Showing posts with label Micheal Clarke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Micheal Clarke. Show all posts
Monday, September 3, 2012

There is no Logic behind Saeed Ajmal's Exclusion from ICC Award Nominations


Posted by Q at Monday, September 03, 2012 Pitched (10)
"I don't mind that I have not been shortlisted for any of the awards. I will try even harder next year and try to win the award next year Insha'Allah"

 Saeed Ajmal's reaction at not being shortlisted for any of the ICC Awards that he was initially nominated for was probably the calmest reaction among former Pakistan cricketers and Pakistan cricket supporters. The news that Ajmal was no longer a nominee for any of the ICC Awards came as a shock to every Pakistan cricket fan that I know.

So are we Pakistani fans cribbing for no reason or are we justified for feeling that Saeed Ajmal was unfairly treated.

Firstly, lets take a look at the shortlist of nominees for three of the Awards:

 ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year: MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Lasith Malinga, Kumar Sangakkara

ICC Test Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla, Michael Clarke, Vernon Philander, Kumar Sangakkara

ICC Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla, Michael Clarke, Vernon Philander, Kumar Sangakkara

All great cricketers no doubt!

What do you think the criteria is behind selecting these cricketers as the shortlisted nominees for these awards?

The awards are for the period between 5th August 2011 and 4th August 2012. Lets take a look at who achieved what during this period in ODIs and Tests.

ODI PERFORMANCES

 Batsmen

Typically I show the leading 10 run scorers whenever I write about leading batsmen in a series or a year, and so on. Here I had to increase the list further to highlight Dhoni's performance considering he's one of the nominees for the ODI Award.


Yes, Dhoni has been nominated for the ODI Cricketer of the Year award even though he was not among the 10 leading run scorers during the year.

So what criteria do you think was used for shortlisting Kohli, Sangakkara, and Dhoni among the batsmen for the ODI Award?

From what it seems to me, they went for the two leading run scorers (Kohli and Sangakkara) and the one with the highest average (Dhoni).

Don't you think that maybe Dilshan should have made the cut instead of Dhoni? Dhoni's average is significantly bloated because of his not outs, which account for 50% of the 22 innings that he played during the stated period.

Bowlers

 The choice of Lasith Malinga among the shortlist of nominees for the ODI Cricketer of the Year Award seems more straight forward - he is miles ahead of any other bowler in terms of number of wickets taken during the stated period.




TEST PERFORMANCES

 Batsmen

 Now you can see a pattern emerging among the choices made for the shortlisted nominees. For the 3 batsmen chosen, i.e. Sangakkara, Clarke, and Amla, the choices are of the two leading run scorers and the one with the highest average during the stated period.

Exactly the way it was done for the ODIs, as shown above.


But does it make sense? what makes Hashim Amla more deserving than Mohammad Hafeez? Or for that matter Shivnarine Chanderpaul? (Please don't read this as a comparison between the class of these batsmen. After all the nominations have been made based on these performances and not on how good a batsman is technically or how good he looks while executing those cover drives)

 Bowlers

 Now this is where it gets really confusing. While the same sort of criteria seems to have been used for selecting 3 batsmen as the nominees for the ODI and Test Awards, this is not the case for bowlers.


Saeed Ajmal is the leading wicket taker in tests during the stated period, just like Malinga was for ODIs. But, while Malinga was nominated for the ODI Cricketer of the Year Award, Ajmal has been ignored for the Test Player of the Year Award.

Why?

The bowler nominated for the test award, Vernon Philander, has no doubt had a phenomenal year. No one even comes close to his average and strike rate, however he is not the leading wicket taker.

Moreover, if the leading average or strike rate were the criteria for selecting the nominee from bowlers, then it should have been Sunil Narine or Steven Finn who should have been nominated for the ODI Cricketer of the Year Award, and not Malinga.

Whereas, if wickets was the criteria, then it definitely should have been Saeed Ajmal who should have been nominated for the Test Cricketer of the Year Award. Don't forget that those performances also include match winning performances in each of the three tests that Pakistan beat the world number 1 test team in.

How can this be ignored? Seriously!

We are not done yet. There is the final category, the Cricketer of the Year Award, wherein Ajmal has also been unfairly excluded.

CRICKET PERFORMANCES

 Batsmen

The same 3 batsmen that were nominated for the test award, have been nominated for the Cricketer of the Year Award, but this time the same criteria, i.e. two leading run scorers and one with the highest average was not used.


These are performances of batsmen across all formats (Tests, ODIs, and T20s) during the stated period, and it really makes me wonder why Kohli and Dilshan were ignored from being nominated. Look at how far down the pecking order Amla is, and this time he does not even have the best batting average.

Bowlers

 Now this is where the real shocker comes.


Just take a look at what Saeed Ajmal has achieved across all formats of cricket during the stated period.

Take a look at it again.

No bowler even comes close to that performance.

A hundred and twenty wickets in tests, ODIs, and T20s; 40 wickets more than the next bowler on the list; and you do not get nominated for the the Cricketer of the Year Award.

WHY!?

Now do you really think that Pakistan fans are cribbing for no reason at all? How can anyone explain the exclusion of Saeed Ajmal from the shortlist of nominees?

I really do not think that there is any logical explanation to this. None whatsoever.

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Sunday, July 19, 2009

Ashes Day 10: How is it Going to Pan Out?


Posted by Q at Sunday, July 19, 2009 Pitched (17)
Remember this?

Pakistan ended day 4 with only 53 runs ahead and only 4 wickets in hand.

On day 5, they not only added another 240 runs, they also declared their innings to have a crack at India for 20 overs.

Remember this?

South Africa ended day 4 with another 187 runs to get with 7 wickets in hand.

On day 5, they lost only 1 wicket and got to the target.

So then.

Do you see any reason why Australia can't get another 209 runs tomorrow?

Do you see any reason why Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin can't continue in the same vein?

Do you see any reason why Mitchell Johnson can't join them to see Australia to the target?

Unless you are an optimistic Australian or a pessismistic English person, your answer should be yes.

I am neither, yet my answer is not that.

75 years of misery is way too long a time to wipe out in a matter of 5 days.

Every English fan will be thinking that; every England cricketer will be thinking that.

Boy aren't we lucky we are not in their shoes.

Can you even begin to imagine what they will go through if Australia manage to chase 522?

I can't. I don't want to.

The two largest chases in test cricket have come against Australia; maybe it is time Australia sets that record straight!

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Saturday, July 11, 2009

Ashes Day 3: Two-Bits & No Hearsay


Posted by Q at Saturday, July 11, 2009 No Comments
The first test of the Ashes, and the first of the three tests I predicted to lose overs due to rain; good start I say to the Ashes Prediction Competition!

It was rain that made them go off, not the bad light, right?

Though I think I'm going to suffer on the Mike Hussey front and the first test result blunder.

Anyhow, here are my two-bits for the day 3:

  1. This is the second time that Michael Clarke has missed a century in the opening Ashes test in England after his 91 at Lord's in 2005. He still doesn't have a test hundred in England.

  2. Stuart Broad started this test match with an average of 38, an economy rate of 3.2, and a strike rate of 71. Pathetic that is. He hasn't done himself any good in this game. Why England persists with him is beyond me.

  3. For those who thought that England picked their wicketkeeper forgetting about the catching and stumping - Prior has been behind 3 of the 5 dismissals.

  4. Out of the current Australian batting line up, Ricky Ponting (127, Leeds 1997), Michael Clarke (91, Lord's 2005), and Michael Hussey (86, Brisbane 2006) scored 50 or more in their Ashes debut; today Marcus North joined that list. He could very well join Ponting too.

  5. Graeme Swann wicketless? So much for the English hopes.

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Saturday, April 25, 2009

Andrew Symonds OverShadows Micheal Clarke


Posted by Q at Saturday, April 25, 2009 Pitched (2)
Prior to today, I had attended 4 press conferences during my stint at Dubai Sports City - 2 each with the captains, Younis Khan and Micheal Clarke.

All 4 times the captains were accompanied by the coaches, Intikhab Alam and Tim Nielsen.

However today, at the post-match press conference, Micheal Clarke was accompanied by Andrew Symonds.

I'm not sure whether it was because of a request from some of the Aussie journalists that were there; or whether it was an initiative taken by the Australian team management.

Either way, what that did was turn the entire attention of the press conference room away from the Australian captain and on to Andrew Symonds.

He was asked all sorts of questions regarding his comeback and his time out of the team.

"How did it feel like missing all those games for Australia?"

"Do you feel vindicated by the innings you played today?"

"Do you think you have silenced your critics by today's knock?"

"Were you upset at missing all the cricket during your time out of the team?"

"How important was today's knock for you?"

"Do you think this series was a trial for the Ashes for you?"

In response, Symonds basically said that it was frustrating sitting out of the team, he felt helpless watching the team lose without being able to help out, its great to be back, he's pleased with the knock he played today and with the fact that it came early in the series than later, and that it was an important knock considering that he was coming back into the team.

To the critics question, he smiled and said that he was too old to worry about his critics cause there were so many of them.

That comment was met with laughter around the press conference room.

One journalist from Dawn asked Symonds whether today's knock compared with his century against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup, which brought him into the limelight.

While that question was being asked, Symonds and Clarke had a smile on their faces and as the journalist finished the question Symonds responded with a "No."

That was met with even more laughter. You had to be there to see the funny side of that answer. It was the timing.

He then went on to answer the question by saying that he understood what was being asked, but both the knocks were quite different given the phase he was in, in his career.

Micheal Clarke was asked only 2 questions during the entire press conference.

The first one was about how he felt regarding the victory.

The second one was by an Aussie journalist, Andrew Stevenson, who mentioned to Clarke that Younis Khan thought (during his press conference) that Australia was still the number 1 side in the world and asked what Clarke thought about that.

While asking that question, Stevenson pointed out that Australia had lost 10 of it 16 ODIs during 2009.

Clarke's response was, "We would like to believe that we are the number 1 side, especially after a win. Its a huge compliment when the opposition says this about you and moreso when its the opposition's captain. We still need to improve in a lot of areas such as our fielding."

During that time I kept thinking - 10 losses out of 16? Damn!

I guess with Symonds back and in form, that stat will definitely improve.

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Monday, April 20, 2009

The Aussies Arrive, Security High, Billy Poses, Clarke Smiles, & Someone throws a ball at Symonds


Posted by Q at Monday, April 20, 2009 Pitched (4)
Dubai Sports City arranged a tour of their new cricket stadium for the media yesterday.

All the press people were invited and taken around the stadium, before they settled down in the press conference room and waited for Micheal Clarke and Tim Nielsen.

Here are a few pics from that tour.

The press wait, in the press conference room, for the Dubai Sports City officials to start the tour.

The table is set up for Micheal Clarke

The press takes a walk in the corridors - from the media centre to the TV & Radio commentary boxes to the 3rd umpire room and onwards to the corporate boxes.

Billy Bowden enters the 3rd umpire's room.

I requested Billy for a pic and he was out with his best pose in a second! He's umpiring the 1st ODI on Wednesday.

The square being worked on by the groundsmen. They're calling it a batting paradise.

The Security waits, outside the players' room, for the Australians to arrive.

Micheal Clarke smiles as Tim Nielsen mentions that Symonds makes a few dollars playing for Australia as well.

The ICC's Anti Corruption & Security Unit's head, Retd. Col. Nur Khan, gets a brief from the security men on the arrangements.

The Australians arrive at the stadium.

Clarke had already finished his press meet and was waiting in the players' lounge. Shane Watson (in flip-flops), was in front of the line along with this man whom I did not recognize.

I managed a word with Watson, Symonds, and Marsh and basically said the same thing to all of them - Welcome back to the Australian team. I was met with smiles and thank yous with Symonds having the biggest smile of all.

Arrogant Aussies? What arrogance? Not even a hint of it.

Stuart Clark is HUGE!

And Bracken is taller than I imagined.

There were a few guys I did not recognize - probably Callum Ferguson and Doug Bollinger.

As Symonds walked into the ground, someone threw a ball at him. I'm not sure who it was.

Micheal Clarke looked like a lonely figure sitting on the steps outside the players' lounge. That's Shaun Marsh standing right behind him. You can also see Symonds going back into the lounge.

The players waited for the lights to come on, did a few light excercises and some fielding drills. They have a full fledged practice session tonight.


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Clarke and Nielsen Questioned About Symonds


Posted by Q at Monday, April 20, 2009 No Comments
After the journalists were done obsessing over "why don't you tour Pakistan", there were a few other questions as well.

One reminded Clarke of the fact that Australia had not won an ODI series this season, to which Clarke said that he was aware of it and that he wants his team to work harder.

Particularly the top 4.

He said that the batting needed to improve and wants his team to capitalize on the moments during which his team is ahead of the opposition.

When questioned about Symonds coming back into the team, Clarke talked about how important it was to have him in the absence of Ponting and Hussey.

Who would have done the drinking otherwise I wondered.

Someone asked Tim Nielsen how he motivated people like Symonds who is missing the IPL, where he makes a lot of money.

Nielsen's response was brilliant - "you make a few dollars playing for Australia as well".

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Sunday, April 19, 2009

Why Aren't You Playing in Pakistan Clarke?


Posted by Q at Sunday, April 19, 2009 No Comments
The Aussies landed in Dubai early this morning, many of them for the first time ever.


Micheal Clarke, captaining Australia in a full series for the very first time addressed the media this evening.


Unlike Younis Khan's press conference, this one was held at the press conference room of the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium.


Like Younis, Clarke also praised Dubai Sports City and talked about how amazing the facilities were.


This is Clarke's first visit to the UAE and he said that he looked forward to playing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the first time.


He seemed relaxed and said that he was very proud to be leading this group of players in a full series for the first time.


There are a lot of firsts in there - first time in the UAE, first time in Dubai, first time in this stadium, first time captain, first time ...


The journalists however believe in first times and they sure as hell believe in second times and third times as well.


Younis Khan, the other day, was repeatedly asked about Shoaib Akhtar. Similarly Clarke was repeatedly asked, "Why Australia don't tour Pakistan".


Clarke dodged the question several times but the journalists kept coming back at him by phrasing it differently.


"What are your thoughts about touring Pakistan?"


"Don't you wish you were playing Pakistan IN Pakistan?"


"Do you think Australia will ever tour Pakistan?"


"How does it feel to be playing Pakistan in their home series in a foreign country?"


Hell, they even asked him what he thought about the World Cup being taken away from Pakistan!


Clarke handled it very well I thought, wihtout responding directly to any of those questions.


He said that he looked forward to playing against Pakistan. He praised the Pakistan cricket team and said that he thought they were a very strong side. He also mentioned that it was unfortunate that they had not played against them very often in the recent past. He talked about how the weather and the crowd here would make Pakistan feel at home. And he said that 2 years was a long way away and he hadn't even thought about the World Cup.


But the journalists still didn't back off.


They started directing the same questions to Tim Nielsen, the Aussie's coach, mentioning that he was in Pakistan with the A team in 2007 and what he thought about the situation.


Tim was a bit more direct than Clarke though.


He said that it was unfortunate that the series was not happening in Pakistan but this was the only way that Australia were going to play Pakistan and he's happy that Dubai offered to host the series.


He added that neutral venues like Dubai ensure that Pakistan continue to play international cricket as nobody would like to see Pakistan not play, hence it was the best option.


And he ended by saying that he loved it there in 2007.

Aptly pleasing the press!

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Sunday, April 12, 2009

4 Years Later...


Posted by Q at Sunday, April 12, 2009 Pitched (7)
Pakistan last played Australia in an ODI way back in February 2005, in what was the 2nd final of the VB series that also involved the West Indies.

4 years and a couple of months later, Pakistan and Australia will once again lock horns in an ODI at the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium, when the series kicks off on 22nd April.

In these days and times, 4 years is a very long wait for any 2 international teams to come up against each other again.

Unfortunately such have been the circumstances that Australia has stayed away from touring Pakistan, while Pakistan haven't exactly had the opportunity to tour Australia due to the ICC's FTP.

The last time they played each other, Australia beat Pakistan 2-0 in the finals to clinch the VB series, while in the group matches Pakistan managed 1 win out of 3 games.

Only a few familiar faces will be on show again from that series in 2004-05.

Micheal Clarke, who is captaining Australia this time round, Brett Lee, who is making his comeback, and Shane Watson, who is also coming back from injury are the only survivors from 4 years ago,

Ponting is being rested, while Katich is no longer an ODI probable, and McGrath, Gillespie, Martyn, Lehmann, Hayden, Gilchrist, and Hogg are long retired.

For Pakistan, Younis Khan, the skipper, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, and Iftikhar Anjum were there in 2004-05.

For many Aussies, it will be the first time they come up against Pakistan.

And Australia are not the same superpower they were when they played against Pakistan the last time.

Though Australia are the firm favourites going into the series, Pakistan cannot be counted out.

In fact, I feel that Australia might have already underestimated them be announcing a weakened squad that's missing Ponting, Hussey, and Johnson.

If they underestimate them any further, it could prove to be fatal, for Pakistan are quite a dangerous side (no pun intended).

I believe Pakistan has a great chance to win the series, a win that will go a long way in bringing a smile back on some Pakistani faces.

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Thursday, February 5, 2009

Clarke Thinks He's Worth a Million!?


Posted by Q at Thursday, February 05, 2009 Pitched (18)
"I don't think anybody is ready to pay that kind of price. The reality is in front of him. He didn't want to be unsold in the auction and so decided to pull out. We asked him to reduce the price but he was unwilling."

WHAT !! ?

That is what Lalit Modi said about Micheal Clarke pulling out of the IPL auction, to be held tomorrow.

Read the last sentence again.

Modi says that they asked Clarke to reduce his price but he was unwilling.

The IPL asked Clarke to reduce his price?

Does that even make sense?

I mean, its the players who decide their price?

Are you kidding Mr. Modi?

So it was Clarke who decided that his base price was going to be US$ 1 million?

And it was KP who decided that his base price was going to be US$ 1.35 million?

So then why did Ponting only decide to base himself on US$ 300,000?

Didn't Ponting think he was worth more than that?

And did Clarke really think he was worth a million dollars?

And then when he didn't think anyone would pay that sum he pulled out. Why didn't he lower his base?

This just sounds so absurd. I know why no one would be willing to pay a million for Clarke, but isn't it the IPL who decides these base prices?

If its really the players then someone needs to consult Shakib and tell him that he's worth way more than a mere $75,000!

Modi needs some explaining to do.

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Monday, October 6, 2008

What is Wrong with the Indian Media?


Posted by Q at Monday, October 06, 2008 Pitched (5)
I tuned into one of the Indian news channels on the 3rd day of the match between Australia and the Board President's XI.

Those who watch these news channels would know how dramatic these reporters are. The way they describe an event or a person it seems like a Bollywood movie is playing and the reporter is narrating the drama unfolding in the background.

One such reporter was doing just that when he started about how Australia was playing mind games with India.

And what was the mind game?

Playing below their best against the BP XI.

The reporter suggested that it was the Australians way of making the Indians over confident.

He questioned the Australians' below par performance and spoke of how the Aussies were doing it deliberately to make Kumble & Co. over confident before the 1st test.

He seemed so serious in his accusations that it looked like he was sitting in Australia's dressing room the night before.

The news report kept playing clips of Rohit and Kohli smashing Krejza to all parts of the park and continuously showed Chawla break through Ponting's defences. They even showed Chawla trapping Clarke in front.

The reporter questioned Ponting's and Clarke's technique and wondered why Krejza was given so many overs.

Now for my questions to this Indian reporter.

Do you have no faith in India's cricketing talent and ability?

Do you not think that Piyush Chawla has a tremendous future as India's leggie?

Do you not think that this is the weakest Australian side to tour India in over a decade?

Do you not think that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have it in them to play for India for the next 15 years?

Do you really think Kumble & Co. will be over confident going into the 1st test?

Do you really?

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Saturday, May 10, 2008

Thank You Cricket Australia


Posted by Q at Saturday, May 10, 2008 Pitched (5)
I am quite amused by this whole merry go round created by the Australians.

Ricky Ponting left the Kolkata Knight Riders to captain his country.

KKR roped in Brad Hodge from Lancashire for 5 weeks to replace Ponting.

Lancashire called up Mohammad Yousuf for 5 weeks to fill in for Hodge.

Micheal Clarke got Bingled and decided not to tour the Windies.

Cricket Australia announced Hodge as his replacement.

Lancashire want to thank CA for taking Hodge away for longer than the 5 weeks as Yousuf is a much better batsman and will probably score more than Hodge would have.

KKR also want to thank CA who called in both Ponting ad Hodge for national duty as neither scored a run during the IPL.

PCB also want to thank CA as this merry go round has provided opportunities for their cricketers - Yousuf for Hodge at Lancashire and Salman Butt for Hodge at KKR.

Brad Hodge will also be thanking CA for the call up.

Hodge first replaced the Australian captain and now he replaces the Australian Vice Captain. For a small man, those are some big shoes to fill.

Finally Well Pitched would like to thank CA for giving us something to write about.

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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Uncle J Rod's Petition Pays Off!


Posted by Q at Tuesday, April 01, 2008 Pitched (4)
About a month and a half back Uncle J of Cricket with Balls started a petition to get David Hussey into the Australian cricket team.

The arguements were all strong since Hussey Jr. was blasting away in the domestic matches, while the Aussie's international batsmen were struggling against an overgrown Adam's apple (referring to Uncle J's reference to Ishant Sharma).

That petition attracted some 130 signatures on Uncle J's blog. The petition was also added onto a facebook group and then it was said to be doing the rounds of the streets of Australia.

I don't have the total count of how many people actually signed the petition but Cricket Australia selectors probably got hold of it and realised that they had to bow down to the demands of the Aussie public.

This morning when CA announced the squad for Australia's tour to the Windies in May, David Hussey was part of the 14 man ODI line up.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Uncle J on all his efforts to get David Hussey into Office! Your work has paid off Uncle J. I know you are mighty pissed at Bryce McGain being ignored but savour this moment of glory - David Hussey is in the team because of you.

In another expected announcement, Micheal Clarke took over as the Vice Captain of the team following Adam Gilchrist's retirement and Brad Haddin replaced him as the #1 wicket keeper.

The Aussies have been going through a transformation of sorts since the heavy load of retirements during last and this season. And this is another step within the tranformation phase.

Will they hold on to their status as the #1 team in the world? Only time will tell.

Uncle J - now I suggest a petition for the inclusion of your very own Bryce McGain.

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Thursday, November 22, 2007

Intriguing Case of the U-19 Cricketers


Posted by Q at Thursday, November 22, 2007 Pitched (5)
In one of my blogging conversations with Soulberry, he mentioned that it would be a great story to write about cricketers who have started from a young age representing their countries in the different age groups, i.e. U-19, U-15, and others. Since that discussion I have been thinking about doing a piece on this story. This morning when I read about the launch of the under-19 World Cup to be played in Malaysia in February 2008, I thought this would be the perfect time to do so.
The first such tournament was played in 1988 and was won by Australia, who beat Pakistan in the final. Stuart Law was part of the Aussie team that beat a Pakistan side including future stars Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed, and other internationals like Basit Ali and Zahoor Elahi. For some reason, the U-19 World Cup then disappeared for the next 10 years before it was held again in 1998, and since then it has been held every 2 years.

The last edition was held in 2006 in Sri Lanka and was won by Pakistan in a thrilling final against India. Pakistan's captain from that tournament, Sarfraz Ahmed, made his international debut against India in the 5th ODI of the series that just ended. Rohit Sharma, India's star from the 20-20 world cup, and Piyush Chawla, part of India's U-19 side of 2006, have also made their international debuts. Pakistan in fact successfully defended the title in 2006 - they had won the U-19 World Cup in 2004, beating West Indies in the final. Fawad Alam, who played his 2nd ODI against India in the 5th match of the recent series, was part of the victorius U-19 team in 2004. Pakistan go into the U-19 World Cup in February looking for a hatrick of titles. Some achievement, don't you think?

The other 3 editions have seen England beating New Zealand to win the title in 1998, India beating Sri Lanka in 2000, and Australia beating South Africa to become U-19 champs in 2002.

It is interesting to note that there are a number of current international cricketers, who have represented their countries at the U-19 level. There maybe more than shown in the table below, which only lists international players to have played U-19 world cups. Two examples that spring to mind are Andrew Flintoff and Shahid Afridi, both of whom have played at the U-19 level but not in a world cup. I have also included players from the U-15 Lombard Challenge that was played in 1996 in England.

You will have to 'click' on the picture to see the table clearly in full size. Some intriguing points:

1. Australia and South Africa have blooded the least number of U-19 players. Why do you think this is?

2. Alan Mulally and Andrew Caddick, both of whom played international cricket for England, represented Australia and New Zealand respectively in the 1988 U-19 World Cup.

3. Pakistan's international team seems to be comprised of players who have represented them at the U-19 level. They have blooded the most number of U-19 cricketers, followed by India.

4. While all countries seem to have produced several international stars from the U-19 cricketers shown above, for Australia there has been only one - Micheal Clarke. Again, I wonder why? Where all the Australian U-19 cricketeres - still playing the Pura Cup?

5. A number of cricketers were identified as future captains while playing at the U-19 level: Micheal Atherton, Lee Germon, Micheal Clarke, Salman Butt, Ian Bell, Owais Shah, Mohammad Kaif, Reetinder Sodhi, Faisal Iqbal, Dinesh Ramdin, and Hashim Amla.

6. The most interesting case of an U-19 cricketer not making it, is that of Reetinder Singh Sodhi. He captained India to the title in the U-15 Lombard Challenge in 1996, and was also man of the match in the final against Pakistan, and the man of the tournament. Sodhi was vice-captain of India's U-19 team in the 1998 world cup. He was also vice-captain of the team in 2000, and man of the match in the final that India won by beating Sri Lanka. Sodhi was considered to be India's brightest youngest prospect in the late 90s - after helping India win the U-19 world cup in 2000, he mentioned that his aim was to play for India in the 2003 world cup. Sodhi made his ODI debut in 2000 and played 18 ODIs between 2000 and 2003 without much success. His Indian career seems finished and he will now be seen representing the Chandigarh Lions in the ICL.
While India and Pakistan have banked on a number of U-19 cricketers, Australia and South Africa haven't. The latter two are the leading international teams today. Does this tell you something? Should the U-19 cricketers be given more time to develop in India and Pakistan? Should they learn more about cricket structures and development of players from Australia and South Africa?
Let me know what you think.

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