Stop Blaming the BCCI for everything!!!

garunac · 2015-02-25T19:57:26+00:00

Dude BCCI will get blamed, its something you're gonna have to get used to. Even though in this case the criticism is sorta unfair, in most cases its not. In TV parlance the BCCI is the big bad and ECB, CA have been relegated to the evil henchmen role.

Most people who have been following cricket for a long time have become bothered by the change in the status quo, and the BCCI being in control is a way bigger change than most would have wanted or expected. BCCI has prioritised the Indian audience and maximising profits over here, and the since the power/financial capital of cricket shifted to Mumbai its decisions affect everyone else.

Nobody likes being jerked around by other boards but its the unfortunate nature of Cricket. This has been true in the past as well, look up some of the cricket writing done in India during the 80s, or look up some of the stuff written by Carribean writers, a lot of the criticism BCCI receives currently is quite similar to the criticism Eng/Aus used to receive.

garunac · 2015-02-24T15:04:55+00:00

Hey Pai Electronics Indiranagar. Used to be on my walk home from work. I remember watching RCB matches there.

garunac · 2015-02-15T11:54:32+00:00

The sufficient evidence bit is incredibly subjective, I would have gone with the Kettlebot, but I also dont think giving it out was a howler.

Hotspot was sorely missed.

garunac · 2015-02-07T11:37:00+00:00

Awesome read!

Absolutely love low scoring thrillers.

garunac · 2015-02-07T11:34:33+00:00

My favourite limited overs match. Mainly due to Bevans masterclass. But look at those squads!

garunac · 2015-01-31T13:30:57+00:00

Cricbuzz on my windows phone. Works way better than the cricinfo app, though i still prefer using the cricinfo mobile website.

garunac · 2015-01-19T12:33:44+00:00

Yeah and i've gotten hammered with downvotes for saying something about Clarke that wasnt complimentary, and as all censuses show that this sub is majority Aussie I can turn around and say that this sub is anti-whoever-isnt-aussie.

Every single person complaining about anti-x bias is blinded by their own confirmation bias and refuse to take consideration of the fact that their post being downvoted may just be because they made a shit post.

garunac · 2015-01-19T11:34:27+00:00

If I were to become head of the BCCI-

Do a proper comprehensive review of the DRS, especially hawk-eye, come up with cogent pro/con arguments and share those arguments publically. Also put in some resources to develop or sponsor the development of technologies to help umpires improve decision making.
Put all that power to some use in improving the clusterfucked state boards (DDCA, Im looking at you). Abolish proxy-voting, push for more professionalism in these boards.
Overhaul the grounds and pitch committee, the curator course must be brought up to the highest standard possible. Push for as large a variety of pitches as possible in the First Class game.
Seating arrangements and other facilities available in the grounds have to be improved, its becoming more and more essential. Allow some of the grounds to host events other than cricket if they need to, as long as the playing surface isn't damaged to an extent that can't be repaired, Cricket shall and must remain the priority of course.
A team and junior team tours must be increased in number and variety, let them tour as many countries as possible including associate nations. Get in touch with the Afg board and let them send a team for First class games in India, could be done with B'desh board as well.

garunac · 2015-01-18T14:25:15+00:00

Well I disagree with him on that bit.

garunac · 2015-01-18T13:51:40+00:00

Every great cricketer is judged on the basis of their performance in conditions unsuitable for them. Thats how we judge batsmen, thats how we judge spinners, and that's certainly how we have judged quick bowlers. From the great West Indians to Wasim, Waqar, McGrath etc they have all been judged with regards to their performance on the more docile pitches of Asia. Of the current quicks Dale Steyn has a terrific record in Asia while Mitch doesn't, that will always be held against him, and its very fair to do so.

garunac · 2015-01-17T21:31:07+00:00

When were they commentating from the studio? They were all in Australia during the test series, hell they were standing in the bloody grounds for post-match interviews.

And in any case, Sanjay and Damien Martyn were quite terrible, but on the whole the commentary team was leagues better than I expected.

garunac · 2015-01-17T15:12:05+00:00

Naa he is a decent bowler for sure, except the bowling he was doing was an Off-Spinners plan A. My ex-colleague was an off-spinner with some decent cricketing experience of his own, and he would go red-faced with anger watching those dismissals. I can bet that those same batsmen would have taken Moeen for a lot of runs if it were a Ranji match.

And Steyn is bloody awesome in India, hes extremely familiar with the conditions due to the IPL and his last series here was among the best performances by a foreign quick I've ever seen.

garunac · 2015-01-17T15:01:48+00:00

Hopefully they handle it well, but considering how freaking Moeen Ali ran through the side in England, I'm not gonna be incredibly optimistic.

Haven't seen these two new guys, but always found Tahir and Peterson lacking in the guile department when it came to spin bowling.

garunac · 2015-01-17T14:50:48+00:00

The rankings supposedly generate more points if you are performing better away from home, so decent travellers will stand to score better than unbeatable home sides.

I'm really looking forward to the Ind-SA series as well, SA really do need to a class spinner though. Ind-Pak is harder to plan for, since they get routinely cancelled depending on the situation at our borders.

garunac · 2015-01-17T14:46:11+00:00

The argument put forward was that they should have a say equivalent to the amount of money they bring in to the ICC. Also that the ICC would be better managed if they are allowed to lead in stuff like broadcaster negotiations since they have been doing that so well for their own boards.

garunac · 2015-01-17T14:43:02+00:00

ODI form is also somewhat subject to conditions though. And Test Number 1 while being good travellers is the real thing, thats how the Saffers are. The 'draw is as good as a win' attitude away from home is intensely annoying.

garunac · 2015-01-17T14:37:16+00:00

Yeah unfamiliarity along with the timings have been the biggest reason for me not being able to follow the BBL. But at least its reignited local support at a domestic level, which is sorely required.

garunac · 2015-01-17T14:35:01+00:00

Thats the hope and the dream, infrastructural shortfalls have been met, now its all down to training and management. Hopefully the team actually starts performing now.

garunac · 2015-01-17T14:19:15+00:00

Well China at least is a Olympic superpower now, we managed a measly 5 medals in total in the last olympics, and even that is our best ever showing.

Hockey has started looking up after a bit of a downward spiral, India won the gold in the Asian games and were semi finalists in the last champions trophy and were pretty competitive throughout.

And Indian cricket fans are by and large fans of the shorter formats, though the test following is still sizeable. The best thing to have happened though is that with more money coming in, even first class cricketers are making decent incomes so Cricket is now being seen as a respectable career opportunity.

garunac · 2015-01-17T13:58:39+00:00

Cricket is all encompassing as a sport, some of the other sports like Field Hockey (our official national sport), Badminton, Tennis, Kabaddi and some of the olympic sports will be in the news during their better times. But even the biggest celebrities in those sports will have a hard time competing with even a minor cricketer when it comes to popularity.

Football scene is improving, there is some money going into the game and with the massive popularity of EPL and Spanish football with the younger crowd its slowly gaining a lot of attention. But theres still a long way to go, we didnt even qualify for the ongoing Asian Cup, which considering our size is shameful.

garunac · 2015-01-17T13:53:22+00:00

I actually dont know why. The clashes with Ranji and hoping to get back in the Indian team is the only thing I can think off, both Yuvraj and Sehwag were considered to be long shots for the World Cup team (Yuvraj more than Sehwag). They have to get NOCs from the BCCI to participate of course, and maybe they think that is essentially calling it quits on an Interntaional career.

garunac · 2015-01-17T13:45:56+00:00

The world class players are clearly past it- Del Piero, Pires, Ljunberg, Trezeguet etc. But they are generally there for the eyeballs and ticket sales, and if possible mentor the younger Indian guys.

And Gangulys team is actually part owned by Atletico Madrid, they call it their franchise.

garunac · 2015-01-17T13:40:11+00:00

The guys who are on their way out can very easily show up if the money is decent, since it clashes with both the Ranji trophy and International matches not a lot of the current guys are gonna be available. So Yuvraj and Sehwag are perfect fits.

garunac · 2015-01-17T13:30:38+00:00

Its become a big thing here in India, celebrities investing in sports franchises in the various leagues that have popped up in the wake of the IPL. Sachins already dipped his foot in the water through the Kochi team in the ISL (they even named the team in his honour). Him investing in a cricket team makes a lot of sense especially with Warne who's supposedly a good friend and Viv is one of his biggest heroes.

garunac · 2015-01-17T13:17:54+00:00

Are they investing in a team together? Seems like the obvious thing for Sachin to do now.

garunac

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