The loyalty of the Tigers towards Bangladesh paid off

 

"The loyalty of the Tigers towards Bangladesh had paid off and let's hope, this loyalty doesn't lose its way in the coming days"

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) knocking at the doors, obviously, the focus of the players always shift to the crazy money train which offers everything except cricket - cricket is just a tamasha in the IPL or any other Twenty20 Leagues - in return, players achievements are lucrative - again, except cricket, there is everything.

And, such things always attract everyone - even when the matter is about shunning the interest of the national team, then let be it - over the last fifteen years, IPL has destroyed the environment of world cricket and very few could raise their voices against the evil because of the power of BCCI.

Before the start of the series against Bangladesh at home, Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed that they will be leaving it up to the players to make the decision which the Test captain Dean Elgar called a litmus test of loyalty.

"The players need to give Cricket South Africa an indication of if they are keen to go to the IPL or if they are keen to play for the Test side. It's a bit of a tough one putting that in the players' box but this I guess, this is where you see where players' loyalty lies," Elgar said.

"They mustn't forget that Test cricket or one-day cricket got them into the IPL and not the other way around."

"I wish I knew more for my own personal sanity and that I could prepare, knowing that most of my bowlers are potentially not going to be there if they choose to go the IPL route."

"If I don't have everyone at my disposal then it's a little bit difficult. It's a bit of a tough one for me. I can't take the field without my best side. I need my best side there. If they are not available, it's something for us to sit down and get through."

There were 11 South African players contracted to this year's IPL including six Test regulars and three others who were part of the ODI squad.

That includes the entire frontline pace pack - Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen - as well batters Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, allrounder Dwaine Pretorius and limited-overs wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

The loyalty was exhibited in the ODI series but not in Test matches.

The South African Test side for the two-match home series against Bangladesh "will be without its IPL players," announced Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday. The likes of Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada and Rassie van der Dussen were not included in the 15-man squad released by CSA.

Jansen, Markram, Ngidi and Dussen featured in South Africa's 2-1 series victory against India and also in the away series against New Zealand. But the five cricketers along with Quinton de Kock, Dwaine Pretorius, David Miller have got IPL contracts that clashes with the Bangladesh Tests.

The whole saga hampered the focus of the unit extremely and the effects were seen during the ODI series.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh showed their loyalty towards the country better than South Africa. There was an offer for Taskin Ahmed from one of the IPL teams - but the lad remained towards Green and Red and decided to give his best, whereas, despite the health problems of the family, the charismatic Shakib Al Hasan remained determined to give his best for the Green and Red.

Shakib requested for leave before the series - but thankfully, the honest critics of the game raised their voices and perhaps, it played a big role in reconsidering his decision.

The focus of the Tigers was never deterred by the glamour and cash of IPL, rather, playing for the country became the main goal and the results have been outstanding - for the first time, Bangladesh have won an ODI series in South Africa.

The Tigers started their South African adventure way back in 2001-02 and before this ODI series, the stories have been heavily one-sided in favour of the Proteas. But in the course of time, cricket in South Africa started to lose its edge courtesy of the Quota system and Twenty20 League (still, today, they would not agree with the IPL factor). The loyalty took a setback and obviously, the aura of invincibility started to fade.

Against Bangladesh, the Proteas looked like a team without a plan and the visitors were quick to exploit the lack of intent among the hosts - Tamim Iqbal led from the front, Shakinb had been impactful, the new bees showed their fighting spirits and Taskin was out of this world with the ball.

The hard work and determination of the lad have reaped a rich harvest.

Under Ottis Gibson, his improvement could be noticed and it seems, Allan Donald did not tweak his technique much, rather persisted with the good work of Gibson.

Taskin was the heartbeat of this historic victory.

The loyalty of the Tigers towards Bangladesh had paid off and let's hope, this loyalty doesn't lose its way in the coming days.

Note: This article has been published at Cricketsooccer on 24/03/2022 The loyalty of the Tigers towards Bangladesh paid off

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Babar Azam the Tiger

 

“196 runs off 425 balls are just numbers that can't justify the resolve, guts and technical efficiencies Babar displayed for two days amid the hot and humid conditions at Karachi. Numbers cannot judge a Tiger – numbers cannot measure the sacrifice during the battle between bat and ball, numbers become irrelevant in front of a leader. Babar’s epic vigil is not just all about numbers, rather, it’s a tribute o the warriors, who rise above the rest and let everyone know, the Baburs still exist” 

 

The word Babar – also variously spelt either as Babur, Baboor or Baber – is of Persian origin that means Tiger and it suited the founder of the Mughal Empire – Zahir ud-Din Muhammad Babur apt and appropriately. The great Mughal Samrat ruled the subcontinent with an iron fist and his courage and leadership qualities left a long-lasting legacy in this subcontinent that parents in the Muslim community mostly prefers the name Babar for their male child because they want their son to be like the Mughal Tiger.

The Mughal Tiger was the epitome of bravery and obviously, if someone dons the name of the great Leader then he has to show respect to the boldness that Zahir Ud-Din displayed throughout his lifetime.

It is not sure whether the Pakistani skipper Babar Azam was thinking of Zahir Ud-Din Muhmmad Babur when he came out to bat in a very critical situation for Pakistan.

For a while, Pakistan have not been the side to rule the roost in the fourth innings. They have been a much better outfit while batting first: score runs and leave the rest for their dynamic bowlers and spinners. They have delivered and if the challenge of surviving in the fourth innings appeared, Pakistan, most of the time, discovered themselves at the receiving end – either they choked or failed to survive, even at their own backyard.

Thus, for the Pakistan skipper – Babar – an uphill task was on the cards – not only to shut the mouth of the critics but prove his worth as one of the best batters at present.

Back in India and Pakistan – the rivalry never stops.

For a Sunil Gavaskar Pakistan had Javed Miandad, For Imran Khan India had Kapil Dev, For Sachin Tendulkar, Pakistan backed Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq while Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, India backed Javgal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad.

Well, the fanboys from both countries have not taken a rest till today and for a Virat Kohli they were in need of a rival and none could be better than Babar Azam. The Pakistani fans and media-hyped with Babar – but apart from flashes in patches in the limited-overs, Babar never really challenged Virat I the longer formats whereas in the limited-overs, Virat’s supremacy remains supreme and as a skipper – Virat has proved that he was an absolute beast.

To reach that class of Virat – Babar was needed to exhibit more intent – intent as a batsman ad leader.

Mind you, before coming out to bat in the fourth innings, Babar had been without a hundred in Test matches for around 767 days, his average in the fourth innings as a batter is above 20 while essaying big hundreds and staying for a longer time at the crease has been never been his style.

Well, it was time to smash records – it was time to prove that he is really a top-class batter in 5-day formats, it was time to pay tribute to the great Mughal Tiger and the legendary fighters who glorified Karachi cricket.

On a wicket, that was showing uneven bounce and aiding the spinners and fast bowlers for reverse-swing, Babar decided to grow roots underneath and play the ball according to the merit – at the start of his epic vigil, he looked a bit nervous, but as soon he started to middle the ball, the nervousness was taken over by confidence and patience, that grew with each delivery and each session.

Babr was bringing the bat down straight and from a technical point of view, his defence was immaculate – even a fly cannot pass through the bat and pad. 

Babar's head was on the offstump at ball release, aligned to bowler’s stumps, hands close to the body, under the head and tracked early flight.

There were lucky escapes, but it was one of those moments where all the planets have aligned together and every piece have fallen on the right places – of course, fortune favours the brave.

Babar kept on going – marshalling his partners and frustrating the Australian fielders and bowlers, who hardly dropped their shoulders under the hot sun of Karachi.

The Australians tested Babar by setting up an attacking field against the spinners –as if vultures were waiting for the prey and peppered him with shorter stuff and high-quality pace and reverse swing bowling.

Still, Babar stood like a warrior and gave the impression, as long as he would be around, the fortress Karachi could not be breached by any means.

196 runs off 425 balls are just numbers that can't justify the resolve, guts and technical efficiencies Babar displayed for two days amid the hot and humid conditions at Karachi. Numbers cannot judge a Tiger – numbers cannot measure the sacrifice during the battle between bat and ball, numbers become irrelevant in front of a leader. Babar’s epic vigil is not just all about numbers, rather, it’s a tribute o the warriors, who rise above the rest and let everyone know, the Baburs still exist.  

 Note: This article has been published at Cricketsoccer on 16/03/2021  Babar Azam the Tiger

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

 

Real Madrid advance, PSG are out

Before the match commenced at Santiago Bernabeu, the hype of Lionel Messi returning to the venue was huge. Obviously, the media could not escape their biased attitude regarding Messi, and the majority of the news outlets dominated with the contents that hinted at a Messi show in the backyard of his once arch-rival. Sadly, the hype ended in tears. 

There was a banner - ran behind the south goal - at the Bernabeu which read, "We are The Kings of Europe" and as the match entered into the critical phases, each and every word - written on the banner seemed to be true. 

The match was dubbed as the show of Messi along with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar - but guess what, Santiago Bernabeu became the dancing stage for King Karim Benzema, who orchestrated an astonishing comeback. 

Mbappe scored in the first half to put Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) two goals up on aggregate in the last-16 tie and then the King of Madrid, at present, Benzema, rose to the occasion. 

His brilliant second-half hat-trick — including two in two crazy minutes — turned this game on its head after young pretender Mbappe had looked to have put the tie beyond Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Well, Ancelotti was left smiling in the end whereas Mauricio Pochettino was shattered along with Messi and co. 

Lionel Messi has now gone nine straight games without scoring against the Los Blancos.

The night of Royal Whites - King Benzema

Thousands of Real Madrid fans had lined the streets around the stadium to welcome the team bus before the game. But despite the flares, the waved phones and the songs about their various Champions League conquests, there was a reticence every time the chant of ‘Yes we can’ went up.

For Real Madrid, it was a big task made more difficult by the absence of Casemiro and Ferland Mendy and the mere presence of the man they are convinced they will sign in the summer, Mbappe.

But belief grew at the start of the game when Vinicius Junior crossed for Marco Asensio and the forward saw his shot saved. Vinicius then dribbled inside and found Benzema, but Messi broke things up on the edge of the area and when he released Neymar, PSG were away.

Mbappe finished the move off but Courtois saved his shot.

Courtois saved again from PSG’s leading scorer, this time after he had capitalized on a mistake from Eder Militao. The goal was coming — all the warning signs were there.

Benzema curled a shot just wide of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s far post in a rare Madrid attack but with Messi pinging short passes into Mbappe, PSG were looking comfortable defensively and quietly dangerous in attack.

When Benzema robbed Donnarumma on his line, Vinicius latched on to the loose ball and gave it back to the Frenchman to score - Madrid were level. 

PSG’s goalkeeper came out of his area to complain to referee Danny Makkelie but it seemed like a gesture born more of embarrassment than a belief that the decision would be changed.

Now the Bernabeu really believed and, with Rodrygo and Lucas Vazquez’s energy from the bench, they were starting to test PSG’s defence. Benzema made it two when Luka Modric slipped him through after fine work from Vinicius.

His hat-trick, and the comeback, was completed straight from PSG’s kick-off when Vinicius bullied his Brazil team-mate Marquinhos into a mistake, inadvertently feeding Benzema — who made it three with another unerring finish.

He has been their saviour on more than one occasion this season – and in the previous one, too. His three goals on Wednesday bring his total to eight in the Champions League this season and 77 in his career (only Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski have more). 

This season, he has 30 goals and 11 assists in 31 matches across all competitions. That’s 41 goal involvements in 31 matches, in a team that’s struggled to create chances for him, at the age of 34. This is Ballon d’Or territory.

The striker took full advantage of PSG’s complacency and errors. 

How could Gianluigi Donnarumma give away the ball in the manner that he did on Madrid’s first goal? 

What was Neymar doing with his terrible pass that led to the counterattack for the second goal? And what about Marquinhos’ assist for Benzema’s third? 

These were schoolboy errors, but Benzema was there to punish the Parisians all the same.

Just when we thought there was a new prince in Madrid, the king struck three times to remind everyone that Santiago Bernabeu remains his castle.

The Luka Modric show

With age, Luka Modric is becoming better and better like a fine wine. He is still the marshall of Real Madrid midfield along with Toni Kroos and last night, PSG were given a lesson of how to run the show from the center of the park. 

With the match well-poised, Modric stood outside the penalty area, on the edge of the D-box with Rodrygo Goes standing just to the right of him, but that’s not the ball he wants to play although he let the defence think it is. It’s Karim Benzema he was trying to reach. The trouble was that there were six blue shirts between him and his destination; a seventh nearby, too. 

He starts to play the ball through the legs of Presnel Kimpembe - when all people around are losing their heads, Modric saw the pass and played it. And then: pandemonium. With one flick of the foot, he had taken out seven men.

Modric had done that before, too. 

Nine seconds before.

Real Madrid’s second goal on Wednesday started with Modric winning the ball just outside his own team’s penalty area, and it ended with him passing it on from just outside Paris Saint-Germain’s.

He set the momentum and scene - dashing between Neymar and Messi, leaving them behind first and everyone was running in the same direction. There are four blue shirts on Modric trying to keep up, another just behind and two more fractionally to his left. 

It’s 7-on-1, and none of them can catch him.

Vinicius runs and Modric does too, ready to join in again. Forty meters, 50 meters, 60 meters. When the Brazilian puts on the brakes, surrounded by PSG’s rapidly retreating players, defensive positions were taken up again, and he returns it to Modric.

And then, Benzema did the rest! 

The PSG defenders had no answers!

Agony for PSG

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain have made a habit of crashing out in the Champions League in remarkable circumstances.

In 2017, the Parisians somehow blew a 4-0 aggregate lead to crash out to a Neymar-inspired Barcelona. The legend of ‘La Remontada’ was born.

Five years and one day later, they suffered a second defeat in Spain that was, in many ways, even more incredible.

When the chips were down at Santiago Bernabeu, they were unable to influence the game.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Warnie

 

“Warnie – suited Warne and made him someone companionable for us who could not get in touch with him or watch him live in action. He became that boy for the world, who is reckless, but still gentle and playful, flawed and still charismatic, a genius in action, but still, the boy next door always coming close to say Hi and run to the field for doing things that the ordinary could only think of. Warnie flirted with unpredictability and unpredictability has always been his closest mate since that Colombo epic in 1992.”

They say that the first impression is the best impression – but how many times this school of thought has been proved wrong? I think, for more than a million times, the champions in real life have established the truth, the first impression hardly matters – but the result of hard work outshines everyone. Whereas, mental strength separates the ultimate best from the rest. Life is life – it is unpredictable and life gifts characters, who flirts with unpredictability – for the critics they might be just entertainers, but for the keen followers of the game – they are the heroes, the demi-gods.

In the third Test at Sydney, Australia included a spinner who never looked like a cricketer, rather a 90s kid who would find all the peace in a burger, ice cream and beer. He kept on bowling against the top Indian batters and earned just a single wicket for 150 runs. After such a terrible debut – surely, the fella’s career was all over.

After a dismal World Cup campaign at home – Australia toured Sri Lanka and in the first Test at Colombo, a defeat was on the cards until that tubby spinner showed up again.

In the final session, Sri Lanka were cruising and in a crunch moment, Aravinda de Silva ran down the pitch and tried to hit Craig McDermott over the top. Allan Border took a stunning catch, running backwards from mid-on, to dismiss Aravinda and the Test began to spin with the tubby spinner turning things around.

Australia needed six wickets and stop Sri Lanka from achieving 30-od runs.

Border introduced Shane Warne, who had a strike close to two hundred and just one wicket under his belt. Warne was nervous – but realized, he could be more in a chicky spell.

“The Sri Lankans had taken to Shane’s new-look bowling. With them needing 30-odd to win, still four wickets in hand, I threw the ball to Warnie. It was a huge gamble. He looked a little shocked to get the ball but said he was ready for the job. We won a Test we shouldn’t have and the Warne legend was born,” said Allan Border.

“We needed four wickets and they needed less than 30 to win. I bowled a maiden first up. They were landing where I wanted them to land. Moie [Matthews] took a wicket next over and I started thinking we were in with a chance. Then next over I took a wicket – my first for the match. Deano ran over and said, “Well done, mate. You’re only averaging 160 now.” I tried to laugh, but couldn’t. I was too nervous. Next up Moie bowled a good over and I took another wicket in my next. “Now you only average 80, Warnie,” Deano said. By this stage we needed one wicket to win and they still needed 25 runs. Then came another two boundaries off Mo and things were very tight,” said Warne.

“If that Test had been on television in Australia, it would be remembered as one of the great matches of all time. Those three wickets changed things for me.”

Yes, indeed, it changed the career of a man, who was not taking cricket seriously but was wasting time on a life that was not meant for him – Warne was born to revive the lost art in Australia and become the best of the best.

Australia lost the Frank Worrell Trophy at home with Warne turning the game in favour of Australia in Melbourne, but his impact was missed in Adelaide.

Border introduced him in the Ashes 1993 and at Manchester, Warne would gradually become our Warnie.

When Merv Hughes induced the edge off Mike Atherton, it was Smith who was supposed to walk out. But the curious bathroom blooper ensured that the stocky, bearded frame of Mike Gatting had to come trotting in to join captain Graham Gooch with the score reading 71 for 1.

Border tossed the ball to Warne.

It was the 28th over of the innings and England looked steady at 80 for 1 in response to 289. The Old Trafford strip was responsive to spin. Peter Such had captured six first-innings wickets with his off-breaks. And the world waited to see what miracles Warne would be able to work on this pitch.

In the tour games, he had picked up handy wickets against Surrey, Leicestershire and Somerset, but had been walloped by Graeme Hick and the others of Worcestershire – for the experts, he was still not prepared for five-day matches despite bowling fairly well against West Indies and New Zealand.

After setting the right field, Warne ambled in, half walk and half trot, the right arm went round and after completing the circle, the ball was tossed much-wider towards leg – the ball kissed the turf and turned viciously leaving Gatting no chance to get into his position and expose his offstump – the ball moved fast towards off and disturbed the bails.

The on-field umpire Dickie Bird could not believe it.

Gatting still could not believe it.

Neither the television experts could believe what happened.

But by that time a legend was born and Ian Healy’s all those exhalations of “Bowled Warnie” filtered through the pitch microphones made him our Warnie!

Warnie – suited Warne and made him someone companionable for us who could not get in touch with him or watch him live in action. He became that boy for the world, who is reckless, but still gentle and playful, flawed and still charismatic, a genius in action, but still, the boy next door always coming close to say Hi and run to the field for doing things that the ordinary could only think of. Warnie flirted with unpredictability and unpredictability has always been his closest mate since that Colombo epic in 1992.

Warnie celebrated life and the cricket pitch was his stage. He took us with him to celebrate. Each of his outrageous spells of spin bowling was greeted warmly by his fans and oppositions because he had been the love of the people and despite committing blunders, the genius of the man and candidness always kept him ticking in everyone’s heart.

Warnie, our Warnie and the memories of his staggering works with the ball on his hand, would give us joy till we leave this planet once and for all!

Note: This article has been published at Cricketsoccer on 04/03/2022 Warnie

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

BCB should think of working with Allan Donald on a long term basis

 

“Ottis Gibson was creating an impact, but, ultimately, he was shown the door in a quite insulting manner and now BCB have appointed Donald who is a hard taskmaster, habituated to raise the game of the bowlers that are promising enough and spot new talents rather than listening to those people who rely more on nepotism. It would have been better if the BCB think of a long-term plan regarding Donald and for that, they need to give him enough freedom”

Ten years ago, Allan Donald was already drafted in Gary Kirsten’s coaching staff for South Africa as the fast-bowling coach – was asked by the reporters whether he was interested in becoming the bowling coach of Bangladesh or not.  Donald, along with Mick Newell and Dermot Reeve, was understood to be on the wishlist of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) but said he will not consider the offer if he is approached.

“I have not had any approach but I would not be interested. I am doing a job I always wanted to be involved in and I have no inclination to make a move. My interest is with South Africa and I won't give that up at all.”

Donald previously had roles as a temporary bowling consultant for England where his involvement impressed many and was praised by several players. Donald's original brief contract was extended until September 2007 but he decided not to continue with his coaching role at the end of September 2007, citing the strain of touring and his wish to be with his family

And, he had done work in Zimbabwe with reigning domestic champions Mountaineers in 2010 He served as the bowling coach for the New Zealand cricket team for the ODI series against Pakistan, and the 2011 Cricket World Cup, but had not coached in South Africa, even at the domestic level.

He had often expressed his desire to work in the country he had played for, but opportunities were few. Only when Kirsten chose to involve him did Donald get a taste of coaching in South Africa.

Donald’s inclusion in the South African squad brought changes in the pace-bowling department – they became the best from just being better.

The addition of Vernon Philander along with the dynamic duo – Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel - South Africa had transformed a bowling unit that did not avoid a defeat, rather, win a match, when it mattered the most. Even on decks that did not respond to pacers, the bowling unit stuck gold and quite deservingly they elevated as the number 1 Test side in the world – their sheer bowling that had the intensity of the White lightening helped them win Test series in Australia and England.

Kirsten, who took away the schoolmaster mentality and instilled freedom along with responsibility and accountability- suited Donald very much and he galvanised the Proteas bowling unit.

Since Donald became the bowling coach in 2011, in the next three years, Steyn had bagged more than a third of his total career wickets at a lower average than his overall numbers.

He became an absolute killer with the ball and again, learned to dry up the runs.

His 133 scalps have come at 21.84 with an economy rate of 2.91.

Before Donald's tenure, Steyn had 232 wickets at 23.2 and conceded 3.48 runs to the over.

“Allan is an amazing bowler. I watched a couple of his Youtube videos before I bowled here and he was just incredible. And then every day he comes and tells you how good you are and what a legend you are. That must take a lot out of him because he is a legend himself. That's why every time I take wickets, I try to signal to him; to try and say this is not just for the team and the fans. This is to say thank you. He keeps me going,” said Steyn.

“Every time I go on tour I want to better my last performance. Every time I come to the subcontinent I want to do well. If I run in and take a five-for on a green track, no-one cares but if you run in and take a five-for here, that really counts.”

Famous writer Firdose Moonda wrote, “That adaption and attention to discipline is something Donald has enforced rigorously since he became part of the set-up. He wants South Africa's pack to operate under the principles of jungle law: hunt or be hunted. That approach seems to have been picked up by more than just the seamers.”

For building a complete bowling unit, Donald knew the importance of adding more variations in the armour and thus emphasised them, such as bowling yorkers.

“We want to become the best death-bowling unit in the world and we want to close games out while being under enormous pressure. With Wasim Akram, you always knew when you faced him at the death that there was no hope. He moved the ball both ways and that's what we want to be: unpredictable, not just one dimensional,” Donald said in 2013 during the series against Pakistan.

“Not being able to bowl them often enough is what has let us down in the past, particularly when we are defending.”

“We want to practice the specifics under pressure and so we are moving more into game scenarios and executing those then. We also video these sessions so the guys can have visual feedback.”

“We want a collective group of guys who get thrown the ball and who have the confidence to execute yorkers at will at any stage. We could have a situation where Dale Steyn is the death bowler and his number may come up and he gets hit all around the park, and so we might have to ask someone else to do that. We want a collective improvement in bowling yorkers.”

“From a Test match point of view, you need to be using that new ball and using it really well, and being very disciplined.”

“You take the conditions, not only the pitch but the heat the players have got to deal with, the humidity and that sort of thing but reverse swing is massive in the subcontinent. I've played enough against Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to know what it takes to be able to execute that, it's a massive key.”

“It's a mental thing. You really have to think about the approach and the decisions you make there. Quality decision-making wins games.”

Donald left South Africa’s job in 2015.

He was appointed assistant coach at Kent County Cricket Club in early 2017.

 He was expected to join the county at the start of the 2017 season but was denied a work permit as he did not, at the time, hold a suitable coaching qualification. And for which, Sri Lanka appointed Donald as their bowling consultant for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 for two months.

Then, he was successful in obtaining his Level 3 coaching qualification during 2017 and formally joined Kent in early 2018, leading the team during the 2017–18 Regional Super50 competition ahead of the 2018 English season.

Now, Donald would start a new journey with the Bangladesh Cricket Team and his tenure would be till the Twenty20 World Cup 2022 – quite similar to Sri Lanka in 2017.

While working in Sri Lanka, Donald said, “We were in Kandy with the academy and there was a guy who came through who was about 6'2" or 6'3" and hit the deck really hard. He was the kind of bowler I really like. I asked if he was part of the academy and they said no, he was just a net bowler, but after we saw him there, he was included in the high-performance programme. So, a lot of the time, finding the guys happens just by chance. Everything from Under-19 level downwards really needs somebody looking after it.”

Regarding the two-month stint, he said, “It takes a while to build relationships and it's something that needs to be worked on a daily basis. I tried to get to know personalities as much as possible but the major challenge was the communication gap. When you're coaching, you've got to be precise about delivering your message, and when you're not speaking the same language, you can never really be sure whether what you're saying is being understood the way you meant it to be.”

Thus, it would be hard to expect something big from such a legendary bowler in such a short time who could deliver so much.

Ottis Gibson was creating an impact, but, ultimately, he was shown the door in a quite insulting manner and now BCB have appointed Donald who is a hard taskmaster, habituated to raise the game of the bowlers that are promising enough and spot new talents rather than listening to those people who rely more on nepotism. It would have been better if the BCB think of a long-term plan regarding Donald and for that, they need to give him enough freedom.

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer on 05/03/2022 BCB should think of working with Allan Donald on a long term basis

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Rod Marsh: The field marshal

 

“If the great Dennis Lillee had his cutters and outswingers working against the batters, then, certainly, Marsh played a big role in guiding the tearaway fast bowler of pitching it on the right area – and to do such things in crunch situations, a keeper is always needed to be at his smartest and bear clear knowledge of the game. Guess what, Marsh was a cocktail of both”

 

Back in the 70s – world cricket had some of the finest cricketers in the history of the game. While the talismanic batters and speed merchants hit the news consistently; somewhere in the corner, the contributions of the wicketkeepers were mentioned. People read about Farrokh Engineer, Syed Kirmani, Alan Knott and Wasim Bari; but most of the time searched what the smartest keeper from Australia – Rod Marsh was doing on the field.

When the era of the Chappells commenced challenging the might of England and West Indies – people witnessed the swagger of Chappell’s men, but very few noticed how impactful Marsh was in essaying the epic - caught Marsh bowled Lillee which appeared on the scoreboard 95 times in Test matches!

Lillee and Marsh had a telepathic connection.

Incredibly, Marsh finished with the then world record tally of 355 dismissals, the same number that we find under the wickets column of Dennis Lillee.

“Few partnerships between bowler and wicket-keeper have had so profound an impact on the game,” stated Wisden.

“I've played with him so much now that most of the time I know what he is going to do before he has bowled. I know from the way he runs up; the angle, the speed, where he hits the crease, where the ball is going to be,” said Marsh.

If the great Dennis Lillee had his cutters and outswingers working against the batters, then, certainly, Marsh played a big role in guiding the tearaway fast bowler of pitching it on the right area – and to do such things in crunch situations, a keeper is always needed to be at his smartest and bear clear knowledge of the game. Guess what, Marsh was a cocktail of both.

It was that common sense, this fantastic ability to read the situation made the critics echo, Marsh as the best captain never to lead Australia.

He was a complete team-man who helped his teammates in lifting their game when they felt of being burned out by virtue of his leadership qualities and keen insight into the game. He would always back the bowlers so that they could breathe fire and when his leadership jobs were done, and the bowlers started to click – the acrobatic diving, raucous appeals and the habit of throwing a ball high into the air on dismissals became a regular sight and a matter of love for the fans those who watched him live or on television.

Marsh was dubbed as the controversial selection during the Ashes 1970-71 and media could not appreciate the exclusion of popular wicketkeeper Taber. His superior batting had won him the position.

The media was quick to criticise Marsh's glovework in his early career, dubbing him “Iron Gloves” after he missed a number of catches and conceded 44 byes in the series.

Even though his batting proved invaluable on a number of occasions and in the Fifth Test, he equalled the record for the highest Test innings by an Australian keeper, set by Don Tallon. The end of the innings was controversial; the captain Bill Lawry declared with Marsh eight runs short of a century so he could get an extra hour of bowling before stumps.

When questioned by the press about his lost chance to make a historic century Marsh said he had gained forty runs instead of missing eight as he thought Lawry should have declared an hour earlier. Marsh later admitted that he was underprepared as a wicketkeeper, but he learned from watching his English counterpart Alan Knott.

And in the next season, there could be no argument regarding the abilities of Marsh as one of the best keepers in the world.  

Marsh became an integral part of the team as the side improved during the 1972 tour of England. He became the first Australian keeper to hit a century by scoring 118 in the first Test against Pakistan at Adelaide in 1972–73.

He also hit 236 against the tourists for WA, the best score of his career. Playing a key role in Australia's series victories over England and the West Indies in the series of 1974–75 and 1975–76, Marsh made many acrobatic dives to catch balls delivered by Lillee and Jeff Thomson. He took 45 dismissals in those two series, including a world-record 26 catches in six Tests against the West Indies.

Marsh scored an unbeaten 110 in the second innings of the Centenary Test against England in 1977, becoming the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a Test century against England. In the same match, he passed Wally Grout's Australian wicket-keeping record of 187 Test dismissals.

He scored a further 16 half-centuries.

In first-class matches, he accumulated 11 centuries including a best of 236, aggregating more than 10000 runs in his career.

When the breakaway World Series Cricket was formed, Marsh had no hesitation in signing for Kerry Packer. He claimed 54 dismissals in 16 Super Tests.

Upon his return to traditional international cricket in 1979–80, his age did not affect his keeping ability.

On the 1981 tour of England, he took 23 dismissals to become the first wicketkeeper to take 100 dismissals in Ashes Tests, broke Knott's world record in 22 fewer Tests and passed 3000 runs in Test cricket.

In 1982–83, his second last season, he took 28 dismissals against England, including nine and eight in the Second and Third Test respectively.[6] His batting form fell away towards the end of his Test career, his last 22 Tests yielding only 589 runs at an average of 19.63.

Marsh was an effective player in ODI matches, contributing as a keeper and a lower-order batters. His power and aggression were put to good use in the closing overs when he could score at a rapid rate. In one match against New Zealand in 1980–81 against Lance Cairns at the Adelaide Oval, he struck 26 from the final over, with three sixes and two fours, before falling on the final ball.

Marsh had been vital to install the baggy green culture in Australian cricket.

He was the first person who co-opted Henry Lawson’s 1887 poem, “Flag of the Southern Cross”, into the Australian team’s victory song and it was Marsh crossing his arms and shaking his head at captain Greg Chappell, mouthing “Don’t do it” when the underarm ball rolled down in 1981.

The man was a character.

After retirement, he left his impact at the commentary box, coaching, cricket academy and other administrator roles.

He had an indelible impact on cricket, both on and off the field.

A legend of the game!

The field marshal cricket always loved! 

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer on 04/032022 Rod Marsh: The field marshal

Thank You

Faisal Caesar