India's Tour of Sri Lanka

[SciD]

This batting line up sucks. Batsman afraid of getting out.

 

[Adarsh]

This batting line up sucks. Batsman afraid of getting out.

They played well this time though. They all got out to attacking shots, except Gambhir who made a misjudgement. Can't fault the Indian batsmen too much...apart from Sachin. With his experience he should've known to leave that ball.

 

[aditya123]

This batting line up sucks. Batsman afraid of getting out.

What an overreaction ! They all showed the right approach today and that is why we are ahead in this Test match so far.

The Tendulkar-Dravid partnership, I think actually could be very crucial to the final result.They got runs quickly and just got India to a position where we might set a target of 300+.Had either of them got out immediately after Gambhir went, we would`ve been in a soup.

I agree that it could`ve been a lot better had Tendulkar and Dravid stayed there.

 

[angryangy]

I think the experience and skillset of Vaas has come into its own here, while India's quicks weren't given 20 overs between them, Vaas was crucial today as you could see how Jayawardene had planned to avoid using Mendis to Sehwag. Part of why Vaas does exceptionally well in Sri Lanka, is that he bowls a very good cutter. He gets to a spinners' pitch and has a Plan B. The ball itself has taken the odd wicket so far, but it also means batsmen are having to watch the ball, with the turn of this pitch giving that variation a boost off the deck. Just like it can be used in one day cricket to keep the batsman honest, he can use it here to good effect.

Still, India have probably taken more runs now than Sri Lanka would have liked. 270 is probably as much as they can bear, so they are well in position to keep the total from overblowing. Of course if India do hold firm for two sessions, it could backfire; a chance of rain may yet defeat this match.

 

[SciD]

:

Had these legends batted sensibly we coukd have had innings victory. Now pitch is going easy and just tailenders and Kartick (god only knows what is in his brain) to survive.

 

[Insomniac]

If Sri Lanka get an early wicket tomorrow, they're into the tail (Karthik is part of the tail unless he fixes his brain)

If Sri Lanka can chase less than 300, it will be a psychological advantage for them

 

[Chetan0304]

If Sri Lanka get an early wicket tomorrow, they're into the tail (Karthik is part of the tail unless he fixes his brain)

If Sri Lanka can chase less than 300, it will be a psychological advantage for them

S Ganguly & VVS laxman will get the score over 350+

Just wait & watch (

 

[SaiSrini]

Another very engrossing day's play. Well done by Bhajji, Kumble to keep the SL total below 300 and got the lead.

Good starts by our batsmen but none went on to make it big. Ganguly and Laxman are too crucial tomorrow. If they can bat for two sessions, we will have a lead of 350+ easily which can be a winning total. On the last day, the wicket could do tricky things and it would be good to have the cushion of a 370-380 total (shouldnt set over 400 over SL will shut shop as they wouldnt want to give away the advantage to india going into the 3rd test).

I feel India are in with a good chance to win this match and the batsmen have finally decoded the M&M's (nice name!). I wish we win this test match (I will also win 2,00,000 in vcash as I have put 50,000 on India with an odds of 4.00).

 

[manee]

I think the experience and skillset of Vaas has come into its own here, while India's quicks weren't given 20 overs between them, Vaas was crucial today as you could see how Jayawardene had planned to avoid using Mendis to Sehwag. Part of why Vaas does exceptionally well in Sri Lanka, is that he bowls a very good cutter. He gets to a spinners' pitch and has a Plan B. The ball itself has taken the odd wicket so far, but it also means batsmen are having to watch the ball, with the turn of this pitch giving that variation a boost off the deck. Just like it can be used in one day cricket to keep the batsman honest, he can use it here to good effect.

Indeed, a pace bowler bowling cutters on a spinning track as a change delivery (rather than one in an innings) really is great adaptation. I've always admired Chaminda Vaas, because of his beautiful line and length - one in which the ball shaping in will hit middle and the one which doesn't often probes the corridor, with Vaas having the ability to shift this ball to a slightly more agressive line and length. Something which I feel that is invaluable to a left armer and it is something which I am trying to perfect, is the leg cutter from over the wicket which cuts back in to the right hander - the issue is that if the wrist doesn't roll over, the ball goes way outside off, swinging further away. Getting a reasonable pace with it is tough too.

 

[Cricketman]

I think Zaheer could've gotten a few more overs, seeing what Vass managed to do.

 

[Arunava]

this test belongs to sehwag, brilliant player :happy

 

[nikhil_99]

Indians are slightly in front, admits Jayawardene

GALLE: Ruing the batting collapse that has put his team in a tight spot, Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene on Saturday admitted that India had the edge going into the fourth day of the second Test.

"Probably Indians are slightly in front. Getting those two wickets (of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid) were very crucial for us to keep them back for a while. Just need to keep them to a decent score that we can chase it down on the fourth or fifth day," Jayawardene said after the end of third day's play.

http://cricket.timesofindia.indiati...nt_admits_Jayawardene/articleshow/3319177.cms

 

[Cricketman]

We need the current pair rack up 75 more runs or so at a decent pace and we should be in a very very good position. Considering Ganguly and Laxman are the more flamboyant of the 'Fab Four' (Or should we call it the 'Fab Five' now ) the rate in which the runs come shouldn't be much of a factor. Just keeping wickets in tact is.

Mendis and Murali will be having an absolute feast on this crumbling wicket. I'd expect Laxman to get at least 30, Ganguly might find it a bit tough but if he too can get around 30 runs i'll be happy.

I really want Karthik to do well here. This has easily been the toughest series for him and the biggest test he's faced yet - bigger then his opening ordeals in England, even. For probably the first time in his career, even his number two slot as keeper has brought question marks.

He just needs to play sensibly - get his eye in and make a solid 25 or 30 runs. He has all the talent to do it, and all the time too. He just needs to utilize it and get out of the slump he's in.

We currently lead by 237 runs. If all things go well, I would set them a target of around 330-370 by tea. Easier said then done, i'm putting my money on the Sirils knocking over a few before lunch (6 down) and maybe set themselves 290 odd for the series win.

 

[Dare]

I think Zaheer could've gotten a few more overs, seeing what Vass managed to do.

Zaheer needs to get as many tapes of Vaas bowling in the subcontinent and watch them all day long, same goes for Pathan or any left arm pace bowler. Get some tapes of Wasim and Vaas and just watch them non stop and pick up things. For a guy who has bowled a huge amount of his tests on the spinning wickets of Sri Lanka he has done wonders to pick up so many wickets, his line and length are on point almost every time, he has variation. I feel that he can bring the ball into the right hander whenever he desires.
From all these great pace bowlers that bowled in the last 30-40 years, he is the only guy that equaled Imrans 14 wickets in a match.

 

[khalek]

What I like about Vaas is that he can swing the ball in all conditions, brilliant pace bowler