After three days of play there are no clear favorties in this test. Same has been the case at the end of the first and second days of play.
The next test series is against the mighty Australians. Although we played RSA just before this it was the series in Australia where we showed the world, and Australia, that the gap is finally closing. Batsmen had finally risen to the challenge and played well on the fast tracks in Australia. Perth had been conquered af years of Australian dominance. The 'fab four', especially VVS, had if not at least had not let us down at crucial moments. A real fast bowler had emerged in Ishant Sharma. Sehwag was back in the side with a match-saving century in Adelaide. The future looked bright.
The South-Africans did push us at home, we nearly lost the series. But there were positives, Sehwag's hypersonic triple-century, an out of form Dravid scored a century and we won the third test quite comfortably. The point now is that we had won the third on a turner. In fact, ICC warned BCCI against preparing such pitches for test cricket. But our batsmen played well on spinning tracks as was expected. Although not ideal preparation for the series in Sri Lanka it did not raise any questions on team composition.
It all went wrong at the SSC. The last time India was so badly mauled was in the 1999-2000 tour of Australia. The 'fab four' had collapsed against two spinners one an all-time great, who didn't particularly have a great record against us, and a debutant 'mystery-spinner'. A good portion of the blame was put on the bowlers who let Sri Lanka post 600 runs in the first innings. However, I beg to differ. Sure we bowled badly but a middle order with names like that should have been shot out twice in time less than Sri Lanka took to declare with 600 runs in their first innings. Moreover, there was a virtual kid opening who played every bowler pretty decently.
The next series, although far away in terms of time, is Australia's tour of India.
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I stopped here a few days and have not finished it. So I am posting this anyway.
The next test series is against the mighty Australians. Although we played RSA just before this it was the series in Australia where we showed the world, and Australia, that the gap is finally closing. Batsmen had finally risen to the challenge and played well on the fast tracks in Australia. Perth had been conquered af years of Australian dominance. The 'fab four', especially VVS, had if not at least had not let us down at crucial moments. A real fast bowler had emerged in Ishant Sharma. Sehwag was back in the side with a match-saving century in Adelaide. The future looked bright.
The South-Africans did push us at home, we nearly lost the series. But there were positives, Sehwag's hypersonic triple-century, an out of form Dravid scored a century and we won the third test quite comfortably. The point now is that we had won the third on a turner. In fact, ICC warned BCCI against preparing such pitches for test cricket. But our batsmen played well on spinning tracks as was expected. Although not ideal preparation for the series in Sri Lanka it did not raise any questions on team composition.
It all went wrong at the SSC. The last time India was so badly mauled was in the 1999-2000 tour of Australia. The 'fab four' had collapsed against two spinners one an all-time great, who didn't particularly have a great record against us, and a debutant 'mystery-spinner'. A good portion of the blame was put on the bowlers who let Sri Lanka post 600 runs in the first innings. However, I beg to differ. Sure we bowled badly but a middle order with names like that should have been shot out twice in time less than Sri Lanka took to declare with 600 runs in their first innings. Moreover, there was a virtual kid opening who played every bowler pretty decently.
The next series, although far away in terms of time, is Australia's tour of India.
-----
I stopped here a few days and have not finished it. So I am posting this anyway.
1 comment:
Ok few things;
1) I really didnt make out that the point you are making in the heading is answered in the blog that followed it...I thought it actually was contradicting..
2) Though I agree that this win at Galle is a good win ..,Perth Win..and Sydney Loss of this year will remain in my memory for long time...Hence I will rate the loss at Sydney a better game than this win at Galle...
3) Also I want to comment to ICC's objection of making slow turning pitches in India...I completely agree with BCCI and support preparing these kind of pitches. Looking at the current team's composition and future bench strength, we really lack a quality spinner..and making these kind of pitches will only help India producing more better spinners and good batsmen who can play them well...
- Roshan
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