***Official*** India in Pakistan

[Jono]

There goes Sehwag. My prediction is going to be right.

How good was that ball though? Cut back beautifully and Sehwag's feet were even more concrete into the ground than usual. Middle stump out of the ground.

All India had to do was see off the new ball, and they the openers didn't even last 2 overs.

 

[Sanz]

I have a feeling that Sachin is going to work on his fourth innings average...36th century is on cards.

Dont want to be too critical, but IMO Rahul's decision to open was not a wise one. He is the captain and he will have to take tough decision in the future, if that means dropping Ganguly to accomodate an opener, then be it. I seriously dont want him opening again. If he can't take tough decisions then he should hand over the captaincy to someone who can.

 

[pug]

I have a feeling that Sachin is going to work on his fourth innings average...36th century is on cards.

I hope so too. I don't want to see a Pathan half century today...

 

[pug]

Dont want to be too critical, but IMO Rahul's decision to open was not a wise one. He is the captain and he will have to take tough decision in the future, if that means dropping Ganguly to accomodate an opener, then be it. I seriously dont want him opening again. If he can't take tough decisions then he should hand over the captaincy to someone who can.

It was a nice idea. I seriously don't think that Gambhir and jaffer could do much better than him at that position. And finishing the Ganguly confusion one way or other was essential. I guess giving Ganguly a shot at his usual position is a better idea than making him open. If he had failed as an opener, then his fans might still not be satisfied.

 

[pug]

I don't want to see a Pathan half century today...

I take that back... gulp, laxman bowled.

 

[Jono]

FFS Laxman protect your stumps. The amount of times he gets bowled is amazing. I love him, but its so frustrating.

Mind you, Asif is bowling gem after gem. What a young talent he seems to be. Pakistan just keep producing these fast bowlers, God damn it I reckon India should cross the border and steal a few at night

 

[Sanz]

There goes VVS..Bowled Asif.

 

[Jono]

I have a feeling that Sachin is going to work on his fourth innings average...36th century is on cards.

You say that as if its a negative thing.

I hope Sachin can stay there with Sourav and get some runs before the England series.

 

[pug]

You say that as if its a negative thing.

I hope Sachin can stay there with Sourav and get some runs before the England series.

Damn, any hopes for victory or even a draw now are fast disappearing. Yup, getting some runs would be good.

 

[Sanz]

It was a nice idea. I seriously don't think that Gambhir and jaffer could do much better than him at that position. And finishing the Ganguly confusion one way or other was essential. I guess giving Ganguly a shot at his usual position is a better idea than making him open. If he had failed as an opener, then his fans might still not be satisfied.

Well if you dont think they are good enough..then why bring them, why not bring in Kaif, Rao in their place ?

Dravid shouldn't be thinking about what fans think, he should be thinking about what is best for India.

 

[Jono]

Hs customary style is to get bowled by practically unplayable deliveries?

I know it's going to sound a little odd, but yes.

He seems to get bowled by absolute jaffers on a regular basis. Not entirely his fault of course, but its something I've noticed.

He actually makes them into jaffers. They are often awesome balls that cut in to him, but when he's out of form he plays them quite poorly. When Laxman is in form, and I don't think I've seen a more 'rhythm' player than VVS, he will either defend those or even whip them off his pads well. But when he's not scoring runs regularly, middle stump gets uprooted.

Happened a few times when Australia toured in 2004 if I remember correctly.

 

[Sanz]

You say that as if its a negative thing.

I hope Sachin can stay there with Sourav and get some runs before the England series.

Well I was being positive. Sachin did look good in first inning and even in the second innings he seems well set.

 

[Jono]

Yeah he and Sourav looked best at the crease IMO. Its like we're back in the 90s, when Sachin and Ganguly were the king batsman of India rather than Dravid and Sehwag.

Hopefully they can have an awesome partnership here. I honestly feel comfortable when Ganguly is on the crease. He just looks solid. I haven't said that since around 1999/2000 I reckon.

 

[marc71178]

Dont want to be too critical, but IMO Rahul's decision to open was not a wise one. He is the captain and he will have to take tough decision in the future, if that means dropping Ganguly to accomodate an opener, then be it.

The thing is for the 2nd Test, he'd have had to drop another middle order player as well because of trying the 5 bowler thing.

 

[pug]

Well if you dont think they are good enough..then why bring them, why not bring in Kaif, Rao in their place ?

Dravid shouldn't be thinking about what fans think, he should be thinking about what is best for India.

And sending Ganguly to open is best for India?

I never said that Jaffer and gambhir are not good, only that Dravid's technique and temperament is better than theirs.

 

[Jono]

OH WHAT A SHOT! Like the Sourav of old.

Compare this Ganguly to this recent Ganguly and his ton against Zimbabwe, and even a few of his knocks against SA in 2004. He just looks better. I know I'm going on about it a bit, but it really is quite weird.

 

[pug]

And Sachin's gone..

 

[Jono]

That ball almost rolled to him. Still he should have been on the front foot to that.

I wonder how many Indian batsman Asif can clean bowl.

 

[Sanz]

And sending Ganguly to open is best for India?

I never said that Jaffer and gambhir are not good, only that Dravid's technique and temperament is better than theirs.

Well, Dravid should make a decision whether he wants both Ganguly and Yuvraj in the middle order or he wants one of these two and an opener. It shouldn't be that tough because Dravid is not an opener, he is our best batsman and his ideal position should be No. 3.

Damn..there goes Sachin.

 

[pug]

The thing is for the 2nd Test, he'd have had to drop another middle order player as well because of trying the 5 bowler thing.

Ya, that's right.

I wasn't clear enough, Sanz. When the squad was selected, it was expected to have Ganguly in the team in the middle and 4 bowlers. The first test made it neccessary to have another bowler, and the only batsmen who could be denied a place were Yuvraj or an opener. Dravid could have chucked yuvraj and kept ganguly as well as two specialist openers but yuvraj was in better form, hence the decision to remove a specialist opener. All done for the best interests of the team. Then Dravid could either send Ganguly to open or move himself up. He considers himself more comfortable with the new ball than saurav and hence his decision. Again, for the best interests of the team.