India in the West Indies

[aussie1st]

Go to cricbuzz. All over it's a draw yet again. Good fightback by the Windies with Lara in particular. He scored a 100 when it was most needed, without that India would have won. Rain played it's part but India had more than enough time to win it.
Over to the 3rd test we go.

 

[m_vaughan]

Go to cricbuzz. All over it's a draw yet again. Good fightback by the Windies with Lara in particular. He scored a 100 when it was most needed, without that India would have won. Rain played it's part but India had more than enough time to win it.
Over to the 3rd test we go.

Yup agreed. Even though rain did help the Windies a lot, I thought India should have won the game today. Full credit to Lara, Chanderpaul and Bravo for their contribution with the bat in that second innings.

The good thing is that India are playing well and dominating play overall, while the Windies are having the hold on and play for the draw.

 

[Adarsh]

I think it's very fair to say that rain robbed India of a win here.

 

[m_vaughan]

I think it's very fair to say that rain robbed India of a win here.

Yes although its fair to say sometimes you gain from it, and sometimes you suffer. In this test, India suffered. But in the end it all cancels out.

India should have won the game today.

 

[SaiSrini]

Yup agreed. Even though rain did help the Windies a lot, I thought India should have won the game today. Full credit to Lara, Chanderpaul and Bravo for their contribution with the bat in that second innings.

The good thing is that India are playing well and dominating play overall, while the Windies are having the hold on and play for the draw.

You're right. the positive India can take is that, after the first two days of the first test, they have been dominating for the remaining part... west indies are being made to play out draws...

but india need to pick it up more and look for victories. these draws arent going to help them. they need to press on even more from now! harbhajan now has to come back in the side no matter what! pathan needs to be rested again (if sreesanth is fit) and vrv has to make way for harbhajan singh.

this time, dravid made a brilliant decision to bat first even though the pitch looked green. may be he is learning from his experiences. this pitch needed 5 bowlers for india, but they cant be faulted much because the pitch has deceived almost everyone!

I think it's very fair to say that rain robbed India of a win here.

yes, but the call of nature cant be blamed. we got to live with it...

Go to cricbuzz. All over it's a draw yet again. Good fightback by the Windies with Lara in particular. He scored a 100 when it was most needed, without that India would have won. Rain played it's part but India had more than enough time to win it.
Over to the 3rd test we go.

agreed, lara and rain were the major factors for india not getting the win..

seems like munaf is bowling really well in the test matches. he has bowled very well in both these tests and he made an impressive debut against england. seems like he is the most comfortable in the tests. it seems with the batsmen not going for their shots like in odi's, he gets ample time to bowl the length that is required to pick up wickets.

 

[s2sschan]

India should have won the game today.

Should have, Would have, Could have, but didn't.

Non-Performance by VRV Singh 62 for 0, and Pathan 93 for 2, cost us BigTime.

When you play 4 Bowlers and Two of them don't perform, then you really don't have much of a chance.

Anyways, good job by India to produce some excitement.

 

[rocklara]

Yessss, Lara, Shiv, Bravo and the rain come up trump here for the windies!!

 

[prarara]

Sehwag was an inspiration. His part time bowling is actually bringing wickets at a better average than some full-time bowlers. I'm still a bit wary of a fifth bowler; it's a gamble, and I can only hope that if implemented, that it works.

 

[cricket_lover]

Munaf is doing really well. His line-length is very good. I hope the selectors get this right. If Munaf is comfortable with tests, leave him to tests.

Lara and rain denied an Indian win, but it should be a good, positive mood in the Indian camp. They came very close two winning both matches, and the fact that they missed another wicket-taker will make them think a bit.

Kaif scored a century, and so far Yuvraj and Laxman dissappointed. One of these two guys might sit out of the match, to accomodate Bhajji, or VRV will be replaced with Bhajji.

The next test is some time from now, so it'll be some relaxing time for both the teams.

 

[sohum]

I don't know why we are even playing VRV. Obviously the captain doesn't have enough confidence in him to give him a substantial number of overs. It seems he was picked in the first match for the "shock" factor, and in the second because of the "green" pitch. Harbhajan must be wondering what he needs to get selected, short of a dust bowl.

I don't think the Windies should get too much confidence out of this, because when they look at it, there was only one team in this match. India was not chasing a victory but an innings victory. I'm sure the Indians will understand that, and concentrate on that, while the Windies will try to ignore it.

The next match is key--as its the sort of match that India like to lose, to erase any chances of a series victory.

 

[SaiSrini]

Munaf is doing really well. His line-length is very good. I hope the selectors get this right. If Munaf is comfortable with tests, leave him to tests.

Lara and rain denied an Indian win, but it should be a good, positive mood in the Indian camp. They came very close two winning both matches, and the fact that they missed another wicket-taker will make them think a bit.

Kaif scored a century, and so far Yuvraj and Laxman dissappointed. One of these two guys might sit out of the match, to accomodate Bhajji, or VRV will be replaced with Bhajji.

The next test is some time from now, so it'll be some relaxing time for both the teams.

Good long gap this time.. I think this was what Dravid was saying after landing in the Windies, the 7 day break between this test and the next one....

I agree. Munaf should be left to the tests. Even VRV didnt suit much in the ODI's (though a bit too early). He has got the much needed exposure. He has to go back to domestic cricket and keep working. He doesnt seem to be of big value as of now. India need their seniors back. With Pathan failing here, India need the seniors to fall back on. The selectors dont have faith on Agarkar. Then they got to bring back either of Balaji, Zaheer and Nehra. These guys could be mature now with the experience of sitting out. Our fast bowling which promised much sometime back, is again starting to get bereft now.

(If the pitch is a batting one) Yuvraj should be rested for the next match and Harbhajan brought in. Sreesanth, if fit, should replace VRV. (If pitch is a bowler friendly one) Harbhajan in for VRV, Sreesanth in for Pathan!

The next match is key--as its the sort of match that India like to lose, to erase any chances of a series victory.

Yes, ur right. After doing so well, we have this tendency to flounder big. Lets hope the next one is not one of those.

I have a sneaky feeling we will continue our bad luck with Jamaica. I predict the pitch to be a whole lot livelier in Jamaica and the Indians arent going to have a great time out there in Jamaica (hope I am proved wrong, in fact would love to). I really hope these two draws dont come to hurt India in the context of the series. Because I fancy the West Indies at Jamaica.

Sehwag was an inspiration. His part time bowling is actually bringing wickets at a better average than some full-time bowlers. I'm still a bit wary of a fifth bowler; it's a gamble, and I can only hope that if implemented, that it works.

His bowling is turning out to be very useful for us in the test matches. This is what I have been saying - use our part timers in tests too and groom them as fifth bowlers in tests too!

 

[sohum]

His bowling is turning out to be very useful for us in the test matches. This is what I have been saying - use our part timers in tests too and groom them as fifth bowlers in tests too!

But we don't want to be asking too much of part-timers. If we use the Monk as a full-time bowler, the physical aspect will no longer take a toll on him, and he may subsequently fail to stitch together a long innings with the bat.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

But we don't want to be asking too much of part-timers. If we use Sehwag as a full-time bowler, the physical aspect will no longer take a toll on him, and he may subsequently fail to stitch together a long innings with the bat.

Sehwag? What happened to the Monk?? No one dare addresses the Monk by his real name!

 

[cricket_lover]

Good long gap this time.. I think this was what Dravid was saying after landing in the Windies, the 7 day break between this test and the next one....

I agree. Munaf should be left to the tests. Even VRV didnt suit much in the ODI's (though a bit too early). He has got the much needed exposure. He has to go back to domestic cricket and keep working. He doesnt seem to be of big value as of now. India need their seniors back. With Pathan failing here, India need the seniors to fall back on. The selectors dont have faith on Agarkar. Then they got to bring back either of Balaji, Zaheer and Nehra. These guys could be mature now with the experience of sitting out. Our fast bowling which promised much sometime back, is again starting to get bereft now.

(If the pitch is a batting one) Yuvraj should be rested for the next match and Harbhajan brought in. Sreesanth, if fit, should replace VRV. (If pitch is a bowler friendly one) Harbhajan in for VRV, Sreesanth in for Pathan!



Yes, ur right. After doing so well, we have this tendency to flounder big. Lets hope the next one is not one of those.

I have a sneaky feeling we will continue our bad luck with Jamaica. I predict the pitch to be a whole lot livelier in Jamaica and the Indians arent going to have a great time out there in Jamaica (hope I am proved wrong, in fact would love to). I really hope these two draws dont come to hurt India in the context of the series. Because I fancy the West Indies at Jamaica.



His bowling is turning out to be very useful for us in the test matches. This is what I have been saying - use our part timers in tests too and groom them as fifth bowlers in tests too!

You're right.

and do expect a Zaheer Khan return to the international side, he's doing phenomenal bowling out there for Worcs. 9/65, with another wicket to go! in an innings!
He has been very consistent with the ball, and also chipping in vital runs with the bat.

I think Yuvi will face the axe, but thats just temporary. They'll continue with Laxman, so its between Kaif or Yuvi, and considering Kaif's recent form, he might get the benefit.

 

[rahulk666]

I think Laxman's place is in serious danger. Laxman needs to score a hundred or at least play a match-winning innings in the remaining 2 tests to keep his test place. Sachin has been eyeing an August return so when Sachin returns someone between Yuvi/kaif/Laxman will get the axe. Considering kaif's form it looks like he is safe and there is an outside chance that Yuvi might get the cut, but Yuvi has the fitness, age, and some bowling knowledge which might work for him. In all, Laxman better start performing or else he will be the selector's bullseye!

Excited about Zaheer Khan's form. With Vrv and Santh both being erratic lately and inexperienced too, Munaf and Zaheer can provide a good opening pair. Unless Pathan ups his speed he will be a very predictable sort of bowler in V. Prasad mode.