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[Blwe_torch]

Punjab bowling without Bret Lee is poor

but you were saying pace does not help !

Pace with intelligence always helps........that's why I am looking forward to Bond's bowling.
I am also very optimistic abt Shaun Tait.
I think Steyn gave a lot of space to the batsmen today.   36 runs in 4 overs is not less.........against not so great batsmen like Bisla and Bopara

[keep-it-cool]

Good knock by Manish Pandey.

This is the stage he can use to make his case for the T-20 World Cup squad. There are openings for the taking. Apart from VS, GG, YS & SR, there is no certain pick among the batters. RS, MP, VK and YP will fight it out for 2-3 slots.

[Blwe_torch]

He didn't do justice to his reputation against the KKR...I remember..............looked clueless.

[keep-it-cool]

With Yuvraj and Chawla bowling, they really should have sent Morgan in instead of Uthappa.

[Blwe_torch]

89 runs in 10 overs.......is it good going? i am not so sure.
anyway.......good opening by RCB.............

[Blwe_torch]

Great fight-back by B'lore....................my status has changed from optimistic to pessimistic for Punjab.

[Blwe_torch]

Uthappa goes......well played!

[ramshorns]

Utterly Useless Uttappa (UUU) does an ok today.

[keep-it-cool]

Does Uthappa have a chance to make the India squad?

Surprised Kohli has come in now ...why not Morgan or Dravid? Or even Boucher.

[Blwe_torch]

poor bowling by punjab.....just what i feared!

[Blwe_torch]

WOW!

[ganavk]

203................hopefully done and dusted, unless Punjab bowls abysmally crap.

Take that.!

[Blwe_torch]

203................hopefully done and dusted, unless Punjab bowls abysmally crap.

Take that.!

Taken.....Punjab bowled badly.
Happy to see Kumble ending up on the winning side. I can't see him losing.

[flashpan]

Great win for us , and well done UUU . He is one of the most cleanest strikers of the ball once he gets going .Kallis , what can I say . He is worth every penny we payed him . This batting unit is looking OK now with Pandey , UUU , Kohli all capable of doing well . It is just the bowling which needs to click and I am confident captain Anil with his trusted loyalist  Rahul will look into it .

[flashpan]

I have  a feeling that Yuvi is continuing the precedent shown by Ganguly last season by plainly non-performing . This in stark contrast to the commitment and loyalty Dravid , Laxman have shown to their respective teams.

[Blwe_torch]

I have  a feeling that Yuvi is continuing the precedent shown by Ganguly last season by plainly non-performing . This in stark contrast to the commitment and loyalty Dravid , Laxman have shown to their respective teams.

but Ganguly did perform...he almost won one match for KKR against RR.....................if you may have forgotten

[flashpan]

Playing well in one match out of 14 is performance . You definitely have low standards . Even there he did not finish the job . Even then there is  a huge difference in not able to perform but the least you can do is back your captain to the hilt.

[Blwe_torch]

Playing well in one match out of 14 is performance . You definitely have low standards . Even there he did not finish the job . Even then there is  a huge difference in not able to perform but the least you can do is back your captain to the hilt.

He did back the captain to the hilt..........no doubt abt that.
The team didn't click...what can he do?
See what's happening now!

[flashpan]

Yes , we all know how well he backed McCullum . Anyway he should consider himself lucky that his foriegn players are not backing him in the same manner as he backed McCullum.

[Blwe_torch]

Yes , we all know how well he backed McCullum . Anyway he should consider himself lucky that his foriegn players are not backing him in the same manner as he backed McCullum.

Think of Rahul..........how he took refuge behind uncle GC...when Saurav was out in the cold......................think abt that, you'll feel better!

[flashpan]

You would better think how Rahul would have felt when forced to keep despite batting better then Ganguly at that point . Thank God , Dravid did not take out his frustration with Ganguly in the WC 2003 . May be you would feel better on how Kumblw would have felt when he was reapeatedly dropped in favour of a non-performing chamcha.

[Blwe_torch]

You would better think how Rahul would have felt when forced to keep despite batting better then Ganguly at that point . Thank God , Dravid did not take out his frustration with Ganguly in the WC 2003 . May be you would feel better on how Kumblw would have felt when he was reapeatedly dropped in favour of a non-performing chamcha.

Atleast he got to play that way...otherwise, he would have been out in the cold.......................there was no life-line for Ganguly though, from his 'friend' Dravid, unlike earlier. And you are talking abt one of the Greats in ODIs, that is Ganguly....not Dravid.

[Blwe_torch]

Anyway, no point in the same old debate

[kban1]

'As good a batting performance you can get' - Kallis

S Aga

March 16, 2010


If not for a bloke from Barbados who once flayed Dennis Lillee and friends for 254 at the MCG, Jacques Henry Kallis would end his career as the greatest all-round cricketer in the history of the game. His numbers in Test and one-day cricket brook no arguments, but there were many who felt that Twenty20 represented a bridge too far. It was fashionable to stereotype Kallis as the dour defender of his team's fortunes, a consolidator rather than a destroyer.

"Two years ago, there was a lot of criticism from people who said that I couldn't play it [T20]," he said, after the stunning 55-ball 89 that piloted the Royal Challengers Bangalore to a target of 204. "I've worked at it. It's something I pride myself on. Technically, you don't need to change much. In Test cricket, you get a bit more behind the ball. In T20, you need to give yourself a bit more room to hit."

To watch Kallis in the final stages of the chase was to witness a master in action. Both Manish Pandey and Virat Kohli were guilty at times of going too hard at the ball, perhaps forgetting that the same strokes which get you four and six in first-class or one-day cricket will get you the same rewards in this format. Kallis waited for the ball to come to him, saw it on to the bat and then used that massive physique to power it beyond the rope.

There were few preconceived notions or premeditated shots either. "We wanted to have 50 or 60 on the board after the first six overs [the Powerplay]," Kallis said. "It needed one guy to bat through and the others to play around him. Robin [Uthappa] came out and played an unbelievable knock. That was as good as I've seen the cricket ball struck."

After Pandey had lit the torchpaper with a 26-ball 38 that included three sixes, Uthappa's 19-ball half-century and demolition job on Sreesanth transformed the game. Sreesanth was left so dazed by the 25-run assault that he walked off into the outfield after five balls, thinking the misery was over.

"That was as good a batting performance as you can get," said Kallis. "Everyone played their role perfectly."

Uthappa wasn't without some sympathy for Sreesanth, a good friend off the field - "When he was bowling, I was only looking at the ball," Uthappa said - but he revelled in the opportunity to make an impact in front of a fervent Ugadi crowd. "I needed to get my eye in quickly and then go after the bowling, because I knew Jacques would be there till the end."

Promoted up the order after the loss against Kolkata Knight Riders, Uthappa struck the ball with awesome power in the V. Once he departed, Kallis took over. His first 45 runs had taken 38 balls. The next 44 came from just 17. With his frontline bowlers so expensive, Kumar Sangakkara would have known he was taking a gamble by giving the 18th over to Bipul Sharma. Three sixes over midwicket later, the match was as good as lost.

"This hurts a lot more [than the loss to Delhi]," said Sangakkara after the game. "Here, we got more than 200. But we've got to learn that strong performances from individuals is not enough. We need to get a collective performance."

Bangalore managed that, with the bat anyway. As for the bowlers, this was a day to airbrush from the memory.

http://www.cricinfo.com/ipl2010/content/current/story/452197.html

[keep-it-cool]

It surprises me that people react with surprise to Kallis doing well in T-20 even now. Granted, he was a bit iffy in the first edition of the IPL, but since then he has done very well - both for SA (in the T20 WC) and BRC in IPL 2. His bowling is also an asset.

[keep-it-cool]

On this game, while the victory is good for BRC, they really have problems with their bowling. I dont know how many 180-200 run chases they will be able to pull off ...especially against better bowling attacks like DD and MI.

[inoc]

You would better think how Rahul would have felt when forced to keep despite batting better then Ganguly at that point.

Let’s start at the beginning then.

All too easy to forget that RD played as a wicketkeeper, immediately before SG took over as captain. 6 matches under 3 captains, prior to SG. (Azhar, Jadeja, SRT)

Never mind that history, which may not agree with you.

Even then......

Before he was a wicket keeper, here is his record.

Matches/Inn/runs/avg/SR/100s/50s


83   76  2538   36.25   67.35   4   17   

And, at that same date, 23rd May 1999, before RD became a wicketkeeper; SG had this record.

102   97   3628  40.76   68.66   6   26   
                                    
Ignoring the fact that SG, did not have to consider your ERRONEOUS belief RD was better, he IN FACT, supported the belief, that despite RDs poor performances as an ODI player, his wicketkeeping skills along with the genius he was should keep him in the team. A viewpoint he fought for, despite managerial and media opposition, and succeeded in getting his way, a viewpoint extensively discussed in John Wright’s Indian Summers.

Anyway, your primary claim, that RD was better than SG at that point is a LIE.

Thank God, Dravid did not take out his frustration with Ganguly in the WC 2003 .

Maybe he should have been grateful then?

He did not need to be. HIS GREATNESS (RD that is) was sensed an used in the indian team despite his relative non performance. SG was responsible for that, keep a class player in the team despite MEGA calls for his cull.

People with parochial hatred and others with personal agendas, fail to see this viewpoint. I sympathise with them.

Therefore, I do not agree with you, since I believe in the integrity of cricketers, and most people in the scheme of things, which somehow eludes you.

for you to answer to yourself.

May be you would feel better on how Kumble would have felt when he was repeatedly dropped in favour of a non-performing chamcha.

maybe you will wake up? any chances?

[Cover Point]

Wow  What a game! Was lucky enough to be in the stands and the experience was awesome (will post over the weekend when i have some time).

Been to the Kensington Oval, Kotla ... but this was an awesome show. IPL has done great things for the paying public. the facilties (even for this old stadium) for the spectators were fantastic! Better than the above mentioned stadiums or even wrigley field.

I m going to see if i can get tickets again for tomorrow ...

[LosingNow]

Wow  What a game! Was lucky enough to be in the stands and the experience was awesome (will post over the weekend when i have some time).

Been to the Kensington Oval, Kotla ... but this was an awesome show. IPL has done great things for the paying public. the facilties (even for this old stadium) for the spectators were fantastic! Better than the above mentioned stadiums or even wrigley field.

I m going to see if i can get tickets again for tomorrow ...

Excellent .. good to hear this. When I went to the IPL 1 games in Hyd and Eden, the spectator facilities was one area I had hoped would improve dramatically. Looks like they are doing it now.


BTW, it is Kennington Oval in London.. Kensington Oval is in B'dos

[Cover Point]

Wow  What a game! Was lucky enough to be in the stands and the experience was awesome (will post over the weekend when i have some time).

Been to the Kensington Oval, Kotla ... but this was an awesome show. IPL has done great things for the paying public. the facilties (even for this old stadium) for the spectators were fantastic! Better than the above mentioned stadiums or even wrigley field.

I m going to see if i can get tickets again for tomorrow ...

Excellent .. good to hear this. When I went to the IPL 1 games in Hyd and Eden, the spectator facilities was one area I had hoped would improve dramatically. Looks like they are doing it now.


BTW, it is Kennington Oval in London.. Kensington Oval is in B'dos

lesson learnt.

I really have to say the facilities were so much better. I got there an hour and half early worrying about the long lines .... that was not an issue at all. They had great security but things moved very quickly (even later ... as others who joined in told me). Then the bathrooms were clean. They had free water. The chairs were incredibly comfortable. Only a very small section had cement bleachers. Rest (80% of the stadium ) was very nice chairs.

We had some actress named Ramya or Ramla in our stands. She was paid to sign autographs and just be with the crowd. THey even had cheer leaders sitting in our stands. They were in addition to the cheer leaders who were performing. Mallya knows how to attract a crowd

[LosingNow]

Wow  What a game! Was lucky enough to be in the stands and the experience was awesome (will post over the weekend when i have some time).

Been to the Kensington Oval, Kotla ... but this was an awesome show. IPL has done great things for the paying public. the facilties (even for this old stadium) for the spectators were fantastic! Better than the above mentioned stadiums or even wrigley field.

I m going to see if i can get tickets again for tomorrow ...

Excellent .. good to hear this. When I went to the IPL 1 games in Hyd and Eden, the spectator facilities was one area I had hoped would improve dramatically. Looks like they are doing it now.


BTW, it is Kennington Oval in London.. Kensington Oval is in B'dos

lesson learnt.

I really have to say the facilities were so much better. I got there an hour and half early worrying about the long lines .... that was not an issue at all. They had great security but things moved very quickly (even later ... as others who joined in told me). Then the bathrooms were clean. They had free water. The chairs were incredibly comfortable. Only a very small section had cement bleachers. Rest (80% of the stadium ) was very nice chairs.

We had some actress named Ramya or Ramla in our stands. She was paid to sign autographs and just be with the crowd. THey even had cheer leaders sitting in our stands. They were in addition to the cheer leaders who were performing.

Cool..now I am jealous..but this is really great to hear. Hope they copy it at other places.

Mallya knows how to attract a crowd

Can he hold them.. is the big question.

BTW, what were the ticket prices.. have they come down.. I recall paying around Rs2-2.5k at Hyd and Rs5-6k at Eden for "best" seats.

[Cover Point]

Wow  What a game! Was lucky enough to be in the stands and the experience was awesome (will post over the weekend when i have some time).

Been to the Kensington Oval, Kotla ... but this was an awesome show. IPL has done great things for the paying public. the facilties (even for this old stadium) for the spectators were fantastic! Better than the above mentioned stadiums or even wrigley field.

I m going to see if i can get tickets again for tomorrow ...

Excellent .. good to hear this. When I went to the IPL 1 games in Hyd and Eden, the spectator facilities was one area I had hoped would improve dramatically. Looks like they are doing it now.


BTW, it is Kennington Oval in London.. Kensington Oval is in B'dos

lesson learnt.

I really have to say the facilities were so much better. I got there an hour and half early worrying about the long lines .... that was not an issue at all. They had great security but things moved very quickly (even later ... as others who joined in told me). Then the bathrooms were clean. They had free water. The chairs were incredibly comfortable. Only a very small section had cement bleachers. Rest (80% of the stadium ) was very nice chairs.

We had some actress named Ramya or Ramla in our stands. She was paid to sign autographs and just be with the crowd. THey even had cheer leaders sitting in our stands. They were in addition to the cheer leaders who were performing.

Cool..now I am jealous..but this is really great to hear. Hope they copy it at other places.

Mallya knows how to attract a crowd

Can he hold them.. is the big question.

BTW, what were the ticket prices.. have they come down.. I recall paying around Rs2-2.5k at Hyd and Rs5-6k at Eden for "best" seats.

ticket prices have gone up. I had second or third best seats for Rs 3000, Top tickets were Rs 11K

[LosingNow]

wow.. that is steep .. specially if it is a night out with the family.

[Cover Point]

wow.. that is steep .. specially if it is a night out with the family.

but the better facilities are worth it.

this was better than the newly renovated Kotla. That was still not as nice and I was in the special members stands thanks to Chetan Chauhan and dlee1!

[keep-it-cool]

There is an article on Cricinfo that I posted here that talks about the same things.

I had a debate with Blwe at the time of IPL-1, when I called this - the IPL will lead to better facilities as we have entrepreneurs involved rather than some honorary secy of a board. As long as the local associations co-operate, spectator facilities and the viewing experience are bound to improve.