Harsha Bhogle
Time to wake up
Following the run feast in the Deodhar Trophy matches, Harsha Bhogle makes a fervent appeal for faster and sporting wickets in domestic cricket.
Three don't make a team
If Tendulkar, Ganguly and Kumble play well, India sparkle. If they don't, says Harsha Bhogle, the results can be embarrassing.
When even the tough fluff
Pakistan have them and so does Australia. But among the Indians there's none who can stand up and be counted, says Harsha Bhogle.
Tendulkar must talk tough
Indian cricket needs orders, not encouragement. And, says Harsha Bhogle, only Tendulkar can give them without fear of an uprising
Here they come, rounding into the straight...
As the CUB triseries enters the crucial phase, Harsha Bhogle looks at options for table leaders India and Pakistan
Demons of the mind
More than the demons in the Sydney pitch, says Harsha Bhogle, it is those in the mind that are playing havoc with the aspirations of Sachin Tendulkar and his men
Field marshals
Harsha Bhogle is enthralled by Australia's showing in the field at the MCG yesterday. It made him realise that to win at cricket fielding has to be top class.
Two to tango
Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq not only won the game for Pakistan, says Harsha Bhogle, but also showed that its future is in pretty good hands
Down Under and heading downwards
Harsha Bhogle does some soul searching after the disastrous Test series in Australia and reckons there is only further gloom ahead for Indian cricket.
Storm after the calm
Harsha Bhogle salutes VVS Laxman on his gritty innings yesterday. 'What a pity these were the dying embers of a forgettable tour,' he says.
Unequal contest
After only the first day of the third Test, Harsha Bhogle fears an early end to the game unless the weather intervenes.
Still hanging on
At the end of day 4 of the second Test, India were still there - by the skin of their teeth and the grill on the helmet, says Harsha Bhogle.
Aussie aggression at its best
Day 2 of the second Test, says Harsha Bhogle, started with the Aussie media venting its collective fury on the Indians for refusing to play under lights and ended with a Gilchrist-Ponting offensive that put the home side in a commanding position.
Weather wise
The game, says Harsha Bhogle at the end of day one of the Melbourne Test, is wide open. Much like the heavens, which gave enough of its plenty to permit only 48 overs of play on the day
Brett threat
He's like lightning, say the Aussies. Harsha Bhogle agrees with them, but hastens to add that there's a cloud over the bowler's action.
Heaven here on earth
Cricket can be ordinary, at times. But, as Harsha Bhogle discovers on a cold day in Hobart, Nature never plays with a dead, defensive bat
Dravid packs up his gloves
Wicket-keeping gloves, that is. Trust Harsha Bhogle to see the silver lining in the cloud hanging over Nayan Mongia's head!
Change the batting order
If India is to do better in the next two Tests, it will have to shuffle the batting or even make some changes. And the big guns will have to return to where they belong, says Harsha Bhogle.
Up against a magic Warne
True, Tendulkar got a wrong decision twice. But, says Harsha Bhogle, the fact of the matter is that the Indians are unable to play Warne as well as they thought they could.
Warne's back to magical ways
His confidence is back; the mind and the fingers are singing a different tune, says Harsha Bhogle. And the masters of spin, the slayers of spin, have a fight on their hands..
Any which way but lose!
India are trying very hard not to lose. But, says Harsha Bhogle, they haven't even tried to win.
India must take their chances
They didn't today, says Harsha Bhogle, and allowed Australia to ride ahead relentlessly.
Round one at the Oval
The Indians, says Harsha Bhogle in his preview of the first Test at the Adelaide Oval beginning tomorrow, will have to emulate the River Torrens. And run strong, and deep
Disciplined bowling needed
It's time now for the real 'Test'. And Harsha Bhogle feels that India will have done themselves a good turn if they can prevent the Aussie batsmen from getting off to a flier.
Hairsplitting about Hair
Aussie umpire Darrell Hair, says Harsha Bhogle, has a visibly antagonistic attitude towards visiting sides. Which convinces him that he should be stood down in this series.
Topless, Down Under
Sun strong enough to make the Madras-born Ramesh hunt for sunblock. A womens' football team that promotes the game by posing in the buff. And some serious cricket, as the Indians gear up for the big one. Harsha Bhogle, from a ringside.
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