The Cricket Thread

Sawyer · 24th June 2017, 16:35

Smriti Mandhana is a revelation! Big Bash seems to have transformed her, 88 in 68 balls, India 135 for no loss against England at the halfway mark.

Great ball striking. I am impressed.

Eddy · 24th June 2017, 22:28

England gave us a scare for a minute in the middle, but those run outs came at a good time

Sawyer · 25th June 2017, 06:28

There is a lot of MS Dhoni visible in Mithali Raj. Both in the way she bats and in the calm and unflustered way she leads the team. Lessons to be learnt here by a certain individual.

Very little sledging in the women's game. Another aspect of why many believe that the world would be a much better place if women were in charge.
PS: the first time I have seen the Indian women's team described as "Powerful India" in a headline. Nice. And they looked it, both while batting and fielding where return throws were to be seen. If they would just learn to run better/faster between wickets....

Sawyer · 25th June 2017, 07:12

I can't edit the preceding post; time is up.

I have to say though that the gulf between the men and women is too large even now, to that extent that it can get boring to watch the women play at times.

Contrast this to tennis: I find the men to be boring on slow courts like Roland Garros. Women's matches are a lot more interesting. On grass, both are just as good.

Perhaps the pitch length should also be reduced, not just the distance to the boundaries.

hothatchaway · 25th June 2017, 12:10

^^^Apart from Smriti's power hitting, I too felt that the gulf is currently wide. Many of the spinners were just bowling dibbly dobblies and most of the batters just did not have the strength to hit up and over across the line. Fielding too has some way to go even though a couple of catches were quite good, especially for the last English wicket to fall. However, I felt that a couple of the cricketers could compete with their male counterparts and lack of drama when wickets fell was refreshing. They can only improve.

Sawyer · 25th June 2017, 12:19

A small digression before someone starts a badminton thread: more very good news on that front.

After joining a handful of players that have ever reached three consecutive Super Series finals, Srikanth won his second straight title by beating Chen Long, legendary in no small way. The tournament prior, he beat the Korean world number 1 after beating a fellow Indian in the semifinals.

Also, there were 4 Indians in the quarterfinals of the tournament, 2 men and 2 women. Brilliant!

The sport needs at least as much headlines as when the Indian tennis "legends" get, when they win mixed doubles grand slams that these days are considered to be just one step better than exhibition matches.

And Gopichand can be as tough a coach as Kumble is supposed to have been. And as great a past champion.

Sawyer · 28th June 2017, 07:59

One has to hand it to the Chinese. On the one hand they will leverage Pakistan to keep India stressed, and to keep all border issues simmering, because they see India as the one country that comes in the way of their strategic intents in the long term; and if there is one country that thinks/acts really long term, it is China.

On the other, they dominate crucial sectors of our economy in the telephony and the digital payments space. Not to mention Chinese products flooding our consumer markets with products at every price point.

And now, they will also fund IPL, and all of us will be happy to be ignorant of that little fact.

How is it that the lessons of the East India company, that we keep hearing and rightly so from nationalists, are not being applied in this case? Pakistan is just a minor nuisance in comparison.

srishiva · 28th June 2017, 18:52

They are playing out another farce in coach selection. Shastri didn't want to stand in queue (he wanted the job to be offered without going through the process). Now Tendulkar convinced him to apply since he is also a favoured by Kohli. What kind of a Nautanki are these guys playing ? What would the other contenders feel in this whole disgusting saga ?

sukhoi30 · 28th June 2017, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by srishiva

They are playing out another farce in coach selection. Shastri didn't want to stand in queue (he wanted the job to be offered without going through the process). Now Tendulkar convinced him to apply since he is also a favoured by Kohli. What kind of a Nautanki are these guys playing ? What would the other contenders feel in this whole disgusting saga ?

I guess he is miffed when Kumble was chosen over him the last time when he applied. He is right in not applying again. Why can't they elevate Sanjay Bangar? He seem to be doing a grand job as batting coach.

Geo_Ipe · 28th June 2017, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by sukhoi30

Why can't they elevate Sanjay Bangar? He seem to be doing a grand job as batting coach.

Not glamorous enough a name to be Head Coach of one of the most influential and money making sporting franchises in the World! How good a job he's doing would be irrelevant in the said scenario!

PPS · 28th June 2017, 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by srishiva

Shastri didn't want to stand in queue (he wanted the job to be offered without going through the process).

Quote:

Originally Posted by sukhoi30

I guess he is miffed when Kumble was chosen over him the last time when he applied. He is right in not applying again.

Shastri lost out because apparently he was on a holiday in Thailand, and Ganguly was miffed by this as he felt a potential coaching candidate ought to be present in person for the interview. Shastri definitely was miffed & Kumble's elevation as Coach left everyone surprised.

Eddy · 29th June 2017, 00:42

I hope Shastri makes it. That's the only way to keep him out of the commentary box. And while you are at it, make Sanjay Manjrekar something too.... for the same reason

suhaas307 · 29th June 2017, 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy

I hope Shastri makes it. That's the only way to keep him out of the commentary box. And while you are at it, make Sanjay Manjrekar something too.... for the same reason

Agreed.

And bring back Harsha Bhogle, please!

nkrishnap · 29th June 2017, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by srishiva

They are playing out another farce in coach selection. Shastri didn't want to stand in queue (he wanted the job to be offered without going through the process). Now Tendulkar convinced him to apply since he is also a favoured by Kohli. What kind of a Nautanki are these guys playing ? What would the other contenders feel in this whole disgusting saga ?

The whole saga of captain coach rift was to eliminate Kumble and get back Shastri. I feel Shastri is not good for this job.

Sawyer · 29th June 2017, 16:39

I am not able to get the coverage of the Women's match today against WI; does anyone know where it is to be seen?

24th June 2017, 16:35	#9481
Sawyer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 2,677 Thanked: 1,786 Times	Re: The Cricket Thread Smriti Mandhana is a revelation! Big Bash seems to have transformed her, 88 in 68 balls, India 135 for no loss against England at the halfway mark. Great ball striking. I am impressed.
	() Thanks

24th June 2017, 22:28	#9482
Eddy Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 9,387 Thanked: 13,301 Times	Re: The Cricket Thread England gave us a scare for a minute in the middle, but those run outs came at a good time
	() Thanks

25th June 2017, 06:28	#9483
Sawyer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 2,677 Thanked: 1,786 Times	Re: The Cricket Thread There is a lot of MS Dhoni visible in Mithali Raj. Both in the way she bats and in the calm and unflustered way she leads the team. Lessons to be learnt here by a certain individual. Very little sledging in the women's game. Another aspect of why many believe that the world would be a much better place if women were in charge. PS: the first time I have seen the Indian women's team described as "Powerful India" in a headline. Nice. And they looked it, both while batting and fielding where return throws were to be seen. If they would just learn to run better/faster between wickets.... Last edited by Sawyer : 25th June 2017 at 06:43.
	() Thanks

25th June 2017, 07:12	#9484
Sawyer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 2,677 Thanked: 1,786 Times	Re: The Cricket Thread I can't edit the preceding post; time is up. I have to say though that the gulf between the men and women is too large even now, to that extent that it can get boring to watch the women play at times. Contrast this to tennis: I find the men to be boring on slow courts like Roland Garros. Women's matches are a lot more interesting. On grass, both are just as good. Perhaps the pitch length should also be reduced, not just the distance to the boundaries.
	() Thanks

25th June 2017, 12:10	#9485
hothatchaway BHPian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Kolkata Posts: 761 Thanked: 1,664 Times	Re: The Cricket Thread ^^^Apart from Smriti's power hitting, I too felt that the gulf is currently wide. Many of the spinners were just bowling dibbly dobblies and most of the batters just did not have the strength to hit up and over across the line. Fielding too has some way to go even though a couple of catches were quite good, especially for the last English wicket to fall. However, I felt that a couple of the cricketers could compete with their male counterparts and lack of drama when wickets fell was refreshing. They can only improve.
	() Thanks

25th June 2017, 12:19	#9486
Sawyer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 2,677 Thanked: 1,786 Times	Re: The Cricket Thread A small digression before someone starts a badminton thread: more very good news on that front. After joining a handful of players that have ever reached three consecutive Super Series finals, Srikanth won his second straight title by beating Chen Long, legendary in no small way. The tournament prior, he beat the Korean world number 1 after beating a fellow Indian in the semifinals. Also, there were 4 Indians in the quarterfinals of the tournament, 2 men and 2 women. Brilliant! The sport needs at least as much headlines as when the Indian tennis "legends" get, when they win mixed doubles grand slams that these days are considered to be just one step better than exhibition matches. And Gopichand can be as tough a coach as Kumble is supposed to have been. And as great a past champion. Last edited by Sawyer : 25th June 2017 at 12:23.
	() Thanks

28th June 2017, 07:59	#9487
Sawyer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 2,677 Thanked: 1,786 Times	Re: The Cricket Thread One has to hand it to the Chinese. On the one hand they will leverage Pakistan to keep India stressed, and to keep all border issues simmering, because they see India as the one country that comes in the way of their strategic intents in the long term; and if there is one country that thinks/acts really long term, it is China. On the other, they dominate crucial sectors of our economy in the telephony and the digital payments space. Not to mention Chinese products flooding our consumer markets with products at every price point. And now, they will also fund IPL, and all of us will be happy to be ignorant of that little fact. How is it that the lessons of the East India company, that we keep hearing and rightly so from nationalists, are not being applied in this case? Pakistan is just a minor nuisance in comparison.
	() Thanks

28th June 2017, 18:52	#9488
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,375 Thanked: 2,256 Times	Re: The Cricket Thread They are playing out another farce in coach selection. Shastri didn't want to stand in queue (he wanted the job to be offered without going through the process). Now Tendulkar convinced him to apply since he is also a favoured by Kohli. What kind of a Nautanki are these guys playing ? What would the other contenders feel in this whole disgusting saga ?
	() Thanks

29th June 2017, 00:42	#9492
Eddy Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 9,387 Thanked: 13,301 Times	Re: The Cricket Thread I hope Shastri makes it. That's the only way to keep him out of the commentary box. And while you are at it, make Sanjay Manjrekar something too.... for the same reason
	() Thanks

29th June 2017, 16:39	#9495
Sawyer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 2,677 Thanked: 1,786 Times	Re: The Cricket Thread I am not able to get the coverage of the Women's match today against WI; does anyone know where it is to be seen?
	() Thanks