India tour of New Zealand - Jan to Feb 2014

[SaiSrini]

You are certainly not looking at the right thread than.

As I said before, you can't really blame bowlers because when they did create chances, you dropped them. With this kind of bowling attack, you have to take every single catch that comes to you otherwise it will just end in a disaster. Top effort from both both B Mac and BJ Watling. I was more impressed by BJ because I did not know he can bat so well. He showed an amazing composure and left everything that was offered to him outside the off stump. Both of them have shown a brilliant fightback.

I just read on Cricinfo that NZ might not continue to bat today which will be a bit tough on B Mac because he deserves that 300. The lead is 325 and if the pitch behave in the same manner it did yesterday than we should definitely go for the target. I mean that is our only chance.

I have a feeling that BMC will go for his 300 aggressively and then declare immediately. That will give them a 350+ target. I am sure NZ will want to go for the win (most non-subcontinent teams are known to be naturally risk takers; they would rather be 1-1 but wouldn't miss the opportunity to be 2-0). Regarding India, ideally they should go for anything and everything that they are set. If the pitch behaves anything like how it did yesterday, anything is chase able here. But it depends on whether Dhoni has that hunger or whether 1-0 looks better to him than 2-0.

I agree with comments about Dhoni's poor captaincy (even Cricinfo has jumped in with an article about it today). When did that aggressive Dhoni (who stormed the world with his belligerent hitting and aggressive captaincy that won India the T20 WC) change so much, I don't understand. but it all changed for the worst. He might have trophies in his cabinet, but I fear his captaincy is going to be remembered for a lot of other things. The sooner he quits test captaincy, the better for him.

 

[asprin]

I just read on Cricinfo that NZ might not continue to bat today which will be a bit tough on B Mac because he deserves that 300.

On the contrary, I would shut India out completely, would encourage Brendon to go for 401 and break the world record which would achieve two things:

1. A new world record
2. India won't play for a win then and the series would be won by NZ

 

[grkrama]

I understand that the bowlers bowled their hearts out, but that's not good enough. It's easy enough to use the excuse that McCullum played an innings of a lifetime - remember Faf was playing an innings of a lifetime against us not two months ago - and Clarke before that. The common denominator is our bowling (and fielding).

I see what you are getting there, this has kind of become a trend that whenever a partnership gets going especially after early wickets, we kind of become a toothless attack it cannot be just conditions right?

Like you say we cant just bring in new caps hope for a miracle, but what can be done is get the best of the lot by getting a better team composition and strategies right.

What i think is contributing to us not being to be able to break partnerships is the lack of the 4th or 5th bowler who can add more variation to the attack and keep the settled batsman on toes, with just 3 strike bowlers, the batsman once settled know exactly what to do with each of them, as they get repetitive, also we need a good part-time bowler who can provide break-through , it wasnt a nice sight seeing kholi,dhoni,rohit rolling their arms, someone like sachin,yuvi would be better. Also we cant have Jadu as our strike spinner he has to become the 5th bowler and 7th batsman, Vijay or Rohit would have to be dropped to accommodate the extra bowler, get a real spinner who can force something to happen like mishra or ojha or a seamer like BK or Pandey based on conditions.

That extra bowler and attacking strategy will go a long way for India to maintain pressure, keep the bowlers fresh n attacking,keep the batsman on toes all the time, and help winning in situations like this.

This is where other teams like Aus, Sa, nz differ from us they have an watson, kallis, anderson etc it just gives that extra variety when things are not going your way.

 

[fk915]

and India wanted to be in Tier 1

 

[grkrama]

^While i dont support this whole tier rubbish, India is definitely a Top test playing Nation dot

 

[abhi_jacko]

I see what you are getting there, this has kind of become a trend that whenever a partnership gets going especially after early wickets, we kind of become a toothless attack it cannot be just conditions right?

Like you say we cant just bring in new caps hope for a miracle, but what can be done is get the best of the lot by getting a better team composition and strategies right.

What i think is contributing to us not being to be able to break partnerships is the lack of the 4th or 5th bowler who can add more variation to the attack and keep the settled batsman on toes, with just 3 strike bowlers, the batsman once settled know exactly what to do with each of them, as they get repetitive, also we need a good part-time bowler who can provide break-through , it wasnt a nice sight seeing kholi,dhoni,rohit rolling their arms, someone like sachin,yuvi would be better. Also we cant have Jadu as our strike spinner he has to become the 5th bowler and 7th batsman, Vijay or Rohit would have to be dropped to accommodate the extra bowler, get a real spinner who can force something to happen like mishra or ojha or a seamer like BK or Pandey based on conditions.

That extra bowler and attacking strategy will go a long way for India to maintain pressure, keep the bowlers fresh n attacking,keep the batsman on toes all the time, and help winning in situations like this.

This is where other teams like Aus, Sa, nz differ from us they have an watson, kallis, anderson etc it just gives that extra variety when things are not going your way.

Spot on with every point you have made. We desperately need to get rid of this 3 bowler attack. No other team in the world goes with only 3 strike bowlers in a test match. At the very least, we should go with 4 specialist bowlers and a part timer. If the "tail gets too long" which seems to be one of the worries for MSD, so be it. 5 specialist batsmen + Dhoni + Jadeja are more than enough.

I really hope all the Asia Cup and T20 world cup hoopla will not blow over the critical issues that have once again surfaced over the course of yet another overseas tour.

 

[AngryPixel]

This was the highlight of the day for me. Ishant Sharma Abusing - Video Dailymotion


Ashant actually believe that he was bowling well

For those who don't understand hindi, this is what Ashant was saying while walking back in that video: "Sister ****er, He's tweaking up my good bowling, sister's dick." It was directed at Zaheer for his slow fielding.
Great job Ashant.

 

[Biggs]

^While i dont support this whole tier rubbish, India is definitely a Top test playing Nation dot

Here's my issue: ALL Test playing nations are "Top".

This whole idea of a "top" and "bottom" rankings is absolute rubbish, as has been on show this entire season in New Zealand. The idea that any team can beat anyone on their day is the very essence of what has made cricket great over the years. The series you remember are very rarely when the "best two" teams come together, but when two teams with two completely different approaches to their game wrestle a game back from the brink or completely shut a vastly more "fancied" team out.

This whole concept of "rankings" is total junk, because it breeds lethargy into the teams that are on top. India will lose match after match and what, go down one or two places on some arbitrary rank? It's ridiculous. The notion that a professional sports team goes out and plays to "move one spot up" on a ranking system is absolutely hilarious. Not a single player gives a shit about where they're "ranked". It's purely for the media and press releases and something for commentators to talk about on air. I've met a ton of professional cricketers and they laugh at the very notion of "rankings". It's meaningless. They don't care.

Cricket is the one sport where, on their day, any team can beat anyone. Where money doesn't buy you a win, no matter how much the BCCI try... where you can have a zillion sponsors on your shirt and you can have nefarious bookies trying to rig matches and the best teams will STILL get up and win. It's a glorious sport, it's why it works and why Test cricket will never die.

India have been totally and comprehensively outclassed by a better team that has simply woken up and realized their full potential. The right mix of talent, age, newcomers and experience in home conditions. It's going to make a great 2015 World Cup because these kinda conditions, as they did in 1992, will level the playing field and the best teams will progress...

That's the beauty of playing in NZ and Australia, is every team is in with a chance and they're not flat-track runways for batsman and spin bowlers on day 5.

 

[AngryPixel]

Although it was a great effort, fact that it is against crappy indian bowlers kind of takes shine away from it

 

[ferg512]

Absolutely phenomenal from McCullum, hopefully he does go on to get the 300. I'm not sure about declaring at all, but would India even go after the total anyway? I have a feeling Dhoni would just take 1-0 instead of going for it and ending up 2-0. When is Indias next test series btw? I'm a big fan of Dhoni but they really might need someone fresh as captain (probably Kohli).

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I also think some people are being far too harsh on the Indian bowling, I think they've done a pretty decent job especially Shami. Its amazing how flat the pitch has gotten since Day 1, not to take anything away from McCullum and Watling though.

 

[grkrama]

Here's my issue: ALL Test playing nations are "Top".

I was mentioning it in context with the post above mine, all the test playing nations are good enough to beat each other on their day.

 

[used2bcool]

Absolutely phenomenal from McCullum, hopefully he does go on to get the 300. I'm not sure about declaring at all, but would India even go after the total anyway? I have a feeling Dhoni would just take 1-0 instead of going for it and ending up 2-0. When is Indias next test series btw? I'm a big fan of Dhoni but they really might need someone fresh as captain (probably Kohli).

Isn't the New Zealand record 299 by Martin Crowe? McCullum's got to go for that. Will India try to chase it? Depends on when McCullum declares. I think if the required run-rate is six or below, they'll at least make a show of going for it and then shut up shop as soon as two wickets go down, so they can go back and say "we tried."

The next tests India play are in England in June.

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That's the beauty of playing in NZ and Australia, is every team is in with a chance and they're not flat-track runways for batsman and spin bowlers on day 5.

Not really. Pitches in New Zealand and Australia tend to take the spinner out of the game, the same way pitches in India tend to take the fast bowler out of the game. To say one is better than the other is personal preference.

 

[surendar]

India have been totally and comprehensively outclassed by a better team that has simply woken up and realized their full potential. The right mix of talent, age, newcomers and experience in home conditions. It's going to make a great 2015 World Cup because these kinda conditions, as they did in 1992, will level the playing field and the best teams will progress...

Disagree. We have lost the battle in SA & NZ which I agree but not by any comprehensive/domination terms. What Aussies did to England is what you call it a 'Domination/Comprehensive!'.

In particular, our defense that we put in SA soil before this tour is one of the best I have seen by Indian team on SA conditions since 1995. SA and NZ earned victories & not by domination. Also just because NZ won now, it doesn't put them in any domination list among the tops. Last time when India toured Kiwiland, it was total domination by teamIndia, but then there was team chemistry.

It is just the matter of overconfidence & poor captaincy & domination of money minded leagues, which has led to the downfall of quality INTL cricket within teamIndia off-late. Our current team is highly potential, but they are not groomed up in right way to play for country. Instead they worry too much on 'useless' leagues and get drained/deviated too easily.

 

[NathanScott45]

My words can't do this knock justice, but I'll give it a go.

This ranks up next to Ponting's 156 at Old Trafford for me. Surreal.

 

[SaiSrini]

Disagree. We have lost the battle in SA & NZ which I agree but not by any comprehensive/domination terms. What Aussies did to England is what you call it a 'Domination/Comprehensive!'.

In particular, our defense that we put in SA soil before this tour is one of the best I have seen by Indian team on SA conditions since 1995. SA and NZ earned victories & not by domination. Also just because NZ won now, it doesn't put them in any domination list among the tops. Last time when India toured Kiwiland, it was total domination by teamIndia, but then there was team chemistry.

It is just the matter of overconfidence & poor captaincy & domination of money minded leagues, which has led to the downfall of quality INTL cricket within teamIndia off-late. Our current team is highly potential, but they are not groomed up in right way to play for country. Instead they worry too much on 'useless' leagues and get drained/deviated too easily.

I agree completely with this post! Also, gives me the opportunity to reply to a proper post than to respond to a troll!

India did way better than expected in SA. Considering NZ's ranking, I would say India underperformed, but our team again is almost completely a new one (barring a few guys) who are getting the first few tastes of overseas cricket. In both games, we got into winning positions (here we even start thinking of an innings win). After thoughts of rattling India with a green top, NZ finally started scoring all these runs on a dead pitch. I have seen positives, quite a bit of it in these last two series. I can see where the issues are, and if fixed, can help India a lot more.