Selfish top order
I just couldn't help imagining how Australia would have played Day 3 of this match.
India were so strongly placed on Day 2, with Sehwag slamming the bowlers and India with a runrate exceeding 4.5 per over, and Dravid solidly accumulating the runs. The Pakistanis looked completely dumbstruck, and Day 3 was ripe for the taking. Australia would have kicked the remaining teeth of the Pakistanis and scored over 350 runs today, to put the match way beyond redemption. That's how the best team in the world plays - and if today's play was anything to go by, India canot even aspire to those heights - so what if they end up this series as second-best in the world.
I will go as far as to say that the Indian top order was very selfish today. Tendulkar, who came in at the fall of Dravid's wicket, started off brightly, matching a splendid Sehwag stroke for stroke initially. But he had his moments of trouble against the very good Kaneria, and then pulled down shutters once he sniffed a chance to get a 100, and break all those records. While Sehwag was making merry at the other end, the runrate was steadily dipping.
Once Sehwag got out to an awesome 173, out strode another selfish batsman. If Tendulkar has his eye on the record, Ganguly had his eye only on personal glory. His 21 of 74 balls was the most pathetic batting I have seen in a long time. Caught off a no-ball, dropped off the next, scratchy against pace and spin, getting hit on the body - it had it all. Clearly, the criticism of not having scored a 100 for a long time weighed upon him, and he willingly put self-interest as top priority. The bowlers who were down and out suddenly found half volleys and short balls patted back to them - and were as dumbstruck as I was.
When Ganguly was put out of his misery, it was Laxman's opportunity to hog the crease and not do anything! Tendulkar pulled down the shutters completely, and then drove away from his body to edge to gully. The record will have to wait. Laxman defended his way to a strike rate of 38, trying very hard to get back to some form.
Therefore, with the honourable exception of Sehwag, the rest of the top order, for various reasons, conspired to score just 260 runs in 91 overs - at a runrate of 2.85 rpo today. This, after the bowlers were on the mat, ready for the taking. Pakistan are still in the game for a draw, a result they will accept gleefully.
Sure, the overall runrate is still 3.41, and India are ahead by 135 with 4 wickets in hand. Sure, the pitch is taking spin, and Kaneria was terrific. Sure, India may still win. But the point is - why the foot off the pedal? Why the hand off the neck? Why not apply the squeeze?
I may sound a bit harsh, but the point is that most of the media will paper over this fact completely. I can see glowing headlines that India are well ahead, poised to win. If Pakistan manage a draw, today's play would have had a big influence. What was worse is the sight of looming black clouds - god forbid, if we lose a couple of sessions tomorrow, India are up against it to force a win.
We just hope today's average performance does not come back to bite India in the ass!
Scorecard.
India were so strongly placed on Day 2, with Sehwag slamming the bowlers and India with a runrate exceeding 4.5 per over, and Dravid solidly accumulating the runs. The Pakistanis looked completely dumbstruck, and Day 3 was ripe for the taking. Australia would have kicked the remaining teeth of the Pakistanis and scored over 350 runs today, to put the match way beyond redemption. That's how the best team in the world plays - and if today's play was anything to go by, India canot even aspire to those heights - so what if they end up this series as second-best in the world.
I will go as far as to say that the Indian top order was very selfish today. Tendulkar, who came in at the fall of Dravid's wicket, started off brightly, matching a splendid Sehwag stroke for stroke initially. But he had his moments of trouble against the very good Kaneria, and then pulled down shutters once he sniffed a chance to get a 100, and break all those records. While Sehwag was making merry at the other end, the runrate was steadily dipping.
Once Sehwag got out to an awesome 173, out strode another selfish batsman. If Tendulkar has his eye on the record, Ganguly had his eye only on personal glory. His 21 of 74 balls was the most pathetic batting I have seen in a long time. Caught off a no-ball, dropped off the next, scratchy against pace and spin, getting hit on the body - it had it all. Clearly, the criticism of not having scored a 100 for a long time weighed upon him, and he willingly put self-interest as top priority. The bowlers who were down and out suddenly found half volleys and short balls patted back to them - and were as dumbstruck as I was.
When Ganguly was put out of his misery, it was Laxman's opportunity to hog the crease and not do anything! Tendulkar pulled down the shutters completely, and then drove away from his body to edge to gully. The record will have to wait. Laxman defended his way to a strike rate of 38, trying very hard to get back to some form.
Therefore, with the honourable exception of Sehwag, the rest of the top order, for various reasons, conspired to score just 260 runs in 91 overs - at a runrate of 2.85 rpo today. This, after the bowlers were on the mat, ready for the taking. Pakistan are still in the game for a draw, a result they will accept gleefully.
Sure, the overall runrate is still 3.41, and India are ahead by 135 with 4 wickets in hand. Sure, the pitch is taking spin, and Kaneria was terrific. Sure, India may still win. But the point is - why the foot off the pedal? Why the hand off the neck? Why not apply the squeeze?
I may sound a bit harsh, but the point is that most of the media will paper over this fact completely. I can see glowing headlines that India are well ahead, poised to win. If Pakistan manage a draw, today's play would have had a big influence. What was worse is the sight of looming black clouds - god forbid, if we lose a couple of sessions tomorrow, India are up against it to force a win.
We just hope today's average performance does not come back to bite India in the ass!
Scorecard.
