[Archive Blog (28/08/2015) Can Steve Smith able to carries the expectation of Australian Cricket ?

Year 2010, Steve Smith debuts for Australia mainly as a leg spinner because Australian was desperately want a match winner spinner in the Team as they was obsessed with the combination of a Spinner and 3 quickies. Australians although was having some enormous talents of quickies but Spinner and that too match winner is not easy to find outside Asia.

Australian tried lots of spin combination and Steve Smith was one of them “A Leggie” after Cameron White and Legendary Shane Warne although Captain Ponting may didn’t require or like the idea to give him a long spells, he may ended bowl less but batted well in lower order in his initial test career. But he was superb with his bowling in T20 Worldcup 2010 clinches 11 wicket there.

Steve Smith started his career in a dramatic manner but his hard work and dedication led his career to shine. Although he saw a difficult phase too, people criticized his technique of playing cricket hence he considered to be Limited over Batsman more then in long format. But will can help to achieve any easy or any difficult target, important thing is approach to go ahead.

Steve Smith cemented his place in Australian side and seems to set his legacy just like former captains of Australia, biggest challenge he now having to led the shoulder up of Australian side and built the side with energetic young talent, he also having no one to look his back in Test Arena so he have to lead the side alone, he may get inputs from seniors, legend from outside but only Smith have to implement those into the field.

Test Cricket is a most exhausted experience any Captain ever face, also if your side is down and out then any leader have to start the process from zero, rebuilding a side, search of new talent and supportive Team Management who will listen and talks to the captain. Time will tell how much Smith cope up the pressure in this transition and how much he having to face the challenge.

Although Steve Smith showed his temperament and class when he scored his biggest knock of his life (215) against England in Lords same ground where he started as blond Leg Spinner 5 years ago. Since that Lords test match he come out with different personality and that innings was full of class and dedication. Will be interesting to see how he able to manage the Team with full of class and dedication. Although Australian Cricket will choose a leader and their board have a great history on it, strong team always up their shoulders and their Captain leading team from the front as true leader. I hope Steve Smith will create a legacy on his own and we would excited by reading his team’s achievement in history book.

Best wishes to him.

[Archive Blog (17/08/15)] Australia’s last Ashes Test !!

From Thursday Australia going to play their last Ashes Test in Kennigton Oval. Although it’s a last test match of this series we will see many greats of Australia signing off from Red ball Cricket.

Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers already declared their retirements, Brad Haddin dropped after 1st Test his future is very dim and it would be a big surprise if CA calls him back, Aussies didn’t feel Shane Watson is fit enough for Test Cricket, Adam Voges already started his career too too late, no proper place for Shaun Marsh and who else left ? Possibly from bowlers ?

Ricky Ponting suggested some 8 – 9 players who was thinking for their retirement it means more then half of the Team will be signing off after Oval Test.

But Question arises why such a sudden desicion taken by everyone or they thought of it before the Ashes series ? I never saw such retirements in the Cricketing world after loosing test series infact selectors expect players to perform or they dropped them. Australia thinks differently atleast in Test Cricket and their strategy is very very different in Ashes, atleast when you hope Ryan Harris to come back into the Australian side and perform after a gap of year and so that too not properly rehabitate from the injury.

When you select a player which your captain is not confident on infact that player himself not wants to play then why pushing for the difficult task ? And ultimately Captain have to take the blame and sign off from the Cricket. Clarke may thought to left Cricket at the end of 2015 but forcefully do so because of poor performance from the camp and why not Australia didn’t won Ashes in England since 2005.

Huge round of pressure and expectations makes you to take a toughest decision of your career. Similar situation are with Aussie players they’re the current World Champions in ODi and last couple of series wins in Test excited them a lot but as any other visitors they too choked and fall short.

But we never saw such a huge number of retirements from any Team after loosing a Test Series, MS Dhoni took a retirement last year in between series against Australia after loosing a series but India lost many series from 2011 – 2014 under his Captaincy and England and Australia even swept India. But as per the fashion players won’t take retirement unexpectedly, we saw retirements in either player is in poor form and gonna drop or they feel they done with Test Cricket but all of sudden never or chances are less.

If you check the previous records Worldcup and Ashes gave most number of retirements because of obvious reason “High Stakes”.

Although Final Test is a Test Match of England but for Australia it is more then winning a Ashes or a Worldcup because final test is all about respect, dignity and winning a career, its no more for a Country now its now about winning something for personally, its about gifiting something for self. Hope they will fought like old Kangaroos in next 5 days.

[Archive Blog (18/12/2016)] 4 Day Test Match: What we will loose and can win from it ?

Its almost a half of decade talk now by the think tank of cricket to reduce 1 day from International 5 Days Test Matches. Ever since T20 came and made a big pop via IPL, voices start raising whether we actually need 5 Days Test Matches anymore or not. Some claiming its a exercise to protect the soul of Test Cricket as the viewership and response is quite less towards the Test Cricket in Modern Era. There is always a 2 flips of a coin but I sees more negativity instead of positives in 4 days test match may be people having best of interest in the game have different prospect on it, but this will ever remain controversial since as of now its remains on cold bag of MCC, the law makers of Cricket. There are certain steps already being taken to protect the game of Test Cricket and that is Day - Night Test. Australia is so far is the better team to promote the Pink Ball Day - Night Test Cricket with full wings. They played 2 test matches so far, one is last year against New Zealand, last year I also wrote New Era Begins Australia vs. New Zealand on the eve of first ever Pink Ball Cricket in the International Arena, success of that test match in Adelaide led another Test match against South Africa last month and third is against Pakistan and they're so far doing good in the dedicated record book of the Day - Night show. In Australia it is highly appreciated and got a great support from the fans point of view since whatever number Cricket Australia wanted to achieve they're quite near of it, unless people are really a cricket freaks of the city which gonna fill each and every capacity of the ground at which ever day you want.

Suddenly IPL impacted the World Cricket a lot and after the success of the league not only Test Cricket but even One Day matches saws the Heat. Sachin Tendulkar even came up with the idea of 25 Overs per Innings match as a savior of Test Cricket and ODI but that idea didn't got enough support and remains as a well wish of The Great Little Master, though black clouds are over now from ODI but still in some occasions concern on future of Test Cricket are always high. Its not like that bid in T20s too got much success despite of invented in England, England still struggling to launch a T20 league which can give them a super success, recently concluded South Africa T20 Challenge missed RAM for the title sponsorship, another promising league in Bangladesh, BPL T20 made headlines for fixing when a player claim to meet bookie rather then for a number of enthusiastic crowd to support Cricket. Many countries who started T20 Leagues never reached into the melting point, Countries like Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe started the T20 Leagues of their own but called off due to "no" from sponsors. Infact Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch pull himself from what was claimed to be a kind of a Club Worldcup for Cricket in the sense of CLT20 called off from the equation due to poor viewership in India. STAR INDIA wanted to have Mini IPL got something else which never excited the viewers because people in India never supported the T20 game but supported their favorite players and the franchisee. Currently except India and Australia no other Country are able to have a stable T20 Leagues of which Pundits considered to be a threat for Cricket.

At the current scenario Countries like Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa, England are in the favor of 4 days test matches. Pakistan has a revenue loss due to hosting the Cricket matches in UAE and their political attire is not that friendly with India which led the Boss of Cricket to help them. Countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa are expecting to put their financial cycle back on track and putting a effort from very long time and after the imbalanced social structure it is obvious to affect Cricket as well. Country like Sri Lanka not able to put on the infrastructure which can create a next aura of Mahela Jayawardane, Sanath Jayasuria, Kumar Sangakara or Muttiah Muralitharan, missing such greats from the pitch and stumbling performance in all 3 formats led the fans less interested towards the every match featuring Sri Lanka. In recent scenarios ICC planned to have two-tier format, means team will be divided into 2, 1st Division will have top 7 teams and in 2nd Division you got bottom teams with the inclusion of Ireland and Afghanistan could have increase the number of Test Playing Nation but it used to have more flaws then any plus. Surely big teams will love to compete against big team and would have reduce the number of games in FTP but it also could have kill the interest of Teams like Bangladesh who're posting the challenge infront of big Teams as they already hunted England in 2 match Test Series. Might be two-tier would have been good for some team but bad for others in many aspect. Any new rule implemented to help the game improve and grow further but thinking shouldn't to curb down the game but to develop the infrastructure. ICC also looks to reduce the number of test matches in the year citing a financial issue in small boards.

4 Days Test Matches has their own con and pros. Mostly people in weekend are out to enjoy with the family and having games in weekend will increase the number of spectators. From Thursday to Sunday the game will be live and maximum people will gather to witness the proceedings of last 2 days, it will also shorten the days of tour with 3 days time another Test Match may starts but it will led more draw games, doctored pitches to win the test match, excitement will be over since might be game will end even in 3 and the half days which will never favor the cricket but led negativism towards the game. In domestic circuit we having 4 days games because teams are actually a part of some tournament in International Circuit possibility of Test Championship are quite weak hence rather then having a 4 Days Test Matches, Boards of Test Nation needs to work out on a Infrastructure to push Day - Night Cricket Matches more. In India, BCCI organises maximum ODI games in Day - Night but still yet to debut in Day - Night Test. Also Boards needs to organises a game like this which will fall into Weekend more. Either game starts from Thursday or ended in Sunday in between Test Matches Teams could play a ODI and T20s as well. Matches should played in Small Stadiums and places where maximum peoples are having Off in Saturday and Sunday and also sports enthusiasts. No doubt many Countries at this moment are having financial crunch, income from Live Audience and Broadcasters are also reducing. Boards are not able to sign deals with Broadcasters due to less viewership which directly impacting the revenues anyways.

In recent past if take a example of India's Cricket only, you will found that people in weekdays gives a maximum support to Test Cricket, in Winter Season peoples were out to support their team from Morning session itself. Stadiums like Wankhede Mumbai and Indore was jammed pack and not a single place was kept in a Test Match during Weekends. Even places where maximum companies offers Rotational Offs during Weekend too got a maximum crowd plus students who got holidays in Sundays gets a chance to hangout with their best buddy enjoys the game. Test Matches can attract crowds due to its schedule in Day time which suits many micro families too which can end the day outing in the city after the end of Play. In summer time we can have games Day - Night due to extreme hot in Afternoon which won't suits many. Problem is not crowd attraction, problem is representation too. In India almost 80%-90% games remains houseful because fans has reason to watch cricket and reason to cheer. 20K fans definitely has a power to attract atleast 5K fans, crowd always support good cricket and good cricketers they don't need Dhoni or Kohli all the time. Currently many bottom team players of ICC Rankings are either believes to play County Cricket or do something else to fulfill the day to day need as the money and interest both are quite less. Purpose to running things is the most important part, why people should watch a game why even hang around for 4 days too and 90 overs in a day ? If 4 days test matches are the savior of Test cricket then does the domestic matches are getting good crowd ? As already I tried to conclude that Domestic Cricket since playing in a Tournament wise hence maximum draw games won't affect much due to points system but matches which are being played between Host and Away teams need results as thats what Teams are getting motivated to represent the Nation. Interesting fact is that ever since the T20 specialist players took over the National side to represent Test Cricket the win percentage of every International Series has been increased compare to what it used to be till last decade. No doubt as of now decision of 4 Days Test matches is hanging due to some personal interest of the respective Boards but if at all Organisers realises to work on the future of Test Cricket then should consider by keeping its spirit alive.

[Archive Blog (12/12/2016)] Virat Kohli is Virat "The Virat Run Scorer" Kohli

Virat Kohli has been declared "Man of the Match" for the 4th Test against England in Wankhede and why not ? Ashwin's Duck in the test match ease the work for peoples whosoever finalize the name for awards otherwise his 12 wickets and magic with his bat would have seal the trophy. But man at the moment is Virat Kohli who is keeps on cementing his legacy to be a great leader and batsman, who has worked on his flaws and set up the pace with his run machine. I always believes that a good leader is always lead with example. He don't need motivational words to proof himself but his performance, his fighting spirit on the field is enough to proof. In cricketing field we always discuss about partnerships and we have even praised many great partners who had given many memorable moments also setting up a plot for many victories but you won't found players to be comfortable batting with every player in the team now either you will say that they're not from same domestic team or not sound with each other but I feel that if one player who is capable to bat with no. 2 batsman to no. 11 is Virat Kohli only, no matter from which region they came, whichever team they represented. I think whenever Virat will be retire you will get to know about him from many players around the World and wouldn't need any Movie and Book to describe about his personality from dressing room to team's hotel and his spirit for the game. There was a incident happened when Wankhede crowd even booed Virat 3 years ago in the eve of IPL, ofcourse IPL would made you crazy when Mumbai fans become Mumbai fans, Chennai fans become Chennai fans, Kolkata's become Kolkata and our heart beat dedicates to the team we supports and rest becomes enemies in that moment Virat may got disbelief and expressed his views even in Post Match Presentation to get more boos but this what Virat Kohli for you, he's not a fake masked person and blunt whether representing India Cricket or RCB he will be the same, with his batting and leadership skill he will win your heart and not by some kind words thats why even the same Wankhede fans cheered Virat during his double century innings. 

Indeed Virat is getting matured and even more responsible, players like his talent are quite rare hence only man who can dismiss Virat Kohli is Virat Kohli himself. It is always good to accept challenges and live into it. Challenges of new goals like for Virat, challenge was 100 in T20s he conquers that then 200 in Test he conquers that as well with back to back three 200s in three series, 1st came against West Indies in Antigue, 2nd came against New Zealand in Indore and 3rd came against England in Wankhede Mumbai. Next will be obviously 300 in Test and may be one day 200 in ODIs. In 2016 Virat made runs with a average of 50.33 in Test, 52.93 in ODIs and 57.13 in T20s became a first player to have 50+ average in all three format. Its not that Kohli did something magical with his stats though he missed to broke many records the amount of potential he has. He equalize the Tendulkar's 89 innings to score the 15th Test Century, Gavaskar took 77 innings to reach the milestone. Kohli though scored 3 doubles this year but Michael Clarke scored 4 doubles in 2012 named him the only batsman to do so in a calendar year. Virat matched many players and broke many records being a leader of a team who topped in the Test Cricket, he's a gifted player who has potential to score all around the ground as per the strategy of the spinner he found playing sweep shot as well against England. There are players who was not gifted but they achieve glories with their hard work and dedication, there are players who're gifted but with their hard work and dedication they becomes conqueror. Indeed its a era where the entire team is running in the circle of Virat Kohli. Virendar Sehwag in post match show after the conclusion of 4th Test even advocated the ODI and T20 captaincy for Virat, no doubt about it that he even deserves it and if he's hungry and willing to achieve every milestone then there is no better option then Kohli.

For one thing many people criticizes about Kohli and its his aggressive nature on the field which he never hides off the camera and on the camera, I think that is his quality to admit what he is, you can't expect everyone to be a monk. We have saw many players who remains silent but and they used to reply with their ability down the pitch but not being vocal. India got very few challenging players in the entire cricketing era who got the ability to challenge down the pitch, their aggression used to be flash from their eyes to their performance as well, yes sometimes they fails and when they fails they got criticism from their own fans because aggression without performance is too unacceptable then remain silent to hide failure. I remember that our cricketing fans used to complain about aggression in Indian players when India used to tour Australia, South Africa or England where we still failed to create some history and being remember with few stunning victories, one of the famous victory was in Natwest Trophy Finals after winning the Natwest Trophy every one remember our Captain Dada's very famous victory moment when he taken off his shirt and rotated it with full of authority in the Lord's Balcony which become more famous and viral, repeating the same will not be appreciated but surely that legacy needs to be carry forward as if Cricket is known as the religion in the Country after we overlooked to our Desi games then we should have the kingdom of our most loved game in every format with full of swagger. Yes but one thing we can't ignore and that over aggression cause the team as well, there is a time of every happy ending story to get over, in last 16 years which was most important for the modern era cricket in India due to transaction of BCCI to "Brand BCCI" in this timeline we have saw many different captains and many stories, out of which Ganguly - Chappell era was one of the worst, India cricket was divided into two. Later we saw MS Dhoni to get involved with many such stories but good thing about it nor he said anything nor the opposite side people might be because of their own conflicts of Interest.

Aggression is good and digestible till we're succeeding in our given job. In the Virat's era we got the most flexible team where no one has a fixed spot, any unperformed player have to proof his presence if not then will be out from the side and next have to start performing with great extend. Normally injuries are the big factor of the side and this side has yet to proof the same form outside Indian Subcontinent. Virat's team yet to prove in South Africa, Australia and England which was never a easy outing at all. Though lots of positive came up with this team after Kumble joined the camp including DRS. One thing for sure battle royale in the dressing room starts when Captain not performs and blames other, team never stood with the blow but remain talked outside. Unless Captain and Coach are not proactive we never expect our Team to be ever in a winning side. When South Africa tour to India last year our Team beat the side in 3 days - 4 days Virat didn't perform through out the series because team never felt in the situation where you need Captain's knock. But when in 1st Rajkot Test of ongoing India vs. England series when India was quite near to get a defeat Captain Kohli from one end took the guard to safe the test match and at the end Alastair Cook initiate the hand shake to end the match in a draw. Even in the 4th Test in Wankhede had England caught Kohli on 68 it would have the different scenario though like a any run machine he didn't left the opportunity to blast the innings and make sure that India remains in top of the test match. Like many Cricketing fan everyone want this India's Cricketing era to remain dominate infront of the World for a long time and Captain Virat to keeps on shining to create new records and conquers the old one.

[Archive Blog (09/12/15)] Virat Kohli Era: New Challenge in Test Cricket from India

"Test Cricket is real cricket and I never thought I would lead the side 1 day in this grandest format", Virat Kohli may looks hothead or play aggressive cricket but tats the series of words he made politely after he gave post match interview. In a 2 decades of modern time cricket, we saw 3 different captains of India - Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Sourav Ganguly teach us how to lead the side outside India and how to win it. MS Dhoni ensured we won in India by playing some serious cricket and Virat Kohli's era which won all the hearts after India thrashed South Africa out in a 4 match test series by 3-0.

Test Cricket may be the real cricket but need players too who wants to plays it and performs it by considering every goal as a target to achieve. Kohli started his cricket from limited over game later secured his Test Cricket after blistering performance in ODI Cricket. No one can deny the fact that he's a class act at 1 point was holed a record to complete fastest 5000 runs in ODI cricket. Kohli made his name and fame with some magical innings which gave India a famous wins. He may not be a Little Master or Master Baster but he's Kohli 'Name is Enough'. He's will and class let his spot fixed in a side and later named captain of Test side after India's most successful Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni decides to retire from Test Cricket. 

Its not that during Dhoni Era we didn't perform well, we even ended as no. 1 Test Side in the World but we didn't made a significant mark in England, Australia, South Africa and lost a series against England in Home as well. 2014 - 2015 India's Tour of Australia remembered as Dhoni's last ever test series after disappointed performance of India continued. Kohli who led the Adelaide Test of that series showed some resistant, his Century put India inch closer to win that test match although India lost but all eyes was glued on Kohli's intensity and aggression at the 1st Test.

Kohli's record so far is 100% as full time test captain. Beating Sri Lanka at Sri Lanka was kind of memorable series for him and India. Bunch of youngsters which made their mark in the limited over cricket banged in a Test Arena. Ashwin, Rahane, Jadeja are his main weapons which helped him to pass his biggest exam beating South Africa at home, no. 1 Test Side who travels best never lost a Test Series outside home since last 9 years which itself is enough to proof "Proteas" Supremacy so far in modern era cricket. Although Test Series ended with lots of questions regarding pitch but fact and the matter is South Africa lost the match in the dressing room and not on the pitch, when they realise the havoc it was too late for them.

As of now Kohli and his boys made a great impression but they have to be ready to challenge Team outside home because Pitch and Conditions will not favours them they have to adjust their technique and outperform every difficulties. Captain always needs to step up to sail his team if he won't perform then how he gonna motivate his boys ? Captain's innings is must in a crucial situation, Captain also have to see the right combination for the Team - past record and fame won't work create winning combination, Management have to work hard of it. Currently India is no. 2 side of the world have a potential to become no. 1 side too for very long time but only if Team performs outside and not in a "Poor" pitches.

[Archive Blog (25/10/15)] New Era Begins: Australia vs. New Zealand "A Day Night Test Match"

27th November Friday History going to write itself in the form of Day Night Test Match. A decade long debate to make Test Cricket popular which creates lots of theories to try something different to save Test Cricket. One of the theory was to have Day Night Test, since ODI already being played hence Color Clothing and using White Ball makes no sense as its have to be with White Clothing but problem is ball, Red Ball is not visible in a flood lights and combination of White Kit and White Ball won't suit.

"How ball will play whether it will be visible or not, whether baller will ables to swing it" will be a debate among players and cricket experts but as a fan prospective either the following test match will be hit or flop. Whether it will be over in first day itself or will be cheered for 5 days. Whatever the outcome it would be will it gonna be quite excited because we never had such experimentation before in Test Cricket. Day Night First Class Match with Pink Ball did played in Sheffield Shield Season of 2013-14. Match ended in 3 days for a experimental purpose although those lucky players who did have a inaugural game in domestic circuit or those who going to be a part of the history by playing the 1st International Test will be much more excited with a brand new era.

Day Night Test Match if become successful then it would create a great benefits on Broadcasting rights which Cricket Boards sold in very lesser amounts to Asian broadcasters. Specially Boards like New Zealand, Australia will going to get a greater value from a Asian broadcasters and will value to add in a balance sheet. Normally in New Zealand Test Match starts from 3 am IST (Indian Standard Time) none from India gonna wakeup and witness that Test Match hence broadcasters interest remain dim to claim that rights with this new era they can have a test match from Afternoon or Evening so that Morning crowd from Asia who switches TV can enjoy the pleasant of Test Match. Cricket Australia too can shift 1 or 2 hours of a Test Match played in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia.

Although every experiment should be welcome either its on the professional game or in the professional life, this is how we can come to know the good and bad of something we're about to try. DRS was a one such experiment which is now easily established but remaining in a debate even after successful adaptation. Debates are on to make it more perfect, tries to bring excellence by putting money on it and addition of some extra tool which can help the Teams to make sure that decision goes on the favour of them not against them, all experts and players will keep talking and list of suggestions will keeps on increasing until and unless that system won't become perfect, this is how a simple idea shapes up as a theory and later practically implemented. 

Day Night Test Match is also a simple ideology to make a Test Match popular although Test Match is never be a game to sell, its upto the skills and motive to play. If tomorrow's breed start ignoring Test Match then no matter Test Match being played in Night only will loose all its glory and charm because either players won't have skills or not interested at all to play 90 overs a day for next 5 days. The tradition of 134 years Test Match Cricket or First Class Cricket more then a century before never started for crowd appreciation started to show skills and bring a competition among War players in a different battleground, now when concern arises to get a crowd for game because to generate revenue for the boards hence all objectives are now to try something different to "Save Test Cricket".