***Official*** India in Pakistan

[What-A-Player]

Its gonna be around high 200's and India will still sturggle to get that

 

[Deja moo]

I have this sinking feeling they're going to set us well past 350.

 

[godofcricket]

I have this sinking feeling they're going to set us well past 350.

Well looking at the current situation then it does seem they will, or even 400!!!! But as Jono said it all depends on the first session, i think the first session is far more important to india then to Pak because Pakistan can score a minimum of 300 anyway, but if india needs to avoid furhter damage they need extra effort tommarrow morning.

 

[adharcric]

With only 2 wickets down and 170+ on the board, they're not only in the driver's seat they've got the keys ready and the mirrors adjusted.

I'm praying for a puncture, brake failure or flat-out devastating accident .. I know it's cruel but that's what I want for them.

 

[adharcric]

Why is Woolmer in love with Shoaib Malik anyway? Pakistan have a lot of good potential specialist openers. I guess he likes the fact that Malik is a good fielder and a decent offie who CAN bowl a doosra.


BTW, I do think Farhat will be fount out by Hoggard and Co. in England though. Perhaps Yasir Hameed would be a better bet. And Akmal should definitely bat at 6. And Inzy should bat at 4 incase of a collapsse of the top 3. MoYo is not good in those conditions.

I don't think Malik's bowling adds great value to the test side although it is important for the one-day side. In test matches, all-rounders need to be more penetrative as bowlers and need better technique as batsmen to make significant contributions. Malik is more of an odi-run machine who can fulfill a stock of overs and perhaps get you a breakthrough when runs are flowing. Farhat is clearly the man, or Hameed.

Butt, Farhat/Hameed, Younis, Yousuf (inzy will be gone in a few years), Inzy, Afridi, Akmal, Razzaq, Akhtar, Asif/Rana, Kaneria

 

[adharcric]

So, for the ODIs ...
Ideal Team
Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
Mohammad Kaif
Rahul Dravid
Yuvraj Singh
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Irfan Pathan
Ajit Agarkar
Harbhajan Singh
Rudra Pratap Singh
Sreesanth / Murali Kartik
Supersub: Suresh Raina (can come in to bat or to field & bowl)

We desperately need pace .. I don't think I need to say that again, it's pretty obvious and pathetic how slow our "fast bowlers" are. Thus, Sreesanth must be in there. Pathan will open and is good with the bat, RP Singh has to be there. Harbhajan as the first spinner. I want Agarkar to play and either take loads of wickets or do terribly so he's banished once and for all ... kind of like the Ganguly type, except I actually think Ganguly has genuine potential and ability left in him. Zaheer needs to wait his turn and bowl in the high-130s. Sad part is, if India wins this series, you might see the selectors throw the "winning combination" crap out there again and retain Agarkar, forever and ever ....

 

[GladiatrsInBlue]

Has the pitch actually eased out that much ?? I mean when India was batting the ball was looking dangerous, yet only an hour or two later it looked like batting friendly!!

I think the wkt still have enough for the bowlers, Indian bowlers just didn't bowl nicely in the second innings. IKP wasn't able to repeat his first innings performance while Khan and RPS were completely off color.

 

[adharcric]

Has the pitch actually eased out that much ?? I mean when India was batting the ball was looking dangerous, yet only an hour or two later it looked like batting friendly!!

I think the wkt still have enough for the bowlers, Indian bowlers just didn't bowl nicely in the second innings. IKP wasn't able to repeat his first innings performance while Khan and RPS were completely off color.

well this time around the pakistani batsmen are playing watchfully against the deliveries on full length and off-stump line. they are getting so many loose deliveries though, so they are getting enough runs at the same time.

 

[marc71178]

Its gonna be around high 200's and India will still sturggle to get that

If India manage to restrict the lead to high 200s from here then there's no way I can see them losing (just because of the huge momentum swing)

 

[adharcric]

If India manage to restrict the lead to high 200s from here then there's no way I can see them losing (just because of the huge momentum swing)

same thoughts here. india need to keep the target below 300 to have a good chance of victory.

 

[Jono]

Does anyone find it weird at how high the scoring rate has been in this match, despite the tough conditions and wickets falling left and right? I mean I understand that the scoring rates in general have risen in test cricket recently, but that's quite amazing. I guess both teams have got a hang over from the last 2 matches.

 

[Jono]

but if india needs to avoid furhter damage they need extra effort tommarrow morning.

What are the odds that Pathan can get another hat-trick

 

[TIF]

I would say that India, does have the batting to chase down a 500+ score on this pitch. I very well know that it has never happened in the past, never in the 125+ years we have had of test cricket, but seeing the increase in amounts of big run chases in the last few years, India has looked to be one of the teams that can chase down a 500+ score. Other likely team which can pull this off is Australia. India, always has has a knack of winning from totally unexpected situations, anyone remember Kolkata 2001, that VVS Laxman 281 or Adelaide 2003, that Rahul Dravid 233 or in bowling wise, remember Mumbai 2004, when we defended a lowly target of 107 on a absolute turner of a pitch.

This pitch, is easing down considerably for the batting and the batting today was a lot easier than what it was yesterday. It will ease out further over the next 2 days and a solid start chasing a 500ish score in the 4th innings, something like a 200/2, might put India in the drivers seat.

It still looks be anybodys game though, like yesterday, But today, Pakistan do seem to have that advantage. A big score and a over 500+ lead can put the pressure on India, but still India should not be affected by that as we have the batting to chase down a 500+ score. Also, if the Indian bowlers, can manage to pick up a few quick wickets tomorrow, then that will give the advantage back to India, otherwise Pakistan do look like having the edge.

A run chase for India and a thrilling 5th day irrespective of who wins this test, will make people forget all about the "boring" 1st 2 test matches and they will start calling this series as one of the best series they would have ever seen. This match, has been a lot interesting till now.

Also, before you reply/quote this post for that "500+ chase bit", excuse me if I was a bit optimistic about a 500+ chase being possible. Those were not just my thoughts, but the thoughts of most people around here in India.

Any thoughts on this post?

 

[pug]

Any thoughts on this post?

Chasing a 500 plus score is going to be a very tough ask. I suppose you can say India has the potential in its batting line up to get it especially if Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and Dhoni all flare out. But how likely do you think that will be?

If Pakistan do reach that score, they'll probably take the whole of day 3 and maybe first session of day 4. India, in my opinion will try to save the match instead of win it and I doubt if we'll see a lot of unneccessary slogging from the batsmen, especially if we lose Sehwag early.

It's easy for to say India shouldn't be affected. They will definitely be under pressure especially facing a bowling line up that took them out for 238 in first innings in the same pitch. The pitch will have opened up a bit more, meaning potentially more uneven bounce. That is one of the main reasons why chasing big scores is such a challenging task.

I don't blame you for your optimism. I know that Indians have a habit of sensationalizing their cricket. Potentially the batting line up can do it, but I don't see it happening.

 

[pug]

http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/pakvind/content/story/235023.html

What has happened to cricinfo standards? I would expect an article like that in indiatimes.

 

[What-A-Player]

What are the odds that Pathan can get another hat-trick

Match-Fixing

 

[TIF]

Chasing a 500 plus score is going to be a very tough ask. I suppose you can say India has the potential in its batting line up to get it especially if Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and Dhoni all flare out. But how likely do you think that will be?

I know that chasing over 500+ to win is a very tough ask. I never said that we will definitely do it, just said that we have a good chance of chasing down 500+ with the batting we have and with the pitch easing out a bit.

If Pakistan do reach that score, they'll probably take the whole of day 3 and maybe first session of day 4. India, in my opinion will try to save the match instead of win it and I doubt if we'll see a lot of unneccessary slogging from the batsmen, especially if we lose Sehwag early.

Have you forgotten about the run-rates. I do not think that India, if set a 500+ target and almost 5 and a half-sessions(160 overs) left, will try and play out a draw. Players like Sehwag, Pathan, Dhoni and even Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman to some extent will definitely go in for the win on Day 4. Scoring at slightly over 3 an over is not tough on this pitch as we have seen run-rates of higher than 4 being acheieved this series, including this test match. A draw is totally out of the question unless rain occurs. Also, if Pakistan are set a target of over 500+ and with attacking players like Afridi, Razzaq and Akmal yet to come, Pakistan might take only a little over 2 sessions to do it.

I still see one of the 2 teams winning with a draw being out of the question unless rain occurs.

It's easy for to say India shouldn't be affected. They will definitely be under pressure especially facing a bowling line up that took them out for 238 in first innings in the same pitch. The pitch will have opened up a bit more, meaning potentially more uneven bounce. That is one of the main reasons why chasing big scores is such a challenging task.

I know chasing in the 4th innings has always been tough, no matter what the target is, it will be tough, real tough but I just feel that we have the batting to pull it off considering that we have regular batting till eight now, with Dhoni and Pathan doing well with the bat and we have a short tail, unlike what was the case, say even 5 years ago.

I don't blame you for your optimism. I know that Indians have a habit of sensationalizing their cricket. Potentially the batting line up can do it, but I don't see it happening.

Thanks for this bit. That post just didnt reflect my opinions, but of the Indian fans out here in general. Almost everyone feels we have the batting to turn around the match and can chase down 500+ if required.

 

[Jono]

http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/pakvind/content/story/235023.html

What has happened to cricinfo standards? I would expect an article like that in indiatimes.

To be fair, nothing in that article was really that 'over the top'. Maybe other than the 'that he now belongs' line, but even then he did look quite good. Better than he's batted in a long time.

 

[Sanz]

http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/pakvind/content/story/235023.html

What has happened to cricinfo standards? I would expect an article like that in indiatimes.

That's right. They cant write anything remotely good about Ganguly.

 

[Jono]

Pakistan doing it easy.