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first test
Ronnie Irani: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“Go and play like Pietersen plays.”
Ronnie Irani is convinced that the Indians were not quite aware of their No.1 status and were overawed by the occasion in the first Test at Lords. They were way too defensive and much too passive. The former English cricketer exhorts them to take the bull by the horns and “play like KP does.” He adds: “They are the No 1 cricketing nation and if they don’t attack, England will tear apart their mental state.”
What he really meant:
“For the No.1 side, the Indians were not quite fearless enough.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Flex your six-pack (if you have one) every chance you get.”
Kapil Dev: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"Dhoni has made mockery of Test cricket by bowling (himself).”
Kapil Dev is less-than-enthused over Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s decision to be the spare bowler in Zaheer Khan’s absence due to a hamstring injury in the first Test at Lords.
What he really meant:
“First he took away my glory at being India’s only World Cup winning captain, now he wants to bowl medium-pace as well. Where will he stop?”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Dhoni da jawab nahin.”
Andrew Strauss: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"No-one has a God-given right to play in the XI.”
Andrew Strauss is faced with a problem of plenty for the first Test against India at Lords.
What he really meant:
“The starting XI is to be the best form players of the moment. A place in the XI has to be earned, it’s no gift.”
What he definitely didn’t add:
“Not even me.”
Mahendra Singh Dhoni:What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“If the correct decisions were made, the game would have finished much earlier and I would have been in the hotel by now.”
MS Dhoni rips into the umpiring during the post-match press conference after the first Test at Kingston, Jamaica.
What he really meant:
“The umpiring was abysmal.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Due to the late finish and poor umpiring, I missed scrumptious tandoori chicken at the hotel’s restaurant.”
India versus South Africa: Series ends tied one all
Image via Wikipedia
I must admit that I am relieved that the twin Test series in South Africa and Australia have ended. The cricket has been exhilarating, the battle has seesawed between the sides and there has been no respite from the all-encompassing media hype.
I hope to catch a break from all forms of cricket until the World Cup. I have seriously overdosed.
India finish tied 1-1 on the Last Frontier in the Rainbow Nation. This will be a result they will cherish , but they will also regret that they could not make it a more memorable tour.
India Versus South Africa: Thoughts before the first ball is bowled
Image via Wikipedia
If this is the Final Frontier for India, is the run-up to the series the Final Countdown?
If Tendulkar scores his 50th ton in the first Test, will he be a centurion or a half-centurion at the Centurion?
Ashes 2010: England go one up, Ricky Ponting up against it
Catch the Ashes! (Image via Wikipedia)
Two Tests into the Ashes and England are up 1-0. It could very well have been 1-1 but for a stirring fight-back by Strauss, Cook and Trott in the first Test at the Gabba. At least, that’s how the optimists in the Australian camp would like to look at it.
That’s not how the realists see it. The selectors pressed the panic button in the run-up to the series when they announced a squad of 17 for the first Test. They compounded their folly by dropping Mitchell Johnson after the initial Test performance. What if the selectors had dropped Hussey from the squad? Not quite a vote of confidence in the players who have served you well in the past three years.
Indian cricket: Same old story of batting collapse against Black Caps
Image via Wikipedia
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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