Roar Guru
Joined March 2016
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Sports Fanatic. Sports Writer. Author of 6 books. Wizards - Cricket Book the Year. New book Advantage India - Story of Indian Tennis - just released. I can be contacted on anindya@thecricketwriter.com Twitter and Instagram @cric_writer. Do visit my website www.cricketwriter.com
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Love makes us blind. That, perhaps, is the best explanation for how we as a cricket loving fraternity reacted to the remarkable happenings at…
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When Rafael Nadal steps on to the red clay to try and claim his 12th French Open title next week, it will be a…
There is a romance, a pleasurable anticipation, a certain hopeless inevitability, in supporting a team that never wins. The sweet anguish of unfulfilled longing…
In February 1925, one of the greatest leg spin bowlers in the history of the sport made his debut for his adopted country Australia…
For several years cricket teams have been criticised for being good only good at home and for being incapable of mastering foreign conditions. Every…
Over the past few months, the closer we have got to the much anticipated Australia-India Test series, more often have the names of Steve…
Get ready Australia for a summer the likes of which you haven’t experienced in years. When was the last time you were up 3-0…
183 days, 1000 runs, two centuries, average 55.55. Aiden Markram's first day in Test cricket started just as it does for any debutant on…
Born in Panama of a mother from Jamaica and a father from Barbados who was involved in the building of the Panama Canal, and…
At Melbourne Park last week Charles Dickens found himself back in vogue as media and fans alike tried to figure out which of the…
“Eventually our relationships with athletes over time are not only to do with winning but also how they win, the way they move on…
While Steve Smith has continued his march towards Bradmanesque greatness at the WACA, quietly, unobtrusively, an experiment was playing out in the midst of…
While there has been a focus on the delay in promoting Ireland to elite Test status, less has been written and discussed on Afghanistan.…
Our Nick has done it again. Two weeks ago I was well on the way to leaving behind all my reservations and once again…
Imagine this. It is the second of December, 2017. You walk in to bat at the Adelaide Oval with your team score at 0…
What is clear from cricket conversations on various forums, including this one, is that the Aussie public is largely indifferent to the ODI series…
The year was 1973. With Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall, who had together dominated tennis for almost a decade and a half, nearing the…
Thank you. The only ones who call me Andy are Starbucks baristas by the way ????
200 not out: The story of Clarrie Grimmett and Yasir Shah
Thanks so much Paul. Glad you enjoyed it.
200 not out: The story of Clarrie Grimmett and Yasir Shah
It would indeed be interesting to see how he fares the next time. Australia for most spinners on the first tour has traditionally been tough.
200 not out: The story of Clarrie Grimmett and Yasir Shah
Thanks so much Pope! Appreciate the kind words. David Frith recently wrote in to say the Braddles-Grimmett fallout was indeed over Bradman’s perceived fear of McCormick’s bowling and Grimmett maintaining he got out to avoid facing McCormick.
200 not out: The story of Clarrie Grimmett and Yasir Shah
That’s a lovely story Kersi! I am sure Hazare’s centuries (and I recently picked Vijay Hazare over VVS Laxman in an all time Indian team to Australia which surprised many) was immensely gratifying to Grimmett. I remain keen to see the Hazare letters to you some day. And thank you so much for your kind words.
200 not out: The story of Clarrie Grimmett and Yasir Shah
With Shaw ruled out, Mayank Agarwal and Kl Rahul may open. I would however prefer Rahul back in India playing domestic cricket as of now. An interesting combination would be Mayank opening with Parthiv Patel and both Vihari and Pandya playing with Ashwin/Jadeja/Kuldeep replacing Umesh Yadav, but Kohli may not want to drop Pant. My line up above would provide enormous solidity to the batting which has been lacking.
Will history repeat in Melbourne?
Thank you so much Paul. Glad you enjoyed it. I am sure you will see him sooner rather than later and it is most likely that he will thrive on Australian pitches. His first two victims, Smith and Warner, may not be so happy however ????.
200 not out: The story of Clarrie Grimmett and Yasir Shah
Nice one Adam. I am hugely enjoying the stump mike picking up the banter. Nothing that’s happened thus far in this series merits the angst and hysteria among the media and a certain segment of Roarers never mind Twitter. Anyone who is upset about Kohli’s behaviour this series is surely being either hypocritical or holier than thou. I agree with you this would be a very boring series indeed if you had 22 nice politically correct grown men mucking around with a a ball and a couple of bats. It just woudn’t be cricket!
King Kohli is the gift that keeps on giving
Nice one Ryan. Can’t agree more Chris. Lyon is today at the top of his class on all wickets. When he came to india on his last tour I was still doubtful about how he was called GOAT in Australia, not having been hugely impressed before. But these intervening two years have been transformational. Just love watching him bowl. That ball that got rid of Kohli was a drifter where Kohli played for the spin and for me was the delivery of the match. For India, selecting Umesh ahead of Jadeja or Kuldeep was sheer stupidity. Not that it would make much difference that India plays with six #11 in the side (the four quicks and the openers). Well deserved Oz victory coming up in the first 30 minutes of play today.
Lyon is mauling India
Excellent piece Ronan. Bumrah has been phenomenal and Ishant and Shami have provided great support. Cummins for me has been the standout for Oz in this Test. Beautiful bowling.
On a different note. Kohli played what was arguably one of the best,grittiest innings on Australian soil in recent years with such beautiful strokes. Not a single mention on the forum (regardless of how some people dislike him) is disappointing. A lovely piece from Greg Baum today https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/talk-show-virat-kohli-and-his-bat-perform-duet-20181216-p50mlu.html
Indian quicks leave Australia battered and bruised
Nice one Kersi. I wonder if India did not misread the new pitch. I would have taken Kuldeep instead of Umesh. This Indian team does not have the batting depth of 2001-2008 so I would hesitate to back them to win this one batting second. But if they can manage a draw in this I would back them in Sydney. Not too sure about the Boxing Day Test yet. The quicka have been impressive again other than Ishant the who seems to have strained a muscle early.
How will India fare in the Perth Test?
1-0. Bumrah bowled at 150.6 kmph (just a wee bit faster than a couple of Bangla brothers on this forum I am told). Just saying.
Chill Australia, it can’t be worse than 2013
Very true. That Number One ranking clearly has little meaning.
Australia and the secret to winning abroad
Of course it’s satire guys! Loosen up! Too much serious cricket discussion is very bad for our health ????
I love the idea of course with every host refusing to put up serious opposition for the warm up games. The Essex team when india went to England was an absolute joke.
Australia and the secret to winning abroad
Kersi – I don’t think Clarke would make any difference. I agree with JamesH here – Clarke is not a great man manager. Far from it. Is he going to be able to play the kind of innings’ Simpson did? Permit me to doubt.
Chill Australia, it can’t be worse than 2013
I repeat my advice from above mate. Calm down, switch channels, stop watching Bangladesh and start watching India. Maybe you will end up making some serious comments. So you think the pitches in SA were like India? Which planet do you occupy mate?
Chill Australia, it can’t be worse than 2013
I agree actually. It will be tight and India has failed to win in the past even with the odds stacked in their favour. I hope the tongue-in-cheek didn’t entirely escape people ????
Chill Australia, it can’t be worse than 2013
James – You will see when they come. Other than Bhuvi who relies more on movement than the others, they are indeed consistently over 140. 145-250 sometimes and that is more Umesh and Shami.
Chill Australia, it can’t be worse than 2013
James – I admit it’s a bit full of hyperbole. After all i had written a piece here a few months ago predicting how India would be blown away giving Australia a Christmas present. So thought it’s time to restore the balance with some hyperbole on the other side ????
More seriously, I actually agree on the FC part. They should have been allowed back a bit earlier. But for international cricket, my stance has not changed – they cheated, they were made an example of, and the ban should stay. Whether the people who gave the ban are in the same positions of power are not for me are irrelevant. It’s not about who imposed the ban, but about why. Finally, should people in administration who perpetrated the culture be made responsible for their longstanding actions? Absolutely.
Chill Australia, it can’t be worse than 2013
Interesting take Kersi. Should the person at the top take responsibility? I do believe so. Teachers do drive classroom culture and when they don’t pick up on or clamp down on bad behaviour/cheating for years, and an outside inspector call it out, the teacher must go. Will they get Smith and Warner to return early? I don’t know but it would be a knock on the credibility of the country if they did, much as cricket needs a phenomenon like Smith.
Should David Peever have resigned?
Paul – Actually between these two teams even off the field I understand the relationship is very good, as it is on the field. In the South Africa series it was Much the same. I think it just might be the Aussies who bring out the worst in other teams, particularly India ????. Or maybe Kohli has matured. Losing is often an important life lesson.
How the 'Spirit of Cricket' misses the mark
Thank you so much!
200 not out: The story of Clarrie Grimmett and Yasir Shah