[rks]

Great swing bowling by Zaheer Khan and RP Singh. For once our pace bowlers did better than that of the opposition. And Kumble knocked out the tail in his trademark style. We were a little lucky with several LBW decisions going our way when we were batting, the most crucial probably being that of Ganguly early on against the second new ball. Dinesh Karthik should have gone in the first innings at 46, LBW to Panesar's first ball. Nevertheless it was a creditable performance by our batsmen too.

The young openers Karthik and Jaffer set the ball rolling with a good start when the conditions were still a bit tough. They made it easier for those following. If ever there was a myth that Sehwag is irreplacable, that myth has been busted. Similarly if youngsters can come in at the opening slot and do well under difficult conditions, there is no reason why other youngsters cannot do just as well from the middle order.

[MC Mayank]

Guess why Sreesanth went off his rocker - the Brits called him Harry Potter when he came in to bat (because of his specs)

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by MC Mayank

Guess why Sreesanth went off his rocker - the Brits called him Harry Potter when he came in to bat (because of his specs)

No excuse for the way he lost his rhythm.

However I do have an issue with the fact that he was fined - how come only our guys get fined for sledging, when its the bloody caucasians who do it all the time?

I remember Sreesanth got fined in that match where he hit Nel for a 6 and followed it up with some drama (for saying something to Hashim Amla) - Nel however never got fined when his boorish behaviour was obvious on television.

Its a bloody perverted world.

[MC Mayank]

It would be interesting to see if Madugale warns/fines Mr. Matt Prior at the end of the match. Got some input froms sources on the stuff that was said and picked up on the stump mic and it was completely out of order.

But yes skin colour seems to be the deciding factor when it comes to dishing out penalties and fines.

Best is Mr. Bucknor making decisions on field based on skin colour! Somebody should tap him on the shoulder and remind him he is dark black himself.

[normally_crazy]

Wow !! The best batsman in the world cannot take India to victory with 11 runs remaining. Awesome !

[Surprise]

22.4Tremlett to Tendulkar, OUT, short and Tendulkar tries to play off his hips, but only as far as leg gully, who snaps up the catch, low SR Tendulkar c Cook b Tremlett 1 (15b 0x4 0x6) SR: 6.66


Nothing more to add. He came in when the target was 18 runs. Scored 1 run of 15 deliveries.

At last Extra's came to the rescue of middle order

[msdivy]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Wow !! The best batsman in the world cannot take India to victory with 11 runs remaining. Awesome !

Wasn't that the case all these years? I can't recall when such a thing happened. Anybody remember any such instance??

EDIT: Anyway such things can happen to best of the batsmen.

[normally_crazy]

Originally Posted by msdivy

EDIT: Anyway such things can happen to best of the batsmen.

but why so regularly with the best batsman in the world ? And that too with 10 runs left - it's amazing .

[MC Mayank]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

but why so regularly with the best batsman in the world ? And that too with 10 runs left - it's amazing .

oh NC you are a potrait of optimism and hope

Are you guys suggesting Sachin had no role to play in this victory?

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Wow !! The best batsman in the world cannot take India to victory with 11 runs remaining. Awesome !

Because

Originally Posted by Surprise

Nothing more to add. He came in when the target was 18 runs. Scored 1 run of 15 deliveries.

There were only 18 runs to score - no chance of racking up any personal milestones here, so why bother hanging around?

[MaserQ]

Let us put aside our misgivings about certain individuals in the team and enjoy the moment of victory. This is a team victory, our batsmen (collective here) put a score on the board and the bowlers got 20 wickets...smashing!

Originally Posted by Steeroid

No excuse for the way he lost his rhythm.

However I do have an issue with the fact that he was fined - how come only our guys get fined for sledging, when its the bloody caucasians who do it all the time?

I remember Sreesanth got fined in that match where he hit Nel for a 6 and followed it up with some drama (for saying something to Hashim Amla) - Nel however never got fined when his boorish behaviour was obvious on television.

Its a bloody perverted world.

In total agreement. This is nothing new. Just how many times has Ganguly suffered at the hands of a few select Match referees when he was captain. Let alone sledging, half the team once got penalised for excessive appealing while in SA.

Dont remember the last time the likes of Nel, McGrath, Pollock, Shane Watson, Donald and Warne got pulled up for having a go at the opposition. I distinctly remember Michael Slater screaming at an Indian umpire. What happens....they go scot free.

Its almost as if the right to sledge belongs to that particular race. The rest of us are expected to behave in a 'buddha-like' subdued manner and anything else is considered 'un-natural' and invites the wrath of the supposedly superior race.

And it doesnt end with the players. This phenomenon is deep rooted and runs in cricket administration as well. Dalmiya is a much maligned man even after teaching the caucasians a thing or two about running the game...and winning elections!!

[rks]

Sachin has scored 91 in the first innings. That entitles him to another 5 failures at least. And he started off very slowly because he was probably keen on coming back not out.

Was watching a TV Channel (India Times?). TV commentator puts up the names of Tendulkar, Ganguly and Zaheer Khan for man of the match and asks the public to SMS their choice. Zaheer gets 42%, Sachin 30% and Saurav 28%. Then Nikhil Chopra, the expert, chips in with the comment that Dinesh Karthik played a much more valuable role than Saurav because Karthik got the runs when conditions were difficult for batting, and made it easy for the others. TV commentator gets annoyed and asks "How can you even mention Karthik in comparison to Ganguly?" At which point Nikhil again repeats his position.

Then TV commentator turns his ire on to the umpiring. The dismissals of Sachin and Saurav in the first innings are shown repeatedly with Umpire Taufel painted as the villain who denied them well-deserved centuries. Probably TV commentator did not like the public voting for Zaheer. What he forgot was that at least Ganguly should have gone with his score below 10, plumb LBW.

Absolutely ridiculous reporting, designed to hype the God-like status of Tendulkar and Ganguly. Poor Taufel felt pressurised enough to adimit his mistake regarding Sachin. Personally I feel that umpires are only human and will make mistakes. It is obviously better to rely on the outstanding technology available to help in making these decisions. ICC is to blame for its backward mentality.

[msdivy]

Terrific win for India !

Real performance which setup the victory (in ascending order):

1. 1st innings opening partnership of 147 between Karthik & Jaffer, which took the match away from England
2. Terrific bowling by Zaheer, RP Singh & Kumble to dismiss England for 198, which put England on backfoot.
3. Excellent bowling by Zaheer, Kumble & RP Singh to limit England lead in 2nd innings to something achievable.
4. Good knocks by Sachin & Co in India's 1st innings to build up the lead.

[mclaren1885]

Are you ladies still cribbing about individual performances (or lack of it) rather than enjoying the game and the victory ? Too bad I missed it, but spending a holiday in Munnar is something I would do than watching a cricket match.

[safari_lover]

The match was set up by Indian bowlers in the first match.
Then Karthik and Jaffer consolidated the position. Karthik, i think he's shaping up really well, hopefully he'll be out of the world at least for an year or so.