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***Official*** Sri Lanka in India
- Thread starter James
- Start date
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
You answered your own question.
Indeed, but that doesnt make the Indian batting effort any more spectacular...
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
Good solid outing for INdia. HOpefully, it is the sign of things to come in the future. Winning the toss was essential, as it was obvious the pitch got slower as the day went on. And the main advantage of winning the toss was of course the use of the super sub, and that helped India immensely. IT was amazing that India went on this relentless attacking spree. They had their share of good fortune, but BOY did they make good use of it. The ball was still turning and holding up a bit even in the first innings. It was just that SRi Lanka were put off by the relentless attack tactic of India. Their guys simply lost their normal line and length and were being forced to try different things which they normally don't and it is no surprise that there were a few erratic balls bowled, including a real plethora of 'attempted slower delivery gone haywire' beamers. Really good knock from SAchin coming back from injury. Just shows what a difference a few more days of practice, a few domestic games and some hard net sessions can make. Had he played straight away when he was declared fit (which is what happened last year, just before the Nagpur Test), he would have had a lot of pitch-rust. (Yes, I invented it, silly as it sounds. 
) But now, thankfully he was reasonably close to his best physically and mentally and that seems to have helped. Also, some months away from the game seem to have relit his hunger. I remember similar stuff happening with Lara.
And with the ball in hand, India were well served by some good captaincy by Rahul Dravid. He didn't take the second power play straightaway. He brought the spinners on, spread the field out and waited out for a wicket. Also, the slight drizzle may have prompted him to bring his spinners on to get through the 20 overs required to constitute a game. Luckily, Sanath and Sangy played a little too early to balls that came on rather slowly to the bat and soon Sri Lanka were out of it. Some excellent spin bowling by the Indian duo of Bhajji and Kartik certainly helped to increase the margin of victory and make it more comprehensive. It is all very well to point out that the pitch was turning, but it was turning all day, and it was the Indians who made more out of it, even though the pitch had gotten slower as the day progressed and obviously that would have helped the Indians too. All in all, a good professional display to start off the series by the Indians. But the series is not over yet. I still expect a heavy Lankan backlash in the matches to come and I still think they can win this series.
) But now, thankfully he was reasonably close to his best physically and mentally and that seems to have helped. Also, some months away from the game seem to have relit his hunger. I remember similar stuff happening with Lara.And with the ball in hand, India were well served by some good captaincy by Rahul Dravid. He didn't take the second power play straightaway. He brought the spinners on, spread the field out and waited out for a wicket. Also, the slight drizzle may have prompted him to bring his spinners on to get through the 20 overs required to constitute a game. Luckily, Sanath and Sangy played a little too early to balls that came on rather slowly to the bat and soon Sri Lanka were out of it. Some excellent spin bowling by the Indian duo of Bhajji and Kartik certainly helped to increase the margin of victory and make it more comprehensive. It is all very well to point out that the pitch was turning, but it was turning all day, and it was the Indians who made more out of it, even though the pitch had gotten slower as the day progressed and obviously that would have helped the Indians too. All in all, a good professional display to start off the series by the Indians. But the series is not over yet. I still expect a heavy Lankan backlash in the matches to come and I still think they can win this series.
Pratters
Cricket, Lovely Cricket
No I asked the question because a pitch is unlikely to crumble as quickly as it is being conceptualised by you about it crumbling for the Sri Lankans to have collapsed.Prince EWS said:
350 puts pressure on the opposition leading them to hit strokes leading them to lose wickets.
What is more likely to lead to the huge margin of victory - a pitch collapsing so fast or crumbling under pressure of a huge target? You make your own decision.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
No, you missed my point. Im agreeing with you that the large total put pressure on the Sri Lankan batting lineup, but I also believe, judging purely by the figures mind you, that the Sri Lankan batting lineup would have racked up a similarly large score if they had batted first, pending the Indian bowlers bowled at around the same quality as the Sri Lankan bowlers.Pratyush said:
I didnt actually SEE the match, so I wont chuck a Richard and just pretend I know more about the game than someone that does. Im simply defending the reasons why I did not rate Pathan's innings are particularly brilliant. He obviously batted well, or he wouldnt have got that score, but the fact that everyone did well in the first innings suggests to me that either the pitch was flat or the bowling was poor. I could well be wrong, as I havent seen it, but thats what it suggests to me.
SJS
Hall of Fame Member
Things that stick in the mind from this game.
1. Sachin batting with freedom and a sense of pleasure that one hasnt seen for close to two years. The time away from the game has been goos for him.
2. Yet another failed attempt to sweep by Yuvraj that made him look ugly and ineffective. Even the fact that camera close ups showed the ball hitting the glove doesnt take away from the fact that someone neeeds to tell him to cut down on that shot.
3. Once again Murali Karthik playes for India when Dravid is captain and once again he performs well under Rahul.
4. The presence of Sachin in the team has made a big difference to the ambience around the team and it was clear and stressed by rahul when he went upto get his MOM award. The biggest news for me was that sending Pathan at three was sachin's idea and both the skipper and coach felt it was worth trying. Way to go India. Sachin seems more relaxed and involved in this dispension it appears.
5. Harbhajan finally bowled round the wickets to left handers and the difference showed. well done Chappell or who ever made him change his mind. Clearly he has been made to work on this at nets.
1. Sachin batting with freedom and a sense of pleasure that one hasnt seen for close to two years. The time away from the game has been goos for him.
2. Yet another failed attempt to sweep by Yuvraj that made him look ugly and ineffective. Even the fact that camera close ups showed the ball hitting the glove doesnt take away from the fact that someone neeeds to tell him to cut down on that shot.
3. Once again Murali Karthik playes for India when Dravid is captain and once again he performs well under Rahul.
4. The presence of Sachin in the team has made a big difference to the ambience around the team and it was clear and stressed by rahul when he went upto get his MOM award. The biggest news for me was that sending Pathan at three was sachin's idea and both the skipper and coach felt it was worth trying. Way to go India. Sachin seems more relaxed and involved in this dispension it appears.
5. Harbhajan finally bowled round the wickets to left handers and the difference showed. well done Chappell or who ever made him change his mind. Clearly he has been made to work on this at nets.
Pratters
Cricket, Lovely Cricket
The commentators made this point as well and I dont agree with it for one reason alone. It suggests the gap has meant Tendulkar is hungry to play the game much more than before.SJS said:
Tendulkar is one of the most eager players and I doubt if he had less pleasure while he was continuously playing cricket.
On ocassions he has been too eager in fact, making come backs to go back again to injury lay offs.
This time he has been wiser with delaying and taking it steady with regards to his return opting out of the Zimbabwe tour and then playing the Challenger instead of the super series.
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Yeah and its beyond a coincidence now. There's clearly a link there, and with Dravid hopefully captain for good now (touch wood) it'd be great to see Kartik's career blossom, because he has potential to be a very handy spinner, and a good partner to Harbhajan in the shorter form of the game.Nnanden said:
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
One complaint I always had about the Indian ODI side, as a fan, was their batting in the final overs, which was often feeble. However, they've got it right this time, as Dravid and Dhoni tore into the bowling and got the team to a big score. And of course, while it's debatable how good Irfan's power-packed innings was, it's definitely far more relevant than what we have seen of any of those so-called wicketkeepers who have played for India.
So what? As long as the team wins, that's enough!
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aussie
Hall of Fame Member
what a beating India gave Sri Lanka this morning dalm, even missing the likes of Kaif, Khan & Nehra they were superb especially with the bat. Great to see the little master back with a bang, he looked like he had been playing all the time, you just can write of great player 
Pathan was superb with the bat all so, i knew he had ability with the blade but today was a special effort, i think he can be classed as an all-rounder now...
Pathan was superb with the bat all so, i knew he had ability with the blade but today was a special effort, i think he can be classed as an all-rounder now...
Barney Rubble
International Coach
No-one can ever be classed as anything on the strength of one innings alone. Onc ehe does it two or three more times maybe - but for now he's still a bowler who can bat, rather than a fully-fledged all-rounder.aussie said:
If it were Flintoff on the other hand
adharcric
International Coach
that's the best thing i got from this match as well, india finally not wasting a good start and finishing strong. the deep batting lineup and flexibility we have now is a definite plus, and the level of fielding and fitness is evident (like in bhajji's dive in the field?). also, the aggressive running between the wickets led by sachin was a great sight, india has been weak there recently.Arjun said:
for the second match, i would replace agarkar with rp singh, and if neither impress, perhaps look into bringing back zaheer (if in form) for the 2nd stage of selection. sreesanth looks promising and should be retained as long as he performs decently. kartik might have to miss out at the expense of raina as super-sub, depending on the conditions and strategy. both deserve opportunities in this series.