breaking news: sachin, ganguly out of odi

[Chandan]

Re: breaking news: sachin, ganguly out of odi

Some fertile minds went to work with how many days some players had to spend because of their contracts' date=' yet they forgot, during the prime of one of those, one guy used to practice and spend the most time in the nets. Why not use the same imagination to figure out why then others with fewer contracts thus more time were not as active with cricket.[/quote'] There are few sensible media persons too. Like this one: Passing the muck Kadambari Murali April 21, 2007 First Published: 03:21 IST(22/4/2007) Last Updated: 04:28 IST(22/4/2007) Call it ?rest? or what you will, the non-appearance of the names of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar has caused more than a bit of a ruckus. The selectors insist it is a break before a busy schedule, but TV channels have gone on about the passing of an era and newspapers and websites have referred to a not-so-subtle message passed to the duo, specifically Ganguly: ?Your time has come.? One of the reasons being given for Ganguly?s forced rest is the unhappiness within a section of the Board which sentiment has been passed on to the media by unnamed ?sources? at the way he played in the World Cup. These reports, part of a whisper campaign over the past month to oust Ganguly, have referred to his taking 129 balls to make 66 against Bangladesh, and implied that he took the time for purely selfish reasons. There is unattributed talk within the cricketing fraternity that these reasons are to do with some vague clause in an endorsement contract he has, that allegedly fetches him more money for more minutes spent at the crease. Yet, not one so-called BCCI ?source? has had the guts to come out and say this publicly, or display a copy of this ?contract?. If someone has proof, then why not show it and put an end to all the gossip and take action against the player? If no one does, then be fair to a man who has a staggering 10,000-plus runs in one-day international cricket, at a very high average of 41.37. It is a stupendous record. Meanwhile, what this malicious rumour mongering has done is to give Ganguly-baiters (and there are legions of them) a chance to criticise a man who has shown tremendous mental strength and courage to make a spectacular comeback to international cricket. In the time since his return for the Tests against South Africa, where he played a critical role in breathing life into a stunned Indian team that had been whitewashed in the one-day series preceding his arrival, Ganguly has played 10 one-dayers. He has 509 runs in that period at 63.63, 146 runs more than the next man on the run charts in that period, Rahul Dravid (see graphic). Now, Ganguly has been criticised for that Bangladesh knock. Yes, he did bat slowly but just look at the context of the game. India had lost Sehwag for 2, Uthappa for 9, Tendulkar for 7 and Dravid for 14. When Yuvraj, the second highest scorer in that game (47 off 58), walked in at No. 6, India were struggling at 72-4, with Ganguly still holding up one end. They had an 85-run stand that Yuvraj dominated. It was a similar situation on November 26 last year in Cape Town, when Dravid scored 63 off 103 balls (and that was not a vital World Cup match). Dravid came in after India lost Sehwag (0-1) and watched as the others fell: Tendulkar (2 runs, 7-2), Kaif (10 runs, 17-3), Karthik (14 runs, 44-4). Dravid and MS Dhoni then had an 85-run partnership. Dhoni made 55, the second highest score, at a whopping strike rate of 114.58. Was Dravid criticised for playing selfishly? No, he could not have been. He had to stand there and he did. As did Ganguly, when he needed to. Given the controversial conditions of his exile and the mind-boggling pressure on the man to come out and perform (with so many people willing him to fail), all that he has done since December is quite remarkable. Whatever he has done, Sourav Ganguly has been denigrated for much of his career. Sometimes that criticism was justified, but very often, it was not. He has played some really gritty, even outstanding cricket of late. Why spoil it all?

[feverpitch]

Re: breaking news: sachin, ganguly out of odi

Feverpitch, There is no point in playing our senior players in these bilateral ODI series. It is more important to keep them fresh and fit for ALL the tests. I'm only against giving players unnecassary stick on the basis of some garbage media reports! And I'm talking about the entire cricket team here, not just one or two players. We must respect our players who've done so much for the cricket of India--be it Sachin or Ganguly or Dravid or anyone!!

My point exactly. However, with the BCCI track record of speaking out of their asses, and with the rumours floating, AND with RD's public demeanour, it seems quite likely that rest=retirement, unless the team performs disastrously, in which case the oldies can be brought back to save face of these baniya morons at the helm of BCCI.

[feverpitch]

Re: breaking news: sachin, ganguly out of odi

Bumper, if you are masochistic enough to watch India lose say 30/40 odi's a year for 4 years, with 18 year olds, with the hope that they will win the WC when they are 22, suit yourself. Im sure others dont share your views.

Yeah right we won all the games playing SRT & Ganguly recently didnt we ? :hic: From 20% W/L ratio we may slip to 18%. :lmao:

how recent do u mean? if its post the SG comeback, our win-loss ratio is far higher. besides, the big divider is gone now [tho he laid a few eggs before he left]. we should wait and see how ppl perform without his menacing presence in the dressing room.

[King Tendulkar]

Re: breaking news: sachin, ganguly out of odi Attitude of the great sachin in question :lmao: :lmao: next in line is questioning the attitude of Kumble and Dravid :lmao: :lmao: