***Official*** India in Pakistan

[Nate]

New bet

Sehwag to 300

Dravid to 100

or

spectator total to 50

Poor Pakistan, but Sehwag turning it on. This pitch must be SO bad.

 

[pug]

Honestly this Straight Drive show rules. Bowlers of the calibre of Holding and Imran talking about the art of fast bowling is just great to listen to.

Beats the team of Charu, Kris and random-girl-just-for-the-heck-of-it by miles, doesn't it? Even Nasser Hussein gives some really interesting analysis.

 

[pug]

Something i said long back, Pak feels threatened by Pathan and just don't like to face him on responsive tracks.

Unless Pak change their cowardly approack towards the game, their cricketing skill will never improve.

That would be like wanting to battle without weapons when you have a sword and your enemy a dagger because you are afraid of the dagger. (sorry, been watching mahabharata vcds lately )

 

[SJS]

I think we are going to see one of India's oldest test records broken today. The 413 that is.

What is the fastest 400 runs scored in a test innings ? Anyone knows ? Team total that is.

India have 358 in 68 overs. At this rate it might be under 80 overs. Must be one of the fastest 400 ever in test matches.

 

[Nate]

Describe to me the ground/pitch/etc y`all.

 

[pug]

Describe to me the ground/pitch/etc y`all.

Pitch is dead. Slow and flat. Almost no movement, though Sami (was it he?) did move a bit. Its so slow that Sehwag can first attempt to flick it to the leg side and change minds mid way and play it to the off side.

The ground is empty barring the players and a few spectators here and there. Some Indian fans as well. Some Ten Sports fans as well. Mostly security guards.

 

[duffer]

For anyone watching, which bowling attack is likely to be more demoralised after this match?

 

[howardj]

I thought this was the pitch that you're meant to prepare when you're 1-0 up in a Test series, not when it's the 1st Test. The curator was too keen.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Pitch is dead. Slow and flat. Almost no movement, though Sami (was it he?) did move a bit. Its so slow that Sehwag can first attempt to flick it to the leg side and change minds mid way and play it to the off side.

The ground is empty barring the players and a few spectators here and there. Some Indian fans as well. Some Ten Sports fans as well. Mostly security guards.

It'll fill tomorrow afternoon as Sehwag breaks Lara's records...

 

[Neil Pickup]

I think we are going to see one of India's oldest test records broken today. The 413 that is.

What is the fastest 400 runs scored in a test innings ? Anyone knows ? Team total that is.

India have 358 in 68 overs. At this rate it might be under 80 overs. Must be one of the fastest 400 ever in test matches.

Took England 78.4 overs at Edgbaston in the first innings this summer.

 

[SJS]

For anyone watching, which bowling attack is likely to be more demoralised after this match?

I would say Pakistan but as of now none of the bowlers have bowled more than 15 overs and that spread over three playing days. I think the demoralisation is more to do with the team situation or the Indian score of say 400 plus for no loss than individual bowling efforts.

It takes much more out of a bowler personally like Harbhajan going for 175 or so runs without reward and also being hit for 4 consecutive sixes.

I think Pakistan would be demoralised as a side if India scored 600 for 1 lets say rather than individual bowlers unless one of them particularly gets taken to the cleaners.

To that extent, I think Inzy is doing a good job protecting individual bowlers. Rana bowled, after his first 9 overs, after such a long time and Kaneria has still bowled only 8 overs !

 

[social]

Interesting bowling figures.

Block (relatively) Shoaib and feast on everyone else.

Whilst the batting must be great to watch, the fact that such a pitch has been produced for supposedly the most important series ever is farcical in the extreme. Seems like the attitude is one of not caring whether they win but crapping themselves at the thought of losing.

 

[JustTool]

if these world class bowlers need to be protected from demoralisation by not being bowled then they should not be playing at all...

I would say Pakistan but as of now none of the bowlers have bowled more than 15 overs and that spread over three playing days. I think the demoralisation is more to do with the team situation or the Indian score of say 400 plus for no loss than individual bowling efforts.

It takes much more out of a bowler personally like Harbhajan going for 175 or so runs without reward and also being hit for 4 consecutive sixes.

I think Pakistan would be demoralised as a side if India scored 600 for 1 lets say rather than individual bowlers unless one of them particularly gets taken to the cleaners.

To that extent, I think Inzy is doing a good job protecting individual bowlers. Rana bowled, after his first 9 overs, after such a long time and Kaneria has still bowled only 8 overs !

 

[honestbharani]

I would say Pakistan but as of now none of the bowlers have bowled more than 15 overs and that spread over three playing days. I think the demoralisation is more to do with the team situation or the Indian score of say 400 plus for no loss than individual bowling efforts.

It takes much more out of a bowler personally like Harbhajan going for 175 or so runs without reward and also being hit for 4 consecutive sixes.

I think Pakistan would be demoralised as a side if India scored 600 for 1 lets say rather than individual bowlers unless one of them particularly gets taken to the cleaners.

To that extent, I think Inzy is doing a good job protecting individual bowlers. Rana bowled, after his first 9 overs, after such a long time and Kaneria has still bowled only 8 overs !

That may be right, but I think this idea of "protecting" bowlers on flat tracks is a bit silly. These are THE tracks where your best bowlers should do bulk of the work, not on friendly tracks when the team is on top. What Inzy is doing might end up taking away the survival instincts of his lead bowlers. They can become "fair weather men" who can't show up when the going gets tough.

 

[Dissector]

For anyone watching, which bowling attack is likely to be more demoralised after this match?

Interesting question. I guess we will have to wait for the final score to say for sure but I think it will be Pakistan. Their attack is better and they had the advantage of having the runs on the board before they bowled.

BTW I don't think we should underestimate the quality of the batting here. This pitch is probably not a whole lot easier than a couple the games against England. Pakistan , especially Shoaib, know how to get wickets on flat wickets and facing a 650+ score creates pressure by itself. I don't think England would be 379 for 0 in 73 overs even on this pitch. It's just been a devastating display of batting by both of them.

 

[Neil Pickup]

The most fours ever hit in a Test innings is 52, by John Edrich in his 310* at Headingley in 1965.

 

[luckyeddie]

if these world class bowlers need to be protected from demoralisation by not being bowled then they should not be playing at all...

No sense in bowling anyone into the ground - there are other tests to play in the series.

 

[SJS]

That may be right, but I think this idea of "protecting" bowlers on flat tracks is a bit silly. These are THE tracks where your best bowlers should do bulk of the work, not on friendly tracks when the team is on top. What Inzy is doing might end up taking away the survival instincts of his lead bowlers. They can become "fair weather men" who can't show up when the going gets tough.

I agree.

But look at Shoaib. He bowled the 39th over of the innings. He was easily the best bowler on view having given away only 45 runs in his 15 overs and the only one who troubled Sehwag. One bouncer that hit his periscope, one that went past his nose with both eyes closed as he winced, another that knocked his bottom hand off the handle, a snick to slip that fell short of Inzy and a return catch that fell short again.

But he hasnt bowled now for the last 36 overs !!

 

[howardj]

That may be right, but I think this idea of "protecting" bowlers on flat tracks is a bit silly. These are THE tracks where your best bowlers should do bulk of the work, not on friendly tracks when the team is on top. What Inzy is doing might end up taking away the survival instincts of his lead bowlers. They can become "fair weather men" who can't show up when the going gets tough.

In general I'd agree with that, but I think his decision is more to do with the state of the game - it's an almost certain draw. Therefore, why tire your bowlers (physically) with two vital matches coming up? I think that's more his thinking, not just a case of trying to protect his main bowlers from a mauling on a flat pitch.

 

[social]

Interesting question. I guess we will have to wait for the final score to say for sure but I think it will be Pakistan. Their attack is better and they had the advantage of having the runs on the board before they bowled.

BTW I don't think we should underestimate the quality of the batting here. This pitch is probably not a whole lot easier than a couple the games against England. Pakistan , especially Shoaib, know how to get wickets on flat wickets and facing a 650+ score creates pressure by itself. I don't think England would be 379 for 0 in 73 overs even on this pitch. It's just been a devastating display of batting by both of them.

Great effort by the Indian batsmen to score the way the have when faced with a mountainous total.

But this wicket has produced 100s by over 50% of the batsmen to date and theyre being scored off some of the world's leading bowlers.

As Greg Chappell said after scoring 235 at Faisalabad (I think), the wicket isnt fit for test cricket as it's not remotely an even contest between bat and ball.