2012, the Year of the Dragon, is upon us. Like everything religious or superstitious (if you care to think of those as names for different things) I expect this to have little impact on cricket or life in general but it is somehow fun to think of such a mythical creature. Cricket appears to be continuing on its merry way with the complete and utter destruction of India's number one title. I for one plan to gloat over the smouldering wreckage and ask you to forgive (or even take part in) the joy I feel for the cricketing nation that thought it could manufacture such success in the way that it did and then exploit it to the detriment of the sport.
After 4-0 in England and what appears to be 4-0 in Australia (or at least 3-0), India has revealed their success as largely built on home dominance, prowess on flat wickets (except the Adelaide Oval it appears) and against weak pace attacks. India coasts on the batting experience of its aged line up of 1990s players and on a bowling attack that is merely competent and in little way penetrative. On their way up the ladder they actually won a test in Australia (Perth of all places, but thrashed in less than 3 days this time around) and an actual series win in England that will be forgotten in the wake of their most recent effort mentioned above. One element that increasingly haunts this Indian team is the appalling ground fielding of the entire side (something the IPL is improving in younger players at least) which is slow, lazy and completely bereft of any modern sensibilities.
In a nation as large as India batting and bowling talent will come again but quality fielding is a new culture that has not yet taken hold in the top team. India's fielding woes stem from their conservative approach to cricket - the same method of thinking that allows them their stunning opposition to the review system as well as their reign-destroying reluctance to retire their greying batting line-up. The fielding culture of a team is hugely important to its success, not just for the ability to take catches and prevent extra runs but because the discipline required to excel at it improves the other skills of batting and bowling. It also sets the benchmark for how the team cooperates; both Australia and England understood this truth and rebuilt their teams around it in the 1980s and 2000s respectively. It is difficult to see how India can return without addressing this issue. With the arrogance of the the BCCI and the Indian public that believed victory in test cricket required only a vaunted batting line-up, they got, not so much what they wanted or expected, but more what they deserved
While I am happy to gloat over the misfortunes of the India, again I find myself appalled that New Zealand is playing against Zimbabwe - this time in our own country! I outlined reasons why this contest should disgust even cricket fans here and repeat that I will not watch any of the matches played during this tour. I refuse to take any enjoyment out of them by watching their coverage on television. I will of course observe the scorecards of these matches for analytical purposes.
To end on a positive note, I hope you all enjoyed the Big Bash and HRV Cup tournaments over the holidays as I did. While I didn't really care to follow the progress of any particular team (except for some bias towards the Northern Knights) it was the joy of hearing the players miked up in the thick of the action. The chance to really get inside the head of top players was a joy for anyone like me who is unable to enjoy playing this most glorious of sports for themselves. The chance to hear Shane Warne commentate his own bowling was riveting to me as a cricket fan and spin bowler and I hope this promising gimmick will continue in the future
Well that's it from here and I hope you join me again
It's good bye for now
