A week before, I had written a post regarding Zaheer Khan's inclusion for the four match test series against Australia starting next month hanging in a balance owing to injuries. And, now an Australian counterpart has seemed to have joined the party with Mitchell Johnson following suit after the Australian pacer has decided to get a surgery on his foot. In the same post, I had cited various absences of key players during crucial stages of a serious tour, who make a difference between a win and a loss. Now, it looks that my prayers are answered when another key player has joined the list.
Mitchell Johnson, though has been a noted bowler in the Australia test squad, was found to dominate with the bat during the recently concluded two test series against South Africa where he scored an impressive 40 runs to see Australia not only win the Johannesburg test by 2 wickets but also retain the trophy which they had regained on their last tour to South Africa three years back. Johnson scored those runs at a strike rate of 85.10 which speaks of his ability to step in at crucial situations. Without Johnson's knock, Australia could have never leveled the test series against the Proteas.
Johnson is one of those players in the current Australian squad who can keep up the hopes of Australian dominance live in days to come though after the retirement of Glenn McGrath - Shane Warne, the Australian team is on an all time low. Currently, Johnson has seemed to have hit a bad patch with him returning with a bowling average of 45.71 something which should have been a batsman's batting average. Whatsoever, players like Mitchell Johnson will surely make a comeback especially in crucial games like the Border - Gavaskar trophy. Johnson is a bowler with a class which is permanent.
Though form can be considered to be temporary, class of a player has been proved to be permanent which has seen many players making a comeback despite going through a bad patch several times in their career. With lack of good players (unlike what it was the case some four years down the lane for Australia) the form and fitness of Johnson should be taken seriously if at all Australian cricket has to flourish. Australia's hopes on key players like Ryan Harris, Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson still hangs in a balance and the reason for this can be none other than injury.
Showing posts with label Shane Watson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shane Watson. Show all posts
Monday, November 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
A Reason For Pakistan To Smile
In the recently concluded one day series between Pakistan and Australia, if our memories are long, Australia won the series by a margin 3-2 Pakistan won the first one day match only to lose the second and third followed by a consolation win in the fifth one day when at one time in the match they gave a hint that the result would be 4-1 favoring Australia. Anyway, Pakistan finally ended up victorious after beating the Aussies by 7 wickets despite losing three quick wickets. And in the only T20 match that was a part of the series, Pakistan had almost everything theirs for, on one side they were champions of the game compared to Australia and on the other side, Australia were not playing T20 the way they play either ODI or test cricket.
As expected, Australia crumbled for a partly total of just 108 which is as good as a 3.0 per over run rate in an ODI match. It was fascinating to see Australia have just three players who could manage to score a double digit score. The top scorer in the Australian side was opener Shane Watson who scored 33 runs. This was good only in comparison with the rest of the batsmen and not as far as the game of T20 cricket is concerned. I wonder as to how come Australia could sink so low in T20 cricket that players like Andrew Symonds, Hopes and Hussey could not lead the Aussie batting despite having made names for big hitting in international arena.
On the other hand, Pakistan could win the match without the services of the big hitting Shahid Afridi and captain Younus Khan who opted out of the match and Misbah takes over the captaincy for yet another time. For a change, Shahid Afridi was found striking with the ball bowling his regular leg spin when he is known for his big hitting that can rather be called a slog instead. Shahid Afridi is always found hitting the ball blindly irrespective of the position at which he is batting and the position his team is in. Sometimes, the ball that gets hit covers the distance and during other times, just finds the fielder.
However, off late, Shahid Afridi is found to bowl his leg spin with a wide variety that often makes the batsmen think twice before selecting a shot. Perhaps! Shahid Afridi can now think about a role as a bowler in cricket for, his blind slogging of the ball often disappoints his team rather than be of some service to the same. Until now, Afridi's varying spin bowling was limited only to minnow like Kenya and Zimbabwe. Now, he has got even the decent opposition like Australia under control with his varying leg brakes. For the first time, I can see two bowlers belonging to the same team being given the man of the match award. Probably, this has happened for the first time I guess. I remember Gibbs (RSA) & Ponting (Aus) being awarded the man of the match in the historical match where RSA chased down 434 imposed by Australia.
As expected, Australia crumbled for a partly total of just 108 which is as good as a 3.0 per over run rate in an ODI match. It was fascinating to see Australia have just three players who could manage to score a double digit score. The top scorer in the Australian side was opener Shane Watson who scored 33 runs. This was good only in comparison with the rest of the batsmen and not as far as the game of T20 cricket is concerned. I wonder as to how come Australia could sink so low in T20 cricket that players like Andrew Symonds, Hopes and Hussey could not lead the Aussie batting despite having made names for big hitting in international arena.
On the other hand, Pakistan could win the match without the services of the big hitting Shahid Afridi and captain Younus Khan who opted out of the match and Misbah takes over the captaincy for yet another time. For a change, Shahid Afridi was found striking with the ball bowling his regular leg spin when he is known for his big hitting that can rather be called a slog instead. Shahid Afridi is always found hitting the ball blindly irrespective of the position at which he is batting and the position his team is in. Sometimes, the ball that gets hit covers the distance and during other times, just finds the fielder.
However, off late, Shahid Afridi is found to bowl his leg spin with a wide variety that often makes the batsmen think twice before selecting a shot. Perhaps! Shahid Afridi can now think about a role as a bowler in cricket for, his blind slogging of the ball often disappoints his team rather than be of some service to the same. Until now, Afridi's varying spin bowling was limited only to minnow like Kenya and Zimbabwe. Now, he has got even the decent opposition like Australia under control with his varying leg brakes. For the first time, I can see two bowlers belonging to the same team being given the man of the match award. Probably, this has happened for the first time I guess. I remember Gibbs (RSA) & Ponting (Aus) being awarded the man of the match in the historical match where RSA chased down 434 imposed by Australia.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Aussies Do What They Could Best Do
After the third one day match between Australia and Pakistan, Australia must be feeling a lot more comfortable for clinching the series, when a part of the odds favored the opposition team namely Pakistan who were also facing the same drought that the Australians were facing. But, that was indeed a welcome vitory for Australia after enjoying their dominating position for almost a decade. Well the news of the Australian team declining in standards of the cricket comparatively, is a stale one I suppose. But, who on earth intends to lose something they have enjoyed for almost a decade? Even Ricky Ponting is no exception.
This could be the only reason for Australia to consider themselves lucky enough. They have at last won a one day international tournament in 2009, after losing twice at the hands of the Proteas and then leveling the series with New Zealand in the later part of the Common Wealth Bank series. This was another match that the Australians just managed to lose once again. For, they had the Pakistani batsmen well in their control when the Pakistani batsmen were found reeling at 56 for the loss of three wickets at the end of the 16th over, with the target being 250.
Occassionly, both the teams out there viz Pakistan and Australia had one of their batsmen scoring an unbeaten 116. For Pakistan, it was Kamran Akmal and for Australia it was the opner Shane Watson. It was fantastic to see the Pakistani batsmen not losing any more wickets after their initial loss. Of course, in the recent past, Pakistan has been doing it commonly in most occassions. I still remember the Pakistani batsmen losing all their wickets for a score of 312 on the first day itself and the next step was India putting up a total of 516, empowered with Virender Sehwag's 173. But, Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt came back strongly in the second innings and ensured that the match never went to India.
However, had this come a match prior to this, things would have been seriously different for both the teams. They could have well won the third one day match when Australia were destroyed for a modest total of just 198 on the board. If a team like Pakistan cannot chase down 198, it is a wonder as to who is to be blamed. Of cpurse, not much could be expected from the second and third ODI where in Pakistan imposed a total of just 207 in the second and ten runs lesser than this in the fourth one day. Finally, the Australian players can play in the IPL peacefully without any blasting from their board.
This could be the only reason for Australia to consider themselves lucky enough. They have at last won a one day international tournament in 2009, after losing twice at the hands of the Proteas and then leveling the series with New Zealand in the later part of the Common Wealth Bank series. This was another match that the Australians just managed to lose once again. For, they had the Pakistani batsmen well in their control when the Pakistani batsmen were found reeling at 56 for the loss of three wickets at the end of the 16th over, with the target being 250.
Occassionly, both the teams out there viz Pakistan and Australia had one of their batsmen scoring an unbeaten 116. For Pakistan, it was Kamran Akmal and for Australia it was the opner Shane Watson. It was fantastic to see the Pakistani batsmen not losing any more wickets after their initial loss. Of course, in the recent past, Pakistan has been doing it commonly in most occassions. I still remember the Pakistani batsmen losing all their wickets for a score of 312 on the first day itself and the next step was India putting up a total of 516, empowered with Virender Sehwag's 173. But, Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt came back strongly in the second innings and ensured that the match never went to India.
However, had this come a match prior to this, things would have been seriously different for both the teams. They could have well won the third one day match when Australia were destroyed for a modest total of just 198 on the board. If a team like Pakistan cannot chase down 198, it is a wonder as to who is to be blamed. Of cpurse, not much could be expected from the second and third ODI where in Pakistan imposed a total of just 207 in the second and ten runs lesser than this in the fourth one day. Finally, the Australian players can play in the IPL peacefully without any blasting from their board.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Is Pakistan So Good?
Well it was nice to finally see the Pakistani players wear their boots and hang on with their cricket gears when they faced Australia recently. And much to the excitement, not only did Pakistan enter the ground, but also they took the opposition to task and guess who the opposition was!!!Yes the mighty Aussies of the past. Of course not in the present arena. There were three Australian players whose performance was exceptional when compared to the rest. That was when Brad Haddin, James Hopes and Shane Watson scored 40+ scores. But, not enough support from the other players just added to the Aussie misery, who have just come back from a disastrous tour of South Africa losing the one day series 3-2.
A series of losses in this series against Pakistan could land the Aussies back to where they belong to. That is the number 3 position in the ICC one day rankings. And this doesn't seem to be too far taking their dismal performance against Pakistan into consideration. And how come Australia couldn't just contain the Pakistani players who are since the past one year or so playing international cricket once in a bluemoon? Of course, if the Australian team is given a close look, it doesn't actually seem so. But, the scoreboard the other day gave a different opinion. Reason?
The victory in the fifth and the final one day match against South Africa would have surely given them a great relief when they found themselves at no 2 in the ICC one day rankings. That was the feat that they could manage after losing the series to the Proteas and pulling off a consolation win. But, if things go this way for the Aussies, a Bangladesh- Australia match would be just fine, filled with guesses and thrills. For, Bangladesh are found improving themselves with respect to the game and on the other hand, Aussies are found diminishing in their standards.
2007. But they were never expected to be this bad that not only did they lose the game against Pakistan, but also lost all their 10 wickets for a score less than 175. And the bowler who took the Australian batsmen to task was a part time bowler in May be it is true that Australia are not the team they were two years ago during the world cupShahid Afridi, who is only known for slogging the ball blindly-sometimes over the ropes and many a times to the hands of the fieldsman. And if such a bowler can bag 6 Aussie wickets, one can imagine the plight of the Aussie bowlers.
A series of losses in this series against Pakistan could land the Aussies back to where they belong to. That is the number 3 position in the ICC one day rankings. And this doesn't seem to be too far taking their dismal performance against Pakistan into consideration. And how come Australia couldn't just contain the Pakistani players who are since the past one year or so playing international cricket once in a bluemoon? Of course, if the Australian team is given a close look, it doesn't actually seem so. But, the scoreboard the other day gave a different opinion. Reason?
The victory in the fifth and the final one day match against South Africa would have surely given them a great relief when they found themselves at no 2 in the ICC one day rankings. That was the feat that they could manage after losing the series to the Proteas and pulling off a consolation win. But, if things go this way for the Aussies, a Bangladesh- Australia match would be just fine, filled with guesses and thrills. For, Bangladesh are found improving themselves with respect to the game and on the other hand, Aussies are found diminishing in their standards.
2007. But they were never expected to be this bad that not only did they lose the game against Pakistan, but also lost all their 10 wickets for a score less than 175. And the bowler who took the Australian batsmen to task was a part time bowler in May be it is true that Australia are not the team they were two years ago during the world cupShahid Afridi, who is only known for slogging the ball blindly-sometimes over the ropes and many a times to the hands of the fieldsman. And if such a bowler can bag 6 Aussie wickets, one can imagine the plight of the Aussie bowlers.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
If Not For Shane Watson
Well the scorecard at the end of the match between the Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan read "Rajasthan Royals won the match by 3 wickets".It would be nice if one could consider the effort put up by both teams out there which could tell us as to who the real winner was.Well according to my opinion I would cast my vote in the favour of neither Rajasthan Royals nor Delhi Dare Devils.But,my choice would be the man of the match "Shane Watson".
If not for this gentleman from Australia,the match would have never been juicy as it proved out to be.However there has to be one winner after the end of each and every match played out there.And every match has only a couple of match winners.But, support for the match winner on that particular day-be it a bowler (who expects support from his other end partner and the fielders),or a batsman (who seeks the support of the non striker).
But,in case of the Rajasthan Royals,it was frustrating to see that there was hardly anyone in the batting who could support Shane Watson who led a lone battle to see his team through.Three run outs in the Rajasthan Royals' team exposed the weak running and understanding between the batsmen.Only two of them including Shane Watson could get into double figures.With Shane Watson's score of 74 sidelined,the Rajasthan Royals' score would have been 85 for the loss of 6 wickets needing 74 runs from 40 balls at 11.5 runs an over.
But,for the Delhi Daredevils,there is always a Gautam Gambir who is so far been in the best of his form with the bat.I guess he is the best bargains of the Indian Premier League.So,are the Delhi Dare Devils lucky to have a match winner in Goutham Gambhir?
If not for this gentleman from Australia,the match would have never been juicy as it proved out to be.However there has to be one winner after the end of each and every match played out there.And every match has only a couple of match winners.But, support for the match winner on that particular day-be it a bowler (who expects support from his other end partner and the fielders),or a batsman (who seeks the support of the non striker).
But,in case of the Rajasthan Royals,it was frustrating to see that there was hardly anyone in the batting who could support Shane Watson who led a lone battle to see his team through.Three run outs in the Rajasthan Royals' team exposed the weak running and understanding between the batsmen.Only two of them including Shane Watson could get into double figures.With Shane Watson's score of 74 sidelined,the Rajasthan Royals' score would have been 85 for the loss of 6 wickets needing 74 runs from 40 balls at 11.5 runs an over.
But,for the Delhi Daredevils,there is always a Gautam Gambir who is so far been in the best of his form with the bat.I guess he is the best bargains of the Indian Premier League.So,are the Delhi Dare Devils lucky to have a match winner in Goutham Gambhir?
Monday, May 12, 2008
Rajasthan Royals' Journey From Bottom To The Top
In the beginning of the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League,the Rajasthan Royals were considered to be the modest of all opposition.And much to the amazement of the viewers out there,it looked the same for the Rajasthan Royals team were found to lose the first two matches of the tournament.But,it was also the same surprise when the same team is now the top team even ahead of the Chennai Superstars-who started their games with a bang by winning most of their games.But,today if the Rajasthan Royals are compared to what they were in the beginning of the tournament,it looks really fantastic and also one of the best contenders for the tournament.And something to be noticed is that the Rajasthan team have a different match winner out there every time they take on the field.Some names include Yousuf Pathan,Shane Warne,Shane Watson,Asnodkar and this time it was Sohai Tanvir.And just take a look at the bowling figures.My God!!It is the third time that the record has been broken after Sanath Jayasuriya and Glenn McGrath hod it against their names a week ago.
Only Morkel could post a 40+ individual score,and that too with a modest strike rate (when it comes to T20 cricket) of 127.Only four of them posting totals of over 10.The batsmen belonging to the Rajasthan Royals had absolutely nothing to do but just keep the score board ticking by rotating the strike as it is done in test cricket.Finally a look at Sohail Tanvir's feat on youtube.NJOY!!!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Rajasthan Royals All The Way..
The awe inspiring role by Shane Warne would not be a wrong statement as the legendary Aussie is once again proving his caliber by taking on the role of captain,a frontline bowler and a coach as well.The Australian Cricket Board would have taken a harsh decision against Warne by not giving him the captaincy despite his abilities,and later withdrawing his vice captaincy too.But,thank god that the Rajasthan Royals didn't commit the same mistake.Warne could get most from even the new comers viz Yousuf Pathan,Swapnil Asnodkar, Ravindra Jadeja and Mahesh Rawat.If not all,three of the aforementioned could prove their worth on the cricket field.And this time the jack pot winner being Swapnil Asnodkar who belted the Knight Riders' bowling along with Yousuf Pathan who both of them notched 29 ball half centuries.A rare feat that one comes across I can say.
And this time,for a change Sourav Ganguly was found to go the Dravid way by scoring a half century as a one day batsman does.But,even that in vain as Dravid's went.If there were some batting in Yousuf Pathan,Ravindra Jadeja and Swapnil Asnodkar,the second innings was dominated by the bowling department of Rajasthan Royals which included the likes of Shane Watson,Sohail Tanvir and Trivedi,all of whom took 2 wickets each.And a trmendous support from captain-coach Shane Warne.
Well..this is the kind of motivation one needs.Full marks to u!!
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