Bobji, Author at Cricket Critique

Tribute to Michael Holding

Posted on 3 May 20243 May 2024 by Bobji

Not for nothing was his bowling known as “Whispering Death”. The smooth run-up to the crease, the gentle action and the clean follow through all belie the pace that he generates off the pitch. Michael Holding was a piece of art. One of the greatest quartet of fast bowlers put together by non other than Clive Lloyd, Holding was the mainstay of that attack. His combination with Malcolm Marshall was a deadly site for any batsman. In Australia, there is a saying. If Lillee does not get you, Thomson will. Nothing along similar lines was ever said about Marshall and Holding but it holds true for that combination too. Speedometre wasn’t invented during his period. I wonder what would have been his pace. It could easily touch 150KMPH but I bet it could be even more. This is a tribute to Michael Holding.

Great lineup

Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Andy Roberts. A bowling line-up that more often than not, ensured the victory of West Indies for a very longtime. Holding was a major contributor in that fearsome foursome. Tony Cozier writing in Wisden says, “The speed which he generated from his deceptive approach to the stumps was, on occasions, frightening and, in association with Roberts, Daniel and Holder, proved a decisive factor in the West Indies’ resounding triumph.”

On a personal level, I do not have much memory of watching Holding bowl. By the time I began to understand the game, he had already retired. What I learned about him was only through hearsay and through videos on YouTube. He was a master of his craft.

Born in 1964 in Jamaica, Holding was fortunate in that his parents themselves were keen sportspeople who would encourage Holding to try his wares in the sporting arena. His father played in club cricket and was known as good at that. Both his parents were in Australia to witness their son make his debut at the international level. It must have been a proud moment for the.

Some of the memorable spells

The bat when Holding ruled over the game wasn’t the massive piece of log that we find now. Batsmen weren’t protected as they are now. Now, imagine a hard leather ball being hurled at upwards of 150KMPH. The batsmen had split second of the split second to decide what shot to play. He was famous for the perfume delivery. It was a short delivery on or around the offstump that would bounce and pass the nose of the batsman. At that speed, the batsmen will be terrified to see a red cherry whizzing past their noses.

There are so many spells of sheer brilliance that it is difficult to recollect. The 5/17 of 14.5 overs against England at The Oval in 1976. He destroyed England and in the process helped West Indies to win the Test quite comfortably. He bettered that performance in the same series. Match figures of 8/92 & 6/57 for a combined total of 14 wickets was brutal by any standards. The 6/21 against Australia in 1984 showed that the conditions or the pitches did not really matter to him. He can transcend them and through sheer force of will, was the destroyer in chief. There are so many other performances that it is difficult to go through them as it will become repetitive.

Commentary stint

Once he retired from active cricket, he moved into the commentary box with ease. He always called what he saw and never minced any words. In the sense, he was direct. If someone needs to be praised he did and if someone needs to be criticised he did that. This trait of his made him one of the most likeable and lovable commentators on air. Just like the fearsome fast bowlers, he formed a beautiful combination with the likes of Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain. Two commentators who are respected the worldover for their views.

He was never afraid to air his opinion and never worried about what someone else might say or think. The honesty and integrity towards his position was exemplary. The distinctive voice was a treat to everyone’s ears. I for one always like the way Holding expressed his views. It really was a pity that he chose to commentate with BskyB. His expertise and his frank observations were missed by all of us in other games that did not involve England. Be it on Mohammad Amir’s 5-year ban or taking a knee to fight racism, Holding would allow his emotions to show and was not afraid to burst into tears on camera. For him, showing how he felt was not an embarrassment.

For someone so gifted, it really is a shame that he chose to retire from commentary in 2021. Ofcourse he has aged and movements with age become limited but his voice will be missed. Especially for Indian fans who are accustomed to hearing their cricketers only praised and not criticised when they ought to. His mantra as a commentator was don’t talk…more than necessary.

Appreciation from fellow commentators

Nasser Hussain wrote, “”Michael Holding did many great things with the ball during his career, but the way he is speaking about racism in cricket and the importance of Black Lives Matter is a reminder that he is a great man in other ways, too,” Hussain wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

Michael Vaughan tweeted, “Michael Holding is a legendary bowler .. Commentator .. Campaigner .. but even a more so a GREAT guy who will be sorely missed around the Comm boxes .. Happy retirement Mikie ..”

Wrapping up a tribute to Michael Holding

All great things must come to an end and so did Holding’s career and his commentary stint.

About West Indies

https://icricketcritique.com/the-rise-of-the-west-indian-empire/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-fall-of-the-west-indian-empire/

The original King Richards

Posted on 3 May 20243 May 2024 by Bobji

This is a tribute to the original King Richards. The swagger before he steps foot on the ground, the crescendo that is built by the crowd in anticipation of the King taking the spot in front of the stumps where he belongs, the decisive but minimal foot movements and the brute power behind those shots, King Richards was a treat to watch even for the harshest of his critics. Michael Holding, the other great West Indian fast bowler, was offered to as poetry in motion. Viv Richards was no different either. In the Harry Potter series, the name Voldermort was considered to be a curse. So much so that no one dared pronounce his name.

Likewise, the opponents dare not pronounce the name Richards. The shiver of the sheer name sent down the body of his opponents must be seen to be believed. He made mincemeat of teams from Australia and England. What chances did lesser teams from Asia had against him?

The life story of Sir Vivian is emblematic of a symbiotic love affair between an individual and a community. Sir Vivian seen as the ‘embodiment of the hopes and aspirations of his homeland’. Pundits had gleaned that his batting style – aggressive and passionate – was rooted in and an expression of a defiant national culture. At that early age he was seen as the ‘embodiment of the hopes and aspirations of his homeland’. It was a burden that Vivi Richards accepted. He has rewarded and continues to reward his society for that faith expressed in him.

My early years watching Vivian

Growing up in the small indescript part of Chennai, Madras of those days, I had to be satisfied watching Richards on those black and white TV, it was expensive by the standards of those days, which was not even the quality of the Standard Definition that we see now. The nonexistence of satellite television meant that we had to watch Richards only when the West Indies toured India, because only then would Doordarshan be able to telecast the games live. The commentators, with due respects, Anupam Gulati and Narotham Puri made things so mundane that it required the brilliance of Richards to not only light the stadium to wake everyone up from their slumber. Ofcourse, I hated when he destroyed the Indian bowlers but even the bowlers of the calibre of Lillee, Thomson, Botham and Willis had no chance what can a Chetan Sharma or a Sandeep Sharma do?

By the time I began to understand the game, Richards was not in his prime. Yet, the aura and the confidence remained undiminished. It is mindboggling when you consider the fact that he never lost a single Test series throughout his captaincy tenure. I doubt whether this record will ever be broken. If I am not wrong, he was the captain for about 10 years. Not to lose a single series over a 10-year period is out of the ordinary.

The sheer genius

On 31 May 1994, Vivian Richards showcased the brilliance of batting in ODI cricket. It was a sublime innings of 189 against England. Neither the English bowlers nor their supporters realised that hit them. The assault was brutal. One particular shot will stay in the memory of anyone who watched that game. Richards going all the way to the offside and clipping a ball on the middle stump over the fine leg for a six of Bob Willis. Nowadays, we all talk about the reverse sweep, the scoop, the switch hit and whatnot. Richards with that one shot showed what he was made of. He changed batting for the better. No bowler ever troubled him. Yes, he had his moments against Lillee and Thomson but he was not overawed by them.

The teams he hated

Richards hated losing to a couple of teams. Ofcourse, in his time, it was one team. England. If South Africa was allowed to play, he would have hated them even more than he hated England for he has written.” He has written ‘I would like to think that I carried my bat for the liberation of African and other oppressed people everywhere’. As for England, he never liked the fact that they ruled over the West Indies for a considerable period of time. He disliked losing to England and was always at his best against them. The series of severe thrashing 5-0, 6-0 over several years, said a lot about his resolve to not go down against the old enemy.

Having said that, his best friend is an Englishman. Ian Botham. Botham writes, “Where else would I be when my best buddy turned 60!? In Antigua of course ready to celebrate with the great man. He was the best friend I could have wished for growing up in the game and since we both finished playing he’s still been at my side for all the important times in life and vice versa. In fact he is not really my best friend, he is more like a brother to me and we are part of each other’s family. He is the godfather to my son and a huge part of my life.”

Sir Vivian Richards as he is now called saw cricket as a Caribbean contribution to the struggle against racism against the blacks. He was lured by a hefty amount to play cricket in South Africa. Even by today’s standards, the sum was quite gigantic. Yet, money did not sway him. He remained rooted to his ideals and tore the cheque right there.

The best tribute to Sir Vivian

As a mark of respect and as a mark of tribute, a special $2 banknote, with a picture of him was issued and is in circulation across the Eastern Caribbean islands. This is a rare honour for a cricketer. Stamps have been issued to artists from various walks of life but a currency note and that too, one that will always be in circulation is an appropriate tribute to a legend who walks on this earth.

About West Indies

https://icricketcritique.com/the-rise-of-the-west-indian-empire/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-fall-of-the-west-indian-empire/

Maxwell wants a break

Posted on 17 April 202417 April 2024 by Bobji

Oh, come on! Maxwell has been the most overrated batsman in the history of IPL. Everyone and every franchise that he has ever played seems to be impressed by his occasional brutal innings and is willing to go to any extent to purchase him. The fact of the matter is that Maxwell, atleast in the IPL, never roared like a tiger. Rather, he was a pussy cat everytime he walked to the crease. Now, Maxwell wants a break from the IPL so that he can be ready for Australia in the T20 World Cup. Social media is ripe with memes as to how Maxwell is when he is playing for Australia and how he is when playing in the IPL. It is time every IPL franchise thinks before the plump in an enormous amount for some cricketer who is unlikely to live upto his billing.

Maxwell was dropped from RCB in the high scoring game against SRH. Later, it emerged that he asked for a break from IPL itself. He hasn’t ruled himself out of the tournament itself and is willing to contribute at a later stage. For now atleast, he has ruled himself out of the league. With the way RCB is progressing, there is no scope for them to qualify for the playoffs. Maxwell’s absence is unlikely to affect them in any way because of the zero impact he has had in the league.

Maxwell’s comments

“I went to the coaches, (captain) Faf (du Plessis) last game and said, ‘It’s probably time we tried someone else’.

“I felt like I wasn’t contributing in a positive way with the bat … and with our results and the position we find ourselves in on the table, it’s a good time to give someone else an opportunity to try and show their wares and hopefully someone can make that spot their own.”

Maxwell also said that it is not unusual to go through poor runs in T20 cricket and was confident of his efforts before the IPL and would return home in time for Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign.

It is safe to assume that Maxwell recognised the writing on the wall. There was a clamour to replace him for the game against SRH after the series of poor scores. Maxwell must have felt that it will be better to excuse himself rather than be pushed out. It is the classic 9-5 job goers ruse. One would rather want to be laid off rather than fired which always gives a bad impression upon him with the prospective employer.

The point I fail to understand is that Maxwell plays only two formats. T20 & ODI. He is not part of the design with the Australian Test side. That train has already sailed long time ago. He is relatively free most of the year. As such, he must be well rested and primed for action. Everyone goes through loss of form. However, in T20 cricket, it is easier to get back into form quickly. It is not as challenging as Test cricket. In India, where the ball hardly bounces or moves, it is impossible for a player’s poor form to continue in this form of the game.

Wrapping up Maxwell wants a break

The fact of the matter is that Maxwell should not have been bought by RCB for the exorbitant fees that he was paid. He knew pretty well his performances during the last several seasons. He hasn’t scored a single hundred and has an average of just above 20. Maxwell cannot claim that he does not get too many overs to bat. For RCB atleast, he batted in a lot of games at number 4. A crucial spot from where a batsman will get atleast 10 overs. Long enough in T20 to construct a proper innings. It is time for RCB and for every IPL franchise to thank him and bid him goodbye from the IPL.

What is eating RCB?

Posted on 17 April 202417 April 2024 by Bobji

5 games lost in 6 and fighting for the last spot in the table, RCB have more or less become the first team to be eliminated from the 2024 IPL. They still have an outside chance of qualifying for the playoff but it is only that. An outside chance. Far too many things will have to go wrong for the other teams and go right for RCB for them to qualify. Based on the display so far, it is safe to assume that that is not possible and that RCB has been relegated safely. However, just what is eating RCB? Prior to the start of the tournament, RCB was not among the favourites but with explosive batsmen, no one expected them to be so abject. In most of the games, they were clearly outplayed and annihilated. Something is seriously wrong with RCB.

After 16 years, they still have not understood how this format of the game is being played. The lack of explosive batting at the top is exaggerated by the lack of explosive option in the middle. As a result, they always end up posting 20-30 runs less than par or fail to chase a substantial score. If Virat Kohli bats the entire 20 overs, RCB invariably posts 15-20 runs less than the optimum score. If he gets out early, RCB is in danger of not batting the entire 20 overs. It really is a catch-22 situation.

The Australian imports

There were a lot of expectations on Cameroon Green. Atleast, I thought that he would provide the rousing batting in the middle that RCB have been lacking. Alas, it was not to be. He is like a fish out of the water. It looks like he is in the woods if he does not turn up in the Australian colours. So much for RCB spending a fortune on getting him transferred from Mumbai Indians.

As for Glenn Maxwell, in 16 years of playing in the IPL, assuming that he would have played in more than 175 games, has he had any real impact in 10% of the games? I just couldn’t remember that many games where Maxwell had a real and significant impact. Far too many times, he failed to deceive. His failure has been so bad that his previous franchises did not seem it fit to retain him. Just look at his record in IPL. It is so pathetic.

Maxwell tricked Kohli

It is safe to say that Virat Kohli, fell into the trap of Maxwell. A couple of years ago, when it became apparent that Maxwell would not be picked by any franchise, he cleverly said in the media that he would love to play for RCB and under Virat Kohli. Kohli was deceived by such talks and probably convinced the team management to pick Maxwell who has not repaid the faith Kohli placed upon him. Maxwell cannot claim that he does not get that many overs to construct a proper innings. He does get a lot of overs, especially this season, to not only build but to post significant scores. 5 single digit scores in 6 games including 3 0s. That is ridiculous. It is time he is shown the door.

Andy Flower, who is known to be a no-nonsense coach, will he have the guts to drop Maxwell for the remainder of the season?

The less said about the bowling, the better it is

Before the tournament began, everyone criticised RCB’s lack of investment upon bowlers. Now it is clear for everyone to see. All of them are incapable of preventing the opposition batsmen. They spray the ball everywhere. Alzarri Joseph, who bowls with extreme pace, is more or less sleeping while bowling. With his pace, he could rattle the opposition but he does not think. Siraj is at his benevolent self whereas lack of quality spinner is telling. How could they afford to release Chahal who was more than an adequate spinner. He was expensive but could chip in with vital wickets. Something none of the current bowlers are capable of. Why didn’t they hire the services of Hazlewood or Hazaranga? What is the thinking behind the purchase of players by RCB? Do they apply their brains during the auction?

The eternal bridesmaid

RCB is among the 3 teams that have never won the IPL in 16 years of its history. The others are Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings who have changed their names but the management has remained the same. Yet, they are not talked about not winning a single competition the same way as RCB. This is probably because of the fact that RCB is served by one of the greatest T20 cricketers in Virat Kohli and for a considerable period, the destructive Chris Gayle was also part of RCB. It is only of late, Gayle hasn’t found favour with the RCB management because of his advancing age and meagre returns with the bat. Will this year be the catalyst or will RCB be the eternal bridesmaid?

Two seasons ago, RCB made the blunder of splurging a hefty amount on Jamieson who did not even play half the games. This year, they have done the same with Cameroon Green.

Wrapping up what is eating RCB?

RCB will have to start planning for the next mega auction. This year’s tournament is already gone and with the same players expected to be part of the next edition too, they can win neither. Before the next auction, they must release every player, including Kohli and start from scratch.

RCB blogs

Lyon about CA and BCCI

Posted on 17 April 202417 April 2024 by Bobji

I understand that the title Lyon about CA and BCCI must be slightly misleading because one will feel that Nathan Lyon, the brilliant Australian spinner, has said something about both Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The first part is correct. He has criticised Cricket Australia. I have included BCCI in this because the thought of any active cricketer criticising the Indian board is unfathomable. Let me try to explain in Lyon about CA and BCCI.

Indian cricketers are not known for being vocal against the board. This is not new. Ever since the BCCI became the current behemoth, anyone and everyone is afraid of raising their voice against the board. The Indian board simply does not allow it. Leave alone dissent, they cannot tolerate even the minute bit of criticism coming their way. They always seem to think that they are beyond any commoner and that a divine right has been bestowed upon them. They seem to think that they are above criticism and that they are absolutely blameless.

I have never seen or read any Indian player, be it Kapil Dev or Gavaskar in the 1970s and 80s or Tendulkar, Dhoni or Kohli say anything against the board even when they deserve it. The reason I have mentioned these players is because they were during their playing days, the absolute star cricketers whom the board will not dare. Yet, they never found it necessary to speak up when the situation warranted.

Lyon’s comments about Cricket Australia

Lyon was contracted by Lancashire to play the entire season of the English County Championship. However, Cricket Australia stepped in and limited his tenure for only 6 games.

“Yeah, it’s definitely not my call,” Lyon told BBC Lancashire.

“That’s the nature of the beast. It’s a business now and Cricket Australia have come over the top and said they want to manage me and hopefully extend my playing career for the next three to four years, whatever it may be.

“It’s disappointing, because I signed here wanting to play all games and even play some T20 cricket and was thoroughly looking forward to that.

“But it is what it is and my hands are tied.”

Lyon does not have any cricket to play until India reaches the shores of Australia towards the end of this year. It would have been perfect for him to play the entire season and keep himself fit and in form. Cricket Australia in the garb of wanting to extend his career has cut short his tenure. Lyon is thoroughly justified in venting his frustration against the parent body.

The case of the ICL

How can anyone forget the case of the ICL? Indian Cricket League that was promoted by Zee Network. This was the precursor to the IPL. When Zee announced this tournament, they invited international cricketers from across the world to participate. Unknown to them at that time, several top international cricketers signed up for the tournament in the hope of making fair amount of money in a short time. How did the BCCI respond to this tournament? It was savage. First, they refused permission to the league on any of the grounds that the BCCI controlled. This was followed by non-recognition of the league itself. Kapil Dev, who was the chairman of the National Cricket Academy and was also associated with the league, was sacked from his post. This was further exacerbated by banning all the players who participated in the league.

The board did not feel satisfied with this. They resorted to banning any foreign player who associated himself with the ICL. The arm-twisted the ICC into issuing a decree that the league would not be recognised unless and until the BCCI recognised it. This was issued by none other than Malcolm Speed, the then chairman of the ICC. The BCCI had lots of power that even the ICC was and is afraid of the board. The extent to which BCCI went to scuttle the initiative was mindboggling.

BCCI and its restrictions

It is a known fact that the Indian board ( I do not have much respect for a self-centred body )has lot of restrictions on the commentators. They are not allowed to comment about the team selection, administration, criticise players to name just a few. This is outrageous. No wonder all the Indian commentators are lame and they do not have much to talk about. They repeat the same thing every now. They are treated as the lackeys of the board. Ravi Shastri’s comments are legendary. Basically, he has become the laughing stock of the commentating world.

Once a commentator is contracted by the production company, he must be free to express himself and not be restricted by some stupid board. If the commentator is not doing justice to his job, he is actually betraying the public. He is withholding information from the public who are depended on the experts to understand the match happenings.

The great commentator Ian Chappell once refused to commentate in one of the India vs Australia series because he did not want to be restricted in his views. He is someone who stands by his principal. I have listened to Nasser, Atherton, David, Warne, Holding and I felt absolutely privileged. They are all so clear and if they felt something is not correct they said so. It is the beauty of commentary. Especially, all of them are former players who has much more insight into the game than the average cricket fan.

Wrapping up Lyon about CA and BCCI

Indian supporters are longing for the day when the board will be criticised severely for all the bad things that they constantly do.

The see ball hit ball game

Posted on 29 March 202429 March 2024 by Bobji

The 8^th game of the IPL at Hyderabad between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad became the see ball hit ball game. Sunrisers ended up by eclipsing the record of RCB by posting the highest total in the history of IPL. Mumbai threatened to overtake that score but fell short by 31 runs. When you consider that the opposition scored 277, falling short by 31 runs and that too in a T20 game, is not at all poor. The fact of the matter is that the game wasn’t worth watching for the traditionalists of the game. Ofcourse, youngsters would have liked the game but is this really what we want to watch? Already, every rule in the game is in favour of batsmen.

Far too many rules favouring batsmen

Ball pitching outside of the leg-stump, even if goes onto hit the middle stump is still not out. Most of the grounds in the world are too small and the outfield is lightning quick. Every pitch in white-ball cricket is flat making it difficult for the bowlers to restrict. The line that marks wide delivery is way too close to the stump that the bowler, especially a spinner, margin of error is virtually zero. Only 2 bouncers per over diminishes the potency of the fast bowlers. The administrators are not at all thinking about the balance between the bat and the ball which is ridiculous. Against such a background, the Hyderabad pitch was a joke. Usually, it is the Bangalore pitch that is a nightmare for the bowlers but this Hyderabad one takes the cake.

T20 is a format that is loaded heavily in favour of the batsmen. The bowlers are restricted to just 4 overs per bowler whereas, a calculating batsman can even bat all 120 deliveries. There is not a semblance of fairness. In the knowledge that 10 wickets remain and only 20 overs to be negotiated and with the pitches being so batting friendly, it is easier for every batsman to just plonk his foot forward and hoick the ball into the stands which is anyway not that far away.

5 times

This is the number of times any team has scored 200 or more in the IPL so far. We are only in the 8^th game. This number could reach 40 by the time the tournament terminates towards the end of May. What do the bowlers do under such circumstances? They are helpless. Consider for example, Maphaka, the 17-year old bowler from South Africa. He is a serious talent who could turnout for South Africa in the next 2-3 years. His confidence must have been dented after the initiation into T20 cricket. Even the bonafide Test great, Pat Cummins, wasn’t that economical either.

The administrators seem to have the wrong opinion that entertainment and enjoyment come with batsmen belting the ball to all parts of the ground. A good game is one where the bowlers too feel that they are in the game all the time. The last Test series between India and England is a case in point. The pitches favoured the spinners but not to an extent that even ordinary spinners could become dangerous. Only the good ones were able to pick up wickets if they were consistent enough. There was a game during the World T20 in 2021 in Australia at Perth between India and South Africa that was brilliant because of the bounce on offer. The target was just above 130 but it was tough chasing. These are the sort of games that keeps interest in the proceeding.

Wrapping up the see ball hit ball game

Cricket will eventually suffer is such games happen all the time. I agree that T20 is the format that now runs the game. Youngsters do not have the temperament to sit through 5 days of cricket, leave alone the ODI. The attention span has come down significantly and so is the tendency to not follow the game. However, a bit of assistance to the bowlers, be it fast bowlers or spinners, will only add value to the game.

Brand new edition of IPL

Posted on 29 March 202429 March 2024 by Bobji

One more edition of the IPL will be underway in Chennai on the night of 22^nd March 2024. This is the 17^th edition of the tournament that has sprouted a lot of rival leagues throughout the cricketing world. The BBL in Australia was followed by Sri Lanka, Pakistan and West Indies with the latest entrants being South Africa, UAE & surprise of all surprises, USA. Nonetheless, IPL still remains the league that players the worldover wants to be part of. The reason is not difficult to fathom. It is the exorbitant money that is being paid to every player. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have created a record of sorts by selling beyond 20 Cr Indian Rupee. An enormous amount by Indian standards.

The 17^th edition will start with the winner of last year, CSK against RCB. It went against tradition in the sense that usually, it is the previous year’s finalists who would usually start the subsequent edition. For some reason, RCB has replaced last year’s finalist, Gujarat Titans. This year’s tournament has started with a mega surprise. After being at the helm for 14 years, save for a few games, Dhoni has stepped down as the captain of CSK. This was wholly unexpected. After winning the title over 2 of the last 3 years, fans of CSK expected Dhoni to continue to lead the squad. Ofcourse, it is inevitable that Dhoni will leave at some stage but no one expected it to happen just a day before the start of the competition.

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians too sprang a surprise though not at the last minute as CSK. The franchise out of the blue, paid a hefty amount to Gujarat Titans for Hardik Pandya. At first, everyone would have thought that this was done merely to ensure that the franchise had sufficient muscle power during the lower end of the innings now that Kieran Pollard has retired. Pandya played for Mumbai for a very longtime when they decided not to retain him.

Pandya would have felt letdown which led to him becoming the captain of Gujarat Titans. The shock came a little later when Pandya replaced Rohit as the captain. That was when it dawned on everyone the real reason for hiring Pandya. There were lot of disgruntled players within the Mumbai Indians setup. Jasprit Bumrah and Surya Yadav Tweeted cryptic posts thereby signalling their intentions. However, I felt that this was waiting to happen.

Change in captaincy, waiting to happen

Rohit has been the captain for more than 8 years. Being the captain of any sporting side for that long, will dent a captain’s capability. He or she would have gone past their sell-by-date and it is time to look to the future. That is exactly what the franchise owner did. This is a professional sport. This is how things are. There is no need for his supporters to feel disheartened.

Afterall, much the same could be said for him when he took over the captaincy of the Indian Test squad from Kohli when Kohli very much wanted to continue. Changes in captaincy and changes in personnel will keep on happening in professional sports. Yes, Rohit did win 5 trophies but that was in the past. Rohit is 37 looking towards the end of his career but IPL will go on. Hence, MI is justified in planning for the future.

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkatta Knightriders

Two franchises that plumped in enormous amount on just 2 players. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were stunned by their bids. Never in their wildest dreams would they have expected to be sold for more than 20Cr. This was unprecedented in the annals of the IPL. Both of them will be under tremendous to justify the pricetag. More so, Cummins who is not a great success as a T20 cricketer. Remember, when he played for KKR previously, he was dropped frequently not because of the 4 foreign players restriction but because he did not have any impact at all.

Nonetheless, now that he is back with a huge sum, it was only expected that he will be named as the captain of SRH. Especially, after the success at The Ashes, the WTC final and the ODI World Cup, it would have been insane on the part of the franchise not to name him the captain.

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans

Gujarat by virtue of having been traded Pandya for a huge sum, has appointed Shubman Gill, their standout batsmen in 2023 as the captain. This is a big risk because Gill has not captained any sie previously. Gujarat has in their ranks Rashid Khan who is an international captain. Without the calming influence of Hardik Pandya, does Gujarat Titans have the necessary gumption to reach the finals remains to be seen.

As for RCB, it has been a wait for 16 years. It really is a shock that despite the presence of several power hitters, this franchise has never won the title. This season, they have bolstered their squad with Cameroon Green to complement the hitting ability of Maxwell and Karthik.

Rest of the franchises

Delhi and Punjab, just like RCB are still waiting for their moment in the Sun. Ricky Ponting has been the coach of Delhi for the last few years but even he is unable to catapult them to winning the title. As for Rajasthan, ever since the Shane Warne inspired first title, they are nowhere near the podium for all these years. Lucknow Super Giants have been quite consistent since they started about a couple of years ago. Much depends on Rahul. If he continues with the Test match approach, Lucknow will have a tough time.

Wrapping up brand new edition of IPL

I am not going to predict but for me, it will be RCB, KKR, MI and SRH in the final 4. Let’s wait and watch how the tournament transpires.

Other IPL blogs

https://icricketcritique.com/ipl-must-prove-its-worth/
https://icricketcritique.com/midseason-review-of-the-ipl-2023/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-expansion-of-ipl/

Chennai Super Kings IPL Preview

Posted on 29 March 202429 March 2024 by Bobji

The most successful team in the history of IPL alongwith Mumbai Indians, starts their campaign against RCB on the 22^nd. Two titles in three years is a massive achievement. They will be hoping to ascend heights that no team has ever done before. One more title win will put them ahead of Mumbai Indians in the pecking order. Much was speculated about Dhoni that he would be retiring from all forms of the game. It reached a crescendo when the captaincy was handed over to Jadeja. However, Jadeja found the burden to tough and handed it right back to Dhoni. This happened a couple of seasons ago and since then, Dhoni has been in the saddle firmly. Social media is full of memes of Dhoni accepting the trophy at the ripe old age of 60. Chennai Super Kings IPL Preview.

Dhoni’s popularity has not dipped a wee bit. The innumerable number of travelling fans of CSK provides an edge to CSK wherever they play. The fans are the 12^th man in the squad. The manic following unsettles the opponents. Everyone of the fans is a Dhoni supporter. Dhoni is an integral part of CSK just as Kohli is for RCB. He has been the captain right from the inception of IPL barring a few games when Jadeja took over.

Loyalty to the franchise

CSK is the most consistent side in the entire history of the IPL. Apart from the 5 titles, they have also reached the final 5 times which is 10 final appearances in 14 years. Remember the franchise was banned for a couple of years. Ofcourse, to win that many titles, Dhoni alone cannot be credited. The franchise has maintained a consistency that is hard to match. More often than not, they placed their faith in experienced players. Rahane, who was a forgotten man, found a new lease of life after turning up in the CSK colours. The loyalty of the players and the support staff is unmatched. Even the coach, Stephen Fleming is unchanged in 16 years.

A couple of New Zealanders

The inclusion of Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell will make the franchise stronger. We have seen the capabilities of both those players in the World Cup. Mitchell is capable of power hitting that matches the best in the business whereas Rachin can not only caress the ball in the gaps but can bowl a few useful overs. Their addition will be advantageous for the franchise. It remains to be seen whether both of them can play given the limit on foreign players. A year after winning their 5^th title, CSK looks much more stronger. It can only be bad news for RCB who comes up against them first up.

Availability of the players

Devon Conway, the regular opener for CSK and an excellent striker of the ball, will be missing from action because of an injury. Pathirana, the Sri Lankan too will be missing because of a hamstring injury. With Rachin in the squad, he will easily slot in in the place of Conway. CSK’s bowling has not always been their strong forte. It is something they have learned to circumvent. Shardul Thakur’s return will induce depth to the batting. He is in good form with the bat having helped Mumbai win against Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy.

With Deepak Chahar in the playing eleven too, the batting depth will be the envy of every other team. Chahar himself is no mug with the bat. He can bat like a proper allrounder.

The franchise will aim to win all their games in Chennai through the spin combination of Santner, Jadeja and Moeen Ali. Last year, they lost 3 though that didn’t prevent them from winning the title but it is something they would like to avoid.

Probable playing eleven for the initial games

Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Sameer Rizvi, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana

Wrapping up Chennai Super Kings IPL Preview

It is hard to predict where CSK will end. They are known for surprises. 3 years ago, they were outplayed in most of the games but 3 years later, they have won 2 titles. Reaching the playoff should be achievable. Proceeding further depends on the form of the squad.

Other blogs about CSK

https://icricketcritique.com/the-ipl-2021-finals-and-chennai-super-kings/
https://icricketcritique.com/review-chennai-super-kings/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-dream-partnership-of-g-g/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-ridiculous-timing-of-ipl/
https://icricketcritique.com/csk-ipl-2023-analysis/

Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL Preview

Posted on 29 March 202429 March 2024 by Bobji

The Royal Challengers Bangalore will be under all sorts of pressure this season because of the success of their counterparts in the just concluded WPL. It has been 16 years since the inception of the IPL but RCB have never won the title even once though they reached the final on three occasions. This is the biggest mystery of the IPL because of the presence of powerful hitters in the ranks of RCB. Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers alongwith Maxwell and du Plessis over the last couple of years. Yet, RCB never tasted success. Now, with the triumph of the women, the men will be under greater pressure. It may lead to enhanced performance or it may drag them down even further. Only time will tell. Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL Preview.

After a run of 3 successive playoff appearances, RCB were relegated in the group stage last year when they ran into a Shubman Gill blitzkrieg at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. A run of seven wins and seven losses wasn’t that great to warrant a place in the finals. Yet, hope persisted among the RCB fans that was finally extinguished by that assault by Gill.

Personnel changes

RCB have ringed changes both within the squad and among the support staff. Andy Flower, the controversial former England coach, will be the head coach whereas Mo Bobat has taken over as the Director of Cricket. Andy Flower as we all know is a no-nonsense coach. As a side note, Kevin Pietersen never liked him as a coach and he was always at loggerheads with him. Nevertheless, he will probably be the same rigid and tough coach with his new franchise as well. How the most experienced players like Kohli, Maxwell and Du Plessis will take to him, remains to be seen.

Among the players, the key additions are Cameroon Green, Alzarri Joseph and Lockie Ferguson. For some reason, RCB did not think it fit to retain Hazaranga who was quite successful in the game he played. Now, they are left with pace bowlers and the lack of genuine spin bowlers might come back to bite them. Perhaps, they chose these bowlers keeping in mind the games in Bangalore where the pitch is an absolute nightmare for any bowler, especially spinners. It is time the curator at Bangalore prepares a pitch that will help the RCB’s faster bowlers rather than being a pure delight for the batsmen.

Players to watch out for

Again the same suspects. Virat Kohli, du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell. However, the greenhorse could be Cameroon Green. He is coming off of a successful series in New Zealand where he got his highest Test score so far. He could also bowl 4 overs which means that the allrounder or even the spot of a specialist bowler, could be filled by him. Green didn’t perform that well for Mumbai Indians last year but he has got a bit more experience than the last outing. Faf and Maxwell are certain to feature in all the games which leaves just 2 spots for foreign players. Will Green be the 3^rd one?

As for Kohli, now that the women have opened the RCB account, he will be raring to make a double with the men. He has had a wonderful break of about 2 months and must be completely rejuvenated. His combination at the top with Faf will be rollicking. However, once the powerplay is over, they slow down considerably. With the inclusion of Green and the return of Rajat Patidar, RCB will have to aim for 20 runs more than the par score in every game. It will also give their underrated bowlers a chance to defend.

Maxwell is a blow-hot, blow-cold type of player. If it is his day, he can make a mincemeat of any attack. On other days, even an ordinary attack will be a handful for him. How is Faf going to adjust after becoming a T20 specialist will be keenly seen.

Availability of players

Everyone is available throughout the tournament. There was a slight doubt regarding Green’s availability for the initial few games but Cricket Australia approved for him to travel to India without playing in the Sheffield Shield final.

Probable playing eleven, atleast for the initial games

Faf, Kohli, Patidar, Maxwell, Green, Lomror, Karthik, Topley, Siraj, Akash and any spinner.

Kohli’s slot

Kohli was successful as an opener in the last edition. It makes sense for him to continue in that position. Ofcourse there isn’t any specialist opener in the squad. So Kohli will continue. There is a suggestion of making Green open the innings. He has done that for Australia in white-ball cricket. It will allow Kohli to move down to his favourite spot but I think Andy Flower must resist that idea. Kohli is better suited at the top of the order.

Wrapping up Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL Preview

RCB’s fans have had enough. They have been let down repeatedly over the last 16 years. Now that the fans have seen the women succeed, they will be hoping that this year turns out to be good for the men too. If not for anyone, RCB’s players owe their fans one title after all these years.

Other RCB blogs

Increased pay for the Indians

Posted on 29 March 202429 March 2024 by Bobji

I am here again, to laud BCCI for a wonderful initiative. After the diktat of representing their respective state teams to those players who are not part of the Indian team but are in their state teams, the board has come up with one more laudable decision. Awarding players who prefer Test cricket and thereby helping to not only safeguard the traditional format but also prompt a change of heart in those players who feel that they can still play Test cricket and earn a luxurious living. With a couple of excellent initiatives, BCCI has done something to the players who are depended on this game for their livelihood.

The lifespan of anyone in sports, is short. For the exceptionally good, it could be 13-15 years whereas for the good players, it could be between 10-13 years. Everyone else, will fall in the 5-year category. It makes their careers extremely short. Once they are out of the sport, they will hardly know how to lead their lives. The pitiable state of India’s first bowler who bowled the first delivery in the Ranji Trophy, Shri. M.J. Gopalan, comes to mind. He lived in a home that had only one room. Ofcourse, the cricketers of this century are earning a lot more and they do have some plans for the future but it does not mean their lives are mapped completely.

If a cricketer or anyone in sports wants to make the most out of their playing career, it makes perfect sense. He or she will have to secure themselves financially. For every Kohli earning in millions, there is always an Ashok Dinda who has already retired without much financial security. Those cricketers who are earning in millions in the IPL or other lucrative leagues are blessed. Equally, others aren’t that lucky.

The measures of the BCCI

Toward that end, what the BCCI has come up with is not only laudable but soothing too. I hope that this is only a start and that there are more to come.

The BCCI has announced “Test Cricket Incentive Scheme”. It proposes to increase the match-fee of any player by 300% if he plays in more than 75% of the Tests played in a calendar year.

“This scheme is not only designed to encourage players to engage in the purest format of the sport but also addresses the evolving dynamics of the cricketing landscape, ensuring parity with match fees in other formats and league cricket,” the BCCI said in a statement, with president Roger Binny saying, “This initiative aligns with our vision of promoting Test cricket as the pinnacle of the sport.”

Pujara and Rahane

The heartwarming feature of this scheme is that it will be applied retrospectively from 2022-2023. It actually means that Pujara who was considered only for Test cricket and Rahane will also benefit from the largesse of the board. Pujara will earn 45 Lakhs more per Test that he featured in. Pujara and Rahane are not in the scheme of things any longer. Both of them have played their final Test already. With the arrival of Devdutt Padikkal, Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz Khan, Jurel and a host of youngsters waiting in the wings, it will be safe to assume that both Pujara and Rahane will not find their way back into the Test team.

However, to honour their services, this is a good decision. Rahane will be remembered forever for the series win in Australia win all seemed lost. Pujara too will be remembered for his exploits in Australia that resulted in twin series victories consecutively. The famous words of Josh Hazlewood, will linger in the air until the game remains. He said that he was sick of the sight of Pujara on the wicket. Pujara and Rahane will feel elated that they have not been forgotten nor are their contribution to the team. This one move by the BCCI, has had me flabbergasted. Great work BCCI.

Thanks to Shreyas and Ishan

This change would not have occurred if Shreyas and Ishan Kishan hadn’t refused to follow the diktat of the BCCI and play for their state teams. Their insubordination has rightly terminated their contracts for the year and has also made the BCCI think about the players choosing and dictating to the board. Would they have learned a lesson because of their arrogance? Would they repeat the same? Only time will tell. For the moment, let us applaud the board for being firm and making the right decision.

Fast bowlers contract

Another good move was to award fast bowling contracts to 5 bowlers who are promising. Now, these bowlers can concentrate on their craft and become a better bowler and play for the nation for a very longtime. This must free them from financial worries and

Push by other boards

This may have prompted other boards. The English and Australian boards have planned to approach the ICC to set a benchmark for minimum payments for Test cricket to 20K AUD per game. Countries like the West Indies pay their players just 5000AUD per game which is by far the lowest among the Test playing nations. I don’t know whether every board will be able to afford a fee of 20K. Most of the boards do not earn as high as India or England or Australia. They are finding it difficult to make ends meet. This slab of 20K may not be possible but there will be a compromise formula as a result of which the players of less richer boards will also be able to earn decently.

Wrapping up increased pay for the Indians

I am a harsh critique of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. However, in this instance, I can only admire the intention of trying to make the Ranji Trophy relevant.

Other blogs about the board

https://icricketcritique.com/roger-binny-the-new-bcci-president/
https://icricketcritique.com/one-more-warning-for-the-administrators/
https://icricketcritique.com/removal-of-the-entire-indian-selection-panel/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-role-of-a-cricket-captain/
https://icricketcritique.com/rohit-dravid-the-team-and-the-board/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-curious-case-of-sarfaraz-khan/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-importance-of-the-ranji-trophy/