Match Report on First Test Match at Chennai

A great match and a very good match report. To be honest, I turned the commentary off when SRT survived a stumping/run out chance by Moin and hit 4 fours. I was sick and couldn`t have afforded that nerve wrecking loss. After the match was well over I logged in again and got the news which I was waiting for last 12 years. I have no doubt in my mind that SRT played a very brave and courageous inning but was that good enough to earn him a MOM award? That is questionable. He should have stayed a little longer to finish the job. The excuse that he was in pain is a load of.... you know what I mean. He could have asked for a runner like Afridi did. His knock was not any better than Afridi`s. As a matter of fact Afridi`s inning was more applaudable because Afridi played an inning against his nature. Plus Afridi lacks the confidence and experience which SRT has. And what about Saqlain? He was the man of the day, man of the team and certaily man of the match. How could Pakistan have won this match without Saqlain. Bottom line is that it was a politically motivated MOM award. Just to soothe Indian fans. Atleast I think so.

Well now 1st test is over and 2nd test is only 24 hours away, one has yet to see how Indians are going to face the duo of Mushtaq & Saqlain. I M still debating whether Akram and Miandad will keep Waqar in or replace him with Shoaib Akhtar?

Absolutely amazing! The first test match is over and who won and who lost?

Pakistan did not win, but common sense, tolerance and an appreciation for decency won. India did not lose either, but emerged victorious in the quise of sportsmenship, and best of all, the Indian crowds at Chennai won through their immpecable spectating discipline. The Indian crowds`unbridled love for the game, which they refused to be tarnished by the pith of politics, made this match even more unforgettable.

The greatest singular honor accorded the Pakistani team was the standing ovation of the Indian crowd on their victory.

The Indian crowds have set a high precedent for future test matches between India and Pakistan. I can only pray and hope that when the Indians return to Pakistan, Pakistanis crowds can up live to the high standards set by the Indians at Chennai.

To all, Indians and Pakistanis alike, bravo!!!

Sounds like a great victory for Pakistan, its absolutely amazing considering how corrupt and dilapidated our system has become. Of course my opinions are based on what I infer from what I read.

All of that aside, can someone tell me what happened to Azhar Mahmood, he seemed (to me) like someone who could be a better all-rounder than Shahid Afridi?

Great article. Creates a picture of the spirit

and emotions on the field which is lacking

from CricInfo`s commentary.

And what a win...this is indeed a historic

moment...something that will be talked about

for a long time...Sydney, Headingly, Bangalore,

and now Chennai!

A great start on CHOWK was made here as many had the opportunity to read about the game in Chennai
and express their views.
One thing that would help in future is to open
just one channel of communication per game
or series at a time and to keep it on top of
the article listings till that game is over.

Three channels were opened and a time distortion
was faced with people having to choose between
``Ready to Rumble``, ``The Pakistan India War 1999``
and this excellent ``Match Report``.
This is just a suggestion.

Mofeez, an excellent report series. I loved the
superb closing paragraph here.

Ras

I was all drained and spent after following the match. Then I slept late and had a relaxed day to recover. So now I look up Mofeez`s report and I am all drained and spent again. Editors take note - the Day 4 report needs to come with a disclaimer: above and beyond what happened in the match, Mofeez`s report itself can be hazardous to your emotional stability.

I have taken Mofeez`s recommendation faithfully and am patiently awaiting the video to materialize at the local Indian grocery. But I can`t imagine the images will be deliver more than Mofeez`s words.

Brilliant, my friend. Just brilliant.

Saad

One of the greatest matches in the history of Pakistan cricket has been concluded.

First of all, both teams were great. In the end, Sachin Tendulkar lost it for India when it was his for the taking.

I had suspected SRT would do his best and score a hundred, but the odds favoring Pakistan would still be hard to overcome. Tendulkar did do his best, but his best just wasn`t good enough. Nevertheless, since nothing endures like a tragedy, the 136 against Pakistan at Chennai will probably be canonized at Tendulkar`s finest moment.

I think with the opposition batting last this may be Pakistan`s closest victory margin yet.

Too much.

Commiserations to our Indian friends. Mubarakbad to Pakistan fans. Finally, after a long drought, some heroes are born.

Saad

Oye SS, Ras, Afrasiyab.

You`re all up too??

What a match! I am still dazed.

OK. I am not done yet.

This has been an absolutely incredible match.

12 runs. I still can`t believe it.

India are 6/2 and then 82/5. Its all over isn`t it. So say Safwan, Saad and Umair anyway.

Then Mongia and Tendulkar happen. Moin misses a sure shot stumping of Tendulkar as their partnership nears 100 and as both batsmen come out of their shell - Tendulkar hits Saq for 4 fours in an over. Wasim and Waqar return and are manhandled straight away, so that Waqar is replaced by Saqlain after just 1 over. Mongia hits Saq for a 6 to reach 50. And then.... Akram gets the breakthrough. But its only 54 runs for India. Too late? How about at 254/6 with Joshi looking rock solid and Tendulkar still there. Only 16 runs behind pakistan. Its all over. Time to finally turn off the browser? 16 runs to get; 4 wickets in hand. Tendulkar at 136. Joshi who was
not out at 25 in the first innings has hit Saqlain for a six to get to 7....Too late again?

And then...Saqlain gets Tendulkar. Each reload of the commentary page is physically painful
after that. But there weren`t too many refreshes required. In the next 4 runs Saqlain and Wasim get the tail out. Saqlain bags 10 for the match.

12 runs. Can`t believe the sides are so even, ones batting strength and poor bowling canceling the others brittle batting and top-ranked bowling. Even if the result cannot be enjoyed by all fans, the match was an utter treat. I finally realized why Test Cricket is beyond compare. Its the slowness that kills you. Slow, tortuous suspense.


And now since there are still a few nagging minutes left to Sunrise, I think I will go and watch the video of Saeed Anwar`s record setting one-day innings.

re: Saad
SRT is finally out 136 with the score at 255 16 runs from victory. You have to watch the guy to believe it.
Now, I shall concede that Pakistan has won.
Till SRT is out there with heap big fire in his belly No one dare predict otherwise.

ok SRT out on 254/7 , India 258 all out. oye buloody helll.

I need to go mourn now.

Oye SRT kitthon art thou now ? 16 runs away.....alas

Congratulations Pakistan !!!!

It is 3:30 AM California time. A Great bowling
effort by not only the W`s but the big S
(Saqlain).
Looking forward to Tendulkar in the next match too. The teams appear to be almost evenly matched.

Ras

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

Pakistan by 12 runs.

Tendulkar n.o. at 106. India need about 80 to win. Wasim and Waqar are (finally) back in the attack. Too late? Personally I think so.

So Moin just missed a clear stumping chance for Tendulkar off Saqlain. From Cricinfo:

``Saqlain Mushtaq to Tendulkar, no run, comes down the track!....
misses but Moin Khan makes the costliest mistake in his life misses the ball, and... this could be too damn costly``

Incidentally T. just hit Saq for 4 fours in that over.

To all who think Moin should be in the team over Rashid because Moin is a better bat...lets talk after Akram makes his concession speech tomorrow morning.

Hmm...

I thought it was over at 82 for 5 but its 145 for 5 now at Tea. Unless the Partnership is broken in the next 25 runs, the advantage goes back to India. I want to see Akram back. I still think its going to be him or Waqar who will get the breakthru.

I was planning on turning but it looks now like its going to be a long night.

Anyone else up??

Pakistan beat Tendulkar and won the match on the 4th day. Test cricket won at every moment. A great match.

IMO Pakistan deserved to win after they bowled out India in the first innings. Kudos to Akram for bringing back the Pakistan team from the living dead.

The news is:

Pakistan won by 10 runs.

Both India and Pakistan deserve all the applause. Great cricket.

Look for ward to the same kind of thrills in the second test.

YAHOOOOOO!!

Let me be the first one to say it: PAKISTAN WON!! By 13 runs! What a nail biter!!! Saqlain gets 5 wickets in second innings too.

India 257/9!! What a finish!! No matter who wins now, I can now safely say the honors are shared. :)) I might have spoken too early in my previous mail.

OK, India 238/6. Tendulkar`s still in. It`s all over for Pakistan. Btw, the url for Audio commentary was www.radio.gov.pk

Let`s see if Pakistan can level the series in the next game. Saad, you shouldn`t have doubted Tendu`s abilities. And I should`ve been following the match on IRC, ball-by-ball, praying for wickets instead of sleeping. :(

Mongia out. Wasim got his wicket and Waqar took his catch. India need 53 and have 4 wicketts in hand.

India are 84 for 5 at lunch. Tendulkar is still there, but one man can plug up only one end. Granted he is a talented batsman, but to my mind SRT is also partly a creation of the Indian fashion-media engine. Even if he carries the bat, I doubt he can do for his team at Chennai what Gavasker couldn`t do at Bangalore.

BTW, Rana, couldn`t agree more with your mature analysis of Afridi. One shouldn`t over-analyze his cricket. As you rightly insist, his success shows that spirit and motivation can sometimes count for more than method and technique.

Saad

PS: Are any of you catching commentary on short-wave ? What frequencies ?

Ganguly out....Saq-Mushed, India is 82 for 5

From CricInfo:

`` 41.4 Saqlain Mushtaq to Ganguly, no run, pushed to offside oh no....

41.5 Saqlain Mushtaq to Ganguly, OUT:``

The conditions now are ripe for a Pakistan victory. No predictions from me but if Pakistan takes advantage of the early fall of openers, India could be restricted to a 200 or so total. I`m still amazed at the Pakistani batsmen`s tendency for Tu Chal Main Aya. Six wickets for 10 runs? That`s really a shame.

Re: RanaRansher

Even with all their weaknesses, Pakistan is a better batting side too. They have talent, experience and record to show for it. Between them, they have played more matches than any other contemporary team you can name. All they need is a little bit peace from the inquisitors and the gods of Pakistan cricket board. Once they have the peace of mind they can beat any team, anywhere at any time. But without it, the reverse can also be true. Majid Khan, Javed Burki and rest of the bunch needs to be kicked out before any changes can be expected in the set up of Pakistan cricket.

Rehan.

re: Mofeez
``These are not miscues but on the contrary are adjustments when the length or line of the ball is not as perceived when it was delivered.``

Please gimme a break. What you describe is indeed a miscue. Yaar... you are getting carried away with your Afridi description. I think you have completely missed Afridi`s role in the Test team. Afridi is not a front line batsman (presently) by any standards. He is very circumspect against the moving ball and doesn`t have much technique defensive or footwork. Watch the guy bat. Study octogon charts on the guy you will see that most of his runs come with misques over slips in the thirdman region. He does hit straight and does get runs in the V, but not anywhere else really.

He has a fantastic eye and in most replays is in position to hit really early allowing him to use his shoulders and hit really HARD. BUT MOST ALL AFFRIDI GETS A FIRE IN HIS BELLY. And none other than Miandad (MAN WITH HEAP BIG FIRE IN HIS BELLY) senses this, recognises this, and patronises Afridi.
Last year I got a chnnce to check out the Sahara cup in Canada. I pulled some long distance connection and exploited it to the max. I would reach the field about 2 hours before playtime and check out the proceedings. While everybody else would be stroking balls, practicing, Miandad would spend hours just talking to Afridi. He then scored his 109. THe media had quoted Afridi as saying that Miandad mainly talks to him about his temperament and patience and how this was needed to be able to play the big one.
MARK MY WORDS: Afridi in the years to come will be Pakistan`s FIRE IN THE BELLY CHIEF. The technique will have to honed in but it is his ability to smell a challenge and thrive on it (against the odds and his own lack of technique) which sets him apart. As a leg spinner or batsman he doen`t display any exeptional skill but he is damn effective.
In the Test team selecetion, Pak had tried Wajahatullah Wasti and Mohd Naveed and were not too impressed with him. IN the domestic season (a basis for the selectors to choose teams) Afridi has not impressed at all with the bat, in fact, most of the impact he made has been as a leg spinner. THey could give a specialist opener (both the candidates had done well domestically) a chance or use Afridi as a wild card batsman and a leg spinner in the absense of Mushtaq. Note uptil now Afridi has played tests when Mushtaq Ahmad is fit. All this will change now of course.

The legends are made of people with this FIRE IN THEIR BELLY. Kapil provided this for India, after him there was a big slump, up until aamchi SRT. For Pakistan, Imran and Miandad were the chargers (also Abdul Qadir yeah heap big fire in his belly).
DAY to Afridi......NO DOUBT

But, I am not sure if you have seen Afridi bat. You will see what I am saying.
Even in this innings he gave a lot of chances which the Indians dropped. Once he realised that Kumble was not really turning the ball (most batsman get out to his bowling playing for the turn ;-) he would launch these mighty swipes at them with great success.
But the one thing he did do is push Azhar into the defensive. For most of the day India played with one slip and instead concentrated on saving boundaries. Pointless really since the batsman are not under pressure, loft balls all over, tap some and get all the singles. doubles they want. When the odd loose delivery comes along the batsman typically helps himself to them anyway.

And please guys dont accuse me of any jingoism. I am a HEAP BIG Afridi fan. Its just that he should get credit only where its due.

Onto tomorrow. For India to win SRT has to click. Others play good supporting roles, but he is the one with FIRE. Even for political stability within India (yeah I am getting carreied away hear, but what the hell) SRT single-handedly has to win this Test. I can elaborate on this later.

To all cricket fans,

World Cup 1999 is just around the corner. I am planning on going to England to attend atleast two of the Pakistani encounters (vs AUS and NZ) between May 23rd and May31st. I think this is once in a lifetime chance to see World`s top players in action. I am sure there are other cricket fans who would like to go too. I think it will be much more fun if we can go in a group from the United States. AT this time, I would like to hear from you about this idea (which is really in its infancy).

Please reply via this forum or email me directly at aziz786@hotmail.com.

I am open for suggestions and comments.

Regards,

Aziz from Chicago.

PS: My sincere thanks to both Mofeez and Safwan for orchestrating this excellent interactive coverage

Re Saad, Feroz, Rana, et al.

Wow! This is incredible. Superbowl? Whats that? Tomorrow all High IQ minds will be on Chennai.

Glad to see Waqar is awake finally.

My prediction(s) [Saad is contagious]:

If Pakistan wins, the pacemen would have won it for Pakistan (not the spinners)

If India win, it will be because of a big Ganguly-Tendulkar/Dravid (whoever survives the first session) partnership.

If neither Tendulkar and Dravid survive the first two hours, India will not win, no matter what Azhar or Ganguly etc. do.

If Ganguly fails, T or no T, India lose.

Re: Shafqat post # 29

Ghalib, Jinnah and Einstein were dead long before my time otherwise I might have and maybe I did, in a different life! Given the choice of watching hearing a test match over five days, I`d rather go camping or take a vacation, but that is just me.

Don`t get me wrong, I used to be an avid cricket fan when I was young. I guess I have just out grown the game and over the years have lost my interest in it.

To all of you cricket lovers out there, I admire your passion and commitment to the game and I wish you a happy series!

My only prediciation on the series is that maybe, though cricket, we sub-continentals will discover that we share more than just a love for cricket!

Hasta la vista amigos!

The fall of the house of cards (wickets 5 to 10)
has got to be a major factor in the outcome of
this game for Pakistan. They should have at least
played till mid day of day 4 and have India chase
a 325. But now that is all in the wishful past.
All eyes are on Tendulkar, the best batsman in
Cricket today, as the outcome of this match may
well be in his hands (and Azhar`s).
The Pakistanis know this too and will throw
everthing at him. If Pakistan can get 2 to 3
more early Indian wickets on Day 4, the match
is probably theirs. But if Tendulkar and Co.
can adjust to the Pakistani bowling attack
early in day 4, then thanks to the fall of
Pakistani batting as mentioned earlier, India
has plenty of TIME on their hands to draw
first blood.

PS.
Shahid Afridi has an open invitation to dinner
in the best restaurant in Sacramento, California,
and I`m buying.

Ras

Ferozk:

Ever heard Ghalib in a Dehli mushairah ?

Ever been received by Mr. Jinnah in his Malabar Hills drawing room ?

Ever discussed the nature of the universe with Albert Einstein ?

No ?

Then follow Test cricket. It`s not a bad substitute.

RanaRansher:

I admit I haven`t seen much of SRT. But comparisons with Gavasker ? Only day 4 will tell.

Mofeez:

You`re doing a very good job, keep it up. About Shahid Afridi, apparently Miandad gave him a real talking-to about his temperament during the pre-tour training camp in Karachi. Is Miandad behind the obvious turnaround in the team`s fortunes ? Perhaps you could shed some light on Miandad`s influence as coach in future reports.

Saad

PS: Prediction (sorry, but I can`t resist):

India 228 all out (Tendulkar 108 *, Afridi 5 for 59). Pakistan win by 42 runs.

Saad wrote:

``Ever heard Ghalib in a Dehli mushairah?

Ever been received by Mr. Jinnah in his Malabar Hills drawing room?

Ever discussed the nature of the universe with Albert Einstein? ``

O` what a joy it would bring to many if you elaborated this lyrical theme into an ode to cricket - Will you?

Amazing match. A win by Pakistan is a natural outcome and the most likely result. The phase that the match is in suits the Pakistani team tremendously. The W`s will be formidable and will be made more so if India displays its usual tentativeness in crunch situations. Shahid may win the match for Pakistan on paper but we all know it will be the W`s who will soften the opposition for the kill. I will not be surprised if Waqar surgically slices the Indian batting.

On the other hand:

A win by India, if that happens, will be momentous. India does not have a tradition of wining crunch matches against Pakistan. Many ``skeletons`` will get buried and a hero other than Tendulkar may get recognized. Let me admit this, I dont expect SRT to be the hero. It will be Ganguly.

Thank you Mofeez for the keen insight, the no-nonsense analysis is a pleasure to read.

Mr Mofeez writes,

On the batting side of it, Shahid is being made into an opener. He is not technically a front line batsman. He is very talented and exciting but not technically correct. In a one day game with field restrictions in the early overs, sending Shahid early at times makes sense but not in test cricket.

Oye Saad
You`re up following this too.

Man I don`t get it. last 20 balls Prasad bowled (leg cutters, in cutters , movement of the seam you name it) he gets 5 wickets. He bowled 5 overs all day.

All of a sudden the pitch was helpful for the bowlers. Actually Shastri as commentator pointed this out right before TEA.
Anyway Akram will make this pitch sing.

Indid needs 271 to win with 2 days and about 20 overs to go today. A draw seems impossible.

Saad, on SRT you haven`t seen him in song. Even SMG grants that he is the best he has ever seen. Now if only we could see him in action today.

regards

At Chennai, they will say, the boys became men, and the men became heroes.

What a match. Better than anything else known to humanity, with the possible exception of sexual orgasm.

OK, no more predictions. Just love and affection for Shahid Afridi. Lots of it.

Will this be the greatest India-Pakistan Test thus far ? Will Tendulkar and Azharuddin, facing near-impossible odds in the form of a target of 300+ against Saqlain and Akram, give the Pakistanis a run for their money ? In the Bangalore Test of 1987, with the wicket turning square, the incomparable Sunil Manohar Gavasker negotiated Tauseef and Iqbal Qasim like Odysseus battling Scylla and Charybdis. He made 96, and India came within 16 runs of victory. Tendulkar may give Pakistan a scare, but he`s no Gavasker (but no predictions, see above).

Wouldn`t it be outrageous if Afridi runs through the Indian batting in the 2nd innings ? (OK, OK, sorry no more predictions).

Saad

PS: RanaRansher and Rehan, thanks for the URLs. I think it is time to upgrade my short-wave radio.

So far the predictions have been completely off.
Shahid ``the Edge`` Afridi makes a gutsy century scoring at a very fast pace giving Pak plenty of time to put up a good total and pressure on India.
Indian spinners proving completely ineffective on a pitch that Saqlain was turning the ball square.

SO in round2 the mediocre batting side has gotten the better of the bad bowling side.

Now for round2 of the amazing bowling side vs the good batting side. Will Sachin do it ?
Sachin vs Saqlain...hmmm

One thing is for sure. IF sachin throws in the towel India will tamely fold.

Oye Feroz nahi oye nahi

this is wraaaang way. I think we need to sit and talk about cricket at length some day. :-)
For now, I need to give Saad the info. BTW I sit up everyday from 11:00PM EST till 5:00AM, sleep for 2 hours and then head to work and read all the post game reports, stats, etc. for the rest of the day.
Believe it or not Cricket is one of the main reasons I dream about moving back to India !!

re: Saad
Saad, check out www-usa.cricket.org (Cricinfo) and follow links to live coverage of the game.
Open the `score box` again a link. Both the full scorecard and `score box` update every 90 seconds.
THe severs get really busy during these games. So when www-usa stops responding a good bet is swithing the www-usa to www-uk in the URL. UK being 5 hours ahead of us has very little web traffic.
Yes, there are hundreds of desis in chat rooms all over the world following these matches.

Cricinfo also provides ball-by-ball commentary.

Also check out www.rediff.com and follow links for live coverage. These guys are about an over faster than Cricinfo.
Unfortunately, they are not doing a RealAudio and RealVideo broadcast of these games. SO you have to deal with text based commentary.
www.khel.com also has live coverage but I don`t like the commentary they do.

enjaaaaay

regards

Re: Shafqat post # 20

URLs for live commentary? Are you kidding me?!
Given the time differentials, you are willing to spend all those hours listening? I tella ya, ya da man, ya ma hommie!:)

I am more result oriented having lived in the States for so long. Cricket takes too damned long to play and who wants to spend a week watching some oafs in white flannel hit a ball and chase it all day long! All I am interested is the final score and who wins. Think about it folks, how unproductive this game is. All those work hours lost watching this game and nothing being done. Cricket is a sheer waste of time, as far as I am concerned.

I know, I will be pelted with verbal stones and chased from this forum for saying this, but this is what I think. All the power to you folks who have the patience to bear the agony of this monotony and tedium called a game of cricket! I really marvel your endurance!

Does anyone know any URLs for listening to live commentary ?

Saad

Mofeez,

Thanks for the superb report. Bus mazaa aa gaya!

Saad

Also check out this site: It has dozens of links on cricket from all over the world.

http://home.echo-on.net/

For live commentary try the following link at other times, but there`s no live commentary of this match as of now:

Jagged Interworks

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/SUPPORT/JAGGED/

Rehan.

Moeez:

Interesting comments.

And more interesting predictions from Chowkies. When a woman is pregnant, there are two possible predictions. In Cricket there are three. That makes it 1 in 3 to predict the outcome. 33 1/3 % success rate!

The years spent here has jaded my passion for this game somewhat. Therefore, this query. Have the Indians been touched by the bribery scandal? Has there been an official inquiry? And tangentially, what would have a bookie paid Tendulkar for that duck? (Pls, don`t jump all over me, this is just a hypothetical query).

re: Mofeez
Good to see your Match report.
I think you spoke too soon of levellers and have only partial information.
Last year in the Test against Australia, Sachin scored 4(5 balls) in the first innings and was out in a very similar fashion. He charged down the wicket to the 3rd ball from Warne, only to find Warne holding the ball back rather intelligently, got an outside edge giving Taylor at first slip a catch. Understandly the Aussies were overjoyed.
In the 2nd innings, to level things up, Tendulkar remained unbeaten and plundered 155 of 191 balls. After that Shane Warne said he got nightmares of Tendulkar charging down the track to him.....
I saw that innings live. They say, `Tendulkar se pangaa mat lo nahi to usko gussa aa jaawegaa aur phir woh bauhut maaregaa, bauhut maaregaa......` ;-)
The levelling may still occur.

In the Indian second innings be prepared for a fantastic contest between Saqlain and Sachin. Saqlain said in an interview,``I hope to repeat the performance in the second innings as well,`` when asked specifically about SRT`s dismissal. In addition to the oodles of talent Saqlain obviously has guts and is unfazed by reputations.
It will be anti-climactic if somebody else gets SRT out in the 2nd innings.
Cricket fans are advised to stay up for this contest.

regards

Re: Khan.

I think the problem with Waqar is that he does not have a delivery that can move away from the right-hander. Like Imran, his natural ball comes in, but unlike Imran he has not been able to learn the outswinger or the leg-cutter. It was clear in the World Cup quarter-final of 1996 that the Indians have completely figured him out.

As for predictions, I have to take reality into account as and when it becomes available :).

Saad

PS: Will there be a Chowk report on day 2 ?

Regarding Waqar

He only bowled 12 overs, the entire Indian innings lasted 80 odd overs. I wonder how many he bowled with an old ball, where he is at his most dangerous. I wouldn`t count him out just yet, however in a low scoring test he can be a liability because he can get smashed around a bit.

With Anwar gone, and Afridi threatening to go, its going to be tough for Pakistan to get 250 (which most agree is a good score to defend after the third day). So I`d say India is still in control.

BTW what`s up with Waqar? He`s bowling like he does in the one-dayers.And where is Mushtaq`s stand-in?

Re Saad

Hey, there is considerable variance in your predictions at the end of each day :)

Re: predictions

Remember guys, this is cricket. It ain`t over till it`s over, or until Inzi sings, whichever comes first. You need to replace your crystal ball Saad, it seems to have become a bit foggy, eh!

Re: Waqar

He`s still got at least four or five years left in him. I`d like to see him bowl as long as he is able to do deliver the goods.

Re: the usual wickets

One thing I just can`t understand about India/Pakistan, we can make nukes all right, why the heck can`t we make good wickets? What kind of a super-genius and a super-computer do you need to make a good, reliabel test class wicket?

Re: records posted in the replies

I think anyone who`s a least bit interested in cricket should probably know by now that you can view any records of any kind related to cricket at either Cricinfo, www.cricket.org, or www.Khel.com. I personally like the Khel.com better. It`s database is faster and more user-friendly. The point is, without proper formatting, the records are not legible and there`s no need to post them here at such great lengths. Sorry, but that`s just my opinion.

Rehan.

The pitch is turning more and more. It is crumbling which will continue to be a nightmare for the batsman owing to its uneven bounce. India batting second on a crumbling track puts the odds in favour of Pakistan, something that a first innings lead would have countered.
In any case, If Pak put up anything close to 250 - 300 India will have a real tough time overhauling that on this track. What with both Akram and Saqlain coming up with some superlative bowling.
Tomorrow morning will once again be a decisive period.
Look forward to reading your report on it Mofeez
regards

Afrasiyab and others,

The spirit is back! I can hear it, I can feel it!
Must`ve been some sight, seeing Tendulkar out to Saqlain for 0. What a deliciously placed match. This is headed for a great ending.

OK, so India 254 all out and Pakistan 34 for 1 at close of day 2.

Predictions:

Pakistan 188 all out (Salim Malik 50+)
India 143 all out (Tendulkar 50+)

Pakistan win by 29 runs.

Saad

PS: Can someone please send over Saqlain`s feet to Boston ? There`s quite a few people over here who need to kiss them.

This is getting interesting.

First of all, Afridi needs to play a good innings. There is plenty of time so the batsman need to think about preserving their wicket first and scoring runs second. The wicket is only going to turn more as the match progresses.

If Pakistan can give India a target of at least 230-250, they bowl them out and win the match.

Tendu out for a duck; I wish I could have seen that.

Saad,

Looks like this is after all going to be an interesting one. Nopes, India did not get to 450. Azhar, was out for 11. Maybe I should not be wagging my finger at you since my own prediction is of a draw, which, after today, does not seem likely. It is still possible, though that this wicket may become more comfortable for the batsmen and we might see some lengthy stands from the Pakistanis and the Indians.

Cricket, who knows.

Mofeez wrote : ``The day end score of 48 without loss off 8 overs is typical of the Pakistan fast bowlers on placid tracks ... When the ball becomes older they will be tough to handle and with the morning dew, the pre-lunch session tomorrow would dictate the day and the test match.``

Prophetic!! India is 130 for 4 around lunch. Akram has struck and Tendy was ``saq-mushed`` on ball 3. Azhar who?

Re: Saad

You are going out on a limb here and so am I.

My prediction is that both teams will play long 2nd innings. This test match may end up as a draw.

OK, so Pakistan 238 and India 48 for 0 at end of day 1.

Prediction:

India 433 for 9 declared (Azharuddin century)
Pakistan 130 all out (Salim Malik 50+)

Pakistan lose by innings and 62 runs.

Saad

Mofeez,

Good artcile once again. A very good insight to what`s happened in the first day.

I myself was disappointed with the team selection. I think that Mushtaq Ahmed had a sore throat or something so he couldnt play as he was not 100% fit. But same was with Ijaz he was also on the injury list. So i dont know why they played Ijaz and not Mushi.

I think that Yousuf is becoming like Miandad in the middle order... There is not much differece as Miandad used to come in the top order... when the score was like 7-2.. now Yousuf is coming in the middle order when its 50-4 or something of that sort... So Yousuf is coming to the rescue everytime our team is in dire straits.

My cousin had played with Shoaib Akhtar and Yousuf Youhana... He said that Shoaid Akhtar is hell of a fast bowler... and Yousuf is a technically sound batsman...

Lets see what happens in the second day.

---Jawwad

re: Team selection
I believe Mushtaq Ahmad is out with a stiff neck, he reportedly went in for some MRIs on Wednesday.
In the Indian line-up the `left arm slow orthodox` spinner you refer to is Sunil Joshi and not Raju.

regards

Thanks for the report, Mofeez. It is very welcome. Look forward to more.

What is less welcome, is the 238. I mean, what the ... ??! Does anyone know if the umpires are both neutral, or is one Indian ? The team is probably also still reeling from the match-fixing and betting scandals. Wasim Akram himself has been widely pointed out as being highly mulavvis in this corruption (don`t mean to spread innuendo, though - please correct me if this is still in the rumor stage). On top of that, we have to contend with the batting famine that has been with Pakistan cricket for a few years now. There simply is no serious batting talent left in the side.

Anyway, perhaps the poor performance is a good thing. If Pakistan starts getting anywhere close to victory, violence may erupt.

And so what if we lose, koeey baat nahiN yaar. Pakistan has won two tests in India, India has never won in Pakistan. So there.

Saad :) :)

I could not believe the irresponsibility of the Pakistani batsmen on the field. Specially Anwar, Malik, Ijaz. What were these guys thinking.

Also, Malik`s dismissal was the sour most point.

If India makes it to 400 around the middle of the third day, consider this test completely out of reach.