These guys do not have the cricket brain of even ordinary Indians. Otherwise who scores like that and gifts away a winning opportunity, that too after 100s of Tests experience. Even the English were laughing, but these thick skinned cricketers do not understand how ridiculed they are. Sourav Ganguly is the best thing that happened to Indian cricket and would live like a hero, not Dravid or Sachin. Yuvraj has the mind to carry on Saurav's legacy.
I don't know why people criticize Dravid's innings. India would be facing an assured defeat now. After losing Sehwag at 6 runs, Gambhir and Dravid took India to 320 - 300 runs in that partnership. Apart from this one, no other significant partnership came. Had this one partnership been absent, India would not cross 250 runs and England would be fast forwarding to a victory by the end of fourth day. People still think Dravid is waste. What can you tell them? nothing! wasted effort. they know nothing about test cricket.
Re: What if Dravid didn't hit 100
by timepass on Dec 23, 2008 10:05 AM
Dude, the way to make india safe was to score runs....not block for 20 balls and then get out anyway. Rubbish players...thats why Dravid is not taken seriously anywhere even after 10000 runs.
Dravid symbolises "garibi" for India as far as scoring runs and adopting a winning attitude is concerned.
Garibi Hatao, Desh Bachao!!
Re: Garibi Hatao Andolaan
by timepass on Dec 23, 2008 10:18 AM
Agree Pricky. We have so much in common - we both hate Dravid whole heartedly. Lets get married??
I think it is high time that we send marching orders to Dravid and Laxman, They are seniors and is showing bad precedents to juniors like Ghambir, when we are 150 runs lead in the first innings we should go for runs, we have played negative cricket inspite of heavy lead, It is not the style of Dhoni, It is high time that old guards who are playing for themselves and not for India is shown marching orders, It is shame on the part of Dravid and Laxman to play in this way -
Re: Test match at Mohali
by India on Dec 23, 2008 09:49 AM
Why don't you write to Indian selectors about this matter? They will not agree with you at this moment. Dravid and Laxman are greatly respected by Indian selectors and will not be dropped in the immediate furure.
Now India has enough runs on board. India must declare after playing just 5 more overs. Playing 5 more overs will unsettle the England batsmen. Get as many runs as possible in those 5 overs. Give enough overs to bowlers to get all England wickets. It will be a miracle if England chase that target on this pitch, and if it happens, just congratulate them for their great effort. There lies the real beauty of sports.
The approach of the team is something to think about .I would have thoght India should have gone after the bowling .Even 180 allout woulld have made the task very difficult for the English Team to Score as the target would be aroung 330 and with 75-80 overs maximum possible on the final day - even 90 overs will be difficult.Particularly considering Zaheer is such sublime form. It is not critisising the Capataincy . I am a sure West Indies under Llyod or Steve Wagh with his prime team would have gone hammer and tongs to win the match. We use all adjectives possible to describe the capaincy of Dhoni - his instructions or lack of the same seems to be poor .Great teams will take great risks - that is the reason they are great .Do we want to be great team or win here and there a few matches so that endorsements will be in full flow and BCCI coffers are full ?
Re: GREAT TEAMS
by Sebastian Cherukanam on Dec 23, 2008 09:13 AM
As I already told yesterday, getting 130-140 was enough. India still has the chance if they declare in 5 overs.
While considering the way Dhoni shuffled the batting line up in one dayers, I am sure had that in mind even yesterday but decided not to do so to avoid criticism by the so-called senior players and cricket pandits.
Re: GREAT TEAMS
by jambu jambu on Dec 23, 2008 09:16 AM
I fully agree with you, It is the negative spirit of Dravid and Laxman which will cost us the victory , I think the senior players are particular for their record, They have to emulate Shewag , Yuvi , Dhoni and Bajji, The seniors who do not contribute and play for their own records should be sent out
the match was heading for a draw from day 1 itself with dravid the wall not getting out and not making runs ... and it is just coincidence if dravid has ever played to win... he always plays for a match to become draw...
India's inexplicapable overcautious approach on the 4th day of this second test highlights the difference between a champion side like Australia and 'would be' champions India. After being 150 runs up, and a test up, and with England having to bat last, the 'choking' approach of the Indian batsmen is perplexing in the extreme. The desire for victory seems to be missing. Sending Dravid, who, for all his magnificient effort in the first innings, was still patchy, one down did not reek of good captaincy. Infact, after such positive efforts against the Australians and the one-dayers against England, the approach yesterday was totally misguided. Yuvraj should have been sent one down, with Dhoni still available down the order to repair any damage. It was sad to see the three top batsmen, Tendulkar, Laxman and Dravid struggling against, all said and done, was not the best bowling attack in the world. If India wants to be world champions, it will have to seize opportunities for victory where there are none (a la Chennai) and ruthlessly press for victory when it has all the advantages - as when England were dismissed for about 300 yesterday. We still have a long way to go before we become real world champions, if yesterday's approach is an indication.
Re: Long way off to becoming champions
by Sebastian Cherukanam on Dec 23, 2008 09:03 AM
You said it. This I had written yesterday even before Yuvi scored some quick runs. Yuvi, Dhoni, Sachin, Laxman, Dravid..
Now India has enough runs on board. If still no sure, India should declare at least after playing a kind of 20/20 cricket to get some quick runs for 5 more overs and give enough overs to bowlers to get all England wickets. It will be a miracle if England chase that target in this pitch, and if it happens, just congratulate them for their great effort. There lies the real beauty of sports.
If we have to keep Dravid to regain his form, he should be appreciative and play for the team in second innings. He can not play that slow to score nothing when England scored in a much faster space when Petersen was batting. Are the English bowling so good that they could not score; some blame should go to Gautam Gambhir also. Yuvi proved that english bowling was not that great by scoring aggressively.
It was surprising hat all the greats like Sachin, Laxman, Rahul and Gambhir were so timid in taking shots. If they were reasonblyaggressive, India could have been in a position of winning this test. But now it is being headed to tame draw. Very unfortunae indeed for the game of Cricket.
