Archive for the ‘Lord's’ Category
Pakistan need 140 to win
lol.
Pakistan would remember the greatest choking act in their history in 2007 WT20 final when Misbah gifted us the WT20. Who is going to do that role today?
May be Pak let the game slip once they got 6 wkts. And Umar Gul was sorted out today along with Ajmal. All pre-final heroics aside and final aside. 130s cud be a bogey for Pakistan. 10 yrs ago they could set 133 run target for Aussies and today they chase 6 runs more.
A cracker of chase in cards…..Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik would be the key.
Preview to the Ind vs WI game
“We had options for back-up openers, Yusuf and I were also spoken about. But Rohit was in good form in the IPL and has grabbed his chance with both hands”
MS was speaking on the options for opening in absence of Viru. Heavens gracious, he didn’t open. Just imagine what would have been the reaction if MS was opening. Flood gates would have been opened. He is reeled for coming at # 3, he is being accused of leaking the news and being arrogant with the media. He is now no more the captain kewl.
Rohit Sharma has been pretty decent with the opening spot in England. However he must soon realize that opening is not his cup of tea and its just that he is filling in for Viru in his absence. Ditto for DK. His first test comes today when he takes on his Deccan Chargers team mate Fidel Edwards (subject to play) in the first super 8 game India plays tonite against West Indies at Lord’s. Yes the same ground where 26 years ago India beat WI by 43 runs to win their World Cup.
India would have one challenge to stop Gayle, who has tormented them in the past since 2002 or even old since 1999. Remember the Singapore tri-series followed by Toronto 3 game series when Ganguly first time captained India. Another question India would need to find an answer to is the place of Irfan Pathan. He has been pathetic with the ball. If he opens the bowling today, Gayle is for sure to run away with game. May be Praveen Kumar would be an option to go with as he swings the ball and gets more wickets than Irfan does. Yeah India would lose a batting all-rounder, but then there is enough firepower in the batting department.
Chennai Test, Day 1, 1st session
The test match got underway in Chennai albeit to scare attendance and zero chances of rain with sunny clear skies. Perhaps heavenly omens for the Test match to happen. Now that it has happened, the wicket played to its true nature off late. Batting beauty with no leeway to the bowlers. England got off to slow start, cautious. 67 runs in 27 overs, with nothing flashy or significant to write about. Bowlers rotated, but no success. Mishra brought in late, something which happens regularly with Dhoni as skipper. Even in Nagpur after the Mohali heroics, the Harayana lad was brought in late. Not much difference though, not that he is a great bowler as of now and would turn it around like Mendis. Has gone for 49 runs in 10 overs. Well that’s not pretty much like AK. AK in his prime until late last year would hold back to runs if not wkts on a flat track. But this lad needs a turner to get a wicket on. That’s why we need a leggie who doesn’t turn the ball much. May be we have been pampered and spoiled for choices after 19 years of Anil Kumble flavors and 619 wkts.
The Test match is shaping like the Lord’s Test 2007 when England got off to flying start only to lose way later in the day and before being Zaked and RP’ed on day 2. Strauss was the man then, as is now. He came from wilderness in the Lord’s and so is now. So is history going to repeat itself ?
Besides what is the use of a flat track ? Its further going to kill the game of cricket in the country. England going strong on 1/138 just half way through the day. The over rate is pretty much decent with 14.x overs per over. Better than what Ponting managed entire month of Nov and Oct or even now.
