I am using the new found 'flexibility' very satisfactorily. The first thing in the morning I switch on the TV to watch the Ashes series of test matches. It is not as one sided as it appears in the scores. In the first test (second innings) the contest between Warne and Pietersen was classic test match stuff. Warne, the old fox, seems to get wilier as he ages and Pietersen does not know anything other than aggression. Warne is now such a tactician he sets up his batsmen over many overs. The way he took advantage of Collingwood's eagerness to get his century was great. A well flighted delivery drew Collingwood off the crease and the ball just dipped and beat him. It was like watching E.A.S. Prasanna at his best. Pietersen used his long legs very well and was so aggressive against Warne; Warne was forced to bowl a negative line round the wickets. Today was the first day of the second test and England has done reasonably well. Again a very interesting partnership developed between Colingwood and Pietersen and a good contest with Warne. It was great watching a good struggle between bat and ball.
On the other side of things we have this one day series going on between India and South Africa. One day internationals have lost their initial excitement and have become formulaic and boring. They are to test matches what Boys to Men are to Beethoven. And when Indian batting is at its worst it is even more painful to watch. Indian batsmen seem to have no mental strength AT ALL. The only person who plays a mental game is Dravid. Dhoni carries on just through sheer timing and form. The rest are worse than pedestrian. Sorry to those who fondly refer to their star as 'Sechin' but I think he should find a few face saving innings and retire quietly. I have never seen a batsmen of his caliber struggle so much before (well I have to say that Viv Richards did struggle in his final days). When Ponting or Lara are out of form they come back so majestically and not tentatively. One cannot be out of form for 2 years! I think Chappell should be thrown out too. The big talking Ganguly was thrown out 'cause he did not match his talk with performance. The same yardstick if applied to Chappell he has failed miserably too. I think the coach's role is not to find talent (that is the selector’s role) but to make a coherent team plan and also improve on the mental and match winning capability of a team. There seems to be no indications of any such thing in out team. Out tail-enders like Agarkar (WHY IS HE STILL IN THE TEAM?) should learn a lot of things from Brett Lee and McGrath. In the last match when Pathan was playing reasonably well why in the world these guys had to go for big shots? (No I did not watch the match, i just saw the wickets in the highlights)
Now that I have more time on my hands, I realize through actual experience what I could only speculate earlier. For enjoying real pleasure and satisfaction one needs time, otherwise it is just a quickie. So back to test cricket ….
2 comments:
Very appropriately put. The 2nd test at Adelaide is a good example of how exciting Test cricket can get!. I was lucky enough to get a few glimpses of it!.
Warne is known to be an excellent tactician. He wasnt given captaincy primarily due to the batsman-captain phobia which seems to be always there.
Chappell was a stylish batsman who scored well. He is supposed to be a good batting coach too with a strong technical base. Has he also lost out mentally. I feel its better we lose now than in the WC. Is it another part of his strategy ?
For the last couple of years a lot of our batters including Dravid are closing the blade of the bat too early which is a fundamental flaw. Did not SMG tell the current short star this during his pep-talk? Why cant Sechin hit out like what SMG did at Delhi for his 29th century after being battered by the vengeful windies pacers in the previous tests in 83. I remember a hook off Marshall for six which gave SMG a complete reversal of a mindbloc at the crease. From then on it was SMG at his best and the next one at Madras was sublime. I am sure if Sechin tries a Sehwag or a Dhoni he will come back to form-majestically too like his contemporaries. What do you think? Dont be too critical of him. He is a genius.
Mental strength at times of acute stress is mirrored in the performance. A Steel Waugh session for our guys may do good.
We may do well in the tests what with Dada and the very very special lax back. It will help a lot in reviving the confidence of the men who are boys now.
Wish them luck and enjoy the tests
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