Archives for November 2008
India's cricket team celebrates after the dismissal of England's Ravi Bopara (not pictured) during their fourth one-day international cricket match in
On: Sunday, November 23, 2008
India's Virender Sehwag plays a shot during their fourth one-day international cricket match against England in Bangalore November 23, 2008 I
ICL world's Murray Goodwin plays a shot Against ICL Bangladesh during ICL World Series cricket match in Ahmedabad on Sunday
Virender Sehwag plays a shot during their fourth one-day international cricket match against England in Bangalore November 23, 2008
India's Virender Sehwag plays a shot during their fourth one-day international cricket match against England in Bangalore November 23, 2008
Ishant Sharma with his new hair style during the 4th ODI match against England in Bangalore on Sunday
India vs England 3rd ODI 2008: Live on Sky Sports 1 Channel
On: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Sky Sports 1 television channel is telecasting the ongoing ODI series between
In the first match,
Bowling Card 3RD ODI England vs India
- Extras (b 0, lb 3, w 9, nb 5) 17
- Total Score: 240/10 (48.4 Over) RR:4.93
-
Fall of Wickets: 1-79 (Ian Bell, 14.3 Over) 2-102 (Kevin Pietersen, 19.1 Over) 3-106 (Paul Collingwood, 21.2 Over) 4-133 (Ravi Bopara, 28.5 Over) 5-167 (Andrew Flintoff, 36.2 Over) 6-203 (Owais Shah, 43.4 Over) 7-231 (Samit Patel, 46.4 Over) 8-231 (Matt Prior, 46.5 Over) 9-235 (Stuart Broad, 47.5 Over) 10-240 (James Anderson, 48.4 Over)
Bowling O M R W NB WD Eco Zaheer Khan 10 0 45 1 0 1 4.5 Munaf Patel 6.4 0 36 2 0 0 5.4 Ishant Sharma 9 0 60 2 5 2 6.66 Yuvraj Singh 10 0 54 1 0 1 5.4 Harbhajan Singh 10 2 31 3 0 1 3.1 Yusuf Pathan 2 0 7 1 0 0 3.5 Virender Sehwag 1 0 4 0 0 0 4
- Extras (b 0, lb 3, w 9, nb 5) 17
- Total Score: 240/10 (48.4 Over)RR:4.93
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Fall of Wickets: 1-79 (Ian Bell, 14.3 Over) 2-102 (Kevin Pietersen, 19.1 Over) 3-106 (Paul Collingwood, 21.2 Over) 4-133 (Ravi Bopara, 28.5 Over) 5-167 (Andrew Flintoff, 36.2 Over) 6-203 (Owais Shah, 43.4 Over) 7-231 (Samit Patel, 46.4 Over) 8-231 (Matt Prior, 46.5 Over) 9-235 (Stuart Broad, 47.5 Over) 10-240 (James Anderson, 48.4 Over) BowlingOMRWNBWDEcoZaheer Khan100451014.5Munaf Patel6.40362005.4Ishant Sharma90602526.66Yuvraj Singh100541015.4Harbhajan Singh102313013.1Yusuf Pathan2071003.5Virender Sehwag1040004
Bopara opens with 60 as England make 240 in India
KANPUR (Reuters) - All rounder Ravi Bopara hit 60 runs as a makeshift opener to help a shaky England to 240 all out in the third one day international against India on Thursday.
Bopara struck his fourth half century in one-dayers and put on 79 runs with Ian Bell (46) for the opening wicket after England, 2-0 down in the seven-match series, won the toss and elected to bat.
England's batting reshuffle largely failed to work, however, and off spinner Harbhajan Singh grabbed three wickets as India bowled the tourists out with two balls to spare.
Harbhajan, 28, returned a splendid three for 31 to reach career tally of 200 one-day wickets and pacemen Munaf Patel and Ishant Sharma took two wickets each.
Owais Shah (40), Andrew Flintoff (26) and Samit Patel (26) were the other notable contributors to England's modest total. India will need to achieve the victory target in 49 overs after the match was curtailed by a 45-minute delay at the start caused by hazy conditions.
EARLY MOMENTUM
England showed early evidence of a determination to bounce back in the series but ran out of steam as the Indian slow bowlers once again took charge.
Bell and Bopara made a cautious start and scored only 16 runs in the first seven overs before stepping up to play fluent shots.
Bell hit eight fours and looked good for a big score until he was caught behind off Munaf trying a casual steer to third man.
Harbhajan wrested the initiative back for India with the wickets of captain Kevin Pietersen (13) and Paul Collingwood (1) off successive overs as England slumped to 106 for three.
Pietersen, promoting himself to number three, hit Yuvraj Singh's occasional left-arm spin for six but paid the price after charging down the pitch to Harbhajan and holing out to Zaheer Khan at long off.
Harbhajan also had the out-of-form Collingwood stumped as he played forward to a doosra delivery.
Bopara held one end up but England suffered with Flintoff cast in the unusual role of having to consolidate after being sent in ahead of Shah, who hit 58 at number three in the second match of the series in Indore.
Bopara drove Yuvraj past cover for his eighth four to reach fifty but the bowler had him stumped with a delivery which spun away from the batsman. Flintoff was the fifth out, trapped leg before by off spinner Yusuf Pathan.
Recalled fast bowler Ishant conceded 10 runs in an eventful 10-ball 47th over which had two no balls, a wide which went for four and then the wickets of Samit Patel and Matt Prior (5) off succesive deliveries.
England all out for 240 in 3rd ODI
Harbhajan Singh's spell of 3/31 spelled doom for the English XI as the visitors were all out for a mere 240 runs.
Ravi Bopara top scored for the hosts with a neat knock of 60. Earlier, England made a solid start in the Kanpur ODI but India has struck crucial blows to bring England to 102/2 in 19 overs.
Ian Bell fell to a Munaf Patel delivery that jagged away while Harbhajan Singh got the all important wicket of skipper Kevin Pietersen.
Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara forged 79 run partnership for the opening wicket to give England its best start for the series. After Bell's fall Bopara (41 batting) soldiered on and now he is joined by Paul Collingwood in the middle.
England skipper Kevin Pietersen won the toss and chose to bat first against India in the third one-day international on Thursday.
The start was delayed by 45 minutes due to hazy conditions, reducing play to 49-overs per side. The forecast is for showers during the day.
England dropped pace spearhead Steve Harmison and picked off spinner Graeme Swann as the second spinner, for his first game of the series in the only change from the previous game.
Harmison took just three wickets at over 41 runs apiece in the first two games, the hosts having won both easily to lead the seven-match series.
India recalled fast bowler Ishant Sharma after his recovery from an ankle injury, replacing left-arm R.P. Singh in the only change from the previous game.
Teams: England:Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen (captain), Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Owais Shah, Samit Patel, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
India:Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma.
England could not make the most of their best start of the series so far as India's phalanx of disciplined bowlers shot them out for 240 in 48.4 overs in the third cricket ODI here today.
Dhoni hopes Yuvraj gets a hat-trick of centuries
Kanpur, Nov 19 (IANS) India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hopes in-form Yuvraj Singh gets a third consecutive century in the third One-Day International against England here Thursday.
'I hope he (Yuvraj) scores his third consecutive century here and that would suit the team as well,' Dhoni told reporters after a practice session at the Green Park Stadium here Wednesday.
Yuvraj has been in rampaging form with an unbeaten 138 in Rajkot and 118 in Indore, where he also picked up four wickets.
'Yuvraj, when on song, is simply one of the best, even the top bowlers struggle against him. As a captain, I have noticed that all big players who slog down the order are left-handers, probably because the bowlers have sorted out the right-handers. They can bowl yorker or low fulltoss to a right-hander, but struggle to find the right line for the left-handers,' Dhoni said.
The India captain also said that as Yuvraj was making a come-back he motivated the left-handed batsman to play his natural game.
'I told him see the ball and hit it. At times when a player goes through a bad patch, you have to keep him motivated. But all the players in the team are very talented and you cannot really change their basics. All you can do is to motivate them,' he said.
Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag skipped the practice session and Dhoni said that since it was an optional session the players decided to take some rest. But Ishant Sharma, who was rested for the first two matches, has been declared fit and is expected to play.
'In the Test series against Australia, he (Ishant) bowled long spells and was tired. But even then, bowling his third spell of the day, he gave it his best and bowled his heart out, putting in the same amount of effort. You have to take care of kids like him,' Dhoni said.
'He is just 19 or 20, you have to make sure that he does not sustain injuries and remains in the right frame of mind.'
Rudra Pratap Singh, who has been unimpressive so far, is expected to make way for Ishant.
'Look, he (Rudra Pratap) has not played for a while and its always difficult to make a comeback. It is at times like this that you need to completely back him. He has been one of the best bowlers against England and even though he is looking bit rusty, the team will back him and we hope he comes back strong,' Dhoni said.
Sourav Ganguly watches Ranji Trophy match
Former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly watches Ranji Trophy match at Eden Garden in Kolkata.
Third ODI at Kanpur: India vs England
Yusuf Pathan and wicket keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrate the stumping of Paul Collingwood during the 3rd One Day International between India and England played at The green park Stadium on November 20, 2007 in Kanpur, India.
India vs England : Munaf Patel celebrates 1st wicket of England
India's cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (L) and other teammates watch a replay as they huddle to congratulate Munaf Patel (3rd R) for the wicket of England cricketer Ian Bell during the third One Day International (ODI) match between India and England at Green park stadium in Kanpur on November 20, 2008. England won the toss and elected to bat first. India leads 2-0 in the seven ODI match series.
Third ODI : Munaf Patel celebrates 1st wicket of England
Indian cricketers Yuvraj singh (L) and Suresh Raina (R) congratulate Munaf Patel (C) for the wicket of England cricketer Ian Bell during the third One Day International (ODI) match between India and England at Green park stadium in Kanpur on November 20, 2008. England won the toss and elected to bat first. India leads 2-0 in the seven ODI match series.
Third ODI Kanpur: India vs England - Munaf Patel celebrates 1st wicket of England
Indian cricketer Munaf Patel celebrates the wicket of England cricketer Ian Bell during the third One Day International (ODI) match between India and England at Green park stadium in Kanpur on November 20, 2008. England won the toss and elected to bat first. India leads 2-0 in the seven ODI match series.
Third ODI Kanpur: India vs England - Ian Bell
Ian Bell of England plays a shot during the 3rd One Day International between India and England played at Green Park Stadium on November 20, 2008 in Kanpur, India.
Second Indore ODI: India vs England - MS Dhoni
Earlier, Indian captain MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat and retained the XI that thrashed the tourists by 158 runs at Rajkot on Friday. England too reposed faith in their losing XI despite Ryan Sidebottom, who missed the opener due to a heel injury, fit to play and available.
Players Should Be given Rest - Dhoni
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has warned that players will increasingly be forced to skip matches because of burnout caused by an overloaded cricket calendar.
Dhoni, who sat out India's three-test series in Sri Lanka in July and August, said Wednesday that excessive cricket both international and provincial was exhausting the players.
"It's getting increasingly tough. It's important for a player to decide when he cannot take it anymore," Dhoni said ahead of Thursday's one-day international between India and England here.
"I opted out of the test series in Sri Lanka because I needed a break," Dhoni said.
"Players know their body best and in future more and more players will come out and say that they are going to skip events," he said.
The one-day series against England will be followed by two tests. The one-week gap between the one-dayers and the tests will be used to stage the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League.
Dhoni is captain of Chennai Super Kings, one of two Indian teams in the Champions League which also features provincial teams from Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan.
If the Super Kings reach the final, on Dec. 10 in the southern city of Chennai, Dhoni may miss the match because the first test against England begins the following morning in the western city of Ahmadabad.
The Indian board asked England if the first test could start a day later, but the itinerary was not changed because that would leave just two days' gap between the tests.
"For me, the country comes first," Dhoni said. "I'd like to play the test match if I have to make a choice."
India-England Test will not be postponed
The first Test between India and England is going to be held as per the schedule said the BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi on Tuesday. The BCCI had earlier asked England if it would agree to postpone the Ahmedabad Test by a day.
Reportedly, India's cricket board wanted the opening Test match against England to start a day later than scheduled so that its’ skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni could play in the Champions League Twenty20 final if his domestic team qualifies.
The Champions League will begin from December 3 and Dhoni is the captain of the Chennai Super Kings’ team.
Lalit Modi stated that the first cricket Test between England and India will be held as per the schedule and Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead the Indian team against England as it is not a "rational" proposition to postpone the match in view of the Champions League final.
Dhoni said it is not certain if Chennai Super Kings will reach the final and even if they do, Dhoni will represent India in the December 11 to 15 matches instead of playing in the December 10 day-night Twenty Champions League final.
The Twenty20 Champions League is an international Twenty20 cricket competition between clubs from Australia, England, India, Pakistan and South Africa and will be played in India.
Reportedly, India's cricket board wanted the opening Test match against England to start a day later than scheduled so that its’ skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni could play in the Champions League Twenty20 final if his domestic team qualifies.
The Champions League will begin from December 3 and Dhoni is the captain of the Chennai Super Kings’ team.
Lalit Modi stated that the first cricket Test between England and India will be held as per the schedule and Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead the Indian team against England as it is not a "rational" proposition to postpone the match in view of the Champions League final.
Dhoni said it is not certain if Chennai Super Kings will reach the final and even if they do, Dhoni will represent India in the December 11 to 15 matches instead of playing in the December 10 day-night Twenty Champions League final.
The Twenty20 Champions League is an international Twenty20 cricket competition between clubs from Australia, England, India, Pakistan and South Africa and will be played in India.
Indian Captain Dhoni praises Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh's consecutive one-day centuries against England, after having been dropped from the Test squad, have won him rich praise from India's captain and selectors ahead of the third match of the series Thursday.
Yuvraj hit a dominant 138 from just 78 balls in the series opener in Rajkot and followed it with a composed 118 in the second one-dayer at Indore - where he also snared four wickets - to take man-of-the-match honours in successive matches.
Riding on Yuvraj's dominant knocks, India has surged to a 2-0 lead in the seven-match series.
"I hope he scores his third consecutive century here," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said at training Wednesday at Green Park Stadium.
"On song, Yuvraj is simply one of the best, even the top bowlers struggle against him," said Dhoni. "Yuvraj is a strong-hitter and hits along the ground."
Yuvraj ignored back pain to make himself available for the England series, as he was eager to keep himself on the selection radar after being dropped from the Test squad following poor form on the recent tour to Sri Lanka.
India's chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth said Yuvraj's form had pushed his claim to fill the Test squad's middle-order slot vacated by retirement of former skipper Sourav Ganguly.
"Yuvraj is definitely a front-runner" for Test selection, Srikkanth was quoted as saying Tuesday in The Telegraph in Calcutta.
"Over the years, he has already shown he's a match-winner in one-day internationals. I see Yuvraj as a potential match-winner in Tests too."
India's pace attack for the third one-day match will be strengthened by the return of Ishant Sharma, who was declared fit Wednesday after missing the opening two matches with an ankle sprain.
"In the Test series against Australia, Ishant bowled long spells and was tired," Dhoni said. "But even then, he gave it his best and bowled his heart out."
MS Dhoni Profile
- Bowling style:
- Played for:India, Asia XI, Chennai
- Roles played:Skipper-ODI | Ex Skipper-Test,T20 | Wicketkeeper
Test Batting : 39
ODI Batting : 2
Profile
He announced his arrival into the international arena in 2004-05 with a bang. MS Dhoni has come a long way with his swashbuckling and aggressive brand of cricket. He is a destroyer of bowling attacks and often a great finisher. If he is spectacular with the bat, he is secure with the keeping gloves. Dhoni’s batting consists of shots and strokes which are anything but orthodox and conventional. His playing style reinforces that one should look at the ball and not the bowler. Born in Ranchi, ‘Mahi’ displayed tremendous potential of a great leader after he led India to victory in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007. The icing on the cake was the triangular series win against Australia in Australia in 2008. The Indian wicketkeeper has modelled his game on Adam Gilchrist and his extraordinary knock of 183 runs helped him break his idol’s record for the highest score by a wicketkeeper in ODIs.
Statistics
| Matches | Innings | Runs | NO | Avg. | SR | 100's | 50's | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 29 | 47 | 1418 | 5 | 33.76 | 63.05 | 1 | 9 |
| ODI | 115 | 102 | 3600 | 27 | 48 | 92.19 | 4 | 22 |
| T20 | 10 | 9 | 172 | 2 | 24.57 | 112.42 | 0 | 0 |
'Country comes first' - Dhoni
MS Dhoni said he would opt for the Test match if it comes to a choice between the Champions League final or the first Test against England. Although on expected lines, the statement nonetheless is significant, considering the amount of talk going around on the primacy of Test cricket.
"I am not aware about what exactly is happening, but of course the country comes first. This is for the BCCI to decide and I will go by whatever it decides, but if it comes down to a choice between the two, I will obviously play the Test," said Dhoni, on being asked about the BCCI's request to the ECB to delay the Test series by a day.
Dhoni also brushed aside the suggestion that the Champions League and the talk around it might prove a distraction for the team. "All we are concerned about right now is the upcoming match. We aren't thinking about anything else, not even the ODIs after Kanpur or the Test series. So, I don't think the upcoming league could distract us," he declared.
The skipper also didn't take kindly to the suggestion that it was primarily the big money on offer that that was pushing players into non-stop cricket. "I don't think money is always an issue. We (the Indian players) make enough money to take care of ourselves just after playing two -three years of international cricket. It's more the love of the game and the passion to represent the country that keeps the player going," explained Dhoni.
Besides, said the Indian skipper, the players could opt for rest whenever they feel the need to do so. "I opted out of the Sri Lanka series for I felt I might have got injured if I had continued playing then. I think we will see many more players coming up and asking for rest whenever they want to, for the Board too is very keen on it," said Dhoni.
That board too is thinking favourably about rotating player and that should come as a relief to the players who are slogging continuously in this non-stop cricket calendar of the present times. All they would need to summon is some self belief and sense of security to avail the much-needed allowance.
Man-of-the-match Yuvraj Singh
On: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Man-of-the-match Yuvraj Singh was on a song. He not only continued his brilliant run with the bat by scoring his second successive century but he also came up trumps with the ball, claiming four wickets, as India beat England by 54 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the seven-match One-Day Hero Honda Cup.
back-up spinners Yuvraj and Sehwag
Samit Patel (20) and Stuart Broad (22) provided some late resistance but Sehwag dismissed both and returned with figures of 3/28 from his five overs to seal the match in India's way. Come to think of it, back-up spinners Yuvraj and Sehwag claimed seven wickets between them.
Indian team celebrates the victory At 184 for five, it was a matter of time for the Indian bowlers to clip the tail
Dhoni once again turned to Yuvraj and the left-arm spinner obliged him by dismissing Flintoff and Pietersen in the space of three balls to more or less end the England fight. At 184 for five, it was a matter of time for the Indian bowlers to clip the tail
Pietersen hitting the off-spinner for another six
Pietersen followed suit by hitting the off-spinner for another six and the third Power Play produced 59 runs, bringing the equation to 110 off 13 overs
Pietersen and Flintoff then batted
Pietersen and Flintoff then batted with greater urgency and purpose. Pietersen took the Power Play after the 32nd over and that allowed Flintoff the licence to run amock by smashing Harbhajan for three sixes.
Yuvraj trapped Owais leg
Just when the partnership looked like posing a serious threat, Yuvraj trapped Owais leg before in the 24th over and in his next he struck again to remove Prior
Second Indore ODI: India vs England - Matt Prior
Owais Shah (38) and Matt Prior (58) then added 96 runs for the second wicket to get the innings back on the rails.
Second Indore ODI: India vs England - England player Ian Bell
The chase was always going to be tough for the visitors and it started on a poor note as opener Ian Bell (1) was run out by a direct hit by Raina in the first over.
Indian captain MS Dhoni won the toss
Earlier, Indian captain MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat and retained the XI that thrashed the tourists by 158 runs at Rajkot on Friday. England too reposed faith in their losing XI despite Ryan Sidebottom, who missed the opener due to a heel injury, fit to play and available.
Second Indore ODI: India vs England I
England's bowlers, led by Stuart Broad, recovered from the mauling they received at Rajkot and took the first step towards turning around their fortunes in India by restricting a powerful batting order at the start of the innings.
hot jumb in Second Indore ODI: India vs England
The hosts lost the wickets of opener Virender Sehwag (1), Suresh Raina (4) and Rohit Sharma (3), all to the bowling of Stuart Broad, before the fourth wicket duo of Yuvraj and Gambhir steadied the ship.
Second Indore ODI: India vs England - Yusuf Pathan
Towards the end Yusuf Pathan, who failed at Rajkot, hammered an unbeaten 50 in only 29 balls by clobbering four sixes, including two in the last over bowled by Steve Harmison, and two fours to finish the innings on a high note.
Gautam Gambhir slammed his second successive half century
Opener Gautam Gambhir slammed his second successive half century in the series when making 70 in 76 balls with six fours and a six, to rally the home team from a dismal 29 for three to 163. Gambhir and Yuvraj pulled India out of the rut with a stand of 134 in 126 balls after team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat.
opener Gautam Gambhir with Yuvraj
Yuvraj struck two sixes and 15 fours and also cobbled a crucial century stand with in-form opener Gautam Gambhir
blazing 138 not out in the series opener at Rajkot on Friday floored England
The left-handed batsman, whose blazing 138 not out in the series opener at Rajkot on Friday floored England - they lost by a huge 158 runs - had to play in a slightly different manner to the previous effort and still came out trumps while making 118.
Second Indore ODI: India vs England - Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh, declared fit to play after recovering from his sore back, struck his second successive century to rescue India from a shaky start and steer the hosts to an imposing total of 292 for nine in the second One-Day International against England a Indore on Monday.
Former captains Anil Kumble's faith
Former captains Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly on Thursday reposed faith in Mahendra Singh Dhoni and expressed hopes that under him, India would emerge as the number one team in the world. "I know for the fact that this team under MS and (coach) Gary (Kirsten) will soon become the number one team. We have that talent," an optimist Kumble said.
Four cricket heros in stage
Former Indian skipper Anil Kumble, along with Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were felicitated by the BCCI in Nagpur
Tendulkar in Kumble's function
Kumble individually thanked almost each and every teammate even though Tendulkar came in for special praise. "When he first came into the international scene, whole India said 'you'd break every batting record' and he had the talents to prove all right..."With Rahul, I have shared a special bond, he was my Karnataka teammate as well. We have had some fantastic moments and I say 'you have been the backbone of Indian cricket. All the success we had came because of your contribution'," Kumble said.
Sourav Ganguly playing his last Test in Nagpur
Sourav Ganguly, who is playing his last Test in Nagpur, took the occasion to thank all and said though he didn't endear to all, he always had the team interest in mind. "It was a long journey with lots of ups and downs, victory and loss but it was wonderful. Sharing the dressing room with the likes of Anil, Sachin, Rahul (Dravid) and Laxman has been an honour and privilege. "During the journey, I made both friends and enemies but it was all for the good of Indian cricket," said the left-hander
Glorious Gambhir leads Indian assault
On: Monday, November 3, 2008
New Delhi: Batting with Virender Sehwag can be weird. It can make an opener insecure; even make him self-destruct. Gautam Gambhir is perhaps the only one out of a slew of recent openers who can play both foil and aggressor with relative ease.
His second-innings hundred in Mohali established him as he matched Sehwag shot for shot. But in Delhi, he came out of the shadow of Sachin Tendulkar with an imposing century which itself was compiled in two different phases, as India closed the opening day of the third Test on 296-3 at Ferozeshah Kotla here.
Since coming back to the Indian Test squad, Gautam Gambhir had been frequently accused of throwing away starts. As a well-set Tendulkar gave way at the stroke of tea, Gambhir changed gears in so swift a motion that it went unnoticed until he reached triple figures by charging Shane Watson for an audacious six over long-on.
Gambhir's 149 not out has laid the perfect platform for India to build on. And it is in this sense his century is all the more creditable.
Delhi's cricket lovers woke up early after late night celebrations on Diwali but were left rubbing their eyes in disbelief as India were reduced to 27-2, jolted early by a fired up Australian bowling outfit after captain Anil Kumble elected to bat first.
By lunch, Gambhir and Tendulkar had accumulated 25 and 26 respectively, and although their intent was bordering on the trend set in previous games, lapses of concentration was evident in their frequent plays and misses. But a little less that 40 minutes later, the wild swipes were replaced by willow meeting leather with characteristic disdain.
After a routine felicitation before the start of play – Sehwag presented Tendulkar with a pair of shoes on behalf of the DDCA (almost every run Tendulkar makes warrants a record these days) – India didn't get off to their familiar start as has been the trend. But Tendulkar and Gambhir had set India up beautifully, stitching together 130 runs in good time before Mitchell Johnson, their best bowler on show in this series, had Tendulkar caught behind for 67.
Although they managed to avoid a catastrophe, India would have been happier had they not lost a wicket in the second session.
Even the textbook seeks an illustration when Sachin Tendulkar is at his best. Though he didn't seem to show it, the burden of expectations were piling up on the batting maestro as he neared the inevitable of surpassing Brian Lara.
But once the record was behind him, he was back doing what he does best. At Mohali he proved it, and in Delhi he reinforced the theory with a half-century supreme in its composition. In all he hit 11 fours, and each were a product of the Tendulkar school of masterclass.
Gambhir, meanwhile, was combative in his approach as much literally, so much so that match referee Chris Broad might summon him for a hearing after he charged into Shane Watson while taking a run. Thereafter, though, it was his flowing blade that did the talking.
The Delhi left-hander was more than happy to play second fiddle when Tendulkar was in the zone. But as his senior partner was sent back, Gambhir dazzled the crowds with an array of powerful drives with equally deft footwork. And just when you would have expected him to take it easy as he approached his third Test century, Gambhir blocked the first delivery from Watson and then launched into the bowler for maximum.
Amid Tendulkar's genius and Gambhir's brute assault, VVS Laxman was busy building up the momentum. His fifty came in no time, but along with building on their unbeaten 139-run fourth wicket stand, he had also to pacify the mercurial Gambhir, who was engaged in another altercation with Simon Katich towards the end of day's play.
It won't be unusual for Gambhir to be satisfied after his back-to-back hundreds. But with him India have finally ended their long history of doing away with openers in short time.
Gambhir, Laxman double tons set the tone for India
New Delhi: VVS Laxman has made a career out of pummeling Australia. So after having two quiet Test matches by his standards, Laxman resumed usual duties in emphatic style with his second double hundred, as India sounded the declaration after posting 613-7 in their first innings.
Laxman rounded off India's innings in grand style, as his unbeaten 200 came on the back of Gautam Gambhir's splendid 206 which came earlier in the day that included a 278-run stand, the highest for any wicket at Ferozeshah Kotla. After a momentary lapse that cost India three wickets in the middle session, captain Anil Kumble and Zaheer Khan rubbed it in with brisk 45 and 28 respectively.
Never had India two double centuries figuring in the same innings earlier. And Gambhir and Laxman's effort ensured Australia would be playing to catch up for the rest of the Test match.
Anil Kumble and Amit Mishra did trouble the openers with prodigiously turning deliveries, but Australia, who closed the second day on 50 without loss, seem to have learnt their lesson from Mohali, and might just think of holding on until Nagpur for the final Test.
Laxman drove, flicked and pulled with contempt to reach his 13th Test hundred and sixth against Australia, and moments later completed 2000 runs against them, while Gautam Gambhir, whose knock on the first day bore all signs of an epic in the making, lived up to it.
Laxman's calm can be judged by the strokes his plays. He went unnoticed to his fifty as Gambhir soaked in all the adulation with his second century on the trot on the first day, but the first session of the second day belonged to the class of the Hyderabadi.
India had a quiet start to the second day but picked up as Laxman took charge of the proceedings, despite a fortuitous escape when Brett Lee had him fending a bouncer awkwardly which went over the slip cordon.
There was no fortune thereafter. By stumps on the opening day itself, their partnership had reached threatening proportions, but an early wicket could have given Australia a look-in. But by the time the duo was separated, their 278-run stand had had all but confirmed that only a miracle would keep India from losing their hold in the game, and tellingly perhaps, the series.
It became almost boring the way Gambhir and Laxman treated the Australian bowlers, and it was almost inevitable that a wicket would fall. A desperate Ricky Ponting threw himself on for a couple of overs, and only a loss in concentration, dare one say, brought the stand to an end. Shane Watson's first over of the day had Gautam Gambhir inside-edging onto the stumps as the batsman walked off amid raucous cheers for 206.
Gambhir's knock on day two was sedate compared to his assault on Wednesday. He looked happy to be playing second fiddle, and admired from the other end as Laxman came into his own. His 206 was epic in every sense of the term: it had him negotiating when the bowlers were on top, knocked the ball around when his partners found their rhythm, and tore into the bowling when he was on the top of his game.
Elegant strokeplay defines both Gambhir and Laxman in equal measure. What sets them apart is the way they construct their innings. They put the theory in practice with 400 runs between them.
Sehwag's triple-strike keeps India in hunt
New Delhi: Virender Sehwag may not put a value on his wicket. When he bats, he keeps the No. 3 batsman on his toes. But his team knows the value of his bowling, as he took three crucial wickets on a day leading spinner and captain Anil Kumble walked off the ground with a finger injury.
Australia were set for a hard grind to stay in the third Test at Ferozeshah Kotla here, after India's assault set them back by 613 runs during the first two days of the match. But the batsmen, led by Ricky Ponting's defiant 87 and Matthew Hayden's gritty 83, put up admirable resistance to close the third day on 338-4.
Though still needing 75 runs to avoid the follow-on, the Aussie batsmen saw off an eventful day's play that saw bees swarming the Kotla and Anil Kumble being taken to hospital with excruciating pain, giving Virender Sehwag an extended spell which brought him three wickets off viciously turning deliveries.
Australia did all the hard work to only allow India a wicket in each session, before Sehwag produced a peach to remove Michael Hussey three overs before stumps for a dogged 53.
But Australia could consider it a day of victories. The scores against their names would not have matched up to that of Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman, but all their partnerships showed determination written large on their faces. The batsmen blunted the pace attack, and negotiated the turning ball to great effect.
Australia needed a day like this to keep their chances in the series alive. On a day which was spiced up by Zaheer Khan striking Hayden with a bouncer with the second ball of the day, it provided little in terms of entertainment value evident on day one and two.
Hayden had declared his intentions to bounce back from his dry run with the bat, but curbed his aggression enormously, reminiscent of his double hundred in Chennai seven years ago. His intentions from Mohali didn't surface, which had a bearing on Australia's 320-run defeat, and put the sweep shot to good effect against some dangerously turning deliveries from the rough off Amit Mishra.
He survived a couple of edges but put them behind with bouts of his tamed aggression coming to the fore. But his reaction after his dismissal said it all. After a resolute 83, which included a partnership of 79 with his captain during the most threatening passage of play, Virender Sehwag forced him back in the crease, as the ball straightened enough to trap him in front of the stumps, although the height suggested the ball could have gone over the stumps.
With Kumble injured, India faced a spin handicap until Sehwag took a leaf out of Mishra's book, who was turning the ball square by then. Even Harbhajan Singh would have been ruing his injury on a wicket where Sehwag was giving nightmares.
Ponting, who has been battling for answers ever since his side landed in India, took it upon himself to lead Australia's defence against a Kotla surface increasingly turning spitefully. He countered Ishant Sharma with tremendous grit, and signs of his prowess against spin became evident as lunged forward to blunt the spin but didn't lose out on scoring opportunities.
But as was the case with Hayden, one lapse in concentration was enough, as a flighted off-spinner slipped between bat and pad as Ponting departed for 87.
Simon Katich has by far been the most consistent of performers in a team flooded with big names. But as his statistics indicated, it would have been imperative for Katich to go on for a bigger score, assuring his side of resistance on the face of an inconsistent batting order and the turning ball.
However, a peach off Amit Mishra, which turned in from a yard outside the off-stump, undid the left-hander as he gave him the charge only for the ball to go through his defence to uproot the middle stump for 64.
India's butter fingers spill chance to seal series
New Delhi: India's woeful catching left a gaping hole in their attempt at winning the third Test at the Kotla as the hosts helped Australia on to 577 in their first innings before losing two early wickets to be 43-2 at stumps on day four here, with an overall lead of 79 runs.
Virender Sehwag, who led India's bowling attack with a maiden five-wicket haul, failed to replicate his stellar effort with the bat as Brett Lee had him inside-edging onto his stumps for 16, before night-watchman Ishant Sharma was sent back in the next over by Stuart Clark, leaving Rahul Dravid (5) and Gautam Gambhir (21) to negotiate the remaining overs.
India, who had been pushing for a win to wrap up the series at the Kotla itself, now have to be content with shoring the game with the wicket not having deteriorated as much. With only a 36-run lead to boot, repeating their pyrotechnics of Mohali does not look like a possibility.
Michael Clarke took full advantage of India's misses with his eighth Test century, setting up an admirable fightback for Australia to compile a composed 112, marshalling their lower order which included a 106-run eighth wicket stand with Cameron White (44).
Clarke, along with Cameron White – whose primary role that of a leg-spinner has been under scrutiny – took Australia out of harm's way, before Sehwag – each of his wickets have broken a prospering partnership – had Cameron White out for 44 for his maiden five-for.
Sehwag finished with career-best figures of 5-104 after sending down 40 overs on a wicket which started taking prodigious turn from day three, while Anil Kumble, who was criticised for his wicketless showing in Bangalore, had 3-112 against his name.
The Indian captain, who returned to the field with 11 stitches on his left hand, finished off the proceedings by leading the way, scampering back to hold on to a catch to remove Mitchell Johnson off his own bowling on a day that saw the hosts drop catch after catch.
Clarke's century, which backed up Australia's top order all of whom got runs here, was benefited from an early chance spilled by Ishant Sharma in the fourth over of the day when he was on 21, before he was helped on to his century by sitters grassed by VVS Laxman and Amit Mishra.
Virender Sehwag expressed his desire to get a five-for at the Kotla, but his team-mates were making it increasingly tough for him. Michael Clarke's attempted slog sweep on 91 had VVS Laxman scampering back, and even though he got underneath the skier, he never steadied himself as he grassed the opportunity on his 34th birthday.
Amit Mishra dropped a sitter at square leg the following over when the batsman was on 94. Sehwag couldn't pull his hair out on this one, but compensated when another of his tweakers castled Cameron White, who frustrated the Indians for a session.
By the time Clarke fell – caught by Zaheer Khan off Mishra after a mammoth six-hour effort – Australia had more or less made a successful comeback in a Test that was dominated by India for the first two days.
Resuming their innings on 338-4, Clarke and Shane Watson motored along at a healthy rate as the duo put on 57 runs inside the first hour of play, taking a boundary almost every over.
But just as day three, where Sehwag's wickets would have made Harbhajan Singh proud, the part-time spinner produced another beauty when Watson came forward but the ball, pitching outside, broke sharply off the surface and clipped leg-stump.
Kumble, who had failed to capture a wicket in the series so far and injured himself on the third day, made an immediate impact by having Brad Haddin stumped for 17.
After two days of suffering on the field largely due to double centurions Gambhir and Laxman, and a batting order that had thus far disappointed, Australia have made a triumphant return to the series, living to fight another day.
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