The IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - XVII

Oops, my apologies again. I thought I would post yesterday, but was overcome by a case of sincerityatworkitis.

The match between the RCB and the DD was proof that classical batsmanship still has a place in the T20 format. To me at least, the Kallis-Dravid partnership was one of the best I have seen in this tournament. It was run-making devoid of wild heaves and ugly swipes. And in the end, it took the Royal Challengers home rather easily, much against what I thought would happen.

There is something about Anil Kumble that seems to bring out the sincere gene in every player. Ever since he has taken over, the RC are looking less like strutters and more like fighters. Their bowling against the DD had discipline about it. It was made a bit easy by the two wickets that Praveen Kumar picked up early. After that, bioth Kumble and van der Merwe bowled tight spells and managed to choke even a deep batting team like the DD.

When the RC batted, I could not help but feel sorry for Kallis. There were at least five beautiful drives that went straight to fielders. This is where it gets loaded against the classical players. You just know as a fielding captain where that cover drive or that off drive will go. Fields can be set. Which is another reason why the ‘prayer and a wild heave’ school of batting seems to flourish in this format.

Not that it had an effect on Kallis that night. He picked one from the leg stump and sent it over mid-wicket with hardly any effort. A shot worth going miles to see, and yes, Srini, almost as good as the Bravo whip. Dravid looked a different player. Busy, running the ball into gaps, playing more bottom-handed cricket than he does usually, and most importantly for the RC, keeping big Jacques company. By the time he left, the target was clearly visible to the RC spotters without binoculars.

Yesterday’s matches did not belong to the glamorous, six-hitting world of the IPL. Hard-fought, scrapping, street-fighting affairs. The KKR – RR match panned out along expected lines once Quiney left. Asnodkar is in the middle of what can only be termed an extended lapse of reason. Every dismissal of his this season has had that Syd Barrett brand of bizarreness to it. Yusuf Pathan has gone off the boil, much like Sehwag and expectedly tries to blast his way out of poor form. This time around, he sent up a swirler that was best left to Karthik and his big gloves.

Am I seeing things or is it apparent that KKR are finally playing under their captain and not under their coach? McCullum may not be a great strategic captain, but he does set standards, sometimes with the bat and almost always on the field. Dinda rose ten feet tall and made his presence felt. Langeveldt (held back by Buchanan for reasons best known to the Almighty) showed what he could have done, had he been played earlier. Pity, because he might have just saved Buchanan his job.

Shukla batted beautifully and quite nervelessly to take the KKR home. Alas, if all this had only started happening two weeks ago.

The second match was again a wrong spot by me. I expected the Kings XI to push down an out-of-rhythm CSK. It nearly happened. The CSK innings fell apart once the opening partnership was broken. Sreesanth (he looks such a good bowler when he bowls with his mouth shut) bowled one brilliant over which turned the CSK innings turtle. He hustled in a quick, skidding short ball to Badrinath and beat him for pace on the hook. A few balls later, he produced a true beauty that ensured that Dhoni would not smell of sweat when he took off his shirt in the dressing room.

Brett Lee is in a sweet spot. He is bowling like a poet, if that term could be applied to fast bowlers at all. Powar must be one of the true exponents of pure flight. I think he did Raina in the flight, deceiving him into believing that the ball would drop a tad shorter than it did.

The Kings XI batting just did not make sense to me. Why weren’t they trying to milk the singles? Ashwin did Sangakkara in the flight and Murali got Katich in reverse Warne style. But then, someone could have stuck around and done the Shukla act for KXI.

The Punjab team seems to operate in the ‘switched on, switched off’ mode. And that is sad, for here was a team that looked balanced and so full of talent. ‘Where have you gone Jayawardene, a team turns its lonely eyes to you..’

The IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - XVI

Sorry about the missing updates, for whatever they were worth. Got caught up in work for a few days and then sheer laziness took over.

The KKR boys finally won. Chasing down a big total against a team that has, in all probability made it to the semis. While the CSK did run up a good total, what was good to see was that the KKR did manage to choke them just a little bit as the acceleration began. And when the KKR batted, they showed up the one major flaw in the CSK outfit.

The CSK batting machine has so far managed to hide the fact that its bowling attack is patchy. And that is precisely what the resurgent McCullum and the hard-working Hodge exposed.

Funnily, for all the hoo-haa about Hayden being rested, the CSK batting did not suffer, with all their batsmen running up decent scores. What was impressive though was the way in which the KKR bowling stood up after the strategy break. Yes, there was acceleration, but not to the extent the CSK would have expected, having completed the first ten at nine an over.

The CSK bowling seems to be resting on a weak formula – one bowler bowling a good spell while the bits and pieces men do the restricting act. And that is precisely what fell apart last night.

All said and done, too little too late for the KKR. There are a lot of ‘if only’ theories in my head, but one guesses that all of you would be running them past your processors anyway.

On to my dear friend Dheeraj’s crib that T20 seems to be murdering classical batsmanship. I tend to agree with him in part. T20 seems to be testimony to the old cliché that was often pushed into our eardrums by Narottam Puri – it doesn’t matter how they come, as long as they come.

Yes, it does hurt to see edges and big, wild heaves being applauded. But on the other hand, T20 seems to have added another important dimension to batsmanship which will soon find its way into all forms of the game.

Situational awareness seems to be the big thing now. The kind exemplified by the brilliant Rohit Sharma, Matt Hayden and Brad Hodge in last night’s game. The ability to plan and plot on the fly. Yes, it is being helped by the ‘one bouncer per over’ rule.

I for one would like to see the ‘free hit’ and the fielding restrictions go. Not because they load the game against the bowling side, but because they have their antecedents in giving the crowds a chance to go bonkers.

The IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - XV

If there is one question that I cannot answer after last night's match, it must be this - who was the better team?
To me, both CSK and Kings XI seem very similar outfits. Strong with the bat, but really not there with the ball.

The scorebook shows only who won and who lost. Personally, I am putting down the Kings XI as a semi-finalist. Their batting is just beginning to come good. Yes, there are a few problems here and there. But Katich looks effortless, Yuvraj is discovering the streetfighter side to him and Jayawardene is back in the groove. Sunny Sohal and Karan Goel seem to be overdoing the pinch-hitting bit. And Sangakkara is due. Due big time.

The problem for Kings XI in the bowling department has been magnified by Yusuf Abdulla going off the boil a shade, and the return of Sreesanth. On talent, the latter is still one of the best in India. But his attitude stinks, and more importantly, prevents him from doing anything worthwhile. One match after coming back and he was exchanging words with Hayden. Mind you, this was not after he had Hayden fishing outside the off stump, but after the latter had clubbed him violently to Mt. Kilimanjaro, twice.

Once Vikramjit Malik comes back in place of the Appam-eater, things should start looking better.For Malik has the advantage of grey cells that work in the right direction.

CSK's momentum clearly is their batting. Hayden was brilliant yesterday, as was Raina. And Dhoni seems to be finding the groove that he seemed to have lost. Working as a combination, this line-up enables them to put up good totals which can be defended by an attack that is less than brilliant.

Morkel and Balaji flatter to deceive and Gony is still searching for the rhythm he had last year. In fact, the entire attack now seems to be revolving around Jakati and a few surprise overs from Raina. IMHO, CSK will have to find more cohesion in their bowling. Because their batting hasn't really been put to the 'chase under pressure' test.

As far as the semis go, I would put down DD and DC as my two certain picks. The other two spots to me look very open.

PS: While the news channels cuddle up coyly to the likes of Dhoni and Yuvraj, smiling and blushing and calling them 'Mahi' and 'Yuvi', the pint-sized bomber Raina is discussed with noticeably less affection. Probably because he does not have a cute /macho/whatever image. Probably because he does not talk much. And probably because he does not have too many female fans. Whatever the reason, Raina is a player who in current form must rank in the top Five in international limited overs cricket.

But the eternal fool that I am, will always want cricketers to get coverage for what they do on the field. Silly me.

THe IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - XIV

Hard work is good for the soul. But it also cometh in the way of IPL updates. My apologies for the lapses in posting.

Match reviews make sense when they are posted immediately after the match. therefore, I shall not labour over the last three matches. A brief summary is below, just to be honest to the job.

1. RR climbed into the Kings XI attack to post this IPL's highest total. And from there, it was all over. The noteworthy aside here was Sreesanth making his debut in IPL 2. But by giving away 23 in his last over, he made sure that it would not be classified under the 'noteworthy IPL debuts' tag.

2. KKR lost again. To the DD this time. Badly. If there has to be a silver lining here, it would be that we all might have seen the last of Buchanan.

3. Last night, the DC finished off the Mumbai boys. That put paid to my hopes of seeing SRT in the semis, I guess.

After the KKR match came the text messages from my Bong friends, with some really innovative suggestions on what one could do with Buchanan. I got talking the next day with a friend of mine in office. As usual, I was floating a typically wild theory on Buchanan and KKR that had nothing to do with cricket.

My theory is that Indians do not react well to over-analysis. As a race, we seem to be 'flow' people. We know the final goal, but tend to use our own methods or variations of methods to get there. In the Indian system, there may or may not be the one perfect way of doing things. When confronted with a system that demands a fixed way of doing things, we either cannot execute well, or if we manage to do it, execute it mechanically, without inspiration.

I ran this past my friend, who is a strategic planner and therefore, more qualified to judge these things. His instant response was as follows - Western civilizations are process-driven. Indians are not. And he quickly backed it up with the example of Greg Chappell and the Indian team.

Would be a good idea to debate this here.

Fellow cricket-mad Indian, Hemant Kapre wants me to spot my four semi-finalists. After the last two days' matches, I refuse to do so!

For the time being, I will only venture the DD team as a certain semi-finalist.

The IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - XIII

The way the CSK-DC match started, all signs pointed to a last over nail biter. But as it turned out, it ended up as a totally lame encounter.

It is my theory. Purely my theory that Gilchrist stays side-on and on the back foot to every first ball. To capitalise on the outside the off-stump short of good length delivery. That's the one he scythes in that arc from third man to cover.

Last night in particular, he seemed to be waiting as Morkel bowled a full length delivery. I may be totally wrong, but it seemed like Gilly was expecting it outside the off stump. With one wicket gone, I simply did not understand why Gibbs tried to play that walking shot. There was nothing in that delivery from Tyagi. Just an overdose of over-confidence from the South African. Laxman completed the madness with a delicate pick off his toes straight to mid-wicket.

Zero for three is a score that one normally finds in maidan tennis ball match scorebooks. No road out of there at this level of cricket. Smith played a real blinder. I thought it might have been a good idea to send Venu Rao and keep Rohit Sharma for a wicket later. But Smith's incandescence was too bright to last forever. That whip over mid-wicket for six will stay with me for a long time.

And then, the much documented run-out miss which reminded us all of the gully matches from our childhood, complete with the expressions of total stupidity and manic shouting. Once Bravo went, it was always going to be difficult. In the end, I would have been happier with a twenty run margin at least.

The CSK innings was clinical in its plotting and brutal in its execution. Hayden played the slayer at the top while Vijay did the thrust and parry act really well. Once the base had been laid, Raina tore into the DC attack with ferocity, leaving the stage open for Dhoni to finally show us his trademark hitting.

I just hope that the Mumbai guys get their act together fast. Can't think of a semi without SRT.

The IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - XII

Two class acts gave us a demonstration last night. Of innings built on purist strokeplay. And both won their sides the match.

To be honest, I am beginning to enjoy watching the KKR play. Just for the grim satisfaction that one gets in watching a team trying to lift itself. There are strategies, there are laptop-powered coaches and there are superstar players. But there is something else in a group of individuals playing for pride. Putting up a fight, knowing fully well that a win may never come their way.

Last night, against the Kings XI, the KKR boys demonstrated just that. Yes they lost. Again.But they stretched a confident opponent and dragged him to the wire. Their batting rhythm is simply not there. Every run seems a struggle, and innings are too often built on one player's contribution. But they are fighting. Only wish this had happened a few matches ago.

Brad Hodge fought like an Aussie from the Ian Chappell era. Everyone else barely made decent contributions. Ganguly's slog sweep pointed to a man short of confidence. A few years ago, he would not have used that shot. He would have simply lofted Chawla over the straight field, into the veldt.

Gayle flattered to deceive and McCullum was busy playing the demons inside his head. But Ishant Sharma bowled beautifully and Kartik brought in his English season experience.

Yes, there were a few dropped catches, but other teams drop catches and still win. Jayawardene was plumb leg before to Kartik, and had that decision been given, we might have seen another outbreak of 'Korbo Lorbo...'. Was really surprised that the umpire instantly turned it down.

Jayawardene came good at a crucial juncture. The leg before decision apart, he batted with his usual silken touch and saw the Kings XI home. In Sunny Sohal, Kingss XI seem to have unearthed their answer to Asnodkar Version 2008.

The second match had a lot of potential, but Mumbai, I have to say, are making their mistake of bunching all their class acts together at the top. And when wickets sometimes fall in a rash as they did to du Preez last night, trouble cannot be far behind. 149 is always fifteen runs short, but I thought Mumbai had the firepower in the bowling department.

Wrong. Jacques Kallis rumbled all over Malinga and the match was more or less lost there. Classic cricket shots, each one more beautiful and authoritative than the other, flowed from the South African's bat. With Kallis firing on all cylinders, Uthappa could afford to swipe and miss and feel his way till he too started finding the middle.

I thought Tendulkar would bring on Jayasuriya and himself(with his leg spin) early. He did, but by that time both Kallis and Uthappa were well on their way.

Must confess that with Kumble leading, the RC seem to be a tighter outfit. They are bowling well and if last night's batting is anything to go by, they might just spring a few surprises.

The IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - XI

I watched both of today’s matches in a mood of mild protest, over Kamran Khan’s action being described as suspect. He is a slinger, and for heaven’s sake, you cannot straighten out an arm in the middle of a slinging motion. I have been watching replays, and the lad does seem to be double-jointed – the same condition that ensures three of today’s top international bowlers don’t get reported!

Wasn’t the first match supposed to be one-sided? Warne and his men certainly did not think so as the RR pulled off the unimaginable.

When the DC batted, the absence of Kamran Khan, out with an ankle injury did not show. Pathan’s good overs at the top were in stark contrast to those of Munaf Patel, before Jadeja and Harwood started pushing down the middle pedal.

For the DC, Rohit Sharma and Tirumal Suman played good knocks to push their team up to 141. But Azhar Bilakhia at three surprised me. He can bat, but I personally thought that Sharma in his place would have allowed the latter to build an innings better.

Anyway, the start of the RR innings started off like a pie-throwing sequence in a comedy film. Rhyme, reason and anything resembling grey cells seemed to have been left behind as Warne’s team quickly reduced itself to 3 for 3. But a truly lovely knock from Lee Carseldine put them back on rails.

Carseldine showed beautiful touch as he in the company of Jadeja first and then Warne took them closer and closer to the target. Abhishek Raut came in, settled in and kept one end ticking over busily, as Pathan , dropped down the order, came in and launched a few here and there to get the RR to within kissing distance.

This sudden turnaround by the RR is rather reminiscent of their performance last year, when they came out of nowhere.

The second match of the evening was a cruel one – between two of the teams I support.
I thought the CSK got off pretty well. Murali Vijay was a bit slow, but I thought he got off to a fair start before attempting the ‘sabko mitadoonga’ swipe. Hayden pummeled briefly, but all too quickly, the CSK were 2 for 46.

Raina and Badrinath got together and tried to get things going again. Raina is in the middle of a truly brilliant phase. He never seems to slog, and doesn’t really have a big wind up. He just seems to be there when the ball arrives. Rare talent.

Badrinath at the other end was his typical self, running the singles hard and looking for scoring opportunities. He broke the 11th over jinx with an amazing series of hits that gave the CSK team momentum, which quickly disappeared when Raina got out. DD played Rajat Bhatia, a cricketer who is vastly under-rated. He thinks his way through, whether batting or bowling and that makes him a good man to have in a team. Bhatia bowled a few good overs, getting rid of Badrinath.

After that, all the big-built men with the big reputations flopped and the CSK innings listed and floundered its way to 163.

Not a tough target, given DD’s batting quality and depth. Warner, in for Sehwag, and Gambhir looked quite comfortable till Raina pulled off a blinder to send back Gambhir who was looking good finally. But it was the next ball from Tyagi that seemed to torpedo the DD innings. It cleaned up de Villiers off his pads, first ball.

Dilshan left shortly afterwards, totally undone by Jakati, who bowled two good arm balls to him before turning the third past Dilshan’s bat.

Warner, beginning to reel off some crisp shots set about re-building the chase with Karthik, but fell victim to Jakati after a well-made fifty. Manhas played a terrible shot and got out and was quickly followed by Karthik, who I thought should have stuck around.

Once Karthik left, it all suddenly became academic and what could have been a thrilling finish ended in a one-sided way.

The IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - X

Both the May Day matches were opportunities for redemption. One team tried and failed, while the other succeeded.

The KKR – Mumbai Indians encounter was expected to be a one-sided affair, though I was secretly hoping that the Kolkata team would pull off a miracle. I am neither a Bong nor a fan of the KKR team-owner, but I definitely like my Ganguly, quirks and all.

As it happened, KKR bowled quite well to hold the Mumbai team down to 148. Almost every bowler did his job and while the fielding was not up there, one could see a team wanting to fight. I quite liked Murali Kartik’s send-off to Harbhajan. Just for the fact that it’s time the offie got some of his own medicine forced down his throat.

Duminy again batted beautifully. The funny thing is that as a viewer, one doesn’t notice him. No fanfare, no massive hits. Just a series of crisp, cricketing shots and he is suddenly on fifty.

Why Rahane was sent so low down is something that I will never understand. The lad is a destructive player and a real talent. Agarkar got Tendulkar with a full toss. One marvels at the talent of Agarkar, who manages to get a wicket with almost any kind of delivery. This time, instead of the longhop, it was a full toss.

The KKR reply started off in ominous fashion with Ganguly getting a first-baller – dragging a wide delivery on to his stumps. Zaheer Khan cleaned up Gayle, and all of us watching started exchanging ‘How d’you solve a problem like KKR?’ expressions.

But we were led to hope. By a gritty partnership between Hodge and van Wyk, before the old ending was added to this new plot. Why is Saha being played so low down? He can open, which gives KKR the option of sending Ganguly in at three. But then, Hungry Bread always has other ideas.

KKR lost, but I sincerely hope they bounce back. Locking the coach and his theories up in a bathroom two days before the match is a good idea. When every brilliant theory has failed, what’s the harm in eleven players going out and just trying to … err, play cricket?

The second match saw Kumble taking over from KP, the sex symbol. And with it must have come a different work ethic. None of it was in evidence when the RC batted, losing Ryder, Goswami and Bishnoi in reasonably quick succession.

A line about Bishnoi. Back in the glory days of Nebuchadnezzar, when I played most of my cricket, we had a term to describe this kind of player – Oom-faa. ‘Oom’ referred to the wind-up and ‘faa’ to the swing of the bat. Back to the game.

Kallis, Uthappa and van der Merwe all chipped in, but the thunder was stolen by Yuvraj Singh, who in the course of three successive balls took a hat-trick and brought his own brand of mayhem to approved celebration styles.

145 seemed a gettable target as long as Yuvraj was there for the Kings XI. The team has a big problem in the fact that Jayawardene is just not firing, given the fact that he is a genuine class act. Some good bowling by the spin trio of Kumble, van der Merwe and Appanna dried up the runs for the Kings XI.