Bowling options give Pakistan advantage in second T20

December 28, 2012

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Ahmedabad, December 28: Having failed to defend their home turf in the Tests against England and only managing to draw the T20 series, India are now on the brink of losing again, this time against Pakistan in the shortest version.

The knives are out and MS Dhoni's men are under pressure heading into the second T20 International here on Friday. Can they pull things back or will the rub of the green again go Pakistan's way, like it did in Bangalore?

With increasing regularity, opposition teams are targeting India's weakest link -- the bowling -- while the batting too hasn't been up to the mark. Some of India's strategies, and their team combination, have come in for criticism.

Against England, the bowlers couldn't defend 177 and against Pakistan in Bangalore, though the match looked close thanks to debutant Bhuvneshwar Kumar's dream spell, the match was always in Pakistan's pocket once India lost nine wickets for 56 runs in their last 10 overs.

So what can one expect from India's second T20 against Pakistan at the Motera? On the face of it, the odds are slightly tilted in Pakistan's favour. Going by current form, India don't have the batting to tame a talented and varied Pakistan bowling attack.

Skipper Mohammad Hafeez was not off the mark when he said: "All our bowlers have proved that they are match winners in international cricket. We have enough experience in our bowling attack. No matter how good the opposition batsmen, we still believe we can make a comeback."

That prowess was on display in Bangalore when Pakistan's bowlers restricted India to 133/9 after the hosts were 77 for no loss by the 11th over.

While India's batsmen have failed to fire in unison, on the bowling front they may have made a mistake by leaving out R Ashwin for the Bangalore game. With the pitch at the Motera generally on the slower side, it's likely that the spinner will be included in the scheme of things this time around. Ashwin's batting too is a plus.

Pakistan, on the other hand, are on a definite high. Skipper Hafeez said: "It's a huge opportunity to wrap up the series here and we all are ready to grab it. Not just the T20, but we are very positive and ready for the entire tour here. We all are very united and we hope to give our best. Morale is very high.

"I am not very disappointed with the failure of the youngsters at the top of the order because everybody can't perform every day," Hafeez added.

"We all know that they are very good players and we have the belief in that they will come good tomorrow. But as a team, the good thing for us was that we came back from difficult situations both while batting and bowling. That's a huge positive for us."

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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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Agencies
January 26,2020

New Delhi, Jan 26: The sports fraternity on Sunday extended greetings to the people on the occasion of the 71st Republic Day.

Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter to write: "Wishing all Indians a very happy Republic Day."
"Rejoice the Glory of India and it's Freedom Fighters on this Republic Day. Wish you a very happy #RepublicDayIndia . Jai Hind !" former batsman VVS Laxman tweeted.

"Wish you all a very happy #RepublicDay2020 from here in New Zealand," Irfan Pathan tweeted.

Boxer Vijender Singh said India is blessed with different religions, societies, cultures and languages.

"INDIA is a nation where humanity has lived since ages.It is a country which is blessed with different religions,societies,cultures & languages all interplaying with each other in harmony. PROUD OF UNITY IN DIVERSITY #RepublicDayIndia #RepublicDay2020," Singh wrote on the micro-blogging site.

Former cricketer Virender Sehwag, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, wrestler Sushil Kumar and tennis player Sania Mirza also extended their greetings on the occasion.

On this day, 70 years back, India officially adopted its Constitution. Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro is the chief guest at the parade this year.

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News Network
May 6,2020

May 6: They have similar impact on their teams but Virat Kohli is driven by sheer passion to subdue the rivals while Steve Smith just enjoys batting, says Australia opener David Warner.

India skipper Kohli and top Australian batsman Smith are arguably the top two cricketers of the current era. They achieve new milestones consistently, invoking debates, who is better between them.

"Virat's passion and drive to score runs is different to what Steve's would be," Warner said while speaking to Harsha Bhogle on 'Cricbuzz in Conversation'.

"Steve is going out there for a hit in the middle, that's how he sees things. He's hitting them out in the middle, he's having fun, he's enjoying himself, just does not want to get out."

Warner feels, while Kohli is batting he is aware that if he sticks around the middle his team will be on top of the proceedings.

"Virat obviously doesn't want to get out but he knows if he spends a certain amount of time out there, he's going to score plenty of runs at a rapid rate. He's going to get on top of you. That allows the guys coming in, especially in the Indian team you've got a lot of players who can be flamboyant as well."

The Australian opener added that both men are mentally strong and a good knock by them boosts the morale of the entire team.

"When it comes to cricket, they both have got the mental strength, the mental capacity to score runs. They both love spending time in the middle.

"They stabilise, they boost morale - if they score runs, everyone else's moral is up. If they are out cheaply you almost sense that on the field that everyone is (down on morale and thinking) 'now we all have to step up'. It's a very bizarre situation," he added.

Asked about the similarities between himself and Kohli, who are both live wires on the field, Warner said the passion to do better than the opponent keeps him going.

"I can't speak for Virat, obviously, but it's almost like we got this thing in us when we go (out to the middle) we need to prove people wrong, prove someone wrong."

"If you're in that contest, and if I'm going at him for example, you're thinking, 'Alright, I'm going to score more runs than him, I'm going to take a quick single on him'. You are trying to better that person in that game. That's where the passion comes from."

Warner also explained how he breaks down a match into smaller competitions.

"Obviously you want to win the game but you almost break it down to: If I can score more runs than Virat, or if Pujara scores more runs than Steve Smith, you have these little contests and that's how you try to narrow the game in the sense that if we do these little things, we can be ahead of the game or we can be behind the game.

"The passion is driven by...I know my sense - one, the will to win and two, wanting to do better than that person in the opposition," said Warner.

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