Bobji, Author at Cricket Critique

Indian team for World T20

Posted on 3 May 20243 May 2024 by Bobji

Here it is. The Indian team for the World T20 to be held in the Caribbean has been announced. It is along the expected lines though I would have made some changes to the squad. For the record, let us look at the squad. The captain is Rohit Sharma and the vice captain is Hardik Pandya. The team is comprised of Virat Kohli, Jaiswal, Surya, Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Bumrah and Siraj. The team has enough spinners and enough pacers which looks solid, on paper. We know that some of these players will not be able to perform when brought under pressure. It is good to know that Rahul has not been considered.

I however feel that there are some players here who could have been replaced with better resources. For eg., Ravindra Jadeja. He is known as 3 dimensional player but has seldom performed when it mattered. Save for that one innings in the 2019 ODI World Cup in the semi-final, I struggle to remember a game where he has contributed meaningfully. The last ODI World Cup is an example where he alongwith Rahul killed the scoreboard to the point of no return. Jadeja is still good enough to be in the Test team but in white-ball cricket, I think his time in the shortest form is up. His bowling on placid pitches is also weak meaning if he is unable to contribute in two departments, he is not good enough to be in the team.

Slow pitches

The pitches in the Caribbean is likely to be slow and low. Not much different from the pitches in India. Gone are the days when the same pitches used to carry the ball to the keeper who would have standing far behind the stumps. It is not the same anymore. Hence, it calls for atleast 2 spinners but this team has 4 of them. Chahal is an surprising inclusion. I really do not see all the 4 spinners being part of the playing eleven. At the most, it will be just two of them.

I feel sad for Rinku Singh who did not perform badly in the few games he has played. He could have easily replaced Jadeja. Indian selectors need to be brave enough. They were when they dropped Rohit and Kohli from the T20 squad but now that both of them are back, it is back to square one.

Another surprising inclusion is that of Siraj. He is a decent Test match bowler but in T20, he just leaks runs by the bucketloads. It looks like this team is short of one pacer. I mean Arshdeep and Siraj cannot be trusted to be economical and pick up wickets. I do not know who could have replaced Siraj but the selectors and the board must know. If not, they have clearly failed.

Sanju is a good inclusion

Dube everyone writes that he has improved. I do not know that but I hope he has. For the sake of the nation. He cannot play as an all-rounder. With the impact player rule not applicable in World T20, what role does Dube has to play remains to be seen. I do not see him overtake Surya or Hardik. However, the one good selection I like is that of Sanju Samson. He has an abundance of talent and is in good form. He is probably mentally affected while playing for the nation.

The team management will have to help him on that front. If only he could improve that, he will be a handful for any team. I however foresee Pant overtaking him and getting the first opportunity. I do not think that Pant has a place in the squad. He is an excellent Test Match cricketer but quite lousy in T20.

Wrapping up Indian team for World T20

Indian team have often failed to deceive. Will this World Cup be any different? India does not possess batsmen with the same explosive ability of Head or Salt or McGurk and for that matter a hard hitting spinner like Narine.

Growing voices of dissent in the IPL

Posted on 3 May 20243 May 2024 by Bobji

The Impact Sub rule it has procured growing voices of dissent in the IPL. However, it is only one aspect of an otherwise loaded in favour of the batsmen IPL in 2024. Bowlers are feeling the heat and some of have openly spoken about it. Siraj may find himself in the periphery for having criticised one of the board’s rules. The IPL 2024 has become a monster in the sense the batsmen are ruling the roost. We know that cricket is a game for the batsmen but the IPL has taken to obscene levels hitherto unforeseen. So much so that totals in excess of 200 are the norm rather than the exception. I feel sorry and pity the bowlers who has the enviable task of running up and bowling at their full tilt only to see the ball soar over the boundary.

I have said this before and I will write this again. Cricket unless there is some sort of help for the bowlers, is boring to watch. This is what is happening at the IPL. Everyone points a finger at the impact player aspect of the tournament. Remember, this is an IPL only rule and is not part of the international game.

Comments from some of the players

Axar Patel says, “Because of the Impact sub rule, everyone gets one more batsman so they think that they will use the batsman in case, the batting unit doesn’t go well. And whosoever comes to play, they don’t take much time and start (hitting) from the first ball because they know that they have a player in seventh or eighth place.

“That is why I am not a big fan of the rule, because as an allrounder I know that they will either take a proper batsman or a bowler, not an allrounder.”

Mukesh Kumar says, “If 12 players are not playing at the international level, then what is the need of it in IPL? With 12 players, even if four wickets are down, the next player is not scared of getting out or making the team stable, they come and play their shots. So either the nature of tracks should be changed or 12 players should not be allowed.”

The big one. Rohit Sharma said that he is not a fan of the rule and that it impacts allrounders in the format. Ricky Ponting admitted that “this is a bit of a nightmare”.

My view

These are all valid and legitimate concerns. The current IPL has become so swashbuckling that it does not matter whether the team is 1 wicket down or 4 wickets down. They still end up with a score beyond 200. Teams are willing to take risks at the top of the order and in the middle. Fours and sixes are what keep the audience engaged. This IPL has got that base covered but at what cost? The team that hits the maximum number of sixes, wins the game. It is more or less a lottery. One would think that the BCCI will learn their lesson and do away with the rule but common sense tells us that that is not happen. They will at the most look to tweak the rule and make the batsmen the paramount part of the game.

Other issues

The tall scores are not just because of the impact player rule. There are other issues too. It seems that the boundaries are either brought in even on small grounds. This is stupid. None of the grounds in India are more than 80MTS. With the huge bats at the disposal of the batsmen, clearing them is not at all a challenge. Mishit goes over the boundary when it should be caught some yards from the boundary line. 7 of the top 8 scores have come this season. So much so that 300 is a real possibility. That is taking batting to the stratosphere. 42 sixes were scored between Punjab Kings and Kolkatta. These are mind bending statistics. If the authorities do not wake up now, it will be too late.

Wrapping growing voices of dissent in the IPL

Cricket is an excellent game and authorities because of their incompetence is letting the game drift into unchartered territories which may kill the golden goose. Every board and the ICC are greedy for money and for what? Developing the game in countries where it will never capture the imagination of the public? Whoever thought of this idea must be flogged nicely. Cricket can never become a global sport like Tennis or Football. It is best restricted within a handful of nations and by making them competitive. Can you imagine Afghanistan or Bangladesh against Australia at the Perth? They will be slaughtered.

What has ICC done to improve the game in those countries that are already playing Test cricket? How many Tests has Bangladesh won despite being in the field for 30 years? Why is Sri Lanka’s slide not arrested at all? Will the West Indies be ever competitive again? Why did South Africa dispatched an inexperienced squad to play Test cricket in New Zealand despite knowing fully well that they are bound to lose WTC points?

Funds are being spent in countries where they will never be utilised properly. USA will not embrace cricket. It is a team that is fully made up of expatriates. There will never be a national appeal. ICC must stop spending money on such countries and concentrate on making the game more balanced for the existing spectators.

What has this got to do with growing voices of dissent in the IPL? Everything actually. Atleast there are some murmurs which may one day, snowball into a Tsunami.

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/
https://icricketcritique.com/brand-new-edition-of-ipl/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-see-ball-hit-ball-game/

Indian openers for World T20

Posted on 3 May 20243 May 2024 by Bobji

The IPL has more or less become the defacto selection criteria for India. So much so that players who did well in the IPL are even chosen to represent India in Test cricket. It is an ignominy that we the spectators will have to leave with. Having said that, this year’s IPL is turning out to be the selection games for the World T20 which will be held in the West Indies in June. Who are the Indian openers for World T20? There are several potential candidates but only one spot if up for grabs.

Rohit Sharma

He has been confirmed as the captain for the World T20. A turnaround by the selectors who seemed to have jettisoned both Rohit and Kohli after the miserable loss to England in the 2022 World T20. For more than a year, neither of them was considered for any T20 game. If both are selected as it looks likely, they will straightaway go from one World Cup to another. After the success at the top of the order during the ODI World Cup, barely 6 months ago, Rohit has been given a new lease of life. No longer does he intend to be that Rohit who will invariably play out a maiden first over.

Now he wants to take the bull by its horns and go after the bowler right at the outset. It is the much needed T20 approach. It sort of became clear that once he changed his batting style, he would be back in the team. With him being the captain, one opener slot is filled.

Virat Kohli

Kohli has been successful for RCB but there is always a question mark over his strike rate. You can bet on Kohli to bat the whole innings. It does not really matter whether by the end of the innings, the strike rate improves to 135 because during the initial overs, it remains a tad above 100 which means runs to be had were not taken. The pressure becomes so enormous that during the later stage of the innings, in trying to increase the run rate drastically, the team invariably falls short by losing wickets. Kohli also has this problem against the spinners where he is unable to force the pace.

In Test cricket, this is not a problem because he has time to build an innings but in T20, time is what he does not have. India just cannot afford to play the spinners safely and score just 5-6 an over. However, it will take an extremely brave selection committee meeting to drop Kohli and retain Rohit. The so called Rohit-Kohli division will spring up immediately among the masses. It will be better if Kohli himself asks the selectors not to consider him for the World Cup. That burning desire of being part of one World Cup win after 2011 is very much on his mind and he is unlikely to ask for himself to be dropped.

Ishan Kishan

He is an attacking batsman right from the beginning. It is still not clear whether he is good enough against express pace though the Caribbean pitches will hardly bounce. However, his attitude is a problem and he seems to think that he is already a superstar. It has been just over 3 months since he refused to follow the board’s diktat to play in the Ranji Trophy. Also, the Indian team management of Rohit and Dravid does not seem to prefer Ishan for his attitude.

The only favourable aspect is that he is a left-handed batsman. The bowlers will have to constantly change their line and length between him and Rohit. However, he is not having a good run so far in the IPL. 192 runs in 8 games is not that consistent. I will not want to pick Ishan just for his attitude. It does not matter what he brings to the plate.

Rahul

Please, don’t. Rahul at the top of the order is absolutely clueless about what he needs to do. I have said this multiple times before and I will say this again. Even for LSG, his returns haven’t been great enough to warrant a spot at the top. Leave alone at the top, Rahul will infact find it difficult to find himself in the squad itself.

Shubman Gill

Gill is again in the same mould as Rohit and Kohli. India just cannot afford to have Rohit, Gill and Kohli at the top of the order. Rohit though has reinvented himself, the other two hasn’t. Moreover, Gill is not a proven T20 performer. Yes, he has scored some hundreds in the IPL but those were on pitches that were conducive for batting. Caribbean pitches are likely to be slower which does not suit Gill’s batting.

Jaiswal

The left-hander who was extremely successful in the series against England is another option. He forged his batting in the IPL but has proven to be a good Test cricketer. He could partner Rohit but his returns in the current IPL are not satisfactory.

Wrapping up Indian openers for World T20

Kohli looks like to partner Rohit at the top. However, I think Sanju Samson will make a good partner. Being a wicket keeper, he can double up as an opener too. He has all the shots and is good of pace and spin. Sanju can take full advantage of the initial 6 overs. Kohli can bat at his usual slot.

Of Pant’s return and Kohli’s outburst

Posted on 3 May 20243 May 2024 by Bobji

This is about Pant’s return and Kohli’s outburst. This wasn’t the first time nor will this be the last time. Unless Kohli is punished quite heavily, his on-field boorish behaviour will never improve. He is guilty of not respecting the opponents or the officials repeatedly. Yet, he somehow escapes everytime he goes overboard. It is ridiculous. For long I have written that Kohli’s on-field behaviour has become a nuisance. His over the top celebration, the verbal altercation that he constantly has with the opponents and towards the spectators, the rather belligerent and brash manner on the field.

Any child who is watching such sort of on-field nonsense is bound to be influenced by the actions of their hero. Kohli is aged enough and matured enough to understand that he has a moral right towards the wider audience and as such his actions, either good or bad is bound to be replicated by the children. No wonder the behaviour standards at the school matches level has gone down drastically. I want to reiterate that Kohli must be banned for some months.

The latest salvo

In the ongoing IPL, against Kolkatta Knight Riders, Kohli was given out of a delivery that at first glance seemed to have been above the waist. However, replays showed that if Kohli had been in his normal stance and his usual position, the ball would have dipped sufficiently to make it a rank fulltoss. Kohli came well down the pitch to meet the ball on the full which at that point, was above the hip. He was rightly adjudged as out. Kohli must have silently walked off the ground and into the pavilion. Instead, he argued with the umpire in the same brash and boorish manner. He did intimidate the umpire. Kohli thinks that because of his exalted status, he can get away with anything. The poor umpire must have felt humiliated.

Kohli did not stop with that. He threw the bat which knocked the dustbin over and it is anybody’s guess as to what he would have done to the dressing room.

How was this incident treated? Quite simple. He was fined 50% of his match fee for violating the IPL code of conduct. Are you joking BCCI? What impact does a 50% fine or for that matter, even 100% fine is going to have on a billionaire like Kohli? He will happily pay the fine and continue with his atrocious behaviour. How long will he be allowed to carry on in this fashion? In a couple of years, he may as well retire. Where is the question of accountability? BCCI is so stupid and impotent against powerful players.

Rishab Pant for World T20

Pant is an asset to the Indian team. There is no second thoughts about that. He underwent a horrific crash from which he is slowly recovering. It is good to see him back to almost complete fitness and his batting and keeping with intensity. Later this year, Australians would dread the sight of Pant. The couple of blinders in the last tour will come back in their minds and will be wary of Pant.

Be that as it may, does Pant command a spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup?

Ganguly and Ponting seems to think so.

“I think so, yeah, I think yes,” Ganguly said of Pant’s chances to make it to India’s World Cup squad. “Only 15 can make it, but as in any sport it happens, the most equipped and the better ones play and I think Pant is definitely in that bracket, I’m sure he’ll be going to West Indies,” the former BCCI chief noted.

Ponting said, “I’ve been asked a lot already the last couple of weeks now that he’s back playing what cold be his World Cup chances. I think he’ll be in the squad for sure. He’s too good a player and can have too much of an impact on games for India to not pick him,” the former Australian captain said.”

What do I think?

Not that it matters but I think Pant should not be in that plane to the West Indies. He hasn’t been a huge success in the T20 format. His exploits have mostly been in Test cricket and sporadically, in ODI cricket. He is not a natural in T20. If he is being taken to the West Indies as a keeper, there are far better options. Sanju Samson is one who has been waiting for a proper run in the team. He has been given chances but intermittently. It is not good enough for any player to establish himself. Samson is in good for in the IPL. With his proven ability against pace and spin, not that Pant is a deficiency against either, he could be the one to propel to score further.

Sanju Samson has been knocking on the doors for a very longtime. It is time to give him a proper run atleast in T20. With the return of Pant and the successful series that Dhruv Jurel had in the Test series against England, Test cricket for Samson is more or less ruled out. ODI too is ruled out because of Pant and Rahul. T20 could be the format where Samson will be able to showcase his abilities for the nation.

Wrapping up of Pant’s return and Kohli’s outburst

Kohli must be taught a lesson. If not now, it will never happen. His outrageous behaviour has gone for too long. As for Pant, I will want him to be ready for Australia.

Other blogs about Pant

https://icricketcritique.com/pant-vs-saha-who-is-the-preferred-keeper/
https://icricketcritique.com/should-pant-be-part-of-the-world-cup/

Rahul opening old wounds

Posted on 3 May 20243 May 2024 by Bobji

KL Rahul must know better than to open old wounds. Indians have somewhat recovered from the loss to Australia in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Rahul should have realised that it took a lot of us a longtime to get over the disappointment of the loss. It is alright to talk about the loss so that things that went wrong could be correct the next time but to talk in the sense that if only he had stayed at the wicket, he could have changed the course of the game itself was rubbish to the core.

“The World Cup final against Australia, I was stuck in the moment, whether to take down (Mitchell) Starc or just play him as it was reversing, bowling in tough angle – in that confusion, I ended up nicking it – if I could have played till the end, it could have been 30-plus runs & probably World Cup in our hands – that is what I regret.”. Rahul said.

About the game

Now, Rahul played 106 deliveries and scored 66 runs. At no stage in that game did he look to play attacking cricket. He infact, let the Australians into the game with his mindless batting. Rahul just stood at the pitch without trying to score runs. He must realise that cricket is a simple game of runs and wickets. At the end of the day, the team with the most runs wins the game. This was exactly how Rahul bats whenever he opens in any format. Down the order in white ball cricket, his batting and numbers improved but unfortunately for the nation, on that night, the old Rahul resurfaced at the most inopportune moment.

For a very large part of the Indian innings, runs were hard to come by. Rahul, Jadeja, Surya are all guilty of playing out dot balls after dot balls. The game was lost right there. Rahul comment of an additional 30 runs, India could have lifted the cup is rubbish. You had Head at one end who was batting solidly. The game was finished in the 43^rd over. Another 30 runs would not have mattered at all. With enough batting to come, Australia may have needed another 2-3 overs to knock off the remaining runs. This is another reason why Rahul should never be the captain. He does not think and a non-thinking player cannot be a good captain.

About his learning

“The things that I learned (at RCB) in those two months–I mean, the amount of time it would have taken me to be the player by just playing Ranji Trophy would have probably taken 7-8 seasons. During those two months in the IPL, I gained so much knowledge and experience and everything was fast-forwarded,” he added.

What he has revealed here must come as a shock for the BCCI. Rahul says that it needed only 2 months, I repeat only 2 months to learn about the game that would have taken him 8 years by playing in Ranji Trophy. Here, what he actually means is that the standard of Ranji Trophy is abysmal. That is a direct indictment towards the BCCI who has kept the premier first class competition that is supposed to produce players of international quality, extremely poor.

If one of the leading player, who captained the side not that long ago says that all he needed was 2 months to learn about the game that would have taken him 8 years, the whole concept of Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and kinds of trophies are virtually waste of time, money and energy.

Wrapping up Rahul opening old wounds

In a short interview, Rahul has revealed things that were previously unknown. It is better for him and for the nation if he remains quiet about the final loss. He must understand that his batting was rubbish and so were Jadeja and Surya.

Other blogs about Rahul

https://icricketcritique.com/lokesh-rahul-is-he-required-for-tests/
https://icricketcritique.com/what-is-eating-lokesh-rahul/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-venkatesh-prasad-rahul-spat/

Nathan Lyon the offspinning genius

Posted on 3 May 20243 May 2024 by Bobji

What can you say about a much-maligned bowler who has crossed 500 Test wickets? Nothing needs to be said. Just doff your hat and tell him well bowled. He is such a genius that for most of his Test career, he has always been underrated as a bowler. Neither the media nor the spectators took a serious note of his ability with the ball. I for one feel that the adulation meted to Ashwin or Jadeja or even Keshav Maharaj has not been given to Lyon. Lyon is such a brilliant bowler that when he retires, it will reveal the massive void that he would have left behind. It is not a joke to be averaging more than 4 wickets per Test despite bowling in Australia for the majority of the time. Nathan Lyon the offspinning genius.

There was a period, not so long ago, when the Australian media and the Australian public wanted Lyon dropped. Perhaps, all of us are so fooled by the magician called Shane Warne that we invariably end up comparing every prospective spinner with him. Yes, for all intent and purpose, Lyon will never be able to measure upto the once in a generation bowler. However, that does not mean that Lyon himself has created a path for himself.

The comparison with Ashwin

The mention of Lyon will inevitably invite a comparison between him and Ashwin. Both of them are good bowlers in their own right. Both have won many games for their respective sides multiple times over. Joe Root, the excellent batsman, has nicely summed up the difference between Ashwin and Lyon.

“I’d say, Ashwin is making sure that you don’t play the previous ball. He is very good at trying to drag you across the crease and get your head to one side of it and beat both edges quite frequently.

With Lyon it is all about, I think, especially in the first half of the Test match to get really over the top of the ball, get bounce bowl in between you like the knee roll and hit and try to bring short leg and leg slip into the game as much as he can and then just slowly, get slower with his pace and drift wider into that. There’s that footmarks, um, Mitchell Starc has so kindly done for him for such a long period of time.” said Root.

If I have to choose one who can pick up wickets in every condition, I will have to give an edge to Lyon because of his record in Australia and England.

Lyon for his part is all praise for his counterpart

“You look at Ashwin, he’s a world-class bowler and somebody I’ve watched closely from the start of his career. We’ve gone head-to-head many times in different conditions around the world.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for Ashwin and the way he’s gone about it. There’s an opportunity to learn from the people you play against, and without knowing it, he’s probably been one of my biggest coaches in a way.”

The GOAT

As I mentioned above, there was a period when the Australian public wanted Lyon dropped. It was felt that Lyon does not run through sides which is true. He is an excellent support bowler in the sense, that he will chip in with vital wickets at crucial stages but he will not be the one to pick up 6 or 7 wickets in an innings, unless, the conditions suit him. He showed how good he can be in the conditions that suit him in India by repeatedly picking up 8 wickets but because he wasn’t picking up these many wickets in Australia, the media was not satiated.

Quite a few spinners were tried like Steve O’ Keefe and a few others. None of them had any impact like Lyon did. Luckily for Lyon, the Australian cricketers knew his worth and that is the reason they called him the GOAT, Greatest Of All Time.

That backing from the Australian cricketers, helped in him continuing in the team despite opposition from the media and the spectators. The confidence that is gave Lyon has increased his confidence so much that Australia would have surely won the Ashes 2023 if Lyon had been part of all the Tests. The impact he had in the first and second Tests was palpable. He kept one end completely shut and picked up wickets which somewhat off-balanced England’s Bazball approach.

Winning a series in England

Australia’s inability fo win a series in England for close to 20 years still rankles Lyon. Who can forget that one delivery to Ben Stokes at Headingley? Stokes was plumb in front. The ball would have gone onto hit the middle of the middle but the umpire, if I remember correctly, Aleem Dar, shook his head to the dismay of the entire Australian team and Lyon in particular who fell to the ground in absolute disbelief with just 3 runs required for England to win. Lyon’s wish of winning a series in England could have been achieved if only Aleem Dar had realised that the ball was heading towards the middle.

“I want to play cricket for as long as I can. Haven’t won (a Test series) in India, haven’t won in England – that’s two places that I want to do, so with the injury happening a couple of months ago I feel like there’s a passion there to keep going and keep trying to get better. I’m feeling really confident, really happy with where everything is at and it’s just about going out there and performing now.”

Wrapping up Nathan Lyon the offspinning genius

Lyon will not be able to go past the genius Shane Warne. He still needs more than 100 wickets and in the wrong end of the 30s, his game time is limited. Nevertheless, he will cast his own path and will be remembered for who he was.

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