India Tour of New Zealand !!

I think India would show their best talent in the 3rd test and win the series by 2-0. They should learn from the mistakes committed in this test and improve their fielding. Most of the other things are fine.

 

You are right.

BTW Indian batsmen will be in more confidence now.

 

Yup, you are right. They must have got a good lesson to learn from this test match. I hope they bat first in the last test and make a huge score !

Would love to see them winning !!

 

How much off-the-mark can one be?
I anticipated an innings defeat and voila.....Indian batsmen not only successfully averted it, they even managed to save the match!

Hats off..to the patience displayed by Gambhir and Laxman

Regards,

RightMan

 

I am really surprised that we managed to save the test. I think this is really the best squad we have ever had.

 

Yes and we are watching best days of Indian cricket. India lost only 4 wickets in 2 and half days and Gambhir is hero who spend almost 11 hours on the ground and make sure India save the match.

 

Each and every batsman played a responsible inning.

 

All this says only one thing- No one can manage the Indian team better other than Dhoni

 

India will easily win the series...thats for sure

 

For the second day running Daniel Vettori and his bowlers had struggled to raise themselves in a match they appeared to have in the bag not too long ago. India were on the back foot for three days, but New Zealand failed to keep them there. Vettori will know his side can compete but what will rankle is the fact that they failed to recreate the intensity of the first three days. After a while, the task of toiling for every Indian wicket just got too difficult on a flat track.

When Laxman pulled the 835th delivery of India's follow-on innings to the square-leg boundary shortly after lunch on the final day, India had wiped out the 314-run deficit. "What this is, is rigouresque. There you go, that's a new word." Ian Smith, commentating on air, was at a loss of words to describe India's dour, obstinate rearguard that frustrated New Zealand. It was a major milestone.

India should have been 13 for 4 but Iain O'Brien juggled and dropped an absolute sitter at mid-on when Gambhir chipped Vettori in the air. Despite O'Brien's generosity India needed to see out the session to get out of trouble. Gambhir was finally dismissed, given lbw to Jeetan Patel. His 137 spanned 643 minutes and 436 deliveries.

India's lead was just 42 and that brought out the new ball immediately, and nearly another wicket. Yuvraj's attempt to flick over midwicket resulted in a thick leading edge that evaded cover. Just six boundaries dotted the first session, but India hit 17 in the second, four each by Laxman and Yuvraj in 21 balls before tea against a very tired attack.

There were further gems off Laxman's bat in the first over after tea - three boundaries to different parts of McLean Park in fact. Two more in another disappointing O'Brien over raised three figures, received with warm applause from a thin crowd and a raucous Indian dressing room. This was not the first time a Laxman century had bailed India out and spread cheer.

The shots shunned for five sessions came out in full flow. The 100 partnership with Yuvraj took just 59 minutes as boundaries flew about. The hard work done by those before him, Yuvraj breezed his way to a fifty from 61 balls, punctuated with ten punchy boundaries. Laxman remained unbeaten on 124 while Yuvraj picked up some needed form as the game was drawn.

None of this was possible without Gambhir. With Tendulkar gone early in the day, nicking a loose drive behind for 64, the workload on Gambhir had increased exponentially but he handled the pressure as he had all of day four: with utter confidence. Gambhir, displaying Chanderpaul-like prudence, was once again content to play well within his limitations. His innings remained out of character but was just what India needed to bind the innings together. He only scored 17 runs all morning and 21 in the afternoon, going past his previous longest Test innings, the 550 minutes he batted for a double-century against Australia last year.

Laxman offered solid support. He let deliveries go which he caressed away during the first innings and padded away plenty of what Vettori sent his way. Laxman had no option but to drop anchor. The Gambhir-Laxman partnership of 96 developed at just under two runs an over - the kind of dignified pace that Gambhir would have tended to believe until yesterday was beneath his dignity - but it was just what was needed.

The contributions of Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar in both innings also need a mention. It was a great escape indeed. Test cricket teaches you that good things come to those who wait. India waited, and maintained their 1-0 lead.

 

Yes, I do agree that Dhoni is the best captain. If he would have been the captain for this match as well, India would probably have been in a better position. He is the LEADER!

 

Really,Dhoni is a great captain with great mind.

 

Hmm.. People of my city are really cool with great minds.

So he is also cool and has great mind. MSD Rocks !

 

What is your opinion about the mind of people of other cities?

 

With Dhoni hopefully returning to Captain the side for the 3rd test, Team India should be back to its winning ways!

Regards,

RightMan

 

Sehwag did not do well in the last test match.

 

Sehwag bats brilliantly under the leadership of Dhoni....He is perhaps not good under himself as Captain!

Regards,

RightMan

 

May be but he could do better.

 

Well I think he have only one thing in mind. Hit or miss. He even don't care who is captain, who is bowler, how many runs he made. He made 300 runs with six

 

Yes, you are absolutely right, He always play his natural game.