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***Official*** New Zealand in Zimbabwe & Zimbabwe/New Zealand/India ODI Tri-Series
- Thread starter James
- Start date
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
Their much-vaunted batting lineup looks weaker in every match. Their bowling has at least one weak link. They can't clean up batting sides efficiently. Their fielding hasn't been up to the mark. They don't have any decent sense of planning. They're a limited overs joke these days.
Yet, the Indians steamrolled the hapless Zimboks by 161 runs.
Make no mistake, this was a dog-bitten farce like never before. The Indians were sub-par for most of this match, which even had Taibu, the Zimbok captain, upset with them. One match and they now look like modern-day legends. Their weaknesses, which had been exposed in the last three years, were hidden by lack of opposition in this match.
Their shambolic planning doesn't end with air travel goof-ups. You had Venugopal Rao facing a fresh, new ball in both matches. In both matches he was out without scoring. First, he was unsettled by a yorker so fast it was never bowled in a match he had played. Then, he edged an away-going Streak-er to keeper. Do the people in charge know their players? do they know what's good for them? Do they know how they can contribute maximum to the team? No way!
This was an ideal situation to get a Test opener like Gautam Gambhir some much-needed batting practice. Come to think of it, Gambhir is a far better fit in ODI's than all those pretenders picked to open the batting. Ganguly's continued struggles at the top of the order make a strong case for a Test opener in ODI's. He's looked uncomfortable against the rising deliveries and even minnow bowling attacks are getting the better of him. For someone who's got 22 ODI centuries (albeit against pie-throwing attacks most of the time), he's looked helpless against serious pace bowling. Add his problems in fielding and running between wickets and any Test opener would be more valuable.
Dravid's been the most consistent and reliable batsman in the side, but how long can he keep covering for a packed yet non-performing batting lineup? It's now begun to show, just as it has for Sehwag, who missed this match. However, a positive is Kaif's half-century, the quality of the bowling non-attack notwithstanding. Look at the break-up of runs and only 28 runs of 65 were scored in boundaries. A pity he played out too many dot balls- he took 122 deliveries for just 65. Had he stayed on longer, he could have converted that strike rate into something over 80, as he did in Lanka. Still, he found the gaps, pinched the singles and was very unglamorous yet innovative in method- someone the team needs more of, not has-been stars who don't live up to their billing.
This man Yuvraj is strange. Nobody's as prone to moodswings as he is. When he focusses on his batting, he can not only play the role of a frontliner well, but can also build long, decisive partnerships. However, fans have seen more of the other Yuvraj Singh- rash, irresponsible and hot-headed. Trust Yuvraj to come up with a good knock when critics are getting at him. Unfortunately, he follows that up with yet another slump in form. The man has temperamental issues and the sooner they're sorted out, the better.
Dhoni batted the way he should- this time, he was looking towards where he hit the ball, not elsewhere. He's a dangerous batsman facing an old ball and possesses the knock-out blow that all Indian batsmen (sadly, even Sehwag) lack now. While every other batsman was trying hard just to survive, he dared to attack the bowling. His technique may be questionable, but you can never fault him for attitude. His wicketkeeping was not too bad, but he needs o practice harder to make sure there's no repeat of that messy Dravid-like performance behind the stumps in Colombo this year. Agarkar proved his all-round worthlessness yet again, though luckily, there were just two balls left. The Zimbabwean fielding was awful, particuarly a throw from point which missed the stumps, missed the bowler and missed everyone in red as it went to the boundary.
The bowling was never tested, as every batsman looked clueless. It does not matter whether they come out in the middle with bats or not- they'd still get out cheaply. None of them could find an answer to Irfan's swing, even though he was bowling first-change, which he's not good at. Nor could they find an answer to Agarkar's bowling, which was exaggerated by the final figures. Irfan is very raw and not yet refined. Agarkar lacks power and accuracy. Nehra struggles to keep a good line with a new ball. Yet, they fell like nine-pins and looke like breaking their own dubious record of lowest total ever in ODI's.
The Indians hae won this match by a big margin, but whom have they fooled? Nobody. Everyone knows how easy it is even for a reserve team to steamroll the Mad Doctor's Best Men. Everyone who saw the match knows how lucky the Indians were. But look closer and you would know that there are more than a few gaps that need to be plugged. And tweaks that need to be tweaked. And innovation that can help. As well as more aggression, and better initiative. They'll need all of that in the matches that matter.
Yet, the Indians steamrolled the hapless Zimboks by 161 runs.
Make no mistake, this was a dog-bitten farce like never before. The Indians were sub-par for most of this match, which even had Taibu, the Zimbok captain, upset with them. One match and they now look like modern-day legends. Their weaknesses, which had been exposed in the last three years, were hidden by lack of opposition in this match.
Their shambolic planning doesn't end with air travel goof-ups. You had Venugopal Rao facing a fresh, new ball in both matches. In both matches he was out without scoring. First, he was unsettled by a yorker so fast it was never bowled in a match he had played. Then, he edged an away-going Streak-er to keeper. Do the people in charge know their players? do they know what's good for them? Do they know how they can contribute maximum to the team? No way!
This was an ideal situation to get a Test opener like Gautam Gambhir some much-needed batting practice. Come to think of it, Gambhir is a far better fit in ODI's than all those pretenders picked to open the batting. Ganguly's continued struggles at the top of the order make a strong case for a Test opener in ODI's. He's looked uncomfortable against the rising deliveries and even minnow bowling attacks are getting the better of him. For someone who's got 22 ODI centuries (albeit against pie-throwing attacks most of the time), he's looked helpless against serious pace bowling. Add his problems in fielding and running between wickets and any Test opener would be more valuable.
Dravid's been the most consistent and reliable batsman in the side, but how long can he keep covering for a packed yet non-performing batting lineup? It's now begun to show, just as it has for Sehwag, who missed this match. However, a positive is Kaif's half-century, the quality of the bowling non-attack notwithstanding. Look at the break-up of runs and only 28 runs of 65 were scored in boundaries. A pity he played out too many dot balls- he took 122 deliveries for just 65. Had he stayed on longer, he could have converted that strike rate into something over 80, as he did in Lanka. Still, he found the gaps, pinched the singles and was very unglamorous yet innovative in method- someone the team needs more of, not has-been stars who don't live up to their billing.
This man Yuvraj is strange. Nobody's as prone to moodswings as he is. When he focusses on his batting, he can not only play the role of a frontliner well, but can also build long, decisive partnerships. However, fans have seen more of the other Yuvraj Singh- rash, irresponsible and hot-headed. Trust Yuvraj to come up with a good knock when critics are getting at him. Unfortunately, he follows that up with yet another slump in form. The man has temperamental issues and the sooner they're sorted out, the better.
Dhoni batted the way he should- this time, he was looking towards where he hit the ball, not elsewhere. He's a dangerous batsman facing an old ball and possesses the knock-out blow that all Indian batsmen (sadly, even Sehwag) lack now. While every other batsman was trying hard just to survive, he dared to attack the bowling. His technique may be questionable, but you can never fault him for attitude. His wicketkeeping was not too bad, but he needs o practice harder to make sure there's no repeat of that messy Dravid-like performance behind the stumps in Colombo this year. Agarkar proved his all-round worthlessness yet again, though luckily, there were just two balls left. The Zimbabwean fielding was awful, particuarly a throw from point which missed the stumps, missed the bowler and missed everyone in red as it went to the boundary.
The bowling was never tested, as every batsman looked clueless. It does not matter whether they come out in the middle with bats or not- they'd still get out cheaply. None of them could find an answer to Irfan's swing, even though he was bowling first-change, which he's not good at. Nor could they find an answer to Agarkar's bowling, which was exaggerated by the final figures. Irfan is very raw and not yet refined. Agarkar lacks power and accuracy. Nehra struggles to keep a good line with a new ball. Yet, they fell like nine-pins and looke like breaking their own dubious record of lowest total ever in ODI's.
The Indians hae won this match by a big margin, but whom have they fooled? Nobody. Everyone knows how easy it is even for a reserve team to steamroll the Mad Doctor's Best Men. Everyone who saw the match knows how lucky the Indians were. But look closer and you would know that there are more than a few gaps that need to be plugged. And tweaks that need to be tweaked. And innovation that can help. As well as more aggression, and better initiative. They'll need all of that in the matches that matter.
Pratters
Cricket, Lovely Cricket
I do not know why Indian fans get irritated when we beat the minnows. Do you want to lose against Zimbabwe!Anil said:a win against a team that makes even bangladesh look classy...looks like that is all india can expect these days....
Also, yes the batting was poor as has been the case for more than a year for India but surely a win against Zimbabwe should not be looked down upon.
Sir Redman
State Vice-Captain
Yeah I noticed that..."Stewen Fleming", "Chris Craines", "Ham-eesh Marshall"zinzan12 said:
I'm a bit surpised that McMillan did it properly...I remember on the Bangladesh tour he said "Craig McMillan, Right hand bat, right arm fast bowler"
cricket player
International Debutant
I mean you would get abit nervouse in front of the camera and you would want to rush in and finish it as quickly as you can that is the reason most of them gets it wrong,
For example
Harbahjan singh,
He was like
Right arm off spinner
Middle order batsman hahahah
For example
Harbahjan singh,
He was like
Right arm off spinner
Middle order batsman hahahah
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
India looked good against Zim, but I have this feeling that it is the only time they are going to look good in this series.
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
This is getting old, but wins against Zimbabwe don't matter. Wins against title contenders do. They haven't come in years. The Australian team lost to the Bangles and yet they tied the Natwest Series final and won the Natwest challenge. They defeated the title contender and earlier ran them close. That's what mattered.Pratyush said:
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
If any of you have a problem with Dhoni, then find one all-rounder in India who
- Bats exactly like Dhoni, with as much aggression
- Possesses a more-than-useful second skill to fall back on