I'm just kidding. Apparently around the same time yesterday when I was calling for an extended run for Yadav in ODIs, he split the webbing in his bowling hand while fielding and is now out for the next 2 games. In their infinite wisdon the selection committee immediately replaced him with another Karnataka "Pace" bowler, Abhimanyu Mithun. This Mithun should not be confused with Mithun of Bollywood fame who was famous for his hip-pumping dance moves in the 80s and 90s. This Mithun is nothing like that Mithun. In fact, this Mithun is about as exciting as a boiled Idli, without chutney. Not one of the 3 Karnataka "pace" bowlers on the current India team can break 135 at their fiery best. They can barely break 130 Kmph on consecutive balls on good days. They are that uniquely Indian invention - a bowler who trundles in from a long run up and bowls serviceable military medium pace and gets wickets through "line and length" - a mix of swing and changes of pace, and takes mortal offense if you call them medium pace or anything other than "fast".
Not all India pace bowlers are born like this. There are several who have started off bowling in the region of 138-142 kmph, with an occasional delivery touching 144. Munaf, Irfan, RP, and even Sreesanth originally bowled in this range. Through flawed coaching and fear of being dropped they adjusted their game to a point where they all now bowl at 125 kmph and struggle to break 130. Contrary to public sentiment, I do not think any of these is a great loss to Indian Cricket, except Irfan Pathan. He was a once in a generation natural talent with real potential, and he lost the plot so badly that everyone who handled him should be fired and disbarred from talking to an Indian team player forever.
Despite all his success, I hold Zaheer responsible for this fiasco. He was the role model for this generation of fast bowlers, and as he dropped in pace and continued to grow in success, these young men followed, to their doom. Zak has prospered, because he was intelligent enough to learn his game and maximize his pluses in the county circuit after being dropped from the India team. He has not bowled 2 consecutive deliveries faster than 138 Kmph since 2005, and yet he gets upset if you call him anything other than a fast bowler. Andy Roberts laughed in his face. Michael Holding, otherwise acerbic, is too polite to call him an idiot on TV.
Bottomline, it will be a huge tragedy if India play Mithun instead of Varun Aaron in the remaining two games in the series. Mithun has played before, and laid a huge egg. Aaron has not had a game yet, and in a dead rubber, in the face of an English team eager to salvage some pride, it is the perfect situation for this young man to make his debut and see how international Cricket suits him.
Not all India pace bowlers are born like this. There are several who have started off bowling in the region of 138-142 kmph, with an occasional delivery touching 144. Munaf, Irfan, RP, and even Sreesanth originally bowled in this range. Through flawed coaching and fear of being dropped they adjusted their game to a point where they all now bowl at 125 kmph and struggle to break 130. Contrary to public sentiment, I do not think any of these is a great loss to Indian Cricket, except Irfan Pathan. He was a once in a generation natural talent with real potential, and he lost the plot so badly that everyone who handled him should be fired and disbarred from talking to an Indian team player forever.
Despite all his success, I hold Zaheer responsible for this fiasco. He was the role model for this generation of fast bowlers, and as he dropped in pace and continued to grow in success, these young men followed, to their doom. Zak has prospered, because he was intelligent enough to learn his game and maximize his pluses in the county circuit after being dropped from the India team. He has not bowled 2 consecutive deliveries faster than 138 Kmph since 2005, and yet he gets upset if you call him anything other than a fast bowler. Andy Roberts laughed in his face. Michael Holding, otherwise acerbic, is too polite to call him an idiot on TV.
Bottomline, it will be a huge tragedy if India play Mithun instead of Varun Aaron in the remaining two games in the series. Mithun has played before, and laid a huge egg. Aaron has not had a game yet, and in a dead rubber, in the face of an English team eager to salvage some pride, it is the perfect situation for this young man to make his debut and see how international Cricket suits him.
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