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Akthar Autobiography

Akhtar heaps praise on Dhoni and Ganguly

PTI Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar during release of the book "Shoaib Akhtar controversially Yours" at a function in New Delhi on Friday.

Shoaib Akhtar has been uncharacteristically effusive in his praise for two of India’s captains, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly, who he describes as a “giant of a man in a slight body“.

In his just-released autobiography ‘Controversially Yours’, he says that Ganguly’s decision to bring youngsters had changed the face of their team and Dhoni had benefited by that when he took charge of the side.

“An important thing that happened to Indian cricket was the captaincy of Ganguly. I think he was a superb captain, a giant of a man in a slight body. One of his greatest gifts to his side was the very brave decision to bring in youngsters, and he backed them as well. This has changed the face of their team. Dhoni has benefited greatly for taking over Ganguly’s team,” Akhtar writes.

Akhtar, who retired from international cricket after the World Cup this year, described Dhoni as a smart man and intelligent captain who manages his resources perfectly.

“He is a very smart man and intelligent captain and manages his resources perfectly. Plus, he wants to win. India is blessed to have someone as level-headed as him at the helm.”

“I admire the way he overcomes problems, and on the field he is calm and collected, and means business. He knows how to lead and the Indian team were deserving winners of the 2011 World Cup,” he says.

Akhtar also had good things to say about the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag, who he thought “played to win.”

“Things changed when younger players like Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh arrived on the scene. These guys didn’t play for records. They played to win.”

“I know our whole team gives Sehwag the credit for being the one to lead India’s winning streak. Gautam Gambhir and he have given India quick and wonderful partnerships. Before that, there was only Sachin; the poor man carried the entire burden on his shoulders. With him, was Dravid who has a great technique but has never been a match-winner,” Akhtar says.

“With the coming of younger players, the Indian team took the No 1 Test spot. That’s the difference they have brought.”

Contrary to media reports, which quoted Akhtar as having stated that Sachin Tendulkar was scared of his bowling, the Pakistani speedster has actually showered plenty of praise on the Indian maestro.

Akhtar says that Tendulkar has always been a great batsman, if not the greatest, and “I always admire his extraordinary skills“.

Initially when Akhtar had bowled to Tendulkar, he had not found match-winning abilities in him, but in the last three years the Indian player has changed his game, he says in the book.

Tendulkar was now playing the role of a match-winner in his team, Akhtar writes, adding that with the help of Sehwag, Yuvraj, Gambhir and Virat Kohli, Tendulkar now wins matches for India.

“Now he is a complete batsman,” says Akhtar of Tendulkar before adding that along with Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, the Indian batting master was the face of India.

“The face of Pakistan is controversies,” Akhtar writes.

Indian team gives ICC awards a miss

Indian cricketers were conspicuous by their absence at the ICC Annual Awards with the team manager claiming that the invitation came far too late even though a few of the side’s players were there in the list of nominees.

The most prestigious annual cricketing function of the year was given a complete miss by Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men who were staying at a negligible distance from the venue of the function held last night.

Indian team manager Shivlal Yadav expressed his helplessness, stating he was informed only at 12 noon by an ICC communication officer by which time “the players were already away, some shopping, some sight-seeing as this was their final day of stay in London.”

The clarification from the ICC was that a mail to this effect had already been sent to the BCCI, much in advance on August 26.

“The Indian team management had been invited to attend tonight and they were invited some weeks ago. Those who were nominated for awards have known it since 26th of August, in Canterbury, when the short-listed names for the awards were announced,” said ICC Communication Officer Colin Gibson.

The ICC sources said they have evidence by mail which confirms that the BCCI was aware of the function and had also agreed that the Indian team would attend it.

“If it wasn’t so, the Indian team ought to have left for Cardiff (the venue of the final one-dayer) today itself and not stayed back in London on Monday,” said an ICC spokesman.

“The fact that their schedule included a stay in London on Monday confirms they know it. I don’t know whether the team was advised to attend it. They had been invited some weeks ago, end of August. The whole team was invited on August 26,” he added.

Rajiv Shukla, a senior functionary of the BCCI who attended the function, wasn’t aware that the Indian team wouldn’t be turning up for the function.

“I thought those who have been nominated would be attending the function,” said Shukla.

Indian's Bowling Performence In England Tour

First 10 overs proving costly

  

AFP GENTLEMAN'S GAME? Munaf Patel, who seems to be losing his composure of late, was involved in a verbal duel with Ravi Bopara in the fourth ODI against England at Lord's.

 

The Indian seamers have not stemmed the flow of runs

The cold and clammy fingers of pressure have not yet choked England in the chase during the current NatWest Series. Alastair Cook's men have stayed abreast of targets, be it original or revised, and that will be a worry for M.S. Dhoni when the Indian team heads to Cardiff for the final match scheduled on Friday.

Except at the Oval where a top-order collapse weakened the score, India has found the runs, but its bowlers have fired sporadically with the rain and resultant wet outfield negating their control over the ball. The seamers have not stemmed the flow of runs in the first 10 overs and England has grabbed the initiative.

Cook and Craig Kieswetter failed in the opening match at Chester-le-Street and at Lord's on Sunday but overall, the host enjoyed the upper hand. At the Rose Bowl, England scored 56 for no loss in 10 overs; at the Oval it was 63 for one and even at Lord's, the score was 50 for two. These numbers meant that India's scores of 187 (23 overs), 234 and 280 seemed within reach as long as England had wickets in hand.

Missing Zaheer

Dhoni, who is missing Zaheer Khan's potency and Yuvraj Singh's variety in his ranks, said that the leakage of runs in the first 10 overs, undid the team. “We have given runs in the first few overs in the past but then the fast bowlers with a bit of reverse swing were able to get back. Over here we are giving too many runs in the first 10 overs and it is becoming difficult. None of our bowlers are real quick and when it doesn't swing and the ball gets wet, it becomes difficult,” Dhoni said.

R. Ashwin is the highest wicket-taker for India in this series with six scalps, averaging 21.00 and coming at an economy rate of 5.25 and he found belated support from Ravindra Jadeja in the last two games. On the other hand, the seamers — Munaf Patel (6.42), Praveen Kumar (5.09), R.P. Singh (6.06) and Vinay Kumar (6.40) — have disappointed with fewer wickets that were allied with inflationary economy rates.

It is little consolation that the England bowlers too have struggled with ODI specialist Jade Dernbach going for 6.83 runs per over but sudden incisive spells like the one that James Anderson bowled at the Oval, has helped Cook.

Munaf's rage

Jadeja may have partially reduced Dhoni's brooding angst over the fifth bowler's slot but the Indian skipper has another lurking headache to contend with. Munaf has been a picture of seething rage over the last week.

Things came to such a pass at Lord's that it took Praveen, who is prone to his own share of outbursts, to step in and advice Munaf. Suresh Raina acted as the guardian when Munaf mouthed profanities while Ravi Bopara walked away. An alert Raina dragged the bowler away from the retreating batsman.

The England bowlers have not been angels either with Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn having a go at Parthiv Patel but that is no excuse for Munaf's indefensible attitude that includes sledging his own team-mates for alleged ‘fielding' errors!

At Lord's he tried to kick the ball away while the throw from the deep homed in and with the Duckworth-Lewis equation determining the final verdict, Munaf's gesture could have proved costly. Luckily his boot missed the ball.

Dhoni needs to have a quiet word with Munaf like those earlier chats with S. Sreesanth.

A seamer frothing with anger is something that the Indian captain does not need at any stage.

Dhoni 'Keeping in England

The challenges of 'keeping in England

 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni appeared in line to gather the ball. The sphere swung at the last moment and the Indian captain dropped what looked like a regulation ‘take'. This was a common sight in England this summer during India's 4-0 drubbing in the Test series. Dhoni struggled to cope with the dynamics of the moving ball with the big gloves.

Former India wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia, arguably the last natural 'keeper to represent the country, sympathised with Dhoni's plight.

The 41-year-old Mongia, who toured England with the Indian team in '96, told The Hindu: “Keeping wickets to pacemen in England can be as hard as standing up to spinners in the sub-continent. The ball does funny things in the air even after it passes the stumps. There is cloud cover, the atmosphere is heavy, the outfield is lush green and there invariably is a stiff breeze blowing across the ground. And to make a 'keeper's job more demanding, the nature of the light on the field keeps changing.”

Mongia said it was easier for him to bring about the necessary changes in his technique since India played a welter of first class practice games ahead of the Test series in the Old Blighty.

“Initially even I had difficulties, since we Indians are not used to these conditions, but the chinks were ironed out in the side matches. In England, it is very, very important to play these games before a Test series. Sadly, Dhoni did not get the opportunity to adapt and his confidence levels dropped as the series progressed.”

Adjustments

What were the technical adjustments that a 'keeper needed to make in England? Mongia, who scored 1,442 runs at 24.03, took 99 catches and effected eight stumpings in 44 Tests, replied: “There is late swing, both away and inwards. The ball wobbles in the air. A 'keeper needs to keep the ball under his eye. And his shoulders have to be flexible and not stiff as he has to change directions with the ball. I felt Dhoni's shoulders were stiff and this was the principal reason for his problems as a 'keeper in the English conditions.”

Enabling the ball to ease into his gloves is the hallmark of a genuine 'keeper. Mongia said, “A 'keeper needs to be in a crouching position and his weight, equally distributed, should rest on his toes. It's vital that he gets up with the ball. While gathering, a 'keeper's fingers should be pointing towards the ground and not at the ball. He has to watch the ball all the way into his gloves, collect with soft hands,” he explained.

He also emphasised on reflexes. “Even if you get the technical aspect rights, your reflexes still need to be good as you grapple with the ball's unexpected behaviour. The ball swinging away from you late can be particularly difficult to gather. It is here that you need to be quick, dynamic and have the spring in your feet. If you follow the right methods, you have a better chance of success in such conditions.”

Mongia said, “In Australia and South Africa, a 'keeper can get up a little early because of the extra bounce. This is not the case in England.”

‘Dhoni has improved'

Dhoni, who has 3,242 runs at 38.14, 173 catches and 25 stumpings from 61 Tests, had improved as a 'keeper since his early days, says Mongia. “Despite a disappointing series in England, he has evolved as a 'keeper, is safe with the big gloves. But this series has been a setback for him.”

Mongia was impressed with Matt Prior — he made 271 runs at a stunning 67.75 runs apart from 'keeping efficiently for most part of the recently concluded Test series. In 47 Tests, Prior has 2,549 runs at a laudable 44.71 apart from 144 catches and six stumpings.

“Prior's 'keeping has really come on. He is doing the job with better technique and greater self-belief,” added Mongia.

The former India stumper said the BCCI should consider appointing a wicketkeeping coach or a consultant for the team who could stay with the side during a series at home or abroad. “It is a specialist job. Keeping wickets with minimum errors can be very, very critical to the fortunes of a side. It has also been a much neglected area. You need a 'keeping coach for the National side.”

And who is the most promising young wicketkeeper on the Indian scene? “I think it is Wriddhiman Saha. I watched him in domestic matches and was impressed by the flow in his 'keeping, the quality of his gathering while standing back to the pacemen or standing up to the spinners. He seems to have quick hands,” Mongia said.

Mongia also believed Dhoni would fight back. “He is mentally strong and can take setbacks in his stride,” he said.

The issue of 'keeping wicket, rightly, is once again in the centre-stage.

Reasons Of TeamIndia Flop In England

India has looked weary and stale

Over the last few days, two teams have summoned the focus demanded in the unforgiving Test arena. England has been superb, an executioner in white clothes. Zimbabwe, too, played with unsuspected maturity. Contrastingly India and Bangladesh have been abject. Test cricket exposes weaknesses and reveals strengths. That is its beauty and primary purpose. Defeat awaits an under-prepared or complacent side

Bangladesh's problem can be found in a weak and well nigh bankrupt domestic system that tolerates the amateurish approach observed in the leading players. Evidently, emerging cricketers are not put through their paces. No sign of improvement has been detected and a lot of talent is going to waste.

Various reasons

India's calamitous defeat has other causes. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team has not suddenly become inept, lazy or headstrong. Just that winning Tests requires a strong mind as well as superior skills.

India has plenty of ability but looks weary, old and stale. Intensity is needed to bring down an opponent as committed as England. Without it, all is lost. English minds have been razor sharp. The Indians' brains resemble blunt instruments.

Several factors lie behind India's decline. On that fabulous evening at Wankhede, Dhoni's men climbed to the top of the mountain. It was a breakthrough long in the making and longer in the celebrating. To walk around the streets of Mumbai that night was to sense the exhilaration.

Difficult to absorb

Success, though, can be as difficult to absorb as failure. Both can disturb the rhythm of a team. Sri Lanka took years to recover from its World Cup victory in 1996.

Everyone kept talking about it, presenting awards, putting on dinners. It was a natural response but not one likely to renew ambition. Similarly, the South Africans took time to recover from thumping the Aussies in their own backyard, and were trounced by them a few weeks later.

 India had no time to rejoice in or recover from its brilliant World Cup triumph. Within days, the champions were back on the road, playing against each other in the IPL. An exciting journey had been turned into a treadmill.

Along the way conditioning was lost. It is not possible for any athlete to remain at peak fitness for months on end. Three players were injured in the next few weeks, and none has played a full part in the current Test series.

Nor were IPL commitments the end of it. A ludicrous programme was imposed on the team. After IPL came a tour of the Caribbean and then the team was sent to England. India's administrators let the players down. Alas, most senior voices in Indian cricket are so compromised that they tip-toe around these issues.

However, it's not only about mistakes off the field. Indeed they can become a smokescreen. India has been strong for 15 years and its current batting order counts amongst the finest the game has known. All good things, though, come to an end. By the looks of things, that time is at hand.

Meanwhile India ought to save its old guard for Test cricket and start building a team for the 2015 CWC. It is time to look ahead.