Tag Archives: ms dhoni

The Harris Factor

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Harris doesn’t look the greatest bowler in the world, however the Rhodesian born off-spinner now has 49 Test Wickets and amongst them are some names that would make Cameron White cry.

The guy is stock standard left-arm orthodox bowler, and from watching him I can’t help but feel he does not deserve to carry the scalps of the best players of spin in the modern game, such as

  • K Pietersen (twice), once on 94
  • V Sehwag (twice)
  • S Ganguly
  • Inzamam-ul-Haq
  • VVS Laxman
  • MS Dhoni
  • CH Gayle
  • SR Tendulkar
  • Yuvraj Singh
  • MJ Clarke
  • A Symonds

Some bloke on the radio yesterday presented a workable theory on the Harris Factor. Apparently the guy is a complete wánker. Whether he learnt this strategy from Harbajahn or is a total knob jockey at heart I’m not sure, but giving the ball to the biggest prick in the team and letting him loose seems to be reaping dividends.

Mind you, it’s no small feat out-árseholing Smith, Kallis, and Nel, but apparently it’s his unique combination of lacking variation and skill mixed with his constant appeals as if to suggest to the batsmen that he could get you out at any time that has the worlds best batsmen drowning in honey.

His stats back this up as well, with 70% of his victims being caught in the field believing that they could hit this annoying piece of saffa shít into next week.

Paul Harris method of dismissal

Paul Harris method of dismissal

Test Cricket Era’s

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Ponting lying down on the job

Ponting lying down on the job

There seems to be a lot of commentary that the ‘era of Aussie Dominance’ is over, and ‘India is now the Force in World Cricket’. I suspect a lot of this is fed by people wanting Australia to fail, mostly due to the whippings administered by us over the last 15 years and the arrogance exhibited by our team and their supporters. I can’t help but feel partly responsible!

The beginning and end of era’s are notoriously hard to define without the benefit of hindsight, as a changing of the guard can happen over many seasons. For a new era to emerge, one team will have to step up to consistently beat all others, both home and away.

To put the claims that India have achieved this into perspective, here’s a quote from pommy blogger King Cricket.

After winning successive Test series against West Indies, South Africa, South Africa again, Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka, India and West Indies, Australia finally lost away to India and are now ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING at cricket.

India’s recent run of losing a series against Australia, drawing one against South Africa, losing one against Sri Lanka before winning this one, hints that they are now perhaps the new supreme power in world cricket.

As for Australia’s “decline” it’s worth noting that they’ve never been overly impressive in India ; even in the “era of Baggy Green dominance” they only won a single series! The overall series ledger shows Australia with 3 wins (1956, 1969 and 2004) to India’s 5 (1979, 1996 [1 test series], 1998, 2001, and 2008), with 3 Drawn (1959/60, 1964 and 1986 [1 Test Tied]).

I guess my point is that while the Aussie team has obviously weakened through the retirement of some legends, it’s too early to say if there is another team ready to claim a decade as their own. Australia losing in India is nothing new, and losing there again isn’t all that remarkeable.

India played well and full credit too them, but to be the world power that their population demands they’ll have to cope with some big name retirements, and improve their away record vastly. In Dhoni they have the best captain in world cricket, and Ishant Sharma is a real talent who I hope stays fit and hairy.

India, Australia, South Africa, England and Sri Lanka all have strong Test sides at the moment, and are all capable of beating each other on their day. It’s going to be an interesting period in Test Cricket and I can’t wait.

Reference: Australia in India.

Bring it home Aussies

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I don’t think anyone told Haydos that 516 runs is too many.

Or is it? Of course it is, no-one’s ever chased more than 513, and that includes first class cricket. But oh what a run chase it would be.

Bugger it, I believe we can get it. All the Indian batsmen got good starts, surely there’s not that much in the pitch…

Just imagine Haydo’s fires and we’re 0/220 at stumps.

Dhoni will be spending some tonight in the room of mirrors… bring it home Aussies !

Day 4, where to from here?

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I'm a rock star

Rock Star

So, what are the options from here on in?

Wave the white flag

This is the most likely scenario, considering Rick in pretty much hoisted it last night. At 0/100 India were happy to take the easy runs on offer at a quick scoring rate. Maybe Rick(y) will declare 587 runs behind so he can spend an extra day in Singapore with the missus, I hear the zoo is pretty good there and you can get cheap electronics. Not so sure about multivitamins though.

Just go through the motions and India will continue to accumulate quickly. When a wicket does fall, don’t be surprised to see Dhoni moved up the order, he’s young and open to experimenting – no need to have Dravid apply the breaks. Moving up the order would be an aggressive sign of intent, exactly how MS wants to be seen.
Result: India win by 500+

Attack and get Sehwag cheaply

This will bring in Dravid and slow down India’s scoring a lot. Ghambir is a chameloin who bats just like the bloke at the other end, so we could probably milk an extra session before the declaration if we can keep Dravid and Ghambir in.

Result: India win by 200

Bowl with some balls

Should Lee find his kahuna’s and come out to lead the Baggy Green attack, we could tear through the Indian batting lineup this morning and be looking at 5 sessions to chase 400.
Alas this would mean the pitch now has some venom which the Indian bowlers would only be too happy to exploit, making our batting for a draw all the more difficult

Result: India win by 200 runs

Shut up shop

We’ll have to make a huge improvement on our first innings effort, against an inspired Indian outfit and on a wicket that will likely get worse as it wears. Khan’s already been warned twice for following through into Singh’s landing area so that’ll provide some additional assistance to the Indian bowling outfit.

Honestly though I can’t see any of our batsmen surviving a day out there. This is their big chance to stand up and cement a spot in the lineup for eternity however. Katich could be a key here, he’s the type of bloke who could do it.

Result: Prolong the pain into Day 5

Do the rain/light dance

Well it worked for India in Bonnydoon.