Team-BHP - The Cricket Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb (Post 5135177)

Short answer - No. My prediction is an innings defeat latest by lunch time tomorrow.

I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. :p

Today's collapse is because of those posters in this thread, who jinxed our batting by their over optimistic pronouncements yesterday. You lot are worse than Manjrekar! No, maybe that's a bit harsh, lol. In the next two tests, please don't say or write or even think anything remotely upbeat till the matches are over. lol:

Anyway, let's see what cliches are rolled out to explain this embarrassment.

Finally it came down to the lack of determination from India's top batsmen, an addictive and now well known weakness for deliveries outside the off stump! They did all the good work, had the patience initially, got a feel of the pitch, were going well and then suddenly boom, that moment of weakness in the 'channel of uncertainty' and before we know it's all over. This may very well be the "best" ever test team if one goes by the numbers in terms of successful wins, but in my opinion a very fragile batting line up that is inconsistent. But again, we can argue that other teams like England and Australia too are like this and people will say this is how the "modern" game is played, to each his own.

So, will Rahane be the first to lose a spot in the team ? Or will Shastri and Kohli continue with the same lineup ?

Edit:in fact, I think now the talk is that Ishant will make way for Ashwin, and possibly no other changes!

Ugh. After batting almost the whole day yesterday, for just two wickets, what a shameful collapse today. While defeats are okay, this whole euphoria and arrogance after a win as if we've won the Olympics and then following it up with such a lacklustre performance is just disappointing.

Pujara and Rahane seem to have given themselves a lifeline with those scores. Maybe Ashwin in for Jadeja next match?

Quoting Self.

Quote:

Originally Posted by redCherry (Post 5135170)

If you ask me, I think we are staring at innings defeat, or at best 'just managing to avoid it' :Frustrati

I was feeling we'll lose by an innings, but never thought we lose this meekly.
Losing 8 Wickets in less than a session (around 20 overs) :Frustrati

The manner in which we lost should wake up the captain and coach and at least now they should think about their playing 11.
And,

1. Make Pant realize he's not playing T20 game
2. Bring in at least 1 of the reserve batsment to the middle order
3. Don't make the blunder of leaving out the best off spinner in the world from the playing 11.

[EDIT]
I hope my other quote won't turn out true. ...India's record from 2014 England Seris - Drawn, Won, Lost, Lost, Lost :disappointed

The real problem, I hate to say, is that all the cricketers (atleast the more established ones) dont give a damn about this because they are secure financially or otherwise owing to other forms of cricket. I watched Kohli talk with a great deal of eloquence on why the team lost today. Any other captain is his place would have been at loss of words, angry, emotional, laconic, whatever.
If only he and others had devoted some of their mental faculties towards concentrating on each incoming delivery, this could have been avoided.
I say, sack most of the non performing players if need be. Let Rohit lead the team, with Pujara, and get some rank newcomers. Atleast they will fight it out to prove something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline (Post 5135993)

This is the issue with our Indian audience. Every great player goes through some rough patches in their cricketing career. Was Kohli supposed to whine like a 6 yr old at the press conference because of the loss? He is the captain of our Indian team and he is expected to throw his opinions on their performance, as eloquently as possible.
Under his captaincy, India went from being 7th in the test ranking to the 1st. Sacking him from captaincy is beyond the point. Rohit Sharma is not the most consistent player either albeit he has been good in this series.
The assumption that more established players have become lethargic is simple minded. It is easy for us to comment sitting in front of the TV. They put through the work, keep physically and mentally fit (which is not easy with the bio-bubble restrictions), and they have been making sure India is among one of the most powerful cricketing nations. If we don't support our players at their worst, then we have no right to celebrate them at their best.

The problem today again was lack of discipline. We survived yesterday only because Rahul, Rohit, Kohli, and Pujara left so many deliveries alone. I can understand people getting out LBWs missing balls directed at stumps. But edging balls trying to defend a ball not coming towards the stumps is not how you try to draw a test match. There really is no need to play a delivery that is not directed at stumps in the first hour of the new ball. England bowlers are toothless after that first hour. They don't have the pace or aggression of the Shami, Siraj, and Bumrah. Our batsmen did that so well yesterday but failed to do it after Pujara departed to a good delivery that was indeed directed to stumps. Most others lacked the discipline the top 4 showed yesterday.

-Poor/ fragile middle order
-no plan B if top order collapses and all of them collapse in a heap.
-no plan B of lead strike bowlers fail,even the spinner can take wickets
-Captain’s pathetic run of form ,flirting with danger around the 5/6th stump line even while sleeping !!
-Lack of genuine all rounders like stokes
My reasons for poor show in the 3rd test
This is bound to continue unless management drop rahane,pant and ishant.
Bring in surya kumar,Saha and Shardul in place of them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PPS (Post 5135986)

Losing 8 wickets in under a session today + 78 all out in the 1st innings - not sure what further the Team Management needs to play the 6th specialist batsman since Rahane & Pujara can't be dropped!

On this, I do agree with Kohli :) he mentioned in the post match interview as well - if the top 5 can't do the job how can we expect number 6 to do it ?
Though Shastri and Kohli have been in denial forever, it's clear he knows that the problem is with the top 5 - these guys need a lot more consistency, till we fix this issue, we have to depend on the lower order bailing us out (sometimes they even go beyond and make it a miracle).
Also, I don't believe "form" has anything to do with the top order failure. This is all about consistency, these guys are top players and sometimes just need that little bit of extra judgement and determination which seems to be missing now. Just look at the runs scored in this series by Rohit, Rahul, Pujara, Kohli and Rahane, it's a mix of good and bad scores. All are capable and just need additional focus and minor tweaks for their weakness outside off stump.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NPV (Post 5136614)

...This is all about consistency...

Consistency can only be developed through match practice, which is difficult in a setup where established international players pretty much never appear to want to play first-class cricket. It's made worse by scheduling issues with practically no off-season these days to go back to a specialist coach or academy.

So any issues to be addressed, technical or temperamental, need to be done live in the bright glare of international fixtures. Some senior players may be able to cope, esp. those given a long rope, but up & coming youngsters get overwhelmed and then dropped for non-performance, most never regain their spots.

Overall, a pretty disappointing defeat with no real fight barring day 3. Indians were wrapped up within 20 overs on day 4.

As much as I'm a fan of Rahane, I think it is time for him to make way for Vihari who is yet to get a continuous run in test cricket. Maybe also bring back Ashwin for Jadeja? No that Jadeja has done too much wrong, but Ashwin is certainly a senior bowler who seems to keep improving every time.

1st day demons came back to haunt us on day 4 and we fell like house of cards after a promising effort on Day 3. India was on a brink of losing 2nd match too but inspired partnership of Shami-Bumrah not only saved us but won us that match.

India were just 2 down on Day 4 and they needed to bat for 4 sessions by putting their sweat and blood out there & keeping a price on their wicket. Pujara's wicket was most important and Robinson got him early. If India had any chance to draw this game, they needed Pujara to stay and play atleast 200 balls on day 4 and keep one end safe.

What disappointed me the most was Pant's approach. He was just out there to throw his wicket away. England pitches are tougher than Australia and here you have to give certain amount of respect to the bowlers; plan your innings & bolwers/balls you want to attack. Once Pant was gone, it was just a matter of time as Eng bowlers shown great discipline by kept bowling at 5th stump with their out-swingers which were too good for us.

Having said that, I am expecting great fight in next two matches and I believe India has an upper hand if Ashwin is selected in upcoming matches.