Match 5 – India Vs SL Review
We can go on and on, saying that rain spoiled the game for us and set it up for the Lankans, but the fact of the matter is, that SL played better cricket on the day and we were beaten comprehensively.
India’s batting performance was good, except for a couple of wasted starts and unnecessary run outs. The biggest worry right now, would be … without a doubt .. the form of Yuvraj Singh. He seems to be finding it very difficult to spend any time at the crease. I don’t think he would be able to keep his place in the team with his present form for too long. I think that presently he is too bothered about his place in the team, thanks to the long row of young batsmen waiting to fill in his shoes .. and I think that is the reason he is playing the matches even though he is not fully fit. His knee injury wont get any better by playing matches, specially with the kind of schedule the team has. Ravi Shastri hit the right note, when he said that it would be better for him to go out of the team, spend some 6 moths for rehab and then come back a stronger and fitter player .. than stay in the team, and keep performing poorly. On a positive note, I think Ishant Sharma and Rohit Sharma could well be the find of the tour for this Indian Team. Ishant has been pushed into the role of the new ball bowler with the likes of Zaheer Khan and RP Singh returning home with injuries and he has responded in an excellent fashion. But I think we should take time with this youngster. He might do pretty well on this tour, but will he be able to keep up his pace in the hot sweaty conditions and the flat tracks in India .. that remains to be seen. It is important that we don’t make him all high and mighty based on this tour and then brand him a terrible selection when he fails to preform on the flat tracks.
On the other hand, it is easier to make a judgement on the batsmen like Rohit Sharma. With the sort of technique that he has, I see no reason why he can not perform on all sorts of wickets and on all sorts of conditions. He always seems to be having a lot of time while playing his shots .. its a sort of relaxed approach, even while facing the fiercest or wiliest bowlers in the world cricket. His Six off Murlitharan was probably the shot of the match. Only a player who reads the bowler well can play that sort of a shot and reading Murli so well is an achievement in itself.
As for the Lankan innings, they were always in cruise mode .. specially after the blistering start they got .. thanks to Jayasurya. Wine gets better with age .. so do Test Batsmen .. but Jayasurya retired from Test Cricket to prolong his one day career and still is one of the most feared batsmen around. His approach to batting isn’t always so pretty to watch .. but is always effective. He might not have the defensive technique of a Dravid or a Attapattu .. but who needs defense when you are Jayasurya. Entertaining , is the word that comes to my mind.
In the post match conference, Jayawardhene said that SL would have won even if the match wasn’t rain shortened. I hate to agree with him, but really … that seems more probable than an Indian win.
The win in this game has opened up the competition, thanks mainly to the the surprise Indian win on Sunday. A win for any of the two playing teams in the next game would put them at the top of the table and leave the loser of the game at the bottom. India will continue to be on second place, unless the match is a tie or a wash out. Been a long time since we had a good tri series in Australia. This series might just be dose of life that Cricket needs, specially these days when tempers all over the world are flaring at the drop of a hat and people are starting to think that money is what keeps cricket running, and not a case of cricket keeping the money coming.
Rakesh
utkarsh
Kunal
I have been really impressed by Rohit Sharma, his presence has a calming influence at the middle, and the best part is that he places a high value on his wicket…
I hope he and Ishant Sharma are groomed properly to take the roles of the premier batsman and bowler in some years…
Remember the last time we toured Australia, who was the find of the series? Pathan was named the next Kapil Dev – for a year or two he played that role and later slowly his bowling fell apart, till he intelligently worked on it…
Kunal
February 12, 2008 at 5:28 pm
ya… i am not agree with Jayawardhene’s point….
Ram
February 12, 2008 at 6:11 pm
It was a treat to watch Rohit Sharma playing.. he is very calm and composed.. all his shots were perfectly selected and well timed… no comparisons with anyone but I think this guy is going to stay for a long long time… Good for India and Indian Cricket
Rakesh
February 12, 2008 at 7:31 pm
rohit sharma played rather well … esp the one on top of the wicketkeepers head and yep, that six was the shot of the match
i did not see sl’s innings so can’t say whether they deserved it or not … but imho there is a big difference between playhing 21 overs and 29 …
obelix
February 13, 2008 at 12:09 pm
@KD ,
yeah .. irfan pathan’s case is what makes the whole argument even stronger. All these bowlers need to be taken care of .. given the short supply of good bowlers we have.
@Ram ,
but . i did agree with Jayawardhene
@Rocks ,
Lets hope he does stay for a long time and doesn’t become a flash in the pan.
@Obelix,
.. got him 4 runs anyway .. most of his other shots were good though
I didn’t think that the shot over the top of WK’s head was intended
utkarsh
February 13, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Rohit Sharma looks to me like Kallis
… His strike rate will suck, of this I am sure, but he will make a good test batsman.
Leave him praise Sachin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Lk6in4fSE
The 2nd boundary is probably the best shot I have seen to be hit of a good length ball.
Manoj
February 13, 2008 at 1:55 pm
@Manoj, that 2nd boundary was hit on a ball that was bowled at 151K
Kunal
February 13, 2008 at 2:25 pm
What about Sehwag, who is so consistent in his techniques that he continues to be a burden for Indian team and hostile for a good score…
Sukesh
February 13, 2008 at 5:47 pm
@Majji ,
Sachin is God .. when I first saw the third shot, I liked it better .. but on replays the second one looks much much much better. The best part of it all is watching Hayden’s face in the background, standing at slips ..
@KD ,
.. what about the speed of the ball that hit the boundary ??
he he he
@Sukesh ,
He still seems good enough to play in the Test version .. his One Day form hasn’t been the best, but it would not hurt to have him in the team .. we lack better options at the top of the order .. No one at present is a more explosive opener .. If he can consistently give us 50 run stands with Sachin in less than 10 overs, I think he would do his job.
utkarsh
February 14, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Why don’t you write a post on
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/West-Indies-vow-to-defend-Test-status/283956/0
Would love to see the comments opinions response blah blah
HalleY
March 13, 2008 at 4:34 pm
@ Manoj : Thanx to the link you pasted here.. I just spent 3 hours watching crkt videos on youtube..
and all this while end sems are going on.. and finallyy
SACHIN IS GOD
Himank
March 27, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Which match are we talking about? for the latest IND VS SL check my site. SriLanka is batting first and are batting well
Sphurthy
July 3, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Dear Friend
Dont Scold to Players.Thats the faith. Be a calm down.
Every day Haven’t Festival. May be Indian Team Will Win the Series
But u all have to think about Our Master Blaster Sanath N Funky Bowler Mendis
I Wish to Both Team THanks
Fit The Bucket For Indian Fans
Hisham Frm Sri Lanka
August 19, 2008 at 2:29 pm