cricket of yesteryear

[S.Balaji]

There was a news item in Hindu showing GOoch practising sweep shots the previous day on the Mumbai semifinal.

Gooch was very particular as he had to face Ravi and Maninder the next day.

Yes, the next day news paper was titled - GOOCH SWEPT INDIA OUT OF THE WORLD CUP

Poor Sunny got bowled to Phillip D'frietas for just 4 runs.

Kapil, after playing well, sudden rush of blood tried to hit Hemmings out of the attack and was caught by Gatting in deep mid wicket. It was great presence of mind from Mike to position himself for that catch.

Again the same mike did a reverse sweep against Border and England lost the final in Kolkatta !!

[S.Balaji]

not to forget the matured captain kapil getting tempted by a 70-year old eddie hemmings offering to hold out to deep mid wicket...

Thiruji,
It was not that horrible an event. Actually, Hemmings was the only Hittable bowler in the English team. The rest were maintaining a very tight line. Hemmings and Gooch sharing 10 overs represented the weak link. All others were giving in the 35-45 run range.

The tactic worked well for a long time. Hemmings was going at over 6 an over and wicketless too despite the turning pitch. Kapil chanced his arm and raced to 30 off 24 balls with Azhar looking very dangerous at the other end. Everyone scored at run a ball and with 15 overs left, India were firm favorites with 6 wickets left. Kapil's early onslaught contributed to it. There was tremendous pressure on India as the crowd might riot. Some they regularly kept the run rate at 5 but the tail played some poor shots.

Kapil's hitting was only part of the tactic. The tail was swept away without any resistance.

Walrus,

Atleast here I will emphatically say that the turning point of the match was Kapil's dismissal as he going on well and had the match at his feet. But for that rash slog to deep midwicket where Gatting was waiting like a vulture for hits prey.
I have seen at times Kapil playing very rash cricket. He was sacked for trying to hit somebody out of the ground in that England series in India. He deserved that treatment.
Even when he was reinstated after the sacked match, Kapil was the same kapil , tried to prove his critics by attacking straight away. These were unfortunate moments for Kapil otherwise the Greatest Cricketer of our Country

[S.Balaji]

Dear Walrus,

Though I am again touching tennis , I wish to add one more memorable match played in the late 70s - another davis cup match in India - Vs Aussies

It was Vijay Vs Alexander. The match was probably the longest in the history of Davis cup for many years and it was so dark at one stage that it got extended to next day !!
It was a five set thriller but ultimately Alexander won that match.

I also remember Vijay beating Mcenroe once in a 3 set match

In one Wimbledon Vijay was 2 sets to nil up against Jimmy Conors but lacked killer instinct and lost the next 3 sets

Again VIjay was going well against Borg in one Wimbledon ( VIjay was basically a Grass court player ) but again lost to him in one 4thround or quarters , I am not sure

Sorry for moving away from the topic

[hehehewalrus]

I have seen at times Kapil playing very rash cricket. He was sacked for trying to hit somebody out of the ground in that England series in India. He deserved that treatment.

Hi Bala Sir,
I remember seeing this game. It was Sunday afternoon when Siva bowled Richard Ellison to take 6 wkts and England all out 418. SMG opened with Prabhakar in the 2nd knock. Cowans was very pacy and I remember him removing Manoj and clean bowling Vengsarkar with an express delivery. SMG and Jimmy hit 65 and 67 I think.
India all out 235.

In Kapil's bio he asks why he should be blamed when 7 others also threw their wickets away for < 100 runs. Fair point. Sandeep Patil was as much guilty of throwing his wkt away.

Kaps topscored with 60 in the 1st knock, I remember watching that innings too. The dropping was illogical. He was dropped for Test 3, returned for Test 4 and again topscored with 53.

It was a sad event

These were unfortunate moments for Kapil otherwise the Greatest Cricketer of our Country

That said, Kaps was a very very ordinary bowler. If you pull up stats he was a no hope after 1984(age 25). His stats post-1984 are similar to Prasad, Venkat, Yadav etc.

[hehehewalrus]

Dear Walrus,
Though I am again touching tennis , I wish to add one more memorable match played in the late 70s - another davis cup match in India - Vs Aussies

It was Vijay Vs Alexander.
Again VIjay was going well against Borg in one Wimbledon ( VIjay was basically a Grass court player ) but again lost to him in one 4thround or quarters , I am not sure

Which one is that? John Alexander? I am not much aware of this. There was one great victory by Ramanathan Krishnan against Koch of Brazil in the final of 1966 in Calcutta.
In 1969 When Rod Laver was going for his second grandslam, he ran into Premjit Lall at Wimbledon Round 2. Lall got the first 2 sets, then got elbow cramps, and lost next 3. Laver commented that the civil engineer's cement got inside his elbow!

Jaideep, Ramanathan and Lal were known as the three musketeers. It is sad that Lal attempted suicide in 1991 and failed.

the finals of 79 and 80 - first one was Borg's 5th WImbledon title and and the second one was won by Mc. The first final went to 5 sets and in the 5th set , Borg showed his experience and won the title.

Vijay lost to Bjorn in 4 sets in 1979 Wimby. Also reached the quarters of 1973 and 1981. In 1973 the professionals boycotted and Vijay lost to Jan Kodes in the quarters.

the finals of 79 and 80 - first one was Borg's 5th WImbledon title and and the second one was won by Mc. The first final went to 5 sets and in the 5th set , Borg showed his experience and won the title.

The great one was actually 1980. In 1979 Roscoe Tanner was the runner up. Tanner had a stunning powerful serve. I am looking for video of the 1980 game but cudnt get it. I got some DVDs of 87-93 tennis though.

McEnroe survived 7 matchpoints in the 4th set tiebreak and won 18-16.

Borg went up by a set in the 1981 final. But his last in Wimby as Mac won the next 3 sets.

My favorite moment in the 1984 Davis Cup final where US with Jimbo and Mac were crushed 4-1 by Sweden having Wilander and Sundstrom. Unknown Sundstrom outgunned both Jimbo and Mac on clay.

[S.Balaji]

[In Kapil's bio he asks why he should be blamed when 7 others also threw their wickets away for < 100 runs. Fair point. Sandeep Patil was as much guilty of throwing his wkt away.

Kapil's argument is ridiculous as the key wicket at that moment was Kapil's ... not others..... If Sandeep threw his wicket away earlier... it doesnt mean that Kaps should follow his foot steps.. not a logical justification by Kaps...
Following that test, I think we also lost Chennai test as well. There was a left handed opener... forgotten his name .. who scored double century .. this was under Gower's captaincy.. and england won that match.. Could be the last test in Chepauk the foreign team winning.... .

Kaps topscored with 60 in the 1st knock, I remember watching that innings too. The dropping was illogical. He was dropped for Test 3, returned for Test 4 and again topscored with 53.

It was a sad event

Still feel that he deserved it. Just immaturish batting. He went for a big drive i think after hitting a six or a boundary the previous ball.
Worst part was , in the test he came back.. right from the first ball, he was trying to hit..... to silly..
Otherwise a VERY DEDICATED CRICKETER. MORE SINCERE THAN SMG.

These were unfortunate moments for Kapil otherwise the Greatest Cricketer of our Country

That said, Kaps was a very very ordinary bowler. If you pull up stats he was a no hope after 1984(age 25). His stats post-1984 are similar to Prasad, Venkat, Yadav etc.

Dont go by pure statistics ( though its one factor for judging ).
Fastest indian to get 100 wickets after Pras I think...
Great allrounder...... but cant be equated with Botham class as Botham WAS A COMPLETE BATSMAN
Even Imran is better than Kapil on batting.

[S.Balaji]

Walrus,

On Kapil's statistics.....

Do you have an analysis of the number of tests played in India..... all docile wickets... spoilt by SMG only as he went for dull draws ...
SMG's approach was very simple those days... if you dont have match winners.. .better go for draw instead of losing.....
That stems out of his defensive technique probably !!!

[S.Balaji]

Which one is that? John Alexander? I am not much aware of this.

It was Alexander for sure.... not sure whether John

There was one great victory by Ramanathan Krishnan against Koch of Brazil in the final of 1966 in Calcutta.
In 1969 When Rod Laver was going for his second grandslam, he ran into Premjit Lall at Wimbledon Round 2. Lall got the first 2 sets, then got elbow cramps, and lost next 3. Laver commented that the civil engineer's cement got inside his elbow!
Jaideep, Ramanathan and Lal were known as the three musketeers. It is sad that Lal attempted suicide in 1991 and failed.

No idea on the period before 1978 as we started watching Tennis courtesy Doordharshan from this peiod only.
Also remember Martina vs Evert.. great battles ... but Martina was physically stronger while Evert was delicate......

Vijay lost to Bjorn in 4 sets in 1979 Wimby. Also reached the quarters of 1973 and 1981. In 1973 the professionals boycotted and Vijay lost to Jan Kodes in the quarters.

perfect. Those days reaching quarters or 4th round was a big achievement and Vijay was one of those. Nice guy . gentleman to the core. Highly respected ....

The great one was actually 1980. In 1979 Roscoe Tanner was the runner up. Tanner had a stunning powerful serve. I am looking for video of the 1980 game but cudnt get it. I got some DVDs of 87-93 tennis though.
McEnroe survived 7 matchpoints in the 4th set tiebreak and won 18-16.
Borg went up by a set in the 1981 final. But his last in Wimby as Mac won the next 3 sets.

Correct. Roscoe Tanner was a threat in that wimbledon for his big booming serves.. I think he served the fastest at that time. But not a complete player.... more like Ivanisevic variety......
Once the serve is returned ... he is gone... but Goran went on to win at the ripe old age !!!

My favorite moment in the 1984 Davis Cup final where US with Jimbo and Mac were crushed 4-1 by Sweden having Wilander and Sundstrom. Unknown Sundstrom outgunned both Jimbo and Mac on clay.

[/quote]

Oh great Mats Wilander..... a clay court specialist.... He beat Ivan Lendl in one final at a very young age...... I think it was a record for French open ?? Pl clarify.
That Davis cup was played in Clay .. in Sweden I think and it was alwa eating for Swedish guys!!!


By the way, there was a great artist ... very inconsistent guy by name .... Miloslav Mecir....... excellent player but faded quickly.

On Lendl............. one of my idols for various reasons.... will write later....

[hehehewalrus]

[quote="S.Balaji"]
Oh great Mats Wilander..... a clay court specialist.... He beat Ivan Lendl in one final at a very young age...... I think it was a record for French open ?? Pl clarify.

Wilander beat Vilas in the 82 final as a 17 y/o. Lost to Noah in the 83 final. Dont know about 84 which Lendl bt McEnroe. Bt Lendl in 1985 final. Lost to Chesnokov Round 2 in 86. Lost to Lendl in 87 final. Won 88 final.

Yes I think it was a record till Chang beat it.

Your alwa-eating statement is right but Jimbo Mac had reached the 84 Wimby hence the US were favorites to begin with.
I read a book 100 years of Davis Cup by BBC. The tie had tremendous ego clash between Jimbo Mac and Arthur Ashe. Ashe vowed never to coach US again after that. Ashe never expected his team to win the final.

[hehehewalrus]

Bala Sir,
By the way, I used to go to these book exhibitions in Ketan Hall, it was fabulous!! You can get some 10-12 great books for about 300-400 bucks