The sun not only sets over the Sydney cricket ground but also on the hopes of millions of people who wanted their team to win their first test series down under.The Sydney test has left a lot of Indians flabbergasted.They expected better from a team that boasts of prolific batsmen who are the highest run getters in this format of the game.Indians do not have happy memories associated with the SCG.Four years ago they found themselves in a similar situation.2-0 down .Going into Perth.The only difference being that they had lost a test that they should not have.That spurred them to perform.Well its a different ball game at the moment.Indians are down.They need to square the series.Judging by the way things are at the moment ,Baichung Bhutia has a better chance of playing for Manchester United .The descent from the summit to the bottom has been at an alarming rate.It is almost like a free fall.Its harder to imagine that,what seems like an eternity ago,this was the number one test playing nation.So its time to analyse the cause for this havoc.
The primary reason Indian team was ranked number one was because it had one of the strongest batting line ups in.Indian batting was considered its strength.Spectators and cricket experts alike backed the Indian batsman to chase any score .To bat and perform in the harshest of cricketing conditions.But alas that has not happened.India's batting woes started during the England tour and are continuing.They have shown that they are still susceptible towards the moving ball.Barring a few all of them look,pardon my language,ugly while playing the hook shot or while leaving it.Its a well known fact that Indian batsman vulnerable towards the short pitched ball.Its a flaw for which they have been in limelight for almost all overseas tours.It is something that has to be rectified and rectified very soon.To be honest the upcoming generation of batsman looks far more comfortable with it than our current batsman.Well that is one plus for the Indian team.The other thing being that the Indian openers recently have not been able to give starts.They have thrown their wickets too soon.No number 3 batsman wants to bat just after 4-5 overs in the innings.It is unsettling for any team.Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have to start giving better starts.They have to provide solidarity in the beginning.Something that the middle order can capitalize on.Sehwag has to learn not to flash at everything outside his off stump.More often than not he ends up being caught.It is a ploy that has been used against him since the very start of his career.Gautam Gambhir showed signs of redemption in his last innings.maybe he has found his touch.Its high time he did too.Going almost 34 innnings without a century is not helping his case.Plus with youngsters like Ajinkya Rahane pushing really hard for that spot ,time is running out for gautam.The middle order has woes of its own.Rahul Dravid though has looked good in parts.But not the Dravid we have known or saw during the english summer.He has been bowled four times in the series.Good Batsman don't get bowled that often.It time he learns from his mistake because judging by his present technique a football can go through the large gap between bat and pad.Something the aussies have capitalized on.Sachin has looked in sublime touch.But he has looked a completely different batsman when he closes in on that hundred.Maybe its the media pressure thats getting to him.Sachin needs to keep that aside and go out there and enjoy his game.Something that he has not been doing because of all the hype around him.But he has been there long enough to know whats right and what to do to get out of that mental block.VVS Laxman is the one who is in danger of losing his test spot.Its been quite some time since we saw one of those famed special innings.Its time he intorspects.He also has to work on his fitness.He has looked lethargic on the field.The wristy flicks have to be used more.The shot selection has to be a lot more promising.Virat Kohli,No doubt an exceptional talent, needs to play some first class games before being considered for test cricket.Will surely be dropped for the next match.And rightly so.He has not Justified his selection at all.Has been in the limelight for the wrong reasons.When it was time to answer back.He failed.Has to curb that aggression.It affects his batting in the wrong way.Rohit Sharma who has played in australia before is a definite candidate.MS Dhoni has some serious batting issues outside the sub continent.He has a very unorthodox technique which is really helpful in the sub continent ,not so much outside.Time to get the basics right.Maybe needs to shed off some weight from his bat.Using lighter bats definitely helps down under.Its something he should consider.R Ashwin has forgotten why he was picked in the side.He has to understand that we do not need another Irfan pathan or a Harbhajan singh.Its too late to remodel yourself into a batsman.His primary job is bowling and taking wickets and should stick to that.Leave the batting to the big guns.The dravids,the tendulkars,the laxmans,the sehwags have to do that job.Having a 7-0 losing streak overseas is a record no team will be proud of.The bowling department looks balanced.They know their job clearly.The only thing being Ishant Sharma should try to emulate the australian bowlers a little more and should stick to his stock delivery.The inswinger.It has troubled aussie batsman before and there is no reason why it should not do the same now also.Overall it is absolutely disheartening to get up every morning and see a nightmarish score.Its time the Indian team pull up their socks and play better cricket and give their fans something to cheer for.I am sure all of us still trust them and expect them to perform better.It high time they justify that trust.It will be a shame if we end up losing 4-0.There will be no excuses.They have had enough time to acclimatize to the australian conditions.The past four days belonged to Australia.Taking no credit from them.Clarke is proving to an inspirational leader.Leading by example.Its time Dhoni learns something from that.Hoping that India can learn from the mistakes and bounce back and play some exceptional cricket.Because that is what is required to defeat the once again "mighty" aussies.
Disheartened Fan
Shubhendra Pathak

Aussies:Aggresive or Just demeaning?

After the receiving mixed responses yesterday,about my article I am compelled to write again.Its been a real jeopardy choosing what to write on.As I was deciding what to do ,whether to write again or wait for a few days and then do it,I came across a video regarding Ian Chappell.Earlier in the day I read a tons of tweets on Virat Kohli's gesture .Before I go on any further I want to clarify that I write this as a neutral person who just loves the game and wants to see it being played in the right spirit.So making the above statement speak for itself and moving on to the topic at hand.
Aussies.The mighty, invincible Aussies.
Well I am confused where to start.Should I write about the technical aspects of the aussie style of play or the general aussie attitude.Well writing for the general masses I would like to keep it simple.The moment to hear the term Aussie,you think of the term 'mindgames' and 'sledging'.Mind you I am referring to the cricketing jargons here.Aussies have been known to be mighty on the field.They take the field with a killer intent.It does not matter who the opponent is.The just want to crush them.Nothing wrong with that.Its something that all teams should learn.But they are extremists.They tend to cross the line way too often.It is also their off field behavior that worries and saddens me.They try to crush their opponents spirits even before the game starts.Thats the way it has always been.An Aussie legend,Steve Waugh,said all sorts of things against Indian cricket during his playing days.No doubt one of the legends of the game, he did not think twice before talking trash.He tried to target those who had immense potential and were inexperienced.He did NOT hold back.That very same Steve Waugh,just 4 years after his retirement offered to have peace talks with the Australian and the Indian team during the infamous Bhajji-Symonds,lets just call it incident.One would think whats wrong with that?nothing.My only question is why the double standards??how can someone change so drastically in just 4 years.Strange.
Adam Gilchrist,the most devastating batsman after Viv Richards, projected himself as a saint throughout the latter part of his career.Well we all know he was a constant catalyst in breaking the morals of the batsman.Google it.You will find out.One famous incident that comes to mind is when he missed a stumping,he tried to just uproot the stumps in a manner Dogs would be proud of.The video is there on youtube.You will know what I am talking about once you see that video.
Matthew Hayden,called Ishant Sharma an obnoxious little weed.3 Months after that he was all smiles while playing an IPL game.
The word that comes to my mind is hypocrite.Correct me if I am wrong.
But that has always been their style of playing.Having dominated the game for so long they have actually forgotten how to earn respect.That is the reason people all over the world celebrate an Australian defeat.Be in by the hands of India,England or South Africa or any other team.
To the aussies winning is the ultimate goal.They do not care how dirty they have to play to win.They will talk trash.They will insult your family.They will break your spirit even before you enter the stadium.I believe the aussie mantra is "demoralize until they disorganize".But at what cost??Is winning to them that important??
Some few incidents that come to mind are the infamous Bhajji-symonds row,the Mcgrath-Sarwan shoutout,clash between Dravid and Slater and the diritest one,one that has been etched into our memories forever Greg Chappell bowling that under arm dead ball.
It would be apt to discuss incidents that are fresh and involve the teams that are currently playing each other.The bhajji-symonds spat is well known.I would not like to go into it because the very thought of it pains me.I would rather refresh your memories with an incident that took place between Slater and a relatively young Rahul Dravid.Slater claimed to have caught a shot hit by Dravid.But the on field umpries were unclear as to whether it was a clean catch or not.Dravid rightly so stood on the pitch waiting for a confirmation.Which was ruled as not out.Slater went upto Dravid and actually started shouting at him for standing there.The replay showed the catch had not been collected cleanly.
This point being made Ricky Ponting and Michael Clark will not leave the pitch even if they have been clean bowled and will wait for the umpires decision.It holds true for almost all aussies.One notable exception to this is Adam Gilchrist.This is one of the few incidents that come to mind to show what spirit the Aussies play cricket in.It is just sad.
It happened today that the aussie crowd were upset because Virat kohli flipped them off.Why would'nt he??One is bound to get angry when the other person talks trash about their family.It is only but natural to react and thats what he did.But then again its Virat who is facing a deciplinary which I am sure will not be ruled in his favor.That is not just.
Talking about the Ian Chappell interview he said that its Dhoni who is causing problems for his bowlers and that he was not a good captain.Well Mr Chappell its time you walk down memory lane and see what sort of a captain you were.Does the famous ashes loss ring a bell???
Here is where I think the Aussie media has a really important role to play.The late Peter Roebuck,one of the best cricket journalists of all time,once called Ricky Ponting and his team a "pack of wild hounds" for the on field behaviour.We need the media to be active.To criticize whats wrong and to appreciate whats right.One or two people can make a difference but thats not enough.They have to work as a collective unit.Only then can the australians learn the true sprit of playing the game.
The australians will not change their style of play.What do the other teams do??Its time to give the aussies a taste of their own medicine.Its time to be aggressive.Its time to bowl those nasty bouncers and toe crushing yorkers.Its time to retaliate.If they say something,answer back.Even better if you do it with the bat or ball.Just do not get carried away.Because that is what they want.Have the goods to back up that aggression .Its time the teams take a stand and change the aussie attitude.We as spectators would love to see the game being played in the right spirit.People cheering for a hard fought century.For some amazing fielding.For some superb bowling.But it should be from both sides.If just one side practices that it shows weakness.
So Just GIVE back what you get maintaining the spirit of the game.
Shubhendra Pathak

India Australia series overview

Its been ages since I last wrote an article.Had loads of things on my mind.But finally, like my idol Rahul dravid said "like a creaking terminator I AM BACK".I am actually heart broken as I write this note.It is really sad to see whats happening in the ongoing India-Australia "Agneepath" series.I think it is aptly named.It is nothing less than war.But judging by whats going on its more of a one sided slaughter.The famed Indian batting line up looks lathargic.Yes indeed.No other word comes to my mind.It is an established fact that australian pitches are fast and bouncy.A child playing in the gullies of small villages can tell you that.It is by no means an easy task.But,we entered into the series as firm favorites.We were playing against a test team whose scorecard recently read 21/9,and we had come from two back to back wins and almost a third win.For the first time all Indians believed that 'midas' Dhoni would do something no captain had done before.Win a test series down under.But alas we hope and expect too much.Well we have our reasons too.The two highest test run getters bat for us at no 3 and no 4.We have a bowler who is perhaps the best bowler with an old ball.A bowler who gave a great test batsman,ricky ponting,all sort of nightmares.We were confident.we were prepared.we were raring to go.
The tension was mounting ,mind games had already started.Ganguly and Chappell were at each others throats again.We cheered ganguly.Something that was not new for Indian cricket.But yet just 6 innings into the series,we are failing.And failing miserably.
To criticize is easy.But then again as mere spectators what else can we do?
So here I am doing what we are good at.Criticizing.
I am not here to blame.I am here to merely analyze whats going on.
Starting with the top order.
Gautam Gambhir-A guy without a test century for the past 32 innings.Yet has his place cemented in the side.true that he has had some good fifties in between but is that good enough?All his dismissals have shown he is extremely susceptible to the ball moving around his off stump.He is not sure whether to play at it or leave it.That is not how a top order batsman should play.Time to introspect Gauti.
marks-2/10
Virender Sehwag-well no one tell him how to play.He plays his shots.If they come out well then we cheer ,if they don't we question his technique.Sehwag will always play in the same manner.And I believe he should.The last thing India needs is a cautious Sehwag.Because we all know he is weakest when being defensive.Lets hope he regains his touch.SOON.
marks-5/10
Rahul Dravid-A man who entered the series as the highest run getter in tests in the calendar year.A man who was in tremendous form.Well he has not looked at all comfortable.A sight very rare .It was evident it was an extremely hard fought fifty in the first test.Normally you associate him with someone who is really comfortable everywhere in the world.Its time he regains his sublime touch.Our middle order looks very gullible otherwise.
marks-6/10
Sachin Tendulkar-I am too small a person to write about him.Lets hope he gets that elusive 100th 100 soon.So that he can get rid of all the media pressure.Looks in good touch at the moment.Has looked by far the best Indian Batsman.Has to capitalize on his starts.
marks-8/10
VVS Laxman-He says aussie agression brings the best out of him.We are yet to see that best.Has given his wicket everytime.Needs to be a lot more cautious.He has always performed.He is used to playing memorable and special innings.India need a lot more of those if they have to win the series.
marks-4/10
Virat Kohli-Going into the test as one of the best ODI players of the year he has failed to deliver.He has looked good against the short ball.Something rare.A little tentative during the start of his innings.Has to get rid of the fear and play his natural game.India needs a player of his talent to perform on the big stage
marks-4/10
MS Dhoni-for a guy who has not scored a century outside the sub continent he has a lot to prove.He does not have a good test record.Hopefully he can improve that.Looked good today.Hope he can continue that.His batting has an impact on his captaincy.
marks-6/10
R Aswin-Going in as a spinner on fast bouncy pitches he has performed well.Has looked lack lustre in some time periods but has bowled relatively well.Should concentrate more on his bowling and leave the batting for the middle order.
marks-7/10
Zaheer khan- has proved why its so important he is fit.Superb control over the old ball.Hoping he can bowl in the same manner throughout the tour.He is the spearhead of the Indian attack and should lead by example.
marks-8/10
Ishant sharma-Is the next sreesanth.Bowls really well in one session.Terribly in the next.Has to find his rhythm.India needs his inswingers.Desperately
marks-5/10
Umesh Yadav-For a guy touring australia for the first time he has performed really well.Needs more experience at the international level.Is a great find.Should be preserved.Can be a great weapon in the Indian teams arsenal.
marks-8/10
So here it is.The Indian team has to fight.And fight hard.Because the aussies will not hold back.So please.FIGHT.We have really high hopes.
Shubhendra Pathak