tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445558282646097463.post6837040451132815502..comments2023-09-27T20:05:29.145+05:30Comments on Third Umpire on Branding: Looking back, looking forwardAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13925165090244656996noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445558282646097463.post-60967495356938046432007-10-29T13:47:00.000+05:302007-10-29T13:47:00.000+05:30You seem to have written my next column in advance...You seem to have written my next column in advance about Rahul Dravid being "rested". How sad for Indian cricket that we are so right!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13925165090244656996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445558282646097463.post-52606799802111507942007-10-28T05:38:00.000+05:302007-10-28T05:38:00.000+05:30"Arm chair critics think absurdly because they pen..."Arm chair critics think absurdly because they pencil Laxmans, Dravids in and just because they have time (and, of course mind) to think" This is what selectors say when they read this cloumn, if ever. Murali, who is he? that's what their elephantine memories remember. Only, and only, India can afford to drop its premiere (arguably) batsman, who was captain just a while ago. A player would fail to make the cut, just beacuse he was 'Man of the Match' in the previous game! <BR/><BR/>There is no end to their fish stories. 'Laxman is a poor runner between the wickets', he compiles ton after ton against Aus jsut because they fail to run him out! poor fielders! 'He is a poor a fielder too' can you show me better fielder at slip? By the way, why we need a slip? Australian wickets are low and slow. <BR/><BR/>Will they ever ask Sachin to prove his fitness by playing for Mumbai? But, Dravid has to. Obvious he is not mumbaikar! He was to fit play against Aussies but not against Pakistan, Oh!when did he hurt himself? <BR/><BR/>A player of Dravid's calibre (and stature, does it matter really? except for Tendulkar and Agarkar)fails to find his name in the list! That's India, maaaan. It is bound to happen, Vengasarkar has the erudition of playing 110 tests!<BR/><BR/>Sachin will soon become the test captain for the third time. In fact, earlier two stints were not that great. But how does it matter? h(m)e Mumbaikar!<BR/><BR/><BR/>P.S: Nepotism , cronyism,aur chamchagiri ka matlab kya hota hai?<BR/><BR/><BR/>PrashanthAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445558282646097463.post-79944420232309200242007-10-24T14:45:00.000+05:302007-10-24T14:45:00.000+05:30Looking back I would at the outset like to thank y...Looking back I would at the outset like to thank you for your wonderful articles through the series which made for compulsive reading and sometimes compulsive commenting too! I do agree with you that we cant forget what the oldies have done but somehow there is a certain sense of discordance within the team when it has too many seniors and a younger captain. He cant but be but nice to them at all times. But as you say dhoni seems to be doing a good and diplomatic job of it. To the press he talks in favour of the seniors and then silently drops dravid. Unfortunately todays one day cricket is more than just being a good batsmen or bowler. You need to come to the team with certain hygiene factors which are the basic mandotories. The seniors are not the best in terms of fitness and consequently not the best runners both between the wickets and on the outfield. Plus as luck would have it or otherwise we haven’t won anything big with the seniors. Sachin and gang have played almost 4 worldcups and the best result has been a worldcup final after a semifinal with Kenya. The younger lot have grabbed their one moment of glory and that is what is going to stick in peoples minds. Our seniors have been poor at that in one day cricket. We haven’t had a clive Lloyd 102 or a viv Richards 138 or a ponting 140 or a gilchrist 149 kind of innings from the Indian seniors in any major event and that is their biggest negative. They have had high points in test matches like the vvs innings in Calcutta or the many inngs the dravid has played. Infact dravid has won us more test matches than anyone else. So the moot point is are we supposed to be clinical like the aussies in terms of getting rid of the seniors or are we supposed to be nice to them because they have been great players in a different format of the game(tests). I would think the former.Yes it is going to be tough to get instant replacements for them but we should remember that we felt the same way when we lost players like sunny, vishy and also the spin quartet. Like they say men may come men may go but the institution remains. I think it applies to cricket too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com