ID :
50688
Mon, 03/16/2009 - 13:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/50688
The shortlink copeid
India demolish New Zealand's ODI credentials with ease
Joseph Hoover
Hamilton, Mar 15 (PTI) The eight-wicket defeat in the
fifth and final One-Day International match could, at its
extreme, be considered an aberration in what has been a
glorious run for Indian cricket team this summer.
Encouragingly, Team India's record can only get better
and better over the next three weeks, though autumn has set in
in the southern hemisphere.
The 3-1 series triumph in the one-day series was achieved
with consummate ease, akin to the West Indies sweeping their
rivals aside during their halcyon days. There was aggression
and supreme self-belief as India went about demolishing New
Zealand's limited-overs credentials, match after match.
It didn't come as a surprise that Andy Moles admitted
that his side was outplayed by the Indians in the ODI series,
attributing the Kiwi decimation to Virender Sehwag, who
aggregated a whopping 299 runs (averaging 74.75) in the
five-match series.
Sehwag did put the fear of God in the Kiwis' heart, but
it would be unfair to suggest that he alone steered the Indian
juggernaut which ruthlessly steamrollered the Blackcaps.
There were contributions with the bat from Sachin
Tendulkar, who was in imperious form before an abdomen injury
laid him low, Suresh Raina, who struck the ball with impunity,
and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led from the front with
a calmness associated with a sage.
Tendulkar carved 244 runs from three visits to the
square, a magnificent 163 (retd hurt) manifesting that he has
some more years of cricket left in him, despite lasting a
phenomenal 20 years on the international circuit.
Raina only reaffirmed his ability to win matches, batting
with a cool head when the chips were down and ripping the
rival attack apart when the team required him to accelerate.
His agility in the field, lifted the bowlers' confidence, as
he would swoop down on the ball in a jiffy to challenge the
batsmen from stealing a run from him.
His outstanding work at covers only highlighted the
inadequacy of the rest of his team mates on the field,
something which India need to improve if they aspire to retain
the T20 World Cup this summer in England and regain the Cup
that Kapil's devils had won in 1983.
Yuvraj Singh continued his six-hitting spree, setting the
stands on fire during his 100-ball, 138-run association with
Tendulkar, when India ran up an intimidating 392. But he
lacked consistency, something which marks a special player
from the rest.
Praveen Kumar did a wonderful job in Ishant Sharma's
absence, supporting Zaheer Khan with seam and swerve. Though
the conditions suited him, it must be appreciated that he used
it to the hilt.
Zaheer played the role of a mentor to a calming Ishant
Sharma's nerves when he returned from an injury break for the
fourth and fifth ODIs at Hamilton and Auckland. He may not
have been amongst the wickets, but his influence on the field
was infectious.
Harbhajan Singh was at his niggardly best, tying down the
restless Kiwis to the crease, producing an over hat-trick at
Napier. Yusuf Pathan too did pretty well in the limited
opportunities that he enjoyed during the series.
Overall, the Indian performance was emphatic and
fascinating, indicating that this team of achievers was a cut
above the rest in international cricket, though South Africa
and Australia could contest this argument.
India beat Australia down under in early 2008, but had
suffered a 4-0 defeat in the African bushveld some 28 months
ago.
Now, this Indian team is probably the best to set foot on
a cricket field since Kapil Dev's legion turned the tables
upon the West Indies at Lord's. It could only gain in momentum
from now on, if the selectors, put their parochialism aside,
and pick the best side in the interest of Indian cricket.
A Ravindra Jadeja, who showed attitude and pluck during
his T20 debut, and Uttar Pradesh's Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who has
the makings of a good all-rounder, could only enrich a team
that has been on a roll over the last 18 months. Dhoni would
certainly want them on his team. PTI JH
DEP
NNNN
Hamilton, Mar 15 (PTI) The eight-wicket defeat in the
fifth and final One-Day International match could, at its
extreme, be considered an aberration in what has been a
glorious run for Indian cricket team this summer.
Encouragingly, Team India's record can only get better
and better over the next three weeks, though autumn has set in
in the southern hemisphere.
The 3-1 series triumph in the one-day series was achieved
with consummate ease, akin to the West Indies sweeping their
rivals aside during their halcyon days. There was aggression
and supreme self-belief as India went about demolishing New
Zealand's limited-overs credentials, match after match.
It didn't come as a surprise that Andy Moles admitted
that his side was outplayed by the Indians in the ODI series,
attributing the Kiwi decimation to Virender Sehwag, who
aggregated a whopping 299 runs (averaging 74.75) in the
five-match series.
Sehwag did put the fear of God in the Kiwis' heart, but
it would be unfair to suggest that he alone steered the Indian
juggernaut which ruthlessly steamrollered the Blackcaps.
There were contributions with the bat from Sachin
Tendulkar, who was in imperious form before an abdomen injury
laid him low, Suresh Raina, who struck the ball with impunity,
and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led from the front with
a calmness associated with a sage.
Tendulkar carved 244 runs from three visits to the
square, a magnificent 163 (retd hurt) manifesting that he has
some more years of cricket left in him, despite lasting a
phenomenal 20 years on the international circuit.
Raina only reaffirmed his ability to win matches, batting
with a cool head when the chips were down and ripping the
rival attack apart when the team required him to accelerate.
His agility in the field, lifted the bowlers' confidence, as
he would swoop down on the ball in a jiffy to challenge the
batsmen from stealing a run from him.
His outstanding work at covers only highlighted the
inadequacy of the rest of his team mates on the field,
something which India need to improve if they aspire to retain
the T20 World Cup this summer in England and regain the Cup
that Kapil's devils had won in 1983.
Yuvraj Singh continued his six-hitting spree, setting the
stands on fire during his 100-ball, 138-run association with
Tendulkar, when India ran up an intimidating 392. But he
lacked consistency, something which marks a special player
from the rest.
Praveen Kumar did a wonderful job in Ishant Sharma's
absence, supporting Zaheer Khan with seam and swerve. Though
the conditions suited him, it must be appreciated that he used
it to the hilt.
Zaheer played the role of a mentor to a calming Ishant
Sharma's nerves when he returned from an injury break for the
fourth and fifth ODIs at Hamilton and Auckland. He may not
have been amongst the wickets, but his influence on the field
was infectious.
Harbhajan Singh was at his niggardly best, tying down the
restless Kiwis to the crease, producing an over hat-trick at
Napier. Yusuf Pathan too did pretty well in the limited
opportunities that he enjoyed during the series.
Overall, the Indian performance was emphatic and
fascinating, indicating that this team of achievers was a cut
above the rest in international cricket, though South Africa
and Australia could contest this argument.
India beat Australia down under in early 2008, but had
suffered a 4-0 defeat in the African bushveld some 28 months
ago.
Now, this Indian team is probably the best to set foot on
a cricket field since Kapil Dev's legion turned the tables
upon the West Indies at Lord's. It could only gain in momentum
from now on, if the selectors, put their parochialism aside,
and pick the best side in the interest of Indian cricket.
A Ravindra Jadeja, who showed attitude and pluck during
his T20 debut, and Uttar Pradesh's Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who has
the makings of a good all-rounder, could only enrich a team
that has been on a roll over the last 18 months. Dhoni would
certainly want them on his team. PTI JH
DEP
NNNN
