MAN OF THE MOMENT- QUITE LITERALLY

“Cricket is so insignificant in the grand scheme of life. But yet you still want to try so hard. So it’s about understanding or capturing that element.”

Remember that stroke over third man? That stroke which gave birth to a form of cricket which was completely unheralded. A stroke which turned into a trailer for the brand of cricket this man plays – or in a matter of days, played. Zaheer Khan sprinted in from around the wicket and pounded it on a three quarters length. And the man barely played it, cramping for room as he opened his stance and tried to lift it over bowler’s head. And those were not the days when bats were as thick as the Kaboom of David Warner – nevertheless thicker than a decade ago. But such was the power of the little man and the ferocity of the blade swing that it went miles over third man- the last place he intended to send that into. That effort culminated into an exhibition, which any tournament will be proud of for propelling it into the conscious of the audience it aims to target.

If that undefeated 158 was the coming of age of an enormously talented young man, subsequent trail of his career attested that Cricket is not all about the Tendulkars, Pontings, Laras , Dravids, Kallises and the extremely talented crop of technically blessed young fellows. There is always a special place for the bashers, however ugly they sometimes might look whacking the leather off the balls. Viv Richards was gifted with both technique and this attitude. Virender Sehwag used this to carve a special niche for himself. But this man did all this like a stage performer hell bent upon entertaining his audience and at the same time living on the edge of the knife for the joy of thrill it gives to such daring persons.

Not that he was underwhelming before. The 2005 Christchurch game showcased his power hitting abilities and tenacious attitude as he combined with Daniel Vettori to haul a target of 332 set by Australia after being on the ropes at 250 for 8. The 96 at Lords in his debut series in 2004 introduced him to the big stage and though his inconsistency was evident, he remained an integral member of the test squad as he impressed with his keeping. He played a similar role, albeit with lesser success, as Adam Gilchrist, his role model played for the Kangaroos. After his stunning IPL inaugural performance, he flied to England and in starkly different condition and format, he continued in the same vein, stroking his way to 97, yet again missed on etching his name at the Honour’s Board.

The vivacity with which he played was on display as he scooped two 155KPH deliveries from Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes on his way to be the second player after Chris Gayle to record a T20I century. He has two of them in his kitty now. The way he handled the crisis in New Zealand cricket after the unceremonious sacking of former skipper Ross Taylor was exemplary, especially as his tenure started with the ignominy of 45 all out in South Africa. He along with Coach Mike Hesson created a team environment which gave birth to a new brand of the sport – gentlemen’s aggression. Often praised for the way he and his team played the game in its absolute spirit, he encouraged his team to enjoy the game and play with a care free attitude which has been synonymous with his batting style.

He led his team on a path of famous overseas wins and remarkable come from behind performances. The unbeaten 13 test streak at home vindicated his approach. The perfect riposte for the people who branded him as a happy go lucky slogger came in the Wellington test against India. Not that he was ever humbled by the Indians – 3 out of 4 of his double tons has come against them. But he just proved what a dogged character he has developed into, when he reached the first triple century by a Kiwi and saving the test by batting two days, when defeat was imminent. First the graft and then the brutal capitalization celebrated one of the greatest moment in Kiwi Cricket history as Indian bowling capitulated.

And then came a campaign which put smiles on every cricket lover’s face, irrespective of the country he/she belongs. The whirlwind campaign started with a stunning down the pitch extra cover loft off a pacer and culminated in a first final for the Kiwis as they displayed the aggression of their brand and the gentle-manliness of their spirit in tandem, providing cherished moments to this man.

And if that wasn’t enough, the fascinating 195 against Sri Lanka at Christchurch, coincidentally the place of the swansong of this extraordinary career, proved two glorious facet about this man. First the inherent aggression he displayed by a breath taking display of power hitting and second, the unbelievable contentment which glared on his face as he walked off agonizingly short off the fastest double ton ever in tests by playing an unwarranted shot. As far as cricket goes, he lived by his words. Not many can be so nonchalantly passionate.

This career deserved a better conclusion than the series defeat in Australia and another possible defeat at home against their old nemesis. And his own indifferent form was vindicating his surprising decision to retire. But then he came swinging out against the hooping cherry and not only pulled his team out from a precarious position but ominously hurtled the bowlers off their length in some really difficult conditions for batting. Not that he did anything special, he just came into his own. He braved the storm and rode his luck but at the end of his effort, he has the World Records of fastest Test Century and Most Sixes to his name. The reason he was able to pull them off in his last test when normally players get caught in the glare of the occasion that he regarded it as just another game and situation his team need to conquer.

And the fans of this great man would be hoping a perfect finale and send off to this champion bloke, who redefined the game and has been the epitome of fearlessness. A man who deserve this victory. A man who never shied away from responsibilities. A man who won’t be sad if they lose, because at the end of the day, it’s just a game. A game of glorious uncertainties like those lofted drive off ferocious pacers – stepping out.

“It's the only record I care about, and the only one Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor aren't going to break.”

Brendon McCullum after equalling the world record for Test sixes.

A TOUR OF RAINING RUNS

Team India is back. Back to the comfy confinements of sub-continental cricket, after a bizarre tour Down Under concluded. A tour, which tossed some predictable as well as few unpredictable results. Which vindicated some pre-series assumptions, yet defied quite a few. A team carrying an exuberant mix of established yet priming stars and hopeful young talents - confident of carrying forward their domestic form into international arena – against a team helmed by the new Oz sensation, who is in the infancy of his job and quite a few personnel playing to cement their position in the team for the tougher and more significant future assignments. Given the competitive spirit with which Aussie approach their game, they were seldom likely to take India lightly, even if they were playing on their own backyard. And the competition for the places and their determination to continue their dominant run resulted in a relentless approach- a trademark of their brand of cricket.

PART ONE:

It was a series full of runs -3000 odd scored in the ODIs at the loss of just 60 odd wickets across 5 matches. Even the T20Is produced 4 scores of 180 plus. It is so uncharacteristic of Australian venues, which are famous for their helpful wickets and long boundaries. But as is the case throughout the Australian summer, the pitches were belter and the size and quality of modern bats, which these players are wielding, made the long boundaries obsolete. It is perplexing that why CA is hell bent upon producing such pitches, which neutralizes their home advantage and reduce the matches to such run fests. But evidently they are trying to increase the entertainment value and generating bountiful revenues from such matches, especially when it is involving the economic powerhouse of cricket- India.

And that paved the way for the batsmen from both sides, to score big and prolific. Indian batsmen were in for a pleasant surprise, as they casted their glance on the belters of WACA and Gabba – the two most fearsome strips of cricketing history and folklore. And they didn’t throw away those golden chances of enhancing their overseas performances. The flame of the torch bearers of the Indian batting was on an outrageous rage, as their top 3 fired in bewildering unison for 8 matches straight. It was a rare feat of consistency, which even the famed and great batting line-ups of India has not been able to replicate. Every big score releases enormous pressure and provides the comfort zone to the players. But that also affects the personal motivational level and law of the averages invariably catches up with you. But Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan batted with an appetite for runs, never seen before.

It’s not that Australian batters were overshadowed. They absolutely belted the Indian attack and probably, were way superior in their approach and seizing the initiative at crucial junctures. But there was a stark contrast in the way they batted and the visitors batted. It was all about one Australian batsman playing the anchor role and their whole line up fired – albeit in different matches. Whereas Indian batting was all about the Top 3 playing the chunk of the overs and scoring the bulk of the runs – at least 2 out of the 3 scored a minimum of half century in each ODI and even in T20Is.

 The Indian innings just squandered the chance to convert those gigantic starts into insurmountable totals, and in Canberra, to cross the finish line being at an extremely comfortable position. And when the afterburners of the Indian line-up either rediscovered (say MSD, Raina and Yuvi) or invented (as in the case of Manish Pandey) their mojo – they give the drowning faiths of the nation of billions a much needed breather and were somewhat able to quell the settling rhythm of pessimism.

Rohit continued his astonishing consistency in the shorter formats and proved that he is handful even outside the sub-continent – he had performed in every overseas tour including Champions Trophy 2K13 in England. Virat Kohli was all-together at a different level, barely settling in before unfurling those beautiful wrists and powerful fore-arms. The runs flowed from his blade in a manner which would’ve made even the great Sir Don Bradman proud- 2 centuries and 5 fifties in 8 matches testifying his prolific returns. He buried the ghosts of ODI performances against Australia on previous tours and took a leaf out of his last test series down under.

Shikhar Dhawan was rusty but soon delivered the goods, even though his performance failed to impact the team’s cause, as he stalled the innings in MCG and got dismissed at a crucial juncture in Canberra after hitting a century. MSD may not be the same finisher, he was. Yet often came to bat, when there was no time to settle in and sans that costly blip in Canberra, he played his part in the further ODIs and T20Is. Gurkeerat was a disappointing failure and nowhere looked comfortable and Ajinkya Rahane was not able to continue his good run due to the unfortunate injury. Manish Pandey proved to be an invaluable asset in the 5^th ODI as he executed the record breaking chase with immaculate maturity and seemed a fine prospect for his cricketing sense and temperament.

And as the likes of David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch, George Bailey and Steven Smith notched substantial scores - their four victories in the ODIs are testament to that- they made sure that failures of one don’t affect the others and each one of them stood in one of the matches. Especially George Bailey with that awkward closed stance – he has developed a special liking for the Indian attack. And when every one of them failed, out came Glenn Maxwell with a calm hat on his head, as he defied his pyro-techniques to play a gem of a knock. With supporting acts from a deep Australian batting line-up, the Kangaroos repeatedly breached the Indian fortress of runs and created havoc with the bat.

Suresh Raina contributed well in the T20Is and was pivotal in the last one, as India chased 198 and executed a clean sweep in Australia - an extremely rare feat.  Yuvraj quelled the ghost of his previous international match – the 2K14 T20I WC final and finished the match in which he got to bat. Shane Watson too provided a glimpse of his unfulfilled potential with an extra-ordinary innings in the final T20I. Australia were able to replicate their relentless performances in T20Is as the divided loyalties towards New Zealand tour and a poor T20Is record played their parts.

PART TWO:

The biggest disappointment for India was their bowling. Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma were patchy and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar has seemingly lost his panache for swing and wickets. Barinder Sran started well but one bad performance was enough for his exit – a touch harsh on the youngster. He needs the backing of the team. R Ashwin failed to inspire the confidence to play him on such docile surfaces after the hiding he got in the first two ODIs. He made a strong comeback in the T20Is though. Ravindra Jadeja played his part with the ball and was an asset on the field, even though his venom is negotiated by the benign surface.

Not lot was expected from Rishi Dhawan, as people pigeonholed him as yet another trundler and a domestic giant against weaker teams in the helpful environs of Dharmasala. But he showed in MCG and SCG that he has got a control over his line and length and his variations and knew his limitations. He stalled the free runs in the middle overs and provided MSD – the much needed control. The only bad spell was the spell during death over in Canberra, but it wasn’t as if any one performed better then. He squandered the only chance of batting as pressure got better of him after a great stroke. Jasprit Bumrah – a late inclusion- was rightly called as the find of the tour by the Indian skipper and that orthodox action and yorkers here to stay. He was an integral factor in every victory in this tour.

Hardik Pandya didn’t justify the promise, even though he breached the 140Kph mark, but proved too erratic. As he didn’t get to showcase his batting potential, he is likely to get further chances. Still India may have missed a trick of determining their seaming all-rounder by not playing Rishi and Hardik in the same XI as that would’ve inspired both of them to give their best and would’ve provided a clearer picture.

It was evident that Aussie were playing with their second rate bowling attack in the absence of injured Mitchell Starc and Nathan Coulter Nile, and rested Josh Hazlewood. Even though it came as a handy tool for the Australian supporters and media for launching barbs and a getaway reason for their poor performance, it was conveniently forgotten that their bowling cupboard is looking bare, the crisis intensified after Mitchell Johnson’s retirement. One can argue that they missed James Pattinson and Patrick Cummins in addition to above three. But if their team has to bank on those fragile option, then the signs are worrying.

 Pattinson and Cummins never look likely to shoulder a heavy burden, which automatically come these days as a by-product of heavy cricket. Starc is to be keenly observed as comeback after a surgery is never easy for express pacers like him. Coulter Nile has yet to prove much in the international stage and Hazlewood has progressed well, but appears as the only permanent bowler, who is susceptible to injuries too. But his steady pace provides him the cushion and in the ODIs he played in this series, he was able to stagnate the run flow. Still, he is unlikely to be the strike bowler for an Australian squad and that leaves the bowlers used in these couple of series as much more than just mere experiments or replacements in the lack of better option.

John Hastings was impressive in the ODIs, but got the stick in the T20Is. Kane Richardson didn’t look special, sans that lucky spell in Canberra, which was more a result of the pressure created by Hastings and an inexplicable implosion. Boland and Paris never looked like belonging to this stage and Andrew Tye in the T20Is seemed equally unimpressive. James Faulkner played a decent role in stagnating the marauding Indian batsmen, particularly at death, still looked far from his best after being on a comeback trail from a long hiatus. And if names like Jackson Bird and Peter Siddle are flashing, they are more of a long format bowlers.

It was a series of flaunting batting muscles and the team which wilted first in the munching of runs from their machines, lost the matches and in the 8 matches across formats, both team posted 4 victories. Australia has lot to answer regarding their pitches and bowlers, while India has a team of exceptional batters and mediocre bowlers, even though they aren’t as mediocre as they seem. A hint of help from the surface and it won’t take the Indian attack to find its screws. What seems like an open secret is the fact that give Indian bowlers the benign surface and they will lose their discipline. Quite a few teams has exploited this fact in recent times and Indian bowlers need to show the grit. Not to forget that spinners, Ashish Nehra and Bumrah formed a potent combination in T20Is and as the T20 WC is in sight with lots of T20 cricket to play, it is not an immediate crisis at least.

And why it will be when they are the number 1 in T20Is and Tests and 2^nd ranked in ODIs.

-GEET