Well the second one day international between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh might not have been able to evoke as much interest among the cricket fans whatsoever. However, if one goes by my opinion, this is one of the ideal one day match that is rarely seen in today's cricketing world. With the current one day matches being either one sided, like it happened in the recently concluded one day series between India and England, where India won all the five one day matches that were played and England had no option than to congratulate the Indians. Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag especially.
scorecard reading 6 runs for the loss of five wickets in their run chase? How many of us thought that This was not the case with the recently concluded tri series involving Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. As expected by most, Sri lanka did win the finals against Bangladesh to lift the trophy. However, how many of us did expect Sri Lanka to keep their fingers crossed in the finals when they were chasing a modest total of 152 and in the process losing 8 wickets, with Sri Lankan scoreboard at one time reading 6 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. How many of us thought that Sri Lanka would lose the match to Bangladesh in the league stages? All these unexpected did happen, when most of us had termed this series to be a bored one and a predictable one.
All eyes were glued to and all minds thinking about the ongoing one day series between Australia and South Africa on the other side of the globe. This should have been the encounter that most of the cricket fans should have watched if at all they were really interested in watching an exciting game of cricket. But, to the best of my knowledge, this was not the case. Well, things might not be the same always. The next or the coming one dayers may be back to the old days of boredom.Even the Zimbabweans, who are found playing cricket once in a bluemoon were found to give the Sri Lankans and the Bangladeshis a run for their money.
A match that was termed as an obvious Sri Lankan apple pie finally had to be grabbed by SriLankans. Probably, the Sri Lankans would have defeated some stronger teams like India, England, West Indies and New Zealand more convincingly than they did against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. It is high time that teams like Bangladesh try and win games against other teams as well and in other counteies as well, so that the world of cricket would be gifted with another major team to watch out. And the sub continent would have four nations which are equally competent. If the current form of the Bangladeshi players is taken, they stand as a better team compared to West Indies and New Zealand. But, still more is expected.
Showing posts with label zimbabwe vs Bangladesh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zimbabwe vs Bangladesh. Show all posts
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
What Does The ICC Gain By Such Schedules?
Well, these days the jobless ICC is looking each and every method possible to make the game of cricket as boring as it can be. If not, how can one bring up and further implement the idea of having a tri series wherein, the three nations involved play just one match against each other, before advancing to the finals of the same. On one hand, the ICC has made a triangular series rare, by converting the even the periodic tri nation tournaments such as the Commonwealth Bank series (that used to be played in Australia in December every year) and the Nat West series (that is played in England every year) into bi lateral series and whenever it thinks of having a tri series, in addition to having teams like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe participating, the teams out there play each other just once-as I mentioned earlier.
This is not the first instance wherein the ICC has had such boring and inconsequential tournaments. Last year, just before the Asia cup, there was a tri series involving India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where the teams played each other just once. Months later, a series between Bermuda, Canada and West Indies was also scheduled in the same manner. In 2004, a tri series at Holland was held, wherin, exactly, the three teams-India, Australia and Pakistan played each other just once, with two out of the three round robin games being washed out due to rain and the remaining one (India vs Pakistan) was cut short to 32 overs a side.
And that saw the Australian team enter the finals of the same without even bowling a single delivery. This is not all. One more thing is that the ICC schedules events, wherein two of the participating teams would be under-rated ones and are coupled with a strong team that is bound to win the tri series. In this case, two weak teams in Bangladesh & Zimbabwe are grouped with Sri Lanka. In the earlier case, Canada & Bermuda were teamed up with the West Indies. A situation where the result is a certainty rather than a toss. And also the venues that hosts these series are just funny. Someone like Holland & Malaysia have hosted such tournaments.
I wonder as to what the ICC gains by conducting such events, that are held just for the sake of it? Is the ICC trying to include such tri series' just to fill in the time gaps before the teams involved are ready for another competition. Else, what would one watch out for in a bi-lateral series, where the two teams play each other four teams, like it happened just before the world cup 2007, where India played a bi lateral series involving four matches against the West Indies and Sri Lanka? With a 2-2 result much likely! This is of course allowed in tests, where draw is always on the cards. But not in one dayers or T20 games. Some concession could be well given in case the teams battling it out are strong. But, whats the use when that is not the case?This shows that there is no one to question the ICC when it takes such foolish and illogical decisions repeatedly.
This is not the first instance wherein the ICC has had such boring and inconsequential tournaments. Last year, just before the Asia cup, there was a tri series involving India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where the teams played each other just once. Months later, a series between Bermuda, Canada and West Indies was also scheduled in the same manner. In 2004, a tri series at Holland was held, wherin, exactly, the three teams-India, Australia and Pakistan played each other just once, with two out of the three round robin games being washed out due to rain and the remaining one (India vs Pakistan) was cut short to 32 overs a side.
And that saw the Australian team enter the finals of the same without even bowling a single delivery. This is not all. One more thing is that the ICC schedules events, wherein two of the participating teams would be under-rated ones and are coupled with a strong team that is bound to win the tri series. In this case, two weak teams in Bangladesh & Zimbabwe are grouped with Sri Lanka. In the earlier case, Canada & Bermuda were teamed up with the West Indies. A situation where the result is a certainty rather than a toss. And also the venues that hosts these series are just funny. Someone like Holland & Malaysia have hosted such tournaments.
I wonder as to what the ICC gains by conducting such events, that are held just for the sake of it? Is the ICC trying to include such tri series' just to fill in the time gaps before the teams involved are ready for another competition. Else, what would one watch out for in a bi-lateral series, where the two teams play each other four teams, like it happened just before the world cup 2007, where India played a bi lateral series involving four matches against the West Indies and Sri Lanka? With a 2-2 result much likely! This is of course allowed in tests, where draw is always on the cards. But not in one dayers or T20 games. Some concession could be well given in case the teams battling it out are strong. But, whats the use when that is not the case?This shows that there is no one to question the ICC when it takes such foolish and illogical decisions repeatedly.
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.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
An imbalance In The ICC Tours?
With s
ome great plans by the international Cricket Council to globalise cricket,with sponsoring tournaments featuring teams like Bangladesh,Ireland, Kenya,Bermuda and much more,there is some thing that the cricketing world is not aware of as of yet.The thing is that not test matches of all combinations are being played.
Its been that test matches between some teams are played at regular intervals,while a preferred combination is found to be missed by fans.Some of those events that are found to happen are viz The Ashes-which takes place every two years,An Indo-Pak conflict that is found to take place every year since 2004,The Common Wealth bank Series-A tri nation tournament featuring Australia and two other teams,The Natwest Series in England....a few to name.
But,the other combinations for example:that of Australia & Pakistan,New Zealand and England,India & New Zealand etc are hardly played.The reason?
With Stats under consideration,India last played a test series against New Zealand way back in late 2003.Then an England-New Zealand conflict which is now under progress is happening after 4 years(after New Zealand last toured England in 2004).The last time Australia played Pakistan was in 2004,with the 2008 tour of Australia being in doubt.And its been almost three years since a test series between Australia and New Zealand have taken place.The (two)test series between South Africa & Australia which took place between 2005-06,was after a gap of nearly four years.
But,last year witnessed as many as 10 contests between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.Though not that serious,I feel that the ICC has to take a re look at its tours' table,keeping in mind the frequency of games played in combination.
ome great plans by the international Cricket Council to globalise cricket,with sponsoring tournaments featuring teams like Bangladesh,Ireland, Kenya,Bermuda and much more,there is some thing that the cricketing world is not aware of as of yet.The thing is that not test matches of all combinations are being played.Its been that test matches between some teams are played at regular intervals,while a preferred combination is found to be missed by fans.Some of those events that are found to happen are viz The Ashes-which takes place every two years,An Indo-Pak conflict that is found to take place every year since 2004,The Common Wealth bank Series-A tri nation tournament featuring Australia and two other teams,The Natwest Series in England....a few to name.
But,the other combinations for example:that of Australia & Pakistan,New Zealand and England,India & New Zealand etc are hardly played.The reason?
With Stats under consideration,India last played a test series against New Zealand way back in late 2003.Then an England-New Zealand conflict which is now under progress is happening after 4 years(after New Zealand last toured England in 2004).The last time Australia played Pakistan was in 2004,with the 2008 tour of Australia being in doubt.And its been almost three years since a test series between Australia and New Zealand have taken place.The (two)test series between South Africa & Australia which took place between 2005-06,was after a gap of nearly four years.
But,last year witnessed as many as 10 contests between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.Though not that serious,I feel that the ICC has to take a re look at its tours' table,keeping in mind the frequency of games played in combination.
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