Indian Cricket
Kiwi Curry?
By Gaurang
October 29 2010
Unlike recent home series against Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia, India's ranking as No. 1 in Test cricket, is not even remotely going to be challenged by the lowly Kiwis, currently ranked No. 8 in Tests. But maybe other challenges, such as a 3-0 Sweep, Sachin Tendulkar's 50th Test century or a possible triple century by Sehwag will keep some spectators tuned in.
The Kiwi is a flightless bird of drab plumage, and as a symbol of the New Zealand cricket team, it fits perfectly. Now don't get me wrong, as a group of young men, the Kiwis are as personable and even "sexy" a bunch as any cricket team, it is just that their brand of cricket is about as exciting as John Wright's batting used to be.
After the recent drubbing the Kiwis received at the hands of lowly Bangladesh, the only Test team worse than them, in the just concluded ODI series, one shudders to think what fate awaits them in India, especially now that the Indian team is back to full strength with the return of Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman, and Ishant Sharma.
However, the Kiwis can take heart from three interesting phenomenon. First, is that ODI cricket is not Test cricket, and they have been bolstered by the presence of half a dozen players who were off doing A team duties, during the ODI series in Bangladesh. At least a couple of those players should have been in the senior team. Second, India as a team is notoriously poor at being ruthless. They often play to the level of their opponents, and exhibit signs of complacency. Third, the Kiwi team in Daniel Vettori, Jeetan Patel and rookie Kane Williamson have a spin trio that blends the skills of slow left arm spin and off spin, two varities that in the past, think Ray Price, Ashley Giles, Shaun Udal, Jason Krezja have troubled Indian batsmen.
Nevertheless on paper this is a total mismatch as the No. 1 Test team take on the No. 8 team. It seems partcularly odd that the BCCI would arrange to play 3 Tests and 5 ODIs against such opposition, but restrict the Australia series to just 2 Tests and what turned out to be a single ODI.
But because the Kiwis don't play in India often, the last time being in 2003, and the fact that the team has many new faces, including the Williamson, right arm pacers Tim Southee and Hamish Bennett, plus attacking batsmen like Brendon McCullum and the oversized Jesse Ryder, scorer of a century and a double century against India, albeit in New Zealand, makes this team interesting to watch.
From the Indian side the interest will be more in terms of records. Sachin Tendulkar reaching his half century of Test centuries, being the most likely. Others more in the the wish list category would be a triple century from Sehwag, preferably extended to a quardruple to simultaneously break both Bradman and Lara's records respectively.
But realistically what Indian fans will be expecting is a 3-0 clean sweep, especially after the team swept aside Australia 2-0 just weeks ago, even with several key players missing. New Zealand on the other hand will be hoping for a couple of shirt front wickets to allow it to hang on to at least one drawn Test, and optimistically a drawn series, like it managed last time it toured India.
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29/10/2010 19:03
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:11:11:17:06:48 by Birbal.
India's first order of business must be wrapping up the series early if possible(by winning the first Two) and resting/porting senior players to SA as there's less than a week between the 2 tours....
24 needed with a bunny coming in at 11? No problem!
Last time Kiwis managed to draw in Ahmedabad...
Sadly, Jesse Ryder is so far the "next Arjuna Ranatunga" in only one aspect of his game.
If I expect the worse, perhaps I can be pleasantly surprised...
________________
Bring Back Bond.
Quote:Donsteppa
We're hoping that Kane Williamson will be the "next Martin Crowe", given the last "next Martin Crowe" in Ross Taylor is instead currently playing like the "next Brendon McCullum".
Sadly, Jesse Ryder is so far the "next Arjuna Ranatunga" in only one aspect of his game.
If I expect the worse, perhaps I can be pleasantly surprised...
Perhaps you might be absolutely right...
Guess I am mistaken in thinking that Williamson is much of a threat with the ball then...eh?
Shows how unknown these guys are to most Indian fans...
I haven't seen Williamson bowl so far, but he is said to be handy in the role of a second spinner. He's been talked about in the local press for a while, mainly re: batting, but is said to give the ball quite a lot of rip. If he's picked in the XI - he should be - he'll be in mainly as a batsman, but with the state of our attack I expect he'd get quite a few overs in.
I wonder if we'll see McIntosh emulate Mark Richardson - cramp attacks and all
Theoretically with Taylor, Ryder, McCullum, Williamson, and Vettori in the batting lineup we should score a few runs - in theory at least. McCullum giving up the gloves in tests is really going to affect the balance of the side. I'm not a fan of Hopkins...
________________
Bring Back Bond.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:11:02:07:39:30 by Donsteppa.
All credit to them.India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
And the Coconuts at CI will be itching to be added as the garnish...
The comments on the commentary there are incredibly gloating and gleeful...at the sudden collapse of India...
I don't think it will be so bad to lose to them, just to give a wake up call to the Indians...
24 needed with a bunny coming in at 11? No problem!
Let's not try and minimize this...
I would be very happy if India can wriggle out of this... unscathed... either with a draw...or even an improbable win...
But that should have a salutory effect on the team.....
24 needed with a bunny coming in at 11? No problem!
Since when did Harbhajan turn into such a line of resistance...
McCullum bowling????
________________
Bring Back Bond.
Quote:Donsteppa
Oh well, it was good while it lasted
Since when did Harbhajan turn into such a line of resistance...
McCullum bowling????
Ask the Aussies... he has "resisted" them quite a bit...
If however India fail to win the next two outright..then they will lose serious points...
________________
Bring Back Bond.
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
The ICC futures schedule is bit of a mystery... prior to 2010 no visit by NZ for 7 years...the next one in less than 2...
Actually if you think about it, it is not such a mystery... India refuse, quite correctly, to play bi-lateral series against Pakistan...leaving a opening in the calendar and since NZ are free they are roped in.
On paper at least this is much closer this time. Kiwis are still No. 8 like they were last time, but India have dropped from No. 1 to No. 5 currently...
Also the earlier in the season start, almost during the end of the monsoon may mean juicy pitches...if so, NZ can spring a surprise especially considering how green the Indian batting line up will be, with the retirement of Dravid and Laxman.
But I found the Bangalore Test quite enjoyable...not totally one sided...and the pitch and outfield meant the scoring rate was also decent.
perhaps this coincides with ganguly's captaincy
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