When practice brings in over confidence

It was as though that I was reading a A Journal of My Life when I got a wake-up call with already three of the matches at the ICC cricket world cup being over with lots of batsmen having their innings of their lives and bowlers having their ball of their lives all against stupid teams who are only on a tour of the sub-continent minus Pakistan rather than to play some decent game of cricket. India beat Bangladesh in the very 1^st encounter of the tournament and New Zealand and Sri Lanka doing the same for Kenya and Canada respectively.

Though the viewers and fans will have to wait for atleast ten days or even 15 days for the real action to start, it is no doubt that players have already started on their high note for the good as well as the wrong reasons. The very first match saw India beating Bangladesh by 87 runs which was a decent margin had it been against some strong opponent say like Pakistan. There were two centurions there with Virender Sehwag mastering over his maiden ODI 150 and Virat Kohli his hundred, both in the same match. Much to anyone's amazement, there were 3 players from Delhi, with 2 batting and Gambhir running for Sehwag.

Though all the Indian cricket fans enjoyed Sehwag striking with confidence, something which he couldn't since 2003, his 175 is not a replica of what Kapil Dev did way back in 1983 in that match against Zimbabwe. However, Sri Lanka's 210 run win against Canada once again reminded the way they shattered them two world cups ago when Canada were reduced to 36 runs for the loss of all their ten wickets which was the lowest team total at that time and which stands 2^nd today with Zimbabwe falling short by 1 run once again against Sri Lanka. So would be New Zealand's 10 wicket win over Kenya.

But, as it has been evident from the past, one can recall Zimbabwe beating Australia and Sri Lanka beating India when the former teams mentioned were not granted test status and color dress were yet to make their presence felt. Similarly, India and Pakistan were ousted from the 2007 world cup after being over confident in their games against Bangladesh and Ireland. India and Pakistan were expected to beat Sri Lanka and West Indies respectively, both of which didn't happen. The only reason for these is the over confidence they attained after their more than convincing wins against minnows. However, the format doesn't give way to undeserving teams to cross the border to the quarter finals.

Bangladesh touring just formally

If the ICC's tours table is given a close look at, one can see the way the minnows are sidelined. Nevermind that they can hardly draw crowds to the stadiums or provoke people to leave their jobs and watch them play on their television sets. However, if the first and the only T20 international between Bangladesh and New Zealand are considered, the series consists of just one T20 match that is followed by three one dayers and 2 test matches. Likewise, tours involving stronger teams would include 3 test matches five one day games and 2 T20 games off late.

Even if the recent past is considered, there have been series' between South Africa & England, Australia & Pakistan, India & Sri Lanka which consisted of 4 tests+5 ODIs+2 T20s, 3 tests+ 5ODIs+1T20 and 3 tests+5ODIs+2T20 games respectively. And Bangladesh were scheduled to play only 2 test matches against India on their home tour recently. Previous to that, Bangladesh played 5 one dayers against Zimbabwe, the result of which is not the million dollar question of the day whatsoever. Is it because Zimbabwe and Bangladesh stand at the same level in international that ICC plans schedules for Bangladesh in such a way?

It is an undisputed fact that Bangladesh are best suited for teams like Zimbabwe, Kenya etc who can make the Bangladeshis confident about their cricket. But, if that is the case, why did the ICC grant Bangladesh a test status when they hardly have been displaying some decent knocks even in T20 cricket. If the first and the only T20 game that was held at Hamilton yesterday is considered, as expected, Bangladesh could not win. That is not the issue here but, imagine a run rate of 4.45 in a T20 game. T20 game I suppose is the same for all teams including Bangladesh.

Bangladesh should have atleast played their full quota of 20 overs. Bangladesh are found to play better one day and test cricket compared to their test cricket. They have been able to defeat West Indies in the inaugural edition of the T20 world cup held at South Africa to enter the super eights. But in the next edition, they couldn't even pull a win against Ireland. They had to face the depleted West Indies team to register their first test series win other than the one against Zimbabwe. So was the case in their one day series' as well. This can be concluded that Bangladesh just want to keep playing cricket and win only when the opposition is weak.

Why Not R P Singh & Balaji?

It was all praise for new comers Abhimanyu Mithun and Subramanium Badrinath when their names were announced for the test series against South Africa that would be starting the coming month in India. However, as far as test cricket is concerned, the above mentioned names can never guarantee any sort of help in the bowling line up. For, test cricket is the area where a player's real skills are tested. Unlike in limited overs cricket, where the batsmen can get rid of a particular after the bowler has finished his quota of 10 overs, in test cricket, the bowler keeps on haunting the batsman every now and then.

This is one of the many examples of the nerve testing nature of test cricket. May be that is the reason why the format is referred to as "test cricket". Coming to the inclusion of the aforementioned bowlers, a strong justification is the need of the hour one can suppose. If at all the selection panel wanted to give chance to young blood, the very same players could have been given a chance against a weaker opposition in Bangladesh rather than a South African team that is fresh from its moral victory against England. And who is Wriddhiman Saha replacing?

Badrinath and Mithun can be considered a replacement for Yuvraj Singh and Sreesanth respectively if the selection committee is to be believed. And in case the BCCI wants to groom youngsters, in what way does the same classify players as young and old. Players' profile reveals that Badrinath is aged 29 and is yet to make a test debut. On the other hand, Saha is aged 25 and can be given a slight consideration. One point that is to be made clear is that Sreesanth has so far been a substitute for others rather than someone else coming in place of him. Most of the time, Sreesanth has been warming benches or rehabilitating himself at NCA all owing to injury.

In case the BCCI wants to include some young players, why wait for an injury to one or many of its players? Why not rest some senior pro and include the same? There have been many players who are waiting for their chance to be included in the test squad since years. Few names that include in the list are Robin uttappa, Rohith Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina who have been playing ODIs from past 5 years. But, their names are never bound to hit the selection panel's list when it comes to picking up batsmen. And one last question is "will Mithun, Saha and Badrinath be included in the playing XI?".

Bangladesh comfortable against India

In the past one month or so, there have been three test series' namely the ones between South Africa & England, Australia & Pakistan and India & Bangladesh offlate. As expected, the winners were South Africa(morally), Australia and India respectively. Coincidentally, the three winners mentioned belong to the top three positions in ICC's test cricket ratings. However, the performance of the three winning teams do the opposite of what the ratings has to say. The top rated India have a last gasp victory against Bangladesh, the Proteas who are rated at the second position were better than India, first for coming close to winning matches on 2 occasions and winning the fourth test rather convincingly.

And Australia, who are placed at number 3 finished off their test series victory in style by (needless to be said) a 3-0 margin against Pakistan, with the second test victory being the highlight of them all. South Africa and Australia were hosting their opponents and India to be different was hosted by Bangladesh, which need not be highlighted specially. The 3^rd test between Australia & Pakistan and the 4^th test between South Africa & England ended in just 4 days while the one between India & Bangladesh went until the fifth and last day. All expectations turning upside down.

All would have kept their finger crossed regarding the series' between South Africa & England and Australia & Pakistan regarding the days the respective teams would emerge victorious. But, regarding India & Bangladesh, expectations regarding India drawing off a win well before 5^th day, which went on till the end of the 4^th day (which still was less than 5 days though). South Africa beat England by an innings and so would have Australia had Ponting imposed a follow-on. But, that was not-to-be regarding India. India should have beaten Bangladesh by an innings. Luckily, atleast India went on to win by 10- wickets.

India needed the efforts of the age old Sachin and Dravid to post a big total against a team which should have seen Dhoni resting the seniors and playing some younger talent. On the bowling part, a 10 year experienced Zaheer khan had to bail out India in the second innings, which should have been done by some Murali Vijay. Top scorer of the match turned out to be Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal who scored 151 compared to Sachin's 143. Dhoni was forced to hand the ball to Sehwag & Yuvraj who were less an option in tests. One has to wonder as to what would have been the situation had India faced some stronger teams like Pakistan or England? And what if Dravid, Sachin & Zaheer not been in place?

One side of the coin also suggests that India might have taken the Bangladeshis lightly for which they had to compromise with a 10 wicket victory, which would have otherwise been an innings win. Also, Laxman and Sreesanth had to make a return trip sooner than their team mates that disturbed the combination. But, since the start of the tri series, one thing that is to be noticed is that Bangladesh have been comfortable facing India than any other team (Sri Lanka in this case).

Reminding India's Position in test cricket

Well it was India in the end who walked away with a victory against an ever rising Bangladesh team after crushing the hosts by 113 runs at Chittagong. Though good for any winning team, my question is how far can that victory be relished if true spirits of the game of cricket is concerned? India had to wait until the end of the fifth day of the test match to finalize its win over Bangladesh. India needed the same age old player in Sachin Tendulkar to register a win the the mentioned test. India played Bangladesh the way there are at present expected to play some team like South Africa or Australia.

India was found putting a better performance against stronger teams like the ones mentioned above. Is it due to the fact that they were playing Bangladesh that India took the opposition lightly or was it the over confidence that they had won all their test series' last year that India had to gasp for victory? India, taking into account its number one position in test cricket, had to walk away with an innings win in the Chittagong test that didn't happen. India had a lead of just 1 run in their first innings which speaks for itself about the rating team India is found enjoying.

If Sachin Tendulkar's and Virender Sehwag's score out of the lot is deducted, India's team total would read just 86 runs, that included 13 extras as well. There were two bowlers who picked up 5 wickets each (Shahadat Hossain and Sakib Ali Hasan) and the best part being that they belonged to the Bangladesh team, against which any team can take any sorts of risk. Bangladesh is one such team in international cricket against which any captain (may be West Indies & Zimbabwe barred) need not think twice in imposing a follow on. And India makes the match against the same Bangladesh a memorable won by winning it on the last day.

It was the same India a couple or years back who had drawn a test match against Bangladesh at the same venue, when India ended their first innings scoring 387 runs on board, out of which Ganguly scored 100 and Tendulkar scored 101. It was the match where India succumbed to 100/6 before declaring the second innings. That match finally ended in a draw as mentioned, with the man of the match being given to Mashrafe Mortazaof Bangladesh for his 79 runs in the first innings. However, newspapers blame it on the rain that ended India's fortunes in that game, which is totally not supported by the scorecard. Scorecard suggests that rain had come to India's rescue.

Finally, it would not be a tough call regarding the second test against Bangladesh to be played at Dhaka a couple of days later. But, India's performance in the Chittagong test would once again remind India's rating in test cricket, where at present is at number 1 by hooks or crooks.

Nothing Unusual In India's Number 1 Position In ICC Test Rankings

After the third test victory against Sri Lanka at Mumbai, India topped the latest ICC test rankings probably may be for the first time in the history of the game as far as India's test cricket goes. This would have definitely bought a lot of smiles on the faces of the Indian cricket fans, the Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the rest of the team as well. Applause begin to pour in from the mouths of former cricketing greats for achieving what they couldn't in their playing days. Whether these words are from their heart or just from their tongues is a different issue .

Soon after this, the newspapers started counting the number of days that India can remain at the number 1 spot in the ICC test rankings. For, if it is anything to go by the ICC's test schedule, India is set to play only 2 series' after the one against Sri Lanka which can see them being overthrown from their number 1 position. Moreover, in case the other teams, especially South Africa and Australia who are tough competitors for India manage to crush the opposition, then India has to worry about its test position rankings. And the picture regarding Australia is clear in front of our eyes after their 36 run stand versus Pakistan.

And South Africa, despite lagging behind in the series against England 0-1, they have put up a good caliber by closing in on each occasion they played England in 2 of the 3 matches played so far. Moreover, the Proteas are just 2 points behind India who are at present at 124 points. If these are the areas that have drawn in a lot of concern from the Indian cricket fans, why not take a look at what and how India have achieved in test cricket? Does team India really deserve to be at the number one spot or is it a fluke?

Before the test series against Sri Lanka, India had played a test series against New Zealand and also won it 1-0 out of the scheduled 3 matches. That was somewhere in the month of April 2009 which was 7 months before their next series against Sri Lanka was scheduled. After the ongoing tri series, India will be playing a two test series against Bangladesh where a win is guaranteed rather than anticipated.Then will be the 2 test series against South Africa at home, where India will still be having a home team advantage and hence an upper hand in the series. it is only after the series against the Proteas gets over that India have to worry about maintaining their run in test cricket.

If Indians curse themselves for the bad schedule fro the ICC, I wish the same people go through the way they have achieved the same so that they stop trying to tie up luck in their favor.