India won the third and final Test match at Kanpur by 8 wickets. This match also ended in three days like the previous match. India and South Africa share this Test series 1-1.
SCORECARD: India vs South Africa, III Test, Kanpur, 2008
Partnerships – The Key to Victory
India had some crucial partnerships in this match. The one between Rahul and Laxman served as the foundation. Then Ganguly had substantial partnerships with Yuvraj and Dhoni. The last wicket partnership between Sreesanth and Ishant was also very valuable to the team.
Ganguly Played Important Knock of his career
Ganguly played an important knock of his career. It is important because it had contributed to the team’s cause but not for other reasons like it had resurrected his career.
Pitch – The Center of all Attention
The pitch for the first Test match at Chennai was slow and lacked pace. The pitch for the second test match at Ahmedabad was criticized for supporting opposition pacers. Actually it was a good pitch and one has to blame the Indian batsmen for the defeat. The pitch for the third Test match at Kanpur was tailor made for Indian spinners to exploit. Whenever and wherever India plays (home or away), the pitches had always hogged the limelight. I don’t know whether it is my illusion or actuality. Don’t other nations prepare tailor-made pitches for their bowlers and if so why it is not highlighted this much?
Analysis of this series
Indian pace bowlers have been performing well at helpful pitches abroad. The same bowlers find it difficult to bowl at home. I think in present lot Munaf Patel has the capability to bowl well on Indian pitches. Ishant Sharma has also done well in his limited outings. Utilizing the conditions is one type of skill and making impact in unhelpful conditions is another type of skill. Sreesanth and Irfan are very good at first but not good at second one.
Why India have been missing a Srinath at home
Who is next after Anil Kumble (Both spin bowling & Captaincy)? Harbhajan was a success in this series. Dhoni, who captained the final Test match at Kanpur in the absence of injured Kumble, has also succeeded in his first Test match as captain. In long-term I suspect their success. Harbhajan has talent but most of the time he failed to fulfill the expectations. In Dhoni’s case I suspect his place in the Test team. Infact he has improved his wicket-keeping skills by leaps and bound and played a few match saving knocks. But I feel at this stage Dinesh Karthik is better keeper and better Test batsman than Dhoni. May be Dhoni can become better at both. It is too early to comment about his captaincy.
SCORECARD: India vs South Africa, III Test, Kanpur, 2008
Partnerships – The Key to Victory
India had some crucial partnerships in this match. The one between Rahul and Laxman served as the foundation. Then Ganguly had substantial partnerships with Yuvraj and Dhoni. The last wicket partnership between Sreesanth and Ishant was also very valuable to the team.
Ganguly Played Important Knock of his career
Ganguly played an important knock of his career. It is important because it had contributed to the team’s cause but not for other reasons like it had resurrected his career.
Pitch – The Center of all Attention
The pitch for the first Test match at Chennai was slow and lacked pace. The pitch for the second test match at Ahmedabad was criticized for supporting opposition pacers. Actually it was a good pitch and one has to blame the Indian batsmen for the defeat. The pitch for the third Test match at Kanpur was tailor made for Indian spinners to exploit. Whenever and wherever India plays (home or away), the pitches had always hogged the limelight. I don’t know whether it is my illusion or actuality. Don’t other nations prepare tailor-made pitches for their bowlers and if so why it is not highlighted this much?
Analysis of this series
Indian pace bowlers have been performing well at helpful pitches abroad. The same bowlers find it difficult to bowl at home. I think in present lot Munaf Patel has the capability to bowl well on Indian pitches. Ishant Sharma has also done well in his limited outings. Utilizing the conditions is one type of skill and making impact in unhelpful conditions is another type of skill. Sreesanth and Irfan are very good at first but not good at second one.
Why India have been missing a Srinath at home
Who is next after Anil Kumble (Both spin bowling & Captaincy)? Harbhajan was a success in this series. Dhoni, who captained the final Test match at Kanpur in the absence of injured Kumble, has also succeeded in his first Test match as captain. In long-term I suspect their success. Harbhajan has talent but most of the time he failed to fulfill the expectations. In Dhoni’s case I suspect his place in the Test team. Infact he has improved his wicket-keeping skills by leaps and bound and played a few match saving knocks. But I feel at this stage Dinesh Karthik is better keeper and better Test batsman than Dhoni. May be Dhoni can become better at both. It is too early to comment about his captaincy.
1 comment:
Yup you are right. It was a good come back from the Indian Team. However, I wish India as a team becomes more consistent in its victories.
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