Faulkner missile floors Mahi fort!

Ishant, Ishant and Ishant…the name on every Indian Cricket lover`s lips, ever since the lanky Delhi pacer bowled that now infamous over on Saturday night in Mohali Chandigarh. Faulkner No.8 Aussie batsman smashed 30 runs off that 48<sup>th</sup> over of the Australian innings, which turned out to be decisive, in the end when Australia had needed 44 runs off 18 balls. Pick up any newspaper, any social networking site...Face book, Twitter you name it. Favorite subject for every cartoonist right up to the Amul advertisement Ishant Sharma is everywhere, very easily recognizable with his long hair style. True it turned the match fully in the visitors favor. No doubt Ishant is struggling with his bowling rhythm since first ODI, with more than 7.5 runs per over as economy rate. But don`t forget there were others- two specialists –Bhuvnesh and Vinay Kumar , 2 all rounders –Jadeja and Yuvaraj and one part timer Virat Kohli who bowled 42 overs in between them which gave away 241 runs at 5.73 runs per over. Barring Jadeja 31 off his 10, at 3.1 economy rate everybody else was expensive. Virat conceded 18 off his solitary over. R. Ashwin the main spinner continues to frustrate his captain and side more than the visiting Aussies. His overall figures of 163 runs off 27 overs with just 3 wickets for last 3 matches with combined economy above 6 runs has let visitors off the hook. Who are scoring 300 plus consistently at ease in every match. Let`s not forget Cricket is a team game and 11 players are expected to contribute…play their part effectively to win. Apart from toothless bowling attack, India has yet to come terms with the new ODI fielding rule, which allows only four fielders in the deep outside 30 yard circle instead of earlier five. Statistics shows that India has lost six out of 11 games at home, since the introduction of this rule, compared to 1 loss in ten for previous two years in the same period. This has been adding to flurry of boundaries apart from lack of penetration and wicket taking ability of Indian bowling unit. Surprisingly and fortunately for Ishant and Ashwin the same squad has retained, for the rest 4 games of the series. Let’s see if Dhoni continues with Ishant on Thursday match or takes a bolder step to rest the internationally senior most pacer, who was supposed to be spearheading of the attack. Dhoni will have a very tough time at his home ground Ranchi; if India’s bowling misery continues.

Let us spare a thought for Mahi Dhoni`s captains knock. Easily one of the best in recent ODI history. 139 not out in just 121 balls with five sixes and twelve fours. He came at the crease with score reading 76 for 4 with Yuvi out on very first ball. Then India further deep in trouble, at 154 for 6 when R Jadeja departed in 32<sup>nd</sup> over. Indians were hoping to cross at least 250 and would have considered themselves very lucky with that sort of recovery. It was ideal lesson in building up of a ODI innings in a crisis time. From drives, hooks, pulls, cuts to famous helicopter shot everything was on majestic display, this made Saturday evening Chandigarh crowd to forget home boy Yuvi`s disappointing failure. Assuming full responsibility and taking tail enders` like Ashwin and Bhuvnesh for company he not only gave respectability to the Indian total but with crossing unimaginable 300 at one time almost gave a winning total. But for the Faulkner`s 64 runs out of 39 balls, match was in India`s grip. With today, Thursday`s match at Ranchi home boy Captain cool M S Dhoni  is hoping to level 2-2 with the visitors, with some all-round better team performance.

23.10.2013-The DAY VIEW, Nashik.