Miandad has interesting tips for India

Media Watch on Dec 23

The former Pakistan coach and one of world’s most resilient player ever, he says in an interview to the Indian Express that ‘’it is (beating Australia in Australia) a tough task no doubt. But by saying that it is the toughest, you have just made it tougher than it is.’’

That is the best tip someone could have given to the Indian side. Javed has very encouraging words for the Indian team as he says that ‘’I personally do not think that it is as tough as it is being made out to be, especially considering the strength and form of the Indian side at the moment.’’

A report in the Times of India had Tendulkar saying that India have got what it takes to win the test series in Australia, but he also cautioned batsmen to be ‘’little more careful with shot selection.’’ He also said that some ‘’mental adjustments’’ were needed on this tour.

In fact, everyone is talking about the strength of the Indian batting, and that includes Australian past greats and current cricketers. They believe that India have it in them to put it across Australia. That is also representative of the cordial manner in which the series will be fought and lack of hostility should certainly help India as much as the absence of Warne and McGrath.

Australia new coach Tim Nielsen believes that ‘’The older players (in Indian team) know how to pace themselves. As you get older it is easier to lay the big games for you know how to play and recover. The same holds good for India’s top players,’’ he says.

If their reflexes manage to judge the Australian pace the same way as they did last time, India should be able to give a tough challenge. Win or lose, the fight must be good.

Miandad knows what batting is all about, defends Younis' Reverse Sweep

One of the top batsmen of the world in the seventies, eighties, and even nineties, Javed Miandad has defended the reverse sweep of Younis Khan at Bangalore which had resulted in his dismissal.

''When a player gets out playing a reverse sweep, it looks ugly and becomes a controversy. But one should not forget that when one succeeds, as Younis did in Kolkatta and on Monday, it draws applause from spectators,'' he wrote in one of India's premier papers, The Hindustan Times today (A PMG Column).

Miandad felt it would be folly to blame Younis and Yousuf for going for runs considering the wicket.

If one recalls, Miandad did not seem to be having the most conventional of techniques, but lasted a good two decades thanks to his ability to find gaps and some innovative stroke-making. Naturally, he believes that some risks are essential to succeed for any batsman as ultimately it is the runs on the board that matter.

Below is a link to the story written on the same issue yesterday. http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2007/12/younis-khan-lives-in-present.html