From: 9063iyerm@vms.csd.mu.edu (Murali Iyer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Re: Kirsten's run-out, Mankading in general
Date: 11 Dec 1992 19:41:21 GMT
Organization: Marquette University - Computer Services
Reply-To: 9063iyerm@vms.csd.mu.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: vmsa.csd.mu.edu

In article <1992Dec11.175839.1636@walter.bellcore.com>, shamim@bellcore.com (Shamim Naqvi) writes:
>My two cents worth on the matter of Kapil mankading Kirsten etc:
>
>What is interesting about this incident is not whether Kirsten was
>stealing a run or not. Obviously the umpire gave him out so he was out
>of his crease. And of course we all know that bowlers seldom use this
>tactic. What is interesting is that a player of the stature and nature
>of Kapil does something like this. It can only mean that Kapil is

Kapil is not a gentle saint, by any stretch of imagination. As is obvious by
his fighting spirit, he plays a hard game. What is probable is that Kapil got
pissed off that his warnings did not make Kirsten alert. Anything could have
happened to aggravate the situation. If I thought someone was not heeding a
warning which is obviously for his own good, I'd think the fellow is either too
arrogant or too ignorant. So what'd I do? "Teach that #$@%@ a lesson", would be
my gut reaction. And the result'd be there for all to see. :--)

>getting extremely frustrated, and if so, then the whole Indian team
>must be feeling that way. This spells disaster for the Indian side and
>it would not be surprising to see sweeping changes in the side for the
>series against England.

The reason for the frustration need not be the performance of the Indian team
at all, you see. It might be that there is a lot of needling going on on the
field, and this might be the collective thinking of the team management? We are
after all so far away, and we can only speculate. But I steadfastly refuse to
believe that this team is breaking up. At this point, the only possible changes
I can foresee would be changes in stewardship. Nothing more, IMHO. Manjrekar,
Azhar, Shastri, and all the others who have been struggling with the bat still
have ample chances to come good. And it is time they did. :--) Or else I'll
have to eat my words. :--)

The other thing is, this Indian team has not done all that badly so far. True,
they have lost two ODI's in a row, but this is not the first time it is
happening to this team's core. I am sure they will break out of this rut, and
do better in the coming games. The test series is very much alive, and I am
sure the team is working on doing better in the next two tests. Your earlier
observation that there seems to be no game plan is more appropriate to this
team. Spiritwise, they are fine, as per reports. And I see no reason for any
other situation. There are quite a few players who have reason to be happy with
their performance(Kumble, Jadeja, Raman, Srinath, Prabhakar, More, Yadav), and
may be looking forward to better things. 

>
>As to whether Kapil was running on to the pitch in the last test: that
>is easy. The umpire knows the rule and it is quite clear. Either Kapil
>was warned or he was not. What's the issue? A lot of fast bowlers have
>used as much of what the law allows. It is all a part of the game and
>has been for a long time.  Spofforth, the demon bowler, is widely
>believed to have run up the pitch in the first innings so that he
>could take advantage of it in the second.
>

>At the time that I write this, it looks like India will have to chase
>a nice total in the third ODI vs RSA. I hope they do well or else the
>team may just disintegrate.

I hope so too. And looks like they have made a good beginning. Let us not
forget that there were three runouts in the second game, and also that the
bowlers did not actually let the RSA'ns ride rough shod over them. Small totals
were defended stoutheartedly. That's surely not a sign of a disintegrating
team. And the management is definitely doing a collective job of whatever
little good they are doing. There is no disenchantment, according to reports I
have been able to lay my hands on. Concern, yes. For lack of form on the part
of the batsmen. 

>
>	--SAN


-Murali