Re: India/Pakistan series - Daily Diary
Rahul's review of 3rd test, day 2:
I wrote on during Day 5, Test 1:“On a pitch helpful to bowlers, Pakistan has only three accomplish batsmen Pakistan has Y & Y and Inzy. Hence Pakistan has to be careful in pitches they make, it has to have just right support to bowlers, and shouldn’t become a landmine where Indian bowlers can have feast on its batting lineup.”
How prophetic these words be is clear now during third test. It’s a pitch with just enough for bowlers in it, and Pakistani bowling came good. All the Indian batsmen looked in good nick. From Tendulkar a day before to Yuvraj, Ganguly, Pathan all looked in good nick till that one ball happened. That’s the credit to be given to Pakistani bowlers to bowl that ball. The bowling was disciplined and accurate. Shoaib created pressure and other capitalized. Asif has done good job in this match, though Pakistan’s quest of pace bowler hasn’t ended yet. Asif won’t fill in the shoes of Wasim and Waqar in times to come.
Match is clearly in favor of Pakistan, all India has look forward to be that all the batsmen look in good nick. Everybody got a good start and than got out. Hence there is some light at the end of the tunnel. I heard Imran Khan saying after day 2 that this test can end in a draw, I don’t see that happening. As well that confuses me, what does Imran sees in this test so he feels that it is going to be a drawn test.
India should be saying adieu to one of its best captains and cricketer, Saurav Ganguly after this match. Its more painful to see him go like this, since he based on his innings did show that he still has cricket left in him. He looked in good nick and accomplished. Ganguly has to play the innings of his life in second innings or he will find it very difficult to get back in this team. This team needs bowlers and not batsmen.
On final note, this match has become so predictable about India losing it; rest is going through the motions of completing the formality. For Indian supporters, I think only true cricket lovers will sit through this slow death. Others would have already gone about life awaiting another moment of glory sometime in future.