INDIA WINS SERIES 2-0 & ARE NUMBER 1 TEST TEAM

India beat Srilanka by an innings and 24 runs in the third and final Test match to win the series 2-0. With this win, India reaches the top spot in ICC Test rankings for the first time.

Scorecard: India vs Srilanka, 3^rd Test, Mumbai, 2009

Lankan big guns failed to deliver

Dilshan provided Lankan team a good platform with a cracking century. But the big guns in the middle order failed to build a big score. Only Angelo Mathews offered resistance in the middle order. They should have scored atleast 500runs to put India out of the contest.

It is Veeru all the way

With Veeru in such a blistering form, even 600 would not have been sufficient for Srilanka to feel safe. Murali Vijay proved he is a good opening batsman. He gave Sehwag good company and together they produced partnership of above 200 runs. Then Rahul Dravid joined Sehwag to produce another double-century partnership and obviously Sehwag being the dominant partner by a long way. Sehwag missed an opportunity to become the first batsmen to score triple triple-centuries. All the top- order batsmen chipped in with useful scores. Dhoni also helped himself with a century against hapless Lankan bowlers.

A Knock too late from Sangakkara

Sangakkara played a fighting knock to save his team from the defeat. But it was too late from his blade; it should have been played in the first innings. Else he needs to have scored a knock similar to VVS Laxman in the Kolkatta Test to save his team from the defeat.

India reaches top spot in ICC Test Rankings

India reached the top spot in ICC Test rankings for the first time since the ranking system has been introduced.

It's been a long road to No. 1

Steps to the summit

How India reached the top

INDIA WINS KANPUR TEST

India won the second Test match by an innings and 144 runs against Srilanka to lead the 3-match series 1-0. Incidentally this was India’s 100^th Test victory.

Scorecard: India vs Srilanka, 2^nd Test, 2009, Kanpur

Toss Factor & Poor Display by Lankans

Sadly, this Test match happened to be decided by the toss. Win the toss, bat first, score 500 odd runs and bowl out the opposition twice. This was the routine followed in this match. Having said that, it was a poor all-round display by Srilankans. Lankan bowlers did not make Indian batsmen toil for runs. M&M (Murali & Mendis) magic was missing in this series so far. They even do not look like producing a decent performance. Moreover, they are playing with only one genuine pace bowler. A specialist pace bowler should have played instead of Angelo Matthews. They did drop Sehwag in the very first over and it cost them very dearly. They did not bat well either. The pressure of 600 runs got to them and they succumbed to the pressure.

Run Feast by Indian Batsmen

Sehwag and Gambhir produced a double-century partnership at a brisk pace that is very good for even one-dayers. Sehwag scored more than run a ball century. Meanwhile Gambhir scored centuries in four consecutive Test matches, which equaled the Indian record, by scoring 167 runs in the first innings. Then Rahul Dravid followed up with his 28^th century and in the process crossed Allan Border to become 4^th highest run-getter in Test Cricket history. Laxman and Yuvraj also chipped in with half-centuries each.

Sreesanth Show

First of all selection of Sreesanth in the Test squad surprised me. Then his performance of 5-wicket haul really surprised me. Everyone knew that he has a great potential. He can swing the ball either way, though his stock delivery is the one which moves away from right-handers. I hope he concentrates only on his cricket and not on any other antics. His first-class bowling average of 32.16 suggests that he is not consistent despite his potential. I hope he improves on that aspect as well. Meanwhile, Ojha made an impressive debut. But I must say that Amit Mishra was hard done and should be given another chance. As long as Ojha is performing and India winning nobody will complain.

First Test ends in a draw at Ahmedabad

The first Test between India and Srilanka held at Ahmedabad ended in a draw. The flat surface provided for this Test match was a poor advertisement for Test Cricket. I hope the pitch for the next Test match is result producing one.

Scorecard: India vs Srilanka, I Test, Ahmedabad, 2009

Rahul Crosses 11,000 Runs

Rahul Dravid crossed 11,000 runs in Test Cricket when he made 177 runs in the first innings. He scored his runs when both the pitch condition and match situation were tough and challenging. He was ably supported by Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni. He constructed century partnerships with both of them to build a reasonable score for the team.

Srilankan Batting

Srilankans enjoyed the best of the batting conditions. All their batsmen had starts. Dilshan made a quick hundred. Both the Jayawardene’s capitalized on the good starts provided by their top order batsmen and struck together a huge partnership. In his knock of 275, Mahela crossed 9000 Test runs.

India’s Second Innings Batting

The pitch condition was good for batting even on fifth day of the match. But the Indian batsmen started their second innings with 334 runs deficit. Batting to save the match was indeed a challenge before them. Gambhir and Sachin’s tons along with useful contribution from all the other batsmen saved Team India the blushes.

Bowling in India

Kapil and Srinath, the most successful fast bowlers of India, took most of their wickets in unhelpful Indian wickets. But present crop of young Indian fast bowlers seems to do well in seamy and wet conditions and suffers in unhelpful Indian wickets. It is irony considering the fact that they must have booked their place in Indian XI backed on their strong domestic performance. I consider Munaf Patel has the necessary arsenals to produce better results in unhelpful Indian wickets compared to other fast bowlers. Indian selectors erred in not picking him and selecting Sreesanth ahead of him. Infact Munaf should be in the final XI instead of struggling Ishant. One must remember that mode of dismissals for fast bowlers in India are often either bowled or LBW. Though Ishant’s stock delivery is incoming one to the right-hander, he currently lacks form and confidence. It is better he plays few domestic matches to regain form and confidence.