Cricket round up

A win in need is....

India did very well indeed to beat South Africa by 8 wickets in Kolkata. It was a much needed win to boost team India's morale and to silence all the doubting Thomases,albeit for the time being. Couldn't help but notice the sarcasm in Saurav saying ''we'll try to beat bangladesh'' and he did make his displeasure known about the pitches when he said ''South Africa played well but they dint get the spinning tracks touring teams usually get''. Valid points indeed dada.


Kumble's 434

A fantastic and well deserved landmark indeed for Anil Kumble, the genial leg spinner who has bowled India to so many victories over the past 15 years.Kumble has always been criticised for his bowling away from home but superb efforts down under and across the border earlier this year have taken critics by surprise.At home Kumble is one of the most dangerous ever. Visiting teams have taken him lightly at their own peril- ask Gooch's Englishmen who found that out the hard way in 1993, in what must surely be one of the most underprepared teams ever to visit the subcontinent.Kumble has had success in almost every single home series with his 10-74 against Pakistan standing out for it was just the second time in test history that a bowler took all ten in an innings. (More on this in the next article)

Best ever

Have had enough of this nonsense about Tendulkar not being the player he was. Give him a break people,hes just back from injury and it does take time, even for a supremely talented genius like him. Sachin is the best judge of himself and has said in the December 2004 issue of Wisden that he thinks hes got a good five years left atleast and people are jumping the gun by saying hes past his best. Tendulkar, for me, is the best batsman of his time without a doubt, and one of the best ever to have played the game, and so shall it always be.


Tough times


Pakistan slide to a morale shattering defeat in their tour opener against Western Australia's 2nd eleven. Tough times ahead,given that 10 proper batsmen couldn't chase 94 (it was a 11 to field,11 to bat game where pakistan rotated amongst 15 players) but it wasn't enough apparently! Australia have cleverly slotted in a 3 day game at Perth and then the first test match too is at Perth. By the time Pakistan go into the second game, there are gonna be a few bruised egos, and bodies! Although the bowling is pretty good,must be said that Pakistan's batting is a bit raw and they need some time to settle in.