Match Report on First Test Match at Chennai

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.

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 :) :)

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

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 :)

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.

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 ?

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