Too little too late. India versus England. 1st. Test Day 5. Nagpur.
The Indians were able to salvage some pride today but will be chastened by the fact that they were on the mat for most of this match. Thankfully, there was no batting collapse and one has to thank Wasim Jaffer and Dravid for that. England declared overnight and Sehwag was out early. The English bowlers denied him width outside off and he was bowled through the gate by one from Hoggard that seamed in. If India were to win Sehwag would have to get at least a quick fifty. Dravid and Jaffer took the score to 168 before Dravid fell for 71, bowled by another Panesar beauty. The acceleration came after the fall of Jaffer for a very good hundred ( 198/3). I can understand that the priority was to save the match first but the acceleration came an hour too late and Dravid admitted as much after the match. I am probably expecting too much of the team.
In any case, Pathan stroked a quick 35 off only 25 balls, including a delightful straight six off Flintoff. With Dhoni at the crease with Sachin at 252/4 and just under 15 overs to go, a win looked possible. Flintoff looked rattled for the first time in the match, setting an ultra defensive field. Harmison then dismissed Dhoni and Harbhajan quickly to extinguish any chance of an Indian victory.
Sachin looked good in an unbeaten 19 ball 28, that included three delightful fours from one Ian Blackwell over. In the end, a draw was a fair result but the English side emerges with several positives from this match. They batted well and bowled better than the Indians. Hoggard and Monty Panesar were the best bowlers in their respective categories. Alastair Cook, Paul Collingwood and Pietersen batted well. Flintoff led the side pretty well, considering it was his debut as captain.
The Indians have a lot more to ponder. As I write, the squad for the next test has been announced. VVS Laxman is lucky to keep his place but another failure may well signal the end. Suresh Raina will have to wait for his chance. VRV Singh has been replaced by Munaf Patel which is right. We are likely to play 3 pacers at Mohali and Munaf may make his debut. Harbhajan is lucky to keep his spot. He has been poor in tests for a while and totally dependent on minefields to get wickets. Had Piyush Chawla been an off spinner the one time turbanator would have to spend time on the sidelines.
The Indian batsmen have to address their technique against the incoming ball. It is a malaise that afflicts all of them to varying degrees.
Yuvraj is back, which is great. I hope that he will now consider himself mortal enough to attend to such mundane basics as keeping himself hydrated. It was quite a costly way to learn a rather basic lesson!
I am busy over the next few days and will not be writing a preview to the second test. Here is my eleven for the Mohali test : Jaffer, Sehwag, Dravid, Sachin, Yuvraj, Kaif, Dhoni, Irfan, Sreesanth, Munaf, Kumble. With Chawla being a leg spinner it is difficult to play him and Kumble unless if you are playing three spinners. He is going to have to wait. I expect him to make his debut at Mumbai for the last test where we should play three spinners, more so if the Mohali test is drawn. The team will probably play VVS instead of Kaif at Mohali. The clock is ticking for VVS and Mohali is make or break time for him.
Well done, England. Mohali is expected to give them their best chance of forcing a victory, but this series has been anything but predictable so far. India have a bigger than expected battle on their hands. Enjoy the spectacle.
-- Third Umpire
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Sunil Gavaskar did it, Kapil did it, Ravi Shastri did it and now we have Anil Kumble doing the same. Hell to players who play selfishly for self-esteem rather than think of the well being of the Nation and give chance to an upcoming new talent.
An unknown commodity as Piyush Chawla posses a far bigger threat to the English team than the utterly predictable Anil Kumble - but who will bell the cat ?
Yes I know Piyush Chawla is far too good to be kept waiting for long - but I still have a piece of advice for Mr. Anil Kumble - Buddy if ya have to go, you have to GO !!!
I am told this Mohali track is tailor-made for a rollicking 3 and half days of good rock solid batting and thereafter - nobody quite knows how it will behave or rather mis-behave.
I hope the Indian think-tank realises that this raw and inexpereinced English side is bound to stutter if put under pressure from the word go. For about an hour in the last session of the 1st Test when India started the sledge-hammer battering, Flintoff & Co were dazed and looked completely lost.
Ditto should be the approach of the Indian Team if God willing they win the Toss at Mohali and choose to bat. I cannot wait to see the return of the ravaging Sehwag cutting to smithereens this mediocre English attack in typical 1-day style. Sachin looked in classic form and we all know how dangerous Yuvraj, Dhoni and Irfan can be in the middle. The target is simple - Push the England team to a corner and they will crack in no time.
India should look to bat first (if they win the Toss) and bat big and fast. Half the battle would already be won. We all know how pressure works on inexperience. Also want to see the likes of Munaf Patel and Piyush Chawla in action.
I am happy to see you say something nice about Sachin!
This guy comes good once in 10 innings and most of the times is out when well set or looking good. Most of his good innings these days come at a time when it matters little or is inconsequential. How often have we seen this funny man look so very stylish and "elegant" (my foot) and all of a sudden, play an outrageous shot to get himself out !
If you need to look for a bloke who has been in Team India merely on past reputation - look no further. He invariably flatters to decieve time and again and I am fed up of this !!
I hope he is not in the playing XI in the Mohali test because if he plays and gets a 60-70 odd runs there will again be a big hue and cry to persist with him and not drop him. Both Yuvraj and Kaif deserve a better chance at the expense of this grand-daddy who is way, way past his prime.
Guys, have you seen VVS running between wickets. Check on his fielding if you care. I dunno if his wife has delivered as yet but VVS seems to be baby-sitting on the cricket field !
Also willing to guarantee a big one from Sehwag at Mohali. If India has the guts to blood-in Piyush Chawla, it should get interesting.
Yes, Monty Panesar has arrived !
You just got what you wanted.