Showing posts with label ODI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ODI. Show all posts

Friday, January 8, 2016

Perth game should include new talent regardless of the warm up results

India team has elected to bat first at the first tour game against Western Australia at Perth.

Looking at the team composition the new selections Barinder Sran, Manish Pandey, Rishi Dhawan and Gurkeerat Mann all are in the playing eleven. That is the right kind of exposure the new talent needs. 

Though the first ODI is four days away I would still like to declare my selection for the first ODI.

I would definitely like to see all the new selections in the first match at Perth,  so that there is no pressure on them to play to their natural abilities. 

Though some of them have good experience with the IPL like Manish Pandey and Rishi Dhawan. Playing away from home and in Australian conditions like WACA is going to be a test.

I would like to see them play early games and hope for the best.

Rishi Dhawan in place of Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pandey in place of Rohit Sharma, Gurkeerat Singh in place of Ajinkya Rahane and Barinder Sran should be there in the first match itself I think.

Murali Vijay had a good stint Down Under last summer, would've liked to see him in the ODI format too.

One or two or all is my selection for first game at Perth. My opinion is for new players in the starting games.

Team management is perfectly placed to make the final call. Final call is theirs. All the best team India.

Valleyz.Blog

Sunday, December 27, 2015

It is totally a different ball game Down Under

 India need to play to it's strength in the upcoming series against Australia in January 2016 where it is scheduled to play three T20's and Five ODI series before the WorldT20 Finals in India in March.

The last match it played down under was the semi-final of the World Cup 2016, which India lost to Australia by a huge margin. 

233 was India's reply to Australia's 328/7.  Though India managed to pick early wickets in that match but could not stop Steve Smith from scoring a hundred that helped Australia score a huge total.

If we take a look at Australia's batsmen playing in Australia's grounds you can observe their fluency of strokes.

It comes from sheer reading of the pitch conditions in Australia, which are quite similar in places like Hobart and Melbourne. If you hit the deck hard at these grounds you are in position of extracting that little element of surprise which can get you a wicket.

Bowling in Indian conditions and on Indian wickets is a different proposition, here our conditions early in the morning are different than in the afternoon and also the pitch plays differently during the day. Spin friendly tracks don't offer much bargain.

But in Australia the bowlers can extract something out of the placid tracks if you hit the deck hard and maintain line and length.Melbourne is such an example, the ball after hitting the deck plays differently than in the subcontinental conditions. 

Indian batsmen expect the ball come to them fast but the bounce is different to that of the Indian pitches, that offsets the technique of many an Indian batsmen except a few like Kohli and Vijay who adjusted well against the likes of Mitchell Johnson.

Many Indian batsmen performed very well in Australian conditions worth mentioning Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman. 

Laxman had that ability to play it on the rise, negate the bounce of the ball with wristy strokes, that very few can play. When wrists come into play it becomes a headache for the bowler to set the field for the batsmen.

Indian batting and bowling should be according to the conditions in Australia when playing in Australia. 

India need the bowlers who can hit the deck hard while maintaining the line and length. Ashok Dinda comes to my mind, his bowling actions is quiet distinct and he could derive bargain out of  pacy wickets like the ones in Australian conditions, I think.  

Umesh Yadav and Aaron they both are qutie similar, bowling fast, they are not going to bother the Australian batsmen much who would like the ball to come on to the bat. Especiall with players like Smith who would want to smack the ball out of the ground, the bowlers could do little to stop the stroke play from such batsmen.

Instead the team needs bowlers who can bend the back hit the deck hard like James Pattinson is doing in against the West Indies. Mitchell Johnson was clever enough to use the conditions to his liking, he even used to hit the deck hard, even though he bowled to a sling shot action.

In Australia if the bowlers are just going to run in and bowl fast, it is probably the batters gonna hit each delivery as powerfully as possible for maximum runs.

eValleyz.Blog

Friday, December 18, 2015

India should devise a strategy, game plan ahead of the ODI/T20 2016 tour of Australia

India is touring Australia in January 2016 where it is slated to play five ODI's and three T20's.

National Selectors are meeting in Delhi to pick up the squad. India lost T20's as well as ODI series on the last tour. I would not argue on the team composition, because most of the players pick themselves on their past experience and their present form by a margin. There is no doubt about that.

The thing I don't like is, Indian team doesn't plays to its full potential from game one, be it a T20 International or One Day International.

The team should play to it's full potential, that doesn't mean our bowlers are mercilessly used and tiring them off, but clever use of conditions. In Australia I have seen India team improving year on year, but the goal should be to win each game at a time. Convert the away series into wins. 

I think training camp should be held at venues in India which offer similar conditions to that of Australia, like say at Mohali or Dharamshala or any fit venue for the purpose especially for the youngsters, new comers in the team so that they are fine tuned from the game one and play to their full potential.

Players should take this opportunity to excel in away conditions, and devise such a plan and strategy to counter pace and bounce in the batting department, as well as studying the nuances of sticking to line and length in the bowling department, which promise dividends to players on any given Australian tour.

Australia extracts more from their agility and fire power on and off the field in Australian conditions, it suits their overall physical abilities on any given day, but the tourists too could make up to the hosts by training and devising a strategy, plan to counter the Australian onslaught.

 Valleyz.Blog

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

A must win game for England and India at Perth in Carlton Mid Tri series 2015

India and England meet at Perth in a semi-final like clash despite England having won a group stage match against India with a bonus point. 

Washed out game at SCG provided India with the much needed life line and the team need to make the most of the opportunity.

Both England and India have been below par their potential in the tournament so far. Both the teams would be looking to make amends at Perth. 

For India bowling is a big concern. Even if the batsmen put on a handsome total, Indian bowling department lacks wicket taking bowlers while containing the batsmen.

Despite the pitch at Perth traditionally supporting the bowlers, I personally think the team should go in with four bowlers, as this is not a game to experiment with the combination, but to go for an all out win. So going in with the best of  ability should be the option. 

Though England batting is not as strong as India's on the paper, Indian bowling still lack the control and the ability to provide crucial break through at regular intervals.

In Melbourne India lost wickets early and that held back the team to post on a big total, the team should prepare for alternative techniques while batting on fast and bouncy pitches. 

Steve Smith and Dave Warner present the most solid technique one should have, while batting in Aussie conditions. 

Smith shuffles around the stumps and doesn't allow the bowler to attack his off stump, and with his elegant stroke play on the on-side, he is a nightmare for the bowlers. 

Warner on the other hand, no matter how good length you bowl at him, just finds a way to drive through the covers given slightest of width from the bowler.

Indian batsmen should adapt to the conditions fast and be at their best at attacking the poor balls and leaving alone the good ones. That's one area that Indian batsmen could improvise in on this tour.

The way Rohit Sharma batted at Melbourne had given India much relief as he was short of runs on this tour, but his injury is a concern for India in run up to the World Cup 2015, hopefully he recovers fully in time for warm up games. 

Virat Kohli has remained quiet in the tri-series so far. Ajinkya Rahane didn't look like staying on for longer duration at crease.  

And Shikhar Dhawan's form is a concern for the team, the opener is having a lean patch at the top. In my view he is still the best opener India can play despite his nagging form.

In the bowling department, I would prefer India should go in with Umesh, Shami, Bhuvneshwar and Ashwin.

 England on the other hand has risen up to the occasion and posted the first 300 plus total of the tournament at the picturesque Bellerive Oval, Hobart, courtesy a well crafted hundred by an in form Ian Bell. 

English camp also has experienced bowlers in James Anderson and Stuart Board. And most importantly Steven Finn is among the wickets for England.

The match should be an ideal preparation for the up coming World Cup 2015 for both the teams. 
  
The pitch at Perth at WACA is known for fast conditions with bounce and carry. 

Here's a web link providing some details of the WACA pitch in Perth

Perth Pitch Report by Sporting Life.com 

Another web link to the WACA stadium.

WACA.com.au 

Valleyz.Blog

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Ind/Aus 2013 Third ODI - Australia wins a scintillating match at PCA Mohali

Australia won a scintillating match of Cricket at PCA ground, Mohali, on Saturday evening.

Earlier Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first. And was able to apply pressure on the Indian top order batsmen, with the scoreboard reading 37/2 at one stage.

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni came together and put up a 72 run partnership for the fifth wicket, until Kohli was out for 68 runs.

 Dhoni stitched up another 76 run partnership with Ashwin for the 7th wicket. Thus propelling India to a total of 303 and in the process scored first century(139) by any Indian batsman at PCA, Mohali.

Under the circumstances Dhoni single handedly managed to put up a respectable score for India with only sizeable contribution coming from Kohli's 68.

Australia chasing 304 lost wickets at regular intervals, with notable scores of Finch 38 and Aussie Skipper Bailey 43. Shane Watson was little bit unlucky to be given out LBW, as umpire seem to have erred.

Run out of Glenn Maxwell looked like Australia was staring defeat. 

After the Wicket of Brad Haddin, James Faulkner came to the crease to bat with Adam Voges, who scored a sensible 50 shortly before, and with Australia needing nearly 90 runs in just 8.5 overs.

Just when Australia needed a big over of runs, Ishant Sharma was handed the ball for the 48th Over by Dhoni. Till then Ishant Sharma had given away only around 30 runs in his previous 9 overs with one wicket to his credit.

In Ishant Sharma's tenth over Faulkner from nowhere scores 30 runs with huge sixes and boundaries tilting the match towards Australia decisively with only nine needed from the last over.

Australia cruises to victory with 3 balls to spare, thanks to James Faulkner's 64* (29) and Adam Voges 76* not out.

Man of the Match was overwhelmingly James Faulkner for his cameo knock which put Australia 2-1 ahead in the 7 match series with the next match slated in Ranchi city, in Jharkhand state on 23rd October.

Valleyz.Blog

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Ind/Aus 2013 Third ODI: Mohali - Match Analysis

After the first two matches between India and Australia, the two sides now stand 1-1 in the series with the third match scheduled in Mohali. 

Both the teams have did well in showing their strength, particularly with the bat. Putting up 300 plus totals in the first two games show, how well the teams are producing the consistent batting display.

Australia have reasonably did well while batting against India. It is to be noted that Australia opened the batting in both the earlier fixtures at Pune and Jaipur. Which means Australia were not under pressure chasing the total in the second innings.

It will be interesting to see how the teams perform at Mohali, which is a more balanced pitch than we have seen in the earlier matches. Pitch at Mohali usually carries pace and bounce, assists bowlers and batsman evenly.

A score of around 300 would be a challenging one on this surface. Also the match being a day and nighter, there would be dew factor in the second innings of the game.

So the team winning the toss will probably look to bat first as it would be difficult to grip the ball under the lights. And it will not be a free run scoring pitch that we have seen in Jaipur. 

India need to look at its bowling options again as it has conceded 300 plus totals in both the outings. 

It is particularly harsh on the part of the bowlers in this age of big hitting cricket, with more and more T20 Cricket, the bowlers are always under pressure. 

Ashok Dinda should be considered in place of Vinay Kumar, if team think tank is expecting nip and bounce from the wicket.

Pitches in the sub continent particularly are not favourable for seamers in particular, where they do not have the nip and bounce found in green wickets in other parts of the world. 

It is difficult to select the Australian bowling lineup, as all of the bowlers were taken to task by inform Virat Kohli. The strategy should be to bowl in good areas consistently. 

Mohali match could assist Australia slightly in the bowling department as the track is not as flat as it was in Jaipur.

Team batting first and scoring around 300 will have a distinct advantage and any total around 270 would be difficult to defend.

Valleyz.Blog

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Ind/Aus 2013 Second ODI - India beats Australia in a thrilling encounter

India won the match in great style after Australia put up a huge total of 360 to chase. The pitch had nothing to assist the bowlers and it was evident in the way the batsmen from both the sides were able to dominate the bowling.


Earlier Australia won the toss and elected to bat first and made most of the opportunity. Skipper George Bailey and all the top 5 Aussie batsmen showed lot of grit and determination to put another challenging total against the hosts.


But when India resumed it's innings first few overs were kept tight by the Australian bowlers. But after that India's batsmen showed tremendous skills to overcome some aggressive bowling.


Once the batsmen were in the groove they were easily able to rotate the strike. The match was thoroughly entertaining through out. Specially the brilliant knock by Virat Kohli breaking record of sorts.


He has proved that time and again, and Australia know how important a player he is to the Indian batting line up.


With the second match, the two sides draw level 1-1. 


Valleyz.Blog