Cricket - FOREVER

^^^^^^ That would be great poetic justice if they win <= 5 matches.

Sourav Ganguly backs Virat Kohli over MS Dhoni as captain

NEW DELHI: Former captain Sourav Ganguly has said that he would be surprised if current limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads the Indian team in 2019 World Cup and backed Virat Kohli to be given the leadership role soon.

Ganguly said the national selectors should take a call on this issue so that the country can plan for the future.

"(MS) Dhoni has been captain for nine years, which is a long period. He has been fantastic in the way he has gone about his job as captain, but does he have the ability in next four years to see India into the World in 2019. Does he have it in him to go for another four years? He has already given up Test cricket and now plays only ODIs and T20s," Ganguly said.

"So the selectors need to find an answer to whether they see Dhoni leading India in 2019. If the answer is no, then find a new captain. If the answer is yes, which I will find very very surprising, Dhoni continues," he was quoted as saying by 'India Today'.

"Every cricket team in the world plans their future. But my question to the selectors is three-fours years down the line, do they see MS Dhoni as captain of India?" Ganguly asked.

However, Ganguly backed Dhoni to continue playing international cricket, saying India still "need him".

"I am not saying he needs to quit cricket, I feel he should continue to play in the shorter formats of the game. India still need him in the limited-overs cricket," said the former captain. 


Ganguly also lauded Kohli for his achievements as Test captain and for his on-field exploits in every format of the game.

"Virat Kohli is getting better every time. He is probably the best in the world in terms of consistency. His mental energy, tenacity is unreal. His attitude on the field is superb. His record as Test captain has been good," he said.

"Decision on appointing Kohli as captain should go in terms of where MS goes from here? There's no disregard to him (Dhoni), he's been one of the greatest captains of the country," Ganguly said.

Kohli has been averaging 52.70 as Test captain and has slammed four centuries in his 10-match stint so far. In ODIs, Kohli has led India in 17 matches and his batting average has been 70.83, including four hundreds. Overall, he averages 51.51 in the 50-over format.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/top-stories/Sourav-Ganguly-backs-Virat-Kohli-over-MS-Dhoni-as-captain/articleshow/52207271.cms

"I am not saying he needs to quit cricket, I feel he should continue to play in the shorter formats of the game. India still need him in the limited-overs cricket," said the former captain.     

guess Gangs watches 'House of Cards' 



Gangs as BCCI president might be the nudge Kaduvetti needs to call it quits.

Also whats the ladai between Ash/Toni, every other week Ash's coach mourns about the same in papers.

Ash bowling beautifully 

http://www.windiescricket.com/news/watch-wicb-pres-xi-vs-india-1st-day

solli vaaya moodula. RJing for noobs, Beefy 

http://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12351/10500317/sir-ian-botham-says-england-are-the-most-feared-test-side-in-the-world

was hoping Aamir would repeat this 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oGP_yh-1qw

 other than last session Aamir was disappointing.

Pak bats can rejoice, given their bowling attack doubt Eng would dish out a green mamba.

What a test match! Phew! Watched most parts live on TV (but not the entire match). Even though Pak were doing better against English county, I wasn't thinking they have a chance against England. It is always a merry watch Pak bowl. It was unbelievable how Yasir Shah could turn this much on a seemer friendly pitch. The one which deceived Ballance (in 2nd innings) reminded me of Shane Warne's magical delivery to Gatting. This one was better because Ballance was a LHB (vs Gatting was a RHB), so it is more of a off-spin for him, still he could not read the ball. Rahat Ali was also excellent and Mohammed Amir's 6 year turnaround at the same venue. Misbah's composure and one man leadership (which is very rare in Pak cricket) won the game for them.

Woakes was too good. With Anderson and Stokes returning in 2nd test match, it would be a more interesting series. Can't wait to watch.

One thing I really didn't like is the push up celebration which Pak team did (Misbah did during his century too).

imo for a wrist spinner Yasir doesn't turn that much nor does he have a potent googly but amazing control over line/length.
even more remarkable given the guy is playing his first test outside Asia and the workload he had to endure.
contrast this to our spinners 

Rashid's inclusion is interesting given Pak's frailties against left arm spin/leggies.
Rashid's RPS count Vs Yasirs will be a interesting read.

Warnie elaborated on the need to bowl slow but with max revs on the ball and then let it loop
but again he confessed it was bleddy hard thing to do.

Ash here does it so effortlessly, the delivery to Samuels, lovely drift/loop. 
leaves even SunnyG perplexed who calls it carrom ball  

Sanju Manju has already started mourning in com box, this could well be the last test series for Che.

interesting stat, KL Rahul has more overseas test tons than World's best bat Root 

hail Sajdehs, Nohit back in 11    backstory https://ilayaraja.forumms.net/t17p550-cricket-forever#20340

Eng-Pak. Really fascinating test series  Loved every moment I watched. The way both the teams bounced back and the way both teams fought hard, really makes this test series a classic. Can't imagine how Pak cricket will be without the services of Misbah and Younis. Kudos to both of them for uniting the team and inspiring the team like no other. Their contribution not only inspires Pakistan team, but every cricket team should learn from them. After 320/6, I thought they would hardly make much lead, but to my surprise they added more than 200 runs which really showed their grit. England fought well, but somehow the middle order is of big concern; especially Ballance, Vince and even Hales at the top. Every time they cannot expect Moen Ali or Bairstow to hold it up for them. Even Cook was not that good. I love how Woakes played in the 1st innings. Fighting test match and Pak truly deserved a win in the series, if not for that 2nd innings collapse at Edgbaston, but they came back strongly in the last test. What a team!

my only interest in series is how Ash/William's son match up


https://streamable.com/osei

If we get similiar wickets, Ash should end up with 300 wickets from 50 matches and Kohls will know how shite he is against spin 

Kohls on his fake aggression trip is mucking up our best test bats 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-new-zealand-2016-17/content/story/1059219.html 


fear KL will be the first casualty.

my only interest in series is how Ash/William's son match up

turned out to be a no-show, Ash had him in a string.


Ash churning out some incredible numbers  

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;continent=2;filter=advanced;orderby=bowling_strike_rate;qualmin2=100;qualval2=wickets;size=100;template=results;type=bowling

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;continent=2;filter=advanced;orderby=bowling_average;qualmin2=100;qualval2=wickets;size=100;template=results;type=bowling


never thought a Indian bowler would match Waqar in Asia.


Weed, entha pozhapuku 

http://www.mid-day.com/articles/harbhajan-singh-indore-test-ashwin-rank-turners-arvind-kejriwal-india-vs-new-zealand-twitter-cricket-news/17676154

Again what a match! When it's Pak all the way, Bishoo turned it over single-handedly. Yet they could have managed a draw. Brave fight by WI. Gripping test match only to see Pak sneak through.

though not as good as Ryno's ball against Cook but still this is seriously good ball from Shami 

https://streamable.com/1ldi


for the uninitiated, swung in and then seamed out 

India is playing high risk game with 5 batters/Saha/Rahane batting being not upto scratch.


guess all the Indian commie turds urging him to follow Dhoni in stumping seems to have also messed up his wicked keeping teknik too 

Jayant's bowling surprised me, never rated his bowling.

mighty impressed with Baby Boycott, English hype is real for the first time 
 kudos to Eng selectors/system, can't see any other test playing nation doing the same.

weirdly this loss/injuries will remove all the deadweights and Eng might be actually get stronger with reinforcements.

Sky commies masterplan to get Kohls  

an over to remember from Ash https://streamable.com/istd

Pa.Patel goalkeeping is comedy gold  

Thothanko(h)lli