THE RISE OF THE FALLEN GIANTS

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- The Gabba, Brisbane [January 28, 2024.]

When I woke up in the morning, I had no plans of writing a blog today. Afterall mine monthly quota of 6 blogs was already done. However, what unfolded today before my eyes made me sit and write this appreciation post. On July 4, 2023, I wrote a piece on this blog in regard to the decline of West Indies Cricket. I want to make it clear that I wrote that post out of grief because for the first time in the history of cricket the Men in Maroon failed to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup. However today is a day when the men from Caribbean truly redeemed themselves as they registered a famous test win against the mighty Australians in their own backyard. 

The venue of the same was the historic ground of Gabba which is also dubbed as the Fortress of Australian Cricket. In 2021 the young Indian side breached this fortress and won a historic test series in Australia. To be honest it was a surprise for everyone as Australia did not lose a test match in Gabba for around 3 decades.  However since then Australia won a couple of test games in Gabba which made everyone believe that the fortress has been secured again. But today was a day when history was written. A young resurgent West Indies Team against all odds blew the mighty Aussies in one of the greatest tests ever played. Shamar Joseph led from the front as Windies beat Australia by the barest of margins. 

In a must win game Windies Captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and decided to bat first. The decision turned out to be disaster as the Windies were reduced to 64/5 in 25.2 overs. The Aussie pacers were simply unplayable, and the pink ball was also doing the tricks.  However, the lower order fought hard as the Windies ended up scoring 311 in their first innings. Kavem Hodge, Joshua Da Silva and Kevin Sinclair scored fighting fifties. Apart from them Alzarri Joseph too scored a quickfire 32 of 22 deliveries as Visitors posted a fighting score. For Aussies Mitchell Starc was the leading wicket taker as he picked up 4 wickets in the first innings. 

In response the Aussies declared at the score of 289/9 in their first innings. It is interesting to note that the Aussie top order also failed like their Windies counterpart, and it was eventually their lower order which helped them get close to the Windies total. Due to an early declaration the Windies had a lead, but it was a small lead. Furthermore, the Australians bowled them out for just 193 in their second innings which meant that they needed just 216 runs to win the test and series.   

It looked like an easy chase and at one stage the Aussie scorecard read 113/2. The Hosts needed just 103 runs to win the game with 8 wickets remaining. It was supposed to be an easy chase. But this is when an injured Shamar Joseph bowled the spell of his life. In a spell of 11.5 overs Joseph dismissed 7 Australian Batsmen and bowled the Aussies out for 207 runs. The sheer pace and accuracy bamboozled the Australians as they lost the game in the most dramatic of fashion. Steve Smith did fight hard, but it was not enough to secure a win for his side. 

It was tears of joy all around when Shamar Joseph took the final wicket of the game. The Fallen Giants have risen from their ruins. It is pertinent to note that the West Indies did not win a Test match in Australia for 27 years. Furthermore, the youthful team was written off even before it set foot on Australian soil. Hence this victory is special. Very Special. 

Legendary Brian Lara, seated in the commentary box at Brisbane's iconic stadium, broke down in tears as he called the victory a "historic day in the history of West Indies cricket." It is indeed a great day for test cricket. Take a Bow West Indies. You have made every cricketing fan proud. 

To watch the Day 4 Highlights, Click Here. 

FIRE IN BABYLON: MOVIE REVIEW

 

Image Credit- IMDb.

The West Indies cricket team that broke records in the 1970s and 1980s is the subject of the 2010 British documentary Fire in Babylon. The film was written and directed by Stevan Riley and was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for Best Documentary. It features stock footage and interviews with a number of former players and officials, including Colin Croft, Deryck Murray, Joel Garner, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Michael Holding, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, and Andy Roberts. The documentary tells the story of how West Indies cricket evolved from a squad primarily made up of entertaining, highly skilled "Calypso Cricketers" to a focused team that ruled the world of cricket for nearly two decades. 

First, the West Indies Cricket Team is introduced. This idea of culturally and politically diverse Caribbean nations competing under the common flag of the West Indies is portrayed through interviews with legendary West Indian cricket players and other individuals closely involved with West Indies cricket. A brief overview of West Indies cricket history is given, including the selection of Sir Frank Worrell as the team's first black captain and the rise to prominence of players like Sir Garfield Sobers, Learie Constantine, and Everton Weekes. Despite the fact that each of these cricket players have exceptional skill, their inability to produce outcomes led to the West Indies being viewed as "Calypso Cricketers"—entertaining players who would ultimately fall short.

A new generation of West Indian cricket players emerged in the early 1970s, ready to dispel the Calypso moniker and take the globe by storm. It's been suggested that ten young guys from different Caribbean islands make up a gang rather than a squad. A helping hand was what this young squad needed, someone who could lead them in the right path and bring them together on the cricket pitch for a common cause. Clive Lloyd turned out to be that man. Lloyd was appointed Captain in 1974, and the 1975–76 West Indies Tour of Australia presented his first significant test.

With their quick bowling, Australia's Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson annihilated the West Indies. The team's spirit was broken by frequent bouncers and intimidating tactics, as Australia emerged victorious from the six-match test series 5-1. By the end of the series, Clive Lloyd knew that he would have to develop fast bowlers as lethal as Lillee and Thomson if he has to win games.

Clive Lloyd put his new offensive strategy to the test in 1976 when the Indian Cricket Team went on tour to the West Indies. He pressured his fast bowlers, Wayne Daniel, Michael Holding, and Andy Roberts, into giving Indian batsmen bouncers or short pitches. The management of the Indian team chose not to risk bringing their bowlers, including Bishen Singh Bedi, up against the formidable fast bowling when they were playing at Kingston, Jamaica, and declared on a 12-run lead in the second inning.

Satisfied with the efficiency of fast bowling as a tool for winning, Clive Lloyd's squad left on their 1976 Tour of England. The full clip of England captain Tony Greig's infamous "grovel" remark is presented, along with a description of how it inspired the players. West Indian fast bowling is viewed as a threat to the game after some extremely aggressive bowling against the English batsmen. The West Indians, however, believed that they were playing within the laws and spirit of the game. Sir Viv Richards dominated the series as he amassed 829 runs in four tests with two double hundreds. One of the best ways for a batsman to deal with West Indian bowling is also to emulate Viv Richards, who refused to let fast bowling intimidate him.

The documentary then details how Kerry Packer persuaded the team to play in the 1977 World Series of Cricket after they had fought with their board for a higher payout. World Series Cricket turns out to be a precursor to cricket improvements that were only instituted permanently in the 1990s, including day/night matches, colored clothing, and a stronger focus on professionalism in the game. The West Indian squad leaves the competition stronger, fitter, and with a better prepared attitude on the game.

The documentary also describes the 1982 Rebel Tour to South Africa, then ruled by apartheid. Colin Croft decides to leave, and the West Indies Cricket Board bans him for life. But Viv Richards, the global superstar, is the regime's primary aim. Richards claims he was given "a blank cheque," but he declined to travel since doing so would have supported the then-officially sanctioned racism of the South African government.

The tour of the West Indies in England in 1984 is described at the conclusion. The West Indies become unstoppable as fast bowling legends like Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall step up to replace Croft. The West Indies become a strong force as they thrash England 5–0 in the five-test series. Instead of using the standard phrase "Whitewash" to characterize this kind of victory, the series was given the moniker "Blackwash."

The documentary concludes with an account of how the West Indians came to be loved, respected, and even admired by cricket fans and rival teams worldwide. Michael Holding explains as the closing credits roll how the West Indies Cricket Team did not lose a single Test series from February 1980 to March 1995. 

The documentary is indeed very well made and hence a must watch for every Cricket Fan.

To watch the Documentary, Click Here. 

THE ULTIMATE TEST

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Eden Gardens, Kolkata [March 2001].

In the summer of 2001, Australian Cricket Team toured India to play 3 test matches and 5 ODIs. It is pertinent to note that in the previous series the Aussies whitewashed Indians in their home. So, there was certainly a revenge in the air when the Men in Baggy Green landed at the Indian Shores. However, it was not going to be easy task against the mighty Australians who had won 15 test matches in a row and were now eying for a world record. But still everyone was excited for this mouth-watering contest between the two powerhouses of the game.

However, the Visitors just steamrolled the Hosts in the first test at Mumbai and took a 1-0 lead in the series. Even though there were some moments wherein it seemed that Indians could make a comeback. But unfortunately, the same did not happen as the Aussies won the crunch moments and the test by 10 wickets. 

The Aussies inflicted the first punch, and it was now time for the Hosts to give them a suitable reply. However, that was not going to be easy at all. To be honest even drawing against Australia in home was a Herculean Task. Forget about winning. The action now shifted to Kolkata. The general consensus was that India had little chance of ending Australia's winning streak. 

Additionally, Australia regained dominance on the opening day, scoring 193/1, after Hayden had taken Harbhajan out of the attack. However, Harbhajan made a comeback in the later part of the day as he picked up quick wickets to reduce Australia to 252/7. In the last session, he claimed five wickets, including consecutive wickets of Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, and Shane Warne, making history as the first Indian to take a Test hat-trick. The almost full Eden Gardens stadium erupted in cheers when Shane Warne was declared out, after an extended wait for the third umpire to decide whether or not the keeper had caught Warne before the ball touched down. Australians were eventually bowled out for 445, with Harbhajan finishing with 7/123. 

Despite Laxman's 59, India's first-inning batting performance was dismal as they were all out for 171 with a 274-run deficit. Consequently, the Australians insisted on follow-on, and with India at 232/4 and McGrath having dismissed Ganguly on 48, it appeared as though India was virtually out of the match and the series. But what happened next was something unbelievable. V. V. S. Laxman and Rahul Dravid batted together for the entire day, sharing an incredible 376 runs stand. While Dravid got a classy 180, Laxman scored a whopping 281. 

India declared early on the last day at 657/7, with a 383-runs lead, thanks to this incredible partnership, giving Australia an intimidating target of 384 to win. It seemed as though Australia would easily draw the game, but they lost 7 wickets in the last session, falling from 166/3 to be bowled out for 212. Sachin Tendulkar picked up 3 crucial whereas Star Bowler Harbhajan Singh picked up 6/73 for the innings and a match tally of 13/196.  India broke Australia's record 16-match winning run and became the third team to win a Test match after being made to follow-on, with Australia having lost all the previous three times. 

Postscript- The Indians won the third test at Chennai by just 2 wickets and regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Aussie Chariot did come to a halt in the Indian Sub-Continent.

To watch the highlights of that Iconic Test Match, Click Here. 

THE BEST OF LITTLE MASTER

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- SuperSport Park, Centurion [March 1, 2003]. 

India-Pakistan rivalry is the biggest rivalry in world cricket. However, the temperature soars even more during a World Cup Clash. As a result, the players who perform great in these games become legends and are remembered for long. On March 01, 2003, India faced Pakistan in a 50 over World Cup Game in Centurion. Though it was a Group Stage match, but still there was a lot to play for both sides. 

On a batting friendly wicket Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first. Opener Saeed Anwar gave Pakistan a strong start and went on to score an incredible century (101). Apart from Anwar, Younis Khan scored a crucial 32 which helped Pakistan reach a massive 273 in 50 overs. Additionally, the target appeared even more challenging due to the bowling troika of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar.  

However, what happened next was something truly incredible. Due to a spectacular knock from the Great Sachin Tendulkar, India triumphed brilliantly over Pakistan. The Little Master's majestic 98 off 75 balls enabled India defeat Pakistan by 6 wickets and chase down the massive 274-runs target. 

Tendulkar took the first strike and hit the first boundary of the innings with a flip of Wasim Akram's ball on his third ball. However, when one of Pakistan's best bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar, came onto bowl in the following over, it truly set up the chase. Tendulkar hit a six ten rows back with an upper cut off Akhtar's fourth ball. The next ball was flicked through square leg for a four as the Master Blaster carried on his magnificent batting display. The next ball was even faster, and Tendulkar used his entire bat face to just drive it past mid-on for another incredible boundary.

After hitting three fours and a six, Sachin Tendulkar had now amassed 20 off just 9 balls. Tendulkar and Sehwag put 53 runs on the board when Waqar Younis removed Sehwag for 21. Tendulkar was then joined by Captain Sourav Ganguly, who was dismissed the very next ball for a duck. The Indian Scorecard now read 53/2 when Mohammad Kaif joined Tendulkar in the middle. The situation was indeed a precarious one. One more wicket and Pakistanis would have steamrolled Indians in no time.  However, Kaif along with Tendulkar batted sensibly and thwarted the Pakistani pace attack. 

Furthermore, Tendulkar resumed his masterclass in the meantime, hitting his 50 off 37 balls. Tendulkar was on the verge of reaching a glorious hundred when Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar removed him in the 28th over, at 98. However, Tendulkar's incredible effort did not go in vain as Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh had a match winning partnership of 94 runs as Indians chased down this massive total in 45 overs. 

It is interesting to note that prior to this World Cup, India had never chased more than 222 in a World Cup Game. However, Sachin Tendulkar's unbelievable innings against Pakistan allowed India to win by six wickets with 26 balls left to spare. The Player of the Match award went to Little Master as he led India to an incredible victory over Pakistan for the fourth time in as many World Cup matches by dominating the pace trio of Pakistan, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Waqar Younis.

 It's now nearly 21 years since that game was played. However, Sachin Tendulkar's World Cup innings of 98 off 75 balls will live on in history as one of the finest ever.

To watch that Incredible Knock, Click Here. 

CROSSING THE LINE

 

Image Credit- Wisden.

Venue- Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town [March 2018].

The Australian cricket team traveled to South Africa in March 2018 to play four Test matches. Since South Africa's readmission to International Cricket, this was the two teams' first four-Test series. As the third test approached, the series stood at 1-1.  Hence there was a lot to play for both the teams in Cape Town. 

However, on the third day of the test, Australia's Cameron Bancroft was seen on television and on ground displays attempting to rub the ball with a little yellow object during the 43rd over of South Africa's second innings. Furthermore Bancroft was once more seen on TV coverage and on ground-level displays concealing the device in the front of his pants. The umpires then walked up to him and he pulled out a dark microfiber sunglass pouch from his pocket to show them. After inspecting the ball, the umpires made the decision not to award the South African side five penalty runs or offer them the ball to replace if they so desired, as permitted by Law 41.3 of the Laws of Cricket. 

However, Bancroft and Australia's Captain Steve Smith, acknowledged during the post-match conference that Bancroft had been trying to change the ball's condition using a short piece of yellow adhesive tape that had accumulated dirt and grit on it, creating an abrasive surface. After an inquiry by Cricket Australia five days later, he acknowledged it was sandpaper, the stuff cricket players use to keep their bats in good condition. In addition, Smith acknowledged that he was aware of the plan before Bancroft took any action. Smith claimed that the leadership group—which he did not identify—made the strategy during the lunch break. However Smith did acknowledge that it was a major error, though.

Following the incident, South Africa won by an overwhelming 322-run margin as Australians were bowled out for just 107 while chasing a target of 430. Cricket Australia was rattled by the media frenzy that followed, overshadowing the Proteas victory. 

Bancroft was found guilty of a Level 2 offense by the International Cricket Council (ICC), while Smith was accused of undermining the spirit of the game. Smith and Warner resigned as captain and vice-captain after acknowledging the accusations. Furthermore Warner and Smith were both barred from the Indian Premier League that season. Apart from that Smith, Warner, and Bancroft received 12-month bans from Cricket Australia, while Bancroft received a nine-month ban.

Following these events, Tim Paine was named as the Australian Captain. After serving their bans, Warner, Smith, and Bancroft rejoined the Australian team. Warner and Smith made strong comebacks in International Cricket. One piled up runs in the World Cup, whereas the other blew the English in Ashes. However Bancroft failed to make any mark and was thus dropped from the squad. 

Postscript- In the last 4 years the duo of Warner and Smith has won ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC T20 World Cup, ICC Test Championship, Ashes and many more trophies for their country. However the ghost of  Sandpaper Controversy still haunts the Cricketing World.

To know more about that Series, Click Here. 

BALL OF SHAME

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Lord's, London [August 2010].

One of the scandals that stunned the cricketing world was the spot-fixing incidence involving Pakistani cricketers. The affair occurred in August 2010 at Lord's, London, during an England vs. Pakistan Test match. Three Pakistani cricket players were found guilty of accepting bribes from bookmaker Mazhar Majeed in order to purposefully bowl no-balls during certain times during the Test match. 

The British newspaper News of the World broke a story on the third day of the 4th Test, alleging that an agent who was somewhat connected to some of the Pakistani players—later identified as Mazhar Majeed—had accepted a £150,000 bribe from undercover reporters in exchange for information that two Pakistani bowlers, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir, would purposefully deliver no-balls at specific points during the match. This information could be used by gamblers to place bets using inside information, a tactic known as spot-fixing as opposed to match fixing, which is the predetermined outcome of a match.

In the News of the World video, Majeed, who was counting out the bribe money, said that Amir will bowl for Pakistan in the third over and that the opening ball would be a no-ball delivery. Amir did bowl the third over; he also delivered a no-ball on the opening delivery of the over. After watching the delivery on television, commentators called it a "massive overstep," since it went well over half a meter beyond the popping crease. Asif produced a ball that was likewise a no-ball, fulfilling Majeed's prediction that the sixth delivery of the tenth over would be a no-ball.

Salman Butt, the captain of Pakistan, had planned the intentional no-balls in exchange for cash from undercover reporter Mazhar Majeed, who was posing as a bookmaker. The affair, which was made public by the now-defunct British newspaper News of the World, shocked the cricket world and is still having an impact on Pakistan thirteen years later.

In addition to ruining the careers of three players who were punished and banned after that gloomy morning at the renowned "home of cricket," the incident sparked demands that Pakistan be barred from playing international cricket. In November 2011, Butt, Amir, and Asif were sentenced to prison after being prosecuted in a London court for violating the Gambling Act. 

It was a new low for Pakistani cricket, which was still suffering from the terror attacks on the Sri Lankan squad in Lahore a year earlier, which led to the cancellation of home international matches. Due to his age and the fact that he entered a guilty plea before his two teammates, 18-year-old Amir won sympathy from people all around the world. After being granted permission to play cricket for his country once more in 2016, he quickly contributed to Pakistan's victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy. 

However that ball of shame still haunts Muhamad Amir and Pakistan Cricket.  

To know more about it, Click Here. 

POME CALAMITY

 

Image Credit- Sky Sports.

Venue- Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds [August 17-18 2000].

During the West Indies tour of England in 2000, the fourth Test of the five-match series became the first ever Test match to conclude in less than two days' time since 1946. The West Indies were totally annihilated during the match, allowing the hosts to win the fourth test by an innings and 39 runs. It is interesting to note that the five-match series was levelled one all before the penultimate test. The Windies won the first Test match comprehensively by an innings and 93 runs, while the English won the closely fought second Test by just two wickets. The two teams' third meeting in Manchester resulted in a draw. Hence there was a lot to play for both the teams in Yorkshire.

Jimmy Adams, the visiting captain won the toss and decided to bat first. However, the decision proved fatal as the visitors were dismissed for just 172 runs in 48.4 overs.  Ramnaresh Sarwan was the leading run getter for the Windies as he scored 59 off of 82 deliveries. On the other hand, Craig White was the leading wicket-taker for England, having picked up five wickets in the first innings.

The English responded swiftly. After batting for around 82 overs the hosts ended up scoring 272 in their first innings. With 76 runs off 132 deliveries, Michael Vaughan seemed like the guy on a mission. Apart from him, Graeme Hick too scored a crucial 57. 

However, when the Windies came out to bat in the second innings they were exact 100 runs behind the English total. Everyone expected a fight from the Men in Maroon. But what followed next was nothing short of a calamity. As Mark Nicholas has rightly described the Windies second innings- CALAMITY POME CALAMITY IN THE WEST INDIES CAMP.  The Visitors were blown out for just 61 in their second innings. It is interesting to note that it took just 27 overs for the English to wrap up the Windies Batting Line-up. The English bowling on that particular day was so lethal that 5 Windies Batsmen were dismissed for a duck. By taking five and four wickets respectively, the pace duo of Andy Caddick and Gough inflicted the most damage, absolutely bewildering the opposition. In two days, England won the Test match easily by an innings and 39 runs thanks to a collapse by the West Indies.

Postscript- The English won the fifth test at Oval and thus won the 5 Match Series 3-1. 

To watch the West Indies Second Innings, Click Here.