***Official*** Sri Lanka in India

[marc71178]

It'll be interesting to see if Dhoni being sent at 3 as the pinch hitter pays off. It seems like India aren't playing anyone regularly at 3 with Kaif out injured.

I'd say the jury is still out on it

An interesting point though - are they thinking of Kaif as the regular number 3? There was some discussion about it earlier in the month I think.

 

[Pratters]

Yes, First game India were battin first, not much pressure. Second game India wre chasing low score, hardly any pressure. Firs game where he was required to stay and he is out in the first over. CHOKER.

He was given captaincy twice, both the times made a mess of the team and his batting. Definately cant handle pressure.

How did Tendulkar make 141 in this match then after Pakistan made 329

http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_PAK/SCORECARDS/IND_PAK_ODI2_16MAR2004.html

And how did he manage 93 in this match after South Africa made 320?

http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999-2000/RSA_IN_IND/SCORECARDS/RSA_IND_ODI5_19MAR2000.html

Or was it Tendulkar's fault that despite making runs India lost because other batsmen performed poorly.

 

[Hit4Six]

How did Tendulkar make 141 in this match then after Pakistan made 329

http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_PAK/SCORECARDS/IND_PAK_ODI2_16MAR2004.html

And how did he manage 93 in this match after South Africa made 320?

http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999-2000/RSA_IN_IND/SCORECARDS/RSA_IND_ODI5_19MAR2000.html

Or was it Tendulkar's fault that despite making runs India lost because other batsmen performed poorly.

add 2 that his 98 vs pak in the WC

 

[cricketboy29]

Its times like these, which make me proud to be a indian cricket follower. and that 98 against wasim, waqar and shoaib, not the dross (comparatively) that pakistan have now.

 

[Anil]

oh really...you have been just set a target of 299 and your best batsman throws his wicket away..

i thought you were joking....are you just pulling pratyush's leg or are you serious?

 

[Pratters]

i thought you were joking....are you just pulling pratyush's leg or are you serious?

He is serious.

 

[Anil]

Or was it Tendulkar's fault that despite making runs India lost because other batsmen performed poorly.

absolutely....don't you know that by now? when tendulkar is in the team, the other 10 members are there just to make up the numbers and all responsibility and accountability rests on one man....and that one man happens to be a (as i have mentioned a few times before ), a flat-track bully and a choker....can you imagine the woe that betide indian cricket....?

 

[JASON]

That's what I can't believe. The durability of these keepers.

First Sangakkara bats out the whole 50 overs in the first innings, and then keeps all day against India, and then Dhoni does the same in a different order (batted almost 50 overs seeing as he came out to bat in the first over and batted the rest of the innings, not quite 50 overs because he got India to the target quicker than needed :P). It's frickin' amazing.

How can he keep all day and then hit 10 sixes? Its crazy.

What an absolute Gem of an innings by Dhoni !!!

It must have been an absolutely awesome to watch !! I bet even the Sri Lankans would have been amazed and exhillarated by his innings even though they were in opposition.

Can't believe he hasn't made it to the Test Team so far !


With regard to the SL performance - great batting by Sangakkara. Even though they lost, I am pleased they put in a better performance than the pathetic batting and bowling in the first two matches.

This Indian Team is gaining in confidance under the great leadership Team at the top and I think SL will be lucky to win one if not two in this series.

Don't be surprised if it finishes 7-0 and SL return home with their tails well and truly shortened !!
The over-rated ageing and the geriatric fellas at the top must restrict themselves to Tests , so that the coach can try some new blood in the ODIs. Not only are they struggling but they are also blocking other youngsters from an opportunity to be trialled in ODIs.

 

[foe]

Gr8 stuff from Dhoni!!!

the inevitable comparisons with Gilchrist are bound to follow

As far as SL"s losses go, the first thing that strikes u about their squad is ghow old it is

Only Maharoof was below 26 years of age ( among the starting XI) today....most of the are between 32-36

 

[Jono]

You said two posts earlier he cant handle pressure and reiterated he is a choker.

And then did not respond to what I said saying you have never denied him being a great player.

Firstly, can a player be great if he cant handle pressure or chokes?

Secondly, respond to the pressure points I have raised already.

After you have done that, please tell me how there was no pressure in the first two games Tendulkar played. Flat tracks yes. But no pressure on making a come back after an injury?

I daresay, there was more pressure in the first two games than the third one as Tendulkar had already made some runs in the first two one dayers. Your claim that Tendulkar got out because India had a huge total to chase and he chokes and could not handle the pressure is very much hollow.

I don't know why you bother Pratyush, his opinion on Tendulkar as a choker isn't going to change. Just let him have his remarks.

Anyway, India were 2-0 up going into the 3rd ODI, how that has more pressure than the start of a very hyped up ODI series where Tendulkar is returning with a crap load of pressure on him is beyond me. This idea that chasing always has more pressure is stupid. It often does, but not all the time.

I guess it has to be Dravid and Chappell. I find it funny when people say that SRT has added this and he has added that...because SRT has been in the team for 16 years and was there in almost all the finals we lost in last 2 years. Tendulkar's presence is being overstated, as usual media overhyping things up.

Give credit where it is due. It's all Dravid and Chappell.

For Christ's sake Sanz, look at my previous posts. I've praised Dravid beyond end, and Chappell's innovation tactics. But it is no secret Sachin is a fantastic tactician on the field. Look at the 4th test against Australia in 2004, he literally got Gilchrist out himself in terms of field positioning when he went up to Dravid and the bowler (Harbhajan or Kartik, can't remember) and said put a fielder here (Deep mid wicket boundary) and low and behold Gilchrist popped it up right there where Sachin was fielding.

I agree, most of this resurgence has to do with Dravid and Chappell working beautifully together, and the Indian team's desire to fight back and show they aren't a weak team. However Sachin's influence is palpable, look at what Dravid has said in the past few media conferences, and look at the way he talks with Sachin when they talk tactics. They're both great cricket minds, and 2 cricket minds are quite clearly better than one. Sachin has added something, the same would happen if Dravid was out of the team for 8 months and then returned.

Why does everything have to be anti-Tendulkar... Argh. If he's praised, it doesn't mean we're ignoring Dravid or Chappell.

 

[Jono]

Alternatively, why don't they use him earlier in the innings and get someone else at the death?

Fair point, I'd like to see maybe Yadav used as an option as he can slow it down but then he may get belted around too so I'm not too sure. I hope we do get a specialist bowler for late in the innings. Often Nehra does a decent job, but he's not consistently awesome either.

 

[Jono]

I'd say the jury is still out on it

An interesting point though - are they thinking of Kaif as the regular number 3? There was some discussion about it earlier in the month I think.

I think its fair to say it worked

Regarding the #3 position, I think Kaif would likely have it slotted most of the time, but in situations when they need to hit runs quickly to make use of the powerplay I"m guessing either Dhoni or Pathan will be used, and Kaif will slot to 4, Dravid to 5 etc.

 

[Pratters]

Regarding records in the match:

Is this the highest aggregate by two keepers in a match
Is this the most time (in terms of balls) spent by two keepers in a match (would be sum total of balls India faced plus balls Lanka faced plus balls keeper 1 faced while batting plus balls keeper 2 faced while batting)

What is the record of aggregate runs for keepers ina single match as far as test matches go?

 

[What-A-Player]

..PS

A Wickey scoring 138, and another one turning the figures 1 3---> <----8

 

[SJS]

What is the record of aggregate runs for keepers ina single match as far as test matches go?

As far as I can see the top two spots for highest aggregate by keepers from both sides are :-

1. 341 by Andy Flower and Mark Boucher

• Harae
• September 2001
• Andy Flower contributing 341 (142 and 199 no)
• Boucher contributing O (DNB in both innings)

2. 289 by Andy Flower and Vijay Dahiya

• Vidharbha Cricket Ground
• November 2000
• Andy Flower contributing 287 (55 and 232 no)
• Dahiya chipping in with a vital 2 (2 no and DNB)

To find out a match I where the lesser contribution is slightly better than Boucher or Dahiya's I have to go down the list (my current list which may not be the complete list) to the ninth spot where we have

233 by Ridley Jacobs and Ajay Ratra

• St Antigua (I think)
• November 1996
• Jacobs 118 (only innings)
• Ratra 115 (only innings)

There is only one other instance in cricket history of two separate wicket-keeper-centuries in the same test. You have them at number 1 above

 

[Sanz]

If Tendulkar was a choker , he would have choked and died till now given the load of expectations.

What expectation you are talking about ? I expect him to stay @ the wicket when we are chasing a formidable target and he dissapoints more often than not. Since 2000 he averages 25 in all finals...so much for fulfilling the expectations.

If Tendulkar could not handle pressure, he would not have been the back bone of Indian batting.

***Newsflash*** Tendulkar WAS the backbone of Indian batting. Now a days he is just another batsman, Rahul Dravid is the back bone of Indian batting.

You give it all to Chappell-Dravid and say Tendulkar is given more credit than its due by the media. Well the media has called Tendulkar selfish, the media has jumped on him at every instance during the past one and half years as if its his fault he is not being able to make runs.

Media needs a hero to worship and that's why they glorify him. And as for you cribbing that media criticizes him because he was not able to score runs..well what do want the media to do, sing hosannas in his praise despite him failing.

And he was indeed selfish when he went on and on to break Sunny Gavaskar's 236 at Sydney and cost us the series. Not to forget his complaining about missing his double century in pakistan.

What had India done in the period Tendulkar was struggling in the past one and half years as a team?

How about winning a series in Pakistan. Anyways..India's struggle had more to do with Sourav Ganguly's captaincy, fitness and his own batting form. For most of last year there was an undertainty about the leadership of this team. There was hardly any series when we played under one captain and in those series where we had one captain, it was led by an insecure man who wasn't even sure about his performance and place in the team. It didn't have much to do with SRT's performance.

Besides, its too early to assume that India is suddenly back..because it only against SL away from SL. Let's wait and watch before jumping onto conclusion.

If I remember correctly, the match in the 99 world cup where India lost to Zimbabwe was the match Tendulkar missed due to his father's death. They were not sure they could win without him versus Kenya too were they? He had to come back early and he did like the team man that he is.

India lost that match because of stupidity of Sadgopan Ramesh and not because SRT was not there and it is laughable to suggest that India were not sure about winning against Kenya in 1999. Beside 1999 was different, he was a different played, he isn't 50 % of what he was back then.

Its India the team which performs pathetically and people blame it on Tendulkar. And even when they win and he scores less, they will jump at him saying CHOKER CHOKES AGAIN!

Actually, team India performed well today and we won despite his choking under pressure to chase. I hope the young guns can continue to do that.

 

[Sanz]

You said two posts earlier he cant handle pressure and reiterated he is a choker.

He can't handle pressure majority of the times and more so since 2000-2001. He has a major problem when we are chasing a huge target or playing in an important match.

And then did not respond to what I said saying you have never denied him being a great player.

Fortunately I have a life beyond cricketweb.

Firstly, can a player be great if he cant handle pressure or chokes?

Yes he can be.

Secondly, respond to the pressure points I have raised already.

What are those points ? I guess I responded to your post...If I haven't please post the points I will try to response as and when I get time.

After you have done that, please tell me how there was no pressure in the first two games Tendulkar played. Flat tracks yes. But no pressure on making a come back after an injury?

No pressure, because whether he scores or fails, his place in the team is guaranteed. He is part of the untouchables...(along with Sehwag & Yuvraj).

I daresay, there was more pressure in the first two games than the third one as Tendulkar had already made some runs in the first two one dayers. Your claim that Tendulkar got out because India had a huge total to chase and he chokes and could not handle the pressure is very much hollow.

You can say whatever you want..IMO there was no pressure in the first 2 games...first game we were batting first, 2nd game chasing 122 in the subcontinent against SL bowling and you claim that there was pressure ??..are you really serious or just trying too hard to be funny..

 

[Sanz]

How did Tendulkar make 141 in this match then after Pakistan made 329

http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_PAK/SCORECARDS/IND_PAK_ODI2_16MAR2004.html

And how did he manage 93 in this match after South Africa made 320?

http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999-2000/RSA_IN_IND/SCORECARDS/RSA_IND_ODI5_19MAR2000.html

Or was it Tendulkar's fault that despite making runs India lost because other batsmen performed poorly.

...and India won both the games, didn't it ??

As for choking..Since WC 2003 (not including finals)

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/PAK_IN_IND/SCORECARDS/PAK_IND_ODI6_17APR2005.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/PAK_IN_IND/SCORECARDS/PAK_IND_ODI3_09APR2005.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004/OD_TOURNEYS/ASIA/SCORECARDS/IND_SL_ASIA_ODI6_18JUL2004.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_PAK/SCORECARDS/IND_PAK_ODI5_24MAR2004.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_PAK/SCORECARDS/IND_PAK_ODI4_21MAR2004.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE...RECARDS/AUS_IND_VBS_ODI-FINAL2_08FEB2004.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE...RECARDS/AUS_IND_VBS_ODI-FINAL1_06FEB2004.html

 

[Jono]

And he was indeed selfish when he went on and on to break Sunny Gavaskar's 236 at Sydney and cost us the series.

That is the biggest pile of horse manureI have ever heard! Firstly, Dravid was already back in the shed in that game and we were in big trouble, Tendulkar shelved his aggressive play which had got him out in the 3 previous tests and stayed at the crease! Secondly, Ganguly... GANGULY was the one who wanted such a huge total! Not Tendulkar, Ganguly could have declared at any time. He could have declared when India got to 500, got to 600, or even 650. He waited till India got to 700 to ensure India could not lose the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

How is it Tendulkar's fault? Oh should he apologise for scoring a 200+ runs?

 

[Jono]

...and India won both the games, didn't it ??

As for choking..Since WC 2003 (not including finals)

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/PAK_IN_IND/SCORECARDS/PAK_IND_ODI6_17APR2005.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/PAK_IN_IND/SCORECARDS/PAK_IND_ODI3_09APR2005.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004/OD_TOURNEYS/ASIA/SCORECARDS/IND_SL_ASIA_ODI6_18JUL2004.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_PAK/SCORECARDS/IND_PAK_ODI5_24MAR2004.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_PAK/SCORECARDS/IND_PAK_ODI4_21MAR2004.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE...RECARDS/AUS_IND_VBS_ODI-FINAL2_08FEB2004.html

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE...RECARDS/AUS_IND_VBS_ODI-FINAL1_06FEB2004.html

How are those examples of choking? Its examples of him failing, EVERY BATSMAN FAILS!

Look at this game you used for example (http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/PAK_IN_IND/SCORECARDS/PAK_IND_ODI3_09APR2005.html).

Sehwag and Ganguly both scored less than Tendulkar, yet only Sachin is called the choker. Absolutely BS!