***Official*** India in Pakistan

[adharcric]

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.

I wasn't too disturbed by this article either. Ganguly did look confident and fluent when batting yesterday, and I was confident he'd go on to make a big one but for that usual misplayed hook shot.

 

[Nate]

Breakthrough for Koomballs. He`s the man really.

 

[marc71178]

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.

I'm guessing that if you look at the 2 sides, they are full of fairly free-scoring players.

What it does suggest though is that there has been some wayward bowling along the way?

 

[marc71178]

Any thoughts on this post?

I'd say you're being wildly optimistic - 500 at any time is a tough ask, but on a 4th and 5th day pitch against a side with 2 spinners and Akhtar for a bit of variation, it's very tough.

 

[marc71178]

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.

Erm, if Pathan and Dhoni are in on Day 4 chasing that many then the game will be up!

 

[TT Boy]

Afridi's not messing around.

 

[deeps]

After a delicate late-cut for four, words were exchanged with Kumble, prompting the umpire to step in and have a word.

from cricinfo...

what was that about?

 

[nehrafan]

Can India actually chase 550-600 in second innings?

 

[Jono]

No. Even with the pitch flattened out.

What a terrible day for India. They didn't get any early strikes and with Pakistan's long batting order it was always on the card for Pakistan to have a lead of 500+

 

[marc71178]

Has the top 7 in a Test innings ever all got half centuries before?

 

[TIF]

I know that it is getting very very tough for India. History and facts are all stacked very heavily against India for a 500+ target has never, read NEVER has been chased down in test history. But then, there are some bright patches of light in this history for India as we chased down 400+ against West Indies at Port of Spain way back in the 1970s, which was the then highest test chase and also in the 1998 Independence cup match against Pakistan at Dhaka, we chased down 316 to win against Pakistan, being the then highest record chase in ODIs.

Pakistan, currently lead by 518 and the good point for India is that it has become a flat track now and a good pitch for batting. Considering Indias good record at flat tracks with the bat despite being under pressure in the 1st 2 tests, India, are still in with a chance to win this test match, but only slight. If India, manage a all-out taking the last 5 wickets quickly before lunch and are set somthing like 600 in 160 overs to win, then it all comes down to the batting order and Indias run-rate in the 4th innings which will decide the chances of an Indian win if it is possible.

For chasing a 600 to win this test match, we need a flying start to the innings by Sehwag, with Irfan Pathan or Dhoni being promoted up the order in the hope of getting quick runs. Also, One out of Dravid, Laxman or Tendulkar will have to play a real big one. We, did manage a 603 on a flat track last match despite being under-pressure, so we do have the batting to pull off a thrilling 600 run chase on a flat track in this match.

 

[Arjun]

Wrap of what happened so far–

• That the Indians can't save this match or win is a MYTH. The Pakistanis were playing five specialist batsmen, while the Indians have six. Ganguly and Yuvraj were brought in the XI for a reason. As for the Pak bowling, two of them are just value-add bowlers and not genuine wicket-taking options. The pitch is now a lot flatter than on the first two dats, so the Indian batting has to be absolutely gutless to fall apart for less than the chase target.
• Whatever be the outcome, the Indians can't take 20 wickets with just four bowlers. Kumble is not half the bowler we know him to be when his spin partner is not playing. Likewise, two Indian seamers can't force enough pressure on the batting side. They need a fifth bowler, and even a value-add bowler will do. If pitches are as flat as in the two matches before this one, they can have five frontline bowlers.
• Zaheer, RP Singh, Irfan and Balaji are all fine seam bowlers, but none of them have the extra pace to get those extra wickets. There has to be one in the pace attack who can exert pressure on the batting side with raw pace and power. That position has to be kept open until they get the right man.

Ultimately, this will land some egg on the face of those who forcefully advocated playing Ganguly as a sixth batsman in the team. It didn't win the match for the Indians, did it? Hopefully it will, to prove them right.

 

[TIF]

I apologise if my optimism is not found good out here or is causing trouble to someone.

Incase anyone is having any trouble with my optimism, then please tell me and I will be ready to back out of any further discussion from this thread.

 

[Arjun]

I apologise if my optimism is not found good out here or is causing trouble to someone.

Incase anyone is having any trouble with my optimism, then please tell me and I will be ready to back out of any further discussion from this thread.

That shouldn't be a problem, but there's no need to pamper this bunch so much. They're over-rated, and the selectors (as well as the team mis-management) are too spineless to try something more positive. They better not disappoint this time, since the cowards in charge have taken a step backward to keep them in the side.

 

[billie424]

I think Younas Khan should declare because it will give india a little bit of hope and that hope can create an opportunity for Pakistan but i don`t see india getting anywhere near 515 .. and if they are able to chase 515 then hats off to them but . but it is very unlikely that india will get to 515....

 

[pug]

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.

I guess it wasn't as bad as I made it sound but it seems weird to me that an entire article is done just describing Ganguly's movements from the moment he came in till he left. And the writing style reminds me of a bollywood drama.

 

[Jono]

I apologise if my optimism is not found good out here or is causing trouble to someone.

Incase anyone is having any trouble with my optimism, then please tell me and I will be ready to back out of any further discussion from this thread.

Hey, there's nothing wrong with optimism. I, and most others I'm guessing, would respectively disagree with your opinion. If you happen to be right that a win is possible, and India do win this match, I'll be smiling just like any other Indian cricket fan.

That being said, no matter how flat a wicket is, its incredibly difficult for a team to score 500-600 runs in the first or second innings of a test match as it is. Chasing that target for victory in the 4th innings adds even more pressure, and surely the pitch will break up, even slightly, and give Kaneria some assistance. I fear that this game is gone. At least a win anyway, a draw isn't absolutely out of the question, but seems unlikely as well.

 

[Sanz]

this will land some egg on the face of those who forcefully advocated playing Ganguly as a sixth batsman in the team. It didn't win the match for the Indians, did it? Hopefully it will, to prove them right.

Didn't India play five bowlers in last test. India will lose this test because its top and middle order failed in the first innings. If not for Ganguly and Yuvraj, India would have followed on in the first innings.

JP Yadav will not take 20 wickets for India.

 

[Deja moo]

This game is worse than the Calcutta one

 

[Arjun]

Didn't India play five bowlers in last test. India will lose this test because its top and middle order failed in the first innings. If not for Ganguly and Yuvraj, India would have followed on in the first innings.

JP Yadav will not take 20 wickets for India.

We might not agree on most issues, but think about Team India rather than just trying to make fun of what I say.

• Name ONE bowler among India's top ive who can take at least 10 wickets, let alone 20.
• But will they WIN this match? That will show how useful the inclusion of six specialist batsmen has been.
• JP Yadav can get as many wickets as any other seamer in this Indian side.
• You don't seem to like that name much, so let's just call this man Munaf Patel, shall we?
• They played five bowlers in that last Test, but those cowards in charge reverted to 6-4-1 for this match. Predictably, it backfired.