a word on cricket

There's been some very interesting cricket over the last few weeks. Whilst the Pakistan-West Indies series is drawing to a close, the other six major nations are all battling it out in the southern hemisphere. South Africa proved once again that they're a formidable one-day team, crushing India, who've slipped to low after low following the morale-breaking WC final loss in 2003. Australia have regained the Ashes wasting the minimal amount of time, whilst Sri Lanka are locked in a tight battle with the Kiwis.

First to South Africa, where a confident home team went into the test matches after a ruthless display against an Indian team all at sea with the unfamiliar conditions. South Africa played marvellous cricket, dominating with both bat and ball throughout the ODI's. The coach Mickey Arthur publicly asked the curators to prepare bouncy pitches so his pace bowlers could bounce out the Indians. The nation was all abuzz with optimism, but as usual, the South African penchant for going overboard with these things was their undoing. Not only were they under huge pressure from their public to put India to the sword, but their coach piled on the pressure as well, not only to dominate, but to bowl lots of bouncers and have the Indian batsmen ducking and weaving. As Arthur wanted, a bouncy, seaming pitch was delivered at Johannesburgh. To the South Africans' surprise, (though really it shouldnt have been), the Indian pace bowlers utilized the conditions masterfully dismissing the home team for a record-equalling 84 and 278. It shouldnt have surprised them because Indian bowlers have done quite well in South Africa- Srinath, Prasad and Kumble come to mind. This time around, Sreesanth was the hero. I saw this guy make his debut against a lacklustre Sri Lankan team. He conceded 50 runs in 7 overs or so without looking like getting a wicket. But the commentators, Dean Jones, David Hookes and Barry Richards, remarked that Sreesanth was the future of test cricket in India. I was taken aback by this because I didnt see anything remarkable in this slightly built, apparently ordinary medium pacer. A few matches later, he bowled 1/63 from 10 overs, again unflattering figures, but this time he had 4 dropped catches in the slips, gully and outfield. He created these chances through edges, top edges and leading edges, beating the batsmen with cut, swing and pace. But not until now has he truly justified the faith those commentators put in him. His superb performance, along with Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan and VVS Laxman, has really given the Indians a launching pad to win a series in South Africa.

New Zealand have never quite reached the heights they managed to climb back in 01/02 when they matched Australia with the bat, drew 0-0 in the test series and conspired to keep Australia out of the VB series final and forcing the Australian selectors to drop Steve Waugh. Unfortunately things have not worked out for the New Zealanders since then, particularly in the batting department, where they have continually failed to score large totals and even to unearth any decent batting talent. Sri Lanka have also struggled for a while now, with only the brilliance of Murali and Kumar Sangakkara maintaining a modicum of dignity for the Emerald Isle. So this series is an excellent opportunity for both teams to garner much needed momentum leading into the world cup. Remember, last before the WC, India were butchered 3-0 (tests) and 5-2 (odi) by New Zealand but went on to have a splendid tournament with the exception of two humiliating losses to Australia. Two closely contested matches have resulted in a drawn series 1-1. With 2 20-20's and 5 ODI's coming up, it will interesting to see how these teams fare, both considered stronger in the short format of the game. The state of the pitches in NZ will probably mean that the ODI's will be a shoot-out between the bowlers, though one outstanding batting performance could be the difference. But since neither team is a true contender for the WC, I must say I'm not all that interested in this series.

The Ashes have not lived upto their hype, it has to be said. England's woeful selection policies, together with their outdated tactics, and the absence of key players Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones, left them exposed to a rampant Australian team desperate to regain the Ashes. As far as selection goes, England made three mistakes:

1. not selecting Panesar from the outset- this is a no-brainer. This guy is a genuine wicket-taker. In Jones' absence, this is something England were bound to desperately miss.

2. picking five bowlers- this is completely pointless. Flintoff is not a no.6 batsman- he's simply a bowler who bats better than average (a bowling all-rounder if you will). The South Africans never select Pollock as a batsman, same as Pakistan and Wasim Akram. Flintoff should play as a bowler alongside Hoggard, Harmison and Panesar. It should be noted that the fifth bowlers, Anderson and Mahmood have taken 1 wicket in 3 tests. That way, Ed Joyce or Jamie Dalrymple could bat at no.5 and Collingwood at 6. I know he got the double hundred at 4, but Collingwood is at best a no.6 batsman, Pietersen should be at 4.

3. Geraint Jones- I have not seen a more redundant selection than England's persistence with Jones. He's not a good keeper (admittedly, he has dropped way fewer balls this time around, though he missed a crucial stumping off Monty in Perth) and he's a hopeless batsman. Chris Read simply has to come in. When Alec Stewart was keeping, the odd mistake could be accepted because of his consistent contributions with the bat, but Jones is a joke.

Having said all of this, even if England picked their best XI (Cook, Strauss, Bell, Pietersen, Joyce/Dalrymple, Collingwood, Flintoff, Read, Harmison, Panesar, Hoggard) I dont think the result would be any different. Australia are too good at the moment. Mike Hussey is simply unstoppable, as is Ponting. With McGrath and Warne somewhat out of sorts, Stuart Clark has stepped up and delivered with the ball. And once Gilchrist hits form, you know your in trouble. The Aussies are looking pretty good in terms of retaining the WC right now. It's take a huge reversal of fortunes for it to be otherwise, remembering that Australia is far more dominant in ODI's than in test matches.