Dravid support Sachin on new ODI layout

Test colleague Rahul Dravid has backed Sachin Tendulkar's suggestion to refurbish the ODIs by splitting the format into four innings of 25 overs each.

"It is an attractive suggestion. I don't know why the ICC has discarded it (Tendulkar's suggestion via a letter to ICC), but it's a good idea that Sachin has given and is worth experiment," said India's batting foundation on the England tour, on the sidelines of a promotional event for 'Gillette' in Mumbai, Wednesday night.

"It has been try out in Australia (in domestic cricket) and the plus and minus point should be look into," he added.

Tendulkar had written a letter to the ICC to change the arrangement of the ODIs from two innings of 50 overs to four of 25 overs, like a Test match, but the world council's chief administrative, Haroon Lorgat, had rejected it.

"There is no need to change the format," Lorgat told journalists in Colombo on Wednesday.

"We did be given a written proposal from Sachin, but that was a long time back. I had spoken to him many times about it, the last one as recent as during the World Cup in April.

"The success of the contest showed that the 50-over format was in sound health and there was no need for dramatic changes," Lorgat added.

"The decision-making board meeting after the World Cup decided that the present format was doing well. That has not changed," Lorgat stressed.

Tendulkar had argue that four innings of 25 overs would be a fair way to balance the advantage gained by the team which won the toss in circumstances such as bad weather and sub-quality pitches, which historically had established that a match can virtually be determined by the toss of a coin.

Dravid also backed the Board for deciding to put pressure on the ICC for revising the contentious Umpire Decision Review System, of which he got the rough end of the stick in the Test and ODI rubbers in England.

"It's not set in stone. Anything linked with DRS is a work in progress. There are new challenges and questions about it. It's up to the member Boards (of the ICC) to ask whether things are better with it in place," said the 39-year-old Dravid.

Dravid, who was the lone batsman to show constantly superb form in hard conditions next to a top-class England pace attack in the four-match Test rubber that India lost 0-4, was also controversially given out throughout the 'Hot Spot' image system on at least three occasions, leading to big debates over DRS.

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Sachin Tendulkar falls short of 100th ton

Sachin Tendulkar fell agonizingly short of his 100th international century on Monday, leave-taking cricket fans dissatisfied all across the globe.

Tendulkar's luck appear to be in after he enjoyed several reprieve on his way to 91 on day five at The Oval, but Tim Bresnan attentive the 'Little Master' first ball after recurring to the attack after lunch.

Tendulkar departed one over after Amit Mishra (84), who was clean bowled by Graeme Swann after the India pair, put on 144 for the fourth wicket and in danger to halt England's victory charge.

The double get through left the tourists on 262 for five following on, only 29 runs short of making England bat again but, critically, with only five wickets in hand. The decision by Rod Tucker to send away Tendulkar lbw was a brave one, with Hawk-Eye showing the ball would only just have abrupt the top of leg stump.

Tendulkar turned to the umpire in apparent incredulity before trudge off following what could be his final Test innings in England.

In reality, he was lucky even to make 90, with England having unsuccessful to appeal for a stumping last night, as well as dropping him twice today.

He also survives one good lbw appeal and another that was too close to call. England was therefore backing in the kind of position in which they began the day, well on top and heading for a series whitewash.

A sell-out crowd had assembled at the The Oval, both for the chance to pay homage to Tendulkar and witness the home side's coronation as the world's number one team.

They seem set to get value for their money on both counts too, because England will receive their International Cricket Council mace as current world-beaters whatever the outcome today - while Tendulkar compile by far his highest score of the series.

The 38-year-old passed his second 50 of the summer in 74 balls, and Mishra followed to the next of his career from 103. The nightwatchman was strike a painful early blow on the left thigh by James Anderson, and necessary on-field treatment for several minutes.

But he was otherwise peaceful by everything the England attack could muster before lunch, arresting six fours to Tendulkar's seven in their own half-centuries.

After Sunday's stump slip-up, Swann had a second piece of bad luck against Tendulkar just before the interval, when Alastair Cook drop a bat-pad catch at short-leg to stay of execution him again on 70.

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Indian batting resolve be there tested

Indian cricket has come a long way. Certainly the rush of the last few summers has caused a few headaches but cricket is lucky to have India as its driving force. Amongst major playing nations, only Sri Lanka has better half as much.

However, India has cause to worry about its prospects. Over the next few months the quality of Indian batsman ship will be examine and the new making needs to prove it can counter lifting deliveries as capably as their elders.

India's rise in the last 15 years has in no small part been due to the ability of senior batsmen to master back foot play. Now that go forward is in peril. Whereas the old guard of necessity learnt to play back, their successor can make millions by bashing away off the front peg.

India visits Australia this winter and within a few months group will know whether the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a breeding ground of brilliance or a promoter of charlatans. Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trot have risen on the back of old shaped technique and attitudes. Can the new Indians match them?

Lacking guts

Indian batting needs to keep its imagination. Not so long ago, and with few exceptions, Indian batsmen were incompetent against great pace and seam movement and were easily crushed by assorted English miners and antipodean roughnecks.

England once claims four Indians off the first 14 balls of a Test match. Forgetting about the Ghurkhas, and applying a caricature, observers finished that Indian batsmen lacked fortitude.

In fact many of those players lacked experience and sometimes leadership. As George Headley was obliged to play under useless West Indian pale skins so Indian teams were for an unconscionable period led by Maharajahs unburdened with cricketing knowledge or skill.

Not that the batting order was strong or knowledgeable sufficient to flourish in hostile conditions. Indian batsmen were raise on passive pitches. Expert against spin, they were found wanting next to cutters and rib ticklers.

Now they place up on fiery track in Perth and on damp decks in Leeds.
Of course, a strange generation of batsmen has emerge, one of the finest any country has produced. No nation can forecast such riches, let alone depend on it.

All a community can do is to organize itself so that talent is paying attention, recognized and knowledgeable. After that it's up to the player. Additionally the present seniors were lucky with their timing. Cricket has enter its second age of high scoring.

Helmets have summary the threat posed by fast bowlers, pitches have lost their spirit and, in India, faster tracks and more recurrent tours have forced the issue.

Scaling new heights

So Indian batting has scaled new heights. It is an impressive line-up. Sachin Tendulkar's 100th hundred for his country is eagerly awaited.

How easily that phrase “100th hundred” trips off the tongue, concealing a mind-boggling feat requiring unexpected skill and stamina!

Rahul Dravid is a remarkably durable and talented first drop. Alas! Virender Sehwag is upset, a serious loss to any team for he can control from the outset.

He is a master cast as a maverick. Still V.V.S. Laxman is approximately, continually fretting until the crisis comes.

Sourav Ganguly has reserved but Gautam Gambhir has risen, and formed a potent opening partnership.

What about their replacements? Is Indian batting in safe hands? Can the new group play off both feet?

Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and company have the capability, but are their education complete?

Can they build an innings? If not they will wither in the sun of separation, fall at the fence of high hope. Nothing lasts forever, not even Tendulkar, Laxman and Dravid.

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