People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.
Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.
Even the smallest candle burns brighter in the dark.
Knowledge speaks, wisdom listen.
You are never fully dressed until you wear a smile.
The weak can’t forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Anger is momentary madness, so control passion or it will control you.
To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.
Be your own judge and you will be in peace.
Today’s beautiful moments are tomorrow’s beautiful memories.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
India consistently inconsistent
After producing 627 runs in Chennai in an innings a week ago, all eyes were on the second Test in Ahmedabad. The hosts entered into the match with high in confidence. Skipper Anil Kumble chose to bat first after winning the toss. But to utter disappointment, India were dismissed for a paltry 76 in 20 overs, couldn’t stand even for one session! There was a little bit of grass on top of the wicket. But so what? We have just defeated the world champions in their own den. And nowhere than Perth, one of the fastest wickets in the world.
After the day's play Harbhajan came in to the media conference to take the flaks. "Everything went wrong for us. It was not the bit of grass to blame but the absence of red clay. Our strength lies in spin. We have a bunch of upcoming seamers who are world class. Nevertheless we win Test matches due to spinners. That is our traditional strength."
But who is to blame? Everybody cried foul after the Chennai track produced 1498 runs for 25 wickets. Might be, even the curator himself was not sure if weather would permit the game for five days. And the very next game saw a track without any red clay in Motera. Is it the curator at fault or the team management? It was a conscious decision by the think tank to bat first if India wins the toss. So, did overconfidence cost the team or lack of application by the Indian batsmen?
Everything went wrong for us is what Harbhajan had to say. It was just a matter of playing a session for a couple of hours. But the same team could not stand for two overs to lose a Test match, not much ago. A part-time bowler Clarke claimed three wickets in five deliveries to seal the win for Aussies in Sydney. Of course, it is cricket. We have to move on. We cannot hold back ourselves for what went wrong in a match.
There is still an opportunity for the hosts, if they can repeat the Kolkata comeback in 2001. India must get some early wickets on day two and play for the next two days in the second innings to turn the match. That is the only way out for the hosts to take the match into their stride. South Africa have 147-run lead and six wickets at hand. Both Jacques Kallis, unbeaten on 60 and AB de Villiers 59, look dangerous in the middle. Mark Boucher is yet to come in apart from the tail enders who should never be under estimated.
Can the experienced spin duo of kumble and Harbhajan do the trick for the hosts? Irfan Pathan, selected ahead of Md Kaif and Yuvraj Singh, has to play a definite role too. He must justify Kumble's decision to replace Tendulkar with himself than Kaif who was an ideal choice. The team has to pull up their socks or else, India deserve to be called 'consistently inconsistent' as seen in the last decade.
-- Soumitra Mishra
Scorecard
After the day's play Harbhajan came in to the media conference to take the flaks. "Everything went wrong for us. It was not the bit of grass to blame but the absence of red clay. Our strength lies in spin. We have a bunch of upcoming seamers who are world class. Nevertheless we win Test matches due to spinners. That is our traditional strength."
But who is to blame? Everybody cried foul after the Chennai track produced 1498 runs for 25 wickets. Might be, even the curator himself was not sure if weather would permit the game for five days. And the very next game saw a track without any red clay in Motera. Is it the curator at fault or the team management? It was a conscious decision by the think tank to bat first if India wins the toss. So, did overconfidence cost the team or lack of application by the Indian batsmen?
Everything went wrong for us is what Harbhajan had to say. It was just a matter of playing a session for a couple of hours. But the same team could not stand for two overs to lose a Test match, not much ago. A part-time bowler Clarke claimed three wickets in five deliveries to seal the win for Aussies in Sydney. Of course, it is cricket. We have to move on. We cannot hold back ourselves for what went wrong in a match.
There is still an opportunity for the hosts, if they can repeat the Kolkata comeback in 2001. India must get some early wickets on day two and play for the next two days in the second innings to turn the match. That is the only way out for the hosts to take the match into their stride. South Africa have 147-run lead and six wickets at hand. Both Jacques Kallis, unbeaten on 60 and AB de Villiers 59, look dangerous in the middle. Mark Boucher is yet to come in apart from the tail enders who should never be under estimated.
Can the experienced spin duo of kumble and Harbhajan do the trick for the hosts? Irfan Pathan, selected ahead of Md Kaif and Yuvraj Singh, has to play a definite role too. He must justify Kumble's decision to replace Tendulkar with himself than Kaif who was an ideal choice. The team has to pull up their socks or else, India deserve to be called 'consistently inconsistent' as seen in the last decade.
-- Soumitra Mishra
Scorecard
Time for cricket fans to rejoice
Cricket lovers rejoice. Good time ahead for you. After a tense Australian summer that was in news more for controversies than cricketing reasons, the indian team is finally off to a season full of matches in next six months. The South Africa team is in india to play three Test matches. Then starts the one-and-half-month first edition of the Indian Premier League. The cash-rich tournament, to be played in eight venues in the cricket crazy nation, will have all the first rank international cricketers in action. The rebel indian Cricket league has entered into the final phase of the second edition of the tournament. One more tri-series of the ICL is set to follow in a couple of weeks. The Asia Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy are scheduled to follow the IPL final on June 1. Hence, no dearth of cricket for the fans and serious lovers of the game.
To add to their delight the maverick Virender Sehwag produced one more triple century last week against South Africa in Chennai. While most were aprehensive about the game to take place at the Chepauk stadium as weather was most likely to play spoilsport, to aurprise to all, the game lasted for all five days a nd produced 1498 runs for only 25 wickets. Although the wicket disappointed many as wicket failed to offer any turn even at the last leg of the five-day match, spectators were entertained to the most by Virender. Rahul Dravid became the third Indian and the sixth in cricket's history to reach 10000 runs in Test cricket. But the match ended in a tame draw. However, all eyes were on Mohammad Kaif, the replacement for injured Sachin Tendulkar for the second Test. But to utter surprise, he was not selected in the playing XI by captain Anil Kumble who preferred all-rounder Irfan Pathan to the once touted future captin of the Indian team. Kaif had an excellent season in domestic cricket. The young lad from Uttar Pradesh has to be patient for some more time to earn an Indian cap. Also, the same for southpaw Yuvraj Singh, who despite all the support from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, failed to prove his worth in the team in India's sojourn Down Under.
When I was drafting this post, Dale Steyn ripped apart the Indian batting order to dismiss the hosts for a paltry 76 in the first innings of the second Test match at Motera in Ahmedabad in the first session of the opening day. Steyn climed a fiver for only 23 runs in eight overs. Kumble must be cursing his cricketing sense to ignore Md Kaif who could have played the role of saviour with Rahul Dravid at this juncture. However, South Africa went for lunch with one run for no loss. I will provide the developments once match resumes.
Scorecard
To add to their delight the maverick Virender Sehwag produced one more triple century last week against South Africa in Chennai. While most were aprehensive about the game to take place at the Chepauk stadium as weather was most likely to play spoilsport, to aurprise to all, the game lasted for all five days a nd produced 1498 runs for only 25 wickets. Although the wicket disappointed many as wicket failed to offer any turn even at the last leg of the five-day match, spectators were entertained to the most by Virender. Rahul Dravid became the third Indian and the sixth in cricket's history to reach 10000 runs in Test cricket. But the match ended in a tame draw. However, all eyes were on Mohammad Kaif, the replacement for injured Sachin Tendulkar for the second Test. But to utter surprise, he was not selected in the playing XI by captain Anil Kumble who preferred all-rounder Irfan Pathan to the once touted future captin of the Indian team. Kaif had an excellent season in domestic cricket. The young lad from Uttar Pradesh has to be patient for some more time to earn an Indian cap. Also, the same for southpaw Yuvraj Singh, who despite all the support from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, failed to prove his worth in the team in India's sojourn Down Under.
When I was drafting this post, Dale Steyn ripped apart the Indian batting order to dismiss the hosts for a paltry 76 in the first innings of the second Test match at Motera in Ahmedabad in the first session of the opening day. Steyn climed a fiver for only 23 runs in eight overs. Kumble must be cursing his cricketing sense to ignore Md Kaif who could have played the role of saviour with Rahul Dravid at this juncture. However, South Africa went for lunch with one run for no loss. I will provide the developments once match resumes.
Scorecard
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