(IND vs ENG Second test review)
After three dramatic days of
mesmerising Test cricket, England completed a famous victory with few dramas
but much style on the fourth morning. They won by ten wicket just before lunch
leaving paper tigers and their selectors so much to think before the two teams
meet again on December 5 for third test.
Mumbai pitch was a traditional sub continent one that offered turn
from the first ball as the captain demanded, reading the pitch well and playing
three main spinners and only one fast bowler, winning the very crucial toss, everything
was going on Dhoni’s way until the match started. But everything went wrong
from day one for India when it comes to performance. Gambhir started
confidently with a boundary but miss judged the swinging one from Anderson and
trapped on LBW, that was the only wicket by fast bowler of the match. Sewag who
was playing 100th test didn’t last long, and mighty Sachin bowled
again by a ripper from Monty, asking Tendulkar to play forward, beaten by turn
and flight, from the neutral it was a joy to watch. It was just a beginning, middile
order was warped away by Monty and Swann. Ahmadabad hero Pujara kept one end
got a good partner in R Aswin from the
lower middle order. Century by Pujara under pressure and testing conditions
were promising one, definitely he is going to be a familiar face in team.
From 169-6 to 327 looked a surplus total as
England batsmen expected to choke in the turning pitch with three ace
spinners. Dhoni’s intensions were clear
when he opted to open the bowling with spinners from both the end (may be first
time in International test cricket, two spinners are opening the bowling). But in help full conditions so much hyped Indian
spin mysteries looked very ordinary. England started off well, Crompton’s
approach was much better than the previous test and Cook looked as solid as
before. J Trott again proved himself
that he’s vulnerable to spin yet again by trapped on a plumb LBW. Then Cook
joined Kevin Pietersen, both looked very
comfortable, rarely troubled any of the Indian bowler and raised a very vital, match
deciding double hundred partnership.
Cook was solid in his defence but never hesitated to punish the bad ball, and
effectively used sweep shots against Ohja. Pietersen started quickly and
positively, rotating the strike and maintaining
strike rate around hundred till his fifty.
If Cook was the silent vigilante Kevin was the destroyer. It must be a
great relief for Kevin as his performance was under such a scrutiny following
the recent issues with the ECB. After Pietersen and his captain no one made a
handy contribution but managed to have important 86 runs first Innings lead.
Second Innings disaster is familiar
to Indian fans as they are used to such lean scorecards after the England and
Australian tour, but it was not expected to witness the same in the familiar Indian
pitches too. Indian batsmen were clueless to Monty’s turn with the pace and
flight, and marched back to pavilion one by one. Unlike Indian spinners Swann adjusted
well with the pitch played his part well as the main spinner of the side. At
the end of the third day the only hope left was Gautam Gambhir who was the only
front line batsman left, and a lead above hundred might have changed the match.
But it was a familiar break down of the Indian tail enders as Gambhir failed to farm the strike. Rest was history as England openers finished
in a hurry without losing a wicket and leading to a memorable ten wicket victory
and a 1-1 aggregate before they move to Kolkata next week. This win must be
great relief for England and his captain after a disastrous tour against
Pakistan and Srilanka.
'Note : Its not very premature now to think about a
new captain in test cricket after a 8-0
tour abroad and the present scenarios. Dhoni looks very defensive at times, and
even just standing behind the batsman he failed to convey to his bowlers to try
little fuller than the shorter once as they failed to draw the England batsmen
forward as their counter parts did and no wonder Monty and Swan shared 19
wickets among them.
Few words to R Aswin who claimed
of a “special ball” or “teesra” from his armoury to be used before the series,
and he bowled more than 100 overs and claimed just 6 wickets out of which 2
were tail enders. You are just at the beginning of your career, stop giving
such stupid statements and concentrate on your game. You might be little use full
with the bat at first Innings but its
not what you meant for. You are meant to take wickets.
Stuart Broad is having a very
silent series so far. He’s not contributing anything to the team as bowler ,
batsman nor a good fielder. England may not be happy to keep some player just
because he’s the Vice Captain.
Sachin is my hero from my
childhood, not only me, but for millions of people. In those days i used to
dream of sachin making centuries, raising his bat and helmet, playing with him
and so on.. To be very honest i had
dream last night as Sachin coming to my home as a cable operator and when i was
about to click a pic and tell every one he obliged me not to tell any one as he
is jobless and he forced to do this. I know it was a stupid dream, but i never
thought of Sachin other than playing cricket and on.. But really feeling bad as
my hero reeling on the field to find runs, getting bowled, late reflexes, pre determined
shots, started showing signs of his age.. Sachin we love you, but it might me
the time to consider the retirement.
