[Mission_Safari]

SA won the match comfortably. Amazing run chase and AB Devilliers' cool and calm approach saw them through.

[normally_crazy]

AB's coming of age innings in that 2nd highest run chase. Aussies looked haggard and bereft of ideas. Brett Lee has lost his sting and the support bowlers are too ordinary.

[Steeroid]

Great chase by SA, the Aussies are definitely on a downward slope at the moment. It is increasingly looking like 400+ is no longer a safe 4th innings target in test cricket.

[ECM]

Exactly Steeroid,nice observation.Score of 300+ was tuff in one dayer now 350+ sometimes achievable.

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Great chase by SA, the Aussies are definitely on a downward slope at the moment. It is increasingly looking like 400+ is no longer a safe 4th innings target in test cricket.

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by ECM

Aka to phir jao aur ghode ko ghaas khilao.

Thats all you could say? I think you came in and crashed without looking at Dravids figures.

These days its become a style or rather a cheap trend for people to pull down the seniors. And each time there is a egg on their face.

When Sehwag made a quick fire 83 it was lauded like the ultimate innings(one of the best nonetheless), when Dravid made an effort against form and general sentiment the opposition is called weak.

Double standards or the heights of armchair expertise? You guys tell me?

[Steeroid]

England looked like they were on an aggressive fightback, but the last couple of wickets have turned the match again.

I guess some questions are due on Harbajan's inability to operate as an effective strike bowler. He should be reminded that he is the lead spinner, not a side act.

[ECM]

Ghode ko ghas khilane me bahot time laga apko Aka,2 centuries in his last 43 innings and if his current century is justified as his returning in form tell me why Ganguly was forced to retire?His form was better than this chap still he got lot of blows on his mouth!I salute Kumble for his spirit,when he realised that its high time to go,he said goodbye,for how long you will support old worrier when new stars are knocking our doors and if you cannot include them in team when they are showing their class then when you will call them when Mr.Wall fails again?Comeout of your fake love and check ground reality boss.If your sentiments of past form apply with other players then why Pathan is not playing?He too had a dream run in his past carrier,one day you have to select your winners and fact is Dravid is no more a winner Now for team India.Figures dont count,if one fails constantly he should either go and play domestic cricket if he is young or say goodbye for ex. like Kumble who in my term served team India the most than any other cricketer.

Thats all you could say? I think you came in and crashed without looking at Dravids figures.

I again agree with you dear Steeroidji.

I guess some questions are due on Harbajan's inability to operate as an effective strike bowler. He should be reminded that he is the lead spinner, not a side act.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

He should be reminded that he is the lead spinner, not a side act.

I know nothing about cricket so as a complete outsider I'd like to ask

Q: lies is does he have the abilities to be a strike bowler?

He does not turn the ball a lot. Sometimes he get his line and length right at other times he does not and when a spinner does not get line and length right it is only providence that can save him from getting battered. Kumble (on his day) got inside a batsman's head I dont know if Bhajji has the same ability.

[ECM]

Navin
Very nice query from an outsider as per your quote,will try to reply whatever ability I may have.
In good old days we used to have EAS Prasanna and Venkat,a genuine offspinner takes max wickets getting batsman out caught in short leg area IF he has a capacity to spin the ball after pitching,in Bhajji's case he more uses his main weapon called doosra,orthodox right hand offspinner uses his wrist where Bhajji use his fingures.

I know nothing about cricket so as a complete outsider I'd like to ask
Q: lies is does he have the abilities to be a strike bowler?

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by ECM

why Ganguly was forced to retire?His form was better than this chap still he got lot of blows on his mouth!

Ganguly got the blows on his mouth because of his form? This is Indian cricket think again. It is headed by a politician - rings a bell? Come out of your cloud.

I salute Kumble for his spirit,when he realised that its high time to go,

Again, you really think so? What if he could have got more wickets in that test and not got injured. Around that time the Selection chairman was also about to be replaced or was replaced.

Comeout of your fake love and check ground reality boss.

I like Sachin's career more. I dont share the "love" you share for the younger players(pun intented). I call it respect.

If your sentiments of past form apply with other players then why Pathan is not playing?He too had a dream run in his past carrier,one day you have to select your winners and fact is Dravid is no more a winner Now for team India.

You are comparing Pathan to Dravid? Somehow i didnt get it? Pathan played for 10 years with a average of 50+? Duh, am i missing something?

Compare Pathan to Agarkar, then we will talk...LOL.

one day you have to select your winners and fact is Dravid is no more a winner Now for team India.

You are saying an individual has to do everything for a team to win? Individual winners are required for a team to win? I thought cricket was a team game? Are you expecting every bowler to get 5 wickets and every batsmen a 100 everytime they go out there? or else lose their position?

2 centuries in 43 innings(depending upon what you said i didnt check), still an average of 50+ for Dravid? I find it to be something very extra ordinary, i dont know what you are saying?

Figures dont count,if one fails constantly he should either go and play domestic cricket if he is young or say goodbye

You quoted Dravid's last 43 innings and 2 centuries and then you say figures dont count? Is everything alright here?

Define consistent failure in terms of paramaters for batsman. Lets say x average in y innings makes a player a failure and needs to be dropped. Can you come up with something to define it on those terms.

Arbitarily looking at a player play on the field and calling him a failure, without taking everything in account just does not make any sense to me.

You have similiar thoughts about Tendulkar too? Or is there a caveat here.

[diabloo]

Who ever forced Ganguly to retire must be lauded for his delivery of justice.

Though Ganguly won few tests outside India, he took India to abyssal low by appointing Greg Chapel as coach by his wrong use of power & influence. Due to this poor fore sight of Ganguly, India crashed out of World Cup in 1st round and a player like Sehwag was forced out of the team.

Sehwag came back and scored a triple hundred, which brings out the pathetic misjudgement of Ganguly.

Originally Posted by ECM

why Ganguly was forced to retire?

[Eddy]

C'mon Diabloo.

Everyone needs to be dropped when he is not performing, including Sehwag. He got the shock and came back well. It was Ganguly who asked him to open remember ?

[pmbabu]

Wow, can someone who is watching the match live explain what Dravid is doing ? He seems to be stuck at 0 for 18 deliveries now :(

PS: Hmm, he is out for a duck now.

Cricinfo:
11.6 Broad to Dravid, OUT, gone! Broad strikes, this one bursts through Dravid's defences as it nips back off the seam and takes out middle stump. A long duck for Dravid, who was stuck in the crease and didn't get forward...follows a century with a nought. It's a funny old game
R Dravid b Broad 0 (19b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Oh wait, the writer must be an armchair critic!

[diabloo]

Looks like squash ball in the glove is not working for 'The Test Specialist':

Broad strikes, this one bursts through Dravid's defences as it nips back off the seam and takes out middle stump. A long duck for Dravid, who was stuck in the crease and didn't get forward...follows a century with a nought. It's a funny old game

R Dravid b Broad 0 (19b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

[Spitfire]

And let the vultures be let loose, another man has fallen.