Cricket: India trails in the series

Success has many fathers and Failure is loner orphan. If Indian teams have to win abroad they have to literally cross oceans of million miles. The time has come for the troika to make way, in the interest of the team abroad It is also time for people who call the hots in the interest of the team again to be a bit more prudent when it come to preparation. They already have a cash in shed but there are problems aplenty. If u happen to have a bullock cart with both the wheels broken and the bull busy grazing the smartest thing to do is to not take part in a race of amateurs and don't even look towards where professionals are competing. It is surely acceptable that Indian batsman struggle abroad and look totally spell bound. The next glittering stars are still in the quarry and we the fans are still in the quandary. The Indian bowling exudes very little confidence if any.

There was a time when sports (here cricket) was dearth of money while times have moved on cricket has dug up a gold mine while other sports languish even for spectators. The class of politicians sitting on either side of the parliament make sure that this goose continues to stay fit and well nourished and continues to lay golden goose. These very class of politicians have a termite effect on other sports. Its the defeat that often test the character often. The present generation of cricketers have least to worry about what would happen next as a decent state player worth his salt would do well is he plays couple of seasons of IPL. You know success to often comes with its own set of challenges, one of them begin able to keep their feet on the ground. I am not saying that our players are snobbish. I am suggesting that players dont have to worry about their lives beyond cricket all the more reason for them to work hard and do well for the club, state franchisee or country.

Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman have done well, really well. There deeds on the field and demeanour of it is praise-worthy and al it worth to emulate for all of us fans. But its time to move on to next set of players. Laxman who purposefully played all his career under the Damocles sword may come good with a century in next few matches (if he plays). Dravid getting bowled due to lack of bounce or misjudgment Tendulkar not really looking 100 percent. The performance of the bowlers should also come in scrutiny. There has been Zaheer, Yadav did take wickets, Ishant is off the radar and hasnt done much damage. Indian batsman struggle to bat on bounce pitches but Indian bowlers struggle with lengths as well. The basic of test matches is also not seemingly put into practice. The crease has to be occupied, percentage shots with favorable returns (here runs) have to be played. There has been only one Sehwag in all the history of the game who can score with the strike rate of 80.

Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, couple of years of Zaheer, who would be the next star. How will they perform abroad The pitches at home need to be looked into. I mean at least on the first class level. Why cant we have dedicated venues for fast, seeming bouncy pitches. Mumbai has always been a bit faster and bouncier, Chennai is always rank turners. If there is an inclination of BCCI to do well, they dont have the dearth of resources. The question which begs to be asked is if there is any will to do it?

Adelaide test will be hopefully a different story. I wish the batsman occupy the crease for more than 4 sessions and avoid the blues. I think Dhoni has to give up captaincy in one form of the game. He should play test as a batsman. The selectors shoulw offer him captaincy of two formats and keeping in the other two formats. If he is keeping in test Sehwag aur gambhir should be given the captaincy. The domestic setup may need a fine tuning as well. Can the BCCI get some young Under 21 exposure to the country circuit etc it helps they say – hint Zaheer Khan.

The time is right to overhaul if not re-build Indian cricket..

Cricket Sehwag the Audacious

The game of cricket is said to be one of golden uncertainities, Sehwag is embodiment of that saying. Its Sehwag audacity and bovine nonchalance  towards batting that makes his batting more captivating. He has been described as King of Entertainment (Never mind if Ramiz Raja). It is safe to safe sehwag been a big game changer in fortunes of Indian cricket since he has arrived on the scene. Yes he is audacious, its either none or all from Sehwag.

My Audacious XI

This wasn't an original part of the blog post. But let me suggest an all time audacious Eleven. The "audacity" would be see it to believe it performance. Its like they drag their feet to to this 4 mile replay race and end up doing it as good and easy as a walk in the park. So here is my audacious Test/ODI/T20 eleven, based on players I have seen playing in last 10 years or so, there could have been equally maverick player earlier too  but my team would consists of Sehwag, Gayle, Gibbs, Lara, Afridi, Gilchrist, Flintoff, Warne, Murali, Shoaib and  Bond

Sehwag the audacious.

Sehwag one of te most audacious batsman the game has scene in this generation. He would go on the record and say 200 in ODI is no big deal only to find himself in the worst slump of form (&fitness) to be dropped and then not even selected for the previous Aussie tour, only to come back from no where and just announce his arrival with commanding some may say decimating form. His stroke play is unique so is his mindset, he is always looking to score runs, preferable make those runs without running around too much. He prefers getting over the line with a boundary, he like to start his innings with a boundary. He greets every new bowler with a boundary if not hitting it over the boundary. In the world cup earlier this year, he face first delivery of the innings and dispatched it for a boundary, he did that in every match. Sehwag in this innings too greeted all the bowlers with the boundary. Sehwag either delights or dismay. The deal is if he is around for 40 overs or so,you wont return feeling bored, I am also talking about Test matches here.

There are so many factors/variables when a batsman goes out to bat, weather conditions, pitch, type of bowling, type of cricket ball, opposition, form and fitness, situation of the game, ya ba da ba doo; ya ba da ba doo, Sehwag just dusts these things away with his bat and if it is in his area, he will smash it and he will keep smashing and dispatching it away all day for good. Sehwag been a bit off the boil for ages now, since his surgery  following IPL. He missed couple of tours. His return in England saw him bag a pair. There wasnt much joy when Sehwag is not smashing it all over. There is tour to Australia which is coming up next, Sehwag's form with the bat may just prove vital to tilt the balance in our favour. It is good to get him run and a good match practice before the big tour.

The cast of Sehwag show.

Indian batsman werent reaping riches of runs as supply seem to have run dry. Sehwag often wanders into oor form only to hunt the treasure chest of runs back. The famed never mind depleted batting order came to the party in time. Sehwag and Gambhir got going. It seems to the untrainted eye, that sehwag provides the power, Gambhir the direction. Gambhir is no slouch with the bat, if you get thrilled seeing Sehwag, Gambhir dazzles with inspiring strokes. The two took India to 176, before run out claimed Gambhir. India kept a right left combnation going. Sehwag was on song, all Raina had to do was to keep Sehwag company, it the middle overs Indians seemed to be in cruise control. Sammy played his cards but Sehwag had the aces.

Raina got a much reprieved 50 giving Sehwag company. Sehwag scored a double, most by a captain. India registered their huge total. The game was sealed, only West Indies had to come forward and do the formalities.

The spinners picked wickets. The West Indies lost the match by 153 runs and lost the series 1-3. The next match is academic. The most seniors players should opt for an early flight to Australia.

Cricket: Bowlers bake it Sehwag takes it.

India won the match but that didn’t quiet made it to the headlines, Sehwag played a controlled and most infamous 99s in the recent history, as recent as a test inning in which he was duped and stumped on 99 and that day Randiv was the victor and Sehwag was foxed. It is not the revenged that he sought.

They actually set it up.

Poor Indian bowlers have drawn a lot of flak, much of it would have been unnecessary and in much excess. Praveen Kumar has a happy knack of picking wickets early in the innings. He looks innocuous when he runs in to bowl. It is the after effect of his deliveries that the batsman feels sheepish and Praveen Kumar knows he has got one more wicket. Praveen rocked the Lankan top order and literally set the tone for whole match right from the first ball of the match. He claimed Upul Tharanga’s off stump and any worthy left hand batsman would have found himself failing to guard against that particular delivery. It is one delivery any batsman would have nightmare facing. It swung away late, opened up Tharanga beat him for pace, bounce, swing and crashed into his off stump, all of this is in a split second, marvellous.

Nehra too has a knack of picking wickets right at the top,this meant Lankans had to work very hard to post a decent total, with Jayawardene and Sanga not coming to party, Indian bolwers kept tightening the noose, as wickets kept falling from a poor start to an ordinary finish.

Dilshan did his bit, but definitely, his aura is not as daunting as it use to be. He scratched and tried to hold on the innings together, but he looked patchy at best. He scrapped along but kept scoring and fell to Ojha. There was this partnership but with much loss of early wickets and indifferent batting display, Lankans were out for less than impressive 170. Ravindra Jadeja took wickets, so I assume it was a bowler friendly pitch. Jadeja has to be there in the playing XI for some unknown, reason, don’t want to see him screwing up any more, I dope selectors would give Indian team a breather if Jadeja is dropped.

Indian batsmen - almost did it again.

The absence of Gambhir, Tendulkar & Yuvraj can obviously been there must be seen by all opposing teams. I still believe there is scope for Dravid at number four or five. But I don’t think he would be back in the ODI fold anymore. It was amazing how well he use to partner along with the likes of Yuvraj and Kaif and finish so many tight matches. He may not have scored big, but his calming influence in grooming a few youngsters simply cannot be denied. His influence seems to be missing especially if you look at the great absurd aka Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli and Raina would only improve if they have a mentor like Dravid to bat along with while they are in the middle of the pitch scoring runs, taking matches to a favourable result. The wickets seems to be falling like nine pins, Karthik who should be keeping was out, nothing against him though, Virat Kohil and the great absurd soon came in and came out only to make sure that what would be a cruise seemed to be low scoring edge of the seat thriller. The scorecard read, India 30 something for three wickets.

There is some more on great absurd aka Rohit Sharma.

I wonder if he has realized that talent and panache more often then not would keep him out of the playing XI especially if he has ambitions to play test matches. He can hit long shots, he is a good finisher and looks really good while he last, which is generally for a short span. But he seems to have restricted himself to perform in IPL only. It is sad not to see him score runs with the kind of start he had got in 2007 T20 world cup and couple of IPLs. Raina wasn’t even in contention then and Rohit Shrama had all for his taking and make the most of opportunities, times have moved on Raina has a century on debut in a test and consistent performances in other formats has cemented his place while the great absurd is busy pondering if when would he earn a test cap. He was a major screw up in the last T20 world cup earlier this year in the match against Aussies. He seems to be as foolish as talented a player. I hope to see him score soon or he would be an excellent laughing stock besides rocking IPL.

Captain Cool and Sehwag the sedated.

This particular innings was akin to one he played in an Adelaide test when Indian toured Down under last, he scored, batted on and on and steered the ship to the harbour and got India a draw. Sehwag restrained and batted out the tough times and when wickets were falling around him, Sehwag would have seen the opportunity to score big runs. He had not scored a fifty in his last 11 innings. It was his time, almost. Raina and Sehwag had a decent partnership that would have calmed a few nerves of the Indian fans. Raina departed and Dhoni the captain cool played himself in and saw Sehwag go ballistic from the other end, as Indian marched on with so many numbers of overs left and a few freebies in the form of bonus points.

The fuss about 99 not out.

Yes, it is near yet so far. Sehwag was stumped of Randiv for 99 in one innings in the test series preceding this Tri Nations ODI series. With 5 runs to go and Sehwag on 99 not out and facing Randiv on 99, anything could have happened. Randiv around the wicket Sanga missed one and saw four byes, one more run with the match in the pocket, Randiv over stepped not with a small margin and Sehwag smashed him for six, but since it was match over before he actually smashed him, robbed him of a century. On the whole so called controversy, Sehwag knows 99 to 100 is one run, he wouldn’t make fuss about 100. I wont rule out, Sehwag tearing into Lankan bowling attack when we meet them in the next match or in the finals. Randiv can hood wink Sehwag and tell Sehwag that he foxed him for two international centuries in two weeks by keeping him stranded on 99.
In sports, love and war, business you get an easy inch nor you would don’t offer an inch, so what is the fuss about Randiv and Sehwag and Sanga and the wisest men and women (News Channels) exorcising the ghost called the spirit of cricket. It is pretty misleading controversy. It will only give more masala to hype up the next match India plays, then it will die its unnatural death.

This witch-hunt by the media has done a great deal of damage to the game of cricket and the spirit of the game.

Cricket: India square series

India came back from behind to square series one each. I am still to be convinced of two test and four test and six Odis. I think Odis should be restricted to maximum of three, included more test. I mean would it have mattered to BCCI in terms of revenue if this were to be only a test series? But then seldom what BCCI does has anything to do with something called as rationale.

Storm in the tea cup

Greame Smith was the only joy for first couple of sessions. SAfs won the toss and elected to bat. It was a conscious decision to bat first in order to avoid facing the spinning ball on the last day. Alviro Petersen made a century on debut. He was doing pretty good and not only rose to the occasion, but did very well, obviously helped by what look a wayward Ishant especially in first innings. A big partnership between Amla and Alviro saw them cruising and made Indian bowlers look like someone without plan and imagination. There was a storm to come in the session following tea.
I guess when Indians went back they sensed a storm in the tea cup. The whole scenario changed when Bhajji wrecked the SAfs batting line up and sweet memories of 2001 the Eden test flickered in front of many a cricket fans. In the hindsight that very test marked in some subtle ways how India team went to become a very professional, albeit a touch inconsistent but good test team. The balance is in favour of batsman but bench strength seems good but untested.
The buzz of the match changed soon after tea and out of nowhere things start to happen as if sequence of events waited for a hint of the trigger. One wicket let to another and what seemed like a picture perfect scenario in the second session looked so ominous, Kallis, Devilliers, Duminy, Prince along with Petersen and Amla came and went what seemed innocuous deliveries and unthought-of shots. The shots were inexplicable needless to say unwarranted and before the dust settled and sunset, eight wickets had fallen and India came out of back jail. Zaheer, Ishant, Misra and forget me not Bhajji claimed wickets and shared to onus. The cake was baked and the dressing was about to be added.


Sustained batting effort

Indians sustained the pressure. SAfs assisted the Indian batting effort, but bowling little less the good and fielding as worst as any you would imagine from SAfs. It was by far the worst fielding display I have seen from SAfs in quiet some time. Sehwag kept on smashing them all over. There is a method to his madness. See ball hit ball. His style is so simplistic on the lines of being almost minimalistic, but one of the more profound batsmen of his time if not in the history. His numbers say it all. He is for sure the corner stone of batting and other rally around him. Yes, he does keep you n the edge of the seat and will always give the other side a chance, yes he may make you want to pull your hair but when he does hammer scores those score are big loud and brash.
Tendulkar on the while seems to be batting like a Zen master, its almost serene, through out his innings; you could see the glimpses of various phases of Tendulkar through out his illustrious career. You could almost sense him holding fort and then come out with a brilliant stroke that would just steal your breath away. But the bowl he got out to deserves praise for Harris. He deserved it. Tendulkar smacked fourth century in as many matches. His tally is know like 47 test centuries and opened a considerable gap of eight centuries in test versus Ponting.
Laxman and Dhoni then prolonged the agony of foes as they built up a considerable partnership, each getting to their hundred meanwhile Laxman was the stabilising factor and gave support, Dhoni kept nibbling away. Laxman and Dhoni scored not out centuries and closing the door on SAfs.


Second time up hill

After tea on first SAfs seemed just very pedestrian, although this time they did get starts. I am leg side Smith always up for LBW didn’t have to face Zaheer's menace was claimed LBW by Mishra what looked a plumb decision. Kallis got ball of the series from an Indian bowler. Kallis must be proud to get on that delivery and Mishra would sing the swan song of this delivery even to his grandchildren. It pitched middle middle-off ripped across Kallis’s bat took the edge and Dhoni made on mistake. Badrinath added something to the scorecard and audiences memories when he kept the nerve to catch Petersen what ended up as a simple catch. Prince played an ordinary shot Devilliers foxed by a googly, Duminy beaten for pace, some moments of uneasiness for Indian audiences came when Harris and Parnell and Morkel stitched some useful partnerships Ishant bowled a line and length which bemused everyone except the batsmen he was wayward and looked distraught at missed catches. Fielding was quiet ordinary by Indians as well. There were so many missed catches. In the end before the close of play Bhajji claimed the honours and also the end wicket to help India square the series. It is so sad there were only two matches.

The focus on shifts to ODIs. I am hooting for Gibbs, Bootsman & Co while the Kohli and Raina need to redefine there role and a certain Yusuf Pathan needs to dish out some hearty performance. Tendulkar would want to hit a century in at least one of the ODIs.

Cricket: A forgettable win

I think India looked to haul out with relative ease but Sehwag’s magnanimous comments, left much for desired. There are ways of saying this, but his rather cavalier attitude and his comments left me in stark embarrassment. I just hope it’s out shear rustic ignorance more than anything else. India may have won but Test wins are to be enjoyed by the fans as much as by the players involved. This particular one win would better bury soon as India move on to Dhaka for the next match.
Sehwag’s average was 11 against Bangladesh before this test match.

Ordinary first innings for Indians

Tendulkar played reminiscent of old, almost seemed to turn back the clock more than 10 years. He has now looking to leave those forgetable last couple years when his bore the brunt and tennis elbow, etc restricted his game. But he seems to be recovered from those times and now scoring and stamping his authority. He found himself with innings in tatters and played some attacking authoritative cricket shorts, those you would typical label Tendulkar's brilliance. Indeed it was nothing short of brilliant. The famed Indian middle order buckled due to heavy lunch, questionable shots (Sehwag and Gambhir), incisive Bangla bowling (Dravid, castled) and some misfortune Laxman. Shakib and Shahdat deserved the wickets they got. The pitch only helped the Bangla cause, so it seemed.
Tendulkar provided with saving grace of 105 not out. Ponting is almost within touching distance in terms of number of Test centuries (only). It would be interesting to see if Tendulkar will last longer than Ponting. I hope he does out last Ponting.
India hot out for 240 plus.


Bangla innings run into predictable course.

I wonder if there is any 4 days game in Bangla first class system. Otherwise batsmen seem to dabbling into too many strokes and undermining their own potential. I mean they just should look to stay in. Don’t score runs, forget it but just stick on to the wickets and learn the tricks of trade.
Zaheer was looking very good so was Ishant. Mishra chipped in with a couple of wickets. Mahumdullah looked good but then Bangladesh innings folded relatively soon and gave India just a run lead.


India cement there second innings.

Although it looked like a procession, the night-watchman Misra looked good will he lasted notched a good 50, which would have given him a boost. Sehwag hit himself out with a nothing shot. Shakib enjoyed taking Sehwag’s wicket second time in the test. Rahul Dravid should be kicking himself at the reckless manner he got out. A few seemingly inexpensive embarrassing moments get swept under the carpet of victory but That mistake would have been very interesting against someone like SAfs, who are touring India next. One mistake Dravid would like to keep in mind and mind him not to repeat. Laxman tried to leave his mark with a laboured fifty. India almost batted out Bangladesh.


Gambhir is in some serious form.

He is perhaps the best batsman in every form of the game for India, provided Dhoni doesn’t want to throw his hat into the ring for this debate. India should try opening with Sehwag and Gambhir even in ODIs. Tendulkar to follow close. Gambhir has hit some 8 test centuries in last 10 Test spanning across 15 months. His last five test appearances have got him 5 centuries. It is amazing. He is a perfect foil for Sehwag and look to garner more strike if realizes Sehwag is too hot and may explode. Just imagine Sehwag still standing in the middle with a bat in his hand after 30 overs or 100 balls on his own. Gambhir mean while compiled a good century to fortify Indian position in the second innings. After that the result proves to be more than just a formality.


Welcome back Ishant 

Nothing to do with Taare Zameen Par out here. Lad means business. I think he is crucial especially in fourth innings. I mean I always have felt he impress me very much by his fourth inning's performances. I remember him denting the top order when India toured Lanka last. I won’t mind seeing him missing a few ODIs. His average i.e. runs conceded for every wicket is at 24 for India in a winning cause. His average in the fourth innings also hovering around 24. So if he bowls his best in the fourth innings of a match, he is likely to sway the match in favour of India. I have him in my sites, more on him later.


Pakistani players not in IPL :)

I am really happy they won’t be playing here. I am not jealous of them being the world champions. Don’t get me wrong I think Pakistanis unique ability to find some gifted crickets and some how shooting themselves in the foot every time keeps me glued to Pakistani cricket. I don’t think the atmosphere is right for them playing to be in India, there could have been a serious backlash. I also don’t want India media to hype the issue. I am certainly happy that they are not here.
After 26/11 Pak Gov disallowed them to play in India citing security reasons following 26 November, when IPL shifted to SAf, Pakistani players made a bee line but were denied permission to play. I think they would be better playing some league cricket and earn their chewing gum allowance. In equal fervour don’t imagine hooting for Aussies players.

I am particularly happy for guys like Pollard and Eosin Morgan, Bond. I hope Morgan gives some solidity to Royal Challengers Bangalore. Pollard, Bravo, Nayar, Duminy in middle order for Mumbai Indians sounds interesting.

A wishful 2010 for all

I was busy with exmas, so didnt post a blog wittingly,not that my exams are over now, but few reastless nite and then back to the grind or a break depending upon the mood I am in.
It is way to late for wishing Happy New Year, but then, I hope this is a fulfilling year for everyone. At least on personal account I hope this year is fulfilling for me.

On a sad note, my heart goes out to people who suffered in the Haiti earthquake perhaps one of the worst natural disaster after the dreadful Tsunami.

Cricket: India Numero Uno

There are couple of reasons for Indian cricket fans to rejoice a clinical performance by Indians to beat Lankan 2-0. All that noise about Test matches are breathing their last, franchisee debate, and other noise can take a breather for a while, coz Test matches are the foundation of cricket and I don’t see any building lasting for long if the foundations eroded, or undermined.

It's a long post, since it is a series review it better be a long one. So it is match by match the whole review of the series, stringed with who did what and when. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.

First Test, Ahmadabad

Early morning jitters, India 32 for 4

The writing was pretty much on the Wall and didn’t he stand tall? India tottering at 32 with big names and big guns trailing back to pavilion often the case Dravid kept his head down and stood the storm, also scored run and steered India to some respectability, Yuvraj eased of the work load and then Dravid went on to make a century. Captain courageous, MSD also added muscle with a stoic century in the first innings.

Jayawardene, the long distance runner.

Jayawardene almost easily fits into any batting situation and can change gears so easily, his batting is pristine and very good looking to the eye something same as Dravid. They both bat in such similar fashion. Jayawardene batted and batted and simply dismantle India bowling after Dilshan flayed it to all corners. The pitch was a dead beat, as is the case with most Ahmadabad pitches. Dilshan is having such a good time and at this point in time made no false stroke. He blasted the India bowling and rightfully earned a century, the keeper Jayawardene also notched up a meaty 154, and all hopes of a result had ended.

Gambhir and Tendulkar score tonnes.

It was for gone conclusion that the match would be a draw. Sehwag made amends scored a fifty, Gambhir the best India batsmen in any form of the game played a solid innings and with every run he scored, possibility of a draw become stronger. Tendulkar perhaps played on the easiest fifth day pitch ever in 20 years of profession top level cricket. At least it was an easiest hundred (if there is one) he would have ever made. But runs have to be scored. In the dying moments of the day he completes a terrific feat.

Second test, Green Park, Kanpur.

Runs were flowing, alrite.

Green Park one of the traditional venues in India cricket history others being Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengalluru. Jasu Patel an off spinner was bought back and scripted a magnificent tale of beating Aussies. He was the one who held the India record for most dismissals claimed by a bowler, before Kumble had got perfect 10. These venues again saw a famous India victory, that too by a huge margin. Sehwag, Gambir and Co set of the pyro and before the dust settled, Lankan were forced to follow on, courtesy a bewildering spell by Sree Santh. Sehwag smacked a century at better than run a ball, Gambhir not wanting to miss out again and extended his good form also came up with superlative century, Dravid again stamped his authority ensuring there are no unwanted hiccups. This was the first instance since 2003 that Sehwag scored a century and didn’t cross 150. Dravid was out the only way he could be out, falling short do the crease at non strikers end, worst way to get out. Sehwag, Gambhir and Dravid together scored more than 400 runs; Lankans were looking at the wrong end of the barrel. India having scored nearly 650 runs at more than four an over meant Lankans were always catching up.

Lankans follow on, only to falter again

The mad cap Sree Santh, gifted with such beautiful action and just back creating havoc for Warwickshire on the county circuit under watchful eye of Donald, came from nowhere and made Lankan cold sweat. He made the ball do the talking and the ball seamed and swinged and Sree Santh brought back the memories of South Africa. The ball to get Prussian Jayawardene was a peach and could have got any right hand batsman. Amazing control. He kept on plugging away. He got a 5 wicket haul and redeemed himself, and grabbed headline news for cricketing reasons off course all with positive intent and connotation. Lankans forced to follow on. At the end of the fourth day they were trailing in second innings and the score read 57 for 4, the result was in sight for the Indians, the job was just half done.

Bit more shocks and India snubbed the remaining six wickets.


Final Test, CCI, Mumbai.

Again a chapter in History beacons, Wankhede under construction saw Brabourne hosting a test match first time in over 36 years. Sangakarra won the toss and elected to bat.

What seemed good …?

Lankans battled hard, Dilshan boosted the scoring rate and also getting one more century. He looks so formidable and nearly impossible to dislodge. Lankans batted for a day and a session and scored nearly what seemed a good 400 hundred. Sehwag also had a few ideas and few strokes up his sleeve.

Gambhir opting out paved way for Murali Vijay. Sehwag and Murali, opened the innings. Their scoring rate opened the flood gates and Sehwag kept on pumping boundaries and sixes. No way was Muralidharan was allowed to dominate. Murali meanwhile matched Sehwag stroke for stroke, if not in quantity then surely in quality. He provided ample support and made sure Sehwag wasn’t starved of strike. Sehwag kept on smashing thunderbolts. I mean with what regularity he score over 150. There was more agony. It was the second time in couple of years that Sehwag scored a double century stand with two consecutive batsmen. I mean alrite you have to physically be there in sun all day, but the mental strength to keep going on was immense, all with a smile, Viru kept licking his lips and smacking them to all parts, last half and hour saw Viru cooling down, Dravid did bulk of the scoring.

India high on MSD

In order to rub it in, India had a quiet second day until an hour after Tea when Dhoni, seemed to be cursing decided to go berserk. Lead nearing 300 and Dhoni kept ignoring singles and kept hitting sixes, all of a sudden 100 was in sights. Dhoni smacked on of hearth way out of CCI and claimed a six and bottled a 100 and declared with Lankans trailing with 333.

The day of reckoning not to be.

I had imagined Lankans being all out in the day, wasn’t to be. They fought hard and looked to put intrepid performance, Paranavithana looking cool calm and composed. Bhajji got his man Dilshan padding up and the slide started. Zaheer meanwhile put his hand up and bowled with great heart and control keeping the runs tight, three quick wickets in the session and one though Lankans would just go bust. Sanga held fort and what looked like a fighting century was there for the taking. He smacked a very good hundred,

The final day.

Sanga the hero of the earlier day started with couple of boundaries only to be foxed by Zaheer, again. Zaheer on romp with a fifer up for grabs. One dog in short was to big to keep down for Heart, Ojha taking it neat, only two steps away from a victory. Sree Santh didn’t bowl for some reason. I wished he would have. Bhajji was persisted with. Another short pitch ball saw Kulasekara edging Zaheer to Laxman. Murali on the prowl was some quick runs. A couple of hefty hits and one of Bhajji. Bhajji floated and tossed one just a bit higher, Murali edge Bhajji to Dhoni and India completed the test win, flayed Lankans 2-0 in the series and were rewarded with Numero Uno Status of best Test Playing Team.

It was a very emphatic series win and the clout of Dhoni continues to grow. So far so good.

Cricket: Indians save face.

Caution:Long cricket post ahead, discretion advised.

Well done Indians. They managed to win one more “away” test. They have prolonged the series to a in the form of third test which goes back to Colombo. I will remember this test for what the bowlers did and the batsmen didn’t. It will also be remember for one of the “away” test in which Dravid contribution was “limited” to taking few scintillating catches and dropping may be a couple of them.

The Man, the Innings; both in review.

He bats and you watch. There is either some madness that happens which make u tear your hair out or you could hold your nerve as some hammer hits the hot iron on the anvil. Let me introduce Virender Sehwag. His aura is such that there was a ephemeral wave of relief when Sehwag was not included in the original squad to tour Australia earlier this season i.e. late last year. : P
The man has such a clout. There was a piece written by Ian Chappell wondering way he wasn’t selected. I think some one from the selectors while surfing net read it, Sehwag was selected to the trip down under, sat out couple of games, played in the third and since then he is in a roll and perhaps may score runs even if bats with the bat turned around. The Perth test was memorable one in the sense the rocket booster Sehwag gave India much needed starts, suggested Kumble to give one more over to Ishant when he dismissed Ponting. Ponting was beaten all ends up and after than Ishant was all over Ponting even in the ODI. He also took couple of quick wickets that helped scythe Australia and India beat Australia in their own home.
The times have changed a mixed bag IPL a triple century and double for him since then. This 201* where he carried the bat, meaning all ten wickets fell while he was not out. This score was his 15 consecutive score of over 150, now that’s something. He was perceived to be an ODI player but then has a brilliant Test record, perhaps envy of many and ODI is decent at best. He remains danger to the opposition, because pitch don’t matter to him much, he has score runs all round the world under all conditions.
I thought Sehwag blew it up in Colombo when he was out to an innocuous hook shot. He paid the price after a very brisk start and India collapsed to an innings defeat. The tides changed India went to Galle and there was a gale in form of Virender Sehwag that awaited them. He shredded the cunning attack into submission. He and Gautam Gambhir piled on runs very very quickly. Indian openers have looked in great touched, but then there was a batting collapse and things start to get heady again. The Nawab of Najafgarh meanwhile was having a dream run creaming all the bowlers all over the ground. There were lots off hiccups on its way; at one point in time wickets were falling so quickly that Sehwag at the other end would be thinking that he is seeing a highlights package at the other end. It was meant to be and he got another double century. He looked like a man possessed and stood between defeat and his Team.
He looked in command and in control. Jayawardene would have thanked his stars when Sehwag go out cheaply in both the innings in the first test. After his dismissals Indian team just seem to have collapsed trapped with some ordinary cricketing shots, and some reviews which could have gone either way. But it was Sehwag turn to thank the stars and couple on lower end batsmen in his team for his double ton. There was a bit of Sehwag show left, he got out off a rash shot. If he would have carried a bit longer then Jayawardene and Co would have been staring down the cliff. He scored a quick fire 50 in the decond innings and helped India to a decent total.

Not "Showing Now" anymore …

His great Indian middle order never looked so ordinary. I think I have a conspiracy theory on this. Alrite it may just be a hypothesis. Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid and Lakman, have not played well. They haven’t had any scores in any form of cricket to boast of, it is a start of a new season. There IPL performance better not be discussed. It was nothing to talk off. Now then it’s difficult to come into a season and stare down the wicket and find the smiling assassin and the weird bowler looking to rip it into you and then go bang bang boom. I think they have hit the straps, with Sehwag leading the charge; it would make sense for couple of batsmen out of the big four to rally around him till they have scored well sufficiently well to come on the forefront on their own. While Murali was contained in this test Mendis to his credit has had a perfect 10 for the match. I think Murali bowled doosra every second delivery and played it to our hands, mean while other batsmen continue to revel under the sniper’s Mendis’s hair cross. If I were an Indian spinner I would be looking at Mendis more closely then the batsmen because there are a few things to learn from him and one more bowl in the armoury will only help.
I hope to see the big four coming to their own, provided we win the toss and bat first on turning Colombo pitch. If we get a good start I can expect at least one of the big four to get a century if not two.
It is just the big four the majority of players are coming after some indifferent form, Zaheer after injury, Ishant after an ordinary IPL, Bhajji after slapping Sreesanth, and perhaps the echo of the slap he smacked on Sreesanth still echoes in his ears. Dinesh Karthik after being out of limelight due a now Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna recipient Dhoni. I think Parthiv may come in instead of him. He will be under pressure to perform well with the gloves. The last test series he played was years ago when he dropped more catches then he scored runs. He has to perform or parish because Dhoni will come in sooner rather than later.

Help from unexpected quarters.

As Indians have won the match one can savour it was a “in-the-balance” test match. The Indian seamers let the charge. Ishant Sharma and Zaheer led a brilliant fight back, with three Lankan wickets down and team score within double digits, the spell was cast, the mould was formed, the packaged was stamped for India. It was more so because of the fact that two names out of the three wickets that fell are called Sangakara and Jayawardene. These two bat well. These two bat really well together and reminiscent of Madmax, Arvind DeSliva and jog along Arjuna Ranatunga. It wasn’t meant to be. Ishant got the first opener with a beauty that moved across and could have tested any top left hander on top of this form. He did really well to edge it to second slip. Zaheer “Zak” could have one in his opening over as well but Rahul Dravid missed a catch. It was a screamer, as he tried his best with his right hand but Wandort did not do much damaged and stayed on for eternity. Zak goes for top order batsmen all the time. He had done well in England and coming out of injury, he looked in total control and rhythm. But that rhythm went out too soon I guess. It was a fourth day pitch and Zak the Ox could have got some more purchase had looked to take more wickets. But then Zak bowled another cock-a-hoop to Sangakkara. Sanga looked bewildered as he edged one and Indian were ascending and piling into Lankans. Ishant mean while was coming to his own and was lured into a cut which Jayawardene failed to keep down. Dravid caught that stinger and made up for the earlier chance which had gone begging. Lankans three down for nine runs. The writing was on the wall.
Wandort had resigned as he hardly scored anything. Indians liked him there. Ishant had him covered as he continued to look at sea. His misery was soon ended as Harbhajan quick sliding delivery wrapped his pads. Four down.
Kumble meanwhile start bowling I don’t know what. A line on leg stump and length full. He was trying to emulate Ishant. Did he wanted to contain the batsmen? The idea was good but the timing wasn’t. He was better off attack. Meanwhile Bhajji just played on Singh is King theme song. He kept the pressure on working out the batsmen dismantling him ball by ball. Ishant mean while was serving red hot thunderbolts. Dilshan pulled some momentum back but then the lanky pacemen produced one which lifted from length and Dilshan gloved it to keeper. This wicket meanwhile was all credit to the keeper as he pouched one. The fat lady starting to clear her throat. Kumble and Harbhajan just ran through the Lankans.

The probable fall guy.

Jaywardene's prophecy was turned into a hum dinger. He is such a great player and made some handsome runs all over the place. He should be first to understand that the game is always coming around to kick some butt. It is better to just keep boasts out of your mind. I saw his interview after the second test and thought he is still under the spell that Lankans scoring 600 and Indians losing by an innings. I hope when he reaches back to Colombo and before the last test starts that India has a (at least a hypothetical) chance of winning the series. If suppose India wins the next test and hence the series will head roll in Lankan camp. There have been at least a couple of heads that have rolled in the English camp after SAfs won the test and hence the series. Jaywardene should mark his words well and mark his crease better than his words. I wish he may never have to rue the words he said. This is a game of cricket and it is never over till the last run scored or last wicket taken.

Long Living Kishore.

Its been almost two decades since he passed away. He was a legend in a life time. Kishore Kumar the most versatile artist Hindi cinema ever saw. A deserving blog on Kishore Kumar and also on Firendship Day/week likely soon.

Song: Mere Meheboob Qayamat Hogi,
Movie: Mr. X in Bombay

Cricket: Sehwag deflates Pakistan

There are many matches in cricket which often proved to be one sided. India-Pakistan matches wouldn't be one of those. This India vs Pakistan match slated to be a good one.It proved to be all too good and dwindle down soon as Raina and Sehwag made 300 run chase look ridiculously boring.That what no one ever imagine, India-Pakistan matches being boring.

Oh no not again.

Shoaib Mallik and Salaman Butt started cautiously hardly scoring anything in first dozen overs.Their strategy of conserving wickets on a dead pan wicket paid huge dividends. Pakistani players are accustomed to tearing apart any form of bowling at the death, mean while their bowlers can keep it cool with some degree of control they excercise.Anyways Shoaib Mallik will get a respite for a centruy he hit that too against India. At least for now his head would be off the Guillitone. Misbha looked terrible in IPl is hitting into form perhaps a big score against India is on its way. Younis Khan again a very good bastman piled on the agony for India and followed a century in Dhaka in the finals with a half century in Karachi for a losing cause. I am sure Pakistan would have thought they have a fair chance after thy got Gambhir cheaply. But Rains and Sehwag had other plans.Indian bowler were thrashed. All right the pitch was flat but then containment has to be thought of if taking wickets is not happening. It wasnt to be, dimunitive Piyush Chawla wasnt spared too, unalbe to take wickets and pounded byt the batsmen, the stage was set for the on slaught. One can blame the pitch but common sense should have prevailed instead of giving two fours an over. Pakistan score a competitive 300, before the sorry unfold in not the manner which Pakistan would have imagined.

The madmonk Sehwag.

The original Mad monk, Rasputin would have pulled out all his hair if he were to see Sehwag bat. I seems all slam shut case when he bats and looks real edge of the seat stuff when it comes off. It did come off and Pakistan surrendered withought giving a fight. He clobered them all over the park and made Pakistani bowling look very ordinary. It looks bizzare the way he bats. He was only playing a risky cut short before he had a slump in his form and dumped from the team. But he looks a fitter in form cricketer as off now.In ODIs and Test the mad-monk Sehwag vitrually makes it him vs Pakistan affair provided he is plundering runs. He was out in wilderness a year back but that was then atleast for now he is scoring runs faster then before. He has scored a triple and doible century against Pakistan in Pakistan so that is a big boost. A century went a begging in Bangladesh but not to be so. I think this has just come at the right time for him. I think Pakistan have their back against their wall in their own backyard.
He creamed an effortless century tonking 5 towering sixes and in thr process made Ramiz Raja, former Paksitani Cricketers and present commentator officially his biggest fan and a brand ambassador.

Raina rains runs.

Raina is making most of this opportunity, Dhoni helped him by giving him the number he wants to bat.He score 84 and there was a brief period when he outscored Sehwag in runs and strike rate. If you are in Pakistan, playing against Pakistan and outscoring Sehwag for runs and dtrike rate then you are in a peak form. Will the consitent factor bug Rains ony time will tell but he has done very well do hold his fort in Sehwag presences. This may have taken the pressure off Sehwag and helped him not only making runs but also scoring a very crucial century.

There is a problem of plent for selection commitee so much so once Pakistan toured was considered to be the toughfest tours, now doesnt even features the big troika of Sachin-Dravid-Ganguly. Their are bowlers, allrounders namely Pathan brothers, spinners and off course the batsmen it would be good to see how Kirsten and Dhoni rotate the players.
I think Dhoni juggles what he says to media and messages he relays to his players. He hit a six and finished off the innings in style. I think he holds the record for finishing the innings with the six. He was placid in reactions as if he socring 300 with 8 overs to spare was a walk in the park, never mind the team was Paksitan.

Cricket: Not quiet a match

Rajasthan Royals led by Shane Warne have a touch of "Aussie-ness" in them. They don't seem to ever relieve the pressure and they do their home work really well. This ensure the match went the royals way as they cruised to 105 runs win. Delhi lost their way very early in the match. Sehwag couldn't fire with the bat and then the Royals commanded and steer the ship and storm in the IPL's Final.

Asondkar stand tall.

He is a short guy. When he stands against Smith, after clipping a boundary its a David-Goliath kind of thing. But his short height pressents him an advatage. He can play the drive up in the air when the taller bloke, say someone like Smith would be happy to defend. Then comes a second advantage, the fast bowler after getting tonked would attempt a bouncer. The bouncer to a any other batsman would be shoulder high but that to Asondkar would be above the head. This makes sure that he plays a high percentage game. This also helps more recognized Smith to play himself in the game and when the time come he can swiftly change gears.

The right mix.

Royals is a well balanced team. A recognized opener Smith, a work horse Kaif, two in-form all rounder, Watson and Pathan. Warne and Tanvir are genuine wicket taking bowlers. Tanvir with his awkward action and immculate line and amazing control. Warne well, Sheikh of Tweak. couple of good keepers as well, Kamran Akmal especially enjoys India conditions and Indian bowlers. Watson is the genuine all rounder meanwhile Pathan is a filler but his batting is really good. He is well built and clears boundary with ease.

Warne spinning magic.

Warne struggled in India when it came to taking test wickets. We played him all too easy. The Indians batsmen batted against the turning and bouncing Warne's deliveries rather while the English/Safs/Others played suave and imposing Shane Warne instead of the turning ball. But he has got it right for the Royals. Just imagine a rookie from under 19 spending a day with Shane Warne discussing spin bowling. It is a dream come true said Sunil Gavaskar.It is indeed dreamcoe true.
I hope he returns again to IPL next year too. Shane Warne turning the 8 ouncer, it is a very pretty sight.

Next on line is

A match between the would have been ODI Captain Yuvraj and Maverick Dhoni. Let the best team win.

Cricket: Third day, Third test.

If 666 is devils number then is 333 his offspring’s date of birth? Well who knows? But I am just blogging about the third day of the third test and the third One Day played between Sri Lanka who is on tour of England and total number of goals scored between Argentina and Mexico were 3. This post is about test between India and West Indies.

The reason of West Indian decline.
I am slowly releasing what’s the reason of West Indies continuous decline in the game of cricket. There is no impetus to take bold and hard decisions. I think if anyone has to succeed he has to see some hard times and swallow some hard truths. I think West Indians are still in the delight of how well they use to play. There are no more burly huge fast bowlers who use to hurl speeding thunderbolts after thunderbolts and come ask the battered batsmen if he saw something. The fact it was ages ago and West Indies although have the talent to be a decent time but there is no substance to it. The fact that they batted and batted from almost two thirds of the day yesterday took pressure off Indians. I agree the pitch is a flat, but so is the West Indies bowling attack.
I think it will be a run carnival for Indians today and Laxman and Yuvraj should justify their selection by keep on batting as long as they want. Rahul Dravid may be looking to add to his tally of away centuries and Kaif would have slept in his cricketing gear on.

Chanderpaul stranded.
I saw the match and while listening to commentary of Tony Cozier on “Ten Sports”; even he was baffled about why West Indies are not declaring. Chanderpaul and Samuels took control on a batting pitch and added 156. They played some lusty shots to keep bowlers at bay and somewhere lost the plot of burying India. They somehow never went into kill. The session which followed next Indian wrapped up the last five wickets. Harbhajan justified his selection by claiming five wickets.

Sehwag show again. Indian batsmen making merry.
When he bats he score runs and when he bowls he takes wickets. Sehwag is in good form and may be kicking himself of getting out the way he did. There was a century for the taking but he was out before completing a fifty. Bravo sucked in Jaffer who edged a lazy drive to eager hands of Lara. India was two down. Dravid came and looks like he has to stay if India has to avoid a flow on.

Look who is responsible?
India and West Indies both have selection problems. India is paying the price for not going in with their full strength. It was a big mistake to drop Agarkar who could have helped the young bowlers to play through. There is very limited experience that the Indian seamers have at this momet. Then playing with four bowlers is a bit of conservative strategy. I think playing an extra batsman has hurt the Indian cause. I agree that firth bowler might be under utilized but at least the captain has an option to go in with a specialist bowler. Harbhajan would have enjoyed bowling to West Indian left handers.
West Indies for their lack of imagination are in some ways responsible for this boring test. I don’t see Indians getting out in today’s first two session and hopefully they will draw this test. Are the West India bowlers good enough to take 18 more Indian wickets? I think the answer is No. I will be happy to see if this test match yields a result for any of the sides. India though is one team which can make one sided affairs exciting. They have done so in the past and can do it again.

Meanwhile just a note on Lara. If you are watching this match keep a look on Lara and what he does while he is standing in the slips. I noticed him moving about in standing in the slips while Indians were batting, I wonder if it is allowed. If its n’t then why has it not come to notice.

Cricket: India vs W.I. Third Test.

There was no doubt that this would have been the weakest West Indian team that India would have faced in ages but my doubt is whether if the Indian team is good enough to beat even this West Indian team. I say some ordinary and at times baffling team selection pulled India down and we have yet to see a result. The chances of this match are as great as chances of not raining at Saint Kitts. There would be some excitement if Lara decides to declare the innings. I don’t think there is not too much in the West Indian bowling either which can claim India wickets twice, but then Indian batsmen flounder often so won’t stick my neck and say this is cake walk for Indian batsmen.

Sehwag is inconsistent; then Gayle is a Gayle.
If one talks of Sehwag and Gayle they are together linked with inconsistent. There is inconsistency in the runs they score but there is no inconsistency in the power they use to score. They both are stand and deliver stuff.

Good opening spell undone.
Munaf and Sree Santh started well. The ball thud into Dhoni’s gloves and there was an extra movement and carry. Gayle though had different ideas he hammered a sixer and a boundary in a Sree Santh over. He hammered 5 sixes and 8 fours in all of 83 runs and would be kicking himself not to register a ton. He and Ganga put on a first wicket stand of 143 runs before Munaf dismissed Gayle. The agony continued for Indian bowlers as Sarwan walked out of pavilion and bad form. He is all about touch and so good to watch . At the days end West Indies were 207 for one.

Day two: Same story.
Ganga and Sarwan kept on the temp and agony continued. Munaf was hit for 25 in an over. Six fours and a no ball. He came back to bowled Ganga who played on and Lara who was trapped in front. The West Indian score read 356 for 3. West Indies racked upto 420 for 5 before rain stopped play.

Cricket: India vs West Indies, First ODI

The dream run continues.

Tough task set.
The West Indies might be ruing the fact that they could have driven home the advantage by amassing a total inexcess of 20 but that was not the possibility as the Indian bowlers did a good cleaning up job by restricting the hosts to just 251. This made sure that in form but a fragile middle order could keep things in control. A 250 was a tough ask tough and India needed to almost pull this match with all the muscle they had.

Sehwag without run scoring ideas. Raina must be tested.
He still seems out of sorts. He looks feeble and lack lustre. The best thing for him would be too stick around and get some momentum going for himself even if it means playing an unfamiliar and uncharacteristic manner. He hardly looked in tune with the pace of the game. Could anyone believe Dravid playing at run a ball while Sehwag just defending? But that was the story in the last game. There is a case of pushing Sehwag down the order if not dropping him and make way for a young Raina to open the innings. I think if ( and when )Tendulkar comes back to open in O.D.I.’s he and Raina would be a good pair (right and left opening batsmen at that ) and who better partner for Raina then Tendulkar at the other end from ball one. Raina has a decent technique suited for One Days, he isn’t flashy enough and doesn’t mind hitting over the top.

Yuvraj takes a deep plunge in knee level waters.
Yuvraj try to repeat performance which he was displaying in recent history did not amuse many by playing a nothing shot, kudos to Samuel as he held onto a very good catch. I think would advise him to look and leap. Over confidence has ruined a many. I think I would have preferred him settling down and some quiet over wouldn’t have mattered much coz he is a very good finisher of the One Day game along with Abdur Razaaq, Brendon McCullum, Andrew Symonds and Kevin Pietersen. He is perhaps on the top one feels. I think number four is a place best suited for him, number three is a bit too much.

Kaif accidentally discovers some runs.
Kaif’s runs getting capabilities seemed to waning after guiding his state to Ranji success. His batting woes were worsened by some poor opportunities given to him. He looked rugged as well and two dropped catches only helped his cause. The fact that he hit winning runs in a tight match makes we wonder if he has left behind his bad form. His form was so poor that he just averaged in binaries in couple of series and he might have saved more runs than he scored. He is a good prospect for both forms of the game as he has better technique to Yuvraj in the longer form. The comparison between Kaif and Yuvraj often reminds me of Dravid and Ganguly. Kaif has perhaps the best qualities of Azhar and Dravid.
The fact that Dravid was other end to guide him also might have clamed his nerves. He plays well with Dravid. A good partnership between him and Dravid was the key to Indian success. It is so good to see someone from the middle order to raise his hand up when there is a crisis. So far so good for Dravid Chapell and Indian cricket team.

All and all it’s just another brick in the Wall.
The team has done exceedingly well so has the Captain courageous, Rahul Dravid. A century in the very first game is a chasing cause will help the team a great deal and perhaps set the tone for the coming Test Series as well. There is a lot of class in Rahul Dravid, I will again reiterate what I love about Dravid, he is a timeless classic, if ever anyone wishes to write an illustrated manual of batting he has to include Dravid picture perfect snaps. Dravid’s strokeplay is shear delight as it covers all angle of batting be it a powerful cut or a pull or an elegant silken cover drive or the timing of a signature flick to the mid wicket boundary or just a push to long on and long off he is a pure delight.. He can play for ages and I don’t mind him seeing ever.
The middle order has done so exceedingly well and credits lies to the man who has picked up the gauntlet of opening the innings in absence of Tendulkar and now a prolonged and sad exclusion of Ganguly from the O.D.I. It is no mean task opening especially after not having much experience. This is Dravid’s determination. He leads by setting examples that’s what has taken the team to this level.

Indians caught in a Gayle.

The series and the match started an hour late.The series started in a manner most hated by true Cricket fans, the ground staff did a great work to ensure there is atleast 90% of the game was ensured. The pitch, that was coloured in aq colour which the Indian team envies the most, the Indian fan prayed Indians won the toss. They did it and managed to put West Indies into bat.

Poor Show Ten Sports.
I miss ESPN-STAR although they enjoyed cricketing broadcast privilege for nearly a decade the other channels coming up still have to catch up standards set by them. The coverage was awfull as the TV screens only displayed the playing members of this team.

Poor start with the ball.
Irfan Pathan taking wicket in the opening spell is now a custom. He was wayward and off the line and I remember another left arm quick who seems to played in the team while ago aka Zaheer Khan there was a similar disastrous start then and I remember knowing the result after the first over itself. I don’t want to feel the déjà vu again. The first over saw couple of wides no-balls some pitched up and some half tracker. There was one particular delivery which Chris Gayle very reluctantly hit towards the boundary, it was a real half tracker. Dravid had the luxury of the other 3 bowlers out of whom only one put his hand up. The West Indies score read 87 for none in 13.3 overs after which the first wicket fell.

Agarkar rises to challenge.Harbhajan stamps the rot.
Agarkar is a tremendous first change bowler. I think he has a lot more control once the white ball loses its shine. He proved it once again. He maintained line and length got rewarded with a wicket of a very impressive Morton. He also maintained enough pressure ensuring that Harbhajan snarls up Sarwan for not too many. He returned with the figures of 9-0-37-2.

Lara and Gayle steadied the ship.
The two got a partnership going and not only steadied the ship but also rocked the Indian bowling with some Calypso cricket. This resulted in a solid partnership of 82 runs in 14 over and three balls. The strokeplay was a blitzkrieg with spinners being tonked out of the park. The partnership was also helped by extras. There were plenty of them actually. Gayle then notched up a very bludgeoning century. I wonder if it is his best score. It was a strokeful century with nearly two thirds of his runs coming in boundaries.

Indians mop up.
The Indian bowlers mopped up some poor show with ball in the frist innings. It is upto the batsmen to score a good challenging 251 in 45 overs. There is no doubt over the capability but the Indians have to lay to rest fear of chasing in second innings abroad and the West Indian bowling is not something our batsmen may be accustomed to. The Indian bowlers held onto their nerves and managed to restrict West Indians to 251 which at one time looked 275.

The end of the first edit.
It is getting really late as I finish up and I have to go to sleep against my wishes of watching Indian chase. Lets see of this night has some surprise stored up for me. I hope we are not underestimating West Indies in the light of recent Indian performances at home.