Sehwag in the line of fire

Extract from TOI

More importantly, the vibes within the team are not exactly jumping with joy. India’s chief problems are starting at the top, and ending there. He needs to worry because a certain sections within the team are not too happy with his approach.

They are particularly displeased that he withdrew from the Durban game at virtually the last second. "We needed him to play there very badly," said a senior member of the Indian contingent. Sehwag was ready and willing to play in the first match at Johannesburg despite the stitches on his finger. So his decision to pull out just three days later has raised more than a few eyebrows.

"I have seen many players play with a lot more than just a tear in his hand," said the official, on condition of anonymity. "Look back and you will see batsmen with broken hands and smashed jaws step up for the team. If he wanted he could have played the match. Indeed the team management could have insisted and made him play. But then what is the point in forcing someone if he is not himself willing."

Captain Rahul Dravid too had insisted on the eve of the game that Viru was almost definitely going to play. Eventually he didn’t. Sehwag returned to take his place in the third ODI and made zero.

The team official then explained to TOI the conflict in Sehwag’s mind. "He has achieved everything that he wanted in life. He is a superstar in India. He has earned more fame, money and everything else that he would ever want. He needs to figure out if he wants anything more," he said.

"To succeed at this level you need hunger and ambition. At the moment Viru has lost it. He is like a boxer who has been knocked down. A part of his mind may want to get up and fight. But another part wants to stay down because it’s scared of another knock," he explained.

"It’s a question of hard work from here. Is he willing to do that, fight his way back. Or is he happy with what he has gained till now," the official said. He, however, had no doubt that Sehwag was a special talent. Sehwag, rather surprisingly, seems to be doing comfortably in Tests; it’s only in the One-dayers that he has hit a roadblock.

Reference

Sehwag in the line of fire- News-India's tour of South Africa, 2006 - Cricket - Indiatimes

Australia's gift of the Gabba

Martin Johnson writing for "The Telegraph", London in his inimitable way. The best entertaining pre ashes article by a mile

"Australia's gargantuan capacity for blowing its own trumpet is even more entertaining when you consider that its biggest contribution to global technology is the rotary clothes line, but there is an absolute conviction here that the invention which has enriched the lives of housewives with small gardens the world over is about to be employed by its cricket team for hanging the Poms out to dry.


The mass invasion of English supporters has made them even more cheerful, partly because of the prospect of tripling the economy in beer sales alone, but also because of their firm belief that no amount of visitors from the land of the great unwashed will pose a threat to Australia's current campaign to preserve dwindling water supplies"

Telegraph | Sport | Australia's gift of the Gabba:

Windies ride on Lara's sizzling ton

They say batsmen get better with age but this is outrageous. After that incandescent century in Lahore, Brian Charles Lara has lighted the Multan with another brilliant century in 77 balls. He has taken 60 runs off Kaneria, showing once again why he is considered the best batsmen of this generation.( I hate to admit , but Sachin is getting old !)

"A sensational 77-ball century from Brian Lara, when he provided a masterclass in toying with spin, stunned Pakistan on the morning session of the third day of the Multan Test leaving West Indies just 45 runs behind with six wickets standing. Pakistan's attempt to fight back, snapping up four wickets, was met with Lara's counterattacking genius - reeling off the ninth-fastest hundred in Test history - allowing West Indies to end on a healthy 312 for 4 at lunch."

Cricinfo - Windies ride on Lara's sizzling ton:

The Sydney Morning Herald Blogs: The Tonk

Want to know more what Australians think about Ashes and their cricket team, check this out.
The Sydney Morning Herald Blogs: The Tonk

Justin Langer wants to settle one last score | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited Sport

Langer , the opener and lead singer still smarting from last Ashes defeat.
Extract.

"After almost all of Australia's 11 Test victories since last year's Ashes series, Justin Langer has led his team-mates in a rendition of the victory song, Under the Southern Cross I Stand. Traditionally, this has been a time for beer and bonhomie. Lately, though, the celebrations have been somewhat muted. 'We have said after each Test win, 'This was a great win, but don't forget that we will not be truly judged until the next Ashes',' Langer says. 'That was my suggestion. I lead the team song at the end of winning a Test, and that is the message I have wanted to get through to everyone. It has filtered through the team.'"

The Ashes: Langer wants to settle one last score | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited Sport:

Harsha on Polly Kaka and Australian Cricketerrs.

Incomparable Harsh Bhogle on Polly Umrigar and on behaviour of present bunch of Australian Cricket. No one has connected these two tragic situation better. Sometimes I think Harsha writes better , far better compared to his commentary.

Extract

When the time comes, as ours will too, the world will ask ‘were you a good man’? Polly Kaka was a great cricketer but he was a good man. I didn’t know him as well as many who played alongside him or toured with him or sought advice from him. But I knew he was a good man and that is good enough.

This necessary marriage of qualities, of being a good cricketer and a good man, is something that I hope Cricket Australia will look at when they see the actions of some of their finest. Cricket is played with courage and aggression on the field and with dignity and humility off it. Interchanging them doesn’t always produce the best result.

Australia showed great courage and aggression on the way to winning the Champions’ Trophy but I’m afraid their performance on stage, while being crowned the best team in the world again, was appalling.

Full article on Indian Express here

IndianExpress.com :: At Brabourne, irreverence crossed into disrespect

Harsha on Polly Kaka and Australian Cricketerrs.

Incomparable Harsh Bhogle on Polly Umrigar and on behaviour of present bunch of Australian Cricket. No one has connected these two tragic situation better. Sometimes I think Harsha writes better , far better compared to his commentary.
Extract

When the time comes, as ours will too, the world will ask ‘were you a good man’? Polly Kaka was a great cricketer but he was a good man. I didn’t know him as well as many who played alongside him or toured with him or sought advice from him. But I knew he was a good man and that is good enough.

This necessary marriage of qualities, of being a good cricketer and a good man, is something that I hope Cricket Australia will look at when they see the actions of some of their finest. Cricket is played with courage and aggression on the field and with dignity and humility off it. Interchanging them doesn’t always produce the best result.

Australia showed great courage and aggression on the way to winning the Champions’ Trophy but I’m afraid their performance on stage, while being crowned the best team in the world again, was appalling.

Full article on Indian Express here

Pawar Pushing: What does Aus think ?

Link from SMH.com.au.
SMH asked its readers

The Indian cricket boss, Sharad Pawar, has criticised the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, over an incident on the Champions Trophy podium.
Do you think his comments were fair, or did he overreact?

Some interesting responses...in forum below.

The Sydney Morning Herald Blogs: News Blog / Archives

Also see Rohit Brijnath's brilliant response in "The Hindu" below

Team will return triumphant from SA: Tendulkar

This can't be good news for South Africans. Last time when SRT came with these kind of statements, India reached the world cup final.

Sachin Tendulkar on Monday assured the country that the Indian team, knocked out of the Champions Trophy before the semi-final stage, would return triumphant from the upcoming tour of South Africa.

"We are disappointed at not doing well in the Champions Trophy, but we would return triumphant from South Africa. As a team we have to look at the positives heading into the tour.

Team will return triumphant from SA: Tendulkar

Mthys busted in Champions Trophy !

Myth that
- Brian Lara is a big match player and that he always plays well in the finals/semi finals.
- Ricky Ponting's abysmal failure during 2001/2004 India tour is aberration
- Shane Watson is a world class opener and that Simon Katich can be a good opener.
- Australia is unbeatable
- Sachin Tendulkar can never get old ( it was a torture watching him against Australia)
- Glen McGrath cannot be carted around.
- Indian pitches cannot be made bowler friendly , cannot have bounce , cannot have lateral movement
- Indian team can always win at home soil without much effort

One big lesson for England, India and West Indies , who were in winning situations against Australia before squandering it away
- Grab the opportunity and don't release the pressure when you are on top or in other words when you have got Australia by the bal$s , you hold on


Add more...

Cricket is sadly silent as Paks scribe is turned away by England, India

One of the best Cricket writer from Pakistan , Osman Samiuddin has been rejected VISA from both England and India and there is no outrage. I accidently came across this wonderful piece from Peter Roebuck.
Extract

"Once more he has been judged by the actions of others, and not his own. Once more a proven journalist, a member of our community, has been black-balled for no reason whatsoever. Once more cricket has been silent.

Although this benighted tournament is reaching its later stages, Samiuddin still hopes to make it to India. He thinks the Indians will relent after the end of the Id celebrations. Nevertheless it is wrong that he was ever turned away, wrong that the game's stakeholders did not intervene on his behalf. After all, cricket's greatest lesson is that every ball must be treated on its merits."

Cricket is sadly silent as Paks scribe is turned away by England, India:

Why this campaign ?

The call to rehabilitate Mohammed Azharuddin is not right. You cannot restore a man who badly damaged a game he was supposed to love, a game that nurtured him, argues PETER ROEBUCK writing for "The Sportstar "


Why this campaign ?