Congrats to Sehwag!
Sehwag is really really good!
Well played Sehwag and Sachin but one thing i cant understand; Why in the world did this foriegn curator prepare such a losers pitch. You have to support home team's strength and on such a benign pitch our strength was our biggest weakness today. Not that Inzimam helped in anyway with his weird captaincy and team selection.
Good to know that Mr. Sehwag waits for loose balls…I guess he just finds too many of them…
** “I was waiting for loose balls” - Sehwag** 
Virender Sehwag lit up the opening day of India’s first Test match in Pakistan for almost 15 years, and afterwards expressed a desire to go on tomorrow morning and become the first Indian to score 300. He also surprised many by saying that he would still prefer to bat in the middle-order if there was a vacant slot.
“It’s my best innings in Test cricket,” he said of his 228 not out, refreshingly devoid of doubt at the end of a day of exhilarating batting. “And I would definitely like to go for 300 tomorrow.” Sehwag was candid in his assessment of the pitch, saying that it was loaded in the batsmen’s favour, but adding, “You still have to apply yourself to make runs.”
After a blistering start to the one-day series in Karachi, Sehwag did little of note in the remaining four games. But he said that the Test-cricket stage was perfectly suited to his brand of batting. “In one-day cricket, you have to try and play a lot of shots in the first 15 overs. In Tests, you can wait for the loose balls, and it’s easier to hit boundaries.” Pakistan learnt that the hard way, conceding a whopping 30 fours and 5 sixes to him.
He added 183 with Sachin Tendulkar, whose contribution to the partnership was a mere 60, and said that having his hero at the other end had been a big help. “Whenever I made a mistake or played a false shot, he would tell me from the non-striker’s end to just stick around and wait for the loose balls.”
Sehwag insisted that there were no nerves when he was on 199 for ten deliveries. “I was just waiting for the loose ball,” he said, before adding that it was vitally important that he carried on rather than give it away.
“At Melbourne [he made a dazzling 195 in five hours on Boxing Day], I got out and the team struggled afterwards,” he said. “I knew that if I stayed not out today, it would benefit the side much more.”
When asked what words he had exchanged with Shoaib Akhtar, he smiled and said, “Nothing much, it was just banter.” Shoaib, who went wicketless in 18 overs today, clearly didn’t see the funny side.
Sehwag dedicated his innings to his parents and bride-to-be, adding that the innings was even more valuable given that it was India’s first match here in such a long time. “There are four days left,” he said, “and if we play well tomorrow, we can win the game.” A couple more hours of controlled mayhem will go a long way towards fructifying that desire.
guys how was Saqi's bowling from a qualitative point of view? I hear he was getting good turn etc etc but that he became defensive when Sami put down the catch.
Well apart from seeing no signs of a teesra, i didn't see many doosras either. His efforts to contain never really came off because Sehwag completely dominated him never allowing him to settle, and hitting him hard and often to the ropes.
What was the pitch report? Looks like a batting track to me.
The pitch is flat and slow. there's some spin in it and it might become a factor if the pitch wears towards day 5 otherwise Sehwag described it a batsman's paradise.
There's nothing at all for the pace bowlers.
Ok and the rate of deterioation (i cant spell today)? Will it become worse and how quickly?
Can't really say at the moment. I think the pitch will probably hold up fine with both teams making big first innings score unless Kumble does some damage. We've never played him too well in the past.
Foreign curator 
If you look at India’s past record, they have always made one previously unknown batsman into a great one - in their opponent’s team 
So, who’s turn will it be when we get to bat…that is if we get to bat
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Mr Xtreme: *
Can't really say at the moment. I think the pitch will probably hold up fine with both teams making big first innings score unless Kumble does some damage. We've never played him too well in the past.
[/QUOTE]
Agreed We don't play Kumble pretty well. Also add to the fact that our inconsistent batting might make it even more difficult. Even if the pitch is a batting paradise, our batsmen tend to make the pitch seem like an unplayyable one.
The pressure will not be on the indian bowlers because they have nothing to lose.
The commentators mentioned about Shoaib akhtar that he was lacking an extra vertical leap. I also noticed he didnt have the same firepower that he used to have. He was bowling like it was a oneday game that is a controlled pace with good line and length.Maybe he was keeping his fitness in check but that guy kinda lacked the aggression.
I didn't see any sign of Saqlain's teesra. Maybe it was a short quick turning ball to the wicket?
so r u suggesting India win by an inning?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Captain1: *
so r u suggesting India win by an inning?
[/QUOTE]
the way our bowlers have been bowling for the last couple of weeks - yes. especially (as Sherry said) since we're quite inept at playing Kumble properly.
Inzi and Youhana will have to perform according to their reputation if Pak is to save this test 'cause collapse or no collapse, India's going to get 500 at an absolute minimum.
meri dish uRR gai hai yaar 
…but I think I am better off not watching the torture.
So the next matches are in Lahore and Faisalabad
Test cricket is gonna lose more fans if Asian countries will keep making flat pitches.
What is ‘teesra’ like..other than the fact that it goes over the ropes
This pakistani team is reaching new depths day by day... I hate to say this, but once pakistani batting starts (i.e. if India declares) you will be surprised to see how the demons will start rising from the pitch and they will make batting look so difficult. It was amazing to see how pakistan managed to loose the fourth one-day from a winning position, and since then its been all downhill.
exactly what i predicted in the other thread: Pakistani bowlers weren't able to produce wicket taking spells, and once this tactic didn't work they didn't have the ability to produce containing spells and get wickets by frustrating the bastmen. It's going to be a loooooooong series for them.
On the other hand, the Indian bowlers aren't great wicket takers either, but they do have the ability and discipline to close the batting side down
this had to be a very boring and frustrating day for the pakistani cricket fans
test matches are just nothing compare to ODIs when it comes to excitement
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Sheraz CT: *
this had to be a very boring and frustrating day for the pakistani cricket fans
test matches are just nothing compare to ODIs when it comes to excitement
[/QUOTE]
Excitement is subjective word. Depends which side of fenceyou are.Itwas pretty exciting day for Indian fans I reckon.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Khilaari: *
If you look at India's past record, they have always made one previously unknown batsman into a great one - in their opponent's team :D
[/QUOTE]
Good Point !
this test match is heading for a draw - the pitch had absolute nothing to offer - bowlers get no assistance at all - it got boring and i switched the channel to Aussis vs Lanka game. - who knows the pitch might take more turns in Day 2 and 3?
congrats to Sehwag for double ton