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Post by Srihari on Aug 11, 2015 20:57:49 GMT
Like a predator creeping up on its prey before the kill, this series has crept up beneath the radar. And as the only Indian fan on these parts, I saw it only fair to give this three-match test series a thread of its own. After all, if Zim merit their own thread, then surely two former World Cup winners do as well.
Anyways look like India is going with five bowlers, which doesn't fill me with great confidence for two reasons. A. With Vijay injured, India's in-form batsman isn't playing and playing 5 batsman plus Saha, who is hardly renowned for his batting is suicide. B. They are undeniably going to go with two spinners and as much as I would like for it to be Ashwin and Mishra, it is going to be two off-spinners, which isn't great and also because of the pitch, they are going to drop their No.1 pace bowler in Bhuvi for an erratic and expensive but pacey Aaron.
The only good thing is that neither SL's batting, Sanga and Mathews aside, nor their bowling, Herath aside, looks particularly great and that I'm hoping will be enough for a closely fought series between two teams in transition.
Anyways the match starts at 5 30 BST, so I'm going to miss play until lunch definitely and am hoping our batters haven't collapsed and been bowled out like a limp Australia last week.
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Post by Srihari on Aug 11, 2015 21:02:08 GMT
I know Pujara is not in great form, but playing RoHIT "I'm a flat track bully and will meekly surrender at the first sign of a problem" sharma ahead of him at No.3 is ludicrous. If Che plays, I can understand Virat playing at four, but if he isn't, as a captain, shouldn't be leading from the front and playing at No.3 his natural position? I am not one for all this BS about +ve cricket, but when Rohit fails, which he most certainly will, India will regret not playing the consistent and dependable CHE at 3. Already not liking the look of this Indian side. Five bowlers in SL??? REALLY? ??
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Post by Balladeer on Aug 12, 2015 7:20:22 GMT
Ah well, this should be fun. Sanga belts India's below-par bowlers all over the shop, then Herath takes a ten-fer to... Sri Lanka 65/5!? DECENT INDIAN FIELDING? AN OUTSTANDING LOW CATCH IN THE SLIPS!?
There's a massive caveat here, which is that with the exception of the still-outstanding Sanga (everyone gets the occasional low score), I feel that SL is just ahead of the WIndies at the moment in world cricket. Their bowling attack, Herath aside, is mediocre; and apart from Mathews (when he's in form), their batting looks fragile.
But it's a very good thing for world Test cricket in general if India start performing again, because it's all about the money. Sigh. And as I say that, Saha drops a dolly.
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Post by Srihari on Aug 12, 2015 8:32:36 GMT
Ravi Ashwin, you beauty. Now please bowl them out below 200.
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Post by Srihari on Aug 12, 2015 9:15:31 GMT
Perfect day so far. Ashwin, six-fer and SL bowled out for 183 after choosing to bat. Now over to Messrs Rahane and Dhawan to bat SL out of the game please. Also, a five-man bowling attack with three spinners, didn't see that coming but eight out of 10 first innings wickets falling to spin shows that the decision was right after all.
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Post by Balladeer on Aug 12, 2015 10:24:01 GMT
Don't judge a pitch until both sides etc. etc...
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Post by Humair on Aug 12, 2015 10:25:29 GMT
Good bowling by Ashwin today, but not the most assured batting from Sri Lanka.
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Post by Humair on Aug 12, 2015 10:37:47 GMT
SONY TV Asia showing match live, and SONY SAB showing highlights everyday at 6.30.
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Post by Srihari on Aug 12, 2015 10:45:02 GMT
Don't judge a pitch until both sides etc. etc... It is not a batting paradise, but not a first day pitch in which you should be bowled out in two sessions. 275 would have been an ideal score. anyways, seeing as India are only playing with five specialist batters, I don't have a great deal of faith in them, even if they have Ashwin and Bhajji who have scored test hundreds.
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Post by Humair on Aug 12, 2015 11:00:38 GMT
bad drop
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Post by Steadzz on Aug 12, 2015 11:24:23 GMT
Dhawan is the best example of a flat track bully in the world at the moment.
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Post by Srihari on Aug 12, 2015 11:48:58 GMT
Dhawan is the best example of a flat track bully in the world at the moment. Nope, Warner is, but Dhawan isn't far behind, but he isn't even the best flat track bully in this Indian side. That honour goes to ROHIT "I'm a flat track bully and will meekly surrender at the first sign of a problem" Sharma
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Post by Steadzz on Aug 12, 2015 12:46:14 GMT
Dhawan is the best example of a flat track bully in the world at the moment. Nope, Warner is, but Dhawan isn't far behind, but he isn't even the best flat track bully in this Indian side. That honour goes to ROHIT "I'm a flat track bully and will meekly surrender at the first sign of a problem" Sharma At least Warner can get some runs in England though. Dhawan looked like Chris Martin without a bat in England.
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Post by Srihari on Aug 12, 2015 12:51:34 GMT
Many of India's side looked that way. while i agree Dhawan is a flat-track bully, there is no way he is ahead of Rohit "I have loads of talent but i cant perform when the team needs me" Sharma.
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Post by Balladeer on Aug 12, 2015 13:48:17 GMT
(Chaps I don't think Sri likes Rohit Sharma in Tests much!)
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