SportsCNNK Cricket: January 2012

Monday 23 January 2012

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Sunday 15 January 2012

Is Australia being brilliant or India just downright woeful?

Source: Amy Rathbone

Australia have turned full circle from their humiliating loss to New Zealand and sealed the Border-Gavaskar trophy, three nil, by shellacking India within three days at the WACA. Having last summer lost the Ashes, the new-look Australian side has made a great impression lately. But is it Australia being brilliant or India being downright woeful that has lead to such a gaping abyss separating the sides?

Michael Clarke's men have outplayed India in every single facet over the past two tests. While there was somewhat of a contest at the 'G', that all seems lost in the propetual rubbish that India has tried to pass as test match cricket since then. The Aussie bowling attack has been clinical in dissecting the Indian order and at least one batsman has managed to guide Australia to a total in each innings. On the bright side, India now have an extra two and a half free days to practice their go-carting.

As if it weren't bad enough for India that they have lost the test series in an emphatic three nil fashion, they will also be without captain MS Dhoni for the final test in Adelaide. Dhoni has been suspended because India failed to maintain the required over rate throughout the Perth test. Yet another example of Dhoni's shambolic test captaincy. If he didn't just let Australia bend them over and have their way with India, he also did it with a slow over rate. If history was anything to go by, you couldn't be blamed for thinking the BCCI will demand he be allowed to play or they'll boycott the remainder of the series. Nonetheless, I'm sure the Aussie's wouldn't mind.

Added controversies were never far away in the lead up to the third test either. Whether it be Sharma flipping fans the bird, the heated banter between Haddin and Khan--Haddin proved right in his assessment of India's batting lineup fragility and Khan was correct that Haddin can neither bat nor catch--or the test match eve drinks on the pitch by ground staff. I'm just waiting for the latter to be blamed for India's demise by their own media. David Warner had no qualms with a few beers and a casual sit on the pitch the night before he bludgeoned 180 of the most entertaining runs seen this summer.

On another note, the test ranking system is obviously flawed. India, the world number two, has lost its past seven consecutive tests on foreign soil. They've been made to look like amateurs on any pitch with an inkling of bounce or a touch of pace. The DRS has been on topic this summer too, especially with India not allowing its use. I think it's time the ICC grew a spine and stopped being the BCCI's mistress. I thought Sachin Tendulkar's disgust at his so-called 'controversial' dismissal was shambolic. Once again, if the ICC are to maintain their dignity, Tendulkar should have been fined or reprimanded for dissent. No Australian has behaved in such a manner in the series. Even when Hussey copped a potential career ending howler, his displeasure at the decision was in no way directed at the umpire.

From the series thus far, I have constructed three deep and insightful observations; Number one: India's ancient batting lineup need to move into the retirement village. They have been rolled aside six times with ease by an inexperienced attack and have showed little hope of resurrecting their once great form. India need to begin introducing the next generation of batsman to test cricket. Number two: Australia aren't as bad as we all thought; Clarke has showed why he deserves the captaincy and the revitalised bowling attack has been inspirational. And number three: as Ian Healy and Joe the cameraman showed us, segways can be hazardous to your health.

Source: Getty Images

Tuesday 10 January 2012

No one can question Clarke's desire to see Australia win

Clarke celebrates his century
Source: Getty Images-ESPN Cricinfo

Michael Clarke has lead Australia to five victories, made his highest ever score and inspired a bunch of new faces to perform superbly, since taking command of the Australian test side. In my eyes, his newly established reign as captain, has been the catalyst for a wave of exciting cricket and the beginning of a fantastic new era in the Australian team.

Clarke's promotion to captain has seen him lead the team in nine test matches thus far. The Australians have been able to win five of these and lose just two. having inherited a decaying Australian squad with new, raw and exuberant youth, these results are quite extraordinary. Wins over Sri Lanka on a turning dusty track, South Africa away from home and two convincing victories over the world number two, India, have all been highlights thus far.

Unlike his predecessors, Clarke has been required to lead a team without any serious contenders for a place in a hypothetical world XI. Ponting had himself, Warne, Hayden and McGrath at the peaks of their powers and merely had to tell them when to bowl and construct a batting order. Clarke on the other hand, has needed to be inventive, unorthodox and proactive in his captaincy.

Clarke has turned Michael Hussey's gentle medium pace bowling, into a golden arm, partnership breaking strike weapon. He's demonstrated great confidence in himself to bowl to, and dismiss, Sachin Tendulkar. He has rotated his quick bowlers intelligently and never allowed the pace of the game to be dictated by an opponent. Across all captaincy criteria, he has succeeded and lead the side admirably.

It seems that the increased responsibility has added an additional dimension to Clarke's game as a batsman. Since becoming full-time captain, he has scored 902 test runs at an average of 64.42. As captain, once he has passed a score of 30, he has only been dismissed for less than 100 on two occasions, one of those a gutsy 60 in difficult conditions. Now that he has the role as leader, it would appear he knows that if he gets his eye in, he must convert his innings into big scores and lead by example. When Michael Clarke, captain of Australia, is set at the crease, look out bowlers, he won't be an easy wicket by any means.

Clarke has often been criticised for only being able to make big scores once a large platform had already been laid. However, since taking over the job as commander and chief, Clarke has produced some superb knocks while under pressure. Many of his early test centuries were made after the top order had already plundered the bowling attack, but since becoming the boss, he has responded to pressure with four test centuries.

Clarke's 60 in his first match as captain, was the steel that held Australia's second innings together. On a dusty pitch in Sri Lanka, Clarke displayed great determination to stay at the crease and was surprisingly confident in his stroke-play. The innings was complimented as having been worth 100 because the pitch was so tough to bat on.

In Capetown, Clarke came to the crease with the score at 3-40, he went on to play a blinding innings of 151 under tremendous pressure and built a solid first innings lead for Australia. Despite losing the game by so much, his innings was a certain highlight in a superb test match.

At 3-91, the new Australian captain came to the crease for his first test as official leader in Australia and struck 139 runs at the Gabba. His innings featured some luck, after being recalled, having been bowled on a no-ball. But if there's something Clarke has brought to the team, it is the determination to make the most of any opportunity you get, including second chances.

And last, but certainly not least, the score was 3-37 when Michael Clarke made his way to the center of the Sydney Cricket Ground. For the next 609 minutes, Clarke made his home ground his own. He was unstoppable on his way to an unbeaten 329 which broke records and set up a spectacularly convincing Australian win.

If Clarke's leadership does not waver, he will certainly become one of Australia's greatest captains ever. His 'put the team first' attitude has already drawn praise, and while some of his press room comments may seem somewhat scripted to gain public popularity, no one can question his desire to see Australia win. While he may not be Australia's best batsman, toughest cricketer or most charismatic individual, he certainly has drive and a passion to give his new role his all and so far you cannot fault his efforts.