Indian Cricket – Year end review

We didn't do so well, did we?

The Indian cricketers managed an above average performance in 2008. As another year draws close, we shall examine how 2008 has been for India in tests, ODI’s and T20 cricket.

Test Cricket

In 2008, India registered 5 victories, 4 losses and 6 draws, which signifies an average performance. Though they ended the year well with series victories against Australia and England at home, they went down to Australia and Sri Lanka earlier this year and drew with South Africa. India haven’t registered a single overseas series victory in 2008. At home, they fared better losing only a single test match to South Africa at Ahmedabad.

The highs

• The victory in Perth (especially Ishant’s spell to Ponting on day 5).
• The 320 run drubbing of Australia in Mohali.
• The successful fourth innings chase at Chennai against England.
• The performances of Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma.
• The comeback performances of Sehwag and Zaheer Khan.

The lows

• The Sydney test defeat (and the bastard-monkey episode).
• The innings defeat at SSC Colombo (and the inability to pick Murali and Mendis).
• The test loss to South Africa at Ahmedabad (bowled out in 20 overs before lunch on day 1).

ODI Cricket

In 2008, India faired much better in ODI cricket. They started off with the CB series victory in Australia. They then won the ODI series in Sri Lanka, reached the finals of Asia cup and whitewashed England at home. They won 19 and lost 8 of the 29 matches they played this year.

The highs:

• The CB series victory
• Beating England 5-0
• Beating Sri Lanka 3-2 (after the test team failed to read Murali and Mendis)

The lows:

• Losing the Asia cup finals (after restricting SL to 66-5 and letting them off the hook)
• Falling to Mendis in the Asia cup finals (and giving him his career best figures of 6-13 in an ODI)
• Losing the finals of the Kitply cup in Bangladesh to Pakistan after dominating the tournament

T20 Internationals

India played a solo T20 match in Melbourne earlier this year and scored just 74. Australia overwhelmed it with 9 wickets in hand.

IPL

The IPL helped India in unearthing limited over specialists and helped the Indian bowlers to master the art of bowling at the death. The Indian youngsters too would have learnt a lot from the likes of McGrath, Warne and Gilchrist in their team. The detailed report is available here.

This will be my last blog for 2008. It has been a 9 month long journey that began way back in March 2008. I will be back with my blog entries in 2009!

I wish all the readers of this blog and my friends in the blog network a very happy and prosperous 2009. May God bless you all with an year of success, prosperity and good health.