THE GOOD OLD DAYS

 

Image Credit – CricInfo.

Venue – The Oval, London [July 12, 2022].

The Ireland-England tour has come to an end, and the same has exposed multiple cracks in the Indian set-up. The performance of the men in blue has been horrible in the T20s, wherein they struggled to win a single T20 international. Moreover, for the first time, we got whitewashed in the hands of Ireland, whereas the English hammered us 4-0, with one match ending in no result because of incessant rain.

In ODIs we did play better but lost the series 1-2 at the end. However, the same happened because of the top order of Rohit, Shubman and Kohli. Overall the squad's performance was below par, and the management now needs to rethink some of its decisions. After all, the batsmen struggled to bat in swinging conditions, whereas the bowlers looked helpless in front of English batsmen. To be honest, the Indian team never looked this helpless in white-ball cricket on an overseas tour before.

In 2022, India delivered one of the finest performances in England, wherein they defeated England 2-1 in both the ODI and T20 series. Who could ever forget the Oval ODI wherein we demolished and crushed the English. Indian Captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to field first on what looked like a good batting surface.

However, the hosts received blow after blow as the duo of Bumrah and Shami rattled the English batting line-up. At one stage the English scorecard read 59/7, and it appeared that the Three Lions wouldn't even reach the three-figure mark. Fortunate enough, the tailenders got some runs at the back, and the English got past 100 runs. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 110 runs in 25.2 overs as Bumrah picked up 6 wickets and broke the spine of the English batting order. Apart from Bumrah, Shami picked up 3 wickets for just 31 runs as the Three Lions looked helpless.

In response, the Indians chased the target comfortably in 18.4 overs with 10 wickets in hand. The opening duo of Rohit and Shikhar hammered the hosts and stitched a match-winning partnership of an unbeaten 114 runs. Dhawan played slowly and steadily, whereas Rohit went ballistic and scored a quickfire 76 of 58 deliveries. It is pertinent to note that it took just 79 minutes to chase down the target of 111. It was truly a dominant performance by a champion side.

One could only hope that Team India will return to the winning ways in the upcoming bilateral. After all, the World Cup is just 14 months away now. We need to get our core squad right.

To watch the Highlights of the Oval ODI, Click Here.

A SINGLE TO REMEMBER

 

Image Credit – Cricket Australia.

Venue – The Gabba, Brisbane [December 4-8, 2003].

Cricket is a game of figures and stats. Every now and then we hear news of a particular player breaking one or another record. But there are certain statistics which are not only hard to break, but also no one wants to hold onto them. One such record is Ajit Agarkar's seven consecutive ducks against Australia.

In the summer of 1999-2000, India toured Australia to play 3 test matches. Agarkar, who was establishing himself as a promising all-rounder, started off decently in Adelaide, wherein he scored 19 runs. Unfortunately, things went downhill post this innings, as he was dismissed for a duck every single time he came onto bat.

The tragedy continued in Mumbai as well, wherein he was dismissed for a duck in both innings. As a result, when he came out to bat in Gabba, all eyes were upon him. Can Agarkar get off to the mark? Fortunate enough, he got a full toss on the leg side which helped him get an easy single. The crowd was cheering like anything when Agarkar completed his single. Interestingly, this one run meant so much to Agarkar that he waved his bat as if he had completed his hundred.

It is pertinent to note that Agarkar is one of those Indian batsmen who have a Test hundred at Lord's. Something which even the God of Cricket doesn't have. But against Australia he struggled to score even one, which was shocking and surprising for everyone. Fortunate enough, he got some runs in Gabba, which gave him confidence.

Interestingly, in the next test match, he bowled a match-winning spell in Adelaide, which helped India take a vital lead in the 4-match series.

To watch the struggles of Agarkar, Click Here.

To watch the match-winning spell of Agarkar, Click Here. 

TEST CRICKET BATTING MANUAL

 

Image Credit – Cricinfo.

Venue – JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi [March 16-20, 2017].

The Indian Test team is going through a phase of transition as the legends and stalwarts of the game have bid farewell to the gentlemen's game. As a result, the team is struggling like never before. Yes. We did play well in England, but a home whitewash against the Proteas last winter did expose the cracks of our Test cricket. The bowlers are struggling to pick up 20 wickets, whereas the batsmen are struggling to bat for long.

The duo of Bumrah and Siraj do get us wickets in the overseas conditions, but the batting department lacks consistency on tough surfaces. Presently, the Indian team is in dire need of a proper Test cricket batsman who could bat for the entire day and take the pressure off his side. We desperately need someone like Dravid or Pujara who can take a Test match away from the opposition single-handedly. After all, who can ever forget Pujara's double hundred against the Aussies in Ranchi?

In the spring of 2017, Australia toured India to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Aussies won the first test at Pune, whereas the Indians won the second test at Bangalore. The series was 1-1 when both teams reached Ranchi for the penultimate test. Australian Captain Steve Smith won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a good batting surface.

The decision turned out to be a good one as the visitors piled up 451 runs in their first innings. Steve Smith played a captain's knock (178*), whereas Maxwell also scored a gritty 104 as Indian bowlers went for runs. In response, Hosts were 328/6 when keeper Wriddhiman Saha joined Pujara in between. The match was on a knife-edge. One more wicket and Aussies would have bowled us out in no time.

But this is when Pujara showed his class and played one of the exceptional Test knocks. Pujara batted for more than 11 hours (672 minutes) and scored a magnificent double-hundred (202). It is pertinent to note that Pujara faced a total of 525 deliveries, which makes around 87.3 overs. Along with Saha, who also scored a wonderful hundred, Pujara stitched a partnership of 199 runs as the Indians took a vital first innings lead.

The test match, however, ended in a draw. But it is pertinent to note that if Pujara had not scored that double hundred, we would not have reached the total of 602/9. It was due to the monumental efforts of Pujara that we remained in the test match. The modern Indian Test team needs someone like Pujara who could bat the entire day and take the attack to the opposition with solid defence and stroke play.

The art of defending is vital for survival and excellence in Test cricket. One could only hope that after Dravid and Pujara we will get our next wall very soon.

To watch the Innings of Pujara, Click Here-

Part 1.

Part 2.

Part 3.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN INDIA

 

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The morning started with the retirement news of Ajinkya Rahane. It was not a shocking affair because he had been out of the Indian setup for a long time, and it was almost certain that the team had moved forward from him. However, the news of retirement formally marked the end of the glorious Indian Test side which dominated world cricket for almost a decade. It all started with Ashwin's retirement in Brisbane, followed by Rohit, Kohli and Pujara. Apart from them, Shami, Bhuvneshwar, Umesh and Ishant are out of the Test team for a long time, and it's almost certain there is no possibility of a comeback.

It is pertinent to note that the Indian Test team was in shambles when Kohli took over in December 2014. However, in a couple of years' time we jumped from the seventh spot to the top. Credit goes to these players who made India the powerhouse of test cricket. Winning at home became a habit, and fighting abroad became our identity. Australia, England, and South Africa – we dominated them all.

The team was so strong that winning a test match in India itself appeared to be an achievement; forget about winning the series. However, every good thing comes to an end, and so has our dominance in red-ball cricket. Presently we have lost 5 out of the last 8 home test matches, with 2 whitewashes in between. Yes, you read it right. We have faced a whitewash in our home. Something which no one could have ever imagined. The team is in transition. But the problematic part is that the red ball legends are being replaced by IPL stars, which has caused further deterioration of the quality of Test cricket in India.

Today one could only hope that the glory days of test cricket would return soon. But, for the time being, we can only remember and cherish the 2015-2023 era when we ruled red-ball cricket.

THE PLUNDERER OF PALLEKELE

 

Image Credit—ESPN CricInfo.

Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy [March 8, 2011].

The Pakistani cricket team is infamous for its fielding antics. Generations have passed on, but their fielding woes have remained the same. Moreover, due to this sloppiness on the ground, they have lost matches on the biggest of stages. This blog post is about one such game wherein the men in green lost just because of their fielding.

In the year 2011, New Zealand was facing Pakistan in the group stage of the 2011 World Cup. Captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a good wicket to bat upon. However, the Kiwis lost Baz in the first over itself as Akhtar bowled him out in the fourth delivery of the innings. As a result New Zealand went on the back seat and adopted a cautious approach.

Despite this, the Pakistanis kept on chipping wickets at regular intervals and kept the run rate under control. At the end of 46 overs, the New Zealand scorecard read 210/6, with Ross Taylor batting on 76* of 111 deliveries, whereas Oram had just joined him in the middle. However, it is pertinent to note that Taylor was dropped twice in the very beginning of his innings. On both occasions it was Kamran Akmal who dropped the easiest catch he could have ever gotten. The first catch drop came at the very first ball wherein Taylor edged between the slips and the keeper, and the keeper let it go even without trying to catch it. The second time the ball came in his hands, but he again failed to catch it. To be honest the catch was so easy that even the commentator called it inexcusable.

The birthday boy got his gift, and he made sure that he would make it count. In the last 4 overs, the Kiwis smoked 92 runs as the Pakistanis looked helpless. However, the moment that will always be remembered is Ross Taylor hitting Akhtar 28 runs in an over. Something that was never heard before. To be honest, the attack was so brutal that he was not even called to bowl his final over. In his place, Abdul Razzaq was asked to bowl, who too conceded 30 runs in an over as the Kiwis crossed the 300-run mark.

Ross Taylor scored an unbeaten 131 off 124 deliveries as everyone was up on their feet. The innings were so destructive that the commentator called Taylor the plunderer of Pallekele. It was truly a great knock on the biggest of stages. In response, the men in green were bowled out for just 192 runs as the Kiwis won the game by 110 runs.

However, the same would not have been possible if that catch drop wouldn't have happened.

To watch the Highlights of the Match, Click Here.

THE BEST OF KANE WILLIAMSON

 Image Credit—ESPN CricInfo.

Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch [January 3-7, 2021]

In the summer of 2020-21, the Pakistan cricket team toured New Zealand to play 3 T20 internationals and 2 test matches. The test series was important like never before for the black caps, as their chances of making it into the WTC Finals rested upon it. After suffering a whitewash against Australia last year, every series became a matter of do or die for them. However, the Kiwis fought back hard as they whitewashed India and the West Indies and were all set to face Pakistanis in their home conditions. Though the Kiwis were the favorites, no one could rule out men in green.

Hence, everyone was expecting a tough contest between two strong sides. Interestingly, it turned out to be a one-sided affair. Credit for the same goes to the monumental innings of skipper Kane Williamson, who single-handedly blew away the visitors and sealed the fate of the match and the series.

In the first test at Bay Oval, Williamson scored a gritty 129 of 297 deliveries, which helped Kiwis take an edge over the visitors. However, the same got overshadowed by his massive 238-run knock in the second test at Christchurch, which ensured another whitewash on New Zealand soil.

In a must-win game, the Pakistanis posted a competitive 297 in their first innings. However, in response, the hosts were reeling at 71/3 when Henry Nicholls joined Williamson in the middle. The game was on a knife-edge. A couple of wickets at this stage would have opened the game wide-open. But this is when we witnessed one of the finest test partnerships of all time. The duo of Williamson and Nicholls struck a massive partnership of 369 runs and sealed the game for the hosts. Nicholls scored a brilliant 157, whereas Captain Kane scored a monumental 238 runs.

In an innings that lasted for nearly 9.5 hours, Kane Williamson faced a total of 364 deliveries in which he hammered 28 boundaries. Moreover, it was not just about power hitting, but the innings had class, elegance, timing, and perfection. In short, it was truly a work of art by one of the greatest Test batsmen of our times.

By the time Willaison was dismissed, it was almost certain that the match was well and truly over for the visitors. The question was how long will men in green survive? The answer turned out to be 81.4 overs as the Kiwis' pacers blew away the Pakistani batting line-up in no time. Kyle Jamieson picked up 6 wickets in the second innings and 11 in the match as the hosts won the second test by an innings and 176 runs.

The whitewash was well and truly complete, and they also made it into the Inaugural WTC Finals.

Postscript—Six months later Kiwis won the inaugural WTC Finals at Southampton. However, the same would not have been possible without the contribution of their captain and leader Kane Williamson, who led his team from the front and scored runs when it mattered most.

To watch the monumental innings of Kane Williamson, Click Here. 

END OF AN ERA

 

Image Credit—ESPN CricInfo.

In June 2026, Kane Williamson announced his retirement from international cricket. The news came as a shocker, as everyone was expecting him to go for the 10,000 runs milestone. But, just like the Indian counterpart, Williamson decided to hang his boots without caring about any personal feat. It is pertinent to note that Williamson was a part of the famous Fab 4 coined by the late Martin Crowe.

Moreover, like Smith, Root, and Kohli, Kane was the most charismatic batsman as well as leader of his side, leading his country to the finals of the 2019 Cricket World Cup and 2021 T20 World Cup. In the process he also scored valuable runs for his team. However, in case of Kane it was not always about runs, as his conduct on and off the pitch too grabbed attention and praise. 

Who can ever forget his smile from the 2019 final at Lord's? The Kiwis, in a hard-fought contest, lost by the barest of margins. However, despite the wrongs and controversies, Kane kept calm and just smiled when the world around him went upside down.

Interestingly, a couple of years later, he did get some consolation when he led his team to the maiden World Test Championship glory. It was a victory that every New Zealander will always remember. After all, no one expected their victory against the mighty Indians. However, Kane and his men did something unexpected on Day 6 at Southampton when they skittled India out for a small total and chased them off comfortably. Moreover, Kane was in the middle when the winning runs were hit, making the moment even more emotional. The gentleman did get his due.

Today Kane is a retired player. But his contribution to cricket will forever be cherished and cheered.