Mumbai Test: A frustating experience

I am home now. Thank god i am not gonna miss these crucial test matches due to some freaky endsems or other stupid things. Away from all hurdles, here in Patna.

But sadly, not the best of the times here as India lost the test to make the scores level to 1-1.India were handed a humiliating 10-wicket loss by the English, who were expected to struggle on the spinning  track that Dhoni had asked for before the game.Instead of the Indian spinners, it was England's Monty Panesar who made batsmen dance to his tune and walked away with 11 wickets. On the other hand, Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook proved their class with hundreds on a track that seemed horrible for the others.It was a victory which will have roused England's self-belief in Asia. Otherwise they had gone home empty handed when they last time visited india in 2009.

I will also remember this match for some crucial umpiring errors by Aleem Dar, still knowing that India would still have not done better. They must learn from their mistakes. As the series is not wide open, India must go to Kolkata on   a high spirit. England has been able to make impact after the first innings of Ahmedabad.

I am waiting eagerly for the Kolkata test. Let's see what combination does India trust for the eden gardens.
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India vs England First Test: Ahmedabad

Since The end sems are going by, i could not watch this one completely. Still , it was a lot better than i had anticipated it after 3 days.India have comprehensively trumped England in the first Test at Ahmedabad to set the tone for the series. There were some batsmen in this test who looked like they could bat forever, take cook, pujara. Pujara was looking as if he wanted to bat till the earth finishes in 2012. And Alastair Cook, He almost did it.He spanned for about 505 minutes and His 176 was a monument to concentration, stamina, skill and determination.He left records trailing and the Indian bowlers at a loss.In partnership with wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who again showed his ability against spin, Cook gave England hope of saving the match.

When a captain begins his second innings with a 330-run deficit after following-on, batting for so long is as much a mental discipline as a physical one.Pietersen’s contribution was of six balls that showed all his problems against left-arm spin. He miscalculated a sweep so badly he was bowled behind his legs.And a personal bad news is that Gautam Gambhir fled back to Delhi due to his grandmother's death.

It was a team-effort with two players in particular standing out. The caravan now moves to the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and India must maintain the same level of intensity in the second Test. They shouldn’t allow England to come back if they are to avenge their defeat of the summer of 2011.

Waiting eagerly for next test and also end sems to pass over.
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Indian Bench Strength

I have still not been able to understand the reasoning behind giving Rohit Sharma this many number of chances ahead of Manoj Tiwary.Forget Day and Night Test cricket, if ever there’s Bench Cricket, Manoj Tiwary will be its captain. The selectors say: Rohit Sharma has talent, Suresh Raina trains to finish the game and Yuvraj Singh is back so poor Manoj Tiwary has got no chance at all.For now, Rohit is a T20 special, who blocks that slot regardless of runs.His lack of scores are a mystery not only for me but for him as well.This would not have happened at all had the selectors had him let go out of the team after such dismal show against Srilanka (Mind it he had scored 13 runs in 5 innings in that series.) Instead, Rohit returned like a sequel of movie.

Then there is Suresh Raina. Everywhere we go, Raina keeps telling that he trains to finish the game. That must be IPL games, and the occasional T20 and one day game for India.He still has not been able to impress me at all.

And Yuvraj Singh, personally i like him a lot. He is like a force, you can't control it.He is the only one who can bat, bowl, or field all. He also got the wickets of KP and Ian Bell in the practice game. He is after all India's third spinner for the test.

But, The strategy of Indian selectors is still like some computational problem:
Whether P=NP or not?

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Is Indian Team really hungry for winning?

India were decimated in England last summer. The 4-0 whitewash doesn't even begin to describe the complete and utter domination of the English side. The story doesn't end here. They lost against Australia too to make it 0-8.

But what about the team now, do they believe that they can win every single match against the English at home?They had certainly better be aiming for that.While they might be realistic about the nature of the pitches and the outcomes, still the 4-0 result is less likely now looking at the forms of each individual in Indian team. As i feel the team has weakened by the spots of Mighty Rahul Dravid, and very very special Laxman. England will be quite happy to play for a draw in the series. If England are to win even one of the matches, that will be victory enough for them. The big question then is, just how badly do India really want to thrash England.

India's rise to the top wasn't the result of dominating the world cricket scene,Rather, India played consistently good, cricket over a period of time while other sides declined to do so. India were destined to become the first side to win the world cup at home. Isn't that a great achievement?

But, now where we are today? Rank 5 in tests, 3 in ODI and 5th in T20s. Very dismal indeed for a nation where cricket is treated like a religion.  I am just hoping that they will overshadow this poor phase and bounce back really very hard.

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Why cricket is better than GirlFriends?

I do not know whether it is the result of my parents, teachers, friends or someone else, but whatever be the case,or some reason or another I have been an obsessed cricket nerd and i am quite proud about that.In the school whenever i got even a little time between recess or anything, i chose that for cricket rather than other activities. Numerous exams of mine have been ruthlessly spoilt due to this, but No matter what life has thrown at me, my desire to watch Test matches, one-dayers and now Twenty20, has never diminished and will never diminish.It all started in 2000 and will continue till last breath. When India reached final in world cup 2003, then lost it who can forget that moment? Still , i was too damn proud of this national cricket team. In fact, these are the only things that make me happy from inside. Now i got why i could never have any girl friend as if ever i had one, i would have treated her only after cricket which would have led to what you say "breakup".
Ok so this post still has not really deciphered what exactly it is that thrills me about cricket, so I’ll throw in some keys points on what gets me going.

A team winning or losing off the one remaining ball. A six being smashed for the win. That sound of the stumps being cracked.An elegant sweep shot. That shared moment of laughter between batsman and bowler when there is a near miss. Sachin Tendulkar, Dale Steyn. Mitchell Johnson. and numerous names waiting.
If you love cricket I’m sure you nodded in agreement at a few of the above.
I just want you all to say:"There should be more of Cricket in the World!"

Thank you