India in England Jun-Sept 2014

[PokerAce]

let me stir the pot again with another recurring topic,

Blogs: Kartikeya Date: What cricket can learn from baseball's review system | Cricket Blogs | ESPN Cricinfo

exactly my thoughts on DRS, the powers to take review should rest not with players but with the group of relaxed people sitting in each teams dugout, plugged to a laptop and by the umpire panel.

"One interesting aspect of baseball's review system is that the baseball equivalent of the third umpire is situated in a centralised facility in New York City for all baseball games."

I love this idea. Centralise everything in terms of review, to bring about standardisation.

 

[abhi_jacko]

French Canada? Ever seen the South Park episode with the song "There's no Canada Like FRench Canada it's the only Canada in the land..."?

And the other Canada is a bullshit Canada. If you lived there, you'd understand

 

[richowebbo]

Pujara as an opener well..,ha, I got a point against it.We know that Pujara wasn't that great in the tests and one main reason for this is his exposure to new ball early on and so he shouldn't open when the ball seems.Also he has struggled lot to balls that come in and England got Anderson,Australia has Johnson who could swing it into the right hander with ease with the new ball.

Johnson doesn;t really swing it, he just flings the ball at 90 odd MPH. I think the 'tache puts the batters off! He looks mental!

I wasn;t impressed by Puraja in the Test Series. I really like Darhwan (?). Think he was batting 5 or 6? Looked quality[DOUBLEPOST=1409240207][/DOUBLEPOST]

And the other Canada is a bullshit Canada. If you lived there, you'd understand

Love it!

 

[PokerAce]

I so wish it was Sharma who was making himself un-selectable and Dhawan who was getting into form .. that would make things so much better for us :P

I know right !!

In an ideal world that would happen

 

[abhi_jacko]

Love it!

My favorite TV show of all time. Have repeat watched every episode

I wasn;t impressed by Puraja in the Test Series. I really like Darhwan (?). Think he was batting 5 or 6? Looked quality

I think you mean Rahane ? Dhawan is the opener and failed miserably.

 

[PokerAce]

Johnson doesn;t really swing it, he just flings the ball at 90 odd MPH. I think the 'tache puts the batters off! He looks mental!

I wasn;t impressed by Puraja in the Test Series. I really like Darhwan (?). Think he was batting 5 or 6? Looked quality[DOUBLEPOST=1409240207][/DOUBLEPOST]

Love it!

If the ball doesn't seam in Aus, and its just pace, Ind batters should be able to play alright. Its really the seam movement that was India's undoing in Eng. I don't remember anyone getting out because of pace or bounce.

Having said that whether they will deal with the bounce is another matter entirely.

 

[PokerAce]

Guys early predictions on favs for the World Cup?

Aus playing at home, SA, and SL look good to me. Ind could make the semi-final for sure.

 

[abhi_jacko]

SAF start easy favorites, which means they are definitely not winning the cup #C'kers

 

[lion100lion]

If you know hindi, enjoy and know how Ravi Shastri was appointed the director. (sorry if you don't know hindi. If I had translated that into English, I would have diluted it's comedy)

Spoiler

मुंबई. इंग्लैंड के ख़िलाफ़ टेस्ट सीरीज़ में हुई दुर्गति के बाद बीसीसीआई ने अपनी आपात बैठक बुलाई और रवि शास्त्री को टीम का डायरेक्टर बना दिया। उस 15 मिनट की ‘मैराथन’ बैठक में जो कुछ हुआ, उसकी पूरी रिकॉर्डिंग फ़ेकिंग न्यूज़ के पास मौजूद है, जिसे हम अपने पाठकों के सामने ज्यों का त्यों पेश कर रहे हैः


“बस बन गया”

(बीसीसीआई के सारे पदाधिकारी कॉन्फ्रेंस रूम में बैठे हंस रहे हैं, तभी सचिव संजय पटेल प्रवेश करते हैं)

संजय पटेलः हां भई, आ गये सब लोग!

अनुराग ठाकुरः हां जी, लोग तो आ गये। बस समोसे और कोल्ड ड्रिंक नहीं आये।

राजीव शुक्लाः लो जी, समोसे भी आ गये!

अनिरुद्ध चौधरीः हमारी तरफ़ भी बढ़ा दो शुक्ला जी। क्या सारे ख़ुद ही खा जाओगे!

राजीवः क्या बात कर रहे हैं चौधरी साब! मैं तो हमेशा मिल बांटकर खाता हूं।
(आधे घंटे तक यही खाने-खिलाने की बातें चलती रहती हैं। तभी पीए सिस्टम पर श्रीनिवासन की आवाज गूंजती है, जिसे सुनकर सब लोग खड़े हो जाते हैं)

सभी लोग एक साथ अभिवादन करते हुए बोलते हैं:Heil Srini!

श्रीनिवासनः ठीक-ठीक है, बैठ जाओ! सब लोग आ गये?

राजीवः जी सर, सब आ गये।

श्रीनिवासनः हां तो, किस-किसको निकालना है? बोलो!

संजयः सर धोनी को…

श्रीनिवासनः ये कौन बोला? धोनी का नाम किसने लिया? बोलो…!

संजय (डरते हुए): सर, मैं कह रहा था कि धोनी को लाइन पे ले लेते हैं। उसी से पूछ लेते हैं कि किसे निकालें।

श्रीनिवासनः उसे क्या लाइन पे लेना! वो तो शुरु से ही मेरी लाइन पे चलता है। लो! नाम लेते ही उसका मैसेज भी आ गया!

राजीवः क्या मैसेज है सर?

श्रीनिवासनः जिन-जिनको हटाना है, उनके नाम भेजे हैं उसने। एक तो कोई डावेस है! कौन है ये?

अनुरागः सर हमारा बॉलिंग कोच है।

श्रीनिवासनः ठीक है, उसी को हटाओ! साले ने ऐसी बॉलिंग सिखाई कि बॉलर बैटिंग भी करने लगे!

शिवलालः और दूसरा कौन है सर?

श्रीनिवासनः कोई ट्रेवर पेनी है। धोनी बता रहा था कि कुछ फ़ील्डिंग-वील्डिंग सिखाता है। उसे भी तुरंत हटाओ!

अनिरुद्धः हां सर! एक धेले का आदमी नहीं है ये पेनी। नॉट ए सिंगल पेनी! उसी की वजह से गंभीर रन आउट हुआ था।

अनुरागः ये तो हो गया सर! अब ये बताइये, रखना किसको है?

श्रीनिवासनः इसमें सोचना क्या है! अपना बंदा है ना शास्त्री! उसे पहले ट्राई करके भी देख चुके हैं। मैंने उससे बात कर ली है।

संजय (हंसते हुए): वो भी हमेशा हमारी ही लाइन पे चलता है सर!

संजयः और सर, उसने तो आपके लिए स्पेशल बुके भी भिजवा दिया है। बार-बार थैक्यू भी बोल रहा था आपको!

श्रीनिवासनः अरे, बच्चा है अपना! हम उसका ध्यान नहीं रखेंगे तो कौन रखेगा! वो भी तो हमारा कितना ख़्याल रखता है। कमेंटरी कम करता है और हमारी चापलूसी तारीफ़ ज़्यादा करता है!
(“जी समझ गये” कहते हुए सब ठहाका मारकर हंसते हैं)

राजीवः वैसे सर, सिद्धू भी अपने काम का बंदा है।

संजयः काम का तो है शुक्ला जी! लेकिन उसे तो अभी हंसने से ही फ़ुर्सत नहीं है। कह रहा था कि बोलने से ज़्यादा तो मैं हंसने में कमा लेता हूं। वैसे भी, जब तक हमारे पास शास्त्री और सनी हैं, तब तक हमें किसी की ज़रूरत नहीं!

श्रीनिवासनः चलो तुम लोग खाओ-पीयो। अगर इन्होंने गलती से कोई वनडे जीत लिया, तो फिर किसी को निकालना पड़ेगा। ओके! मैं अब फ़ोन रख रहा हूं, मुझे वकील से अपना केस डिस्कस करना है।
(इसके बाद सभी लोग फिर से खाने-पीने और ठहाके लगाने में व्यस्त हो जाते हैं)

 

[richowebbo]

My favorite TV show of all time. Have repeat watched every episode



I think you mean Rahane ? Dhawan is the opener and failed miserably.

I did mean Rahane, yes. Thanks!

 

[PokerAce]

SAF start easy favorites, which means they are definitely not winning the cup #C'kers

Its really hard not to pick an SA vs SL final right now. SA have all the tools like they always do.

In all of this I think NZ are being forgotten. Lets not forget them, they have a good side going, and are also a home side. They would be worth watching out for sure. Also this is the first world Cup in Aus since '92 and naturally Pakistan would be excited about returning to the venue where they won the WC, simply because they won the WC last held there. Quite how it was with Ind in '99

 

[richowebbo]

If the ball doesn't seam in Aus, and its just pace, Ind batters should be able to play alright. Its really the seam movement that was India's undoing in Eng. I don't remember anyone getting out because of pace or bounce.

Having said that whether they will deal with the bounce is another matter entirely.

I started to write a reply, but I was just repeating what you were saying! You nailed it.

I think that your openers will need to toughen up. Harris is a very good bowler. Johnson comes in for those short sharp 4 over spells and if your openers don't score, you will get torn apart. I dislike Aus fans (intensely!), and most of the players, but as a cricket follower, they were awesome to watch. I'm really looking forward to catching some of the series.[DOUBLEPOST=1409250538][/DOUBLEPOST]

Its really hard not to pick an SA vs SL final right now. SA have all the tools like they always do.

In all of this I think NZ are being forgotten. Lets not forget them, they have a good side going, and are also a home side. They would be worth watching out for sure. Also this is the first world Cup in Aus since '92 and naturally Pakistan would be excited about returning to the venue where they won the WC, simply because they won the WC last held there. Quite how it was with Ind in '99

I fancy Sri Lanka to win it. They are so good in limited overs. As a rank outsider, I'd love to see NZ do well

 

[SaiSrini]

After our batting performance in the 2nd ODI, do you think there is a place for Pujara in the line up ?

I still feel like he should be in the reckoning for the world cup squad, but he has literally zero international experience. I think he would actually be pretty good as an opener. And he is not just a grafter - has scored some huge scores in quick time. Capable of going for the shots, but unlike our current openers if the shots are not happening then he is skilled enough to rotate the strike. I pray that he gets picked for the ODI series with West Indies

Infact, who is out first choice replacement opener if Dhawan continues to disappoint ?

I dont think so. Its too late for Pujara to be making his ODI debut if he has the World Cup in his radar. And I think Rahane/Rayudu should be enough for us for that solidity in Australia/NZ conditions. I would have said the same thing for Samson but since having a keeper backup for Dhoni is always important, I think Samson should be tried this series for a few games.

For your second question (about opener), I would tie it to my response above and say Samson can be a good choice for a replacement opener. He is a top order player and a technically sound guy (atleast that's what he has given from his exposure so far in IPL and domestic cricket).

 

[SaiSrini]

Guys early predictions on favs for the World Cup?

Aus playing at home, SA, and SL look good to me. Ind could make the semi-final for sure.

I am not at all optimistic of India winning it. Something gives me great confidence in saying "India WILL NOT win it". Even in the last WC, we struggled through the early stages with our bowling. And due to the subcontinent conditions, our batsmen (esp. Yuvraj Singh) rode us through to the semis and that's where they turned their performance to a different level. It was not the most convincing WC win because at the beginning of it and 2-3 games into it, serious questions were asked of India's bowling. And nothing much has changed from then and now. Our bowling continues to be as bad. And this time, we are in alien conditions with spinners expected to get far less help from the surfaces and conditions. Kumar is not expected to succeed in Aussie conditions with the kind of pace and bounce he has. Shami is the only guy who is expected to make an impact. The third seamer is a lottery

I think its going to be either Australia or South Africa (at some point, they will move past that chokers tag) who will win it. Btw them, I vote for SA!

 

[PokerAce]

I started to write a reply, but I was just repeating what you were saying! You nailed it.

I think that your openers will need to toughen up. Harris is a very good bowler. Johnson comes in for those short sharp 4 over spells and if your openers don't score, you will get torn apart. I dislike Aus fans (intensely!), and most of the players, but as a cricket follower, they were awesome to watch. I'm really looking forward to catching some of the series.[DOUBLEPOST=1409250538][/DOUBLEPOST]

I fancy Sri Lanka to win it. They are so good in limited overs. As a rank outsider, I'd love to see NZ do well

You speaking of catching the series, took me to a point I have never discussed before. How do the timings for matches around the world fit you local time. For someone in India NZ and Aus tests have terrible timing. NZ tests start at 3 in the night India time and its a torture catching a full days play. The NZ tests end by 10 in the day. So one has to wake up early to catch the test, or alternatively not sleep till after the match. Its was fine till I was in college, but now that I am working, its just impossible catching NZ test matches for more than a session or two.

Aus tests too start 530 in the morning, and end by 1230 so they are more manageble if one gets up really early. With work though, one is in office by 8:30 so again one can't watch more than a session or two. Even local tests in India are hard to catch now that I am working, with one at work the whole day of the test. Fortunately I can stream matches in office so that helps, but to those who cannot, I don't know how they watch the tests in India, or SL.

Eng tests are fine, they start at 3:30 in the after noon Ind time and one usually misses a session but can then watch the rest with ease. SA tests are identical starting around 2 local time.

WI tests are the best start around 7 pm India time, and finish around 2 which is managable if there is potentially a really interesting finish to the day.

How do the viewers from the rest of the world find the timings of the tests from around the world. Which are more suitable which are just impossible to keep up with.