Gavaskar Border Trophy 2008

The Airtel sponsored Border Gavaskar Trophy match analysis, scoreboards, pictures are given here! Hope you enjoy them!

Match Reports:

1st Test, Day 1: Details
1st Test, Day 2: Details
1st Test, Day 3: Details
1st Test, Day 4: Details
Options before Australia and India
1st Test, Day 5: Details

2nd Test, Day 1: Details
2nd Test, Day 2: Details
2nd Test, Day 3: Details
2nd Test, Day 4: Details
2nd Test, Day 5: Details

3rd Test, Day 1: Details
3rd Test, Day 2: Details
3rd Test, Day 3: Details
3rd Test, Day 4: Details
3rd Test, Day 5: Details

4th Test, Day 1: Details
4th Test, Day 2: Details
4th Test, Day 3: Details
4th Test, Day 4: Details
4th Test, Day 5: Details

To see scoreboard, click here!

To see Pictures, click here!

Warne Eyeing Comeback for Ashes!

After the 16 month retirement episode, Warne is now eyeing a come back to the Australian test squad for the 2009 Ashes series. He was succesful in the previous Ashes which Australia won comfortably.

With his recent success in the IPL, he said, if Austrialian cricket and the skipper Ponting needs him, he will definitely come back for the Ashes.

He said, Stuart MacGill is performing well, but his fitness is always a question. In case if MacGill e is not able to make it to Ashes team for any reason, and if they need a spinner who can pitch in to help, he will be ready to do it.

He said, it is all in the hands of skipper Ponting. "If Australia really needed me and there was no one else around, and Ricky thought I could do the job, you would weigh up the options," said Warne.

"If Stuey MacGill fell over and broke his leg, and there were no other spinners around, and Ricky came out and said, `Mate, can you please help us out for this one-off tour? We need you', that is something I would weigh up," he said.

So, let us see if the greatest spinner is able to come back!

1st Test: England v. New Zealand: Ends in a Draw!

The first test between England and New Zealand played at Lords ended in a draw on the fifth day. Rain played the spoil sport for most of the time. The entire game saw only 284.1 overs all the five days put together as aginst the 444 overs leaving out the 6 overs for side change. There was a shortage of 160 overs which would have given a result.



Jacob Oram scored a quick fire century to help New Zealand go for a draw. Trailing by 42 runs in the 2nd innings, New Zealand were 269 for 6 when the play was called off. At one stage, they were struggling at 115 for 4, but the 137 run partnership betwen Oram and Flynn (and McCullum who got retired hurt) gave hope for New Zealand to go for a draw. He scored 101 in 121 balls with 15 fours and 2 sixes.



Click here for 2nd Test Results!

Click here for 3rd Test Results!

Earlier, England Skipper Michael Vaughan scored a brilliant hundred to give a lead of 42 runs. He was the last batsman to get out for 106 off 214 balls with 11 fours. The 48-run partnership for the 8th wicket between Vaughan and Sidebottom helped them go past New Zealand's first innings score.

Flintoff did not play this test as he was injured.



Vettori was declared man of the match for his five wicket haul in the first innings.

The 3 test series is now has two more test matches to go with no result in the first match.

Test: 1
Venue: Lords, England
Teams: England and New Zealand
Captains: Michael Vaughan and Daniel Vettori
Toss: England won the toss and decided to field
Match Result: Drawn
Series Result: 0-0
Man of the Match: Daniel Vettori off New Zealand
Score:

New Zealand 1st Innings 277 all out in 86.2 overs (JAH Marshall 24, BB McCullum 97, JDP Oram 28, DL Vettori 48, RJ Sidebottom 4 for 55, JM Anderson 3 for 66, SCJ Broad 2 for 85)
England 1st Innings 319 all out in 111.3 overs (AJ Strauss 63, AN Cook 61, MP Vaughan 106, SCJ Broad 25, CS Martin 2 for 76, JDP Oram 2 for 45, DL Vettori 5 for 69)
New Zealand 2nd Innings (trail by 42 runs) 269 for 6 in 86.2 overs (JM How 68, DR Flynn 29 not out, JDP Oram 101, RJ Sidebottom 2 for 65, JM Anderson 2 for 64)

Click here for 2nd Test Results!

Click here for 3rd Test Results!

Sachin Given Padma Vibushan! Most Special: Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar expressed his gratitude to the Indian government for conferring him with the Padma Vibhushan.

The msater batsman said that, "It`s truly a great honour to accept this award as this is recognised by the Government of India. I have played for so many years and when government recognises your effort, gives you the second highest civilian award in the country, it`s very, very special, " the Little Master was quoted as saying."

The Mumbaikar is among five sportspersons selected for this year`s Padma awards.

"I came to know about it yesterday through my wife. I was extremely excited by it but since I was in the middle of the match, it was important to keep my focus on the game," he said. He received the award from The Honourabl President of India Pratibha Patil.

Congratulations Sachin!

Tendulkar is out of 3rd Test Too!

Sad news for India! Tendulkar is not yet fully fit to play the 3rd and final test in Kanpur. He is still suffering from groin injury.

The Indian board confirmed this in a release and added that he would continue with his rehabilitation program. "This decision has been taken to give Sachin the opportunity to make a full recovery from this injury," the release said. "Sachin has a rehabilitation program to continue with and will be monitored closely."

Tendulkar didn't appear fully fit during the first Test in Chennai and missed part of the action on the first, second, fourth days. He didn't take the field on the fifth day and was rested for the next Test.

There was an injury concern over Tendulkar even before the start of the series. Tendulkar was advised two-weeks rest after the Australia tour and the then physio, John Gloster, in his fitness report, warned against the injury entering a chronic phase.

We have to wait and see whether he will be fit before the IPL which starts on April 18, 2008.

He has another 172 runs to get to go past Lara who has scored 11953 runs and become the highest run getter in test cricket history. Everyone thought that he would create it during the South Africa series, but his injury has prevented it. Has to wait one more series to create this record!

South Africa won by an Innings and 90 Runs!

South Africa beat India in the 2nd test of the three match series by an innings and 90 runs. The match was completed in just less than 3 days of play. India meekly surrendered in the first innings for mere 76 and in the 2nd innings were all out for 328 runs.

In the South African 1st innings, de Villiers scored a beautiful double century and Kallis a wonderful 132 which gave South Afrian a very big lead.

It's also India's first innings defeat since the 2001 Colombo (SSC) Test against Sri Lanka.

de Villiers wasd declared man of the match for his unbeaten 217.

South Africa delcared their innings at the end of the second day, but they announced it in the morning at 494 for 7. The overnight rain should have given Smith a thought that it may rain in future and would have triggered the decison to declare.

Started the 2nd innings with a deficit of 418, either had to play out the 3 days with 270 overs or score 418 at least to make South African bat again. The chances of India recovering one more time like they did with Australia. But, that required few top guns to play a marathon innings like Dravid and Laxman.

How did we depend on Shewaga? He is not a consistent player in test cricket though he is a dashing player. But, does not play any sensible cricket and play according to the situation.

Shewag was the first to go, leg before wicket for 17 off Nitni. Dravid was trying to push the ball which was in the chest height went straight to slips off Morkel. He was out for 17.

It was crucial for Jaffer to prove his credibility, but not able to play an important innings. He had all the time in the world to play his innings, but trying to drive the ball pitched up to him, edged it to slips.

Though Laxman and Ganguly tried to build the innings with first 50 runs partnership in this test for India, Laxman played at the ball pitched away from the off stump, which edged to wicket keeper. The key batsman was out for 35.

It was left to Ganguly and Dhoni to bring back the pride to India, the last recognized pair of batsmen. Gaungly crossed his fifty, focussing every ball and had a tough time in the crease.

He crossed his 50 in 86 balls with 5 fours. He was declared caught behind though the decision was not a good one. The partnership between Dhoni and Ganguly was the first 100 run partership of the Indian innings. He was out for 87 off 149 balls with 8 fours.

Dhoni, who also scored fifty, which had no value in this innings because it did not help India save the game. He scored his 50 off 122 balls with 5 fours. I think he has some attitude issue in playing the test matches, especially in other's captaincy. His attitude during keeping the wickets, collecting balls from the fielders, the way he batted in Chennai, all leading to the doubt whether he is capable of playing test match cricket.

Pathan, as usual, an upcoming all rounder was alone in the crease fighting the losing battle. He was not out on 43 when the remaining batsman fell cheaply--Kumble bowled by Harris for 5, Harbhajan, once again leg before for Steyn, RP Singh caught at slips of Steyn and Sreesanth bowled by Nitni for 17. RP Singh was hit on the helmet by Steyn and the next ball went at shoulder level which he edged to slips.

Sreesanth hit a six of Steyn, stepping out and hitting a baseball shot over mid wicket, but that didn't have any value as far as saving the match is concerned.

For South Africa, Steyn and Nitni picked 3 wickets each, Morkel 2, Kallis and Harris one each.

During the post match presentation, Kumble said: "It was difficult to come back after getting bowled out for 76. They took the game away from us. We have been in this situation before. I thought the effort from our bowlers was 100%. We will bounce back."

Graeme Smith: "This was the perfect Test match for us. We dominated from the start. It was hard work for the bowlers today on a heavy outfield. It's been fantastic for AB and Kallis. The guys know we've got one more game to go. They've been focussed throughout the series."

de villiers is the Man of the Match: "I'm just over the moon. Having Kallis around was a good calming effect, especially when I was in the 90s. I enjoyed playing here, and the Ahmedabad fans have been great. Just the perfect Test for us."

Complete Score:

Match: 2nd Test, India v. South Africa
Venue: Ahmedabad (India)
Captains: Kumble (India), Smith (South Africa)
Toss: India and decided to bat
Result: South Africa won by an innings and 90 runs
Man of the Match: de Villiers

Score:
India 1st Innings 76 all out in 20 overs (Steyn 5 for 23, Nitni 3 for 18, Morkel 2 for 20)
South Africa 1st Innings 494 for 7 declared in 141.2 overs (Smith 34, McKenzie 42, Kallis 132, de Villiers 217 not out, Sreesanth 2 for 87, Harbhajan Singh 4 for 135)
India 2nd Innings 328 all out in 94.2 overs (VVS Laxman 35, Ganguly 87, Dhoni 52, Pathan 43 not out, Steyn 3 for 91, Nitni 3 for 44, Morkel 2 for 87)

England Wins Series!

Losing the first test and struggling at 0-1 in the test series, England bounced back beautifully to win the series 2-1. Their form has not been good in the recent past and this should givem them a good relief, especially winning the series abroad.

Monty Panesar took 6 for 126, his career best figures which helped England to win the test and the series. Sidebottom rocked in the first innings and Panesar did the same in the 2nd innings.

Resuming the day 222 for 5, England struck in the 9th over last ball. Taylor was catught by Collingwood for 74. McCullum was bowled in a gap of 3 over and became the 5th victim of Panesar.

A steady 48 run partnership didn't bother England too much because as they were already breaking partnerships often. Panesar removed Patel through a flight delivery which was swept fine but Broad dived and finished with a splendid catch. He was out for 18.

Vettori gave a simple catch to Ambrose and last batsman to be dismissed was Martin. Sidebottom uprooted the off-stump of Martin with that the wonderful series came to an end along with the Test Career of Stephen Fleming.

A positive for New Zealand was the few runs from Southee. In the first test, he took 5 wickets in the first innings and then scored 77 not out in the second innings. He provided good entertainment towards the end of the innings. He scored 77 off 40 balls with 4 fours and 9 sixes. He hit 5 sixes off Panesar including three sixes in the same over and 2 off Anderson.

Toss: England

Result: England won by 121 runs

Serires Result: England won the series 2-1

Player of the Match: Sidebottom (England)

Player of the Series: Sidebottom (England)

Short Score:

England 1st Innings: 253 all out in 96.1 overs (Pietersen 129, Collingwood 30, Broad 42, Martin 2 for 74, Southee 5 for 55, Patel 2 for 37)

New Zealand 1st Innings 168 all out in 48.4 overs (How 44, Fleming 59, Sidebottom 7 for 47, Broad 3 for 54)

England 2nd Innings 467 for 7 declared in 131.5 overs (Cook 37, Strauss 177, Pietersen 34, Bell 110, Ambrose 31, Broad 31 not out, Patel 2 for 104, Vettori 4 for 158)

New Zealand 2nd Innings 431 all out in 118.5 overs (Bell 69, Fleming 66, Taylor 74, McCulum 42, Vettori 43, Southee 77 Not Out, Broad 2 for 78, Panesar 6 for 126)