Debutant Bairstow powers England to a clean sweep

Debutant Jonny Bairstow won the man of the match award for a powerful cameo of 41 off just 21 balls which included three massive hits over the ropes. He and Ravi Bopara had held their nerves in the end to put England over the line which at one time seemed highly improbable.

Overs: 31-32.2, Eng: 241/4

The winnings runs came in the 32nd over with Ravi Bopara flicking Vinay Kumar for an easy single.

Virat Kohli was hammered for 14 runs in the 31st over and with that the result of the match was more or less settle and India were all set to end the England tour without a single victory. Jonny Baristow again proved how strong the England setup has become with youngsters coming in an owning the international stage like none other.

Overs: 26-30, Eng: 215/4

This set of five overs cost India 51 runs and England more or less took the game away from the visitors in these five overs. Ravi Bopara once again was in the middle of it all keeping his cool and nonchalantly working his way through.

Jonny Bairstow proved to be the difference as England amassed 35 runs in the last three overs courtesy of some fearless brave hitting by the youngster thus closing in on the revised target.

Dhoni took the gamble by giving the ball to Jadeja who was milked for 21 runs in his last over and the gamble paid off as the itchy Trott while trying to cut a ball ended up giving a simple catch to RP Singh at backward square leg. Trott was looking ominous with a well made 63.

Debutant Jonny Bairstow though held his nerve and connected a massive slog to deep mid-wicket then reverse swept Jadeja for a boundary in the same over to ease some pressure.

Overs: 21-25, Eng: 164/3

Ian Bell, trying to clear the long-off boundary wasted his wicket to hand back India with a slim advantage after scoring a quick fire 26 of 21 balls.

Trott and Bell had got another a big over taking 10 runs off RP Singh. Trott had upped the ante and the 

pair of Bell and Trott reached fifty-run partnership in just 36 balls.

Jonathan Trott did not have a single six to his name in 34 ODI, but in this match Trott already hit two as both Trott and Bell milked Jadeja for 21 runs thus putting England back in the reckoning and India in a spot of bother.

Overs: 16-20, Eng: 116/2

Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja bowled few tidy overs to keep a check on the England score.

The 17th over produced a crafty reverse paddle sweep to four, a fifty for Cook, a dropped catch by Dravid the very next ball and finally the prized wicket of Cook with a slower delivery, and bowler, Virat Kohli. The wicket gave given India the advantage in Duckworth Lewis calculations with the required rate creeping up for England.

Munaf Patel slipped on the grass and tumbled on to the sponsor’s logo while attempting to catch a skier from Cook. The fall was very awkward and stretchers were out with Munaf in visible pain. India are now concerned about a player as well as losing out on few overs as well.

Overs: 11-15, Eng: 89/1

With rain pouring down in the backdrop, England seemed really desperate to get a move on as Trott and Alastair Cook went for unorthodox shots. Trott in fact was caught off a no-ball at mid-off in the 11th over.

But the pair evidently kicked off to their gears and the running between wickets was a proof of that. 

Ravichandran Ashwin had troubles gripping the bowl and even in the field, it was getting real tough.

Overs: 6-10, Eng: 58/1

Play resumed with a revised total of 241 in 34 overs.

Before the interruption, Munaf Patel came in as the first change and Trott hoisted him straight for a massive yet an elegant six.

Kumar and Singh after the rusty start made amends with good spell of medium fast bowling backed by superlative effort in the field by the Indians. Cook had troubles in the middle as he got lucky inside edges on couple of occasions as Trott got singles on a regular basis to tick over the scorecard.

Overs: 0-5, Eng: 29/1

After two expensive overs, Vinay Kumar bounced back well to scalp the dangerous Craig Keiswetter. With a scrambled seam the ball kept low as the wicket-keeper batsmen tried to play across the line only to be adjudged Leg before wicket by umpire Nigel Long

The opening bowlers Kumar and RP Singh were wayward to say the least at first giving the England batsmen too many loose deliveries to score off. They failed to stick to the plan and did not bowl according to the field. Both strayed down the leg side on many occasions.

Kesiwetter was evidently the dominant partner with Cook playing the second fiddle.

With a revised total of 270 in 40 overs, it is an uphill task for England to chase down the target with an economy of 6.81. Vinay Kumar started off the proceeding for India as Alastair Cook and Craig Keiswetter got 8 runs in the first over.

On Dravid's swansong Kohli, Dhoni propel Ind to 304

On Dravid’s swansong, when ‘The Wall’ complied a well made 69, Virat Kohli took center stage with an enterprising 107 and Dhoni finally came good to launch a late assault on England bowlers to propel India to 304 for 6 in the fifth and final ODI at Cardiff.

Overs: (46- 50), Ind: 304/2

Dhoni finally came good putting the England bowlers under pressure as he cleared past the 300 run mark with some absolutely brutal hitting. Jade Dernbach who bowled the final over was all over the place and when Samit Patel dropped Dhoni, the frustration in his face was evident. The next ball was launched into the Cardiff crowd with disdain. It took India 304 for six at the end of 50 overs.


India had their best pair on crease for the slog overs and for a change in this tour the pair delivered bang on. MS Dhoni’s maverick hitting was a long due one and he produced his ‘A’ game in the 5th ODI. He employed the helicopter shot, the hammer shot milking Bresnan for 17 runs in the 47th over.

Raina on the other hand played the supporting role giving the strike to his captain.

Overs: (41- 45), Ind: 249/2

Batting Power play was taken in the 44th over as Raina hoisted Bresnan straight over his head for a massive six.

Virat Kohli’s enterprising innings of 107 off 93 deliveries came to a grinding halt as he was out hit-wicket at the worst possible time for India. A set batsmen was what India needed in the slog overs, but he went back a bit too much while flicking Swann to square leg and disturbed the stumps in the process.


Earlier as Raina joined Kohli in the middle, the controversial Hot-spot was employed for a possible glove to keeper from Kohli and again at times the hot-spot was in cold waters. Though the final decision went in favour of India. Rahul Dravid had been already dismissed by Swann in the 42nd over.


Dravid had danced down the track, was beaten in the flight, the ball rattled the middle and leg stump; ‘The Wall’ had fallen, fallen for one last time on 69. Everyone in the field shook hands with the legend. This was his swansong and as he accumulated his runs, Kohli on the other hand was taking the center stage and probably the limelight as well away from Dravid. But, it’s Dravid, he would have been least bothered.

Overs: (35- 40), Ind: 216/2

Virat Kohli unleashed a flurry of boundaries and a top class six off Samit Patel to propel India past 200 under forty overs and also entered the nineties. In the process the pair of Kohli and Dravid registered partnership of over 150 runs.


With two set batsmen in the crease India were all set to build on a solid platform for the slog overs. Rahul Dravid also reached his fifty of 62 deliveries and that too without much fuss as has been the case with him over the years. He let the youngster Kohli take the risk and pushed himself to the hilt running alongside his quick partner.

The pair were able to put England fielders under pressure converting the ones into two and couple of times twos into threes as well.

Overs: (31- 35), Ind: 173/2

Virat Kohli who had some low scores in the series so far proved good here and along with Dravid played sensibly with some quick running between the wickets, attacking the loose ball and trying to rotate the strike constantly.


After reaching his fifty he evidently shifted to a higher gear and took on Jade Dernbach in the 35th over with two boundaries.

Fifty runs came of this set of five overs.

After a decent start by India, England had crawled back in to the game in the middle overs in previous encounters but this time around a solid fifty by Virat Kohli and equally firm innings of Rahul Dravid ensured that the side were in a good position with 15 overs remaining.

Overs: (26- 30), Ind: 133/2


29th over produced a boundary after long time as Dravid and Kohli, in typical Indian style went after the spinners without any risk. Meanwhile Graeme Swann retreated back to the pavilion possibly due to a sprain.



Ravi Bopara was introduced by Alastair Cook to get in some quiet quick overs. Dravid and Kohli reached fifty-run partnership and steadied the Indian innings.



Overs: (21- 25), Ind: 105/2
Spinners operated from both the ends with Indian batsmen looking far more comfortable. Dravid and Kohli maneuvered the ball into gaps taking at least four singles per overs.

Overs: (16- 20), Ind: 84/2


Greame Swann was given the ball and immediately he scalped Parthiv Patel. Patel who scored 19 off 39 balls had looked itchy and in a foolish act stepped out against the offie only to lob the ball to mid-on.

Again after a decent start both the openers are back in the hut with England evening out things early on.

Virat Kohli joined Dravid in the middle and India would need a solid partnership from the veteran and from the youngster who could fill in the shoes of ‘The Wall’ in the days to come.

Overs: (11- 15), Ind: /0

Ajinkya Rahane ran out of luck as his chancy innings of 26 came to an end with a well judged catch at third man by Steve Finn off the bowling of Jade Dernbach. In walked the wall, Rahul Dravid for his swansong innings to a resounding welcome.

Overs: (6- 10), Ind: /0


Steven Finn produced a testing 6th over which include two unplayable deliveries. Parthiv Patel was beaten comprehensively and in Wasim Akram’s words, it was just too good get a nick.

Bresnan on the other hand bowled well within his limitations sticking to an off-stump line well supported by his fielders. That prompted Rahane to take some risk and tried going over the in-field couple of times which almost cost him his wicket.

Samit Patel dropped a sitter from Rahane at third man off the bowling of Steve Finn. Rahane, though undeterred continued with his offensive attitude.

Overs: (0- 5), Ind: 19/0

Ajinkya Rahane and Parthiv Patel started of steadily against Steve Finn and Tim Bresnan. Parthiv was positive with his footwork and got a cheeky boundary to the fine leg in the very first ball whereas Rahane played with intent first up.

Finn bowled well early on making Rahane uncomfortable with some pace and bounce



England won the toss and opted to bowl first in the fifth and final ODI against India on Friday.

(This post was first published in zeenews.com)
http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/live-india-vs-england-5th-odi_729486.html

Wanted: A fit Indian

Southampton: When team India takes the field at The Rose Bowl, Southampton for the second ODI against England on Tuesday, there would hardly be any player sitting in the dressing room. Half of the original squad is out of the series and have flown back and some of them have been asked to join the team from India.

The ODI series is a chance at redemption for the men in blues but putting up a fit XI seems to be bigger task than the one at redemption.

Interestingly, Indian team would have only six batsmen to choose from the squad to play in the XI if the likes of Tiwary, Jadeja and Badrinath fail to reach in time. Though, it has been confirmed that Manoj Tiwary has just landed in time for the match. At least, India team can afford to choose out of seven now.

It has been a wretched series for India so far, not only because of the performance but the untimely injuries and the rain interruption in the first ODI where India could have put up a good show.

The injury list started swelling on a daily basis right from the start of the series and out of the original squad seven players have been ruled out so far.


Virender Sehwag is out with hearing problem and failing to recover from the shoulder injury.

Zaheer Khan, who opted out of West Indies tour, in a cruel twist of fate, had hamstring pull in the very first Day of the England tour. Later on, he picked up an ankle injury which lead to an immediate surgery. This has put him out of cricket for nearly 8 months. His availability for the all important Australia series is also in doubt.

Ishant Sharma also has an ankle niggle and has wisely decided to sit out.

Harbhajan had a stomach injury, Yuvraj and Rohit Sharma fractured their fingers and Gautam Gambhir is suffering concussion and vision problems.

The Master Blaster also has been ruled out with inflammation on the toe.


It seems Sourav Ganguly might as well be ready to pad up to complete the playing XI.

(This article was first published in zeenews.com)

http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/wanted-a-fit-indian_728976.html

India goes back to Dravid-ian era

Coming full circles might as well fit for Rahul Dravid who has been selected in the ODI squad against England. ‘The Wall’ had resisted the England barrage in whites in the recently concluded Test series and with this selection he would have to don the blues after two years, probably to do the same.

The very first impression that comes up in the mind looking at this intriguing selection is where exactly will Dravid fit in the playing eleven? Off the 16 selected - Gambhir, Kohli, Raina were the middle-order. They did well in the World Cup with Yuvraj sandwiched between Kohli and Raina.

Assuming Dravid would play at any cost, No.3 is the only position for him, meaning Gambhir drops down to No. 4 subsequently followed by Kohli at 5 and others thus messing up the whole batting order.

The recent dismal showing in Tests by Indian batting could very well be attributed in many ways to the chopping and changing of the batting order.

The reason why Dravid was dropped during 2009 for the Australia series was not for his poor form but it had to do with the rate he was scoring those runs.

The primary basis for Dravid’s exclusion during that time was because Gambhir had filled in at No.3. He provided the same solidity like Dravid and did that at a far better strike-rate. But now, Gambhir would have less time to get in his stride at No.4 and Kohli at No.5, well he would be a clear waste of talent like Robin Utthappa, who back in 2007 came at No.6 without much success.

The selectors sitting at Chennai deliberated on Dravid probably because they would have thought he was the man in form or rather only batsman who could stay in the middle looking like a batsman.

They probably fear that the Indian young guns would succumb to the pace and bounce that one is witnessing in the Test matches.

So they need a ‘Wall’, which could take on or rather will bear the barrage. But what the selectors are not realizing probably is that in Test cricket, ‘The Wall’ has his place but in limited over formats, ‘The Wall’ also needs to march forward with authority, which Dravid might not be able to do.

This selection is a decision driven by panic rather than logic. Panic of being blown away like that in Tests. But, why such a fear? This is a team that is the ODI champion and England are no monsters; whatever the English media may portray; whatever theories of being at their own backyard may sound.

Dravid is a fine batsman, skillful and resilient. He is like the BMW on the streets, classy and suave but ODI in the past two years have moved on from streets to the race tracks. BMW may stand out at No.3 but the need of the hour is probably a Porsche, and India does have one in the form of Gautam Gambhir and again Gambhir's absence one just cannot rule out Kohli.

The selection is baffling at one more front as well; Rahul Dravid is in the squad in place of Yuvraj. The team does have nine batsmen and if Yuvraj had to be replaced, ideal guy would have been Rohit Sharma who is already in the squad.

By not selecting Dravid, selectors could have gone in with Ashish Nehra who had submitted his fitness certificate few days earlier. So even if any of the fast bowlers got injured, Nehra would have come in as variety with his left- arm.

But now with RP Singh being called in for Tests he is considered for the ODIs, again a decision defying logic. Indian bowling is the weak link in the squad and the selectors needed to strengthen that. Batting is as strong as it can be which clearly should not be gauged by the performances in Test.

ODI series would feature batting friendly wickets and Indian batters would be at ease. Rahul Dravid is a batsman who can stick it out in the middle and can take a possible humiliating defeat to a respectable one but cannot be a clear match-winner on his own in the limited over format as it is played now. 

(This article was first pubhished in zeenews.com)

http://zeenews.india.com/sports/blogs/23/blog136.html

Dravid’s bitter sweet saga with UDRS

The bitter sweet saga of Dravid and the decision review system (DRS) continued during the ODI series as well. In yet another controversial decision, Hot-Spot technology failed to register any nick when Dravid seemed to have edged Stuart Broad to keeper Prior during the first ODI at Durham, thus overturning the original decision.

Third Umpire Marais Erasmus went with the noise and the original decision of on -field umpire Billy Doctrove was overturned.

The repeated replays showed no signs of any nick on hot sport though a noise was evident. The original decision was not out given by Billy Doctrove which was challenged by Stuart Broad.

The review went to third Umpire Marais Erasmus who overturned the decision without any conclusive evidence what so ever.

Even Rahul Dravid looked perplexed with the verdict and the moment he went to the pavilion, he was seen with the Indian team’s video analyst and the expression was of disagreement.

As has been the case with India, this has not been a good series for the technology as well.

And if you ask Rahul Dravid about using DRS, he would now prefer to use the services of Geoff Boycott’s grandmother than using the technology.

This is the third time in this tour that Dravid has been on the receiving end of this controversial technology.

During the Test series, that too his final one in England, he was dubiously given out caught at silly point by Alastair Cook even when hot spot did not show anything.

But umpire Steve Davis reckoned that the ball had deviated thus Dravid was out.

He was given out caught-behind in the second innings owing to a referral made by the England side. This time around it was the snickometer which failed to register any edge yet the decision went against Dravid.

The third Test match also had a similar incident when the ball hit the shoelaces of Dravid though that time Dravid himself had voluntarily walked.

The inaccuracy of DRS is not only evident in this tour but on Friday Phil Hughes was not given out during the Sri Lanka –Australia series by the ball tracking technology when it was rather clear that the ball had spun enough on a very dry pitch to hit the stumps but the tracker just showed the ball going straight, missing the leg stump.

During the World Cup game as well there was a big controversy regarding the 2.5 meter rule that had saved Ian Bell.

So clearly flaws are there to see in the technology and even though there could be an argument of much fairer judgments.

This series in a strange way has strengthen the BCCI’s stand of opposing the technology but the fact is that a lot of improvement can be done in the system before applying it in full strength.

The supporters of this DRS technology advocate a full proof decision making system but the above mentioned examples are proof of the lack of ‘fool proof-ness’ of DRS technology.


The main reason why these technologies fail at certain instances is because of the unpredictable nature of the game. A ball tracker predicts the path of the ball after hitting the pad, so a computerised path will not keep in mind the amount of spin or seam the ball might have later on.

Similarly, the hot-spot is not able to pick up feather touches and to be frankly if it’s a prominent edge an umpire would know it immediately due to the deviation. It is during these feather touches that the umpire players get confused, and this is where the Hot-spot have to supposedly come in and clear the confusion. But so far the Hot-spot has just gone cold too often for anyone’s liking.

(This article was first published in zeenews.com)

http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/dravid-s-bitter-sweet-saga-with-udrs_728850.html