It is great to see India winning back to back matches in the 2009 series between two of the worlds biggest cricketing powerhouses. First match Australia won convincingly only to jolt Indian team out of slumber, which proved beneficial for the hosts.
Second match was exceptional as Skipper Dhoni turned it around for the Team India, it's been a nicely built innings carrying a knock out punch on the opposition. And his innings blew air out of the Australian team long before they started to bat second.
The third match played today at Kotla on a slow and difficult pitch again proved helpful for Indian players as most of the inexperienced Aussie players could not have read, that was going on or accustomed to it. Tour to Indian subcontinent is always difficult for the visiting teams. Only seasoned campaigners like Ponting and Hussey could make some difference to guide their team out of this phase.
The fourth one dayer will be an interesting contest between the teams, with the pitch expected to carry bounce, it should support the visitors.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Anil Kumble, Australia at Kotla 2008 Test Match
It is not surprising to see Australia feeling the heat, the likes of Shane Warne felt the same, and if I am right Shane Warne does still considers the Indian tour as the most challenging he ever faced, where he had to face a battery of onslaught from the Indian batsmen particularly SR Tendulkar, Sachin quite remarkably worked out a comfortable stance against the genious of Warne and there was no respite for Warne throughout the Tour, if I am right was the Tour of 2001 at which India eventually won the series. Though much Credit goes to VVS Laxman for his immortal 281, after India followed on to Win the Test at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, where also, Bhajji took six wickets in the Australian Second Innings. The final Test saw some fireworks from Sachin's blade and India won a Tour against a dominant Australian side in a long time. During my small research I found Anil Kumble the present Indian Skipper who the media is out asking for his retirement day, took some 13 wickets in an inconsequential drawn Test match in 2004 at Chennai. In the first Innings he has figures of 7/48 under 18 overs thus putting Australia under pressure in the first innings as it managed only a 235. And in the second innings he fights with a big heart to see India win with figures of 6/133 in 43 overs. It is no wonder the Australian Captain would not like to see Kumble under the Aussies throat, particularly in this series, because experienced Kumble is more of a threat against the inexperience of this Australian side.
Australia might find some respite due to Harbhajan's injury, it will be interesting to see how Amit Mishra combines with Anil Kumble to bowl in tandem. First day at the Kotla Test 2008 belonged to India backing on a splendid hundred from Gambhir. Australia will have to make a last ditch effort on the second day morning to restrict India around 400, though the chances are very remote for that as India looks very comfortable to score around 600. Kotla is a traditional hunting ground for Anil Kumble, how the punter plays the hunter is the battle on cards.
Australia might find some respite due to Harbhajan's injury, it will be interesting to see how Amit Mishra combines with Anil Kumble to bowl in tandem. First day at the Kotla Test 2008 belonged to India backing on a splendid hundred from Gambhir. Australia will have to make a last ditch effort on the second day morning to restrict India around 400, though the chances are very remote for that as India looks very comfortable to score around 600. Kotla is a traditional hunting ground for Anil Kumble, how the punter plays the hunter is the battle on cards.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Ind Vs Australia 2008 Test Series: Australia looks down the Barrel in the second Test
The Mohali Test is heading for a decisive result and the only side that looks to win this Test is India, Australian team was completely outplayed in the first innings where Indian batsmen completely dominated the scene. Contributions came from almost all the batsman who spent considerable time at the wicket including the opening batsmen. The batting for the hosts has come alive and now India has the lead of 300 runs with out losing a wicket and still two more days are left in this Test, that puts the Australian team under considerable pressure as the wicket will start to turn more and more.
The nature of the pitch is very slow as indicated by Dhoni when he opted to bat after winning the Toss. It will be very tough for the Australian batsman to bat on this weary pitch from now on. Australia lost its way in this Test after being bowled out for 268 in the first innings, Amit Mishra took a 5/71 in his debut Test and that really upset the Australian batting card.
In the second innings the opener's further capitalized on the important first innings lead and put the team into strong position by adding another 100 runs to the first innings lead. Dhoni might be looking for a total of around 400 plus runs lead to defend in the second innings, he will definitely like to tighten up things around in the second innings, I personally feel India will declare around Tea if it gets to the Total in mind. That should give Indian bowlers some good overs left in the day to try and have a go at the Australian top order.
With spinners completely dominating the first innings, I think they will again in the second innings. Lastly but not the least, Sachin Tendulkar by surpassing the highest number of runs in Test Cricket in the World has once again brought the Title to India which was once held by Sunil Gavaskar only to be broken by Allan Border. Many congrats to the little master, who has really made the Indian Cricket look good in all times for almost two decades.
The nature of the pitch is very slow as indicated by Dhoni when he opted to bat after winning the Toss. It will be very tough for the Australian batsman to bat on this weary pitch from now on. Australia lost its way in this Test after being bowled out for 268 in the first innings, Amit Mishra took a 5/71 in his debut Test and that really upset the Australian batting card.
In the second innings the opener's further capitalized on the important first innings lead and put the team into strong position by adding another 100 runs to the first innings lead. Dhoni might be looking for a total of around 400 plus runs lead to defend in the second innings, he will definitely like to tighten up things around in the second innings, I personally feel India will declare around Tea if it gets to the Total in mind. That should give Indian bowlers some good overs left in the day to try and have a go at the Australian top order.
With spinners completely dominating the first innings, I think they will again in the second innings. Lastly but not the least, Sachin Tendulkar by surpassing the highest number of runs in Test Cricket in the World has once again brought the Title to India which was once held by Sunil Gavaskar only to be broken by Allan Border. Many congrats to the little master, who has really made the Indian Cricket look good in all times for almost two decades.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Bangalore Test ends in a tantalising Draw.
The match ended in a draw after some interesting Cricket, as I have mentioned earlier a lot depended on the Toss and the wicket was not conducive for pacing the innings against the odds and it did not turn much, as a result both the teams heavily banked on the pace bowlers, who took most of the wickets in this Test. With this Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble would have played their last Test at the Chinnaswamy stadium at Bangalore, Kumble particularly was injured and that showed up on his lacklustre performance, he was more of a captain anchoring the team and successfully led the team to a honourable draw.
Had India won the toss, I would say match would have been more interesting to watch, still I would not have given an outright victory to the Indian team though the match would have been very close.
The remaining pitches will turn more than this pitch and the series has definitely come alive, with teams having a look at their performance and now the battle should really kick on from here.
Ricky Ponting gave India a modest total on the final day to achieve but a 5th day pitch was never going to be easy to bat on, with cracks opening up, Indian batsman particularly Sachin and Laxman had a good time in the middle kept the Australian bowlers thinking all day.
This Indian middle order will surely be missed in the days to come when they will no longer be on the scene, and that change in the team is taking shape with Ganguly taking the call first. Truly a champion cricketer, Ganguly upped the pace of Indian Cricket, the team rised to become a dominant force in International Cricket went from strength to strength.
As Aussie skipper said in his post match conference there was still room to improve showed his worry that this Australian team lacks in talent as well as experience. Though it was a very good performance by the Australians who were lucky to start the series on a positive note having drawn the Test. This should give the Aussies immense satisfaction to take from this match, though they would have been more happier had they won this match, but Test Cricket is a hard nut to crack where you just can't do without a full blooded performance.
Lastly but not the least Indian bowlers, shall we say all rounders here ? Man of the Match Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh played a crucial role in India drawing the Test match, other wise the match would have been very very close.
For Australia Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey proved to be the main stays, though Michael Clarke and Mathew Hayden are equally capable of big match innings.
The teams would be now gearing up for the next match. Mohali is a fast paced pitch and it should support spin on the final days of the Test, both the teams equally balanced, another battle for supremacy will be on display.
Had India won the toss, I would say match would have been more interesting to watch, still I would not have given an outright victory to the Indian team though the match would have been very close.
The remaining pitches will turn more than this pitch and the series has definitely come alive, with teams having a look at their performance and now the battle should really kick on from here.
Ricky Ponting gave India a modest total on the final day to achieve but a 5th day pitch was never going to be easy to bat on, with cracks opening up, Indian batsman particularly Sachin and Laxman had a good time in the middle kept the Australian bowlers thinking all day.
This Indian middle order will surely be missed in the days to come when they will no longer be on the scene, and that change in the team is taking shape with Ganguly taking the call first. Truly a champion cricketer, Ganguly upped the pace of Indian Cricket, the team rised to become a dominant force in International Cricket went from strength to strength.
As Aussie skipper said in his post match conference there was still room to improve showed his worry that this Australian team lacks in talent as well as experience. Though it was a very good performance by the Australians who were lucky to start the series on a positive note having drawn the Test. This should give the Aussies immense satisfaction to take from this match, though they would have been more happier had they won this match, but Test Cricket is a hard nut to crack where you just can't do without a full blooded performance.
Lastly but not the least Indian bowlers, shall we say all rounders here ? Man of the Match Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh played a crucial role in India drawing the Test match, other wise the match would have been very very close.
For Australia Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey proved to be the main stays, though Michael Clarke and Mathew Hayden are equally capable of big match innings.
The teams would be now gearing up for the next match. Mohali is a fast paced pitch and it should support spin on the final days of the Test, both the teams equally balanced, another battle for supremacy will be on display.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Australia in a good position on Day 1 of the Bangalore Test 2008
Australia ends day one of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore in a strong position. Ricky Ponting scored his first Test Century on the Indian soil leading the way in the Australian batting scorecard. Australia ended the day with 254/4 with Michael Clarke bowled out in the last over of the day's play by Zaheer Khan caught in front of the wicket.
In the morning Australia won the Toss and elected to bat first on a good batting wicket and Mathew Hayden was out third ball of the innings edging out to Zaheer Khan. Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich build on the innings from there on for a 166 run partnership for the second wicket, with Katich scoring a good fifty before getting out.
Day two again will be easier to bat on, with Mike Hussey well set on 46 and White, Watson and Haddin still to bat, there is lot of work cut out for the Indian bowlers. The track is very good indeed for batting and it will start turning when the cracks open up as the wicket gets weary. I personally feel the wicket looks too good to be a turner as we might expect so as to produce a result, in all probability if the Indian first innings matches the Australian total in the first innings then we might be heading for a draw.
Had India won the toss it would have put Australia bat last in the Test and would have been interesting to see Australia bat against the turners, that's what the Indian think tank might have wished for. It would still not have made much difference considering the nature of the pitch which has very less to offer for the bowlers and the Australia having a good eye in the Indian conditions would have been equally capable to play out the Indian spin.
Day two of the first Test should see Australia consolidate on the overnight score, Indian bowlers if had their way and run into the Australian tail-enders quickly then match would come alive, let's hope for a good competitive Cricket on day 2 at Chinnaswamy stadium, Bangalore.
In the morning Australia won the Toss and elected to bat first on a good batting wicket and Mathew Hayden was out third ball of the innings edging out to Zaheer Khan. Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich build on the innings from there on for a 166 run partnership for the second wicket, with Katich scoring a good fifty before getting out.
Day two again will be easier to bat on, with Mike Hussey well set on 46 and White, Watson and Haddin still to bat, there is lot of work cut out for the Indian bowlers. The track is very good indeed for batting and it will start turning when the cracks open up as the wicket gets weary. I personally feel the wicket looks too good to be a turner as we might expect so as to produce a result, in all probability if the Indian first innings matches the Australian total in the first innings then we might be heading for a draw.
Had India won the toss it would have put Australia bat last in the Test and would have been interesting to see Australia bat against the turners, that's what the Indian think tank might have wished for. It would still not have made much difference considering the nature of the pitch which has very less to offer for the bowlers and the Australia having a good eye in the Indian conditions would have been equally capable to play out the Indian spin.
Day two of the first Test should see Australia consolidate on the overnight score, Indian bowlers if had their way and run into the Australian tail-enders quickly then match would come alive, let's hope for a good competitive Cricket on day 2 at Chinnaswamy stadium, Bangalore.
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