India v. Australia: 3rd Test: Score Board

Test: 3rd Test
Venue: Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi
Dates: October 29-November 2, 2008
Teams: India and Australia
Hosts: India
Captains: A Kumble and Ricky Ponting
Toss: India
Match Result: Drawn
Series Result: India lead 1-0
Man of the Match: VVS Laxman (India)

India 1st Innings 613 for 7 declared in 161 overs (Sehwag 1, Gambhir 206, Dravid 11, Tendulkar 68, Laxman 200 not out, Ganguly 5, Dhoni 27, Kumble 45, Zaheer Khan 28 not out, Extras--22 (b 6, lb 8, w 2, nb 6), Lee 30-2-119-1, S Clark 33-9-69-0, Johnson 32-4-142-3, Watson 20-4-66-2, White 15-1-73-0, M Clarke 14-0-59-0, Katich 15-3-60-1, Ponting 2-0-11-0)

Fall of Wickets: 1-5 (Sehwag, 2.1 ov), 2-27 (Dravid, 10.4 ov), 3-157 (Tendulkar, 51.5 ov), 4-435 (Gambhir, 123.6 ov), 5-444 (Ganguly, 126.2 ov), 6-481 (Dhoni, 133.4 ov), 7-579 (Kumble, 155.4 ov)

Australia 1st Innings 577 all out in 179.3 overs (Hayden 83, Katich 64, Ponting 87, Hussey 53, Michael Clarke 112, Watson 36, Haddin 17, White 44, Lee 8, Johnson 15, SR Clark 1 not out, Extras--57 (b 28, lb 17, w 2, nb 10), Zaheer Khan 23-5-86-0, I Sharma 25-5-84-0, Kumble 43.3-9-112-3, Mishra 47-12-144-2, Sehwag 40-9-104-5, Tendulkar 1-0-2-0)

Fall of Wickets: 1-123 (Katich, 34.1 ov), 2-202 (Hayden, 57.2 ov), 3-284 (Ponting, 85.4 ov), 4-326 (Hussey, 101.6 ov), 5-399 (Watson, 122.1 ov), 6-426 (Haddin, 131.5 ov), 7-532 (White, 162.5 ov), 8-555 (Lee, 175.4 ov), 9-567 (Clarke, 178.1 ov), 10-577 (Johnson, 179.3 ov)

India 2nd Innings (lead by 36 runs) 208 for 5 declared in 77.3 overs (Gambhir 36, Sehwag 16, I Sharma 1, Dravid 11, Tendulkar 47, Laxman 59 not out, Ganguly 32 not out, Extras--6 (lb 4, w 1, nb 1) Lee 17-3-48-2, SR Clark 12-6-22-1, MJ Clarke 20.3-7-56-0, Katich 1-0-5-0, Johnson 12-0-23-1, White 8-0-23-1, Watson 7-0-27-0)

Fall of Wickets: 1-29 (Sehwag, 8.2 ov), 2-34 (Sharma, 9.1 ov), 3-53 (Dravid, 20.4 ov), 4-93 (Gambhir, 36.5 ov), 5-145 (Tendulkar, 57.1 ov)

Australia 2nd Innings (target 245 runs) 31 for no loss in 8 overs (Hayden 16 not out, Katich 14 not out, Extras--1 (lb 1), Kumble 4-0-14-0, Sehwag 2-0-14-0, Mishra 2-0-2-0)

1st Test Score Board

2nd Test Score Board

1st Test: Australia Declares! Indian Target 299 Runs!

Australia batted five overs on the morning of day 5 and added 35 runs. They also lost the wicket of Watson, bowled by Ishanth Sharma.

This means India has 83 overs to play and score 299 runs at the rate of 3.6 runs per over. Well, the target is not easy to chase considering the uneven bounce and turn on the pitch.

The key points Ponting would have considered are:

1. Aussy bowlers need at least 80 plus overs to bowl out India;
2. For taking new ball, the team should have completed 80 overs. So he has the advantage of taking a new ball;
3. Most of the wickets in this match was taken by pace bowlers; in all the three innings played so far, 26 wickets have fallen and spinners have taken only 5 wickets and fast bowlers have taken 21 wickets.
4. If they can take Sehwag out, they will get the confidence that India will not chase the target, so either it is a draw or Australia winning; So it is worth taking the risk.

All the Best India and Australia!

Tendulkar is No. 1 in Warne's XI!

Shane Warne, in his book "Shane Warne's century" has listed top 100 players in cricket history. Indian master batsman Sachin Tendulkar is given the top spot by Warne and by doing that, he has crowned the little master.

The team includes the best 100 players in the cricket history which lists the number 2 highest run getter in test cricket history with Brain Lara being the first.

In his list, Lara was given 2nd place. The third spot went to another West Indian Curtly Ambrose.

The list includes 10 other Indians and they are:

Anil Kumble in 13th spot;
Rahul Dravid in 20th spot;
Virendra Sehwag in 35th spot;
Kapil Dev in 43rd spot;
Ravi Shastri in 45th spot;
Dilip Vengsarkar in 49th spot;
Mohammad Azharudin in 55th spot;
Harbhajan Singh in 67rd spot;
VVS Laxman in 77th spot; and
Sourav Ganguly in 96th spot.

The list includes other country players including Warne's home country Australia. His team mate Glenn McGrath is given 5th spot while the Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh are given 9th and 26th position respectively. Victorian Hughes given 18th position.

It is really great to know the Indian World Cup Winning Team captain Kapil Dev also found a place.

He has also written about the difference of opinion he had with Ganguly. Ganguly made him and also Steve Waugh wait on different occassions for the toss.

Well Done India! Well Done Warne!

India bundled for 76! Kalis gives lead!

What is happening to the Indian team? Is it a complecency that is set in or is it because of Sachin's absence? I don't think it is the latter.

With a good wicket and just to play out the first session would have given the Indian a huge advantage. Smith would have been by now for losing the toss.

India were bundled out for 76, the 2nd lowest total for India in Indian soil. The previous low total was 75 against West Indies in Ferozha Kotla Ground, Delhi on November 25, 1987. The lowest total by India in an innings was against England on June 20, 1974 in Lords when they were bowled out for 42.

The beautiful bowling by Steyn and Nitni rattled the Indian batsman. Excpet Dhoni and Pathan, no one crossed double figure except the extras, which in fact was the second highest in the Indian innings--19.

Jaffer was the first batsman to go, when he edged the well pitched ball to slips for 6. The in form batsman Shewag--triple centurian, dragged the ball to the stumps in the next over for 9. Laxman didn't read the in swinger. He left the ball to the wicket keeper, but it kissed the outer edge of the off stump.

Two balls later, Ganguly, was half-minded on whether to leave or play, dragged the ball to the stumps for 0. Nitni struck twice in the same over. India was struggling at 30 for 4. Out of this 4, three were picked by Nitni.

Dhoni and Dravid were expected to restore the reputation of India, but Dravid was bowled by a blinder from Steyn. The ball pitched on the middle and swung away, Dravid, playing forward missed it completely and it knocked the off stump. Beautiful piece of bowling by Steyn.

Rash shot by Dhoni sent him to pavilion. When he tried to hit ball which was pitched well away from the off stump, the ball took the egde and Boucher accepted hit with ease. He was out for 14 leaving India struggle at 55 for 6 in the 15th over of the match.

Though Pathan was styaing in the crease, none of the tail enders provided him support. Kumble was bowled for 0 by Morkel, Harbhajan leg before for 1 off Steyn, RP Singh was caught at slips for a duck off Steyn and in the same over Sreesanth was bowled for a duck.

Four players were out for duck and three players did not even cross 5 run mark. It is not the first time the tail enders were dismissed for cheap runs, it happened in Chennai also.

Pathan was not out on 21 and only 6 players were able to play more than 9 balls off which only 2 were able to go beyond 20 balls. The highest number of ball was played by Dravid--26, followed by Dhoni--22.

The Indian team batting was tormented well before the first half of the day. Their batting was completed in 20 overs and in 109 minutes--less than 2 hours.

Steyn ended with 5 for 23, his best against India. Nitni picked 3 wickets and Morkel 2.

With a good opportunity to post as many runs as lead, South Africa started the innings well with an one more 50 run partnership. When they cross the Indian score and got 2 runs lead, Smith was judged leg before, a doubtful decision though off Sreesanth. He was bowling over the wicket and the ball pitched on the leg stump. He was out for 34.

McKenzie was the next to go, caught at slips off a doosra by Harbhajan. He played for the turn, but it went straight. Dravid took a good catch.

Amla, the centurian in Chennai was caught at short leg off Harbhajan for 16. Prince was plumb in front of the wicktet for 2. At this stage, India could have put more pressure, but Kallis and de Villiers studied the innings well and played sensible cricket. At the end of the day, South Africa were 223 for 4 with Kallis on 60 and de Villiers on 59. Harbhajan picked 3 off the 4 wickets.

With alrady 147 runs ahead, every run counts for both the teams. India has very minor chance of winning this test. It would be 99.99: 00.01 ratio.

India lose 3 wickets in the first session!

India lost three wickets in the first session of the 4th day's play. Shewag was out for 319, adding ten more to the over-night score. He has gone past his previous best and set a new highest score for himself. He is also the highest individual run scores in Indian test cricket history.

The new ball did the trick when his foot didn't move for the ball pitched-up to him. The outside egde went straight to slips.

Tendulkar, didn't last for long. He tried to kick-off his innings with a single, but Amla fielded it very well. He was out in the same over trying to drive the ball, but it took the outside edge and flew to second slip. Both Shewag and Sachin fell to Nitni.

Sourav was timing and placing the ball well. He tried to cut the short ball from Harris, but it raised little higher than he anticipated. On the way to keeper, it just kissed the edge of the bat and Boucher took the catch.

During lunch, India were 547 for 4 and leading by 7 runs with Dravid on 99 and Laxman on 6.

Day 1 belongs to SA!

What a crucial toss to win for South Africa in the first test in Chennai? I am sure skipper Smith should be happy that he won the toss and made the right decision to bat. The pitch looks in favor of batsman for the first 2 to 2.5 days and then for spinners. Well, if that is the case, SA is playing with only one specialized spinner though Smith can roll his arm.

Smith and McKenzie handled the new ball well and used the wicket that helped the batsman. They both scored 50 and started the series in style. This is the first hundred run partnership of the series.

The ball was coming on to bat nicely and the pitch didn't help neither Sreesanth nor RP Singh. The pacers tried their best, but didn't succeed in taking wickets. All the 4 wickets that fell today went to spinners.

The break-through was as usual given by the skipper Kumble, who dismissed the counter-part. When he tried to drive the ball to mid-on, but gets beaten by the flight and the ball hits the bat at the top and flew to mid-wicket and Laxman took a simple catch.

The 2nd wicket between McKenzie and Amla crossed 50, but McKenzie missed to score his hundred by 6 runs. He was dismissed by a flight straight delivery off Harbhajan which took the edge when McKenzie tried to defend expecting a turn. Dravid made no mistake on this simple catch to dismiss him for 94 and he was disappointed having missed a good opportunity to score a century.

Kallis, the experienced person in the side didn't last long. He was out for 13 off Harbhajan. The flighted delivery took the inside edge, bumped from the pads and went straight to Jaffer in short-leg. Though the umpire didn't give out, Kallis walked himself to relieve Harbhajan from the shock of poor decision by the umpire.

What a catch by Kumble, leading by example, to dismiss Prince. The googly was driven back to the bowler in the air and Kumble dived to his left to grab beautiful one-handed catch.

Amla is still in the crease looking dangerous for the Indians. He is batting on 85 and will be looking for his 4th test hundred.

At the end of day 1, South Africa was 304 for 4.
Short Score:
Toss: South Africa
Venue: Chennai, India
Date: March 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 2008
Captain: Smith (SA), Kumble (India)
Score:
South Africa 304 for 4 in 90 overs (Smith 74, McKenzie 94, Amla 85 batting, Kumble 2 for 61, Harbhajan 2 for 92)

Ishanth Sharma Ruled out of First Test!

Ishanth Sharma who is suffering a toe injury is not playing the first test. He is not yet fit and his further playing with the injury woud only worsen his condition! India never wanted that!

While he was out, Yuvaraj has been given a chance to prove his credibility in the test version of the game. Murali Karthik opted as third spin bowler was also left out due to injury he sustained during the domestic cricket. While Piyush Chawla has taken over his place.

Dinesh Karthick will play the first test if Dhoni fails to prove his fitness. He has a sprained finger and hence need to prove his fitness.

Anil Kumble is the captain of the team. The trio--Ganguly, Dravid, and VVS Laxman come back to the team.

The squad:
Squad for first two Test Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble (capt), Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Sreesanth, RP Singh.

Indian Team Announced for 1st and 2nd Test against SA!

The Indian team for the first and second test against South Africa has been announced today by the selection committee. No big surprises in the composition of the team. Kumble is still the skipper and as expected, the three giants VVS Laxman, Ganguly, and Dravid are back in the team. It was learnt from the press that there was debate about including Wassim Jaffer becuase of his poor show in the Down Under series in Australia. Finally, he got added to the team and he should be a relieved man.

Yuvaraj, though did not perform well in the tests, he was given chance again to show is calibre. This is going to be a challenge for him to prove himself as a capable player in all three forms of the game--Test, ODI and 20-20.

Dinesh Karthik is a reserve player and as a light chance of getting into the first test in case if Dhoni is not fit. Murali Karthik was included in the squad, but his injury during Deodhar trophy needed few weeks of rest. So, Piyush Chawla who was a reserve player got the chance of getting into the squad. The squad includes three fast and 2 spin bowlers.

Ishanth is ruled out of the first test because of his toe injury. Let us hope he get backs to normalcy soon!
The Squad:

1. Anil Kumble (Captain)
2. Wassim Jaffer
3. Virender Shewag
4. Rahul Dravid
5. Sachin Tendulkar
6. Sourav Ganguly
7. VVS Laxman
8. Yuvaraj Singh
9. Mahendra Singh Doni (WK)
10. Irfan Pathan
11. Harbhajan Sing
12. Sreesanth
13. Rudra Prathap Singh
14. Piyush Chawla
15. Dinesh Karthik (Reserve WK)

Good luck India!