Why not Tendulkar?

Why only Laxman and Dravid?   Why not Tendulkar?  

Most of the websites I have been reading the last few days don't talk about Tendulkar's retirement. 

These are the Desi websites and newspapers. Most of the cricket celebs in India (as expected) are afraid to come out against Tendulkar !

The Aussie/world press is quite strong in saying that everyone should be out.

Indian cricket needs these three to go now, for cricket to prosper.  Enough is enough.  

Indian press and the experts of the game must have the guts to get these guys to retire.

Cement Srini & Co - It's crunch time !

Adelaide Test !

As I write this email -  Dravid and Tendulkar are playing in the middle.  I have a very strong feeling that both of them will score a 100  (at least!)

The test is headed for a draw or even a India Win.

Let's see!

Sydney Test - Draw maybe?

I have a gut feeling this test match is going end in a draw. 

There are a few reasons why I came to this conclusion :

• Quite a few players in the Indian team have a lot at stake here - about their future. 
• The track is getting easier to play.
• The seniors in the Indian team are masters of dead tracks.   
• VVS has to do something here to retain his place in the team.  A definite big score !
• ST - After everything that has been said and written about SCG and his outings here, I bet will hit a 100 today, if not more !  
• Gambhir - that way he is batting, I feel that he is definitely going to stay there long !  Hats off to his positive cricket yesterday ( Good to see him smile finally).
• Virat Kohli - Final call for this youngster ( I didn't like his Middle finger gesture though).  I am sure he will also do well in this track.
• Dhoni -  He is in decent form and he is also a master of dead tracks.
• Ashwin -  A recent 100 against WI gives me a feeling he might also get a big score, considering the track.
• The Tail - We know it can wag big time in good batting tracks !     

It was pathetic to see the body language of the Indians when they couldn't get anything going yesterday with Clarke and Hussey.  No conversations, no patting the back, nothing !   That's a shame.

Congratulations Ponting, Clarke and Hussey for some wonderful cricket the last few days !

Manjrekar - Well said !

Courtesy: Cricinfo

Hat's off to Sanjay Manjrekar for his comment on aging Indian batsmen.

'Age' is a forbidden territory for Indian Press.

I watched Saurav Ganguly
commenting during the first test in Melbourne.  He said, 'Age doesn't bother him as long as one can perform'.

'Perform' - This is the word to note here.

Performance doesn't mean scoring 50+ runs, dropping a few catches and giving away a few runs via misfieldings.

Performance doesn't mean taking a few wickets,dropping a few catches and giving away few runs via misfieldings.

With so much pressure, I have a feeling that all the Grandpas in the Indian team will have to take care of their heads in Sydney.

New Format for TEST CRICKET needed

The name "Test" is thought to arise from the idea that the matches are a "test of strength and competency" between the sides involved. It seems to have been used first to describe an English team that toured Australia in 1861-62, although those matches are not considered Test matches today. The first ever official Test match commenced on the 15th of March 1877, contested by England and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the Australians won by 45 runs.

( Wikipedia )

By Sunday evening India time, another test match would probably go down the tubes as 'Draw', aka 'No results'.

I am not sure if there are other games that can end in a 'No result' situation.

Not sure about you, but for me, it is just too boring to watch a five day game that ends in a tame draw !

Test cricket - The five day version of the game with two innings per side has been going on for a few centuries now. A few changes have happened in the last century like the scrapping of the 'REST DAY'.

But for most part, test cricket is still the same.

I feel it is high time the authorities came together with a new format for the longer version of the game ( IMHO, for the survival of Test cricket ).

May I suggest a maximum of one day per side ? And if the scores are tied at the end, a shoot out or a coin toss. I don't mind 2 innings per side.

The world has changed since test cricket evolved and is changing by the second.

Why not TEST CRICKET ?