Mumbai Cricket

Here and here

Such are our priorities!!!

Around a year ago, I read this article in the Sportstar

Milking the cash cow

In the above article I found this quote

"A proposal to increase the prize money to the Elite winner to Rs. 1 crore is under discussion," said Shetty. At present, the Elite runners-up get Rs. 4 lakhs, the Plate Division winner gets Rs. 3.5 lakhs and runner-up claims Rs. 2 lakhs. "First-class cricket is becoming a paying profession," said Shetty. "The Rs. 20,000 allowance a day may increase to Rs. 25,000 when Board revenues go up and when the benevolent fund deduction is scrapped."

Brilliant, thought I, this is finally a way of bringing some parity between the national players and the domestic players.

Fast forward a year later and there is this article

Rs 1 cr a blurred vision: Ranji Trophy winners to get only Rs 7 lakh

and this quote

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said that the Ranji Champions will get no increased prize money this year. “Yes, there was a proposal in the vision paper, but it has not been put into practice. We will not be able to enhance the prize money this year. It can only be done from the next season onwards,” Shah, said.

Oh well, I suppose the Board members are so swamped with work that they really haven't had the time to discuss the issue.

But wait.... Here is what the Board President was doing yesterday ..

"Pawar skipped a meeting to watch this game and he said that since it had been decided in principle to release the grants to the CAB and that since he was coming over here, he decided to bring a cheque along with him to the tune of Rs 8.02 crore,"

That explains it!!!!

The Board President is so busy acting as a courier between Mumbai and Kolkatta that he ( and his Board) do not have the time to discuss or put into practice a proposal that is pending for the better part of 2 years now.

So what about the CAB and its Board who now have a whopping 8.02 crores added to their kitty and whose President is so sensitive that

"Everyone is very unhappy with the way the game ended. A lot of hard labour has gone into the organisation of this match. We had only 10-12 days' time, and the arrangements were spotless. Everyone including the umpires were highly sympathetic," said Mukherjee

and

Although Mukherjee initially denied that the Indian team had already boarded the team bus before the final inspection was done, he later softened his stance. "Even when the umpires went out for the inspection, they said they were 98% certain that there would be no play. All these players are experienced enough to know that there was no chance of play," said Mukherjee.

what did such a caring and sensitive soul and his Board do with the additional monies?

Maybe they would try to better the existing seating arrangements for the people who spend good amounts of money to watch the cricket perhaps?

Or maybe they would get a better public service system by which the spectators do not have to spend their
time in the rain waiting while the players have themselves left the ground a while ago?

Or maybe they would refund all the people who sat through until late at night in the vain hope that they could get to see some live cricket?

No way Jose....

You see, here are the CAB's priorities

1. These include renewal of the Eden Gardens lease with the defence ministry
2. a complete review of the existing infrastructure.(For the review, experts may be called in from outside the state, or if needed, overseas.)

And here is the kicker -

Once the lease is renegotiated and an assessment made of the infrastructural improvements needed, CAB may go in for a new club house which will have a club, allowing for earnings throughout the year.

Yup -Such are our priorities!!!

Update :- Here's more on the Boards warped priorities - Girls can't play under BCCI umbrella coz of the BCCI’s excuse — 'lack of time' for not holding these events.

It all boils down to

one game at Rajkot.

One game in which Team India will need to find answers to the following questions

1. Yuvraj Singh's batting form
2. Irfan Pathan's bowling form
3. Munaf Patel's match fitness
4. Virender Sehwag's form
5. Sreesanth's bowling waywardness
6. Robin Uthappa's place at the top of the order.

and then its off to the West Indies, - on a wing and a prayer.

Err.. Rahul

"Firstly, I've not seen that report and to be honest, there's no problem within the team. The authenticity of the report is a little doubtful. I've been asked to comment on the report given by someone whose name didn't feature very prominently when I last looked at the history of Indian cricket. So when I'm asked my view on people, I'd expect you to ask me questions about people who've at least played the game, have some standing and who have been involved in the game to some capacity," Dravid said.

"Almost anyone is entitled to give his opinion and write reports but I'll comment on it if it is worthy of my comment. When I looked at the history of Indian cricket, I didn't see his name featured very prominently. May be I'll look again and I'll tell you,"

At the same time, Dravid neither denied nor concurred with the contents of the said report. The news story alleged that Desai's report, while speaking in broad terms on Sehwag's indiscipline, also referred to Dravid backing Sehwag's inclusion - in the face of near-unanimous opposition - in the side for the second Test .

First, You dont read the report. Then you doubt the authenticity of the report.Then you neither concur nor deny the contents of the report. But you deem yourself worthy to vilify the writer of the report... Great going skip!!!

WTF?

India - forthcoming Test and one-day series

---

Year	Month/s	Teams/Tournament	Tests	ODIs
2006/07	Jan	HOME v West Indies	-	4
2006/07	Feb	HOME v Sri Lanka	-	4
2006/07	Mar-Apr	AWAY: World Cup (Aus, Eng, Ind, Sth Africa, New Z'lnd, Pak, Sri Lanka, W Indies, Zim, B'desh, Kenya, Ireland, Bermuda, Canada, Scotland, Netherlands) in West Indies
2007	May	AWAY v Bangladesh	*tbc	*tbc
2007	Jun	AWAY: Afro Asia Cup (B'desh. Ind, Sth Africa, Pak, Sri Lanka, Zim, Kenya) in
2007	Jun-Sep	AWAY v England	3	7
2007	Aug	AWAY v Scotland	-	1
2007/08	Sep	AWAY: Twenty20 Championship (Aus, Eng, Ind, Sth Africa, New Z'lnd, Pak, Sri Lanka, W Indies, Zim, B'desh) in South Africa
2007/08	Nov-Dec	HOME v Australia	-	*tbc
2007/08	Dec-Jan	AWAY v Pakistan	*tbc	*tbc
2007/08	Dec-Feb	AWAY v Australia	*tbc	*tbc
2007/08	Jan-Feb	AWAY: ODI series (Aus, Ind, Sri Lanka) in Australia
2007/08	Feb-Mar	AWAY: ODI series (B'desh, Ind, Sth Africa) in Bangladesh
2007/08	Mar	AWAY v Bangladesh	*tbc	*tbc
2007/08	Mar	HOME v South Africa	*tbc	*tbc
2008	Apr	AWAY v South Africa	*tbc	*tbc
2008	Apr	AWAY: Asia Cup (B'desh. Ind, Pak, Sri Lanka) in Pakistan
2008	May	AWAY v Zimbabwe	*tbc	*tbc
2008	Jun	AWAY: Afro Asia Cup (B'desh. Ind, Sth Africa, Pak, Sri Lanka, Zim, Kenya) in Malaysia
2008	Jul-Aug	AWAY v Sri Lanka	*tbc	*tbc
2008/09	Sep-Oct	AWAY: ICC Champions Trophy (Aus, Eng, Ind, Sth Africa, New Z'lnd, Pak, Sri Lanka, W Indies, Zim, B'desh) in Pakistan
2008/09	Nov-Dec	HOME v England	*tbc	*tbc
2008/09	Dec	AWAY v Pakistan	*tbc	*tbc
2008/09	Jan	AWAY v South Africa	*tbc	*tbc
2008/09	Apr	AWAY v New Zealand	*tbc	*tbc

* why r we playing test cricket in the southern winter?

Does this schedule strike you as ridiculous? India is jetting from one corner of the globe to the other, non stop, from now until January 2009. Not one break for 2 full years!!!

Forget all the talk of developing talent and building bench strengths, forget all the talk of the international stars playing in domestic cricket, focus instead on how the Board of Control for Cricket in India is running our cricketing talent to the ground...

If the Australians think that the BCCI arm twisted them to alter their summer season, they are welcome to look at this schedule and find one tiny little spot where they could squeeze in a 4 test 20 odd ODI itinerary.

PS : - The above offer is NOT open for Lalit Modi and his cohorts. You can bet you bottom dollar that they will find a 3 day gap somewhere when the team is not playing and fit in a 2 ODI set right there.

PPS:- Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman are due to retire in the next 2-3 years ( 4 if stretched). Will the above schedule precipitate their retirements? And if they are forced into an early retirement because of this grueling schedule, how will we remember them? As players who could not perform in their final laps because they never had adequate time to prepare and get used to conditions or for the champions they are for having soldiered on in spite of this schedule?

PPPS:- How many of our current young pace bowlers will survive this itinerary? Will we be forced to field our U-15 side because there wont be any players available ( because of injuries, fatigue, burnout and other cricketing causes) by Jan 2009?

PPPPS : - Should the BCCI seriously look at recruiting an entire hospital staff, given the fallout of this itinerary on the players health and well being?

Update :- India to play Oz in Ireland in June.. When will it end?

Coz Cricket matters!!

You bowl well, Tendulkar told jopdi no 47’s deaf and dumb boy

Young Jaiswal shoulders responsibility

Meanwhile, in Delhi

No question of clash of egos with seniors, says Dhawan

Read and Weep Part Deux

Mega bucks making way to Ranji trophy

Ranji Trophy winners to get only Rs 7 lakh

Ensure stars for domestic ties: Sunny


The BCCI is incapable of providing its customers proper facilities during cricket matches. The BCCI is incapable of providing adequate remuneration to its employees.

For a Billion Dollar institution, all the BCCI is capable of is putting its collective foot in the mouth.

Interesting schedule

this..

From what I have read, the India Pak series had to be pushed back because the ICC mandated the 20/20 World Cup in September and the announcement for the same happened pretty late, thus putting the overall schedule in disarray.

What this means for India is that they will have to play a 4 test 7 ODI series in England, then rush over to South Africa for the 20/20 WC, come back to India to play Australia in the 7 ODI set, then play Pak in a 3 test 5 ODI (?) series at home, then go down under and play a 4 test gazillion ODI series.

And this is if the BCCI does not go crazy and organize ODIS in Toronto or New York or wherever that may catch their fancy.

Watch this space for player burn out reports, injury reports and retirement calls.

Wazzup with Tendulkar?

Jan 31, 2007

" I have always played the way I wanted to play according to the situation. I have been playing for a long while now, so people should appreciate that."

Feb 07, 2007

“It’s you guys, who criticised them more, knowing the fact that it’s a team of youngsters. And look at them now. Mumbai have won the championship with these youngsters only,”

Brilliant!!!

Kumar Sangakarra

As a side, we take pride in having built a culture of enjoyment, commitment and belief in which to grow. We expect nothing short of maintaining our own high standards. For us as a team these four games are not about the WC, they are not about the atmosphere of the grounds in India, they are not about the Indian team or its devoted legions of fans. For us, these four games are about ourselves. It is about our preparation, our own individual abilities and our firm belief that we are building towards a side capable of being the best it can be.

Wow!!!

Just how good is Manoj Tiwary...

Check this out... Can the lad bat!!

A tale of two cities

Mumbai and Delhi

Read and weep

Why would anyone want to come to Wankhede?

PS:- Conditions are no different for International matches.. Trying sitting in the North stand with a million other people crammed like sardines. Its a never to forget experience!!!!

Iqbal Abdulla

was drafted by Mumbai in their semi final line up in the Ranji Trophy. He is a precocious talent from what I hear, and this performance goes a long way in confirming the rumors.

Mumbai has had a history of fine left arm spin bowlers, with Paddy Shivalkar, Bapu Nadkarni and Ravi Shastri being the stand outs.

So here is my question - What is the MCA in general, and Dilip Vengsarkar in particular, going to do to ensure that Iqbal Abdulla fulfills this early promise and goes on to wear the India cap?

Update :- I forgot to mention Nilesh Kulkarni in the list of slow left armers.

Plenty of worthies who can take the young kid under their wing and help him get better and mature. Is the MCA game ?

R.I.P Subhash Bandiwadekar

Ex-Mumbai stumper Bandiwadekar dead


Mumbai cricket will miss their Bandi

Mumbai are...

37 times over!!!!!

Congratulations Amol Muzumdar and your band of gritty warriors..You have put the K back in Khadoos!!!

The Trophy is coming Home!!! YIPEE!!!

Congratuations also to the Bengal Team, especially Ranadeb Bose and Manoj Tiwary. You have the heart of Champions!!

Is the Indian finger spinner obsolete?

is the title of this post by Mukul Kesavan on the CricInfo website. With such a provocative title, some research and a long post becomes mandatory. So here goes -

1. Nature of wickets

Nilesh Kulkarni, long time servant of Mumbai cricket and ex-captain, also left arm spinner, was dropped from the Mumbai squad for the finals of the Ranji Trophy as the coach deemed the need to take 4 pacers on the Wankhede wicket.

When was the last time 4 pacers were taken in the finals of the Ranji Trophy? I have been around for a while, and have been following the domestic scene for a while longer, and 4 pacers going into the finals was blasphemy even 5 years ago.

And dropping a quality spinner for a pacer was sacrilege.

But it has happened and will continue to happen.

Looking at the leading wicket takers in the Ranji Trophy ( 2006-07), 6 of the top 10 wicket takers are pacers. 4 of the top 5 wicket takers in the country in India's domestic championship are pace bowlers.

So what changed?

In the early 90's, we used to lament on the need for pace bowlers, of domestic cricket being dust bowls, of pitches being so benign that batsmen would score 300 before lunch and then another 400 between lunch and tea.

Then came the move to change the nature of the wickets across the land. Some of the wickets were re-layed, some other had their soil- clay content altered, some others made the move to leave the grass on the wickets.

Today, if one looks at the match stats of the games that had a definite result versus games that ended in draws ( point of reference - Ranji Trophy 2007-07), most of the games with outright results have not lasted the total distance. 4 day games have gotten over in 3 and 5 day games have gotten over in 4.

Swing and seam have done most of the damage, and so, for the most part, unless the game has dragged on to the final day, the spinners really havent had a significant role to play.

2. A problem of plenty( or how we treat our spinners)

Think back to the time, in the early and late 80's, when we used to moan about not having a single left handed batsman in the team. Think back about how much joy swept through the land when Vinod Kambli took guard in Indian colors.

Think also of the time when Rashid Patel said "Left arm over" and the nation went into raptures coz finally, finally we had a left arm pacer.

Today, we gleefully omit a left arm pacer without playing him for a single game, ditto a left hand bat.

Ditto left arm spinners ( Sunil Joshi, Murali Karthik, Maninder Singh, Venkatapathi Raju, Nilesh Kulkarni).

Ditto off spinners and leggies ( L. Sivaramakrishnan,Sarandeep Singh, Rajesh Chauhan, Narendra Hirwani...).

Piyush Chawla was drafted, with much fan fare,into the Indian squad against England. He played a test. And then he was dropped. And has not been heard of since ( unless u follow the fortunes of UP in domestic cricket and U-19 in International cricket).

Amit Mishra, good leggie with nice variations ( atleast when i saw him on telly), was taken to Bangladesh for, get this, an ODI tournament. And then dropped. And has not been heard of since ( unless u follow the fortunes of Haryana in the Ranji Trophy).

Today, we are secure in the thought that Anil Kumble has sort of reinvented hinself and will be around for a year or so, if not more. We are also secure in our thought that Harbhajan is our off spinner for the present and the future.

Look again at the list of the leading wicket takers in the Ranji Trophy. Of the 4 spinners in the top 10 list, 2 are 20 years old and one is 27.

What happens when Anil Kumble retires and Harbhajan Singh hurts his finger?

We will draft, we will dump but we dont groom. Thats how we treat our spinners.

2. Impact players

Sarandeep Singh is a contemporary of Harbhajan Singh. From what I have heard and seen, he was as good if not a better off spinner than Harbhajan ( and definitely more in the classical mould). So what happened to Sarandeep?

Paddy Shivalkar and Rajinder Goel are the most famous examples of players who were of domestic gods who never wore India colors.

Think also of Stuart McGill and Shane Warne.

What is the difference? One is an impact player, the other is not.

Anil Kumble made the leg spinners job his own during the England whitewash of 1993. Harbhajan's entry into Test cricket is all too well documented for me to repeat.

Both bowlers made a huge impact in the initial opportunities given to them, and basically sealed the deal on their presence in the side. In the meantime, just about how many trundlers have plied their wares in the domestic scene while being fully aware that they will never get the opportunity to wear the India cap because they either did not or cannot make the sort of immediate impact AK and HS had.

3.Role of the slow bowler

What exactly is the role of the slow bowler in Ranji these days? Strike bowler? Stock bowler? Attacking option or defensive option?short spells of 5 overs or longer spells of 30 overs? spread out fields saving runs or attacking fields to take wickets?

4. Captaincy

Saurav Ganguly did not have a clue on how to handle Murali Karthik. Nilesh Kulkarni was made to bowl round the wicket into the rough as a defensive option ( in a match that India was in the drivers seat and eventually won).

Rahul Dravid is the best captain Karthik could ever have, but now finds himself in the sidelines.

Just how important is captaincy in the maturation process of a spinner?

Everyone talks of Bedi and how great he was. But let us not forget that his first captain was one MAK Pataudi. Can you imagine if Nasser Hussain had been Bedi's captain? Or Monty Panesar's for that matter?

In the domestic scene today, just how many captains understand slow bowling and slow bowlers? When Bedi got tonked for a six, he would applaud the batsmen, and the field would not alter. Today, if a spinner gets tonked for a 6, with the opposition score reading 103/6 chasing 550 to win, the captain will immediately push long on and long off back. And take out the slip and move him to deep extra cover.

5. Maturity

Spinners take time to mature is what we get to hear every time the question is raised. If one were to discount Sunil Joshi, Nilesh Kulkarni and Sairaj Bahutule, most of the current crop of spinners in the domestic circuit are fresh graduates from the U-19 circuit.

Saurasish Lahiri and Rajesh Pawar, along with Ramesh Powar, are the only 3 spinners who can be considered to be of the age where they can be considered mature enough in their skill set to take the next step ( ie: international cricket).

However, what support systems do Bengal or Baroda or Mumbai have to facilitate this next step?
--

Sure, One Day cricket has made an impact on how bowlers think, and sure short boundaries and heavy bats have made the spinner's job more difficult.

Slow bowling is an art that needs time and space to come to fruition. But in this age of instant gratification, do we have the necessary patience to let our slow bowlers mature? In our search for the next "impact" player, are we sacrificing someone of quality who might take a little longer to find their feet?

Do short term gains justify long term losses, especially in the domain of slow bowling where it is the long term that matters ( spinners have a longer shelf life than pacers and generally tend to get better with time) ?

If so, must we rephrase the title of the post and ask - Is the Indian spinner obsolete?

Corollary - Have Indian batsmen forgotten how to play spin bowling?