Looking forward to the India South Africa T20 and ODI series

After the long, relaxing, rejuvenating break of more than a month, Indian Cricket Team is going to don the National Colors again and coming back on the field against South Africa. South Africa will start this tour by playing two practice games. The tour, which consists of 2 T20Is,5 ODIs and 4 Tests, will be 72 day long extravaganza for all cricket lovers.

Both teams are in the re-building phase with many new faces. India and SA both have won their previous assignments against Sri Lanka and New Zealand respectively. SA however had lost the ODI series against Bangladesh and were unable to win the test matches against them when they last toured the Indian sub-continent in July this year. 

On the other hand, Indian team is high on confidence after beating Sri Lanka on their home turf after 22 years and their first away series win in 4 years.

India has announced its squad for the two T20s and first three ODIs. Overall it’s a balanced side with inclusion of new blood like Gurkeerat Mann and Sreenath Aravind, whose selection has raised some eyebrows. Also the exclusion of the most successful bowler fast bowler of the Sri Lankan tour, Ishant Sharma, is bit baffling. But Harbhajan Singh somehow managed to save his birth in the T 20 team despite a below average performance on the tour.

With Dhoni back in the squad to lead the team after a break of 3 months from competitive cricket for T20s and ODIs, will this new looking Indian Team be able to repeat the magic of the Sri Lanka tour and beat SA at home? We will get to know very soon.

Where does AB DeVilliers rank in the pantheon of all time greats?

AB DeVilliers has redefined and revolutionized modern day batting by his exploits on the field. He has been the most outstanding batsman in international cricket for last few years and through his innovative and imaginative batting has won over the hearts of cricket fans world over.

DeVilliers’ most recent swansong was a brilliant 133 of just 59 balls. He literally toyed with a strong Mumbai bowling line up which contained the likes of Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh.

Irfan Pathan tweeted about him: “I'm writing an official complain as a bowler against @ABdeVilliers17. All the bowers please join me @IPL #legend”.

Harsha Bhogle commented: “I know different eras and styles etc but how much better could mighty Viv have been than this AB? #PepsiIPL #RCB”.

The last tweet brings us to an important question. DeVilliers is undoubtedly the best batsman in world cricket today, but how does he compare to past batting greats like Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara Ricky Ponting and the likes. (Don Bradman was a different class altogether to anyone else)

First, De Villiers has changed modern day batting by his innovative hitting. He can score runs all over the ground, and has shots which can only be imagined by other mortal batsman. He has scored runs of the back of the bat, scores runs directly behind the stumps, can send yorkers 30 rows behind the boundary and do stuff which takes your breath away.

Past greats too had something special or extra about them, which enabled them to dominate and entertain. DeVilliers too has that extra about him. Helped by the advent of T 20 cricket, he has taken batting to another level altogether and has been doing great for last many years.

Also like past greats, he has scored against the best bowlers of his time. The way he literally played with Dale Steyn in the IPL few years ago has become stuff of legend. Steyn has been arguably the best fast bowler in world cricket for the last decade, but he played with him like he was some club bowler. He has meted out similar treatment to many other top bowlers of his era.

Clearly AB DeVilliers compares favourably with all past greats and ranks alongside all of them. Cricket is indeed privileged to have an ambassador like him. Let us bow down to the modern day king of batting, AB DeVilliers!

Keys to India’s success in the match against West Indies

India have made a terrific beginning to their World Cup campaign, winning all their three encounters comfortably, and having easily dispatched top opposition in Pakistan and title favourites South Africa. The bowling and fielding have been in top shape and have augmented our explosive batting power.

India next face West Indies and would like to carry forward the momentum. Let us analyse the keys to India’s success in that encounter.

Chris Gayle factor

Chris Gayle is the key player in the West Indies squad. Whenever he gets going, West Indies are able to post a good total and become a more competitive team. He has just scored 215 in the World Cup encounter against Zimbabwe and looks in great form.

India need to prevent him from scoring big. In the past, Ravichandran Ashwin has had good success against him. If Indian quicks fail to get him out early, MS Dhoni must bring in Ashwin early to get the danger man out. If India can get Gayle early, it will be half the battle won.

Weakness of West Indian batsmen against spin

Most West Indies batsmen are power hitters and quite capable of scoring quick. However they are vulnerable to high class spin bowling. West Indies on their last tour of India struggled against the Indian spinners, albeit on spin friendly tracks.

Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja must bowl well an dput them under pressure. Most often, these two would be bowling bulk of the middle overs. If they can choke the West Indies’ batsmen in the middle overs, it can help India gain the upper hand.

Good start against the West Indian quicks

The West Indies fast bowling attack has some firepower, with Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor and company all capable of hitting 90 mph. India’s opening batsmen need to deal with them judiciously and ensure a good start to the innings.

The last few matches saw India getting a good start to their innings, not losing many wickets in the first few overs. It enabled them to lay a platform on which the innings was built. India would need their opening batsmen to carry on the good work against West Indies.

Fielding like Rabbits

Indian players have put up an impressive fielding display so far in the tournament. In the match against South Africa, the fast bowlers effected two crucial run outs which sealed the affair for India. The fielders have also saved runs in the field, while the catching also has been world class.

If India can keep up their fielding standards going ahead, they will be a tough team to beat for any other side in this competition. They must keep up this standard in the West Indies encounter too. Going ahead, it may prove to be a vital cog in their World Cup defense.

Predicting the final day of play in the Sydney Test match

The fourth Test match of the series between India and Australia has been brought alive by attacking play by both sides on the fourth day. The Aussies scored 251 for 6 in only 40 overs, giving their bowlers a good platform to attack on the final day.

Whirlwind Batting by the Aussies on the fourth day

They now lead by 348 runs with 4 second innings’ wickets intact. It was entertaining cricket at its best and Indian bowlers were meted out a good hiding. It is a good enough lead already as no side has scored more than 350 in the fourth innings to win a Test match in Sydney.

Early declaration on Day 5

Expect Australia to bat for a maximum of another 30 minutes and declare with a target of around 370-380 for India to chase. The Aussies would want India to go for the target as that would maximise their chances of getting wickets. The Sydney track is still pretty good for batting, and India under the aggressive Virat Kohli may look to go for the target to get a Test win in Australia after a long time.

Virat Kohli would shine again

The Indian chase would depend to a big degree upon Virat Kohli as he is one batsman capable of tearing apart any bowling attack on his day. And he seems to relish the pressure of a big stage. Expect a good show from him again on the final day.

Lyon will get a good old thrashing

One of the biggest failures of Indian batsmen has been how they have tackled Nathan Lyon in this series. They have failed to attack him enough and have allowed him to settle down way too often. Expect that to change tomorrow as the young guns would go after him and take him to corners of the ground.

Prediction

India would give Australia a run for their money on this flat Sydney track and the last day will have its share of excitements and hopes for both the sides. At the moment it is 60-40 in favour of Australia. However if Virat Kohli produces one of his best Test knocks of his young career, India might surprise Australia to win this one. Whatever happens, it is must watch Test match cricket on the final day.


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