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The year gone by will perhaps be remembered more for the retirement of two colossal giants of modern-day cricket than for any impactful performance. First it was Sachin Tendulkar who literally brought a nation to a standstill with his retirement. And just as the year was winding down, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis quit Test cricket as well.
An interesting part of cricket in 2014 will, therefore, consist of seeing how the two teams tackle the vacancies created by the retirement of the duo. But there are other delicious posers in the new year. How will India’s middle-order cope without Tendulkar?
Can Australia’s new-found resurgence lead them back to the peak of the rankings? Is this the end of England’s short-lived glory as top dogs? There are some great contests slated for the coming months. India’s tours to England and Australia could prove a passage of rite for the young players. A lot of reputations are at stake, some old stars will fade while a few new ones will hopefully be born.
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Cricket fans are in for some really early mornings in 2014 as Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men kick-start the year with a tour of New Zealand. The Kiwis are a team in transition but India’s record overseas has been abysmal of late. In the last ten Test matches away from home, India has lost nine and drawn one. New Zealand’s swing-conducive weather will be a good test for the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, who have to prove they are worthy replacements for India’s famed middle-order of Rahul Dravid, Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. India will play five ODIs, the first on January 19, and two Test matches in New Zealand starting on February 6.
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A good Australian team will go a long way in restoring quality in Test cricket. For the last two years, the Aussies have been a pale shadow of their illustrious self, but it does look like they’ve turned a corner. The good, old-style drubbing of England in the Ashes and they look like a different team altogether. But their biggest test is just around the corner — Graeme Smith’s South African side welcomes them in February and March for a three-match Test series. Starting on February 12, it promises to be one of the most-awaited contests of the year; Mitchell Johnson is bowling with fire, while Dale Steyn and company are always a handful on home soil. Australia’s batting still looks unconvincing and it will be a test of their mettle to put up winning scores in South Africa. Fortunately, the International Cricket Council, or ICC, has scheduled a three-match series this time, unlike the last tour when only a pair of matches were played between the two gold-and-green teams.
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ICC WORLD T20 (MARCH-APRIL)
Before the Indian Premier League gets under way, there’s a small matter of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh from March 16. West Indies are the defending champions and, with T20 being Chris Gayle’s gallery sport, they would be looking to retain the trophy. However, with the venue being the sub-continent, teams like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would also start out as among the favourites. Add to that the unpredictable nature of the format, and it is really anyone’s game. What the T20 World Cup will also do is put a lot of players in the shop window for the Indian Premier League, so you can expect everyone to be at their cricketing best. Afghanistan is making its debut in international cricket at this tournament along with Nepal.
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Once the heat, dust and controversies — well, expected controversies, for IPL cannot not have its share of controversies, can it? — raised by IPL settle down, India will have to beard the English lion. It has to be reiterated that India’s overseas record is abysmal and the English tour gives Dhoni and his team a chance to redeem themselves. England in its own den is always a tough nut to crack and after losing the Ashes would be looking at the opportunity to bounce back. For someone like Kohli, this series (the first Test match starts on July 9 at Trent Bridge) could go a long way in strengthening his credentials as one of the best batsmen on the circuit. India’s young bowlers should enjoy the friendly conditions in England and the likes of Mohammed Shami could flourish. The series could well be the swan song for Zaheer Khan. It is a five-Test series and perhaps will play a crucial role in shaping the look of the Indian team for the next few years.
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Two months before India begin the defence of the 50-over World Cup, to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand, they have a chance to get acclimatised to the conditions with a tough tour of Australia. The last time India went Down Under, it lost all its four matches. This time it should be looking to make amends. Australia has never been a happy hunting ground for India, but there’s a bit of good news: pacy Perth has been dropped as one of the venues and India will play on the somewhat batsman-friendly pitches at Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne. Dhoni's captaincy will be under scrutiny in the away series against England and Australia. The Indian captain, of course, has publicly said that he will consider his position after the 2015 World Cup.
