Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
India able to maintain their 1-0 lead
India survived the last two days of the second test against New Zealand, with fine performances from the top order batsmen.Resuming on 252 for two, India were 476 for four when play was called off with the visitors accomplishing the mission to save the match.
Gambhir was solid for almost 11 hours from day 3 evening to day 5 afternoon scoring his 5th and most important and slow century.VVS gave him company with his very very special rescuing innings once again as he did so many times before,Even on the third day evening, when he spoke to the press, He was very confident that they can survive the 2 days.
For the second day running Daniel Vettori and his bowlers had struggled to raise themselves in a match they appeared to have in the bag not too long ago. India were on the back foot for three days, but New Zealand failed to keep them there.The flat track offered them nothing, but some bounce here and there.
Tendulkar gone early in the day, nicking a loose drive behind for 64.But Gambhir and Laxman make sure that india were out of danger.Gambhir innings remained out of character but was just what India needed to bind the innings together. He only scored 17 runs all morning and 21 in the afternoon, going past his previous longest Test innings, the 550 minutes he batted for a double-century against Australia last year.
India should have been 13 for 4 but Iain O'Brien juggled and dropped an absolute sitter at mid-on when Gambhir chipped Vettori in the air.Gambhir was finally dismissed, given lbw to Jeetan Patel,which was once again a dubious decision.His 137 spanned 642 minutes and 436 deliveries.
Later VVS was in the middle walking the talk and helped India pull off a great escape with his 14th Test century along with a fifty from yuvraj singh.
The contributions of Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar in both innings also need a mention. It was a great escape indeed.
Gambhir was solid for almost 11 hours from day 3 evening to day 5 afternoon scoring his 5th and most important and slow century.VVS gave him company with his very very special rescuing innings once again as he did so many times before,Even on the third day evening, when he spoke to the press, He was very confident that they can survive the 2 days.
For the second day running Daniel Vettori and his bowlers had struggled to raise themselves in a match they appeared to have in the bag not too long ago. India were on the back foot for three days, but New Zealand failed to keep them there.The flat track offered them nothing, but some bounce here and there.
Tendulkar gone early in the day, nicking a loose drive behind for 64.But Gambhir and Laxman make sure that india were out of danger.Gambhir innings remained out of character but was just what India needed to bind the innings together. He only scored 17 runs all morning and 21 in the afternoon, going past his previous longest Test innings, the 550 minutes he batted for a double-century against Australia last year.
India should have been 13 for 4 but Iain O'Brien juggled and dropped an absolute sitter at mid-on when Gambhir chipped Vettori in the air.Gambhir was finally dismissed, given lbw to Jeetan Patel,which was once again a dubious decision.His 137 spanned 642 minutes and 436 deliveries.
Later VVS was in the middle walking the talk and helped India pull off a great escape with his 14th Test century along with a fifty from yuvraj singh.
The contributions of Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar in both innings also need a mention. It was a great escape indeed.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
ROUGH DAY AT OFFICE FOR TEAM INDIA! Poor Field Placements & Catching put them on back foot
The big news at the toss today is that there is no Dhoni in the match because of a back pain.Sehwag is going to lead india on the second time.
India inspite of having a good start today, were put on back foot by Taylor and Ryder.They are comfortably placed at 351-4 by the stumps.Ryder is still there on 137 along with Franklyn on 26.There were so many edges from both Taylor and Ryder and even Franklyn, pleading to catch them in the slip cordon.Some went down far from any fielder,while some gave a half-chance and some were catchable.
Zaheer and Ishanth picked up three quick wickets with the new ball, but the record 4th wicket partnership between Ryder and Taylor put New Zealand on top.Mcintosh had a bad decision just hitting the pad with his bat while playing a ball from Ishanth.Soon after Zaheer got How(batsman name), an inside edge on to the stumps with an inswinging delivery.And he bounced the first ball of his next over on to Guptill who tried to duck very late keeping his hands high and the ball took his gloves and safely reached diving Sehwag hands at gully.
Ross Taylor wasn't at his fluent best but, on a day when almost everything went his way, he didn't need to be. He swished, flashed and edged but luck was on his side and he was dropped twice. He eventually battled his way to a third Test century.All of the four primary bowlers were unlucky throughout, with many edges falling short of fielders or going over their heads. When Rahul Dravid failed to hold a tough catch at slip, with Taylor on 92, India's hopes of preventing Taylor's innings from reaching three figures were dashed.
Ryder on the other side looked composed with his defence,though had some nicks going here and there, but not into the fielder's hands.India took their new ball straight away in the 81st over, after letting ishanth to bowl the first delivery with the old ball.
Franklyn was lucky to be there when he had a very thin edge to an out swinger from Ishanth into the gloves of Dinesh Karthik,the indian wicket keeper today.Soon after Yuvraj grounded a clean catch in the third slip of Zaheer.Last over by Munaf didn't click today!
India inspite of having a good start today, were put on back foot by Taylor and Ryder.They are comfortably placed at 351-4 by the stumps.Ryder is still there on 137 along with Franklyn on 26.There were so many edges from both Taylor and Ryder and even Franklyn, pleading to catch them in the slip cordon.Some went down far from any fielder,while some gave a half-chance and some were catchable.Zaheer and Ishanth picked up three quick wickets with the new ball, but the record 4th wicket partnership between Ryder and Taylor put New Zealand on top.Mcintosh had a bad decision just hitting the pad with his bat while playing a ball from Ishanth.Soon after Zaheer got How(batsman name), an inside edge on to the stumps with an inswinging delivery.And he bounced the first ball of his next over on to Guptill who tried to duck very late keeping his hands high and the ball took his gloves and safely reached diving Sehwag hands at gully.
Ross Taylor wasn't at his fluent best but, on a day when almost everything went his way, he didn't need to be. He swished, flashed and edged but luck was on his side and he was dropped twice. He eventually battled his way to a third Test century.All of the four primary bowlers were unlucky throughout, with many edges falling short of fielders or going over their heads. When Rahul Dravid failed to hold a tough catch at slip, with Taylor on 92, India's hopes of preventing Taylor's innings from reaching three figures were dashed.
Ryder on the other side looked composed with his defence,though had some nicks going here and there, but not into the fielder's hands.India took their new ball straight away in the 81st over, after letting ishanth to bowl the first delivery with the old ball.
Franklyn was lucky to be there when he had a very thin edge to an out swinger from Ishanth into the gloves of Dinesh Karthik,the indian wicket keeper today.Soon after Yuvraj grounded a clean catch in the third slip of Zaheer.Last over by Munaf didn't click today!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
India,going to make History after 41 years?
India have won the first test in NZ,after a long 33 years.And now,going into the second match, no one has doubts about them in winning the series.Though the NZ coach and players are saying that they'll give good fight, they themselves know, what it takes to beat team India in the current context.They are completely outplayed in the first match.A good innings from Mccullam in the second innings, saved them from an innings defeat.Looking at team India performances, one has to admit that they have improved a lot in the recent years.India have trounced the West Indies (Trinidad, 2002), beaten Pakistan in their backyard (2004-05), humbled the Australians in their outback (Adelaide 2003-04 and Perth 2007-08), bearded the English lion in its own den (2007) and tamed the South Africans (2007).
They came to Newzealand to end a 41-year wait for triumph.And they are already half-way through.Neither pace nor bounce, neither grass nor seam have held back Mahendra Singh D
honi and his team's confidence.
honi and his team's confidence."It is exciting time for Indian cricket. It has been quite satisfying. The Test victory is very special. We have been able to achieve that in the last few years wherever we have travelled. I am glad that we made it possible here as well," said Tendulkar.
Dhoni felt nothing less than a series win would satisfy the Indians. "It's a great feeling, especially for guys who whose careers have spanned more than 10 years," he said. "They have played at most of the venues all over the world, and if it's the first win for them, it can't get better. But hopefully if we can win the series it will be great. One of the first milestones we have achieved is to take the lead, now it's important to play the same kind of cricket in the second and third game. Let's hope we win the series and that will be the best gift we can give to them [the seniors]."
India have easily did, what they thought very difficult for 33 years.And they are looking to climb more hights day by day!.
Friday, March 20, 2009
India in the Driver's seat
A near flawless 160 by Sachin Tendulkar and three early wickets in New Zealand's second innings gave India total charge on the third day of the first Test
on Friday.Bring back Shane Warne, Shaun Pollock and Wasim Akram because we have a conundrum here that only they can solve. The way Sachin Tendulkar has batted on this tour, and in the matches leading up to it, it seems he has hit the kind of patch he did in the mid-90s.He scored his 42nd Test century and gave Seddon Park a batting masterclass.Tendulkar's hundred took just 168 balls and his positive intent never allowed the bowlers to settle. India lost Yuvraj Singh to an error of judgement but though Mahendra Singh Dhoni was initially subdued, a 115-run partnership gave India the advantage.
The third umpire was needed to make sure that Ryder hadn't caught Dhoni at gully after another fierce cut, but India's captain was on his way three balls later after gloving a short-pitched delivery behind. Then, after an immaculate punch down the ground off O'Brien, Tendulkar's 260-ball effort ended with an edge to first slip, after he tried to fend a bouncer down towards fine leg.
Vettori took a smart diving catch at mid-off to end Harbhajan Singh's cameo, there was further punishment from Zaheer Khan, who hit the ball through and over the covers with the ease of a frontline batsman.He was unbeaten on 50 from 45 balls,though had survived two catches earlier from Martin and Flynn.Munaf swept one from vettori with single hand straight into the hands of Martin at square leg.
When New Zealand batted a second time, Tim McIntosh lasted just three balls. There were doubts over whether the edge off Zaheer carried to Tendulkar at first slip and the fielder himself went off with a badly jammed and bleeding finger. Tendulkar later clarified that his finger was sore, but had not been broken.
Guptill and flynn had a good partership going before Guptill scooped a flighted delivery from harbhajan straight to sehwag at wide mid-off.Munaf then trapped Mills in front with the last ball of the day. The shouts of celebration reverberated around the ground, and the Indians took their time to walk off after a day when pretty much everything had gone their way.
India are surely in the driver's seat.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
India on top despite Ryder, Vettori tons
Dhoni's decision to bowl in humid conditions was more than vindicated as Zaheer and Ishant tore through the top order. Zaheer started the rot with two wickets in four balls, and when Ishant came back to grab three in his second spell. 
Zaheer slanted one across to take the edge of Guptill's bat. Rahul Dravid dived across from third slip and took a smart catch at the second attempt, to join Mark Waugh on 181, a world record. When Daniel Flynn tickled one down the leg side for Dhoni to take a fine catch.It should have been even worse, but Sehwag put down Ross Taylor at gully, despite getting two opportunities to grab on to an ill-judged slash.
McIntosh's attempt to play one from Ishanth with an angled bat found Sehwag at the first of two gullies.Munaf gave nothing away, bowling full and straight, but it was Ishant that struck, sending Taylor's off stump flying with a superb delivery that darted back in to brush the pad.
Poor James Franklin was sent packing by Simon Taufel, though replays clearly showed that the delivery from Ishant had brushed the back pad and not the bat. But with no referral system in place for the series, New Zealand were suddenly looking at a score of 51 for 5.McCullum edged one to second slip of Munaf patel just before lunch.
Superb hundreds from Daniel Vettori and Jesse Ryder dragged New Zealand from the depths of 60 for 6 to a relatively respectable 279 on a well-grassed but true pitch at Seddon Park.
When Mahendra Singh Dhoni took a sharp catch diving to his right after Vettori got a thin inside edge off Munaf Patel, New Zealand were 246 for 7. The wickets column showed 8 a ball later, as Munaf produced a searing yorker to mess up Kyle Mills' stumps.
What was Iain O'Brien thinking? He had batted so well with Jesse Ryder before madness struck. O'Brien survived a hat-trick first up and then played a supporting role while Ryder moved from 77 to 98 during the ninth-wicket partnership. And then O'Brien stepped out to Harbhajan to defend one and got stumped.
What was Iain O'Brien thinking? He had batted so well with Jesse Ryder before madness struck. O'Brien survived a hat-trick first up and then played a supporting role while Ryder moved from 77 to 98 during the ninth-wicket partnership. And then O'Brien stepped out to Harbhajan to defend one and got stumped.
The famously inept Chris Martin came in to bat with five balls to go in the Harbhajan over, with Ryder helpless at the non-striker's end, two short of a maiden Test century. Gripping drama ensued. With every ball that Martin kept out, the cheers in the ground kept getting louder.
He somehow he kept his cool.Ishant started the next over with a spread-out field, and tried a bouncer. Ryder saw it early and played his trademark short-arm pull to get to his first hundred. It was received by loud cheers from the dressing room, and acknowledgements from every Indian fielder.Ryder pulled the next ball again but holed out.
By stumps, India had knocked off 29 with Virender Sehwag looking in ominously good touch. India dominated the first session and the final hour
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
India ready to make another mark in NZ
Galle, Perth, Trent Bridge, Johannesburg, Kingston, Rawalpindi, Multan, Adelaide, Headingley, Port-of-Spain, and Kandy. The venues of India's memorable overseas victories in the 21st century include all but one of the major Test nations. New Zealand remains the only country in which India have not won a Test since they became competitive away from the subcontinent. India's solitary Test-series success in New Zealand was four decades ago, their last Test triumph here was in 1976, and their last tour in 2002-03 ended in a disastrous 2-0 rout. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men created history over the last two weeks by winning their first ever one-day series in New Zealand, and another such opportunity lies ahead of them.
A lot will depend on how successfully India ignore history.Sehwag has made a living out of forgetting the previous ball he has faced.Of late, this team has made a mockery of history and reputation. They were supposed to be the worst of the big teams at the World Twenty20, they were supposed to lose easily in the ODIs in Australia, they were not supposed to win a Test there.
"I am not bothered about whether we have won here or not," Dhoni said. "I am just bothered about the things we need to do over here as a team. We are not thinking about what happened in the past. I am not great when it comes to stats, so that really helps."
India have the right mix, the conditions are good. They have players to whom history means nothing, players who have suffered and have lessons to share, and they have players who are very good at putting the past behind them. From tomorrow, they will look to set right what they believe is an aberration.
Friday, March 13, 2009
He whacks them, then feels sorry!
"It must be very challenging for them," he replied after India won the ODI series, when asked if he found the Kiwi bowlers challenging at all.
Did he ever feel during the innings that their bowlers were completely down and out? "Oh yea, at least two-three times. But it's not just them. I have seen the Australian, South African and English bowlers feel that way too," he said nonchalantly.
Do you feel sorry for the captain or bowlers, when you bat like that? "Oh yea," he admitted, without bothering to explain.
So are you the most destructive batsman in world cricket today? "No. I don't think so," he said, trying to project a modest face.
But a much larger pool of facts illustrates why he's the most feared batsman today. Sehwag is the only batsman in current international cricket with two Test triple tons. Both were scored at breathtaking speed against respectable attacks: Pakistan and South Africa.
He is a more prolific "big" innings player than anybody else in world cricket. His last 11 hundreds have been 150-plus: 201 not out, 319, 151, 180, 254, 201, 173, 164, 155, 309, 195. Not one of these was against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe.
Barring one, each had a strike rate of 70-plus, amazing by Test standards. The 319 against South Africa in Chennai last year had come off just 304 balls. In terms of strike rate, not even Sir Donald Bradman compares.
His overall ODI average of 34 may be modest by his own standards, but in the last 20 innings, he has averaged an astounding 60.58. And he has succeeded on every surface - in South Africa, Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka.In bowlers, he induces fear. No other batsman has reduced world-class bowlers to helplessness as consistently in all forms of the game - Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s - as the Delhi opener.
In Sri Lanka last year, when the Fab Four fumbled against mystery slowman Ajantha Mendis, he led the way. Earlier, during the disastrous 2002-03 series against New Zealand, he was the only Indian batsmen to get two match-winning ODI hundreds on violently seaming tracks.
The fact that he has a shot, and enough time for every ball, is the key difference. Short: cut or pull; full: drive, to long-off or long-on; wide: slash; into his body: flick.
Did he ever feel during the innings that their bowlers were completely down and out? "Oh yea, at least two-three times. But it's not just them. I have seen the Australian, South African and English bowlers feel that way too," he said nonchalantly.
Do you feel sorry for the captain or bowlers, when you bat like that? "Oh yea," he admitted, without bothering to explain.
So are you the most destructive batsman in world cricket today? "No. I don't think so," he said, trying to project a modest face.
But a much larger pool of facts illustrates why he's the most feared batsman today. Sehwag is the only batsman in current international cricket with two Test triple tons. Both were scored at breathtaking speed against respectable attacks: Pakistan and South Africa.
He is a more prolific "big" innings player than anybody else in world cricket. His last 11 hundreds have been 150-plus: 201 not out, 319, 151, 180, 254, 201, 173, 164, 155, 309, 195. Not one of these was against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe.
Barring one, each had a strike rate of 70-plus, amazing by Test standards. The 319 against South Africa in Chennai last year had come off just 304 balls. In terms of strike rate, not even Sir Donald Bradman compares.
His overall ODI average of 34 may be modest by his own standards, but in the last 20 innings, he has averaged an astounding 60.58. And he has succeeded on every surface - in South Africa, Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka.In bowlers, he induces fear. No other batsman has reduced world-class bowlers to helplessness as consistently in all forms of the game - Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s - as the Delhi opener.
In Sri Lanka last year, when the Fab Four fumbled against mystery slowman Ajantha Mendis, he led the way. Earlier, during the disastrous 2002-03 series against New Zealand, he was the only Indian batsmen to get two match-winning ODI hundreds on violently seaming tracks.
The fact that he has a shot, and enough time for every ball, is the key difference. Short: cut or pull; full: drive, to long-off or long-on; wide: slash; into his body: flick.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
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