Mohali Test Match, Will there be a result ? Options

[Bawra Jay]

Shewag's century was a treat but Sachin so close to world record and missing the Century was so disappointing ....

What you all say ? Will there be result from this match ? Or will wash out due to rain / end up in draw ?

[anurag]

When India turned around the Kolkata Test against Australia, all praise went to Dravid and Laxman. I don't recollect Steve Waugh and his bowlers being crucified by the media.

That was because Australians hardly put a foot wrong in that match. It was solely due to the brilliance displayed by RD and VVS that India won that match. In this case, Akmal and Razzaq did the same thing but as was the case in that Kolkata match, we are n't blaming our bowlers either.

In this instance, let's give credit where it's due: Kamran Akamal and Abdul Razzaq deserve all the praise. They played superbly, with courage and determination. It was their day in the sun, literally and figuratively!

Absolutely. They deserve all the praise.

But, how much of a difference slow batting made is speculative. After all, Pakistan declared their innings. It's not as if India  bowled them out and then were  left with insufficient time to score the required runs.

I agree that in hindsight, it's hard to say what'd have happened but as a player for the benefit of the team, you put your best foot forward. After having dominated Pak bowling for 50 odd overs, it made no sense to start playing for time, as Sehwag said was the team strategy. When the opportunity was there to throw Pakistan out of the game by wrecking their bowling and demoralize them completely, our "ace" batsmen inexplicably decided to bring the opposition back in the game. Why? Let's look at the figures. Pak gave us a target of 250 odd runs in 35 overs. Pandit SRT, ustad SG, and to an extent VVS could have easily made another 100 runs but they played like worms moved. Assuming that Akmal and Razzaq "still" displayed the guts they showed in 3rd inning, even after having received a demoralizing blow from Indian team's carnage, it'd set a target of 150 in 35 overs for India.

Now, that does n't sound impossible or difficult for a star studded team like India. Does it?


What this draw has done for Pakistan is not just a mere "draw" in the first test. It has given them the belief that they can avoid defeat and Inzy was heard saying today that they now believe that they can win against India. I think we may have lost the initiative and the plot for this series.

Congratulations to Pakistan.