It Stumps me that.....

How can someone be as badly named as Misbah. First a 'guy' can’t be a Miss and then, when he never misses a single thing except when makeshift bowlers are in view, it sounds so strange. May be the media can slightly change it after his laudable performance, and name him MrWah!

How can bad light deny India in a match where they could have easily declared at Lunch even if they had gone on at the rate of five per over and made around 340. They just needed 120 in 25 overs. And how could Pakistan have achieved 170 per session in the final two sessions on a pitch where cracks were connected by the soil!

How could Younis get dismissed when he DID NOT (RPT DID NOT!) not play a reverse sweep! Probably he would have survived had he tried reverse sweep on that Kumble’s ball. That fatal drive into the bowler's hand was a foolish shot!

A sense of history should have served us better. At Mumbai in 2004, somewhat similar pitch, left arm slow bowlers were very effective. Remember Michael Clarke taking six wickets and Murali Kartik following it up with three. Someone like Yuvraj, a leftarmer, was underutilised as bowler.

(Take it too seriously only at your own risk! Serious stories will come as you scroll down)

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.

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.