Not? campaign and his foundation to | Forum
123
Mar 10 '19
It is beginning to change nowadays a little bit with Virat Kohlis popularity knowing no bounds, but going into the Delhi Test last year, the last time an Indian crowd cheered an Indian wicket was in Mumbai in 2013-14 when M Vijay fell to make way for one last Test innings of Sachin Tendulkar. Cheap Nike Vapormax China . You thought this would be the last such instance, but at Feroz Shah Kotla after waiting for a few replays to check for a no-ball, the crowd began to cheer once it was clear Dane Piedt hadnt overstepped. The wicket he earned was Rohit Sharmas. The mode of dismissal infuriated the crowd. Five balls into an innings he looked to clear long-on - yes long-on - and failed. People cheering said Rohit doesnt deserve any more chances; they felt he was blocking the way of other deserving players, and that he wasnt even making bowlers earn his wicket.Perhaps the crowd remembered his dismissal in Southampton the previous year. India were leading the series 1-0, they had conceded 569 on a flat track, needed to get out of there with a draw, and at 210 for 4, 74 runs into a partnership, having done the hard work to reach 28, Rohit hit Moeen Ali straight to mid-off with five minutes to go to tea break. These are the dismissals that get etched permanently.Perhaps that Kotla crowd knew this was a trend that would follow. In Kanpur in this series, on a turning track where India had got off to a good start, he arrested a collapse, added 52 runs with R Ashwin, and then half an hour before stumps he played a nothing shot, finding mid-on off the bowling of Mitchell Santner. You wondered if Rohit can at all score Test runs without playing the lofted shot. You wonder if Anil Kumble and Kohli are wrong to make exceptions for Rohit.One thing is for certain. The policy to play six batsmen on difficult home tracks is justified. With the form that Indian spinners are in, they will need the extra bowler only on really flat tracks. The scoreboard pressure from the extra runs, and the assurance against collapses, that a No. 6 gives can be worth more. The other day in a discussion organised by Cricket Association of Bengal on the sidelines of this Test, Sourav Ganguly paid a big tribute to the man sitting next to him, Anil Kumble. Ganguly said Kumble used to tell the batsmen, You give me runs on the board, I will win you matches.And he did, Ganguly added.Kumble is now Indias coach. This change in strategy seems to be a change driven by Kumble. In Kanpur, without naming anybody, speaking about the shift to using four bowlers, Kohli said the presence of intelligent people in the change room helps. The strategy was under no doubt, the personnel was. Was Rohit, averaging under 35 after 19 Tests, the man for the job?Kohli has always felt so. He is a captain who believes in dominating the opposition. He wanted somebody who demoralised attacks from in-between situations, someone in the Adam Gilchrist mode. His changes the game in one session comment became a millstone around Rohits neck, especially because his inclusion kept coming at the expense of a solid batsman who had earned his chances. That is liable to put Rohit under extra pressure; he cant live on an island and not know that Cheteshwar Pujara is missing matches because of him. Playing Rohit as the sixth batsman not only got rid of disguised unemployment, it also must have freed his mind a little bit. Yet you wouldnt have wanted to be Rohit walking in at 43 for 4 with New Zealand on a roll in the second innings. The pitch was doing heaps at that time, and New Zealand were pounding in, looking to finally break through.Rohit usually responds to criticism of his lofts gone wrong by saying there is no such thing as a soft dismissal. If the same shot goes for a six, he says, everybody praises it. This defence doesnt cut it with Kumble. In the lead-up to the Kolkata Test, while Kumble praised Rohits second-innings half-century in Kanpur, he also offered a mild rebuke that his first-innings shot was what he would be disappointed with. While Kumble was giving Rohit the confidence of a secured position in the XI, he was asking for more responsibility, to alter his natural game according to the teams needs.Sunday just happened to be a situation where his natural game could work. While New Zealand were on a roll, they also knew they could not afford to concede quick runs because of the first-innings deficit of 112. They had little margins to play with. Rohit came out and slog-swept Jeetan Patel - the best New Zealand bowler in the first innings according to Ajinkya Rahane - for a six. Patel was pushed back immediately.For company Rohit had the man who has once again made it fashionable to cheer an Indian wicket in India. The wicket immediately before Kohlis arrival brings only a moment of disappointment in Indian grounds now. Kohli and Rohit ran away with it, but the shooter and the harsh lbw call against Kohli still left Rohit work to do.After playing one big shot early in the innings, Rohit showed he could score with shots other than the loft. The way he ran away with it against the old ball and against tired bowlers, you could imagine Kohli finally counting the repayment for his faith.Rohit and Wriddhiman Saha first saw off the threatening combination of Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner, and then Rohit went from 29 off 59 to 82 off 132. Without really looking to accelerate, Rohit hurt New Zealand and took the game all but out of their reach. This is an innings that will give him the breathing space - although he said at the press conference he never felt under pressure in this series - but he will need to keep repeating this to completely repay the faith invested in him. Cheap Nike Vapormax . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Discount Nike Vapormax . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. http://www.cheapvapormax.net/ . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. OKLAHOMA CITY -- Michael Jordan praised Russell Westbrook for his sense of loyalty in his speech inducting the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Thursday in Oklahoma City.Another thing you guys should be proud of is the sense of loyalty this kid has shown, Jordan said as the crowd burst into an extended cheer.Following the departure of Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors in July, Westbrook responded by signing an extension with the Thunder in August.He couldve easily come to Charlotte, Jordan said, smiling, But he decided to stay here in Oklahoma. Im not here to try and bash anybody thats not here. Everybody has a choice. Im not saying everybody doesnt have a choice. But when I saw he chose to stay in Oklahoma I was so proud, and as Clay [Bennett] knows and Russ know, I texted him to show a sense of respect.One year ago the Thunder organization gathered in Tulsa to induct Durant into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Westbrook was his presenter. At the end of his speech, Durant said, Hopefully well be here next year for Russell Westbrooks induction.Durant was not in attendance.Westbrook focused his speech speaking on unity and the current social climate.After witnessing the divisions and the challenges of our nation we have been facing for the past several months, Ive realized this honors not about me nor about the people in this room, Westbrook said in front of a crowd of about 1,500. Oklahoma is an unbelievable community. Im so appreciative of the fact that the people of Oklahoma have been so supportive of welcoming my family and I. However, I feel theres always room to grow. I can be better, you can be better and we can be better together.Westbrook is a face of Jordan Brand, but also a player Jordan has specifically mentioned as someone he admires. Westbrook said when he found out he was selected, he had a list of people he wanted to induct him and that Jordan responded right away.When Russell asked me to be a presenter, I didnt even pause because of the relationship and the respect that I have for Clay [Bennett] and obviously the respect that I have for Russell, Jordan said. Im truly a fan of his. If you caan ever say, being that were so many years apart, that I can now watch him play, I see a lot of resemblance in his passion for the game of basketball in the way I play the game of basketball. Vapormax For Cheap. Following the extension in August, Jordan complimented Westbrook, saying thirty years ago, thats me.[Jordans] a guy if he respects you and the things that you do, he took time out of his day to come all the way to Oklahoma City to do this for me, Westbrook said. Which is an amazing honor.Michaels obviously the best player to play the game, Westbrook said. Hes done so many things for the game of basketball in so many ways and broke down so many barriers for guys like myself to go out and compete at a high level. So it means a lot in that aspect. And off the court obviously hes created a great brand, something I eventually want to do when Im done playing.With Jordan willingly offering comparisons, Westbrook was asked about how he sees himself with regards to Jordan.Its hard to compare yourself to the greatest thats ever played the game, Westbrook said.Westbrook was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008 and -- along with Nick Collison -- is one of only two remaining players that relocated with the team to Oklahoma City. He has been committed to charitable efforts in Oklahoma City, from opening Russells Reading Rooms in multiple elementary schools to serving hundreds of meals for each Thanksgiving. In 2015, he received the NBAs Community Assist award.[H]is passion for the game of basketball, you dont teach that. Youre born with that, Jordan said. He shares it with everyone here in Oklahoma. You guys should be certainly proud of that, and the effort and the loyalty hes showed to this state, to this city and this community. Each and every day hes goes out with his Why Not? campaign and his foundation to make sure less fortunate kids get the opportunity to participate in things theyd never even have the opportunity to participate in. He does a great job supporting this community. Feel proud about Russell Westbrook. ' ' '
Share:
