Re: India/Pakistan series - Daily Diary
Rahul's 2nd test day 1 review:
Both the teams made two changes. This was a refreshing change from past, it clearly indicated that both the teams are thinking. It’s a good change from past where we have 5 passengers in the team of 16, which were used more as favors for political bigwigs. Though changes indicated the mindset, at one side India went with 5 bowlers and shown aggressive intent, Pakistan added one more all-rounder and shown defensive intent. Pakistan may have shot themselves in foot, by going for lesser bowlers, in a sense a series which was Pakistan’s easily to won if they had created fast and bouncy pitches may be heading for draw, due to the selection policy. While India clearly seems to be showing the aggressive intent and saying lets see how we can get 20 Pakistani wickets.
Messages given by teams in selection apart, finally, what matters is what happens on the field. It’s another belter of a pitch and Pakistan has taken full advantage of it, as they did during first test first day and pressure will be back on India to repeat its performance in Lahore, since Pakistan has repeated it. India was in the match till 216 for 4 and infact on this pitch if they would have got decision against Inzy against Kumble in there favor they had Pakistan in trouble. To give credit to bowlers they had Afridi playing like a proper batsman for more than an hour. This is most interesting aspect of Afridi and if he is building this, he can be most potent force in world cricket in times to come that bowlers are going to dread. Inzy and Afridi batted sensibly to take the pressure off.
Than came the India’s worst session of the day, Indian new bowler attack bowled like armatures in last session and not only gave away the advantage which was so painstakingly build after a great catch by Yuvraj on this flat wicket, also took away from team management the credit of playing five bowlers. There is a strong question mark on India nurturing fast bowlers; the list of Indian fast bowler’s not living upto potential is too long. Irfan tends to follow the list, I understand his not taking wicket, though the way he bowled short pitch and wayward stuff at the speed of 125km/ hr was hilarious and very frustrating for Indian cricketing loving public. If he doesn’t want to be another Zaheer, or Nehra he better get his act together fast.
Pitch is still a belter with something for bowlers, though it looks that this pitch has more into it than first test. Hence it may break on day four, with rain predictions and due to which losing of one day’s game with belter of the pitch, we may be looking at another draw.
Though again, it’s India which will be under pressure and Pakistan will have advantage of mass of runs to back it self up and knowledge that India is one batsman short. Though India should back itself up with 5 bowlers if pitch started giving some assistance Pakistan can be in trouble in second innings, though that will depend on whether we will see Pakistan’s second innings. May be its good time for Rahul Dravid to take some tips regarding how to rotate its five main bowlers. There doesn’t seem to be any creativity in use of five bowlers, no point having ammunition if one doesn’t know how to use it. The impression one gets that he is still learning tricks of the trade, though he better does that fast before knives are out for him.