The Rockstars of 2012

Another year is coming to an end. Within a few hours we all will welcome the new year delightfully. Each year from it’s gift box gifts us with moments of sadness and charms. The saddest parts leave us with a gloomy mood but it’s not worthy to brood on and over the unhappy portion, but it’s even better to uplift the spirit with those memories which has gifted us the moments to relish.

2012 has been the year of retirements of the greatest of the game. A certain void has been created by the retirements of those living legends and very recently the announcement of Tendulkar’s exit from colour clothings have vanished the aura from ODI cricket. The Sunday morning was numb, time seemed to have stopped – year 2012 has certainly created an emptiness which will be tough to fulfilled.

But, I would like to relish the joyous moments of 2012. With due respect to the retired legends, I would like to recall those heroes and teams who have been outstanding throughout the year to keep 2012 shining despite the dullness created by the retirements. They have been the Rockstars of 2012 who hinted that brighter days for cricket are ahead.

Fantastic Cook

Alastair Cook’s resolved and leading-by-an-example captaincy in India which lifted a less confident English side has been an inspiration for all. Before the Indian tour, the English unit was at sixes and sevens with controversies emerging from off the field, and the mission to India was expected to be an absolute humiliation as they were to face rank-turners which have always proved fatal for England. But in the end, Cook’s men had the last laugh. The architect of this success had been Alastair Cook whose bat transformed into a fort to defy the Indian turning tracks and transferred a certain resolve within the gloomy English unit to make them play like Lions.

Egoistic Pietersen, Champion Pietersen

One of the much talked issue of 2012 has been the controversy surrounding Kevin Pietersen. His relationship with his teammates and ECB deteriorated and as a result KP lost his place in the national side with his cricketing future being in total jeopardy. There was severe criticism regarding KP’s ultra-egoistic nature. But egos don’t destroy but create legends. Before the Indian tour, the ECB and KP came to a negotiation and included him in the squad. On rank-turners, KP’s egoistic batting was a gem. His 186 in Mumbai will remain one of the master classes in the history of English cricket. Along with Cook, KP had been one of the major factors behind ending the 28-year old waiting.

Monty and Swann – Those two English pals of mine

Look, who engulfed the best players against spin bowling! It’s none from Sri Lanka or Pakistan but from a land where production of spin twins are not many. After a heavy defeat in the first Test against India, the English authorities decided to play left-arm spinner Monty Panesar with the ace offie Graeme Swann.And it bore fruit. Monty not only provided the perfect foil to Swann’s accurate, teasing off-spin, but fetched wickets on a regular basis with flight, turn and extra pace.  The Swann-Monty duet perished India on their own rank-turners.

Cocktail of power and artistic exhibition

Boucher’s tragic exit and Punter’s lack-of-grace retirement were made to forget by two willow artists’ powerfully adventurous and artistic batsmanship. With the bat, Hashim Amla and Michael Clarke provided a majestic display of art and power to enlighten the cricketing universe. Clarke thrashed four double tons so far in this year and his average with the bat this year is greater than Bradman’s overall career batting average. One of Clarke’s speciality this year has been the development of a self-discipline which has helped him to hit the ball as cleanly as ever.

While, Clarke has been the model of power in Test cricket, Hashim Amla has been the model of wristy artistry to refresh the eyes with smooth stroke play. Put a fielder at cover and short-cover to stop a boundary from Amla’s bat. But, it will prove invain as the timing and wrist work with astute footwork, Amla will dish out such stroke play that the fielders placed in the targeted positions will only end up collecting the ball from the boundary line. It seems that his wrists are being wrapped with velvet. In 2012, from a batting point of view in Test cricket, Amla, Clarke and Cook have been stupendous.

Greenwash

England landed in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the overwhelming favourites against Pakistan. Before playing the 3-match Test series, England had handed Pakistan’s neighbor India a 4-0 whitewash. But in the end the English were left reeling with 3-0 Greenwash! None of the English batsmen had any clue against Saeed Ajmal while the left-arm spin of Abdur Rehman proved fatal for the Poms. A unique Greenwash was observed.

No choking this time around

After beating England on their own soil, the Proteas were on a high against Australia. They responded strongly at Gabba but no matter how stronger their responds were, the Aussies kept on thrashing them with mighty batting replies through Michael Clarke, Hussey and Co. Had rain not interfered, the Proteas would’ve digested a shocking defeat. At Adelaide, an Australian victory was surely on the cards and another ‘Chokers’ tag was waiting for the Proteas to be tagged on their shirts. But, from nowhere, Faf du Plessis emerged to deny the Australians a surest victory. In the deciding Test match in Perth, despite being bundled out cheaply, the Proteas gave the strongest of responses – Steyn was fast and furious while Emile and AB de Villiers exhibited marriage of entertainment and power to script an absolute carnage to create a scar in the Australian psychology from which they never recovered. No chocking this time around.

Impressive Herath

The post Murali era has created a big gap in the Sri Lankan bowling attack. But through Herath the Lankan bowling has showed enough teeth. His left-arm teasing offspinners have kept the opposition batsmen checked and made them reel with turn and flight. Time and again, Herath came up with inspiring spells to gift the Lankans victories. Herath has been the most successful bowler for the Lankans this year.

Calypso music which made us dance in Gangnam style

Even if you aren’t a West Indian cricket fan still you rejoiced when the Caribbean boys lifted the World Twenty title this year. Since the Caribbean sun had set in 1995, there were hardly any collective team effort from the Caribbean unit on the bigger stages. But after a long time the world had been privileged to witness a Caribbean team playing the kind of cricket which the world yarn for. There were no polluted air of chaos but a healthy unity prevailed throughout the tournament. The injection of Gayle had brought energy while the man management qualities of captain Darren Sammy brought out the best from his men to rock in Sri Lanka leaving the cricket fans dancing with the Calypso music in a Gangnam mood.

Brilliant Marlon Samuels

There was Gayle’s power and brutality but in terms of consistency, Marlon Samuels remained the most consistent performer with the willow for the West Indies this year. His majestic but composed knock in the World T20 final against Sri Lanka ensured a fighting total. Not only in the limited-over versions but in Test cricket, Marlon Samuels have been equally effective. Samuels’ will-power deserves full marks as at one point his career was at risk due to controversy.

Emphatic Bangla boys

Sadly, Bangladesh played only two Test matches. They had been more confined towards limited-over versions. In the 50-over format they showed high quality fighting spirit. In this year’s Asia Cup they ended up being the runner-ups after a closely fought contest against Pakistan. Before reaching the finals, the Tigers nailed India and Sri Lanka in a grand style. The bat of Tamim and Shakib boomed while the composure of captain Mushfiq, Riyad and rookie Nasir Hossain ensured security. One could witness an energized Tiger unit on the field. In came the T20 Champions West Indies with the determination of a 5-0 whitewash in the ODI series after a 2-0 win the Test series. But they ended up losing the series 3-2 by some spirited display by the Tigers. The emergence of future prospects like Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque and Sohag Gazi are hinting the brighter days for the Bangla boys.

A new year is knocking at the door. As a cricket fan I wish something even more sizzling and epics to make an eventful year for cricket.

Happy New Year everyone!

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Tendulkar's explosive adventure at Centurion

Since the great Viv Richards left the scene, no batsman has ever been able to provide an aura like Sachin Tendulkar. To chalk out Tendulkar's best innings from 49 ODI hundreds and 96 ODI fifties is tough, because all of those knocks had a certain style, possessed a certain gravity. But, in my view, one knock will certainly remain the most adventurous - his 98 off 75 balls against Pakistan at Centurion in the 2003 World Cup.

Centurion was blessed with bright sunshine and the atmosphere in the stadium was absolutely electrifying. Two old enemies, India and Pakistan, met each other on cricket's biggest stage after a gap of three years. It was such a high voltage match that the heat spread throughout the subcontinent. We had a Community Medicine Viva exam on March 1, 2003 but our lecturer declared that there would be no Viva on that day on the eve of the Indo-Pak clash. Very soon our Medical College became empty two hours before the start of the match. It was just 11:30 am.

It was a do or die match for Pakistan. It carried enough importance for this third year medical student who was rooting for Pakistan. All went according to plan. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat without a second thought as on the previous meetings in the World Cup Pakistan had lost to India while chasing. Riding on Saeed Anwar's scintillating hundred, Pakistan posted a fighting total of 273 for 7. With Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq around, it appeared a tough task for the Indians to chase this total.

But Tendulkar had other ideas. He decided to take the strike instead of Virender Sehwag. Akram, who opened the bowling for Pakistan, pitched his first delivery on target which Sachin played safely. Then Akram pitched one on a length swinging away and Tendulkar pounced to hammer four through the covers. Then a well pitched delivery back of a length, straightening up was sweetly timed on the onside for four. Enter Shoaib. After pitching one short which Sachin negotiated safely, Shoaib sent down a thunder bolt, wide outside off, swinging away. Tendulkar used the pace of the ball and played a cut shot, inside out and over the top, sending the ball into the stands several rows back behind deep point. If there was ever a shot that could mentally down an opposition, then that was it. Tendulkar was charged up and was unstoppable.

The dismissals of Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly didn't bother Tendulkar. He was unfazed by the continuous verbal attack from Shoaib and Co and answered each of Pakistan's missiles with a bouquet of strokes. Anything on the toes saw Tendulkar shuffle across and time the ball impeccably to the midwicket fence. A copybook on-drive hinted at the master's authority. Tendulkar brought up 12,000 ODI runs when he reached 83. Cramps disturbed his momentum but he defied the pain and batted with grit and courage.

Shoaib returned for another bustling spell and sent down a vicious short ball with lethal pace to induce an edge from Tendulkar's bat. The little master was dismissed for 98. But the job was done to knock Pakistan out of the World Cup. There was joy amongst the Indian supporters but somewhere in Dhaka, this young medical student was shattered and lost. Tendulkar not only slaughtered the Pakistani attack but also had snuffed the dreams and hopes of this Pakistani cricket fan. That night I suffered from insomnia. My mind suffered, courtesy Tendulkar.

I still frequent that explosive innings. Given the circumstances, the occasion and the opposition attack, that epic at Centurion is undoubtedly Tendulkar's greatest ODI knock.

Note: This article has been published on Cricketnext on 30/12/2012 Tendulkar's explosive adventure at Centurion

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

The Indo-Pak clash should be on a regular basis

The last time the cricketing world witnessed the Pakistan cricket team in action was during the ICC World Twenty20 in September. They dazzled, they frustrated. Since then world cricket has witnessed some exciting encounters displayed by the big guns of world cricket. But Pakistan were not involved in those.

Next week, they will resume their cricketing journey when they face in India for a short limited-overs series. It's a great approach by the respective cricket boards in resuming the Indo-Pak cricket rivalry. India, down and dusted on their own field by the English, will be rejuvenated to prove a point against the arch rivals whereas Pakistan will be determined to humble the Indians in their own backyard.

A cracking contest is expected.

When it's an Indo-Pak clash then one can hear the bhangra music echoing all around the subcontinent. The people of the subcontinent suffer from cricketing anxieties. The people of the subcontinent get infected by a strange euphoria which can't be observed in any other sport; the rest of the world remains moved by the thrillers scripted by India and Pakistan.

This is what an Indo-Pak clash generates; this is where nerve-jangling, heart-racing and mouthwatering cricket is being offered. This is where a cricketer's temperament is being tested. But sadly, this much anticipated clash has never been on a regular basis. Time and again the political circus of the two countries has interfered to deprive fans from heated battles. Since the resumption of Indo-Pak cricketback in the winter of 1952, if this tour goes on it will be the fourth resumption of the series. The others had been in 1978, 1999 and 2004.

The resumption of the Indo-Pak clash is encouraging. From a fan's perspective I wish this much anticipated series to continue on a regular basis. In my lifetime I have witnessed some astonishing and mind blowing Indo-Pak series since the days of Imran Khan. I felt deprived during the 90s when I couldn't witness the epic clash between Sachin Tendulkar and the two Ws. Not only me but I guess the world missed an epic encounter due to the lack of bilateral series between the two countries during that time - politicians of both the countries have been the culprits who mixed politics with cricket time and again.

Why cricket has been the victim still isn't understandable. If a Pakistani actor can act in a Bollywood movie, if Bollywood movies are widely anticipated in Pakistan, if Wasim Akram can coach the Kolkata Knight Riders and if a bilateral hockey series can take place between the two nations then why can't a bilateral cricket series go on?

Ardent cricket followers in the subcontinent and the world don't wish to miss these two nations' mouth-watering clash on the cricket field. The magnitude of the Indo-Pak clash is immense. And halting this epic battle for the sake of politics is doing nothing but hurting the feelings of the fans of the cricket world. In cricket, a cricket fan's feelings mean a lot. Their feelings are deeply connected with each and every event related to cricket. In the subcontinent it's even more deeply connected.

Note: This article has been published on cricketnext on 21/12/2012 http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/faisalcaesar/3379/64165/the-indopak-clash-should-be-on-a-regular-basis.html                 

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Keep the faith in 'Captain' MS Dhoni

Every cricketer in his career face ups and downs. During his hay days everything seems brighter, every move by him tend to strike gold. The good times give away to a dark phase where nothing seems to go according to the plans and thus failure becomes a part and parcel of life. Critics and fans show no mercy and demand the ousting.

MS Dhoni, since he scored that hundred against Pakistan in the first ODI in 2005, he has been an enigma. In the course of time he inherited a team which was built by Sourav Ganguly and made 90 crore Indians dream fulfill by lifting the World Cup in Mumbai last year. After the World Cup, Dhoni faced a crude reality with a succession of heavy defeats in the away Test series’ and in the home series against England, he’s at risk of losing the rubber.

Nothing is going Dhoni’s way. His demand for rank turners, his strategy to play three front line spinners and so on had been backfired. His own bat has forgotten to shine in a regular basis while in the field his tactics aren’t working at all. And the recent series defeat against England on home soil has put Dhoni in the hot soup. Undoubtedly, Dhoni is facing the toughest time of his cricketing career.

The Indian fans have lost their faith from their ‘Mahi’ and are demanding his removal from the captaincy post. But those ardent fans have forgotten that in any ugly transition such sort of frustrating results are expected. After the sun set for Dravid and Laxman and with Tendulkar and Zaheer are on the verge of saying goodbye, Indian cricket has entered into an ugly transition. The void of such astonishing cricketers can’t easily be fulfilled and thus, it requires time for the captain to halt the team’s sudden slide.

New and young guns have been injected into the side and though their performance doesn’t give us an aura but they are not frustrating products by any means. When Ganguly was made the captain, Indian cricket was jolted by match-fixing saga and the loss of some prolific performers. Indian cricket was in a transition period. At the start Ganguly’s results were very frustrating. Other than Sachin Tendulkar or Anil Kumble, Ganguly had nothing to challenge the might of others. At the start, the fans’ reactions were utterly rude towards him. Gradually, Ganguly produced results – Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag, Zaheer, Yuvraj and co developed under his wings. These things didn’t happen suddenly but happened slowly and steadily. To tackle the transitional period Ganguly was given time and BCCI didn’t run through the emotions of chopping and changing policy.

The current Indian transition period requires an experienced captain and none could be a better choice than Dhoni. To build this team, which sliding downwards, the experience of MS Dhoni is critical. People like Dhoni are an ardent student of this game who learns from mistakes and bounce back in style to shut up the critics. It will be wiser to put faith upon Dhoni and allow him to build this Indian team.

I don’t see anyone replacing Dhoni as captain, as there aren’t any worthy candidates. Moreover, the fans and critics must think whether Dhoni is receiving enough help from his senior teammates or not. The honour of leading the country is a very attractive thing and in the subcontinent it has led to many ugly stories of rifts in the past. Is Dhoni’s captaincy a matter of envy for others and leading them to reduce the support towards him? It will be better to find out the evil spirits in the side who don’t wish to convey their full support to their captain. I did once write to sack Dhoni from the side as his cold relationship with one of his team mates was proving intoxicating but I might be wrong with Dhoni.

Indian cricket must move on by keeping the faith in Dhoni. Yes changes are needed but rather than pondering too much on the captain, ponder over the major issues which are not getting the enough importance.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

5 factors behind ending the 28-year wait

 England, led by new captain Alastair Cook on his first tour as full captain, have signaled their intent to put their summer of woe at the hands of South Africa firmly behind them in their bid to regain the Test mace and retain the Ashes over the back to back series coming up next year.

And what an emphatic gesture it was: beating India convincingly 2-1 in India and becoming the first England touring side since David Gower’s outfit achieved the feat by the same margin some 27 years ago in the process. But England did not simply follow the blueprint that failed them in the U.A.E, or treats the conditions as if they were from another planet. No! They played world-class cricket, they did the basics right and they applied themselves – they simply played some damn good Test cricket.

Here are the five key factors they have to thank for their success:

Alastair Cook’s freakish batting abilities

Now, England’s leading century scorer (with 23 hundreds) in Test cricket at the relatively young age of 27, Alastair Cook has something which not many other batsmen in world cricket have. He has an insatiable appetite for runs, he has inhuman powers of concentration and he has an unwavering temperament to grind the opposition down for hours on end.

The end result?

562 runs at an average of 80.28 with 3 centuries in 8 innings and a famous series victory. But Cook did not impersonate a sedate Geoffrey Boycott when accumulating these runs either. It is clear that he has added yet another string to his already well-strung bow as he unleashed a wide array of attacking shots throughout his time at the crease. Flowing drives are not semantically linked to Cook; neither are crisp sweeps for four. Dancing down the track and smacking the spinner for a straight six is Pietersen or Bell’s game. But in this series the England captain notched into his extra gear, allowing him to score off balls that would have previously gone down as dots. And the scary thing is that he still has about 7 years of Test cricket left to hone such skills.

Kevin Pietersen’s smooth reintegration into the England lineup

It seems ages ago that we were lambasting KP for his stubborn-and-big-headed comments that resulted in his exclusion from the original England squad for this tour. But, a sincere apology to all his teammates later, Pietersen looks as settled in the dressing room as ever and, while it is true that everything’s easier when you’re winning, credit has to go where credit’s due and the smooth reintegration of the batsman is a credit to everyone involved.

With the potential to explode at any minute, The Pietersen Problem, as it was so commonly dubbed, was handled beautifully by Flower, Cook, and the man himself, who crashed back into form after an ignominious first Test with possibly his best innings in Test cricket.

During his scintillating 186 from 233 balls in Mumbai, Pietersen displayed such mastery over the conditions that it looked as if he were playing on a different surface to everyone else. KP showed maturity, tenacity, and levelheadedness throughout the series and coupled it with his unquestionable talent and work ethic to score 338 runs at 48.28. England fans were also met with a pleasant surprise as well when Pietersen played a three and a half hour rearguard innings in Nagpur, when England found themselves 16-2, to score 73 from 188 balls on what he called ‘the toughest wicket to play strokes on’. This defensive side is one Pietersen keeps in reserve it seems, and it is heartening for England to know he has it in his locker to draw upon at any given time.

The undisputed genius of Matt Prior

Undoubtedly the world’s best wicket-keeper/batsman, Matt Prior showed again why no one will be taking his name from that particular mantle at any time soon with yet another reliably solid performance with both the bat and gloves. His keeping to the spinners was better than in the U.A.E (but was still not completely without blemish, however) and his batting, which seems to keep getting better and better, is reminiscent of a right-handed Gilchrist in his pomp.

With the English found wanting in finding a consistent figure at number 6, Prior’s dependably first-rate performances at number 7 gave the team a sense of security in their lower-middle order. 258 runs at 51.60 represent a stellar return for the Sussex man, and his value to the England team was displayed no more aptly than in the first Test where he scored 48 and 91 – he and Cook were the only England batsmen to pass 40 in either innings.

The emergence of the Spin Twins

Both Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar clearly out-bowled their Indian counterparts by a fair margin. Swann’s guile, his changes of pace, length, and spin earned him 20 wickets (the joint-most in the series) at 24.75 as the off-spinner continues to show us why he is considered the best in the business.

He returned to the country where he made his Test debut some 4 years ago, only this time he leaves as England’s most successful off-break bowler in Test history and with his Test tally of wickets north of the coveted 200-mark. Monty made an impressive return to Test cricket in the series picking up 17 wickets in 3 Tests at 26.82 and has, through his immeasurably more mature and rounded performances as a bowler, staked a strong claim to remain in the England team on a more permanent basis.

And while England are, in all honesty, unlikely to play two spinners regularly in Test cricket, they can have no qualms about turning to Panesar should the need arise: they can count on a wholehearted and skillful performance from him any day, and who knows, Flower does like to reward consistency and tenacity. There may be hope for Monty yet.

James Anderson

Enough said… India is notorious for offering more to spinners than fast bowlers who are forced to toil and writhe on flat, dusty unhelpful wickets where the bounce never rises above knee-height and where the swing is a luxury that few can hope for.

The fact that Jimmy Anderson had the Indian batsmen hopping about and flashing all over the place in their own backyard is an appropriate barometer of Anderson’s sheer class as a fast bowler!

He is quick: his spells regularly touch the 140kmph range and has a mastery over seam and swing (both conventional and reverse), that is frankly unmatched and possibly has been unmatched for the past decade or more in international cricket and an impeccable line and length is guaranteed from Jimmy at all times. He was spellbinding and had Tendulkar at a loss as to how to play him – do not be so quick to condemn Sachin; falling to Anderson is not shameful: he simply is, along with Steyn, one of the world’s two best speed-merchants.

Courtesy: Jack Marshall - a cricket and soccer enthusiast, who loves to express his passion through words.  

 

Joe Root is promising

 

“Root made a fighting 73 and the innings was more about the character he showed. He has a sound technique that would get better and better in times to come if given more opportunities. And most importantly, his authority against the turning ball can prove handy for England in the coming days. The young boy has shown promise and can be one of the pillars of English a batting line-up in the coming days”

He is 21 years old, but boy, he does not look like that he has crossed his 20s, rather looks like a boy who would wake up in the morning, take breakfast, manage his backpack and run for the school. Yeah, he looks like a schoolboy and the smile is so boyish that it fits very well for a Disney Cinema. But, Joe Root is neither a schoolboy nor aspires to feature in a Disney Cinema –miles away from his home town Dore, Sheffield, Yorkshire –Root is proving his worth as a cricketer for the Three Lions at Nagpur.

Root attended King Ecgbert School in Sheffield, and at the age of 15, on a cricket sports scholarship, Worksop College as a weekly boarder.

Like his father Matt Root, he joined Sheffield Collegiate CC, in Abbeydale Park. Former Yorkshire batsman and England captain Michael Vaughan also learned his trade at Collegiate and was a source of inspiration for Root, who became a protégé of his. Root won the ‘player of the tournament’ in the prestigious Bunbury festival.

In 2007, he made his debut for the Yorkshire Second Team against Derbyshire at the Abbeydale Park. He continued to represent the Academy side and was named Player of the Tournament as Yorkshire's Academy won the ProARCH trophy in Abu Dhabi.

After impressing at the Second Team, Root was given the opportunity to represent the Yorkshire Senior Team in the Final of Pro40 at Headingley against Essex. He scored 63, but it was not enough to beat Essex.

In the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, Root scripted an unbeaten 70 in a victory against Hong Kong as England progressed to the quarterfinals but were eliminated by the West Indies.

In the winter of 2010, he was sent to the Darren Lehmann Academy in Adelaide, South Australia, to polish his game further.

In 2011, he made his Championship debut against Worcestershire and it was one of the 15matches Root played that year on top of his England Lions debut against Sri Lanka A. At Scarborough in August 2011, he scored his maiden Championship hundred against Sussex.

This year, Joe Root would discover himself touring with the English team in India.

It was not an all-is-well situation for England before landing on the Indian soil. The team had been beaten by a competent South African side at home, which led to the step down of Andrew Strauss, and then there was that tussle between Kevin Pietersen and the hierarchy of English Cricket, put England in a shaky state. But the current skipper Alastair Cook shrugged off all the prophets of doom and gloom in India and instilled a certain resolve, which helped the team regroup and take the crucial lead in this series.

Root witnessed the turnaround and was hugely motivated.

But he was not expecting to feature in this series until the fourth Test at Nagpur paved the way.

The young man made his debut for England.

For many, his selection was surprising.

He did not have the story like a young David Gower or Marcus Trescothick before Test debut and his first-class was near-modest, but the English think tank spotted something which was enough for them to give him two extensive net sessions ahead of the Test before they invest faith in him.

While the decision to drop Samit Patel, whose spin has been ineffective and who has failed with the bat, was expected, Root was thought to be behind Jonny Bairstow and Eoin Morgan too in the race to replace him.

But with Bairstow having looked unconvincing against spin in Mumbai and Morgan did little to erase the poor impression he made in the UAE - he averaged only 19.00 in the 2012 County Championship season - Root's ability to play spin won him the place.

Again, his 166 for the England Performance Programme (EPP) a couple of weeks ago came into consideration and Root also made a very good impression on the last EPP and Lions tours where his ability to play spin was identified by Graham Thorpe.  

Root wanted to exploit the opportunity and the situation was not a rosy one for the young lad – Ian Bell was dismissed with the score of 119 for 5 and when Pietersen was dismissed, it was 139 for 5. What England required was someone to exhibit the resolve of Cook on a slow deck.  

By the time Root was dismissed on Day 2, he batted longer - in terms of balls faced - than all but five players on their debut Test innings in England history.

According to ESPNcricinfo, “Root faced 229 balls - 151 fewer than the Nawab of Pataudi senior on his debut in the Ashes of 1932-33 - and became the sixth member of England's top seven to register a half-century or better on Test debut, once again underlining the worth of the County Championship in producing international players.”

Root said, “I have been wanting and dreaming about this opportunity for a very long time. You just try and adapt to the conditions and the situation and make the most of what you have got. I tried to be as patient as possible and keep it as simple as possible.”

“It would be wrong to say there were no nerves when you are waiting to bat in Test cricket for the first time but I had a good team around me and when I once in the middle I was very relaxed and in a good place to play.”

Root has obvious similarities with Michael Vaughan as a young batsman, who was also included in the English unit as a youngster with a relatively modest first-class record.  

Regarding the Vaughan issue, he said, “Michael has given me a bit of advice but mostly he lets me get on with it. My dad used to play in the same side as him.”

Root made a fighting 73 and the innings was more about the character he showed. He has a sound technique that would get better and better in times to come if given more opportunities. And most importantly, his authority against the turning ball can prove handy for England in the coming days. The young boy has shown promise and can be one of the pillars of English a batting line-up in the coming days.

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer on 14/12/2012 Joe Root is promising 

Thank You

Faisal Caesar  

 

Mahela Jayawardene's prolific decision is a lesson for all

One of the difficult tasks in a sportsman’s career is to decide about when to leave the scene. And mind you it’s never an easy decision to make. The grand stage on which a champion has dominated with pride suddenly start to frustrate him, suddenly the fan followers start to question ‘When are you leaving?’ The dignity which the champion has earned with utmost perseverance get hurt by the harsh remarks. But the champion wishes to dream of tomorrow despite being a man of yesterday. His mind wishes to command, his body and reflexes betrays.

In the subcontinental cricket culture, timely retirements or stepping down from captaincy have never been a very popular theory. The champions of the past had to be omitted by forceful retirements. What had been the most pathetic sight was the bruising of their much earned dignity. But those players didn’t deserve this. The one mistake those champions made was misjudging their capability which has been dented by the age. They gave emotions more priority rather than the reality and thus retirement with grace never took place.

Yesterday, Mahela Jayawardene, announced that he will not continue as Sri Lanka’s captain after the Australian tour. And he has expressed his will to support and groom Angelo Mathews, the next expected Lankan captain, to grow up as a leader. We don’t come across such wonderful gestures in the subcontinental cricket culture, but mean-minded attitudes and jealousy features more. By taking such as a decision Mahela Jayawardene has taught everyone a lesson about when to step down or leave the scene.

After the 2011 World Cup, Kumar Sangakkara stepped down as captain and Dilshan was vested with the captaincy. With stalwarts like Muralitharan and Vaas, leaving the scene; Sri Lanka found themselves in an ugly transitional phase. After a series of heavy defeats, the captaincy was vested upon the wily Mahela Jayawardene and immediately he brought the Lankan cricket on track. The year 2012 has been a very productive year for Sri Lanka under Mahela and in his helm of captaincy, Mahela has decided to step down and leave the scene for tomorrow’s heroes. Mahela has left the most prestigious job while wanting more and that’s the mindset which is very unpopular amongst our part of the world’s cricketers.

Mahela Jayawardene has set himself a standard which everyone should follow. Self-realization and self-appraisals are very important to every sportsman while deciding when to leave. Prolonging a once illustrious career which has lost its shine in the passage of time is nothing but inviting more ordinariness and dullness. So the wise job is to retire with grace, retire while wanting more.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Bangladesh have done justice to their fans

After each match the fans of the Bangladesh cricket team are left depressed and sad. Time and again hopes turn into despair. Ardent Bangladeshi cricket followers are left in the wilderness thinking about the whys and hows of another defeat. Even similar thoughts were about to prevail at Mirpur on Saturday night had the Tigers not snatch a much needed win and with it the series against West Indies in the final ODI. It would have been another tragedy, another moment of utter frustration.

In the five-match ODI series, Bangladesh took the early advantage over their guests with a 2-0 lead, and there were hopes of a 'Banglawash'. But suddenly, the host lost their way. The top order's failure and repeated catch drops let West Indies storm back to level the series at 2-2. The momentum gained by Bangladesh was lost and now it was West Indies who were well placed to topple the hosts in the final encounter. 

Sixteen crore Bangladeshis didn't even think about any other purposes other than the cricket team's success on Saturday. The people present in the stadium, in front of the TV and people listening to the radio all remained stuck to cricket. They didn't wish for another pathetic Asia Cup final. They prayed, they wished of a win and they wished to celebrate. And it's only our cricket team who are able to gift them such golden moments.

Though Bangladesh is considered a very promising land, at present it has very few things to cheer for. Amid various frustrations, Bangladeshis look forward to their cricket team in search of glory and respect as at present it's neither the politicians nor the intellectuals or the media who have brought the country fame internationally. It's only the cricket team that represents us on the big stage. they remain the country's biggest pride, our biggest love.

This is how the Tigers are being connected with our heart and soul. So, any low performance by the team ultimately leaves the country at a standstill. But Saturday night's victory bears enough importance to keep the spirit of the fans shining as brightly as ever.

When Nasir Hossain hit the winning runs, Dhaka turned into a city of joy. To us Bangladeshi fans this was a very precious win. It gifted the country reason to smile and to forget the day to day political circuses. Yes, we have a top-order problem and we still aren't able to utilize the good work of our bowlers. We still have a lot to improve. But this will come slowly and steadily. It's time now to cherish the victory by the Bangladesh boys.

Note: This article has been published today in cricketnext.com  Bangladesh have done justice to their fans

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Faisal Caesar

16 crore fans say "Yes!" This coach says "At last!"

Sometimes wins go almost overlooked, unseen and perhaps unnoticed by the media. In this modern day of numerous ODIs and seemingly meaningless matches, one series has meant more to a nation than any other series – or nation.

The 3-2 series win by Bangladesh over a full West Indies team means little to the detractors outside of Bangladesh who say the team isn’t very good. But this series win is more that just a poke in the eye to those. This win could be an important moment in what have been many false dawns before for Bangladesh.

The difference with this win, compared to The 4-0 ‘Banglawash’ over New Zealand in 2010, is that it was done without Shakib Al Hasan. More than that though, it was done with contributions from debutants like Anamul, Mominul and Sohag Gazi. It was also done with very mature performances from Mahmudullah Riyad and Nasir Hossain.

 This is significant.

 No longer does Bangladesh have to feel it relies on Tamim Iqbal for runs, or Shakib for runs and wickets. The confidence appears to be there with players who are prepared to stand up and be counted in their own right. I hope that confidence doesn’t disappear as fast as the fans leaving the stadium.

 It would be churlish and somewhat unfair to point out that Gayle never fired or that West Indies bowled poorly as a team overall. It might have been that Bangladesh never allowed those players to be successful in the first place. So the credit must go to the squad here for making the results go in their favour.

 Then special mention to Shane Jurgensen, interim Head Coach, who had nothing to lose by taking over this role. A team unexpected to do well and without the weight of having to win the series, seemed to galvanize under Shane. Whether his input was vital or not, the fact remains the victory is under his watch and to witness a 2-0 lead be all-squared with one match to go, many observers believed West Indies would simply steamroller Bangladesh. But a steely determination underpinned the final win and everyone associated with this success must be congratulated.

Emotion plays a huge part in cricket life in Bangladesh. We all hope that logic – at last - can for once prevail and this squad with these players can go on and start to truly believe that this was no fluke.

For the rest of the world used to witnessing Bangladesh not fulfilling its huge potential, the series win over West Indies will serve as a reminder that something is stirring on the playing fields of Khulna and Dhaka. Everyone must ensure this continues as a catalyst and not a flash in the pan. The Asia Cup hinted that something might be happening. Time will tell if the future is to be bright for Bangladesh. But for now,  just enjoying a hard-fought series win is all that matters. It is for another day, very soon, that lessons can be learned.

Courtesy: Ian Pont

Alastair Cook: The lighthouse

  “In modern-day cricket, Alastair Cook is becoming a phenomenon as the captain. He’s taking those bold steps which are unthinkable for the others and that’s where Cook is becoming enigmatic and unique. With the progression of time, Cook is becoming the Renaissance of modern English cricket”

The first Test at Ahmadabad had been the reflection of England’s recent turmoil in Test cricket. On the field, they lacked intensity while off the field they were engaged with unnecessary chaos. The English ship was traveling through a troubled sea and while that ship was crossing through the Indian oceans, the waves went wild, the wind blew strong – rank turners, unprepared tracks, and spin wizards were making the sea fearsome enough to devour the English ship.

But the captain of that English ship decided to challenge the angry waves and hostile wind of the Indian Ocean with a resolute and composed manner. He didn’t give any big speech to his men; he didn’t heat up the media but let his deeds do the talking to inspire his men to combat the hostility of the Indian Ocean.

In Mumbai, it had been a drastic situation for the Englishmen. A victory was much needed to lift the dying English spirit and Alastair Cook, the newly appointed English captain, dug in, summoned his inner reserves, and spilled assurance to the England batting which was down and dusted a week ago in Ahmadabad. And when the captain is in no mood to accept defeat then how can his men accept the same? The English sailors responded to Captain Cook’s leading-from-the-front-show and sunk India in the Indian Ocean – KP’s egoistic batting boomed, Panesar and Swann spun the web of spin to leave India baffled.

Cook’s intensity is the same in Kolkata. His batting remains a thorn in India’s throat as an old fashioned batting approach dented the Indian bowlers to take the honours for England on day 2. Another patient and composed ton came up and thus records continued to tumble for Cook.

He has now the most runs by an England captain on an Indian tour since Ted Dexter. He now has the most Test hundreds by an Englishman and it has also been his fifth Test hundred in his five Tests as captain. And mind you, he’s just 26.

One of the greatest qualities of Cook’s batting is his sense of adjustment to the nature of the wicket. Whether it’s a turning track or a track with uneven bounce, Cook adjusts to it very quickly to defy the odds. At the crease, he’s just like a monk – even an atom bomb can’t deter him from his goal. In an era, when adventurous batsmanship has become a tradition, Cook is more like a purist of the coaching manual – watchful, resistant, gritty; full of concentration, and occupation at the crease are the spices that make up Cook’s batting mantra.

For the English team, Cook is the lighthouse. One of Cook’s biggest contribution as a captain for England is the development of a certain resolve within the team which was much needed apart from skill.  He sewed that seed of resolve in Ahmadabad which bore fruit in Mumbai and he is carrying on that legacy in Kolkata. Cook kept on pushing himself beyond the limits with an astute resolution which laid the foundations for the maverick, the Sardar, the White Swan, and the speed star to sing a song.

In modern-day cricket, Alastair Cook is becoming a phenomenon as the captain. He’s taking those bold steps which are unthinkable for the others and that’s where Cook is becoming enigmatic and unique. With the progression of time, Cook is becoming the Renaissance of modern English cricket.

Note: This article has been posted in Cricketsoccer on 06/12/2012 Alastair Cook: The lighthouse

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Faisal Caesar

Cricket's next generation will not disappoint

So, Ricky Ponting bows out from the stage on which he dominated as gracefully as ever. After the retirement of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Muttiah Muralitharan and Sourav Ganguly, another cricketing legend have called it a day. Amongst these few legends, whose careers span more than a decade, Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Daniel Vettori and Jacques Kallis are still playing. But in the course of time they too will call it a day.

It's very difficult to fulfill the voids created by the departures of such players. You will struggle to find those marvelous hooks and pull shots that Ponting played; you will search for 'The Wall' and Laxman's silky drives or those majestic on-drives of Tendulkar. But will you remain stuck in time?

The planet of sports is an amazing place. It never offers dullness. The past of a sporting life cycle always spreads the colours of glory, but it never steps back to present us with exciting talents. A vacuum created by Sunil Gavaskar was fulfilled by another Mumbai batsman while the absence of a Murali has been filled with a maestro. The place has never remained empty.

If you are sad with the retirements of these legends who have been your inspiration for more than a decade then don't be upset, because cricket is creating future stars who are all set to catch your imagination.

South Africa are oozing with players of supreme talent. There's an artist named Hashim Amla whose wrists are wrapped in silk to refresh the eyes of the purists; in AB de Villiers they posses a sophisticated destroyer; Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel can make the heart race like a Allan Donald used to do. In England, a cricketer's ego is proving handy for the opposition. It's not destroying him, but making him a legend in the passage of time. Kevin Pietersen's egoistic batting is something rare in modern day cricket.

In India, you might not be greeted with a Dravid or Tendulkar but Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara won't let your hopes shatter. From the land of the unpredictable, Pakistan, a magician named Saeed Ajmal is there keep your life mysterious with a doosra, teesra and fizzing offbreaks. Moreover, the likes of Junaid Khan and Raza Hasan's guile and tenacity will hold your attention. The paradise islands of Sri Lanka are blessed with the likes of Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Akila Dhananjaya and Suraj Randiv. Even Bangladesh - though pathetic losers - are not short of sparks with the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain and Mahmudullah there to command respect.

In the Caribbean, cricket seems to have got a new life. Refreshing talents are cropping up to bring back life into West Indian cricket. Darren Bravo, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach and Adrian Barath are the future of Caribbean cricket and look very promising.

You will stand up and applaud the leaders of the next generation who are fighters and lead by an example. These leaders stand up and face the toughest situations by delivering the goods for their teams. Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke are the leaders of the modern era who are adept to gel their team together with decisive match-saving performances.

Cricket has the players, shaping up into legends, for you to keep your interest in moving on beyond a Ponting, Tendulkar or Lara. And again, do not forget about the element of surprise from cricket as it has the habit of presenting us stars from nowhere. You might discover someone from the streets of Mumbai storming the cricketing world, you might get thrilled by the speed of an unknown rookie from Rawalpindi or from a don't-know-zone in Sri Lanka a magician might take you for a visit in the wonderlands.

Note: This article has been published in cricketnext.com today Cricket's next generation will not disappoint

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Faisal Caesar

A nation's players in denial

If ever a nation’s fans deserved success it is undoubtedly Bangladesh. That’s because through thick and thin, good and bad, for betters or for worse, the fans show up hoping for a miracle. That miracle is a Test win at home or a series win against a Top 8 team fully stocked with its quota of players.

 Yet despite that miracle never appearing, the fans shout themselves into a stupor. They cheer every run. They shout for every wicket. They even scream when the team wins the toss. That kind of blind support should be reserved for a nation’s heroes. That elevation of status to ‘legend’ should be held back and only bestowed on those who really warrant it.

But to the Bangladeshi fans, wearing a national shirt does make you a hero. And this where much of the problem lies in the cricket.

 The issues with the national cricket team run deep and they run across multi levels. But they mostly stem from expectation of what constitutes a good player and what is accepted as world class by most other countries.  It seems perfectly normal to Australian, English or South African players, for example, to spend their time off in either the gym or at practice, honing skills. This may not be quite the match up with Bangladesh attitudes to training and practice.

 And here’s the heart of the problem in many ways. Those making it to the national team seem to lack the all round ‘best practice’ approach to the game that other teams take for granted now. It’s a deep-rooted misunderstanding that in some way, some how, the responsibility is someone else’s, and not those playing the game.

 I feel this is also why successive coaching staffs have met with such little success. It’s also why fans want to change the coaching staff when series get continually lost or poor matches become normal behavior for the team.

 If you are better than average in Bangladesh as a player you know you will be adored by the fans and the public. Winning games now and then can almost lead to a public holiday, gifts showered upon you or certainly, more income through sponsors queuing up to have you endorse their oil, mowers, soft drink or air conditioning systems. The trappings of success are high in Bangladesh, but the bar has been set so very low in the first place.

 It starts at domestic level. Everyone knows that the game at this level, often described by others, as ‘picnic cricket’, is no indicator of good skill. The standard, which is barely above most counties’ 2nd XI cricket, requires a complete and urgent overhaul.

 Having spent a year working with Ranji Trophy team Haryana, I can state that Bangladesh as a nation would be better served attempting to get into that system in the same way that Namibia has done with South Africa, and Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland have done with England.

 It is only by playing in competitive cricket, mixing with others who have the right approach to the game and listening to how things are done properly, can Bangladesh truly move forward.

I have a love affair with Bangladesh and it really pains me to see how the team continually makes the same mistakes over and over and over again. The excuse culture that exists “it wasn’t my fault”… “that’s how I play”… etc., has to be gotten rid of so coaches can build on the talent that is hidden away in the country.

Whatever a cricket board does or doesn’t do, a cricketer is in control of what he does. And it starts in the hearts and minds of those playing for the Bangladesh flag and for the millions of crazy, passionate, irresistible fans who support them without question.

Bangladesh cricket fans deserve a good team to cheer for. The players are fortunate to have that when they often don’t deserve it.  After 12 years of Test cricket the time is now for those playing to step up.

I think the world is getting bored with what’s happening to cricket in Bangladesh. It is now up to the players to do something about it.

Courtesy: Ian Pont

Mahmudullah: The unsung hero of Bangladesh cricket

At 193 for 8, Bangladesh were done and dusted against West Indies on the first day of the second Test in Khulna. As usual it was the top order that was rusty and the hosts were heading for a dismal total. But from nowhere a debutant named pace bowler named Abul Hasan stood up to be counted and blazed his way to a century from the No. 10 spot.

Undoubtedly, it was a knock which had been the need of the hour to uplift the dying Bangladeshi spirit. Abul stole the show and grabbed the limelight but one man's instrumental contribution was overshadowed by the enough brightness of that historic century.

While the tailender went all guns blazing against the West Indies' attack, that man was playing the sheet anchor role to Abul's fluency - Mahmudullah. In the second innings, Bangladesh again found themselves in a desperate situation to save the Test. Another composed presence was required to nurture the tail. But sadly, it was not to be. Mahmudullah was dismissed cheaply and the tail was left without a guardian to show the way. Such is the importance of a player like him in the team during the critical juncture of a match.

It's not the first time that Mahmudullah has played such a role under trying circumstances. Remember Bangladesh's victory over England in last year's World Cup? He and tail-ender Shafiul Islam transformed a futile situation with a glorious blaze of strokeplay into an emotional moment for 16 crore cricket-mad Bangladeshis. At Mirpur in the first Test, with Bangladesh in desperately fighting to avoid the follow-on, Mahmudullah joined Nasir Hossain to essay another big partnership and put his team in a commanding position. Nasir was showered with praises for his adventurous stroke play but Mahmudullah again received nothing despite providing vital support to Nasir's belligerence.

Mahmudullah, the vice-captain of the Bangladesh cricket team, has been an unsung hero of our cricket. We fall in love with cricketers who flaunt their talents like a painter might do with his brush. Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal do that quite often and so does Nasir. The amalgam of skill and composure is the favorite dish for us.

But players like Mahmudullah strike a chord elsewhere. He is meant to be a workmanlike cricketer and not a genius. He accepts this and tries to make the most of it whenever he has been vested with a responsibility. Whenever he walks out to bat, Mahmudullah discovers himself in a planet where there's a disaster everywhere with vulnerable players demanding security and assurance. But he remains unfazed by such critical situations and ensures assurance. He won't flash hard at anything; instead he will concentrate on grafting singles and couples, picking the gaps with deft touches amalgamated with the occasional attacking stroke. 

It's never an easy job to bat with the tail. A tailender demands assurance from the other end and like a VVS Laxman and Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mahmudullah has the ability to provide security to the tail. And it was this assurance that made Abul play so freely on that eventful afternoon in Khulna. Sadly, Mahmudullah doesn't fit the definition of our heroes - dashing, thrilling and adventurous.

He is just a silent work-ant of Bangladesh cricket who continues to contribute effectively whenever times get tough.

Players like Mahmudullah deserve applause and credit because they get up again and again amid a rut and help others reach their goals. Abul was something of a hero for Bangladesh but needed needed assurance from the cool and customized Mahmudullah to reach an impossible goal. That's a hero.

Note: This article has also been published today in cricketnext.com Mahmudullah: The unsung hero of Bangladesh cricket

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Faisal Caesar

Egos don't destroy, they create legends

Rank-turners were slapped, nightmare against the turning balls were brushed away, weaknesses against left-arm spin was buried as batting supremacy was established with a greater distinction by a man whose future of playing for England looked bleak few months ago. Today, at the Wankhede, Kevin Pietersen unleashed an innings of a lifetime which very few Englishmen can dare to script with as commanding effort as Pietersen.  

A person with ego suffers. Most often he discovers himself alone with the world moving on. By being too introverted he lacks friends and dear ones and for the time being his world get’s finished – burned with self-pride. But, hold on! They do come back. It’s again their ego which relives their spirit from the ashes. They rise from the ashes, challenges the adversity and move on like a tiger. They create their own world which is special and daring than the ordinary world where the ordinary souls exist.

The Mumbai track was prepared to trap the Englishmen in the web of spin and the way the track started to turn from the first day it was expected that the Indian spin-trio would devour the Englishmen haplessly. But Pietersen stood tall and proved his worth for the English team with conviction. It had been innings of a man who cherishes his ego and is used to dish out unique performances depending on his ego. Only a talent can dare to play such knock, only ego can demand such authority.

In the nervous 90’s KP didn’t wilt but went for an outrageous reverse sweep with maximum composure to reach his hundred and then reached his 150-run with an extraordinary pickup over midwicket off the left-arm spin of Ojha. Then there was a genius of a loft over cover for six again against the left-arm spin of Ojha. You could only wish to play for such shots in dreams but men like KP make this possible in reality as they are the children of Hercules, the rare gift of God.

We blame people like KP for being too egoistic, too aggressive and introverted. But it is their ego that helps them to script those impossible epics which the mere good ones can’t even think of. Their ego brings out the best from them and it’s their ego which makes them exceptional. Resistance and caution would be the key to apply on this Mumbai track but for men like KP resistance is boredom, caution is just like eating grass as a tiger doesn’t eat grass.

The Wankhede observed something special which will remain etched in the memories of those present at the stadium and those who watched live on TV. It had been a victory of ego over adversity. It had been a message for those who are always up to hassle the egoistic personalities. Egos don’t destroy, they create legends. And Kevin Pietersen is the legend of the modern generation.

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Faisal Caesar

Unseen and unheard

Sometimes I can’t express my emotions. Sometimes I have to smile as I have to – to show how strong I am. But you can’t even imagine how tough it is! When you're deeply bleeding from inside it's even tougher to maintain your smile. You just wish to cry as loudly as possible. But you end up crying silently in the dark corners of your heart - unheard, unseen. To everyone you're smiling as usual. But deep down you are standing all alone in a crowded place with tears rolling down.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar