Well, disputing someone's statement has always been the trademark of this blog whatsoever and we think it is just healthy one and we are sorry if it is not. Coming to the matter which involves the West Indies captain - Chris Gayle's statement after his team's another expected and crushing defeat at the hands of the Proteas, when he says that his team's batting let them down, one has to acknowledge the fact that the West Indies didn't have any frontline bowlers to tackle the South African batsmen. On the otherhand, the South Africans were equipped with bowlers of the ranks of Morkel & Steyn.
The captaincy of Graeme Smith and the experience of Jacques Kallis is more than enough for the West Indies' batsmen to run for cover. A score of 352 was more than enough not only by South Africa against West Indies but also on a pitch that started with low bounce that gave the batsmen very little room for scoring. The bowling from the West Indies' part was also not that satisfactory if Chris Gayle's words are anything to go by. They should not have been carried off by the way three quick wickets fell on the South African side on the first day itself.
That was a truncated day with just 34 overs being able to be bowled. Had there been a complete day's play, the things would have been different as per West Indies point of view, with some compromises made with the West Indian bowlers continuing their good work with the ball. The West Indies' bowlers had got enough rhythm on the first day which was spoilt by rain. Whatever happens, the result would not have been any different for the West Indies. They would have lost in any circumstances. One has to appreciate Sulieman Benn for being successful with both the bat as well as the ball.
Benn picked up eight out of the 12 South African wickets and scored 42 runs which was his highest individual score in test cricket and more importantly, was from a batsman who would enter into the crease at number eight who are referred to as tail enders. If the West Indian squad is considered, the team has more depth in batting that involves the likes of Chris Gayle, Shivanarine Chandrapaul and Narsingh Deonarine. On the otherhand, their bowling consisted of Dwayne Bravo and Sulieman Benn who stand nowhere when it comes to international test rankings for bowlers. It was slowness of the track at Port of Spain that aided the bowlers and the same slowness that proved trouble for the batsmen when they took to the crease.
Showing posts with label Sulieman Benn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sulieman Benn. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Enough....but not enough!
Well for all those cricket freaks who are into the ongoing first match of the test series between South Africa and the West Indies, here it is. Cricinfo is a better site to tell you what exactly happened on the 2nd day of the test at Antigua but, my views about the test and the day as well differ slightly. However, the view does not dispute the fact that the two Bs who were there to entertain the crowd who come to watch their favourite game cricket without favoring wither of the teams namely South Africa and West Indies out there.
However, the second day though belonging to the Proteas, some share was taken by the home team as well not only for Sulieman Benn who captured four more wickets after the first day's effort which saw him take the wicket of Hashim Amla and with that the tally of his wickets in the innings reached the magical figure of 5. Despite all odds, Sulieman Benn showed the cricketing world that he can do better things than on field spats with both his teammates and opponents as well. No one expects the West Indies to win the game and that too against South Africa.
But, as a home team, fans can nonetheless support their country though not deserving and the only satisfaction they take home would be that they put up a better performance compared to their previous one. And this time as well, the West Indies were found doing just that when they not only bowled out South Africa for a score just below 350 but also got them back in the pavilion on the second day itself. Speaking precisely, the game didn't last for two days, with only 34 overs being able to be bowled on the first day. Anyways, that is a different issue of what happened on day 1.
If the West Indies continue their good work from here onwards, one can expect a miracle to happen. This would shake all betting freaks who would have bet all their money on the Proteas taking the West Indies for granted which they deserve. It is indeed a more than decent performance from the West Indies' side when they bowled the South Africans for a score just above 350 as mentioned above. However, the Proteas still have the match well in their hands for, the bowling from the South African part is way ahead compared to that from the West Indians.
They have bowlers of the ranks of Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and others for whom the West Indies have no answer, both as a batting unit or as a bowling one. Though there are bowlers like Benn and Bravo, they can lest be treated on par with some Hussain from Bangladesh team and not with even a part time bowler from South Africa like say Graeme Smith or Jacques Kallis. So, keeping these things in mind, one can conclude that the West Indies' performance as a bowling unit is enough to reduce the margin of defeat but not win a test match.
However, the second day though belonging to the Proteas, some share was taken by the home team as well not only for Sulieman Benn who captured four more wickets after the first day's effort which saw him take the wicket of Hashim Amla and with that the tally of his wickets in the innings reached the magical figure of 5. Despite all odds, Sulieman Benn showed the cricketing world that he can do better things than on field spats with both his teammates and opponents as well. No one expects the West Indies to win the game and that too against South Africa.
But, as a home team, fans can nonetheless support their country though not deserving and the only satisfaction they take home would be that they put up a better performance compared to their previous one. And this time as well, the West Indies were found doing just that when they not only bowled out South Africa for a score just below 350 but also got them back in the pavilion on the second day itself. Speaking precisely, the game didn't last for two days, with only 34 overs being able to be bowled on the first day. Anyways, that is a different issue of what happened on day 1.
If the West Indies continue their good work from here onwards, one can expect a miracle to happen. This would shake all betting freaks who would have bet all their money on the Proteas taking the West Indies for granted which they deserve. It is indeed a more than decent performance from the West Indies' side when they bowled the South Africans for a score just above 350 as mentioned above. However, the Proteas still have the match well in their hands for, the bowling from the South African part is way ahead compared to that from the West Indians.
They have bowlers of the ranks of Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and others for whom the West Indies have no answer, both as a batting unit or as a bowling one. Though there are bowlers like Benn and Bravo, they can lest be treated on par with some Hussain from Bangladesh team and not with even a part time bowler from South Africa like say Graeme Smith or Jacques Kallis. So, keeping these things in mind, one can conclude that the West Indies' performance as a bowling unit is enough to reduce the margin of defeat but not win a test match.
Friday, June 11, 2010
How long will the domination continue?
Well very rarely one comes across the news that the West Indies are dominating their opposition and this time, the fans of West Indies cricket are quite lucky when the first day at Trinidad against South Africa in the 1st test belonged to the West Indies. At the end of day 1, the South Africans were reduced to 70 runs for the loss of three wickets and that too quick ones. This included the price wicket of Hashim Amla who was awarded the man of the series in the recently concluded one day series. All these happening in just 34 overs of the day's play.
This once again proves the bad luck the West Indies are facing, for the day was patented by the West Indies who would have made up their mind to strike it this time in tests after their whitewash in the one dayers and T20s. Had the day went on smoothly, the West Indies would have surely cashed in on the initial breakthrough given by the spinners Sulieman Benn and Shane Shillingford who reduced the South African top order like never before. This could have been the most spectacular event in today's West Indian cricket where the West Indies are found to be satisfied with even a decent defeat.
I still remember the VB series 2005 that involved West Indies, Pakistan and Australia (of course) where in one of the games between West Indies and Australia, the Aussies consisting of the famous 2003 champions namely Adam Gilchrist, Mathew Hayden and others were made to reel at 41/5 by the West Indies, who until then had just one victory against Pakistan in the series . When all thought that the West Indies have had all within them and a rare Aussie defeat is on the cards, rain came as a spoilsport for the West Indies who were forced to be satisfied with a point.
However, though the West Indies have the first day's play, the next big question is how long will their dominance continue against the Proteas? The match needless to be said is scheduled for 5 days and the West Indies team has hardly any substance in them to continue good work of any sort against any team barring Bangladesh. No doubt that the West Indies team consists of decent batsmen like Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chandrapaul who can save some face for their team. But, when will the world see the West Indies team win matches like it was doing some 30 years back?
This once again proves the bad luck the West Indies are facing, for the day was patented by the West Indies who would have made up their mind to strike it this time in tests after their whitewash in the one dayers and T20s. Had the day went on smoothly, the West Indies would have surely cashed in on the initial breakthrough given by the spinners Sulieman Benn and Shane Shillingford who reduced the South African top order like never before. This could have been the most spectacular event in today's West Indian cricket where the West Indies are found to be satisfied with even a decent defeat.
I still remember the VB series 2005 that involved West Indies, Pakistan and Australia (of course) where in one of the games between West Indies and Australia, the Aussies consisting of the famous 2003 champions namely Adam Gilchrist, Mathew Hayden and others were made to reel at 41/5 by the West Indies, who until then had just one victory against Pakistan in the series . When all thought that the West Indies have had all within them and a rare Aussie defeat is on the cards, rain came as a spoilsport for the West Indies who were forced to be satisfied with a point.
However, though the West Indies have the first day's play, the next big question is how long will their dominance continue against the Proteas? The match needless to be said is scheduled for 5 days and the West Indies team has hardly any substance in them to continue good work of any sort against any team barring Bangladesh. No doubt that the West Indies team consists of decent batsmen like Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chandrapaul who can save some face for their team. But, when will the world see the West Indies team win matches like it was doing some 30 years back?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Sulieman Benn: A non Aussie sledger
Well whenever the word sledging is heard or is making news, the first name team that comes to everyone's mind is the Aussies starting from Dennis Lillie and Steve Waugh to the present day's players like Brett Lee, Ponting and Hayden. Their sledging is not restricted to on the field alone. Off the field as well, Aussies are masters of sledging which is quite evident from the story of Mathew Hayden calling Harbhajan Singh "an obnoxious weed" some three years down the lane during the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2007-08 and the Commonwealth Bank series that followed. Whatever, that series can be called as mother of sledging.
That series involved everything about sledging starting from the eight umpiring decisions that went wrong and the "monkey" word said to be uttered by Harbhajan Singh at Symonds. Then there was the egg throwing incident on the Sri Lankan off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (of course not by any of the Australian players) who had come to participate in the Commonwealth Bank series that followed the 4 match India - Australia tests. Finally the Commonwealth Bank series not only ended with India winning the trophy and Adam Gilchrist & Brad Hogg bidding adieu but also with the incident of a streaker being hit by Andrew Symonds on the field.
Anyways, all these were just a recap of how ugly can sledging can get when it crosses the line and also when it doesn't. However, it seems that it is the birth right of an Australian player to say anything about their opponents and the fact that they have been and are today also unbeatable supports their on field deeds. But, outside the Aussie world as well, sledging has its own share but a bit more ugly one. The list includes India's Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh & Zaheer Khan offlate, Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akthar and the latest to join the list has happened to be West Indian Sulieman Benn.
This is the 2nd time that the West Indian has been seen making news for the wrong reasons, after he was first time banned for doing so in the three match test series against Australia late last year when he had an on field spat with the Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. This time again, the West Indian is found doing the same and is penalized by none other than the West Indian captain Chris Gayle who asked him to leave the field after the captain decided that Benn was not needed anymore. Though being unable to make a mark in cricket, such things can easily make Benn make headlines.
That series involved everything about sledging starting from the eight umpiring decisions that went wrong and the "monkey" word said to be uttered by Harbhajan Singh at Symonds. Then there was the egg throwing incident on the Sri Lankan off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (of course not by any of the Australian players) who had come to participate in the Commonwealth Bank series that followed the 4 match India - Australia tests. Finally the Commonwealth Bank series not only ended with India winning the trophy and Adam Gilchrist & Brad Hogg bidding adieu but also with the incident of a streaker being hit by Andrew Symonds on the field.
Anyways, all these were just a recap of how ugly can sledging can get when it crosses the line and also when it doesn't. However, it seems that it is the birth right of an Australian player to say anything about their opponents and the fact that they have been and are today also unbeatable supports their on field deeds. But, outside the Aussie world as well, sledging has its own share but a bit more ugly one. The list includes India's Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh & Zaheer Khan offlate, Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akthar and the latest to join the list has happened to be West Indian Sulieman Benn.
This is the 2nd time that the West Indian has been seen making news for the wrong reasons, after he was first time banned for doing so in the three match test series against Australia late last year when he had an on field spat with the Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. This time again, the West Indian is found doing the same and is penalized by none other than the West Indian captain Chris Gayle who asked him to leave the field after the captain decided that Benn was not needed anymore. Though being unable to make a mark in cricket, such things can easily make Benn make headlines.
Monday, March 1, 2010
6 Ducks from the winning side
Well West Indies' loss in the recently concluded ODI series and the T20 series against Australia can well be justified for, West Indies is a far worse outfit compared to Australia who are not at their one time best. Moreover, West Indies were facing Australia in Australia where forget about winning, even a matured loss would be a great feeling for the West Indies team. But, now in the first T20 game against Zimbabwe at Port of Spain, where West Indies were expected to win for one last time, it was fascinating to see West Indies playing the T20 game as though it was a test match.
All that the West Indies team can feel comfortable about is the fact that there was a West Indian bowler in Darren Sammy who bagged 5 Zimbabwean wickets, returning with figures of 5/26 from the 4 overs allotted to him. Can anyone of us imagine even in our dreams a team ending its innings of a T20 game with not only putting up a partly score of 79 but also at a strike rate of just above 3.0 runs an over? In the recently concluded India-South Africa 2 match test series, both the teams out there had atleast one innings wherein the team had scored at a rate of above 4.0 runs an over.
It was Dwayne Smith placed at number 7 in the batting order who recorded the highest strike rate in the match at 80 runs for every 100 deliveries he faced. And the highest run getter in the match for the West Indies team happened to be Denesh Ramdin who scored 23 runs no matter how many deliveries he faced. There were only 3 batsmen from the West Indies' side who could put up individual scores above 10, with extras taking its share of 10 runs. One thing that can be noticed for the West Indies' bowling chart is that the WI captain bought in just 5 of his bowlers who bowled their quota of 4 over each.
And on the other side, the Zimbabwean side bought in 8 of their bowlers, may be which is not of much importance when it comes to winning matches. But, the idea to experiment when things are not going in favor is always a welcome move from the captain. At the end, one thing that is worth to be noted is that there were 7 batsmen from the Zimbabwean side who returned back to the pavilion the way they entered into the crease. Out of these 7 batsmen who couldn't score a run, 6 of them were out. Another interesting fact is that Benn had 4 wickets, all of whom returned without scoring. I guess that this is the 1st such instance where ducks have made headlines.
All that the West Indies team can feel comfortable about is the fact that there was a West Indian bowler in Darren Sammy who bagged 5 Zimbabwean wickets, returning with figures of 5/26 from the 4 overs allotted to him. Can anyone of us imagine even in our dreams a team ending its innings of a T20 game with not only putting up a partly score of 79 but also at a strike rate of just above 3.0 runs an over? In the recently concluded India-South Africa 2 match test series, both the teams out there had atleast one innings wherein the team had scored at a rate of above 4.0 runs an over.
It was Dwayne Smith placed at number 7 in the batting order who recorded the highest strike rate in the match at 80 runs for every 100 deliveries he faced. And the highest run getter in the match for the West Indies team happened to be Denesh Ramdin who scored 23 runs no matter how many deliveries he faced. There were only 3 batsmen from the West Indies' side who could put up individual scores above 10, with extras taking its share of 10 runs. One thing that can be noticed for the West Indies' bowling chart is that the WI captain bought in just 5 of his bowlers who bowled their quota of 4 over each.
And on the other side, the Zimbabwean side bought in 8 of their bowlers, may be which is not of much importance when it comes to winning matches. But, the idea to experiment when things are not going in favor is always a welcome move from the captain. At the end, one thing that is worth to be noted is that there were 7 batsmen from the Zimbabwean side who returned back to the pavilion the way they entered into the crease. Out of these 7 batsmen who couldn't score a run, 6 of them were out. Another interesting fact is that Benn had 4 wickets, all of whom returned without scoring. I guess that this is the 1st such instance where ducks have made headlines.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)