Winning a Test Match after conceding 400 runs in the first innings is rare. Its happened only 35 time in almost 2000 test matches. Many of those instances involved declarations and tests played over more than 5 days. Some teams like Pakistan and New Zealand have never been involved in one.
Quite surprisingly this will be the 4th straight test involving India when scoring 400 is no insurance of a draw. It was fine, as long as India was winning. I don't like being on the wrong side of the equation even one bit. This is no way to treat a number one team in the world.
Don't pop open the champagne for NZ yet. I think if India pull the lead into the 180-200 range, they can still win. Remember that chasing 200 in India in the 4th innings is also quite rare.
ReplyDeleteBut Martin pulled off an Agarkar (like in Adelaide Agarkar). India are reeling. This will likely be Dravid's swansong series I think. And perhaps Gambhir will get no more than one chance.
Two reasons I am almost certain this Test is a lost cause.
ReplyDelete1. Some punches are simply meant to be knock outs. This is one such punch. Completely unexpected and had the adequate power.
2. Winning 1 test from the brink is the mark of a good team. Winning 2 from the brink in a row is the mark of a team that hates to lose. Winning 3 from the brink in a row and its hard to explain. 4th from the brink in a row....hmmm...there are some weaknesses which simply cannot be overcome by will power alone.
I agree. The most likely outcome is India losing. And four in a row is probably asking for too much. But it's a 5th day wicket. Zaheer Khan and Ojha are bowling well. Sreesanth is unpredictable. Ryder is hurt. Anything can happen.
ReplyDeleteyes, anything can happen....like Bhajji getting a 100 :-)
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