Cricket: South Africa stretching India

South Africa is stretching India, while India could have lost all the matches in this series and it would not have mattered, chief spoilers Sehwag, Gamhir and Tendulkar are nursing injuries back home, Praveen Kumar who just swings it enough, to keep his team in fray. Zaheer looking good. India seem to be winning crucial moments in tight situations.

A let down and a ray of hope.

Ishant woefully out of form, Sreesanth does all things well including bowling; Rohit Sharma will wait to show off his exploits in IPL. Sharma is ensuring he has the fame and glory but never fulfilment. It seems a mental thing for him, I was surprised he being sent to South Africa as Sehwag's substitution. He had just screwed up Mumbai chances hence returned a ticket to world cup. It is kind a sad, I guess he would feel the pinch as well, but I guess lives should move on.

Graeme Smith and Zaheer Khan

Marriages are made in heaven, so are Nemesis. Zaheer Khan devours taking left handed openers out soon, he has marked and pocket many a prize wickets. Zaheer has two more games to completely tie down Graeme Smith. There is a similarity between Dhoni and Smith, its apart from the fact that these two guys lead there respective teams, Smith batting technique is as rustic and agrarian as Dhoni but I guess what suits the best, both are power hitters and muscle the bowl unlike Kallis or Dravid (touch players). But Zaheer had Graeme Smith spell bound, he was just hopping to see Zaheer off. He did succeed, but got out to Bhajji playing an innocuous sweep, no doubt, Smith would have felt sheepish and innocuous when he was walking off.

Bowling deserves the due.

There have always been question marks over Indian bowling especially in the end overs of an innings, Paki bowlers are the best, but Indian bowers languish. I guess all teams fancy scoring 70 to 80 runs in the last ten and since the advent of another power play, people fancy a lot more. But it wasn’t to be this time, Zaheer and Munaf bowled to there fields, some inept batting from Duminy triggered a collapse and last six runs were out adding only 20 runs to the score, power play was wasted. Indian part time bowlers Yuvraj & Co did well too, keep the scoring restricted and not allowing any freebies.

Catch it!

Indian fielding is the perfect barometer of teams morale and hunger, Indians came up with brilliant catches, Zaheer ran and cupped one off Devillers to provide a crucial break through, it was a super athletic effort, something which would add a spring to fielders step. Kohli also plucked a couple of catches and made it look easy, couple of run outs meant that SAfs could never reach a score in excess of 240 to 250. This game saw some tidy bowling with supple and sharp fielding, batting, well since the spoilers were not there, guess we can do better in batting.

Indian batting springs no surprises.

Murali Vijay needs to score. He was caught of a brilliant return catch by Steyn. A couple of batsmen did the hard thing, got start but Morne Morkle seems to be a tall order to fight. He belongs to tall fast bowlers, Garner, Ambrose and all but I guess Morkel offer much more pace, haven’t seem Ambrose bowling a lot bowling in excess of 147 clicks. Steyn with his swing and Morkle with his bounce at top speeds do make for a killer combo. I don’t seem any pair of fast bowlers coming close to them. Tsotsobe, is improving with every game, he looked good, lack a bit of luck. Morkle came on and put the brakes on, as Indian middle order seems to be crumbling. It is weird to see Yuvraj struggling for timing. He should have done better, Sharma flattered to deceive, probably not for the last time. Raina and Pathan got going. Indians wanted to win that what they conveyed.

Pathan the thunder storm.

He gets on the pitch and blows the bowlers away, three sixes off Botha. The towering sixes changed the complexion of the game, it was the point of inflection for me. It started with Pathan clearing the front leg, thrashing Botha three sixes in the single over, and ended with Bhajji hitting Morkel much like a tennis player hitting a powerful groundstroke down the line. Pathan was outsmarted by Steyn when he got Pathan caught out at third man, it was a brilliant catch. But another cameo by Zaheer and some riding the luck moments of Bhajji saw Indian get through as winner in consecutive tight matches. I think it is no ordinary feat. Bowlers repaid captains faith. I am sure everyone in the Indian cricket team will cherish a nice break before battle cry for world cup gains voice boxes.

Indians lead the series 2-1 with two more games to be played this weekend.

Cricket: India vs. Bangladesh

Cricket is unpredictable. But this 2-0 victory should not come as a surprise. The Bangladesh performances on the cricket field lent a subtle hint that their first class setup needs some fine tuning if not an overhaul. It’s good to have more teams, but I think ICC should provide expertise to set up quality first class cricket. There has been marginal improvement. But then, India didn’t get their first test win easy. So well let’s see
B’desh stretch India

B’desh with half there side in the hut, before reaching three figures. It was a Sunday morning; it was good to see India on top. I had imagined a quick mop up and then our batsman making merry. Mahmudullah had different idea. It was like a cute romantic story. I dished it out to Indian bowlers, some going for a few some for a plenty. He farmed a lot of strike and most unlucky not to get to three figures against India. A 100 seems much more convincing then a 96 not out. Rest of the batting apart from a few minor contributions came and went.
Ishant Sharma rocked the B’desh batting claiming four, Zaheer got three, and Ojha claimed two. I wonder what’s keeping Bhajji down; I hope he gets back to wicket taking ways. I know SAfs are coming but don’t imagine them to be top quality spin playing unit although Smith, Kallis, De’Villiers are good. I would like to think of them bringing back Jacques Rudolph. That chap is good.

Dravid and Tendulkar show for batting lesson

Dravid and Tendulkar displayed a master class of batting. Dravid whole career seem to be almost unsung to the point of being unnoticed. Dravid has over 10 thousands runs in both form of the game. Indians batting woes has swung in step with Dravid batting form. Dravid a no mean stroke player himself provides enough certainty for the likes of Tendulkars, Sehwags, Gambhirs, and Laxmans to play their natural game. It should be surprise that he holds the record for most number of century partnerships in test. A little misjudgement caused the ball to thud into his jaw, as a result he having a hairline fracture in the jaw. I feel a few SAfs bowlers would have sigh of relief.
Tendulkar surely made it count. He scored two centuries in two tests. A good match practice for following series during SAfs tour to India. I think Sachin is now in good form and better fitness. At least for last couple of years. So far so good. He now has 90 internationals centuries so Tendulkar needs ten more tons to get to the ton of centuries. I think it would be one of the more profound sporting feats in the same bracket as Bolt, Phelps or Nadia Comaneci. I know Ponting just behind his back with 39 centuries in test. But Tendulkar may just outlast Ponting may be by few months. But if that’s the case Ponting may just end up with more number of centuries. But as off know, its Tendulkar. I hope he takes his good form to the next test series.
Dhoni almost got there to a century. At times his swagger can be so intimidating yet assuring. He got the taste of his own medicine he was stumped out for 89. Sehwag and Gambhir contributed to with fifties. Gambhir sadly fell for 68, al though he was closing on one more century with which he would have tied with Bradman for 6 centuries in 6 back to back tests. But then to his solaces, he in now ties with Viv Richards for fifty in 11 consecutives innings. Talk to being in form. He simply is doing superb and would want to do well against a good bowling SAfs side.

Tamim tames India bowling.

He was in trance almost. He cracked an awesome century and looked in no fuss. He grew in confidence with each run. He had Siddique almost bought back public to the stadium. He looked very commanding and authoritative and the rejoice was for all to see and applaud. Tamim Iqbal looked good in the earlier test as well, by the looks of it; he would continue to do well in the future. I believe the wicket too eased out and nothing was happening till the ball was deposited with sure hands of Zak.

Zak talks of being in the zone.

Zaheer Khan’s control saw B’desh batting collapsing. He has affinity for left handers in the top order. In the last series when India toured South Africa, Zaheer was all over Smith. I think if Zaheer has marked his men for next series, Smith would be there. Zak took 10 in the match and walked away with Man of the match and Man of the series. He was in tremendous control and swaying the ball to his wishes. Zak is looking really awesome.
Bhajji need a relooks. I was wondering about Bhajjis form, doesn’t oozes the same confidence. I know it is just matter of one good innings. I wish him luck. Go Bhajji.

Dhoni’s hat gets more couple of good feathers. If he wins against SAfs that would be really cool. At least for now with key batsman injured, Dravid, Yuvraj, Laxman and an unwanted, unwarranted crisis in South Africa, let’s just hope we have the best teams playing in right frame of mind and full fitness.

I am wondering is South Africans would do well in this years IPL … the questions begs to be asked. I believe only time will unravel the answers

Cricket: Match drawn series won.

Fog claimed this match. Fog drags this match to a draw. India was partially to be blamed. It also highlights why there are still not number one. The momentum is often killed as India looks to defend rather than kick on and make some runs. I know time is of essence and often in cricket lay low when the bowler on top but you have to make up for the lost times and run making opportunity.
If the first innings is to be anything to go by India did not push them harder to win the test.

This match was dragged on and then drawn.

The series was on a high when India came from behind to win the test, with Tendulkar hitting a century of a lifetime perhaps. After that this test was a tame display of sustaining the adrenaline and pump in the enthusiasm. But Sehwag didn’t click, India missed the spark. A big blob in first innings didn’t help. Dravid fought bad form with doubts to stay afloat and get a century in the taking. Gambhir meanwhile went from strength to strength and missed a double in the first innings and century in the second. Tendulkar will just remember day five of the first test in Chennai. He and Dravid failed again and there was a collapse of sorts in the first innings before Yuvraj Singh came in and kicked on the scoring rates. Gambhir trenched in, but poor soul did not keep a cut short down and Ian bell, the biggest loser, catch a ripper in thin air to sent Gambhir packing for 97 in second innings. Indians did not declared their second innings before lunch and thus confirmed the drawn fate of the test, which people imagined to be so at the end of the third day.
It was foggy in the morning but when things cleared out India were 40 something for 3 and 80 for four on the fourth day late afternoon, the whirlwind Yuvraj came in belted it all around, may be hinting a promotion up the order but, if first innings was anything to go by, he came in after the fourth wicket fell.
That was a passage of play which made me think that a quicksilver 45 minutes and India should declare. The fog as expected stalled the proceedings, by the time sun came out and the picture got clearer the match ended in a draw

Pietersen leads the front.

I find Pietersen bemusing; he is a superb stroke player, not only the strokes he plays but also the way he plays them. He is a rare batsman, rare because he is one-quality batsmen and a rank ordinary fielder. I still find it amusing the way he jumps in the crease before playing a stroke. But surely he is SAfs loss and England’s gain. The English were down two for two. Strauss followed a test match in which he belted century in each inning with a third ball duck. That’s the way cricket goes. Next was Ian Bell most incomplete batsman the game of cricket has ever seen. He got a swinging beauty from Ishant and heard his stumps flying all over the place. Pietersen literally jumped to the crease, Dhoni the gambler bought Yuvraj the pie chucker and almost had his man only to Laxman let a chance a begging. Yuvraj almost had his man, Pietersen had almost chucked his wicket. Harbhajan egged n himself to produce something but struggle until the end of the day when he went around getting Pietersen into a false position. Flintoff was claimed by Mishra at the end of days play. India did manage to brush the English tail. The last six wickets fell fro just 22 runs. India claimed a healthy lead in a very forgettable test match.

India kept running them out.

Sehwag, Laxman, Yuvraj were claimed run out and in some ways made Ian Bell’s tour more soothing to him. His performance would have placated him, but may not placate English selectors. India virtually sleep walked with Dravid Tendulkar not contributing much, Laxman has had a silent innings, and perhaps he has to score more against teams other than Aussies. India lumbered to let English 403 in forty overs, Cook came out and Ishant had me caught second slip. The slow scoring tactic were pretty much followed from the first innings, I was so glad when the match ended in a draw, not before Dhoni turning his arm over an over or too. All said and done the match was drawn and a series won.

Man of the series Zaheer,

The reigning Sultan of Swing. Ishant is more of face and hitting the pitch. Zaheer, RP Singh and Sreesanth mean while have superb control. I am curious to know how Munaf does, but I don’t think he can swing it like Zaheer. It’s the amazing sense of control on the old ball that Zaheer seems to have developed that makes him a man to watch out for. He swung it when Aussies were here. He has been castling the stumps with some consistency taking into account the left handers in top of the order, Cook and Strauss in this series. He also comes around the wicket and gets low order batsmen in a tangle castling them or getting them LBW. It is lovely to watch.

Thought of the day ...

Study invites study, idleness produces idleness.