India v Australia 2016 Cricket Rivalry Renews

#Ind v #Aus #ODI #Series #2016

The fierce (in the literal sense) rivalry between India and Australia #Cricket teams is all set to renew starting 12th Jan 2016 with a 5 ODI and 3 T20 series. India tour Australia and the series kicks off with the first #ODI at the #WACA #Perth.

Over the last few years, series between these two teams have been hotly contested mostly due to on-field verbal spats, ugly sledging and controversies. It all started with that infamous #MoneyGate scandal in #Sydney in 2008 when Harbhajan and Symonds got into an altercation that threw the sport into a great abyss (suspensions, threats from BCCI, fines, etc).

Australia brought fierce gamesmanship in the game under Steve Waugh and play their game very aggressively. The young Indian brigade has tried to match them word for word over the past few years. Although performances show Australia have an upper hand in terms of results, the Indian team has laid to rest its soft target image of the 90s and 80s.

So, how does it look this time around?

India is being led by the old veteran #MSDhoni (probably his last hurrah will be the #T20 #WorldCup to be played in Mar 2016 in India). With fading form and age, he has one last chance to show he is still the wily old fox who can inspire his team to win in Australia again (remember .. it was under his leadership that India beat Australia 2-0 in the Tri series of 2008). 

His deputy #ViratKohli is hot on his heels if he fails to perform and deliver results. Virat has taken the new India team by the storm with his win-at-all-costs and aggressive attitude. Youngsters want to follow him and his attitude seems to be rubbing on his young team.

So, how with Captain Cool handle this young brigade? remains to be seen.

Australia on the other hand are rebuilding a team again under the young #SteveSmith. A lot of their bowling strength is depleted since retirement of #MitchellJohnson last year and #MitchellStarc out with a hamstring problem. How are their young bowlers going to cope with international matches will determine Australia's outcome in the series.

There are dangerous players on both sides who can turn games on their own. Warner and Maxwell for Australia alongside Smith and Marsh' while Jadeja and Raina can turn it on for India apart from Dhoni, Kohli and Rahane. India's #RaviAshwin will be the huge difference between these two team's bowling departments. 

All in all, it looks like a humdinger of a contest between these two sides over the next two weeks. May the best "cricket" team win (not the worst behaving one)!

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CWC 2015 LIVE - Cool As Ever Dhoni Wins It For India Yet Again

#WestIndies v #India, #WACA, #Perth
6th Mar 2015

How many times has he done it? How many more times will he have to do it for India?
The extraordinary genius of #MSDhoni in a troubled #runchase came to the fore yet again as he "coolly" crossed the winning line v West Indies in a Pool B match today.

Chasing a modest target of 182, (after the bowlers had decimated the Windies batting earlier in the day), the Indians were at the receiving end for the first time in this tournament. They looked wobbly against genuine pace and bounce that #WACA had to offer to the Windies pace battery. #JeromeTaylor was superb, #KemarRoach was pacy, #JasonHolder nippy and #AndreRussell nagging to throw a great challenge at this strong batting lineup.

#ShikharDhawan and #RohitSharma were out to outswinging beauties by Taylor
#ViratKohli tried to pull a bouncy delivery and spooned a catch to long leg
#SureshRaina's woes with the rising delivery continued while #RavindraJadeja too was claimed by the extra bounce on  a lively Perth track. 

What looked like a walk in the park considering form of these Indian batsmen, it was a major setback for them in seaming conditions and warning that if they dont tighten up, they could be in for some rude shocks ahead in the tournament.

At a tricky 134 for 6 and still 50 odd runs away from the target, it needed someone with a cool head to steer the ship home. And who better than "Mr. Cool" himself to step up to the occasion. His demeanor at the crease, ability to analyze situations and skills to execute percentage plans is exemplary and was on show here.

He guided young #RaviAshwin through an invaluable partnership to guide India through to a 4 wicket win. Fortunately, there was no run pressure so both could take their time completing their desired goal. Whatever the case #MS is too good to plan and implement runchases and there are amazing examples where he's won many a game for India from seemingly hopeless causes.

Final #LIVE #Cricket #Score
WI - 182 All out
India - 185 for 6 (39.1 overs)

Man of the Match: #MohamadShami for this 3 wickets earlier in the day that started the Windies' slide.

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CWC 2015 LIVE - Windies Bowlers Strike Back To Make It Interesting v India

#WestIndies v #India , #WACA, #Perth

West Indies bowlers have struck baack and how?
With their backs against the proverbial wall, the seam bowlers have come hard at India and reaped dividends for their discipline, pace and bounce.

Going in with all quicks against this India batting line up on a lively pitch like #WACA seems to be have been a thought-out decision. All wickets to fall so far have been due to bounce or pace off the wicket.

First two to go were beauties in swing bowling. Pitched on the stump and swung away late taking the edges behind the stumps. #ShikharDhawan was claimed by #DarrenSammy in the second slip while #RohitSharma was caught behind by #DeneshRamdin. #JeromeTaylor the bowler on both occasions. 

Next to go was #ViratKohli trying to pull a bouncing #AndreRussell delivery and spooning a simple catch at long leg. Bounce undid him as with some of the WI top order batsmen.

#AjinkyaRahane's patient vigil at the crease was undone by a superfast delivery by #KemarRoach. The edge flew to the #wicket-keeper. Rahane reviewed the OUT decision and after several camera angles and inconclusive evidence, the third umpire decided to uphold the umpire's decision.

#SureshRaina and his inability to face the bouncing delivery was exposed yet again when he tried to slap a innocuous delivery from #DwayneSmith and edged it behind.

#Live #Cricket #Score:
India - 109 for 5 in 23.3 overs.

Skipper #MSDhoni will be India's biggest hope to drive them home from this precarious position.
He has #RavindraJadeja and the bowlers to cross the line.  The only plus for them is they dont have any run pressure so they can bide their time.

Kudos to WI for this fightback.
Yet again in this world cup, the sub 200 totals are becoming a headache for teams chasing!
Wonderful atmosphere at the #WACA. Cracking game in the offing....

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CWC 2015 LIVE - India Bowling All Over West Indies Batting

#WestIndies v #India, #WACA, #Perth

India's dominating performances at the #CWC15 continued today in this Pool B encounter.
Electing to bat on a belter of a WACA track, the Windies have imploded big time in a game they need to win to improve their chances of a quarter final berth.

The WI innings started really slowly and never really got going...

The top order crumbled under relentless pace pressure from the Indian seamers, Shami and Yadav.

The middle order failed to make amends too (Carter, Simmons and Russell) came and went with nothing to show.

The late order #DarrenSammy and skipper #JasonHolder seem to have brought some respite and stability to the sinking ship. From 85 for 7, the two stitched together a partnership of 39 before Sammy fell.

Holder, now in company of #JeromeTaylor has added an unbeaten 42 invaluable runs by unsettling the Indian bowlers. Just goes to show it is a mindset game!

#LIVE #Cricket #Score:
WI - 172 for 8 in 42 overs

Jason Holder - 49*
Jerome Taylor - 10* 

India bowlers
#MohamadShami - 3 wickets
Yadav, Sharma, Ashwin, Jadeja - 1 wicket each

West Indies #Fans will be extremely disappointed by this performance of their unpredictable team. The problem is .. this unpredictability is on the wrong side for now!

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CWC 2015 LIVE - Disaster Strikes Windies - 4 Wickets Down Already v India

#WestIndies v #India, #WACA, #Perth
6th Mar 2015

Tragedy has struck for the West Indies!
Barely 10 overs in their innings, their top 4 batsmen have returned to the pavilion.
Impressive start from the Indian bowlers must be said.
Both #MohamadShami and #UmeshYadav have exploited the pitch conditions beautifully to tie down the free strokemakers and then nail them into submission.

The Windies started really cautiously. Seeing #DwayneSmith and #ChrisGayle (two thunderous strokemakers upfront) play the way they did in first 5 overs, gave an indication that they had a plan to settle down and then smash it around.

Then, it started happening for India. 

#DwayneSmith tried to slash a delivery close to his body. It bounced higher than anticipated and flew into Dhoni's gloves. Shami the bowler. Well bowled
WI - 8 for 1

In 8th over, #MarlonSamuels was tragically #runout. Gayle, trying to break shackles smashed one in the air to midon where the fielder, Shami, dived and fielded. Gayle was ball watching while Samuels was already down the other end for a run. Both players in the same batting crease. Oh no. Shami threw it at the non-striker;s end where #ViratKohli disturbed the bails.
WI - 15 for 2

This runout rattled Gayle and he decided to throw caution to the wind by smashing Yadav for a boundary, an edgy 2 and a trademark six over midwicket. Everyone thought this was the moment for Gayle to explode. With luck riding by his side, he would have fancied taking his chances. But one too many you'd think. He tried to pull a jumping bouncer (bowled by Shami) from outside off to square leg where #MohitSharma was waiting to pounce on the steepler of a catch. India fans explode. The big man gone.
WI - 35 for 3

In the very next over, Yadav produced an inside edge to castle #DeneshRamdin's defence. Out first ball. 
WI -  35 for 4

They need someone to hold fort for a while now.
Can #JonathanCarter play that role with the lower middle order batsmen?
We'll wait to see.

#LIVE #Cricket #Score
WI - 49 for 4 (13 overs)

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CWC 20115 LIVE - West Indies Win Toss - Bat First v India

#WestIndies v #India , #WACA, #Perth
6th Mar 2015

West Indies captain #JasonHolder won the toss and elected to bat first on flat WACA pitch v India.

This game is extremely crucial from Windies point of view. They need to beat India to remain in hunt for that Quarterfinal berth from Pool B. A loss will make it really tough for them but the group becomes really exiting in that case with Pakistan, Ireland and an outside Zimbabwe waiting to pounce on an opportunity.

India on the other hand would like to maintain their unbeaten record and top Pool B. This will ensure they will face either England or Bangladesh in their quarterfinal game (in all probability).

#MSDhoni mentioned he was happy to chase at the WACA because the wicket would play even throughout. Windies have brought in #KemarRoach to bolster their speed attack and going without any spinner! Thats very surprising but seems to be their strategy to unsettle India's batting through pace and bounce.

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CWC 2015 LIVE - Australia Trample Afghanistan - Score 417

#Australia v #Afghanistan, #WACA, #Perth
4th Mar 2015

Australia have finally got hold off a team to really showcase their batting prowess they possess!

They literally trampled all over Afghanistan to set up a mammoth 417 for 6.
Afghanistan are all but out of this contest half way through the match.

The best they can is put up some resilience and allow some of their batsmen to get a hit in the middle against a world class bowling attack. This experience will do them a lot of good in the remaining games as well for their growth as a cricketing nation.

#DavidWarner smashed a typical belligerent 178 off 133 balls and looked well to score many more before he was out. #SteveSmith provided the anchor with a patient 95 while #GlennMaxwell once again went ballistic for a 39 ball 88.

At no stage did Afghanistan look to threaten the Aussies.
Probably they were just overawed by the oppostion, the WACA setup and #CWC15 stage.

#LIVE Score:
Australia: 417 for 6 in 50 overs

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CWC 2015 - Is Australia Unlucky Or Rusty So Far

#Australia v #Afghanistan, #WACA, #Perth
4th Mar 2015

Some say, they've had a rough time with weather, injuries and unlucky moments in matches thus far.
Their position in the table is a testimony to that thought. 

3 Matches - 3 points is certainly not something you'd look at as Australia's position especially given the quality of their side and being frontrunners to lift the #CWC15 trophy.

Game 1 - Thumped England comfortably at the #MCG
Game 2 - Washed out v Bangladesh at the #GABBA, #Brisbane
Game 3 - Lost narrowly to New Zealand at #EdenPark, #Auckland

Their batting against the Kiwis was far from convincing and clearly showed their unpreparedness in tough situations. This can be exploited by other strong teams in the competition. 

Bowling is plagued with injury scares, latest being the ankle twist of #PatCummins that has put him doubtful for the next games.

#MichaelClarke has to guide his team through this tricky phase and build momentum as they move towards knockout stages.

As for #Afghanistan, at their stunning victory over #Scotland few days ago will definitely lift their spirits. But, its too monumental a task to compete with the Aussies, let alone win a game against them. They can however give a good account of themselves by playing some aggressive and disciplined cricket.

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CWC 2015 LIVE - India Complete Easy Win V UAE

#India v #UAE at #WACA, #Perth
28th Feb 2015

India completed a formal and professional win against minnows #UAE to remain atop Pool B at the #CWC15. They are the only unbeaten side alongside #NewZealand and #Ireland now at this World Cup edition.

Electing to bat, the UAE played like a team in immense awe of an Indian team that has taken the World Cup by storm. They were tentative, pokey and unsure of what they wanted to do really. #RavichandranAshwin capitalized on this opportunity and sliced through their batting line up with a career best 4-for-25 haul.

#RavindraJadeja claimed 2 wickets while the seamers picked one a piece.
#BhuvaneshwarKumar was slotted in place of #MohamadShami for some match practice and he seemed to hit the straps pretty well.

At one stage, UAE were 71 for 9, on course to register the first two digit team score of the world cup. But their last pair ensured they crossed the 100 run mark before folding for 102 all out in 31.2 overs.

Chasing 103 to win, Indian openers went about in the same way they have gone about in other matches -- steady. This seems to be their game plan for the tournament. #ShikharDhwan was out to a loose shot but #RohitSharma and #ViratKohli completed formalities and India won the game in 18.4 overs. A massive win that will help their #NRR just in case its needed.

India looking good to top Pool B throughout the league stages now.
UAE need to find some consistency and put on some fight against other teams they meet ahead.

Man of the Match: Ravichandran Ashwin

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Eng v Ind (Live Score Cricket) - from WACA - 30 Jan 15

CRICKET LIVE SCORE

Surprise... Surprise ... Surprise..

After 25 overs Eng 92 for 5

What the batsmen didn't deliver, the bowlers are trying to!
#StuartBinny seems to be the man in action plucking 3 of those 5 wickets.

Getting very interesting now with James Taylor and Jos Butler at the crease.
They have added 26 runs so far.

The only worry for India now is that they find it very difficult to bowl opposition lower order out of a game. So, its not all that a good news for Indian fans. The recently concluded test series against Australia is big testimony to that.

Who do you think can claim maximum of the lower order wickets remaining in the English camp?
A. Stuart Binny
B. Ravindra Jadeja
C. Any other

OR will Taylor/Butler sail Eng through to the final against Australia?

We'll find out in some time.
Stay tuned.... 

Will Eng Steamroll Ind at WACA Today? (30 Jan 15)

We're nearing the end of the first innings of the virtual semi final between England and India at #WACA, Perth in the on going CarltonMid TriSeries. India have batted poorly yet again and may be closing in on a meagre score of about 200 (it reads 194 for 9 in 47.4 overs as I write this blog piece)

#StevenFinn once again the damager-in-chief with 3 wickets supported well by Anderson, Moeen Ali and Woakes.

For a change ... the Indian openers gave a solid start :) (Rahane and Dhawan)
80 odd in 20 overs. Cautious but solid.
With wickets in hand, the charge would definitely on.
However, it seems the other batsman had decided to undo all the good work by collapsing like nine pins once the initial partnership was broken.

Kohli still playing at 3 (inspite of all the hoo-hah about him moving to 4 to add stability in the frail middle order) isn't doing much (he hasn't been able to carry his test form to one dayers unlike Steven Smith for Aus)

Raina, Rayudu, Jadeja, Binny - will they be able to do much on these Australian pitches in the world cup? nothing on show today suggested that's going to happen. Other teams in Pool B are merrily watching this Indian team disintegrate. More so the Pakistanis who are their first opponent in the WC Pool B opener at Adelaide Oval on 15th Feb.

MSD looks painfully out of sorts - batting wise (well ...) and mind wise (this was supposedly his best strength until a few months ago). Unless he really has some ace up his sleeve, he can safely pass on the World Cup to another team in two months time.

Will be back shortly with the Eng reply.
Batsmen have failed miserably. The bowlers haven't even started showing any fight yet on this tour.
Tough days ahead for Team India.

A conspiracy theory could be - England were deliberately scheduled to  play India at Brisbane and Perth (two of the fastest and bounciest tracks in Australia) to deflate their confidence going into the World Cup.

Another theory is that MSD is practicing batting first in all these games to test his bowlers defending a total. LOL ... bowlers will be the perfect scapegoats and batsmen will hide the ignominy of elimination from the cup under that pretext.

Aus v Ind (3rd Test Match, Perth, 2008)

Venue: WACA, Perth

Another humdinger from the great rivalry in 1998 - 2008 era.

The importance of this match had acquired monumental proportions because 
 - it was on the back of the infamous Sydney test
 - the aftermath of the monkeygate incident had soured relations between the teams
 - the Aussies were lambasted throughout the fraternity for their unsportsmanlike behaviour
 - the Indians had been pleaded to continue the tour as scheduled
 - complete love was lost between both teams until then.

What followed was pure cricket and another magnificent game of between the two cricket powers of the time, matching each other ball to ball, minute to minute.

India batted first and scored a respectable 330 on a lively wicket, thanks to a stoggy 93 by #Dravid and sublime 71 by #Sachin. Surprisingly the Aussies capitulated at 212 through some disciplined bowling from the Indians, #RPSingh being the pick of the bowlers with a 4 wicket haul. #Symonds and #Gilchrist lent smeee respectability to the Aussie score that looked well below par at one stage.

With a good lead cushion under their belt, the Indians went for quick runs in the second essay with the tormentor-in-chief VVS Laxman top scoring with 79. India folding at 294 giving them a good target to bowl at, 420.

The Aussies began shakily losing both openers pretty cheaply but #Ponting and #Hussey steadied the ship for them. The fifth morning saw an inspired spell of fast bowling from a lanky 19 year old Ishant Sharma to get rid of Ponting. That spell has already become part of cricketing folklore .. classic David beats Goliath story.

Although #Clarke stroked a good 81, India kept chipping away at the wickets and looked set to win comfortably. But #MitchellJohnson and #StuartClark had different ideas. They batted on and started inching closer to the Indian total. India's captain #Kumble was a worried man and tried several options in vain. 

As luck would have it, #InfranPathan was thrown the ball to and he did the trick in his first over! He had Clark caught behind and RP Singh uprooted #ShaunTait's stumps to hand India a much deserved "Cricket" victory.

After the Sydney fiasco, cricket lovers were treated to much anticipated cricketing glory in this test match. Well done to both teams.