Summer of discontent

This summer’s cricket will probably go down as probably the most controversial and ill tempered series since Bodyline. The ill will between Australia and India was obvious throughout the tests and ODI series as two competitive sides fought it out.

The honours were arguably even, with Australia victorious in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and India claiming the CB Series. What was most frustrating about both these series was the way in which both teams at times conducted themselves.

The media coverage was at time bordering on the ridiculous. As India lost the second test at Sydney by the barest of margins, therefore sealing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, claims of poor umpiring and poor sportsmanship by the Australians came roaring out from both sides of the trenches.

Not only were the Indian media predictably up in arms, respected commentators Peter English and Peter Roebuck came out throwing verbal knives at the Australian cricket team’s conduct. Roebuck was particularly scathing of Ricky Ponting, going so far as to call for his sacking and replacement by Simon Katich.

It was a sign of the turbulence that would continue throughout the series, and to be brutally honest, the Australian team never really recovered mentally. They were absolutely battered by the negative treatment in the media and it became a dead weight around their necks.

Sure, there is no excuse for poor form, but it must be born in mind that they were under more pressure from the media than usual. India delighted in their use of the media to heighten their mental pressure on Australia, and it probably worked.

Sadly it also got wearisome for fans to see the constant bickering in newspapers and on television, and as a result, despite some tight contests, some fans turned away in frustration.

Australia had an up and down summer. Generally their bowling was pretty good, especially from Allan Border Medallist Brett Lee and then CB Man of the Series Nathan Bracken, who continues to be underrated despite the fact he is probably the best ODI bowler in the world.

Their batsmen, Matthew Hayden apart, have been pretty flat. Ricky Ponting has endured probably his worst season for years, with poor returns in the tests and ODI series. The once impregnable middle order looked decidedly frail this summer, and looks especially so now without the presence of Adam Gilchrist.

India, however, gained strength as they went along. They benefited immensely from the discovery of Ishant Sharma, probably the best fast bowling talent in years. And their young bowlers were unintimidated by the ‘Australian aura’, which seems to affect other teams.

They were not the innocent victims as they often made out. Harbajan was a constant thorn with his behaviour, which was worse than any Australian. He repeatedly abused and harangued the Australian players and it remains a mystery how he escaped punishment for racially abusing Andrew Symonds.
It was generally the usual offenders such as Harbajan and Irfan Pathan, who is extremely cheeky. Sreesanth was an absolute picture of clarity, and was very disciplined and subdued. While his aggression is needed, it is good that he isn’t going over the top.

I’m just personally glad, mainly as a supporter since this has all made good news for me job wise, that this summer is over and these two teams can simmer until the next series, which I’m sure will be a hotly contested as ever.





P.S. Farewell Sachin.

IPL: What are you worth?

With the advent of IPL, the dawn of the millionaire cricketer has begun. Andrew Symonds, M. S. Dhoni, and the aging Sanath Jayasuria are players boasting seven figure pay packets for their stint in the BCCI- endorsed events.

It has aroused interest in me, not for what the current players are earning, but what the stars of yesteryear would have received. If you compare what the current players are earning, it could be really interesting.

For example, since all rounders are worth an immense amount in 20\20 cricket, how much would they be prepared to shell out for Sir Garfield Sobers, the game’s greatest all-rounder? He would surely be worth more than Andrew Symonds, for his audacious and thrilling batting as well as his three-in-one bowling.

Imran would be worth a fair amount, especially when you consider his leadership value, as would Indian hero Kapil Dev, seeing as Indian players usually got plenty of money. And Keith Miller and Sir Ian Botham would be musts for their charisma alone, let alone cricketing ability.

Keeper of the previous era would have been hard, as none have the hitting and batting ability of the current crop such as Gilchrist, Dhoni and Kumar Sangakarra. But Alan Knott could do well, as could Rod Marsh. Dennis Lindsay would be able to hold his own, and Les Ames would easily pass the grade

Batsmen now. First of all, Bradman. It’s hard to say how he would have adapted to 20/20, but since he had all the shots, it could be reasonably safe to assume he would do well in the shorter forms of the game. If you consider that, he would be worth a considerable amount for the runs he could score, certainly more than Ricky Ponting.

Then you could take your pick from legends such as Sir Wally Hammond, Sir Jack Hobbs, Gavaskar, Graeme Pollock, and probably the man most suited to a game of this format, the phenomenal Sir Viv Richards, who would be given free reign to demolish fast bowlers.

Fast bowlers….ahhh…..now it gets interesting. You can pretty much guarantee that any West Indian quick from 1975 through to 1995 will be snapped up, especially tall wonders Joel Garner and Curtley Ambrose, who would be impossible to score off.

It’s surprising that a hero such as Glenn McGrath would be snapped up for so little. Dennis Lillee has too much class for that, as did English quicks Fred Trueman and John Snow. Ray Lindwall would be a good buy for his batting, as would Alan Davidson.

Wasim and Waqar…ooooo…..this is drool worthy. Wasim would be worth an absolute fortune, especially considering his legendary status on the subcontinent, and his zippy pace and late swing would make him hard to play.

Spinners in general should expect punishment. But I reckon Abdul Qadir, Derek Underwood, and Richie Benaud could give a good account for themselves.

Here’s my ideal team picked from these legends.
Les Ames (WK)
Garry Sobers
Don Bradman
Viv Richards
Wally Hammond
Graeme Pollock
Imran Khan ©
Richie Benaud
Wasim Akram
Joel Garner
Dennis Lillee

This team would be, in my opinion, a nightmare to face in 20/20. Who would relish the sight of Garry Sobers opening, with Bradman and Richards to come? And then having to face up against Garner, Akram, and Lillee?

As for my skills as a cricketer, I’d be happy to go for the price of free meals and a haystack to sleep in at nights. Anything for a game of cricket.

Era of the unsure

Australia is now on the frontier, the edge of the precipice. After this one day series is over, there will no longer be an Adam Gilchrist, no Brad Hogg, and no Jason Gillespie. They will join vanished stars Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Justin Langer and Damian Martyn in retirement.

Matthew Hayden, despite his renewed zest for the game, is 37 this year, and Australia’s number one spinner Stuart MacGill is 38, nursing several injuries and no longer has the strike power he used to.

This is the going to be the most difficult period in Australian cricket since after 1983, when Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, and Rod Marsh all threw in the towel in the same match. It took Australia years to get over that, along with rebel tours to South Africa that further sapped Australia’s strength during that time.

But eventually Australia’s strong domestic scene prevailed and under Allan Border, and then, most notably, under Mark Taylor, Australia emerged as the strongest team in the world, a dominance carried on by captains Waugh and Ponting.

Now though the team is at the crossroads. Losing McGrath and Warne were monumental losses, as they were the finest at their craft during the modern era. Australia suddenly does not have the five backups the team could usually call upon to fill in with ease.

During this summer, India exposed Australia’s weaker bowling attack with several good performances. They made a mockery of hard working Brad Hogg, and were often severe on newcomer Mitchell Johnson.

Their bowling attack has improved out of sight too. After a long period in which a lot of ordinary Indian quicks were bowling, they have suddenly discovered a rash of talented and sharp fast bowlers with immense potential such as R.P Singh, Praveen Kumar, and the man who could become greater than Kapil Dev, Ishant Sharma.

Australia’s batting lineup is still strong, but boasts few players still in their 20’s. In the test line up there is only one, Michael Clarke. Gilchrist’s likely replacement, Brad Haddin, has just turned 30. Mitchell Johnson is the only other player under 30 in the team.

The Indian one day team is extremely youthful, with plenty of young and talented players in the ranks. What will be India’s great challenge in the next 5 years will be when they have to replace Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman, players that only pop up once in a lifetime.

There is good talent in the Australian scene. Dave Hussey and Brad Hodge are scoring plenty of runs, but both are on the wrong side of 30. Cameron White, Victoria’s skipper and improving batsman, is getting better and has real captaincy credentials (As opposed to Michael Clarke, who has very little)

NSW has just unearthed opener Phil Hughes, who is looking the goods with six half centuries in 9 innings. Shane Watson is still hovering around and WA’s has plenty of depth with Chris Rogers, Marcus North, Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh and Luke Pomersbach.

The bowling is currently viewed as the problem, but there is still the erratic Shaun Tait, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ashley Noffke, Doug Bollinger and the raw Mark Cameron. All of the quicks have potential.

The major worry is spin. Finding a replacement to Shane Warne was always going to be a hard task, and the fact is that the spin cupboard is pretty empty. Dan Cullen and Cullen Bailey, the South Australians, are both struggling for wickets and game time.

Nathan Hauritz and Beau Casson are struggling against each other for a NSW spot when MacGil can’t play. Victoria has 35 year old Bryce McGain, whilst Dan Doran’s career is sliding backwards fast. WA currently has the best spin prospect in my books, with tall orthodox spinner Aaron Heal.

The next five years will be one of transition for Australia, when their dominance wanes as a new generation emerges. Australian should expect Australia to still be competitive, but they should be patient as Australia rebuilds itself in order to remain as the world’s best cricket team.