Well..so far it was only Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Australia and South Africa who had fallen prey to false belief by under estimating minnows like Bangladesh and end up making news for the wrong reasons.And even West Indies despite their loss to Kenya in the 1996 world cup,lost to Bangladesh in the inaugural T20 world cup.Anyway,then it was a better Bangladesh team compared to the West Indies team which was filled only by batsmen and no bowlers.But,now,the only one out of the two teams who are yet to face some music from the minnows New Zealand when they lost to Bangladesh on 9th October 2008 at Dhaka in the first ODI.
If the players make up their mind,they can rewrite history by making records in all parts of the game.For example,we have Gibbs who belted six consecutive sixes against Holland,Glenn McGrath despite being an awesome pacer,has his best bowling performance of 7/15 against Namibia in the 2003 world cup and much more.Even the recent 12 sixes in an ODI innings by a West Indian was against Canada and New Zealand's record of 401 runs came against Ireland.
Well India can boast of being the only team to have lost twice to Bangladesh,and England has a reason to smile for being the only team not to have lost to a minnow, whatsoever.The team that comes after Bangladesh who can boast of upsets is Kenya who have defeated teams like India,West Indies,Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.Even,this time its India who have lost to Kenya on two occasions.Oh! What a record?The other instances include Pakistan's loss to Ireland,which I think is the only instance of a strong team being stunned by a kid like team.
The test match is perhaps free from such debacles,or else each and every test would have seen a new record, forcing some legends like Bradman, Sobers and Lara to commit suicide.A hint was observed when Roy and Mankad's record was surpased by Mckenzie and Smith against Bangladesh.An amazing feat being that no batsmen has ever scored a triple hundred against either Bangladesh or Zimbabwe (barring Hayden's 380).
Well..if the ICC with an intension to globalise cricket gives the minnows a consession,I wonder how foolish the game of cricket would ever be.Ha ha ha..
Showing posts with label Vinoo Mankad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vinoo Mankad. Show all posts
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
A World Record-By Hook or Crook
After the late realisation by the Proteas in the first test match against Bangladesh at Dhaka,the South Africans were never in a forgiving mood what so ever.It looked as though their emotions were shown on the field by captain Greame Smith and Neil McKenzie-who put on a world record partnership of 415,surpassing the previous record held by Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad who had held the record of having put up 413 runs for the first wicket against New Zealand way back in 1956.
Well the record however came against a lesser rated team like Bangladesh.Though not rated high by fans and spectators over the world,some things have to be made clear.This test is the 49th appearence by Bangladesh (not to forget South Africa's 328 test appearences) as compared to New Zealand's test no 41 in which the fellow Indians Vinoo mankad and Pankaj Roy achieved their feat.The test was also the test no 49 for India.With both teams being hardly experienced the feat achieved by India has a slight upper hand.
And,in those days cricket was not this commercialised as it is being done now.With lots of big bucks being involved in today's cricket,that itself provides the motivation required for younger players.One more thing that has gone unnoticed is the bats that are used by today's batsmen-which can send the ball to the fence with a little bit or no effort at all.And the same thing applies to the ball as well.
And comming to the pitches,out of which most of them being tailor made.With all these points put foreward,one more question needs to be answered is that:Like South Africa why didn't other teams do the same?
For the readers' sake,the world record put by Matthew Hayden came against a weaker side in Zimbabwe.The 438 run partnership between Attapattu and Sangakkara came against Zimbabwe.Thus,one can now think as to why Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy were disappointed when their 50+ year old feat was broken!!
Anyway South Africa..."CONGRATS"
Well the record however came against a lesser rated team like Bangladesh.Though not rated high by fans and spectators over the world,some things have to be made clear.This test is the 49th appearence by Bangladesh (not to forget South Africa's 328 test appearences) as compared to New Zealand's test no 41 in which the fellow Indians Vinoo mankad and Pankaj Roy achieved their feat.The test was also the test no 49 for India.With both teams being hardly experienced the feat achieved by India has a slight upper hand.
And,in those days cricket was not this commercialised as it is being done now.With lots of big bucks being involved in today's cricket,that itself provides the motivation required for younger players.One more thing that has gone unnoticed is the bats that are used by today's batsmen-which can send the ball to the fence with a little bit or no effort at all.And the same thing applies to the ball as well.
And comming to the pitches,out of which most of them being tailor made.With all these points put foreward,one more question needs to be answered is that:Like South Africa why didn't other teams do the same?
For the readers' sake,the world record put by Matthew Hayden came against a weaker side in Zimbabwe.The 438 run partnership between Attapattu and Sangakkara came against Zimbabwe.Thus,one can now think as to why Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy were disappointed when their 50+ year old feat was broken!!
Anyway South Africa..."CONGRATS"
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