Sehwag, Pathan were poor but weren’t dropped till very late and after Pathan was brought back, we might bring back Sehwag as well. The selection committee under More had erred while picking the teams. Indian preparation for the world cup has been left till too late.. We have to resort to try out Uthappa right now and even if he has a few good innings and a few bad ones, we cannot assess his reliability as we would like. Then there is Gambhir of course.

That many players were pretty poor in the last 18 months holds little weight because the team management and selectors were pretty rigid regarding specific players (Ganguly comes to mind instantly as does Kumble) when they should have tried the players who had been too good to ignore in the past or who looked promising enough. Australia rested a few players for the Champions Trophy for instance to get their team right as they approached the world cup.

Now, we have this situation where two players - Pathan is being tried again and Sehwag might be played as well just because we do not know how x y z players are because there isn’t much time to give x y z players a proper run. The Indian selection policies over the past 18 months or so have been a joke. I am blaming the Kiran More lead committee and not the Vengsarkar lead committee here.

The Vengsarkar lead selection committee are fixing the damage as much as possible and have done a good job of it. They brought back players, have tried people (even Jaffer in South Africa was at least an attempt to get things right). Some things have clicked while others haven’t and that is fair enough. What isn’t fair though is that crucial world cup spots like who will open will be decided based on what pans out in the next four games versus Sri Lanka.

It is an emotional roller coaster the youngsters particularly could have done well to do without because such shorter runs harm more than build players. That the moves of the new selection committee seem to be working is a very good sign though and augurs well for India for the world cup. It is a circus Indian cricket would have done well to avoid.

Here’s what my team would look like -

AC Gilchrist
SR Tendulkar
IVA Richards
BC Lara
RT Ponting
MG Bevan
Imran Khan (c)
RJ Hadlee
CEL Ambrose
J Garner
Murali

Some spots were easy to fill in while others had close competition. Gilchrist and Tendulkar opening is a dream pairing at the top. Richards at number 3 has extra ordinary stats and he walks into the team as well.

Lara is a much better batsman statistically at number 3 and Ponting bats higher up as well. However, some accommodations have to be made given that it is a world XI and all the best players cannot bat in their favorite positions. Dean Jones just misses out.

Bevan at six walks right into the team as well. Maybe Hussey will challenge Bevan for this spot after a few years (or some one else in the all-time XI) but right now, it is too early to consider Hussey.

For the all rounder of the team, Imran Khan brings much more to the table compared to a Kapil Dev, Chris Cairns or even some one like a Lance Klusener. That he was an inspirational leader and would be the automatic choice to captain the team adds further weight to his selection.

The bowling spots provided a bit more stiff competition. I went for Hadlee, Ambrose, Garner and Murali ahead of McGrath, Akram, Warne and Saqlain. I cannot look past Ambrose and Garner. The mean and tall bowlers would never give an easy run (as evident by their economy rates). Bowling together, they would be capable of causing problems to most opposition.

Then, there is Hadlee v Akram. Hadlee’s ODI bowling is phenomenal as is Akram’s. Hadlee’s stats: Ave of 21.56 and eco of 3.30. Now even in an era where runs were not scored that fast, an economy of 3.3 is amazing, not to forget the average. Add to that, the batting of Hadlee is stronger (batting average - 21.61). Hadlee offers more than Akram for me. Given also that the tail of my team is pretty weak batting wise (Ambrose, Garner, Murali), some one like Hadlee at 8 is a better option.

Where the spinner’s spot is concerned, Saqlain could have been in with a real chance had he played much more. Where Murali v Warne is concerned, it is a close call. Warne brings in more to the team in the batting department. However, Murali’s bowling average (23.07) compared to Warne’s (25.73) sneaks it for Murali.

The one possible weak aspect of the team is less variation in the fast bowling department. Akram could make the ball talk even on the flattest of wickets while McGrath could test the best of the batsmen not just because of pace. I decided to go in with what I thought would be the most dangerous bowling attack. The Windies of the 70s and 80s didn’t have that much variety in their attack but they did the job.

However, on a subcontinent or a flattish wicket, where tail batting would not be needed as much, I could probably replace Hadlee and bring in Akram and McGrath for Hadlee and Ambrose respectively. Similarly, on a pitch where quite a few wickets are likely to fall and where a bit more spine in the tail is needed, Warne could replace Murali.

There would always be Jonty Rhodes as the 12th man of course.

A lot of people think the punishment given to Gibbs is too strong (which he has appealed against incidentally). A case can very well be made that a two match ban may or may not be very harsh but from where I sit, an international cricketer should be sensible enough to know what he says and if he says some thing which can have an implication of having a racial under current, it is needed that there is some strong punishment meted out.

Racism, even the hint of it, has to be kicked out of sport and I would have been unhappy with any thing less than a 1 match ban. That it was a two match ban and it has been brought into spotlight means that cricketers will think twice before bringing racism into sport. I mentioned regarding India in my earlier post and far too often they have not made big deals and I am glad Pakistan has here and all the more, action has been taken.

If the offense was not racism, there could be reason for it to be analysed seeing intent. Dean Jones got a tough punishment it may seem but racism is a grave and so the action was needed there as well. Just because Jones was stupid did not mean he didn’t deserve to lose his job or Gibbs didn’t deserve to get a severe punishment.

I can see why some people might feel the punishment is too harsh given he might not have intended to say such a thing or didn’t intend to say such a thing in the context it was taken. However, the implications, as it is with most racial slurs, cannot be ignored and so I am happy with the two match ban.

A minor controversy has emerged in cricket with South Africans allegedly racially abusing Pakistani players. The South African officials are saying that the phrase used was they’re like animals... Footage shows that the exact phrase used also included go back to your zoo with plenty of expletives in between though it is not clear on whom the insults were directed at.

I don’t see why a player has to crop abusive behaviour on the field just because he is playing cricket. I don’t see tennis players mouthing off against each other for example and I don’t see it in any sport at least as openly as I see in cricket. Isn’t tennis a professional sport as well?

Kallis called an Indian batsman (I think it was Dravid) you *abuses* Indian during the recent South Africa-India series. Now why should a player tolerate such nonsense just because he is playing cricket?

I have been a long term advocator of playing cricket with the bat and the ball instead of the mouth and even though I might be in a minority, I feel firmly on the topic. I don’t see why sledging should be passed as part of the game.

Friendly banter is okay but sledging, particularly the racial kind, is not required in sport.

Update: Cricketvideosunplugged has the video of the incident.

Fifteen years ago, upon their re-induction into cricket, South Africa played it’s first match in international cricket after a gap of 21 years and 8 months in Eden Gardens, Calcutta. Incidentally, it was also the first cricket match I viewed. The ticket pronounced an India-Pakistan match – Pakistan were due to tour India but had cancelled it due to increasing communal tensions. It meant that the world got the first view of the likes of Andrew Hudson, Peter Kirsten, Brian McMillian, Dave Richardson and South Africa’s greatest fast bowler post re-induction yet and arguably their greatest in history - “white lightning” Allan Donald. Kepler Wessels, who would go on to captain South Africa in their first test back in the international arena, had played for Australia earlier of course.

Back in 1991, as a nine year old, Rice and Cook reminded me more about food than cricket and Donald flashed Disney’s Donald Duck character in my head. Memorable Allan Donald versus Michael Atherton battles were yet to imprint permanent marks. The match itself was not particularly exciting. Wisden reports that the game started at 9 A.M. – a full twenty minutes earlier than the usual scheduled start of games at Eden Gardens - which meant batting was much more difficult in gloomy, cold and swing friendly conditions. South Africa were found wanting and managed only 177 in 47 overs (reduced). The trio of Kapil Dev, Prabhakar and Srinath exploited the conditions to finish with a total of five wickets in 29 overs giving away only 88 runs.

Kepler Wessels managed very slow 50 runs off 90 balls before he was bowled by Tendulkar. There was another player who reached a respectable 43 in that game. Adrian Kuiper was 32 and his best years were already behind him. Yet, he managed to give me my first lesson in cricket. Kuiper hit the only six in the South African inning and the Eden Gardens record crowd – knowledgeable and appreciative of good cricket at large - stood up to applaud the six. As a nine year old, I didn’t know the meaning of applauding good cricket or sportsmanship yet and asked my cousing brother “why applaud an opponent?” I did stand up and clapped and learnt a small but crucial aspect of the gentleman’s game that day.

India chased down that target in merely 40.4 overs and even though they lost 7 wickets, it was a comfortable victory. Sachin Tendulkar – another name which meant little back then, hit one of his many fast paced one day 50s which charecterised Tendulkar as a one day player back then but it was another unfancied Mumbai player who caught my attention. Pravin Amre was the other half centurian in that Indian innings. While Sanjay Manjrekar was the technician, Tendulkar was the stroke maker and Azharuddin was the master in placement, Pravin Amre was the style guru for me back in the day.

Lips tightly clenched, eyes wide open, Amre would hit the bat on the pitch very hard several times after he would take guard and as the bowler would run in to bowl. He would then hit the most audacious shots non chalantly. Hitting the pitch hard signified in a raw manner grittiness and intent to not throw his wicket away. Value for one’s wicket is a virtue I have always admired since then. Amre went on to make a 100 on test debut at bouncy Durban of all places and he would remain a hero despite being dropped after a string of poor performances. The man who made the biggest impression on that winter day at Eden Gardens was Allan Donald with his five wickets. Taking the first three wickets of Shastri, Sidhu and Manjrekar, Donald put India in a spot of bother. Twenty for three is not a score you can be comfortable with even when chasing only 177. Donald would go on to take 602 international wickets in total but he will not forget those 5 wickets he took on 10th November, 1991. Neither will this cricket addict who was hooked to cricket on that memorable day 15 years ago.

Reports are suggesting ICC has decided to remove Hair from the ICC panel of elite umpires. The above video has Hair saying “the ICC is with me“. Not any more it seems. Any way, loved this video and hope you enjoy it as well even though parts are not in English.

Update: The initial reports are true.

In breaking news, Pakistan Television has just reported that Shoaib Akhtar has been banned for two years from international cricket while Md. Asif has been banned for just one year. Both had tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Nandrolone just a few weeks back and according to the International Cricket Council doping norms, the ban should be for two years.

While arguments can be raised that the jurisidiction here is under the Pakistan Cricket Board and Shane Warne was also banned for just one year, both the points do not hold good. Pakistan Cricket Board should follow international norms and a mistake by Cricket Australia to do the same in the case of Warne does not justify Pakistan Cricket Board doing the same in case of Akhtar.

Also, why just one year for Asif when both were caught for the same substance while two for Akhtar? Maybe we will hear some justifications from the PCB but I am not sure they can give any valid reason for it. The only reason (and not a valid reason at that) seems to save Asif’s (who is just 23 years old) career. Akhtar, who is 31 seems to have played his last game in international cricket now.

Update: DNA has just reported on it:

The bans, effective from Oct. 15, rule both out of next year’s World Cup.

Update 2: Here is the CNN report. It says:

However, Bilal said the banned players under the ICC rules had the right to appeal, which would be heard by another independent committee…

Asif received a shorter ban because he had little knowledge about the usage of performance enhancing medicines, and “stopped using them when his physiotherapist asked him to do it,” Hamid said.

Ignorance is no excuse and so shouldn’t result it cutting down of period of the ban regardless of whether the story is true or not.

Update 3: The full report of the PCB Anti-Doping Commission can be read here.

Further bad news from Zimbabwe. DNA reports:

The Zimbabwe cricket team lost its training kit and equipment in a suspected arson attack that also damaged offices at a training academy in Harare, the national governing body said on Wednesday.

The fire came a day after a mysterious fire broke out in the ZC boardroom at the main cricket arena, the Harare Sports Club. Curtains and carpets went up in flames before municipal firefighters arrived. “The coincidence is just too much that we can have the fires on consecutive days on ZC premises,” said ZC president Ozias Bvute.

Zimbabwe are scheduled to tour Bangladesh for a one day international series and it is a shame Zimbabwe have not been stripped of their international status in cricket yet.

Fans throng Lords after India’s 1983 world cup win.

Indian cricket had a fair bit of success even before the 1983 world cup. India won consecutive test tours in West Indies and England and the Indian team was greeted with streets full of people when Wadekar’s team returned unlikely heroes in 1971. Even before, Indian cricket occupied national consciousness. CK Nayudu was a hero and his aggressive attractive style drew crowds. In fact Dungarpur, who claims to have watched every Indian test cricketer, claims there was no one like CK, not even Tendulkar came close in attracting people into the stadiums. While that maybe an exaggeration, it embodies how cricket was always in the national realm, though so was hockey with varying popularity for the two sports.

1983 shot up cricket’s popularity in India like nothing else has ever done in history. India, a nation which was coming to terms with the modern world, could hold it’s head high and the common Indian on the street could feel proud to be an Indian. Heroes and great sporting achievements tend to do that to developing nations. The West Indians will tell you how their great cricket team of the 70s and 80s filled them with so much pride for instance. In India, every one started following cricket and even modern day stars who hadn’t taken up cricket that seriously started looking at the sport differently. Tendulkar for example, a die hard McEnroe fan and as much interested in tennis as cricket till that point, says 83 was the turning point for him when he took to pursuing cricket seriously.

1983 victory also brought the 1987 world cup hosting to India (and Pakistan) which fuelled further growth of cricket in the country. Then, of course, there was the 1996 world cup and onwards when one day cricket became a big cash cow. Would all this have really happened had India not won in 1983? Maybe but it could well have been delayed 20 years or so. If we look at it from the financial perspective, from the perspective of the fans, players or Indian cricket history at large, nothing compares to 1983 and in all likelihood, nothing ever will. The impact has been multi-ferrous and that powerful.

In Visitors, I invite one person each month to share perspectives on a sport, a sporting event, sporting aspects or any thing in between. This month, Sportsfreak joins us to speak on John Bracewell’s ways and New Zealand cricket. I know, more cricket, but what can you do? With the Champions Trophy going on, Ashes coming up and then the world cup, cricket is bound to appear more on this blog over the next few months. If you would like to contribute for a future edition of Visitors, do not hesitate to e-mail me.

Greetings Sportsfreaks; it’s been a long time between drinks as they say, but I’m glad to be able to report from the battle front again; this time from India.

This season will truly be one of The Great Campaigns. My good friend Martin Snedden has organised a lot of great challenges for us over the next few months. First, there’s the Champions Trophy, followed by ODI series against Sri Lanka, Australia and England; ending up in a World Cup which is in my favourite touring place; the West Indies.

He certainly is still a very loyal commander-in-chief, although I do wonder if he gets a little over-worked at time. He told me he can easily organise a coaching job at home in England for me next year. The guy obviously forgot I’ve already got a job!

We have had our fair share of bad luck so far, but let me tell you this will not weaken our resolve one little bit. Poor Shane Bond is pretty sure that he’s probably injured, which has come as a blow that we need to overcome. At least we’re used to it so we can certainly take a lot of positives out of this. He’s working very hard with Gilbert Enoka the whole time to get through this problem, and I’m sure he’ll be playing again before the World Cup. Mark my words.

And the fact that we still beat South Africa earlier in the week shows that it was still the correct decision to take him on tour with us anyway. I’m pretty sure that just having him with us puts a lot of fear into opposing teams.

(more…)