CAFE
COM:PORT
CHAT JOCKEYS
EVENTS

The Harsha Bhogle Chat

ARVIND: I AM GLAD YOU MENTIONED AMAY KHURASIA. I THINK HE IS A VERY EXCITING PLAYER.

I think problem with Indian cricket in nobody really thinks much about cricket. Decisions are not taken on the basis of merit.Decisions are taken so that others don't get displeased. Captain/Coach doesn't drop senior player because It will displease him. Selectors doesn't criticise each others decisions. This is not a healthy atmosphere. Player/selectors just think of themselves. Everybody just want to keep other happy so as to his position secure, Just forget the cricket. WHO CARES.

HARSHA: DO YOU THINK THAT SACHIN IS THE IDEAL CAPTAIN FOR THE INDIAN TEAM?

SUDHA: I THINK THE BEST WAY OF HEARING ME THESE DAYS IS TO USE THE TELEPHONE !!!

I believe the management setup and the personnel are inadequate. Giving Madan Lal a laptop may mean moving with times but its no good if he doesn't know how to use this. I don't think he is very good analyser of the game. I saw him on TV during Windies tour, he seemed to be just siting down and moping. As for Ali Irani, less said the better after Srinath fiasco.

Harsha, You might have covered this already..... What do you think will happen with the current team selection process. It certainly would be nice to have people who have substantial cricketing experience to be a selector. I also agree with P.Panicker and the team and Captain should have a more professional coach/advisor. Your thoughts?

If i may, who is Khurasia-arvind how do i join this rsc of yours- or do they hate bad punsters?

INCA; IN THE PRESENT SITUATION, YES, I THINK SACHIN IS THE BEST MAN FOR THE JOB. I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY HE IS THE ONLY MAN FOR THE JOB.

RAJITHA; I WOULD BE VERY CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT KAPIL DOES WITH THE PITCHES. I HOPE IT WON'T BE A TITULAR POST. IF WE CAN MAKE OUR PITCHES A LITTLE LIVELIER, WE COULD CHANGE THE LOOK OF OUR CRICKET.

harsha>> yeah! Khurasia seems to be an exciting prospect; But he has to see the likes of manjrekars or Kamblis getting an exntended run;

SAX; AMAY KHURASIA PLAYS FOR MADHYA PRADESH. GOOD ATTACKING LEFT HANDED BATSMAN. BATS AT NO.3 AND GOT A HUNDRED AGAINST A TOURING SIDE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND IS A FAIRLY CONSISTENT SCORES IN DOMESTIC CRICKET.

sax>> amay khurasia is a middle order bat for MP. he was part of india 'A' team. along with sharath, he too did decently. rsc=rec.sport.cricket, it is the USENET newsgroup where we flame it out with each other. send me a mail and i'll give you details(narvind@india.hp.com)

Harsha: Where do you think will the commercialisation of sports end??

HI HARSHA. IT IS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU. DON'T YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD GIVE SACHIN SOME MORE TIME AND JUST NOT JUMP AT HIS THROAT?

Harsha>> don't you think Noel David got the nod ahead of Ramprakash of Kerala? That gut got 5 wickets almost 6 times in a row including twice in duleep. noel david wasn't even in SZ team but once Shivlal Yadav became the manager, he made it.

COMMENTATOR: I HOPE IT DOESN'T. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG IN BEING COMMERCIAL BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT ENCOURAGES TALENT. I THINK, AT LEAST FROM THIS DISTANCE, THAT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NBA. CERTAINLY THE SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKET BOARD HAVE SHOWN THE POSITIVE SIDE TO COMMERCIALISATION. IF THEY CAN TREAT THE SPORT LIKE A BRAND IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET, WITH THE SAME LOVE AND CARE, IT WILL BE FANTASTIC.

hi harsha

ARVIND: I THINK NOEL DAVID GOT IN BECAUSE OF HIS PERFORMANCES WITH THE INDIA A TEAM IN DHAKA. ALSO THE FACT THAT IN AT LEAST ONE AREA, FIELDING, HE IS DEFINITELY WORLD CLASS WOULD HAVE HELPED. BUT I AGREE THAT WITHOUT SHIVLALYADAV, IT IS UNLIKELY HIS CASE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED AS MUCH ATTENTION,

OH HO I SEE U HAVE ALREADY ANSWERED THE QUESTION. THERE ARE TALKS THAT THE NEW WONDER KID ON THE BLOCK-RAHUL DRAVID SHOULD BE MADE THE VICE-CAPTAIN, AS KUMBLE IS NOT VERY INVOLVED IN THE DECISIONS. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?

Harsha: DON'T YOU THINK THAT THE CRICKETERS MUST GET PEEVED BY THE ARM CHAIR CRICKETERS LIKE YOU AND PREM PANNICKER AND OTHER ILUSTRIOUS FELLOWS OF THE SAME? YOU GIVE COMMENTARIES OF WHAT HE SHOULD BE DOING AND TIS IS WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND THIS IS THE GUY WHO SHOULD BE PLAYING. But is cricket reallly that simple?

OH HO I SEE U HAVE ALREADY ANSWERED THE QUESTION. THERE ARE TALKS THAT THE NEW WONDER KID ON THE BLOCK-RAHUL DRAVID SHOULD BE MADE THE VICE-CAPTAIN, AS KUMBLE IS NOT VERY INVOLVED IN THE DECISIONS. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?

Prem, Harsha hiiiiiiii :)))

But what do you think of Ramprakash? Shouldn't he have made the india 'A' team?!!

MOHAN: I THINK WE SHOULD JUST LEAVE RAHUL DRAVID ALONE. AS HE SAYS, HE IS STILL A KID FINDING HIS WAY AROUND. ITIS NOT YET A YEAR SINCE HE MADE HIS TEST DEBUT. SO JUST LET HIM BE. IT DOES SEEM THAT HE HAS A VERY GOOD CRICKET BRAIN BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE HURRY. REMEMBER HOW MANJREKAR DID IN PAKISTAN AND HOW WE ALL THOUGHT WE HAD ANOTHER GAVASKAR. LOOK WHAT HAPPENED THERE. LET'S GIVE DRAVID A CLEAR TWO YEARS MORE TO SEE HOW HE PERFORMS AS ABATSMAN.

OH HO I SEE U HAVE ALREADY ANSWERED THE QUESTION. THERE ARE TALKS THAT THE NEW WONDER KID ON THE BLOCK-RAHUL DRAVID SHOULD BE MADE THE VICE-CAPTAIN, AS KUMBLE IS NOT VERY INVOLVED IN THE DECISIONS. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?

Prem>> u there?! long time no see :))

I think Tendulkar going opening in the one days is bad strategy and wasted talent. Probably he and Jadeja are the only players who are good in the slog overs. What do you think about him coming two down?

I think kumble is not fit for vice captian, even tho he is good bowler.

Waaait a min. commie - armchair theorists, i feel have a far more objective view than active cricketers-the wood and the trees syndrome.They have a right to their opinions, however stupid ;-) Say thank you, Harsha!

Harsha>> What's your thoughts on Manoj Prabhakar alleging one indian crickter tried to bribe him to play bad for the india-pak match in Singer Cup in SL 1994???

COMMENTATOR: THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING ON A CHAT LIKE THIS AND BEING ON AIR. A GENUINE COMMENTATOR UNDERSTANDS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BALL BY BALL MAN AND AN EXPERT. THE EXPERT GIVES HIS COMMENTS. THE BALLBY BALL MAN TELLS PEOPLE HOW THINGS ARE NOT HOW THEY SHOULD BE. IN A CHAT ROOM, WE ARE ALL SHARING OPINIONS. WE COULD WELL BE WRONG !

Mohan>> don't you think Manjrekar was "ever on trial" and therefore crumbled under pressure?

SAX: I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THANK YOU IF I BELIEVED I WAS AN ARMCHAIR CRITIC.

Harsha>> don't you think Manjrekar was "ever on trial" and therefore crumbled under pressure?

Harsha>> Why are you typing in all capitals? its hard to read :(((

HARSHA: WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THE SELECTORS ARE A BUNCH OF JOKERS? IF YES WHO IS THE HEAD OF THIS PACK?

THERE ARE TALKS ABOUT THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATION IN THE BOARD MAKING THE SELECTION PROCESS A BIAS. ALSO, AT PRESENT THE CAPTAIN DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY SAY IN THE SELECTION PROCESS. YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE.

VENKAT; THE BASIS OF ONE-DAY CRICKET IS THAT YOUR BEST BATSMEN GET AS MANY OVERS AS POSSIBLE. THAT IS WHY THE BETTER BATSMEN SEEM TO BE BATTING UP THE ORDER. I HAVE NOPROBLEMS AT ALL WITH SACHIN OPENING THE BATTING. I BELIEVE THOUGH THAT HE HAS THE SKILL TO SCORE JUST AS QUICKLY BY DRIVING AND PLACING THE BALL RATHER THAN BY PLAYING INSIDE OUT SHOTS. WE ALSO NEED A JADEJA AT NO. 5 OR 6 TO GIVE THE FINISHING KICK.

HARSHA: WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THE SELECTORS ARE A BUNCH OF JOKERS? IF YES WHO IS THE HEAD OF THIS PACK?

MOHAN; I THINK AN ELEMENT OF BIAS IS INHERENT IN THE WAY THE SELECTORS ARE APPOINTED. THEY ARE APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARIES OF THE STATE ASSOCIATIONS WHO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROMOTING CRICKET IN THEIR AREA. IN FACT FOUR OF THE PRESENT SELECTORS ARE OFFICE BEARERS OF STATE ASSOCIATIONS. THEIR NEED TO PROMOTE CRICKET IN THEIR AREA (BY PICKING LOCALBOYS) IS BOUND TO CREEP INTO THEIR MENTAL MAKE UP AND THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE THE SYSTEM IS FLAWED. WE NEED SELECTORS WHO ARE NOT ANSWERABLE TO LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS ANDTHAT IS WHY THEY NEED TO BE MEN OF STATURE.

THERE ARE TALKS ABOUT THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATION IN THE BOARD MAKING THE SELECTION PROCESS A BIAS. ALSO, AT PRESENT THE CAPTAIN DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY SAY IN THE SELECTION PROCESS. YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE.

MOHAN : PART TWO OF YOUR QUESTION. I THINK IF YOUINVITE THECAPTAIN TO A SELECTION COMMITTEE MEETING HE SHOULD HAVE A VOTE. THE AUSTRLIANS DONOT INVITE THEIR CAPTAIN AT ALL. THEY JUST GIVE HIM A SIDE AND SAY, NOW GO AND DO YOUR JOB. BUT IN INDIA THE CAPTAIN IS CONSULTED. IN SUCH A SITUATION HE MUST HAVE A VOTE.

ANSWERME :I AM NOT SURE ABOUT SELECTORS BEING JOKERS. I FEEL IT IS BECOMING A BIT OF A CRICKETING CLICHE. BUT IF THEY CAN RETAIN A SIMILAR SENSE OF HUMOUR, AT LEAST THE SELECTIONCOMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL BECOMEMORE INTERESTING.

In your opinion can you tell us about any upcoming young talent in the nation that we can build upon for the 99 World cup by giving them ample oppurtuinities from now.I think we need a better Wicket keeper batsman for the one days.

prem>> Are u there?? harsha>> My team for the ODI's in Srilanka: 1)Saurav2)RubenPaul 3)Dravid 4)tendy 5)sarath 6)Khurasia 7)Robin 8)Srinath 9)prasad 10)kuruvilla 11)Kumble Backups: NileshKulkarni,Harvindersingh, Kambli; Any comments?? Rubuen can serve the dual purpose of WK/and pinch-hitting like Kalu of SL.

So are you privy to selection commitee meetings then, Harsha?

Harsha, Any plans for a PMG type of organization by you?

What about a 3 man selection committee? Gavaskar and Mohinder can be two. What about the third? Whatever one may say of Gavaskar's politics, he seems to be unbiased today. you can make it out from his commentary and writings. but no vengsarkar or shastri please. they are clearly biased. whom would you suggest? and would gavaskar take it up if offered? what about mohinder?

RAJG : I AM GLAD AJAYJADEJA ISN'T ON THIS CHAT. ANY THOUGHTS ON A FIFTH BOWLER?

What is your honest opinion about Rajesh Chauhan's action? Can he come back?

Harsha, What do you think of the Quota system ? Does it really help to build up a good team ?

HARSHA: DO YOU HAVE A SUPPRESSED DESIRE TO BE A CRICKETER