*Official* Compaq Cup 2009 in Sri Lanka

[Arjun]

Your thoughts on Ishant coming in first-change? It seems to be a part of a plan, flawed as it looks. Dhoni's field placings, as usual, give room for lots of singles.

 

[Arjun]

Smart bowling by Yusuf so far. Let's just hope he finishes all ten today.

EDIT: Third Umpire gets tough and declares Mahela out. Quite a reversal from indecisive third umpires giving not out.

 

[Arjun]

Bhajji snares Sanga. Three of the top four back in the hut. Time to attack. Yet, somehow, they get in Yuvraj. Bad idea; they'll need him to score big runs in this match, not get worn out bowling.

 

[TT Boy]

Jayasuriya really is a champion. Just when you think he is gone, he plays a gem when wickets are falling around him.

No surprises to ex and current captain fail again. Mahela might as well make way for Samaraweera at three.

 

[Arjun]

Yuvraj is bowling utter rubbish here. Two half-trackers sent packing, a few wides and several docile deliveries to milk for singles. Dhoni seems to love his bowling for some reason. We'd prefer he scores runs, but given how much he's bowled, it's unlikely. Yusuf should be bowling out; he's got a lot less batting to do.

And here goes Tony Greig giving a technical description of the Fazer...

And there's another fielding blooper by the Indians. After some brilliant glovework, Dhoni spills it. Fielding in woeful form today.

 

[inbox24]

Another century coming up from the Jaya, hope he outlasts the Tendulkar in ODIs.

 

[kingkallis]

What a player! When he is on song, he kills the attack completely and single handedly!

 

[kingkallis]

Jaya gone.........

Well done Nehra!

 

[Lostman]

never seen a side this late in overs when bowling first.

 

[Arjun]

This fielding by the Indians is utter rubbish. They can't be at the top of the chart for long if this continues- just now, the in-form Kandamby got a life with a dropped catch.

Who will do the Kandamby turn for India? He's batted himself back into form here, so maybe this will be the match for Dinesh Karthik to prove himself, after yesterday's umpiring error. That said, it's up to Sachin or Yuvraj to do the Sanath turn for India.

 

[Pratters]

Nehra didn't even have his hands clasped together for that one. One of the direst drops you will see.

Kadamby scoring at a tremendous rate.

 

[Arjun]

Lanka gets past 300. This may be a match-winning total, as the Lankans will keep pegging at the Indian batting, as their bowling doesn't have a soft spot- maybe Matthews.

It will be only a matter of time till sides switch. Who should open the batting for India? Karthik may be a liability at the top, since he's a slow scorer and struggling to put up something decent. They may have to take a risk and send in Yuvraj to open; that's two of your top three opening, followed by Dravid and Dhoni. Should be obvious.

 

[Arjun]

What should be India's batting plan? Looking at the opposition, they need to target Thushara, Kulasekara and Matthews for the big hits. That could, however, backfire as it has at times, so they can invert the plan and attack Malinga and Mendis. Malinga tends to bowl some wild wides that miss everything, while some others can also go flying. In the last two tours, Raina and Dhoni often got on top of Mendis and cart him around, or at least sneak singles. That's the key- sneak and steal as many singles as possible, as they're easier to claim and add up decisively. They should milk Matthews, Sanath and Dilshan regularly, and smash one of the seamers, or both, or maybe even Mendis.

 

[Migara]

Smashing Thushara may not be the best idea though. He'll easily get the most bounce out of this track.

 

[Pratters]

I think India have done the right thing by not changing the order. This is trial game. Test Karthik at the top.

Bit of swing for Kulasekara first ball.

 

[Arjun]

Karthik opens with Tendulkar. He stood way down the crease and was struck on the pads, but the ball was going down. Loud appeals. Now he plays out a dot ball. This is the match for him, to make his mark. A good innings by him will possibly tilt the match, slightly, towards India. He can take a breather, as Kula bowls a wide that goes to the boundary.

 

[Arjun]

I think India have done the right thing by not changing the order. This is trial game. Test Karthik at the top.

Bit of swing for Kulasekara first ball.

Whom should the Indians target for six or seven an over? It seems Thushara and Kula are the ones to target, as Malinga is unpredictable, Mendis may benefit from the pitch later on and the part-timers should just be milked around.

 

[Pratters]

Kulasekara is getting swing, so should be safely negotiated. I think Thushara is the man to target. He is bowling short, isn't consistent with his lines. Then the part timers and Mendis.

 

[Arjun]

Mendis under lights will be a handful. The part-timers should be a target for 1-2-3, rather than 4-4-6. Either way, the Indians should take a leaf out of the Lankan innings while facing Mendis, and steal a lot of singles rather than go over the top all the time.

 

[Pratters]

I don't see India winning this game. Will need some thing special from two players.