Seamers dance at spin party

November 21, 2012

zaheer

Mumbai, November 21: Pace bowlers were meant to be mere side casts to offer relief to the aching fingers of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha. But after the first Test, Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav have proved unequivocally that they are here not to fill the numbers.


Yes, the spinners have bowled more overs – 137.2 to pace bowlers’ 72.3 – at Ahmedabad and the tweakers have taken 13 wickets whereas Zaheer and Umesh have accounted for seven English batsmen. So, the numbers suggest an overwhelming superiority of spinners at Motera, but the truth couldn’t be farther.

The slow nature of the pitch at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium ensured that spinners wouldn’t be as strong a force as they were reckoned to be, something that irked Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a strong advocate of turners at home.

There were periods, especially in the second innings, when Ojha and Ashwin struggled to maintain their stranglehold over English batsmen, forcing Dhoni to turn to his quicker options. And how splendidly Zaheer and Umesh responded to a difficult task!

The lack of bounce and movement at Motera would have disheartened any other pace bowler. The English pace troika of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan often appeared clueless on how to trouble the Indian batsmen on a benign pitch; frustration creeping in steadily into them.

But on day four of the first Test, Zaheer and Umesh showed a way to make an impact on such tracks – in contrasting fashions. England openers Alastair Cook and Nick Comption had added 111 at stumps on day three, and India needed a quick breakthrough to prevent the alliance into becoming something more damaging, and there hardly were any signs of spinners doing the job.

Here, Zaheer showed his mastery over the conditions. The veteran left-arm seamer troubled Compton bowling from around the wicket, and then switched to over the wicket and the change of angle did Compton in. It was pure craftsmanship, purchasing a wicket with sheer skill than waiting for pitch or conditions to do any favour.


Even after Ojha’s double strike to jettison Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott, India needed couple more strikes to give more wind to their onward journey, and this time Umesh put his hand up. The Vidarbha fast bowler is entirely different from his senior partner, relying on outright pace to fill the wicket column. On the face of it, the strategy might not appear a proper one, particularly on a slow pitch like the one at the Motera.

But Umesh showed cour¬age to back his strength and even on a flat surface his line was enough for him to dismiss Ian Bell and Samit Patel, though fortune’s hand was prominent in getting the wicket of Patel.

It didn’t matter even one bit as the wickets – coming off successive deliveries -- were a reward for sticking to his philosophy even in trying conditions – bowling fast and aiming either at the stumps or the pads.

Skipper Dhoni sounded quite happy about his pacers’ performance. “Our fast bowlers bowled really well. Zaheer put in a lot of effort, and we’ve seen Umesh improving. He’s bowling quick. The contribution of the fast bowlers was really important. They gave us the breakthrough when it was really needed,” Dhoni said.

Their performance is also a sharp reminder to us that pacers can succeed here. There have been many fast bowlers, who conquered the barren surfaces here. The list features such names as Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee, Malcolm Marshall, Dale Steyn, Shoaib Akhtar, Neil Foster and Makhaya Ntini. Now, Zaheer and Umesh have underlined the fact that following correct strategy could fetch rewards in any kind of pitch.

Umesh agreed. “The pitch has been very slow, and you need a lot of patience here to get the wickets. I followed my plan, and it was to bowl quick and as straight as possible, so that batsmen can’t relax against me,” Umesh said.

The conditions in the upcoming Tests in Mumbai, Kolkata and Nagpur couldn’t be entirely dissimilar, and India will require Zaheer and Umesh to carry on their brilliant job there as well, which will be significant to India’s effort to win the series. They have taken the first step in the right direction.



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News Network
May 5,2020

May 5: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar says he is interested in becoming India's bowling coach if there is an offer, asserting that he is capable of grooming "more aggressive, fast and talkative" pacers.

Akhtar expressed his willingness in an interview on social networking app 'Helo'.

Asked if he would like to be associated with the Indian bowling unit in future, he responded in the positive. India's current bowling is Bharat Arun.

"I will definitely. My job is to spread knowledge. What I have learned is knowledge and I will spread it," Akhtar said.

One of the fastest bowlers to have played the game, he added, "I will produce more aggressive, fast and more talkative bowlers than the current ones who will tell-off the batsmen in a way that you will enjoy a lot."

He said he has always wanted to share his knowledge among budding cricketers and that he is looking to produce more aggressive bowlers.

He also added that he would like to "coach" IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, for whom he has played in the cash-rich T20 league's inaugural edition.

The former pacer also spoke about his early interactions with Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar in the 1998 series.

"I had seen him but didn't know how big a name he was in India. In Chennai, I got to know that he was known as a god in India.

"Mind you, he is a very good friend of mine. In 1998, when I bowled as fast as I could, Indian public celebrated with me. I have a big fan following in India," Akhtar said.

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News Network
May 28,2020

May 28: Former India captain and Kings XI Punjab head coach Anil Kumble is hopeful of the IPL happening this year and is not averse to the idea of conducting the cash-rich event without spectators due to the COVID-19 threat.

It is not official yet but there is speculation that the BCCI wants to hold the IPL in the October window after the tournament was postponed indefinitely earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Yes we are hopeful and optimistic that there is still a possibility (to hold IPL this year) if we can cram in the schedule," Kumble was quoted as saying by Star Sports show 'Cricket Connected'.

"If we are going to have a stadium without spectators, then probably have 3 or 4 venues; there's still a possibility, we are all optimistic," said the former spinner, who is also the chairman of ICC's Cricket Committee.

Former India batsman VVS Laxman said the stakeholders can stage the league in cities which have multiple stadia to reduce travelling by players.

"Absolutely (there is chance to hold IPL this year), and also make sure that all the stakeholders have a say," he said.

"...you should identify one venue, which probably has 3 or 4 grounds; if at all you find that kind of a venue because travel is again going to be quite challenging," said the former stylish batsman.

"You don't know who's going to be where at the airports, so that I'm sure the franchises and the BCCI will be looking into."

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News Network
June 25,2020

New Delhi, Jun 25: India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday called the 1983 World Cup win as the 'landscape' changing moment for the game of cricket in the country.

Today, India is celebrating the completion of the 37 years of the maiden World Cup triumph under the leadership of Kapil Dev.

"Today 37 years ago, changed the cricketing landscape in India. Thank you @therealkapildev and team for making the game a career for many of us today. Deeply indebted," Ashwin tweeted.

In 1983, in the finals between India and West Indies, the latter won the toss and opted to bowl first.

The Kapil Dev-led side managed to score just 183 runs as Andy Roberts took three wickets while Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, and Larry Gomes picked up two wickets each.

Defending 183, India did a good job of keeping a check on the Windies run flow, reducing the side to 57/3.

Soon after, the team from the Caribbean was reduced to 76/6 and India was the favourites from there on to win the title.

Mohinder Amarnath took the final wicket of Michael Holding to give India their first-ever World Cup title win.

In the finals, West Indies was bowled out for 140, and as a result, India won the match by 43 runs.

Kapil Dev lifting the trophy at the balcony of Lord's Cricket Ground still remains an image to savour for all the Indian fans.

In the finals, Mohinder Amarnath was chosen as the Man of the Match as he scored 26 runs with the bat and also picked up three wickets with the ball.

India has been the regular participant in the World Cup from its beginning to the latest edition. The first edition was held in 1975 and from there on, it has taken place after a span of every four years.

West Indies won the first two World Cup titles (1975, 1979) and was the runner-up in 1983. India has won the title two times, in 1983 and in 2011.

MS Dhoni captained the 2011 team to win their second title after 28 years. Australia has won the tournament five times (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015).

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