END OF DAY ONE:
It was a good bowling performance by the Indians, but they were lucky on two counts-exactly the two walks, even more than the dodgy decision that got Clarke. The Australians are in such good form and have rolled over nearly every other team they have played, so they can afford it. The same cannot be said for most other teams, who will depend on an umpire to bail them out. Good point about Ganguly- with his team having won so few tournaments, and his batting also suspect, his fielding being almost nonexistent, he needs an umpire to save him. His grounded catch was supposed to make up for all his dropped catches, misfields and loose throws, but was just in the same bracket. By the way, does anyone remember Alec Stewart's trick in Trent Bridge, 2002? He contested the umpire's decision and used TV replays to stay not out! So did Wasim Jaffer in Barbados, 2002.
That said, Kumble bowled really, really well and deserved his 7 wickets. There was so much talk about Harbhajan being the main bowler, him getting 43 wickets in 4 matches against the Aussies, but Kumble is always a better bet. He has been very fit, and has used intelligence more than cracking pitches and that has helped him- and the team- a lot. However, he needs to be a regular fixture in ODI's, and must get more support with the fields.
The Indian batting performance was a disappoitment. Yuvraj got out yet again with two left feet against a spinner, which defeats the purpose of opening with him. The start was still bad- 28 runs in 13 overs. It could damage a promising career, one that could help the team a lot. Sehwag did little wrong, and should keep up the good work in the next session. But with 8 runs in 34 balls, for an attacking batsman, what has Akash Chopra done wrong? Pathan gets an opportunity to bat higher up, and must prove that he can bat- a lot better than some of the tailenders he follows so often. However, he was a strange choice for a night watchman- he's the opposite- a pinch-hitter.
