Snippets on Cricket Matches this week
It was long week end and nothing could be better than looking forward to following few good games of cricket matches. There were two outstanding matches played .. One a One day international and the other a fifth day battle between two teams to get to the number one ranking in Test Cricket.
The first was a match between Pakistan and India.. hang on .. the teams did not have Dhoni, Zaheer or a Virat neither a Misbah ,Afridi or a Umar Gul.. So what was this all about.. it was the Quarter Final of the U-19 World Cup Cricket match .. Does not matter whether it is U -19 or U -15 or any age group. Any Pakistan India match is intense with great emotional attachment and the results can be painful but we all know who has to win.
Now , do not underestimate this U -19 World cup matches . This has been the stage from where most of the current cricketing stars have grown to be the big guys…. The list is long … and the Commentary team for these matches boast of Big Boys as well-- Alan Wilkins, Waseem Akram, Ian Chappel and so you know how important this is….
In the quarter final match to decide the team that goes to the semis .Pakistan batted first ( 50 over game ) and were soon in trouble with some great slip catching and were 99 for eight before they made 136. That looked too small a total to defend. But Pakistan’s pace attack was too good ( they seem to produce outstanding fast bowlers ) . India reeling at eight for three, were pulled out by Aparajit ( Chennai boy—watch out for him to go places ) and were 120 for five… Now at that stage it seemed easy for a Indian Win. No.. A tumble of wickets and we were 127 for nine.. 11 to win and the last pair at the crease. Pakistan bowled out their pacemen’s quota and that did the trick for India. With no paceman available, it left two left arm spinners operating and that was no threat. Runs came now and then and over a period of eight overs. Harmeet Singh was trying his best to throw his bat .. the other guy Sandeep Sharma defended and defended. Finally , the winning run came. A win by a whisker.. ( India is now in the finals having won the semis as well – So good show by the U 19 boys ).
Watch out for the following guys for the future: UnmkutChand , Aparajit, Ravikant Singh , Sandeep Sharma , Smit Patel and Vijay Zol—they are all immensely talented but need to keep their focus on the game and need to be mentored as they grow through the ranks. It is important that they be mentored as many a time fame and quick Page 3 exposure can ruin their talented careers… BCCI : Are you looking at this ?
The second match was the final test and the final day .. England needing close to 350 to win, showed great character and defiance in chasing that total on the last day. In spite of losing the top order to the SA menacing seam attack, Trott, Bairstow, Prior and Swann attacked the old ball with gusto. Prior and Swann in fact brought nerves to the South African Skipper …. Great attacking shots and the intent was to bring down the target before the second new ball was available to SA. It was exciting as the attack went merrily till Swann got out.. you are right .. He was run out. Swann really got the match interesting as his shot making was unorthodox and suddenly , SA did not have answers to this onslaught . But merry things soon ended -- with the new ball, SA cleaned England up to win the three test match series 2- 0 and be the number one team in the world in Test Cricket. SA deserved it and I think are such a strong team with all the players in form ( be it the batters or bowlers )..
Now who is the Coach of this side.. none other than Gary Kirsten… ( ex-Indian Coach )Now what magic does this man have to to get teams up to the NO 1 ranking. Surely , there must be something special..
I was wondering why did BCCI agree for him to leave after he took the Indian team to the No1 ranking and the One day title last year ? Does BCCI not have any Retention tools ? Something for the BCCI honchos to think about .. With a Corporate leader at the helm of BCCI , I am sure BCCI is looking at this ….
The first was a match between Pakistan and India.. hang on .. the teams did not have Dhoni, Zaheer or a Virat neither a Misbah ,Afridi or a Umar Gul.. So what was this all about.. it was the Quarter Final of the U-19 World Cup Cricket match .. Does not matter whether it is U -19 or U -15 or any age group. Any Pakistan India match is intense with great emotional attachment and the results can be painful but we all know who has to win.
Now , do not underestimate this U -19 World cup matches . This has been the stage from where most of the current cricketing stars have grown to be the big guys…. The list is long … and the Commentary team for these matches boast of Big Boys as well-- Alan Wilkins, Waseem Akram, Ian Chappel and so you know how important this is….
In the quarter final match to decide the team that goes to the semis .Pakistan batted first ( 50 over game ) and were soon in trouble with some great slip catching and were 99 for eight before they made 136. That looked too small a total to defend. But Pakistan’s pace attack was too good ( they seem to produce outstanding fast bowlers ) . India reeling at eight for three, were pulled out by Aparajit ( Chennai boy—watch out for him to go places ) and were 120 for five… Now at that stage it seemed easy for a Indian Win. No.. A tumble of wickets and we were 127 for nine.. 11 to win and the last pair at the crease. Pakistan bowled out their pacemen’s quota and that did the trick for India. With no paceman available, it left two left arm spinners operating and that was no threat. Runs came now and then and over a period of eight overs. Harmeet Singh was trying his best to throw his bat .. the other guy Sandeep Sharma defended and defended. Finally , the winning run came. A win by a whisker.. ( India is now in the finals having won the semis as well – So good show by the U 19 boys ).
Watch out for the following guys for the future: UnmkutChand , Aparajit, Ravikant Singh , Sandeep Sharma , Smit Patel and Vijay Zol—they are all immensely talented but need to keep their focus on the game and need to be mentored as they grow through the ranks. It is important that they be mentored as many a time fame and quick Page 3 exposure can ruin their talented careers… BCCI : Are you looking at this ?
The second match was the final test and the final day .. England needing close to 350 to win, showed great character and defiance in chasing that total on the last day. In spite of losing the top order to the SA menacing seam attack, Trott, Bairstow, Prior and Swann attacked the old ball with gusto. Prior and Swann in fact brought nerves to the South African Skipper …. Great attacking shots and the intent was to bring down the target before the second new ball was available to SA. It was exciting as the attack went merrily till Swann got out.. you are right .. He was run out. Swann really got the match interesting as his shot making was unorthodox and suddenly , SA did not have answers to this onslaught . But merry things soon ended -- with the new ball, SA cleaned England up to win the three test match series 2- 0 and be the number one team in the world in Test Cricket. SA deserved it and I think are such a strong team with all the players in form ( be it the batters or bowlers )..
Now who is the Coach of this side.. none other than Gary Kirsten… ( ex-Indian Coach )Now what magic does this man have to to get teams up to the NO 1 ranking. Surely , there must be something special..
I was wondering why did BCCI agree for him to leave after he took the Indian team to the No1 ranking and the One day title last year ? Does BCCI not have any Retention tools ? Something for the BCCI honchos to think about .. With a Corporate leader at the helm of BCCI , I am sure BCCI is looking at this ….
Comments
RVR
Ganesh Ex FBSC
Atleast the current breed have better killer instinct and fight till the end. It was a great match.
Regards
Partha