Resurgent India held back by Nathan Lyon brilliance in the first test at Adelaide 2014

Australia beat India in the first test at Adelaide taking the lead 1-0 in the 4 match series. It was mixed bag of luck for the inexperienced new look Indian team under the debutant captain Virat Kohli.

Captain led by example through out the match scoring valuable centuries in both the innings. But eventually the worn out fifth day pitch was very well exploited by Nathan Lyon.

The Indian batsmen showed the intent to hang on despite some decisions that went against the team in the absence of DRS. Nathan Lyon was using his high arm action smartly beating the batsmen in the air and with huge turners. Lyon didn't have much success in the last series against Pakistan played in UAE, but his ability with the ball was never in doubt. Lyon managed to extract good support from the Adelaide pitch bagging a whopping 12 wickets and the man of the match award for a splendid performance.

Michael Clarke led by example in the match scoring hundred and leading the team after the tragic circumstances of losing a team mate. It was the sombre moment for the entire team to be so quick on to the field and giving out its best despite the resurgence shown by young Indian talent which holds a lot of promise.

Series is still wide open and the Indian contingent should be happy with the overall performance of the team.

With Ravi Shastri in the Indian Dressing room the side need not worry about team combination for the remainder of the series. All the team needs to do is take it session by session and play accordingly as the situation demands.

Looking back in to the match when Australia had lot of wicket in hands in the second innings the batsmen were given indications to score quick runs in order to give the side enough time and overs to bowl out India. Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith scored quickly to give Aussie side the advantage of a challenging total to defend in the second innings.

Murali Vijay lived tentaviley at the crease, was stranded on 99 as Lyon pulled one back trapping him in front of the wicket. It was a crucial wicket for the hosts as they struggled to break the 137 run partnership for the 3rd wicket.

Though Mitchell Johnson bowled beautifully beating the batsmen on several occasions but went without luck. So it was Lyon all the way who provided the breakthroughs and.finished off the tail enders to wrap up the match for Australia.

 Indian team looks promising to say the least with such good pace bowlers in the side, who should stick to a tight line and length and hopefully it should bring out a winning result at Brisbane.

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IndvsSA Jo'burg Test 2013: Ishant Sharma does damage to South Africa top order, Shami and Zaheer pitch in.

India put up a very good performance with the ball after dismal show with the bat on the second day of the Johannesburg Test at the Wanderers in South Africa.

Resuming to bat with overnight score of 5/255 the Indian batting collapsed for 280 all out.

The bowlers for South Africa were relieved a lot as the last recognized batting pair of MS Dhoni and 

Ajinkya Rahane hardly managed to disturb the scoreboard.

Vernon Philander scalped four wickets in the process and was the most destructive.

South Africa started cautiously with Graeme Smith and Alviro Peterson at the crease as the opening pair. Duo dodged the opening spell and were looking quite comfortable until Alviro Peterson was out.

Hashim Amla came to the crease to join company with his skipper, then Graeme Smith was dropped in the slips by Ashwin off Zaheer Khan. 

It looked to be a costly miss, as the runs started to flow for South Africa.

Until Ishant Sharma with his decisive in-swingers removed Hashim Amla clean bowled offering no shot and trapping Jacques Kallis at the crease, and then Smith was trapped leg before by Zaheer Khan.

South Africa was 2/130 and soon collapsed to 6/146 until Philander and Du Plesis offered some late resistance to Indian onslaught with the ball.

Mohammed Shami took the fifth and the sixth wickets for India in the same over to send back, JP Duminy and AB Devilliers with some good bowling.

Though initially South Africa looked to bat comfortably against Indian bowlers, but soon was exposed to a fine display of rare pace bowling from the Indian trio.

Though Ashwin bowled a few overs but it was the pace battery of India that did most of the job on the second day.

Pitch offered variable bounce through out the day, with many balls keeping low and should have affected the batsmen’s reading of the pitch bounce and pace.

Hashim Amla might have expected the ball to bounce over the wicket but the ball nipped in sharply without the bounce the batsman was expecting.

These are the indications that Indian batsmen should keep in mind and try to play forward instead of staying back at the crease.

The feet movement and the ability to leave the ball out side of off, ability to duck well directed bouncers and ability to resist the temptation to drive the ball through covers should help the batsmen. And shots on the rise when the ball is in the air and seaming should be resisted by the batsmen.

In the conditions like in South Africa the ball does a lot on the pitch as well in the air.

Batsmen should concentrate hard to give India a chance in this crucial Test match of the series.

One thing the South Africa batsmen did good was ducking the well directed bouncers, they played them well and that is one of differences the India batsmen should concentrate on ahead in the second innings.

How long the South African tail will wag will be interesting to see.

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IndvsSA Jo'burg Test 2013:India posts a steady 5/255 after a positive decision by the Indian Captain

Captain positive MS Dhoni won the toss and took a positive decision to bat first, India posted a steady 5/255 taking cue from an inspiring century from Virat Kohli on a fiery Wanderer’s pitch.

It was surprising to many analysts around the world, that why would a captain put in line his batsmen against a fiery spell of fast bowling on a fresh Wanderer’s pitch from one of the world’s best bowling lineups.

Fortune favors the brave to say the least, and after both the opener’s were sent back to the pavilion, slightly disproving the decision of the captain, a watchful Virat Kohli and an equally adept Cheteshwar Pujara saw to it that the pace battery takes rest after their onslaught.

Just when things began to fall in place for India after 2 early wickets, a casual yes and no left Cheteshwar Pujara well short of crease. 

But Virat Kohli knew the importance of his wicket and knew that he need to bat long for India, scored a brilliant century which had all the hallmarks of an established batsman.

Shot selection from some of the Indian top order batsman is poor and that’s where Rohit Sharma can concentrate little bit harder to see that, on seaming wicket like at Jo’burg the ball travels at pace giving little time for the batsmen to drive through the covers on the rise.

Rahane dug out harder and is holding on 43 not out with Dhoni in company, and Ashwin to follow there is still some batting left in tail of the Indian line up.

I think 400 would give India time to stay in the Test match and a total of 450 plus will give it a chance to throw some questions back at the hosts.

One of the important lessons from the first day for the top order India batsmen is to read the situation around well and play accordingly, the shot selection was not desirable to see from some of the batsmen who got out cheaply.

And that’s where the experience in all rounder Jacques Kallis comes in to play, he talks Virat Kohli to play onto a bad ball on the rise to give a simple catch to a mid-on to wake him up from the deep slumber, lost his wicket when he could have gone on for more easily, after scoring the century. Yes, he talks back at himself, every time he gets out to a silly shot.

South Africa bowlers were right on the money, but some home work by the Indian batsmen stood them in good stead with all the batsmen keen to leave the ball outside of off-stump except the one played by Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan had no clue to duck on to a well directed bouncer from Dale Steyn.

Vernon Philander was probing and Mornie Morkel was at his best, including a catch drop by Hashim Amla which was a little bit difficult of his bowling.

India should try and carefully hold on to the marginal good first innings total and build upon it to stay in the crucial Test match at Wanderer’s.

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Sachin's farewell series unearthed talent in debutants Rohit and Shami

Recently concluded Sachin's farewell series has unearthed talent of the debutants like Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami.

Rohit Sharma had to wait for his Test debut and made a mark when given the chance by back to back centuries. Mohammed Shami justified his debut by taking 9 wickets. Both of the players remember their memorable debut which enthralled the Kolkata crowd at Eden Gardens.

West Indies didn't perform up to their potential and had their chances in the first test when India lost six wickets for 150 plus runs until debutant Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin turned around the match for India. From there after India siezed the initiative and went on to win the match.

Second test at Wankhede the Sachin Tendulkar's final test at his home ground is a memorable one, for the way the Master batsman batted while at the crease.

The delicate cuts, straight drives, and subtle manoeuvrings  of the pitch enthralled the crowd one last time for the vociferous audience at the Wankhede watching vintage Tendulkar in full flow.

And a delivery by Narsingh Deonarine outside of out stump  had nothing in it except inviting the batsman to cut it for four, but sheer presence of Darren Sammy, lost his control while the fast flash of the bat which was traveling, had their been another fielder, there could have been a catch dropped.

But destiny had it and the Master batsman had to leave the crease after such a master class at the crease.

Crowd was watching the master batsman walking back to the pavilion for one last time and turning back to acknowledge the crowds gesture.

The match drew celebrities from across the spectrum including the Congress scion Prime Ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi to Mumbai, bollywood stars including Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan were there to felicitate the champion batsmen.

Then the Master batsman gave a befitting farewell speech at the presentation ceremony which held the nation's breath for a moment.

A prodigy of Indian Cricket, SR Tendulkar went on and on and illustrated his 24 years of passionate journey with immaculate words coming straight from the heart.

They inspired a generation and a country was in a sombre mood both celebrating the class of the batsman and his retirement at the same time.

Though the Master batsman retired from the game but he will always be there in hearts and minds of millions of his die hard fans.

Such a short series with so many beautiful memories. Test Cricket could have never been any better except for the retirement of a legend.

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Sachin Tendulkar's final test match is marked by euphoria, enthusiasm and celebrations.

Sachin Tendulkar's 200th test is marked by euphoria, enthusiasm and celebrations. Fans were watching the master practice on the field since morning during the warm up session ahead of the Second test against the West Indies.

The master batsman was usual self going through all the drills and was fit as ever. The scenes the people of this country will surely going to miss, Sachin Tendulkar preparing for his final test of his splendid 24 year career.

It was in 1989 the maestro made his debut, even before getting his driving license. His exploits with the bat were already in everybody's knowledge. The world welcomed the iconic batsman to the crease with utmost awe and disbelief.

With a boyish look on his face and expectations of a cricket loving country, the champion batsman walked to bat against the likes of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, the fear some duo of fast bowling in the world cricket.

Thus began the story of a young Sachin Tendulkar taking on the whizzing deliveries with confidence very few have shown in the history of the game.

Where ever he went, he was the cynosure of eyes, capturing the imagination of cricket followers all around the world.

Sachin soon became a house hold name in his home country India, and the world kept a close eye to look for any fallacy in the batsman's technique.

He soon became a nightmare for bowlers all across the world. Opposition teams would strategize to take the wicket of the champion batsmen in major One Day Tournaments.

Since they knew if Sachin lasts, the match is gone beyond doubt.

Sachin shared the dressing room with the likes of classy Ravi Shastri, wristy Mohammed Azharuddin, flamboyant Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, the wall and the stylish VVS Laxman.

Virender Sehwag emulated sachin on the field with the bat, and it was treat to see the Najafgarh batsman matching with Sachin in scoring quickly.

Sachin Tendulkar won several matches for his country single handedly, held up innings together in the middle order.

In short he is the batting mainstay, along with Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman, and it was India's turn to climb up the order and rightly take the mantle of world's no 1 Test team.

Sachin is remembered for his commitment and dedication to the game.

He boasts such a classic technique and game play that made batting look so easy. Sir Don Bradman acknowledged, he was something special and looked like himself batting.

Bowlers cherished his wicket and they knew that they could do little when the master's in the mood. They always looked to take his wicket early in the innings.

Sachin was only interested in taking care of his batting and the records just came by.

He scored the first double hundred in a one day international, scored 100 centuries combining both formats of the game.

The master batsman at the crease at the Wankhede stadium in his world record 200th test, has already shown glimpses of his classic self and the crowd went berserk, that included celebrities including cricketing greats from across the world joining him to be part of the occasion.

Sachin will be batting tomorrow morning for a cricket crazy nation in his 200th test for India at Wankhede stadium.

Whether he will be part of a huge total on the board for India in this test or not, he already has left a mark like no one has ever before in the history of Cricket.

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India Vs West Indies First Test 2013: India wins the match in a splendid fashion at Eden Gardens Kolkata

India beat West Indies in the first Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata with a superb performance with bat and the ball. 

The two debutant players Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami Ahmed made this match a memorable one with splendid performances. 

After Mohammed Shami's first innings haul of 4/71, it was Rohit Sharma's turn to score a hundred on debut.

Rohit Sharma with Ravichandran Ashwin combined well to put together a solid partnership that gave India 219 runs lead in the first innings with the team total of 456 all out.

Then Ravichandran Ashwin continued his good performance with the ball too picking up three West Indian wickets. 

Mohammed Shami then ran through the West Indian middle and lower order with his reverse swinging deliveries, clean blowing most of the batsmen.

Eden Gardens crowd had some good entertainment cricket to watch with the spectacular performance from the Indian team, that made the farewell Sachin Tendulkar match a memorable one.

Now India move on to Mumbai for the second test Match of the series on Nov 14. 

Hope the West Indian team take positives from the match where they were in a good position in the Test match and there after didn't look up to the mark, particularly with the bat.


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Ind vs WI First Test 2013: India take the honours on the first day of the first test match agains the West Indies

Shami Ahmed, on his debut, bowled with rythm, pace and control at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in the first test match of the two match series against the West Indies.

And was rewarded with four West Indian wickets with some consistent line and length. Keiran Powell couldn't control the angled short pitched delivery and holed out to mid-on for 28.

And Samuels was bowled when the batsman looked well settled, with a sharp inswinger for valuable 65 runs for the team. Dinesh Ramdin followed suit in the similar fashion off Shami Ahmed.

Chris Gayle was caught of Kumar for 18.

Veteran West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was stranded at the other end with wickets falling at regular intervals. And he fell to an off break from Ashwin failing to cover the line of the ball for 36 runs.

West Indies side was bowled out for 234 of 74 Overs for 11 Extra runs. With Shami Ahmed returning with figures of 4/71 on his debut.

Bhuveneshwar Kumar, Ojha and Sachin scalped a wicket each, with Ravichandran Ashwin baggin two West Indian wickets.

At stumps Shikhar Dhawan was batting on 21 with Murali Vijay on 16 runs sharing first wicket partnership of 37.

West Indies where little bit casual in shot selection as well as impatient. Skipper Darren Sammy hurried to clear the boundary with a fielder at the long off boundary taking a simple catch.

While Darren Bravo was caught in a mix up and was run out.

This will definitely have huge bearing on the match as the strong Indian batting line up with Sachin Tendulkar in the middle order in his penultimate test will try and the seize the initiative.

West Indies could not make up by batting first after winning the toss on a good batting wicket.

At one stage West Indies were 138/2 and the side bundled out for 234 all out.

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India wins 2013 One Day International series at Bangalore

A huge victory for team India in the recently concluded 2013 Star Sports One Day series in India has propelled the team to a stronger position both in terms of confidence and rankings.

It was the series decider at Chinnaswamy stadium at Bangalore, and as expected there was pressure on both the teams. 

In the end a team with greater resilience in holding on to the basics of the game eventually won.

Though 384 was a big target but it could have been achieved had Australia not committed small mistakes. 

That is what sports are all about to know your game better and improve the next time.

Earlier Australia won the toss and decided to field first. India started on a positive note with another 100 plus opening wicket partnership.

Shikhar Dhawan fell to a Doherty spinner when the southpaw was caught in front of the wicket playing across.

Virat Kohli wanted to take a quick single with a jab to mid on, but Rohit Sharma was not so keen and that resulted in misunderstanding.

And after that Rohit Sharma alone started to build his innings and scored a century and there after broke loose to score a mammoth double hundred, third such innings in history of One day Cricket.

Australia was under tremendous pressure and lost four wickets for only 74 runs on the board, that showed the mindset of the team, as it looked in a hurry.

Both Aaron Finch and Adam Voges were not able to read Shami Ahmed.

Glen Maxwell and James Faulkner displayed some good batting display and Shane Watson too helped the cause, but wickets falling at  regular intervals put brakes in the Australia's run chase. 

Clint Mckay and James Faulkner brought the match to its ending phase. And then Mckay fell to a leg break from Jadeja.

And Faulkner followed soon trying to clear the deep square leg boundary was caught by Shikhar Dhawan in a spectacular fashion.

That gave India a huge series win against a formidable side.

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Ind Vs Aus 7th ODI: Series deciding match at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalorere

It was another huge run chase by the India in their match against Australia in 6th One Day International at VCA ground at Nagpur.

Earlier Australia  batting first put up a huge total of 350 in 50 overs with Shane Watson and Skipper George Bailey scoring centuries in splendid fashion.

In reply India riding on some solid opening partnerships from Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma started of in a splendid fashion, and that gave Virat Kohli, who is having an amazing time with the bat, solid platform to chase down another record total in splendid fashion.

The final one dayer at Bangalore will be played on Saturday.  With both the sides showing good form with the bat, another match with a run scoring spree could be expected

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Sachin not out on 55 in his last Ranji Trophy innings

Sachin Tendulkar's last innings in the Ranji Trophy match against Haryana at Rohtak, showed the glimpses of a cautious little master holding the team batting together in times of wickets falling at the other end in Mumbai's second innings in the match.

Mumbai needing to score 240 runs, Wasim Jaffer fell to an out swinger of Patel early in the morning, that brought Rahane to the crease.

The morning mist and green wicket offered bounce and pace to the bowlers who kept asking questions to the batsmen. Rahane and Pawar put up a very good 86 run partnership together until Rahane was bowled by an offbreak by Yadav. 

That brought the little master to the crease with the opposition team Haryana all lined up welcoming him one last time in the Ranji format. 

Tendulkar was cautious covering the line of the ball not to leave any gaps that have cost him his wicket few times earlier.

It was a splendid day of cricket at the Rohtak ground, with Haryana making steady inroads in the Mumbai batting line up, with an audacious run out of Tare by a direct run out throw from Patel from the boundary line.

Sachin Tendulkar is not out on a splendid 50, will look to help Mumbai to a well earned win in the match, where both the sides have shown good performance.

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Ind/Aus 2013 Fourth ODI - India's bowling a matter of concern

Stage is set for the fourth One Day International(D/N) match between India and Australia in the 2013 edition at JSCA International Cricket Stadium at Ranchi in Jharkhand state of India.

After a morale boosting win at PCA stadium in Mohali, Australia now lead the series 2-1.

Pitch at the JSCA ground is expected to play on the slower side. How it will shape up in run up to the match remains to be seen.

The last match played at this ground in January 2013 India won that match overwhelmingly against England.

Pitch has assisted spinners in the past and that should be good news for the hosts.

There could be an element of surprise or two particularly where the hosts have been taken for 300 plus runs in three consecutive matches in the series.

It also shows visitors are in good form with the bat. So anything could happen on the match day.

 Not an Ideal pitch for T20's: Jacques Kallis about Ranchi Pitch 

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Ind/Aus 2013 Third ODI - Australia wins a scintillating match at PCA Mohali

Australia won a scintillating match of Cricket at PCA ground, Mohali, on Saturday evening.

Earlier Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first. And was able to apply pressure on the Indian top order batsmen, with the scoreboard reading 37/2 at one stage.

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni came together and put up a 72 run partnership for the fifth wicket, until Kohli was out for 68 runs.

 Dhoni stitched up another 76 run partnership with Ashwin for the 7th wicket. Thus propelling India to a total of 303 and in the process scored first century(139) by any Indian batsman at PCA, Mohali.

Under the circumstances Dhoni single handedly managed to put up a respectable score for India with only sizeable contribution coming from Kohli's 68.

Australia chasing 304 lost wickets at regular intervals, with notable scores of Finch 38 and Aussie Skipper Bailey 43. Shane Watson was little bit unlucky to be given out LBW, as umpire seem to have erred.

Run out of Glenn Maxwell looked like Australia was staring defeat. 

After the Wicket of Brad Haddin, James Faulkner came to the crease to bat with Adam Voges, who scored a sensible 50 shortly before, and with Australia needing nearly 90 runs in just 8.5 overs.

Just when Australia needed a big over of runs, Ishant Sharma was handed the ball for the 48th Over by Dhoni. Till then Ishant Sharma had given away only around 30 runs in his previous 9 overs with one wicket to his credit.

In Ishant Sharma's tenth over Faulkner from nowhere scores 30 runs with huge sixes and boundaries tilting the match towards Australia decisively with only nine needed from the last over.

Australia cruises to victory with 3 balls to spare, thanks to James Faulkner's 64* (29) and Adam Voges 76* not out.

Man of the Match was overwhelmingly James Faulkner for his cameo knock which put Australia 2-1 ahead in the 7 match series with the next match slated in Ranchi city, in Jharkhand state on 23rd October.

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