***Official*** India in Australia

[honestbharani]

I agree, the approach is the problem not a lack of talent. I think part of the problem is the plaudits gained by cricketers in the subcontinent for doing largely nothing. With such a large fan base, small successes are wildly celebrated and failures are glossed over or blamed on something outside the boundaries of the team (obviously this is not the case all the time). A more realistic approach is needed before any improvement is shown in my opinion.

I think Dravid was one of the guys who said that the media and the fans lacked a sense of perspective or proportion, to be exact....



Makes a lot of sense... The irony is that he himself is becoming the star victim of the same lack of "proportion" in the Indian media and amongst the Indian fans.


And AFAIC, we do need to drop Dravid simply because he is not in good form and we don't have batsmen in good enough nick around him to carry him the way we did with Sachin in his rough patch... And he doesn't look as though he is all that positive with his thoughts at the moment, while batting and that never helps...

 

[Son Of Coco]

In short they need to kill the 'celebrity culture' in the cricket and focus on building real success right?

Yes, that's how I would have said it if I wasn't incapable of posting without rambling

 

[sideshowtim]

I agree, the approach is the problem not a lack of talent. I think part of the problem is the plaudits gained by cricketers in the subcontinent for doing largely nothing. With such a large fan base, small successes are wildly celebrated and failures are glossed over or blamed on something outside the boundaries of the team (obviously this is not the case all the time). A more realistic approach is needed before any improvement is shown in my opinion.

Yep. The reaction in India to the T20 WC victory was absolutely idiotic. I'm sorry, but winning such a tournament is indeed a minimal success, less than winning even the Champions Trophy and such an enormous reaction wasn't justified.

 

[Perm]

Yep. The reaction in India to the T20 WC victory was absolutely idiotic. I'm sorry, but winning such a tournament is indeed a minimal success, less than winning even the Champions Trophy and such an enormous reaction wasn't justified.

That's bollocks. If Australia had won that tournament, then you'd be hailing it as a great success and a triumph over an unfamiliar format of the game.

India were without Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, their four most experienced players and four of the greatest servants of Indian cricket. It was MS Dhoni's first series as captain UIMM, with several relatively unknown players like Rohit Sharma, RP Singh etc, and they managed to win the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship. It was a very, very fine acheivement.

 

[social]

In short they need to kill the 'celebrity culture' in the cricket and focus on building real success right?

Nice in theory but .....

I live in Dubai and on the main drag there are huge billboards of Dhoni promoting motorcycles and some members of the Indian team promoting Pepsi.

Both brands have achieved substantial increases in market share this year so those promotions will only increase

Further, due to large proportion of population having roots in sub-continent, overwhelming focus of cricket media is upon teams from that region and particularly India.

Funny thing is that the majority of Indians I talk to here (once they find out I'm Australian, they love talking cricket) are pretty balanced, however the players would not be given that impression and would undoubtedly think of themselves as celebrities - only natural given their exposure

 

[honestbharani]

Nice in theory but .....

I live in Dubai and on the main drag there are huge billboards of Dhoni promoting motorcycles and some members of the Indian team promoting Pepsi.

Both brands have achieved substantial increases in market share this year so those promotions will only increase

Further, due to large proportion of population having roots in sub-continent, overwhelming focus of cricket media is upon teams from that region and particularly India.

Funny thing is that the majority of Indians I talk to here (once they find out I'm Australian, they love talking cricket) are pretty balanced, however the players would not be given that impression and would undoubtedly think of themselves as celebrities - only natural given their exposure

It is the casual fans, really... There is a difference between the INDIAN fans and the cricket fans in INdia..... The former are the guys who ONLY watch matches involving India even if they have the chance to watch other matches.... and it is they who generally tend to react in the extremes... And more than the fans, it is the media... They want to impress kids and adolescents for their products.. Pepsi, bikes etc. thrive on being COOL. And the only way to be identified as COOL is by targetting that particular demographic. Once ur brand is popular with kids and teens, you are always seen as a COOL brand and even the elder guys tend to start buying these stuff juz so that they are seen to be COOL... And that is how the whole superstar culture has come in... Juz my two cents... I don't think even the players like it that much..

 

[social]

I don't think even the players like it that much..

Good luck to the players but earning huge amounts of money for doing little more than being in the team must have an impact on some players' motivation/assessment of their own abilities

Furthermore, if they dont like it, dont take the money

 

[Pratters]

I am tired of ''not enough batting practise ''excuse .Why couldn't they score more in the seond innings then, at least could have stayed in the pitch for the practise sake .

It isn't really an excuse. Adjusting to another country is difficult, believe it or not, even for professionals.

 

[Pratters]

No offense, but if that's Dravid looking good then there're some problems.

Compared to how he has looked earlier, the tour game and that second inning was an improvement. His footwork was much better than in the first inning and in that is a big positive sign.

 

[silentstriker]

And AFAIC, we do need to drop Dravid simply because he is not in good form and we don't have batsmen in good enough nick around him to carry him the way we did with Sachin in his rough patch... And he doesn't look as though he is all that positive with his thoughts at the moment, while batting and that never helps...

Um......no. No way. Form or not, he is still your best batsman.

Good luck to the players but earning huge amounts of money for doing little more than being in the team must have an impact on some players' motivation/assessment of their own abilities

Furthermore, if they dont like it, dont take the money

Well, they are going to get criticized and worshiped whether they take the money or not.

 

[funnygirl]

It isn't really an excuse. Adjusting to another country is difficult, believe it or not, even for professionals.

okay ,i would have felt much better had they stayed at the wicket at least for 10 overs even without much scoring .

 

[pasag]

Only caught highlights on youtube of the first Test but was very disappointed to miss a quality Test, or so it seemed. Full credit to India for their first innings bowling performances, Kumble in particular was superb. It's not often you see sides pegging back Australia after 0-130 odd and to do that was excellent on their part I thought. Their batting let them down, but I thought it might be expected with no real solid preparations.

Fully expect them to come back though and it should be a gun series, still. Very pleased with the Australian openers and bowlers, also loving Lee's form, proving (to me anyways) what I knew all along with regards to what he's capable of. Hoping Ponting is in the runs in the next Test as well.

Btw was there a CW meet up at the Test and if so, Pics???

 

[skipper]

That's bollocks. If Australia had won that tournament, then you'd be hailing it as a great success and a triumph over an unfamiliar format of the game.

India were without Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, their four most experienced players and four of the greatest servants of Indian cricket. It was MS Dhoni's first series as captain UIMM, with several relatively unknown players like Rohit Sharma, RP Singh etc, and they managed to win the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship. It was a very, very fine acheivement.

Perm, I don't take this 'they had no experience' arguement. T20 is a relatively new format, AK/RD/ST/SG's experience (in tests and one days) doesn't count in my opinion. So, effectively whether the Indian experienced players played or not, it didn't matter. Everyone is new to this format. Young Indian players simply adjusted to this format better than their counterparts and won the tournament, pretty simple!

 

[Perm]

Perm, I don't take this 'they had no experience' arguement. T20 is a relatively new format, AK/RD/ST/SG's experience (in tests and one days) doesn't count in my opinion. So, effectively whether the Indian experienced players played or not, it didn't matter. Everyone is new to this format. Young Indian players simply adjusted to this format better than their counterparts and won the tournament, pretty simple!

International experience is entirely different to having played lots of Twenty20 cricket. The international experience that India were without when those four players (all over 32 I think) was absolutely immense, not to mention the skills that they also have. To win the Twenty20 World Cup without your four best and most experienced players is something special.

 

[Nate]

Any Sydneysiders going along to the Test? Will be there Thursday.

 

[skipper]

International experience is entirely different to having played lots of Twenty20 cricket. The international experience that India were without when those four players (all over 32 I think) was absolutely immense, not to mention the skills that they also have. To win the Twenty20 World Cup without your four best and most experienced players is something special.

Ponting, Jayasuriya had loads of International experience. Rohit Sharma had none. I think I made my point clear enough.

 

[Pratters]

India 196 & 161 (74.0 ov), Even with both innings, India only managing 357

And? There was every possibility that India would crap up. Every one knew that. The rolls eyes was there for a reason.

 

[Perm]

Ponting, Jayasuriya had loads of International experience. Rohit Sharma had none. I think I made my point clear enough.

As a unit India had very little experience, yet were still able to succeed. They should be given much more credit than they got, particularly from some of the international posters on CW.

 

[haroon510]

And? There was every possibility that India would crap up. Every one knew that. The rolls eyes was there for a reason.

yep and lets hope that the "crap up" of indian cricket team continues and we see consistancy on it lol

wow my first post of 2008 and incidently against the well of indian cricket team lol

 

[gettingbetter]

Surely the Indian team is the only one who could possibly make such a stupid decision by bringing Sehwag back into the team. Sure it may pay of, but its like cahsing in poker, you just don't do it. It may just be all the Australian media I have been reading, but everyone seems to want Sehwag back in the team. The Indian team has done its best to exclude from Indian circles, but for some reason they pick him in the squad - sense no making.

Now, I see a few problems. Why not revert back to Dinesh opening? The Jaffer-Dinesh combination has been quite properous for India. Another issue arises if Sehwag fails, 3 opening combinations in 3 games or do you stick with him?