Ten from 2012

'Tis that time of the year when you think about the time gone by. And then you compile the lists. Here is Slipstream Cricket's list of 10 cricketing memories from the year 2012.

1. The year of Retirements

Dravid, Laxman, Strauss, Ponting, Boucher, Simon Taufel retired from all formats of the game through 2012r. And the year  ended with Mr. Cricket Mike Hussey announcing his international retirement at end  of the current Australian season. Then there was the  retirement of Sachin Tendulkar from ODIs (only) which led to millions of Indian fans saying that they will retire from watching the ODI game.

2. The year of Michael Clarke

He is the new batting machine. Starts the year with a triple against India. Followed it with a double against Indians, added 2 more doubles against South Africa in a losing cause and then ended the year with a meagre 106 against Sri Lanka. Purple patches don't get purpler.

3, The Gangnam Style

There was a universally loved West Indies victory in the T20 world cup. They won it in style and celebrated in Gangnam style. There was a certain pride in playing for the West Indies shown by their maverick T20 mercenaries showing glimpses of a revival in West Indies cricket. Hopefully it is not another false dawn.

4. The Hundredth Hundred

The entire country and multiple statisticians waited for the hundreth hundred to come for over a year. It did not come in World Cup 2011 or in England or at home in India or in Australia. People kept waiting and waiting. And finally when it did come it came in a defeat to Bangladesh in Asia Cup

5. The Virat Kohli run chase formula

Give any target, provide some extra parameters (have to win in x overs or get a bonus point, lose early wickets). Then comes to bat Virat Kohli. And Job is done.

6. Misfiring strategy of the year

India had to avenge last year's blanking in England. Given England's poor display against Piyush Chawla & Harbhajan Singh in the T20 world cup, spin was the weapon of vengeance. And the weapon needed to be carefully hidden. So no spinners picked against the English in the practice games. Only  the Indian think-tank forgot that they had Swann, Monty & Mustaq Ahmed to practice during the nets. End result - first series loss to England in 28 years.

7. Cricketing jargon of the year

Reintegration - Kevin Pietersen behaves like a bad boy off the field. So he is dropped. But England need  him as they get knocked out early in the T20 World Cup and lose the Test top dog status to South Africa. So they pick him again after talks. And they call the process - Reintegration. Result - England win their  first Test series in India in 28 years. 

8. The Curse of the Golden Mace

After India England arent able to hold on the mace for long. 'The curse strike them as they keep losing till finally handing over the mace to South Africa. South Africa barely survive the Clarke juggernaut and have retained the mace. Not sure for how long South Africa they can hold on to it though.

9. Surprise of the Year

There was no new controversy emerging from Pakistan. None that I can recall any at the moment. And that in itself I would call as a major achievement.

10. Newton's Law of Gravity award.

To the Indian team. From the highs of 2011 World Cup victory to 4-0 demolitions in England & Australia & a series loss in India, failure to reach finals of CB series & Asia Cup and early elimination in the T20 World Cup. Yet the arrogance in BCCI remains.

P.S. RIP Tony Grieg. Slipstream Cricket had differences of opinion with you but your voice would be sorely missed. 

England - India: The Confusion Continues

In the summer of 2011, the Indian cricket team toured England. It was a pretty confusing tour for the marketers. And the following statements will show why.

The No. 1 ranked test team in the world took on 3rd ranked England in a 4 match series. At the end of the series, England became the No. 1 rank holders while India were the 3rd rankers.

Then World Champions England will take on India in a T20 match.

This will be followed by a 5-match ODI series in which world champions India will take on England.

I don't know about anyone reading this but I got pretty much confused while writing it out. 

The World Championship of Test Cricket - Is It?

Tomorrow begins the series which would decide who amongst India and South Africa gets to keep the mace as the ICC top ranked Test team. The series has already been billed as the "World Championship of Test Cricket" by the broadcasters. Is it really? 

It should be exciting to watch. South Africa have the most favourable record amongst all visiting teams in India. India have the best opening batsmen in world cricket and the better spinners. While South Africa have the best new ball bowlers and a solid batting lineup. Still some key ingredients are missing. 

Firstly its just a 2 match series where one bad session can easily affect the series outcome. Two match series between the top ranked teams are meaningless to say the least.

Secondly India is missing its key batsmen. Dravid & Yuvraj are not there. And there are doubts over the availability of Laxman also. A weakened  batting lineup is not ideal. It just increases the pressure on the openers & Tendulkar.

Then South Africa are also in a state of turmoil. Coach and the entire selection panel have been fired. The Transformation issue keeps rearing its head every now and then. How much effect this has on the team is to be seen.

Ideally it should have been a 4-5 test series with both teams at full strength and in the best mental framework. That would have made it the true "World Championship of Test Cricket"