By Gaurang
February 11 2010

After the mauling that India received in Nagpur, it is imperative that they win the next Test at the storied Eden Gardens. If they manage to win the Test and square the series, they will hold on to their No. 1 ranking, if not, they will have surrendered their crown in an embarassingly short period of time.

India take on South Africa on Saturday at the storied Eden Gardens in Kolkata.  Assuming that the Cricket Association of Bengal does not produce a vicious turner, and even if they do, considering how well Harris did, and how poorly Harbhajan and Mishra did in Nagpur, the prospect an Indian victory however seems remote.  India have not looked so vulnerable at home, since the days of Clive Lloyd and his mighty West Indian unit in the 1980s.

If Virender Sehwag was right in his assessment of the abilities of the Bangladeshis, one has to admit that Shakib al Hasan, also was right in his assessment of the Indians.  He had said that he thought South Africa and Australia were better teams, and on the evidence of the first Test, he was right.

Of course circumstances conspired against India, in that two of their three most experienced batsmen were unavailable due to injury.  Additionally, one of the chosen replacements injured himself just minutes before the start of the match, pitch forking a rookie wicket keeper into the role of specialist batsman.  The utter absurdity of the situation called into question the abilities of the Selectors as well.  How could a team missing two or three key batsmen only pick seven specialist batsmen in the squad, including one very doubtful starter in the form of the injured VVS Laxman? 

On top of the selectoral and injury woes, India also lost the toss, and then compounded their misery, despite a very good start, by going on the defensive very, very quickly.  At no point did Mahendara Singh Dhoni seek to press home the advantage that Zaheer Khan gave India with two very quick breakthroughs, reducing South Africa to 6 for 2 within minutes of the start of play.  It seemed that from the start Dhoni’s game plan was to play defense rather than offense.  South Africa, unlike Australia, showed immense patience in the face of containing tactics and ground their way remorselessly towards an insurmountable lead.   In Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla they had just the men for the job, both immensely focused and infinitely patient, who added over 300 runs and batted India out of the match. 

After their marathon the only question was, could India’s batsmen match them in both intent and execution and save the match.  With a severely weakened middle order, India depended heavily on its  vaunted opening pair of Gambhir and Sehwag to blunt the new ball attack.  However, Gambhir, who has had a dream run, including five consecutive Tests with at least one century, and eleven consecutive Tests with at least one fifty, found the pace and bounce of Morkel and Steyn, too much to handle.  It is too early to criticize him after one poor Test, but what was apparent to those who saw his dismissals in both innings, was that his technique as an opener against an attack that was of a quality much higher than most of the attacks he has flayed recently, was suspect.  With the opening pair providing no protection, India’s inexperienced middle order was exposed quickly and collapsed in a heap twice against some very smart and very quick bowling by the South Africans.

It was amazing to see senior citizen Jacques Kallis working up pace approaching 90 mph, while Ishant Sharma, who just a few series ago was giving Ricky Ponting a roasting, trundling in and bowling at around 75-80 mph.  The difference in intent and commitment to the cause was there for all to see.

Dhoni has been a very good captain at leading from the front, but now his ability to inspire and lead his men when their backs are to the wall will be severely tested.   One hopes for his sake and India’s that he is up to the challenge.

Can India Bounce Back?

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 11/02/2010 19:28

Indian Cricket Fever
11/02/2010 19:28

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:21:03:52:02 by Birbal.

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Gabbar
11/02/2010 23:53

india needs to sack out of form bowlers - sharma and bhaji have been useless so far - if bowlers don't do anything - then we will be defeated - even if dravid and laxman are back in the side

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Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time

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Max
12/02/2010 06:45

Nice summary there Gaurang. I Agree with Gabbar...we cannot bounce back with this current bowling 'attack'. I don't understand what it will take for the selectors and team management to drop Harbhajan and Ishant? Other players are kicked out after 1 bad performance, yet these two get a free ride without anything to show for it. Mishra too is useless. We need to try out new bowlers, surely they cannot do any worse than this current lineup. Yet youngsters like Mithun and Tyagi were dropped from squad. It's ridiculous. At best we can draw the 2nd Test, if the batting fires.

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

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Birbal
12/02/2010 16:58

I can see maybe Sreesanth replacing Ishant, who should replace Bhajji?

VVS was right, India's spin bowling cupboard seems very bare...

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Gabbar
12/02/2010 20:14

if we don't prepare turning wickets, then we have to go we 3 paceman and one SLA who can bottle up scoring - I don't understand why we cannot use in form bowlers like abhimanyu and tyagi - we should not have a mindset of not playing them if they don't have experience - just play the bowlers in form

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Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time

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Meet_New_Mr_India
12/02/2010 20:24

Vijay looked more comfortable against the fast men.. That is why I am repeating again and again to have Vijay open instead of Gambhir..

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Meet_New_Mr_India
12/02/2010 20:26

Watch Ishant bowl at 140+ speed in KKR matches and other useless T20s..

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Birbal
13/02/2010 05:25

Many can bowl 140 kmph when only bowling 4 overs max...

It takes real fire in the belly and true fitness to bowl at that pace for 20-25 overs in a day...

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Meet_New_Mr_India
13/02/2010 17:19

^ agreed but at least he can bowl his first spell at 140+ speed..

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Spirit of Cricket
13/02/2010 19:23

In the twilight of his career, I wonder how Laxman can be expected to do at Kolkata.

A lot hangs on this match, and VVS has good memories of saving India with a classic - although that was so long back, it seems part of history.

All eyes will be on Laxman. He needs to step up and deliver.

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Birbal
13/02/2010 19:28

Not just VVS... Gambhir needs to step it up too...

Veeru and Sachin did relatively OK... but these two other "veterans" need to deliver...

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anu_d
13/02/2010 21:28

what about Dhoni...how does he geta away scoring 5 runs in 60 balls and 25 in a 130 ball ?


anyway, by declaring public unhappiness about pitch he has surrendered the advantage and demoralized his own team

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"The Gangu"
13/02/2010 21:53

Dhoni "surrenders the advantage" by declaring his displeasure publically, but Gangs displayed leadership and inspired the team by chickening out of the Nagpur test - thank you!

BTW: what advantage are we talking about?

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Birbal
18/02/2010 15:48

Yes THEY CAN!!!

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Gabbar
18/02/2010 16:16

absolutely birbal - sensational win by dhoni and his men - especially to win with our backs against the wall -

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Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:18:16:17:38 by Gabbar.

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Birbal
18/02/2010 16:31

When I saw Zaheer sitting in the Pavilion on the 5th day... I feared the worst... FANTASTIC effort by Indian bowlers...all of three of them...

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