184 runs in about 60 overs (?), is around 3 runs per over. Laxman and Sachin need to go on till around 280 to 300, at least. In the first innings, both got out to silly shots, playing across the line or not recognizing slower one. Sehwag and Gambhir have set the stage for this win, with their positive batting. The rest should gird their loins and play smart cricket from here on. Win is a very good possibility. Yuvi has to grit his teeth and play well, realizing this is a test match and not ODI or 20-20. Pl leave out those silly nothing shots as Boycoot calls them, outside off stump. Captian Dhoni will try hard, as usual. Others should hang around and give him good support. I think India has a good chance to win..... play SMART...Dravid looks woefully out of form and may not get another chance.
Re: India can win this match if they play well
by Cric Fan on Dec 15, 2008 12:41 PM
Laxman throws it away again playing across the line. These kind of stupid shots on a turning 5th day pitch will not help. laxman's penchant for whipping every ball, even outside off to leg side, has been his downfall many a time. Well, lets see what ODI wonder-boy will do next.
Dravid still can play another year or two considering his fittness..you can say that he was given many chances to comeback but he deserves it when we knw his talent also he has been a proven performer in test..he needs few more chances..dont drop him for nxt test..I m sure he will not b...
If he gets in u just cant get him out (thts y they call him 'The wall' which we all know.).He is due for a big knock..its matter of getting in n spending some time in the middle.. i m sure he will come with a big scroe 200 or 300 ..So dnt drop a player like Dravid who's technique is exclusively made for test cricket atleast for another test match..lets see from there..
Re: Fantastic test match..........
by Abhijit on Dec 15, 2008 11:14 AM
Chance now 60-40, 60 for England to win, 40 for Inida to win. 192/3 Gambhir. Save Yuvraj to be in the crease at this crucial period.
Re: Re: Fantastic test match..........
by Anurag Rathore on Dec 15, 2008 11:18 AM
India needs 1 big partnership(more than 100) or 2 smalls partnership(50-70 runs) to win this match.
Re: Re: Re: Fantastic test match..........
by Abhijit on Dec 15, 2008 11:26 AM
Our Ranji spinners if not under pressure of playing International match to cement a place in this Indian team, would have turned the ball beautifully on pitching at the same rough areas to trouble the batsmen. Swann & Panesar do attempt but dont have that much variation in speed, no flighted delivery and importantly lacks control. This Indian team is not as good as their early tag of "India best players of spin".
Re: Re: Re: Re: Fantastic test match..........
by Anurag Rathore on Dec 15, 2008 11:32 AM
Agreed. But now they are playing fast bowling much better. Flintoff is only threat for India in this inning.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Fantastic test match..........
by Abhijit on Dec 15, 2008 11:37 AM
Anurag, Amit got 4 wickets & Harbhajan 4 wickets in this test match. Is it below their potential or bacause assistance from the pitch is not there for spinners?
Fine you are trying very hard n a catch has been dropped but then it is part and parcel of cricket. The comments of Harbhajan Singh were totally uncalled for and he should have been more sensitive towards a senior player like Rahul Dravid. Fine .. Dravid's time is bad and Bhajji at the moment is irreplaceable with sure shot place in team rightnow. But he should not forget sunnny days are very short and one day he too has to grow old and bad time for him may be round the corner. Looks like bhajji has an attitude problem which is the reason why he indulges in the so many incidences of this sort. Be it with Symonds or Srisanth , his behaviour has definitley brought disrepute to the game time and again. On the name of aggression you cant allow somebody to get away with it. Before its too late, I think he should be counselled just like Symonds who too had similar problems.
The best way to go for win is to be patient till lunch time, and even if we can manage 80-90 runs without any fall of wicket, we can accelerate and after tea time, play like T-20...
Now our boys should adapt a whole new fresh approach to this final day. If they had been mulling over the last four day's performance then 256 can look like everest on a cold, winter day. Instead they should walk out as if just won a toss to play the 50/50.
Only advantage playing today's like a 50/50 is that we have the whole day to thrash it and also doubtful Yuvi will forget its a test match and get back to his 20/20 style.
1. Sachin should play with his anger, being a mumbaiyaa manoos, as if a victim of the recent paki terror and thrash the ball around...
2. Gouti should carry on the tempo, having seen the 'saywahwah' destroying the english bowlers yesterday so closely..
3. Dhoni should forget all about his luck factor and compensate the 'Strauss drop' by playing his usual match finsihing (not fixing) style.
4. Yuvi must have little amnesia that it is a test match and ONLY think it is a 20/20 and go for the kill.
5. VVS can remember his olden golden kolkata dayz and be inspired and repeat it..
6. Dravid should play like this is really his last match (may be thats the truth) and play with a do or die attitude..
When Rahul Dravid couldn't get his hands to a difficult chance at leg slip, Harbhajan Singh was heard muttering something along the lines of "Why don't you come and bowl?" His mood didn't improve later in the afternoon either, with Gautam Gambhir dropping Prior at short leg. This time, there were no words, just a woe-is-me expression.
When Rahul Dravid couldn't get his hands to a difficult chance at leg slip, Harbhajan Singh was heard muttering something along the lines of "Why don't you come and bowl?" His mood didn't improve later in the afternoon either, with Gautam Gambhir dropping Prior at short leg. This time, there were no words, just a woe-is-me expression.
Re: ANY Comments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Ajeet Singh on Dec 15, 2008 10:47 AM
Nice pessimistic way of watching the game I should say. You noticed what you wrote in your opinion. But did you notice that yesterday Bhajji became the second highest wicket taking off-spinner in the world? Do you know he is the second highest wicket taker in 2008, just needs two wickets to seal the first spot? Why should you? You are only there to find loopholes in Bhajji. Take it as your defeat because even when people like you run him down he has emerged a winner. You need to change your view my dear friend, take this as a friendly advise from me. Life should be seen with all the positives. No hard feelings gentleman.
