Don't be surprised to see me ranting about Cricket. I do watch Test Cricket, which I consider is a game of nerves, strategy, determination against many odds - be it a bowler, batsmen, all-rounder, keeper or a captain.
Unfortunately with the invention of T20 & rise of IPL, Test Cricket has lost its audience and stature in a quite manner. The statement holds good at least in India, if not in England, South Africa and Australia.
Rahul Bhattacharya has written a classic piece on 281 era - Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Sourav Ganguly & Dhoni.
The kings were Australia. We beat them at home three times, and twice came close in their house. We won our first Test series in England in 21 years, in West Indies in 35 years, in New Zealand in 33 years and won, at last, Test matches in South Africa. We won in Pakistan for the first time, both formats. We won a World Twenty20, and a World Cup, and got to the final of another. At home we lost only seven Tests out of 52; and in all conditions, against all opponents, won 48 to 27 lost.
2 comments:
I would disagree with these statements together
1. India has lost their Golden generation of Test Cricketers.
2. The only remaining mortal God is Sachin Tendulkar.
Sachin has become GOD after playing hell lot of matches. When he was playing before, India had some great players of Test Cricket like Dravid, Laxman to name a few. Now the young team is stabilizing itself and it is doing great except for few fumbles(away from home).
It's hard to say anything now unless we find a "packaged team" which keeps winning always.
I find no difference in old Indian team and the new one. And this being said you should not consider other interests of the players (IPL).
@Sandeep you are free to disagree.
1. The Golden generation for most of them have gone. The current crop aren't anyway close to what the previous players were. Definitely they have a lot of potential in them to out-do. So lets see what happens.
2. That Mortal GOD was sarcasam, if you didn't get that ;)
Not really sure from what you see in the current lot. The coming months shall say how good we are as a Test playing nation when we play outside our country & win. Else you will be a Tiger at your home.
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