Pathetic Indians

[vvvrulz]

Their calibre of batting on paper should be able to cope with that one would think.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by vvvrulz

Their calibre of batting on paper should be able to cope with that one would think.

Sehwag got run out, Dravid and Ganguly were both beaten by a ball that turned a mile, Tendulkar stood resolute for the best part of two sessions against some very intense bowling. I didn't see anyone get out to a particularly bad ball...these batsmen might be high calibre but it doesn't mean they are Gods who can't be dismissed by very good deliveries.

[Zainub]

I guess it's fair to say that they aren't Gods, and yes, that they can get out out to good balls, but I also guess, that because they are experienced test bats, you would not expect all of them to fail in the same innings...I guess its fair to say that we bowled well, but expectations were high.

ps: In ganguly's dismissal, yes, the ball turned, but it was a pathetic shot, could have easily been player better, but in principle you're right, it a very fair comment to say no one got out to a particularly bad ball

[vvvrulz]

I agree with Zainub, but lets say it was Australia that was out there, I would back their batting line-up to survive the innings.

[Maranello]

it was Australia that was out there, I would back their batting line-up to survive the innings

Well they did not at Calcutta 3 years ago, did they? In fact lost seven wickets in the post-Tea session of the final day? How spineless and irresponsible is that? But was Steve Waugh lynched for that?

The fact is, batting to save Tests on fifth days is very difficult in the sub-continent, especially if the opposing captain can put pressure on you with an "umbrella" field setting, and the spin-bowling is half-decent. India had great spin bowlers to win that famous Test against Australia, and the calcutta Test two weeks ago agains Pak. Similarly, Pakistan bowled brilliantly for the full 90 overs to get India all out; not only did they have two wicket taking leg spinners in Kaneria and Afridi striking hard, they also had M. Sami bowling his best spell of recent times. Most teams, including Australia (if ones takes their capitulation at Calcutta, and their routine top order collapses against Shoaib Akhtar into account) would have struggled to save this third Test.

The reason Pak saved Mohali was {a} India had only one spinner in Kumble, and he too had a severely poor day - Pakistani bowlers at Banglaore all had a great day and played out of their skins; and {b} the Mohali track on Day 5 was benign compared to most other sub-continental Day 5 tracks, in fact, it was a very good batting pitch on Day 5.

Hence just because Pak saved Mohali is no reason to deride India. The fact is Pakistan played much better, but India certainly did not throw away the game; they lost to a better team over five days of excellent, hard-fought cricket.

[Shaka]

Finally someone who was watching the same match I was. I don't know why it's so hard to accept that even the best batsmen can be knocked over when the opposition bowlers are bowling inspirationally well on the last day. Not one of India's top batsmen threw away their wicket, and even the one Ganguly tried to cut away, ripped out of the rough viciously to hit off stump. It was just Pakistan's day and I don't think many batting line ups would have stood up to it on the day.

[vvvrulz]

I'm not saying that Pakistan won singly because of poor batting, their bowling performance was indeed superb, and yes it would have knocked over most sides in the world today. However I do beleive India could have made a better effort in holding out the day, especially since Kumble managed to survive the bowling of Afridi and co. for some time.

[Shaka]

Kumble was out caught behind very early in his innings but the umpire missed it, maybe because of all the noise. If Dravid or Sehwag had had that sort of luck maybe things would have been different. Dravid got one that spun in sharply and Younis Khan flew threw mid-air to take a stunning catch at close range. Sometimes it's just not your day, it doesn't make Kumble better than Dravid, Sachin or Laxman.

[vvvrulz]

I still have to say that the shot selection wasn't the greatest.

[Shaka]

Well of course if the shot selection had been flawless, India would have romped home by 10 wickets...the fact is though that no one got out to a bad shot with the exception of Ganguly and even he tried to cut a ball well outside his off stump which spun back a yard. I juust don't understand what you mean by this argument since nearly all the batsmen were prised out.