Stories from A Cricketing View
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On Cricketers and Orations
A Cricketing View &bull Dec 15, 2011
Like a venerable typewriter salesman addressing the National Association of Typewriter Manufacturers, Rahul Dravid told his profession that it must do its best by its customers if it wants to survive. He was speaking yesterday at Australia's War Memorial in Canberra. The occasion was the rather grandiosely named "Bradman Oration". Many years from now, some mainstream historian will probably see Kumar Sangakkara's address to those old conservatives at the MCC (some of whom probably still regret South Africa's isolation due… Full Story »
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Sehwag 219
A Cricketing View &bull Dec 8, 2011
There is much to be said about the limits of Sehwag's virtuosity in conditions where the ball is swinging or seaming. But I ask you to spend a minute or so observing two shots in that video.The first is at 1:01, off the off-spinner. Sehwag drives it on the rise, behind square on the off side. He… Full Story »
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Bizarre Analysis From Sanjay Manjrekar
A Cricketing View &bull Dec 5, 2011
Sanjay Manjrekar has written a puzzling article on Cricinfo today. I say "puzzling", because it is not clear to me what his claim in it is, and what it is based on. Several events are at issue. First, India's squad for the upcoming Australia tour has been announced, and it does not include Harbhajan Singh. Second, Harbhajan Singh missed the next Ranji Trophy game that Punjab played after the team was announced, because of a shin injury. Third, it subsequently emerged that the shin injury was worse than initially imagined, and that Harbhajan Singh is now likely to miss the… Full Story »
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On Great Batsmen
A Cricketing View &bull Dec 4, 2011
Whenever a once prolific batsman goes through a lean patch, especially on the wrong side of 30, commentators begin to suggest that maybe it is time the batsman moved on. I've never quite understood the kind of thinking that would cause someone to ask Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid or Ricky Ponting to quit. In this post I'll try to explain why. I will do so by trying to explain why Tendulkar or Ponting or Dravid averaging 30 in Tests for a year, is not the same as some 25 year old in his 4th year in Test Cricket averaging… Full Story »
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India's Selection Dilemma In Australia
A Cricketing View &bull Dec 4, 2011
Praveen Kumar will miss India's tour of Australia due to a fractured rib. Three players, according to Cricinfo, are in serious contention for Praveen's slot. Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun and Irfan Pathan. Irfan has been in very good bowling form… Full Story »
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India Approach A Record
A Cricketing View &bull Dec 2, 2011
We live in a moment obsessed with records. With one record actually. Sachin Tendulkar has made 99 centuries for India, 51 of these in Tests, 48 in ODIs and thankfully, none in T20 cricket. I have had misgivings about the recordness, if you will, of this record. I later found out that I shared these misgivings with a far more forthright commentator. Mukul Kesavan memorably called the 100 centuries milestone the "half-wit's holy grail". The value of Kesavan's essay is reinforced by the spectacularly half-witted comments that proliferate among the 179 (at the time of writing this) that appear on… Full Story »
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Most Valuable Player - ODI Bowling
A Cricketing View &bull Nov 28, 2011
In this series of posts, I present a list of the Most Valuable ODI Bowler for each cricket year, based on the method explained here (you can also find the top 100 all time ODI bowlers here), using following qualifications:… Full Story »
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Most Valuable Player - Test Bowling
A Cricketing View &bull Nov 21, 2011
In this series of posts, I present a list of the Most Valuable Test Bowlers for each cricket year, based on the method explained here, using following qualifications:1. The player must have played at least 20 Tests.2. The player must… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Cricket
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On BCCI's Decision To Disallow Ball-Track On TV
A Cricketing View &bull Nov 14, 2011
Sanjay Manjrekar tweeted about this a few days ago, and has now published an article at Cricinfo. The BCCI has made a very smart, and in my view, enlightened choice. If Umpires are not going to be assisted by the… Full Story »
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West Indies Lead By 95 On First Innings
A Cricketing View &bull Nov 7, 2011
Having been bowled out for 304 in their first innings, West Indies have responded brilliantly by bowling India out for 95 less in the first innings on a wicket that merited more first innings runs (especially given the quality of bowling on show) for both sides. Wickets in India tend to be peculiar. They do not reward extreme risk taking. Batting can be very hard for the new batsman, especially against the old ball. Knowing all this, India's batsmen began in spectacular fashion, with Gautam Gambhir trying to run his first and sixth balls through third man by opening the… Full Story »
