Younis Khan’s bewildering stats
Younis Khan piled on the runs in Zimbabwe, winning the Man of the Series award for his half-centuries in the first and third ODIs. Those two fifties take Younis’ career tally to 44 half-centuries in 226 matches, with 6 centuries. Ignoring the mediocre fifty to hundred conversion rate, and a lowly average – for someone flaunted as a “world class” batsman – the statistic that truly exacerbates Younis’ accomplishments is that nearly 40% of his fifties have come against the also rans of International Cricket.
The 81 at Harare was Younis’ ninth ODI fifty against Zimbabwe – they alone account for more than a fifth of the entire total. Add the likes of Bangladesh, Kenya, Ireland, Hong Kong – the teams outside the traditional top 8 – into the mix and the total rises up to 17 out of the total 44; with the added bonanza of a career best 144 against the mighty Hong Kong.
A quick flashback through his 11 year long ODI career should reveal that Younis Khan has never quite hit the big time in the limited-overs format. However owing to his sterling Test Performances over the years, he continued to be selected in the ODIs without any sagacious justification.
If you are a Cricket aficionado, take a look back at Younis Khan’s career in the traditional all green color of Pakistan and visualize a truly virtuoso performance that validates his tag of being our middle-order mainstay – it will be difficult since not many of them exist. Barring a couple of performances against India – especially the one at Mohali in November 2007 – Younis has hardly ever been seen at the crease in an ODI, when the chips are down and the team is facing a daunting run chase. Be it the three World Cups, the Champions Trophies, the tours Down Under, the T20 Championships – in the real meaningful encounters Younis Khan’s habitual capitulation is a melancholy sight.
It is evident that Younis is a batsman who prefers to go about things at his own pace – therefore the fact that modern day ODI matches are high scoring affairs and more often than not it’s the situation that is dictating the play, ensures that Younis’ batting prowess lumbers under the pressure to up the ante.
The atypical
Mayweather-Ortiz fight
Last Saturday’s fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Victor Ortiz was a cult event in more ways than one. First and foremost there was Mayweather’s towering repertoire on show. Owing to his total eradication of the hapless Ortiz, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. has improved to 42-0 and in turn bagged the WBC welterweight title.
Amidst all the controversies and the oddities that followed, let’s not forget that up till the decisive Fourth Round, FM governed the ring. The skewed contest culminated with May knocking out Ortiz with a left-right hooking combo leaving Ortiz “viciously” hurtling to the canvas. But that is merely a fraction of the tale.
The first moment of eccentricity came deep into the fourth when Ortiz had an off the wall brain detonation moment as he head-butted Mayweather intentionally. Ortiz then went onto apologize in the oddest of fashions to further get on Mayweather’s nerves – cuddling to make up for it? Accordingly, he had it coming!
Prior to May’s decisive onslaught, another glaring abnormality was courtesy referee Joe Cortez. After penalizing Ortiz a point for his head-butt, Cortez than decidedly failed to recall the visages of the participants and elected to rummage around in the crowd. Hence, while Mayweather began to batter his opponent Cortez had his eye off the play – and, unfortunately that was exactly the case with Ortiz himself. As a boxer you’re rightly asked to “protect yourself at all time”. Ortiz preferred to overlook that, and with Cortez also looking elsewhere, Mayweather unleashed conclusively.
Even the post-match interview was fanatical to say the least. Mayweather got all worked up against legendary HBO analyst Larry Merchant, with the latter riposting snappishly, “I wish I was 50 years younger – I’d kick your (backside)”.
While the unusual happenings shrouded the match, Mayweather’s class was palpable nonetheless. After FM’s total domination, the talk now turns to a much awaited potential pound-for-pound clash with Manny Pacquiao – the continuing procrastination of the matchup is another outlandish boxing story.
Lievremont’s unorthodox call
As things heat up in New Zealand, the Rugby World Cup’s most eagerly awaited pool matchup has been marred the outburst engulfing French coach Lievremont’s decision to name a “weakened side”. By the time readers get hold of this piece, New Zealand’s game with France would have had been played, however the real talking point is the hue and cry in the lead-up.
The “conspiracy theory” allegations over the squad announcement have their foundation in Ireland’s 15-6 surprising victory over Australia on Saturday, which has ostensibly meant that the runner-up in Group A faces an “easier path” to the final. If matters abide by the script, Ireland look set to top Group C with Australia expected to be second. Group D should see South Africa winning it with Wales or Samoa following them in the quarters. Group B should see England top, with one of Scotland or Argentina in second.
Now as things stand, and if one were to decipher the labyrinth in accordance with betting odds – the top team in Group A would have to face either the Springboks or the Wallabies in the semifinal to book a place in the final. On the contrary, the runners-up from Group A would encounter England in the quarters followed by a likely matchup against Ireland or Wales in the semis.
What the New Zealand press is implying is that Lievremont’s squad announcement is the metaphorical “white flag”, since they would rather lose on Saturday and have a comparatively uncomplicated route to the final. There are many ways to look at the scenario and not one of them makes the New Zealanders any less sheepish.
Servat will be on the bench, Yachvili starts and then there are the unconventional halves to add to other changes – however the side for Saturday is far from being a weak outfit. Yes, Morgan Parra will start at fly-half instead of playing at his customary scrum-half slot – but didn’t the All Blacks play their best rugby against Japan and Canada with that exact scenario? The French coach has a knack of changing things around and experimenting – quite often with justifiable dividends. And, most importantly what is the point of all this hassle? To ensure that they face England – historically their bogey team – in the quarters?
The All Blacks’ faithful are clearly aching from last World Cup’s quarter-final defeat – adding to the memorable French Comeback in the 1999 semifinal – and their yearn for vengeance is clearly getting the better of their senses. New Zealand’s media is being blatantly disrespectful towards not only the French players selected for the vital encounter but also with regards to the Irish and English by touting them as the “easier” sides.
Also, even if one were to acquiesce to their claims – incongruous though they are – what exactly is the point of announcing a squad for a major tournament if you aren’t going to dig deep into it. And finally, the ultimate task is to lift the World Cup – the coach has every right to maneuver his side in whatever manner he deems fit to alleviate his chances of the conquest. The $460 and the tickets are side issues; deal with it.
Djokovic’s precarious decision
What was Djokovic thinking in trying to take to court so soon after his injury scare in the U.S Open Final? Yes the Defending Champions were trailing the Davis Cup semifinal tie 2-1 and needed No-Djo to fire in the do-or-die reverse singles match, but at the cost of seriously aggravating the injury?
Djokovic has had a record-breaking season, and even with a couple of ATP tournaments still up for grabs, he should look to rest his incinerated body to ensure that he doesn’t fall into the “one season wonder” box, when juxtaposed with other legends of the game. Unless he refreshes himself sufficiently during the tail-end of this season, he might not be able to come close to matching his super-human performances next year – and that would be a major blow, not only for the player himself, but for the Sport.
While Djokovic’s injury enforced retirement against Del Potro gave Argentina a well-deserved victory, Spain thumped France to join the Argentineans in December’s final. With their habitual selection of clay as their home surface, a Nadal inspired Spain proved too good for a competent French team.
On another surface Spain vs. Argentina could have been a closer affair, but with Nadal and Ferrer’s dominance on clay, December’s final – hosted by Spain – should add to the recent augmentation of Davis Cup titles for the Spanish Side.
