Heart of Gold - Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina isn't one of the greatest player to go down in the history books like Sachin Tendulkar,not a crowd puller like Virender Sehwag nor a match winner like MS Dhoni.But, there is something about him which makes us sit up and take notice of him,every time he walks out on the field.His child like enthusiasm,the spring on his foot steps whenever he walks in to field,are hard to ignore.


                                                         Suresh Raina is a "out of the box" player who builds his innings in his own style.Having been thrust into the international scenario at an early age,Raina has managed his career quite well. Raina,though full of enthusiasm like a child, has gone through a lot in his childhood and the maturity we see in him is a result of the struggles he was forced to endure at a tender age.Like all stars,he has been through a rough path,a path full of thorns and has sacrificed his entire teenage to fight through it and play cricket.

                                                                 Raina made his debut in the year 2005 against the Lankans. He did not have the best of seasons and was merely used as a replacement for a senior player in case of an injury.He was not able to cement his place in the heavy weight middle order,so he was constantly in and out of the team.Opportunity knocked at his doors one more time.,for the talent and commitment he had towards cricket. Raina was picked to play for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL.He had a terrific tournament in 2008 and was rewarded with a place in the Indian limited overs side.He started taking giant strides to cement the place in the team.His determination and grit paid off as he played brilliantly through out 2008.His consecutive man of the match performances in the Asia cup is a testament to his ability and prowess.

                       Raina is a trusted confidante of Indian skipper MS Dhoni when it comes to fielding and finishing a game.Raina has done both to perfection having been the trend setter for fielding in a country where only batting is considered fancy and worth while .Raina has pulled off some near impossible catches and made it look so simple.His fielding has been immaculate, saving almost 10-15 runs every match.He patrols the cover region like a tiger waiting to pounce on the ball.He repeats the procedure for every single ball,"going back to his place,waiting for the bowler's run up and walking in" - perfect text book stuff for youngsters who want to learn how to field properly.He has never missed this procedure even once in his entire career.He is disciplined at what he does -  a mantra to succeed,not only in cricket but also in life.

                                                              "Aggression with caution"- is his mantra and he has been doing that successfully ever since he started playing international cricket.He is a versatile cricketer who can shift gears at will and can change the fate of a match with his own bat.The hoick over mid wicket and the slog over the head of long-on are his trademark shots which has fetched him loads of runs.

                                                         The only Indian to have centuries in all the three format and the highest run getter in IPL,Raina has been quite prolific in limited overs cricket through out the years.The century against South Africa in WT20 was a brilliant knock mixed with some out of the world batting and extreme aggression,taming a bowling attack which is considered to be one of the best.His test debut was a memorable one,playing in a difficult situation,giving company to the master.He played like a pro in his very first match,waiting for the loose balls.It was crucial match for India and Raina's knock was very important for the team's chances in the series.Without his century,India would not have been able to draw the series.

                                                                  Tough times have dogged even the best of people.But it tends to bring out the best in us and Raina,though he has been having a poor season will bounce back for sure.He needs to back himself and tackle his weakness like the way he tackles the ball while fielding.He is a class player and has the ability to mould his game.The hunger is there within and that is a positive sign for any cricketer who wishes to take him game up in notches.

                                                          It was his birthday yesterday and I take this opportunity to wish him a very happy birthday !!

                                             

India - Problem in Plenty!!

The match between India and England has been a nightmare for Indian cricketers.They have been pummeled from the top, to the bottom within a span of two and half days.In the remaining half a day,they have been beaten black and blue by the unlikely pair of "spin twins" of England.India have been completely done in by the English spinners,who,before the series weren't even considered as competition to the spin kings of the subcontinent.But fate,or rather Panesar had other ideas for the Men in Blue.He came,he bowled and he conquered the feisty Indian batting order which consisted of some heavy names including that of Kohli and Sachin.

                     India were the clear favorites right from the time the series was announced.People expected this to be a revenge series, for the humiliation we suffered at the hands of England last year.But things have taken a ugly turn for us,having faced the spin music for a change.We were completely outdone,by the gritty Cook and the flamboyant Pietersen in this match.Cook showed us, what it is to grind out and play proper test cricket.England's success is largely due to their skipper who played the role of an anchor to absolute perfection,not allowing the Indian spinners to have a go at the weaker middle order.He kept the team from tumbling and played a crucial and match defining innings.In my opinion,his innings was far better than Pietersen's.Indian openers should take a leaf out of Cook's book and learn to play without throwing their wicket away.Gambhir's dismissal in the first innings is a perfect example.He was brilliantly set by Anderson,deceiving him with a ball on the pads first and making him fall for it the very next ball by inducing him to play a false stroke.Gambhir should have played with caution and should have ensured that the new ball is bidden good-bye safely.Rather, he fell for the ploy and got out in an ungainly manner.

                                                     The Indian spinners,lacked in aggression allowing the batsmen to manipulate them to alter their lengths.Ashwin and Bhajji erred in their line and lengths and Ojha was only marginally better.They did not exploit the conditions to full effect and they let Pietersen off the hook.

                                                          The Indian middle-order were pathetic to say the least.Barring Pujara,others did not show stomach for a fight,gifting their wickets and surrendering meekly.Much was expected of the in-form man Kohli and he failed rather surprisingly.The Indian batsmen,in general are trying to be aggressive,trying to take control of the match by going for their shots.They were not patient, in my opinion, and put themselves under pressure unnecessarily by going after the bowlers.

                                                                Sachin and Yuvraj looked like they were filling up the numbers in the team.They were terribly out of form and need to have a look into their basics as test cricketers.Had it not been for Pujara and Ashwin,India could have been in a deeper soup by now.

                                                                        Dhoni is not having the time of his life,after winning the World Cup last year.His captaincy,batting and keeping have taken a beating, having featured in the team list consistently.He looked woefully out of sorts as a batsman and his decision making requires an innovation.England players are susceptible to spin,left arm spin more so and he missed a trick by not allowing Yuvraj to bowl more overs.He over-worked Ojha and Ashwin and that will definitely have a negative impact in the coming matches.Neither Sehwag nor Yuvraj got a spell, and that allowed the English batsmen to go after a tired Ashwin and Ojha.

                                       Dhoni has not been himself of late,and it shows in the way he behaves on and off the field.He has been giving out unpleasant remarks about the pitches,weather and what not.It is not a typical Dhoni in my opinion who has always weighed his words before letting them out.He seriously needs a break to re-invent himself.The criticisms from fans,media and players have not been heart-warming either.He needs to look into his future as a captain and decide a course of action soon enough,so that he can be of use to the team.

                                                            India are in dire straits now.They would be humiliated by the media and fans if they let the English team win the match tomorrow,which is going to happen for sure.There might be a ray of hope with Harbhajan and Gambhir on the crease.A total of 200 will always be difficult to chase on the fourth and fifth day.Everything rests on the last four and if they do not win the match,the revenge will never be complete.

Time for Tendulkar - from a die hard!

Yes! You read that right.I'm a die hard fan of the master and yet I want him to bow out.He has done lot for Cricket over the years and his achievements is a huge mountain for to climb indeed.It cannot be reached,nor broken by any cricketer in the future.Even dreaming about it would be a mere waste of time.He has been the pillar of Indian Cricket,instilling faith in every fan and instilling fear in the opponents whenever has walked out to bat.If anyone has got the rights to decide his fate,its this diminutive man from Mumbai.But still, I feel it is time for him to go,holding his head high with pride while he's got the chance to do so.

                                           Sachin has been a mere shadow of his own self, since the World Cup in 2011.He's been woefully out of form,his footwork has not been up to the standards he has set for himself over the years.The magic touch,the deft movement and the organized flow has quite not been there for him.He's ageing and it shows from the way he's batting of late. 

                                                          His numbers are pretty poor in the last 16 months.Apart from the lone century he made against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup and the gritty 91 he made against England in the final test,he has been quite mediocre.It is evident that he's been battling for form for quite a while now.

                                                       Sachin is a phenomenon in World Cricket,he has been a enigma,a quandary for bowlers all over the world.He has conquered the best of bowling attacks,from all over the world into submission and has been successful everywhere.The main attribute about Sachin is that he has always been grounded and level headed and that has made him a star among fans and fellow players.

                                                           "All good things come to an end" and Sachin cannot be an exclusion either.He has to go someday.Its hurting to see him play and fail, time and again.Those anxious eyes,which has seen the ball to perfection all these years,has been full of disappointment after every time he gets out.Sachin has never betrayed emotions even after getting,but nowadays the frustration shows in his face.He has to realize that it is got to end someday,and its better sooner than later.

                                                                  The year 2005,when he was struggling for runs,not being able to play his natural brand of aggressive cricket,people counted him out and called for his head.They wanted him to retire and go away from the game.But he fought back,against all odds and came back with some sparkling performances.Sachin has always been the favorite topic for critics,whenever he fails,they want him to improve,whenever he performs,they still want him to improve.Maybe I'm wrong in saying this.Maybe the master is going to surprise us all and come back like he did earlier,only time can say.But either ways,he's nearing 40 everyday and he needs to look at the future of Indian cricket.He has achieved all there's to achieve in Cricket and it is time for him to move on.

                                                                        Many youngsters are itching for a chance,and Sachin should not stagnate, by refusing to go.He should think about the future of Indian Cricket and decide a course of action soon.Though,we would all miss him,the secure feeling and the magic that he brings to our eyes,it is the best course of action considering his age and form factors.Sachin,its enough sir,you have proved yourself to your detractors,not once,not twice but over a hundred times.IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO GO!! We will miss you for sure!!

The over that read "4 0 4 4 4 4"!

The first test between Australia and South Africa at Brisbane ended in a draw with rain playing spoil sport for almost 2 days.There were many positives from the match for both the teams though,with Kallis,Clarke,Amla,Hussey and Cowan coming good for their respective teams.Amla and Kallis were their usual selves, playing what you could call an ideal test innings.They formed a crucial partnership which led South Africa to safety.On the other hand,Cowan got his maiden test century without any fuss,negotiating the Protean attack.But the man who undoubtedly stole the show was the Aussie skipper who made 259 not out from 398 balls.It was one of the best knocks ever played by an Australian.Full of class and aggression,Pup stole the show from the Lions and Tigers of test cricket.


                                                                       The most impressive thing,if one could limit his adjectives, would be his gesture to declare the innings when he was batting on 259 with more than a day remaining to get to the magical figure of 400 or at least, get to a triple century,two in a year,a record which even the legends of test cricket would love to have.He had other plans,to think and act as a skipper,a selfless one who declared and did what was right for the team.It was a heroic thing to do,considering how the Aussies love their records.

                                 The second test begun on the 22nd of November at Adelaide.Australia chose to bat first and were in a spot of bother losing Cowan,Ponting and Quiney in quick succession.Clarke walked in  when the score was 55/3 and Australia in danger.He continued  from where he left at the Gabba.He was striking the ball pretty well and the sound which emanated from the bat was pleasant to hear.He was in full flow,with plenty of poise and skill,playing like a pro among amateurs.He treated the bowlers with ridiculous disdain and smacked them all over the ground.He had an excellent partnership,first with Warner who made an aggressive 119 and then with Hussey.The beauty of his knock was his impeccable timing and footwork which kept us glued to the screen,devouring his every shot,wanting to see more of his batting.The knocks of Hussey and Warner seemed oblivious to the fans,who were enthralled by the arrogant little "Pup" who stole the show.

                                                                    Clarke was dealing in boundaries more than singles and doubles,which seemed pretty lame to the man on song.Steyn and Kallis went out with injuries and Morne Morkel was handed the job to save the South African face from Pup bashing. Morkel came on to bowl the 65th over and this is what happened :

Ball 1 : 

             Morkel bowls a length ball,which was a bit outside off-stump.Clarke plants his foot forward and lofts it over cover for a scintillating boundary.His head still, and the bat completing the follow through,it looked like a dancer coordinating his steps to suit the music.It was a blow to Morkel's pride hitting him through the covers.It was just the beginning of the massacre though.

Ball 2:

                         Short and wide outside off stump,Clarke hits it to point,a well timed shot but to the hands of the fielder.No runs.

Ball 3 :

               Morkel bowls the ball,short and bit out side off-stump.It could have been a good ball,had it been a new batsman who faced it,but to Clarke it was simply a delight,to put that ball away to the boundary.He rocked on to his back foot and smacked the ball past point to the boundary.

Ball 4 : 

                Ball was on the good length and outside off stump.Clarke was in top notch form after the two boundaries which boosted his confidence,came forward and timed the ball past point to the boundary.It was shot from a man who was on fire and it showed from the way the bowler reacted.

Ball 5 :

                Morkel bowled a close one,not too close but close enough to drive.Clarke times the ball,almost in a defensive fashion and calls "wait" to Hussey who was on the non striker's end waiting for his chance.The ball teased the fielder at mid-off, slipped through his fingers and was off to the boundary,where it belonged.

Ball 6 :

                   The last ball was the best of them all.Clarke was on 148* and was pumped after hitting 3 consecutive boundaries against one of the world's best quicks.Morkel bowled a fuller length ball which pitched on the line of middle and off.Clarke was ready for the ball,he put his foot forward and drove the ball with complete elegance and control.It was shot from the man,who knew what to expect from the bowler.The ball was hit like a tracer bullet and was off to the boundary in a flash,even before the fielder could realize what had happened.The massacre was completed with Clarke mildly acknowledging the cheers from the fans for reaching 150 runs.

                                                       Clarke did not stop with that over and continued to dominate the Protean bowling attack for the rest of the day.He was in complete control of the proceedings and played some mind-blowing cricketing shots which kept the audience enthralled throughout the day.He reached his double hundred in style,his fourth in this calender year.A feat that has never been achieved till today.No man on the earth has got four double hundreds in a calender year in international cricket before.Clarke has played some phenomenal innings all throughout this year and has been dominating bowling attacks,whenever he has played.

                                     Clarke stayed on 224 not out at the end of the first day.He could well be the first man since Lara to get a quadruple century ,if he carries on in the same vein tomorrow.He needs a bit of support from the tail enders to achieve this immaculate record. He could well be the only man to hit 400,300,200,all in a single calender year.He could be the second Australian after the legendary Don Bradman to make two triples in a career if he crosses the 300 mark tomorrow and the only player to do it twice within a year.He could be the first skipper to make two triple centuries.

                                                          Clarke has got the time necessary to achieve this remarkable feat tomorrow and whether he achieves it or not,he is one class player who will go down in the history books.

All the best Pup!

The art of Multi tasking!!

Competition has been intense in every game and sport nowadays.The prime example is the emergence of multi-faceted players who are also known as "utility players".These players can bowl and bat and can be a reliable hand on the field.Ten years back,there were only a handful of these players around the world.They were very important to the team's balance and plans.But things have changed a lot in the last decade, what with the emergence of a new format called T20.

                                                                T20 has wrought a change in cricket like never before.It has changed the face and the market value of cricket and has helped in bringing more crowd to the grounds.Players have also changed the way they played to be in contention for the shorter formats.Scores of more than 400 are being made and chased quite often these days.Nowadays, we do not want to see players who doesn't hit sixes.We are craving for more entertainment and thrill that we get out of the shortest format so much that we have forgotten what it is to enjoy "Real Cricket".In this current scenario,players are learning to adopt themselves to suit the fan's needs.


                                                              Players who would have been otherwise been a pure bowler or a batsman have been learning the trade of being an all-rounder who can help the team in every way they can.I have seen coaches in local cricket clubs who are emphasizing on the need to learn both batting and bowling.The bowlers are not spared even after bowling for hours together.They are made to bat,and are being taught to defend the ball properly atleast, so that the bowler can give company to the batsman when needed.Cricket has become a demanding sport in the recent times,with lots of competition ,right from the league and club stages.

                                       In T20,we need players who can both bat and bowl so that we can have variety in batting as well as bowling.So, that makes the selectors to go ahead with utility players,who even though might be mediocre, will serve the purpose to some extent.

                                                         In today's cricket it is essential to learn bowling as well as batting to survive.It can allow your team to be flexible and can be of immense help to the captain.Aspiring Cricketers should be open to all ideas and should be able to bowl when your captain requires an extra bowler.

                         Few years back,there were very few players who can be called all rounders.Players like Ian Botham,Gary Sobers,Richard Hadlee,Kapil Dev,Jacques Kallis,Lance Klusener are some of the well known all rounders who have made history.But after the advent of T20,we can see almost three all rounders in each team.Mathews,Perera,Hafeez,Watson,Duminy are few batsmen who can bowl quite well if the situation requires.On the other hand Pathan,Botha,Ashwin,Swann,Broad are few bowlers who can smack the ball hard and  can give support to batsmen in crunch situations.These players have been extremely beneficial to the team's cause,and with the growing popularity of T20,more all rounders will emerge and the face of this sport is going to be changed like never before.

Be Sportive?? You got to be kiddin me!!

The raging debate going on in cricket circles is about the comment that Dhoni made in the after match press conference demanding wickets that spins right from the first day.Well,you could say that was harsh without looking into the reasons directly. Dhoni has had a tough time captaining India overseas,getting white washed 0-8 in alien conditions.He has faced the flak for quite too long,having answered question on form,fitness, team compositions and what not.He has tried everything in his power and nothing has paid any sort of dividend for the team.The guy is really frustrated and wants to prove a thing or two about playing in "home conditions".It is the only way to redeem his name and pride which was stolen from him last year.

                                                               Steve Waugh has commented that Dhoni's actions will have negative impact on cricket,and that India should learn to play out of their comfort zones and win matches.But let me ask "When did Australia have pitches that assisted spin??" Did they play with two spinners in Perth or is it any use having a spinner in that sort of wicket.Has any Australian board ever emphasized on having wickets that were slow??No,they never have and they never will.The main reason for this is that they are known to breed fast bowlers,so its only logical to have a pitch that assists them in order to gain the home advantage. Every country in general has its own cultures,ways,means and its own traditions.In the same way,subcontinent pitches have always been tailor made for spinners and it is no secret that we have bred a long line of spinners right from Bishan Singh Bedi to R.Ashwin.Its our tradition to have pitches that spin,that is our strength and that is our bread and butter.

                                                                    Dhoni did make a mess of himself by openly asking for spinning wickets from the groundsmen.But it is not the first instance in Indian Cricket.Even Sourav Ganguly has time and again insisted on using the home advantage to full effect.If we are going to convert our pitches to suit fast bowling,then what is the need of cricketing nations to play home and away series.I mean,apart from the ground audience there is no home advantage for the home team and they can as well as play in any venue.There is too much politics involved in Indian cricket and that has led Dhoni to the brink of frustration so much that he has openly made a statement on this issue.

                                                                          India toured England last year and they were met with some hostile fast bowling duly aided by the pitch and conditions.Had it been a flat track or a spinning track,they wouldn't have won the series in the first place,let alone whitewashing.Its no secret knowledge,the ability of English batsmen in spinning conditions,much like we were exposed in theirs.So overseas teams,touring other countries should be wary of the alien conditions.Playing in every type of conditions and pitches makes a player a legend.Players have to be ready to play in any conditions because that shows their quality and proves their mettle.

                                          In my honest opinion,what Dhoni has asked here is not quite illogical.He only wants to prove that his team can also be world beaters at home.India needs these victories at home in order to gather their wits after what happened last year and this will certainly help in the rebuilding process of the team.I firmly believe that Dhoni should get what he has asked for,no matter the consequence,because revenge and payback are two strong emotions that one can never avoid and its better venting it out rather than keeping it to yourself and regretting it for the rest of your career.

Impossible to Possible - The Ultimate Fightbacks!

Test Cricket, which is considered to be the purest form of the game by the pundits,has seen many heroes who have fought back against the odds,snatching victory from jaws of defeat.They have been rock solid, putting the opposition bowling to shame.Like Phoenixes,who rise from the ashes,these players have risen,taking their game up by several notches and turning an almost lost match on its head,giving the opposition a slap for being callous,stinging them hard for not tightening up the screws when needed.These batsmen are the pillars of test cricket,showing the worth of genuine test cricket to the world,announcing that it does not have to be bang - bang cricket for people to sit up and notice.It can be the sheer defiance,the will power to stand up against the force of opposition, the brilliance to take the match away from the team on top.These are the biggest attributes that one can associate with a class player.

                                                              There are many such players around in world cricket who have played and are playing even now.I am listing few of those mind blowing fight backs that I have had the pleasure to witness over the years :

The defiance "On your face!" :

                                                         It was the first Ashes test in the year 2009.England having made 435 batting first,let Australia muscle them for 674 runs,thanks to centuries from Ponting,Katich,North and Haddin. England were in dire straits,needing to draw the match at any cost.But things seemed to go downhill when they lost half the side for just 70 runs on the board.The fightback then, came in the form of the dynamic fielder,the man who was at the helm when England won their only T20 trophy in the West Indies -"Paul Collingwood". 

                       Collingwood led the English fightback.Joining hands with the lower middle order batsmen and the tail-enders,he fought for almost 6 hours to salvage a draw for the team.He batted for 245 balls before getting out for 74.It might not be significant in terms of the runs scored.But he defied the fiery Australian bowling and kept them at bay for more than 6 hours,determined even more whenever a wicket fell at the other end.

                              It might not be a performance worthy enough to go down in the history books,but it is this innings that helped England save the Ashes.Had they lost the first match,the series would have ended in a draw and the Oz would have walked back home with the cup.

Oz "Dum"b Struck :

                                              The test series between South Africa and Australia in 2008 gathered lots of attention due to the epic run chase by the Proteas in the 1st test.Expectations were high from this series which was turned on by the sheer brilliance of the South African batsmen in the first test.The second test commenced at Melbourne on the 26th of December.Australia batted first and made 394 runs and put the South African batsmen to test.They were ruthless and picked up 6 wickets for less than 150 runs on board.The Proteas were down and out and seemed like they won't be able to take the lead when Duminy,who was a rookie back then walked in and played a fearless brand of cricket which was hailed as one of the best in the cricket circles back then.He set himself up quite nicely,negotiating the fast bowlers with caution.He played some extravagant shots and was not afraid off the bouncers on a fast and pacy wicket which is a tradition in Perth.

                                                                     Steyn joined him at the fall of the 8th wicket and together, they steered South Africa out of trouble.Steyn was on song and he thrashed the bowlers all around the park.Though he was fearless and aggressive, Duminy was the man who stole the show.He made a mammoth 166 runs and helped the Proteas to seal the series.His efficient batting saw the Aussies losing a series at home after many years, thereby ending the Aussie domination at home.It was an alarm to the other countries,a wake up call to show that the Aussies are not completely invincible.On that regard,this innings deserves a mention on this list.

The Iron Man :

                             The first test between India and New Zealand at Hamilton in 2009 was bagged by India comfortably.The second test saw a valiant fightback from the Kiwis who amassed 619 runs in the first innings.India in reply were bundled out for just 305 runs and were asked to follow-on.The match was almost over for Team India when a young man with the nerves of steel, fought tooth and nail in alien conditions to defy New Zealand for more than 10 hours. Gautam Gambhir,the lad from Delhi batted amazingly well to pull the match back in their favour.He played for 436 balls and made 137 priceless runs which helped India clinch the series 1-0 at the end.Without his brilliance, India would have one less trophy in its cabinet.It does not end there.India has not won a test series in New Zealand for more than 30 years and it was very special to the players and fans alike to have yet another feather in our cap.

The raging "Flower" :

                                         

                                         It was the second test between India and Zimbabwe at Nagpur in 2000.The Indian team,batting first,made 609 runs.Zimbabwe in reply were bowled out for 382 runs and were made to follow-on.Zimbabwe looked lost when 3 wickets for just 61 runs.That was when Andy Flower came in to bat.Flower,along with Campbell put on a huge partnership of 209 runs.Flower was solid in technique batting against the likes of Srinath,Joshi and Agarkar.He played extremely well,waiting for the loose balls to score runs.It was impossible for the bowlers to get to him since he was moving his feet very well,getting behind the ball and playing it to perfection.He made 232 runs in that innings ,also one of the proudest moments in the history of Zimbabwe Cricket.

The dangerous duo part 1 :

                                             Pakistan were fighting,with their backs on the wall,trailing 1-2 in the 4 match test series against England.It was the final test at Lord's and Pakistan needed to win the match in order to square the series.Pakistan were riding on the confidence from the previous match in which they won comfortably.It was a worse start for the English side losing 7 wickets for just 102 runs on board.Mohammad Amir was at his fiery best bagging 6 wickets,devouring the best English batsmen in their own backyard. Trott was waging a lone battle trying to resist the pace trio of Amir,Asif and Riaz when Broad joined hands with him.They both staged an incredible fight back.Trott was his usual calm and composed self, building his innings block by block by playing some orthodox cricket.    

                          Broad on the other hand,helped Trott in rebuilding the innings.He played safe till the conditions got better and then started playing some flamboyant strokes to take England to safety.They put on a partnership of 334 runs,which was one of the best partnerships seen in the history of test cricket.England went on to win the match and the series 3-1.Though this match was tainted by the match fixing allegations on Asif,Amir and Butt,this innings has got its significance and will remain a part of the history in the years to come.

The dangerous duo Part 2 :

                                                 The epic test match,the mother of all fight backs,the day when history was rewritten,the records smashed by two extraordinary batsmen from the Indian Cricket team.The second test match between India and Australia at Kolkata in 2001 is remembered as the best of encounters by all the cricket fans even after all these years.Sourav Ganguly was leading a young team who were eager and raring to go against the mighty Australians who were the world beaters back then.They were riding on the 17 consecutive test victories and were eyeing for the 18th when Laxman and co decided to spoil their party.

                                                           Batting first,the Aussies put up a total of 445 thanks to a brilliant century from the then Aussie skipper Steve Waugh (110).In return,India were bundled out for a paltry 171 and were asked to follow on.India lost 4 wickets for just 232 runs and were looking down the barrel when Dravid and Laxman joined together.The most scintillating piece of cricket,the sheer brilliance of the duo,and the dominance they had over the Aussie bowling, simply took the game away from the Australians. Laxman was caressing the ball using his rubber-like flexible fists,kissing the ball gently to the boundary.He was in full flow,making the Australian bowlers work hard.His defense was solid and he punished the Aussie bowlers even if they bowled a few inches away from the good length.He dealt the arrogant Aussies with his arrogant batting which did all the talking on the ground.The Aussies never seemed like picking Laxman's wicket,while Laxman was busy ploughing away for runs.

                                                        Dravid,on the other hand gave excellent support to Laxman,Dravid was his usual orthodox self.He played a trademark Dravid knock easing the pressure off Laxman.Both had the natural flair and technique which made the task even more difficult for the Aussies.Rest as they say is history.India won the match comfortably and bagged the series 2-1 to end the Aussie supremacy in World Cricket.

                                 These are the innings that I've seen,innings which took the cricketing world by storm,innings that defined the career of some of these players,which defined the fate of an entire series and rivalries.There are many note worthy innings that I might have left out.But according to me,these were the best,which will stand the test of time and be an example for other aspiring cricketers.

England - Will they be able to tackle the spin ?

The India-England series started amidst a series of controversies ranging from  Kohli going on the record,naming the series as "The Revenge Series",the non - inclusion of spinners for the practice matches against England,to the speculations that India has prepared rank turners for the India - England series to gain  "undue" home advantage.

                                         The first test was scheduled in Ahmedabad,which was rumoured to suit the bowling of the Indian team.India won the toss,elected to bat and put on a mammoth 521/8,thanks to centuries from Sehwag and Pujara.In return,the England batsmen were skittled out for a paltry 191.England batsmen barring Cook, and Prior to some extent,  seemed clueless against the Indian spinners.

                                                            The comeback man Pietersen, who is usually a good player of spin seemed in jitters against the marauding Indian spinners,especially against Ojha.He didn't seem to know whether to go forward or stay back and he began to do something like a tap dance in the middle.He missed pretty easy deliveries,and was intent on attacking the bowler to prove that he is the better man.He failed miserably,only to be bowled by an excellent delivery from Ojha for just 17 runs.

                                                                    Trott,who has been the most consistent batsman for England in the recent years struggled to come to terms with the spin.Most of the England batsmen were standing on the front foot even before the ball was bowled.Maybe, they were told that they could keep the Indian bowlers at bay by playing aggressively.Whatever it was, they were taught very poorly,and it showed in the manner in which Bell got out.He went after Ojha,the very first ball he faced,only to hole out to Sachin in the mid off region.It was very poor a judgement from a batsman of Bell's calibre to attack the very first ball he faced.

                                                                     The decision of sending Samit Patel ahead of a specialist batsman like Prior backfired, Patel was tentative in his approach and was not able to play spin with ease.He tried to swing the bat hard hoping to connect the ball.The England team in general lacked application.They should learn the art of playing spin bowling.The manner to play spinners is not by either attacking or defending,rather it is a good combination of both which enables the batsman to score consistently no matter the amount of spin and bounce the wicket carries.

                                                             Prior,Broad and Bresnan who got some runs were also trying their luck against the spinners.The only difference is they got away with some of the shots that they played.England batsman need to apply themselves in sub continental conditions.The best way for them would be to play the ball on the merit.Having said that,they should be also ready to attack the bad balls.They need to wait till the last moment,see the ball and play it along the ground.They have to wait for the loose deliveries to score the boundaries.The important thing is that,they should rotate the strike more often,unsettling the bowler and not allowing him to get into a rhythm.That is the most important lesson for England batsmen in spinning conditions.

                                                               Cook and Compton played quite well in the second innings.Cook,who has always been a good player of spin played solidly,not allowing the bowler to get the better of him.He didn't play any risky shots and he attacked only when the ball was in his zone.Moreover,he used his feet to play the ball on its merit both on the front and back foot.The England batsmen should take a leaf out of his book and play according to the conditions.They need to be patient in subcontinent conditions in order to score big runs.

                                           The late revival of the England innings by Cook and Compton seemed to have brought a life into the almost dead game.England has to play some fearless yet calculative cricket in order to make a game out of this test.It is not going to be easy with the Indian spinners breathing down their neck,and the close-in fielders watching the ball like vultures and pouncing like tigers to take some really difficult catches.How the England team approach from here on,is very crucial,not only on the context of this match,but for the whole series.The confidence or the diffidence they earn here is what they are going to carry for the remainder of the series and it is very important to make a mark with only two days of play remaining.

The Rise of "Pragyan Ojha"

The Indian team after the departure of Anil Kumble faced a down like never before.Kumble was always in the team bowling his heart out,even in placid,unyielding  wickets giving out his best and was very successful throughout his career.He played for almost 15 years and we were not in need of a back up because we know that as long as he is around,spin department is in safe hands.But like all good things that come to an end,Kumble's career did too.By that time we had another saviour in the form of Harbhajan Singh.Harbhajan and Kumble joined together after the epic India - Australia series in 2001.They have partnered each other very well and have won many matches together for India.

                                                     But Harbhajan's form dwindled after the retirement of Kumble.Blame it on fate,or lack of a good partner or both.It was a disastrous news for the Indian camp,who were solely dependent on the turbanator to deliver the goods in subcontinent conditions.Harbhajan started losing his flight,the loop and most importantly the doosra,which was the "Brahma Astra" in his armoury.

                                                                    Harbhajan was very inconsistent and eventually he was declared "injured" during the England series last year and was replaced by Amit Mishra. Mishra has been one of the greatest disappointments for Indian cricket,one of the many players to have "lost it" in the international scene.After a brilliant start with a 5 wicket haul against the Australians,Mishra seems to have tottered off into oblivion, he bowls very slowly even for a leg spinner and he tends to bowl defensively on occasions.

                                                      Apart from these three spinners, India lacked a  bowler who can be a genuine match winner for us,because spin bowling was our strength right from the day we started playing test cricket.Ojha was also in the team for the past 2 years,mostly as the back up spinner.But of late,with the emergence of R. Ashwin Ojha seems to have found a new lease of life.His bowling is more aggressive now,he is not afraid to flight the ball,to attack the batsman with his "wicket to wicket" bowling.

                                                              Ojha is the kind of bowler whom one can call a completely orthodox bowler,who has got his basics in the right place.He has a steady run up mixed with a decent delivery stride without any flourish, which looks pleasing to the eye.He believes in the art of flighting the ball and he revels in the spin and bounce which he extracts from the subcontinent wickets.Ojha's main strength is that he bowls a very tight line,mostly wicket to wicket which does not allow the batsman to free his arms and go for his shots.Ojha does not have too many variations,he bowls the orthodox spin and an arm ball which goes straight after pitching.

                                           Ojha was first spotted  in the IPL, where he was economical and was picking up wickets regularly for the Deccan Chargers.In the second edition, where the Chargers won the tournament,Ojha was a key bowler who picked up crucial wickets,restrained the opposition batting and helped them lift the trophy.Ojha was, in fact the highest wicket taker in the third season of IPL. He can be a very good bowler in limited overs also and he has proved that by performing consistently in the IPL.He has picked up 69 wickets and is one of the top 5 wicket takers in IPL history.So he certainly deserves to play in the limited overs format,where he can get more exposure,facing batsmen who attack and can mould his bowling accordingly,and can hone his skills.Pragyan is being wasted,by limiting him to tests alone ,he will fade away like many other promising bowlers, if he's not given a longer run in the shorter formats.He is a capable bowler,but he needs some confidence to replicate the success which he has attained in tests, to ODI's and T20's.

                                                                     His test stats are pretty good,mainly after the arrival of Ashwin in the test team.He has got almost 70 wickets with 5 five-wicket hauls.His average is pretty good and he has been a steady performer for the last one year.

                                                            Ojha is a man who can be an asset to team India in the coming years.But for that,he needs to be given confidence and should be backed up so that he can put in his maximum efforts for India.With Ashwin,he has the potential to become one of the greatest spinners to have ever played for India.
                                                                       

Pujara - The Perfect Replacement for "The Wall"

Cheteshwar Pujara ,the man to behold after so long, after having hailed Kohli all these days. Finally we have found a new hero.The time when Dravid and Ganguly joined  Sachin who was fighting alone,seems like its all coming back like a deja vu.Pujara is exhibiting a Dravid like calmness in his approach towards his game that makes us feel that this man is special even among specialist cricketers.

                                                         Cheteshwar Pujara was a marked man for bigger things right from the time he started playing domestic cricket.He is a completely orthodox player who believes in the concept of playing straight.Though he is only six tests old,we can see the amount of  maturity in his game which was the trademark of great players like Dravid,Sachin and Laxman.His extremely balanced stance, poise and the confidence he exudes is simply magnificent.

                                            Pujara made his debut in the home series against the Australians.In the second test,when he came to bat,he got out for just 4 runs.Many people were disappointed,people who expected a lot from him,after see him play in the domestic circuit.People thought he was yet another failure,who wouldn't be able to survive in the biggest stage.But he proved them all wrong when he came in to bat in the second innings.India needing 207 runs to win on the last day lost the wicket of Sehwag early.Dhoni surprised everyone when he sent a rookie Pujara ahead of Rahul Dravid. Pujara,being the complete player that he is,started playing some skillful cricket,milking runs steadily yet he kept track of the run rate .He was in full flow,hitting some elegant cover drives,cutting and pulling the fast bowlers with disdain.That was a master class innings though he got out for 72 runs.

                                             He played his next test in South Africa,where he failed miserably not getting a single half century..Pujara was dropped soon after and a career threatening injury while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore kept him out for the better part of 2011. 

                                                                   Pujara came back strongly, touring West Indies with the India A team.He was the lone fighter who made some runs in alien conditions against a hostile bowling attack.Soon after he got his chance to make a second debut,a comeback of sorts when he was called up as replacement for Dravid for the home series against New Zealand.He repaid the faith of the selectors by scoring a magnificent 159 in the first test.He was brilliant both of the front and back foot scoring runs all over the ground with considerable ease.He looked like a man on mission who wanted to cement his place in the side.His exuded calmness and control and showed maturity unlike many other youngsters which is a great postive in this man.

                                  Though he wasn't able to get a 50 in the next test,he made up for it on the 15th of November,when he came out to bat at three after the dismissal of Gambhir.Gambhir has once commented "It is difficult to play alongside Sehwag,the way he plays,he makes you feel like you can hit those balls too,it is difficult to play our natural game around him".But Pujara,though young and inexperienced,didn't get carried away by the marauding Sehwag who was going hammer and tongs against the English bowling attack.Pujara played,what we could call a master class test innings.He was neither too defensive nor offensive.He played with poise and elegance,defending when required and punishing the loose balls.He settled in quite nicely ,getting those quirky singles and two's easing the pressure around.When Kohli and Tendulkar fell in quick succession,he joined hands with another comeback man Yuvraj  and put up a beautiful partnership. Pujara understood his partner very well and played accordingly.He was always up for a word or a pat on the back for a well executed shot.Yuvraj did his part well playing alongside the youngster,giving him confidence.Pujara was all over the England bowlers,not allowing them to settle down.He played all around the park and hit some beautiful drives and cuts, which were a treat to the eyes.He ended the day on 98* with lots of promise for the next day.

                                                              The main strength of Pujara is that,he seems calm whenever he is batting.He never showed that he was nervous while playing on 98 or 99.Even when he guided the ball to fine leg and got to his hundred,there were no excessive celebrations,just a smile and a raise of the bat.It showed the depth in his character,his maturity beyond the age which was amazing to see.He carried on in the same fashion and got to 206* from 389 balls.This unbeaten knock should give him a world of confidence and he can be sure of his position in this team for sometime and till he retires if he keeps performing in the same vein.

                       Pujara is not only an excellent batsman,but an outstanding close in catcher too.He got two crucial catches in the first test against Australia in 2010 which helped India restricting them for a lower total.Pujara is excellent on the field,showing what it is to have a youngster in the team.He has taken some difficult catches,one of R.Ashwin's bowling yesterday which is an added advantage for the team in subcontinent conditions,where most wickets from the spinner are gotten from the field placed around the bat.
                 
                                                                              Pujara should be given a chance in ODI's too.I believe that he is the right man to play at no 3 in ODI's too.Since he can play a stable knock and can manage during crunch situations.Pujara can be the perfect foil to players like Sehwag and Yuvraj who are on the either side of his batting position.Moreover he has to be in the scene constantly so that he can face quality bowling often which will help him gain more experience and this in turn will help him in the longer run. Pujara should be considered for the ODI series against England.
              
                                                 Pujara is one batsman who can stake a claim for the no 3 spot in tests as of now.He has got all the qualities of Dravid,whom he has replaced  ,the mantras to succeed at this level.But Pujara can never be a Dravid .When Pujara retires he will be part of Indian cricketing folklore much like Dravid is and not a shadow of Dravid. I can definitely say that Pujara has got all the makings of a legend and there are great things to come from him yet.

India vs England Comparing players based on their position

The series between India and England is going to begin today.It is going to be an interesting encounter no doubt.The England team's last test outing was miserable ,losing to South Africa 0-2 in their own backyard.They are hurting no doubt,and would want to salvage some pride in this series.England have a strong team with the emergence of players like Cook,Broad,Bell and Trott in recent years.Cook has been in the form of his life scoring consistently over the past few years.He has been a source of  massive strength to his team.Now that he is the captain,after the retirement of Strauss,Cook would be raring to go.He would want to mark his position as the skipper by bagging this series.
 
                India,on the other hand would view this series as the "Revenge Series" for the sound thrashing they received at the hands of England last year.Virat and Viru have already termed it as the" Payback Series" which has made the contestss all the more interesting.The openers,though quite not back into their own,have got some form after playing in domestic games.Sachin has gotten back to form after his quickfire century against Railways in the Ranji Trophy.India have lots to prove after the 0-8 loss to England and Australia.This is the beginning of a long season which is ahead of India and they would do well to start on a winning note.

                                                         Both are teams are even footed in the batting department after the retirement of Dravid and Laxman. Lets compare each player according to their position and evaluate both the teams on paper :

The Openers :

Gambhir vs Cook :  

                                 While one is a skipper,another is an aspiring skipper.Both the batsmen are similar in terms of technique,though Cook is the inform batsman now.Both these batsmen favour the offside and both know how to build a perfect test inning.While Cook is more of a traditional test batsman,Gambhir is a "with the flow"batsman. He is versatile and can play both offensive and defensive cricket.But with the form that  both the players are in,Cook has the better chance of success but it is foolish to rule a player like Gambhir out.

Sehwag vs Compton :

                                          Sehwag is in form after a fighting century from him in a Ranji trophy match and would look to use it against the seam bowlers of England.His form is very crucial to India's success in this series.On the other hand,Compton is yet to make his debut.He has impressed one and all with consecutive half centuries in the practice games.The grandson of Dennis Compton,Nick has been a steady performer in the England domestic circuit.He is a technically sound batsman unlike Sehwag and that should prove useful in these conditions.

The Middle Order :

Trott vs Pujara : 

The clear leader in this battle is Trott with oodles of experience and class much like Dravid,but Pujara is also in the same mould as Dravid.It is going to be an interesting battle and only performance can judge the winner among these two. Pujara has lots to prove and he has to be at his best to conquer the relentless English bowling.Trott will face a barrage of spin when he comes up against the likes of Ashwin,Ojha and Yuvraj.He is a class act and a dangerous batsman,India should look to get his wicket soon.Because once he gets set it is very difficult to stop him.

Pietersen vs Sachin :

                                          This can be considered master of all battles.While Pietersen is the best batsman for England,Sachin has ruled the roost for almost 24 years.It is going to be interesting to see both of them play because both have some points to prove of their own. Pietersen,after the texting incident would want to focus on cricket to show the world his worth.Tendulkar on the other hand,is on the twilights of his career and he would look to put up a good show in order to retain his pride and name.Watch out for this pair. 

Bell vs Kohli :

                                       On paper ,one can say the winner is going to be Kohli in a flash,largely due to the terrific form he is in, of late.Bell ,though a good player struggles against quality spin and he was found wanting in Pakistan.Bell needs to be more creative in his batting and should look to rotate the strike more often.Kohli,on his form will be raring to get some huge runs and help the team in winning this series.He has been a key performer and will look to bank on the home conditions to torment the English bowling.

Morgan/Bairstow/ vs Yuvraj :

                                                          It can either be Morgan or Bairstow  who can play at this position for different reasons.Morgan has the advantage of being the sole left hander in the middle order.He can lend stability and the advantage of having a right- left combination since Trott,Bell and Pietersen, all are right handers.Bairstow has the advantage of being in form.He played brilliantly in the last test against the South Africans leading the English fightback and run chase.So he stands a chance of being picked in the playing eleven.Both of them are average players though, when it comes to the test format.They have got lots to achieve and both of them are quite new.On the other hand,this is going to be acid test of sorts for Yuvraj who is making a comeback to the test format after 1 year.Yuvraj's fitness is a matter of concern for our team but after he got that double century in Duleep Trophy,the concern has eased up a bit.But Yuvraj needs time to settle down and he should look to make some good runs and provide crucial breakthroughs for India.

The Wicket keepers :

Dhoni vs Prior :

                                 Dhoni's captaincy is at stake and he has to be at his best to lead India to victory,not only  as the captain but also with the bat.He was instrumental in the test series victory against New Zealand and would hope to repeat that performance once again.He will have to choose wisely as a captain and should lead India from the front.On the other hand Prior,who is a good batsman will have to be at his best behind the stumps in the sweltering heat and has to play some vital knocks if his team has to win.Prior is a key player for  England  and his batting would be an added advantage for them in subcontinent conditions having played in India before.

The Spinners :

Ashwin vs Swann :

                                  Possibly the fight between two better off spinners of this era.Swann is a completely orthodox bowler whereas Ashwin lives a midst his variations.Swann has a pretty neat action with which he can drift and turn the ball sharply whereas Ashwin is a pretty unorthodox bowler right from his carrom ball to his stop- jump delivery.This one is going to be an interesting battle, for the one who comes out good will be instrumental for his team in winning the series.This is the most important pair when it comes to bowling and can change the course of a match on their own.Added to that both are extremely good with the bat and can help the team by scoring 30-40 crucial runs.

Ojha vs Patel/Panesar :

                                            The left arm spinner from India is having quite a year ,bowling well in the New Zealand series and has been successful right from the last year when he joined hands with Ashwin.He has been quite orthodox and persistent,bowling a nagging line to lure the batsman into playing a false shot.Pairing with Ashwin has reaped rich dividends for team India in the recent times.If they click,then it game on for England.

The Pacers :

Anderson vs Zaheer :

                                          Anderson is a much improved bowler from last time but he will be second to Zaheer since his experiences in sub continent pitches have always ended up in disaster.He was taken apart by a rookie batsman (K O'Brian) in the World cup group match last year.So he needs to be at his best and swing the ball to provide England with early breakthroughs and has to stop Sehwag and Gambhir from getting away with the match. Zaheer, on the other hand knows these conditions like the back of his hands and can make use of that experience.But he needs to be innovative and fit to trouble the English batsman who are adept at playing fast bowlers without any pressure. Zaheer needs to sort his "breakdown" issues so that he can bowl to his full effect.This is going to be a crucial series against a top notch side and Zaheer cannot afford to take anything for granted.

Umesh Yadav vs Broad : 

                                             This is a very contrasting battle because Yadav is a new comer where as Broad is an established bowler in the England team.But the battle is on nevertheless more so because of Yadav's never say die attitude.He always bowls with a large heart,trying to exploit whatever conditions available to his advantage.Broad on the other hand can be quite lethal on his day and can turn the tide of the match with a single spell.But he is an extremely volatile bowler and it will be a matter of concern for the English in alien conditions.

One or two changes might be made in this line up but I'm sure these players are more than up for it to give a great fight.By the time the series end,we would know who has won the battle among these pairs.But who ever wins it,we are gearing up to witness what is unofficially called the  "Payback Series" !

India vs England Some Epic Encounters

There are many rivalry in history of Cricket starting from the legendary Ashes to the closely fought India Pakistan series.Among all those feuds in international Cricket, the series between India and England has also gained prominence over the years.There has been many interesting encounters between the two teams ,few livewire games enthralling the audience time and again.I'm going to list few of those epic encounters,to take a  walk down the memory lane before the start of an all important series :

1.Yuvraj 6 6 6 6 6 6 :

                                     The date was 19th September 2007. Having had an altercation with Flintoff,Yuvi came back with a vengeance and thrashed Broad who was then a rookie bowler for six sixers which is a still standing record in the shortest format.Each six was well over the boundary and the last one was so huge,it went out of the ground.This day India won the famous match against a strong England team due to Yuvraj's heroics.Yuvraj on that day was the fastest 50 run scorer in whole of International Cricketing history.He got to 50 in just 12 balls which is remembered by every Indian Cricket fan till today.

2.Kaif and Yuvraj - "The rookie heroes" :

                                      The Indian team which toured England had a good test series drawing it 1-1 in tough alien conditions. The ODI series came next which was fought tooth and nail between the two teams.It was the final ODI with both the teams on 3-3 . England batted first and scored a mammoth 325-5,thanks to tons from Nasser Hussain and Marcus Trescothick. India seemed down and out at one stage while chasing, having lost half their side for less than 150 runs.England seemed like winning the match at that point when Yuvraj and Mohammad Kaif joined hands together to notch up a massive partnership of 121 with Yuvraj scoring 69 and Kaif scoring 87 not out to seal the match in India's favour.It was one of India's famous victory with then captain Sourav Ganguly removing his shirt and waving it as a part of the celebrations.It was an iconic moment for Indian Cricket.

3.Yuvraj Singh 138 and India 5-0 England :

                                  The first match of the seven match ODI series was a cracker.The ODI match happening in  Rajkot was an epic match for the Indians .Yuvraj was speculated to be injured and since he was out of form many people thought he won't be in the playing eleven.But Yuvraj surprised one and all by coming on to bat with a lower back support.The stage was set for Yuvraj epic by the openers Gambhir and Sehwag.Both of them scored half centuries and gave India, a blazing start.Yuvraj came in and played his strokes.He seemed to be in pain and took short breaks. But once he got settled,he came out all guns blazing attacking bowlers and scoring runs all over the park.He got 138 of 78, a whirlwind knock which sealed the match for India.India got 387 in this match which is their highest score against England in ODI's.India managed yet another feat when they white washed England 5-0 in the very same series.

4.India chasing 387 :

                                       It was the first match of the two match test series between India and England in Chennai.India allowed England to take an early lead thanks to the twin tons from Andrew Strauss.England declared with a lead of 386 runs with only 4 sessions of play remaining.India though,didn't give up. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir gave a solid start putting up a 100 run partnership between them to keep the things going.From then on,it was the little master and "England destroyer" Yuvraj who took the mantle and helped India win the match which was almost decided to be a draw. Sachin scored 103 not out  while Yuvraj scored 85 not out.

5.Strauss - Sachin Magic :

                                              India and England met in another epic encounter in the group stages of the World Cup.Batting first India scored a mammoth 338 runs thanks to a brilliant ton (120)from the little master and fifties from Gambhir and Yuvraj.England though came back and fought hard.They were at one point looking good to win the match when Zaheer Khan got two breakthroughs removing both Andrew Strauss who compiled an almost match winning 158 and  Ian Bell (69).From then on,the match looked like it might end up on anybody's favour.All the three results were possible before the last over.And fittingly,the game was a tie.

6.India's disaster tour of England 2011 :

                                                            India,after successfully winning the series in West Indies traveled to England to protect their no 1 status in tests.They failed miserably though,losing the test series 4-0.The English bowlers were precise and merciless as they snared a bagful of wickets each.The Indian batsmen barring Dravid seemed clueless against the marauding Englishmen.Cook and Pietersen got two breath taking double centuries which was one of the highlights of this entire test series.Bell,Morgan,Prior all got hundreds of their own,making use of the poor Indian bowling and made a mince meat of them.The only consolation was the three centuries that Dravid hit in the series.

                                                          Adding salt to the injuries were the whitewashes in the ODI series and the lone T20 that followed.England found some new heroes in Jonny Bairstow and Steven Finn who were the main architects of the victories.

7."The Payback Series"2011 :

                                                        England came to India in October for a five match ODI series.This was billed as the revenge series for the sound thrashing that India received at the hands of England earlier that year.India were simply unstoppable winning all the ODI's,and thereby whitewashing the English for a second consecutive time.Virat Kohli played some classic cricket supported ably by Raina,Dhoni,Jadeja and the others.England's only consolation was the emergence of Steven Finn as the premium fast bowler for them.Ashwin was among the wickets deceiving the batsman with his flight and picked up a bagful of wickets,and played a vital role with the bat too.Overall as they say "Revenge was served"!!

8.The Five "Six" reply :

                                          The man called Dmitri Mascarenhas made waves when he carted Yuvraj Singh for five 6's in the last over of a ODI match on 5 Sept 2007. Yuvraj's six 6's are rumored to be in reply to the five hit against him by this man.Revenge or not,such shots are always a treat to watch!

9.England in a spin (World T20 2012) :

                                                 India and England played a group match in the World T20 2012 in Colombo.India batting first,made 170 runs in their quota of 20 overs,riding on a half century from the talented Rohit Sharma.England in reply were bundled out for a paltry 80 runs unable to tackle the Indian spinners Harbhajan bagged a four for while Irfan and Piyush shared four between them.It was complete bashing of the England team who struggled to make their foot move in hot and humid conditions.

10. Uthappa to the Rescue :

                                    It was the sixth ODI of the seven match Natwest series in England.India were trailing 2-3 to England and were on the verge of losing the series after England,batting first made a mammoth 316 runs riding on the century from Owais Shah and contributions from Pietersen,Wright and Bell. India in reply got off to a steady start with Ganguly (53),Sachin (94) and Gambhir(47) all playing  handy knocks.But things started to fall apart after the dismissal of Sachin. India lost some quick wickets and were in deep trouble when Uthappa and Dhoni joined hands to take the game away from England. Dhoni got out after setting the match with India need 30 odd runs to win.Uthappa kept a cool head and got India through the finish line with the help of some audacious scoops and slogs.It is one of the most intense ODI's ever played.

On the upcoming series :

With the arrival of the England for the 4 test series,things are going to be even more interesting.Few episodes in the above saga can even be altered and new heroes are waiting to take birth.It is going to be an acid test for the English team who are susceptible against quality spin bowling and it remains to be seen whether they can conquer it.On the other hand,Indian team is facing inside politics and lobbying and this might be the last series as captain for MS Dhoni if he fails to deliver the cup.The Indian openers who have been quite lacklustre in the recent past have got their own points to prove.Meanwhile Cook is captaining the test team for the first time and it is going to be tricky for him to handle the seniors in his side.Added to that Swann has his own family problems.It is to be seen whether he can put all that aside and concentrate on the matches.

                                                        All in all this series has got all the right ingredients to be a thriller but India with the home advantage should bag the series without any struggles.But one would be a fool to take the English team lightly and India would do well to plan well and defeat them.

Bowlers who entertained with the bat!!

Cricket is a funny game indeed.But it gets even more funny when people who are supposed to be bowlers come in to bat and take the match by its head and turn it in their team's favour.When it is one of our own bowler,we feel proud and when its opponent's,we feel cheated.It has been traditionally happening in Cricket,more so of late.They have been many instances where bowlers have come to the rescue of the team.It has been sheer pleasure to watch their audacity on the field when they take on premium bowlers with disdain.When the cards were down,they came in, took the bull by its horn and turned it for their team.There are 10 performances that I would like to mention here :

Harbhajan Singh : This wily off spinner from Punjab has always been a handy bat down the order for Team India.Who can forget the last ball six he hit to win the match against Pakistan.He has got nine half-centuries to his name and almost all of them have been crucial innings.But the best of the lot was the two consecutive centuries he hit against New Zealand. He came in at a precarious position and scored some beautiful shots all over the ground making 115 in the process.He followed it up with another brilliant knock in the second test making 111 not out.Truly his batting was a standout in that series and he bagged the man of the series for the same.

Dale Steyn :   The premier fast bowler from South Africa surprised one and all when he came into bat in the second test vs Australia.Coming in to bat for the 9th wicket Steyn resisted the fiery Australian bowlers and helped Duminy revive the South African fightback with a massive 180 runs stand .Steyn was in a classic mould hitting few straight drives easing the pressure for Duminy. He made 76 runs of 191 balls and helped South Africa win the match.

Lasith Malinga :  Malinga,whose deadly yorkers were a source of fear for opponents,showed his batting repertoire when he came at no 10 in the first ODI against Australia in Melbourne. Sri Lanka were 8 down for  107 when Malinga came in to bat.He along with Matthews constructed a beautiful partnership. Malinga was on an aggressive mode belting 56 runs of 48 balls giving Matthews good company.He took Sri Lanka out of trouble with some lustrous hitting and won the match.

Anil Kumble : Though Anil was not a pro when it comes to batting, he has made some useful contributions down the order.His landmark moment was against England when he hit a stroke filled hundred to help the visitors reach 664.He made 110 runs which was then the highest score by an Indian bowler.He has got 5 test half centuries which is a pretty good record for any bowler.

Jason Gillespie : Gillespie is a perfect example for a batsman who can wield the bat carelessly.He was not careless though in that epic innings of 201 not out against Bangladesh coming in to bat at no 5 as the night watchman. He was precise in his shot selection and made mince meat of the Bangladeshi bowling.

Zaheer Khan : Zak is a master of swing bowling and a master at swinging the bat hard at the ball too.The most unconventional batsman,Zaheer has managed 3 half centuries with a highest score of 75.He is completely unorthodox in his short making trying to hit every ball out of the ground.He played a crucial knock,scoring a 50 against Australia in the first test of Border Gavaskar Trophy in Bangalore helping India earn a draw .


Brett Lee :  The express bowler from Australia is a hard hitter of the cricket ball.He loves taking the aerial route and has played many good knocks for his team,.He has five test half centuries and three ODI half centuries to his credit.Lee is a sensible batsman who can play with a dead bat and lend support if needed.

Shane Warne : The spin champion is also a very good batsman down the order.He has scored more than 3000 runs in Tests with 12 half centuries,99 being his highest score.

Tim Southee :  This tall bowler from New Zealand showed the world ,his class with the bat in his very first match when he notched up a whirlwind half century of just 29 balls.He went on to score 77 not out which included 9 mighty hits out of the park.He has one more half century to his credit and he is an extremely capable batsman who can hit the ball hard.

Chaminda Vaas : Vaas is an extremely good lower order batsman who has always contributed with the bat when needed.He is one of the very few bowlers to have got more than 3000 international runs.His century against Bangladesh came at quicker than run a ball and he has 13 half centuries in test and 1 in ODI's to his name.


These bowlers have entertained a lot with their bat and there are more talents arising every day.These days batting is as important as bowling for any bowler since every team needs players who can wield a bat if needed.So the importance of being a bowling all rounder increases considerably.There are many players I have missed out on this list

Notable Omissions :

Ravi Ashwin, Ajantha Mendis,Rangana Herath,Ryan Harris,Saeed Ajmal.