Mark Richardson : Keeping the Boss Happy

[EnterTheVoid]

Seriously, have a read of this article from a soon to become serial pest Mark Richardson. According to this idiot, the pitches on the N.Z. tour will be practically doctored to suit the Indian batsman. Just to prove this donkey wrong, I hope N.Z. produce the pitches they produced last time so that the Indian bowling can utilize them to their full extent Sour grapes are everywhere, it seems. Keeping the boss happy New Zealand Cricket knows on which side their bread is buttered. Ergo, expect more favourable conditions for the Indian batsmen this time round February 24, 2009 When India last toured New Zealand, in December 2002, we stitched them up all right. They were known for their weakness in seamer-friendly conditions, and they got green ones to play on all right. In the two Tests, the highest score India made was 161; in the second Test, in Hamilton, in the first innings both sides failed to make 100. New Zealand won the series 2-0. Things then didn't overly improve for India in the ODI series, which they lost 2-5. You could argue that the weather had a major impact on producing green wickets, because pre-Christmas in New Zealand the climate is far from conducive to dry brown wickets; but it did not help India that the New Zealand administration's desire to produce wickets with pace and bounce meant grass, and lots of it, was left on the surface. All that conspired into a nightmare for anyone who didn't bowl. But hey, who cared: with a batting line-up that read Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman it gave us Kiwis the best chance of winning... and we did. Little did we know that the boss, Indian cricket, was not impressed, We had embarrassed this powerful cricket nation, and in particular what they were most proud of - their top six batsmen. They were dispatched and sent packing. They were laughed at, ridiculed, and their bravery brought into question. That was six years ago and we have not seen them back until now, and so it comes as no surprise that recently comments have been made by the tourists about the difficulties this grass-loving country poses for a batsman, because all but one of the above batting greats are back for another crack. However Messrs Tendulkar, Dravid and Co can rest easy this time round because I can almost guarantee conditions will be vastly different. Why? Well, because New Zealanders and New Zealand cricket understand who pays the wages nowadays and this tour for the Black Caps is very much the scenario of playing your boss at golf. You need to put up a good account for yourself if you want to get the desired invite again. However, if you are going to win you don't want to stuff him out of sight in some sort of perceived under-handed manner. If you do win, do so in a manner that allows the boss to retain some sort of dignity, and if you lose, make sure he felt the engagement worthy of his time. That way you may just get the invite to join the country club. In cricket terms what New Zealand really need to achieve from this tour is a sense of goodwill towards New Zealand cricket from Indian cricket once the tour is over. That does not mean rolling over and dying, because fans of New Zealand cricket also like to win. However, this could be the last time New Zealand fans see these great batting names of Indian cricket on our shores, and both nations may feel cheated if seaming wickets nullify the Indian batting machine. So the people under the most pressure may in fact be the ground staff. Nothing but perfect cricket conditions will suffice for this tour. In the ODIs we want conditions that provide for quality strokeplay, but ones that don't turn Iain O'Brien and Co into cannon fodder. In the Tests we need a session or two of movement, followed by a batsman-friendly period, and then some turn and variable bounce later on. The good news is that this can be done with the application of a little work ethic. Also, over the last few years New Zealand wickets have improved out of sight, and the weather also generally plays ball in late summer, unlike in early summer - the part of the season India experienced last time. So the red carpet, or more appropriately the brown, dry carpet, may be rolled out for our guests this time round, and fewer demons may be found in the Basin Reserve pitch; but that said, there are inherent challenges that Indian players must overcome in New Zealand. In cricket terms what the Black Caps really need to achieve from this tour is a sense of goodwill towards New Zealand cricket from Indian cricket once the tour is over. That does not, however, mean rolling over and dying, because fans of New Zealand cricket also like to win Whether or not the pitch has seam movement or not, most New Zealand surfaces bounce. It's not an Australian-type bounce but rather a tennis-ball-style bounce. The ball may only carry to the keeper at shin height, but as it passes the batsman it can be quite high, even when very full. Indian players who are used to being able to move into the ball and driving on the up will find that in New Zealand you must get much closer to the ball if you want to experience good timing. In defence, on the front foot they must get used to the ball hitting high on the bat. New Zealand soils need grass to provide enough pace, and that grass also provides seam movement. If caution is taken by the ground staff, pitches could be slow. In India the ball often skids and that provides for good batting; in New Zealand the ball will hold up and that means patience and batting accuracy become paramount. It's not just the surface you must get your head around in New Zealand. Stoppages and shortened games become a challenge too. March and April may be the best summer months, but in a narrow country bordered on both sides by ocean you can expect very changeable weather. You must be able to deal with starting and restarting games at will and adapting to the differing situations that scenario brings. You can expect a lot of wind too. All venues in New Zealand can get windy, let alone Wellington, which on most days blows a gale. It ruins the bowling rhythm, makes your eyes water, chills you to the bone, affects you balance and back-lift, and most of all is exhausting. You must have strategies, preferably developed through experience, to deal with the wind in New Zealand. Wind and a bit of chill also leads to old, and even young, bones getting a little stiff. It can take a bit of extra time to get the body loosened up and moving early in an innings or bowling spell. For those used to starting warm and loose, special attention needs to be taken to ensure stiffness does not result in sloppiness. New Zealand is not that dissimilar to England, but it is most certainly not the subcontinent, and thus takes a bit of getting used to as far as the Indians are concerned. However, the only advantage in terms of assistance the New Zealand bowlers may get this time round against a touring Indian side may simply be an initial psychological one, based on the mental scarring from the last time the Indian players toured, and stories of horror told to the new guys in the squad. Former New Zealand opener Mark Richardson is now a television commentator and cricket columnist *************************************************************************************** Stories of horror? Remember the same team you humiliated returned the favor in the 2003 world cup? Hasn't gotten over that loss, it seems Was the pitch doctored too? F idiot :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA8Jylha2CQ]YouTube - India v New Zealand World Cup 2003 Cricket[/ame]

[Chandan]

Sree, Tests are way more important than ODIs and nothing can change the fact that we played awefully in that tour to NZ. We had good bowlers then too--Srinath, Zaheer and Nehra and batsmen mostly were on top of their games. Even then we performed horribly and we should accept this simple fact and ignore the frills put around it. I hope we do well on this tour, in all forms of game to correct that serious flaw in our history.

[EnterTheVoid]

^^ Just to dispel the myths that Indians are nothing but "flat track bullies" that can't play on seaming / bouncy pitches, I hope they beat N.Z. in N.Z. and regain the top spot I found this FTB nonsense really irritating. We beat teams at home on pancakes and in their own backyard on seaming pitches for a while now. Remember the Perth test where another pest Rodney Hogg claimed the match would be over in three days and how Australia would utilize all their fast bowlers to ramp up the chin - music on an extremely phhhhhhhast and bouncy WACA pitch? We had an unfancied bowling attack that was comprised of novices, yet we managed to beat them within four days, and that too after the Sydney Test Mr Richardon, even though the Indian sub - continent is accused of creating docile, life less pitches, it takes a lot of skill to bowl teams out twice and win matches. Of all the Western Nations that claim India can't play on green pitches, name me one cricketing nation that are expert on green pitches. They hypocrisy speaks for itself

[Online]

Kaif rocks!

[rahulrulezz]

...

[bunny]

Players were ridiculed, mocked, laughed at?????? Absolutely rubbish...Nobody can avg 40+ on wickets where balls seams and swings all day long. If our bowlers had pulled up their socks we would have won many more games.

[Show_stopper]

Keeping the boss happy Yet on the other hand we have this article.. http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/391978.html

[cochise]

Self-serving, opposition mocking crap written by Richardson. Buried in the article is also a hidden excuse for the NZ team for their impending failure against India...India's cricketing power and clout is forcing NZ to temper the conditions to be more even in their favour. Turn the sprinklers on full blast I say! Our batsmen must pass this stern test with flying colours and they will. Then let our bowlers rout their batsmen...and that they certainly will. Can't wait to see Ishant on a real seaming greentop. We will see his careeer best figures I assure you.

[Anakin]

Mark Richardson is just cooking up excuses, give him a break.

[cochise]

Mark Richardson is just cooking up excuses, give him a break.

Nup....he can cook sausages instead. No break for him.

[triam]

Yet on the other hand we have this article.. http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/391978.html

wow that is some pure unadulterated bullshit

[Gambit]

Either this is an awesome attempt at sarcasm or the most unadulterated piece of rubbish ever written.

[Show_stopper]

^ i personally feel its just an excuse being put in place in case they lose. Going by this logic why were flat tracks on offer when WI toured them recently? I genuinely think pitches have improved in NZ..either way it shouldn't be a problem for India.

[The Outsider]

Sree, Tests are way more important than ODIs and nothing can change the fact that we played awefully in that tour to NZ. We had good bowlers then too--Srinath, Zaheer and Nehra and batsmen mostly were on top of their games. Even then we performed horribly and we should accept this simple fact and ignore the frills put around it. I hope we do well on this tour, in all forms of game to correct that serious flaw in our history.

Chandan, Srinath was not a part of the test squad and truth be told it was our bowlers who lost us the series - batting was a lottery on those pitches at best but the way Zaheer got hammered in the second test completely left us without any options. I still think the 150 odd to defend there was a reasonable score. There was also a bit of the luck element - we happened to lose both tosses on pitches where toss was a huge factor.

[bunny]

^^ Toss might also be a crucial factor this time especially in ODIs where you don't have the luxury of a 2nd innings. I have got a feeling that this will be similar to India's England tour of 2007, i.e., we will win both the series (no clue about T20s) but wins won't come easy.

[Show_stopper]

^^ Toss might also be a crucial factor this time especially in ODIs where you don't have the luxury of a 2nd innings. I have got a feeling that this will be similar to India's England tour of 2007, i.e., we will win both the series (no clue about T20s) but wins won't come easy.

we lost the ODIs actually.

[bunny]

we lost the ODIs actually.

Oh...that is a distinct possibility. Tests we should win for sure.

[Show_stopper]

I would be disappointed if they lost the ODIs tbh..you would feel that all the progress made by winning outside India(SL,CB series) would be a waste. Personally i don't think the ODI team has ever been stronger.

[King]

To be honest New Zealand are not preparing green tracks not because India is a power house but with the kind of batting line up New Zealand has right now a green track would be a suicide. Indian fast bowlers will eat up the Kiwi batters. Even on not so green or pacy tracks against West Indies the likes of Edwards, Taylor were handfull. Imagine having the likes of Ishant, Zaheer, Munaf and the likes on the green tops. I'd say NZ cricket will never recover from the assault. The Kiwi batsmen already know what's in store for them and whom they are coming up against this time. Irfan Khan if played for NZ would be the strike bowler and an opening batsman. That is the current depth of NZ cricket. Those days there were the likes of Astle, Cairns, Richardson, Fleming, McMillan and the likes to bat. They were good enough to handle any kind of bowling and still get some runs. The current team is at the bottom of the test table and the last thing you want is to get rolled over for under 100 in every game. NZ cricket is doing the right job in not pressing for unplayable pitches this time around. It'll hurt them more than India. Truth to be told Vettori will be the first one to ask for fair pitches given the inability to chase 150 runs against Australia on a good batting pitch in Australia just couple of weeks ago. Rigger it seems wants some attention and lost his thinking cap.

[goose]

Mark Richardson has essentially accused NZ of matchfixing.