It has taken me a lot of time to even get started with this piece. Not because I belong to the sentimental community but because I feel that something has died, a part of me, maybe more. The part of me which believed that Sir Alex would go on forever, that nothing was impossible and even a 2 goal deficit with 3 minutes to go could be achieved. United may still remain a force to reckon with, the hunger to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat may still be there but it just won’t be the same without the person who made United believe that they could rule. Sir Alex taught us how to dream, he had a vision, a vision to succeed, a vision to concur and he did it. Along the way, he touched and changed the lives of millions. He had become a habit that we cherished.

Writing about Sir Alex takes you years back into the early 2000s when football started grabbing eyeballs in India. 22 men running and fiercely competing to get the ball excited us more than 9 men sitting in the dressing room and others waiting for the ball to come to them.

Once you start following football, you fall in love with the game, you fall in love with the way a team plays, its players, its stars and little do you care about who owns it or manages it, because that is not what catches the eye of a young spectator. As a novice football fan, all we care about is brilliant long range goals, hard tackles and players dribbling past defenders with ease. Little do we worry about the tactics employed, the formation or even the substitutions made.

The football we see on the pitch is all what’s football to us. The manager is just a human figure occupying some space on the touchline and blurting out a few words of wisdom to his players now and then. But every once in a while there comes a genius, a man who is one of a kind, a man who demands respect and he changes the way his profession is perceived.

Sir Alex was one such great, whose magnanimous persona redefined football managers and we were left with no choice but to sit back and take notice. His passion, aggression and the way he egged on his players was a delight for the novice football fan. It was the first time that we came across a non-playing leader and that is when the managerial side of football excited us. The post match presentations made much more sense now. I also started to understand how important the mind games were before a big game.

There is a certain aura about him, the kind of leader you come across in extravagant books or movies. Not a believer of the ‘cool as a cucumber approach’, Sir Alex wore his emotions on his sleeves. This is what he was loved for because you respect a manager for his trophies and love him for his passion.

Sir Alex’s departure from Manchester United has left us all doubting the future of the club. Believe it or not, these are trying times for the club, a legacy left behind. The future seems a bit gloomy and the club seems to be passing through turbulence. The turbulence does not frighten me because it has always been there with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City breathing down our neck; what frightens me is not having our wily old Scottish man to guide our ship home.

David Moyes has been appointed as the manager of Manchester United and now I am finally trying to come to terms with Sir Alex’s perplexing decision to call it a day. Mind you, it hasn’t sunk in just yet but the people around me have been blowing the trumpet of moving on and looking at life at United beyond Sir Alex.

Now that is a tough thing to do for the 90s kids because for us, United has been almost synonymous with Sir Alex. We haven’t seen United without him. We haven’t dreamed of United without him. All those close victories, Moscow (2008), Barcelona (1999), the Manchester derbies, the FA cup finals, the rivalry with Arsenal and Liverpool, the clashes with Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea, all seem a bit off colour if pictured without Sir Alex. His dynamics on the field, the constant chewing of gum, the ‘run and jump celebration’, the ‘hairdryer’ treatment given to his players, the bold comments during press conferences; all of this would be missed and I don’t think anyone would be able to replicate what he has done for United. The trophy count is endless, the wins unparalleled but the effect he has had on fans like us is the thing that is most commendable.

Life is a long search for perfection. People try to have the perfect car, the perfect house, the perfect spouse and the perfect life. Many of us identify role models in our life in order to emulate the perfect life. They may not be perfect themselves but they have the right mix of the things you need to acquire in order to achieve perfection.

Sir Alex has been one such gentleman in my life. The passion, the hunger to succeed and the vision to become the best in something you believe are a few traits I’ve learned from him. Thank you Sir for everything, you make lesser mortals like me feel good about my existence.

Emotions are a way of living here (read India). They define who we are, shape our identities and help us relate to others. Remember the time when you wanted to cry, to blurt out your frustration, to laugh, to dance like there was no tomorrow, but that tiny little fear of being too out there made you curb your instincts? Letting go is sometimes way better than holding back and sports, in many ways, helps you realize that. We are a country brimming with emotions. You hit our car and we hit you, you treat us nicely and we make it a point to never forget you, you tease our girls and we beat you to death, you support the team we love and we become brothers for life.  Sports is that thread which connects people across religions, regions, cultures and antics in this country.

Anxiety, love, hatred, anger, passion – you name it and we are full of it. Displaying these emotions is a dire need and this is where sport comes into the picture. It’s like a lifeline which allows you to get away with almost anything (with the exception of killing someone, of  course). You can scream, cry, get upset, jump with joy and even wander around with pride. Sports helps you to get in touch with your emotional side. It provides people with monotonous routines and dead-end jobs a chance to restore their faith in humanity.

You tend to respect the players who show very little emotion on the field, but it is the ones who are full of it that grab your attention. All of us, somehow, have a little thing for the ‘underdog’. The fighting spirit, never-say-die attitude and the hunger to dethrone the reigning king are traits that inspire common people. People here are bogged down by their boss, wife, girlfriend, relatives, etc. They desperately feel the need to overpower the people controlling them and hence find heroes in these underdog sporting warriors. You start relating to these players, imitate their actions, wear the clothes they sponsor, support them in trying situations and end up developing a passion for the game like no other. More often than not, it’s the player or the team you fall in love with and not the game itself.

Well established and consistent players achieve god-like status in this country. A few enjoy this privilege while the rest are forced to dance to the tunes of the fickle-minded public. You better be focused and right on the money for here, people hate as quickly as they love. Cricket is not just a religion in this country, it is more. Where religion has been dividing the country since partition, cricket just seems to be doing the opposite. You might have had the worst day at school/office but a last over Indian victory is enough to shrug off that disappointment. That is the kind of healing power an Indian victory has; it just lifts your spirits up. When Sachin retired (from ODIs), millions felt as if their childhood was taken away from them. Skipping lectures/jobs was often considered a compulsion. Sachin’s magic wielding willow was a drug that helped people forget the grievances of their day to day struggles.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid – no matter which club you support, you are sure to defend it on social media. Any Facebook status or tweet demeaning your club is bound to hurt your pride. That is just the kind of passion supporters wear on their sleeves these days. The passion is such that you stay up late to watch your team play, you read up their history, collect stats and even put up posters in your room. You could respect a Federer but deep down, you always want to be a Nadal. The outrageous running after the ball, the muscles, the fist pumps are visuals that inspire individuals.

Getting attached to someone you love is very normal. After having supported a team/player for more than a year, you feel as if you belong with them, as if their loss is a setback for you as well. You take pride in their victories, you get elated when they are awarded. The other day, one of my friends asked why we people use the term ‘we’ when referring to the team we support. I just smiled and said it’s because ‘We’ are family.

Laugh, cry, love, shout, get angry, throw stuff; life is too short to have any regrets. Never let people around you influence you. Display your emotions but don’t hurt anyone while doing it. Sports is meant to spread joy, enjoy it.

In reality, the Indian bowling has been worse than Chunky Pandey’s little stints in third grade Bollywood movies. The batting seems to be disinterested to say the least, even giving Kristen Stewart a run for her money (if you know what I mean). The Indian batsmen have been guilty far to often for not applying themselves at the crease, needlessly throwing away their wickets. India’s weakest department – fielding – has headed for an exponential decrease due to the absence of young guns like Raina and Tiwary. The senior players lack inspiration on the field and come across as lethargic pushovers who have been forced to clean their hotel rooms and walk all the way down to the stadium before taking the field.

Dhoni has come under intense pressure lately.

But this is not where India’s major problem lies. Most people would expect me to say that the problem is with the captain. These are the people who have been affected by the advancement of media and the increase in number of cricket talk shows. More cricket talk shows mean requirement of more cricket experts or rather more people who can blurt a thing or two out about the game. I fail to understand how ex-cricketers who themselves have been kicked out of their national side manage to give their expert opinions on the future of players who have won two World Cups for their country.

If the Indian team has to have any chance of saving this series then the blame game needs to end right away. Stop blaming the captain for every undoing on the field. A captain is only as good as his team. Players need to own up to their responsibilities now. Bowlers will have to bring in the necessary variations, batsman would have to apply themselves, stay at the crease and while fielding the entire team will have to lift themselves. Stay focused and motivated.

Why does it always happen that after a few losses the captain comes under scrutiny. In India’s case after the two overseas whitewashes suffered at the hands of England and Australia, M.S Dhoni has come under the scanner and is under serious threat of losing not only his captaincy, but also his place in the test side. When M.S Dhoni won us the Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia,  the T20 World cup and also the 50 over World Cup, he was hailed by many as one of the greatest captains ever; his calm demeanour amazed even the best. So what happened after two series losses (and also a 2-1 deficit to England at home), isn’t all his fault, is it? Or do the players have to be blamed as well?

People are fickle minded, they tend to forget the good done by you and in adverse times question your each step. Wasim Akram recently said that Dhoni looked lethargic on the field as if he was not even interested as to what was going on. Earlier, the same Waz thought that Dhoni’s calm and cool attitude was an asset few possessed. He said that he was amazed as to how emotionless Dhoni would remain even during crunch situations. The truth is, he displayed no emotions then and does not display any emotions now. Dhoni’s style of captaincy hasn’t changed over the years, then why question it so heavily now when the team is losing. Shouldn’t the credibility of the players be questioned and not that of the captain? And questioning Dhoni’s presence in the side is something that took me by surprise. He is the best wicketkeeper/batsman that we have at our disposal.

Bowling was never India’s strength but Dhoni still managed to martial his troops wisely enough to get the best of the limited resources at hand. But gradually the bowling miseries have exemplified and to add to that even the batsmen are failing to fire. For India it was never about taking the 20 wickets, it was and for a fair bit of the future will be about batting the opposition out of the game. The batsmen need to put their heads down and deliver because only then will the Indian bowlers be able to thrive.

Virat Kohli maybe the right man to lead India in the future.

The heart also hopes that media stops bringing out unconfirmed news that creates any kind of feud in the Indian camp because the last thing we need now is a fall off between any two players. That would just push the Indian team into a bigger hole.

Dhoni is the best man for the captain’s job at the moment. It would be a huge mistake to hand over the captaincy to Gambhir or Virat at the moment. Gambhir himself has had problems with his form off late and Virat is too volatile to handle this kind of responsibility so early in his test career. The need of the hour is to focus on your game, try to give in your inputs to the team and not blame the captain for the hole India has dug for itself.  The Nagpur test beckons, Indian selectors have made some strong decisions by dropping Bhajji, Zaheer and Yuvi and I just hope they don’t make a silly one by forcing Dhoni to step down.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/12/13/the-blame-game-in-indian-cricket-needs-to-stop-now/feed/ 4 418728 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/11/08/defeat-and-the-way-to-cope-with-it/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/11/08/defeat-and-the-way-to-cope-with-it/#comments Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:04:53 +0000 Utkarsh Bhatla http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=931733

I never thought of losing, but now that it’ s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That’s my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life – Muhammad Ali

Victory is always sweet or I must say that it is sweeter than defeat no matter what. Movies tend to instill a wrong notion among the people that ‘everything just falls into place for a happy ending’. Now that’s the difference between reel and real life. Not every person/team can have a fairy-tale ending, there are people who despite having put all the hard work in training face the agony of defeat. This is when a player’s true character is tested. The fear of losing sometimes outweighs the joy of winning because a loss is like a hit in the face that sometimes takes a lot of time to heal.

Defeat crushes you (at least on the inside). It forces you to question your own ability. Man with his sound mind and ‘greater’ thinking ability often over-analyzes his mistakes and changes too much in order to right his wrongs. There are things in life that leave a person vulnerable and helpless, coping with defeat usually finds a top place in that list.

Bouncing back after all the odds are stacked against you is indeed heroic but the amount of hours that go into getting your head straight after a huge loss is something that is always overlooked by the onlookers. A sense of insecurity looms large after you have been battered by the opponent and getting the fizzed out confidence back is the prime motive for any player at that stage. Although it is often seen that close losses leave a deeper mental scar than an out and out battering. All the hard work  during the game goes down the drain and you have to lay the drawing board all over again.

When you have the opponent by the scruff of his neck and then a minor slip up gifts him the match you are sure to be livid with yourself. Rewinding the match in your head gives you that suicidal feeling. But the loss needs to be forgotten and should be remembered only when a spark of motivation is required.

MOVE ON. That is the best thing you can do after a heart crushing defeat. Thinking too much about it could hamper your confidence and would ultimately lead to a dip in your game. You need to be mentally strong in order to take the loss as a minor blip and trust your abilities to succeed in the future. Preposterous words may fly out in the air about you not being at your best, flush them out of your window and give the haters a reason to hate you even more.

The demons are all in your mind, you need to conquer them and think clearly. Stop thinking about the lost match, it is a thing of the past, you sure need to learn from the mistakes you committed but to think about it all the time would just make you all the more miserable. Take a break for a while, get some time off, brush off the memory of the loss and start afresh. A player is often left all alone after a defeat, the crowd feels sorry for him for a while but later start rejoicing in victor’s glory. This is the time when the coach and the support staff of the player should console him, congratulate him on the way he fought till the end and convince him that it is not the end of the world, the road is a long one from here.

At the end of a nail biting game there ought to be a loser, it sure is tough to take that defeat but those who cope fast with it and mend their ways ultimately get to taste victory. Greats like Federer, Nadal, Murray all have had to suffer crushing defeats in their career but the important thing is to know how to bounce back from a tough match and give the opponent a run for his money the next time.

“Victory does not feel so good as losing feels bad. When you have a son, you are happy. But it’s no comparison to the sadness you feel losing a son.”- Toni Nadal after the Wimbledon epic of 2008.

Defeat causes pain and the only way to work your way out of that pain is to focus on what lies ahead, learn from your mistakes and come out mentally stronger.

Seldom do people realize the psychological aspect of a player’s game. During their careers, players must realize what drives them on and what helps them to bring out the best in them. Two traits that come to my mind are calmness and aggressiveness. Different players have different mindsets on how to approach a game. Some believe that it’s all about the rush while others are intent on staying calm when it comes to crunch situations.

Don’t just switch on the ‘angry Marat Safin mode’, instead keep calm and trust your skills

First and foremost, aggression must never be misunderstood for anger, anger is always used in the negative sense whereas aggression is largely a positive based energy. Aggression comes off naturally while playing a sport whereas calmness is often forced upon. Coaches, experienced players etc advice you to maintain a calm demeanour while playing so that you keep your head straight and think clearly. Now you can’t argue with people who have been in the business for most part of their lives. Staying calm is important not only in a lost cause but also when you are cruising along the way. This way you stay focused until you reach the finish line and also the victory doesn’t get to your head.

Getting flustered when the odds are not in your favour is an amateur mistake. You lose half the battle if your mind is not in a sane condition. There are going to be days when you feel that nothing is going your away, don’t just switch on the ‘angry Marat Safin mode’. Instead keep calm, stay focused, trust your skills and give it your all. It’s the off-days when a players mettle is tested and the best way to handle these sometimes inevitable days is to play through them with a smile but inside keep thinking about the mistakes committed and rectify them later in training.

Now remember the time you smacked a fast bowler behind his back or hit a cross court winner when you were pinned right to the wall or run through the entire defence to score a miraculous goal. This picturesque backdrop is enough to get the adrenaline going. Aggression does not mean simply beating up the opponent or bringing about a holocaust when angry. It is something which helps players to get a foot hold of the game and to take the game to the opponent. Staying aggressive and upbeat during the game creates a sense of insecurity in the opponent’s head. It’s about playing the game with all your might and pumping yourself up when in need of some inspiration. There is a common misconception about aggression that it means getting stifled quite easily whereas it actually means staying calm in your mind and displaying attacking play on the field. Players who are calm tend to display no emotions, they might be bursting inside but manage to keep a cool exterior whereas aggressive players sometimes lose their way reacting to a small mishap in their bid to win.

Calmness and Aggression are not two sides of the coin, rather the coin is a perfect blend of both. Perfect game play demands the player to be Aggressive as well as calm, though these are required at different stages of the game. At the start of the game to get the ball rolling you need to be aggressive, not let your opponent settle down and as the pressure mounts you need to stay calm and composed. Show your aggression through your game and not by your words. Frustration and vivid emotion showing creates panic. Players have to remain focused on the job at hand, be aggressive, keep their emotions to themselves and strive to be the best at what they do.

Sri Lanka players celebrate beating Pakistan to win the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Semi Final at R. Premadasa Stadium on October 4, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

A battle between the sub continental giants provided the perfect start to the knockout stage of the tournament. The nerves would have been jangling but both teams made confident starts to the match. Hafeez went in with Sohail Tanvir for the game and Sri Lanka dropped Dhananjaya to pick the more experienced Herath. The Lankan openers started the game solidly and many of us hoped to see some fireworks later in the innings. But the batsmen just couldn’t get out of their shell. Dilshan couldn’t get going, Sanga got out after playing a cameo, Mathews and Perera could play only in the last 2 overs and only Jayawardene got some momentum going for them.

The Pakistan bowlers didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. They just kept hitting the right areas without trying to be too innovative. Ajmal looked a bit off boil today but Tanvir, Hafeez and Hasan were right on the money. Sri Lanka still managed to put up one of those teasing little targets(140) that don’t look intimidating enough but are sure to test your big match temperament

Pakistan started off well with Nazir hitting a few boundaries  but then Mendis sneaked through his defence to clean him up. Mathews then struck twice in an over to put Sri Lanka in the driver’s seat but then Hafeez and U Akmal seemed to be running away with it until a spirited left arm spinner gave his country a chance to come back and maybe win the game. Two wickets in two balls for Herath turned the game on its head. Akmal and Gul couldn’t repeat the super eight heroics again and Sri Lanka won it comfortably in the end.

A game involving Pakistan without any twists does not seem correct to the ear. Here are some of the special moments and key takeaways from the game

Jayawardene is the one for all formats

A big day and a big man steps up to the occasion. A scintillating display of class from this man when all other batsmen were finding it hard to strike the ball away. He constantly reminds us that T20 is not about just slogging the ball, it is about finesse and class too.

Tanvir brings in more variety to the Pakistan attack

Their spin bowling is surely the best in the world but against a side that plays spin well you need to mix it up. The Pakistan team management made a great choice by dropping Razzaq and picking Tanvir for the all important semi final. His left arm angle is tough to deal with and the odd wrong foot action makes him a little difficult to pick. He bowled pretty well today, though couldn’t get wickets but his economy was well under control

Gul’s no ball problem

Coming in to bowl after the 15th over, Gul managed to trap Jeevan Mendis right in front but the delivery was an illegal one. He had managed to step over the line once again. Gul has had this problem of bowling no balls for a long time now and should rectify it because one such small moment could change the entire course of the game.

Mathews strikes twice in an over

Pakistan were well on their way to achieving the target of 139 when lightning struck them. Mathews picked up the in form Jamshed and Kamran Akmal in the space of two balls to give Sri Lanka some breathing space.

Malinga’s butter fingers

Hafeez aimlessly chipped the ball to long on just to see Malinga spill a sitter. It was an expensive miss as Hafeez scored a valuable 18 runs after that. Thankfully for Malinga, the other batsman just did not support Hafeez’s cause and Sri Lanka won it in the end.

Herath’s inspired selection

Dropping the young kid Dhananjaya after some good performances and picking the more experienced Herath was a bold decision by Sri Lanka and how well did it come off in the end. Herath picked up three wickets and two of them came in successive deliveries which ultimately took the game away from Pakistan as they were left tottering at 91 for 6.

Sri Lanka have moved on to the final of the T0 world cup and would be bidding to become the first host nation to win the cup. They await the winner of Australia and West Indies.

The minnows have bundled out, the super eights with all the drama concerning the net run rate is over and now we are into the knockout stage (semi finals) of the 2012 T20 World Cup. The emotions would be running high and the stakes are even higher. Pakistan take on the hosts Sri Lanka in the first semi final, where the two subcontinent giants would be rearing to achieve sub continental supremacy. It is more a match of equals, with Pakistan and Sri Lanka both having pulled off massive wins in their last Super Eight games against Australia and England respectively.

Sri Lanka haven’t played a single match at Colombo in this World Cup and will have to assess and adjust to the wicket. They will be weary of an inconsistent Pakistan who have been in such situations before and have come out on top on most occasions. Sri Lanka too are in familiar territory as they have reached their 4th semi final in last 5 ICC tournaments. The home crowd should act as a 12th man for the hosts and would give them that additional motivation and boost required in order to reach the finals.

Both the teams rely heavily on their bowling but will have to use their spinners wisely this time as both sides are adept at playing spin. The way the batsmen fare should decide the outcome of the game. Pakistan have this uncanny knack of raising their game and intensity in pressure games. Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Malinga have struck form and would look to showcase their scintillating skills on Thursday. Pakistan would have taken great confidence from Jamshed’s innings against Australia. Ajmal, Hafeez and the rookie Hasan have been good and would need to just raise their game on the big day.

Cometh the big day, cometh the man. Big games tend to bring out the best out of some players and they have the potential to win it for their country all by themselves. Here are some of the players to watch out for

Sri Lanka

Lasith Malinga

Hasn’t been in top notch form in the tournament so far but still got a 5 wicket haul against the English in their last super eight match. Sri Lanka are aware that Pakistanis are good players of spin and would like to unleash their slinger to rattle the Pakistan batsman. His death bowling is second to none and with those toe crushers unleashed, no batsman would like to take him on. Sri Lanka would hope that he continues the good work from last match into the semis and runs through the shaky Pakistan middle order.

Ajantha Mendis

The wily off spinner, oh sorry, mystery spinner has had a mixed bag tournament. One good match followed by a shocker, that has been his story in this World Cup. Sri Lanka would want him to get his confidence back after a dismal performance in the last game. His performances have shown that he is a match winner and would hope to bring out his best in the semis. Pakistan would like to take the attack to him and not let him settle or else he could dominate the batting line up.

Tillakaratne Dilshan

One of the most destructive openers that the game has seen, his fierce shot making and clever innovative skills have earned him accolades all over the world. In a knockout game, getting off to a flyer at the start would release the pressure somewhat for the hosts and that should be Dilshan’s main job.

Pakistan

Saeed Ajmal

Pakistan’s trump card. Arguably the best T20 spinner, he should prove to be a thorn in Lanka’s bid to reach the final. Pakistan have used him wisely so far but he hasn’t quite taken the tournament by storm. Sri Lankan batsman are pretty good players of spin but his variations can trouble the best in the business. Pakistan would want his 4 overs to create jitters in the opposition camp.

Umar Akmal

His batting position does not do justice to his talent. A player of his class coming in at no.6 simply astonishes me. Pakistan need to promote him up the order in order to make full use of his skills. Teams need to realize that their best batsman should face the highest number of balls in this shortest format. When all other batsman were falling like nine pins against South African, he held his composure, remained calm and took his team to victory. He is an impact player and will come to the party in a crucial encounter.

Mohammad Hafeez

Highly impressive with the ball but nowhere near his best with the bat. He has led the side well but just needs to find his feat with the bat at the top of the order. He can play the sheet anchor role at the top and once he gets his eye in, he is sure to play the full 20 overs. His bowling has been excellent, bowling upfront in the powerplay and still keeping the economy less than 6 is commendable in this format.

Head to head

Pakistan enjoy a 6-3 advantage over the Lankans

Prediction

Too tough to call. Sri Lanka enjoy the home advantage but Pakistan’s unpredictability sometimes proves to be their strongest weapon. On current form, Sri Lanka should just edge past them.

The judgement day promised to offer some twists and turns and the first match lived up to it. The match wasn’t very competitive or close but the result surely complicated the equation for India even before their match. Thanks to a spirited performance by Pakistan, South Africa were knocked out even before playing their final super eight game. They somehow justified their chokers tag in every tournament. Australia qualified by virtue of a superior NRR and India were eventually knocked out despite registering a 1 run victory over the Proteas.

Pakistan did not succumb to the pressure and played like a team who was hungry to win. A clinical display and the result of India-South Africa match has sealed Pakistan’s position now in the semis. The bowling came good when it mattered most. Ajmal bowled beautifully and Hafeez put the brakes on the scoring. The young kid Hasan too bowled with a lot of heart, getting rid of the dangerous Watson upfront. 149 on the board and with Watson back in the hut early, Pakistan were in the driver’s seat. The middle order just couldn’t get going. Hussey was the only one who could deal with the spin test, but he too couldn’t really take the attack to them and had to be content by just tapping them away for ones and twos.

The day was set up for Pakistan by a measured partnership between Jamshed and Akmal. Starc was the pick of the bowlers for Australia, claiming 3 wickets but with the spin potential that Pakistan possessed, it was always going to be a tough ask chasing 149. The Australian batting didn’t get going but did just enough in order to progress to the semis.

Here are the quick flicks and the key takeaways from the game:

Maxwells’s fumble

A rare misfield by the Australians. Jamshed had hit the ball to mid on and Maxwell got his body behind the ball, only to watch it slip through his legs. He got a bad bounce to be fair.

Starc’s contributions gone unnoticed

Watson might have been the highest wicket-taker for Australia in the tournament, but the way Starc has bowled and supported him, speaks a lot about his talent with the ball. He has been economical and has chipped in with wickets too. Australia would want him to strike early in the semis.

Hasan and Jamshed – the ones for the future

Playing against a formidable opposition in a crunch World cup encounter can be intimidating for any youngster, but these two welcomed the challenge and performed when it mattered most. Hasan took out the big man – Watson. Jamshed played a fine knock of 55 from 46 balls when all other batsmen were struggling to move their feet.

Umar Gul – a specialist fielder?

All through the super eights, Pakistan haven’t used the full quota of their premier fast bowler. Against South Africa he came on in the 17th over and today against Australia, in the 18th over. The major reason for this is that Pakistan have been playing to their strengths and to the weakness of the opposition. Against an opposition susceptible to spin, they try and reduce the overs given to pace bowlers.

Watson fails, Australia fails

In many years, this has been the first time that Australia has depended so heavily on a single player. Watson has done it all for them, be it scoring heavily or taking wickets. Today he was unable to trouble the scorers and as a result, Australia found themselves in dire straits. The middle order couldn’t time the ball or even rotate the strike. Australia would be hoping for him to play a blinder in the semi finals because the inexperienced Australian middle order would not have much to offer.

Gangnam style!

New Zealand would be cursing their Gods for sure. Two super overs and two losses. It must be a really hard time for the team as well as the fans watching their team being knocked in such an uncanny fashion. But I guess they have only themselves to blame, the match should have been over in the allotted 20 overs. Ross Taylor played a brilliant knock of 62 but just couldn’t get much support from his colleagues. Also Narine’s last two overs were brilliant, giving away just 5 runs and taking a wicket. New Zealand were cruising until Narine put some serious breaks on the scoring rate.

West Indies were off to a flyer with Gayle smashing the ball to all corners of the park. Southee dismissed him with an offcutter and then the innings just fell apart. Wickets fell at regular intervals and the initial momentum just couldn’t be sustained by the middle order. They managed a total of 139, which on this pitch was a below par score

New Zealand’s batting revolved around Taylor. Only B. Mcculum provided him with some support at the top, but other than that it was a one man show. West Indies did a great job with the ball, not allowing the Kiwis to run away with the game. The fielding was sharp too.

Narine bowled a superb penultimate over and the Kiwis were left with 14 to score off the final over. Sammy handed the ball to Samuels and he somehow managed to give away just 13. 2 were required off the last ball and Bracewell couldn’t complete a second run, thereby giving us another super over to cherish.

To the surprise of many Samuels, and not Narine, was handed the responsibility of bowling the super over. Taylor clobbered him for a six over mid wicket and the Kiwis managed 17 off that over. Out came Gayle and Samuels. Southee was battered for a six over long-off, that too off a no ball. West Indies scored 8 of the first ball and then it was easy pickings for them. Samuels ended the match with a six over mid-wicket much to the agony of the Kiwis.

There were a lot of special moments and key takeaways from this highly entertaining encounter

1) The first ball no ball

The Kiwis started the T20 game as well as the super over by overstepping. Mills overstepped by a mile and Southee just couldn’t handle the pressure of the super over. Luckily for Mills, the no ball didn’t cost much but Southee, in a way, threw away New Zealand’s potential semi final spot as 8 runs came off that one ball.

2) Gayle’s 300th T20 six

The six hitting machine Gayle deposited his 300th six into the crowd when he hit Jacob Oram for a huge one over the deep square leg boundary.

3) The bad bounce

New Zealand were cruising along with just 41 required of the last 5 overs. Sammy was then hit for a monstrous six over mid wicket. The next delivery Taylor flicked him to fine leg, Russel had very little time to judge whether to go for the catch or not, in the end he decided not to go for it but received a bad bounce and the ball ran away for a boundary.

4) Ross Taylor- the sole warrior

Ross Taylor played a captain’s knock(62 0ff 40) in a crunch game but just couldn’t push his team over the line.

5) Narine the game changer

There were many questions raised about Narine’s form. People had started to wonder if the mystery had been finally resolved. Narine answered them in grand fashion bowling two brilliant overs at the death giving away just 5 runs and taking a wicket as well. The batsman just couldn’t score off him.

6) Sammy’s bold decision

All the spectators and even the New Zealand batsman were expecting Narine to bowl the super over but to the surprise of many, Samuels was handed the ball. He wasn’t even ready to bowl the final over in the first place, so it was really fascinating to see Sammy handing him the ball. Thankfully, it did not cost the West Indies a place in the semi final, or serious questions would have been raised.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/02/new-zealand-vs-west-indies-quick-flicks-of-the-day/feed/ 0 0320 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/02/pakistan-face-an-uphill-task-against-australia/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/02/pakistan-face-an-uphill-task-against-australia/#comments Tue, 02 Oct 2012 04:56:00 +0000 Utkarsh Bhatla http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=792282

The last day of the super eight stage has a lot to offer. It begins with the crunch game between an in-form Australia and a rather confused Pakistan. Many say that bowling is Pakistan’s major strength and even I am a firm believer of that, but it just hasn’t clicked for them. The bowlers have been good in patches but haven’t troubled the batsman a great deal. Their batting as always has been inconsistent.

Australia on the other hand have been sublime form, well, actually Watson has been in sublime form and has done it all for them- scoring runs, taking wickets, stopping boundaries etc.  It seems that apart from Watson, the other batsman just haven’t spent time in the middle. The bowlers have been good but all in all the entire team has revolved around the brilliance of Watson. Their only worry against Pakistan would be that their middle order hasn’t had much exposure in the tournament. If Watson gets out who does the big hitting? If he goes runs then whom do they throw the ball to? I am sure the Australians would be aware of the fact and would come out prepared for the worst.

It is a must win game for Pakistan for if they lose, progressing to the next stage would be highly unlikely. Still a lot of permutations possible in this group as Pakistan and India are very close on NRR. Pakistan would like to win it to give them more chance of qualifying. Australia are through unless they lose to Pakistan by a very huge margin and a similar margin unfold in the match between India and South Africa.

Players to watch out for

Australia

Shane Watson- He is the man of the moment. This charismatic cricketer has blown us all away with his sheer brilliance in all the departments. He is the go to man for George Bailey. The top run getter and wicket taker should fire or Australia might find themselves in unfamiliar territory. He certainly would have been the most discussed man in the Pakistan team meetings and they would try and use quality spin upfront. Ajmal vs Watson would be a fantastic contest.

Mitchell Starc- He has had a good T20 World Cup chipping in with wickets in all the matches. With his natural angle away from the right hander, he is bound to pose some serious problems to the top order. His death bowling and pace variations have also been commendable.

Mike Hussey- The most experienced Aussie would be raring to go out there and showcase his skills. He has had very less to do up till now, but has shown decent form in his small stay at the crease. In case Watson fails tomorrow, a lot would rest on the shoulders of this guy.

Pakistan

Mohammad Hafeez- The captain hasn’t really set the stage on fire. He has been economical but the wickets column do not do justice to his talent. As an opener too, he just hasn’t got going. In the match against India he scored 15 of 28 balls. That sort of strike rate is just not acceptable in this form of the game. He needs to increase the intensity and bring out his best in a do-or-die situation. He enjoys the big stage and might just surprise them with his all-round performance.

Saeed Ajmal- He is always one to look out for. Pakistan’s trump card could turn the tide in their favour against an inexperienced Australian middle order. His off spinners, doosra and top spinner could catch any batsman wrong footed. Hafeez might use him to trouble Watson upfront because once you get rid of him, the pressure would gradually shift onto the Australians.

Shahid Afridi- I think it was a good sending him at no.3 against the Indians, bad luck it didn’t work. On his day, he can take the game away from you in a matter of 20-25 deliveries. His pinch hitting skills are being wasted so low down the order and I wouldn’t be surprised if Pakistan send him up the order once again. He is a fierce competitor and loves these pressure situations. If not with the bat, he is sure to give you some entertainment with the ball.

Pakistan, the most successful T20 side has once again been pushed to the wall, they have been in such situations before and only time would tell if they have the composure and the confidence to outwit the Aussies

Head to head

These two teams have met 10 times before. Pakistan lead the head to head 5-4 with one game tied .

Prediction

I would go with Australia on current form. The loss to India showed Pakistan’s weak middle order and you just can’t beat the Aussies with any sort of chink in your armour.

Australia should win this easily.

New Zealand face an uphill task of reaching the next stage of the tournament due to their two defeats in the super eight stage. They need to win and win big against the mighty Windies. West Indies made a great start to the super eights by winning a tough match against England, where they just managed to see off the late order heroics of Eoin Morgan. They were made to look ordinary against an experienced Sri Lankan side who restricted their strong batting line up to just 129 and then knocked off the runs with 28 balls to spare. Jayawardene and Sangakkara showed the entire world that it’s not just about power hitting but more about finesse and class.

West Indies would hope that the loss to Sri Lanka was just a minor blip in their quest to win their first T20 World cup. They need Gayle to fire at the top of the order because if he does, then everything just falls into place for them. Narine hasn’t quite lived up to his reputation, leaking runs as well as failing to add to his wicket tally. New Zealand, on the other hand, have problems with their bowling department as well. Southee, their premier fast bowler, has just not found his mark.

A lot depends on this game, New Zealand need to win this in order to have any chance of making it to the next stage. They would need some help from the other games as well. A lot permutations are still possible and all four teams in the group have a chance of going through. This game promises to be a high scoring one with both teams having some of the biggest hitters in the game.

Players to watch out for

West Indies

Chris Gayle

The big day is here and the big man has a big job at hand. A lot depends on how Chris Gayle approaches the game. If he stays in the middle for about 10 overs then I guess New Zealand would have surely been knocked out of the tournament, that is the kind of impact Gayle has on a game. He failed to get going against Sri Lanka and that led to the poor score that West Indies put up on the board. He has been playing very intelligently too, playing out the first few overs, because he knows that if he stays for a bit more then he can change the game on its head. Vettori vs Gayle would be a fierce contest.

Sunil Narine

Has the mystery finally be resolved? Or is the man with the golden arm waiting for a big day to deliver his mystery balls? Kiwis are extremely susceptible to quality spin, Sammy would be hoping that Narine could puzzle them with his variations. The Kiwis would have discussed about him a lot in their team meetings. I think they would try and take the attack to him and let him dictate terms. This could put Narine under some pressure but would also provide him more opportunities to dismiss the batsman.

Keiron Pollard

It’s been a while since he set the stadium on fire. He needs to give himself some time on the crease before he goes bang bang. He will come back to form eventually, it just takes that one good inning or a good hand with the ball. His fielding and catching has been outstanding. Throwing yourself and saving a boundary or two not only enhances your confidence but lifts up the entire team.

New Zealand

Ross Taylor

He has played a few cameos down the order for New Zealand but hasn’t really taken it to the next level. In the last match he finally decided to bat up the order but just couldn’t get going. New Zealand’s fate to a large extent rides on the shoulders of their captain. He can consolidate as well as hit those lusty slog sweeps. Narine could be in for a fight when he bowls to this man.

James Franklin

A highly underrated player, he played a fine knock against the English when others were finding it tough to time their shots. His batting has drastically improved and he will want to show his mettle in a crunch game. New Zealand haven’t given him enough overs with the ball, his subtle changes of pace could get fetch him wickets when the batsman are looking to target him.

Daniel Vettori

The most experienced Kiwi and arguably the best left arm spinner in the limited overs format. His experience could come in handy to stop the likes of Gayle, Samuels, Bravo and Pollard. It is a big game and Vettori would love to make a contribution. I wouldn’t be surprised if he opens the bowling and dismisses Gayle with the arm ball – signature ball for Vettori.

Head to Head

These two teams have met 5 times. West Indies lead the head to head 2-1 with two games tied between these two sides.

Prediction

West Indies seem to have a more balanced outfit and should be able to raise their game and defeat the Kiwis.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/30/new-zealand-take-on-mighty-windies-in-a-do-or-die-game/feed/ 0 0360 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/29/pakistan-vs-south-africa-quick-flicks-and-key-takeaways-from-the-game/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/29/pakistan-vs-south-africa-quick-flicks-and-key-takeaways-from-the-game/#comments Sat, 29 Sep 2012 05:54:03 +0000 Utkarsh Bhatla http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=778952

This World Cup has suddenly come to life, with the super over contest between the Lankans and the Kiwis and now this topsy turvy low scoring match between South Africa and Pakistan. The Super eights were supposed to spring life into the T20 World cup and they surely are doing it. We haven’t had  any low scoring match in the tournament and the first that we have has gone right down to the wire. Pakistan backed their strengths, left out Tanvir and played the extra spinner. The South Africans aren’t the best players of spin and Pakistan tried to explore that part of South Africa’s weakness.

South Africa batted first and lost their openers in quick succession. Duminy and de Villiers provided some late order respite to take them to a respectable total of 133. Pakistan did a brilliant job with the ball, picking up wickets and regular intervals. In the run chase Pakistan started of aggressively with Nazir going after the bowling but soon they found themselves tottering at 31/3 after Peterson struck twice in an over. Kamaran  fell to a cheap shot and Pakistan were left gasping at 37/4. The wickets kept on tumbling for Pakistan, but then came in Umar Gul, less was expected of him from the bat but he surprised us and even himself I suppose by playing a blinder of a knock to see his country cross the finish line. Umar Akmal played the anchor role throughout and hit a crucial six of Morkel in the final over to take his country home.

There were a few special moments in the game and consisted of a lot of key takeaways

Raza Hasan- the extra spinner

Pakistan backed their strengths and played the extra spinner. The gamble paid off well as Hasan went for just 12 off his 3 overs and bowled pretty well to the likes of Amla and Levi upfront. He even had a maiden to his name and that’s some achievement in  T20 game. Pakistan could use him in the powerplay against India as well.

Kamran’s torrid time behind the stumps continues

He might have played a blinder of a knock against India in the warm up game but other than that he has nothing to boast off, at least in recent times. He has been atrocious behind the stumps dropping even the simplest of chances. In today’s game he provide Amla with a second life when he dropped him in the first over itself. Thankfully Amla did not trouble the scorers much but on another day, the miss could have proved to be costly. Pakistan seriously need to look into this aspect of Akmal’s game or find a replacement as soon as possible.

South Africa pull a leaf out of New Zealand’s book

I just fail to understand why do South Africa and New Zealand not send their best batsman up the order. They seriously need to check their strategies. Why not give your best batsman little more time at the crease?. New Zealand held back Ross during the league stages and today de Villiers was sent in after Duminy and Behardien. De Villiers should be batting at number four because when it comes to class and strokeplay, he is second to none.

Pace used for the first time in the 18th over by Pakistan, and rightly so

Umar Gul was playing as a specialist fielder until the 18th over. The spinners were doing a great job for Pakistan, keeping a check on the scoring rate and taking wickets as well. Gul was greeted with a first ball six. The ball coming onto the bat was a welcoming sign for de Villiers and he wasted no time in having a crack. The slower bowlers were hard to get away and Hafeez did the right thing by making them bowl 18 of the 20 overs.

Peterson sending shock waves in the Pakistan camp

Chasing a target of 134, Pakistan would have backed themselves to achieve it 9 out of 10 times. Peterson hasn’t been a very successful spinner for South Africa but he did manage to put Paksitan in a lot of pressure by dismissing Hafeez and Jamshed in the space of 3 balls. He gave away just 15 runs in 4 overs and was the pick of the South African bowlers.

Umar Gul’s heroics

Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat is no child’s play. Gul who did not contribute much with the ball, felt it was time he made some important contribution with the bat. Coming in at a situation when all hope was lost and the opposition was dominating, Gul planned to launch an attack on the South Africans. He trusted his ability, did not hold back and went for the kill. Clean and fearless hitting helped Pakistan achieve the unthinkable. A fine knock under pressure which shows that Gul is no tail ender now.

It was indeed an entertaining match, wickets tumbling, pacers not being used and regular bowlers coming in at 76/7 and winning the match for you single handedly.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/29/pakistan-vs-south-africa-quick-flicks-and-key-takeaways-from-the-game/feed/ 0 0960 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/27/tournament-favorites-south-africa-take-on-giant-killers-pakistan/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/27/tournament-favorites-south-africa-take-on-giant-killers-pakistan/#comments Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:18:42 +0000 Utkarsh Bhatla http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=775208

The business end of the tournament is finally here. The so called minnows couldn’t pull off an upset and hence the top 8 sides in the world have qualified for the Super Eights. The ‘actual’ T20 World Cup is about to begin. The best T20 side Pakistan takes on the tournament favourites South Africa in the 3rd Super eight’s match. The contest promises to be a mouth watering one with both sides having made an excellent start to the tournament. South Africa easily beat Zimbabwe and got the better of Sri Lanka in the 7 over lottery match. Pakistan had to dig in a bit deeper, they beat New Zealand in a rather close contest and then had to outplay a spirited Bangladesh side.

South Africa haven’t been tested much in the tournament but Steyn, De Villiers look in top form and can take the game away from you in no time. South Africa look the most balanced side as of now. An opening pair which complements each other, Levi providing some firepower and Amla the much needed solidity. A middle order comprising of Duminy and de Villiers who can consolidate as well accelerate at will and pace duo (Morkel and Steyn) that can rattle even the best of oppositions. All rounders like A.Morkel and Kallis would provide the captain with more bowling options.

Pakistan have always been the side to look out for in the big tournaments. Their inconsistency is their biggest strength as they tend to surprise oppositions with their smart play. Bowling has always been Pakistan’s strength. Ajmal, Gul, Hafeez not only take wickets but also hold a tight grip on the scoring rate of the batting team. Nasir Jamshed has been a terrific find for the Pakistanis. The talented left-hander has impressed in both his previous outings scoring at a brisk pace. The only worry for Pakistan is their middle order and also their catching. They have been outrageous in the field, spilling some shockers. The middle order needs to take some responsibility, gifting away their wicket could mean curtains for Pakistan.

Both sides would be itching to draw first blood in a tough group. A victory early on would multiply your chances of making it to the last four. The big test for South Africa would be coping with the spin duo of Ajmal and Hafeez, if they are able to survive the spin test then winning the game should not be much of a problem for South Africa. Pakistan would be urged on by their healthy T20 record and by the fact that they are playing in home-like conditions.

There are a few potential match winners in both sides. Big games often bring the best out of champions. Here are a few players to watch out for .

South Africa

Dale Steyn - The fiery paceman can rock any opposition’s top order, running through the defences of even the best in the business. He literally has been unplayable in the group stages. The pace is up, the ball is moving and most importantly the killer instinct is there for people to see. If he gets a wicket or two in his first spell (read burst) of two overs, god help the batting side. Pakistan need to come out with a plan against Steyn. It would obviously be to play him out and attack the lesser bowlers. Steyn vs Jamshed would be a contest worth cherishing.

AB de Villiers – Stylish, innovative and classy. I think even these adjectives do not do justice to the talent this man possesses. Coming in at no.4 for South Africa, he has the ability to change the course of the game in South Africa’s favour. He played a blinder in the rain affected game against Sri Lanka scoring 30 of a mere 13 balls. Behind the stumps too, he has been phenomenal. It would be interesting to see how he rotates his bowlers against the weary Pakistan middle order.

Jacques Kallis – The wily old fox is a great asset to this South African T20 team. Providing solidity at the top and using all his variations to outwit the batsman are the roles assigned to the most experienced player in the team. He has had a quite tournament with the bat so far, but has contributed with the bowl. South Africa would expect him to come good against quality sides.

Pakistan

Nasir Jamshed – This young lad has now and then shown the world that he is the one for the future, clobbering bowlers for sixes as well as caressing them through the covers for delightful boundaries. Pakistan would be banking on him to deal with the pace duo of Morkel and Steyn and then score freely against the likes of Peterson etc.

Imran Nazir – What a display of hitting we saw from this man against a good Bangladesh attack. Such sustained striking can change the game on its head. He made a mockery of a total of 175.  Pakistan would dearly want him to find his feet against South Africa and take their bowlers to the cleaners as well. A flying start could put a lot of pressure on the opposition bowlers.

Saeed Ajmal – A few people possess the variety and variations this man has. He can run through the opposition with minimal effort. The last match was not one to remember for him as he was easily scored off. He needs to get his rhythm back against the South Africans because Pakistan heavily depend on him to get them crucial wickets. South Africa on the other hand will have to make a game plan on how to manoeuvre him for runs rather than throwing their bat against him.

The T20 World Cup has come to life after the nail biting finish to the Sri Lanka- New Zealand game. The fans would hope that this match adds to the fun and excitement.

Head to head

South Africa lead the head to head by 3-2.

Prediction

This one should be a close one. Pakistan have the ability to beat any side on their day, but the current form suggests that South Africa should clinch this one, provided they fend off the spin duo of Ajmal and Hafeez.

Perfect playing conditions at the Pallekele Cricket stadium and  we saw some entertaining cricket. A blend of composure, class and power by Shakib helped Bangladesh reach a more than competitive total of 175. But Pakistan needed just 140 in order to qualify for the super eights because of their superior NRR. The target was a stiff one, Pakistan needed their top order to fire and they responded brilliantly. Imran Nazir played a blinder of an innings, scoring 72 of just 36 balls. Hafeez gave him good company, playing the sheet anchor’s role.

The bowling was pretty ordinary from both the sides, thus resulting in such high scores. Shakib as always found himself as the lone fighter for Bangladesh. Ajmal, Hafeez and Gul, all had an off day at the office. Pakistan would be happy to see Nazir return back to form. In the end, Pakistan cruised to victory winning it by 8 wickets and with 8 balls to spare and with it guaranteeing a spot for themselves in the super eight.

It was a pretty eventful match and had its moments and key takeaways.

Tanvir drops a dolly

Sohail Tanvir needs to get his basics straight. He came in to bowl the first over of spell and overstepped, kept bowling short and then missed one of the easiest catches a fielder could ever hope for. Pakistan were miserable with their catching as well as their ground fielding. Kamran Akmal dropped a sharp chance too, you expect them to be taken at this level though. Thankfully for the Pakistani’s the dropped chances didn’t cost them much.

Pakistan need Gul and Ajmal to fire

It was pretty evident from today’s match that when Gul and Ajmal fail to contain the batsman or dismiss them, Pakistan appear to be in dire straits. Gul and Ajmal both were on the shorter side today and thus couldn’t extract any purchase from the wicket. They need to pitch it up or else the batsman would easily rock back onto his backfoot and punch them around for runs. If these two struggle, then Pakistan would find it very difficult to restrict the batting team to a below par score.

Gul sharing a word or two with Shakib

Flustered by his awful performance, Gul started to blurt out his frustration by having a word with Shakib in the 18th over after he missed an attempted scoop shot. Gul ended up giving away 43 runs in 3 overs, spraying the ball around. Shakib in his calm and compose manner avoided any argument with Pakistan pace man and continued on with his game.

Shakib- One man army

A few people can take the load of carryying an entire team on their shoulders. Shakib has been doing it day in and day out. He comes in at no. 3 with the job of consolidating as well as scoring quickly. He is even burdened with bowling four quality overs of spin but he never shies away from the big stage. Shakib has single-handedly won many games for Bangladesh. His all round abilities, temperament on on-field compusure are commendable. He scored a breath-taking 84 against Pakistan and bowled his 4 overs for less than a run a ball. He is truly worthy of the tag of the best all-rounder in the world.

Dropping sitters is getting contagious

Abul Hassan was another victim of butter fingers when dropped a sitter at mid on. The ball climbed onto Nazir and he managed to hit it straight into the air, only to see it drop back onto the ground. Unlike the Bangladeshi’s, Nazir made Bangladesh pay for their errors in the field. He scored a blistering 72 of 36 balls which just took the game away from the opposition.

The LBW that wasn’t given

Nazir had taken the attack to the Bangladeshi’s and once again they turned to Shakib to stop the storm and bail them out. He nearly pulled it out for Bangladesh when he struck Nazir on the pads. Replays suggested that the LBW was very much out. That decision literally cost the Bangladeshi’s a spot in the next stage of the World Cup. DRS anyone?

Nazir is back.

Imran Nazir is back in form for Pakistan. He was in amazing touch tonight, putting away even the good balls for boundaries. Chasing a huge total, Pakistan needed a flyer and Nazir provided the same. Pakistan would hope that he continues his good form in the tournament with the business end coming up.

Pakistan won by 8 wickets

Man of the match- Imran Nazir.

Time- 19:30 (IST)

Two sub-continent giants would lock horns in spin rivalry on Tuesday. With their fate yet to be decided, it promises to be a fierce contest. Both these teams have rather similar styles of play. They heavily depend on their bowling, especially the spin department. However, Pakistan holds the edge when it comes to the pace department and batting. Bangladesh would have learnt a lot from their previous outing against New Zealand. The spinners need to fire this time and the top order needs to take some responsibility. Nasir Hosain looked good but apart from him, all others just succumbed to the pressure of a huge total.

Pakistan would be riding high on the victory against an in form New Zealand side. Ajmal and Hafeez are bowling beautifully, Nasir Jamshed is striking the ball with some conviction and even the pacers are among the wickets. Pakistan just need to do the basics right in order to guarantee a place for themselves in the Super Eight. They have a superior NRR (net run rate) and just a close match would be enough for them to progress.

The tournament hasn’t been a very scintillating one as of now. An upset wouldn’t do any harm, but Bangladesh would have to play out of their skins in order to produce it.

Players to watch out for

Pakistan

Saeed Ajmal – He is the world’s best T20 bowler and did live up to his reputation against New Zealand. He tore the middle order apart by claiming 4 scalps. According to me, it would be his 4 overs which would determine the outcome of the game. If Bangladesh play him out for atleast 30 runs and give him no more than one wicket then they surely can cause the Pakistanis some problem. Ajmal’s variations would be tough to handle for the Bnagladesh left handers

Mohammad Hafeez – A brilliant all round performance against the Kiwis. This man can hurt you with his teasing offspinners and can also caress you through the field. A complete package, Hafeez would be an important exponent for Pakistan as he bowls those tight initial powerplay overs.

Shahid Afridi – On his day, he can tear oppositions apart. Hasn’t been in the best of forms with the bat or the ball but he has that knack for taking wickets in crucial encounters. Late down the order, Afridi can hit lusty blows into the crowd. His power hitting and quick leggies could rattle the opposition. With his quick leg spinners, he has the ability to hurry the batsman and ends up taking a lot of bowled and LBW dismissals.

Bangladesh

Shakib Al Hasan – He had a dismal previous outing against the Kiwis where he went for 10 an over and did not score much with the bat. He would be determined to prove his worth against Pakistan by contributing in all the departments. He has an additional responsibility of providing solidity at the top of the order. Along with Tamim, he needs to provide Bangladesh with the perfect start.

Abdur Razzak – He has been a big asset for the Bangladesh team. His slow left armers during the middle overs help to contain as well as frustrate the batsmen. Seldom do we see batsmen hitting and bludgeoning him away. The Bangladesh captain would expect a larger than life performance from him against a good Pakistan side so that they at least have a glimmer of hope of progressing to the super eights.

Head to head

Pakistan have never lost to Bangladesh in a T20 game. Surprising? Well, Pakistan have been the most succesful T20 side. They lead the head to head 6-0.

Prediction

Provided Shakib fires, Bangladesh could make it difficult for Pakistan. But Pakistan should be able to counter the Bangladesh challenge because of their superior all round game.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/25/the-final-league-game-is-an-upset-on-the-cards/feed/ 0 0985 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/24/new-zealand-vs-pakistan-key-takeaways-from-the-game/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/24/new-zealand-vs-pakistan-key-takeaways-from-the-game/#comments Mon, 24 Sep 2012 06:28:37 +0000 Utkarsh Bhatla http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=761075

The T20 World Cup has had a rather disappointing start to it. The matches have been one sided, the minnows haven’t posed a threat to any of the top sides and even the cheerleaders have failed to provide the required dosage of entertainment. An in-form New Zealand against the most successful side in T20s promised to be a cracker and to a large extent, it did live up to the expectations. Pakistan posted a competitive 177 on a slow track. With the fire power in their bowling, it should have been a walk in the park for them. But the Kiwis gave them a good run for their money, ending up just 13 runs short of the target.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. They had the perfect start with Hafeez and Nazir both scoring at a brisk pace and without taking a lot of risks. Nasir Jamshed looked in top form, a display of class from him. He rotated the strike initially and then hit lusty blows into the crowd. Pakistan suffered a mini slump, but in the end, thanks to the good start, posted a total of 177. New Zealand started off rather slowly, both Nicol and Williamson just couldn’t break the shackles but the important thing was that they didn’t just gift their wicket away. Brendon McCulum played a pretty watchful knock of 32 from 31 balls. Late order flurries from Ross Taylor and Franklin took them close but Pakistan always looked in control. Ajmal ensured that wickets were taken at regular intervals and Hafeez suffocated the scoring rate at the start.

Sublime hitting skills were on display during this match and it had a lot of special moments and key takeaways.

Ross Taylor dropped a howler at slips, as Mohammad Hafeez capitalized on the missed opportunity by laying a good foundation along with Nazir. Rob Nicol gifted Nasir Jamshed another life when he dropped a sitter on the boundary, and on top of that palmed the ball away for six. This triggered the onslaught by Jamshed and he smashed the bowlers to all corners of the park. New Zealand need to improve their catching as well as ground fielding because these tiny tit-bits can change the entire scenario of the game.

Splendid technique, solid temperament. He is truly a find for the future. He has what it takes to perform and excel in all formats of the game. A 35 ball 56 does justice to his talent. Moreover, he is the kind of player who relies more on timing than power hitting. He easily dispatched Mills, Nathan McCulum and Milne away for sixes. He is the perfect batsman for the No.3 position as his solid technique and boundary hitting abilities can help Pakistan when in trouble and also when there is a need to up the ante. If Pakistan are to win the world cup, Jamshed would have a huge role to play in it.

A solid partnership upfront between Hafeez and Nazir, and an even better one between Hafeez and Jamshed, was followed by a middle order slump. Hafeez, Jamshed and Kamran Akmal fell in quick succession and the platform laid by them was somehow wasted. Shoaib Malik also looked out of sorts. The innings had to be rebuilt again. Pakistan always tend to have this problem when they are not able to capitalize on a good start. The batsmen need to understand that it is not easy for the next batsman coming in to start scoring from the word go. They need to value their wicket and convert the starts into big scores.

The pitches have finally started to behave in their normal fashion. The slow sluggish and turning pitches are back. Or is it just the brilliance of the Pakistani bowlers? Hafeez, Ajmal and Afridi bowled 12 of the 20 overs claiming 5 wickets and giving away just 75 runs when the asking rate was 8.85. New Zealand need to find a way to cope with spin or else they just won’t be able to go any further in this tournament.

You expect your best batsman to face the maximum number of deliveries so that he can get his eye in and then launch the fireworks. But New Zealand, for some strange reason, had different ideas this evening. They held back Ross Taylor and sent in Vettori and Oram before him. Vettori before Taylor? Are You kidding me? There better be a good reason for it or else I don’t see any tactic behind it. And the way Ross was stroking the ball, it could not have been any problem with his fitness or his health. Also, McCulum should open the batting to provide a flyer, with Ross coming in at no.4.

New Zealand have certainly qualified for the Super Eights. Pakistan just need a close contest against Bangladesh in order to progress because of Bangladesh’s dismal performance against the Kiwis. Does this group have a final twist?

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/24/new-zealand-vs-pakistan-key-takeaways-from-the-game/feed/ 0 01364 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/22/confident-kiwis-face-resurgent-pakistan/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/22/confident-kiwis-face-resurgent-pakistan/#comments Sat, 22 Sep 2012 18:25:47 +0000 Utkarsh Bhatla http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=756621

Venue – Pallekele cricket stadium, Kandy

Time- 15:30(IST)

Pakistan kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against a confident and in form New Zealand. Boosted by a clinical performance against the Bangladeshis, New Zealand would be keen to prove their mettle against a better opposition. Pakistan have always performed well at high profile tournaments thanks to their spin attack. Tough to beat in sub-continent conditions, Pakistan will be looking to get off to a winning start against the Kiwis, who have always been susceptible to spin.

The Kiwis would have taken a lot of positives from their first outing against Bangladesh. McCullum scoring a blistering 123 would be one, but the one that would interest them the most was that the Pallekele pitch did not assist the spinners much. The ball was coming onto the bat and runs were easy to come by, something New Zealand thrives on. Pakistan have no need to panic though as their spinners are better off than Bangladesh’s. Saeed Ajmal would hold the key in the bowling department. Batting on the other hand has always been a problem for Pakistan, but with Kamran Akmal, Mohammed Hafeez and Umar Akmal in decent form, they should be able to walk past the Kiwis.

New Zealand bowled well in the previous match with Tim Southee and Kyle Mills doing the damage. Franklin played the sheet anchor’s role to perfection, giving the strike back to McCullum when he was firing on all cylinders. Guptill needs to convert his starts into big scores. Ross Taylor could be destructive provided he gets some time in the middle. Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum would come in handy if the pitch behaves differently on Sunday. Vettori with his experience should be the go-to man for Ross Taylor if the Pakistanis plan a middle-over onslaught. Pakistan’s major worry however remains their inconsistent batting. Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal have not been in the best of form.

It should be a mouth-watering contest between the solid Kiwis and the resurgent Pakistanis. New Zealand’s strength lies in their batting and power hitting, whereas Pakistan take huge pride in their bowling attack. Saeed Ajmal vs McCullum will be a treat to watch.

Players to watch out for

New Zealand

Brendon McCullum

Fresh from a T20 hundred and a match-winning performance, McCullum would be the most discussed player in the Pakistan camp. His sublime hitting against Bangladesh just took the game away from them. Now he just needs to focus on the basics and aim for consistency. Spending time on the crease would be the key, and if he can just manoeuvre the ball against the likes of Ajmal and Umar Gul and target the lesser bowlers, New Zealand might just have the upper hand.

Martin Guptill

A technically correct player, Guptill was in the form of his life at the start of the year, scoring at will. Having failed to convert his starts off late, he has on occasion gifted away his wicket. With the ability to rotate strike and also use the long handle, he is the perfect batsman to have at the top of the order. With McCullum already firing, his return to form could mean curtains for Pakistan.

Tim Southee

The spearhead of the pace attack is in top gear. Outstanding figures(3 for 16 in 4 overs) in the match against Bangladesh helped his team register a huge win. His pace, accuracy and variations leave batsmen bamboozled. New Zealand would be counting on him to make early inroads into the Pakistan batting line up.

Pakistan

Saeed Ajmal

The man who tops the list for bowlers in the ICC T20 rankings has to be one of the players to watch out for. He has it all, the off spinner, the top spinner, the doosra, the quicker delivery. His variations in pace and length are immaculate and are bound to trouble even the best in the business. He is a world class spinner and the Kiwis would find it very difficult to deal with his brilliance. I think the only tactic that the Kiwis would use against him is to play him out and not give him a wicket.

Mohammad Hafeez

Good all-rounders are tough to find, and he is one of the finest, opening the batting and providing four quality overs of spin. He hasn’t been among the runs lately and is due a big one. Pakistan would hope that the big one is just round the corner. His off breaks and top spinners would come in very handy in the middle overs. Should the Kiwis post a huge total, Hafeez is the man who could provide a solid start for the run chase.

Umar Akmal

With his superlative hitting skills, Akmal has caught the imagination of many. He can bat at any position and is one of the best finishers of the game. He is known to bail his team out of the jaws of defeat by scoring a quick fire 30 or 40 in half the number of balls. Pakistan would dearly want him to fire against the Kiwis and if he does the result will surely be in Pakistan’s favour.

Head to head

Pakistan lead the head to head 5-3.

Prediction

It promises to be a mouth watering encounter. Pakistan’s bowling vs New Zealand’s batting should be the key encounter. The Pakistan team would enjoy home like conditions and thus should prevail against the Kiwis. The match will be a close fought win, with Pakistan winning it in the penultimate over.

The first match of the toughest group did not live up to its expectations. Bangladesh just couldn’t cope with the brilliance of McCullum and had to give in to his power striking. The batting didn’t help either as the top four did not make a healthy contribution. On the other hand, Brendon McCullum played an innings of a lifetime, bludgeoning the bowl all around the park. Even miss-hits found the boundary and the Bangladesh bowlers just couldn’t find a way to contain them. Chasing a score of 192 was always going to be a tough ask and with Tamim and Shakib back in the hut without making an impact, Bangladesh were always looking down the barrel. There was some late entertainment provided by Nasir Hossain but it was just too late.

Despite New Zealand winning it comfortably, the match had its share of moments and some key takeaways

No one backing up

Bangladesh elected to field after winning the toss and started off well with Mortaza and Shaiful Islam leading the attack and not giving much away. Abdur Razzak then dismissed Guptill and it looked as if the runs would dry up. But the bowlers were not supported by the fielders. In the seventh over, Mortaza shied at the bowlers end but there was no one backing up and the delivery resulted in 5 runs. This triggered the onslaught by the Kiwis.

McCullum at his best

This powerhouse was one on which New Zealand heavily relied and boy did he prove his worth. A cheeky reverse sweep to Mahumudallah for four in the initial stages of his innings showed the confidence he possessed. After that it was raining sixes in Pallekele. No one was spared from the McCullum attack, even Shakib was toyed around with. His 123 from 72 balls against Bangladesh is now the highest score by any batsman in a T20 international.  He also became the first man to score two t20 international hundreds.

The Sri Lankan pitches have undergone a makeover

Gone are the days when Sri Lanka was known for its slow sluggish and spinning tracks. It’s all about pace now. The Bangladeshi’s who highly rely on spin could not get any purchase out of the wicket. The wicket actually suited the Kiwis. The bowl was coming on to the bat and there was no vicious turn.

The bowlers just refused to bowl full

Both the Kiwi and the Bangladesh bowlers were on the shorter side last afternoon. The batsmen were given way too much time to punch the ball hard of the backfoot. The top scorers (McCullum and Hossain) of both the teams feasted on the short deliveries bowled by the opposition.

Butter Fingers

Mortaza dropped a fairly easy chance when Mcculum(92) hit the ball straight to him at short extra cover. The dropped catch allowed McCullum to score a century and take New Zealand to a match winning total of 191. Mushfiqur Rahim was also dropped during Bangladesh’s innings. This time Mcculum was on the receiving end. He dropped a regulation catch behind the stumps but thankfully for him, Rahim did not make him pay.

Shakib and Tamim hold the key for Bangladesh

Tamim is a world class opener and on his day can tear apart bowling attacks. Shakib Al Hasan – the best all rounder in the world is a class act with both bat and bowl. Both of them failed to deliver the goods in today’s game. Shakib gave away 40 runs in 4 overs and did not contribute much with the bat. When Bangladesh needed a good start, Tamim fell for a duck and dented any hopes of a miraculous run chase. If Bangladesh want to enter the super eights, these two players will have to fire against Pakistan.

New Zealand won by 59 runs

Man of the Match- Brendon McCullum (123 of 58 balls)

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/22/bangladesh-vs-new-zealand-quick-flicks-and-takeaways-from-the-game/feed/ 0 0808 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/20/world-t20-match-preview-kiwis-take-on-a-formidable-bangladesh-side/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/20/world-t20-match-preview-kiwis-take-on-a-formidable-bangladesh-side/#comments Thu, 20 Sep 2012 04:11:27 +0000 Utkarsh Bhatla http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=746748

A sub-continent team that plays spin well is against a top side who have always struggled to cope up with the demons of the sub continent wickets. The first of the real crackers is here. Bangladesh kick off their T20 World cup campaign against a formidable Kiwi side. What do we all love about the T20 format? People from the business world would argue that it takes less than 4 hours to finish. However, the real cricketing fanatics would feast on the fact that T20′s produce the closest finishes. The shorter format provides a better chance for the so-called minnows to upset the big and the well established sides. Bangladesh are still a minnow with respect to T20′s, as they are yet to prove their mettle against the top sides.

New Zealand and Bangladesh both have had mixed results coming into the World T20. New Zealand won the T20 series against India. The first match was washed out without even a ball being bowled. In the second match New Zealand snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat. Inspired by the efforts of McCullum(91 of 51) and Franklin(2 for 26 in 4 overs), New Zealand managed to sneak through the back door, beating India by 1 run.

The build up to the tournament was hampered by a dismal performance with the bat against the Aussies in the first warm up game. Chasing a modest target of 136, the Kiwis managed to score just 83. The second warm up game against the South Africans went right down to the wire. Chasing a stiff target of 187, New Zealand scored 177 thanks to a breathtaking knock of 75(of 42 balls) by Ross Taylor. New Zealand would be hoping that Taylor, McCullum and Franklin continue to deliver the goods during the World cup. However, stomach problems to Nicol and Southee could see them missing out the opening match against Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi’s on the other hand enjoy the luxury of playing the World cup in familiar sub-continental conditions. They have had a mixed bag lead up to the tournament as well. They registered an easy victory against Zimbabwe in their first warm up game, chasing down a target of 135 with ease(won by 5 wickets). However, they ended up losing a close match to Ireland in the 2nd warm up game, coming short by 5 runs. Shakib impressed with both bat and bowl(52 runs and 2 for 21).

Both these sides have some potential match winners who can single-handedly turn the match on its head.

Players to watch out for

New Zealand

Brendon McCullum- The in-form wicketkeeper who on his day could tear apart bowling attacks would have been  fiercely discussed in the Bangladesh team meetings. His 91 against India in a recently played T20 game was full of power packed sixes and fours. His sharp keeping skills and experience would also prove to be a huge plus for the Kiwis

Ross Taylor- The King of the leg side, if it were. Few people could tonk the ball as hard as this man. His signature mid wicket slogs travel many a mile, bamboozling even the best of the bowlers. He has been susceptible to spin in the early stages of his innings but once he gets his eye in, the crowd would surely be in for a treat.

James Franklin-  Hasn’t been in the best of forms with the bat, but the ball has done the trick for him. Bowls those tidy little overs in crunch situations and has a knack of picking up important wickets too. Brilliant bowling against the Indians in the recently played T20 game should do his confidence a world of good. His subtle changes of paces should prove to be lethal on the slow sub continent wickets.

Bangladesh

Tamim Iqbal- The swashbuckling opener has been providing brilliant starts for Bangladesh, no wonder he is one of the best T20 openers of the present day. His ability to clear grounds with uttermost ease gives his team an impetus while chasing big scores. He certainly has matured as a player and no longer believes in just belting the ball to different parts of the field, rotating the strike when possible is an asset that he has added to his game. If he fires, Bangladesh have a serious chance of upsetting the Kiwis

Shakib Al Hasan- Arguably the best all rounder in the world at the moment. He has given captaincy, bowling and batting a new definition. Off late he has redefined himself as a no.3 batsman for Bangladesh in T20′s so that he can face more number of deliveries in order to get his eye in. One of the best finishers of the game, he can both claw you out of defeat as well as race you to victory. His slow left-armers are hard to pick and even harder to score off. The Kiwis who are already susceptible to spin will have a tough time coping with Shakib.

Mashrafe Mortaza- One of Bangladesh’s most experienced cricketers could prove to be a match winner on his day. He is the spearhead of the attack and is capable of running through the top order. His pace and length variations could cause a lot of trouble to the Kiwi openers. With the experience that he has, he can contain the likes of Taylor, Oram in the death overs.

Head to Head

Both teams have met just once in this format. New Zealand came out victorious in their only meeting at Hamilton in 2010.

Venue- Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy

Date-21st September

Time- 15:30(IST)

Prediction

Tough to call this one! The conditions suit the Bangladeshi’s but the Kiwis have the required resources and firepower to undermine Bangladesh. A close match, but New Zealand should eventually clinch it.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/20/world-t20-match-preview-kiwis-take-on-a-formidable-bangladesh-side/feed/ 0 019943 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/18/an-open-letter-to-andy-murray/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/18/an-open-letter-to-andy-murray/#comments Tue, 18 Sep 2012 05:26:55 +0000 Utkarsh Bhatla http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=739182

Dear Andy,

Hope this letter finds you in good health, considering all the alcohol that must have gone in during the celebrations. I think it’s better late than never (not because I am a little late in writing this letter but because you took a long time to win your first Grand Slam). We finally bid adieu to the ‘Murray trolls’ and also to Fred Perry’s ghost which just wasn’t allowed to rest in peace due to the innumerable comparisons drawn between him and you. Watching the fans (read British) cry due to the overwhelming joy, it’s hard to imagine what you would be going through at this moment (after winning the U.S Open). As your look at the Arthur Ashe stadium suggested, you looked more relieved than happy.  Oh, and amidst all this hype about you being finally out of your shell and having finally broken the jinx, I completely forgot to congratulate you, your family and your coaching staff on your maiden Grand Slam victory.

It truly is an honour to watch you play. At this point I would like to make it very clear that I am not a diehard fan of your game. Seems a little confusing, doesn’t it? I have and will always be a huge fan of elegance, and only one of the current players possesses it- Roger Federer. Tennis write-ups seem incomplete without the mention of the maestro. Anyway, as I was saying I am not a big fan of your game but still love to watch you play. Game and play mean very different things in this context. Game is the skills, fitness and shots you posses whereas play is your attitude towards the game, your will power, your temperament and most importantly your hunger to win.

Winning accolades from the fans of a competitor is a feat few people achieve. People often ask me why I write so much about you even though I am a dedicated Federer fan. I think it can be best expressed here. It is because when you play you win hearts, you come off as the gladiator who isn’t willing to succumb to his opponent’s dominance, who is ready to overcome his fears, his flaws and that is what excites spectators. We all love to see a fightback. We all love to see a player transform and become one of the finest. And when you do all of this on the tennis court you are bound to steal a few of the rival fans, if not that you certainly instil a new sense of respect for yourself in their hearts.

Frankly speaking, until Wimbledon or even the Olympic final after that I would have loved to see Federer face you in every Grand Slam final, because I always believed that the weight on your shoulders was extreme. Carrying the expectations of an entire country, a person is bound to buckle down. But slowly it seemed as if you had started to enjoy the pressure and weight of the expectations. The crowd was no longer a villain but a supportive brother who inspired you onto bigger things. I loved the way you put the fear of losing behind you. Tough draws were not seen as bad luck any more, but as challenges, and you accepted them with arms wide open. The Wimbledon, Olympics and even the U.S Open for that matter had suffocated your half of the draw with some of the most destructive players but their hopes of creating a major upset were dashed by your miraculous play and even better temperament. It was extremely heartening to see the way you handled the pressure in the final set in the U.S Open final. When Djokovic was firing on all cylinders, the way you turned the game on its head and shifted the momentum completely in your favour was commendable.

A lot of emotions must have be running through your head when you were serving for the match. Keeping calm was the mantra and you pulled it off flawlessly. Every tennis fan who felt bad for you at the Wimbledon final would have rejoiced with you in your victory at the U.S Open.

The thorn is out of the way now. Britain’s long wait for a Grand Slam champion has ended. Finally the expectations will mellow down a little. But you must realise that the story has not ended, infact it has just begun. At the end of the day, it is the number of Grand Slams that matter. Fans would argue that you had a majestic game and a gladiator-like attitude but if there are not enough Grand Slams to back that up, then I am sorry to say that all those adjectives don’t have the same kind of impact. I hope your career doesn’t end like that of another Andy- Andy Roddick. Unfortunate to have played during Federer’s prime, Roddick could just win one Grand Slam (the U.S open).

Many talk highly about Roddick’s skill and play on the court but sometimes winning is everything. Common people and even fans, for that matter, have a short term memory. They talk a lot about the fighting skills of a player and his never-back-down attitude but once he retires, they slowly start forgetting about the epic battles he fought, the close losses he suffered and what remains is the statistics and numbers. It’s sad but it’s true. Numbers finally rule us. In the end, it comes down to the number of trophies you have won in order for you to enter the hall of fame. Nobody remembers the problems you went through in the initial stages of your career, or the injuries you suffered or the circumstances within which you played, numbers is what people always remember. Roddick will always be a good player but we certainly cannot count him with the ‘greats of the game’. I hope you don’t suffer his fate and write your own destiny

Keep playing, keep winning and keep providing us with sublime tennis.

Thank you Andy.