Blog Posts by AR Hemant

With their worst performance in 12 years, the crown finally slips out of India's loose grip. A thought goes out to Anil Kumble's vision document, written when he had become India’s Test captain in 2007.

Kumble outlined eight ways to take Indian cricket forward. The document called for — among other things — transparency in selection, better inter-personal relationships in the team (particularly between seniors and juniors) and the need to play aggressive cricket while adhering to the game's spirit. You don’t associate long-term planning with Indian cricket. Kumble’s vision was a rarity.

The objective of playing sport is winning — series, championships, medals, trophies and World Cups. Champions set themselves big targets. Rafael Nadal plays for Grand Slams. He no longer turns up at Chennai Open. Usain Bolt ran for Olympic gold. The CWG didn’t matter.

When Australia won the 1999 World Cup, they made

Read More »from To The Moon And Back

India’s ODI squad for England is along expected lines. Sachin Tendulkar was expected to play this important series. Harbhajan Singh has been rested due to injury or dropped due to excruciatingly bad form, depending on whose word you take. Sreesanth has been used and thrown away as the team has seen fit. And there’s still no sign of Ashish Nehra despite him submitting a fitness certificate.

But the one selection we didn't see coming was Rahul Dravid. "Rested", incidentally, was the word used to describe his absence from the ODI team in 2007, when he was actually dropped.

Considering Dravid's recent good run in Test cricket, it's easy to understand why he has been recalled. In making three hundreds in trying conditions, he brought respectability to India's otherwise poor show. His younger colleagues continue to flunk tests of their techniques. And it's invariably the short ball that gets them curling up in foetal position.

Read More »from Don’t Use And Throw Your Legends

There’s a thunderstorm predicted on Tuesday in Nottingham. India had to bat out 150-odd overs to save or win the Trent Bridge Test. But they had to survive only 60-odd overs on Monday.

It shouldn’t have been tough given how England’s lower order had piled the runs with ridiculous ease. But India’s left-handers fell to short balls, and the right-handers didn’t know what to do with in-swingers. They didn’t last 50 overs. If it rains tomorrow, it would be Jamaica all over again.

Things hinted at a strong English performance in this series. But we were so used to the strong Indian fightback, we expected better from the depleted, injury-hit side. So it is really not the defeat which rankles, it's the consummate ease with which England have won, and also India's inability to learn from mistakes.

MS Dhoni's comment after the game was jaw-dropping. Explaining India's inability to dislodge Stuart Broad on Day 1, he said his bowlers were tired.

I'm sorry.

Tired? After 50 overs? On

Read More »from The More Things Change…

MS Dhoni's sporting decision to recall Ian Bell yesterday was unanimously applauded by cricket pundits. But some believed there was no need to do it.

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Match Package: Scores | Action In Images | Report

Blogs: Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Question for readers: How can India improve upon this performance?

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9.54 pm - Ishant lbw b Broad, India 261 all out.

A gripping, tiring Test finally ends. England's 196-run win is truly well-deserved.

Hit by fitness problems, India could win just one session when Ishant was on fire. England have been the better side by far in this match.

Lessons for India:

1) Spruce up the pace department. Trent Bridge is a pace-friendly venue.

2) Three-and-a-half bowlers won't win you a Test match against a top-class side.

3) Work on your slip catching.

4) Take a leaf out of Raina's book. Bat for the team.

5) When you're on top, attack. Seize the game, take it forward.

6) Blocking everything won't save you a Test. This should have been a no-brainer by now.

7) Drop Harbhajan. Anyone but Harbhajan. Please.

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Some reactions to England's wins:

Read More »from Live Blog: England vs India, Day 5, Lord’s

(Note to readers: We will post live match updates, analysis and expert views through the course of the Lord's Test match. New updates will appear on top. Please hit the refresh button periodically.)

Question for readers: Can India save this match?

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11.35 pm - A day of fluctuating fortunes. When England were 62-5 after Ishant's breathtaking spell, any result was possible. But Prior's brilliant hundred and his partnership with Broad has steered England to safety. Can't say that for India, who will have to bat for their lives on the final day tomorrow.

England haven't been able to trouble Laxman and Dravid the least bit. But things can change quickly. Two quick wickets, and who knows what pressure will do to India's middle order?

Thanks for your comments today. Please join us again tomorrow.

Match Links: Action In Images | Scores

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Anonymous recalls the 1979 Oval Test where Gavaskar led an astonishing chase for 438.

In a same like this Sunil

Read More »from Live Blog: England vs India, Day 4, Lord’s

(Note to readers: We will post live match updates, analysis and expert views through the course of the Lord's Test match. New updates will appear on top. Please hit the refresh button periodically.)

Question for readers: Is Dravid back to his best?

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15 years ago on this ground, Dravid walked immediately after England appealed for a caught behind. He was on Test debut, five short of a Test hundred. It was a really thin edge. Who knows what the umpire would have ruled had Dravid not walked.

Earlier in the same year, another young batsman with a goatee got out four short of a hundred on Test debut against Sri Lanka. It was a dubious LBW decision.

Ricky Ponting and Dravid couldn't be more different. But when they first appeared on the scene, they were somewhat similar. Both were fantastic players of fast bowling, sported moustaches, looked serious most times and talked really fast.

It was in England, during the 1997 Ashes,

Read More »from Live Blog: England vs India, Day 3, Lord’s

(Note to readers: we will post live match updates, analysis and expert views through the course of the Lord's Test match. New updates will appear on top. Please hit the refresh button periodically.)

12.00 am - Mukund looked out of place against Tremlett but India survived six overs without damage. England would sense an opportunity against Mukund and Dravid, who hasn't been a happy tourist in recent years. If those two fall cheaply, it would put huge pressure on the middle order. We'll find out how it goes tomorrow. Thanks for joining the live blog and discussions today. We'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow. Goodnight.

Match Links:

Match Report | Scores | Action Images

Question for readers: Are there any positives for India on Day 2?

11.02 pm - With a hundred in 216 balls, a second hundred in just 110 more balls, this would be one of Pietersen's most memorable Test innings. He had gone 20-odd

Read More »from Live Blog: England vs India, Day 2, Lord’s