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India cricket: Closing out games, a matter of intent, not skill
If you don’t play to win, can you triumph?
The Indian team, in the 3rd Test, accepted a tame draw instead of grasping a victory within reach.
Much has been said and written about the Indian batting line-up’s unwillingness to take up the challenge of scoring 180 runs in 47 overs.
Not much has been made of the Indian bowling’s lack of incisiveness and penetration when they should have gone for the kill. The last five West Indian wickets added 121 runs between them.
The Indian and international press have unflinchingly condemned the No.1 team’s tactics.
Kirk Edwards: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"I use my feet. Whether it’s Harbhajan or not … I don’t play names."
Kirk Edwards is not intimidated by Harbhajan Singh or any other spinner. He’s got twinkling feet.
What he really meant:
“I play each ball on its merits. It doesn’t matter to me who’s bowling.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Does Bhajji turn the ball?”
Darren Sammy: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“The best man who walked the face of the earth never did anything wrong, but he was still crucified. And I am nowhere close to that.”
It cannot be said that Darren Sammy is unaware of his tenuous position in the West Indian cricketing squad.
What he really meant:
“I’m skipper. Crucify me. It’s expected. It comes with the job.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“It’s not a paying post.”
Gautam Gambhir: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"He is like a stressbuster.”
Gautam Gambhir can relax at the non-striker’s end with Virender Sehwag is at the other end. The aggression of Sehwag makes up for any passivity on the part of his partner.All Gambhir has to focus on is getting his eye in.
What he really meant:
“It’s a stress-free environment because we’re on the same side. I would worry if he (Sehwag) wasn’t.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Buster, I can bat like Viru.”
Kirk Edwards: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“I never saw Viv leave a ball because I only saw highlights.”
Kirk Edwards is a debutant with panache—with bat and microphone. Viv Richards was his childhood hero whose batting he saw only in highlights. Edwards had to learn to leave the ball in the traditional manner—through coaching.
What he really meant:
“Viv Richards never left a ball go by, I swear!”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Viv Richards made bowling look easy.”
Sunil Gavaskar: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“Somebody should tell them nobody from Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool has come to scout talent here.”
Sunil Gavaskar is not quite thrilled about Indian cricketers getting injured playing soccer rather than in the nets or on the field.
What he really meant:
“It’s the IPL, for Christ’s sake, not the EPL.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“They’re cricketers, they should just focus on cricket. In my heyday, I played tennis, badminton, TT and hockey with a cricket bat.”
Ishant Sharma: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"Sometimes even I don’t know which ball is going to straighten, so how can the batsmen know?”
Ishant Sharma confesses to being nonplussed sometimes as to the direction his deliveries will take.
What he really meant:
“It’s easy to keep batsmen guessing when I’m guessing as well.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“How much can a cricket ball deviate from a straight line?”
Alastair Cook: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“The cricketing gods might look down in a bit of disgust.”
Alastair Cook is not too happy with Sri Lankan batters, who appeared to lose sight of the target in the attempt to ensure that Dinesh Chandimal reached his century at Lord’s.
What he really meant:
“The rain gods did not oblige us with a wash-out. Why should they favour Sri Lanka and particularly Dinesh Chandimal? ”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I would not have had much to say had Sri Lanka batted first.”
“I’d better say something critical before any one points out how long I took to make my ton.”
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