Fading light denies India? Give a break!

The headlines in ‘’the day after media’’ should have been that it is high time to be bold if we want to be what Australia are. Gavaskar and Imran Khan hold the same opinion.

It is said that if you want to achieve something really badly, nature conspires to give you that. After showing so much resolve, Pakistan desperately needed a draw in the match where they had fought with their backs to the wall, and India wanted to ensure that the hosts did not give Pakistan any chance to level the series. Both got their wish in the end! In the same way as India had got good weather in the 1st test against England with last wicket pair on strike.

Fading light denies India, or some thing similar. This is how the headlines appeared in most newspapers on Thursday morning after India narrowly missed winning the Bangalore Test.

However, it needed former skipper Sunil Gavaskar to point out in a column that it was the late declaration which was responsible for India’s failure to make it count at Bangalore. He says ‘’on such pitches, there was no way Pakistan would have got even 250 but batting for so long India did not give themselves enough overs to bowl Pakistan out’’. (Related Link http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2007/12/india-end-contest-with-48-overs-to-go.html)

Of course, the fourth series win against Pakistan in history -- the same number as Pakistan has achieved against India -- should please us but Gavaskar begs to differ a little and believes that it is the main difference between India and Australia.

Australia would have never been satisfied with such result on this pitch while in India there is a tendency to ‘’sit on laurels and not look for more glory.’’

Former Pak Coach Javed Miandad says ''No doubt it was a comprehensive win for India, but one should not expect a miracle in Australia going by this performance''.

Imran was on telly yesterday night, expressing same opinion. (Related Link http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2007/12/imran-criticises-late-declaration.html)

Imran criticises late declaration

It is a mystery to me how subcontinent captains wish to win without risking a little losing it, says Imran Khan about Kumble's late declaration in Bangalore Test. He was talking to NDTV.

Since subcontinent mentality does not allow risking a loss, teams lose many opportunities of winning it, said the former Pakistan Captain.

Imran was emphatic that with ball going up and down so much, India could have declared much earlier. He also said if Pakistan were not going back with a 0-3 series loss, it was only due to an exceptional batting display by Misbah.

However Kumble, in his post match interview, defended the declaration time and said that 45 (actually they were 48) overs were enough and had the light held, India would have won the match.

Will India manage the impossible?

With 13 overs to go, if India manage Pakistan's next three wickets, they will achieve the impossible. Claiming last ten wickets in the final session to win a match! It has never happened before.

But if they do not, they will certainly rue the late declaration.

Just before interval, every one was predicting a dull draw -- all the experts in the studio and on various channels. But Kumble's genius, Yuvraj's accuracy, and the pitch has changed all that. It made it a most breathtaking battle.

Even now Arun Lal is saying that ''time may be running out for India, but game has changed totally.''

Here is a link before the fourth day play started, where it was pointed out that Yuvraj needed more bowling in Pakistan's first innings after his tremendous over to Misbah on the third day evening.
http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2007/12/battle-of-bangalore-equal-opportunity.html

And then another which talks about India's failure to give enough time to Pakistan to make it count.

http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2007/12/india-end-contest-with-48-overs-to-go.html

For Pak, one can only say they deserve a draw after showing such bravery.

Lawson has thrown a challenge which India might not accept

The final day of the Bangalore test tomorrow holds intriguing possibilities. Pakistan’s coach Geoff Lawson has thrown the challenge that they will go for a win if the score is competitive.

In other words, he has dangled a temptation for India to make it 2-0 by putting Pakistan in a position where their batsmen will go in for their shots.

However, given the fact that it is not everyday that you win a series against Pakistan, it is highly unlikely that Kumble will give them a target of around 4.5 runs per over, which is the only realistic target on this kind of pitch.

India's lead right now is 220 and if the target is to be 315-320 in about 70 overs, the Indian batsmen will have to go at five runs per over in the morning session. That way India will reach the target figure in 18-19 overs, leaving Pakistan with around 70.

But the problem with that kind of target is that it does give Pakistan a realistic chance and it is India who are leading the series right now. Lawson would not have thrown this challenge at India if Pak were leading!

India will be more comfortable with a target score of around 340-345, the same at Kolkatta, and Pakistan having about 60 to 65 overs to chase that (they had nearly 80 at Kolkatta). At least five runs per over will be what they will demand of Pakistan to make.

Needless to say, that will not be the kind of target Pakistan would like to chase. They will end that pursuit after the loss of just one or two wickets.

Anything above five is virtually impossible on this track, especially on the final day, and Pakistan can not realistically expect to chase a total which might need them to go at 5.5 to 6 runs per over. If they try, they will be in real danger of losing an uneven contest.

So Mr Lawson, you can take back your challenge. India would not like to share honours in a series which they have already won.

Miandad knows what batting is all about, defends Younis' Reverse Sweep

One of the top batsmen of the world in the seventies, eighties, and even nineties, Javed Miandad has defended the reverse sweep of Younis Khan at Bangalore which had resulted in his dismissal.

''When a player gets out playing a reverse sweep, it looks ugly and becomes a controversy. But one should not forget that when one succeeds, as Younis did in Kolkatta and on Monday, it draws applause from spectators,'' he wrote in one of India's premier papers, The Hindustan Times today (A PMG Column).

Miandad felt it would be folly to blame Younis and Yousuf for going for runs considering the wicket.

If one recalls, Miandad did not seem to be having the most conventional of techniques, but lasted a good two decades thanks to his ability to find gaps and some innovative stroke-making. Naturally, he believes that some risks are essential to succeed for any batsman as ultimately it is the runs on the board that matter.

Below is a link to the story written on the same issue yesterday. http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2007/12/younis-khan-lives-in-present.html

Battle of Bangalore. Equal opportunity for both India and Pak

What all can India do on the Fourth day to weed out Pakistan resistance

Just bowl straight and hope for pitch to do something, or pray that the Pakistani players run out of patience. Some times the ball is keeping so low that if it is straight, a wicket is certain.

More overs needed for Yuvraj. His last over today was a revelation. Two of the six deliveries almost got Misbah just because they failed to bounce. May be there is something he can do on this pitch which others can’t.

Realise that they are already 1-0 up in the series and in virtually no chance of losing this test. Crowd the opposition with as many fielders as Possible. Pakistan will be happy to escape with a draw.

Enforce the follow on if the opportunity arises. Pakistan will dread the possibility of batting again without a break on this track.

And what can Pak do to ensure that India remain on the backfoot

Low backlift as Misbah has shown throughout his essay. That will be important to counter the balls which can rattle the stumps by their lack of bounce.

Never lose a run-making opportunity to inch closer to the follow on mark, and then deficit reduction endeavour. There will be ample gaps in the field with the Indians going all out for a kill.

Be more careful against makeshift bowlers. Laxman’s wicket of Sami had almost endangered Pakistan in Kolkatta. Yuvraj is capable of doing the same here.

Pakistan are almost exactly in the same position going into the last two days as at Kolkatta. Indian bowling does not hold much threat. But pitch does.

Kyun Itna tum Muskara rahe ho (Why are you smiling so much!)

Just before tea on the second day at Bangalore, cameras focused on an unsuspecting Shoaib Akhtar, smiling away to glory. Probably it was his frustration masquerading as smile, and was telecast to the millions of TV viewers the world over.

The Commentator on Neo Hindi fittingly said, 'hans rahein hain par hansne jaisi koi baat nahin hai' (He is laughing but there is nothing to laugh about).

Another symbolic moment was when Sourav Ganguly was dismissed, losing the ball completely as it flattened his stumps. Usually we see a keeper jumping in elation whatever be the score or the situation. However, here Akmal just raised his hand, surprised that Ganguly was finally out! It was too good (or too late!) to be true.

Poor Pakistanis. Second time in succession they are faced with a score of over 600. Winning is out of question so they can only give a helpless smile. After losing their way so badly, the only challenge left for them is to give their best and see if they can prevent a 2-0 mauling.

Another problem they have is that they do not have too many left-handers. And only left-handers seem to be doing well in this match!

These Pakistanis do have the grit but miracles usually do not happen twice.

Will he, or Won't he...But Younis certainly deserves better treatment from PCB

Younis never wanted to be a lame duck captain. So refused captaincy before. At Kolkatta, circumstances forced him to become one even as a partially fit Shoaib Akhtar was thrust on him.

Now, after a superb rearguard action at Kolkatta by Pak, with a brilliant century by the stand in skipper being the Jewel in the Crown, if Younis Khan wants to have his own team in this 'gallow or glory battle', then what is wrong in it.

None of the PCB office bearers is ever going to resign if Pakistan fail to win Bangalore test. Even their selectors, at best, will opt for some new faces. So what’s wrong if Younis wants to fight a battle with his own hand-picked men.

If will be a pity if he is dropped as captain in favour of someone like Misbah, who is yet to prove his credentials in all conditions notwithstanding whatever Rameez Raja says about him.

Pak media manager may claim that there is no truth in the reports that Younis does not want to lead but the signs of turmoil were already there when Younis had written about the controversial inclusion of Akhtar in Kolkatta test, even as Pakistan were battling to save the test.

Now he, or his well wishers, have used some friendly journalist to convey the message that all is not well.

Well done, Younis!