Bhajji's attitude in this Test - absolutely pathetic

[saneindian]

We may continue to moan about our bowlers being rubbish, safely ignoring that we missed so many easy chances in the last test vs Sri Lanka. Had we taken even half of those chances, we would have easily save this test. When a side drops 1-2 catches, it often completely alters the result (Last Aus-Pak test, Watson dropped a dolly off Farhat and Pakistan went onto win the test), we missed 5 easy chances and 4 half chances. Good fielding units would have grabbed at leadt 6-7 of those catches and who knows that might have altered the result in the Galle test as well.

[Lord]

We may continue to moan about our bowlers being rubbish, safely ignoring that we missed so many easy chances in the last test vs Sri Lanka. Had we taken even half of those chances, we would have easily save this test. When a side drops 1-2 catches, it often completely alters the result (Last Aus-Pak test, Watson dropped a dolly off Farhat and Pakistan went onto win the test), we missed 5 easy chances and 4 half chances. Good fielding units would have grabbed at leadt 6-7 of those catches and who knows that might have altered the result in the Galle test as well.

the two easy chances ii remember were Dhoni n Dravid's. n Samaraweera was out immediately.dunno wat 5 chances u r talking about

[Fontaine]

In this thread we are blaming Bhaji for the failure of SHarma, UV, Mithun, Ghambhir and Ojha which is unfair.

Not really. Read the thread carefully again. People openly criticise Sharma who's out of form, Mithun because he's just a medium pacer but when it comes to criticising Bhajji for going wicketless in dozens of overs and playing two of dumbest shots to get out, somehow the same bunch of tired excuses keep coming out. Criticise this performance and you've got clowns falling overs themselves to remind us that in the past Bhajji has taken wickets for us. I guess the same excuses can be trotted out for Sharma then also?

[Fontaine]

Pot calling the kettle black. He is our 3rd highest wicket taker in tests with over 350 test wickets. Care to comment on that?

You've pretty much got your point about Bhajji winning the match for us against SA stuffed right back in your face and as usual you come back and completely change the subject. Like I said, if you had a single post where I dismissed Bhajji's contribution against SA then you would have posted it here. But we all know when faced with facts you simply lie and exaggerate.

[saneindian]

the two easy chances ii remember were Dhoni n Dravid's. n Samaraweera was out immediately.dunno wat 5 chances u r talking about

Gambhir dropped 2 chances at short leg, 1 was simple, another was a half chance but on a different day would have been grabbed by Gambhir/any good short leg fielder. One nick of Herath went between Dhoni and Laxman, was an easy chance had any of them being alert and then Laxman and Dravid let one each go through their hands at Gully .One chance where Yuvraj was late to react at point and the ball fell in front of him. For more refer this thread. http://www.indiancricketfans.com/showthread.php?t=231484

[The Outsider]

Gambhir dropped 2 chances at short leg, 1 was simple, another was a half chance but on a different day would have been grabbed by Gambhir/any good short leg fielder. One nick of Herath went between Dhoni and Laxman, was an easy chance had any of them being alert and then Laxman and Dravid let one each go through their hands at Gully .One chance where Yuvraj was late to react at point and the ball fell in front of him. For more refer this thread. http://www.indiancricketfans.com/showthread.php?t=231484

I disagree on the half chance, when the ball was played straight back at him. A short leg fielder is not there to take those kind of catches, if they happen it's brilliant. I have been following pretty closely the amount of time it takes for good catches to be taken. My observation has been that anything in the close catching position with a response time of 0.50 seconds or greater is catchable ie. most good fielders would take that catch. Anything between 0.40 and 0.50 seconds is described as a very good catch. Gambhir's response time in the catch you are referring to was 0.25 seconds - that's just one of those which will stick or pop out.

[saneindian]

I disagree on the half chance, when the ball was played straight back at him. A short leg fielder is not there to take those kind of catches, if they happen it's brilliant. I have been following pretty closely the amount of time it takes for good catches to be taken. My observation has been that anything in the close catching position with a response time of 0.50 seconds or greater is catchable ie. most good fielders would take that catch. Anything between 0.40 and 0.50 seconds is described as a very good catch. Gambhir's response time in the catch you are referring to was 0.25 seconds - that's just one of those which will stick or pop out.

Fair enough, that still leaves at least 6-7 chances not taken. On a placid track with an inexperienced bowling line up, thats inexplicable. The easy chances alone cost us 150+ runs!!

[Ranjha]

Will this thread go to 6 pages after next game or end at 3? It remains to be seen.

[Fontaine]

Can't be too hard on Harbhajan here. Yes he's the senior most bowler and has the most responsibility but he's been utterly awful in the SSC. Here are his last three performances on this ground. No reason to expect anything from him here. Overs Runs Wickets Eco 40.0 127 3 3.17 53.3 185 2 3.45 43.0 149 2 3.46 Average of 72. Strike rate of 129. He should have been dropped for this match but the rest of our spinners suck too.

[asterix]

The Leg spinner should've played.. But he is pretty down the peking order..

[gaurav92]

Can't be too hard on Harbhajan here. Yes he's the senior most bowler and has the most responsibility but he's been utterly awful in the SSC. Here are his last three performances on this ground. No reason to expect anything from him here. Overs Runs Wickets Eco 40.0 127 3 3.17 53.3 185 2 3.45 43.0 149 2 3.46 Average of 72. Strike rate of 129. He should have been dropped for this match but the rest of our spinners suck too.

You gave the reason as well.

[Fontaine]

1. Bhajji has now gone 70 overs in this tour without a wicket. 2. He's on the only bowler (from both teams) that has gone wicketless in this tour. But remember, we CAN'T criticise him because he's a proven match winner!!!

[asterix]

Yes, don't see the need to criticise him when he helped India win the test before last one..Also it's it's not that the new spinner Ojha has completely ran away with wickets..He has just got one lucky wicket.. So not a major issue..

[CSK Fan]

Yes, don't see the need to criticise him when he helped India win the test before last one..Also it's it's not that the new spinner Ojha has completely ran away with wickets..He has just got one lucky wicket.. So not a major issue..

yeah, thats what we have always been saying recenlty. Comapring Bhajji's performance to Ojha is like comparing Dravid's to murali Vijay. Pathethic. We sure have low standards for a no 1 ranked team. If we have to continue as no 1, we need higher standards

[asterix]

What is Sehwag doing which Bhajan isn't to get atleast few wickets? Is he spinning the ball or giving more flight or he is just plain lucky?

[Andy]

What is Sehwag doing which Bhajan isn't to get atleast few wickets? Is he spinning the ball or giving more flight or he is just plain lucky?

He is simply lucky. Dont compare him with Bhajan. Bhajan is the Best thing hapened to Indian bowling. He is the only Contender for 800 wickets after Murali.

[SJS50]

He is simply lucky. Dont compare him with Bhajan. Bhajan is the Best thing hapened to Indian bowling. He is the only Contender for 800 wickets after Murali.

Really? I wrote this specially to cheer you up. . .

Murali must have a great sense of humour or a funny sense of stats when he said Harbhajan is the only one who could catch up with his (murali's) records. Its interesting to see how - though difficult at 60 for me to wait for :-) Here is the gap between them as at present . . .

[B]Stat	Murali	Bhajji	Diff[/B]

[B]Tests[/B]	133	85	48
[B]Wickets[/B]	800	355	445
[B]5 fors[/B]	67	24	43
[B]10 fors[/B]	22	5	17

Since January 2006 Harbhajan and Murali have played more or less the same number of Test matches 35 and 34 respectively. Here is how they have performed . . .

[B]Stat      	Murali	Bhajji[/B]

Tests          	34	35
Wickets      	216	136
5 fors	        19	7
10 fors       	8	1
Avg           	23.4	37.4
St Rt          	50.3	76.6
W/Test       	6.4	3.9
Tests/5 for  	4.3	5
Tests/10 for	1.8	35

My first reaction on looking at those figures is to beg Murali's Chennai born wife to get her husband to migrate to India, but we digress. So assuming that Mr Turbinator (how impressive that sounds to our electronic media who have an orgasm every time Bhajji screams for a leg before) plays as well as he has during the last five and a half years and (as is pretty safe to assume I suppose) that India doesn't find another spinner as good as Bhajji paaji in many a long year, surely Bhajji will catch up with the Mathara Marauder. Oh yes indeed. To catch up with Murali's eight hundred wickets, Bhajji, if he bowls with the same 'penetration' and guile he has shown over the last five and a half years, needs a mere 115 more test matches. That shouldn't be difficult although at the rate of the 6.5 Tests Bhajji plays every year, he will just be in his 49th year although I just might not be around to see him achieve this wonderful milestone. It would be lovely to see Harbhajan announcing his retirement from Test cricket on the eve of the first Test match against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens still three short of the magical figure and with Arjun Tandulkar as his captain just managing to get the last Sri Lankan wicket be carried off by Dhoni and Yuvraj's sons to the pavillion. The record for the five fors and ten fors might take slightly longer for Bhajji needs 215 more tests for the former and 595 more for the latter. More importantly he would be in his 64th year for the first and a sprightly 122 by the time he gets to the second. Well none of you youngsters may be around too but its wonderful to even sit back and imagine the glorious heights our nation would reach that day. This is Shekh Chilli signing off for IndiaTV

[SJS50]

Really? I wrote this specially to cheer you up. . .

Read it with a smile just like we watch Bhajji bowling with fond indulgence :-)

[Andy]

Really? I wrote this specially to cheer you up. . .

Lol, Didnt you get it?:winky:

[SJS50]

Lol' date=' Didnt you get it?:winky:[/quote'] Oh shucks. You got me that time mate :-)