I just can't get over how poor this Indian side is - can't bat, can't bowl and can't field. Just watched the highlights and they seem completely disinterested.
I just can't get over how poor this Indian side is - can't bat, can't bowl and can't field. Just watched the highlights and they seem completely disinterested.
Keith
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Bare in mind that this team, save for a few changes, are the current one day World Cup holders...so they're not bad cricketers, but their collective egos are taking a battering
I think there are a lot of factors contributing towards their poor test match performances in this series;
1. They're up against one of the best England test teams in recent memory, on pitches that favour the home team. The only players with any real experience of English conditions are Tendulkar, Dravid, and Kahn, from their county championship experience...and it shows! Ok Miranda played a bit of T20 but that that doesn't really count.
2. They've just had a change of coach, from the much loved Garry Kirsten, to Duncan Fletcher, and I'm not sure his more dictatorial style will be allowed to work with these established (or over the hill) 'superstars'.
3. They've never been a good fielding team, OK they are plumbing new depths , but their players are all growing old together, and two days out in the field is really exposing this.
4. Probably more importantly Test cricket is not viewed as the pinnacle of the sport in quite the same way in India, one dayers are king over there, on slow low pitches. Their 'pop gun' containing bowling attack reflects this.
5. Without Z. Kahn and Harbijan the bowling is innocuous at best, and they have very little strength in depth.
6. A few of these guys are over the hill superstars, and do not respond well to public humiliation, and they are having their collective noses rubbed in the dirt at the moment.
7. They were completely under-prepared, they only had one warm up game on a flat track at Taunton as preparation.
8. I don't think they've selected their best test team, as test batsmen Kholi & Badrinath are both probably better technically than Raina.
I could go on, but I'm boring myself...
Perhaps it lends a lie to the ICC rankings, perhaps their ranking system needs to give more emphasis to 'away' victories, as India have always been much stronger at home.
I wonder what would happen if one switched around the bowling attacks of the two teams, something I often considered with the great Australian and West Indies teams, how would our batting fare against our bowling attack on these pitches...this Indian bowling attack is probably less than county standard.
Last edited by WAD62; 12-08-2011 at 08:57.
Cheers, Will
All good points. I feel that the success of the IPL is to be at the expense of Indian test cricket.
Keith
Analogue: Lenco L75 with 'PTP5' top plate in heavy birch ply plinth/re-wired Rega RB300/SAE 1000e HOMC Cartridge/Trans-Fi Reso-Mat/Moth RCM
Files: Voyage MPD/Custom PC/Supra USB/Beresford ASYNCH-1/Beresford TOSlink cable
CDP: Inca Katana SE
DAC: Beresford Caiman MkII (LiPo Battery powered)
Pre-Amp: Croft Micro 25 Power-Amp: Croft Series 7
Speakers: DIY Frugel-Horn Mk3 ('FH3') + REL Strata subwoofer
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Mains: Belkin PF30/Mark Grant DSP2.5 & DSP1.0 Rack: Target
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Indeed Keith, and not just India, it's destroyed the Windies test team, and by all accounts is having an adverse effect on NZ too...But it's easy to understand I suppose, as a cricketer there are few earning opportunities, and not every country has the luxury of central contracts...
Cheers, Will
...Just been reminded by Bloers & Co of my ex team mate in California (my memory for names is terrible), he was fairly well beyond his sell by date then...Abid Ali
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syed_Ab...#Personal_life
Last edited by WAD62; 12-08-2011 at 11:12.
Cheers, Will
Location: England
Posts: 614
I'm Mark.
When England spent 2 or 3 decades getting trounced, we were discussing how poor we were. Now we're winning we're discussing how poor the opposition are. Why can't we accept the fact, that at the moment, we are probably the best test side in the world? let's enjoy the moment, not undermine by rubbishing the opposition. In case anyone had forgotten, India are currently number 1 in the world and the current World Cup holders
I know we can only beat what is put in front of us .... and yes, there always seems at the moment someone to step up and give that big performance when we are getting into trouble. That has always been a hallmark of great sides ... But .. these Indians for reasons already eloquently stated are abysmal .. and they do have a couple of notable absentees .. So ...
Let's do it away from home a couple more times .... Then I will jump on the bandwagon .... I am really chuffed with the way we are playing ..
PS .. It was quite interesting report this morning after Vaughan had interviewed Fletcher .. Vaughan came away saying that Dhoni was pretty much running the show ... Fletecher was not really being listened too ..
Brian
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Smile, breathe and go slowly ..........................
Location: England
Posts: 614
I'm Mark.
How about that? 3-0 and world number 1......YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS
Time for some celebratory beers
Cheers, Will
Congratulations !!!!
Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER