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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