Well the latest news that we hear is that Ottis Gibson has taken over as the coach of the present West Indies team after his successful campaign with the England team that made Australia lose the Ashes in 2009. It is difficult for anyone to make the opposition lose a series, which should not be confused with a team winning a series. It was Australia who lost the Ashes in 2009 rather than England winning the same. Anyways, coming to the fact the Gibson has taken over as the new West Indian coach, one comes across with phrases "glory days in WI cricket".
Which is the glory days that Gibson or Richie Richardson is talking about? Is it the era of the West Indies cricket in the mid 70s that went on to the whole of 80s and early 90s to a little extent as well? Or is it the one after fellow players like Ambrose, Walsh & Bishop announced their retirement from international cricket? Or is it the era after Brian Lara bid adieu to all forms of cricket that Gibson refers to as glory days? Anyways, it is clear that Gibson is referring to the era when the West Indies team won the world cup in 1975 and 1979 after which they couldn't even make it to the semis if not for WC 1996 and PC 1983.
Anyways, with Gibson taking over as the coach of the current West Indies team, Gibson not only has a great risk of returning the favor that the West Indies team has been gifted by other teams that include even Bangladesh and Zimbabwe but also the task of seeing that he himself doesn't prove of his inefficiency as a coach. It would be fantastic to see the West Indies gaining the lost glory atleast a little bit if not completely. Once in while, even the West Indies come up with surprises like they won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004 beating England by 2 wickets.
West Indies is the only team so far to have beaten England in the finals of a mega event twice in England after they beat the same in the finals of the Prudential cup 1979. If Gibson's role as a coach is given a deeper look at, if not for the Ashes win in September 2009, he cannot boast of anything bigger. England came close to losing to Australia in the Ashes that were drawn. Then, in the recently concluded test series against South Africa, England came close to losing on 2 occasions. Since 2007, England's major victories apart from the Ashes was against New Zealand only. This well supports Gibson's role as a coach for a team that need not be taught how to lose.
Showing posts with label Ashes 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ashes 2009. Show all posts
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Whom does Ian Chappel rate as No 1?
Well cricinfo news say that Ian Chappel doesn't rate India as a long term number 1 keeping in t=his mind the fact that India at present doesn't have the necessary resources to retain the claimed status for long. Agreed that India have to rely upon someone like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag for most of the matches especially against strong nations. And, the fact the Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman are not among top run scorers in today's test cricket like they were some four years ago. Added to that is the fact that there is no leading bowler after the exit of Anil Kumble.
No one on earth, (let alone Ian Chappel and Sanjay Manjarekar) rates India in par with either Australia under Steve Waugh or the West Indies team of the 70s and 80s. But, the million dollar question is who has the zest in them to boast of being a long term number 1 team. It was Australia yet again after winning the lost glory when they regained the test series against the Proteas on the return tour early last year when they beat South Africa 2-1. Since then, Australia have been the number one team in test cricket until India took over after their 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka.
Despite being on the top spot, Australia lost the Ashes 2-1 in July-August last year. Despite coming close to winning on two occasions, Ponting's men lost out on that opportunity. However, that never ceased their top spot in test cricket. But, after they lost their top spot to India, even 2 series wins against West Indies and Pakistan could not see them topping the rankings. And, to win the Sydney test from the position they were in at one stage, really needs a tough competition and it could not have been any other team but Australia to have achieved that.
The third team that would hit the list would be South Africa but still who lack consistency which showed in the three tests they played against England. Teams like the West Indies and Bangladesh have to be kept out of discussion. And there is little scope for Pakistan who could not win even a single series since 2009 after spending 2008 without playing a single test. They must consider themselves lucky for the position they hold in today's test cricket. And the only team that is left is NZ which can win only at home and against weak oppositions. Still, they could not beat India in the 3 match test series earlier last year and had to share the honors with Pakistan 1-1.
No one on earth, (let alone Ian Chappel and Sanjay Manjarekar) rates India in par with either Australia under Steve Waugh or the West Indies team of the 70s and 80s. But, the million dollar question is who has the zest in them to boast of being a long term number 1 team. It was Australia yet again after winning the lost glory when they regained the test series against the Proteas on the return tour early last year when they beat South Africa 2-1. Since then, Australia have been the number one team in test cricket until India took over after their 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka.
Despite being on the top spot, Australia lost the Ashes 2-1 in July-August last year. Despite coming close to winning on two occasions, Ponting's men lost out on that opportunity. However, that never ceased their top spot in test cricket. But, after they lost their top spot to India, even 2 series wins against West Indies and Pakistan could not see them topping the rankings. And, to win the Sydney test from the position they were in at one stage, really needs a tough competition and it could not have been any other team but Australia to have achieved that.
The third team that would hit the list would be South Africa but still who lack consistency which showed in the three tests they played against England. Teams like the West Indies and Bangladesh have to be kept out of discussion. And there is little scope for Pakistan who could not win even a single series since 2009 after spending 2008 without playing a single test. They must consider themselves lucky for the position they hold in today's test cricket. And the only team that is left is NZ which can win only at home and against weak oppositions. Still, they could not beat India in the 3 match test series earlier last year and had to share the honors with Pakistan 1-1.
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