Then, Marvan Atapattu’s back gave before a Test series in England. And after innings of 61 and 119 salvaged the most improbable of Test draws at Lord’s – Sri Lanka batted 199 overs to save the game – Jayawardene hasn’t had the time or inclination to look back. He’s scored 13 more centuries since and now needs just 62 more to cross the 9000-run barrier. Given how the FTP isn’t very kind to Sri Lanka, that’s some achievement. Along the way, he’s scored 374 against South Africa and gone past 150 on six other occasions. After the years of moderation, the man’s become a run-glutton.
India’s tactics on day three were just mystifying. I have no quibbles with the bowling into the leg-stump rough, but what on Earth can you hope to achieve without a single close-in fielder apart from slip? The last time I checked, bored-out wasn’t one of the ways to dismiss a batsman. Gary Kirsten spoke on day two of how both he and Harbhajan were happy with the way he had bowled. If expectations really have dropped to such levels, then perhaps the panic button shouldn’t be too far away.
And just what is it with Ahmedabad and extreme ends of the pitch spectrum? A green top against South Africa, and now this surface, which Sunil Gavaskar referred to as a road? Is it really so difficult to find a middle path, to leave a smattering of grass on the surface so that the bowlers don’t feel demoralised even before they mark out their run?
After their first Test in India back in 1982, Sri Lanka haven’t come close to beating India away. This is their big chance, and with Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath in their ranks, you’ll get good odds on them closing the deal. For India, after a successful year of Tests, it’s time for navel-gazing. When one bowler’s coming back from injury, another’s in woeful form and the third hasn’t played first-class cricket since March, a four-man attack is a big gamble. Here, it’s failed miserably.
And yet, there are 6 sessions of the test to go.
And yet, after having India at 32/4, Sri Lanka conceded 394 runs in prising the remaining 6 wickets. This from a team that has no complaints with regards to the form or fitness of its bowlers. And one that has been playing Test cricket in the lead up to the series.
Navel gazing? This early in the test? Really?
Cheers,
Jayawardene is the best slow pitch batsman in the world isn’t he?
Good to see Prasanna Jayawardene getting runs too, but how was his keeping? He’s much the best in the world, although the tall new Aussie looks a natural too.
there is no doubting india are the worlds most over-rated cricket team. hyped by their own media who lack a sense of realism. every 5-for from ishant makes him the next mcgrath. every 3-for from Harbhajan makes him the next in line of the great list of spinners.
facts are similar. ishant is lanky, lacking in strength and as likely to become the next mohanty as he is the next harmisson at best.
Harbhajan is the luckiest spinner ever to play for india. for a man of such limited ability (no turn, no loop, flat, nothingness, chucker) to have played so many tests for india is an insult to the past greats who with far more talent and ability were undone by the vagrancy’s of the selection policy.
to be honest im quite bored of the indian side. its dull. its time for some new faces. lets get rid of yuvraj (he’ll never cut it at test level), Harbhajan and lets not pick sewag till he proves his worth and fitness further in ranji. this should also be the last series for vvs. we can no longer afford such a 1 in 5 luxury.
Frankly if Abhinav Mukund and Murali Vijay have to bang on the door to get selected any harder their hands will fall off and they will have to accept the fate of their forefather Sriram, another who was not picked because of where he was born.
Someone once said there were a lot of passengers in the Indian side. That someone was dam right. And those passengers need to take a good long look at themselves starting with the worlds most over-rated gloveman/tactician Mr Average himself.
neilsrini:
How is Dhoni overrated as a wicket-keeper? He is by some distance the best keeper-batsman in India. He averages 50 in ODIs and almost 40 in Tests. I agree that he is not the tactical genius that the media make him out to be, but he seems to be a good captain. He has won 5 out of 7 games with two draws. He is also averaging 65 in test where he is captain.
You also want to get rid of Harbhajan, Yuvraj, VVS?
I think you are just over reacting. The story of this match is simple – there was some early movement, and so we lost early wickets, as our batsmen weren’t willing put away their shots for a while. After that, the pitch went totally flat and its still totally flat.
This side is never going to light up the world let alone achieve the big tasks of winning in Saffer, Aus and Eng which is a true measure of greatness.
Yuvraj is not test batsman. VVS is a luxury. Harbhajan is living on borrowed time for one of such talent. I have never known any other player living off a performance from 8 years ago.
Look at the Sri lankan wicketkeeper and many others around the world to appreciate just how mediocre Dhoni is. I would’nt class him as a batsman, and his keeping is hardly world class.
Time for fresh faces. Long overdue.