, it was Chandrapaul who was awarded the man of the series, despite West Indies losing the series 2-0. This was for the scores of 118 & 11, 107* & 77*, 79* & 50 in the three tests that were played. The rest of the players' discussion is meaninglss here. In the earlier tests against Sri Lanka, Chandrapaul scored 86* to level the series. May be this time for a change, there were others like Ramnaresh Sarwan and co to support this man. 118 in the first innings at Port Elizabeth had earlier seen West Indies snatch a rare win against the Proteas, only to lose the series 2-1, where Chandrapaul scored 65* & 70* at Cape Town, and in the following game he was forced to keep himself away from the Durban test.
At last, I would like to cite the scores of the same in the tests against England in May-July 2008, 74 at Lords, 50* and 126* in the third test at Manchester (after being absent for the second test), followed by 136* & 70 in the fourth test at Chester Le Street, and despite all these mind blowing performances, West Indies lose the series to England 3-0. This is only some of the many instances where it has been only Chandrapaul and the others failing miserably. This I've seen in Inzy, who in between 2004 and 2007 used to be the architect of many Pakistani wins just like Chandrapaul for West Indies. I still remember the way West Indies were crushed by England 7-0 in two four match test series in 2004, and Chandrapaul being awarded the man of the series.
I hope that now one would wonder as to why West Indies never turn out to shine and end up losing so miserably against each and every opposition. And the result could be no different with only one out of the eleven playing to his capability. For, there are players like Sarwan and Gayle who can with the bat, and Edwards who can with the ball. And imagining the fate of West Indies cricket with Chandrapaul retiring?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Oooops A Last BAll Thriller !!!
Well even if cricket is all about belting the ball as far as possible,there are some exciting situations that can bring a lot of craze into cricket,and especially if thats some action oriented.And thats what happened last week in the first one dayer between Sri Lanka and West Indies.The match according to me was one of the greatest ODIs of the lot.The reason being the last ball six hit by Shivnarine Chanderapaul to take a lead in the three match series.
Well..the instance has taken place in two more occasions as per my knowladge.One that is afresh in the people's mind is that done by Javed Miandad against India at Sharjah-way back in 1980's to give a rigid reply to Sharma's ego and under estimating the last ball as well as the Pakistan team,when Pakistan needed 4 runs off the last delivery,and another instance is the lesser known,or I bet none of you know this:the match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 2006 where Zimbabwe needed 6 runs and the maximum off the last ball,and the batsman(not sure of his name exactly) did just that.Last we have the six off the last ball hit by Asif Mujtaba to force the opposition(Australia) settle for a tie.
The first occasion involving India & Pakistan is some what a back answer to the bowlers' ego I can say,while the other two simply being the best because the required shot was not ready to compromise in any manner-only a six would settle the matter and the batsmen involved were found to do just that.The India-Pakistan encounter could have even ended in a tie had a four been hit,but not so in the other two occasions.What say?
This is what I call a perfect match,which is filled with all guess' and thrills.And finally landing some disappointed and some others frustrated and the remaining just staring at the TV for replays.
Well..the instance has taken place in two more occasions as per my knowladge.One that is afresh in the people's mind is that done by Javed Miandad against India at Sharjah-way back in 1980's to give a rigid reply to Sharma's ego and under estimating the last ball as well as the Pakistan team,when Pakistan needed 4 runs off the last delivery,and another instance is the lesser known,or I bet none of you know this:the match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 2006 where Zimbabwe needed 6 runs and the maximum off the last ball,and the batsman(not sure of his name exactly) did just that.Last we have the six off the last ball hit by Asif Mujtaba to force the opposition(Australia) settle for a tie.
The first occasion involving India & Pakistan is some what a back answer to the bowlers' ego I can say,while the other two simply being the best because the required shot was not ready to compromise in any manner-only a six would settle the matter and the batsmen involved were found to do just that.The India-Pakistan encounter could have even ended in a tie had a four been hit,but not so in the other two occasions.What say?
This is what I call a perfect match,which is filled with all guess' and thrills.And finally landing some disappointed and some others frustrated and the remaining just staring at the TV for replays.
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