australians

Indian cricket: Same old story of batting collapse against Black Caps

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The second innings collapse of the famed Indian batting line-up in the first Test against a weak New Zealand side supports my theory that Indians are notoriously poor starters. The first Test against the Australians in the recent home series too could have easily gone the other way but a fantabulous fight-back by a bravura Laxman snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

India finished at 82-6 at the end of the fourth day at Motera. Chris Martin’s five wicket haul was the highlight of the day. Sehwag was run out.

With Harbhajan and Laxman —the last of the recognised batsmen at the crease — it will be only be about survival on the final day.

India piled up 487 in its first innings essay powered by Sehwag’s bellicose 173 and Dravid’s sedate 104. New Zealand replied strongly with 459 ; debutant Kane Williamson registered his maiden century and talented Jesse Ryder hit a ton as well.

Can India save the match? Will Laxman ride to the rescue once more?

The fifth day will be engrossing.

Full marks to the Black Caps. Few gave them a semblance of a chance following their 4-0 whitewash at the hands of the Bangladeshis.

Pride and over-confidence lulled the No.1 team into a false sense of security. The New Zealanders’ ego had been hurt. No way would they roll over, not even for an Indian side boasting a rampant Sehwag and a resurgent Tendulkar.

Wins have to be earned!

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A Gallery Of Roguish Quotes At The US Open 2010

What they said, what they really  meant and what they definitely  didn’t.

Our beloved tennis players are eminently quotable. They can rise to the occasion and serve up wonderful sound bytes  – some terrific , some terrible – when accosted at their press conferences and when grilled at interviews.

A sampling from the articulate geniuses.

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Is India’s No. 1 ranking truly deserved?

Is India’s No. 1 ranking in Test cricket , a fair assessment of their status in the pecking order of Test playing nations?

Does it reflect consistent performance? Is the Indian team head and shoulders above the competition?

Can Team India lay claim to greatness? Or is it an aggregation of some great individuals who have not always jelled together as a fighting unit?

Is India’s bowling truly world-class? Would India’s bowlers walk into a world eleven on the strength of their performance?

Are the accumulated points over a window of three years enough for cricket crazy fans in Indian to tom-tom India’s superiority and paper over the inconsistencies and sometimes abysmal losses?