tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21636894.post7878935508157181339..comments2024-03-18T23:33:45.536-07:00Comments on A CRICKETING VIEW: Dominica Is BafflingKartikeya Datehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03512491310629949028noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21636894.post-19893697648485948012011-07-12T09:04:58.187-07:002011-07-12T09:04:58.187-07:00...and just because the twenty 20 era has shown ho......and just because the twenty 20 era has shown how a bunch of runs can be scored in 15 overs, should this influence test cricket?Neville Fernandesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21636894.post-16643819961960826662011-07-12T06:49:31.247-07:002011-07-12T06:49:31.247-07:00I followed the match through Cricinfo's live s...I followed the match through Cricinfo's live scoreboard online. Which means i did not see any live footage or had any clue about how easy/hard it was to score runs. My sense was that it was not a pitch where you took a chance to try to win the game if you did not have enough time. I don't think the Indian team is made up of heroes. They are admirable men who have learnt to work as a team and the team has been winning games. In my opinion, it was a good tactical decision by the Indian team to not try and win this particular test. <br />By the way, this view is after an interesting experience that convinced me that India did the right thing. I thought India started its fourth innings on day four (don't ask me why). So when i saw the target and the time we had,I thought India would easily reach it by the next day. The challenge, then was really for Dravid and Laxman to just not lose any wickets and leave the target to be achieved the next day. To my shock, when i checked the score at 5.15pm, I was surprised to see that it was actually day 5 and the match was drawn. This clearly tells me that the Indian team did the sensible thing. There just wasn't enough time on this pitch to play to win.Neville Fernandesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21636894.post-85278582651148110842011-07-12T06:46:44.557-07:002011-07-12T06:46:44.557-07:00I hear a lot of talk about 'guardians of crick...I hear a lot of talk about 'guardians of cricket' 'the Aussies would never have done this' and other such illinformed, misguided comments.<br />I reckon that India has in fact turned out to be much better 'guardians of cricket' than they are being given credit for.<br />For example look at the vituperative outpourings in response to 5 of the first team not making it to WI. People who spout such ridiculous talk no doubt want India to be 'like the Aussies', send their best squad, crush WI 3-0 and 'make a statement'. <br />Look at what India did, the first team stalwarts correctly judged that this was a task well within the capability of their replacements and opted to rest and thereby gave a chance to the youngsters. The newbies got a taste of Test cricket, playing on bowler friendly wickets and eventually ended up winning in ALL THREE forms of the game! I would rather take this 101 days out of a 100 than have the full strength team tour WI, decimate WI 3-0 and allow supporters to indulge in some ritual chest thumping about how 'ruthless' the team is and how they now have the 'killer instinct'. <br />The seniors action in resting has served India's, WI and indeed Test crickets cause better. This has played a big part in providing a competitive series.<br />I just don't understand some of the so called fans. When Aus used to send their first team to most countries and thrash the teams in the Tests these worthies would moan that they would like to see a contest. The result of the Aussie bloodlust for winning Test matches was that the team is in the doldrums for not having given youngsters a chance and merely concentrating on playing for records by hammering weak teams, using a sledge hammer to crack a nut so to speak.<br />And here we have the Indian team resting the seniors, giving the youngsters a chance, winning in ALL THREE FORMS of the game and yet are being castigated thoughtlessly! Mind boggling.......Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21636894.post-22473665635201867202011-07-12T03:47:49.057-07:002011-07-12T03:47:49.057-07:00Brilliant article.
It does get irritating when al...Brilliant article.<br /><br />It does get irritating when all these internet fans assassinate Indian team's character. The memory is so short that his was same captain who made a bold declaration in last Test.NMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01134145188331275200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21636894.post-45760548043240671332011-07-12T02:09:23.667-07:002011-07-12T02:09:23.667-07:00You should have published this before the 5th day....You should have published this before the 5th day. In which case Dhoni would have called off the chase when WI were all out.<br /><br />You miss the point. Or the one I think is more relevant than what you and the posts you mention talk about.<br /><br />And that point is, can Test cricket afford to give teams an option of "walking off"? <br /><br />Whatever numbers you dig up to defend India, the truth is two great Indian batsmen "walked off" in bright sunshine and millions of expectant viewers across the globe were left unconvinced.<br /><br />I think people are entitled to criticize India, because essentially they are also questioning the rules in test cricket that allow India and West Indies; to do what they didGolandaazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11593900110552569215noreply@blogger.com