Dhoni praises Indian batting, says spin will come into play in West Indies

Dhoni praises Indian batting, says spin will come into play in West Indies

Sports Unknown   1:54:00 PM

He does "miss playing Test cricket" and India's limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is keeping a keen eye on the series against West Indies starting on Thursday, saying spinners will play a huge role in the Caribbean.

"I think wickets will be slower in West Indies but you never know. I think spinners will have a huge role to play," Dhoni told media persons at an event here today.

The skipper said what he finds impressive is that India now has a pool of 8 to 10 genuine quick bowlers. "The more the competition the better it is. It's good that finally we have a pool of 8-10 bowlers who are pushing for selection. If I look at a year back, during an ODI series against South Africa, there were a few bowlers who were injured.

"And we have bowlers with all areas covered. If you want pace we have that. If you want swing, we have that. Of course, we have to be careful about injury management," said Dhoni after his company Rhiti Sports' tie-up with former Australia pace bowler Craig McDermott's company Secured Venture Capital.

Can India forge a lethal bowling attack overseas?

Can India forge a lethal bowling attack overseas?

Sports Unknown   1:34:00 AM

That cricket is a ‘batsman’s game’ is well touted. But it is high quality bowling, like we are seeing in the first Test between England and Pakistan underway currently, which makes the sport come alive.

So engaging has been the contest between batsmen and bowlers on the first two days at Lord’s that it has made the raging debate over the size and dimensions of the bat seem academic: at least temporarily.

All eyes were naturally on Mohammed Aamir on his return to international cricket after serving his five-year ban, but the ones who’ve grabbed the wickets — and headlines — have been Chris Woakes and Yasir Shah.

I am not overlooking the splendid century made by Misbah-ul-Haq. This was his first appearance at Lord’s and he made it memorable, saving his team from a crisis (yet again), and also sending out a message to his team as well as cricketers all over the world.

At 42, Misbah has the fitness and desire of somebody 15 years younger. Technical finesse and superb temperament has helped him to an impressive average around 50 though he started his career only when 34.

He is among the most inspirational figures in cricket today. Apart from fine batting ability, there is also the captaincy aspect to Misbah’s cricketing personality that is equally significant.

Under him Pakistan’s players, otherwise notoriously volatile and unpredictable, seem to have settled down and performed with a degree of pride and consistency that was sorely lacking. Only the imperious Imran Khan has been a better captain for his country in my opinion. But that’s a story for another day.

It is the success of bowlers so far in the first Test, particularly Woakes and Yasir, that is germane to this column.

Woakes showed splendid control and fine ability to swing the ball late, making up for the absence of James Anderson. Yasir, back from a three-month ban having failed a dope test, had English batsmen in a tail-spin with his fine repertoire of leg spin bowling.

That Yasir could get a five-wicket haul on the second day itself should dispel the notion that slow bowlers can only succeed in the third or fourth innings, after there has been sufficient wear and tear of the pitch.

The first Test is intriguingly poised and the series promises to be delightfully competitive, in contrast to the disappointingly one-sided contest between England and Sri Lanka earlier in the season.

This would not be possible if both teams did not have quality bowling. England’s surge as a Test team in the past couple of seasons is linked to the success of Anderson, Broad & Co, and Pakistan, despite a struggling batting side are still a threat to any team anywhere because of the bowling.

The larger point is that if not enough emphasis is paid to bowling, it affects a team’s win-worthiness adversely. The instances of a series being won by batsmen alone are negligible in Test history; those won by teams with modest batting but strong bowling is plentiful. 

This is the big challenge confronting Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble as India start their four-Test series against the West Indies next week: can India forge a bowling attack that can win matches consistently, more particularly overseas? India’s bowlers have never been able to overrun even modest opponents outside of the sub-continent.

 Part of the problem has been ability, of course, but there are other factors too, with fitness and self-belief being paramount. In recent years, the team has often had the opponent on the mat, only to squander the opportunity.

Bowlers would tend to flag, and with that the motivation to win too. The away series’ against South Africa and New Zealand (2013-14), England (2014) and Australia (2014-15) bear this out amply.

This is the mindset and physical limitations that Kohli and Kumble need to overcome. The bowlers can’t be allowed to remain in the comfort zone that they can always prove their credentials in home conditions. The West Indies are not the strongest Test team currently. But how India’s bowlers fare, how many Tests are won and how emphatic these victories are will define how the team evolves going ahead.

Cricket on guard after golf leaves gaping hole in Rio

Cricket on guard after golf leaves gaping hole in Rio

Sports Unknown   8:25:00 AM

It’s the Olympic season, and participation and winning will be the flavours when people head to the land of Samba, Pele and football.

Despite the political, law and order and organisational mess that Brazil finds itself in, athletes and visitors will flock to Rio when the Olympics open on August 5.

CAN’T MISS

There are many who will miss out, and won’t be happy. Ask India’s double Olympic-medallist Sushil Kumar or discarded women’s hockey skipper Ritu Rani. Or, the Russian athletes barred amid charges of state-sponsored doping.

But the world’s leading golfers are turning their backs on Rio. The Zika virus is a big concern, but many others couldn’t really be bothered to take a break in their pro schedule.

Nostalgia would have been a factor in the International Olympic Committee including golf in Rio. After all, it had last featured in the 1904 Games.

THE WARNING

In the bygone amateur era, it would have been fair to slam the players for choosing money over medal. Australia’s former world No 1, Adam Scott, among the first to withdraw, was heavily criticised, among others by swimming legend Dawn Fraser.

The world’s top four players, led by Aussie Jason Day won’t go. The IOC president, Thomas Bach, has said withdrawals for reasons other than Zika will be a factor when it considers whether to retain golf in future Olympics.

But golf lives in a seemingly impregnable world. Tradition, sense of fairplay, Tiger Woods, everything has made it a truly global sport. In an age of thin margins, golf is affluent. And the message is clear: It can do without the Games.

CRICKET’S RESPONSE

There is a lesson in it for cricket. Cricket was part of the London Olympics opening ceremony, but was last played in Paris in 1900. Its inclusion anyway will be a complicated affair.

The IOC’s decision to let organisers of future Games choose some of their favourite disciplines may anyway reduce cricket’s chances. The ICC hopes cricket is directly included by the IOC to avoid the hassle of dealing with national Olympic committees and ensure a financial windfall, according to reports.

But there are two big questions. What will the ICC do if big names keep away. India’s cricket Board for instance has not fielded a team in the Commonwealth Games after cricket’s debut in 1998.

Besides, why should the ICC give up the primacy of its events? The World Twenty20, which it wants to stage every two years, is a money-spinner, not to speak of the T20 leagues like the IPL and Big Bash League. It won’t want the gleam of the Olympic gold dim its lustre.

SE COND THOUGHTS

Like golf, cricket’s elite too live in their universe. An IPL title may resonate better than an Olympic medal. Cheering for compatriots fighting for a podium spot is one thing, taking part and dealing with issues like ambush marketing will be seen as too much of a hassle for endorsement-rich players, particularly from India.

ICC CEO, Dave Richardson conceded golf has shone a light for cricket. “It raises a question, ‘Is it really good for cricket?’” he asked the media on Thursday. “Will cricketers see the Olympics as the pinnacle, or would they rather play (in a WT20 etc.)?”

Cricket’s globalisation too has not led to an even spread of the game. The massive TV viewership in the sub-continent could be the biggest draw for the IOC.

And then, cricket, if included, could take a cue from football. Fifa allowing essentially an under-23 Olympic tournament has ensured the World Cup retains its global primacy.

Tennis is in a happy place though; its top players are glad to fight for the fifth Grand Slam every four years.

Pakistan Cricket Board buys bulletproof buses to woo back visiting teams

Pakistan Cricket Board buys bulletproof buses to woo back visiting teams

Sports Unknown   9:52:00 AM

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has bought four bulletproof buses as it tries to convince other teams to shed their security apprehensions and visit the country.

Pakistan has largely been shunned by teams since 2009 when gunmen attacked a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers, injuring six players and killing six security personnel and two civilians.

The incident has forced Pakistan to play their ‘home’ matches at the United Arab Emirates and the country has since remained starved of international cricket at home, barring Zimbabwe’s limited-overs tour in 2015.

“We have bought these four Coaster buses as part of our efforts to revive international cricket in the country,” a PCB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo.

“There will be high expectations from teams willing to visit Pakistan and we want to ensure that we provide them with the best possible arrangements.

“Having these bulletproof vehicles would play a major part in convincing teams (about security arrangements).”

The spokesman said PCB wanted to host the final of the Pakistan Super League, the inaugural edition of which was held in UAE earlier this year.

“We have to have discussions with the (overseas) players about their safety and security and I think this new addition in our security facilities will definitely give us an edge,” the spokesman said.

“Our ultimate goal is to revive international cricket, and we are doing our best to make sure we can.”

Misbah-ul-Haq makes Lord’s debut at 42

Misbah-ul-Haq makes Lord’s debut at 42

Sports Unknown   2:10:00 PM

 Mohammad Amir may be the centre of attention in the build-up to the first Test against England at Lord's, but today's match is also a milestone for Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq. (Photo: AFP)

London: Mohammad Amir may be the centre of attention in the build-up to the first Test against England at Lord's, but today's match is also a milestone for Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

Selection rows and fall-outs with previous Pakistan regimes mean that experienced batsman Misbah is now making his first Test tour of England at the advanced age of 42. It was six years ago that Amir, new-ball partner Mohammad Asif and then-captain Salman Butt tarnished the reputation of Pakistan cricketwith their involvement in a spot-fixing affair that saw the trio conspire to deliberately bowl no-balls during the 2010 Lord's Test against England.

All three were given five-year bans and jail sentences. The intervening period has not been easy for Pakistan, who have had to get used to playing all their "home" matches in the United Arab Emirates because of security concerns arising from an armed attack on Sri Lanka's team coach in Lahore in 2009.

     Uninspired? Do more of what already works

But under Misbah's shrewed guidance Pakistan have become tough to beat in the UAE and a competitive side abroad, traits reflected in their third place in the current world Test rankings — one position above England.

Indeed they have yet to lose a Test series in their adopted home, with England beaten in two of those campaigns for an aggregate 5-0 scoreline in Pakistan's favour.

An experienced batsman who has had a calming effect on the players around him, Misbah has overseen the reintegration of Amir into the side.

Having coped with the understandable interest in Amir making his return to Testcricket at Lord's, the scene of the crime, Misbah had no problems in fending off enquiries about how long he intends to keep playing for Pakistan.

"My retirement has been discussed every series," Misbah told reporters at Lord's on Wednesday.

"I could have retired after the UAE against England (last year) — but we've been playing together for six years.

"I decided I need to be here in a tough series for Pakistan, and I really want to do well here.”

Kevin Pieterson believes pacer Mohammad Amir should have been banned for life

Kevin Pieterson believes pacer Mohammad Amir should have been banned for life

Sports Unknown   2:47:00 AM

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has joined the chorus of players who believe Mohammad Amir should have been given a lifetime ban for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal but warned his country’s players and fans to sledge the left-handed pacer at their own peril.

The 24-year-old, who served a prison sentence in the United Kingdom and a five-year suspension for his role in the infamous case, will aim to erase his sordid past when he will resume his Test career at Lord’s-- the scene of the fixing scandal-- on Thursday.

Amir, along with former skipper Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, were then found guilty of various offences of corrupt behaviour relating to the Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan in August 2010 by the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal in February 2011.

Pietersen, who was among the England team that played that unfortunate Test, wrote in his latest column for a London-based daily that spot-fixers should be banned for life and that they should not be given a second chance.

“They have broken the rules, should pay the price and not be given a second chance,” Pietersen was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “If you cheat the system either by taking drugs or money to under-perform then you are mugging the spectators, your teammates and a sport that has been around a lot longer than you.

“People always deserve a second chance in life but sport is different.

“To try and gain an advantage by taking drugs or devaluing your sport by being bribed is breaking the 11th and 12th commandments. There can be no way back.”

The 36-year-old maverick batsman, however, doesn’t expect the hosts to sledge Amir and warned local fans against provoking the Pakistan quick.

“He is just as quick, and as competitive as ever. He is verbal. He lets you know he is bowling at you. He will cop a load of stick off the English fans but he will not take a step back. It is going to make great viewing,” Pietersen said.

“With guys like him verbals from the crowd or a bit of sledging from the opposition spurs him on to do great things so the fans will not be doing England any favours by giving him some abuse,” he added.

His comments on the Pakistan bowler echo those of former England teammate Graeme Swann, who said that Amir’s return at Lord’s would make him feel sick.