No link, since it is only on TOI's today's hardcopy, but it now turns out that the writing was on the wall for Ganguly all along! An extract from the article "Sourav had it coming; ban holds" on the front page:
Why would he instruct his players to go slow or let them do it without intervening? So that he could be banned for six matches and he'd been wanting a rest for some time now? Or because he did not want to play since he knew beforehand the team would lose the remaining two matches pathetically and the coming four matches against SL and he wanted no part of it? Or he because he wanted to regain his batting form in the rough and tumble of his living room? Seems farfetched.
On the other hand, if he let it happen carelessly, then he deserves to be banned, and the entire team. Also just about everyone in the BCCI. For knowing he had it coming but not warning him - as the article notes. Admittedly, it would be difficult to ban the entire Indian team. Who would actually play the banned matches then? But it would be fun to watch how they do it at least.
Inzy has some thoughts on penalising the whole team for slow over rates. He badly needs some talking to from someone in the BCCI.
Then there is an inset in the same article; it discusses What's in store for Ganguly. It's main point is that Ganguly will return but very probably not as captain. The article ends with a nice sting in its tail:
Finally, here's one for the road. Just before leaving India, Woolmer repays our hospitality by calling the Kotla pitch "terrible" and "not fit for cricket". The pitch on which Pakistan made more than 300 runs. One which the commentators kept praising for 'holding up well' contrary to what everyone had expected. Forget all that, now we know why India lost. The rotten pitch.
To be honest, just about everyone in the BCCI was convinced that Sourav had it coming. “If Pakistan can complete their overs in time, why not our bowlers?Our bowlers cannot complete their overs in time, so Sourav had it coming. The only ways that makes sense is a) if he had instructed them to go slow or b) they were going slow on their own and he either carelessly or wilfully allowed them.
Why would he instruct his players to go slow or let them do it without intervening? So that he could be banned for six matches and he'd been wanting a rest for some time now? Or because he did not want to play since he knew beforehand the team would lose the remaining two matches pathetically and the coming four matches against SL and he wanted no part of it? Or he because he wanted to regain his batting form in the rough and tumble of his living room? Seems farfetched.
On the other hand, if he let it happen carelessly, then he deserves to be banned, and the entire team. Also just about everyone in the BCCI. For knowing he had it coming but not warning him - as the article notes. Admittedly, it would be difficult to ban the entire Indian team. Who would actually play the banned matches then? But it would be fun to watch how they do it at least.
Inzy has some thoughts on penalising the whole team for slow over rates. He badly needs some talking to from someone in the BCCI.
Then there is an inset in the same article; it discusses What's in store for Ganguly. It's main point is that Ganguly will return but very probably not as captain. The article ends with a nice sting in its tail:
That India failed miserably in the last two ODIs under Dravid has only queered the pitch for Sourav. For, it is a team that Dravid has inherited from Sourav.So, when Ganguly is in the team, he is single-handedly responsible for failure - poor batting, which also impairs his ability to lead. When he is out of the team and it still fails, it is because of the team that he handed over. Damned if he plays, damned if he doesn't! It is a neat way of explaining the two losses without him!
Finally, here's one for the road. Just before leaving India, Woolmer repays our hospitality by calling the Kotla pitch "terrible" and "not fit for cricket". The pitch on which Pakistan made more than 300 runs. One which the commentators kept praising for 'holding up well' contrary to what everyone had expected. Forget all that, now we know why India lost. The rotten pitch.
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