Munaf Patel for Captain : Let the Helicopter Fly !

Cricket is all about skills. Multiple levels of skills. Batting, Bowling, Fielding. It also involves the cerebral, like strategizing, planning and of course execution.

I don't know what were the plans and strategies Team India had deployed when they played Australia. Most things they did went well and some things the Aussies did, did not. The luck factor too was more often with the Indians except the coin.

Virendar Sehwag's shoulder and knee and Gautam Gambhir's suicidal mania apart, Team India gave more or less 100%. All the 10 'Players' in the team did their best. And then there was Munaf Patel. What is he doing in the team ? I have harped on this before, but let us take one more look.

Except Bangladesh defending 370, he's never threatened to take a wicket any time.
He has gone for over 6 an over after the first match. 5 wickets for 268 in 44 overs.
Most of these wickets have come at the end of an expensive over.
Twice out of two chances to bowl at death, he has been whacked by tail-enders.
He is an Opening bowler who seldom opens the bowling these days.
Bowls no Yorker, no bouncer and can't reverse the ball even if Dhoni were to bite it.
He is the only 'fast bowler' who is consistent. He consistently bowls length balls at death.
After Abey Kuruvilla, Munaf has inherited the mantle of 'Slowest Fast Bowler' on earth.
Ashwin and Pathan have bowled more during Power plays than Munaf.
He was taken to the cleaners by Haddin and Ponting while others toiled.
He hasn't completed his quota of 10 overs in the last 5 matches.
He inspires confidence in Dhoni. Sachin bowled at death and did better.
Fielding has fluctuated between pathetic to comic, never threatening to improve.
His visits to the batting crease have been 'blink and you miss' guest appearances.

With all these 'Qualifications', how does he manage to continue in the team ?

Here are the possibilities...

India want to fool the opponents by creating some false sense of well being.
He is some kind of a lucky mascot for the highly superstitious Indians.
The Captain doesn't have confidence in the available alternatives.
The Team believes he can deliver in crunch situations.

But none of these are good enough reasons to keep him in the team. Yusuf Pathan has bowled 35 overs [mostly during power plays] and gone for 167 runs at 4.77 though wickets have eluded him. So it would be a better option to go ahead with Yusuf purely as a bowler. Whatever runs he scores and all the fielding he does are all bonus.

So who should be playing against Pakistan ? Let us take a Man vs Man look at our next opponents.

Pit Munaf against Umar Gul. Oh, forget it. Pit him against rookie Wahab, still not a match. Pit him against the slower Abdul Razack and Munaf comes across as useless. If Pakistan manage to beat India at Mohali, the difference will be Munaf Patel.

So if the 'Think Tank' still thinks Munaf should play, please do us a favor...

Dhoni has been burdened by Captaincy. His batting has suffered and the Helicopter isn't flying. So relieve him of Captaincy. Make Munaf Patel the Captain. He will be true to himself and as usual do nothing. The Team can take care of itself and let the Helicopter fly !

Enough is Munaf !




SPun Doctor
Also blogs @ http://diehardcricketfans.org/category/contributed/govind-raj-shenoy/

Saffer ke baad Geet : A Musical Tribute to Team India !

After the Saffer debacle on Saturday, a lot of Indians are furious. Unjustified and justified depending upon why one is angry. The Team has suffered a defeat to Saffers in the Safar of this World Cup. But are we justified in castigating them ? No and Yes !

NO: If one is angry simply because India lost, that is not justified. It was just a game and a close one at that.

YES: If you are angry at the semantics after the match, that is reason to be angry with Dhoni and Co; Dhoni especially.

Hum Honge Kaamyaab Ek Din !

Here is an interesting post on BCC!. From here, one thing lead to another and I have dedicated songs to all our Players. 

This was inspired by my friend Balram Cheruparambil. He started with dedication on Facebook. I have made some changes from his original status according to my choice. But I am indebted to Balu for the inspiration.

So here we go as we sing along for the sake of Team India !

Sehwag: Aaj mai Upar, Aasmaan neeche, Aaj mai aage zamaana hai peeche !

[He is right now at the top of the heap and is busy with Upar Cut]

Sachin: Duniya me hum aaye hain toh jeena hi padega !

[How long and how much can he endure ?]

Gambhir: Mai Zindagi ka saath nibhaata chala gaya !

[One who goes along the tide]

Virat Kohli: Ek, Do, Teen, Chaar, Paanch, Che, Saat, Aat, Nau, Dus, Gyaaraa, Baaraa, Tera !

[He doesn't know which is his number in the batting order]

Yuveraj: Saree Duniya Ka Bojh Hum Uthate Hain !

[Bat, bowl, field and then carry his weight. He is doing everything]

Dhoni: Hum Bolega toh Bologe ki Bolta hai !

[He talks, people say he is talking. He doesn't talk, people say, look he has nothing to say]

Pathan: Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna ab hamaare dil me hai !

[He walks to the Crease with a desire to be martyred]

Raina: Gardish me ho Taare, na ghabraana pyaare !

[His stock might be low, but not his spirit]

Bhajji: Mujhko dekhoge jahaan tak, mujhko paaoge wahaan tak, Raaston se Carvan tak, iss zameen se aasmaan tak, mai hi mai hoon, mai hi mai hoon "Doosra" koi nahin !

[He is stressing to Dhoni about his stature in the team as Un-expendable]

Zaheer: Akele hain chale aao kahaan ho !

[To any bowler who can bowl / restrict runs / pick a few wickets !] Is Kumble listening ? 

Munaf: Tohfa Tohfa Tohfa Tohfa Laya Laya Laya Laya !

[He is out there with a 'Gift' for the batsmen; as a bowler and as a fielder]

.

Nehra: Hum Bewafa hargiz na the, par hum wafa kar na sake !

[Has bowled some deadly death overs in the past. One bad day and he is Public Enemy No. 1. Not fair]

Sreesanth: Chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe !

[Public admonitions, fines and bench; nothing can change him]

Chawla: Tujhse naaraaz nahin zindagi, hairaan hoon me !

[We can't even be angry with the lad. He just doesn't know he is making all Pareshaan]

Ashwin: Koi humdum na raha, koi Sahaara na raha, Hum kisike na rahe, Koi Humaara na raha !

[The most successful Indian spinner of recent times has no takers in the team]

The Theme [Team] Song for Team India and Supporters:

Yeh Safar bahut hai katin magar na udaas ho mere humsafar !

And finally...

Gary Kirsten: Hum to jate apne gaon, sabko Ram Ram Ram !

[He will sing this song to India after the World Cup]

SPun Doctor

A Cup for Mr. Tendulkar : But how do we do it ?

I had written why India will struggle to win the ongoing World Cup. I know it was a little too dark and gloomy. I too want India to Win a World Cup for Mr. Sachin Tendulkar. But how do we manage do it ?

THIS is how we are going to do it ! Please read it on my blog @ Die Hard Cricket Fans !


S-Pun Doctor

Maheadlines in the times of World Cup !

Weird things do happen in Cricket. They just keep happening. More so during the World Cup.

He wasn't even thought of as a WC probable before the South Africa ODI Series.

4 wickets on an apology of a track and Dhoni has warmed up to Piyush Chawla.

In a batting card that reads: Sachin, Sehwag, Gambhir, Kohli, Yuveraj, Pathan, Dhoni, Bhajji and Zaheer Khan...

"This is what we hear": Chawla needs to contribute with bat too: Dhoni

What about Yuveraj, Raina and Dhoni himself ?

Dhoni aka Mahi is the Head of Team India. Hence whatever he utters becomes Maheadlines !

We are living in weird yet exciting times.

We can expect more and more Maheadlines...

Yuveraj needs to take 5 wickets more often

Sachin needs to score more ODI centuries than anyone

Pathan needs to win more matches from any position

Sehwag has to improve his strike rate while batting 50 overs

Ashwin is too tall for a spinner, he needs to get shorter

Munaf has to cut down on speed while bowling and running

Zaheer has to lead from the front and then back too

Sreesanth shouldn't open his mouth to appeal or even to eat Appam

Gambhir needs to bowl his leg-spin more regularly

Virat should improve his wicket-keeping skills

Nehra's teeth need to visit a Dentist before the Final

Raina needs to change his gear [Does it mean the CSK gear ?] 

Bhajji should remember he hasn't scored an ODI Century

And...

I think I must give more tips to my team-mates





S-Pun Doctor