This was the stadium where play was called off temperately in the 4th one dayer between India and Sri Lanka after bad light threatened to deny India another win against Sri Lanka which finally didn't happen. That was regarding the flood lights. But, this time it is regarding the day light that threatened India to compromise with a draw when victory for team India was well on the cards. With just 157 minutes of play possible, not much was expected but South Africans would be dancing the whole night with already a win in their hands. Smith will have rejoiced a lot more with his wicket not being claimed by Zaheer this time.
For a change, it was Amit Mishra who got Smith leg before with the South African captain scoring 20 runs when a 200 was expected out of him. May be that Zaheer was sick of getting Smith every time he bowled. South African batsmen could manage to score 131 runs despite losing 3 wickets and that too at regular intervals. This was far too less compared to 357 runs that they were to score in case they needed to avoid an innings defeat. But, the score was too much in the 157 minutes that was played on the day. But, the main spoilsport was of course the bad light.
With India facing summer, there should have been scorching heat and no signs of rain whatsoever. But, the height of misfortune for India demanded a dim sunlight with which the players could just manage to miss the scorching heat on the ground. This has left with South Africa to just battle it out with 7 wickets in hand and India to claim the remaining 7 wickets in case they were to assure the world of their number one test status. Still, the upper hand lies with India, given the pitch in the fifth day of a test match. But, the weather can still come in the way of Indian victory and that'll be what Smith and co. would be looking forward to.
This reminds me of the Chennai test between India and Australia, where India had lost their first test in Bangalore and had a firm grip in the 2nd test at Chennai to make the 4 match series of the Border-Gavaskar trophy 1-1 with 2 more matches to go. India did well with Anil Kumble returning with figures of 13-141 at the end of the 4th day's play and India needed 219 runs to win out of which 10 runs were already scored. But, misery stuck India when the entire 5th day was washed off by rain without a single delivery being bowled. This was the match that paved the way for Australian victory on Indian soil after 34 years. Australia later won the next test and India the 5th to make the series 1-2.
Showing posts with label Amit Mishra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amit Mishra. Show all posts
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A sweet revenge on the cards for India
The two men from team India who were entitled to take the charge against South Africa viz V V S Laxman and Harbhajan Singh did exactly what they were expected to. Added to that was the captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who unlike in his previous games that he played was found giving in more responsibility. May be because the pitch offerred assistance to batsmen that saw four Indian batsmen notching up centuries, with that of Sachin and Sehwag expected. The trump card for team India being the spin department and Harbhajan Singh riding high on his off spin, the Proteas had no other choice.
As expected, the Indian team lost Amit Mishra not before he scored 28 runs, given the caliber he faces regarding his batting abilities. Mishra had five hits to the fence and his innings lasted 38 balls at a strike of over 73. And from then onwards, the Indian innings never saw another wicket fall to the South African bowling whatsoever. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was found scoring at a rate of more than 4 runs per over and so was team India. Laxman and Dhoni were the only two batsmen available in the playing XI and were more than enough to find the Proteas run for cover.
Prior to that, India needed just four bowlers namely Zaheer, Harbhajan, Amit Mishra and Ishanth Sharma to uproot the South African batting line up. This was not the case even against Bangladesh when more than four bowlers were required to make things tough for the Bangladeshis. By putting up a score of 643 on the board, India not only sealed a position to level the series but also boasted to have scored the highest aggregate in the tournament surpassing the 556/6 dec the South Africa put up in the 1st innings of the 1st test at Nagpur. So, it was a total batting effort excluding Murali Vijay by India.
With this, India can be thought to have a sweet revenge on its cards, in case India manage to win this test by an innings. And if the play that has been done so far is considered,this can well be anticipated. However, one cannot reason out as to what made Dhoni declare when India could have posted a total of 700+ and V V S Laxman and Dhoni himself could have themselves posted double centuries? Laxman was just 7 runs short of scoring 150 and India 7 runs short of a 650 total. The present total of 643 is enough for India to grab a win but, not statistically speaking so. Is it because that Dhoni wanted to show the world that he has no place for such stats in his mind that he declared the innings with that question due to raise?
As expected, the Indian team lost Amit Mishra not before he scored 28 runs, given the caliber he faces regarding his batting abilities. Mishra had five hits to the fence and his innings lasted 38 balls at a strike of over 73. And from then onwards, the Indian innings never saw another wicket fall to the South African bowling whatsoever. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was found scoring at a rate of more than 4 runs per over and so was team India. Laxman and Dhoni were the only two batsmen available in the playing XI and were more than enough to find the Proteas run for cover.
Prior to that, India needed just four bowlers namely Zaheer, Harbhajan, Amit Mishra and Ishanth Sharma to uproot the South African batting line up. This was not the case even against Bangladesh when more than four bowlers were required to make things tough for the Bangladeshis. By putting up a score of 643 on the board, India not only sealed a position to level the series but also boasted to have scored the highest aggregate in the tournament surpassing the 556/6 dec the South Africa put up in the 1st innings of the 1st test at Nagpur. So, it was a total batting effort excluding Murali Vijay by India.
With this, India can be thought to have a sweet revenge on its cards, in case India manage to win this test by an innings. And if the play that has been done so far is considered,this can well be anticipated. However, one cannot reason out as to what made Dhoni declare when India could have posted a total of 700+ and V V S Laxman and Dhoni himself could have themselves posted double centuries? Laxman was just 7 runs short of scoring 150 and India 7 runs short of a 650 total. The present total of 643 is enough for India to grab a win but, not statistically speaking so. Is it because that Dhoni wanted to show the world that he has no place for such stats in his mind that he declared the innings with that question due to raise?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The over-confident South African coach
It is not an unknown fact that one victory can make anyone go over confidential like it is evident from Corrie van zyl's words after his team's 1st test win against India at Nagpur. Following that test victory, Smith looks to be ready for any challenge be it whatever. This is evident from his words when he says that he and his team mates are ready for any pitch, without realizing his team's weakness. I guess Smith must be once again reminded that he is playing in the sub continent where South Africa's performance has so far been under average, be it against India, Sri Lanka or Pakistan.
If South Africa's run in tests against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka are considered, they have managed just two test wins since 1993 out of the 10 games that were played. And when it comes to playing India at home, South Africa have a better record compared to that against Sri Lanka. On their last tour in 2008, South Africa have managed to level the series 1-1 with another test being drawn, where Sehwag scored his 2nd triple century. Prior to that, South Africa had lost the 2 match series 0-1 after India beat South Africa by 8 wickets at Kolkata.
And against Pakistan, South Africa have yet again managed to win just two games, with Pakistan winning just one in the 7 matches that have been played between these two nations. It need not be specially cited about South Africa's lack of ability to play spin bowling especially in the sub continent conditions which are spinner friendly compared to the ones in South Africa. It was in Kolkata that South Africa had lost to India two series prior to this one. One has to surely be lying if he says that a turning track will not bother South Africa in the series.
Is it because that South Africa have won the first test and their chances of losing the series is out of question that they are ready with any sort of pitch in the 2nd test at Kolkata? Or is it because that India lack quality in the spin bowling department with Harbhajan Singh being the lone spinner of some quality? Though there is Amit Mishra, he has to make a name for himself as a noted leg spinner. One has to remind the Proteas about the way Harbhajan Singh destroyed the South African batting in the Kolkata test in 2004 by taking 7 wickets. Oh! yes..this is the first time van zyl is coaching RSA and may be he isn't aware about the past.
If South Africa's run in tests against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka are considered, they have managed just two test wins since 1993 out of the 10 games that were played. And when it comes to playing India at home, South Africa have a better record compared to that against Sri Lanka. On their last tour in 2008, South Africa have managed to level the series 1-1 with another test being drawn, where Sehwag scored his 2nd triple century. Prior to that, South Africa had lost the 2 match series 0-1 after India beat South Africa by 8 wickets at Kolkata.
And against Pakistan, South Africa have yet again managed to win just two games, with Pakistan winning just one in the 7 matches that have been played between these two nations. It need not be specially cited about South Africa's lack of ability to play spin bowling especially in the sub continent conditions which are spinner friendly compared to the ones in South Africa. It was in Kolkata that South Africa had lost to India two series prior to this one. One has to surely be lying if he says that a turning track will not bother South Africa in the series.
Is it because that South Africa have won the first test and their chances of losing the series is out of question that they are ready with any sort of pitch in the 2nd test at Kolkata? Or is it because that India lack quality in the spin bowling department with Harbhajan Singh being the lone spinner of some quality? Though there is Amit Mishra, he has to make a name for himself as a noted leg spinner. One has to remind the Proteas about the way Harbhajan Singh destroyed the South African batting in the Kolkata test in 2004 by taking 7 wickets. Oh! yes..this is the first time van zyl is coaching RSA and may be he isn't aware about the past.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Reminding India's Position in test cricket
Well it was India in the end who walked away with a victory against an ever rising Bangladesh team after crushing the hosts by 113 runs at Chittagong. Though good for any winning team, my question is how far can that victory be relished if true spirits of the game of cricket is concerned? India had to wait until the end of the fifth day of the test match to finalize its win over Bangladesh. India needed the same age old player in Sachin Tendulkar to register a win the the mentioned test. India played Bangladesh the way there are at present expected to play some team like South Africa or Australia.
India was found putting a better performance against stronger teams like the ones mentioned above. Is it due to the fact that they were playing Bangladesh that India took the opposition lightly or was it the over confidence that they had won all their test series' last year that India had to gasp for victory? India, taking into account its number one position in test cricket, had to walk away with an innings win in the Chittagong test that didn't happen. India had a lead of just 1 run in their first innings which speaks for itself about the rating team India is found enjoying.
If Sachin Tendulkar's and Virender Sehwag's score out of the lot is deducted, India's team total would read just 86 runs, that included 13 extras as well. There were two bowlers who picked up 5 wickets each (Shahadat Hossain and Sakib Ali Hasan) and the best part being that they belonged to the Bangladesh team, against which any team can take any sorts of risk. Bangladesh is one such team in international cricket against which any captain (may be West Indies & Zimbabwe barred) need not think twice in imposing a follow on. And India makes the match against the same Bangladesh a memorable won by winning it on the last day.
It was the same India a couple or years back who had drawn a test match against Bangladesh at the same venue, when India ended their first innings scoring 387 runs on board, out of which Ganguly scored 100 and Tendulkar scored 101. It was the match where India succumbed to 100/6 before declaring the second innings. That match finally ended in a draw as mentioned, with the man of the match being given to Mashrafe Mortazaof Bangladesh for his 79 runs in the first innings. However, newspapers blame it on the rain that ended India's fortunes in that game, which is totally not supported by the scorecard. Scorecard suggests that rain had come to India's rescue.
Finally, it would not be a tough call regarding the second test against Bangladesh to be played at Dhaka a couple of days later. But, India's performance in the Chittagong test would once again remind India's rating in test cricket, where at present is at number 1 by hooks or crooks.
India was found putting a better performance against stronger teams like the ones mentioned above. Is it due to the fact that they were playing Bangladesh that India took the opposition lightly or was it the over confidence that they had won all their test series' last year that India had to gasp for victory? India, taking into account its number one position in test cricket, had to walk away with an innings win in the Chittagong test that didn't happen. India had a lead of just 1 run in their first innings which speaks for itself about the rating team India is found enjoying.
If Sachin Tendulkar's and Virender Sehwag's score out of the lot is deducted, India's team total would read just 86 runs, that included 13 extras as well. There were two bowlers who picked up 5 wickets each (Shahadat Hossain and Sakib Ali Hasan) and the best part being that they belonged to the Bangladesh team, against which any team can take any sorts of risk. Bangladesh is one such team in international cricket against which any captain (may be West Indies & Zimbabwe barred) need not think twice in imposing a follow on. And India makes the match against the same Bangladesh a memorable won by winning it on the last day.
It was the same India a couple or years back who had drawn a test match against Bangladesh at the same venue, when India ended their first innings scoring 387 runs on board, out of which Ganguly scored 100 and Tendulkar scored 101. It was the match where India succumbed to 100/6 before declaring the second innings. That match finally ended in a draw as mentioned, with the man of the match being given to Mashrafe Mortazaof Bangladesh for his 79 runs in the first innings. However, newspapers blame it on the rain that ended India's fortunes in that game, which is totally not supported by the scorecard. Scorecard suggests that rain had come to India's rescue.
Finally, it would not be a tough call regarding the second test against Bangladesh to be played at Dhaka a couple of days later. But, India's performance in the Chittagong test would once again remind India's rating in test cricket, where at present is at number 1 by hooks or crooks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)