Who is gonna be the bunny out of the hat tommorrow?

I have decided to write a blog regularly despite the paucity of time in between a hectic work life and an even more hectic personal life (more hectic after our first child). Cricket is my passion and i need a daily dose of cricket in the form of daily news, match updates and if no matches are on then lean back and watch picture perfect Indian run chases or classic test battles on the idiot box. Daily dose much in the same vein as a diabetic would need his insulin shots. As I think what to write, what interests me most is something which is hackneyed in every sense as a sport in India. Nevertheless, I start with the ongoing India-England series (http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2014/content/series/667693.html).

So much has changed in the first three test matches in England. Ishant Sharma after having been unfairly written off at the start of the series with acerbic criticism and relentless focus on the number of test matches behind him (54 in all) without becoming the feared spearhead that everyone expected him to become, became a star with his best 7/74 figures only to limp off and sit on the sidelines respectfully for the rest of the series. He is the one perhaps who is missed most by Dhoni as I scrawl here. I wonder if I could delve into Dhoni's mind and unearth what does he fear most for the test match at Old Trafford? Cricket as they say is very much of mind games. So, is it the form of Shikhar Dhawan, or the lack of runs from Pujara? Is it the lack of options in the spin department? Jadeja obviously has looked more potent than Ashwin all of last few seasons, and only if Ashwin bowls with a little more heart will he surprise his critics. Is it the ignominy of lagging behind opposition even after being 1-0 up initially, should England win the duel at Old Trafford? This looks likely with Anderson still fit (unlike Ishant) and available to play, and with Finn joining Broad, English quicks will feast like a voracious pack of wolves on the Indian top order (with a fast and bouncy track on offer), however brave the resistance. Or is it the muddle in the head on how to surprise the opposition. So, whats on that menu?

1. Fire with Fire# gamble with Varun Aaron's usually erratic pace. Sourav Ganguly would have done that, atleast his media diatribe suggests that. But then Dhoni is not Ganguly. 2. Retro stride # Bring in Gambhir and Ashwin? Both might not be an elixir to the cause. Neither has looked close to his best in the recent past. 3. Pujara the opener# Wise move since Dhawan has always ensured in the last 6 innings that nobody gets to sleep in the dressing room (except Rahane !!   http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2014/content/story/767211.html)


I wish Dhoni pulls out the hat he wears in the ODIs !! He has been pulling out bunnys out of that hat on many occasions. There is a lot of careful analysis and meticulous thought process behind the gambling over the years. Nothing else can explain his success in the limited version of the game. So I wonder what he will do. Which Bunny will be out over the remaining half of the week? Perhaps open with Rohit Sharma (stupid move and common sense will say he has a weakness for the short ball), or plant Gambhir at 3 and open with Kohli or Pujara. or Play Pankaj Singh along with Varun Aaron, leaving out Shami Ahmed (Shami has looked lost and jaded) or perhaps play both the spinners Ashwin and Jadeja? or place faith on young Stuart Binny again? With his military medium pace he can be an option. Binny can also bat with a sensible head and weather a storm if need be. Ashwin does that too. So leave Jadeja out? Jadeja will surely have a point to prove after the sullen reprieve of Anderson. Leave it to the Hat tommorrow. We shall see. Which hat does Dhoni adorn at Old Trafford. Bunny Hat or otherwise, lets hope Team India puts a brave fight.