Ashwin-Bhajji comparison inevitable

[1]

You can’t argue with the weather and now India and New Zealand will be hoping for a real game today.

Practice and plan all you like but leading into a big tournament, nothing can replicate hard match practice.

Although T20 has been around for some time and has provided a tremendous fillip to our game, most of its main competitions are centered around domestic cricket. The IPL, is perhaps the exception but even that has a strong domestic component.

Relatively speaking then, there hasn’t been too much international T20 cricket. Since as late August 2010, the most T20 internationals have been played by Pakistan — 19.

England have played 14, Australia 13, New Zealand and South Africa 12. India have played only eight in this period.

In the lead up World T20 there are three series taking place at present, England vs South Africa, Australia vs Pakistan, and New Zealand vs India.

Providing the weather doesn’t intervene again, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and England will have played five competitive T20 Internationals, including the two practice games preceding the tournament.

India’s lead up will include the match on Tuesday and their two practice matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

This means both India and New Zealand have had three matches to sort things out if they are serious about winning the T20 World Cup.

For India, we must remember that their batting line-up is straightforward with more flexibility and experience than other in the competition.

Team-wise, I expect India’s top seven to be Sehwag, Gambhir, Sharma, Kohli, Yuvraj, Raina and Dhoni.

You have to be careful in practice matches not to change things around too much as players; a) need to know their roles, and b) get accustomed to performing them.

India’s bowling options are more interesting and one of the features of these three warm-up matches will be the inevitable competition and comparison between Harbhajan and Ashwin.

From a distance, Ashwin looks a real competitor and I know that Harbhajan certainly is. This competition for places could prove a huge bonus for India as both players will be pushing each other for a spot.

Even if they bowl the same variety of deliveries, the two of them could actually force their way into the team. In tandem and at their best, they will be a handful for any opposition.

A lot of people have asked me how Yuvi will cope with all the pressure and hype of his come-back. My answer is straight forward: I imagine after what Yuvi has been through, the word 'pressure' will have taken on a completely different meaning for him. He has lived through a period which is much more serious than winning or losing a cricket.

The reception he will get once again in Chennai will be a moving and an amazing moment for him. He will have to concentrate hard so let’s welcome him back and enjoy watching him play again.

Footnote: Over the weekend I noticed that after Australia's loss to Pakistan, their ranking in world T20 cricket had slipped to No. 10 behind Ireland. I am not sure if the ICC rankings computer has got it right or perhaps it's thrown a wobbly. However, for those of you who are interested in quizzes, complete the following sentence:

Isn’t it…………..to see Australia at No. 10 behind Ireland in the ICC T20 ratings? Choices for word can be: a) surprising; b) tragic; c) fantastic; d) about time.