Rise and Shine Irfan..

Your form under question, your fitness under a cloud, your place in the World Cup on the line - This one's for you.

Pathan asked to prove fitness

I don't quite know what to make of this.

Here is a guy who has been patently out of form since the better part of last year. He was sent back mid-tour from South Africa to work on his bowling in domestic cricket.

After 2 decent ( not spectacular) outings in the Ranji Trophy, he made a come back to the ODI squad against the West Indies where he went for 43 runs in his 7 overs for 1 wicket.

Then the freak shoulder injury happened.

Despite him being a no-show against Sri Lanka, he still made the XV for the World Cup - not on any tangible evidence of current cricketing prowess mind you, but on faith.

So, it comes as a bit of a shock that Irfan Pathan will have to prove "match fitness" in the one Deodhar Trophy game that he is going to play ( if selected).

"Match fitness" being such an open ended phrase makes it difficult to gauge the exact parameters that Pathan will be assessed on.

Will it be his ability to bowl 10 overs? His ability to stay on the field for 50 overs? his batting? his fielding? his throwing?

What if he bowls 10 overs and gets creamed for a 100 runs in the match - is he match fit then? And if he takes a 5-fer but is unable to complete his quota of 10 overs - what then?

Given that he has only now recovered from his shoulder injury, what are the odds that he will push full tilt in a match of little consequence to him or anyone else ( except the West and Central Zones)?

And in trying to prove his "match fitness", isn't there a real possibility that he may overdo things and in the process, cause more damage to himself?

By issuing the "warning" at this time, I believe the selectors are adding undue pressure on a guy who is not exactly in the best frame of mind - or body.

This is a retrograde step by the selectors. If Pathan made the squad to the World Cup on the basis of faith and faith alone, then this is just the wrong time to question that faith.

Just let him be.
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Given that the Indian team leaves for the West Indies on the 28th and given that the selectors have no identified alternative in case Pathan does not pass muster, I am skeptical about the seriousness with which the "warning" has been issued.

Update :-

Couple more thoughts -

Are the selectors forcing Amol Muzumdar's hand by

1. Having Pathan in the team. Even if Pathan does not fit into the team's scheme of things or the balance, the West Zone will still have to play him.

2. Because Pathan's match fitness is under scrutiny, Amol Muzumdar will be forced to bowl him for his complete quota. even if this goes against Muzumdar's better judgment.

Duleep Trophy to become non-zonal meet

here.

This is a welcome development which, if followed through and implemented, will not only make the domestic scene more competitive, but should go a long way in creating the feeder system for the National team.

I have opined before on the need to revive the 'A' tours concept and if the Duleep and Deodhar Trophies are streamlined as suggested in the article, they can be an additional filter in identifying personnel for the 'A' team.

The only hitch that I see is that there may be issues with providing adequate representation to the bottom rung teams in each of the three proposed Ranji groups.

That said, I hope this proposal does not go the way of this..

PS: What is the BCCIs official stance on using the Kookaburra ball in domestic cricket? Is Kookaburra still the flavor of the month?

Update :- The proposed Ranji structure

Today...

Peter Roebuck has a website.. I had no idea!!!

A day old news but- the BCCI is yet to finalize on the new contracts with the players that were to have been signed sometime prior to the SA tour.

Can someone please make sense of this schedule?

Sujith Somasunder announces retirement - Particularly heartening was Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble's presence at the announcement.

Indian Eves win, Dhoni climbs up the ICC ODI ratings, Kaif hits back to back centuries

Dont hold your breath - for this.

Over to you

Samir - who puts Australia's recent run in perspective and raises this important issue - the number of matches in the WC and the likelihood of injuries during these.

Hurrah!!!

Ranji Trophy Finals gain high ratings for Neo Sports

Check this out..

Amit and Sankalp have put together this cricket quizzing site.

Ugyen has documented the history of Bhutanese cricket here

Brilliant!!

Atta boy!!!

Sreesanth - and his plans to spend a couple of days at the MRF Pace Academy to work on his bowling

With a pinch of salt..

Reproduced here and here is a PTI report on another of Chappell's interviews post the Vizag win.

I will be very interested to read the interview, if only to corroborate or contradict this para -

The Delhi dasher was initially projected as a middle order batsman for the World Cup in the media by Chappell but the Australian now claims it was all a part of his plan to challenge Sehwag to reclaim his batting style.

Today..

Mithali Raj speaks - prior to the Quadrangular versus Australia, New Zealand and England.

Indian Colts on a roll - After a creditable showing in New Zealand ( 1-1 in the Tests and 2-1 in the ODIs), the Indian U-19s are in the finals of the Tri-series at Kuala Lumpur.

The Ranji ODI Championship rolls on..

Dhonispeak.. Zaheerspeak...

The absurdity of it all..

India plays Scotland ( 1 ODI), Pakistan ( 3 ODIs), Australia (3 ODIs) and England ( 4 Tests and 7 ODIs) during its away tour to England from July 2007 through September 2007.

This blogger is currently busy identifying periods greater than 4 hours in duration that the Indian team is free during the tour, so as to fit in

• ODIs against Sri Lanka
  
• 20/20 games against Bangladesh
  
• ODIs against New Zealand
  
• 20/20 games against Zimbabwe
• ODIs against the West Indies
  
• 20/20 games against the Netherlands
• ODIs against South Africa and
  
• a 2 day game against Wales.

( the length of the ODI series and the 20/20 series is dependent on how much free time can be squeezed from the schedule..
Players may have to undergo sleep deprivation for the greater good of the game !!!)

Lalit Modi, are you listening?