Adam Gilchrist was the epitome of a wicket-keeper batsman and a thorough gentleman in world cricket. He was a swashbuckling opener for the Aussies and was great to watch in each of his 96 tests and 270 ODI’s. He never missed a Test match for Australia because of injury or curiously fatigue. He was an opener and would run back after an innings of wicket keeping to bowlers like Warne and McGrath, to don his batting gloves. This speaks volumes about his fitness and above all commitment to the country’s success.
Whereas our own “captain courageous” Mahender Singh Dhoni has conveniently pulled out of an important test series against Sri Lanka because of fatigue. Why? Because he anyways is not in the spotlight when Tests are played, where he is just a wicket keeper in bad form. [Average of 33 in his last 12 tests. His career average is also 33, playing Ajantha Mendis will get it down further], in a side where there are nearly 5 legendary players of more than 100 tests each and because dhoni does not like the seniors .Period.
If he had to pull out of anything, it was the Bangladesh series or the Asia Cup. Why did he not pull out of those? Simple, because he wanted a few easy runs against bunnies like Bangladesh, UAE, Hong Kong where he would promote himself up the order to increase his average and also for a few series wins as captain. Also ODI’s, T20’s are better value for money or him. Sponsors notice him, people get to hear his interviews etc which is not the case in test matches.
Why not the IPL in which he played 16 games? Off course because he got tonnes of money from which he can buy all his fast bikes, throw parties for Bipasha and John, and also because he likes authority and meek guys with no standing in his team served him well(the boys of the Chennai Super Kings were an ideal fit). They had to be Dhoni’s chelas, who always follow his command to the hilt.
Tests are and will always be much more important, interesting and true test of character than ODI’s or T20’s. Tests are where your legacy as a player is established. Micheal Bevan was the greatest one day player of all time but no one will list him in the all time batting greats.
But a Brian Lara will be in the cricketing annals for eternity. Going the Bevan way is the problem with players like Dhoni and Yuvraj. They know that sporadic great performances in ODI’s and T20’s can’t make them the icons that Sachin, Sourav and Rahul are. But they cannot break into the team (in case of yuvraj) or their performance is nowhere compared to these senior players.
I am hearing rumors in the press that there is pressure on senior players. They are being told that if they don’t perform in the Sri Lankan series they will be shown the door. All of us know what will happen to our test team once sachin, rahul, sourav, vvs and anil retire. I have no idea who will replace them. Except Rohit Sharma, I don’t see any young batsmen who is humble, inspirational and a great talent. The swagger of yuvraj, dhoni and harbhajan kind of cricketers are just a flash, but the light that a great cricketer like Anil Kumble, who when every time he dons India’s whites, always stands out for his outstanding commitment and humility, emits forever.
None of us will forget the images of Anil bowling with a broken jaw in the west indies or Sachin hitting a century against Pakistan in excruciating pain or Rahul concentrating for an entire day in the sun to win/save us the test match. The best thing about these seniors were that they were self- effacing. Never did I hear them boast of their achievements or complain about others. They knew they did it all for their country and the country was giving them enough back. This is what I always loved in them but hate in these youngsters,who have got money, fame too soon without achieving anything to praise about.
What has Dhoni done seriously? One T20 world cup win? Tomorrow there will be another format and people will forget about T20 just as we have started forgetting the ODI’s. The Indian media has over glorified these youngsters and this has gone to their head. Javagal Srinath never complained about an AC Problem. Venkatesh Prasad never hit a doctor after he was drunk. Azhar never slapped a junior. All said and done, the problem lies in us, the Indian people. We applaud Yuvraj’s century after every 20 innings and boo a Dravid’s match winning one because he is slow. We love dhoni’s style, swagger and arrogance but hate a boring anil’s substance and commitment.
Dhoni’s will come and Dhoni’s will go. ODI, T20’s, the IPL tournaments will be played on and on. Many decades from now, when Alzheimer’s strikes me, when my memory fades, when cricket becomes a confusing blur, the only images my dying brain will conjure up for cricket will be a Sachin’s cover drive special.
hi..I truly agree with u…the game of cricket is fading …..of course TEST cricket is the mother of all the forms of this game.thats why it is called “TEST” cricket.But don’t u think comparing them with the all time greats of the country is unfair????regariding the dhoni’s matter pulling out of the test series,what would u say when sachin pulled out of the asia cup while he played the IPL matches????
gr8 article , i cant believe how similar we think ( especially bevan example , i use it in arguments b/w test odis)
the fact is test results are what matter , odis / 20-20 r played 4 money nd entertainment
how many people remember aus won a odi series b4 losing ashes , so do we say aus won the tour no bcos dey lost the test .
H’lo…Well said. People like Dhoni and his group of “CHILDREN” can NEVER bring up the Charm of a person like Rahul Dravid.
Dhoni’s slogs might earn us six run from a single ball, but I would feel much more proud by watching Dravid’s breath taking, technical Straight Drive, Ganguly’s grace and Laxman’s wristy shots……
And if Dravid,Laxman and Ganguly cannot find a place in the ODI team, I dont in the least mind sitting for 5 days at a stretch and watch these greats play their Cricket…..
thanks guys, sometimes we need to stand up for these seniors bcos they never come out in the open and say anything…
I completely Agree!!
me too …the youngsters should learn from these senior players and not just become dashers and learn to play the ball according to its merit…..
hey mann.. too goood..!!! greatt comments!!!
Seniors always rock!!!! fuck u dhoni
awesome article yaar..each and every line speaks the truth…
fucking article man…
all youngsters are doing well !!!
national honour is important than players….
what is the use of backing seniors ?
we need young talents… dhoni is really doing good job… test cricket is of no use now…
5 days time waste… who will see it ?
we need fast games and young legs to get entertainment…. i think thread starter is a old man… hehe… go and play tests….
great article..
senior rox..
Hi
I have read an article which is truly the correct face/side of the new things happening to Indian Cricket.
This shows the great strength and following of this 7 letter word CRICKET.
Through India it has been followed and worshiped.But people like Dhoni are spoiling everything.
I truly believe this Lad from Banglore ………. Saurav,Rahul,V.V.S laxman , Anil & Gr8 Sachin ….U ll Rock and ‘ll keep rocking for a long time to come .
V ‘ll thank you for giving us an opportunity to witness the Cricket of Gr8 class.
All
this article is very true…….Hats off….
Youngsters are fit for nuthing…no commitement,passion for the game…..
As rightly pointed out,did we witnessed Sachin playing under pain aganist pak,laxman versues warne…..Dravid commitement towards the game….batting and wicketkeeping !!! who does have that commitement in today’s game ????
Partying late an nite,posing for photos,giving interviews and goin to saloon for haircut does not speak gud abt the young guns…
Learn from the seniors !!!
cheers
bookmarked it….should i say more??
Great artical buddy. Thanks for this……
u called members of chennai super kings as chelas… do u mean guys lik ntini, hayden, morkel and murali as sevakas to dhoni…. what a stupid u are?
gr8 article
first let the juniors learn the basics and discipline of cricket
today’s youngsters sucks
we never seen sachin,saurav and dravid like this when they where young even though all three are in peak form at that time
youngsters must show some respect to cricket
man its not a lifestyle its all about passion
gr8 article
Very good and effective article.
Dhoni, the indian captain shud know how to respect seniors. I think BCCI also shud respect them. If performance is the key factor for a player to be included in the test team, only one or two juniors are elligible for. India still depends on Sachin, Sourav, Dravid and Kumble.
very gud one…i just love to read it…this is the truth and dhoni & co must know it!!!!!
great post buddy..brilliantly written..i completely agree with u
i guess dat illiterate ppl running indian cricket shud read dis article
According to Dhoni’s family members he had been suffering from tooth ache for a couple of months now. But he still managed to captain India in the T20 Worldcup and bag the victory, with ALL THAT PAIN. What do you have to say about that
? Thats Dhoni for us…:-)
hello frndz,
its the greatest article i have studied in Recent past. Good to share ur thoughts that merges with most of us..
But does the selectors think the right way.
they just prepare a Cricket XI for the future, but definitely this XI is not going to be Talented XI without the likes of Dravid, Sachin and Ganguly.
Oh! Really a great article article.
Really these young generation are not going to replace the seniors like Sachin, Sourav, Rahul, Anil for sure. I am thankful to God that we got the opportunity to watch Sachin, Sourav, vvs, Srinath, Anil play in same age…
Thanks again.
gr8 article…………….. ur rite mate….. we never seen sachin, rahul, vvs, anil mising test matches… & as per as dhoni is concern he is no way near to viru also…………….
I agree with you man…
hey gr8 article man…
Evry line in itself is sooo true…
Indian cricket Gods-Dravid,ganguly n Sachin…. they deserve a spl place in ODIs too.. no youngster can replace them,come on they r nt tht much old still they can play 4 atleast sm few yrs more….Dhoni,yuvraj,bhajji etc all f the young guns in the team dont respect the game of cricket…They jus play 4 money n fame…n thts it…
Felt very nice reading this article…gr8 wrk done
hi Mate i completely agree with what u say yaar… thats what we indians lack….we always tend to forget the past….. but how could we forget those legends…like sachin, saurav, dravid, srinath and more old cricketers like kapil, dilip, and many others who just played for there passion for cricket rather than the name and money behind it… I wish the INDIAN media understand this and stop making these bully cricketers like big stars….which they really are not…
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