The Melbourne Test

The Melbourne Test

The Border Gavaskar Trophy, has reached the halfway stage. Cricket Australia designed the series in such a way that by the time the teams reach Melbourne, Australia would have won the series, India would have been humiliated, especially, after the drubbing at the hands of New Zealand, the media would have made a mincemeat of …

Ravichandran Ashwin retires two

Ravichandran Ashwin retires two

The BCCI and the selectors have blundered by not making Ashwin the captain. Once Kohli relinquished his position, Rohit by default became the captain. I for one, would have made Ashwin the captain. Critics will argue that he wasn’t a regular in SENA nations and hence, he cannot be made the captain. It will say …

Ravichandran Ashwin retires one

Ravichandran Ashwin retires one

It came out of the blue and it was over within a couple of minutes. Ravichandran Ashwin, announced his international retirement from all forms of the game with immediate effect. The memories of the last 14 years, right from the time when he bowled Shane Watson in the 2011 World Cup, came flooding back. Ofcourse, …

The Ashwin autobiography final chapter

Ashwin starts off this chapter with his efforts to impress Dhoni, the Indian captain at that time. In the Challenger Trophy Ashwin managed to keep Dhoni quiet but wasn’t able to pick up his wicket. In a shortwhile, Ashwin as picked in the Indian squad for a couple of T20s against Sri Lanka. He is …

The Ashwin autobiography continuation

It was the start of the IPL. Ashwin shared the dressing room with international stars like Hayden, Dhoni, Hussey, Murali, Fleming, Oram and Raina. He remembers Hayden’s confidence while speaking before the eve of the game. How he said he will deal with Sreesanth, Brett Lee and Shaun Pollock and did exactly the same. Hayden’s …

The expected Adelaide debacle 2

The expected Adelaide debacle

Shubman Gill is another who continues to frustrate. In close to 40 Tests, his average is less than 40. This is not the hallmark of a batsman who is touted as Kohli’s replacement. At Adelaide, he looked good but once again, he could not make either of the innings count. Australia where he announced his …

The expected Adelaide debacle 1

The expected Adelaide debacle

The Adelaide debacle was more or less expected. It is tough to bat against the pink-ball which swings a touch more than the red-ball. The mission is extremely challenging if the batsmen attempt to do it without proper practice. Just 50 overs of practice session with the Australian Prime Minister’s XI will not prepare any …

Ashwin and his early games

Ashwin and his early games

Ashwin’s parents insists on good academics to make up for failure to achieve anything substantial in cricket. His mother wanted him to take medicine whereas he wanted to pursue Commerce so that he can concentrate on cricket. His father was on the fence. As a compromise, he chose engineering, cleared the entrace exam and got …