Cricket - India Vs. Australia - 7 match One Day Internationals (Season -2009)
Australia lead the 7 match series; 3-2. Out of the 3 matches Australia has won; 2 matches were WON by a narrow margin of 4 and 3 runs, and 1 by 24 runs, whereas India's victories where THUMPING ones (2nd ODI -99 RUNS, 3rd ODI 6 wickets). Ironically Australia lead the series!!
Sachin Tendulkar's INVINCIBLE innings of 175, went in vein, when Praveen Kumar became the C.O.M (CULPRIT of the MATCH). Kumar conceded 16 Runs in Australia's last over; and neither did he make any effort with the bat to compensate it, while India was on the brink of victory.
(Praveen Kumar's brilliant innings in the first ODI. He is talented!)
If Praveen Kumar is the CULPRIT of the MATCH; the Selectors are the CULPRITS of the SERIES(C.O.S). What on earth made them choose a mediocre RAVEENDRA JADEGA over the classy emerging star Rohit Sharma???!! And what made them choose a 'Bits and Pieces' cricketer like Praveen Kumar over the classy and experienced allrounder; Irfan Pathan??!!!
Imagine, IRFAN in Praveen's positions. If Irfan had bowled the last over to Australia, in this 5th ODI. He would have restricted them to a maximum of 9 runs, in the last over (Which would have saved 7 Runs). So Australia, would have ended their innings at 343. Now even if he had conceded the 16 runs that Kumar had; Irfan would have DEFINITELY compensated them, while batting, with his powerful, yet classy strokes; and would have WON the match for India, atleast with 15 balls remaining!! Praveen Kumar is talented. But it is certainly too early for him to play international cricket!
Its HIGH TIME, INDIAN selectors, rethink their strategies!
A BIG BOW, to the BEST BATSMAN, the SPORT has EVER seen; the MASTER BLASTER SACHIN TENDULKAR!! Sir Donald Bradman; had mostly played, against England, while Sachin made mammoth records against, 7 competative test teams, in a terrific career spanning for more than 2 decades!
Another BIG bow, to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the SKIPPER who made TEAM INDIA, a THUNDERBOLT!!
