The Great Game Called Cricket...

India v Australia, 2nd ODI, Nagpur

Destructive Dhoni blasts India to 354

October 28, 2009

50 overs India 354 for 7 (Dhoni 124, Gambhir 76, Raina 62) against Australia
How they were out

MS Dhoni rediscovered his big-hitting..

Matches: India v Australia at Nagpur
Series/Tournaments: Australia tour of India
Teams: Australia | India

First, he consolidated the innings with Gautam Gambhir. Then, in tandem with Suresh Raina, he tore the bowling apart. MS Dhoni's superb 107-ball 124, his first century against Australia, was the foundation for India's highest-ever total against Australia, a mammoth 354 for 7. When the batting Powerplay was taken with the scoreboard showing 238 for 4 after 39 overs, the run-rate had dipped close to six. But with 47 coming from those five overs, and the mayhem continuing unabated afterwards, Ricky Ponting's decision to bowl first in view of the dew factor didn't look too clever. Peter Siddle bowled with impressive pace and accuracy, while Nathan Hauritz was tidy, but the rest were taken to the cleaners on a day when Dhoni appeared to rediscover his big-hitting mojo.

It was no one-man show though, with Gambhir contributing 76 from 80 balls and Raina lashing 62 from just 50 deliveries. When Gambhir departed, run out by a direct hit from Hauritz at mid-off after Dhoni had miscued a slower ball from Siddle, the stage was set for a final onslaught, but few could have predicted how devastating it would be. The first five overs of the Dhoni-Raina partnership produced just 22 runs, but from the moment Dhoni slugged Siddle though cover to end the first over of the Powerplay, the wheels came off for Australia.

Raina kept heaving Mitchell Johnson through midwicket, and with Dhoni slapping one straight down the ground, 18 came from the over. Ben Hilfenhaus's return to the fray was greeted with an astonishing flat six over midwicket and two mighty wallops over long-off from the hapless Shane Watson took Dhoni to his century from just 94 balls.

Raina then took over, racing to his half-century from 42 balls in a Hilfenhaus over that went for 18. And though Johnson, who'd gone for 70 in his first nine overs, returned to dismiss both in the final over, the damage had been done, with the partnership worth 136 in just 93 balls.

They had started as explosively, with Virender Sehwag in terrific form. Hilfenhaus took the new ball in Brett Lee's absence, and Sehwag wasted no time, with a lofted cover-drive and powerful cut setting the scoreboard in motion. At the other end, Sachin Tendulkar got off the mark with a neat tuck off the pads for four, but when Siddle got one to dart away a touch after pitching outside off stump, he could only edge to first slip.

Sehwag though carried on undaunted, clipping Hilfenhaus for two leg-side fours, prompting Ponting to bring on Johnson in the seventh over. Siddle was bowling furiously quick, stinging Paine's fingers with a misdirected bouncer, but it was all India as Sehwag clouted a slower ball from Johnson over long-on for six.

After a stroke of fortune, an edge past slip off Siddle, Sehwag finally chanced the arm once too often. Another slower ball from Johnson and this time, he could only find mid-off. With 67 already on the board, Australia delayed the Powerplay by an over and then called back Hilfenhaus. Yuvraj Singh, back in the side in place of Virat Kohli, promptly worked him through midwicket for four, and when Paine grassed a tough chance to his left with Gambhir on 20, it seemed as though it wasn't to be Hilfenhaus's day.

But the break for drinks changed that, with Yuvraj slamming the first ball, another slow one, straight back down the pitch. Hilfenhaus took it at shin height. The next ball struck Dhoni on the back of the helmet. By that stage, Ponting had turned to his slow bowlers. Hauritz, having been lofted for a straight six by Yuvraj, was then cover-driven for four by Dhoni. But both he and Adam Voges were getting sharp turn, and for a while, the Indians were reliant on singles and twos to keep the score ticking over.

But a Dhoni straight-drive off Hauritz and two impressive shots from Gambhir through the covers broke the boundary shackles, and with both men running brilliantly between wickets, the bowlers were never allowed to settle. Both took 55 balls for their half-centuries, and it took a moment of carelessness on Gambhir's part to end the partnership which was worth 119 from 113 balls. But with Raina filling the breach so effectively, India never flagged. As for Dhoni, he was simply unstoppable.

Prime Numbers

12

The number of times India have scored 350 or more in ODIs, which is the most by any team. South Africa have done it eight times, and Australia six.
354

India's total, which is their highest against Australia, and the highest by any team when batting first against them. The previous highest by a team batting first had been 343, by Sri Lanka in Sydney in 2003.
124

MS Dhoni's score, which is the highest by a captain in an ODI against Australia. The previous highest had been Sanath Jayasuriya's 122 in the match mentioned above. It's also the highest by a wicketkeeper against Australia,bettering Kamran Akmal's 116 not out in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. In fact, it's only the fourth century by a wicketkeeper against Australia.
136

The partnership between Dhoni and Suresh Raina, which is India's second-highest for the fifth wicket against Australia.
87

The number of runs India scored in their last seven overs.

I must confess I am enjoying being a little part of a quiet new revolution in the world of cricket; of being in this wonderful and disarming global village. The Airtel Champions League T20 is an idea that is finding its feet and if you measure its success by the quality of cricket and the opportunity it is giving to the players, who were otherwise confined to narrower worlds, it has already worked. Admittedly, there are other tools to measure success and the more crucial ones are whether enough people are coming to the ground or watching at home. You can be sure those issues will be addressed because there are large investments at stake, but purely from a cricketing point of view I am excited.

There is now life beyond international cricket as we knew it and for that alone we must rejoice. There are few things that stir people's emotions more than nation versus nation contests, and that will never change, but that is a smaller, more exalted world. Sport, an indeed any pursuit in life, must allow as many people as possible to display their ability, to parade their skills and a nation versus nation contest can be restrictive.

It could never, for example, allow you to experience the combination of disbelief and joy that we saw with Alfonso Thomas of Somerset. Not many people knew much about him, we knew that he was a cricketer, no more, but against the Deccan Chargers he kept his cool, took his side home and then produced one of the most wonderfully innocent and unrestrained exhibitions of happiness I have seen. "I can't believe what I've done," he gushed, and for that moment alone I thought the Airtel CL T20 was worth it. There are two ways of globalising a game. One is to allow as many countries as possible to play it and the ICC is, very quietly, doing a very nice job. The other is to allow as many players as possible a stage on which to perform. This is what I hope the Airtel CL T20, and in the course of time all the feeder tournaments, will do.

Somerset didn't have as good a game when they played Trinidad and Tobago but I enjoyed that game just as much. Trinidad were better than the West Indies team I have seen in recent times and it showed us that Samuel Badree and Sherwin Ganga, to name just two, can play good cricket. Out of the anonymity, and the mess, that is West Indies cricket, here is a team that can play together and dream of a big prize. Our game will grow and will embrace many more on this world stage and that can only be good for its health.

I see only a couple of problem areas ahead. The first is the bond that must be created between a player and his audience. And for that to happen, a player cannot, quite literally, wear different caps. I was on air when Ross Taylor came out to bat for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Otago Volts and in spite of having seen a bit of cricket recently, I was taken aback by the spontaneity and the intensity of the welcome he received. Now should his team in New Zealand qualify for this tournament next year, he cannot walk out at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in different colours. I know these are early days but that would be cheating the fans and their affection. The Champions League and the IPL will grow on the deep connect that exists between a fan and a sportsman. We need to nurture and respect that connect because the league does not exist without the fan.

The other concern is that far too much depends on the health of one nation's economy and the investment it is willing to make in a sport. If India grows tired of cricket, or if the fans feel let down, the entire structure will collapse. And that is why it is critical, in these good times for franchise-based cricket, to invest in building loyalty. In the next 3-5 years, franchises should have started becoming global brands. Then everybody will get the confidence to invest more in franchises around the world, which in turn will lead to greater opportunity for players and more fun for fans.

But this is a good beginning. Now we only need to get more people in for non-home games. But that is for another day!

PCB’s decision to appoint Younus Khan as captain until the 2011 WC has miffed a section of players in the team.

"For the time being things appear to have calmed down and become normal in Pakistan cricket but given all that has happened after the Champions Trophy, it will take sometime before any healing process between Younus and the players who complained about him to the PCB is effective," a source told PTI today.

The source said PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt decided to support Younus and go against the disgruntled players after getting a clear message from the corridors of power in Islamabad.

"A very influential government official had already spoken to Younus two days back and told him his resignation was not acceptable to the chief patron of the board President Asif Zardari and the same person also had a word with Butt on the issue and passed on a clear message," the source said.

He said ever since the team's return from South Africa, some players led by Shahid Afridi had told Butt that they didn't want Younus to continue as captain and they had problems with his attitude and domineering behavior.


"Younus was aware of what was happening behind his back with apparently the approval of manager Yawar Saeed and he played his cards right by using the match fixing allegations to submit his resignation to Butt," the source said.

"The strong support from the media, people and political parties for Younus after he submitted his resignation took Butt by surprise and eventually he had no option but to ignore the complaints of the players," the source said.

He said the decision by the governing council to name Shahid Afridi as Twenty20 captain until the T20 World Cup next year was to appease Afridi and the other players who had even planted stories in the media about a possible revolt if Younus continued as captain.

"But now the players have been told to accept the fact that they have to play under Younus and the PCB will continue to support him. But at the same time Butt has advised Younus to work out his issues with the disgruntled players in the interest of the team," the source said.

A close friend of Younus told PTI that the senior player was very miffed at the way some of the players went against him behind his back.

"He is upset and disappointed and he conveyed this clearly to pace bowler Umar Gul who went to meet him and sort out things," the source said.

The source said Butt was planning to have a meeting with all the players and the captain by next week before they go to Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the one-day series against New Zealand to try and diffuse the situation.

Grant Flower

Zimbabwe Full name Grant William Flower

Born December 20, 1970, Salisbury (now Harare)

Current age 38 years 305 days

Major teams Zimbabwe, Cheshire, Essex, Essex 2nd XI, Leicestershire, Marylebone Cricket Club, Mashonaland, Mashonaland A, Mashonaland Under-24s, Young Mashonaland

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Slow left-arm orthodox

Height 5 ft 10 in

Education St George's College, Harare

Relation Brother - A Flower

Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 67 123 6 3457 201* 29.54 10013 34.52 6 15 349 16 43 0
ODIs 219 212 18 6536 142* 33.69 9677 67.54 6 40 86 0
First-class 185 313 23 10775 243* 37.15 23 58 171 0
List A 351 331 34 10186 148* 34.29 11 67 133 0
Twenty20 38 28 5 507 61 22.04 461 109.97 0 1 52 3 11 0
Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 67 60 3378 1537 25 4/41 8/104 61.48 2.73 135.1 2 0 0
ODIs 219 154 5420 4187 104 4/32 4/32 40.25 4.63 52.1 2 0 0
First-class 185 12457 5573 165 7/31 33.77 2.68 75.4 3 0
List A 351 8650 6427 183 4/32 4/32 35.12 4.45 47.2 3 0 0
Twenty20 38 15 274 354 22 3/20 3/20 16.09 7.75 12.4 0 0 0
Career statistics Test debut Zimbabwe v India at Harare, Oct 18-22, 1992
Last Test Zimbabwe v Bangladesh at Bulawayo, Feb 26-Mar 1, 2004

ODI debut Zimbabwe v India at Harare, Oct 25, 1992 scorecard
Last ODI Zimbabwe v Bangladesh at Harare, Mar 14, 2004 scorecard

First-class debut 1989/90
Last First-class Essex v West Indians at Chelmsford, Apr 25-27, 2009 scorecard
List A debut 1990/91
Last List A Yorkshire v Essex at Leeds, Sep 27, 2009 scorecard
Twenty20 debut Sussex v Essex at Hove, Jun 22, 2005 scorecard
Last Twenty20 Essex v Hampshire at Chelmsford, Jun 28, 2009 scorecard
Profile
The younger brother of Andy Flower, Grant is an experienced top-order batsman who began his career as an opener but then slipped down to No. 6 after success there in one-day internationals. Grant has the stubborn temperament needed to play long innings, but he is also a powerful hitter when required. He is also a brilliant fielder anywhere close to the wicket, and a handy left-arm spinner at one-day level, although his bowling action has been questioned occasionally. After an impressive start to international cricket, including 82 on his debut against India in October 1992 and an unbeaten double-hundred in Zimbabwe's first ever Test win, his average in both forms of the game has gradually crept down. Asked to burden the batting on the 2003 England tour after his brother Andy's retirement, he failed to lead his side out of trouble, except for matchwinning 96 not out at Trent Bridge in the NatWest Series. A broken thumb ruled him out of the 2003-04 Australian tour, meaning that for the first time in 15 years, the name `Flower' will not be on a full Zimbabwe team scoresheet. He emerged during the dispute between the Zimbabwe board and the rebel players as spokesman for the latter, speaking his mind with courage. An introverted but amiable character, he is a fitness fanatic and spends hours in the gym. In 2004 he announced his retirement from international cricket, although that had already in effect been sealed by the dispute between the rebels and the ZCU, and signed a contract with Essex, where Andy had already established himself.

Karan Thapar: Tiger Pataudi, let us start with India's performance in the Champions Trophy. M S Dhoni has gone on record to say, "It's a little difficult for me to say whether the performance was bad." What's your opinion of India's performance?


MAK Pataudi: It was bad in the sense that we had done well in Sri Lanka. I think we should remember that the Sri Lankan wickets suited us. Also it was the spinner who got the wicket in Sri Lanka and they won't get wickets in South Africa.


Karan Thapar:As regards the performance in South Africa, you have no doubt in saying that it was bad?


MAK Pataudi: I say it's bad in the sense that the bowlers didn't do well because they weren't in a position fit enough to do well. Not necessarily physically, but as bowlers because the wickets didn't suit.


Karan Thapar:Let's begin by taking up the issue of fitness. Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj weren't fit enough to play, Sachin wasn't fit enough to bowl, Gambhir wasn't able to play in all the practice matches. Would you say that fitness was a serious problem for the Indian team?


MAK Pataudi: Well, that is the problem. I think we have to study it because a majority of cricketers are not physically agile or physically athletic. If you go back even 50 years from Vijay Merchant to Gavaskar to even Sachin and Rahul Dravid, you wouldn't say they would run a 100 yards in reasonably quick time.


There are very few Indian players who are full of agility and quick movement in the field, and the catching has been poor. There are several reasons for this. When we learnt our cricket in the 60s, the facilities were not really that good.


Karan Thapar:Would you say that fitness was the reason why India's fielding was so poor in South Africa, particularly in the game against Pakistan?


MAK Pataudi: No, I don't think it's in a particular game. Throughout the history of Indian cricket, fielding has been very, very poor. That is because the people don't have grounds to learn fielding. We don't know how to dive; we don't know how to slide because we don't have ground where we can slide on.


Karan Thapar:Fitness is the Achilles heel of Indian cricket?


MAK Pataudi: Fitness and to some extent commitment.


Karan Thapar:To some extent commitment as well?


MAK Pataudi: Yes.


Karan Thapar:On that point, would you say that in the Champions Trophy match there was an issue about India's commitment or temperament and attitude because I noticed that Wasim Akram has gone on record to say, "It's the first time I have seen the Indian body language was wasn't there."


MAK Pataudi: This is not correct because this has happened before. On several occasions, when I was playing, our body language wasn't aggressive or perhaps that positive as it should have been. So it's a bane that has been in Indian cricket for a long, long time.


Karan Thapar:Like fitness, which has been a bane of Indian cricket, commitment has been a question mark against Indian cricketers for a long time.


MAK Pataudi: Certainly, some cricketers, yes.


Karan Thapar:Both Yuvraj Singh and Younis Khan broke fingers on their right hand during practice, but whereas Yuvraj didn't play at all and left for India. Younis Khan missed one game but was there on the field against India. Was commitment a factor in that?


MAK Pataudi: Actually, it depends on how badly it was broken. I don't think it's a question of commitment as much a question of how actually bad the injury is.


Karan Thapar:Many people feel that India's bowlers simply weren't up to the challenges they were facing in South Africa. In your opinion, how bad or poor was India's bowling?


MAK Pataudi: It was poor in the sense that we can't even expect to win 50/50s in these conditions if our bowling is going to go on like this. As I said, we got away with it in Sri Lanka because the wicket suited the spinners

In South Africa, they were sort of helpful to seam bowling and I just haven't got the seam bowling or at least the seam bowling is not fit to bowl well enough. So the spinner can't do the job in South Africa.


Karan Thapar:Wasim Akram has gone on record to say, "India's fast bowlers are actually slowing down." Would you agree?


MAK Pataudi: Of course, yes. I don't think they were fast to begin with. I consider fast in the late 80s and very early 90s, but these guys are sort of bowling late 70s or very early 80s kilometres per hour or miles per hour. I am not sure. They are not fast. At best they would be called medium fast.


Karan Thapar:Why aren't we throwing up good quality fast bowlers? Is it because fast bowling is not part of the Indian temperament or the genetic make up, or is it because we don't have the training or is it something to do with commitment?

MAK Pataudi: It's more to do with the first three that you mentioned, including of course the most important (reason), is the wickets because they don't suit fast bowling. Indians are reasonably intelligent people and they don't see why they should flog away on wickets that are actually not going to help them. So most of them become batsman or spinners.


Karan Thapar:In other sense, we take, in other words, the easy option?


MAK Pataudi: I don't mean that, what I mean is that if India wants to produce fast bowlers, I think it's the responsibility of the BCCI to produce the kind of wickets that would encourage people to bowl fast.


Karan Thapar:Here the fault lies with cricket management?


MAK Pataudi: To some extent yes, but not necessarily BCCI but also the local associations.


Karan Thapar:To come back to the Champions Trophy, Dhoni faced a lot of criticism for the bowling changes. For instance, during the Pakistan game when the scores stood at 3 for 65 and Pakistan was clearly under pressure, Nehra was taking wickets but he was called back, and two part-timers were brought in. Dhoni was widely criticised. Would you agree?


MAK Pataudi: I have no choice but to agree but its not really the reason what Dhoni did that we lost in South Africa. There are deeper reasons for this. A captain takes a decision, he can go right or wrong and it is easy for us to sit back after the match and criticise.


Karan Thapar: One other point that was made against Dhoni was that he didn't bring Harbhajan on earlier than the 26th over. Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan captain, went on record to say, "If Harbhajan had begun to bowl at 3 for 65 and taken a wicket, Pakistan would have been under serious pressure."


Do you think that was a wrong judgment called by Dhoni?


MAK Pataudi: As it turned out probably because I don't think Shoaib Malik is being one up but I think he is right. They would have been under pressure because Harbhajan was bowling well, but it's a decision left to the captain and in a 50/50 there isn't not much time to make up your mind.


Karan Thapar:In the past, Dhoni has got a lot of praise for his captaincy, this time around in the Champions Trophy, were you a little disappointed with him?


MAK Pataudi: I think the media tends to over praise far to quickly and then of course they have to bring them down. I have not been disappointed of his captaincy. I think he is still a good captain and I think he will be come a better captain.


Karan Thapar:Are there any learning lessons from to pick up from this?


MAK Pataudi: One learns throughout.


Karan Thapar:From this experience in particular?


MAK Pataudi: Yes, he has to learn because every experience teaches you something.


Karan Thapar:Many people ask if beyond fitness and bowling, there are in fact bigger problems that face Indian cricket. What's your answer?


MAK Pataudi: I think what we are not doing is actually is that we are not concentrating enough in our junior cricketer because that is where cricketers are made. There is no point in coming into test cricket at the age of 21-22 and still having your basic fundamentals wrong.


Fundamentals like running between wickets or calling, keeping your eye on the ball when you are fielding or even throwing it at the right end. Unless we get those right before we enter, it's very difficult for the international coach to start you on the fundamentals. It's a waste of time. So, we have to organise our coaching and our facilities much better, at least at a level of 16 or even slightly earlier.


Karan Thapar:So you are saying that people who become national-level cricketers at 21 have actually got their basic fundamentals wrong?


MAK Pataudi: I am saying exactly that. Instead of keeping their cool and keeping their eyes on the ball, you will see lot of Indian cricketers getting flustered and often throwing the ball at the wrong end. They run badly between wickets. These are very basic things which one is supposed to know before you enter the international field.


Karan Thapar:It suggests that the people who become international-level cricketers for India are in a sense half or three-quarter baked?


MAK Pataudi: Absolutely. This is the fault not only of the cricketers but also of the coaches.


Karan Thapar:Which actually means they are not ready to be international cricketers when they become that?


MAK Pataudi: In a way, certainly yes.


Karan Thapar:Has the T20 attitude and temperament militated against India's ability to play the longer 50 overs one day games?


MAK Pataudi: I don't think this is quite correct. It is obviously difficult to adjust to three forms of cricket by the same player, very few people can actually do it but they have to do it. I think India has done well in all aspects of these three games at times but not consistently enough to be thought of as a No.1 position.


Karan Thapar:Is that absence of consistency due to commitment or fitness or both?


MAK Pataudi: I think it is training, mental training--the training that you should be 100 per cent committed throughout the 365 days in a year and that you have nothing else to do. This is the way professional cricket is now played. And the fact that you should get to the top and you must get to the top and that's the whole idea of playing.


Karan Thapar:Why is that mental training lacking? Is it something to do with individual players or is it to do with the system?


MAK Pataudi: I think it's lot to do with outside pressure, especially media pressure or other kinds of temptations, when a player is not used to it. Especially money when you are very young and you are from a reasonably humble background and you suddenly end up with lots and lots of money.


How do you deal with that kind of situation? It is not easy for young Indian cricketers.


Karan Thapar:Would you say that the performance of Indian cricketers has been affected by the country's obsession with cricket which results in every cricketer being treated as a celebrity and quickly becoming a crorepati (multi-millionaire). Has that affected their performance?


MAK Pataudi: It is bound to affect their concentration, because they are a little flustered. They don't know what to do with the kind of attention and fame and fortune that they have suddenly gathered in a space of very short time, especially when they are not used to it.


Karan Thapar:Does their ambition to play well get affected by these things because in a way they have achieved whatever they wanted to achieve by then?


MAK Pataudi: I depends on the individual. You take the example of Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid or Kumble, they have remained just as committed when they first started as when they ended but there are one or two players whom I don't wish to mention who had been affected and lost out because of their lack of ability to adjust to their new fame and fortune.


Karan Thapar: Sachin and Rahul Dravid are clearly amongst the toughest mentally in the Indian team and their commitment is without doubt but others perhaps lack that toughness and dedication and sense of perseverance wilt under the celebrity status and get distracted or tempted?


MAK Pataudi: Yes, they will certainly get confused and get affected.


Karan Thapar:Does the easy money that cricketers make through commercial contracts and through IPL also affect their attitude?

MAK Pataudi: I think it certainly distracts them a lot, many of them. Therefore, they are not committed as much as they should be to the extent they should be.


Karan Thapar:Where Harbhajan Singh and Mahendra Dhoni justified in not going to Rashtrapati Bhawan to receive their Padma Awards or was that a disrespect and discourtesy to the President which perhaps reflects that their celebrity status made them think that somehow they could behave differently than other awardees?


MAK Pataudi: It's difficult for me to answer because I am not sure whether they got enough time to go. Often you are invited to these functions right at the last minute.


Karan Thapar:But they would have got enough warnings similar to the other awardees?


MAK Pataudi: If they had got enough warning, then I think it was ill mannered not to have gone.


Karan Thapar:What is your understanding and your opinion of the Indian cricketer teams collective refusal to accept the WADA testing stipulations? They took the strongest stand on the issue, no other cricket team has taken a similar stand.


MAK Pataudi: A lot of cricketers have not accepted it really. They had to accept it and they have not been able to refuse. I think the Indian team's objections are in some places correct because why should anybody come to you at any time you like and ask you to do something.


Karan Thapar:If Rafael Nadal or a Roger Federer can accept, why not Indian cricketers?


MAK Pataudi: The objection also came from the security that they get. Often they get state security and these people were saying that there is no reason why they should inform where they are 24 hours because it would become more difficult to give them security.


Karan Thapar:So you don't think that this is a reflection of the Indian cricketers beginning to believe that they are special and different and needed to be treated specially and differently?


MAK Pataudi: I hope not, because they shouldn't be.


Karan Thapar:So when people say that even young cricketers, those at the start of their cricketing career, have begun to have an excessive estimation of their self worth, would you agree?


MAK Pataudi: You have to take the individual separately. Some do, some don't. When talking about earning fame and fortune quickly, the BCCI should also look at this angle and have a kind of symposium to teach people how to deal with these kind of fame and fortune which easily come as a reasonable surprise to them.


Karan Thapar:In addition to BCCI stepping in and guiding them, do you think there is also a need perhaps not to pay so much for IPL and commercial contracts because you are tempting young people who may not be used to this lifestyle in to distraction?


MAK Pataudi: I don't think we can actually be judge of that. They should be allowed to make money as much as they like but they should also be guided.


Karan Thapar:And that's the role of BCCI?


MAK Pataudi: If the parents can't do it, if the school can't do it, then the BCCI will have to do it.


Karan Thapar:Would you then stepping back accept that money in a sense is beginning to spoil some Indian cricketers?


MAK Pataudi: No, I think fame where there was no money also spoilt Indian cricketers. But obviously the temptations are much more now than it was in my time.


Karan Thapar:And the combination of money and fame, particularly when it comes easily and early, can be very dangerous?


MAK Pataudi: Well, it is very difficult to deal with for most people.


Karan Thapar:As another corrective, you talked about BCCI's role in training and guiding Indian cricketers, do you think the performance and attitude of Indian cricketers would improve if the Indian people paid a little less attention to them?


MAK Pataudi: I imagine so, yes. Don't be so adoring quite so quickly.


Karan Thapar:How much for the blame for spoiling the attitude of Indian cricketers lies with newspapers and television? Have the usage of superlatives used by the media for the cricketers gone into their heads?


MAK Pataudi: I am not going to blame extraneous reasons for this. I think, the person involved has to sort it out himself no matter how much pressure he is under.

Karan Thapar:Does television need to be much more thoughtful and careful about the language and the adjectival terms that they use to describe them?


MAK Pataudi: The electronic media has to be not only in cricket but in several other means also.


Karan Thapar:Should the electronic media also be a bit more supportive of non-cricket sport, so that cricket itself doesn't be made to feel unique and special?


MAK Pataudi: I would like to see it. Certainly there is lots of talent in other sports in Indian and we like to see that developed also. Otherwise, it becomes totally lopsided.


Karan Thapar:In addition to sending out the message to cricketers and BCCI, there is also message to the media to be more discriminating and stop romanticising cricketers before spoiling their potential?


MAK Pataudi: Certainly to the general public but not to BCCI, because BCCI does not romanticise cricketers.


Karan Thapar:But you want the BCCI to play the father figure?


MAK Pataudi: Yes, they are supposed to run cricket.


Karan Thapar:Tiger Pataudi, a pleasure talking to you.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar is surprised at all-rounder Yusuf Pathan's omission from the Indian squad for the first two one-dayers against Australia.

Gavaskar contended that the Baroda all-rounder should not be judged by how many runs he has scored but the impact he makes on the whole squad with his attacking brand of cricket.

"Number six does not get too many overs to score. He should be assessed on his impact. When you try to hit quick fire 20-30, you will get out and it should not be held against you," Gavaskar said.

"Otherwise, no one will try to slog at six and seven and will concentrate only on singles and doubles so that they can remain not out with a good 19 or 20," he added.

Gavaskar said that Yusuf's selection would have given a better balance to the Indian side.

"Not only the captain or coach, but the entire selection committee should think about utility and balance. Change for the sake of change is not good," Gavaskar told a TV channel.

The former Mumbai cricketer had commiseration for Rahul Dravid, who was also dropped.

"I think, Dravid was selected at the first place because Sehwag was unfit. There were also talks of young players not too comfortable against short-balls," Gavaskar said.

On the ODI series, Gavaskar said, "Pressure will be on Ricky Ponting. Ever since losing the prestigious Ashes, he has not played a single game in Australia. Hence, if he goes out winning from India, it will take some pressure off from his shoulder against the home-opposition this season."

Rahul Dravid came in to replace Sehwag because the others who are supposedly not so good against short-pitched deliveries, were all still part of the one-day side. I think it was only that Sehwag got fit and returned to the squad and Dravid missed out. That was quite simply it.

Ricky Ponting wary of India
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has urged his players to disregard India's unimpressive Champions Trophy form.

A rejuvenated Ponting, who revealed he has not touched a cricket bat in 10 days, left Sydney airport on Monday evening ahead of his side's seven-match ODI series against India beginning on Sunday.

"They'll be particularly hard to beat in India - they always are," Ponting said.

"They definitely play a lot better at home than they do when they travel. I actually tipped them as one of the strongest sides for the Champions Trophy to tell the truth.

"The game against us which was a washout game was shaping up as being a terrific game of one-day cricket and that was something that probably cost India along the way. But that's tournament play - those things can happen.

"I noticed that they've made a few changes to their squad as well for the games against us and we'll obviously be missing Michael Clarke and Nathan Bracken again, and (Callum) Ferguson being out as well means the younger guys will get an opportunity to step up again."

Ponting reckons Ferguson's absence with a serious knee injury will be a significant loss but he is confident the remaining members of the middle order can fill the void.

The skipper is also hopeful his deputy Michael Clarke can overcome a nagging back complaint in time to join the squad later in the series.

"I know that he's been, and certainly the medical team have been hoping that he'll be, on the improve sooner rather than later. So hopefully he is fit to join the squad as soon as possible," he said.

"He's the number four batsman in the side and the vice-captain of the team and one of the more experienced players that actually handles Indian conditions very well, so we'll keep our fingers crossed."

Ponting, meanwhile, admits he is spoilt for choice at the top of the order following the return of opening batsman Shaun Marsh from a hamstring injury.

Marsh's comeback leaves selectors with a tough decision following the emergence of Tim Paine, who excelled during the Champions Trophy.

"Paine coming in has had a fair bit of success at the top of the order and probably given himself every opportunity to remain there," Ponting observed.

"But if you go back six or seven months Shaun was one of the up-and-coming batsman in our team and someone that's got a very good record at the top of the order for us.

"So we've got some tough decisions to make there but whichever way we go we know we've got very good depth in our batting... so hopefully we get it right on the morning of the first game."

The seven-match series gets under way on Sunday in Vadodara with the final match to be played in Mumbai on November 11.

Bolt overshadows Chris Gayle
Usain Bolt rose to superstar status on the athletics track, but he also showed his prowess on the cricket pitch in a match.

As soon as the world record-holder Bolt arrived at the Kaiser Sports Club in Discovery Bay on Jamaica's north coast on Sunday, hundreds of fans rushed him - some saying they only wanted to touch the superstar while others wanted pictures and autographs.

When Bolt took the field to warm up, his security team had trouble keeping away thousands who just wanted to get close to one of Jamaica's biggest heroes.

Bolt spun the toss for his Trelawny team in a charity match, but his opposite number Chris Gayle called correctly and opted to field. In his brief innings, Bolt brought the crowd to their feet despite only making 13 runs off 10 deliveries, hitting a four and six off West Indies captain Gayle as Trelawny reached 124 for six off 15 overs.

With his team defending the modest total, Bolt had the crowd of more than 6,000 firmly behind him as he bowled West Indies opener Gayle - the host of the event.

"It was a good game, I really enjoyed it," said Bolt, who played cricket as a youngster. "These are the things I like to do, it's fun. I am always in for charity," he added.

Bolt, who followed up his 2008 Olympic triumphs in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay with world championship victories in the same events this year, said he would rest his body prior to beginning his preparations for the 2010 season.

"It was destined to happen"
Kashmiri cricketer Parveez Rasool after his release from police custody.

Parveez Rasool rushes to Rahul Dravid, shakes hands, photo opportunity grabbed.

A dream fulfilled. "He inspires. Only two days ago, a hectic tournament got over for him, and today he is back at the nets. No wonder he is up there among the best. Meeting him was a dream," chuckles Parveez.

On Friday, as Dravid was guiding the Bangalore Royal Challengers to victory, Parveez was going through probably the worst day of his life.

The J&K player, in Bangalore to play in U-22 CK Nayudu Trophy, was picked by the Karnataka Police from his room at the Chinnaswamy Stadium for allegedly finding traces of explosives in his kit bag.

He was grilled for about eight hours before being released for want of evidence.

The incident left him broken, devastated.

"For a while, I thought what is this? I must leave the game if cricket can bring such a shame," says the promising player, who scored 550 runs in 5 matches besides taking 13 wickets with his off-spin in the last edition of the same tournament.

One of his teammates asks a very disturbing queson: "Was he picked up by the police because he is from Jammu and Kashmir?"

Even as we grapple for answer, his coach Abdul Qayoom joins the conversation.

"I know Parveez since he was 12. He is very innocent. You must speak to him to understand his innocence. What happened that day was very unfortunate. We had even decided to pack off our bags and return," says Qayoom.

Parveez was not even supposed to be in Bangalore. Instead, he should have been now in Delhi for the North Zone T20 championship. "We have been for the first time promoted to the elite group because of which the management decided to send me here. Guess, this was destined," says Parveez.

The 21-year-old now wants to play the game for Kashmir.

He wants to change the image people have of the insurgency-marred state.

"The situation in Kashmir is not very bad. It has improved drastically in the last few years. I want to change the perception people outside Kashmir have about the state. I will do this through cricket. And yes, like every other cricketer, I want to play for India one day," says Parveez.

Andy Flower

Zimbabwe Full name Andrew Flower

Born April 28, 1968, Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa

Current age 41 years 174 days

Major teams Zimbabwe, Essex, Marylebone Cricket Club, Mashonaland, South Australia

Nickname Petals

Batting style Left-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm offbreak

Fielding position Wicketkeeper

Other Coach

Height 5 ft 10 in

Education Vainona High School

Relation Brother - GW Flower

Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 63 112 19 4794 232* 51.54 10636 45.07 12 27 543 20 151 9
ODIs 213 208 16 6786 145 35.34 9097 74.59 4 55 141 32
First-class 223 372 69 16379 271* 54.05 49 75 361 21
List A 380 366 45 12511 145 38.97 12 97 254 48
Twenty20 21 20 2 595 83 33.05 481 123.70 0 4 70 8 6 0
Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 63 2 3 4 0 - - - 8.00 - 0 0 0
ODIs 213 2 30 23 0 - - - 4.60 - 0 0 0
First-class 223 629 270 7 1/1 38.57 2.57 89.8 0 0
List A 380 132 103 1 1/21 1/21 103.00 4.68 132.0 0 0 0
Twenty20 21 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Career statistics Test debut Zimbabwe v India at Harare, Oct 18-22, 1992 scorecard
Last Test Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Bulawayo, Nov 16-19, 2002 scorecard

ODI debut Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at New Plymouth, Feb 23, 1992 scorecard
Last ODI Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, Mar 15, 2003 scorecard

First-class debut 1986/87
Last First-class Leicestershire v Essex at Leicester, Sep 20-23, 2006 scorecard
List A debut 1988/89
Last List A Durham v Essex at Chester-le-Street, Sep 17, 2006 scorecard
Twenty20 debut Surrey v Essex at East Molesey, Jun 14, 2003 scorecard
Last Twenty20 Surrey v Essex at The Oval, Jul 1, 2006 scorecard
Profile
The elder of two Test-playing brothers, Andy Flower was for a long time Zimbabwe's only batsman of true Test quality in all conditions. For a period of about two years from the start of 2000 he was so phenomenally consistent that he has no rival as the best player in Zimbabwe's history.

Flower continued to take on the tough roles, moving into coaching within the England set-up, firstly as assistant to Peter Moores and then, after the very public falling out between Moores and Kevin Pietersen, he was named interim coach for the 2009 West Indies tour. A few weeks after that trip the top job - team director - came his way.

He had two stints as Zimbabwe captain, leading them to their first Test victory against Pakistan in 1994-95, and then becoming the first Zimbabwean to lead a Test tour of England, in 2000. An assured player of fast bowling since his early days as an opener, Flower matured into one of the best players of spin in the world, and on the Indian tour early in 2001 he made 540 runs for twice out.

Opposing bowlers targeted him accordingly and after a phenomenal Test against South Africa at Harare, when he made 142 and 199 not out, he suffered a rare slump. He announced his retirement from international cricket after a turbulent 2003 World Cup, which started with an unprecedented protest by Flower, and his equally brave team-mate Henry Olonga, about what they called the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe. Flower played for Essex from 2002 until 2006, and enjoyed a season in South Australia in 2003-04.

He was joined at Essex by his brother Grant in 2005, and they became the first brothers to score first-class centuries for the county in the same innings against Lancashire that year. But injury ruled him out of the 2007 season, and when the offer came to become England's assistant coach, he retired and took it.

But any thoughts of enjoying a few years under the wing of Peter Moores vanished in early January 2009 and less than 48 hours later he was thrust in charge of the national team. When England crumbled for 51 in Jamaica, Flower's calm but authoritative response impressed many and his standing improved throughout the tour. He has confronted many challenges in his career, but coaching England will rival any of them.

Notes
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2002

He is the man who played the first ball in the first test match played, and he is
the first man to score first half century and first century in test cricket...
Charles Bannerman

Australia Full name Charles Bannerman

Born July 3, 1851, Woolwich, Kent, England

Died August 20, 1930, Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales (aged 79 years 48 days)

Major teams Australia, New South Wales

Batting style Right-hand bat

Other Umpire, Coach

Relation Brother - AC Bannerman
Batting | Bowling | Career statistics | Profile | Latest Articles | Latest Photos
Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 6s Ct St
Tests 3 6 2 239 165* 59.75 1 0 1 0 0
First-class 44 84 6 1687 165* 21.62 1 9 20 0
Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
First-class 44 137 44 0 - - - 1.92 - 0 0 0
Career statistics Test debut Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 15-19, 1877 scorecard
Last Test Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 2-4, 1879 scorecard
Test statistics - Statsguru Test analysis - Player analysis menu/filter Test match list --------------------------------- Batting career summary Batting innings list High scores Batting series averages --------------------------------- Fielding career summary Fielding innings list Fielding series statistics
First-class span 1870/71 - 1887/88
Umpiring statistics Test debut Australia v England at Sydney, Jan 28-31, 1887 scorecard
Last Test Australia v England at Melbourne, Feb 28-Mar 4, 1902 scorecard
Test matches 12
Test statistics - Statsguru Test analysis - Officials analysis menu/filter Career summary --------------------------------- Umpire match list Umpire series list
Profile
Charles Bannerman was one of the three survivors of the twenty-two players who took part in what, according to records at present accepted, was the first Test match between England and Australia.

Only those whose memories go back many years can recall this very fine batsman. In his day he was the best in Australia. He had a splendid style, standing well up to the ball, and was master of nearly every stroke; indeed his batting was essentially skilful and polished. He drove finely to the off, and could hit with power and accuracy to leg. Over and above his qualities as a run-getter he had another claim to fame as being a first-class field, no matter the position in which he was put. The match in which he really made his name took place in Melbourne in the middle of March, 1877. James Lillywhite's team was then touring Australia and New Zealand, and so much had the standard of cricket in Australia improved since the previous visit of an English side under W. G. Grace that when Fifteen of New South Wales twice beat Lillywhite's men and a Fifteen of Victoria also overcame them, the challenge was made to play an eleven-a-side match against the Englishmen. The faith the Australians had in themselves was justified for, with England lacking the assistance of a recognised wicket-keeper, Australia won by 45 runs. In a return match a little later on the same ground Lillywhite's team won by four wickets. Charles Bannerman took part in both these matches, and in the first he had the distinction of playing an innings of 165. The runs were made against Shaw, Hill, Emmett, Southerton, Ulyett and Lillywhite, and not one of his companions was able to reach 20 in the same innings. During the first day he scored 126 of his side's 166 for six wickets. Never before had an Australian batsman scored a century against an English eleven. In the second match he made 19 and 30. In 1878 there came the first visit of an Australian team to this country, and Charles Bannerman was a member of it. In the course of the tour he scored 723 runs for an average of 24. He obtained the only hundred hit by any of the Australians that summer, making 133 at Leicester against Leicestershire. (He also reached three-figures for the side in both New Zealand and Canada, and, altogether, during a tour which in all extended over fourteen months, scored 2,630 runs for it with an average of 23.90). Towards the end of May he took part in the historic match at Lord's against the M.C.C., when the Maryleborne Club were dismissed by Spofforth and Boyle for 19. The Australians won by nine wickets. Bannerman paid no other visit to England, illness cutting short his career as a cricketer. At various times he undertook coaching duties in Melbourne and Sydney and at Christ's College, Christchurch, in New Zealand, and later became an efficient umpire. He was elder brother of the late AC Bannerman of stone-walling fame.