Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
One thing I have learnt over the years from this forum is that Pakistani fans are eternal optimists which is a good thing (and I seriously don't mean it in a sarcastic sort of way). Just an observation.
Pakistan can very well win this match, but reading some of the posts above gives one an impression that it is going to be as easy as Pakistani batsmen sticking to a simple plan.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Thare are chances of rain in Calcutta
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
LOL. I agree. I think it is probably because there are a few people on here who dont understand the dynamics of Test Cricket and are thinking that this will be like playing an ODI and chasing a target witha really low run rate.
Like you posted above, totally different story.
I hope this is’nt the case, but all it will take for India to win is a few quick wickets by Kumble or Harbajan and thiings will start sliding.
On another note, what did you think of Ganguly taking so long to declare?
I was very surprised he waited as long as he did.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
With the benefit of hindsight - Ganguly seemed to have done the right thing. But I am pretty sure that it was not the possibility of Afridi’s explosive batting that affected the delay in the declaration. Ganguly was just trying to be extra safe by getting as much cushion of runs as possible. Another school of thought is that the closer you put the opposition to bat to the end of play, the more is the pressure on the batsmen to play out the day - and so chances of getting wickets increases.
well i had Pakistan winning this test match(and winning test series by 1-0) - and if you ask around - i am 92% spot on my prediction. :D
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
hmm.. Yeah I guess in retrospect it is a good idea. But really my first thought was that the target, once above 350, was irrelavent. I was hoping that the Pak bowlers would bowl in a defensive manner and let the Indians bat out as much of the day as possible.
2 be honest, I think that Dravid will replace Ganguly as the Indians captain in the near future and Kaif and Yuvraj will join the side in place of Ganguly and Laxman.
If I were Indian I would also be hoping that Nehra gets recalled in place of Pathan who looks completely ineffective. I’ve heard Nehra is in excellant form.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Whatever the result of this test would be, but one thing is for sure, like the Chennai test in 99' or Karachi test in 83' and many others played between the arch-rivals, this is another memorable test. Also from the test cricket point of view, this is cricket at its best. Each day starts with game in one team's hand and at the end of day the other team has the upper edge. The continous shifting of control over the match in last four days is very rare these days. Usually we see the tone is set on the first day or second and than it goes along that line. But this is simply a thrilling piece of entertainment. :)
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Sometimes it sounds like you’re joking, but then the tone is not funny at all. Having agreed with your comments on captaincy and Kaif/Yuvi joing the team replacing Gangz and Lux-soap, it is childish to say that Irfan must be replaced by Nehra. Nehra has not even 25% of what Irfan possesses. Irfan is a very intelligent bowler and has learned the length and swing very quickly. Its just that he came back from an Injury and tell me who didn’t have a rough phase in his career?
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
^The general tendency of desi selectors is to make the best player in the team as Captain.
No credit is given for overall personality, leadership and communication skills.
Dravid has a cool head and is great captaincy material....and is also the best player in the team....so he fits the bill perfectly....
however the Indian experience has been that once you make someone the captain.... the player's own performance plunges drastically(Think - Azharuddin, Tendulkar, Ganguly) ......so I am slightly concerned about the prospect of Dravid being made the Captain.
As for Nehra-Pathan comparison....yes Pathan has not been great with the ball lately...but he is a much better batsman compared to Nehra....and groomed properly could very well turn out to be the "all-rounder" that India needs desperetly to hold the lower-order together ( India unlike Pak has a longish tail).
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Relax some1 gangs is a good captain, do not judge captaincy on cool head, you want first hadn example of cool head look no further than Inzi yes he Mr. Cool but not a good captain and your judgement is on the basis of what a few test matches he stand in for ganguly? No doubt Dravid is the best batsman for me in the whole world of cricket, but that does not suggest he is good captain material, it is so the case with many talented batting genius.
On the case of Irfan Pathan, are you kidding me! comparing Pathan with Nehra plz save me the irony, Pathan is way better bowler, If i have to give you any example of similar bowler nehra is just better bowler than Khalil :p got it my friend.
and dont forget thanks to the new twist, cricket is a game of 5 batsman, 1 wicket keeper and 5 bowlers, one bowler who is bit handy of making 15-30 odd !
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
It is as simple as that… believe it or not.
Pakistani fans understand Pakistani team hence the optimism. The likes of Razzaq and Afridi can change the complexion of the game in a few overs. Steve Waugh acknowledged that Pakistani team is a bunch of talented players who can be a threat for any team when they play to their full potential. To be honest Indian bowling doesn’t have the bite to get all ten wickets in one day unless Pakistanies throw them away (which is always the case).
As for how one day is different from Test cricket… Unlike One dayers, if you are attacking with slips and close in fielders then you leave a lot of gaps in the field..hence the singles and doubles are relatively easy to score. It would be interesting how ganguly plays his cards today. If they don’t get a couple of quick break throughs..India will be in deep shyt. Today is the test of Ganguly’s captaincy and answer to all your concerns about him.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Yes Pathan is a decent bowler. But if a guy is’nt in form or playing with some kind of injury, I wouldn’t want him on my team. It does’nt mean that he is a poor player or anything like that. All it means is for the length of time he is injured or out of form (or whatever is wrong with him), I would’nt play him.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Ok it may be the case he is hampered by injury, if so there are fitness test for that, or if an injury happened during the test wise choice is to replace it with the water boy (12th man) for good. If you cant do its not professionalism, you have zaheer khan in back up too dont for get that. Once again its not Pakistani team who like to bet on 70% fit ace player.
this is a test match what could happen he will be out for one good session max!
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Where did I say anything about Ganguly’s captaincy. In this thread I was talking about the prospect of Dravid being the captain…and the concern that it might affect his individual performance.
In another thread(started by me), I mentioned that if a player cannot make it to the playing eleven as a batsman/bowler alone, than it should not matter if he is a good captain - he should be out of the team …PERIOD.
Its outrageous that Yuvraj/Kaif are sitting out when Ganguly (who hasn’t had one decent score as far back as I can remember) is in the side.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Not really.
http://www.weather.com/activities/travel/businesstraveler/weather/tenday-details.html?locid=INXX0028
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Relax, If the situation arises Dravid wont blow up like a water balloon not to worry in that case.
Performance = batting or bowling, is not the judgement of the game, its only a measure of an individual, but there is more to captaincy, 10 more reasons, 10 other players whom he has to motivate lead from the front (not saying by scoring runs/ wickets) by attitude, encouraging words…etc bad batting/bowling is part of the parcel
As for Kaif / Yuvi I have one thing to say, you dont want them to Michael bevan of India do you?
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Why did you suddenly have to put cosmetic effects to your post (italics,font color). It does not make any more sense than it did before 
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
those are not cosmetic effects my dear and only such a :elmo: can say that 
who is simply on the band wagon and “saachi baat karwhi lagti hai” papu 
As one of your guppies says “hajmola khao tandurust ho jaoo”
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
A DAWN article quotes Anil Kumble as saying “…even a score of 150 would be hard to get on this pitch.” This was at the end of the 3rd day.
Not sure if he was misquoted…because the pitch did not look anything like that yesterday.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata (Merged)
Indians dont know their own pitch, there is no sign of deterioration, only slowed down a little bit.