The Dhawan Blitz

Shikhar Dhawan made probably one of the most extraordinary debuts I have seen till now. A century in 85 balls and then to continue it to be unbeaten on 185 of 168 deliveries is an astonishing feat. This is an astonishing innings even the context of this game. After Australia scored 408 in a 4-day game, cricketing logic implied that if any team could win this game, it had to the Aussies. Dhawan's extraordinary innings has changed that. 

Yes, it was a flat track. The bowling was quite average. But, despite all that let us bear in mind that Shikhar Dhawan was making his debut. To play with so much courage in the very first test match is incredible. He charged down the track to Peter Siddle when he was on 98. Then took a very sharp single to bring up his 100. That really showed the mindset Dhawan was in.

The great feature about Dhawan's knock was the way drove through the offside. And it almost never seemed that he was in a real hurry. It just happened to him. It was like in his mind, he was not playing a test match but just having net-session. It was that breathtaking. It was just that kind of day, where he could do nothing wrong. When he tried the reverse-sweep - it worked, when he tried the lofted stroke- it worked, when he advanced down the track to the quick bowlers- it worked. Surely, Dhawan was in that "zone" which batsman keep talking about. The "zone" where the batsman is almost thoughtless. He just reacts to the bowling and deep down he knows that whatever happens he cannot be dismissed. 

This was the kind of onslaught which Micheal Clarke would have least expected. You would expect Sehwag to inflict this kind of pain - You would expect Dilshan to play a blinder like this - But not a bloke playing his first ever test match. Clarke completely ran out of ideas. His spinners went for aplenty. So, did the quicker men. He tried Steve Smith - did not work. Dhawan dispatched the full-tosses with disdain. To the long hops sliding down the leg-side, he played strokes which I find hard to describe in words. Probably, reverse-on-drive is the best description someone suggested in commentary or on twitter. Nothing could stop the boundary flow from Dhawan's bat. 

He reached one landmark after the other. Fast ever century on debut and then the highest individual score by an Indian on debut and he would have his eyes set on the fastest double century on debut when he comes out to bat tomorrow. 

He played like a rock-star today. Not getting affected by the enormity of occasion - just getting on with the business. At tea, the rock-star walked back curling his mustache - a style which I am sure would be copied by many youngsters if tastes more success at this level.

Now, the questions would be raised. Can he do the same in South Africa? Can he play against the likes of Morkel, Steyn, and Philander? Have we found the replacement for Sehwag? Is he the new left-handed Sehwag? I would say, let us forget about all those questions and enjoy this moment. It was simply an astonishing innings. It was astonishing for an experienced cricketer. For a player on debut, it was simply unbelievable. 

I am curious to see...

The India-Australia test series so far has been on the expected lines. The Australians have succumbed to the spin. Micheal Clarke seems to be the only batsman, who is able to negotiate the Indian spinners. The shot selection by the rest of the Australian batting lineup has been bizarre.

In the meanwhile, a few Indian players have really impressed. Albeit against a very weak Australian side, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja's performances have been really impressive. So, now I am curious to see how the home performances carry forward when India travel abroad. I would keenly watching these players.

For me Cheteshwar Pujara has been the most impressive player in the Indian lineup. When Rahul Dravid retired, I had written that he was the last in the lineage of traditional test batsman. I would be so happy if Pujara proves me wrong. He does show signs of being a 'Giant' in the game. Before throwing up such huge words, it is important for us to remember that he has played only 11 test matches so far. He is still untested in foreign conditions. But let me confess, I have a quite confidence that Pujara will succeed. Firstly, I was looking at one his dismissals in his first tour of South Africa. Dale Steyn bowled a near unplayable delivery to him. The ball angled into his pads and then going away, hitting him plumb on the pads. Any young Indian batsman would have tried to flick such a delivery probably have his stumps shattered. But, Pujara played that ball with a straight bat. It is a different story that he still got beaten and was out. But, the approach was correct and that is what was impressive. Secondly, Pujara from his interviews comes across as a player who judges himself on his overseas performances. His discipline while at the crease is unbelievable. The price he keeps on his wicket is very high. So he has all the ingredients to be a very successful test cricketer. I would be highly surprised, if Pujara is not a big hit in the South African tour.

Now Ravichandran Ashwin -  I am not as positive about Ashwin as I am about Pujara. Ashwin had a torrid tour of Australia. We still have not seen him how he would perform when the ball is not turning as sharply as it has been the home games he has played. To his credit though, he has some fantastic numbers. The big question his can he translate the home success into success in the overseas. Ashwin has shown tremendous improvement after a very disappointing home series versus England. Is it because he has really remodeled his bowling or is it just because the Australians are really poor players of spin? If I cross my heart and answer that question - the truth is 'I don't know'. That is why I am very curious to see if he would perform well in South Africa.

Finally Ravindra Jadeja - Let me make another confession. I have never been a Jadeja fan. But in this series he has really impressed me. There are couple of things in him which are very likable. First, he gets through his overs very quickly. Second, he bowls an impeccable line and length. He can just dry up one end. It may surprise everyone, but there is every chance that Jadeja would be successful in overseas conditions because of his amazing accuracy. I am not expecting him to star in South Africa, but I won't be surprised if he does.

I am just very curious to see these three players play in the South African tour.  

One of the greatest Test Match innings

I know I am a bit late writing this post. Nevertheless, I find it very important to write about the innings MS Dhoni played at Chennai. MS Dhoni's 224 was one of the best Test Match hundreds I have ever seen, at least by an Indian. It is fair to say that the innings MS Dhoni played at Chennai really deserved the word 'Great'. 

Tactically the innings was superb. Dhoni had come into bat at a fairly difficult situation. India had just lost the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar. Lyon had just started getting enough purchase from the surface. Not many runs were scored in the first one hour of play and it almost looked that the game was slowly drifting in Australia's favour. And the Dhoni entered. He entered and he counter-attacked Lyon - India's biggest threat on the turning Chennai wicket. His calculated risks pushed the fielders back. And then, he could milk Lyon and take him out of the attack. Lyon was the biggest threat to the Indian batting and Dhoni with his counter-attacking cricket took him out of the attack.

But what stood out for me, in the Dhoni double hundred was his running between the wickets in the fag end of the day. Dhoni was ready to convert the ones into twos even in the last few overs of the day. There is little doubt that MS Dhoni is the fittest member of the Indian team. Just to put things to perspective, it is important to remind ourselves that MS Dhoni is full time wicket-keeper, captain and an important batsman in all the three formats for India and he does it for his franchise as well. Even with all this workload he never misses a game due to an injury. Now, that is quite commendable.

Would this innings mark a beginning of more consistency from Dhoni the batsman in Test Match cricket? This is a question which only time would answer. He is a very useful Test batsman, but not quite the force which he is in ODI cricket. In ODIs, he has surely done enough to achieve the "Great" status. I would like to believe that this knock would begin the making of the "Great" status in test match cricket.

I am writing this post after the Indian win in Hyderabad, with India 2-0 up in the series. One would realise the impact of Dhoni's innings carried forward to next Test match as well. It actually resulted in Australia leaving out Lyon for the second test match. I believe Lyon was the biggest threat for India.

Although late to write the post; it was truly an incredible innings by MS Dhoni.  

India versus Australia: A Preview

Over the past decade and a half a India-Australia has created a rush in the cricketing community. There has always been a lot of spice associated with this series. We have seen some compelling cricket in the Border-Gavaskar trophies over the past 10-15 years. I think it all began with the India's home series in 2001. Steve Waugh had called India the final frontier. The series was decided in the final session of the final day of the final test. That series set up the tone for the rest of the India-Australia series' to follow.

This series is no different. It brings with itself a lot of excitement. The excitement though is for different reasons. This is probably the weakest Australian team touring India. And, it is also the weakest Indian team hosting Australia. Both the teams are going through a transition phase. A lot of big names have retired from both the teams. Both teams are trying find their feet back in international cricket. 

The Spin

Whenever a touring team comes to India, one topic that is always discussed is how to play the Indian spinners. Of all the Indian teams till now, this Indian team probably has the least threatening spin attack. In fact, the English spinners out-bowled the Indian spinners!! That was quite unheard off. The Australians though do not have spinners of the quality of Swann or Monty.  So, unlike England, Australia will have to rely on pace and reverse swing to get their wickets. The question for India, is whether the play 3 spinners or two? Would Jadeja play the role of a containing spinner who can bat a bit? If they play two spinners who would be left out? This is a very interesting situation. Never before did India have to think so much about their spinners. 

The Indian Batting and SRT

One of the major strength for India over the years has been their batting. In home conditions, India have always been able to post huge totals that would allow the spinners to have men around the bat and create the pressure. Over the last one year, that has changed. The middle order is not the same any more. The big question is people like Dhawan, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane step up those big totals. I would be keenly watching all these young Indian batsman. It would also be interesting to see how Sehwag plays. This series could well be his last chance. Gambhir after being left out has scored a hundred in the 'A -Game'. That would put pressure on the selectors. 

If we are talking about the Indian batting, it is incomplete without a discussion about Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar has prepared quite extensively for this series. He played the domestic season. He looked quite brilliant in that Irani Trophy game. The big retirement question would always be looming over him. So, can he battle all that produce some master pieces? 

The Captains

I would be really keen to see how the two teams are led. MS has till now not been able to make  a huge impact with his captaincy in Tests. He has always given me the impression, of going into the defensive too early. I would be interested in seeing if he has made adjustments to the way he leads the team. To be fair to MS, he really doesn't have the best bowling attack in the world. That does not make his life easier.

Micheal Clarke has impressed me with his short stint as a captain. Captaining in the sub-continent though, would be a completely different ball game. The huge noise, hot days, long partnerships - Can Clarke hold his nerve through all this. He has been in some terrific batting form. He would also be the most priced wicket in the Australian line up. His performance with the bat would be quite crucial.  

Favourites?

I would pick India as favourites, not by much though. 2-1 victory line to India is what I am predicting. Let's see what happens. It would a very very interesting series.

Sachin's Swang Song

Warning: This is a very emotional post. It comes from a die-hard Sachin Fan.

Dear Sachin,

I got up this morning and like every morning the first thing I did was to open my laptop and go to Cricinfo. Today I was taken aback as I saw the headlines as 'Sachin Tendulkar retires from ODI cricket'. It took me a few seconds to believe what has actually happened.

Sachin, Thanks a lot for all that you have provided for us. Now that you have decided not to play the limited over format, it makes me sad.  It is hard to imagine how a full-strength Indian team would look, without the name 'Sachin Tendulkar' on it. And, so I am never going to see you play that exquisite straight-drive in coloured clothing. Never again would I see you open the batting for India. Never again would I be so nervous when India starts batting in an ODI. Never again, would I sit on the same chair and ask my mates not to move while the game is going on.

I knew it was coming but did not expect it this way. There were no warnings -- no farewell match - nothing. You just quietly moved away. I knew it had to happen some day - but when it has actually happened, it is not sinking in. I was so eagerly waiting for the Pakistan series to watch you bat in ODIs. But as the adage goes - All good things have to come to an end. I truly consider myself blessed to have been born in the same era as you have played your cricket.

Sachin, I thank you not for the runs you scored or the boundaries you hit. I thank you because even the gloomy days of Indian cricket you were the reason we smiled. You brought a smile to my face even when India lost; especially those days in the 90s. I still remember that disastrous tour of Australia we had in 99. I used to get early in the morning to watch the match, despite knowing that India had no chance in the game. But, I knew that I would not be disappointed as you were batting.

So, what were my favourite knocks of yours? I love the 175 you scored at Hyderabad. We lost that game by a whisker. But you played one of the most outstanding knocks I had ever seen. Then the 98 you scored against Pakistan - 2003 WC. I love that knock because I feel you enjoyed it the most. Then the desert-storm at Sharjah. I was too young to understand the game when you played it, but I have seen it over and over again on YouTube. Of course the 200* against South Africa. We had a huge celebration in our hostel rooms when you became the first person to break the 200 - barrier.

But Sachin, numbers will tell their story themselves. I do not need to say anything. 49 hundreds, 18,426 runs at an astounding average and strike-rate may never be matched again. The entire India is grateful to you, not because you were the greatest batsman of your era but for the amount of joy that you gave. There was a time when India slept well when you played well. If you had a bad day, I am certain, the average happiness in India was low.  We treated your success as our personal success.

Sachin, wish you fantastic luck with the rest of you cricket career. I am sure, you have few more master-pieces left which you would unveil soon.

Wishing you great success ahead,
A TRUE FAN

India and Test Cricket?

I have been a supporter of the T20 revolution. I have always welcomed the IPL with open arms. I am not the one who says, "T20 is not cricket". I do believe playing Twenty 20 does require a completely different set of skills which are worth appreciating.

Recent developments in Indian cricket worry me. Are we disrespecting the purest form of the game? It is not just the 8-0 away defeats that really bother me. I am also not particularly concerned about the fact that two English spinners were able to run through an Indian batting line up. I do understand that in sport, such things do happen. Did we not bowl out South Africa for 80 odd on a green top a few years back. Then, did we not win against South Africa in Durban on another green top? And the WACA win? Playing on extreme conditions have backfired for so many other teams (while playing against us). So, the Mumbai loss is not a concern for me. Even as we stand at the brink of losing another test at Kolkata, it is not the result that really concerns me.

What bothers me is no one in our cricket administration seems to be really concerned about the away loses. There seems to be no preparation for our next away tournament in South Africa. What is the batting line up we would have? Would a Sehwag - Gambhir opening combination still work? Despite the failure in 8 matches, would we persist with the same combination? Who will bat at number 6. And at number 4? Is Sachin going to South Africa? If he is not going to South Africa, isn't it better that a youngster gets chance to bat in home conditions before heads to South Africa? What about our bowling attack? Would Zaheer go there? If he is not going, would it not be better to give a young pacer a go, before an important overseas tour? There are so many such questions to which our administrators seem to have no answers.

It almost seems to me that India is not giving enough respect to Test cricket ; in fact we have stared disrespecting the purest form of the game, which is really sad. I am not calling for sacking Dhoni, but no question marks on a captain's place even after losing 8 away games is unheard off in any cricketing administration. India's nonchalance towards this entire issue shows that we are really not concerned about doing well in Tests. 

Let me get one thing quite straight, I rarely whine about the Indian team losing. I honestly do not mind it. I understand that in sport sometimes things just do not work. But, I get irritated when the team is not sad about doing so poorly. I get a feeling that the only people bothered about India doing well in Test match cricket are fans like me, the commentators and columnists.  

I am not a fan who wants India to win all the time. I know it is not possible. And by that I am actually asking for too much. All I want is an honest effort every time they take the field. I want to see in the intensity. The rush of the blood because they are playing for India. It is that intensity that has driven me to watch the game. But now, that seems to have gone. I have become quite nonchalant with the results; because I get the feeling I am the only one who cares.

I know there is a lot of talent in India. We can still surprise everyone and win in South Africa. But for that something has to change - The Attitude. If that requires to drop MS, so be it.

Well as an Indian fan my line up for the first Australia Test is:

Unmukt Chand, Abhinav Mukund, Cheteshwar Pujara (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Manoj Tiwary, Wridhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Ravi Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha.  Ravindra Jadeja (12th Man)

The World Rejoices when they win

I was told there were crackers being burnt on the streets of Bangalore as the final of the World T20 concluded. The Bangaloreans forgot their differences with it's neighboring state over the Cauvery issue and plunged into joy as the World T20 concluded. No, they were not celebrating an Indian win - but a win of a cluster of American nations miles apart - the West Indies. I am certain the West Indies win must have brought joy not just to Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana or Antigua but every part of the cricketing world - and probably even to Sri Lanka. 

They are just that kind of a team. It is that brand of cricket they play, that makes everyone fall in love with them. It is the brand of cricket for which I cannot use an adjective; for there is none. It is just the Caribbean way of playing the game. They play it hard and yet they are always aware of the fact that it is just a game. They play the game with a smile, irrespective of the match situation. They are a kind of team, you do not want to see on the losing side. It is just inexplicable, how they charm everyone irrespective of their nationality. Probably it is the way the celebrate - they make us feel part of the triumph. Or probably it is the smile with which they play that casts a spell on us. Or probably it is that boisterous laugh they manage even in between a tense contest. Or it is just their approach to the game which gravitates us towards them. They remind us of the way we played cricket (or any sport) when we were kids; desperately wanting to win but in the complete consciousness of it being 'just a game'. Compete fiercely while playing but forget about the game and share a joke with the opponents moments after the game concluded.

During the entire tumultuous period of West Indian cricket, the one that remained constant was the way they played cricket - the attitude towards the game. And thus they have more well-wishers across the globe than any other country. When Australia was the most dominant side, everyone outside Australia would have celebrated an Australian loss. I am sure, that was not the case when the Windies dominated. The world has loved to see the West Indies play cricket. Whether it was Sobers, Richards, Holding, Marshall or it was Lara, Walsh, Ambrose or the modern day players like Gayle, Pollard, Narine, Samuels there is one thing that is always common - the amount joy that pervades when they play cricket.

These bunch of West Indians might not have all the cricket records to their name. These bunch might not be ranked among the greatest cricketers of all time. They are no Richards or Holding or Roberts. But these bunch of West Indians at Colombo have touched the hearts of the entire cricket watching public. They have brought a smile on the faces of all those who have followed this edition of World T20. I know for sure that this West Indies team has been the reason many watched this WT20 and there can no bigger compliment than that. No record would give you the joy than the fact that you have become the reason for people to watch the game.

I had written previously that a victory in World T20 could begin the much-awaited revival of West Indian cricket. Now, that has happened. I really hope this does embark a new era in West Indies cricket. Their cricket has definitely improved in the past couple of years. I really wish and hope that this is the beginning of the things to come for their is no other team (barring my home nation - India) whose success tastes sweeter to me.