Indian Cricket
India Favorites To Reclaim Border-Gavaskar Trophy
By Gaurang
February 18 2013
India surrendered the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in humiliating fashion in Australia last time, not only losing 0-4 in the four Test series, but losing without much of a fight and by huge margins. Yet back on their home turf India are clearly favorites to reclaim the trophy.
There are many reasons for this optimism among Indian fans. The first is that the pitches are likely to be much more to their liking than the bouncy, seam friendly conditions they encountered in Australia last year. The wickets Clarke and his men are likely to face in India are going to be spin friendly for sure.
The second reason for optimism about India's prospects is that Australia have a very, very mediocre spin bowling attack. Nathan Lyon, their lead spinner, is no better than about half a dozen off spinners plying their trade in Indian Domestic cricket, from Jalaj Saxena to Prvez Rassol. The less said about his supporting cast the better. This is a far cry from the potent spin duo that England had when they recently turned the tables on Dhoni and his men and won a series in India for the first time in nearly three decades.
Thirdly, the Australian batting, except for captain Michael Clarke, who btw, is supposedly hampered by a sore hamstring, is as inexperienced as any Australian side that has ever visited India. Australia have no other players to compare with Jonathan Trott, Alistair Cook, Kevin Pietersen or Ian Bell in terms of experience and class. Now there is news that Australia's answer to Virender Sehwag, David Warner, is also injured, which further weakens the Australian batting at least for the first Test, if not the series. The loss of Michael Hussey, who retired recently, has left a big hole in the lower middle order, a hole that is unlikely to be adequately filled by the likes of Usman Khwaja or Moises Henriques.
The only aspect of this Australian team that is strong, at least on paper, is the pace bowling department. With a battery of fast men, both right and left armed, they posses much more firepower than India in this regard. However, the pitches are likely to defang them to a large extent. In the past successful overseas bowlers have used sheer pace, and a combination of new ball and reverse swing to nevertheless prove successful on Indian pitches. Australia's young pace attack will have to show that they not only have the pace, but the skills to take wickets in decidely unfriendly conditions. In fact how the pace attack goes will to a significant level determine if the Australians have any chance of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
From the Indian side things don't look much different than they did against England. In fact the loss of Zaheer Khan with the new ball has weakened India's already weak pace department, and the spin attack is the same one that got outbowled by Monty Panesar and Greame Swann recently. The reason they are favorites is not so much that they have improved, but rather that the visitors are of a lesser calibre than the English team that won 2-1. The other thing that is different is that the Indian team is not cocky and overconfident this time. Also, as this tour is late in the Indian cricket season, the Indian players have all had a lot of games to get into the groove. This is especially true of Sachin Tendulkar who has been scoring almost at will in the Indian domestic first class season. A welcome sign for not only his fans but for the Indian team. One can thus expect India to prevail either by 2-0 or maybe a 2-1 margin. Anything less, and it will be truly shocking result, one that should cause some very clear-headed soul searching about the future of the Indian Test team, especially in light of the overseas tours that follow.
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18/02/2013 15:44
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:04:03:22:04:54 by Birbal.
Quote:Birbal
Why the skepticism? Australia are much weaker than England... and so India are favorites...
LOL
IN one of his final training sessions before the first Test, Sachin Tendulkar looked a shadow of his former self with teenage net bowlers exposing the waning powers of the Little Master.
Wary of an Australian boilover on their home turf, Tendulkar and his Indian cohorts underwent an intensive three-day training camp in Bengaluru to maximise preparations ahead of the series opener starting Friday.
But Tendulkar looked anything but the greatest batsman since Bradman when he was bowled three times facing 15 emerging youngsters plucked from India's triumvirate of regional academies in Mumbai, Chennai and Mohali.
In one dismissal, Tendulkar was slow to come forward to a delivery which penetrated his defence.
An inside-edge also clattered into his off-stump when he attempted a forceful shot through point.
Tendulkar has been bowled five times in his last nine Test innings, an unusual scenario for a batting genius who has built his brilliant career around his brickwall defence.
Tendulkar is unlikely to be perturbed by one mediocre net session but it could be evidence the 194-Test champion has gone one summer too long as he confronts Australia eight weeks shy of his 40th birthday.
Tendulkar has come under pressure to retire after averaging 18.67 and 21 in recent series against England and New Zealand, but the Australians have dismissed suggestions Tendulkar is a spent force.
Quote:Birbal
Who was the writer of that piece...about Tendulkar... give that person some humble pie...
oh really ?
tendulkar scored one 75odd against Eng also...but averaged 25
he has to not get one fisty in 8 innings...but score atleast with an average of 45ish to hold hsi place
Quote:Birbal
Did you watch his batting? totally different from England series...
did you watch his dismissal....missed the line of the ball.....and then it looked spectacular.
OK
Let him prove me wrong and average 70+ in this series
You will find fault with him unless he suddenly turns into SUPERMAN....
Who is he blocking? Rohit? Tiwary? Rohit flopped big time against ROI...and Nayar a medium pacer of Ganguly pace troubled Tiwary no end...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:02:25:17:37:42 by Birbal.
Quote:If he averages 70 in the next 20 tests...then he will bring his averge over last 40 tests to an acceptable 45.Birbal
Why 70+...why not 200+..?
I am lowering the bar and granting acceptabilty at 45.
if we keep it at 55.....then you can do the math how much he needs to average over next 20 tests
Quote:shilpaQuote:Birbal
Why the skepticism? Australia are much weaker than England... and so India are favorites...
LOL
My turn to LOL
Quote:BirbalQuote:shilpaQuote:Birbal
Why the skepticism? Australia are much weaker than England... and so India are favorites...
LOL
My turn to LOL
LOL
at your LOL on your amit like predictions
Quote:Birbal
LOL at your attempt to save face...
save face......I don't matter I am a nobody.
For now it is looking liek BCCI will get away with a face saving series
MNMI... when would you like to treat me to dinner... I have a few places in mind...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:03:18:21:15:49 by Meet_New_Mr_India.
Well done on your prediction, something most people disagreed with. Even you couldn't predict the whitewash - you envisioned 2-0 or 2-1 - but in most other aspects your preview was dead on.
I have a feeling Australia would have at least drawn if not won in Mohali with Pattinson and Johnson plus Watson playing...
Congratulations to the Indians on a whitewash....
I can't recall an Indian side winning 4-0 ever against anyone so that was good to see.....
24 needed with a bunny coming in at 11? No problem!
Each of those matches was won by an innings IIRC...
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