It's an India vs. Paksitan semi-final clash or in other words after 3 world cups in a row, Australia have finally given up the throne.
Yesterday's match [SCORECARD] was everything an ODI match is supposed to be. It had some brilliant batting, bowling, fielding, aggression, drama, injuries, heartbreaks, and celebrations. It was a closely contested match and in the end the team with the better spinners and better players of spin bowling won. The pitch wasn't a flat dead wicket and offered assistance for the spinners which India made the most of. With Ashwin, Yuvraj and Harbhajan and Sachin (yes, he bowled his leggies) bowling some tight lines, nearly strangled the Australian middle order that has been susceptible thus far against quality spin bowling. Zaheer was his usual self mixing his lines, lengths, and pace to keep the Australian batsman guessing. White's dismissal shows that. Ashwin was impressive and though Harbhajan looked a shade off colour, he still kept the lid on the Aussies. Yuvraj, once again assumed his role as India's premier spinner picking up two wickets taking his tally to 11. Is he the all-rounder India has been waiting and praying all this time for?
The Australians somehow managed to set a decent score of 260, thanks largely to their skipper, Ponting - who by the knock should have silenced his critics, had his team won. The Australian team's bowling revolving around their three main pacers failed to cause any big dents, but they did keep things tight and almost brought the game to their side when Dhoni departed with India needing 70 odd runs at a run a ball. However, the talented all-rounder from Punjab who I mentioned above, strung a partnership with Raina to see India home to one of the most clinical wins of the tournament.
India take a lot of positives from this match and now have their team composition all in order. I've always maintained that Raina should play instead of Yusuf Pathan, and just see the difference it made yesterday! To value a batsman's worth, ask the question "Who would you want at the crease when the team is 45 for 5?". I'll choose Raina anyday over Yusuf if such a situation arises. This is not to say that Yusuf is not a quality batsman, but like Afridi, Yusuf bringing the heavy demolitions cannot be expected to be consistent. Dhoni acknowledged that very fact. Also Ashwin has showed the world he is a world-class bowler. I always was of the opinion that he was highly over rated, however watching the last two matches in which he played, I'm being made to eat my words.
So I end this post by asking the question, is Yuvraj Singh, India's messiah? With 4 man of the match awards in the tournament, 11 wickets and more than 300 runs, it does very much looks like it. Isn't it surprising that just six months ago people wanted this guy out? He too has proved his critics wrong!
As for Ponting? No, his century hasn't proved his doubters wrong as Ian Chappell is still calling out for a new Aussie captain.
Yesterday's match [SCORECARD] was everything an ODI match is supposed to be. It had some brilliant batting, bowling, fielding, aggression, drama, injuries, heartbreaks, and celebrations. It was a closely contested match and in the end the team with the better spinners and better players of spin bowling won. The pitch wasn't a flat dead wicket and offered assistance for the spinners which India made the most of. With Ashwin, Yuvraj and Harbhajan and Sachin (yes, he bowled his leggies) bowling some tight lines, nearly strangled the Australian middle order that has been susceptible thus far against quality spin bowling. Zaheer was his usual self mixing his lines, lengths, and pace to keep the Australian batsman guessing. White's dismissal shows that. Ashwin was impressive and though Harbhajan looked a shade off colour, he still kept the lid on the Aussies. Yuvraj, once again assumed his role as India's premier spinner picking up two wickets taking his tally to 11. Is he the all-rounder India has been waiting and praying all this time for?
The Australians somehow managed to set a decent score of 260, thanks largely to their skipper, Ponting - who by the knock should have silenced his critics, had his team won. The Australian team's bowling revolving around their three main pacers failed to cause any big dents, but they did keep things tight and almost brought the game to their side when Dhoni departed with India needing 70 odd runs at a run a ball. However, the talented all-rounder from Punjab who I mentioned above, strung a partnership with Raina to see India home to one of the most clinical wins of the tournament.
India take a lot of positives from this match and now have their team composition all in order. I've always maintained that Raina should play instead of Yusuf Pathan, and just see the difference it made yesterday! To value a batsman's worth, ask the question "Who would you want at the crease when the team is 45 for 5?". I'll choose Raina anyday over Yusuf if such a situation arises. This is not to say that Yusuf is not a quality batsman, but like Afridi, Yusuf bringing the heavy demolitions cannot be expected to be consistent. Dhoni acknowledged that very fact. Also Ashwin has showed the world he is a world-class bowler. I always was of the opinion that he was highly over rated, however watching the last two matches in which he played, I'm being made to eat my words.
So I end this post by asking the question, is Yuvraj Singh, India's messiah? With 4 man of the match awards in the tournament, 11 wickets and more than 300 runs, it does very much looks like it. Isn't it surprising that just six months ago people wanted this guy out? He too has proved his critics wrong!
As for Ponting? No, his century hasn't proved his doubters wrong as Ian Chappell is still calling out for a new Aussie captain.
1 Comments:
Thank you for sharing the info. I found the details very helpful.
paxil
Post a Comment
Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted but to weigh and consider.
- Francis Bacon