Indian domestic season 2005-06

[Arjun]

OUCH!!! Kaif has pulled a muscle and is off the field. Tendulkar is the acting captain and is making up for his disappointing batting performance so far with attacking captaincy. He got in Harbhajan a lot earlier and that got Dinesh Mongia out on his second ball. Bhajji also got one to bounce straight up and that took an edge off Yusuf Pathan, and Sachin made heavy weather of a slip catch.

 

[Arjun]

These youngsters in action lack hitting power. Shukla charged the in-form Harbhajan and lofted one high up, but it landed well within the ropes, narrowly missed by Irfan. Of course, one can just look back at Uthappa's century.

 

[Pratters]

As long as there's enough interest, those who run the TV or radio channels will start looking at the domestic scene.

Read posts by Aussie, Kiwi or English fans. They have so much to talk about their domestic cricket events. Why can't Indian fans? You want your answers, but you will have to ask your questions first.

Some how that is not true. The main reason for Indian fans not having enough interest is that the BCCI does not care about the domestic scene (which they would if they realised it could be a money making duckling in the waiting). An example of how commercially inclined Dalmiya is-

He says he doesnt like twenty20 cricket and does not see its future in the country as it has 40 percent of match time and hence around 40 percent revenue generation.

The Indian public would watch much more of domestic cricket had there been some care by the BCCI to make calendars to enable top stars to play. The top players play even the club matches so I dont see why they wouldnt Ranji (or atleast Duleep) matches more if the calendar was made a little flexible.

Just look at how much interest a challenger trophy properly generated creates.

So dont blame the indian fan or the cricketers on a whole on this. Blame the board.

 

[Arjun]

Some how that is not true. The main reason for Indian fans not having enough interest is that the BCCI does not care about the domestic scene (which they would if they realised it could be a money making duckling in the waiting). An example of how commercially inclined Dalmiya is-

He says he doesnt like twenty20 cricket and does not see its future in the country as it has 40 percent of match time and hence around 40 percent revenue generation.

The Indian public would watch much more of domestic cricket had there been some care by the BCCI to make calendars to enable top stars to play. The top players play even the club matches so I dont see why they wouldnt Ranji (or atleast Duleep) matches more if the calendar was made a little flexible.

Just look at how much interest a challenger trophy properly generated creates.

So dont blame the indian fan or the cricketers on a whole on this. Blame the board.

Read Sportnetwork ICF. There are fans of Indian cricket from all over the world, who discuss the domestic scene very actively. As for Dalmiya and his sock puppets, don't be surprised if they're out of office sooner than later, and that's what fans want now. Look at how Bindra of PCA is running his association. He's got television cameras, sponsors and full crowds for the Challenger trophy, which is supposed to be minor compared to the Deodhar series.

No doubt all of us want the domestic FC schedule as well as the entire OD system revamped, but honestly, if you're a true Indian cricket fan, you have to look at the domestic scene just as seriously as you follow the national side. I'm sure everyone blames the board, but if the fans collectively show interest in the scene, the media will definitely take notice and sooner or later, so will the board, and sooner if Bindra is in charge.

 

[Sanz]

Those who are comparing Laxman's & Uthapa's century should keep that in mind that because of Uthapa's century India B reached into finals and because of Laxman's slow century India A has to sit out and watch finals from the stands. Besides Laxman is a much better batsman than Uthapa, he has much more experience than Uthapa. Oh and Uthapa was facing a better attack (India A attack was better than India B).

That said, I would still have Laxman over players like Sehwag, Ganguly. One is massively overy hyped ODI player and the other is just cant bat. Also why should SRT be an automatic choice for the team ? Doesn't he need to score some runs and show that 1. he is fit enough to play some cricket 2. He is still in form ?

 

[Sanz]

Look at how Bindra of PCA is running his association. He's got television cameras, sponsors and full crowds for the Challenger trophy, which is supposed to be minor compared to the Deodhar series.

When was the last time India seniors (test/odi players) played in the Deodhar trophy ? I dont think Challenger is minor compared to any other trophy.

Bindra, isn't he the same guy who accused Kapil Dev of Match Fixing because he wanted to get some attention ?

 

[Dasa]

Those who are comparing Laxman's & Uthapa's century should keep that in mind that because of Uthapa's century India B reached into finals and because of Laxman's slow century India A has to sit out and watch finals from the stands. Besides Laxman is a much better batsman than Uthapa, he has much more experience than Uthapa. Oh and Uthapa was facing a better attack (India A attack was better than India B).

What slow century?? 115 balls for 100 is pretty good going - add to that the over Laxman was out he'd already taken 9 off it...if anything, blame the batsmen after Laxman for not going on with it. They added only 43 runs in 49 balls after he was out. If the whole team scored at the same pace Laxman did, they would have made 270+.

That said, I would still have Laxman over players like Sehwag, Ganguly. One is massively overy hyped ODI player and the other is just cant bat. Also why should SRT be an automatic choice for the team ? Doesn't he need to score some runs and show that 1. he is fit enough to play some cricket 2. He is still in form ?

SRT should be an automatic choice because he is one of the best batsmen the world has ever seen and is the best ODI opener ever.

 

[Arjun]

When was the last time India seniors (test/odi players) played in the Deodhar trophy ? I dont think Challenger is minor compared to any other trophy.

It's just a workout for the Indian team against two reserve teams, on flat pitches, spanning just four days. You can't decide much on this series. The Deodhar, on the other hand, has the best players from each zone coming together, and there's enough played between all teams to get a clear picture. That's why the national team regulars should turn up for this series more often.

 

[Arjun]

blame the batsmen after Laxman for not going on with it. They added only 43 runs in 49 balls after he was out. If the whole team scored at the same pace Laxman did, they would have made 270+.

That's waht I just said. There's an obvious lack of power in these batting sides. None of them really looked like tearing into the bowling in the final overs, once Laxman was gone. Equally bizarre was the exclusion of Ramesh Powar, who could have made a difference in those overs.

 

[Sanz]

What slow century?? 115 balls for 100 is pretty good going - add to that the over Laxman was out he'd already taken 9 off it...if anything, blame the batsmen after Laxman for not going on with it. They added only 43 runs in 49 balls after he was out. If the whole team scored at the same pace Laxman did, they would have made 270+.

100 in 115 balls is slow especially if it is made by a batsman who has been playing international cricket for 8 years now and against a 3rd best India attack.

SRT should be an automatic choice because he is one of the best batsmen the
world has ever seen and is the best ODI opener ever.

No matter how poor his form is ?? Well then what is the prupose of domestic cricket then if we are going to select players on the basis of their reputation and not their form. Sehwag, Ganguly, SRT, ZK, Harbhajan Singh are going to get into the team despite their poor form.

 

[Sanz]

It's just a workout for the Indian team against two reserve teams, on flat pitches, spanning just four days. You can't decide much on this series. The Deodhar, on the other hand, has the best players from each zone coming together, and there's enough played between all teams to get a clear picture. That's why the national team regulars should turn up for this series more often.

So apart from playing 50 ODIs and 10-15 tests each year the national players should play in Ranji, Irani, Deodhar Trophy, Challenger trophy as well ?.

 

[Pratters]

if you're a true Indian cricket fan, you have to look at the domestic scene just as seriously as you follow the national side. I'm sure everyone blames the board, but if the fans collectively show interest in the scene, the media will definitely take notice and sooner or later, so will the board, and sooner if Bindra is in charge.

Bindra was in charge earlier and no domestic cricket didnt change much during the period.

And I do not have to prove whether I am a true fan or not having followed right from 1991, gone to see domestic matches and met, went out with players while on domestic tours in the city.

You expect true indian fans to raise the stature of the game and not the board? That is not the best way of looking at it I am afraid. There are some true fans, but the scenario should be such that newer fans are attracted to the game. You cannot expect fans apart from the hard core ones to go on following a domestic game with lack of interest from the board and demotivated players playing.

A former test player (who I would not like to name and it is up to you to trust me or not on this) who said that he should have completed education first before concentrating on the game after he was left to playing the domestic game after a brief international career.

I have many issues of Indian Cricket Almanack and follow domestc cricket but you cannot expect just so many of us, some people on some other forums to raise the stature of the domestic game. There are many many people who have to be tapped which only the board can do through some initiative.

And it is not that difficult - the Challenger trophy being a prime example.

 

[Dasa]

100 in 115 balls is slow especially if it is made by a batsman who has been playing international cricket for 8 years now and against a 3rd best India attack.

I don't understand that line of thinking at all.. how fast should he have scored then??

No matter how poor his form is ?? Well then what is the prupose of domestic cricket then if we are going to select players on the basis of their reputation and not their form. Sehwag, Ganguly, SRT, ZK, Harbhajan Singh are going to get into the team despite their poor form.

The point is SRT can reasonably be expected to perform acceptably even when in bad form. You can't assume he's in bad form because he's not played in a while.

 

[Pratters]

No matter how poor his form is ?? Well then what is the prupose of domestic cricket then if we are going to select players on the basis of their reputation and not their form.

I agree with you partially there Sanz. Reputation should indeed mean nothing while selecting a player. However domestic cricket performance is not the only/most important criteria for selection of international players. How much of domestic cricket has Mcgrath played?

Also a player may be out of the game for a period and still may deserve to be in a rest of the world side like many people felt of Bond.

When selectors choose a player, they see who is likely to perform in a forthcoming match/series based on past performances, feelings of the selectors. If a player has scored heavily but the selectors feel he may not be a success he may be omitted - Rathore didnt become an international success. A player, as you said, with past reputation maybe dropped for the same reason - remember what happened to Ian Healy.

 

[Sanz]

Gilchrist out !!!

 

[Sanz]

However domestic cricket performance is not the only/most important criteria for selection of international players. How much of domestic cricket has Mcgrath played?

If a player is playing international cricket means he wont get much chance to play in domestic cricket. Therefore for such players their performance in International cricket should be the criteria for selection. Players like ZK, HSingh, VSehwag have been faling at international level (in ODIs) for a while now and need to be dropped and should go back to domestic cricket and try to get their form back.

As far as Mcgrath is concerned, let me remind you that Mcgrath was injured for almost 7-8 months during the 2003-04 season and when he got fit, he did play domestic cricket to prove his fitness and his form to the selectors. Despite declaring his fitness, Mcgrath was not selected for Australia's tour of Sri Lanka.

 

[Sanz]

I don't understand that line of thinking at all.. how fast should he have scored then??

On a flat pitch against pedestrian bowlers, 100 in 115 balls by a batsman of Laxman's calibre isn't really a great effort. Laxman was there for majority of the innings with Raina, he as the captain and the more experienced player should have scored faster. While his century helped his team get to a decent score, it obviously wasn't a match winning total and the responsible person has to be the men who spent most time in the middle.

You can't assume he's in bad form because he's not played in a while.

I am not assuming that, it is evident from his performance in Challenger truphy. Besides it is not only about his form, it is also about his injury. He hasn't stay long enough in the middle to convince any one that his injury has healed completely.

 

[Pratters]

If a player is playing international cricket means he wont get much chance to play in domestic cricket. Therefore for such players their performance in International cricket should be the criteria for selection. Players like ZK, HSingh, VSehwag have been faling at international level (in ODIs) for a while now and need to be dropped and should go back to domestic cricket and try to get their form back.

As far as Mcgrath is concerned, let me remind you that Mcgrath was injured for almost 7-8 months during the 2003-04 season and when he got fit, he did play domestic cricket to prove his fitness and his form to the selectors. Despite declaring his fitness, Mcgrath was not selected for Australia's tour of Sri Lanka.

I will not discuss specific players as we may have varying views on who should be dropped and who should be persisted with.

My point is - despite international failure for a period a player may not necassarily be dropped from an international team if the selectors feel he is going through a phase and is going to come out strong. An example of this would be Atapattu.

Regarding Mcgrath I did not mention him in the specific of coming back from an injury. I do agree players should be able to prove match fitness in some form. I mentioned in the vein of not playing domestic cricket due to playing international cricket adressed earlier.

 

[Arjun]

On a flat pitch against pedestrian bowlers, 100 in 115 balls by a batsman of Laxman's calibre isn't really a great effort. Laxman was there for majority of the innings with Raina, he as the captain and the more experienced player should have scored faster. While his century helped his team get to a decent score, it obviously wasn't a match winning total and the responsible person has to be the men who spent most time in the middle.

Laxman faced the attack's frontliners, while Uthappa hammered the India-A team's bits-and-pieces brigade more often. That said, what great thing did the batsmen after Laxman do? He set it up nicely for a blistering finish to the innings, but they all just caved in meekly. Rather than blame Laxman for being 'too slow', you should blame the lack of power in the middle and lower order of the Inida-A batting for the collapse in the final overs.

 

[honestbharani]

They sneaked in that net-run-rate ranking.

that system is wrong. the net run rate should only come in when the head to head is even, not the other way around.