Dreadful Slump for Team India, Courtesy: Ridiculous Itinerary Framed by the BCCI

SHUVAIT KOUL

Well before Team India landed on the English soil, England Skipper Andrew Strauss and his men had started playing mind games claiming that England will not be the venue where the great Sachin Tendulkar will hit his much anticipated hundredth international ton. But who would have thought that the hosts would not muzzle the Little Master in terms of runs but rip-apart the rest of the so- called coveted Indian bating line-up as well.

To say the least, India has been taken to the cleaners by England in every department of the game. Losing three tests in a row has not only dethroned the World Champions from the top spot in ICC Test rankings but also raised serious speculations on the ‘will’ and ‘spirit’ of this rather fatigued looking Indian outfit.

Many cricket experts assert that the fundamental reason for India’s brazen nemesis in England is the formidable make-up of this English team which has played like a true champion in the series so far. However, there is undeniably more to it than what meets the eye.

Comparing Team India’s 2011 itinerary with that of England’s gives an idea of what is the strongest yet latent reason for the former’s annihilation. Shortly after the World Cup got over, while the English players were cooling their heels back home; probably doing their home work for their forthcoming series against Sri Lanka and India, the most high profile members of Team India were busy performing their duties for their respective IPL franchisees. 

The result- a broken and battered Zaheer Khan, the mainstay of Indian fast bowling and an out-shouldered Virender Sehwag- India’s trump card in any part of the world.  Not just this, the exhaustion could also be clearly seen in the body language of both the senior pros and the young brigade.

In such a scenario, one cannot but attribute this dismal performance of the Indian team in over a decade to the ridiculous scheduling they have been subjected to by the BCCI.

The story doesn’t end here but consolidates the point even further when if one goes through India’s itinerary for the remainder of the year. India plays England and WI in two home series from October to November prior to the Australian tour in December (which stretches to March 2012 including the tri-series involving Sri Lanka). 

With such tight scheduling, the board is trying to portray the Indian cricketers as Gladiators and effectively reducing their cricketing life-span much of which has already been established in the England tour.

In all seriousness, it is high time that the BCCI and the players themselves take cognizance of this absurdity or else it will very soon spell doom for Indian cricket, the signs of which are pretty evident in the England tour.

Top ranking at stake for Team India; England look good to take an unbeatable lead

A Preview ahead of the Third Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham 


SHUVAIT KOUL

When India plays England at Edgbaston, Birmingham in the third test today, it will easily be the most crucial match of MS Dhoni’s test career so far. England has gone all guns blazing against the World Champions and it will require a daunting task from Team India to tame the English on their soil particularly after putting up a dismal performance in the first two tests.

Indians will be playing with their backs to the wall as their number one ranking in test cricket is at stake. Moreover, with the likes of the experienced Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh not in the team, it will take a lot of character from Dhoni’s men to put up a great spectacle at Edgbaston.

A lot of onus rests on the shoulders of the little master Sachin Tendulkar who hasn’t fired in the series so far. He is undoubtedly due for a big one and what bigger stage than this to get his 100^th international ton when India are neck deep in waters. All eyes will also be on ‘The Wall’ -Rahul Dravid who has been the only Indian batsman who has looked solid with two centuries and taken the attack to the English team.

Team India should also draw inspiration from the fact that the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag is back in the side. Coming back from a shoulder injury, he may not be a hundred percent fit but one can never write his flamboyance off. If he goes on a rampage, it will be tough for Strauss and his men to stop him.

The great Wasim Akram went on record lauding the Indian selectors’ decision to send in RP Singh as a replacement for the injured Zaheer Khan. His high arm action and upright seam may come in handy in English conditions but he will need constant support on the other end from the seamers Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar, both of whom have hit the purple patch in this series.

As for England, the script could not have been written any better as they come into the third test looking to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead. Winning the first two tests comprehensively has put them right on top of Team India both in terms of morale and the series arithmetic. However they will miss the services of the in-form Jonathan Trott but the cohesiveness with which they have played right throughout the series will make sure that his absence will not make much of a difference to the team’s make-up.

Meanwhile it will be interesting to see whether the Indian skipper goes with three seamers and a spinner or an all pace attack given that he is predominantly an instinctive leader.

All in all, given their ‘World Champion’ tag, Team India would be expected to come up with a resilient fight to salvage their pride at Edgbaston to try and retain their number one spot in Test rankings.

‘THE WALL’ in white will now stand tall once again as ‘THE WALL’ in blue

A state of desperation prompted the selectors to go back knocking  at Dravid’s door……

 By SHUVAIT KOUL

Time has a sense and supremacy of its own. Cyclic, in nature, it does what it knows the best that is to bring everything to the ground state after a series of aerial theatrics. The analogy can be very meticulously drawn to the tale of arguably the Indian cricket’s ‘best ever big stage player’- Rahul Dravid.

While most of us were taken to a pleasantly baffling surprise over the inclusion of ‘THE WALL’ in the ODI squad for the forthcoming one day series in England yet his declaration of retiring from the both the ODI and  T20 versions of the game after the England series shows his incredible maturity and sagacity both from a cricketing and realistic point of view.

Given that his bat has been on song when all other batters around him have been falling like a house of cards, this definitely is a high point in his illustrious career when he should hang his boots from the two shorter formats of the game.

Dravid has been in business for long now to understand that this is a desperate move by the selection committee to do some facing after India’s disastrous show so far on the English soil and his spot in the team even if he puts up a spectacular show may not be guaranteed after the tour is over. 

Being the world champions, the Indian team has that extra burden on its shoulders to salvage its ‘World Champion tag’ and who else’s door could the selectors have knocked but Dravid’s- debatably India’s best ‘Crisis Man’ for almost two decades now.

He obviously must be a having a few butterflies in his stomach given that he will be returning to the limited overs format after a long hiatus of almost 23 months  but his impeccable tenacity and determination to perform even at the age 38 will calm any few nerves he might be having.

He has shown the same in the first two tests amidst India’s dismal performance. Overshadowing even the likes of the great Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid has put all the criticisms to rest and shown that his indispensability in the Indian team when it comes to playing under pressure in hostile conditions is undisputed.

It’s been a long wait to see the old warhorse back in the blue jersey and what better timing than this when India needs its most dependable batsman back in action. All one can wish for is a Dravid magic in his farewell series. 

Abhinav Mukund: Rising Star in the Indian Cricket Galaxy?

By Parvathy Gopalakrishnan

It isn't a big deal if your dad's a cricketer. But when both your parents are cricketers, it is bound to run in your veins as well. Meet Abhinav Mukund, for whom cricket is more than a family affair. He's been born into a family that prays, eats and lives cricket. Dad TS Mukund played almost two decades of First Division cricket, also featured in the TN Ranji and Subbiah Pillai squad in the mid 80s, and mom Lakshmi Mukund played cricket for South Zone University. It isn't hard to imagine that the young lad from Mylapore, Madras was destined to take up the gentleman's game as his profession.

Virtually unheard of in the international cricketing arena, Abhinav came into the limelight recently when the selection committee zeroed in on him to play against the Windies. All thanks to his1211 runs this season from 12 first-class matches with five centuries, the selectors were made to sit up and take notice of him. The injury to Gambhir proved to be a blessing in disguise for this rookie, as it rightfully earned him his test cap.

21 years young, the left-handed opening batsman is the youngest member of the Chennai Super Kings' squad, and has the distinction be being the youngest touring member of the soon to be played Caribbean campaign. Here's how his batting card looks like:

	M	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100	50
First-class	40	3446	300*	59.41	55.51	13	9
List A	28	1550	130	57.40	82.93	5	10
Twenty20	9	168	64*	24.00	100.00	0	1

He bowls leg breaks too, but he has never allowed his bowling skills to distract him from sharpening his batting prowess. His talent blossomed under the watchful eyes of CS Umapathy, and he was later inducted into NCA in May 2004. The rigorous training there under Bhaskar Pillai and Parthasarathy Sharma has helped him polish his game.

Touring with some of the names who've already made their mark in the international scene at a young age, this experience will sure be a fruitful one for him. With Sehwag pulling out of the series due to injury and Gambhir too being ruled out thanks to some controversial hitches aka injury, it only means that the young gun, in all probability, will be asked to open the innings with Murali Vijay. The state-mate chemistry should help the two understand each other's batting styles and stitch effective partnerships at the top of the order.

A great starting ground, the conditions at West Indies will test and try the youngster's capabilities. Being a strong onside player, his good technical skills and ability to leave the ball will come in handy. Playing of the backfoot being his strong point, he also cuts and pulls the ball very well. To fill in the void when the Big Three retire, this is one smart card played by the selectors. Whether he bogs down under pressure or blossoms, is left for the Caribbean tour to tell.

Indian Cricket Team's Itinerary: Mission Impossible

By Parvathy Gopalakrishnan

They’re supermen. Atleast that’s what inhabitants of this cricket-possessed nation think. And amongst this breed, there is a certain elite section: members of the BCCI, who seem to have taken this assumption a bit too seriously. If cricketers are placed on the podium of demi-Gods, the Board expects them act like some too.

One could term the Indian cricketers as globe-trotters, but, they’re more of refugees. They travel the length and breadth of the blue sphere, in an attempt to conquer one nation after another through their cricketing endeavours. Their closets are mobile; they live half their lifetime flying, eating and sleeping in air.

Now, how packed is jam-packed? Take a look at the Indian cricket team’s itinerary, and one can probably comprehend. The year kick started with the South African sojourn (3 tests, 5 ODIs, 2 T20s), and the team has never looked back since then. This was followed by the mother-of-all-cricketing tournaments: the ICC World Cup that got underway in February, to go on till 2^nd April.

The World Cup witnessed a home-coming, but the warriors, sadly, did not even have the time to bask in the glory for this unparalleled accomplishment. They had to pack their baggage yet again, to split as a team, and let the region vs region battle take over. IPL time, and slam bang action for another 51 days. Come May 28, and the cricketers can heave a sigh of relief. Or, wait, can they? Really? Well, no. Clearly.

The men fly to the Caribbean Isles on yet another cricketing mission, beginning from June 4, to July 6 (3 tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20). That’s not all. Lined up for them is an England tour from July to September (4 tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20), followed the English team returning the favour and touring India in October (3 tests, 5 ODIs). Hot on the heels of this home series, India will be playing host to the Windies in November (3 tests, 3-5 ODIs), post which, they’ll fly Down Under for some chin music in December (4 tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20).

Phew! Spectators are already reeling under an overdose of the timber and leather battle, evident from café’s that are virtually empty. This is in stark contrast to the scene when people made a beeline for these very cafes during the World Cup. If too much cricket has become an eyesore for the spectators, spare a thought for the men who face the sun, wind and rain, toil it out in the open, and yet face brickbats if they fail to perform.

Yes, the Indian cricketers have more than a million options to make a quick buck. They have fatter than fattest bank balances, they have their bunglaas, gaadis and maas, but do they even have the time to put this money to use? They’re left to deal with changing time zones and being constantly on the move.

Yes, they have their Mastercards in place, but there are somethings that money can’t buy. Hope the BCCI’s listening to this one.

The Big Screen's Love-Hate Saga With Cricketers

By Parvathy Gopalakrishnan

When lensmen pan their cameras towards the most beautiful faces in the stadium, the excitement on the faces of the “subjects” is hard to miss. The reactions are varied though. Some just shy away, just like the typical girls-next-door, some oblige the shutterbugs with a warm, receptive smile, some ignore (yeah, yeah, the characters that claim that they don’t care), and some, well, they just scream their lungs out!

Ok. Now back to the warriors on field. It hasn’t been too long since the big screen thingy evolved in the cricketing arena. And speaking of big screens, how can one forget the die-hard Zaheer Khan fan in Bangalore, who’d carried with her a placard that professed her undying love for him? And the Big Screen does not miss instances like this!! While Madame head-over-heels-in-love-with-Zak was on cloud 9, Zaheer too was blushing in the dressing room. And then, kisses were blown in the air, with Zak returning the favour by blowing one right back to the lady! The bemused players on field too couldn’t stop the smiles from making guest appearances. Cute! In case you missed that match between India and Pakistan (shame on you if you did, shame shame!), here’s the video:

If this cute big thing has romances brewing, it is also a double-edged sword. Yes. Ask the players, they’ll be able to tell you why. Now that the poor little things reading this cannot exactly ask the players why, I’m here to act as a saviour. A player whacks one past the ropes, and the screening of the shot is bound to bring smiles on his face. However, spare a thought for the bowler who just got belted. Hehe, sometimes, the big screen is a curse!

And if a player drops a catch, he’s dead meat! He not just has to face the scornful gazes of his team mates and bear the jeers of the crowd, and also deal with the guilt pangs, he also has to deal with larger-than-life images of his goof-up being screen across the stadium. Players would just want to dig a hole in a ground, and bury themselves inside it!

On being asked what was the most horrendous thing that had happened to him on field, Ganguly retorted, “I dropped a catch, and I was already feeling dreadful. And the screen showed it six times; not once or twice but six times! I just wanted something that I could cover my face with!” Indeed. Its embarrassment, and that too, of the highest order. When a player wants to move on post the mess, it will just not let him do so.

For instance, Morne Morkels’s fielding nightmare in yesterday’s match against the Deccan Chargers. He fumbled while fielding, letting the ball slip past him for a boundary, and he was so nervous after the big screen shots, that he let another one dodge him, on the very next ball! Such is the influence that this new baby of innovation has. But like it, or hate it, it does help bring about epoch creating instances!

IPL 4 Points table a pleasant surprise!

By Parvathy Gopalakrishnan

This space has been lying dormant for the past few days, primarily because of a passive feeling towards the IPL. That’s changed now. Take a tertiary glance at the points table, and the top four teams will make you  to rub your eyes in disbelief. Well, here’s how it looks.

Two new teams inducted into the extravaganza this year, and both have perched prettily at the top of the table. And surprise, surprise, the least expected team has come out all guns blazing. Shah Rukh has been at the receiving end of brickbats and verbal assaults, but the change of game plan and a free flow of moolah at the auctions have certainly helped his cause.

The fourth edition of the IPL is well reaching its mid stages, and it’s been no less than a shocker. The cricket pundits can take a sabbatical, for none of their predictions seem to have come true. Let’s take a look at what the top four teams have been doing so far.

Kolkata Knight Riders: The fans were furious when the management looked right through “aamader Dada”. Protests, black bands, virtually empty Eden Gardens. But then, as they say, the junta’s memory is weak. One string of good performances, and they’re back to rooting for you. Ditto case for the Badshaah’s Boys. Gautam Gambhir has been one of the most expensive purchases of the year, and this has proved to be a master stroke by KKR. Kallis, as always has been rock solid, and all we can say is, tough luck Siddhartha Mallya. Balaji has been firing in, and all that can be said is that, a change in the core team has done wonders for the unit. With Shah Rukh promising to run topless if KKR clinch the title, girls must be rubbing their palms together in excitement!

Pune Warriors: Yuvraj is like a true phoenix. When the world and its wife are convinced that he’s dead and buried, he rises from his ashes to prove them wrong. With him at the helm, and the team on song, looks like the Warriors are in the mood of not letting go of the title. Mohnish Mishra, Jesse Ryder and Robin Uthappa getting into the act now, this team looks unstoppable.

Mumbai Indians: Most ardent fans of other teams I’ve known have made a switch of loyalty. For the love of Sachin they claim. And rightly so. The team has been consistent, performing together as a unit. Malinga has been nothing less lethal. The batsmen sure must be having nightmares with the maggi-mane waala dude charging in at them like an angry bull. With Rayadu also chipping in with a significant knock, the team looks in good shape. The sizzling chemistry between Bhajji and Symmo adds spice to the side.

Kochi Tuskers Kerala: A lot was said about the team even before the curtains were raised. Be it their name, or their website, they were always being dissected, bisected and trisected. But then, they have arrived, and arrived with a boom! Clinching two out of four matches, especially after having started out on a terrible note, KTK look quite intimidating. Jayawardene, VVS Laxman, McCullum, Sreesanth, Vinay Kumar: all of them have played significant roles in zipping the mouths of critics!

But then, there’s still time before the knock-out matches begin, and all is not lost for the other teams. There would very well be a turn around in the table, for yeh IPL hain bhaiyya, yahaan kuch bhi ho sakta hain!