Sunday, October 23, 2005

Daily Roundup

Yes. This is a bit late in the day - but yes - SG scored a hundred in the Duleep Trophy. He has proven a point but nothing beyond that. This should not automatically ensure his comeback to the team but it should be based on the team's needs at the end of the first two games. Yes, the selectors have already indicated via sources that SG's return to the team is a mere formality now but I have this sneaky feeling that GC and RD are not going to lay down the red carpet that easily. If they win the first two games or maybe one of them they will have more breathing space to weigh their options. My point again - I'm not against SG making a comeback to the team now or sometime in the future (I certainly do not condone sites like this) - I just want the team's requirements to be the priority over those of an individual.

By the same measure Wasim Jaffer played a stellar role in taking West to victory over South. But we are not going to pick him in the team immediately are we ? Also VVS scored a precious 70 in the second innings. From the bowling point of view, Zaheer took 6 wickets in the second innings, Balaji took 5 overall I think - both putting in the yards - good to see - again I am sceptical about Zaheer a bit. He has done this several times over in the past. Put up a good show when left out and look less than full throttle on return to the team. VR Singh and Gagandeep also were pretty good. So all in all the pace bowling department seems to be doing quite well.

Meanwhile SA have beaten NZ by 2 wickets and 3 balls in a close opening game. Kemp did the job again and is becoming a serious player for SA and a pain for the other teams. I remember him playing some fantastic innings last season against England.

Also, Mumbai beat SL yesterday - what a great blow is that - admittedly Vaas and Murali were not playing but that is just the tonic India needed ahead of the series. Mumbai has always been a great team and Vinayak Mane, Nishit Shetty and Amol Muzumdar (one of the most unfairly treated cricketers ever) did a sterling job to take Mumbai home.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

In his autiobiography Nasser Hussein heavily criticises Mike Gatting for saying of Graham Thorpe: "what apart from runs does he bring to the party?" Hussein argument was no doubt the same as Ganguly's: "what apart from runs does a batsmen need to bring to the pary?" His selection may cause a man management challenge, but he'd make my team.

Anonymous said...

how can you compare ganguly with vvs or jaffer? he is much better than both of them (basis: past records! what else can it be?)
and if you do not agree with me, i guess you would be against the inclusion of SRT as well...(afterall, ganguly at least scored a 100, SRT couldn't even cross 20)
anyways, i guess its again time to remind you of the age-old cliché: "form is temporary, class is permanent"

Gaurav said...

@cambourne
i agree runs should be the primary factor but the decision to be made is whether he is likely to bring those runs to the table again. not what he has done in the past

@anon
i meant to say that SGs 100 in the Duleep Trophy by itself shud not seal his place in the side. becoz otherwise jaffer and vvs also deserve to be automatically drafted in. all 3 have made themseleves eligible and strengthened their case. of course as you say it is true that SGs past record will give him a huge advantage over anyone else.