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Talking more, scoring less
If the ghost of New Zealand tour was an excuse, what about the game against Holland and now the drubbing at the hands of the Aussies.
If the spectre of New Zealand tour was an excuse, what about the game against Holland and now the drubbing at the hands of the Aussies.
Once again the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly is in the limelight. But for the wrong reasons. With his poor run of scores the question haunting the team and fans is, should Ganguly open for India or drop down the order in the one-dayers? The Indian skipper seems completely dazed by his own and team's performance and is passing through the longest run-drought in his international career.
One of the cast iron truth of the human existence is that you learn from your mistakes. At least some of us do, but others are condemned to repeat their follies and pay a heavy price. The Indian skipper appears to be one of them.
Gone is the midas touch, the elegant strokeplay and thunderous square drives that became synonymous with Ganguly. Today his strength has become his weakness. The off side through which he used to pierce with perfection has become his undoing in the last few matches.
Now, a bowler only has to angle the ball towards the slips and Ganguly fetches those deliveries, whether within reach or not and allows a net practice without nets to the opposition wicket-keeper and the slips. The conclusion - he just can't let the wide ball go alone.
14, 0, 4, 2, 0, 23, 15, 8, 9 - His scores from the last nine innings clearly reflects his lackluster form with the bat.
This universal bashing of Ganguly has gone on long enough and the lean patch does not seem like ending. If one wishes to blame him for his dismal show as a batsman, probably one is justified.
Ganguly just can't give excuses and make the fans wait for his form to get back. With every match, he has the same old comments " "If we keep on batting like this, obviously I don't have any answer. Somehow we have to put runs on the board. I have scored all my runs at the top. I am going through one of those phases" which clearly shows that he is totally clueless for the pathetic show.
Cricket lovers feel that Ganguly should sort out his batting blues rather than be a liability on the Indian team and keep blaming the pitches.
If Indians are to extend their World Cup campaign further, Ganguly's batting woes must end. Else, prepare for an early flight home. With outraged fans already on the rampage and baying for his blood, homecoming would be more painful for him and the team.
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