Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Awesome Advertisement for Test Cricket

That's what the first test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was.

Who said Pakistan and Sri Lanka play boring dull draws?

They did so in Pakistan earlier this year but then that's how pitches have been off late in Pakistan.

If history is anything to go by, a Pakistan vs Sri Lanka test match produces a result more often than not - out of the 35 tests they have played against each other, only 12 have ended in draws.

Coming back to this test at Galle; it had everything one could have asked for from a test match.

Outstanding pace bowling with plenty of swing; canny spin bowling with batsmen trying hard to read and counter; brilliant rearguard actions with the bat; a dogged century from one of the best batsmen in the world; mini collapses and a major one on the 4th day; partnerships and broken ones; balls beating the bat; bats dominating a few sessions; pretty much even stakes for both sides throughout the game; and a result on the 4th morning.

All that came from both Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

And then we hear people say test cricket is not exciting!

There wasn't a single moment during this test match when I was bored. It was fast paced action throughout the four days.

Now I hope Sri Lanka are brave enough to have similar pitches for the two remaining test matches and don't produce flat tracks to enforce dull draws and a series win.

Ideally this series should go into the 3rd test at 1-1; then we would truly have an awesome advertisement for test cricket!

You tell me; would you rather watch fast paced cricket action over 3 hours in a T20 game, or the same for hours everyday for 5 days?

Make your pitch on this post...



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6 Pitched:

  1. Krish said...
     

    I don't agree fully, Q. I liked the first three days, but the last day was a mockery. It would been much more interesting if Pakistan was chasing 250+ and wickets fell at regular intervals and they won by a couple of wickets or lost by 10-20 runs.

    As for Herath, that is his best ever haul - a fluke.

    Sri Lanka lost most of the game and won one session to win the Test. That is not meaningful at all. The better team (Pakistan) lost, plain and simple.

  2. Gaurav Sethi said...
     

    Q, I was just over at Krish's - am convinced he is more upset that any Pakistani cricket fan today.

  3. Q said...
     

    Krish,

    All your points are valid and I agree. Pakistan were the better team till this morning.. they dominated the game from the moment YK won the toss.. they lost it today and their collapse was criminal but that doesn't take away the fact that it was an exciting test match and an interesting one to watch.

  4. Q said...
     

    NC,

    I had read that post earlier, but just saw the comments there.. yep Krish is angry.. don't get us wrong, we are too but its not shocking to see this.. I've explained the subdued reactions from Pakis over there.

  5. Wasim said...
     

    Q

    I completely agree.
    What makes a test match more exciting?

    The side show exhibition of sledging match between the two teams or the actual on field battle.

    One team has to win, SriLankan bowlers outplayed Pakistani batsmen on the last day and pulled victory out of the jaws of defeat. What can be more exciting for a true cricket fan.

  6. Q said...
     

    Agreed Wasim..

    Pakistan blew it but it was exciting cricket..

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