New prodigy creates history

[tooextracool]

Also, speaking on mismanagement, I think the selectors dont seem to have a clue with what their bowling attack should look like over the past decade or so. Sometimes it feels like they pull names out of a hat to decide what constitutes the Indian pace bowling attack especially in ODIs.

Praveen Kumar should have been given a go by now to be honest, hes playing the wrong format. Pathan shouldn't play another game in any format.

 

[Jono]

Yeah that Munaf debut was great, but let's not pretend like the guy doesn't have an attitude problem.

 

[tooextracool]

Im sure he does, and so does Sreesanth. But, I think thats part of the management's responsibility to be able to handle people with fragile temperaments and poor attitudes. The talent is there to work with both of these players. Tossing them in t20s and watching them get carted around the park when it is painfully obvious that none of them should be playing that format is not the way to treat your bowlers.

 

[Teja.]

Reckon' It's a case of the selectors thinking "We're winning anyway, Why make changes in a winning team?. It's a ******** way to look at it IMO.

The truth is we've been relying heavily on one bowler in the form of his life who has previously been a 33-35 bowler for most of his career bar a few awesome spells. Ishant and Sree our other two 'main' pacers are terribly inconsistent and not even Johnson-esque good when they're good.

There is a chance that Zaheer will continue to average <25 for 2-3 more seasons, but the probability of that happening is very minuscule. Chances are he'll go back to being an average bowler. When that happens, We're ****ed.

So, We need to play the likes of Munaf and Praveen who are proven domestic performers until Sree and Ishant regain some sort of form so that when Zaheer gets injured/loses his current form, We have 2 test class bowlers to fall back upon, if not 2 wunderkidz.

 

[Cricket_God]

On Ishant, there is obviously something to work with and yes he has potential especially given that he is still only what 22? But, the way the entire country went gung-ho about a guy who could just about land a ball on the square at a good pace was a bit ridiculous. If Ishant was 27 years old and had performed the way he has over the past couple of years, I'd have not even bothered watching him bowl twice. Personally, I don't see much difference between Ishant and a young Stuart Broad.

Now a performance like this on debut is always more likely to catch my attention:

HowSTAT! Match Scorecard

There is a difference ishant bowled well against the like of hayden,gilly,ponting, when they were in decent form and bowled well on indian tracks where there was little help where as broad is one dimensional bowler.

 

[tooextracool]

There is a difference ishant bowled well against the like of hayden,gilly,ponting, when they were in decent form and bowled well on indian tracks where there was little help where as broad is one dimensional bowler.

Hard to see how Ishant isn't a one dimensional bowler myself.

 

[silentstriker]

There is one good path to becoming a good bowler. Pay, bribe, beg and steal and get him to England to play for a club or county or something. The coaching and support he needs to grow will not be found in India. Let him learn his trade for three to five years there. Then, when he is 22-23, and has multiple full seasons of county cricket and/or Ranji trophy behind him, when he knows his strengths and weaknesses, when he knows how to handle a large workload over a season, when he knows how to work out a batsman and bowl on different pitches, when he knows how to keep himself fit and ready day after day and game after game, when he knows about the profession and life of cricket rather than being a wide-eyed young kid who just runs in, and when he can do all that on a consistent basis in FC cricket....then you call him up. Or you call him up in a couple months, let him take a few wickets for a year, and then stunt his growth permanently.


Chances of the former happening are somewhat smaller than me marrying Jessica Alba tomorrow. Hence, a future participant in the wheel of mediocrity.

 

[tooextracool]

Certainly transformed Zaheer from a mediocre bowler to a very good one. County cricket has fostered the growth of so many international cricketers from across the world with the exception of our own players.

 

[Teja.]

There is one good path to becoming a good bowler. Pay, bribe, beg and steal and get him to England to play for a club or county or something. The coaching and support he needs to grow will not be found in India. Let him learn his trade for three to five years there. Then, when he is 22-23, and has multiple full seasons of county cricket and/or Ranji trophy behind him, when he knows his strengths and weaknesses, when he knows how to handle a large workload over a season, when he knows how to work out a batsman and bowl on different pitches, when he knows how to keep himself fit and ready day after day and game after game, when he knows about the profession and life of cricket rather than being a wide-eyed young kid who just runs in, and when he can do all that on a consistent basis in FC cricket....then you call him up. Or you call him up in a couple months, let him take a few wickets for a year, and then stunt his growth permanently.


Chances of the former happening are somewhat smaller than me marrying Jessica Alba tomorrow. Hence, a future participant in the wheel of mediocrity.

AWTA

This post also reminded me of this:-

Abraham Lincoln's letter to his Son's Teacher

He will have to learn, I know,
that all men are not just,
all men are not true.
But teach him also that
for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,
there is a dedicated leader…
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,

Steer him away from envy,
if you can,
teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that
the bullies are the easiest to lick…
Teach him, if you can,
the wonder of books…
But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him
it is far honourable to fail
than to cheat…
Teach him to have faith
in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him
they are wrong…
Teach him to be gentle
with gentle people,
and tough with the tough.


Try to give my son
the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon…
Teach him to listen to all men…
but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good
that comes through.

Teach him if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad…
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness…
Teach him to sell his brawn
and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag
on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears
to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he’s right.
Treat him gently,
but do not cuddle him,
because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage
to be impatient…
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always
to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have
sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do…
He is such a fine little fellow,
my son!

 

[vcs]

There is one good path to becoming a good bowler. Pay, bribe, beg and steal and get him to England to play for a club or county or something. The coaching and support he needs to grow will not be found in India. Let him learn his trade for three to five years there. Then, when he is 22-23, and has multiple full seasons of county cricket and/or Ranji trophy behind him, when he knows his strengths and weaknesses, when he knows how to handle a large workload over a season, when he knows how to work out a batsman and bowl on different pitches, when he knows how to keep himself fit and ready day after day and game after game, when he knows about the profession and life of cricket rather than being a wide-eyed young kid who just runs in, and when he can do all that on a consistent basis in FC cricket....then you call him up. Or you call him up in a couple months, let him take a few wickets for a year, and then stunt his growth permanently.


Chances of the former happening are somewhat smaller than me marrying Jessica Alba tomorrow. Hence, a future participant in the wheel of mediocrity.

Quality post.

 

[Checkmate]

Nah, Sree is a star. Ridiculously talented and I like the aggression.

Devilishly handsome guy too tbh.

Agree 100%. One of my favorite cricketers currently... plus he's a Malayalee

 

[Themer]

Nah, Sree is a star. Ridiculously talented and I like the aggression..

Sree is pretty rank in my opinion. Nothing more than a run of the mill swing bowler without a particularly good record.

And he isn't aggressive he's a petty child. I was at the match he bowled a beamer to Pietersen (obviously on purpose as he'd also bowled a bigger no ball than a spot fixing Pakistani). He came and fielded right in front of us so we started booing loudly. Turned round and starting shouting and screaming.

Many laughs were had.

 

[Checkmate]

Sree is pretty rank in my opinion. Nothing more than a run of the mill swing bowler without a particularly good record.

And he isn't aggressive he's a petty child. I was at the match he bowled a beamer to Pietersen (obviously on purpose as he'd also bowled a bigger no ball than a spot fixing Pakistani). He came and fielded right in front of us so we started booing loudly. Turned round and starting shouting and screaming.

Many laughs were had.

He's aggressive when he's bowling is what he means. The beamer was definitely not on purpose...

 

[Daemon]

I'd much rather have Mithun than Ishant or Sreesanth

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Feel sorry for the lad.The pressure and expectation on him will be immense now.Good luck to him but he has set a standard he will find hard to follow up.I just hope he is given time to develop and learn his trade before being shoved into the national side.

 

[Daemon]

Why is everyone assuming he will make it to the national side o.o

 

[Themer]

Yeah. Pressure will be immense on him to become this Waqar-esque player now. From looking at the video he seems to have enough pace (at least for his age he should gain a few yards when he's filled out a bit) and has a strong looking action. Obviously gets the swing as well. It'll all depend on how he's looked after from here on in.

But you have to take one performance with a pinch of salt. Hell Otis Gibson got a 10 fer but was nothing more than a County journeyman.

 

[Cricket_God]

Hard to see how Ishant isn't a one dimensional bowler myself.

Ishant in form has both incutter and offcutter and a great slower ball.

 

[Cricket_God]

I'd much rather have Mithun than Ishant or Sreesanth

Thank god you are not a selector

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah. Pressure will be immense on him to become this Waqar-esque player now. From looking at the video he seems to have enough pace (at least for his age he should gain a few yards when he's filled out a bit) and has a strong looking action. Obviously gets the swing as well. It'll all depend on how he's looked after from here on in.

But you have to take one performance with a pinch of salt. Hell Otis Gibson got a 10 fer but was nothing more than a County journeyman.

Gibson was ridiculously immense for that whole season though. He was certainly bowling better than country journeyman status at the end of his career.