A perfect article summarizing the questionable flaws committed by the India team in the final test against Pakistan. Gone are those days when Sachin use to carry the confidence of the World's best batting line up(yes India). it now looks as if Sehwag took it over from Sachin. Leave everyone else, one would atleast imagine Sachin to play a more confident knock than this. Only player who can justify this defensive batting style is Dravid. That's his style and no comments on that. One can think of saving a test match only in the final session of play. But this India lineup started the day with defensive frame of mind,except for the openers. The perfect lineup for yesterday's chase would've been Ganguly come up the order at No.3. This would have brought an end to his critics, who say forget others, he himself does'nt have confidence in his batting. Ganguly at No.3 would have sent Pakistan a clear message." We are playing for a Win ! Draw is our last option.". this did'nt happen. India dissapointed millions of fans yet another time. Where's all the thinking?? If me sitting here in Texas can think so much, what r those paid Thinkers doing?? (Coach,Captian..)
Well put, Prem! If India would have lost in trying to win, that would have been much more admirable.
Wright has every right to wonder - where has all his hard work with the team led him to (to where he began, in the first place) and the future of the Indian team, though it would be none of his business henceforth.
Ganguly has every reason to feel like a "deer caught in the media headlights" - his days would be numbered.
The way India lost this match seems real suspect. You can understand a team getting out trying to score and win a match but when a team decides to play it safe, which was obviously India's intentions from the scoring rate, and with probably the best batting talent to play out the day under the circumstanses, it is easy for your average joe to come to such a conclusion. Especially to lose against a patethic bowling attack and unimaginative captaincy from Inzy, I think the writing is on the wall!!
Agree with Prem's assessment that India was doomed by the defensive tactics employed by the batsmen. I didn't watch this game live, but as I read the reports, I couldn't help contrasting this with a game I watched- Steve Waugh's last game that he helped save for Australia. Waugh and Katich kept attacking enough to give the Indians a sense of unease about how safe their target was. That unease kept the Indians from going on an all out attack until very late in the game.
It's amazing that an experienced Indian batting line-up didn't either realize it themselves, or learn it from watching Waugh at work.
I'm proud of this Indian team, but maintain that they have a long way to go.
Why did the team adopt a defensive strategy. When the openers were scoring about 3 runs/over.........the middle order should have done the same. They could not survive 6 overs to force a draw. What the ****
Time for a change in the captaincy. Thank you Mr. Ganguly, it was gr888 playing with u. Mr. Sachin/Dravid/Laxman..........records don't win matches.....this is for ur info.
