Farewell, Dada, India will miss you
The present age cricket lovers may look at him as a legend. Sourav Ganguly, spent a lifetime in achieving that status, transforming the attitude of the Indians towards the game.
He created a bunch of self-believers which set about to tame the cricket world. Befittingly, his journey has ended on a glowing note, with a series win at home against world champion Australia. Colourful career
Ganguly’s was a most colourful career. When he walked into the Eden Gardens as a teenager, his influential father was credited with the selection, though he had won his place on merit.
When he was picked for India, it was said the ‘quota’ system worked in his favour. The critics did not realise that he had earned his place again on merit.
He shut them up with a century on Test debut at Lord’s in 1996. A fascinating career was launched at the home of cricket and Ganguly’s love with the game blossomed as he took gigantic strides, culminating in 7212 Test runs (16 centuries and an average of 42.17) and 11363 in ODIs (22 centuries, average of 41.02).
He tormented bowlers with his languid style, scaled new peaks and set new benchmarks. He was destiny’s gift to Indian cricket. Mental toughness
His mental toughness and self-belief were two qualities unknown to a bunch of cricketers who more often than not had come to depend on one man — Sachin Tendulkar — to deliver. Ganguly changed that mindset!
Praise will be heaped on him now as he, most grudgingly, walks away from the Indian dressing room.
But he has grieved in silence. Umpires, match referees, not to forget the opponents, have had their share of tiffs with Ganguly, who, at best, had only been the front man for the team.
Never the one to shirk responsibility, he smilingly accepted the blame for debacles, shared the credit in triumphs and won a legion of fans — the most loyal of them being within the team.
“He taught us to win overseas,” said V.V.S. Laxman. Players’ captain
He was rightly known as India’s only players’ captain.
And he was a shining exception to the parochialism factor that has dogged most India captains.
His torso baring T-shirt-swinging act at Lord’s was a reflection of times, a strong statement of a young India that believed in aggression.
When he kept Steve Waugh waiting for the toss he was only carrying out a planned tactic. He beat the Aussies at their own game — aggression, sledging and playing cricket the hard way.
He was most passionate about the game, but Ganguly had his shortcomings too. If he did not appreciate a player, he would not lose time in ‘exposing’ him.
His dislike for left-arm spinners was well-known too. Confirmation can be had from Sunil Joshi, Murali Kartik, Nilesh Kulkarni, Venkatapathy Raju and Rahul Sanghvi.Remarkable comeback
Dropped in January 2006 for non-cricketing reasons, Ganguly played some amazing cricket in his second phase nine months and seven Tests later, hitting four centuries, including his maiden double hundred (239 against Pakistan).
He played domestic cricket at nondescript venues to stay focussed and his comeback was a saga worthy of the man. In the process, he won a ‘personal’ battle against Greg Chappell, the Aussie who spat such venom through an e-mail to the BCCI. “That e-mail changed my life” Ganguly was to confess.
“Fed up” with repeated humiliations, Ganguly chose a graceful exit. He wants to look after his cricket academy which has a team of 30 coaches and devote time to family. Perhaps “drive Sana (daughter) to school,” as he puts it.
He was a bowler’s nightmare but a delight for the spectators. Ganguly has been the most successful Indian captain thus far (21-13 win-loss record in 49 Tests; he had just three losses at home) and a legend in contemporary cricket.
Indian cricket will miss the character that Ganguly was.
He created a bunch of self-believers which set about to tame the cricket world. Befittingly, his journey has ended on a glowing note, with a series win at home against world champion Australia. Colourful career
Ganguly’s was a most colourful career. When he walked into the Eden Gardens as a teenager, his influential father was credited with the selection, though he had won his place on merit.
When he was picked for India, it was said the ‘quota’ system worked in his favour. The critics did not realise that he had earned his place again on merit.
He shut them up with a century on Test debut at Lord’s in 1996. A fascinating career was launched at the home of cricket and Ganguly’s love with the game blossomed as he took gigantic strides, culminating in 7212 Test runs (16 centuries and an average of 42.17) and 11363 in ODIs (22 centuries, average of 41.02).
He tormented bowlers with his languid style, scaled new peaks and set new benchmarks. He was destiny’s gift to Indian cricket. Mental toughness
His mental toughness and self-belief were two qualities unknown to a bunch of cricketers who more often than not had come to depend on one man — Sachin Tendulkar — to deliver. Ganguly changed that mindset!
Praise will be heaped on him now as he, most grudgingly, walks away from the Indian dressing room.
But he has grieved in silence. Umpires, match referees, not to forget the opponents, have had their share of tiffs with Ganguly, who, at best, had only been the front man for the team.
Never the one to shirk responsibility, he smilingly accepted the blame for debacles, shared the credit in triumphs and won a legion of fans — the most loyal of them being within the team.
“He taught us to win overseas,” said V.V.S. Laxman. Players’ captain
He was rightly known as India’s only players’ captain.
And he was a shining exception to the parochialism factor that has dogged most India captains.
His torso baring T-shirt-swinging act at Lord’s was a reflection of times, a strong statement of a young India that believed in aggression.
When he kept Steve Waugh waiting for the toss he was only carrying out a planned tactic. He beat the Aussies at their own game — aggression, sledging and playing cricket the hard way.
He was most passionate about the game, but Ganguly had his shortcomings too. If he did not appreciate a player, he would not lose time in ‘exposing’ him.
His dislike for left-arm spinners was well-known too. Confirmation can be had from Sunil Joshi, Murali Kartik, Nilesh Kulkarni, Venkatapathy Raju and Rahul Sanghvi.Remarkable comeback
Dropped in January 2006 for non-cricketing reasons, Ganguly played some amazing cricket in his second phase nine months and seven Tests later, hitting four centuries, including his maiden double hundred (239 against Pakistan).
He played domestic cricket at nondescript venues to stay focussed and his comeback was a saga worthy of the man. In the process, he won a ‘personal’ battle against Greg Chappell, the Aussie who spat such venom through an e-mail to the BCCI. “That e-mail changed my life” Ganguly was to confess.
“Fed up” with repeated humiliations, Ganguly chose a graceful exit. He wants to look after his cricket academy which has a team of 30 coaches and devote time to family. Perhaps “drive Sana (daughter) to school,” as he puts it.
He was a bowler’s nightmare but a delight for the spectators. Ganguly has been the most successful Indian captain thus far (21-13 win-loss record in 49 Tests; he had just three losses at home) and a legend in contemporary cricket.
Indian cricket will miss the character that Ganguly was.
Aussies surrender Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Confirmation that the once-mighty Australia are now just another Test team arrived right on tea on the final day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
When last man Mitchell Johnson was given out lbw padding up to Harbhajan Singh, India had won the match by 172 runs and the trophy by two Tests to nil.
It left the Australians sore and sorry after seven weeks in the subcontinent where they've expended every effort - yet still fallen a long way short of the home side.
While debate will rage over captain Ricky Ponting's decision to preserve the team's over rate on day four at the expense of pushing all-out for victory, it is a moot point in the final analysis.
India were the better side by a length in this series - something Ponting readily acknowledged.
"This tour we've just been totally outplayed," he said.
"With the exception of the first Test where we pretty much dominated that game, any other game we've got back to level but never really got in front, and losing three tosses in a row if you don't actually get yourself back in front after the first innings it's very hard to win here.
"Being behind on first innings again wasn't ideal and chasing 380 today was exceptionally difficult."
The Australians went down with a flurry of attacking strokes, bowled out for 209 in only 50.2 overs today and so returning to India the trophy Australia won in the same city four years ago.
A chase of 382 to win was always going to be too much on a fifth day pitch against wily spinners Harbhajan and Amit Mishra, and the tourists never really found their feet despite a hard-hitting 77 (93 balls) from opener Matthew Hayden.
Harbhajan (4-64) and Mishra (3-27) cleaned up after the Australians went to lunch at 3-111, precipitating a rush of wickets from the moment Mike Hussey (19) departed at 4-150.
Despite Hayden's belligerence, the Australians were doomed from the moment Ponting called on part-timer Cameron White to bowl on Sunday afternoon as he sought to avoid a ban for slow over rates.
His decision robbed courageous debutant spinner Jason Krejza (12-358 to earn man of the match honours) of the support he needed, and India stretched their lead from a gettable 252 at tea to the eventual and impossible 381.
The Indians celebrated a deserved series triumph that also served as a fitting send-off for retiring batsman Sourav Ganguly, who was carried from the field by his delighted teammates.
Resuming at 0-13, the Australians showed their intent to chase by playing a shot a ball, many of them unsuccessful, and opener Simon Katich (16) was out to what can only be described as a slog at Ishant Sharma (2-31), who was again outstanding for the home side and was fittingly named man of the series.
Ponting completed an ordinary match when he was run out for eight by Mishra's direct hit from mid off.
An unwell Michael Clarke batted with Katich as a runner but could make only 22 before he too fell to Sharma.
After lunch Hussey and Hayden worked to build their stand, but they were only ever one exceptional ball away from disaster, and it was Hussey who received it.
Facing up to Mishra from around the wicket, Hussey was done by a topspinner that pranced off the wicket, resulting in a glove and a simple catch for Rahul Dravid at slip.
What followed was not unexpected, the tourists crushed under the weight of their task.
Hayden shuffled across to a Harbhajan quicker ball and was lbw, Brad Haddin drove arrogantly to mid on, Shane Watson thin edged an attempted cut shot and Krejza was comfortably stumped after charging at Mishra's leg break.
The series win takes India to second place in the world Test cricket rankings, edging them ahead of South Africa.
Posted on 11:10 PM by SURENDAR and filed under | 0 Comments »
Confirmation that the once-mighty Australia are now just another Test team arrived right on tea on the final day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
When last man Mitchell Johnson was given out lbw padding up to Harbhajan Singh, India had won the match by 172 runs and the trophy by two Tests to nil.
It left the Australians sore and sorry after seven weeks in the subcontinent where they've expended every effort - yet still fallen a long way short of the home side.
While debate will rage over captain Ricky Ponting's decision to preserve the team's over rate on day four at the expense of pushing all-out for victory, it is a moot point in the final analysis.
India were the better side by a length in this series - something Ponting readily acknowledged.
"This tour we've just been totally outplayed," he said.
"With the exception of the first Test where we pretty much dominated that game, any other game we've got back to level but never really got in front, and losing three tosses in a row if you don't actually get yourself back in front after the first innings it's very hard to win here.
"Being behind on first innings again wasn't ideal and chasing 380 today was exceptionally difficult."
The Australians went down with a flurry of attacking strokes, bowled out for 209 in only 50.2 overs today and so returning to India the trophy Australia won in the same city four years ago.
A chase of 382 to win was always going to be too much on a fifth day pitch against wily spinners Harbhajan and Amit Mishra, and the tourists never really found their feet despite a hard-hitting 77 (93 balls) from opener Matthew Hayden.
Harbhajan (4-64) and Mishra (3-27) cleaned up after the Australians went to lunch at 3-111, precipitating a rush of wickets from the moment Mike Hussey (19) departed at 4-150.
Despite Hayden's belligerence, the Australians were doomed from the moment Ponting called on part-timer Cameron White to bowl on Sunday afternoon as he sought to avoid a ban for slow over rates.
His decision robbed courageous debutant spinner Jason Krejza (12-358 to earn man of the match honours) of the support he needed, and India stretched their lead from a gettable 252 at tea to the eventual and impossible 381.
The Indians celebrated a deserved series triumph that also served as a fitting send-off for retiring batsman Sourav Ganguly, who was carried from the field by his delighted teammates.
Resuming at 0-13, the Australians showed their intent to chase by playing a shot a ball, many of them unsuccessful, and opener Simon Katich (16) was out to what can only be described as a slog at Ishant Sharma (2-31), who was again outstanding for the home side and was fittingly named man of the series.
Ponting completed an ordinary match when he was run out for eight by Mishra's direct hit from mid off.
An unwell Michael Clarke batted with Katich as a runner but could make only 22 before he too fell to Sharma.
After lunch Hussey and Hayden worked to build their stand, but they were only ever one exceptional ball away from disaster, and it was Hussey who received it.
Facing up to Mishra from around the wicket, Hussey was done by a topspinner that pranced off the wicket, resulting in a glove and a simple catch for Rahul Dravid at slip.
What followed was not unexpected, the tourists crushed under the weight of their task.
Hayden shuffled across to a Harbhajan quicker ball and was lbw, Brad Haddin drove arrogantly to mid on, Shane Watson thin edged an attempted cut shot and Krejza was comfortably stumped after charging at Mishra's leg break.
The series win takes India to second place in the world Test cricket rankings, edging them ahead of South Africa.
ANIL KUMBLE - U R GREAT
India captain Anil Kumble announced his retirement from the Test cricket after the third Test against Australia in New Delhi. Kumble said after the completion of the Kotla Test that he had taken the decision on Saturday. "It was a tough decision when you have played 18 years of cricket and been so competitive. But my body helped making the decision and also, this (left hand) injury. I had already made the decision yesterday. Especially, as I knew I won't be hundred percent for the next Test. I had already decided to leave the game after this series any way. But it's been a fantastic journey," said Kumble. Kumble, who injured his left hand on Friday and had eleven stitches in the little finger of his left hand, said he would be present in Nagpur."I would be there in Nagpur, be part of the dressing room to see Sourav's last Test, Laxman's 100th Test and hope to see the team win. Though, I would have liked to win the series here (New Delhi)," he added.Asked about the response of his teammates when he informed them of his retirement decision, Jumbo said, "the response I got I was proud of it. I have played with lots of players -- Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, the younger lot and of course with captains like Mohd. Azharuddin. I am proud to have played along with some of the great players."Known for his fighting abilities, no cricket fan can ever forget the sight of a jaw strapped Kumble in West Indies when he took the field despite being advised to take rest. In his last Test as well he kept fighting, though he could pick only three wickets.His teammate VVS Laxman, who was adjudged as the 'man of the match' for his unbeaten knocks of 200 and 59 runs, called his innings special for they came in Kumble's last match. "He has been a great role model. All of us are really proud to play with him. Even his last wicket, if you see, we were dropping sitters and he took that difficult catch," said Laxman.Kumble's Australian counterpart Ricky Ponting too lavished praises and wished him success off cricket."I would just like, on behalf of the Australian team, to congratulate Anil Kumble. He has been a great competitor, one of the modern-day greats. Enjoy your time off the game, mate," said the Australian captain.The legendary leg-spinner, who had quit One-Day International in 2007, has been India's most successful bowler and world's third highest Test wicket-taker after Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.In his 18-year long international cricket, Kumble played 132 Tests picking 619 wickets and 271 ODIs with 337 wickets. He was given India's Test captaincy after Rahul Dravid stepped down and Sachin Tendulkar declined to take the responsibility. He started his tenure as Test skipper against Australia in December 2007 and has led India in 14 Tests with 3 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats. Kumble, a thorough gentleman, was appreciated by one and all for his diplomatic and dignified conduct as well as handling of the team during the much controversial tour to Australia. He also led his team to the historic win against Pakistan in 2007 when India recorded their first home win against the archrivals in 27 years.
Posted on 7:09 AM by SURENDAR and filed under | 0 Comments »
India captain Anil Kumble announced his retirement from the Test cricket after the third Test against Australia in New Delhi. Kumble said after the completion of the Kotla Test that he had taken the decision on Saturday. "It was a tough decision when you have played 18 years of cricket and been so competitive. But my body helped making the decision and also, this (left hand) injury. I had already made the decision yesterday. Especially, as I knew I won't be hundred percent for the next Test. I had already decided to leave the game after this series any way. But it's been a fantastic journey," said Kumble. Kumble, who injured his left hand on Friday and had eleven stitches in the little finger of his left hand, said he would be present in Nagpur."I would be there in Nagpur, be part of the dressing room to see Sourav's last Test, Laxman's 100th Test and hope to see the team win. Though, I would have liked to win the series here (New Delhi)," he added.Asked about the response of his teammates when he informed them of his retirement decision, Jumbo said, "the response I got I was proud of it. I have played with lots of players -- Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, the younger lot and of course with captains like Mohd. Azharuddin. I am proud to have played along with some of the great players."Known for his fighting abilities, no cricket fan can ever forget the sight of a jaw strapped Kumble in West Indies when he took the field despite being advised to take rest. In his last Test as well he kept fighting, though he could pick only three wickets.His teammate VVS Laxman, who was adjudged as the 'man of the match' for his unbeaten knocks of 200 and 59 runs, called his innings special for they came in Kumble's last match. "He has been a great role model. All of us are really proud to play with him. Even his last wicket, if you see, we were dropping sitters and he took that difficult catch," said Laxman.Kumble's Australian counterpart Ricky Ponting too lavished praises and wished him success off cricket."I would just like, on behalf of the Australian team, to congratulate Anil Kumble. He has been a great competitor, one of the modern-day greats. Enjoy your time off the game, mate," said the Australian captain.The legendary leg-spinner, who had quit One-Day International in 2007, has been India's most successful bowler and world's third highest Test wicket-taker after Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.In his 18-year long international cricket, Kumble played 132 Tests picking 619 wickets and 271 ODIs with 337 wickets. He was given India's Test captaincy after Rahul Dravid stepped down and Sachin Tendulkar declined to take the responsibility. He started his tenure as Test skipper against Australia in December 2007 and has led India in 14 Tests with 3 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats. Kumble, a thorough gentleman, was appreciated by one and all for his diplomatic and dignified conduct as well as handling of the team during the much controversial tour to Australia. He also led his team to the historic win against Pakistan in 2007 when India recorded their first home win against the archrivals in 27 years.