337-9 at the end of day 1. A scoring rate of almost 4 an over and 9 wickets. A 100 and a 5 wicket haul. A century opening partnership and a middle order mini collapse. A solid start and a fightback. All this went down at the MCG today. Who said test cricket is boring?

The first 90 overs of the 4-test series between India and Australia have suggested that the series will in fact live up to its potential of being the mother of all test series. At the end of day 1 its tough to call which way this match will go.

Kumble termed his 5 wicket haul as one of his best bowling performances, while Hayden said that his 100 was one of his best centuries. Day 1 brought out the best in 2 champion cricketers. If others keep coming up with their best performances during the series, we all are in for a treat!

AMK asks if India stand a chance in this series. I think they definitely do and they have a better chance than ever before. Agreed the big 4 of India's batting line up were in Australia in 2003 as well and they helped India to a 1-1 draw. Back then Australia were without Warne and Mcgrath as they are now, but India in 2003 did not have a Yuvraj or a Dhoni to follow the big 4, nor did they have an RP to partner a Zaheer, who is a far better bowler today than he was in 2003. And then there is the skipper, Kumble, who since 2003 has become the same devastating force on foreign soil as he is at home.

With the way India fought back today, and that too with an art that is considered their weaker form, one can expect a rollicking series. I predicted 1-0 for Australia a couple of days back based on the media reports that stated that 3 tests will be on flat pitches. The pitch today was anything but flat so my prediction will probably not stand. Its very tough to call. Australia seems to be the obvious answer but you just can't count India out.

India's batting tomorrow will in all probability provide the indication of which way the match and the series will go.

What was your favorite cricket moment / event during this year? If your favorite doesn't appear in the choices then let me know in the comments.

Two boxing day tests starting in less than 24 hours and 3 ODIs between the Kiwis and the Bengalis will round off 2007 in the cricketing world. Since i'll be going away to end 2007 and kick start 2008 in 3 days time, I thought I'd do the year's review now.

From the top of my cricket filled head:

Wasim Jaffer hits the first 100 of the year as India lose the 3rd test to the Proteas to lose the series 2-1.

Australia win the 5th test to whitewash England 5-0 and regain the Ashes. Warne and MacGrath end their test careers with one ending as the highest wicket taker in tests and the other as the highest wicket taker among pace bowlers. It was also the last test for Aussie opener Justin Langer.

Australia suggest 6 Ashes tests in the future. As if 5-0 wasn't enough.

England end tour on a high beating Australia in the finals of the Commonwealth Bank Series. Paul Collingwood scores two ODI 100s against Australia. A rare loss for the Aussies in their traditional home ODI triangular. England lose test series but win the ODI series - beginning of a turn around?

Australia lose Chappell Hadlee Trophy to the Kiwis 3-0. Hussey captains as Ponting, Gilchrist and some others give the series a miss.

Question marks raised over Australia's ODI form with some suggesting they were no longer favorites for the upcoming world cup. How wrong they were.

Windies tour India for an ODI series. Match fixing scandal emerges after many years with Samuels getting caught on tape talking to an alleged bookie. Alleged bookie says that Samuels like his son. I don't know which one is worse.

Shoaib Akhtar flies to South Africa for the 2nd test, takes 4 wickets in the first innings to demolish their top order, pulls his hamstring before 2nd innings, has an arguement with the late Bob Woolmer, and flies back to Pakistan. Fast and simple.

Inzamam plays one of his best knocks ever scoring 92 against the Proteas while batting with the tail and helping Pakistan win the 2nd test. He played only 2 tests after this one. Where's the justice?

South Africa goes ahead of Australia in the ODI rankings, albeit for a short period.

All those who expected one of the most exciting world cups with a caribbean touch, drum beats, loud music, free flowing rum and beer, thrilling matches, and a winning team that wasn't Australian were in a for rude shock. Musical instruments were not allowed inside the grounds, 2 cricketing giants exited after playing 3 matches, a coach passed away, there were too many boring matches AGAIN, the proteas choked AGAIN, an Aussie hit a 100 in the final AGAIN, and the Aussies won without losing a match AGAIN. And then someone said every game is a different game.

Brian Lara, Inzamam, Stephen Fleming, and Glen McGrath played their last ODI during the world cup. 9 coaches were left without a job once the world cup was over.

ICC decides to shorten the next world cup and cut it down to 4 days. Day 1 all teams arrive. Day 2 Photo shoot and welcome dinner. Day 3 award the trophy to the Aussies. Day 4 all teams leave. This plan is expected to cut down logistics costs and save millions of dollars for the ICC, make sure that there are no boring ODIs during a world cup, and ensure that the best team wins.

Indian and Pakistani companies rumoured to have made losses in billions due to the teams world cup exits. Younis Khan and Afridi bullied at the airport, Dhoni's under construction house stoned and broken down, and many others face similar onslaught from the fans.

Younis Khan declines Pakistan captaincy, goes off to Yorkshire to play county cricket. Shoaib Malik announced Pakistan captain.

Rahul Dravid hangs on to the captaincy despite India's dismal world cup performance.

India beat Bangladesh 2-0 in an ODI series, the same team that had ousted them from the world cup. Ganguly scores his first test 100 in 2 years. The previous one was against Zimbabwe 2 years ago. Succesful comeback? Not yet.

Pakistan under new captain Shoaib Malik beat World Cup finalists Sri Lanka 2-1 in an ODI series in Abu Dhabi. Shahid Afridi shows his value to the team as its most senior player. Pakistani fans feel Malik and Afridi are the solution to its cricketing woes.

Pakistan and India travel to Scotland to play an ODI. Shoaib Akhtar returns to the team as Salman Butt is named vice captain much to the senior players' dismay. The ODI is washed out without a ball being bowled. Pakistan go back home after a good holiday and India move on to England.

India beat England 1-0 in the 3 test series winning a series in England after many many moons. Ganguly emerges as India's best batsman on the tour. Now its been a succesful comeback. Dinesh Karthik becomes India's highest run getter for 2007 - where were Dravid and Sachin? Kumble hits his 1st test 100 in his 118th test match.

England beat India in the ODI series 4-3. Suprised? So was I. Who would have imagined England losing the tests and winning the ODIs for the 2nd time in the year.

Rahul Dravid resigns from the captaincy citing personal reasons. The world cup debacle doesn't make him do it and a 1-0 test win on an away tour and an ODI series loss of 4-3 makes him.

Kapil Dev, Subhash Chandra and other former cricketing greats along with Zee Telefilms launch the ICL. Grand plans involving Indian domestic players and internationals unveiled. BCCI feel threatened by a private body running cricket and term it a rebel league. Remove Kapil Dev from his post at the national academy and threaten to ban players representing the ICL. Other boards follow suit.

Retired cricketers Inzamam, Lara, Klusener sign with the ICL. McGrath and Warne are also linked. 50 domestic players to play in the ICL are revealed. Some top names like Dinesh Mongia, Sodhi, Rayudu are part of the list.

Teams prepare for the international 20-20 world cup. Pakistan drop Yousuf and Razzak from the squad. Pick Misbah instead of Yousuf amidst heavy criticism from fans, former players, etc. Dhoni announced Indian captain as Sachin, Saurav, Dravid give the cup a miss. Aussies claim 20-20 not serious cricket but ready for the world cup. South Africa drop Kallis and Boucher gives the selectors a mouth full.

Shoaib Akhtar flies in with Pakistan's squad for the 20-20 WC, practices twice, looks fit, hits Asif with the bat in the dressing room, and flies back to Pakistan. That was faster than his previous trip to South Africa.

Yousuf, Razzak, Farhat sign with the ICL. Pakistan threatens with life bans but threats fall on deaf ears. Many other internationals Cairns, Astle, Mcmillian, Boje, Hall, Azhar Mahmood, Atapattu, Arnold among others to sign with ICL.

ICC are beaming as the 20-20 WC is a success. The world gets an exciting world cup with fast paced action, thrilling matches, dancers, and a champion that is not Australia. All in 2 weeks!

The cricketing giants that exited the world cup earlier in the year in the 1st round play the final of this one and India wins in the last over by 5 runs as an unlikely hero for Pakistan, Misbah, plays the infamous scoop shot.

Aussies are bitter, Yuvraj hits broad for six 6s in one over, Misbah proves his worth to Pakistan, Symonds says Aussies don't like 20-20, Dhoni looks like a natural leader, Afridi is player of the series for his bowling, Gul looks like Waqar Younis, Gilchrist says 20-20 good for fans but not players, South Africa choke, and Australia don't win. That was the 20-20 world cup!

India celebrate 20-20 win in grand style. Aussies are shocked by the celebrations as they arrive for an ODI series. Dhoni announced as ODI captain for series against Australia. India's big 3 return. Calls for seniors to move on.

PCB try to convince Yousuf to break away from ICL contract and persuade him to play for Pakistan against South Africa. Sums of dollars make a bitter Yousuf agree to PCB's demands.

Pakistan and India get a taste of reality as they are comprehensively beaten by South Africa and Australia respectively in 'real' cricket.

Sachin's run of 90s continue. The century eludes him.

After immense media speculation Inzamam announces his retirement from test cricket, PCB grant him a farewell match in the 2nd test against South Africa and hefty dollars as a farewell gift. Requiring 21 runs to go past Miandad's record for most test runs by a Pakistani, Inzy scores 14 and 3.

Kallis scores 3 centuries and a fifty in 4 innings on his return to the team.

The Indian cricket board along with other international boards and the ICC announce the launch of the IPL. McGrath, Warne, Fleming attend the launch along with Sachin, Saurav, and Dravid. Yousuf cancels ICL contract and signs with IPL. ICL threatens legal action. Inzamam says he wants to play both. BCCI threaten ICL linked players, refuse ICL players from practicing on their grounds, and take every step possible to sabotage ICL.

ICL is delayed due to 'teething' problems but Kapil Dev ensures it will get underway before the end of the year.

Kallis' amazing run in tests continues as he scores another two 100s against the Kiwis in 3 innings. The Proteas win the test and ODI series as Vettori's captaincy is questioned.

Q and Obaid launch WellPitched.

Pakistan prepares for a tour of India. Pakistan termed weakest team to travel to India. Shoaib Akhtar part of the team but Asif is injured. Younis takes over vice captaincy as Butt's form suffers. Dravid dropped from ODI squad as Indian media goes wild with conspiracy theories.

Sachin's run of 90s in ODIs continues with 2 in the series taking the count to 6 for the year. Malik looks lost. Misbah gets out scooping again. Rameez Raja questions Shahrukh Khan about his latest HIT and BCCI gets upset with SRK for promoting his movie during an ODI. Dhoni and Yuvraj fight over Deepika. Pakistani cricketers party with bollywood stars as Shoaib seeks role in an Indian movie. India win ODI series 3-2.

Anil Kumble named Indian test captain after Sachin declines and media speculates between Dhoni and Kumble. Misbah emerges as Pakistan's batting hero. Dravid and Yousuf lose form. Question marks over Malik's captaincy as he gives last 2 tests a miss. Younis captains, says he didnt pick XI, disagrees to captain for 3rd test, and captains again. Shoaib Akhtar plays all 3 tests despite not being fully fit in either of them. Ganguly ends as India's most successful batsman, scores his first double, and his 1st 100 on his home ground - what a comeback its been. Yuvraj finally gets a test and scores 169. Kumble is praised as India beat Pakistan in a test series at home after 30 years.

Australia beat the Lankans 2-0 in tests as Sangakkara scores a breathtaking 192 in the 2nd test. Aussies deny Murali world record on their soil. Murali's bad record against Australia continues.

The ICL gets underway. Entire tournament is played in 1 ground. 30 current and former internationals take part. Tournament is a huge success. Future looks bright. Claim that they did what they promised despite all the setbacks and without any support from BCCI or other bodies.

IPL future looks bleak due to packed international schedule. Aussies players get into a row with CA over their participation in IPL.

West Indies lose to Zimbabwe in the 1st ODI. Win the next 4.

England beat the Lankans in an ODI series in Sri Lanka 3-2. Lose the test series 1-0. What is happening? The English winning ODIs and losing tests 3rd time in the year - looks like the focus is finally shifting. 20 years too late?

Murali breaks Warne's record and becomes highest wicket taker in tests. Claims he wants to take a 1,000. Warne says he can do it. Sangakkara scores 152 and becomes only man to score over 150 in 4 consecutive tests. Moves to 1 in test rankings before Ponting regains his top spot without playing. How do the ratings work?

Australia regain Chappell-Hadlee Trophy as Ponting scores two 100s in the 2 ODIs that were played. Vettori questions batsmen. Hadlee and Fleming question Vettori.

India arrive in Australia for the "test series of the year". India is confident, Australia is well Australian. Kumble watches videos of batsmen. Dravid agrees to open. Warne calls Buchanan a goose. Gilchrist asks Warne to show some respect. Harbhajan says India happy to play Hogg. Ponting says he's happy that India's happy to play Hogg. Ganguly claims India ready for Lee. Australian selectors undecided over bowling attack. Laxman suggests India plays best against Australia. Stuart Clark hopes for bouncy wicket. Micheal Clarke confident of continuing good test form. Symonds wants to score heavily. Sachin says India is ready. Australia always is.

Thats been 2007 in cricket. Have I missed anything that deserves to be on this list?

While flipping through the TV channels last night I was left speechless for a second when I saw Shoaib Akhtar singing some Indian numbers on Sahara TV. He was on a show called "Jhoom India", which is one of the million reality singing competitions doing the rounds on Indian Televisions these days.

Mahesh Bhatt, the director whose film Shoaib refused a couple of years back, was one of the judges on the show and was probably the one who convinced Shoaib to do the show. Or maybe not. The pic on the right is from one of the parties thrown by Sahara Group, one which was attended by both the Pakistani and Indian cricketers. In the pic Shoaib is seen chatting up one of Sahara's top men. Was the deal being signed here?

I had been thinking that its been ages since I've blogged but when I sat down to post I realised it had only been 6 days, which isn't that long a time but considering all that has gone down in the cricketing world over the last week, it does seem like ages.

I can't speak for the other writers on wellpitched, but for me December has been a very busy month with training programs, conferences, national day holidays, weddings back home in Karachi, and Eid madness here in Abu Dhabi. And it gets busier with my planned new year's trip to Thailand!

That was my schedule. Moving on to cricket, the last week to 10 days saw the Aussies regain the Chappell-Hadlee trophy, the Windies bowl the Proteas out for 54 in a 13-13 game, Dravid opening for the Indians against Victoria, the English get bowled out for 81 and 'save' the last test against the Lankans, and the Windies lose their tour match inside 3 days to South Africa A.

All that in a week? There was more!

Ponting got 2 centuries in the 2 ODIs that produced a result against the Kiwis. He now sits on 25 ODI centuries putting him in 2nd place, equal with Jayasuriya and behind Sachin.

Jayawardene got his double 100 that he missed in the 2nd test. Along with King Sanga he has also had an amazing run with the bat posting 5 centuries in his last 8 tests, with a 195 and 213* in the last 2.

King Sanga's reign was short lived as he moved down to 3rd in the test ratings behind Ponting and Kallis.

Dale Steyn produced one of the finest displays of fast bowling I've seen since Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. Even though it was only a 20-20 reduced to a 13-13 and the Proteas were defending 54, the 4 beauties that he produced in his first 12 deliveries were a treat to watch!

India's only tour game before the 1st test against the Aussies was washed out but the little cricket that took place showed what India's think tank has in store. Dravid walked out to open with Jaffer and Laxman batted at 3. There was no Karthik and Yuvraj was slated at 6. I believe this is the batting line up that India should walk out with on the 26th.

There has been plenty of debate about whether Dravid should open or not, whether Sehwag should play or not and so on. I think its clear to everyone that Yuvraj HAS to play and the only way that is possible is if Dravid opens. With the kind of form Jaffer is in, he is bound to open thus Sehwag will be warming the bench.

Even though Laxman walked out at 3 against Victoria, I think it should be Ganguly batting at that position given his current form. Recently in an interview Ganguly pointed out that he's missed out on a number of 100s cause of batting at 5 or 6 in tests. Now he has a chance of batting at 3 and the Indian management should give him that opportunity and he should grab it with both hands.

I'm looking forward to the test series, which has the potential to produce 4 of the most nerve wrecking matches. I'm rueing the fact that I'll be missing the first 2 tests cause of my new year's trip, but its Thailand, I can't be complaining. I hope they follow cricket in Koh Samui. Do they?

India's bowling is the weakness and I don't see Kumble & Co. picking up 20 Aussie wickets nor do I see Australia doing the same without Warne & McGrath. High scoring draws? If India's batting line up lives up to its potential that might just be the case cause you can guarantee that Hayden, Jacques, Ponting, Clarke, and Hussey will be pounding 100s throughout the series.

1-0 to Australia is my prediction. Your bets?

Shoaib Akhtar went to India with a multi-purpose agenda, which looked like:

Congrats to all the Indians for managing to beat Pakistan in a test series at home for the first time in 27 years. It could have been 2-0 or even 3-0 had the Indians prepared less batting friendly wickets. In my preview of the test series I had made some predictions and here's how wrong I was. To recap, I had said the following:

"I predict results in all 3 matches, a decider at Bangalore, 500+ runs for Sachin Tendulkar, 20 wickets for Shoaib Akhtar, a Yuvi 100 in the 3rd test where he would have replaced Laxman, 2 centuries for Faisal Iqbal, question marks over Dravid's lack of runs, a career ending series for Kamran Akmal, the retention of Anil Kumble as captain for the series against Australia, and praise for skipper Shoaib Malik."

There was only 1 result, Bangalore wasn't a decider, Sachin didn't get 500+ but Ganguly did, Shoaib didn't get 20 wickets and no one else did either, Yuvraj did get the 100 but he hadn't replaced Laxman, Faisal didn't get 2 centuries but Misbah did, Dravid's form is being questioned, Akmal's batting form saved his a$$, Anil Kumble has been retained and praised, and Malik conveniently sat out the series.

Clearly the crystal ball isn't functioning well.

Top 5 of the series

1. Misbah Ul Haq - The 464 runs at an average of 116.00 don't speak as loudly as the manner in which they were scored. Batting with the tail in each test he managed scores of 82, 161*, and 133* and bailed Pakistan out of trouble each time. Had he not jumped in the 1st test he would have walked off not out in that innings too. He was the difference between a 1-0 and a 3-0 scoreline in this series. Hats off to the man. Pakistan have found the perfect replacement for Inzamam.

2. Saurav Ganguly - 534 runs at 89.00, 4 wickets at 19.25, a test best of 239, and a man of the series award. Who would have thought that a man fighting for his place in the test side a year ago would deliver in this way. Many thought his international career was over and many were calling for Yuvraj to replace him but Ganguly ended the series as the top scorer on both sides. People may say that he got a double hundred, a hundred, and a 91 against a below average bowling attack but it was the same attack that Sachin and Dravid faced. For me his best innings was the 48 at the fag end of the 4th day of the 1st test - the way he played on a pitch that other batsmen found impossible to bat on showed the kind of form he was in.

3. Anil Kumble - As always he was at his best with the ball. He was the highest wicket taker in the series with 18 wickets at 26.50. He kept at it like he always does. His captaincy though I am not impressed with. In the 1st test he looked very good but then a victory makes every captain look good but in the following 2 tests he wasn't attacking enough, lacked innovation in the field, lost his cool several times when the wickets weren't coming, and appealed desperately. Australia will be a test for him, especially when his own wickets will dry up.

4. Wasim Jaffer - This man will open for India for the next decade and get plenty of runs. With the bat, he reminds me of Azharuddin in his younger days. The double hundred he got was an exquisite and flawless knock and he had a very bright future to look forward to. He was the 2nd highest run scorer for India after Ganguly and that is some feat considering he plays in the same XI as Sachin, Dravid, and Laxman.

5. Yuvraj Singh - In the only test he played he scored 169 on the 1st day and took 2 wickets on the last day. And yet he doesn't have a permanent place in India's XI. Goes to show how much stronger the Indian team was going into this series. Its hard to keep Yuvi out of a top performer list these days - he has been in the best form of his life this year and India need to find a way to fit him into the team sheet before Kumble goes out for the toss with Ricky Ponting in 2 weeks.

Players for the Future

Yasir Arafat - His morning spell on his 1st day of test cricket could have squared the series for Pakistan but Ganguly and Yuvi had different ideas. He bowled with pace and aggression and looked the fittest of all Pakistani pace bowlers. He has been on the fringes of selection for a long time now and had a brilliant debut with both ball and bat - looks like a bright future is ahead of him.

Ishant Sharma - are you kidding me? No chance in hell. Those who criticized him before he took his 5 wicket haul were right when they said the man doesn't have it for this level. He proved them right in Pakistan's 2nd innings as well. Ganguly's grand mom could have taken a 5-for against Pakistan's tail the way they played during this series.

Sohail Tanvir - He needs to work a bit with Wasim Akram and learn how to get the ball back in but he's a star in the making. I can feel it. The ball he got Dravid with in the 1st test will remain in memory just like Shoaib Akhtar's yorkers from the 99 tour to India.

Disappointments of the Series

Danish Kaneria - Much was expected from him and he flattered all of us with his shorter run up and all that jazz in the 1st test. But from thereon it was down hill. Pakistan need a quality spinner and they need one soon.

Mohammad Yousuf - his form of last season has ditched him and an average of 32.00 is well below his standards. Pakistan needed him more than ever without an Inzi to follow but Pakistan's premier batsman failed to deliver.

Dinesh Karthik - Prior to this series he was India's highest scorer in tests during 2007, but against Pakistan he just couldn't get going till his last innings of the series. Moreover his performance behind the stumps would have put a smile on Akmal's face.

Other Ramblings

The only reason I haven't put Shoaib Akhtar on that list is because I have realised that an unfit Akhtar is better than a fit Pakistan bowling attack put together. The man managed 3 tests in a row - how many times has he done this before?

Mohammad Sami gets full marks for trying but his days as a bowler look over. Maybe Pakistan can use him to solve their opening problems.

India go of to Australia now and I'm looking forward to that series - it has the potential to be a cracker!

Pakistan, on the other hand will host Zimbabwe for a 5 match ODI series and that should be a good opportunity to test some fresh legs. The likes of Khalid Latif, Anwar Ali, Fawad Alam, Najaf Shah, and Sarfraz Ahmed should get the chance to show their talent in that series. Let see if the selectors agree with me. Knowing how the selectors' minds and my crystal ball function, not many of those names will feature in the squad when its announced.

After his match winning innings of 92 and 152 against England in the 1st test, Kumar Sangakkara displaced Ricky Ponting from the number one position in ICC's rankings for test batsmen. Is he the best test batsmen in the world today? Arguably so and here's why.

• After scoring the 152, Sanga became the first batsman to score over 150 in 4 consecutive tests - 200* and 222* against Bangladesh, 192 against Australia, and then the 152. Sir Don Bradman managed 3.


• Prior to bullying the bengalis, Sanga had put the Kiwis to the sword late last year on his way to 100* and 156* in the 2 tests.


• Trace back his scores and one sees that before touring New Zealand, Sanga had given a taste of what is to come during his test best majestic innings of 287 against South Africa in Colombo.
  
• In his last 9 tests (14 innings), Sanga has scored 7 centuries and 2 fifties. Out of the 7 hundreds, 2 are above 150 and another 2 above 200! One of the 2 fifties is a 90 plus score.

Any doubt that he sits above all test batsmen? None whatsoever for me! Read on.

• Out of his 16 test centuries, 5 are above 150 and 6 above 200!
  
• Sanga has scored a 100 against every test playing country and apart from India, he has a 150 plus score against each one of them. He averages over 40.00 against every test playing country.
  
• 12 of his centuries have resulted in wins for Sri Lanka, while 1 in a draw. Only 3 of them have been scored in lost causes.

Take a look at Sanga's record when playing purely as a batsman rather than a wicketkeeper.(Read as M, I, Runs, Ave, 100s, 50s)

• As designated keeper 47 79 3093 41.24 7 11
  
• Not as keeper 22 35 2892 96.40 9 13

Its bradmanesque! The best batsmen in the world? Arguably so!

On the eve of the final test match in the India vs Pakistan series, there is a lot to play for. India is up 1-0 in the two match series, they have not won a test match in Bangalore since 1995 and Pakistan have never lost a test series in India since 1979/1980.

Looking back at 1979/80, things are back full circle. In that series, the first test was played at Bangalore and in the current one, the last test is being played at Bangalore. A look back at the scoreboards of those 6 test matches makes for interesting reading. Mudassir Nazar made a century in the first test match... that alone should tell you something about the pace of the game. In the second test at Delhi, India was in a position to win the match, requiring 390 to win the game in the last innings. They were in a strong position at 117/2 at the start of day 5, but decided not to chase the target, falling short by just 26 runs with 4 wickets still in hand !?! India won 2 of the remaining 4 games and Pakistan remained winless on tour.

Other interesting facts from that era.

- The 2nd edition of the world cup had been played in the summer of 1979. Sri Lanka upset India by 47 runs - this must have been as big an upset as Bangladesh beating India this WC or Ireland beating Pakistan (how long ago was that...!)

- Imran Khan picked up an injury in the 2nd test match and did not bowl till the 5th game I think. You can draw parallels between him and Shoaib, but then thats where the comparisons stop :)

- The Kotla at Delhi somehow favors one bowler running through the opposition. In teh 2nd test which was played there, Sikandar Bakht took 8 Indian wickets in teh first innings bowling India out for 120 odd... how Pakistan didnt win the game from there and actually set India a target they almost reached is incomprehensible. Maybe Soulberry can shed some light on this trend, being a citizen of Delhi.

- And finally, those who argue for more games in a test series... I think 6 is way too many. It looks like the players really got into it after the first 2 test matches and were more concerned about not losing at the start of the series.

Now to the present era, the game is about to start in a few hours. Seems like wellpitched readers have once again conspired to influence things like team lineups. Younis Khan is going to continue as Pakistan captain (donkey rides and all) and Yuvraj is set to make his entry to the test side. I think Yuvraj and Pathiv may come in for India in place of Tendulkar and Dhoni. For Pakistan Abdur Rehman, the left arm spinner may come in for Sami.

A combination of work and travel has kept me away from blogging. I was in Portland, OR, this weekend watching the USA capture a record 32nd Davis Cup Tennis championship. I know tennis is not related to cricket, but few people know that the Davis Cup competition has a very interesting connection with cricket.

In 1877, the Longwood Cricket Club was established in Boston, very close to Fenway Park. This club was used for lawn tennis, cricket as well as baseball. The first Davis Cup was also held at Longwood in 1900. This is the second instance that I know off where a cricket field was used for tennis. The other one is a Davis Cup tie between Pakistan and India that was played on the outfield of Bombay's Wankhede stadium a couple of years back. I wonder if grass fields in England and France were used for both cricket and tennis in earlier days when these sports were ... I need to investigate some more.

Anyways, to prove that i wasnt slacking and was actually away, here is a picture I took of the winning team. In the picture (from the left) you can see James Blake, Billie Jean King, one of the Bryan twins, Andy Roddick, Patrick McEnroe, the other Bryan twin. the Davis Cup has a very rowdy and partisan atmosphere and it was a great experience



Back to cricket... it seems the the Pakistani cricket team does have a spine but the lower part of the spine has more substance than the upper half. Will Misbah engineer a draw in this test? Is it too late for the Pakistani team in this series? Or is this the start of a fight back that will continue to the next test?

With the start of the ICL its time for a new poll. So far the games have been well attended and have been very well organized. Who do you think is going to win it all? Let us know