Well recent news has its say that the England all-rounder Paul Collingwood has been replaced by the New Zealand hard hitting batsman cum bowler Jacob Oram. One has to decide as to what on earth makes anybody go in for a replacement for Paul Collingwood who is not that gifted with hard hitting abilities. No matter that Paul Collingwood has had a lot of contribution to English side especially in the Ashes. Jacob Oram himself is a star player and having him replace someone else should not go down as a decent move whatsoever. In my sence, Oram is better than Collingwood.
I can remember Jacob Oram belting the Aussie bowlers in the Commonwealth Bank series 2006/07 when he scored an unbeaten 101 off just 71 balls chasing a mammoth total of 344 and falling short of the total by 8 runs when they finished at 335 on board. If the teams they played for are given a closer look at, then Jacob Oram comes from New Zealand which is a better outfit compared to England. Jacob Oram was instrumental in the victory over the Proteas in the quarter-finals of the 2011 world cup concluded last week. Justifying Oram makes no sense when things are so evident.
If at all Paul Collingwood is to be given a preference, then it would be in his fielding when videos suggest the spectacular catches he has taken. I can recall the catch of Mathew Hayden taken by Paul Collingwood in the Natwest trophy 2006 which was similar to the one taken against West Indies in the 2007 world cup in the super eights. That catch was one among the five best dismissals of that year collected by ESPN. In the year next to that as well, Collingwood's spectacular catch in the slips against Pakistan was recorded as the fourth best dismissal of that year.
With players recently auctioned, one has to nothing but wait to see who would be taking sides in the Rajasthan Royals' side. Of course, the team will be captained by Shane Warne. If the squad is considered, the big hitters include Ross Taylor, Shaun Tait, Rahul Dravid, Johan Botha and Swapnil Asnbodkar. Having someone like Jacob Oram is a must with Rahul Dravid, and Asnodkar not being upto the mark in a T20 tournament. Of course, Shane Watson can fill in the blocks in case he is available after the series against Bangladesh gets over. That would be a day after the 1st IPL match would have got over.
Showing posts with label Jacob Oram. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jacob Oram. Show all posts
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Saturday, 26 March 2011
What a major difference?
Well if any team cannot even chase down a small total of 221 in the quarter-finals of a world cup, then expecting something special from them would just be as stupid as it can get whatsoever. And that was what the South Africans were found doing yesterday against New Zealand at Dhaka. And, with winning being totally out of question, just look at the margin of victory the Kiwis had against the Proteas and you can realize that the Proteas have just been better than the West Indies. I can no doubt say that Bangladesh and Ireland played better cricket than the South Africans.
One has to just take a look at how many times in world cups the South Africans have been losing to the Kiwis since their entry into world cricket in the 1992 world cup. If not for the 1996 and 1999 world cups, New Zealand have been able to take home twice of what the South Africans have managed. This was the third consecutive time that New Zealand beat South Africa in world cups. I just felt pity to see Shaun Pollock go in first to the presentation area despite scoring 307 runs and Herschelle Gibbs missing out to Stephen Fleming for the MoM award.
You can just go through the scorecard top see that there were no big hitting by the New Zealand batsmen. All the New Zealand batsmen did was to wait for an opportunity and strike at the right time. The entire New Zealand innings consisted of just lone six from the blades of Kane Williamson. There was a 114 run 3rd wicket partnership between Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor which was instrumental in the eventual score of 221.The South Africans couldn't even bowl the New Zealand batsmen all-out and allowed them to play all their 50 overs which laid the foundation to their defeat.
The match should not go down as another chucking by the African team for, this was anybody's game unlike in 1992-1999 world cups. The South African scorecard which at one point of time read 121/3 in the 27th over eventually ended at 172 all out meaning only 51 runs could be scored in 16 odd overs at the rate of just over 3 runs an over losing 7 wickets. This was the second time the South Africans were found doing this. Previously, against England as well, they succumbed chasing 173. This time, had this been the score against England there would have been another tie for England.
One has to just take a look at how many times in world cups the South Africans have been losing to the Kiwis since their entry into world cricket in the 1992 world cup. If not for the 1996 and 1999 world cups, New Zealand have been able to take home twice of what the South Africans have managed. This was the third consecutive time that New Zealand beat South Africa in world cups. I just felt pity to see Shaun Pollock go in first to the presentation area despite scoring 307 runs and Herschelle Gibbs missing out to Stephen Fleming for the MoM award.
You can just go through the scorecard top see that there were no big hitting by the New Zealand batsmen. All the New Zealand batsmen did was to wait for an opportunity and strike at the right time. The entire New Zealand innings consisted of just lone six from the blades of Kane Williamson. There was a 114 run 3rd wicket partnership between Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor which was instrumental in the eventual score of 221.The South Africans couldn't even bowl the New Zealand batsmen all-out and allowed them to play all their 50 overs which laid the foundation to their defeat.
The match should not go down as another chucking by the African team for, this was anybody's game unlike in 1992-1999 world cups. The South African scorecard which at one point of time read 121/3 in the 27th over eventually ended at 172 all out meaning only 51 runs could be scored in 16 odd overs at the rate of just over 3 runs an over losing 7 wickets. This was the second time the South Africans were found doing this. Previously, against England as well, they succumbed chasing 173. This time, had this been the score against England there would have been another tie for England.
Monday, 8 February 2010
Kiwi coach insults New Zealand players
Well, this would be one last thing that be it Bangladesh or any other team would like to happen. And, it is really difficult to decide whether the Kiwi coach's statements were an insult to New Zealand cricket or a praise for himself? Mark Greatbatch feels proud after his New Zealand team beat Bangladesh in the first one dayer at Napier yesterday by 146 runs. Is the present New Zealand team so bad that they have to count their wins against minnows Bangladesh and Zimbabwe also as greatest upsets in world cricket? Or are Bangladesh that strong for New Zealand to beat and rejoice over the same?
That was Greatbatch's first assignment after he took over as the coach of the same. Nevermind that New Zealand were at one point of time during their batting innings, 19/2 which further slipped to 135/5 at the end of the 27th over. But, when they are facing a team like Bangladesh, this should be no worry for any team barring Zimbabwe and other non test playing nations. Moreover, New Zealand were chasing a target of just 190 on the board set up by Bangladesh and that was at home as well. Should it be difficult for any team to do that in today's cricket?
In one way, the Kiwi coach's words have a little bit of meaning. For, hardly can anyone recall the Kiwi batsmen regaining control over a one day match that they would have lost in the meanwhile? The only instance that I can recall is the way New Zealand chased down 336 runs against Australia in the Chappel-Hadlee series just before the world cup 2007, after at one stage being at 160/5. New Zealand's victories have always been either a slow and steady affair or a one sided affair wherein they either put up a big score for the opposition to chase down or bowl the opposition for a target that can be chased down by the Kiwi batsmen.
In slow and steady affairs that is cited above, they maintain a decent run rate by not losing quick wickets and eventually end up winning. But, incase New Zealand lose quick wickets for a partly score, their chances of survival in that match have so far been freak. When a number 8 batsman in Jacob Oram can belt the Bangladeshi bowling, one can decide the strength of that opposition, which is needless to be said. A real challenge for the Kiwi coach would be to take his team through in the upcoming Chappel-Hadlee trophy where they will be facing the Aussies afresh from all sorts of victories.
That was Greatbatch's first assignment after he took over as the coach of the same. Nevermind that New Zealand were at one point of time during their batting innings, 19/2 which further slipped to 135/5 at the end of the 27th over. But, when they are facing a team like Bangladesh, this should be no worry for any team barring Zimbabwe and other non test playing nations. Moreover, New Zealand were chasing a target of just 190 on the board set up by Bangladesh and that was at home as well. Should it be difficult for any team to do that in today's cricket?
In one way, the Kiwi coach's words have a little bit of meaning. For, hardly can anyone recall the Kiwi batsmen regaining control over a one day match that they would have lost in the meanwhile? The only instance that I can recall is the way New Zealand chased down 336 runs against Australia in the Chappel-Hadlee series just before the world cup 2007, after at one stage being at 160/5. New Zealand's victories have always been either a slow and steady affair or a one sided affair wherein they either put up a big score for the opposition to chase down or bowl the opposition for a target that can be chased down by the Kiwi batsmen.
In slow and steady affairs that is cited above, they maintain a decent run rate by not losing quick wickets and eventually end up winning. But, incase New Zealand lose quick wickets for a partly score, their chances of survival in that match have so far been freak. When a number 8 batsman in Jacob Oram can belt the Bangladeshi bowling, one can decide the strength of that opposition, which is needless to be said. A real challenge for the Kiwi coach would be to take his team through in the upcoming Chappel-Hadlee trophy where they will be facing the Aussies afresh from all sorts of victories.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
New Zealand Start their assult on Bangladesh
This was one such apple pie for the Kiwis which they would have welcomed with both hands. For, this is one such series in which even lesser known players can come out with a big knock or an innings of their life. Bangladesh is one such team regarding whom a whitewash can be expected. This is one way by which Bangladesh can help other teams. India recently played a two match test series against Bangladesh which they won 2-0 (obviously) and this in turn helped India maintain their recently acquired number one status in test cricket. And now, it is New Zealand's turn to rejoice.
Irrespective of whoever wins the toss, there can at most times be only one loser in Bangladesh. This time, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first, meaning which a mammoth total was in store for Bangladesh to chase which Bangladesh would obviously not be able to. As expected New Zealand did put up a mammoth total of 336 for Bangladesh to chase down. It is not possible to sideline any one New Zealand player especially when they were playing Bangladesh and that too in their home ground. But, the highlight of the match was the number 8 batsman Jacob Oram who blasted a 40 ball 83.
In addition, there were other batsmen in Peter Ingram who was playing his 3rd one day international and yet was able to score 69 runs facing the new ball. But still, how does it matter when the opposition is under par compared to the batsman who is facing. So was the case with Neil Broom who scored 71 runs from73 balls, playing his 19th one day international at the age of 26. As wickets kept on falling at irregular intervals, the fresh batsmen gave in more strength than the earlier ones. But, Jacob Oram has done it in the past as well when he belted the Aussie bowling en-route to his 101 runs from 83 balls.
The only highlight for Bangladesh being that there was a bowler in Shafiul Islam who returned with figures of 4/68 from the four overs that were allotted to him. But, the Bangladeshi batsmen showed a little bit of maturity when the openers viz Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes started the run chase in a decent manner when they out up a 71 run partnership for the 1st wicket. It was after that wicket that the forth coming batsmen started flattering when four other batsmen went for single digit scores. Bangladesh were left with only to fight a losing battle which they did rather hesitatingly. At the end they fell short by 146 runs to win and 7 over to complete their quota of 50 overs.
Irrespective of whoever wins the toss, there can at most times be only one loser in Bangladesh. This time, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first, meaning which a mammoth total was in store for Bangladesh to chase which Bangladesh would obviously not be able to. As expected New Zealand did put up a mammoth total of 336 for Bangladesh to chase down. It is not possible to sideline any one New Zealand player especially when they were playing Bangladesh and that too in their home ground. But, the highlight of the match was the number 8 batsman Jacob Oram who blasted a 40 ball 83.
In addition, there were other batsmen in Peter Ingram who was playing his 3rd one day international and yet was able to score 69 runs facing the new ball. But still, how does it matter when the opposition is under par compared to the batsman who is facing. So was the case with Neil Broom who scored 71 runs from73 balls, playing his 19th one day international at the age of 26. As wickets kept on falling at irregular intervals, the fresh batsmen gave in more strength than the earlier ones. But, Jacob Oram has done it in the past as well when he belted the Aussie bowling en-route to his 101 runs from 83 balls.
The only highlight for Bangladesh being that there was a bowler in Shafiul Islam who returned with figures of 4/68 from the four overs that were allotted to him. But, the Bangladeshi batsmen showed a little bit of maturity when the openers viz Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes started the run chase in a decent manner when they out up a 71 run partnership for the 1st wicket. It was after that wicket that the forth coming batsmen started flattering when four other batsmen went for single digit scores. Bangladesh were left with only to fight a losing battle which they did rather hesitatingly. At the end they fell short by 146 runs to win and 7 over to complete their quota of 50 overs.
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