The IPL season has just ended on a high with some really riveting matches in the final stages. The fans got all the entertainment they were looking for.
Now the International season will start. The Indian team will now play 3 ODI in Bangladesh and then onto England for a full tour of Tests and ODI's. Are we well prepared to take on the strong teams?
Indian cricket was in crisis after we lost 8 Tests in a row overseas and then 10 out of 11 overseas. To top that England beat us at home too, on spinning tracks !!
A lot of hue and cry was made about that. But was anything concrete done to address the real issues?
In England and then in Australia we were beaten without putting up a fight. The captain seemed clueless. Our bowling was treated with disdain and our famed batting lineup just capitulated. It was a shameful exhibition.
The last tour to England was billed as the clash between the Number one and two teams in the world, but it turned out to be completely one sided. Then England came to India and 'outspinned' us..........
After all this debacle what did BCCI do....the N. Srinivasan saga hogged the limelight. And then the Big-3 episode through which BCCI virtually took control of the ICC. And then IPL7...............Amid all this the real issues facing Indian Cricket were forgotten and swept under the carpet.......
I have not seen BCCI do any analysis of the debacles abroad or come out with any concrete measures to address these. The status quo continues...........
I may sound pessimistic but I can't see how India will do well in England this time around. Yes, we have some brilliant young batsmen now like Kohli and Pujara, but the bowling cupboard looks bare. Maybe, there is some hope from Mohammad Shami. To top that the selectors have not picked Umesh Yadav.
It is unfortunate to see that Indian Cricket is being run by a body which has all kinds of egomaniacs, power grabbers, politicians, and other shady characters but very few with genuine concern for the game. As Harsha Bhogle said 'their main concern is the bottom line, not the score line'. What is the use of being the richest board in the world if your team gets regularly thrashed abroad? What is the use of running the most lucrative league in the world if you are unable to produce one world class bowler...........
BCCI's main objective seems to be to do 'dadagiri' over other boards but they have no time for improving the game at home. The Indian cricket fan doesn't want the 'richest but mediocre' team........they want the best team in the world, rich or not so rich...........
This is the state of affairs but there are very few dissenting voices. BCCI has bought over virtually everyone whose opinion used to matter to the Indian Cricket fan. The greatest cricketing icons of India are in the pockets of the BCCI, busy toeing its line...........
Though the attitude of the BCCI has been abysmal, I still pin my hopes on the players. They may still spring a surprise in England. Let's hope so...............
Now the International season will start. The Indian team will now play 3 ODI in Bangladesh and then onto England for a full tour of Tests and ODI's. Are we well prepared to take on the strong teams?
Indian cricket was in crisis after we lost 8 Tests in a row overseas and then 10 out of 11 overseas. To top that England beat us at home too, on spinning tracks !!
A lot of hue and cry was made about that. But was anything concrete done to address the real issues?
In England and then in Australia we were beaten without putting up a fight. The captain seemed clueless. Our bowling was treated with disdain and our famed batting lineup just capitulated. It was a shameful exhibition.
The last tour to England was billed as the clash between the Number one and two teams in the world, but it turned out to be completely one sided. Then England came to India and 'outspinned' us..........
After all this debacle what did BCCI do....the N. Srinivasan saga hogged the limelight. And then the Big-3 episode through which BCCI virtually took control of the ICC. And then IPL7...............Amid all this the real issues facing Indian Cricket were forgotten and swept under the carpet.......
I have not seen BCCI do any analysis of the debacles abroad or come out with any concrete measures to address these. The status quo continues...........
I may sound pessimistic but I can't see how India will do well in England this time around. Yes, we have some brilliant young batsmen now like Kohli and Pujara, but the bowling cupboard looks bare. Maybe, there is some hope from Mohammad Shami. To top that the selectors have not picked Umesh Yadav.
It is unfortunate to see that Indian Cricket is being run by a body which has all kinds of egomaniacs, power grabbers, politicians, and other shady characters but very few with genuine concern for the game. As Harsha Bhogle said 'their main concern is the bottom line, not the score line'. What is the use of being the richest board in the world if your team gets regularly thrashed abroad? What is the use of running the most lucrative league in the world if you are unable to produce one world class bowler...........
BCCI's main objective seems to be to do 'dadagiri' over other boards but they have no time for improving the game at home. The Indian cricket fan doesn't want the 'richest but mediocre' team........they want the best team in the world, rich or not so rich...........
This is the state of affairs but there are very few dissenting voices. BCCI has bought over virtually everyone whose opinion used to matter to the Indian Cricket fan. The greatest cricketing icons of India are in the pockets of the BCCI, busy toeing its line...........
Though the attitude of the BCCI has been abysmal, I still pin my hopes on the players. They may still spring a surprise in England. Let's hope so...............
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