Indians resuscitated chocking Proteas in the last over!!

Indians resuscitated chocking Proteas in the last over!! The 'chocker' South African team started chocking again (for the nth time) but this time Indian bowlers resuscitated them to victory by allowing them to score 16 runs in first 4 balls of the 50th over when they needed 13 runs from the last over!!


Is India going downhill?? 


Match 1: It all started on 19th Feb '11 when they played their first match against Bangladesh, did well with the bat and won the game despite sorry looking bowling performance: India 370/4 (50 ov); Bangladesh 283/9 (50 ov).


Match 2: Then came the big match against England on 27th Feb '11. It was tied. Some believe batters could have scored more, some thought the bowlers failed - I was with the second group - at least the batters could score 338, but bowlers could not defend it!! India 338 (49.5 ov); England 338/8 (50 ov).


Match 3: After that it was the match against the 'confident giant killer' minnow, Ireland on 6th Mar '11!! It was a low scoring match and though India won the performance was not convincing - at least I was not - neither batting nor bowling was convincing. Ireland 207 (47.5 ov); India 210/5 (46 ov). 


Match 4: Then it was against the minnow, Netherlands on 9th Mar '11. Again India had an un-overwhelming win!! But this time batting was not convincing. 189 (46.4 ov); India 191/5 (36.3 ov).


Match 5: At last came the match against South Africa on 12th Mar '11. This time India LOST!! India started off so well that a few of the commentators where predicting around 400 runs in 50 overs - and I feel they were not overestimating at that point of time. As they always say the score after 50 overs in general and should double that what you score in 30 overs. India scored 197/1 after 30 overs and they should have scored 350+ runs after 50 overs. But then an incredible thing happened - India lost last 9 wickets for 29 runs in a span of 61 deliveries - so much so that they could even bat for full 50 overs!! And then they could not defend that score by unconvincing bowling!! India 296 (48.4 ov); South Africa 300/7 (49.4 ov). 


Oh - I forgot to state - in all the 5 matches Indian FIELDING WAS MISERABLE!!


With only one more group match to go - its a do or die situation for Indian team when they need to improve their performances with all aspects of the game come up with different 'PLANS OF ACTION' (plan A, plan B, plan C etc etc) for bowling, batting & fielding and execute it correctly!!

Confusing UDRS rules for LBWs

What's one thing that comes to your mind when you hear 'UDRS or DRS (Umpire Decision Review System)'? I think 'confusing'!! Don't you? Its confusing for players, umpires, officials as well as spectators / viewers!! 


If you not sure about the rule then you can read the official document Third Umpire – Decision Review System with a cup of coffee!! :-)


Keeping UDRS aside, in cricket the single most confusing rule is that of LBW. On the top of that UDRS is making it more confusing for the umpires. Problem with LBW is there are too many attributes that need to be considered before the umpires can judge - on the top of that if more attributes are added , as it has been done by UDRS, has made it more difficult for umpires. 


I don't think World Cup is a good tournament to use UDRS, especially for LBW, till it has been proven to work correctly. Then the rule is revised and implemented when the tournament is going on - please see the revised rule ICC issues revised guidelines for 2.5m rule. Though the revised rule makes more sense than the rule before - but having said that its unfair on umpires as well as players to change the rules when a tournament like World Cup is going on!!


On the top of that UDRS for LBW is a semiautomatic system - semiautomatic systems are always prone to errors and confusion - a part will be proven by technology and the other part will be decided by the on field umpires!! It should never be implemented until it can be made self sufficient to decide on LBW - till then ICC should kiss & goodbye to DRS for LBWs!! :-)

England back on track...

This is why I always say 'bowlers win matches batters can only make it a draw or make the score competitive'!! After demolishing England's batting for 171 South Africa might have thought that the job is done - but in Cricket the job is only half done till you actually bowl or face the last ball!! 


After their miserable performance against the Irish, or rather after their misery in the hands of Kevin O'Brien, England is back with quite a BIG bang defeating South Africa by defending a score of 171!! Though Broad and Anderson bowled exceptionally well but other bowlers supported them very well as their bowling figures speak for themselves!

Hey hey... don't think Yardy bowled badly compared to other - he, as a left arm orthodox spinner, opened the bowling attack against the South African batting and still his economy rate is 5.11!!


Good on them - they could turn around and quite fast too!! Who knows may be NOW England has got into their World Cup 'rhythm' - so beware!! 

Indian bowlers all over the place...

Ireland was batting with ease and with absolute convincingly against all the Indian bowlers (except Zaheer) till Yuvraj picked up 5 wickets!! If these bowlers can not bowl well against Irish batters then when... Oh I know may be in the next game against Netherlands!! :-)

Though Chawla was bowling exceptionally bad (as his bowling figures say), I felt others were pretty ordinary as well - at least the 'Irish batters' make them look very mediocre and ordinary. It was a turning wicket and I though this the best chance for the Indian bowlers to redeem themselves and get some confidence back - but except Yuvraj no one could deliver the good!! It seemed none of the bowlers had any bowling / fielding plan laid out and they were just trying to bowl out their overs!!


Talking about Chawla - I always feel its almost a crime to bowl no balls and wides when you are bowling slow and he did that crime quite openly!! :-) And with this bowling performance I feel Chawla has bowled himself out of playing 11 and even out of the first 15, if not for good!! You think thats not right - and Chawla can still play - 'god save Indian cricket team'!!


In short versions of cricket (one-day or 20/20) its very difficult for a leg break / spin bowlers to be successful consistently unless he's of the caliber of Warne or you can bowl fast & good length deliveries like Kumble / Afridi!! Its always preferable to have a left hand orthodox spinner in the team - they are pretty useful especially in short versions of the game... so I would like Ojha to be in the team as an option!!


And where's Ashwin?? And why is he not given a chance to play?? Definitely he has much better control over bowling than Chawla. 


And whats with Nehra?? Why do India have an 'already' injured player in first 15??