[Fx14]

Originally Posted by shashant

I think issue is with our top 5 who can not bowl at all and Hardik may not bowl 10 overs in every match. So we need to play 6 bowlers.

If only one of our top 5 can bowl at least few overs like maxwell, stoinis we could have played SKY at no 7.

The Aussies also have the luxury of Smith, Labuschagne, Marsh, Head and Green who can bowl a few overs, if required.

Their main bowlers like Cummins, Starc too can add valuable runs or hit out as required.

This gives them additional bowling options as well as batting depth.

A generation ago (WC 2003), we did have a Sehwag, Sachin, Ganguly, Yuvraj to bowl and Dravid to keep wickets. The results were we beat all teams apart from losing twice to the Aussies and ending as runners up.

About time that the next generation of top order batsmen are groomed to bowl part-time.

[AtheK]

What I sometime find odd is that don't players/parents do an analysis after a year or so they start playing cricket. If I am a parent today I will definitely encourage my kid to take bowling and over the time learn some batting. We have a dearth of good bowlers, everyone only wants to bat it seems. If he can become a decent enough bowler there is a good chance of him getting picked up in an IPL team compared to batsman which are already in plenty. Similarly IPL teams do lack good keeping options, a good ploy can be to first target what is missing in IPL team and then move to International cricket with good exposure.

[cryptarchy]

Originally Posted by AtheK

If I am a parent today I will definitely encourage my kid to take bowling and over the time learn some batting.

And also encourage to play another sport (football, hockey, rugby, tennis etc) for overall physical development. Indian professional cricketers grow up only playing cricket and physically not that strong compared to western teams players mainly because there they play all kinds of sports growing up.

[ask_017]

It is raining cats and dogs here in Trivandrum. I stay about 2 KM from the stadium. And if it stays like this, today's warm up match between South Africa and Afganisthan could be a wash out. And the forecast for coming days is also not that good. Rain could play a big part in this world cup overall I guess.

[ValarMorghulis]

Originally Posted by AtheK

...We have a dearth of good bowlers, everyone only wants to bat it seems. If he can become a decent enough bowler there is a good chance of him getting picked up in an IPL team compared to batsman which are already in plenty...

India has predominantly been a country known for batsmen (even in the international arena). Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin, Sehwag, Ganguly, VVS, Dravid and now Virat, Rohit, Gill etc. thanks to batting pitches. Only famous bowlers I remember is Kumble and Bhajji; both spinners (akin to Ashwin now).

Originally Posted by cryptarchy

... Indian professional cricketers grow up only playing cricket and physically not that strong compared to western teams players mainly because there they play all kinds of sports growing up.

How in the world did you come to this conclusion?

[kavensri]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

Only famous bowlers I remember is Kumble and Bhajji; both spinners (akin to Ashwin now).

You missed our great fast bowler Kapil Dev. Was that intentional?

[ValarMorghulis]

Originally Posted by kavensri

You missed our great fast bowler Kapil Dev. Was that intentional?

He was before my time and haven't heard much about any exceptional spell.
Unlike Gavaskar who is hailed a batting genius (among batsmen and fans) there isn't much mention of Kapil Dev except his one inning on 175 against Zimbabwe.

I know that isn't fair, but it is what it is.

[Shumi_21]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

I know that isn't fair, but it is what it is.

Kapil Dev retired before I was 2 years old, so I understand where you're coming from. But Dev is a certified legend, one of the very best cricketers we have produced! He was the first international cricketer to reach 4000 runs and 500 wickets. And he led us to the 83 World Cup win, which laid the foundations of Indian cricket as it is today.

Along with Gavaskar, he was possibly the only Indian player to be universally considered "World Class" at that time.

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

haven't heard much about any exceptional spell.

5/28 against a formidable Australian batting line up in Melbourne. With a torn thigh muscle! Doesn't get better than that

.The `Melbourne miracle' as it was then hailed ranks as among the two or three greatest Indian Test victories ever, for the manner in which it was achieved. Outplayed in the series, outplayed for most of the final Test, in arrears by 182 runs, having a badly depleted attack after having set Australia a modest victory target and then winning by 59 runs - all this is the stuff that story book scripts are made of. But over five memorable days - complete with a touch of controversy - the Indians pulled off a stupendous coup and became the first team to share a rubber in Australia.

SOURCE


Meanwhile the BCCI has thankfully got rid of the Pan Bahar hoardings at Delhi. Looks so much better now.

[NomadSK]

And finally here it comes, See you there India

[Aloneatma]

NZ beat England resoundingly in a warm up game.
No?
It wasn't a warm up game, but the first match of the world cup????
I think the people of Ahmedabad are more interested in their Sev gatiya than in Cricket, given such a poor spectator count. Shocking.

[avingodb]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

haven't heard much about any exceptional spell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXSrx4Uvtqs

this may help.

You also missed, Raghavan, Bedi, Prasanna, Doshi and several others who were well-reputed in their era!

[Revvatron]

Originally Posted by Aloneatma

It wasn't a warm up game, but the first match of the world cup????
I think the people of Ahmedabad are more interested in their Sev gatiya than in Cricket, given such a poor spectator count. Shocking.

Maybe due to afternoon start the build up was slow, for second innings there were few spectators. As per few reports, stadium was filled up to 40k which is still great. Although I don't know if it is actually true or not.
But you are right about it giving warm-up match vibes. No ceremony no inauguration nothing, they just started it. Atleast they should have opened up with Host nation playing the first game which is the norm in world cups across the sports. India will be playing on Sunday, which is 5th match if am not wrong. They are more focused on having India play on weekends rather than opening day. They could have just started the world cup on Sunday

[msdivy]

Coincidence: While the Afghan ODI team is batting against Bangladesh in the World Cup, the Afghan T20 team will start batting against India in few minutes in the Asian Games, for gold. Same team, 2 formats, same day.

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by msdivy

Coincidence: While the Afghan ODI team is batting against Bangladesh in the World Cup, the Afghan T20 team will start batting against India in few minutes in the Asian Games, for gold. Same team, 2 formats, same day.

The same happened yesterday too - Pakistan played against Netherlands in the WC and against Afghanistan in the Asian Games.

[Fx14]

India have been awarded the Gold medal in the Asian Games Cricket (Men) after persistent rain caused the Final match to be stopped almost half-way.

Afghanistan settle for the Silver medal.