Smith and Kumble Blame the Pitch!

The skippers of both the sides blamed the Chepauk pitch for the drawn first test match in Chennai.

Probably the rain before the week of the start of the test could have hampered the conditions of the pitch. He also mentioned that the pitch did not crack or deteriorate as expected and the weather condition also added to the existing woe.

Both the captains praised the batting of Virendra Shewag. Smith said, "all credit to him for the way he played"

In the meantime, Sachin is not playing the second test due to groin injury. Kaif is his replacement.

Both the captains expect the Ahemadabad pitch to produce a result.

Kaif replaces injured Sachin, back in Indian Team!

With his willow doing the talking, Mohammad Kaif is back in the Indian team as a replacement for Sachin Tendulkar for the 2nd test.

Sachin is ruled out of the second test to start on April 3 in Ahemadabad due to groin injury. He was advised two weeks rest after the Australian Down Under tour. The Physio sent a fitness report on every player, but there was no time as the series against South Africa started immediately.

Kaif, who had a successful domestic season, finally found his place back in the Indian team. Though it is not sure whether he will be in the playing XI, as Yuvaraj is already waiting for his turn, we have to wait and see whether he will be given chance before being removed from the team once Sachin is back.

Kaif's last appearance for India was in 2006 against West Indies. Kaif's records:

Test Cricket and ODI

13 test and 125 ODI
22 innings in test and 110 innings in ODI
3 not out in test and 24 not out in ODI
624 runs in test and 2753 runs in ODI
148 not out is his highest in test and 111 not out in ODI
1 hundred in test and 2 hundreds in ODI
3 fifties in test and 17 fifties in ODI

Sachin and Kumble Injured!

Sachin will miss the 2nd test and it is almost confirmed that he is suffering from the groin injury. He was already advised to take two weeks rest which he didn't pay attention to.

He was also not in the field but had a substitute fielder. He missed part of the fielding on 1st, 2nd and 4th day. He was not in the picture on 5th day.

Anil Kumble, the skipper, who also felt a strain in the groin area, did not risk bowling too many overs. As the game was trending towards draw, both Sachin and Kumble felt that it is safe to take a back seat rather than risking their future.

Kumble's situation will be evaluated on April 2, a day before the start of the 2nd test.

Kaif is looked as a replacement for Sachin and he will be joining the team for the second test in Ahemadabad.

RP Singh also seemed to be unfit for the 2nd test. He recently recovered from hamstring injury, but he seems to be not fit 100 per cent.

Let us hope that Kumble recovers faster though Sachin is not available for 2nd test. Get well soon guys!

In the meantime, Ishanth Sharma has been declared fit and will most likely to play in the 2nd test.

Ishanth Sharma Declared Fit!

One of the upcoming cricket heroes of Indian Cricket, Ishanth Sharma is declared fit and can play the next test against South Africa.

Ishanth Sharma rocked the Australians during the India's down under tour during 2008 tour. His devastating bowling in Perth test paved way for India to win the test match. He also contributed in the Commonwealth Bank Series, which India won.

Skipper Kumble mentioned that, "Ishanth is looking good," and will take the call before the next test.

McKenzie's Century Helps SA to Draw first test!

The first test ends in a draw on the 5th day in Chepauk, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. McKenzie played a crucial innings again scoring a century this time. He missed the century in the first innings but didn't make the mistake this time. He went beyond 150 in the 2nd innings to take this test to a draw!

Resuming the day at 131 for 1, the first hour was crucial for both the teams. If India succeded in getting erly break-throughs, it would have been tougher on the tourists. But, Amla, the man in form along with McKenzie played both Kumble and Harbhajan very well to bring another 150 run partnership in this test. Though McKenzie was dropped by Sreesanth in the deep square leg, the partnership was growing until Kumble produced a delivery that bounced and hit the edge and went to the hands of Dravid in the slip. Though India took wickets of Kallis for 19, Prince for 5, and de Villiers for 11, it seemed tough to take all the wickets of South Africa in time.

McKenzie was not out on 155 off 339 balls with 13 fours and a six and Amla scored 81 off 148 balls with 9 fours. These two have batted out 81.1 overs of the 123 overs SA had to bat.

Kumble's effort of trying VVS Laxman to bowl 10 overs and couple of overs from Ganguly did not help.

Kallis has to find his form immediately to help South Africa to further strengthen their batting line up. He failed in both the innings and is important that he scores in the next two games.

Shewag for his record breaking 319 was adjudged man of the match, though Amla and McKenzie contributed in both the innings.

Final Score:

Toss: South Africa

Result: Match Drawn

Man of the Match: Shewag (India)

Venue: Chennai, India

Date: March 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 2008

Captain: Smith (SA), Kumble (India)

Score:

South Africa 1st Innings 540 allout in 152.5 overs (Smith 74, McKenzie 94, Amla 159, deVilliers 44, Boucher 70, Morkel 35, Kumble 2 for 106, Harbhajan 5 for 164)

India 1st Innings 627 allout in 155.1 overs (Shewag 319, Jaffer 73; Dravid 111, VVS Laxman 39, Steyn 4 for 103, Nitni 3 for 128, Harris 3 for 203)

South Africa 2nd Innings 331 for 4 declared in 109 overs (McKenzie 155 not out, Smith 35, Amla 81, Harbhajan 3 for 101)

Records - Most Runs in Test Cricket!

You can read, review and understand the highest run scorer in test cricket. This list contains the top 10 highest run-getters in test cricket:

1. Lara - 11953 runs in 131 matches and 232 innings
2. Sachin - 11782 runs in 147* matches and 238 innings (* currently playing 147th test)
3. Border - 11174 runs in 156 matches and 265 innings
4. Steve Waugh - 10927 runs in 168 matches and 260 innings
5. Gavaskar - 10122 runs in 125 matches and 214 innings
6. Dravid - 10031 runs in 120* matches and 206 innings (* currently playing 120th test)
7. Ponting - 9776 runs in 116 matches and 193 innings
8. Kallis - 9490 runs in 117* matches and 198 innings(* currently playing 117th test)
9. Gooch - 8900 runs in 118 matches and 215 innings
10. Miandad - 8832 runs in 124 matches and 189 innings

India Missed Opportunity to have Upper Hand!

Though India took 87 runs lead in the first innings, they missed a good opportunity to take a lead of more than 175 and to put pressure on SA. This would have definitely put SA in trouble as they should play for draw and not for win, whereas India had all the opportunity to go for full attack and try for a win.

Resuming the day at 468 for 1, Shewag added ten and went past his own previous record of 309 against Pakistan in 2004 in Multan. His new highest score in test cricket is 319. Smith took th new ball in the first over of the day. Nitni dismissed Shewag caught at slip. He played the shot away from the body without moving the feet. The book took the outside edge and flew to slips. When Tendulkar walked-in, as usual, the crowed cheered him with a thunderous applause. He didn't last long. Nitni once again struck for South Africa through his outswinger pitched up to Tendulkar, who chose to drive, but ended up edging into 2nd slip for a duck.

At the one end Dravind was timing the ball well and staying at the crease. Ganguly was hitting the ball well, but the curt of a short ball from Harris took the edge and Boucher took the catch.

After the first two wickets partnership, nothing flourshing in favor of India. The batsman were surrendering to South Africans cheaply. When Dravind and Laxman were cruising well, Dravind scored his century after lunch. During lunch, India were 7 runs ahead with Dravind on 99. He scored his 25th test century and first in Chennai. He also crossed 10000 run mark when he was on 80.

The Chepauk cricket ground had full of records in this test. Dravid reached his 100 off 272 balls with 14 fours. He was caught at slips by Kallis of Nitni. The three crucial wickets of the day were picked by Nitni--Shewag, Sachin and Dravid. India were leading with 33 runs when Dravid was out. It was left to Dhoni and Laxman to add more to the total, but Dhoni trying to hit Steyn, stepped out of the crease couple of times. Steyn expecting it, he bowled a short ball, which took the gloves and went to Boucher. He was out for 16. This was the first wicket of Steyn, but he used that opportunity and rattled the tail enders. Kumble, Harbhajan and RP Singh were bowled and their stumps were uprooted by Steyn. Kumble scored 3, Harbhajan and RP Singh were out for zero.

Sreesanth got injured just above his left wrist trying to prevent the bouncer from Steyn. The swelling was treated and he continued his innings. Laxman mis-timed the Harris flighted delivery and gave a simple return catch to him. India were all out for 627 and missed a good opportunity to put a huge total on the board. They also didn't carry out their plan of playing out the full day.

Summary of the records:

1. Shewag scored his highest score in test cricket--319;

2. Shewag scored fastest triple hundred--300 of 278 balls;

3. Dravid scored 10,000 runs and is the 6th batsman in test cricket history and third batsman for India. The others are: Lara, Tendulkar, Waugh, Border, and Gavaskar;

4. This is the first time where a double century partnership was scored for the first two wickets;

Starting the 2nd innings with a deficit of 87 runs, Smith and McKenzie played well hitting few bounderis and taking singles and twos. Smith was adjudged leg before off Harbhajan for 35. McKenzie scored his 2nd fifty of this series and is back-to-back 50. He is still batting on 59 and his partner Amla is batting on 35.

Score at the end of Day 4:

Toss: South Africa

Venue: Chennai, India

Date: March 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 2008

Captain: Smith (SA), Kumble (India)

Score:

South Africa 1st Innings 540 all out in 152.5 overs (Smith 74, McKenzie 94, Amla 159, deVilliers 44, Boucher 70, Morkel 35, Kumble 2 for 106, Harbhajan 5 for 164)

India 1st Innings 627 all out in 155.1 overs (Shewag 319, Jaffer 73; Dravid 111, VVS Laxman 39, Steyn 4 for 103, Nitni 3 for 128, Harris 3 for 203)