don_corleone840 Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 Former India batsman Vinod Kambli has questioned the logic behind keeping him away from Test matches during his playing days, stating that he scored back-to-back double hundreds and averaged nearly 55 in 17 games in the five-day format. "Despite scoring back-to-back double hundreds I was told that I was not good enough for Test cricket and was only a good one-day player. I couldn't understand the reason behind it. I was a bit taken aback," Kambli said on the sideline of the release of his biography 'The Last Hero' by Kunal Purandare at the Cricket Club of India on Thursday. "Having played 17 Tests and averaging 54.20, I wanted to play more Test matches. (But) I didn't get any answer as to why I could not," added Kambli, who scored 1084 Test runs between 1993-1995. The 39-year-old said that he was keen to play first-class cricket for Mumbai but was disappointed at not being picked for the team this year. "I have announced retirement from international cricket but not Ranji Trophy or the first class cricket. I was really looking forward to play for Mumbai this year. "I am extremely sad that I was not given a chance as I have played for Mumbai for the last 18 years. I have never left Mumbai and have always been a 'khadoos' cricketer. I was looking forward to the Ranji season this year but I was not selected," said Kambli. "I'll never give up and keep playing the game. I'll definitely get back into the Mumbai side in the next season," the Mumbaikar added. Kambli, who was often accused of being flamboyant and non-serious during his playing days, said that he was misunderstood as a human being. "Lot of people have misunderstood me. I have never meant to harm anybody. I have never harmed anyone during my cricketing career. I may have hurt people but have not done it intentionally. "The game has given me everything - from where I was to where I am today. I played my cricket with a lot of passion. Off the field, there have been some incidents that I don't want to talk about. I have always played cricket with my full heart and soul. Cricket has always been my first love and it will remain so," he added. Talking about the book, he said, "Don't know what has been written in the book. But its an attempt. No one has written a book on Vinod Kambli in two decades. But Kunal has shown the courage. Its a big day for him. I haven't read the book as yet but the stories it contains would be interesting." Kambli, however, said he did not agree with the title - The last Hero - of the book. "I don't understand the title. He must have liked it. He must have felt that way. But a hero remains a hero nevertheless." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/interviews/Dont-know-why-I-didnt-play-more-Tests-Kambli/articleshow/7378649.cms sore loser
Hindustani Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 what is he smoking ? I am sure he didn't meant it but this sound really stupid, he played rubbish for most part of his carrier, got plenty of opportunity and never cashed on it.
saneindian Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 He was exposed by the WI quicks (scored 3-4 ducks in the 3 test home series vs WI in 1994), and then in 1995 we hardly played any test cricket. Then came the 96 WC where he played all the matches. Was dropped from the susequent England tour of 1996 due to disciplinary reasons, his replacement on that tour being Saurav Ganguly. Rest as they say is history.
CSK Fan Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 what is he smoking ? I am sure he didn't meant it but this sound really stupid' date=' he played rubbish for most part of his carrier, got plenty of opportunity and never cashed on it.[/quote'] one doesnt average over 50 and score double 100 in the 90s by being rubbish
Mamu Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 one doesnt average over 50 and score double 100 in the 90s by being rubbish One DOES Average over 50 and score 200s in the 90s by BEING RUBBISH -- and Kambli is a perfect example of that. Not sure how old are you and if you watched him play -- but even when he was going great guns scoring 200s and whipping the English Attack, everybody jumped on his band wagon and called a "A Black Bradman" and stuff, I told them -- Hold your horses folks -- I dont see anything in him that tells me he is talented. English bowling is hardly a yardstick to go by -- more so in the sub continent. I always thought he had major weakness outside off stump --- and lo and behold -- he did not disappoint me. He would epitomize the favorite tag line of the Pakis -- "He is talented" -- Talent means nothing to me -- if you cannot put up numbers on the board -- simple as that. He was possibly the biggest Hyped Up Failure -- the world cricket has ever seen, definitely of Indian Cricket. And I will not even get into his attitude problems.
coffee_rules Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 He was exposed by the WI quicks (scored 3-4 ducks in the 3 test home series vs WI in 1994), and then in 1995 we hardly played any test cricket. Then came the 96 WC where he played all the matches. Was dropped from the susequent England tour of 1996 due to disciplinary reasons, his replacement on that tour being Saurav Ganguly. Rest as they say is history. Agree. Ganguly kept Kambli out and Dravid kept Manjrekar out.
Raghav_12 Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 His average of 54 is misleading IMHO. He scored two back to back double hundreds against very poor attacks of England and of course Zimbabwe. But these two, his average would have been very mediocre. He was badly exposed by WI fast bowlers in a tour soon after his twin double hundreds and I very well recall he never looked comfortable against their bowling. His case is similar to Brad Hodge who also has good test average (50+ IIRC). But atleast Hodge proved himself at domestic level. I guess he got enough chances, in fact more than enough in ODI's, but was never able to capitalize on those chances. I have read at few places, his obsession with number of grips he wanted on his bat led to his downfall, atleast technically.
Mariyam Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 Some months ago I came across Vinod Kambli and his foreign wife in a restaurant. He was very polite and down to earth types. Absolutely no airs at all. He patiently signed autographs and took pics. One of the waiters later told us that he left a Rs 5000 tip. He looks halfway between a bouncer and a street thug though.
Raghav_12 Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 Some months ago I came across Vinod Kambli and his foreign wife in a restaurant. He was very polite and down to earth types. Absolutely no airs at all. He patiently signed autographs and took pics. One of the waiters later told us that he left a Rs 5000 tip. He looks halfway between a bouncer and a street thug though. Well, you would not know about a person just by looking at him in some random restaurant for few minutes. In late/mid 90's I used to hear it everywhere that success had gotten into his head and he has lost his focus on cricket. On a different note, how the hell he is talking about playing Ranji for Mumbai. Last he played FC was way back in 2005. What a waste..!
CSK Fan Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 One DOES Average over 50 and score 200s in the 90s by BEING RUBBISH -- and Kambli is a perfect example of that. Not sure how old are you and if you watched him play -- but even when he was going great guns scoring 200s and whipping the English Attack, everybody jumped on his band wagon and called a "A Black Bradman" and stuff, I told them -- Hold your horses folks -- I dont see anything in him that tells me he is talented. English bowling is hardly a yardstick to go by -- more so in the sub continent. I always thought he had major weakness outside off stump --- and lo and behold -- he did not disappoint me. He would epitomize the favorite tag line of the Pakis -- "He is talented" -- Talent means nothing to me -- if you cannot put up numbers on the board -- simple as that. He was possibly the biggest Hyped Up Failure -- the world cricket has ever seen, definitely of Indian Cricket. And I will not even get into his attitude problems. Oh I did see him play all right and IMO he was as talented as Sachin. also, IMO, success did go to his head but he did deserve another chance and would have come good P.S. an average of 54 does mean he put numbers on board and he was among a handful of batsmen averaging 50+ in the 90s. He was discarded much faster than what we have done with Yuvraj or Rohit sharma, etc
Raghav_12 Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 Oh I did see him play all right and IMO he was as talented as Sachin. also, IMO, success did go to his head but he did deserve another chance and would have come good P.S. an average of 54 does mean he put numbers on board and he was among a handful of batsmen averaging 50+ in the 90s. He was discarded much faster than what we have done with Yuvraj or Rohit sharma, etc Another chance..!! If IIRC, he made some 9-10 comebacks in ODI team. People had started suspecting Sachin behind all those comebacks. All in all, i'll not include him in list of players who were shortchanged by selectors.
Anakin Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 He got his fair share of chances, and he did not utilize them. And on the talent side, he was no where near Sachin or even UV for that matter.
kabira Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 When he was making a comeback in ODI team, he had nasty injury on the field, ankle twisted. Jeez...Bad luck. We tried likes of Mongia and few others, He was better batter than all of them for sure.
Sir_Afridi Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 Saw Kambli in quite a number of ODIs against Pakistan and found him pretty ordinary batsman. His test average of 54 is inflated due to big doube hundred against Zim. Removing the minnows, Zimbabwe and SL,which they were in eary 90s, his average drops to 35. http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/30009.html?class=1;filter=advanced;opposition=1;opposition=4;opposition=5;orderby=default;template=results;type=allround
rkt.india Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 In mumbai in his early days, he was touted to be better talent than sachin
Mariyam Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 Well, you would not know about a person just by looking at him in some random restaurant for few minutes. In late/mid 90's I used to hear it everywhere that success had gotten into his head and he has lost his focus on cricket. True. At least, he didn't try and act all important, like all the other 'lesser' celebrities I've seen.
Mamu Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 Oh I did see him play all right and IMO he was as talented as Sachin. also, IMO, success did go to his head but he did deserve another chance and would have come good P.S. an average of 54 does mean he put numbers on board and he was among a handful of batsmen averaging 50+ in the 90s. He was discarded much faster than what we have done with Yuvraj or Rohit sharma, etc Need I argue with you any more after reading that sentence? The word "talent" has lost its definition. Just for arguments sake -- Yuvraj has played how many tests in the last 10 years he has been playing? And how many has Rohit played now?
Clarke Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 He could have made a comeback in some other country, not in the land of batting treasures.
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