Cricket "Fever"
I stopped watching cricket for a while now. Not necessarily the 'boring' 50-Over ODIs but everything that involved bat and ball. I considered there was a over-dose of cricket being offered to us in recent times. Especially, this year it is more than what I could chew.
May be that is one of the reasons why I didn't follow the recent India-Australia seven match ODI series with any interest. Yesterday was different though. I caught up with a fever (+ cold + cough ...) and had to take a "compulsory" rest (you know about the compulsion once you get married :-) ). As the day went by the fever got doused, I got more strength to get up and watch the TV. I missed the complete Australian Innings yesterday and by reading the scorecard (350 for 4 wickets) could grasp the type of innings their batsmen would have played. I thought it is all curtains for India. Any sane follower of Indian cricket will get to this conclusion. This team boasting of the BEST batting line up in the world becomes a cropper on a pressure situation. Chasing a daunting target like 350 under lights is never easy and this Indian team stood no chance to even come close.
But, that man Sachin Tendulkar, time and again comes up with performances that defies odds and writes new rules. It was like a dream to watch this man bat yesterday. With all the so-called youngsters and strokemakers (viz., Sehwag, Gambir, Yuvraj, Dhoni et. al.,) not able to come to grips with the pressure, this guy was literally toying with a second string (if not third or fourth string) Australian bowling attack. It was as if he was playing a different match altogether from his team mates. He was batting at his own pace still good enough to keep the required runrate in check. If you observe through the innings, the required runrate never went higher than 8 rpo till he finally got out. That he had the support of Suresh Raina for the 5th wicket was vital.
There were many similarities to the 1999 India-Pakistan test match @ chennai. In both the innings Sachin was the lone torch bearer and got to build the innings with a unheralded batsman (Mongia in 99 and Raina for this ODI). Some how his partner on both occasions threw his wicket away when an incredible victory was within a striking distance. Also, in both these innings Sachin too feel to an indiscreet shot and threw his wicket away, when all was required was his presence in the crease to see his side through. Yes, this will be a criticism he has to live with. All his hard work comes to nothing when the team loses. Especially, when he controlled the whole chase to such an extent (Ricky Ponting was literally giving up just before Sachin lost his wicket), it was prudent for him to be present to see his side to victory.
Any way, I'll cherish this innings for time to come. Thanks Sachin for the memories
May be that is one of the reasons why I didn't follow the recent India-Australia seven match ODI series with any interest. Yesterday was different though. I caught up with a fever (+ cold + cough ...) and had to take a "compulsory" rest (you know about the compulsion once you get married :-) ). As the day went by the fever got doused, I got more strength to get up and watch the TV. I missed the complete Australian Innings yesterday and by reading the scorecard (350 for 4 wickets) could grasp the type of innings their batsmen would have played. I thought it is all curtains for India. Any sane follower of Indian cricket will get to this conclusion. This team boasting of the BEST batting line up in the world becomes a cropper on a pressure situation. Chasing a daunting target like 350 under lights is never easy and this Indian team stood no chance to even come close.
But, that man Sachin Tendulkar, time and again comes up with performances that defies odds and writes new rules. It was like a dream to watch this man bat yesterday. With all the so-called youngsters and strokemakers (viz., Sehwag, Gambir, Yuvraj, Dhoni et. al.,) not able to come to grips with the pressure, this guy was literally toying with a second string (if not third or fourth string) Australian bowling attack. It was as if he was playing a different match altogether from his team mates. He was batting at his own pace still good enough to keep the required runrate in check. If you observe through the innings, the required runrate never went higher than 8 rpo till he finally got out. That he had the support of Suresh Raina for the 5th wicket was vital.
There were many similarities to the 1999 India-Pakistan test match @ chennai. In both the innings Sachin was the lone torch bearer and got to build the innings with a unheralded batsman (Mongia in 99 and Raina for this ODI). Some how his partner on both occasions threw his wicket away when an incredible victory was within a striking distance. Also, in both these innings Sachin too feel to an indiscreet shot and threw his wicket away, when all was required was his presence in the crease to see his side through. Yes, this will be a criticism he has to live with. All his hard work comes to nothing when the team loses. Especially, when he controlled the whole chase to such an extent (Ricky Ponting was literally giving up just before Sachin lost his wicket), it was prudent for him to be present to see his side to victory.
Any way, I'll cherish this innings for time to come. Thanks Sachin for the memories
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