India v South Africa, 2nd Test, Kolkata, Feb 14-18

I enjoyed most that we batted out day 3 given that the pitch is supposed to start becoming more difficult to play from day 4 onwards.

Getting through day 3 was hardly looking easy with the likes of Steyn & Co bowling, 5 down and only Laxman and Dhoni as recognized bats.

And Red, it was not a borefest. Read SGs posts again.

Wasn't a borefest, morning session. Though I realise they were having to dig in as the last recognised pair of batsmen, I thought a little bit more urgency could've been applied in the arvo.

Red wrote:

SG wrote:100 for Dhoni.

Good important innings for his team.

100 for everyone who bats for India on this road it seems, anyone experienced anyway. With wickets usually tumbling late they might as well put SA out of its misery and knock them over now. Sooky was delighted to win the toss to avoid batting last.

Oh wait...

And it must be said that his decision to play has been costly for his team with his inability to get into double figures again and his forcing a reshuffle of the team's fielding lineup which was already unbalanced due to Boucher's injury.

So exactly what is the problem here? That Smith chose to bat and failed and his team couldn't build on 2 centuries scored, collapsed dramatically?

OR

India batted well and all experienced batsmen got runs despite being tested early in their knock and have showed a good return to form after utter humiliation last test?

or is it something else? Please be clear on what your grievance here is.....

This is probably Dhoni's best test innings I suppose. And Laxman did the trick again at Eden. he has now taken the Eden-Hyderabad romance from his mentor Azharuddin to a new sublime level. Superb effort. Hats off. I think SA will avoid an innings defeat and Smith may put in a dogged show yet. But don't see SA drawing this test yet. Hopefully there won't be any miracles from them.

Hehehehehe. Cricket is a funny game. SA bowled us out in 64.4 overs in Nagpur in the 1st Innings. Now they have been unsuccessful in getting a single wicket of Laxman-Dhoni off the same number of overs. I think a lead of 375 would have been great by day's end today with 2 full days left, but nevertheless, good aggressive declaration.

Brass Monkey wrote:Wasn't a borefest, morning session. Though I realise they were having to dig in as the last recognised pair of batsmen, I thought a little bit more urgency could've been applied in the arvo.

Perhaps, but I'm a happy camper because I wanted them to bat out the 3rd day, something which looked highly improbable when they started 5 down with only Laxman and Dhoni as the two recognized bats.

I wanted that because the pitch is supposed to take more turn and get worse on day 4 and 5 and I did not want SA batters to get it on on the 3rd day.

Of course it may rain, or not turn from here on, which will make it all moot. Still...

Wasn't umpire Ian Gould both a wicketkeeper [cricket] and a goalkeeper [footie] in his playing days? Playing almost the same kind of role in two very different games involving a ball?

The magic moment of the day was seeing Sourav Ganguly at Eden Gardens today. Must have been an emotional one for him. He was part of the last series played in India against SA in a similiar series saving revival and played a great knock in the must win last test. There too we had come in from an innings defeat and marked Dhoni's first test win. So any chances of a co-incidence we may win by 8 wickets here as well? I keep getting this feeling that we may bat sometime yet again and may not take an innings pie here.

Smith kya jaane iss innings mein uska kya hoga?
Khan thokega ya tavey mein Bhajji fry hoga?
Koi na jaane innings win ya draw hoga?

To hoth ghooma, citi bajaa, citi bajaake Ball - Bhaiyaa All Eeez Well
Chachu All Eeez Well.....

African bakre All Eeez Well

furriner wrote:
Perhaps, but I'm a happy camper because I wanted them to bat out the 3rd day, something which looked highly improbable when they started 5 down with only Laxman and Dhoni as the two recognized bats.

I wanted that because the pitch is supposed to take more turn and get worse on day 4 and 5 and I did not want SA batters to get it on on the 3rd day.

Of course it may rain, or not turn from here on, which will make it all moot. Still...

Oh yeah, definitely. Expect I'm being a little too critical. Found it pedestrian against some utterly shit bowling at times, that's all. Not discrediting them for it, at all. 'Measured knock's they call them, considering the declaration.











Ganguly's a massive qunt.

Ging Gang Gooly
Ging Gang Gooly Gooly Gooly Gooly Watcha
Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo.
Ging gang Gooly Gooly Gooly Gooly Watcha
Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo.

Legend.

Batman wrote:Wasn't umpire Ian Gould both a wicketkeeper [cricket] and a goalkeeper [footie] in his playing days?

Middlesex CCC (but he couldn't get the regular gig because Downton batted better)

I think he was part of the Arsenal system too.

Rob I wrote:

Batman wrote:Wasn't umpire Ian Gould both a wicketkeeper [cricket] and a goalkeeper [footie] in his playing days?

Middlesex CCC (but he couldn't get the regular gig because Downton batted better)

I think he was part of the Arsenal system too.

He was England's reserve keeper on the 82/83 tour to Oz and first choice keeper in the 83 World Cup. Did nothing of note thereafter.

Was a solid keeper for Sussex. Can't remember him being at HQ.

Those posh types probably weren't the best choice for a working class Londoner

Can't remember when he went to Sussex, but he was definitely at Middlesex early in his career - late 70s ish

FFS. It's raining in Kolkotta atm. Hope it doesn't stick whole of tomorrow.

skully wrote:Harris - 1-182 - what a roob.

Been rumbled at last - that top ten placing in the rankings was a bit of a phantom.

Sooky's new single....

Woke up this morning and the series was gone
Oh-wee!
Chokey-chokey-choke-choke!

Rob I wrote:Sooky's new single....

Woke up this morning and the series was gone
Oh-wee!
Chokey-chokey-choke-choke!

He's prolly doing the rain dance because it was raining down there, and is expected again through most of the day.

All going to a Script

- Indian fighback
- SA's choke

Good thing is that such series will help keep test cricket still alive in India.

hope to god it doesnt rain...india have done well in crunch situations in test cricket over the last 2 yrs. we finally have the mental toughness. just need to come quick out the blocks now.

Showers and thunderstorms forecast through today, it'll be interesting to see how much play they get in. Looks like day 5 will be crucial.

Start of play delayed for almost 45 min. Thankfully, it isn't raining.

Considering the weather, we got to be at our best all the times. Got to take wickets at regular intervals.

Another inspection at 10:00 AM.