Story ICC Best Of The Rest Championship

[Short Leg]

2nd TVS Test Match Preview
India Vs Australia
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

After an action packed first test we are led to Chennai for the second test of the series. There promises to be yet another packed house awaiting the two teams in this hotly contested series. A win in this test will give an unassailable lead in the series with the worst result being a tie. But its not about series wins in the ICC Best Of The Rest Championship its about winnings games and scoring points.

Many fans slept in the street just to get tickets to this match and they shouldn?t be disappointed. The Kolkata crowd was treated to 1803 runs throughout the five days which leads us to wonder what pitch will await us in the next clash of these cricketing giants.

Change is inevitable and this match will be no exception with Glenn McGrath returning home his replacement will be named and also some under performing players on both sides may get the axe.

India?s batting proved to be Mount Everest for Australia as the local flat track bullies kept fielders chasing leather all day. However there bowling was not much to be desired and seemed paper-thin at times. They allowed Australia to score quickly and may have been lucky to escape with a draw. The skipper Dravid is yet to fire he came away with poor scores and will need to pick up the tempo in this match. A key for India and a key wicket for Australia will be Yuvraj Singh who plundered the leather to all parts and lets not forget VVS Laxman as well as Tendulkar who both made good contributions.

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As we switch camps its obvious that Australia aren?t at there best and had trouble at first adapting to Indian conditions. Efforts from Langer, Gilchrist and Warne?s unbeaten 99 (is that bloke ever going to score a hundred) kept the visitors alive and kicking but left the bowlers with a lot of work on there hands. It remains to be seen whether the young recruit?s from the land down under will be targeted by India?s top order although that was the case with Bracken who got chopped up by the Indians. Warne will have to turn around his form with the ball as he did a lot of not much in the first match but luckily for him Lee hit his straps and bowled out of his skin. Michael Clarke who will just about walk a lap around the earth to get back in the test team is still on the outer but should be one of the first in line should anyone fail.

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One thing is for sure it will be one hell of a second test coming to you live via DD Sports in Chennai. Who will walk away with a series lead in this match?

 

[James219]

Wut Do You Guys Think Who's Gonna Win lol. And Guys Dont Forget To CheckOut Pak Vs SriLanka Live Stream On http://coolguypk.tripod.com :happy

Where did that come from?

Anyway, great story mate, really nice presentation.

 

[gary0808]

Brilliant story. WHAT A MATCH

 

[usy]

very close match. I like it.

 

[Short Leg]

cheers boys good to see your likeing my story

 

[Short Leg]

2nd TVS Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai​

An absolute stinker in Chennai today for this 2nd Test of the series. And what a match it will prove to be. A tough day will follow the feilding team in this intense heat so lets hear all about it from the boys in the middle.

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Michael Holdings Pitch Report
Well mon tis a very hot day here in Chennai. But it will prove very prosperous for the batting team as the curator has prepared a flat track for the team that wins the toss. A quick outfeild will at to the dissapointment of the bowlers who have some 40 degree heat to contend with. Another high scoring match should follow up from the first test over the next 5 days.

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Umpires
Aleem Dar and Billy Doctrove

The Toss
Ponting calls heads and wins the toss

We'll bat today it looks to be a good pitch to get first use of and im tipping the weather probably wont be good to feild in. We have a few changes from the first test and are really looking forward to this match and hopefully we can go 1 nil up at the end of it.

I would have liked to have batted first but thats not possible now. We will look to give short sharp spells to the bowlers in this heat and hopefully win this match for our home crowd.

There are a few changes to both sides for this match so lets hear about it from Dean Jones.

Australian Line-up

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Australia has kept the same batting order that was successful and have made all the changes to there bowling attack. With Glenn McGrath returning home his replacment was a big topic of debate but the selctors have drafted express fast bowler Shaun Tait into the lineup instead of Queensland veteran Michael Kasprowicz. Bracken is also omitted from the team and Stuart Clark's line and length bowling comes into the side to keep the balance in there attack. A well thought out team that will take bat first in this match

India Line-up

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India have also made two changes the first being in the opening batsman department where Gambhir makes way for Jaffer. A much smarter option in my mind by India but will it pay dividends. A very exciting inclusion for India is the 22 year old paceman Munaf Patel. There is alot of hype about this kid that he bowls fast and swings the ball both ways. We will see him opening the bowling with Pathan as Khan was left out of the side as he failed to take a wicket in the first test.

It looks like one hell of a test match awaits us from Chennai so lets not waste any more time in going out to the middle.

 

[Short Leg]

Thanks For Coming...

2nd TVS Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Australia 1/5 - 3 overs
11:09am - Day 1

Langer 2(10)*
Hayden 1(3)

Pathan 1/2
Patel 0/3

When Langer and Hayden headed out to the middle on this flat pitch we all expected two inform batsman to showcase there skills but....

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Well Australia is off to the worst possible start after winning the toss and batting. Matthew Hayden is out for 1 after chopping on a cut shot. A terrible way to get out for a man averaging 162. Irfan Pathan has provided for his team as he looks to be the go to man for the home side.

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Hayden out early for a change​

A golden oppertunity for skipper Ricky Ponting to score some runs when his team needs it.

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[Short Leg]

Second Chance Draw​

2nd TVS Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Australia 1/10 - 9 overs
11:35am - Day 1

Langer is given a life on 3 now that he has been put down in the slip cordon of a straight forward chance. A slow start to Australia who are battling to come to terms with the bowling of Pathan and new quick Patel.

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The look on the skippers face says it all as we all question will this come back to haunt India?

 

[Short Leg]

Skipper Come Again Gone Again​

2nd TVS Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Australia 2/34 - 16 overs
12:07pm - Day 1

Langer 13(50)*
Ponting 18(39)

Pathan 1/4
Patel 1/24
Harbhajan Singh 0/6

A moment that the young paceman Patel will remeber for a lifetime. His first test wicket and the victim is none other then the Australian skipper Ricky Ponting. Australia in trouble now after Ponting pushed at a short of a length ball and edged to the safe hands of Tendulkar.

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Brad Hodge comes to the crease needing to get Australia to lunch with Justin Langer. Runs are not a priority now as Australia battle some tight bowling from the Indians.

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[Short Leg]

Hodge Back In The Shed​

2nd TVS Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Australia 3/51 - 21 overs
12:29pm - Day 1

Langer 20(64)*
Hodge 10(19)

Pathan 1/5
Patel 1/33
Harbhajan Singh 0/6
Kumble 1/7

India have come out all guns blazing here and have claimed there third wicket in the first hour and a half of the test match. Australia in all sorts of trouble now as Hodge edges to the slip feilder Jaffer who took a class catch. Perticularly good bowling from Pathan which has seen just 5 runs off his 7 overs so far.

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Its now time for Symonds to save his country that is in all sorts of trouble against the Indian attack and have a slow run rate to go with it. Can he dig Australia out of a hole or will he be out early?

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Save us Symmo!​

 

[Short Leg]

Langer Added To The List​

2nd TVS Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Australia 4/58 - 25 overs
12:47pm - Day 1

Langer 23(81)
Symonds 4(5)*

Pathan 1/9
Patel 1/33
Harbhajan Singh 0/6
Kumble 2/10

Just when we thought that Australia had gone into damage control to get to lunch on the ifrst day they lose another wicket. This time the battler Justin Langer flicked one off the hip and was caught in a diving attempt by Pathan. Well when it isnt going for you it really isnt going for you as Australia cannot get a break here and Kumble now has figures of 2/10.

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Langer is incredibly unlucky to be out in this manner​

Andrew Symonds has to just watch in amzment as Australias campaign to win in India is falling to peices infront of his eyes.

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Mike Hussey might as well bring a shovel to the crease instead of a bat as Australia just keep on digging themselves into a hole here.

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Hussey in early and is one of the last men that can rescue Australia​

 

[Short Leg]

India Beat The Bat But Not The Batsman​

2nd TVS Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Australia 4/152 - 57 overs
Tea - Day 1

Symonds 47(97)*
Hussey 40(103)*

Pathan 1/19
Patel 1/33
Harbhajan Singh 0/26
Kumble 2/61
Tendulkar 0/3

Symonds and Hussey have managed to bat through the session and keep a partnership of 94 alive at the break. The runs never came freely for the Australians who battled the tough conditions including this Chennai pitch that is turning at right angles from guys like Kumble and the turbanator Harbhajan Singh.

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A few plays and misses have kept Australia in the game​

The Indians where obviously frustrated as they continued to go past the edge but never got the breakthrough that would get them into the lower order.

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And a couple more​

Australia still with Gilchrist to come are still not out of trouble but are well on the way with this partnership. There wont be 1608 runs scored in this match like the first test but we will find out who the better team is at adapting there game to suit the conditions.

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And even a few more​

Well even the best need there share of luck especially agaisnt the best bowling ive ever come against in this game. What do you reckon? Can Australia get a competetive total on the board in the first innings at Chennai?

 

[Cricket_60]

Jaffer takes a jaffer

 

[Short Leg]

Jaffer takes a jaffer

Thats champagne comedy mate!

 

[Short Leg]

The Little Master Pull's The Trick​

2nd TVS Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Australia 5/206 - 72 overs
5:06pm - Day 1

Symonds 69(143)
Hussey 67(145)*

Pathan 1/19
Patel 1/53
Harbhajan Singh 0/26
Kumble 2/63
Tendulkar 1/33

Sachin Tendulkar has come up with the answer for India finally breaking the partnership of 148. Symonds was trying to up the scoring rate with the part time bowler on and manged to mistime a well flighted ball to mid off where Laxman took the catch. Mike Hussey will need to continue batling along if Australia are to get a competetive total on the board.

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Adam Gilchrist has never been a man that will hang around without scoring a heap of runs so this could get interesting. Gilly has been hitting the ball well lately so Indias job is far from over.

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Dravid has been good with the way he has used his bowlers and set his feilds but you would have to think that he would keep the spinners on for Gilchrist to take the pace off the ball on this turning pitch.