Pakistan in India

[sohum]

Point taken and I was just speaking from memory. Let's hope tomorrow brings a good day of cricket. Ideally India should be looking to score quickly and get a lead of at least 300. That means a further 150 runs. That should easily be scored by the end of the second session. If they manage to survive the Pakistani bowlers and score about 3.5 an over they should get an additional 210 runs by tea, which is more than enough. It will make the game very competitive, and should definitely force a result.

 

[shahid6995]

Well I think anything over 200 would be challanging. Should be a good game. India definitely has the better team right now but as I have mentioned before, Pakistan does raise its game against them so anything is possible.

 

[sohum]

I think at 200 Pakistan would definitely fancy their chances. Whatever happens, I must say this series has ended up being much closer than I expected. I had expected India to walk away easily, especially after watching the first two days play, but now its just seemed to become all balanced. Anyways I better go to sleep now so I can wake up tomorrow and watch the F1 and the cricket. Haha.

 

[SaiSrini]

I think anything less than 250 and Pakistan can fancy their chances.. On the contrary, anything over 250 and India fancy their chances. This test match can go down very close.

Hope India wins!!!

 

[m_vaughan]

I think you cant compare Ashoka De Silva with Steve Bucknor, because the former made some 5-6 wrong decisions in one match, and gave wrong decisions under pressure.

Also I think you feel Steve Bucknor is more "consistent" with his wrong decisions because quite a few of them might have been against India. England, for example, has not had the best of times with umpire Rudy Kurtzeon.

I think anything less than 250 and Pakistan can fancy their chances.. On the contrary, anything over 250 and India fancy their chances. This test match can go down very close.

Hope India wins!!!

Anything above 200 can be defended. India definately have the upper hand in this game atm.

 

[rahulk666]

300 runs target is absolutely necessary. Sachin and Dravid played well on day 3 and I think Pakistan has stokemakers in Inzi, Youhana and Younis Khan to overcome a 200 run target. Indian bowling also has lacked the bite what they had on first 4 days of Mohali Test match.

I do not expect much from Saurav. But Laxman should at least make a fifty and help Dravid score his second century of the match. After all Laxman loves to bat second at Kolkatta. Anyhow, hoping for good batting performance from India tomorrow with lead in excess of 300 for India.

 

[SaiSrini]

Anything above 200 can be defended. India definately have the upper hand in this game atm.

hey vaughnie, I would say 200 is fine if its Australia, South Africa or West Indiea. But not with Pakistan who are better than the above mentioned teams when it comes to playing spin. So, 250+ is certainly needed! And we need to play out time and may be insert Pakistan after tea tomorrow so that they should be pressurised to go for a win and at the same time, they should not have the leisure of taking up time to score those runs!

300 runs target is absolutely necessary. Sachin and Dravid played well on day 3 and I think Pakistan has stokemakers in Inzi, Youhana and Younis Khan to overcome a 200 run target. Indian bowling also has lacked the bite what they had on first 4 days of Mohali Test match.

I do not expect much from Saurav. But Laxman should at least make a fifty and help Dravid score his second century of the match. After all Laxman loves to bat second at Kolkatta. Anyhow, hoping for good batting performance from India tomorrow with lead in excess of 300 for India.

I hope Laxman doesnt score! Seriously becoz whenever he badly needs a score to keep up his place, he does it. And he blocks Kaif out! I hope he fails this time and the selectors make a wise decision of bringing in Kaif. I have lost all faith in Laxman! I am betting on Ganguly to take us forward tomorrow along with Dravid! Its his home ground and he should lead us!

 

[shahid6995]

hey vaughnie, I would say 200 is fine if its Australia, South Africa or West Indiea. But not with Pakistan who are better than the above mentioned teams when it comes to playing spin.

I would probably be more worried about the seamers even on a pitch turning square, knowing the Pakistan batters. India should keep the spinners on at one end and keep a seamer at the other.

 

[m_vaughan]

I think Laxman is a good batsman. The Aussies reckon him as India's best.

 

[SaiSrini]

I think Laxman is a good batsman. The Aussies reckon him as India's best.

What is the use when he scores only against Australia??

Even his form against Australia has come down in the last series of Australia in India in 2003-04. Except for that 69 in the 2nd innings of Mumbai, he was below average in that series too!! He has that wristy strokeplay similar to that of Azhar but his inconsistency is just too much to digest! Kaif can be given a run instead becoz Kaif is a good fielder and a very fast runner between wickets and can put pressure on the opposition with such running!

 

[borncricketer]

i also agree that laxman is a good batsman but he should be droped because Kaif is in better form than him. with kaif in the team u have a good fielder which makes the oponent think twice before they take a run and he is also good in batting - he can chip in a few runs which laxman isnt able to at the moment.
But when laxman gets back in to form i think he should be back in to the indian team.

 

[m_vaughan]

why dont u just get ganguly out of the test team for once and for all. then kaif could take his place in the side.

 

[borncricketer]

why dont u just get ganguly out of the test team for once and for all. then kaif could take his place in the side.

Thats a nice idea but i think he should stay for some time.... lets see how he does in this match, if he bats good then he will stay and if he doesnt i hope he is droped from the team

 

[ravigoteti]

he was in good form, just can't convert them into big ones. Trust me, the only good move is tobring him up the order. That may not be possible but he has done so well in that position. when u have to play with tailenders, you are under pressure. You can play shots like u normally can, and mind you laxman is not a gilchrist or sehwag. He is a stroke maker, he needs confidence more than anything.

bringing kaif is not a bad option either, he brings a real good attitude, a fighting one into the field. Anyway, india in a good position. 300+ should do the job of putting pak. in pressure.

as for Steve bucknor, i hope he doesn't go beyond his hotel room. :boxing

 

[borncricketer]

its true promoting Laxman to no.3 where he has scored most of his runs mite just help india in the future. Even in ODI's he scored his centuries when he was batting at NO.3
So i guess promoting laxman up the order will do some good for india.