A few updates
S. Rajesh gives the verdict on the India SA match at Hyderabad. Though he does mention how CHappel's flexibility theories worked here as well with Pathan giving Yuvraj good company, I think Dravid could have done better with the captaincy. Our seamers did not start well and he could have brought in changes to arrest the trend. Maybe, I am being overly critical but the part time bowlers werent effective either (88 in 16 overs) and a lot of it had to do with the spread field that Dravid seemed to prefer.
Here are Dravid and Yuvraj quotes. Yuvraj says that he concentrates more when under pressure. This was a wonderful fightback and Yuvraj can claim co-ownership to more than just this one come-from-behind performance. Hopefully, there are many more to come, as Premachandran hopes for here.
Smith makes the usual sound bytes in his post match interview.
BTW, Harbhajan was summoned to the match referee's office. Was Nel summoned for his friendly banter with Yuvraj? I guess not.
And then comes the real come-from-behind story of the day. England were considered favourites against a Pakistan team that seemed classy one day and lacklustre the next throughout this test. Unfortunately for England, they decided to play their best on the last day. Pakistan repeated their Bangalore spirit in Multan and Inzamam must be a happy man. The last time he played at Multan against a good test team, India humiliated the hosts.
Michael Vaughan is trying hard to be fit for the second test. Have England missed him? I am not so sure. Anyhow, he is a good batsman and England will look upto the skipper who won them the Ashes.
I was looking forward to the Australian reaction to this English loss but nothingmuch has come up so far. I am still waiting for a few clever write-ups.
Elsewhere, Peter English previews the second Australia Vs West Indies test. Brad Hodge must be looking forward to this, after his run-a-ball 177 against the opposition in the tour match. WI have one more batsman to be wary of. Although this WI bowling line-up seemed decent on paper, they let the Aussies get away in the first test. And their batting never rose above the mediocre. I am still waiting for the Lara special, which should be enough motivation to watch the test. Warnie seems to have a back injury which makes him a doubtful starter. McGrath had his painful kneee scanned. Stuart Clark has been called in as reinforcement but Nathan Bracken and MacGill are expected to fill in if these two champions do not take part.
Here are Dravid and Yuvraj quotes. Yuvraj says that he concentrates more when under pressure. This was a wonderful fightback and Yuvraj can claim co-ownership to more than just this one come-from-behind performance. Hopefully, there are many more to come, as Premachandran hopes for here.
Smith makes the usual sound bytes in his post match interview.
BTW, Harbhajan was summoned to the match referee's office. Was Nel summoned for his friendly banter with Yuvraj? I guess not.
And then comes the real come-from-behind story of the day. England were considered favourites against a Pakistan team that seemed classy one day and lacklustre the next throughout this test. Unfortunately for England, they decided to play their best on the last day. Pakistan repeated their Bangalore spirit in Multan and Inzamam must be a happy man. The last time he played at Multan against a good test team, India humiliated the hosts.
Michael Vaughan is trying hard to be fit for the second test. Have England missed him? I am not so sure. Anyhow, he is a good batsman and England will look upto the skipper who won them the Ashes.
I was looking forward to the Australian reaction to this English loss but nothingmuch has come up so far. I am still waiting for a few clever write-ups.
Elsewhere, Peter English previews the second Australia Vs West Indies test. Brad Hodge must be looking forward to this, after his run-a-ball 177 against the opposition in the tour match. WI have one more batsman to be wary of. Although this WI bowling line-up seemed decent on paper, they let the Aussies get away in the first test. And their batting never rose above the mediocre. I am still waiting for the Lara special, which should be enough motivation to watch the test. Warnie seems to have a back injury which makes him a doubtful starter. McGrath had his painful kneee scanned. Stuart Clark has been called in as reinforcement but Nathan Bracken and MacGill are expected to fill in if these two champions do not take part.
posted by Toney at
9:46 AM
10 Comments:
toney: one out of Bracken and McGill is anyway a certainty...if Warne doesnt come through then it will surely be McGill in place of him and Bracken retains his spot. if McG also pulls out(btw, did you read anything around this somewhere?) then Clarke may also get a look in
By
worma, at 10:23
I read about Mcg's suspect knee in the Warne article itself. Wonder what Mcg and Warne's absence (if they are) will do to the test
By
Toney, at 10:51
Achu,
Any idea why Bajji was hauled up? I dont remember seeing anything on note.
By
Toney, at 11:03
toney: interesting situation if both pull out. So, when was the last time both missed a match....and did Aus win it?...anyone remembers? Was it the Indian series down under?
By
worma, at 11:16
worma, indeed interesting. That should also give an idea about how much the Aussies will have to play better, with these guys absent.
By
Toney, at 11:20
toney..yeah..sort of looking at 'Aus team of future'...their batting lineup is already revamped
By
worma, at 11:29
worma - you're right the last time both Warne and McGrath were out of tests were the 4 vs India in late 2003. I think if both these guys sit out the more intriguing part of the Aus "team of the future" i.e., the bowling will be challenged. Not to take away from India's performance in 2003/04 but having these two guys out made it easier.
By
Gopal Bhagavatula, at 11:48
gopal: ofcourse it made our life easier ;-)...infact Eng thrived even with just one of them missing. And I guess they would have given anything to sit Warne out :-))
By
worma, at 11:53
achu,
Oh yeah, and I have also heard tha tit is our inferiority complex which leads us to these thoughts. Bunch of crap.
That Slater incident was one of the most unfair ones I have ever seen. Cammie Smith, was he the villain? ANd then there was Donald abusing Dravid, Nel abusing Ganguly in SA. I guess that must be the apartheid hangover.
By
Toney, at 11:53
For all this talk about Aus looking at the future I see no reason why Bracken shouldn't be in the team along with McGill. Unless warne is injured...I think McGrath should be rested if its going to be a spin-friendly pitch at Hobart. Lara might fire but when he is on song even McGrath has admitted its difficult to stop him. The positive thing would be to see if Lee & Bracken can back up their performance in the 1st Test without the help of McGrath again. And with McGill's wicket-taking ability (granted he's more expensive than warne) I reckon Aus can still get WI out twice without much sweat. The only hope for WI is Lara and hopefully a discipling bowling performance.
About Eng-Pak...positive bowling with intent was what saw Pak through. Eng batsmen lacked application and Collingwood looks out of place against spin. They would be hoping for their captain to be fit because Vaughan gives a sense of balance & calm to this inexperienced middle-order. I still think Eng can win the series as Pak are very much capable of self-destructing anytime. Gotta say Salman Butt is one for the future...I hope Pak sticks with him even if he goes through a lean patch because he has the talent and the temperament to bat at the top and be an important batsmen for them.
By
ClannZú, at 15:13
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