The dorks still think they are living in the Raj. Read the headline <!--emo&:o--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ohmy.gif' /><!--endemo--> India <b>warned </b>over Australia Tests
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The dorks still think they are living in the Raj. Read the headline India warned over Australia Tests <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ya, ICC are losing big money. Hey these guys should know India Judiciary system, which Indians have aped from Raj.
Woolmer says "Indians cant hook". Will that be the strategy tomorrow ??? It can certainly work against Saurav - but I think Viru/VVS/Rahul/Yuvi have the tools to counter this.. Saurav OTOH can take apart Afridi (Insha-allah ofcourse !)..
BTW how is the interest for this trophy in India ???
So where does Shoaib Akhtar come in. Does Woolmer expect him to do what Lee had accomplished for the Aussies?
"There is no batsman in the world who is comfortable against fast, short-pitched bowling, particularly when it is directed at the head. It's just not this generation of batsmen. You take any generation down the years, and they all had the same problem.
"Intimidation certainly comes in. The thing is no one likes playing short-pitched bowling -- some play it better than others, but no one is comfortable. Mohammad Sami is genuinely quick as well."
But, on the whole, Woolmer believes that one-day cricket is a completely different ball game and the result of a match will not hinge on the bowling alone. Batting, fielding and doing that tiny things, like running between wickets, well might make the difference between victory and defeat.
Considering Woolmer's contempt for the Indian batsmen's technique against short-pitched bowling one couldn't resist asking him which player has best technique against short-pitched bowling?
After a bit if hesitation, he replied: "Sachin Tendulkar."
Unfortunately for India, their greatest batsmen will not be there to blunt Shoaib Akhtar like he did during the 2003 World Cup.
Maybe, Woolmer's game plan will come out trumps tomorrow.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Pakistan 140-5 (38.1) Runs Balls 4's 6's SR Â
Y Hameed c A Nehra b I Pathan 15Â Â 29Â 1 0Â 51.72Â Â
Imran Farhat c R Dravid b I Pathan 0Â Â 4Â 0 0Â 0.00Â Â
S Malik c R Dravid b I Pathan 5Â Â 7Â 1 0Â 71.43Â Â
Inzamam c R Dravid b A Agarkar 41Â Â 79Â 5 0Â 51.90Â Â
<b>Y Youhana not out 57Â Â 80Â 4 1Â 71.25Â Â </b>
A Razzaq b V Sehwag 9Â Â 21Â 0 0Â 42.86Â Â
<b>Moin Khan not out 7Â Â 8Â 0 0Â 87.50 </b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is the time you realize how important Tendulkar is. Not only for collective psyche of the team (and the opponents) but his contributions. Whatever his recent performance but his precense is, like John Umrao from BR said, acts as a deterrent.
There is no point in analyzing the latest defeat (three in a row).
I have concluded that India is too unpredictable (bookie factor, disinterest of players) to have any meaningful analysis. If they can get their win-lose numbers to be 7-3 (7 wins, 3 losses in 10 games) only then there will be some degree of confidence in them. But far too many external factors affect them I believe.
Suddenly it is the batting that is letting us down. Kudos to bowlers for defending such a low score.
Seems like ever since we have adopted the 7 batsmen recipie, the scores have taken a nose dive. Time to roll a few heads and bring in other promising players. They can't be any worse <!--emo&<_<--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Seven batsmen recipe or hazaar (1000) batsmen recipe ain't gonna help if the batsmen don't play <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
If there is any consolation Aussies lost against England.
SOUTHAMPTON: West Indies has beaten Pakistan by seven wickets in the second semi-final of the ICC Championâs trophy.
West Indies would now meet England in the final of the Championâs trophy at the oval.
<b>Pakistan after winning the toss elected to bat first but this decision did not went in Pakistanâs favour as all the Pakistani batsmen fared miserably in front of West Indian bowlers and Pakistan was bowled out for 131 runs in 38.2 overs. West Indies easily achieved the 131 run target with the loss of only three wickets in 28.1 overs.</b>
West Indies also had a poor start in their innings as openers Gayle got out on 1 and Hinds got out after scoring only 5 runs. But after the opening pair departed Brian Lara and Sarawan made a brilliant partnership. Lara after scoring 31 was retired hurt while Sarawan scored 56 and remained not out. Chanderpaul got out on 11 while Powell scored 7 runs and also remained not out.
Shoaib Akhter took two wickets and Shoaib Malik took one wicket from Pakistan while Razzaq, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan and Mohammad Sami were unable to take any wicket.
<b>To add Insult to the Jehadisâ Injury Ramnaresh Sarwan was declared Man of the Match</b>
Ind-Oz first test is ON... <!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Oz elect to bat. Tendlya is out due to injury.. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Here is how the slit-eyed one reads our batting.. <!--emo&<_<--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Waugh analyses Indian batsmen
October 05, 2004 12:20 IST
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh said that India skipper Saurav Ganguly is suspect against the short ball, while analysing the strengths and weaknesses of India's batsmen ahead of the four-Test series against Australia, which starts in Bangalore.
The 39-year-old published his list of "the batsmen we must stop" in a column in Melbourne newspaper The Herald Sun on Tuesday.
Waugh said Ganguly was India's best player of spin but not so fond of the quick stuff. "(He) gets caught up with the short ball at his body and is unsure when to play the hook shot," said the former Australia captain.
Ganguly would be under enormous pressure if India lost the first Test, Waugh added.
Waugh also said that ego could affect the concentration of strokeplayer Virender Sehwag and Akash Chopra was uncertain against the short ball.
MEDIOCRE SERIES
Saying that Rahul Dravid was mentally the strongest cricketer in world cricket, Waugh added, "(He is) due for a mediocre series to prove he's human".
He thinks Sachin Tendulkar, who is battling an elbow injury, could lose his edge if he engaged in on-field banter while Vangipurappu Laxman was not in top form, had poor footwork and played away from his body outside the off-stump.
Yuvraj Singh could struggle with nerves despite a confident swagger, added Test cricket's most capped player.
Waugh retired in January after a 1-1 draw in the four-Test series at home against India, who retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after they had won 2-1 on their home soil in 2001.
Throughout Waugh's celebrated 168-Test career, a Test series victory in India eluded him. Australia have not won a series there since Bill Lawry's team triumphed 3-1 in 1969.
Australia assistant coach Tim Neilsen said on Tuesday the team would use Waugh's dossier in their planning for the first Test.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
BTW Sunny G has been made the consultant to Indian team - a day before the test begins <!--emo&:o--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ohmy.gif' /><!--endemo--> Both Bhajji/Kumble in team.
Methinks Hayden and Gilly are danger-men - what do we know about this Clarke fellow ?
I guess we are not interested in the current state of affairs in the first test <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Why ruin a good day <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo--> Back to <!--emo&leepy--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sleepysmileyanim.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sleepysmileyanim.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->what do we know about this Clarke fellow ?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I guess we know now.. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> Can somebody who has seen the match video explain how he played Bhajji/Kumble ? One of the reports said he played spin well. Is that because the track was flat ? Will he be able to play like this on 5th day for eg ??
In any case guys, have some faith. I think the immediate target is 274. If that can be achieved somehow the game is wide open. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
If we can restrict the aussies to about 70-80 runs tomorrow till lunch and grab some quick wkts I think we have a good chance - 450 is gettable - and if we somehow force aussies to extend beyond lunch then a draw is enforceable. Aussies have to declare by lunch and we have to restrict them till lunch.
The game aint over yet. Go Irfan, Go Parthiv .. <!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo-->
The top order is gone. and its drinks. Clarke is back in pavillion. Get Gilly and Martyn (last recognised) and we should be ok. The ball must be turning like a top but if we can squeeze out a couple more hours and wrap up aussies in the next 50 runs we have a thriller on hands..
An hour into the 4th day and it still aint over yet.. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Harbhajan Singh    29 2 90 <b>2</b> 0 0Â
A Kumble    17.3 4 48 <b>7</b> 1 0 <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo--> Back to <!--emo&
leepy--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sleepysmileyanim.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sleepysmileyanim.gif' /><!--endemo-->
