Test Match Cricket at its best on Day 3

Top order collapse and three late wickets in the Australian’s second innings has left the test match in fine balance at the end of day 3 in the first test match in Melbourne.

Early in the morning, India quite astonishingly lost their last 7 wickets for just 68 runs to hand over a crucial first innings lead of 51 runs to the hosts. It was a combination of poor shot selection as well as some hostile fast bowling by the Aussies on a wicket which is still assisting fast bowlers.

India started off in the worst possible way by losing Rahul Dravid in the very first over to a peach of a delivery from recalled and refreshed Ben Hilfenhaus. Laxman and Kohli were both victims of poking outside the off stump which is normally suicidal in bowler friendly conditions. The skipper wanted to get runs to prove some critics wrong but unfortunately played a loose shot outside off to be easily caught in the gully. From then on, every run added was going to be a mere bonus as R Ashwin scored a crucial 31 and was the last man out edging a away going delivery off Peter Siddle.

The hosts surrendered the advantage to India early in the second innings by losing 4 top order wickets for a partly score of 27 and one would have remembered the Newlands horror. But the Australians fought back through two of their most experienced batsmen, Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting. Interestingly both these players were under the scanner by both media and the selectors before this series began. They added 115 crucial runs for the fifth wicket and whats more it was a counter attack that stunned the Indians.

The pendulum swing kept changing throughout the game and it was no different as Indian bowlers struck back with 3 quick wickets to reduce Australia to 179 for the loss of 8 wickets. The more significant number is 230 which is the lead for the hosts at the moment.

All in all Test Match was at its best on day 3 and I certainly dont expect anything different on day 4.

One Liners on my COG mates

Here we go!!!

I have decided to write one liners on my mates here in COG.

Ezhil: Geek turns into a school boy

Kamal: Spearhead in everything

Prateesh: Super fast express of our team, I think

Muthu: Man without any temptation on food

Arun: Ask him a question on anything and be sure to get an answer (Mr. Versatile)

Devaki: Expect the unexpected reply

Yuvaraj: Never shortage of words

Veera: Chat windows are never dull

Sridevi: Techie turns into a writer

Saranya: Mobile is always busy

Preetha: Never allowed to eat her own lunch by one of them mentioned in the list (Expert cooking skills)

Trinadh: Thinks 9 P.M is evening (Man who never sleeps)

Guys it’s up to u now!!! U need to give something for me…

Poms thrash Oz

Life has come a full circle for Ricky Ponting when his side was thrashed by the Englishmen who suffered similar kinds of defeat over the last 2 decades. Australia have an incredible record at the Adelaide Oval but still went down to the strongest England side to have travelled to play the Ashes.

Bizarre Morning
Except the toss on the first morning, nothing went right for the Aussies in the second test. They elected to bat first on a usual batting friendly conditions at the Oval and all of a sudden they lost 3 wickets (captain included) off the first 13 balls. One of the most bizarre morning was a mixture of good bowling by Poms especially Jimmy Anderson and poor running between the wickets by Watson and Katich that ended the left handers without facing a single ball.

Mr. Cricket tries to Rebuild
Michael Hussey continued his fine form from the first test by scoring a fighting half century looking to rebuild the innings after his top order mates were back in the hut in a blink of an eye. He found an able partner in Watson who was all the while looking wickets tumble at the other end. They both put on useful partnership but in the end was bowled out for a partly 245. England captain could not have asked for more from his bowlers on a batting paradise at the Adelaide Oval.

English batsmen Pile On
The England batsmen made sure they did not make similar mistakes done by Aussies and just piled on the runs as well as agony. Cook just carried on from the first test in scoring consecutive hundreds and most of the English fans would be happy that the showman Kevin Pietersen came back to form with a stunning double hundred. They went on to score more than 600 runs and therby Aussies had no option but to save the game.

Poms take lead
As expected Aussies were bowled out on the fifth morning by a spirited bunch of English bowlers to go one up in the series and well on course to win their first series on this soil in over 20 years.

Test Match into Cricketing Folklore

The first test between India and Australia at Mohali turned out to be a real classic and one which will not be forgotten for some years to come. India have always been a tough side to beat at home and once again proved that they are capable of winning from any situation. Australia played their part too, their never say die attitude was once again on display ensuring this test match entered cricketing folklore.

The test match saw plenty of fluctuations right from the start till the winning run was scored by India. There were quite a few star performers from either side, but special mention has to be made for V.V.S Laxman as he had to bat with a severe back spasm which saw him bat only at No 10 in the first innings. He has always relished playing against the Aussies over the years and once again proved to be a nemesis. The best part about his batting on that final day was the way he batted positively on that wearing wicket. Other special mention will have to go to Zaheer Khan for the way he took wickets and actually set up India’s win. He was coming back from injury but never showed up in his bowling and picked up 8 wickets in the test match. In the process, went on to complete 250 wickets in test matches and emerged as one of the greatest fast bowlers India has produced since Kapil Dev.

Aussies too had quite a few star performers especially Shane Watson who has made this openers slot his own over the past 12 months or so. He finished up with a century and an half century in the match that almost saw the Aussies home. Fast bowlers Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson too had their share of success as both finished with a five for in 1st innings and 2nd innings respectively. But unfortunately those efforts went in vain, but nevertheless full marks for the effort.

India lived up to their billing as No 1 in test cricket and Aussies who were holding that crown not too long ago showed just why they have dominated world cricket for so many years. It will take a special effort for any country to dominate the way Aussies have done. India is one of those countries going in that direction but it needs to perform with the same intensity day in and day out to dominate world cricket.

Thanks to both countries to have played one of the greatest test matches of all time!!!

Bat Rules!!!

IPL 3 is back in India and as everyone anticipated bat has ruled over the ball so far and one can expect the same through out this edition. Even experienced international bowlers are being thrashed to all corners of the ground not only by international batsmen but also first class cricketers from India.

So what are the reasons?

The first and foremost is the pitches being played on, flat and hardly anything for the bowlers to exploit. Add to this the outfield is lightning fast and size of the ground is not a huge one too. The same set of players barring few struggled in last years edition because of the fact it was played in South Africa where the bowlers will also have equal chance. Another reason must be the spectator interest who come along to see fours and sixes and not dot balls. Some curators have openly agreed that the boards are advising them to prepare flat tracks just for the sake of people in the ground and also for the ones watching it on telly.

Are we going in the right direction? If this is the case, 10 yrs down the line all the upcoming cricketers would not want to pick up the ball and bowl, instead they would want to hit only fours and sixers and become super stars.

I am of the strong opinion that the bowlers have become a mere bowling machine where the batsman just sets it up to his choice. This is certainly not good for the game.

But the sheer cricket lovers and IPL administrators wont be complaining!!!

IPL- Back in India

The much awaited summer carnival of cricket, The Indian Premier League is about to begin in a weeks time and wats more its come back to India. The excitement is just the same among people as it was when it was launched 2 years back. The third edition is about to kick off in Mumbai finally after it was scheduled to open up in Hyderabad, champions of last edition. The first two editions had all the excitement although last edition was moved out of India and the third edition promises to be the same.

During the auction, there were only few players who were hot cakes. Keiron Pollard of West Indies bought by Mumbai Indians, Shane Bond of New Zealand bought by Kolkata Knight Riders, Wayne Parnell of S.A bought by Delhi Daredevils, Eoin Morgan of England bought by Banagalore Royal Challengers and Kemar Roach of West Indies bought by Deccan Chargers were the hottest picks. It can be said in the same vein that some players with high price tag didnt perform as was expected. Kevin Peiterson bought Royal Challengers for a record price last season was a major flop.

The major talking point at this years auction was the exclusion of Pakistan players. No franchisees were ready to buy them although they were in the list of players to be bought after they missed last years edition citing security reasons. And also it must be noted that Australian and New Zealand players will not be available for the first few games as they are engaged in playing test and ODI series between them. It will be interesting to see teams engage in strategies as only 4 foreign players are allowed in the playing 11.

As cricket lovers, we can all get geared up for one more season of top class cricket action from best international players. It is very tough to name a team as favourites to win the tournament as it has happened in both the previous editions.

But I am gonna stiff my neck out and tell that this year will be SRK's team lead by our very own DADA who are gonna lift that trophy on April 25.

Let us wait and watch the roller coaster ride!!!

Two Decades in International Cricket- Guess Who?

From the title you would have guessed right now the personality i am talking about. Yes, its none other than our very own Indian diamond Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. 20 years of international cricket means he would have played with 3 generation of cricketers starting from the Srikkanths, then to Azharuddins to current group of players. The best part along with the longetivity is his eagerness to learn about the game even now.

He started his international cricket when almost everyone would be watching with excitement on tv. Yes he started at the age of 16 in 1989 against a Pakistan attack comprising Wasim Akram and Imran Khan to name a couple. Immediately one got the impression that a legend is born. Along with the talent he had the courage and temperment to survive at the international level. Can you forget the hit he got on his nose and started to bleed but still could continue on with that innings for India. From then on in he started to amass hundreds at will.

Then came the time when he started to open in one day version of the game. If you remember right, he was asked to open in a one day game in New Zealand when one of the regular openers was not fit to play that game. We all know the way he dismissed the kiwi bowlers to all parks of the ground and as they say rest is history. He went on to become if not the most but one of the best player to have ever played the one day game.

Right now he has completed 87 centuries in international cricket, tests and one dayers included and holds most batting records quite understandably. Every cricket fan, myself included have watched so many batting master class in this 20 years and lets hope there are plenty more from this little champion.

Kudos to our little champion!!!You are the best!!!