South Africa has to learn fro India experience

Well as I have written in most of my earlier posts related to India's recent tour of South Africa which South Africa win with a lot of ups and downs, South Africa have only managed to take home the series and emerge as official winners of the bilateral series. But, as most of them have out it, it was India who took home more benefits from the tour compared to South Africa if not the series. A series that South Africa should have won 5-0 was won by a 3-2 margin. Had this been a 3 match bilateral series, India would have won 2-1.

There should have been no reason for South Africa to have lost both the second as well as the third one dayer with the expectations being so low. Chasing down a mere total of 191 on the board should have been no big task and, with 8 wickets in hand that too obtained at crucial moments of the match, defending 220 in the 3^rd One dayer was also not acceptable at any cost. Things are worse for the feat happened to be achieved by South Africa at home. So, one can imagine what might happen when South Africa tour for the world cup with India being one of the hosts.

This has been realized earlier by Dale Steyn prior to other members of the South African team. South Africa, as said above will be heading towards the sub continent shortly for the mega event and unluckily, they are grouped with none other than India, the team which tested its guts on home soil. But, once again, luck stays in favor of South Africa this time with Nagpur being set to host the India - South Africa match, the venue where South Africa claimed an innings win in the first test in early 2010. And adding to that, though South Africa have been unlucky in world cups, they are not as unlucky in the pool stages.

South Africa have managed 5/5 in the group stage of the 1996 world cup, 4/5 in the 1999 world cup. However, though RSA won just 1/2 in 2007, Australia was a better team than RSA. So was the case in 2003 where New Zealand and West Indies both beat RSA before they tied with Sri Lanka. And, in case South Africa lose to India, they have matches against England and West Indies, against which winning can be considered to be easy for South Africa. But, Dale Steyn has to be careful about his team's performance with Smith having decided to quit as captain after the world cup.

Unbelievable!

Well once again, you readers might go misled by the title which might make you think that the post is written regarding India's comeback in yesterday's match against South Africa after at one stage of the game reeling at 119 runs on the board losing 8 wickets leaving the tail enders a rather impossible job to accomplish. But, my post is regarding the man of the match award going in favor of Hashim Amla and the man of the series award favoring Morne Morkel, both of which were not justified. Of course, it was Amla who did a fab job for his team which emerged victorious.

My man of the match would have been none other than Yousuf Pathan who not only took the match from nowhere towards the target but was also speed in doing so. People might have come across batsmen who would have seen their team victorious after seeming to be impossible at one stage, losing quick wickets in important stages of the match and with limited overs to play. But, the pace at which they would have scored the winning runs would be nowhere close to what Yousuf Pathan was seen doing yesterday. Of course, Zaheer Khan gave him a good support from the other end.

I can recall the semi finals of the world cup in between Australia and West Indies in 1996 and against South Africa in 1999, both matches which Michael Beaven set right for his team. But, the rate at which Beaven scored his runs was very careful unlike a 68 ball hundred by Yousuf Pathan yesterday. Another match that I would like to cite here is the one between India and Australia at Hyderabad played in October 2009 where Sachin Tendulkar scored 175 runs while chasing a target of 350 and eventually falling short by 3 runs. In that match though India lost, Sachin Tendulkar was awarded the man of the match.

And coming to the man of the series award, Morne Morkel stood no chance with the likes of Hashim Amla, Yousuf Pathan being right there. Morkel was not even the highest wicket taker in the series but rather comes in the 2^nd place with 12 scalps after Tsotsobe who had 13 of them against his name. Likewise, Hashim Amla topped the charts for the highest run getter in the series amassing 250 runs from the five games he played. Also, Duminy was a contender with 244 runs from 5 matches. But, Morkel stood nowhere for the award with Yousuf Pathan also well in the race.

How could this happen!

Well, anyone who reads the title of this post would be thinking it to be regarding South Africa's loss at the hands of India. However, though defending a total of 190 on board shocks everyone, a greater shock is something regarding Sachin Tendulkar having to opt out of the bilateral series owing to a hamstring injury. The reason for shock would not certainly be the absence of Sachin Tendulkar for the remaining four matches against the Proteas but the question here is will Sachin Tendulkar be fit for the upcoming world cup where Sachin Tendulkar is about to make his 6th appearance?

Another feature to be noted is that prior to every world cup, Sachin Tendulkar is found to be rested from the team atleast since the 1999 world cup played in England. Sachin Tendulkar was rested from two triangular series', one involving India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in India and the other involving India, Pakistan and England played at Sharjah. Owing to the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, India failed miserably especially in the matches against Pakistan despite there being the presence of Dravid, Azharuddin, Ganguly and Jadeja. And, the bowling department including Srinath, Kumble and Prasad couldn't save face for their team.

It was the absence of Sachin Tendulkar in the match against Zimbabwe that proved to be very costly for India which saw them struggle and end their world cup dreams in the super six stage itself of the world cup after their loss to Australia. Sachin Tendulkar had to leave to Mumbai owing to his father's death. With that apart, even prior to the world cup in 2003 at South Africa, Sachin Tendulkar was rested from the Indian squad in the series against West Indies and New Zealand, both the series which India lost. Sachin Tendulkar's next appearance was in the world cup regarding which nothing needs to be stated in particular.

However, as an exception, prior to the 2007 world cup, Sachin Tendulkar was available for the bilateral series against both Sri Lanka and West Indies and moreover, Sachin Tendulkar was awarded the man of the tournament in the series against West Indies no matter for what. This time, though Sachin Tendulkar was thought to be available for the bilateral series against South Africa and now he has to return owing to a hamstring injury as mentioned earlier. Statistics suggest that whenever Sachin Tendulkar was unavailable for tournaments prior to the world cup, India have fared well like in 1999 and 2003 and failed when he was available like in 2007.

Something similar between Lara & Sachin

It is not an undisputed fact that Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar are the finest of all batsmen of their era. The decade has seen batsmen like Inzamam Ul Haq who could pull his team out from the jaws of defeat in the semi finals of the 1992 world cup which Pakistan eventually won. Then there is Shahid Afridi, who claims that his favourite shot is "anywhere for six" and holds the record for the fastest hundred in ODIs and then there is Jayasuriya who holds the record for the maximum number of sixes in one day cricket. Otherwise also we have gr8 batsmen like Ponting, Gilchrist, Symonds etc who have been exceptional with the willow.

However, the world of cricket, if the last 15 years or so are considered, the only batsmen who have been enjoying a huge fan following are only two- Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. No one would dare to rate any other batsmen among these two greats and so would I. A Sachin fan can justify himself with most of the batting records in both formats of the game belonging to him. But, as far as Brian Lara is considered, if not for the unbeaten score of 400 against England, none of the records really belong to him in either formats of the game.

If Lara is given a little bit of concession, he held the world record for the highest number of runs in international test cricket until it was broke by none other than Sachin Tendulkar. Lara stands fifth when it comes to the number of 100s scored behind Sachin, Jayasuriya, Ponting & Ganguly. Lara's place when it comes to the highest run aggregate would be behind Dravid, Ganguly, Inzy, Jayasuriya and of course Sachin. But, there was one thing that struck my mind when Sachin scored an unbeaten 200 yesterday against South Africa.This was Sachin's 2nd score over 180 which is in par with two 350+ scores of Lara in tests.

It was somewhere in October 2003 that Australia's Mathew Hayden scored 380 runs against Zimbabwe to break the old record of 375 put up by Lara against England in 1994. Exactly six months later, Brian Lara notched up the first quadruple hundred in test cricket that broke Mathew Hayden's record and also was a new landmark in tests. Similarly, in ODIs, in August 2009, Charles Coventry scored an unbeaten 194 against Bangladesh which broke Saeed Anwar's record of the same score without the asterik symbol following it. And exactly after the same duration of 6 months, Sachin scores 200* which also put up a new landmark but in ODIs. Moreover, both Lara & Sachin use bats that are sponsored by MRF.

Bangladesh a busy outfit

Well Bangladesh may not have been successful in drawing crowds to the stadium. Nor they might have been able to make betters have their say atleast as of now. Last but not the least, Bangladesh are one such team to have made life easy for teams who reserve all their experimentation to the matches against Bangladesh. One has to really pity the Bangladesh for this. None of the Bangladeshi players have been chosen for the third edition of the Indian Premier League atleast as far as my knowledge goes. I've heard somewhere that Bangladeshi players were in for an IPL bid and have not been able to keep a focus on that.

However, Bangladesh are one such team to have had a busy schedule in the early parts of 2010 whatsoever. It has not even been a week since the second test between India and Bangladesh got over with India as usual beating the hosts 2-0 in the two match test series. Now, they are scheduled to play their first and only T20 match on their tour to New Zealand. This would be followed by their 3 one day internationals starting on February 5^th at Napier. Following that would be the only test match against the same at Hamilton on 15^th of this month.

This would be for the month of February. After their tour of New Zealand, they'd be facing England for two test match series that would be followed by 3 one day matches and of course a T20 game to wind up their tour. However, if the ICC tour's table is given a close look at, Bangladesh will be the only team to have completed three of their full fledged tours in the first three months of the year. Of course, there has been Australia who would have played games against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand. But, none of them can be considered as full fledged tours.

The tour of Pakistan to Australia started in December last year, which will get over on Friday after the only T20 game gets under way. Then, West Indies' tour to Australia started in December, where West Indies played three tests. And, there is India who'll be playing South Africa who'll be in India for 2 test matches followed by three one dayers, before the IPL starts. But, that is not the case with Bangladesh. When most of the teams would be playing for the cash rich IPL, we can see Bangladesh cooling their heels on their international commitments. Anyway, the move can be justified, for, hardly the presence of Bangladeshi players would make any difference to IPL.

A Pitch Tampering?

All cheers to the team which gave back the visitors in the third test all what it got in the Ahmedabad test.Kudos to the team which made full use of the pitch which was found to suit the Indian team.Hats off to the team which eventually emerged as winners of the Kanpur test after their debacle in all departments of the game in the second test.And finally congrats to the team,selection committee and last but not the least the great curator of the pitch who played an unseen role in India's historic win at Kanpur.

I've really no words to praise the cunning Indian captain and not to forget the pitch curator-Shiv Kumar who was in all praise for the pitch.Let go the spirit of the game of cricket.Damn!Who cares??Win at any cost.This was the mantra of the Aussie players early this year during the test series down under.But,if it is India who has done it even the board is in full praise for the deed.So how much is Dhoni 's earnings after saving the test and along with it the series?And how dare Dhoni says "Don't devalue the win with pitch".One has to be ashamed of such an act.

The Indian batting was found to struggle even in batting friendly conditions in the first test but for Sehwag & Dravid.And no need to speak about the second test at Ahmedabad.The Indian batting was at their best!!This was the only way for the Indians I believe to came back in the series.

If the 1996 semis at Eden Gardens and the test series between India-Pakistan were famous for crowd reactions,Sydney test for bad umpiring decisions and unnecessary appealing,the Oval test for some ball tampering-if Darrell Hair is to be believed,this test could be remembered for tailoring pitches so that the home team or the concerned team wins.

Now I would(Like Kumble after the Sydney test I would like to say that "Only one team playedwith the spirit of the game of cricket")

A Perfect Revenge and A Perfect Opposite!!!

The third and the last test match between India and South Africa got over in just three days,with India winning the test to level the series 1-1.The match according to me was the exact opposite of the second test match between the same two nations,this time the visitors being at the receiving end.

If people's memories are fresh,just remember the second test match between India and South Africa,in which South Africa ended India's fortunes in just three days-winning the contest by an innings and 90 runs.Whereas in the third test,India did the same thing to the visitors,by thrashing them by 8 wickets in the third test at Kanpur to level the series.

This is the determination that is really need by any team who has been at the receiving end the previous time to come back very very harsh at the same opposition.All credits to team India who showed what we are at home by continuing the tradition of having lost only two series at home since the 1980's.Also,it was like India had found another test captain in Mahendra Singh Dhoni-when all the senior pros are on the verge of retirement.

The Curse Of 300+

Well its was all cheers for Virender Sehwag the other day when he belted a 277 ball 300,the fastest triple hundred in the history of test cricket.But,in addition to this,there is also a harsh truth which is nothing but the result of that match which was a boring draw.Not the first time this has happened,but in most of the time the test match which has witnessed a batsman scoring a triple hundred has ended in a draw.The only thing that the fans could take home was some awesome shots and exciting batting by the batsman concerned.

Lets take a few examples concerning test matches having a triple centurion.Luckly the last time a batsman who scored a triple hundere for his team won the match for his team and that is Mahela Jayawardane who scored 374 runs to see his team win by an innings and 153 runs.

Then we have Chris Gayle's 317 against the same South Africa which once again made it into the batting record books as the match had as many as 8 centurions in that test.And then we have Matthew Hayden's 380 which off course saw his team through.But the opposition??Then the gr8 innings of Brian Lara-400* against England,his 375 against England,Sanath Jayasuriya's 340 versus India,Inzy's 329 against New Zealand-which Pakistan won by an innings and 324 runs,Mark Taylor's 334* which ended in a draw &finally Virender Sehwag's 309 against Pakistan which India won by an innings & 52 runs.

Taking stats together,there have been only 8 instances(out of 22) of a match producing a result which has a batsman scoring a triple hundred.

Somethin Common Between Harbhajan Singh And A Belter??

Well-the last or rather recent test match between India and South Africa proved to be a batsmen's paradise with as many as 4 centuries and cool 5 half centuries.But,there was some relief for just one bowler in that match and that is none other than Bhajji.The man could manage a five wicket haul despite the free flow of runs from the willows of the South African batsmen.

And much to the surprise,I found something common between Harbhajan Singh and the kind of pitches similar to the one in which the first test against South Africa was played.Some of which I can share with you people are:

1)Picks up a five wicket haul against Pakistan in Bangalore in 2005 where Pakistan had belted a mammoth 570 runs.

2)Picks up a 5/122 against Pakistan once again at Eden Gardens where both the teams had crosse 600 & 450 respectively.

3)The most memorable one being the three five consecutive 5 wicket hauls against Australia way back in 2001,where he took figures of 4/121 at Mumbai,7/123 & 6/73 at
Eden Gardens,7/1212 & 8/84 at Chepauk.Each time when Australia commanded their position with the bat.

"SOMETHING LIKE LUCKY HARBHAJAN"

The Greatest batting Pitch On Earth??

Well the first test between India and South Africa at Chepauk was as all expected a mere draw.If there was one of the greatest innings of his life by Virender Sehwag-who scored his second triple hundred,there was one more best thing in that test.Guess what?Off course it is the pitch that helped batsmen from both sides to belt the bowlers in whatever way they can.And one thing that almost went unnoticed is the batting denacle by Indian batsmen if not for the likes of Virender Sehwag(off course) and Rahul Dravid.

As I've been noticing in the recent past in all those test matches involving India and played in India especially,most of them have been batsmen's paradise.Starting from the home tour against Pakistan late last year-where the second and third test matches proved to be heaven for the batsmen from both the sides.As most of them if not all have mistaken-saying that the opposition fought fire with fire,and with all fingers pointing towards the bowlers,it was a real sorrow that hardly anyone noticed the way the pitch behaved.

Here comes the reason as to why some typical Indian batsmen like Wassim Jaffer, Yuvraj Singh and so on prove their calibre on these tracks while they are found to succumb in Australian and English pitches.And bowlers like Anil Kumble,Makhaya Ntini & co..are found to be at the receiving end of the opposition batsmen.Well its time to change before all cricket say goodbye to watching test cricket.

Virender Sehwag:The Record Breaker!!!

Well the last night,I just couldn't just believe in my own eyes when I turned my channel to Neo Sports to watch the first test between India and South Africa.And to be frank, today you can find me going through each and every cricket website to check weather there is something different than what I saw on TV.But,to no avail!

After I saw the first day's play by South African batsmen in Chepauk,I cursed myself and vowed not to watch the match anymore.But,it looked as though Viru had different plans.The man not only challenged the South African bowlers,but also crores of Indian cricket fans like me who had declared it as "All Over".And also for those people who came forward to criticize Viru whenever he put up a bad performance.

Earlier test stats shows us that his record was not an ordinary one when it came to only tests,keeping the facts about the other forms out of mind for the moment.The fact that Viru had gone well past 150+ after reaching 100 on previous 10 occasions was something special as hardly I knew about it-though being a avid cricket stat enthusiast.

All records put up by Sehwag are more the less known to each and everyone glued to their TV Sets or their newspapers turned to page number 21.Some more aspects that I could find regarding is that his second triple hundred made India in par with other sub-continent teams viz Pakistan and Sri Lanka,each of whom who have two triple centuries under their belt.Sanath Jayasuriya & Mahela Jayawardane for Sri Lanka,accompanied by Haneef Mohommed & Inzy for Pakistan.Out of them,only two of them have done it outside home,Viru(Multan) joining Haneef(Bridgetown).

It was a mistake done by the selectors to have dropped Sehwag for the home series against Pakistan -(which was found to have been his favourite team)last December. Not because of his Triple hundred,but because there was no questions about Sehwag's form when it came to tests.All was done taking into account his ODI form.With his fellowmen-Dravid & Tendulkar reaching their fourth double hundreds after attaining 30 yrs or more,it is really important to note that this man has done it at 29 itself.Perhabs Viru is the only one batsmen(keeping aside the big three,along with VVS Laxman-who form a different group altogether) to have scored a double hundred for India.The joint second highest double century scorer for India after Dravid(5), along with Gavaskar & Sachin(4 each).

An Indian win in this test would perhabs be the best possible treat because,rarely a team has produced a result with one of its batsmen scoring a triple hundred.

Sreeaanth:Only Agression and Lack of bowling Form

Even after so many episodes of bad blood between oppositions for India in the recent tour of Australia down under,it seems like there is no end to the sledging episode after the first two days of the ongoing test match between India and South Africa.On the first day,it was between Sreesanth and South African captain Greame Smith,followed by the same Sreesanth with A B DeVilliars on day 2.

Well all these is OK.But,is the same thing being done when his bowling is taken into consideration?This is probably the million dollar question of the moment.Even the selectors seem to be duped by this Kerala lad with all his onfield aggresion,making news for all other reasons other than his devastating bowling that is the most required by him,which is also the reason for his inclusion in the team.

As far as statistics go,taking into consideration the matches (Test,ODI & T20)played after the T20 triumph,is as follows:0/47 in 4 overs in the T20 game against Australia,9 wickets from 4 out of 7 games against Australia at home(fitness to be noticed) at an average of 27.11;missing the test series against Australia shows his lack of fitness;and in the series against his 3 wickets in the only unconsequential 4th ODI game,where he was once again forced to miss the first 4 ODIs as well as the test series;and in the lone T20 game against Australia down under,he was the pick of the Aussie batsmen who belted him for 25 runs off 3overs;and offlate in the recently concluded C B series,some decent record of 9 wickets from 7 games,not to forget him missing 5 games altogether,which includes Sanath Jayasuriya belting him in the 2nd one dayer as though it was a T20 game.

But,this dude is found to make news only for his onfield conflict with someone like Symonds,for his dancing in South Africa after hitting a six off Andre Nel.The lone highlightes about his bowling would be the 9 wicket match haul in the first test against South Africa,which India won only to lose the next two.Some unnoticed thing that came to my mind when watching Sreesanth was the beamer he bowled at Peiterson.

Well..rather than taking the other routes to win the selectors confidence in him,it would be better for him to show his aggresion with the ball,before the BCCI becomes aware about his real attitude.Beware Sreesanth->"A short cut cut shorts your career"