REVIEW OF INDIA – AUSTRALIA ONE-DAY SERIES

Australia clinched the one-day series 4-2 with first match held at Bangalore being washed out. Even though Indian team lost this series it can take some positives from this series. Uthappa’s maturity is one of the positives. But he needs to be more consistent and had to come up with big scores. Murali Karthik’s performance (whether this time it will be a long and consistent run?) is another positive. Indian team can’t become world-beaters with just good batting side. They need to be complemented by good bowling attack. Indian batsmen always play with additional pressure because of the inefficiency of their bowlers.

Rohit Sharma or Badrinath should have played instead of Dinesh Karthik in yesterday’s match when they have decided to drop Rahul (sorry rested!).

SLEDGING
Indian cricket players don’t know how to sledge; however I appreciate their intent to unsettle the Australian players. Sledging is not staring and doing some crazy antics at opposition. What Sreesanth indulges is a showy antics. There is also likelihood of getting punished by match referee. Australians sledge in a way that they are not caught by match referee and at same time they are also able to unsettle the opposition players.

REMOVE VENGSARKAR
Mr. Vengsarkar does not seem to have any consistency and clarity in his thinking. He lacks clear vision and there is no direction in his actions. Few months’ back, he made an irresponsible statement that there was no exceptional talent in India. He is undermining the powers of captain. Captain is the boss and selection of final XI is his prerogative. Vengsarkar interferes in selection of final XI. He can suggest but can’t interfere. So first step to move Indian cricket forward is removing him from the selection panel.

FUTURE OF BIG THREE
There is a huge debate going on about future of “Big Three”. In this regard, I still maintain my opinion:

Sachin should retire from one-dayers and concentrate on test matches alone. Reason is simple, to prolong his test career.

Ganguly in my opinion is not fit to play in one-dayers. Many would argue that after his return he has scored at an average around 50 in one-dayers. But fluency is lacking in his innings and his knocks are not able to win matches for India. Indeed India has won 3 matches in England and one in Chandigarh with his contribution. But I would credit that wins to his association with Master Blaster in the top. Ganguly playing ahead of Laxman, Yuvraj and Badrinath in test matches are also not acceptable.

Regarding Rahul Dravid, I feel he is good enough to play atleast 2 more years of international cricket in both forms of the game. The slump in his form is temporary. I am sure he will bounce back.

But what is happening on the field is suggesting otherwise (to my opinion).

DOES MONKEY CHANTS CONSTITUTE RACISM?
I don’t know whether monkey chants constitute racist slur. As Mark Waugh and Allan Border had said I feel Andrew Symmonds is over-reacting. Moreover his comments on celebrations of Indian team after Twenty20 world cup is little childish. I don’t find any wrong in celebrations of Indian players.