West Indian Tour of India, 2013: Sachin's 200th Test Appearance

[aditya123]

^^

You have smashed the nail on the head with that summary sir.

Its a frustrating experience following West Indian cricket over the years. When you look at their squads. you cannot help but admire the flair and talent in there. However, when it comes to test match endurance, they lack finesse and patience. What the West Indies need now is a leader like Ganguly, Waugh or Ranatunga to back the match winners in the side. They are playing very soft cricket at the moment.I have always had WI as my second favorite side over the years and they`ve disappointed their fans a lot. Even as an Indian supporter today I was waiting for Sammy to force the play when India were 150/6 but they seemed to sit back and wait for either Ashwin or Sharma to throw their wickets away.

 

[War]

Its a frustrating experience following West Indian cricket over the years. When you look at their squads. you cannot help but admire the flair and talent in there. However, when it comes to test match endurance, they lack finesse and patience. What the West Indies need now is a leader like Ganguly, Waugh or Ranatunga to back the match winners in the side. They are playing very soft cricket at the moment.I have always had WI as my second favorite side over the years and they`ve disappointed their fans a lot. Even as an Indian supporter today I was waiting for Sammy to force the play when India were 150/6 but they seemed to sit back and wait for either Ashwin or Sharma to throw their wickets away.

Ye indeed, a hard edged captain as you say like a Waugh, Ranatunga, Ganguly or Nasser Hussain would be perfect to get them playing hard cricket in tests. As much as people like the cool nature of a Gayle or Bravo who would be natural leaders of the test team on merit, their demeanors probably won't fully help get the players on the field playing to potential.

In Ottis Gibson they certainly have a hard edged coach - but of course the coach doesn't play.

 

[used2bcool]

Just to play the devil's advocate...

Sanjay Manjrekar made a point during the lunchtime show that Darren Sammy's real value to the team is bringing a sense of calm to a bunch of eccentric personalities. Apparently, he's the glue that holds all the talented pieces together. On the other hand, he averages 34 with the ball in tests, and that's not bad. You guys have been clamoring for a hard-edge captain, but who in the current WI setup can fill that role? Certainly not Gayle or Bravo, who are both charismatic but divisive personalities. Who else is there? Chanders is too old. Are there any guys with obvious leadership qualities coming up in the Caribbean domestic or the Caribbean T20?

Nigel Llong hasn't really had the best of tests, has he? And it's not only India who are left ruing the lack of DRS. WI should've had Rohit Sharma before he got to 20, he was dead-to-rights plumb to Shillingford when the score was still 135/5. Replays were pretty inconclusive on Virat Kohli, but on first impression it seemed as though the ball came off the pad.

 

[zeustrojanstark]

A great exhibition of test cricket today. Well played RG Sharma and Ravi Ashwin, hoping to see Ash get to the magical three digit tomorrow.

 

[aditya123]

Just to play the devil's advocate...

Sanjay Manjrekar made a point during the lunchtime show that Darren Sammy's real value to the team is bringing a sense of calm to a bunch of eccentric personalities. Apparently, he's the glue that holds all the talented pieces together. On the other hand, he averages 34 with the ball in tests, and that's not bad. You guys have been clamoring for a hard-edge captain, but who in the current WI setup can fill that role? Certainly not Gayle or Bravo, who are both charismatic but divisive personalities. Who else is there? Chanders is too old. Are there any guys with obvious leadership qualities coming up in the Caribbean domestic or the Caribbean T20?

Nigel Llong hasn't really had the best of tests, has he? And it's not only India who are left ruing the lack of DRS. WI should've had Rohit Sharma before he got to 20, he was dead-to-rights plumb to Shillingford when the score was still 135/5. Replays were pretty inconclusive on Virat Kohli, but on first impression it seemed as though the ball came off the pad.

I have no issues with Sammy being the ODI/T20 captain. He is a consistent ODI/T20 player for WI and a very useful one at that. Its test cricket where I have a problem with his place in the squad. If you look at my post in the previous page, you would clearly see how his selection affects the balance of the squad. As for your question on who could possibly lead them, I have no answer to that but Sammy is no Mike Brearley either to be playing as a captain alone. Maybe they could try and elevate Darren Bravo to a leadership position which might make him a more responsible batsman too. As you pointed out, there is hardly anyone in WI cricket that looks like leadership material. WI, of all sides has always been successful around a good leader. Maybe its because they all basically hail from different countries which is why it becomes doubly necessary to have a good leader at the top. Look at the most successful times in WI cricket and you would see greats like Frank Worrell and Clive Lloyd at the top. Even during the 90s when WI were a force to reckon with, they had Richie Richardson. Unlike the early 2000s to 2010, WI cricket now has a lot of talent. They have the nucleus to challenge sides in Test cricket now and be a real threat even in the 2015 WC if they sort out their lineup and inculcate discipline in the side.

 

[War]

^^

Ye basically. There is this guy Kirk Edwards who has been leading the A-team fairly well & led Barbados to the domestic 4-day title. I was actually surprised he didn't play ahead of Powell who he was outscoring. He could be an option if he can regain test match form, but i don't know if he also is a real rough leader like Ranatugna, Hussain, Ganguly...

 

[SaiSrini]

Awesome day again for India, but this time a more tighter day than Day 1. Excellent stuff from Rohit Sharma! Boy, he is really turning a new and fresh leaf here. Carrying on his ODI form into the test arena is just splendid. Ashwin and Dhoni gave him excellent support, and India are now staring at hopefully a 200+ run lead which should give them a big advantage even though they will bat last.

Excellent batting from Ashwin too! He is a true allrounder. He has scored runs in Australia when almost no one else scored. Hope he gets to his 2nd test century tomorrow. Should be fitting for him to do it. Sachin got an iffy decision and so the umpire is now the villian. Don't want Sachin to get another shot this innings as that would mean India have to chase a decent score which would be highly tricky business on this pitch.

Does anyone else think that Rohit Sharma looks a lot like VVS Laxman in this picture below?

 

[aditya123]

^^

Ye basically. There is this guy Kirk Edwards who has been leading the A-team fairly well & led Barbados to the domestic 4-day title. I was actually surprised he didn't play ahead of Powell who he was outscoring. He could be an option if he can regain test match form, but i don't know if he also is a real rough leader like Ranatugna, Hussain, Ganguly...

Edwards actually struck me as someone with a lot of class the last time he toured India in 2011. He was quite prolific during the 2011 series. I don`t know what happened since then which led to him being dropped.

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Awesome day again for India, but this time a more tighter day than Day 1. Excellent stuff from Rohit Sharma! Boy, he is really turning a new and fresh leaf here. Carrying on his ODI form into the test arena is just splendid. Ashwin and Dhoni gave him excellent support, and India are now staring at hopefully a 200+ run lead which should give them a big advantage even though they will bat last.

Excellent batting from Ashwin too! He is a true allrounder. He has scored runs in Australia when almost no one else scored. Hope he gets to his 2nd test century tomorrow. Should be fitting for him to do it. Sachin got an iffy decision and so the umpire is now the villian. Don't want Sachin to get another shot this innings as that would mean India have to chase a decent score which would be highly tricky business on this pitch.

Does anyone else think that Rohit Sharma looks a lot like VVS Laxman in this picture below?

Actually Sai, the guy who`s batting actually reminds me a lot of VVS is Ashwin. Some of his drives against the spin bears an uncanny resemblance to VVS.

 

[SaiSrini]

Edwards actually struck me as someone with a lot of class the last time he toured India in 2011. He was quite prolific during the 2011 series. I don`t know what happened since then which led to him being dropped.

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Actually Sai, the guy who`s batting actually reminds me a lot of VVS is Ashwin. Some of his drives against the spin bears an uncanny resemblance to VVS.

Yep, I concur with that too. Ashwin's batting style is very VVS like. He is more than just a safe batsman now for India. He has scored in Australia where not many others scored. He is more than just a "cameo" man. I wonder why Dhoni doesn't take Ashwin's batting into account (or should I say seriously?) when he talked about Jadeja's absence affecting the balance of the side.

 

[War]

Edwards actually struck me as someone with a lot of class the last time he toured India in 2011. He was quite prolific during the 2011 series. I don`t know what happened since then which led to him being dropped.

IIRC he went to England 2012 and his technique was exposed by some good English swing bowling.

I have seen him bat since to assess if those technical issues have been properly, but he has been scoring runs this year while captaining the A-team. So he can't be too far away from being recalled & is certainly an option to be their test captain if he can cement a place.

 

[SaiSrini]

Sai, I am eagerly waiting for that. I should accept your point that you made during 2007 World Cup? that watching cricket from US is really pain when matches happen in India.

In particular, when it is on a weekday with having necessity to go to work next day. Am just counting the time to see the little master come out with that magical bat.

Wow, you remember that from 2007? I didn't... And I still true that! Very hard to watch cricket in the US when the games happen in India. And with work these days (those days, I was studying and could do all nighters), I watch only highlights and replays (thanks to Willow.tv).

Did you watch Sachin's innings today? It was goosebumps all over. when he came out, even though the innings was short... Thank god I didn't watch it live, or else I would have abused the umpire so badly and got my BP high. People rejoicing Vijay's wicket because the man next coming out was..... Sachin! And this time, the noise decibels were even louder because they are witnessing one of his very last innings in any form of cricket. I literally wanted to jump out of my seat and into the screen and land at the Eden Gardens. Darn thing, I wish I was there! Its so emotional. Its unbelievable. If its like this for this test, wonder how I am going to pull myself up for the final one. And India better bat first at Wankhede, so Sachin possibly has two chances to bat there. And that final innings of his, ufff... There is going to be tears for sure. Definitely know I am going to be in it. Saurav Ganguly said it beautifully in commentary today when Sachin came out "He has carried Indian cricket on his shoulders.... That Indian flag (pointing to the Indian flag that was shown) suits him the best". Dada nailed it!clap

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Ashwin's style is very similar to VVS. Not to forget Ashwin started his career as an opening batsman for Tamil Nadu at state level.

 

[surendar]

Did you watch Sachin's innings today? It was goosebumps all over. when he came out, even though the innings was short... Thank god I didn't watch it live, or else I would have abused the umpire so badly and got my BP high. People rejoicing Vijay's wicket because the man next coming out was..... Sachin! And this time, the noise decibels were even louder because they are witnessing one of his very last innings in any form of cricket. I literally wanted to jump out of my seat and into the screen and land at the Eden Gardens.

Yeah also have willow & Roku here. Just felt so irritated after Sachin's dismissal that I started watching movie & following DBC play session to divert the frustrations.

Only thing which I hope is, he should atleast end his career( that I feel so sad to type as well ) with a 50+ note like he got his ranji one! I just want him to lift his bat to us for one last milestone! Mumbai is not the place to score high I guess, but am keeping my fingers crossed. Most of my colleagues in chennai have taken a weak off for the final test! Wish that India is only around 6 hours from here.

 

[Aalay]

Well played Ravi Ashwin. His second century in test and also against WI and completely deserved it. His batting in sub-continent has been excellent, even better than Jadeja.

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Well played Rohit. I am really very happy to see Ashwin perform well.