Day 1, Trentbridge Test, Ind V Eng 2011 – a bulletin

• M S is his own man and that is his biggest strength, but I want him to spend time with a few Australian Captains. Mark Taylor once said, 9 times out of 10 as a captain when you win the toss you must bat first and on the 10th occassion where you must field, you take the risk and bat first. Doesnt matter who the opposition is or what the pitch is like, batting in the 4th innings is the most difficult of prospect that is there in Cricket. A score of 180+ is also tricky and hence Always Bat First MAHI !!!!

• Cannot believe that Zaheer Khan was barely mentioned in commentary yesterday in such swinging conditions. The former England cricketers have decided that India is a one man bowling attack and it is rendered toothless. India didnt miss him yesterday at all.

• India let England off the hook and again M S needs to look at his captaincy hard. Too many field placings were reactive and defensive. Sigh… Captaincy is a real tough tough job !

• When Zak gets fit in the next match who does India leave out ??? My vote is for Bhajji unless the pitch is really dry or going to spin. In the first innings he has bowled just 4.4 overs. If India actually bat well in the first innings then again I dont see him being too much of a factor as India will want the seamers for the first 30 odd overs and that is where the maximum damage will happen.

• The onus is on the BIG 3, Dravid, Laxman & Sachin must make a score today and make it count. However if India wants to look at its future, it will be important to see how Raina, Yuvi & Dhoni contribute.

• The tail must take a leaf out of Broad, yes he is a better batsman but our tail in the first two innings at Lords batted without any character. That must change, extend the lead to 150 – 180 – 200 !

• It will be very satisfying to see the Indian Team come back, they have got themselves into a good position and if they manage to win this Test there is one thing that they will really shut down is this utter crap that is going on in England’s news papers and former cricketers that India cannot stop England from becoming No.1 !!!! I mean its unbelievable the amount of disrespect these fellows have for our team. WE MUST TEACH THEM A LESSON !!!!

• If SreeSanth can bowl like this and control his antics there is no reason why he has to sit in the dressing room. Again it is a challenge for M S to actually handle this bloke. He is super talented, MS cannot just relegate him to the dressing room and has to use his talent. The captain needs to utilize this Temperamental Mallu Express.

• India won in Durban, Perth and I hope one and all remember this. England has not won in Perth since 1978. How can they talk of pace troubling us ? Huh ? Today is a day to stop all the crap that is going on !

• I will stick my neck out and say England will not win this series, they are too disrespectful and their over confidence will do them in !

He is Back !!!

Sometimes when things look bleak, when all that could go wrong, GOES WRONG, when everyone is baying for your blood, when all trash is tossed up. All Tom, Dick and Harry will come up and question greatness, will question attitudes, rightly so – some would suggest !!!
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That is what is the current state of affairs for the Men in Blue Caps and White clothes. Champions they are, performed badly they did, they werent helped with the injuries, Yes, but still a below par performance the batting was very choppy and I too do not accept the argument of changed batting order as the reason of it. Laxman and Bhajji amongst all played the most terrible of shots, Dravid’s judgement was poor and Tendulkar batted inexplicably ! Yes, they do deserve a few brickbats, but dont write them off yet.
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They will come back better, the best part is some one who is so much fun to watch is back. Yes I mean the maverick is back !!!!!!!!!!!!!  
 
Do I need to anything more… !!!!!

HE, SREE is BACK !!!!!!  ahfadfffffffffffff          cccccccccccccccccccccccccc                               ffffsfkjlasfda

The maverick, moody, temperamental, super talented if he gets it right MALLU express will be back in full form today at Nottingham and I expect him to REVEL !!!!!

The look on your face says it all doesnt it !!!!! The Pommies watch out !!!!!

Pics Courtesy : Cricinfo.com

Day 2, Lords, India V England 2011 – a bulletin

• Looks like a draw on the cards. The pitch looks good for batting !

• Praveen Kumar, as slow as he may seem, has shown he is might mighty effective and has ensured he is going to be a regular for the series.

• Ishant is 22, but he needs to learn fast, India cannot afford to have him bowling like this, especially when the spear head of the bowling is limping. He looked ordinary to say the least.

• Dont expect too much from Bhajji on a slow, low and green track on day 1 and 2. Bhajji could do with a few smiles and he needs to relax !

• Dhoni is a maverick and trust him to surprise you !

• Pietersen is maturing as a batsman and that is bad signs for everyone else, seems he is playing for the team and not for the gallery anymore !

• Geoff Boycott needs to remember that 18 more days of Test Cricket still remain and although this bowling attack minus Zaheer wouldnt scare him Mom I am somehow sure he will be made to eat humble pie not before long !

• How India would have loved to have Sehwag walk in today and smash the bowling to all parts and have India at 380 for 4 by the end of the day and pushing England to the wall on the last day !

yea rite… I need to stop !!!! but fantasies of the Sehwagian in me just dont stop !!!!

PK and KP are great characters and at the end of the day this was a heartening pic to see… they did slug it out in the middle !