Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Which Way Will it Go?

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.

Make your pitch on this post...



5 Pitched:

  1. straight point said...
     

    if todays effort is anything to go by it (and series) will go only one way...and i hate to say where...

  2. Soulberry said...
     

    Bad day for Indian cricket. Well played Australia...Stuart Clark in particular.

    But more importantly, I amsaddened by the tragic news coming in from Pakistan. My condolences to Ms. Bhutto's family and the people of Pakistan.

  3. Q said...
     

    I guess we all know which way this match is going.

    Its shocking whats happened in Pakistan. It doesnt matter whether she was a good leader for the country or not, such acts spread notions of cowardness, fear, and a total non existence of law and order. Sad very sad.

  4. straight point said...
     

    i too join to express concerns at this regular frequency of events and irrespective of where it happens and to whom it happens we should all not only condemn this in strictest form but make sure there is harmony in people around us...

    god rest her soul in peace...

  5. Jrod said...
     

    Is our Imran safe?

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