Another disappointment

[googly]

While writing this down, I am full of so much frustration and disappointment. Is this the sport I love most? Is this the fiasco for which I have compromised my sleep and work? Another run fest, though not as bad as Lahore, has ensured that bowlers recieved another mauling of their life time and despite good weather conditions, there just wasn't enough in the wicket for a result.

Pakistan did a very good job putting up 588 in the first innings. Younis Khan and Mohd. Yousuf once again tormented the Indian bowlers, but from 216-4 it was the partnership between Afridi and Inzamam which ensured Pakistan wont lose the test. Afridi was at his brutal best while Inzamam was in absolutely sublime touch. The Indian bowlers, to their credit, tried their best but on a pitch resembling the German highways more than a cricketing surface there was nothing they could do prevent the onslaught. RP Singh made a very impressive debut and looked like someone to watch out for in the future. Kumble did as well as any spinner could on the deathbed of bowling, but a huge target loomed in front of India. Pathan was the most disappointing, bowling at a pedestrian pace with no swing.

Indian batsmen once again showed they were not going to be fazed by the pressure of a huge total and once that mental aspect was taken care of it was easy pickings on a benign wicket. Dravid and Laxman played some sublime strokes after a rare Sehwag failure but riding on a fiery Akhtar spell, the only time in the series when he has looked any different from the other bowlers, India were struggling at 286-5 with careless running by Dravid and an unlucky dismissal of Tendulkar taking its toll. Follow on was very much a reality and defeat a possibility. What followed was an amazing partnership between an aggresive trader and a shrewd investor. While Dhoni took his risks in an impressive counter attack, Pathan played everything on merit using a very mature thinking cap. The partnership vindiated their claims as allrounders of the future and justified going in with 5 bowlers. That the duo got under the skin of Pakistan was apparent by the frustration on show by Afridi and Akhtar, but in the end its the scoreboard which counts and India no doubt took the edge getting a 15 run lead.

There was all kindsof speculation about a possible Pakistani collapse or declaration to infuse some life in the contest. Younis Khan made sure neither came. Playing another sublime innings, he further established his stranglehold on the Indian bowlers, but his lack of aggressive intent showed that Pakistan were resigned to going to Karachi for the decider. The final burst of wickets by Zaheer Khan came completely against the run of play and along with Akhtar's spell on the third day was the only passage of play of ball dominating the bat as the test meandered to another cure for the insomniacs.

1. The umpiring was decidedly poor and too much in favour of batsmen given the nature of the wicket. Inzamam was plumb in the first innings and so was Younis Khan twice in the second. Dhoni got a reprieve in the midst of his assault. This was a pitch on which the benefit of doubt should have been given to the bowlers and we might have seen a result.

2. Harbhajan's horror run continued, though there is no need to read too much into performances on this wicket.

3. Zaheer, RP Singh, and Akhtar all bowled very well on the wicket in that order. RP Singh got some disconcerting bounce on occasions on this dead pitch, which was encouraging while Zaheer's round the wicket line was also very effective. Akhtar bowled well in patches though overdid the short pitch stuff.

4. Looking forward to Karachi, whoever is in charge of pitch preparation will be under immense pressure to deliver something better. From an Indian perspective, Harbhajan will need to readjust his tactics and the think tank will need to figure out a way to get Younis Khan out early. From the Pakistani perspective, a better support act for Akhtar is imperative. Rana and Sami looked pedestrian in the first test while Razzaq was completely toothless in this test. Asif was impressive in patches, but like RP Singh his lack of experience showed at times. Afridi looked decidedly club class while Kaneria was steady without being threatening.

5. If the coin turns over India's way and the pitch is anything like the ones at Lahore and Faisalabad it will be interesting to see how Pakistan cope with the pressure of a huge score.

Condolences to Malik and his family and hoping to see a better contest at Karachi.....

[Oxy]

Nice read Googles...

[zaf1986]

2. Harbhajan's horror run continued, though there is no need to read too much into performances on this wicket.

googly, was wondering, what do you think the reasons are for Bhajji's horrible record against Pakistan?

[jalex382]

Very good read, Finally something unbiased comes from your mouth. just kidding google.

[googly]

Originally Posted by zaf1986 googly, was wondering, what do you think the reasons are for Bhajji's horrible record against Pakistan?

As Boycott was discussing last night, I think he is bowling a wrong line to batsmen who are good players of spin on benign wickets. I wouldn't read too much into his horrible record against Pakistan, though. One cant pass a judgement on bowling or batting prowesses by looking at performances on these wickets and in the last series he was probably undone by the chucking controversy, though he bowled a very good spell in the first innings at Bangalore.