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[Nima]

Team 'nobody wants to captain'
By Ben Dorries
November 21, 2007

RICKY Ponting has turned his blowtorch on new India leader Anil Kumble by describing Australia's next Test opponent as the team nobody wants to captain.

India's accidental captain had a target placed on his forehead last night, as Australia's Test stars went on an unprecedented summer break before the first of four Tests against their subcontinental rivals starts at the MCG on Boxing Day.

Kumble, 37, was the last man standing when Rahul Dravid stepped aside from the captaincy this month. The spinner accepted the toughest job in cricket only after former captain Sachin Tendulkar turned it down.

Australia is already plotting to take down Kumble in the way it has fried many other visiting Test captains.

"I think Kumble will be under pressure, definitely, coming here to Australia," Ponting said.

"A lot of very, very good players in the past probably haven't been able to cope with being captain of India. You look at Tendulkar. He did it for a short period of time and, when he resigned, said he wasn't enjoying the role.

"If we start the series well and put Kumble under pressure ... then if you put the captain under pressure you can take a few of his teammates down with him.

"That's certainly what we will be trying to create. I think anyone who captains the Indian cricket team is always under a lot of pressure."

Indian cricket was already in turmoil on Tuesday with board officials at loggerheads after chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar flouted a directive not to write his newspaper column.

The board has banned Vengsarkar and his fellow selectors from travelling with the side on overseas tours, making Kumble's assignment even tougher.

Kumble, the man they call "Jumbo", faces a stern test to avoid the captains' curse that has plagued visitors for a decade.

West Indies' Jimmy Adams was finished as a player and a captain after a 5-0 loss in 2000-2001 and Nasser Hussain had sleepless nights during England's 4-1 Test defeat in 2002-2003. Wasim Akram never captained Pakistan again after losing 3-0 in 2002-03 and Tendulkar struggled during a 3-0 whitewash in 1999-2000.

Andrew Flintoff will never captain England again after an Ashes whitewash last year.

Ponting said India was only "slightly better" than a Sri Lanka side that was cannon fodder in the 2-0 series drubbing Australia completed at Bellerive Oval.

"Right at the moment, India are probably a slighter better and slightly stronger side than Sri Lanka," Ponting said.

"Hopefully, we can get on top of them early and stay there for the rest of the summer.

"Most touring teams don't get off to a great start in Australia. It's not just to do with the conditions, I think it's the way we go about preparing ourselves."

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22795007-23212,00.html

[poondu]

Ponting has handled transitions well

The more things change

November 25, 2007


 
The challenge for Ponting is to oversee the changing of the guard from Warne to MacGill to the next generation of Australian spin © Getty Images
 
 

When Ricky Ponting retires there's a prestigious job waiting for him at Buckingham Palace: he's very good at presiding over the changing of the guard.

Following Steve Waugh's retirement it was expected Ponting would have a difficult task emulating his predecessor's winning record as Australian captain. Ponting promptly won all three Tests in Sri Lanka to clinch the series - a feat Waugh had been unable to achieve. Then Ponting travelled to India for a series Waugh dubbed the "last frontier" because of how the win he craved there had eluded him. No such problems for Ponting, who with some help from stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist, became the first Australian captain since Bill Lawry in 1969-70 to win a series in India.

Ponting's next big challenge came when the highly successful bowling duo of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath retired, along with batsmen Damien Martyn and Justin Langer. A new era dawned for Australian cricket, but again it was no problem for Ponting. He led Australia to successive comprehensive wins over Sri Lanka, a team that had seriously challenged his side when it contained the bulk of the recently retired stars.

There's no doubt the latest changing of the guard is Ponting's more difficult assignment. Bowlers win matches and the loss of two champions almost guarantees a reduction in the rate of victories even if the losses don't mount alarmingly. So when are Australia's victories likely to become less prevalent?

In theory the arrival of a strong batting side like India should signal imminent danger for Ponting's winning ratio. However, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman are fading stars rather than rising ones and Ponting has the ideal weapon to challenge slowing reflexes - pace.

Brett Lee has adequately filled the large boots of McGrath as the leader of the attack. He is bowling with greater accuracy and relying on more good-length deliveries, with the occasional well-directed bouncer. This is a far cry from the tearaway who offered more giveaways than a discount house by insisting on bowling either full or short, and who wasted energy in delivering wayward bouncers.

Lee's next point-to-prove is learning to cope when a batsman goes on the attack. That is when his runs-per-over figure used to rise like Zimbabwe's inflation. If Virender Sehwag opens for India and has anything like the success he enjoyed last time in Australia, this will be Lee's next big challenge.

If the Indian batsmen are anywhere near their best, it will also indicate the progress made by the talented young speedster Mitchell Johnson. He has genuine pace and is awkward for right-hand batsmen with his inswing and typical left-arm, angled delivery. However, he doesn't have much experience outside the one-day game, and bowling for long spells on good pitches without a lot of success can test the mettle of any bowler.

Apart from Lee, all the main Australian bowlers averaged more than 30 runs per wicket against a Sri Lankan batting line-up that, apart from Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, wasn't able to dominate. If the Indian batsmen can combat Lee, then the Australian attack is vulnerable.

Warne's true value to Australia will only be recognised in benign conditions: no spinner can match his guile when the pitch is heavily in favour of batsmen. Stuart MacGill couldn't do it at his peak and his lacklustre form at the Bellerive Oval suggests his creaking body has eroded his desire, as well as his skills. If MacGill's injury doesn't repair quickly and he decides to retire, then Australia has a problem.

Brad Hogg's reputation is built on one-day success rather than any outstanding performances in longer games. There's no doubt Hogg is an improved bowler since he last played Test cricket but he still needs to convince himself and those around him and if the Indian batsmen don't give him the opportunity to settle quickly, doubts will creep into his mind.

Australia is strong in pace bowling back-up but not in spin bowling reserves, so they desperately need MacGill to carry the load until the new breed of tweakers mature. If Ponting can oversee a smooth changing of the guard from Warne to MacGill to the next generation spinner, his excellent win ratio won't take too much of a hit. Trouble is, if he achieves that monumentally difficult task then he'll be over-qualified for Buckingham Palace.

© Cricinfo

[Cernunnos]

Following Steve Waugh's retirement it was expected Ponting would have a difficult task emulating his predecessor's winning record as Australian captain. Ponting promptly won all three Tests in Sri Lanka to clinch the series - a feat Waugh had been unable to achieve. Then Ponting travelled to India for a series Waugh dubbed the "last frontier" because of how the win he craved there had eluded him. No such problems for Ponting, who with some help from stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist, ...

.. and some help from the next BCCI President Shashank Manohar..

.. became the first Australian captain since Bill Lawry in 1969-70 to win a series in India.

[keep-it-cool]

I think the big problem for India on the tour to Australia will be on the batting front ...it has been a long time since Indian batsmen have scored big hundreds (the Oval experience where India put up a huge total with every batsman scoring fifties is too much to expect on a regular basis). And, with Australia rarely failing to cross 500 in the first innings, India will find it difficult to compete if the batsmen do not rediscover the ability to bat for very long periods and score at a reasonable rate while doing so.

[Libran]

Trevor Chesterfield | Cricketnext.com

If Ricky Ponting is to be believed, India could pose a bigger threat to Australia in their next Test series than did Sri Lanka in this last one. And should you believe in such fairy tales, it is fair assumption.


After all, apart from a series of ODI slogs against an at present underpowered New Zealand side without Shane Bond and batsmen who have struggled in South Africa, Australia have a gap until the traditional Melbourne Boxing Day Test against India.


Reality is that India are playing Pakistan in a Test series which no matter the passion and hype involved, the serious question is whether India will be well prepared for the four Tests to be played Down Under. This is assuming that at sometime soon a new coach will be appointed.


There are those who reject the suggestion a coach is needed, or if one is appointed that he need have the credentials to match those of say Tim Nielsen, who has a CV many would envy.


It was carefully spelled out in a conversation some time ago with Sourav Ganguly why a foreign coach is so necessary for India. He has no regional bias or prejudices. And Dada's view is that of the Indian players and why they want a foreigner. It is also to shake up the system and thinking and bring in new ideas.


Already there will be howls of derision and finger pointing in this direction for making these comments. Well that's too bad. Critics, and that includes a large majority of the India media, are not the Indian players; many have not played at first-class (Ranji Trophy level) to understand the needs, fitness and demands of the modern game.


In a sense, former Indian coach John Wright brought with him the importance of fitness and pre-match preparation culture. A droll, often taciturn man, he knew that the demands of the modern game needed tougher discipline and a captain who would get up the nose of the opposition.


Is the silent predator of spin Anil Kumble someone who can get up the nose of say Ponting? Give it back? Sledge a little? This is one of the challenges facing not only Kumble but the Indian team. Australia play to win, it is why they are world champions. What are India doing? Why, they are going into a Test series against Pakistan without the system that is in the Wright mould and turned them into genuine winners.


Why does a team go on tour? Not to compete but to win matches and not be Mr Nice Guy on the field. They can do that in the dressing room after the game. Anyone who has been on one will tell you that a tour of Australia is not a picnic for wannabes.


A New Zealand player, asked a question when they arrived in South Africa on this last safari, said 'We aim to compete.' If they all thought that way they were not mentally tough enough for what was to come: two big hidings.


Now it seems the lessons India learnt from the 1999/2000 series where there was a lot of feeble batting, have been forgotten and those responsible for the game at board level learnt nothing from the results of the last tour.


What this comes down to is that India are now going into a Test series against Pakistan on the back of their ODI (50 overs success) and selectors dabbling in the media. Here a critical Dilip Vengsarkar is copping a gag that he refused to wear while team management, a coaching staff and players are caught in the middle of a serious verbal fracas.


Is this the way to run a professional system and a team that apart from the series against Pakistan faces a mentally tougher, hardened competitor a few weeks from now? Is this the sort of guidance and support India need in an effort to win back the Border-Gavaskar trophy? And, what is more important? A flashy German made car for fast bowler R P Singh or a match-winning Test performance against Australia?


Sure India have their priorities. But a series against Pakistan without a solid coaching system in place is not the way to go about building a team and a structure to beat Australia. You don't look up to Australia, you look down at them, and the sooner that dictum is brought back into the Indian dressing room, the better.


It was Kumble who once expressed regret to Wright how he wished he had paid more attention to fitness when he was a young player. Being fit put him on top of his game; gave him a sharper edge and more hunger for success. This is where there is a serious difference between being successful and being among the also-rans. It's the old story of how Mr Nice Guys come second on the field but Mr Tough Guy ends up being the winner.


You can guarantee that is where the Australian media will wag their derogatory finger at the side. They are pretty good at writing off the opposition.


Ganguly copped a lot from the Aussie media in 2003/04 because he had rubbed the Aussies up the wrong way in that great 2000/01 series with the Kolkata comeback an event they couldn't quite stomach. But Dada gave it back with a century at the Gabba in Brisbane which from memory even had that arch critic Bishen Singh Bedi grumbling over his buttered naan and vegetable curry.


It was the sort of barefaced effrontery the Aussies understood, and appreciated. It was Dada's innings that told the Australians what to expect. Unfortunately there are those now so eager to axe him. But in the current Indian scenario, he is the sort of player who will give it back and take up the challenge. He was focussed, as was the team, on that last tour.


It is said that India need to move on from the John Wright/Greg Chappell eras. So far the replacement system has been adequate. In Australia there is a structure in place that can easily have Ponting's side winning the series 4-0 or 3-0.


Be warned. The series against Pakistan, as big as it is and improving India's chances of taking over third place in the ICC Test rankings, means little in Australia.


India, the financial powerhouse of South Asia and with world's biggest support system are running their team on a shoestring coaching budget. By the time Australia Day weekend arrives in Adelaide for the fourth Test late next January, the shoestring will be so frayed as to have snapped more than once.

http://www.cricketnext.com/news/indias-real-challenge-is-down-under/27988-16.html

[keep-it-cool]

But Dada gave it back with a century at the Gabba in Brisbane which from memory even had that arch critic Bishen Singh Bedi grumbling over his buttered naan and vegetable curry.

 

[keep-it-cool]

Seriously, unless the Indian batsmen rediscover the knack of scoring BIG hundreds, I dont see how India is even going to compete. I dont think there would be even a single test after the last Ashes where Australia has not crossed or come close to 400 in either innings of a test match - definitely not in Australia.

[vincent]

India’s batsmen test for Ponting, says Ian Chappell

Herald Sun, Australia, November 27, 2007 12:00am

FORMER Australian captain Ian Chappell says skipper Ricky Ponting has yet to pass his greatest test but has questioned whether India's version of Dad's Army can muster that challenge.

Chappell says it won't be until Australia has proved it can manage without Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne against high-quality opponents that Ponting can claim to have overcome his toughest challenge.

Ponting has built on the winning legacy of predecessor Steve Waugh with breakthrough series wins on the subcontinent, while last summer's Ashes whitewash, after losing the 2005 series, was another high.

However, according to Chappell, Ponting's true test may come next month when India's star-studded batting line-up arrives.
"There's no doubt the latest changing of the guard is Ponting's more difficult assignment," Chappell said.

"Bowlers win matches and the loss of two champions almost guarantees a reduction in the rate of victories even if the losses don't mount alarmingly.
"So when are Australia's victories likely to become less prevalent? In theory, the arrival of a strong batting side like India should signal imminent danger for Ponting's winning ratio.

"However, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and V. V. S Laxman are fading stars rather than rising ones and Ponting has the ideal weapon to challenge slowing reflexes -- pace."

Chappell's shot at India's veteran stars comes less than a fortnight after his brother Greg said Tendulkar and Dravid were past their best and needed to be replaced.

Tendulkar, 34, Ganguly, 35, Dravid, 34 and Laxman, 33, remain the backbone of the tourists' batting line-up and their recent records suggest they are still potent.

Heading into the Test series against Pakistan, Tendulkar had 560 runs at 56 in six Tests this year while Ganguly had 489 runs at 48.90.
Dravid (394 at 39.4) and Laxman (219 at 36.5) have more modest figures.
 
In his regular column on website cricinfo, Chappell praised Brett Lee but said the paceman was still learning.

Lee's 16 wickets in the 2-0 humbling of Sri Lanka proved to many he has the desire and craft to replace McGrath as Australia's spearhead.

The once inconsistent Lee adopted more of a line and length approach, regularly dropping his pace to ensure he applied maximum pressure.
"Lee's next point to prove is learning to cope when a batsman goes on the attack," Chappell said.

"That is when his runs-per-over figure used to rise like Zimbabwe's inflation.

"If Virender Sehwag opens for India and has anything like the success he enjoyed last time in Australia, this will be Lee's next big challenge."

[vincent]

I think the article is right on in terms of coaching and other support (shoe string) and preparedness. Our fast bowling may not be good enough against the Aussies in their own backyard. Batting against a bowler in form like Akhtar on our dusty pitches was not that outstanding. If we do not get enough "practice" in the next two Tests, it will indeed be a tough series down under, to say the least.

[gouravk]

Yes it looks like we are going to miss Sreesanth and that is going to be a massive blow.

[gouravk]

However we should remember that none of our batsmen are able to score big hundreds these days and that could be a problem.

[poondu]

VS has not done anything of note to be in the squad. However if KKD fails in the next 2 tests , VS has an outside chance of getting into the team.

For the India Pak Tests, the crap team of Atul Wassan and Ashish Kapoor are doing the "expert" comments in Zee sports.Atul mentioned that there has been talks of SG opening the batting inplace of KKD and Yuvi coming into the XI for the next test.

[ramshorns]

VS has not done anything of note to be in the squad. However if KKD fails in the next 2 tests , VS has an outside chance of getting into the team.

For the India Pak Tests, the crap team of Atul Wassan and Ashish Kapoor are doing the "expert" comments in Zee sports.Atul mentioned that there has been talks of SG opening the batting inplace of KKD and Yuvi coming into the XI for the next test.

Even for some strange reason KKD is left out of the Aussie squad I will not select Sehwag ahead of Gambhir.  Since he lost his place Sehwag has done nothing of note to prove his credentials on form or footwork as illustrated by his poor ring of scores.  So just based on the past without any semblance of form it would be foolhardy to even consider Sehwag for selection.

[Vick]

Seriously, unless the Indian batsmen rediscover the knack of scoring BIG hundreds, I dont see how India is even going to compete. I dont think there would be even a single test after the last Ashes where Australia has not crossed or come close to 400 in either innings of a test match - definitely not in Australia.

By scoring a lot more 50's. We have a better number 7 now and the number 8 is doing well too. So Lets hope all of them contribute a bit and that should be enough. I am confident that we will win atleast one game and draw another. Losing it by 2-1 wouldnt be so bad. If we can get SS and RP fully fit our bowling will be better than it was last time.

[Vick]

I think the article is right on in terms of coaching and other support (shoe string) and preparedness. Our fast bowling may not be good enough against the Aussies in their own backyard. Batting against a bowler in form like Akhtar on our dusty pitches was not that outstanding. If we do not get enough "practice" in the next two Tests, it will indeed be a tough series down under, to say the least.

Did you see the Aussie pitches last time we were there?  They didnt have much juice either. Most were wickets where the ball came to bat nicely. No swing, No Seam, This Delhi pitch provided more help than some of the Aussie pitches.

[justforkix]

VS has not done anything of note to be in the squad. However if KKD fails in the next 2 tests , VS has an outside chance of getting into the team.

For the India Pak Tests, the crap team of Atul Wassan and Ashish Kapoor are doing the "expert" comments in Zee sports.Atul mentioned that there has been talks of SG opening the batting inplace of KKD and Yuvi coming into the XI for the next test.

Even for some strange reason KKD is left out of the Aussie squad I will not select Sehwag ahead of Gambhir.  Since he lost his place Sehwag has done nothing of note to prove his credentials on form or footwork as illustrated by his poor ring of scores.  So just based on the past without any semblance of form it would be foolhardy to even consider Sehwag for selection.

ponndu: Most of tehse so-called experts are MORONS. Kumble after the match has rubbished any thought of replacing KKD and reminded all about his performance in SA and Eng. So KKD has nothing to worry for the 2 tests unless selectors drop him from the 14 for the 3rd test.

rams: agree with you. In case they do end up dropping KKD, PP and GG should be picked as 2nd and 3rd opener and not Sehwag unless he hammers a couple fo 200s in his next 2 Ranji games.

[justforkix]

However we should remember that none of our batsmen are able to score big hundreds these days and that could be a problem.

it is just a matter of time. Aussie pitches are more conducive to strokeplay and may be just what the batetrs need. All seem to be in reasonably good form.

[Libran]

However we should remember that none of our batsmen are able to score big hundreds these days and that could be a problem.

it is just a matter of time. Aussie pitches are more conducive to strokeplay and may be just what the batetrs need. All seem to be in reasonably good form.

But, we seem to be winning more tests with contributions from all rather than one big hundred and flops all around...
Has happened in Eng and here... but, yes, Austrailian tour will need atleast one big hundred and one small hundred  each test and the rest need to chip in with 40s and 50s atleast

[keep-it-cool]

However we should remember that none of our batsmen are able to score big hundreds these days and that could be a problem.

it is just a matter of time. Aussie pitches are more conducive to strokeplay and may be just what the batetrs need. All seem to be in reasonably good form.

Are we sure it is just about pitches and not about the amount of time one spends at the crease plus pace at which they score these days.

It is not difficult to imagine a batsman not being able to concentrate for as long as they did earlier - especially once they grow older - clearly fitness levels count here. At the same time (I am just talking intuitively here), SG, SRT and VVS clearly score at a much slower pace these days than they used to a few years back ... so, even spending the same time at the crease could mean a lower score this time around.

I find it very difficult to see every Indian batsman getting a fifty on the Aussie tour .. especially given that the attack would come at them much more consistently - if Macgill does not play, I do not really see any weak links.

Hopefully, it is just about pitches and we'll get back to seeing the 150+ scores that we used to before 2004 from the fab four.

[justforkix]

Report says he'll miss India series

MacGill may head for surgery

Cricinfo staff

November 27, 2007
 
Brad Hogg would be handed a spot in the Boxing Day Test if Stuart MacGill pulled out © Getty Images

Stuart MacGill's state coach insists the legspinner can play a long-term role for Australia despite being unsure of his future. MacGill's knee injury is threatening his career and the Sydney Morning Herald reported he would have surgery to fix the ligament problem instead of playing in the India series.

The claim has not been confirmed by MacGill, who was unable to maintain his length during the second Test against Sri Lanka, but if he has an operation he will aim to be fit for the tour to Pakistan in March. MacGill has had two bouts of surgery in the past six months in a bid to fix the injury, which he suffered on John Buchanan's boot camp before the 2006-07 Ashes. If he misses the India series Brad Hogg will be his replacement.

MacGill was left out of the New South Wales squad for the Pura Cup match against Victoria on Friday and Matthew Mott, the state coach, said the bowler was unsure of his future. "Obviously he hasn't had much breathing space of late so he wants to sit down with his family and take a bit of time out and make a decision that is going to hold him in good stead for a long time," Mott said in the Australian.

"I wouldn't think retirement is on the cards, but I'm pretty sure there are things that he needs to get right to be at his best and it's going to take time to do that. He'll need to reassess whether he's prepared to do that."

Stuart Clark said if MacGill was out it would leave a "massive hole". "He's arguably the second greatest legspinner of all time," Clark told the ABC. "I know that others would probably disagree, but he's going to be a massive loss for us and someone will have to fill that void. But in saying that, Brad Hogg's bowling pretty well and he'll probably step into the role and hopefully he'll do a great job as well."

Mott said if MacGill wanted to get fit there would be many opportunities to play Tests over the next 18 months. "He's waited around so long that I don't see why he wouldn't be motivated and determined," Mott said. "This is his time and he's had to wait a long time to get that opportunity. I think he'd have rocks in his head if he wasn't motivated to play well over the next 12-18 months for Australia."

http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/322386.html

[keep-it-cool]

Damn ... I dont like the idea of Hogg bowling at our batsmen .. especially the tailenders. I dont think they pick him well - and with the cushion of a big score, he could be a handful.

[feverpitch]

Lillie, who is in charge of WACA, has promised the fastest and bounciest Perth pitch in years.

[dhruvdeepak]

i dont think it is wise to write off Pak, however weak they look.

[keep-it-cool]

Getting WACA to be bouncier than what it has been over the last few years should not be difficult at all .. apparently, it has morphed into a sleeping beauty in recent times.

[keep-it-cool]

Symonds fires a salvo at Sreesanth ...

=====================================================================================

Sreesanth's aggression may cost India dearly: Symonds

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1135770

MELBOURNE: Indian pacer S Sreesanth's continued inability to "rein himself in" when under pressure could end up costing his side dearly during the upcoming cricket tour Down Under, feels Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

The burly right-hander, who had a series of confrontations with the mercurial pacer during last month's one-day series in India, however, made it clear that he held no grudge against the Keralite.

"He's just got white-line fever. He has got it that bad, he couldn't rein himself in when he lost it a bit," Symonds was quoted as saying by 'The Herald Sun'.

"It will be interesting to see how he is received over here. I don't dislike him. Off the ground he was always polite. I saw him in the hotel and he always said 'g'day' and that," he added.

"But, as I said, he's just got white-line fever and sometimes he just loses control."

Sreesanth is currently out of action due to a shoulder injury but is expected to be fit in time for the Australia series which starts December 26 here.

Symonds himself is struggling with an injured ankle.

"The ankle joint is sore and swollen and I don't have any confidence running on it. The physios seem to think I should be able to play the one-day game for Queensland (on December 5) before the Chappell-Hadlee (series) starts," Symonds said.

The big-hitting all-rounder once again dared India to show aggression against the Aussies here.

"They had this campaign that they were going to fight fire with fire. I'm not sure whether it worked for them. They will have to work out a balance, as to when to go hard and when to back off a bit," he said.

[Libran]

Ponting targets Kumble 

Just a month after the Australians played a series mired in controversy in India, Aussie skipper -- Ricky Ponting -- has targetted Anil Kumble close on the heels of India's forthcoming tour to Australia.

The Australians played a very controversial series in India, which was marked by frequent verbal duels between the players.

Launching a verbal attack on Anil Kumble, the Australian skipper -- Ricky Ponting -- said:"Kumble will be under pressure coming to Australia. Anyone, who captains the Indian cricket team is always under a lot of pressure."

Moreover, the Australian skipper also commented on Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid saying,"Tendulkar probably didn't ever really want to do it, I don't think. Rahul Dravid did it for a short period of time. When he resigned he said that he just wasn't enjoying the role

http://timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsID=4397

[gouravk]

Great. Now Kumble should target Ponting. Btw I have been HUGELY impressed by Kumbles captaincy in the Delhi test.

[LosingNow]

Great. Now Kumble should target Ponting. Btw I have been HUGELY impressed by Kumbles captaincy in the Delhi test.

Anything specific?

[gouravk]

oh just the way he kept us in the game. Never let the shoulders droop even when pakistan seemed to be getting away late on Day 3 first with the opening partnership ... and then with the MIsbh-Akmal stand ... then to give Ganguly the new ball .. bring Harbhajan on ... and he delivers immediately ... all these things ...

[justforkix]

oh just the way he kept us in the game. Never let the shoulders droop even when pakistan seemed to be getting away late on Day 3 first with the opening partnership ... and then with the MIsbh-Akmal stand ... then to give Ganguly the new ball .. bring Harbhajan on ... and he delivers immediately ... all these things ...

AK gave SG an over only to change ends for Munaf and just took the new ball in the middle of that over for no particular reason. And even then SG was lucky to get those 2 wickets - it was more of Misbah's foolishness than SG's bowling. Kumble was lucky here and not brilliant. Also, Kumble was struggling to break the Mishab-Sami partnership before he got hilariously run out.

So, Kumble's captaincy is good so far. Not oerly impressive IMO.

[LosingNow]

oh just the way he kept us in the game. Never let the shoulders droop even when pakistan seemed to be getting away late on Day 3 first with the opening partnership ... and then with the MIsbh-Akmal stand ... then to give Ganguly the new ball .. bring Harbhajan on ... and he delivers immediately ... all these things ...

AK gave SG an over only to change ends for Munaf and just took the new ball in the middle of that over for no particular reason. And even then SG was lucky to get those 2 wickets - it was more of Misbah's foolishness than SG's bowling. Kumble was lucky here and not brilliant. Also, Kumble was struggling to break the Mishab-Sami partnership before he got hilariously run out.

So, Kumble's captaincy is good so far. Not oerly impressive IMO.

Agree ... that new ball in the middle of SG over ...whatchamacallit.. fluke!

[keep-it-cool]

oh just the way he kept us in the game. Never let the shoulders droop even when pakistan seemed to be getting away late on Day 3 first with the opening partnership ... and then with the MIsbh-Akmal stand ... then to give Ganguly the new ball .. bring Harbhajan on ... and he delivers immediately ... all these things ...

AK gave SG an over only to change ends for Munaf and just took the new ball in the middle of that over for no particular reason. And even then SG was lucky to get those 2 wickets - it was more of Misbah's foolishness than SG's bowling. Kumble was lucky here and not brilliant. Also, Kumble was struggling to break the Mishab-Sami partnership before he got hilariously run out.

So, Kumble's captaincy is good so far. Not oerly impressive IMO.

Agree ... that new ball in the middle of SG over ...whatchamacallit.. fluke!

with misbah, nothing is a fluke anymore .. unless it is a conventional dismissal.

[broadbat]

Btw what is the number of players being taken to Australia? 16 or 17?

[CLR James]

oh just the way he kept us in the game. Never let the shoulders droop even when pakistan seemed to be getting away late on Day 3 first with the opening partnership ... and then with the MIsbh-Akmal stand ... then to give Ganguly the new ball .. bring Harbhajan on ... and he delivers immediately ... all these things ...

AK gave SG an over only to change ends for Munaf and just took the new ball in the middle of that over for no particular reason. And even then SG was lucky to get those 2 wickets - it was more of Misbah's foolishness than SG's bowling. Kumble was lucky here and not brilliant. Also, Kumble was struggling to break the Mishab-Sami partnership before he got hilariously run out.

So, Kumble's captaincy is good so far. Not oerly impressive IMO.

Agree ... that new ball in the middle of SG over ...whatchamacallit.. fluke!

with misbah, nothing is a fluke anymore .. unless it is a conventional dismissal.

Oh nonsense! Misbah panicked because he knew that new balls always unfailingly induce runouts.

[keep-it-cool]

Btw what is the number of players being taken to Australia? 16 or 17?

only playing or ex-players as well?

[broadbat]

Btw what is the number of players being taken to Australia? 16 or 17?

only playing or ex-players as well?

Well I am only keen on the playing.

[keep-it-cool]

Btw what is the number of players being taken to Australia? 16 or 17?

only playing or ex-players as well?

Well I am only keen on the playing.

I think only 16.

[broadbat]

I say increase the head count and take a couple of up coming pacers along. Even bowling in the nets on Australian tracks can be a learning experience.

[keep-it-cool]

'Get Tendulkar' to be Australia's focus against India

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1135953

SYDNEY: Operation 'Get Tendulkar' will be one of key areas of focus for the Australian team when they take on India in the four-Test series in this country next month. Ricky Ponting and his team will be relying heavily on former coach John Buchanan's video analysis of the master batsman.

Buchanan has handed over his plan and blueprint to unsettle Tendulkar who he feels is susceptible to short-pitched bowling early in his innings.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Buchanan said he had noticed Tendulkar's footwork become sluggish, especially early in his innings. That makes Tendulkar vulnerable to quicker and shorter bowling and that can be followed by a fuller delivery, which could pack the batsman back to the pavilion.

"What I've been seeing for a while is that his feet don't move early in his innings and he is not very fluid early on," Buchanan told the newspaper. "That makes the good-pace short ball a great weapon. It's something that Australia should be very conscious of this summer."

Elaborating, he said, "It doesn't necessarily mean you will get Sachin out with the shorter ball. But you can push him back on his crease and then look for a full ball, which he can tend to squirt to the slips early in his innings when he doesn't have great control."

Buchanan admits Tendulkar is one of the great players, but adds: "He still has greatness within him like all great players. It is still there but it does not appear as regularly."

The general impression is that most batsmen from the subcontinent have problems on bouncy and fast wickets in Australia.

Despite Buchanan's theory, Tendulkar has a fairly consistent average against Australia. Tendulkar has an average of 54.16 in Australia as he does overseas. He has also averaged over 54 throughout his career and even when broken in two parts it does not change much. Between 1989 and 1999, the first half of his career, his average was 55.38 in Tests and since 2000 his average is 54.43.

Buchanan also noticed the discomfort of Tendulkar against left-arm pace, even battling against modest left-armers such as West Indian Pedro Collins. Australia's pacer Mitchell Johnson got the better of Tendulkar in last year's DLF Cup one-day series in Malaysia.

"Mitchell Johnson has bowled very well to Sachin in the past and I'd expect him to trouble him again with his left-arm variety," Buchanan said. "Brett Lee will also be a key man because of his pace."

[broadbat]

That makes Tendulkar vulnerable to quicker and shorter bowling and that can be followed by a fuller delivery, which could pack the batsman back to the pavilion.

If only cricket was this easy!