Pakistan v Australia - The men in green have conquered adversity in style

The suspension of Saeed Ajmal by the ICC had dented Pakistan psychologically and continuous dismal performances in recent times didn’t do anything good to uplift the Pakistan team’s confidence. While Australia were all set to script another comprehensive win against Pakistan like the ODIs and T20I, the Pakistanis were found busy with off-field issues before the start of first Test.

But the Pakistan team always have the element of danger. No matter which team is playing, it always seems that the normal mechanism of control doesn’t exist. No Pakistan team will ever play the way as you expect.

You just never know which Pakistan team will show up - whether they would come together as a unit to tear an opponent in half or tear themselves into half. Either they are cornered Tigers one day or cornered chickens the other day.

The much experienced Australian batting had jolted against the left-arm spin of Zulfiqar – playing in his second Test - and legspin of an unknown young lad named Yasir Shah who was playing his first Test. Despite Pakistan’s respectable first innings total, it was least expected that, an inexperienced Pakistani attack would be able to put the Australian batsmen under pressure. But, Zulfiqar and Yasir had stranglehold the Australian batsmen.

Both of them had bowled with enough spirit as their expertise and subtlety continuously flummoxed the Australian batsmen and for a single moment the absence of Ajmal was never felt.  Pakistan were more focused and resourceful than Australia and Misbah-ulHaq as a captain shrugged off his defensive mindset and was seen to more aggressive and proactive.

Who would have thought that a competitive Australian team would surrender meekly in Dubai? Who would have thought that an Ajmal-less team would devour the Australians in such a ruthless manner? But at Dubai, such eye-popping things did happen as because Pakistan - the underdogs before the start of Dubai Test - as a team were more focused and resourceful than Australia.

Pakistan cricket has never been without a crisis situation and time and again, controversies have hogged the headlines. But each time, they have bounced back well. The suspension of Saeed Ajmal was an unexpected blow for Pakistan fraternity, but by beating Australia in Dubai they have conquered adversity in style.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

The WICB crisis - World cricket can't afford to lose West Indies

Those of us who started following cricket since the late 80s will be particularly troubled with the recent chaos in West Indies cricket as because, in those days, the West Indies were the undisputed champions of world cricket and everyone relished watching them in action. They were everyone’s favourite team.

But as time progressed, their dominating performances started to lose its shine. The charisma and magnetism, which made them so special, were lost and there had been an appalling deterioration in interest for playing cricket.

Over the years, the West Indies cricket has gone doldrums. Their players lack passion, heart and purpose and their problems can be attributed to a vacuum at the top. The men in charge have always failed to realize that their natural talents had dried out a long time back and nowadays, success is achieved through sheer discipline, strict professionalism and a strong work ethic. But sadly, the WICB had always been more interested in practicing whims rather than sense and sensibilities.

In February, this year, Dwayne Bravo, the one-day captain, along with other players met Wavell Hinds, who is both the President and Chief Executive of West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA). Hinds told the players that they would have to share an amount of their international earning as it was needed to fund the new first-class franchise system. The players agreed with Hinds’ proposal on condition that they receive back some amount in another form.

So, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Hinds with WICB’s President Dave Cameron in September. But according to Bravo, the players were hardly consulted about this matter and the team traveled to India without signing their new contracts.  

Dwayne Bravo suggested reinstating the old agreement temporarily until the Indian tour ended so that they all could discuss about the matter at length and renegotiate the terms of the new MoU. But Cameron didn’t agree with such and argued that since Hinds had already signed it, the new MoU would remain as it was.

The players thought that both WICB and WIPA are riding on the same boat and Hinds had been the main culprit. In a letter to Hinds, Bravo said that the players have lost confidence in Hinds because of the MoU he signed with the WICB on their behalf in which WIPA agreed to massive pay cuts - their Test, one-day and Twenty20 fees had been decreased by 75 percent. They also claimed that their International Cricket Council (ICC) fees have been decreased by "close to 100 percent" and that they would not be compensated for the use of their rights under the new deal.

But a stubborn Hinds declared that he would not resign and his reply to Bravo’s letter was, “I must take this opportunity to remind you that there is a process embedded in WIPA's memorandum and articles of association regarding the election and removal of officers, and that your call for some members of the current executive and board to resign is not supported by that process. We were placed here by the rules of our association, and will leave only according to the will of the majority of our membership as provided in those rules”.

The situation became bad to worse to worst and ultimately went out of control. The West Indian players protested against Hinds and Cameron by skipping the Indian tour and this move didn’t impress cricket’s powerhouse BCCI at all. They have already suspended all bilateral ties with West Indies and have threatened to take legal actions against them. This move will make West Indies cricket suffer badly as because playing against India have always been financially beneficial for WICB. And now if such tours don’t take place, then it will be tough for West Indies to exist. Ultimately they will sink.

The ICC released a statement regarding this matter on October 22 saying, “The ICC hopes that the matter will be resolved amicably, but clarified that, unless the matter is otherwise referred to it, it does not have the power to intervene in disputes resulting from a bilateral FTP tour”.  

Moreover, if the ICC applies its rules then under the ICC's Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, unanimously approved by the full council in June 2014, the WICB could face suspension from the ICC.

So, if they really face a suspension from international cricket then it will not only make them bankrupt but it will be a big loss for world cricket as well.

The core issue is all about who earns more money and not cricket. Neither Hinds nor Cameron nor Bravo and his men are sacrificing their egos. If they all don’t come to a solution, then the future of West Indies cricket looks bleak and it will not be good for world cricket at all as because world cricket needs West Indies to survive and improve.

Note: This article has been published in Sportskeeda on 23/10/2014 http://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/the-west-indies-crisis-world-cricket-cant-afford-to-lose-west-indies

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

ICC World Cup 1975 - Gary Gilmour's incredible all-round exhibition against England

Gary Gilmour in action during the World Cup 1975

Australia and England were involved in a very absorbing and throbbing semi-final at Headingley during the inaugural World Cup. In circumstances which contradicted Wisden’s assessment of ‘perfect weather, ideal conditions’, both the teams found themselves battling it out under overcast conditions and seaming Headingley track.

Tale of the Headingley Track

The semi-final match was to be played on the same track where Australia and Pakistan played against each other during a group encounter. During that time, the track was suitable for batting, but before the semi-final clash, the groundsman had watered the pitch and made it look much livelier. Even though the moisture on the pitch was expected to vanish with the progression of the day, but the damp conditions didn’t let it happen.

Australia’s shrewd pick

The Australian hierarchy included an unknown left-arm swing bowler named Gary Gilmour instead of offspinner Ashley Mallet. It was a shrewd move in these conditions as Gilmour’s inclusion was to create a heavy impact on this match.

Gary Gilmour wreaks havoc with the ball

Ian Chappell won the toss and elected to bowl first. England openers, Denniss Amiss and Barry Wood came out to bat. After Lillee’s first over, the English openers were expecting a lively burst from Thomson. But Chappell introduced Gilmour left-arm swing bowling. Immediately, Gilmour dismissed Amiss with a ball that pitched on the leg stump and hit Amiss’s pads after straightening.

Barry Wood confidently drove Lillee through the covers for the first boundary of the day, but his confidence took a setback when his off-stump was pegged back by a deceptive inswinger from Gilmour.

Rod Marsh catches Tony Greig in an acrobatic fashion

Tony Greig and Keith Fletcher joined together to do the repair work, but a superlative acrobatic catch by Rod Marsh dented the repair work: Gary Gilmour pitched one wide outside the off stump at which Greig slashed hard. The ball flew to first slip where Ian Chappell was standing to take a regulation catch, but Marsh flew to his right and in front of Chappell to grab a superman-like-catch.

Frank Hayes, the next man in, on-drove and hit the first boundary off Gilmour, but his stay at the crease was cut short by Gilmour’s nip-backer against which Hayes tried to shoulder his arms – the ball hit the pad and Australia’s appeal for lbw was upheld.

By trapping Fletcher leg before, Gilmour had bagged a five-for and became the second bowler in the history of one-day cricket to do such after Dennis Lillee who achieved such feats in the same tournament. And by dismissing Alan Knott with another inducker, Gilmour had become the first bowler in the history of one-day cricket to bag a six-wicket haul.

Gilmour was simply irresistible on that way. He generated extravagant movement both in the air and off the surface. He relied more on pitching the ball up and most of his deliveries were induckers which resulted in four leg-before wickets. Gilmour finished with figures of 6 for 14.

England all out for 93

At 37 for 7 the game was almost over for England. But the English captain, Mike Denness, decided to fight back and showed enough resilience to score 27 runs. But his resistance was ended by Lillee who replaced Walker after lunch. Geoff Arnold added some valuable runs, but England were finally all out for 93 runs in 36.2 overs.

Gilmour delivers with the bat for Australia

Chasing 94 runs in 60 overs was supposed to be a cakewalk for the strong Australian batting line-up. But against Arnold, Snow, Old and Lever, the Australian batting line-up jolted.

Arnold trapped Turner lbw and John Snow, who was bowling with extreme pace, dismissed both the Chappell brothers in the space of nine balls. Then it was the turn for the local boy Chris Old to add further misery for the Aussies. Bowling first change, Old bowled with hostility to disturb the stumps of McCosker, Ross Edwards and Rod Marsh to leave Australia reeling at 39 for 6.

Gary Gilmour in action with the bat

Gilmour came out to bat and joined Doug Walters. He shunned the wait-and-watch theory and smashed a quickfire unbeaten 28 runs and qaushed further embarrassment. The partnership between him and Walters was worth 55 runs off just 58 balls. There was once a slice of luck for Gilmour as he was dropped by Greig at slip while the score was at 78 for 6.

Gary Gilmour’s allround performance is still regarded as one of the best in the history of one-day cricket and ICC World Cup. It’s a pity that such a talented cricketer didn’t live up to the expectations and faded away.

Note: This article has been published in Sportskeeda on 11/10/2014 http://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/icc-world-cup-1975-gary-gilmour-allround-exhibition-australia-england

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Faisal Caesar 

ICC World Cup 1975 - Sri Lanka's courageous display against Australia's furious pace

Duleep Mendis needed medical treatment after being hit on the head by Thomson

Sri Lanka and East Africa were the non-Test status teams to participate in the inaugural ICC World Cup in 1975. Both teams suffered heavy defeats in their respective opening matches. The Kiwis thrashed the East Africans while the Sri Lankans were mauled by the Caribbean pace battery.

In their second match, East Africa were, as expected, pummeled by the Indians at Leeds, and at the Oval the same fate was expected in case of Sri Lanka because this time around, their batsmen had to face the fury of Lillee and Thomson who were as lethal as the West Indian pace battery.

Australian batsmen feed on Lankan bowlers

After the horrifying experience against West Indies, the Sri Lankan captain Anura Tennekoon didn’t want to expose his batsmen against Lillee and Thomson earlier in the morning and decided to field first on a placid Oval track after winning the toss.

But Tennekoon’s decision didn’t favour Sri Lanka as the Australian openers - Rick McCosker and Alan Tuner made the Lankan bowlers to toil hard. Turner hit nine fours and one six to script a knock of 101 runs. The opening stand of 182 runs was ended as legspinner Somachandra de Silva accounted for the wicket of Alan Turner. De Silva accounted for the wicket of McCosker as well and after a while Lalith Wasantha Silva Kaluperuma dismissed Ian Chappell cheaply to bring the Sri Lankans back into the game.

But Sri Lanka’s joy didn’t last long as Greg Chappell and Doug Walters started to dent the Lankan bowlers by scoring at a rapid pace. A partnership of 117 runs for the fourth wicket came up quickly and the Australians posted a huge total of 328 for 5 in 60 overs.

Sri Lanka’s gutsy reply

Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson delivered thunderbolts but the Sri Lankan openers, Ranjit Fernando and Sidath Wettimuny weathered the storm well. After scripting a cautious opening stand of thirty runs, Fernando was castled by Thomson’s sheer pace. Bandarna Warnapura and Wettimuny added 54 runs for the second wicket. Ashley Mallet dismissed Warnapura but that didn’t dent Sri Lanka’s momentum at all.

Duleep Mendis joined Wettimuny and both of them batted with courage and confidence to give Ian Chappell enough headaches. The Sri Lankans were 150 for 2 in 32 overs and were well on course to chase down Australia’s mammoth total.

Dennis Lillee (L) and Jeff Thomson

The Sri Lankans did weather the fury of Lillee and Thomson earlier, but when Ian Chappell introduced both of them for a second burst, they were too hot to handle. Especially Thomson was devastating. As Chappell recalled, “The two little Sri Lankans (Duleep Mendis and Sunil Wettimuny) were going boom, boom, boom and I said to Thommo (Jeff Thomson), look, these guys certainly can play on the front foot, let’s see how good they are on the back foot”.

The fury of Jeff Thomson

Jeff Thomson transformed into a demon when he came back to bowl in his second spell. Thomson continued to bang the ball short with extreme pace and thudded into the batsman’s body again and again. According to Wettimuny, “It was like a flash. I couldn't see the ball”. Remembering that spell, Mendis said, “It was the fastest spell of fast bowling I had ever faced in my life. He was averaging over 100 miles. It was seriously fast and we had no protection. You couldn't pick the ball cleanly from his action that he had - plucking the ball from behind - and over that, he was firing them at top speed. It was a great challenge”.

Mendis and Wettimuny’s resistance against Thomson didn’t last long as a Thomson snoter hit Mendis on the head and immediately he went down on the pitch as if he was shot in the head with a gun. The figure of Mendis lying on the pitch was a sad sight. He was taken to hospital for further medical management.

Duleep Mendis being taken off the ground after he was hit by a Thomson snorter

Then Thomson knocked down Wettimuny. Thomson delivered a fast inswinging yorker which hit Wettimuny’s foot badly and he yelped in pain, but received no sympathy from Thomson, who uttered, “Look, it's not broken, you weak bastard. But if you're down there next over, it will be”.

But Wettimuny didn’t give up easily and decided to carry on. And yes, he was on strike when Thomson returned to bowl again and again, Thomson banged in another yorker into the same spot again – Wetimuny’s foot was broken and with that his confidence ebbed away.

Mendis and Wettimuny were admitted in the same hospital for treatment and were discharged the next day. But Wettimuny was forced to walk on crutches because of a damaged instep while Mendis missed Sri Lanka's last match with a lingering headache.

Sri Lanka didn’t give up but continued the fight back

Sri Lanka’s hope of scripting a win was dented by the departure of Wettimuny and Mendis but they refused to get intimidated by the fury of Australian pace. Anura Tennekoon and Michael Tissera continued the Sri Lankan fight and added 82 runs for the third wicket. Tennekoon scored 48 while Tissera 52 runs but, it was not enough as they lost the match by 52 runs with six wickets intact.

While bowling the bouncers Jeff Thomson said, “They were only little fellas so you couldn't call it a bouncer exactly”. Indeed, they were little fellas but they were not short of confidence and courage. The Australians might have won that day, but, Sri Lanka had received all the accolades for their courageous display.

This article has been published in Sportskeeda on 4./10/2014  ICC World Cup 1975 - Sri Lanka's courageous display against Australia's furious pace

Thank You

Faisal Caesar