Australia defeats India by 72 runs, wins first ODI.

Australia thrashed India by 72 runs in the first ODI of the 7 match ODI series at Pune. After posting a challenging 305 runs target batting first, it was left to the Australian bowlers to halt the solid Indian batting line-up from overcoming the 1st innings score. 

India started cautiously with both openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma taking time to settle and get used to the pitch. The Australians seamers made it extremely difficult for the Indian batsmen to score runs. Consistent line with good bowling speed combined with short bowling pushed Dhawan and Rohit into a shell.

As the pair tried to break free, Dhawan felt prey to a very good delivery from Faulkner which moved away from batsmen and nicked Dhawan's bat on its way to wicket-keeper Haddin. In walked Virat Kohli, but the Australian pace attack of Faulkner and Mckay didn't give any chance to the right handers to score runs. 

In the 9th over Rohit Sharma eased the pressure as he hit Faulkner for 3 boundaries. Just when things started looking good for India and there was a partnership building, Shane Watson bowled a beautiful delivery to get rid of Rohit Sharma. The ball swayed away after hitting the deck and Rohit Sharma couldn't resist nicking the ball to part-time wicket-keeper Phil Hughes. 

Faulkner 3 wickets proved crucial in Australia's victory

Suresh Raina walked in at No.4 to accompany Virat Kohli. The pair looked good as India began scoring runs at a brisk pace. The pair had put on 71 for the 4th wicket till Faulkner striked again to remove Suresh Raina for 39 leaving India at 3 down for 137 runs. Yuvraj Singh walked to the center amidst huge cheers. The crowd went wild as Yuvraj pulled the second ball of his innings for a six. George Bailey made a quick change and brought in the fierce Mitchell Johnson and Johnson in-turn appreciated his captain's call by scalping the price wicket of Yuvraj Singh for 7.

The run rate kept on mounting from 6 an over to 7 and then 9 per over. Australian pace attack kept on greeting Indian batsmen with chin music. No batsmen looked comfortable except for Virat Kohli who completed his 25th ODI fifty. Shane Watson removed the well set Virat Kohli an over before the batting powerplay, leaving India with only two specialist batsmen in Dhoni and Jadeja with over 140 runs to chase. 

Jadeja was caught by Bailey as Faulkner picked up his 3rd wicket of the night. India never looked comfortable chasing 300 plus as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Australian bowlers didn't give away anything to Indian batsmen. Every single run was made to earn. Australia's brilliant fielding added to the difficulties for team India. 

Even Dhoni didn't look comfortable facing Australian seamers. The captain cool looked out of options as he was unable to free his arms at his will.  Mckay uprooted Dhoni's off stump in the 41st over, thus crushing any hopes of India winning the match. Bhuvanesh Kumar and Vinay Kumar held on for final few overs to take India to 232. Finch removed Bhuvanesh Kumar to seal a 72 run victory for Australia.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's off stump uprooted by McKay

It's never going to be easy for India against Australia. Although the current Australian team is being underrated but still they are on the No.2 spot in the ODI rankings for a reason. The win at Pune is a bright example of what this Australian team is capable off. Indian batsmen have to find a way to deal with the short pitch bowling of Australian seamers. It's just the end of first ODI, there are 6 more to go and there are equal number of opportunities for both the teams to top the world ODI rankings.

Bailey and Finch sails Australia past 300.. India Vs Australia : 1st innings

The much awaited battle for the No.1 spot in ODI's began in Pune as India took on Australia in the first one day international of the 7 match ODI series. On a lush green outfield, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, contradictory to Dhoni's decision of bowling first, if he had won the toss.

Indian bowling attack looked good in the first six overs of the match as Bhuvanesh Kumar and Vinay Kumar restricted the dangerous and explosive Australian openers Aaron Finch and Phillip Hughes to just 14 runs. Aaron Finch cut loose in the sixth over of the match as he dispatched Bhuvanesh Kumar for a six straight down the ground followed by two boundaries. Finch and Hughes broke free from the shackles and went on to score 49 of the next six overs.

Aaron Finch

The opening pair shifted gears as they continued scoring runs all round the park. The bowling changes didn't seem to work for team India. Finch dispatched Ishant Sharma's first ball to the fence and in the next over took on Ashwin for a first ball six. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli dropped Phil Hughes at point of Ishant Sharma's bowling. Hughes was then on 32. Finch completed his run-a-ball 50 as Australia reached 100 in the 18th over. 

Dhoni was quick in making bowling changes and brought in the left arm off-spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja struck in the 19th over as Suresh Raina held a sharp low catch down the leg slip to send Hughes back to pavilion. Dhoni was quick to realize that the bowl wasn't coming to the bat that easily and brought in Yuvraj Singh from the other end. Shane Watson with all his intentions tried to send Yuvraj's very first ball over the ropes, only to be caught by Jadeja. This was Yuvraj Singh's first wicket since ICC world cup 2011.

Australian captain George Bailey walked in at No.4. Bailey along with Finch steadied the Australian batting as they rotated the strike and hammered the loose balls to the fence. Yuvraj Singh dream comeback continued as he scalped Finch for 72 leaving Australia at 146 for 3. Yuvraj was then responsible for a sharp run out of  Adam Voges as Australia stumbled to 172 for 4.

Australia took the mandatory batting powerplay in the 36th over with captain Bailey and Glenn Maxwell at the crease. The score then read 185 for 4. Bailey and Maxwell made full utilization of the powerplay. Maxwell lived up to his reputation of playing big shots when needed while Bailey completed his 50. Maxwell soon departed after a quick fire 31 of 23 balls featuring a boundary and 3 huge sixes.

George Bailey

George Bailey with the lower order made sure that Australia get past 300 run mark as they scored 119 runs in the last 15 overs. Bailey was caught by Raina of Ashwin's bowling  for 85 as he tried to fuel the score. Faulkner and Johnson made sure that all the hard work by Finch, Bailey, Hughes and Maxwell doesn't go in vain as they took Australia past 300 run mark. Faulkner dispatched Vinay Kumar for 2 consecutive sixes in the 48th over and Johnson hit two consecutive boundaries of Bhuvanesh Kumar in the 49th over. Faulkner was out for a good catch by Vinay Kumar of Ishant Sharma's bowling in the final over of the innings.

Australia has set a tough target for team India to chase. Given the form that Indian batsmen are in and the depth in their batting, 300 runs chase shouldn't be a difficult task for team India...

So near yet so far - Zimbabwe

The first test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan ended the way everyone would have assumed it to. Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by a huge margin of 221 runs. Given the superiority of Pakistan's bowling and batting attack compared to Zimbabwe's, the result was always on the cards.

Given the cricket crisis that Zimbabwe is baffled with, keeping a test match alive for five days  against a formidable and victor Pakistan itself would be a motivation for the Zimbabwean cricket team.. Zimbabwe have ended on the losing side but there are good bunch of positives that Zimbabwe can carry from the first test.

Except for the last day's play, not on a single day did Zimbabwe let their fighting spirit dwindle. They knew they were up against a team much higher in ranks and a team that plays cricket more consistent then they do. From the word go, Zimbabweans were up to the task, a challenging one but not inconceivable.

The less experienced  bowling attack featuring Chatara, Panyangara and Utseya delivered more than what would have been expected of them. Striking with the new ball, creating early in-roads to the middle-order by sending Pakistani openers Manzoor and in-form Hafeez back to pavilion, twice in the test match. Utseya and Maskadza complemented well with their bowling.

Zimbabwe had the first laugh as they successfully stopped Pakistan from surpassing the 300 run mark in the first innings. Had it not been for the fifties from  Misbah, Azhar Ali and some fight back from the lower order batsman Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan would have been bundled out for less then 200.

Younis Khan

On it's turn, Zimbabwe replied well, thanks to the superb innings from debutant Sikandar Raza and MN Waller. Chigumbura assured Zimbabwe of a first innings lead. Sikandar Raza has been the find of the season for the Zimbabwean cricket. His strong batting technique supported by good instincts makes him a complete batsmen. A lead of over 80 runs and three quick wickets in the first session of Pakistan's second innings, raised hopes of an upset for Pakistani team.

But then the experienced Younis Khan takes the command to rescue his team from the shackles. With all the experience of international cricket he has and a technique that has proved worthy for Pakistan on several previous occassions, Younis Khan along with Misbah steered the astray Pakistani ship. Younus Khan first with Misbah and then with Adnan Akmal stitched the Pakistani innings and assured it of a lead that wouldn't be easy for the Zimbabwean cricket team to chase on a five day old pitch.

Tired and disheartened Zimbabwean team gave up their fighting spirit on the final day. The lack of exposure to the international cricket for a long duration of time combined with the deficient experience of the team made it easy for the Pakistani team to win the match. The magician Saeed Ajmal who took 7 wickets when Zimbabwe first batted took another 4 in the second innings. While another in-from spinner Abdur Rehman chipped in with 4 wickets. Zimbabwe's inability to handle the spin attack, their inexperience to handle the turn on a five-day old pitch costed them the match.

Sikandar Raza

Despite the loss Zimbabwe has several positives to carry into the second test match. The ability of new ball bowlers to take early wickets is definitely a plus point for Zimbabwe. Sikandar Raza, Waller and Chigumbara would be expected to continue their batting form. Expectations would be more from the top order batsmen, as a good start would help them aim at a 400 plus total. Given the inability of the Pakistani pace bowlers to take wickets in the first test , Zimbabwe have to make sure it finds a way to handle the opposition's spin attack.

Rising Star : Vijay Zol

It was December of 2011 when 17 year old, Vijay Hari Zol of Jalna playing in an Under-19 match for Mahrashtra against Assam,  made a vibrant score of 457. Zol remained unbeaten on the score as he faced 467 deliveries. 53 balls were dispatched to the boundaries and 2 hits went over the ropes. His 11-hour long stay at the crease was an exceptional showcase of temperament that would match with the likes of Rahul Dravid or Mohammed Yusuf.  His score of 457 climbed to the No.1 spot in the domestic record books, surpassing the previous highest score of 443 by Bhausaheb Nimbalkar's in 1948 in a Ranji match between Maharashtra and Kathiawar.

Vijay Zol - A Rising Star

The naturally gifted stylish left-handed batsmen has every cricketing shot in his book. His scoring areas aren't restricted to any particular side of the ground. This exceptionally talented batsmen can score runs in all the directions of the park. Concordant to the modern day international cricketers he can hit boundaries at his will and when there aren't much opportunities, he makes keeps the score-board rotating with quick singles, a quality carved from a genuine batsmen. His lean but acrobatic physique adds to his swiftness on the field. 

A year ago, Zol had also scored a double century against Gujarat in the league stages of Vijay Merchant tournament. His score of 222 was then his personal best. But it was his marathon innings of 457 that opened the doors for his career to blossom. His consistency of making match winning scores soon earned him a deserved place in India Under-19 squad that went on to win the Under-19 World Cup in 2012. A fifty in the group stage match and a supporting 36 runs against Pakistan in the quarter-final guaranteed his team a place in semi-finals. 

A talent like Vijay Zol is of gold value and hardly goes unnoticed. The IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore noticed the potential in Vijay Zol and wasted little time in signing him for a youth contract in 2012.

Invaluable - Vijay Zol

The limelight surrounding Zol hardly distracted him as his focus remained to be only cricket. His consistent performances and his ability to lead was rewarded with the captaincy of the Under-19 Indian team for the triangular series in Australia, early this year. Zol accepted the huge task of leading the team and came up with even better performances as he scored 293 runs at a staggering average of 73.25. Zol continued his purple patch as he lead India Colts to victory in Sri Lanka followed by a jubilant hundred in a winning cause against Pakistan in the Under-19 Asia Cup. 

On the pleasant morning of August 30,2013, Vijay Zol made a dream debut for India-A by scoring a century against New zealand-A. The innings was a compilation of technique and temperament that would outclass the best of bowling attacks from across the world. The lean into the drives and back-foot punches through the covers while maintaining a perfect balance reminded me of the grace of legendary Brian Lara and Saurav Ganguly as he concluded his exemplary innings.

Dream Debut - Vijay Zol celebrates his century on debut for India -A

Vijay Zol acknowledges Virender Sehwag as his idol. He was rightly awarded M.A.Chidambaram Award for the best Under-19 Cricketer by the BCCI in 2012. Given the records, the consistency and the form that Vijay Zol is in, the future looks all bright for this naturally gifted exceptional talent. But, to make it to team India, Zol has to do what he does best and that is to bat and bat to score big. 

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Sachin may retire after his 200th Test match..

BCCI has confirmed West Indies tour of India, this November for 2 Test matches and 3 ODI series. The confirmation of series comes as a surprise, since the whereabouts of this series weren’t mentioned in ICC’s Future Tour Programs. 

Now, it’s not the schedule of the series that has caught everyone’s attention. It is India’s and cricket’s biggest ever icon Sachin Tendulkar’s career that has become the epicenter for news. Yes, by this time you must have made the right guess. The test series is probably the last of little master at game’s highest level. Speculations are that the series will curtain the legendary career of Sachin Tendulkar – A Living Legend.

 Living a Childhood dream - Sachin Tendulkar with Worldcup in his hands

Team India was scheduled to tour South Africa in November after a home ODI series against Australia. BCCI proposed an offer to West Indies that they fairly accepted. Had it been India touring South Africa in November, the whole of India would have been saddened by the fact that the farewell to the country’s greatest sportsman ever was bid on a foreign land. 

Truly Master Class - Sachin Tendulkar

Thankfully, BCCI made sure that Sachin remains at home when he calls it an end to his glorious career. The two test matches are likely to be played at Kolkata and Mumbai. Sachin deservingly gets a chance to play his last test match in his home-town, in front of his home crowd, the place where it all started for this batting great. The legendary batsman would accomplish yet another milestone as the test in Mumbai will be his 200th Test match, the highest number of appearances by a cricketer in Test cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar has done it all in cricket. He has faced the greatest of fast bowlers and has built an unparalleled reputation for his batting amongst the likes of Brain Lara and Ricky Ponting. His batting records sometimes looks like a collection of batting stats of an entire team.  With over 30000 runs in all formats of the game and 100 international hundreds, Sachin Tendulkar has been consistent in delivering for team India for over two decades now.

Sachin Tendulkar hasn’t scored a century in his last 38 Test match innings. His last century was a master-class 146 against South Africa at Capetown in January 2011. At Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Sachin last scored a century against Srilanka way back in 1997. He has scored nearly 850 runs in his 18 innings at Mumbai at an average of 47.05 However, his record in Mumbai tends to slightly improve against West Indies as he has 251 runs in 5 innings at a healthy average of 50.02. His overall record against West Indies, inclusive of all the venues, fares much better as he has successfully amassed 1546 runs in 19 matches at an average of 55.21.

 

Carrying the weight of over a billion expectations - Sachin Tendulkar

 With bat held high in his hand and his eyes shooting at the heavens, when Sachin walks on to the pitch for one last time, he'll be carrying expectations of a whole nation, the entire world, living legends and legends from heaven, his admirers and his critics. A performance nothing short of his best would be expected from the GREATEST CRICKETER OF ALL TIME.

   

Aaron Finch - The Next Big Thing in T20 cricket

Being in and out of the side on a consistent basis can do two things to a cricketer's career. It can either bring out the best in him or demotivate him to an extent where he calls it a quit. Success is for those men who learn from their mistakes. Australian cricket's new star Aaron Finch is one such person and this Thursday, 29th August, Aaron proved it with his batting.

In 2009-2010, when Victoria's Aaron Finch scored  his maiden first class century of 102, in a record 212 run partnership for the 3rd wicket with David Hussey against Tasmania, he gave Australian cricket board a player worthy of test cricket. His 154 runs against Queensland in 2012, was an exhibition of his inborn power-hitting capability. Australian cricket by then had realized that they had their kitty in the bag. Finch's aggression combined with orthodox batting style could be used at top of the order for quick runs on the board. His composure throughout his innings were evidence of a great finisher in making. But three years of inconsistency after donning the baggy green kept him out of the limelight. It was only a matter of time that the world would witness this immensely talented young Australian lad make the news for all good reasons.

On 29th August, at Rose-bowl, against England, amidst a jam-packed stadium, Aaron Finch finally announced his arrival with a masterclass display of power-hitting to score 156, of just 63 balls. Finch stepped over the records to climb to the top of the ladder as he completed second fastest T20 international hundred. He left the entire Southampton along with the cricketing world drooling...

An innings studded by 14 hits over the ropes and 11 fours down the green carpet made Finch reach his hundred in only 47 balls, the second fastest hundred in T20 international. Richard Levi holds the record for the fastest century in T20 internationals that came of 45 balls. There was hardly a time where Finch looked uncomfortable against the pace and the spin attack that England had to offer. His innings looked eternal. Facing 63 balls in a 120 balls a side game is a feat in itself, worth applauding.

Finch viciously attacked the English bowlers as he disfigured their bowling strike rates to more than 200, except for Jade Dernbach. 3 of the gigantic hits into the stand completed his 50, 100 and 150 respectively. The Aussie, after completing his hundred roared to another 56 in just 15 balls, as he was dismissed by Dernbach on the 63rd ball of his innings. Finch also excelled the previous record of 123, scored by Brendon McCullum against Bangladesh to become the top scorer in an innings in the twenty-twenty international format.

At any point of time, Finch innings comprised of all good cricketing shots. Not even for a single shot his batting could be explained as slogging. Finch electrified the Aussie camp and the fans from the kangaroo land with his powerful hitting. Any ball shot of length would be sent into the crowd and full length deliveries met his straight bat with an Oomph.

IPL franchise Pune Warriors India would be now bragging about Finchy who, replaced his senior teammate Michael Clarke as incharge of the reigns, mid way through the 2013 season. Finch managed to finish among the top 15 run-getters of the season. Surely, they must have foreseen the genre of Next Big Thing in the smaller version of the game. A well composed man from outside showed immense control on his furious emotions that would have been sprinting inside him after his valiant efforts that left Rose-bowl stadium and the whole cricket world awestruck. Team England included.

With great performances comes greater hopes and much bigger responsibilities. Given the fact that Finch is new at the highest level of cricket and his stalwart performance has become the talk-of-the-town, Finch has crafted his own niche to live up to. A reputation that he wouldn't want people to assume as a fluke.  The innings might surely cement his spot in the squad for the ongoing series, but, it is the consistency in his performances that would make him a regular member of the Aussie squad.

I salute this majestic innings of Aaron Finch as I await the day when Finch becomes a majestic figure in the Australian squad.

The Ball Puppeteers... Flying Kiwi - Sir Richard Hadlee

Its Friday and its time to say hats off to another legendary ball puppeteer from the world of cricket. The first win on home soil/away soil, first home series win, first series win away from home becomes unforgettable and becomes more of a sentiment for the people of that country.

The legend we are talking has been a part of all such memories, as a matter of fact, these victories for New Zealand would have been incomplete without the herculean efforts of kiwi great Sir Richard Hadlee.

Sir Richard Hadlee :

Words seem short to praise the legendary New Zealand bowling icon Sir Richard Hadlee. The world acknowledges his feats as one of the greatest exponents of bowling with the new ball. The "Original Sultan-of-Swing" was the finest of fast bowlers of his time. 

Richard Hadlee made his Test & ODI debut for New Zealand against Pakistan in February, 1973. Hadlee couldn't demonstrate the traits of a legend in making for the first three years of his career. It was against India in 1976 when Hadlee firmly announced his arrival in the international arena with 11 wickets in a game and single-handedly won the game for New Zealand. Sir Richard firmly cemented his place in the New Zealand squad when he steered his team to a historic first win over England by scalping 6 for 26 in the second innings that lead to England being bowled out for a meagre 64 chasing a target of 137.

1979-1980 witnessed Hadlee shining bright as he plundered another 11 wickets in a game against the then giants of the game-West Indies. Hadlee maiden test century in the second test against West Indies drew the match for the kiwis as they won the series 1-0. The victory was the beginning of a 12 year unbeaten record for New Zealand in test match series at home. In 1980's Queen's Birthday Honors his valorous efforts were honored and he was appointed as the Member of the Order of British Empire (MBE). 

Sir Richard Hadlee was awarded with the coveted New Zealand Cricketer of the Year award in 1980 and Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 1982.

Despite Hadlee's match figures of 0 for 89 in the first test against England didn't prove productive  in New Zealand's first test victory on English soil, he still managed to top the batting and bowling averages for the kiwis in the series. In the return series in New Zealand in 1984, Hadlee's 8 wickets in the match and his quickfire 99 in New Zealand's only innings saw the Men-In-Black complete a remarkable three day innings victory over England. 

1985-1986 saw a Hadlee transform from the finest pace bowler to a living legend. In New Zealand's tour to Australia, Hadlee's bowling was an exhibition of sheer pace, accuracy and conventional swing as he captured  9 for 52, his career best in Australia's first innings. His batting score of 54 and 6 more wickets in the second innings were the highlights of the match as New Zealand crushed Australia by an innings. His 7 wickets in the a losing cause in the second test of the series and 11 wickets in a winning cause for the kiwis in the third test gave his team their first series win on Australian soil. 

Hadlee's fiery pace and accuracy were once responsible for England's wicketkeeper Bruce French getting hospitalised, as he hit him with a deadly bouncer.

Hadlee continued spelling his magic in 1986 as he took 10 wickets and scored 68 in New Zealand's first innings of the second test against England as New Zealand scripted first series win over England on English soil.

In 1987 and 1988, Hadlee suffered an injury that made people believe that he is as mortal as any other human. Seeing Hadlee hobble up to the stage on crutches prompted Australian commentator Richie Benaud to later say that he thought Hadlee "would never play cricket again."

In 1988, after a prosperous recovery, Hadlee broke the then world record of most wickets in test cricket against India. His 374th wicket in the first test of the series followed by a 10 wicket haul in the second test gave New Zealand a rare test win in India.

Sir Richard became the first bowler in the history of cricket to take 400 test wickets as he dismissed Sanjay Manjrekar in the second innings of the first test. Hadlee announced his retirement after the upcoming tour to England on the day when he completed 100th first class 5 wicket haul in an innings.

Hadlee was honored as a Knight Bachelor (for services to cricket) at the Queen's Birthday honours at Lords in 1990. Sir Richard Hadlee ended his test career by a 5-wicket haul that included a wicket with the final ball of his test career.

Hadlee's stats of 431 wickets in 86 Test matches with 36 five-wicket haul in an innings and 9 ten-wickets haul in a match at an average of 22.29, 158 wickets in 115 ODIs at an average just under 22, 1490 wickets in 342 First-Class matches with staggering 102 five-wicket haul in an innings and 18 ten-wickets haul in a match and another 454 wickets in 318 List-A career matches with 8 five-wicket haul in an innings authenticates his Wisden rating of "Second Greatest Test Bowler" of all time after Sydney Francis Barnes. His 15 fifties and 2 hundreds at test-level proves his batting efficiency. 

Sir Richard Hadlee was rated as the finest fast bowler of his time despite the contemporary presence of the game's greatest names that include Dennis Lillee, Imran Khan, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Kapil Dev and Wasim Akram. On 3rd April, 2009 Sir Richard Hadlee was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall-of-Fame.

Awards and Recognition :

• Appointed MBE for services to New Zealand sport in 1981.
• Awarded a Knighthood for services to cricket in 1990.
• Winner of the Windsor Cup on 13 occasions, including 12 consecutive years, for the most meritorious bowling performance of the season.
• New Zealand Sportsman of the Year 1980
• Wisden Cricketer of the Year - 1982.
• New Zealand Sportsman of the Year 1986
• New Zealand Sportsperson of the last 25 years 1987 (shared with runner John Walker)
• New Zealand Sportsperson of the Decade 1987
• Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009
• Awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Letters from Nottingham University.

I salute the legend who, even 23 years after his retirement, continues to inspire the budding generations of cricket.