Where are my slippers?

Change is so unexpected but happens in Cricket. Read an interesting observation by Mike Browning on the missing relevance of slip position in Cricket over the years.

The popular saying goes, “Bowlers win matches.” In the longest form of the game they can’t without help. First-class and Test matches are also won by guys who are usually the least athletic members of the team. They are the fieldsmen who don’t run much and stand with their hands on their knees; sticking out their backsides at the spectators. For these are the “slippers”, the unsung heroes of Test cricket.

As a quality pairing though Australia were never in better shape than when Mark Taylor stood at first and Mark Waugh at second slip. They were equally brilliant catching spin or pace and added pressure to opposing batsmen who must have believed any mistake would be their last. Taylor like Colin Cowdrey and Greg Chappell at one time topped the tree for Test catches. In one of the greatest fielding feats of all time he won the Man-of-the-Match award in a one-day international against West Indies at the SCG in 1992 for taking four slips catches.

Mark Waugh, who has now be pushed to second spot in the Test catches list by Rahul Dravid, has said, “Slip is a position where you have to be a natural at it. Really, you’ve either got it or you haven’t. You have to have reflexes and the ability to concentrate every ball. You might be in there all day and the ball comes to you once and you have to be ready for it. It’s a tough spot.” Waugh’s spectacular ability was best demonstrated with the low right-handed horizontal dive when he caught Alec Stewart at Leeds in 1993. It is available on recorded vision and one of Waugh’s own personal favourites. The anticipation, speed and flexibility will leave any viewer gob smacked.

Dravid Ignored? What you said!

This is the result of the poll whether Dhoni deserves the Khel Ratna award.

Thanks for the response.

Read the main article here.

Dravid Ignored?

What Shetty says makes no sense to me. Just saying you let down some one will not undo your mistakes. Dhoni has been conferred with the Khel Ratna. Congrats. Good for him. I dont have any problem with that. What pains me and many other followers of Indian Cricket Scenario is that Dravid, who I feel is more deserving has been left out. Sachin got it after a decade of extraordinary performance.

Shetty said what impressed him most about Dhoni was the way he conducted himself. "What I like most about Mahi, apart from his cricket, is the way he leads. He is a cool customer and never gets agitated. I’m also impressed by his clarity of thought. He speaks his mind even if it may not be seen in the right sense," he added. "

Show me an occasion where Dravid got angry, revolted and was not cool. The wall of Indian cricket, backbone of Indian middle order for over a decade is shown an empty hand. How many matches did Dhoni help India win, how many innings does he have to his credit that turned the match. I think Dravid(10K+ runs in both forms of the game, 193 catches), Kumble(600+ wickets, 35 5-wicket hauls, 57 catches), Yuvraj, Lakshman.. the list of deserving cricketers is endless. Dhoni stands at the end of the queue. May be even after Gavaskar and Kapil.

Just an after thought. Does Shibu Soren, Lalu, Mallya and Karunanidhi have something to do with this? I don't know.