Post the final of the World Test Championship 2023.  In truth, the official postmortem results are not yet available.  However, there is no shortage of unofficial reports.  First up, was it a catch or not a catch?    

Shubman Gill, not willing to accept reality, gave his version of the DRS review.  Gill’s vision differed from the official verdict, and for his short sightedness, clearly visible on social media.  He was fined the entire amount of his match fee.  It appears that Gill did not believe that his supporters and fans on social media saw what the rest of us saw.

Although the DRS reviewer had the benefit of numerous camera angles and closeup shots, team captain Sharma and a few others added their 20/20 vision that the DRS umpires should have seen more of the catch.  It is odd that you campaign for a DRS system because you don’t trust the vision of the on-field umpires.  Then you raise doubt about the system that worked well when a decision is in your favor, but demand justice when the decision is not in your favor.

India was defeated in two successive WTC finals, and that has been embarrassing and evokes questions, supposition, and what ifs?  The cry is that Australia had plenty of time to rest, recuperate and prepare.  And team India? Well, the entire Indian Team Players had only 20 days to prepare, says Shastri, Rohit and Kohli.  And the reason for the preparation time available was due to IPL players being involved in the IPL play-offs and final matches.  Who is responsible for this, The BCCI? The IPL? Cricket Australia? Or The ICC?  Ravi, Rohit, and Virat, please tell us when you have the answer.   

Actually, notwithstanding his previous comments, Rohit appears to know exactly why team India was humiliated.  Indian batters did not lack concentration, they simply wanted to bat in a different way, he is reported to have said.  NO, no, that is not the answer he corrected himself, we lost because the World Test Championship Final was played in June.  We must schedule the final for March.  Better still, we must play the final in another venue away from England.  And for good measures, make the final best of three.

If the answer to losing or (winning) was so obviously known to so many, including Rohit.  Why did team India lose? I will wait for the official postmortem results.

The World Test Cricket Championship 2023 final has been decided.  Australia takes the title of Champions, the crown, and the rewards.  Congratulations to the Aussies and commiseration to the losing Indian Team.

Sometime, maybe a year from today, when the dust settles, we can see the full picture.  The postmortem for this 2023 Test match final, the examiner might give us the results of his yearlong review of the playing facts. Questions, what did happen, why did it happen, who is to blame and can this cricket tragedy, for such it must be seen through Indian eyes.  Could this have been avoided?

The Australian eyes will see the 2023 test final through tears of joy and happiness as they recall the last two test match series when the Indian team creamed and pulverized the Australians, leaving their undergarments exposed.  Yes! Revenge is sweet, and in this 2023 final, very sweet for the Australians whose prize was twice as nice because it was rivals team India on the losing side.

What happened? We are aware of the idiom that hindsight is 20/20.  Indian Captain, Rohit Sharma and his team of advisers must be regretting the decision to invite Australia to bat first.  It is conceivable that with no pressure nor anxiety, India’s batters may have produced, and their bowlers turn the table on Australia.

Why did this happen? Arguably, there are those in the camp who would say that this match is indicative and suggestive that test cricket is alive.  That it is well, and it is growing.  But is the reverse true? Is the popularity of the white ball cricket echoing the demise of the red ball version.  The casual observer would have noted that team India’s batters appeared to be more prone to the cricket shot selections that is a staple in the white ball version of the T20 format.  Those shot selection choices did not work well for the Indian batters in this final.

Who is to blame?  Well, I have deliberated, but in truth, one man cannot deliver.  So, I am waiting with patience for the jury panel to deliver a verdict. 

Could this tragedy (for India) be avoided? The simple answer is yes, it could be avoided. But don’t ask me to tell you how.  Cheers, felicitations, well done and well played to Australia.  Commiserations to team India, thank you for at least showing up.

On the Morning of day 4, Spectators and fans had no idea what excitement was on the card for this day’s play.  There was a pattern that had been observed, and this was totally unpredictable.  The overnight not out batters for Australia’s first innings (Smith and Head), and second innings Labuschagne and Green, were dismissed early without significant addition to their individual overnight score.  Similarly, India’s first innings batters, Rhane added sixty runs, but his partner Bharat did not add to his overnight score.

So, the pattern appears set, and it is quite likely, maybe predictable, that Kohli (44runs) and Rahane (20 runs) will fail to add to their overnight scores, if history does repeat itself.  History aside, Australia resumed their second innings today, on123 for 4 wickets.  This was a good morning for the Indian Bowlers Yadav (2 wickets), Jadeja (3 wickets) and Shami (2wickets).  They were economical, precise and they mesmerized the Australian Middle order batters.  Except for Starc (41) and Carey (66) who held steady and produced an encouraging 93 run partnership to save Australia from embarrassment.  Australia declared their innings closed at 270 for 8 wickets.  The target for India is 444 runs.

In yesterday’s post, we estimated that India can restrict Australia to 400 or less by lunch time on day 4.  This could be a winning score for India.  India’s target run chase has begun, and there is clear sign that the run chase is on.  Sharma and Gill at over number 7, were scoring at 5.8 runs per over, before Gill was out to another spectacular catch by Green in the slips.  Diving forward, Green appeared to have caught the ball cleanly, but to the spectators’ eyes, the ball looked as if it scraped on the ground before Green had control of it. 

The DRS review ruled the catch clean, and Gill was out (18).  Sharma and Pujara continued to keep up with the run rate.  But, unfortunately, a bad shot selection, reminiscent of a T20 stroke, caused the downfall of Captain Sharma, a missed cross batted sweep and he was out LBW (43).  Five balls and one run later, Pujara emulated Captain Sharma with his version of trying to help an over the head rising delivery.  He failed and he was easily caught by the wicketkeeper (27).

At close of play, day 4, India with Virat Kohli (44 not out) and Rahane (20 not out), were the Overnight batters.  Statistically, Australia has bowled 40 overs in this afternoon session, and this leads me to the question of the evening.  If Australia can bowl 70 to 80 overs on day 5, Can India score at 3.5 to 4.0 runs per over to collect the US $1.6 million prize.

Should India fail the challenge, the second-place prize is nothing to sniff at, US $800,000 should wipe away the tears.

Hartford, CT, May 28, 2023: Indian American Multi Sports coach Jatin Patel becomes the Eighth individual since 1981 to receive Cricket Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award, Patel will join a list that includes West Indies legendary all-rounder Sir, Garfield “Gary” Sobers and Dr. Michael Holding, Lloyd Dixon, Roy Sweeney, Denzel Powell, Tony Becca, and Mahammad Ahmad Qureshi, popularly known as Maq Qureshi, received the Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Awards

This will be the third prestigious award for Jatin Patel who also received the USA President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong commitment to building a strong nation through volunteer service. He is already qualified for a State of Indiana, Governor’s Long-Term Public Service Recognition for his 35 years of Professional Career.

Previously, Jatin Patel received the Indiana Governor’s Public Service Achievement Award in 2010 and won the American Cricket Federation Inaugural Volunteer Award in 2013. A multi discipline (cricket, soccer, and baseball) coach, Jatin Patel is also a USA Cricket Hall of Famer. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2020 and became a Board member in 2021. His commendable nomination is based on his commitment and sincerity to public service and his multi sports interest as his weekend only hobby.

Jatin Patel, who pioneered the American Cricket Education Council (ACEC) in 2022, is also a Professional Sports Performance Analyst accredited by the International Society of Performance Analysts of Sport (ISPAS). He holds Advance Sports Performance and Analysis Diplomas (FIFA & Olympic Soccer). He is a renowned name in the Indian community for his various roles in cricket establishments in the USA. He also pioneered scholastic Cricket and trained coaches while helping more than sixty youth cricket academy and community programs, in addition to colleges /Universities & schools in the USA.

Extremely delighted at his achievements, Jatin Patel said, “2023 is a momentous year for me as I received Federal the award, followed by CHOF international recognition. These are memorable achievements for the rest of my life. These are one of the greatest honors I have ever received as my accolades. In cricket terms, I scored a Hat-Trick.”

Jatin deserves such honor for all work he has done with the extreme dedication for the sport Cricket, Said Dr. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Legend cricket hall of famer, former West Indies Captain, and Champion CPL 2022 coach.

Photo: – Jatin Patel, Cricket Hall of Famer & Board Director, Presenting Hall of Famer Dr. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, former West Indies Captain with his certificates & Induction Ceremony Booklet.

“Receiving another accolade of such high recognition is beyond comparison. I send my heartfelt gratitude for the nomination. To be more precise, I can honestly say all credit goes to my parents, family, and friends who supported me over the years, I thank them all – It is not just my award, but this belongs to all of us as a team. No doubt, We also count our forebears and mentors who provided the inspiration and motivation to serve others,” added Mr. Jatin Patel who is also the Chairperson for Who Is Who in Cricket (CricWho).

It is an honor and a pleasure working with Jatin Patel. He has continued to make all of us proud at the Hall & Museum. Said Michael Chambers, Executive Director & founder of USA Cricket Hall of Fame,

Photo: – Jatin Patel with Mr. Michael Chambers, Executive Director, Cricket Hall of Fame

The Cricket Hall of Fame will bestow a ring and blazer complete with an insignia during the 43^rd Induction ceremony on October 7, 2023, in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.