***Official** Malaysia Tri-Series

[Mister Wright]

I apologise to all West Indian fans.

I was playing poker tonight and during the break there was some NRL show on the plasma, so I asked them to change the channel to the cricket for me, they did. About 2 balls of watching and Chanderpaul went. Then I had to go back to the table and everytime I looked over a batsman was walking back to the pavillion.

If it is any consolation, I didn't win another hand and had the short stack on the final table which didn't last long for me.

 

[Pratters]

AA was inspired today. Adelaide Oval 2003, 6-for stuff. Awesome bowling.

Agarkar has the repetoire of deliveries and has always been extremely talented. He has only lacked discipline but it is coming together.

 

[Nate]

 

[Nate]

Aimed at Wright for the record...

Yes, Agit owned. Didn`t worry so much about trying to bowl too quickly I felt.

 

[Jono]

I apologise to all West Indian fans.

I was playing poker tonight and during the break there was some NRL show on the plasma, so I asked them to change the channel to the cricket for me, they did. About 2 balls of watching and Chanderpaul went. Then I had to go back to the table and everytime I looked over a batsman was walking back to the pavillion.

If it is any consolation, I didn't win another hand and had the short stack on the final table which didn't last long for me.

You saved me $100, so cheers. Here's your cut.

 

[alternative]

I apologise to all West Indian fans.

I was playing poker tonight and during the break there was some NRL show on the plasma, so I asked them to change the channel to the cricket for me, they did. About 2 balls of watching and Chanderpaul went. Then I had to go back to the table and everytime I looked over a batsman was walking back to the pavillion.

If it is any consolation, I didn't win another hand and had the short stack on the final table which didn't last long for me.

Hahahah

 

[Anil]

Semi-matchfixing here. The Windies gave India every opprotunity to win, first by playing a terrible bowling attack that somehow came good, then by totally messing up their batting order. Good for them - now they still have a chance at a million dollars, and will get it if India can beat Australia. Lara and Tendulkar were a class above, as they should be. If Lara didn't want the mil so badly, he would have come in at least one slot earlier and won the match.

the same thing could be said of aus in the previous match when ponting and mcgrath didn't play, they could be accused of giving a chance for windies to win because they would prefer to face windies in the final rather than india....

 

[Jono]

Yeah, but he's argued that line as well to be fair.

 

[adharcric]

It's about time the Indian bowlers got some applause. Agarkar has come a really long way in terms of maturity over the past year or so. The words "Agarkar" and "economical" finally fit together. Sreesanth was very impressive with his bowling today, working up consistent speeds of 88-90 mph. Munaf has sacrificed pace for accuracy and it certainly paid off with his 2 for 33 today. Still, he should at least bowl around 85 mph; I'm sure he could maintain accuracy at that pace. RP Singh's figures got damaged by Dwayne Smith's 3-ball blitzkrieg, but he has become a far more intelligent bowler since his debut last year. Harbhajan was tremendous and got the better of Lara today.

 

[Jono]

I'd say it was even, because whilst Harbhajan beat Lara many times, Lara also hit some magnificent shots. One quote I loved from the Cricinfo bulletin:

Suddenly, the pressure was back on the Indians as Lara played like only he can, cover-driving with panache and straight driving with sublime skill. It was as though there were two different games happening simultaneously - one when Lara was on strike and the bowling looked utterly manageable and another entirely when the other West Indians batted, groping and feeling for the ball helplessly.

Sachin and Lara looked so much better than everyone else today, it was amazing. Lara didn't get out, and Sachin was very unluckily run out at the non-striker's end from a straight drive rococheting off the bowler. Even at 33 and 37 respectively, they're still showing their class.

 

[adharcric]

I'd say it was even, because whilst Harbhajan beat Lara many times, Lara also hit some magnificent shots. One quote I loved from the Cricinfo bulletin:



Sachin and Lara looked so much better than everyone else today, it was amazing. Even at 33 and 37 respectively, they're still showing their class.

Lara definitely batted superbly, but I would give it to Bhajji today slightly. Lara scored a couple of lucky boundaries off edges to Bhajji's bowling (one would've been a superb catch to Dravid). I must admit though that I love the way Lara late cut Bhajji a few times and judged the balls at the last moment - true class against spin.

 

[Arjun]

Can someone honestly explain what was going on? The Indians suddenly got into a slump in form so after 31/5, we saw 162 all out. But when a nine-strong batting lineup falls short of such a short target, and every bowler (even Agarkar) goes for less than 40 runs, something has definitely gone wrong out there.

 

[Dasa]

It's about time the Indian bowlers got some applause. Agarkar has come a really long way in terms of maturity over the past year or so. The words "Agarkar" and "economical" finally fit together. Sreesanth was very impressive with his bowling today, working up consistent speeds of 88-90 mph. Munaf has sacrificed pace for accuracy and it certainly paid off with his 2 for 33 today. Still, he should at least bowl around 85 mph; I'm sure he could maintain accuracy at that pace. RP Singh's figures got damaged by Dwayne Smith's 3-ball blitzkrieg, but he has become a far more intelligent bowler since his debut last year. Harbhajan was tremendous and got the better of Lara today.

I didn't think he bowled that well today. I don't remember him straying down the leg side so often when he made his debut. He seems to pushing the arm across a bit, and is coming in too wide at the crease.

 

[Jono]

He bowlec MUCH better lines against SL when he first came on the scene. I haven't lost faith in him for ODIs though. But right now slot Kaif in his place to strengthen the batting.

Pathan right now can miss IMO.

 

[Pratters]

Can someone honestly explain what was going on? The Indians suddenly got into a slump in form so after 31/5, we saw 162 all out. But when a nine-strong batting lineup falls short of such a short target, and every bowler (even Agarkar) goes for less than 40 runs, something has definitely gone wrong out there.

 

[Arjun]

He bowlec MUCH better lines against SL when he first came on the scene. I haven't lost faith in him for ODIs though. But right now slot Kaif in his place to strengthen the batting.

Pathan right now can miss IMO.

Doesn't look good at all. They have to bring back Ramesh Powar for this match and the final, if they make it. There's nothing Kaif can do that Sachin, Sehwag, Dravid or Dhoni can't.

That Irfan may have to miss both matches is even more worrying, especially when the team is stuck with Agarkar. Let's just hope he makes the team against Australia and gets all ten overs. They need him in top form; he has grabbed a few early wickets very often and that's what the team needs.

And of course, this particular experiment with the batting order should stop before it sinks the Indian team. Sehwag should return to the top of the order and stay there. Dravid should go back at four.

 

[Arjun]

RP Singh was one of India's best ODI bowlers in that SL/SA series and even in Pakistan. Then he was only played occasionally against England and that's when the slump began. He'll need more matches where he can bowl his full ten. He's a fantastic ODI prospect, getting good height, moving the ball well off the pitch, at a decent pace, and his fielding can help the bowling side a lot. Definitely worth persisting with.

 

[Jono]

Doesn't look good at all. They have to bring back Ramesh Powar for this match and the final, if they make it. There's nothing Kaif can do that Sachin, Sehwag, Dravid or Dhoni can't.

That Irfan may have to miss both matches is even more worrying, especially when the team is stuck with Agarkar. Let's just hope he makes the team against Australia and gets all ten overs. They need him in top form; he has grabbed a few early wickets very often and that's what the team needs.

And of course, this particular experiment with the batting order should stop before it sinks the Indian team. Sehwag should return to the top of the order and stay there. Dravid should go back at four.

Powar for RP instead of Kaif is fine by me, but the batting is still light IMO. Look what Aus were able to do thanks to them batting down to 7.

 

[viktor]

RP Singh was one of India's best ODI bowlers in that SL/SA series and even in Pakistan. Then he was only played occasionally against England and that's when the slump began. He'll need more matches where he can bowl his full ten. He's a fantastic ODI prospect, getting good height, moving the ball well off the pitch, at a decent pace, and his fielding can help the bowling side a lot. Definitely worth persisting with.

But the real question is....Does he have da Six-Hitting Ability???

 

[Arjun]

Powar for RP instead of Kaif is fine by me, but the batting is still light IMO. Look what Aus were able to do thanks to them batting down to 7.

It wouldn't matter if they batted down to seven, eight, nine or ten, if the top six got out cheaply that way. They need to get their act together first. Getting ten wickets is also very important. Besides, with Irfan (sadly) not likely to get another match here, they'll have to stay with batting till seven and Harbhajan contributing a little.