Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year, full of joyous moments and nothing else!! This is a look back on the indian cricket team's performance in the year 2004. For all practical purposes, 2004 was nothing but a dull patch, a feeble shadow of the mighty past of 2003. There may be differing views, saying India won the series in Pakistan....and good show in Bangladesh, but for close watchers, it was nothing but slip shod performance from the Men in Blue.The Pakistan series can be taken as an extension of 2003 as the Indians were in the same vigour and form, whatever you may call it. With the so called "Much Wanted Break" for the guys, they seem to have lost their basics and we were begining to see familiar performances akin to what we were seeing in Pre-Ganguly era( If I can call it that way..) they were never able to live up to their promise.
The Asia Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, Netherlands Videocon Cup, Natwest Challenge all reiterated the same in unequivocal terms..that the DAYS are GONE. This fact was validated later at the end of the year... from the appalling statistic that Indian Batting XI never managed to cross 250 in an ODI until the Bangladesh tour....where they crossed 300..courtesy the defeat to Bangladesh the previous match..:-(......
But there were positives as well for India XI in 2004, like Anil Kumble becoming the Highest Wicket taker in Tests for India, bowled I would at the best in his life time (remember his bowling in Australia); Sehwag dethroning Laxman for the highest test scores...and the most important carry forward I would say is the find of IRFAN PATHAN...what a bowler for India, I got a chance to see him bowl at the Bangalore test against Australia (though it was not great that match!!!)..but I could see what India can expect from this 19 year old...he has another good 10 + years for India if manages to stay fit; Also if you look keenly we also have a worthy third spinner in Murali Karthik; sadly Parthiv had to miss out of the race as he failed to do what he was hired to do primarily....:-(
Let's hope 2005 is a better one like its ODD predecessor for India..and builds up nicely for other events to come up before the all important 2007 world cup(its too far....but still.....)
cheers,
Rajesh Prakasam
The Asia Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, Netherlands Videocon Cup, Natwest Challenge all reiterated the same in unequivocal terms..that the DAYS are GONE. This fact was validated later at the end of the year... from the appalling statistic that Indian Batting XI never managed to cross 250 in an ODI until the Bangladesh tour....where they crossed 300..courtesy the defeat to Bangladesh the previous match..:-(......
But there were positives as well for India XI in 2004, like Anil Kumble becoming the Highest Wicket taker in Tests for India, bowled I would at the best in his life time (remember his bowling in Australia); Sehwag dethroning Laxman for the highest test scores...and the most important carry forward I would say is the find of IRFAN PATHAN...what a bowler for India, I got a chance to see him bowl at the Bangalore test against Australia (though it was not great that match!!!)..but I could see what India can expect from this 19 year old...he has another good 10 + years for India if manages to stay fit; Also if you look keenly we also have a worthy third spinner in Murali Karthik; sadly Parthiv had to miss out of the race as he failed to do what he was hired to do primarily....:-(
Let's hope 2005 is a better one like its ODD predecessor for India..and builds up nicely for other events to come up before the all important 2007 world cup(its too far....but still.....)
cheers,
Rajesh Prakasam
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