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***Official*** India in Pakistan
- Thread starter Pratters
- Start date
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
This is the first time I have a comment since the match started. It's a bizarre selection by the Indians. Both Jaffer and Gambhir batted well in the practice match, getting 50's and solid opening stands. What happens? Both are dropped and you now have an out-of-form opener and a misfit opening the innings!
Four bowlers among these options can't win you a match. That said, Zaheer's exclusion was dumb. He's been in form in the run-up to the series, bar one day in that practice match. He's got the power the fast bowler needs (Irfan's partner doesn't) and could have made an impact here. Instead, we see Shoaib Malik, branded a walking wicket by local fans, scoring over 40 and Younis Khan making a solid contribution, scoring easily off Agarkar's overs. As for Irfan, what can a rookie like him do when he's thrust in the lead role with no support? That said, Kumble and Harbhajan seem to be in better form, and a rush of three wickets can change things.
Four bowlers among these options can't win you a match. That said, Zaheer's exclusion was dumb. He's been in form in the run-up to the series, bar one day in that practice match. He's got the power the fast bowler needs (Irfan's partner doesn't) and could have made an impact here. Instead, we see Shoaib Malik, branded a walking wicket by local fans, scoring over 40 and Younis Khan making a solid contribution, scoring easily off Agarkar's overs. As for Irfan, what can a rookie like him do when he's thrust in the lead role with no support? That said, Kumble and Harbhajan seem to be in better form, and a rush of three wickets can change things.
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Yeah Imran said exactly what you said about the wicket, and its true. Its doing no team any favours. Not India, who have to bowl first to Pakistan on this slow pitch, and not Pakistan who have to take 20 wickets to win this match, whether they score 500, 600 or 700 batting first.
The thing about this that worries me though is, whether there is seam assistance in the wicket or not, Shoaib is always dangerous. The same can't be said about Pathan or AA. Hopefully Harbhajan who has bowled well, and Kumble can take some wickets in this 2nd session since there is some turn thanks to the moisture in the pitch.
Imran was talking about Pathan's speed slowing up since his last tour to Pakistan in 2004 as well. Interesting.
The thing about this that worries me though is, whether there is seam assistance in the wicket or not, Shoaib is always dangerous. The same can't be said about Pathan or AA. Hopefully Harbhajan who has bowled well, and Kumble can take some wickets in this 2nd session since there is some turn thanks to the moisture in the pitch.
Imran was talking about Pathan's speed slowing up since his last tour to Pakistan in 2004 as well. Interesting.
TIF
U19 Debutant
Nice to see Ganguly playing in as a all-rounder and not as a pure batsman, for thats the only way Ganguly can get into this team. Ganguly, has bowled well recently in the first-class matches he has played this season and it was good to see him roll his arm over. However, as he is not a regular bowler, he conceded a few no-balls, but then he bowled tightly otherwise going for 9 runs off his 4 overs despite his 3 no-balls. If the pitch assists pacers, we might even see Dhoni trying out his medium-pacers later on.
Pratters
Cricket, Lovely Cricket
Really good lunch time session here. Insights from Imran and Nasser. Even Manjrekar - playing the role of the host couldnt resist saying that they are into deep cricket analysis here.
I miss such shows with the Charu Sharma-Srikkanth comedy shows being prevelant.
I miss such shows with the Charu Sharma-Srikkanth comedy shows being prevelant.
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
I think Imran has missed a certain someone when he was making his point that for a seam bowler to be successful in the sub-continent, you have to be relatively quick and not just a medium to medium fast bowler.
A certain Glenn McGrath was pretty effective on the sub-continent, averaging 21.30 in India, 31 in Pakistan and 29.20 in Sri Lanka.
A certain Glenn McGrath was pretty effective on the sub-continent, averaging 21.30 in India, 31 in Pakistan and 29.20 in Sri Lanka.
Pratters
Cricket, Lovely Cricket
Well he did talk about variation which is needed by bowlers.Jono said:
Glenn McGrath is an exception. What Imran was saying is that in England you can rely on swing and conditions but in the sub continent you have to have some thing extra as a fast bowler - the pace, variation.
Pratters
Cricket, Lovely Cricket
The flashback on the 1952 tour was also there. I have the Indian Cricket Annual Alamanack from that year and will go through it tonight.
A few clips of the action from that era (not sure if it was the same series) and comments and insights into guys like Lala, Abdul Hafeez Kardar by some former players and journalists from that era like S.Amarnath, Vasant Raiji.
Not many people are interested in the history of cricket and dont know about the names of the past. I must say an effort from Indian television to do so hasnt been there either. At least there was some effort today in this regard.
A few clips of the action from that era (not sure if it was the same series) and comments and insights into guys like Lala, Abdul Hafeez Kardar by some former players and journalists from that era like S.Amarnath, Vasant Raiji.
Not many people are interested in the history of cricket and dont know about the names of the past. I must say an effort from Indian television to do so hasnt been there either. At least there was some effort today in this regard.
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Yeah I have them both too. For some reason beyond my comprehension I chose Gul though, which is looking like a waste of a player now. I was just hoping he'd be selected in place of Sami.Xuhaib said:I have gambled on Shoaib malik and AA as my cheap wild card players for my cricket web fantasy team.
ATM one of the gambles seems to have worked
marc71178
Eyes not spreadsheets
Another thing to consider. As an opener Ganguly is replacing Gambhir who to be fair hasn't really done a great deal as yet.Sanz said:
So if Ganguly opens and averages more than Gambhir, has he not done the job required of him?
His bowling is an added bonus, which was probably IMO the thing that tipped the balance towards selecting him - otherwise, who would've come on as first change?