[Steeroid]

Not to be outdone in the game of who spends more of the Tax Payer's money, the Kerala Chief Minister Comrade I'm Always Right Achumama announces 5 lakhs for Sreesanth and 3 lakhs for Robeen Uthappa.

[mclaren1885]

Some of us here come across as sore & unhappy fans who are so disturbed by the fact that our team is not doing well (uptil the WC) that they go about endlessly whining and ranting pointing fingers at certain players, or mocking at them sitting back relaxing on their chairs in front of these stupid boxes. One thing that people are missing here is the fact that its a FREAKING TEAM GAME, where if one/two or three players fail the other members should make up for this loss and lift the entire team. And those who keep blaming the fab 3 for the teams streak of losses either don't understand the phrase "TEAM GAME" or has never been a part of one to know how it works. Or has never closely watched the Aussies play.

The fab 3 whether you like it or hate it WILL be there until that time they deem themselves fit to either play the game or the selectors throw them out. So can you all kindly spare us all this gyan (and your expert I can be a coach comments) and enjoy the game for whats its played and by WHOM its played? Its not that hard.

Originally Posted by amit

How many people here feel 110% confident that India will beat Australia in the Saturday one dayer?

Isn't it clear already amit? If India looses its because of the entry of the fab 3. Not because our youngsters can't pull up their socks in case the fab 3 fail and perform like champions do (ala OZ style). Such sad mentality.

Steer, the competition is not done YET. Dhoni is slated to receive a "SURPRISE UNDISCLOSED GIFT" along with the "Jharkhand Ratna" on the 15th of Oct from the Jharkhand Govt.

[diabloo]

I wonder why people here are talking about doomsday & that Aussies are end of the world. Still a ball is to be bowled and already prophecies? Let wish our team (fab 3 + youngsters) come on top. Its our home territory and I still back our country to win the series.

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by diabloo

If India's young guns can match the mighty Australia in T20, why can't they in ODIs? Surely they have talent & skills.

T20 isnt a showcase of skills.. Period!

Originally Posted by diabloo

They have showed the temperament by winning the WC.

Dude tell me a team sport in which world champion is decided in only 4-5 games. Heck that shows how seriously T20 was being taken when the format was decided. Its just a desperate move by ICC to get back some popularity cricket has been losing all these years. We had empty grounds in the world cup this year, compare that to any other sport.

Originally Posted by diabloo

I would have said they will beat the pulp out of the Aussies in these ODIs. But can't since I know the Fab 3 is back in the team. Oldies, with their great experience (with their I have seen & so I know all attitude) will douse the enthusiasm of the youth & kill their spirit (like we saw in the great movie 'Chukde India').Its the Fab 3 who can't handle the pressure & live up to the expectations.

Are you already looking for excuses for India's loss to Australia? Heck what youngsters are you talking about.... the same Joginder Sharma which is a T20 hero would be beaten to pulp if ever he is in the playing eleven for a 50 over match. How many matches has dhoni won for India when the pitches arent perfect for slogging or hitting as you may call it? Stop defending for the sake of it.

Originally Posted by diabloo

I wonder why people here are talking about doomsday & that Aussies are end of the world. Still a ball is to be bowled and already prophecies? Let wish our team (fab 3 + youngsters) come on top. Its our home territory and I still back our country to win the series.

Dude its not the National team. Its a business of which players and BCCI are part of, everything else be dammed. The sooner we realize this, the better.

[suman]

Originally Posted by amit

Be careful Yuraj, if you fail, the media and the crazy fans may demand you return your Porsche back!

People are gonna kill me for this but here's PROPHECY NUMBER 1 - Yuvraj WILL fail in this weekend's game.

Diabloo, that was hilarious

[diabloo]

Reason for success of Indian team at T20 WC: President A P J Abdul Kalam's Vision 2020

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by diabloo

Reason for success of Indian team at T20 WC: President A P J Abdul Kalam's Vision 2020

It will remain a vision only lest if the leadership and our attitude goes a sea change.

[diabloo]

Youngters who did well in T20 WC are those who had good records in Ranji Trophy & other domestic matches. So no question about their skill levels. Infact there are many still knocking door.
1: Cricinfo - Dravid, Tendulkar and Ganguly not in probables
2: Cricinfo - Inter State Twenty-20 Trophy, 2006-07 Batting - Most Runs

Originally Posted by extreme_torque

T20 isnt a showcase of skills.. Period!

If only 12 teams take part (with only 10 test playing nations) can't expect more games. No of games India played:
Preliminary round: 2
Super 8: 3
Semi final: 1
Final: 1
Total: 7
So its not 4-5, but 7.

Dude tell me a team sport in which world champion is decided in only 4-5 games. Heck that shows how seriously T20 was being taken when the format was decided. Its just a desperate move by ICC to get back some popularity cricket has been losing all these years. We had empty grounds in the world cup this year, compare that to any other sport.

Nope. Based on history of fab 3, can't expect them to live upto the expectation. Comparing to the likes of Bevan, Hussey, our fab 3 haven't got the team on top in difficult situations.

Are you already looking for excuses for India's loss to Australia? Heck what youngsters are you talking about.... the same Joginder Sharma which is a T20 hero would be beaten to pulp if ever he is in the playing eleven for a 50 over match. How many matches has dhoni won for India when the pitches arent perfect for slogging or hitting as you may call it? Stop defending for the sake of it.

Then you should refrain BCCI from using the country name and enter the competition as BCCI XI. Govt of India can select a team and call it India XI. Till that happens it is still India's team. Likewise its Australia's team & not CA XI.

Dude its not the National team. Its a business of which players and BCCI are part of, everything else be dammed. The sooner we realize this, the better.

[ntomer]

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

True diabloo . 1996 WC's top scorer, Sharjah series, test series back home against Aussies, WC match against Sri Lanka in 2003, the just concluded Eng series and countless number of such matches were just glimses of gully cricket.

However hard I try, I am not able to recollect any test in last 7-8 years, in which Tendulkar had made any telling contribution, any test which he has won on his own.

Like Adelaide for Dravid, Multan for Sehwag, Kolkata for VVS...

Cheers

Nitin

[ntomer]

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

Shane Warne, considered as the best spinner cricket has ever produced must be out of his nuts when he ranks Sachin @ 1, Dravid @ 14 as the 50 greatest players he has ever played with/against.

Yeah, and he put Ponting and Steve Waugh in 30s. That list is as biased as they come.

Indians have tradionally played spinners better that's why he has put Sachin at top. I wonder whether Mcgrath, Vaas or Pollock would also place him at top.

I am not saying that he isn't a good batsman. He is definitely one of the greatest, but I think he is past his prime. He is not able to take pressure anymore.

Cheers

Nitin

[diabloo]

Originally Posted by ntomer

Like Adelaide for Dravid, Multan for Sehwag, Kolkata for VVS...

I can:
Sachin in Sydney 2004: draw (India batted for 3 days)
Sachin in Chennai 1998/99: lost to Pakistan by 12 runs (Note: Pak 275/4 to 286 all out - Venkatesh Prasad took 6 for 33, infact 5 wickets for 0 run !!)

more when I recollect.

[ntomer]

Originally Posted by diabloo

Dravid - better of the 3 with his improved ODI ability to take singles & hit the oocasional boundary. Six? no way. Few years back when Dravid walked to bat, the opposition got ready for some fielding practise. In fact Dravid used to oblige & push the ball directly to fielders

Dude, Dravid holds the record for fastest ODI fifty by an Indian, against Newzealand. He is a class act and in my opinion currently the best, and worthy of his place among the trio.

Cheers

Nitin

[diabloo]

Yes currently. Thats after becoming a captain. Remember he was on the verge of being dropped from ODI team due to his low scoring rate & hence loss of momentum for the team. Then Saurav donned him the gloves and Dravid somehow retained his place as a all rounder (keeper batsman) in the team.
Note: Dravid deserves his place in the ODI team now, based on his current form.

Originally Posted by ntomer

Dude, Dravid holds the record for fastest ODI fifty by an Indian, against Newzealand. He is a class act and in my opinion currently the best, and worthy of his place among the trio.

Cheers

Nitin

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by diabloo

Youngters who did well in T20 WC are those who had good records in Ranji Trophy & other domestic matches. So no question about their skill levels. Infact there are many still knocking door.

So you are judging the skills of a cricketer by the performances in Ranji matches!!!! Our domestic wickets and cricket is a joke at best. No more arguments on this please.

Originally Posted by diabloo

If only 12 teams take part (with only 10 test playing nations) can't expect more games. No of games India played:
Preliminary round: 2
Super 8: 3
Semi final: 1
Final: 1
Total: 7
So its not 4-5, but 7.

Why can't I, if the matches are short and there are 12 teams why not?

Originally Posted by diabloo

Nope. Based on history of fab 3, can't expect them to live upto the expectation. Comparing to the likes of Bevan, Hussey, our fab 3 haven't got the team on top in difficult situations.

Its the fab three which has won you so many matches, they may not be sensational vistories but victories none the less. There was a time not too long ago, when people used to turn off their TV sets when Sachin got out.

Originally Posted by diabloo

Then you should refrain BCCI from using the country name and enter the competition as BCCI XI. Govt of India can select a team and call it India XI. Till that happens it is still India's team. Likewise its Australia's team & not CA XI.

Atleast felicitation of cricketers by the government out of tax payer's doesnt happen anywhere else! They atleast keep it seperate.

[diabloo]

Our Ranji trophy winners regularly beat visiting teams. Our under-19 teams win world cups and do well across the world. The India A is playing visiting South African team and they have won the test series 1-0. Since the players are doing well, domestic cricket is quite well organised. Of course there are lot of scopes of improvement. That doesn't mean it a joke. Could you outline the reasons why it is pathetic?

Originally Posted by extreme_torque

So you are judging the skills of a cricketer by the performances in Ranji matches!!!! Our domestic wickets and cricket is a joke at best. No more arguments on this please.

Wasn't that long long ago Many of current T20 WC champions wouldn't have entered school then

There was a time not too long ago, when people used to turn off their TV sets when Sachin got out.