Sport Today

Harbhajan finally bowled like the bowler we know he was, bowling a
wonderfully consistent line outside offstump, mixing in the doosra,
and enjoying the bounce off the pitch.  The close-catching wasn't
world-class, as a couple of half-chances went down (why don't we have
Pujara in there, when anyone takes a break?), but nevertheless
Harbhajan finished off the job taking the last 4 wickets for not many,
leaving NZ at a well-below-par 350.  Ojha was quite flat today, and
Sreesanth couldn't maintain the excellent line he had shown with the
first new ball.  But for Ryder who batted with great determination, if
not fluency, NZ would have been in much worse shape.  He played very
well for his 70 before he was undone by a superb Bhajji delivery that
drifted in with the arm, and turned sharply for Laxman to grab an
regulation catch -- classic offie dismissal of a LHB.

Gambhir was exceedingly nervous, playing nothing like the batsman he
was last year.  He lunged at one outside off, only for Taylor to grass
a relatively straightforward chance -- the ball was traveling, but a
top-notch slipper takes these with no problems.  It was similar to the
Dravid drop in the previous Test -- and quite possibly both fielders
had difficulty picking the ball off the bat against the backdrop (RED
hoardings are a bad idea:-)

Sehwag was unusually quiet -- crawling not by his standards, but
almost Tavare like.  Throughout the day he was bothered by movement
across the sightscreen -- this should not be a problem in a Test
ground!  Early on he played and missed a beautiful Southee out***
and then visibly went into defensive mode. After 6 overs the scorecard
was 13/0 with Sehwag 2 off 23 balls!

But then Sehwag decided enough was enough, and at tea had progressed
to 28 off 44 balls scoring at a run a ball.  Fortune certainly favored
him as he may have been run out for 20-odd right before tea had NZ
appealed -- bizarrely they didn't. After tea, he continued at the same
rate. and a glorious punch through cover was the shot of the day.  A
century was there for the taking when his concentration was jarred
again by a cameraman in front of the sightscreen, when he fell for
96.  Thats when I gave up the ghost and went to bed.

A word about Gambhir.  He had his huge slice of luck early, and was in
tremendous trouble in the early stage of his innings; he kept feeling
for the ball outside off, not middling his shots, and looked miserable
out there.  But he persevered and eventually the timing began to
return.  His relief at his 50 was heartfelt, and he hugged Sehwag (who
had been talking to him throughout).  This may be the kind of innings
that can turn things around.  I was quite disappointed to find out
this morning that he had fallen right after I switched off.

Vettori was steady as usual, and Southee got nice movement.  However,
instead of just letting the ball wobble in the corridor, he would try
something different every 2-3 balls; something was usually a ball on
the legs that was picked off for easy runs or wide outside off and
left alone.  When conditions are in his favor and he is bowling well,
he needs to learn to rely more on line and length.

Equation for India is quite simple.  172 runs behind --- they need to
get to about 480-ish (300 runs more) to get into a dominating
position.  If we simply match NZ's score or get a sub-50 run lead (or
heaven forbid, collapse), chasing 250-ish on this pitch on D5 will be
very very tricky.  The two old masters are there -- situation is
tailor-made for them.  No run-rate pressure; if India bat into D4, NZ
will be scrambling to save the game.  We shall see if Dravid's ton in
Ahmedabad means a welcome return to form, or just the last hurrah of a
great master.

NZ too have it simple.  Restrict India to under 400, and they come
back in the match again.  Key times will be at the start of play and
when the second new ball comes due after lunch.

Odds at the end of D2 :-)
India: 50%
Draw: 35%
NZ: 15%

Bharat

India: 65%
Draw: 15%
NZ: 20%

Game has progressed enough at the end of D2 to suggest that a draw is
unlikely. Unless the pitch decides to go to sleep all of a sudden,
which doesn't usually happen in India. I think the odds of NZ winning
are higher than those of a draw at this time (if the pitch were to
deteriorate progressively, as expected), although India remain
overwhelming favorites.

A word about Zaheer - he was truly outstanding. Ripped out the heart
of the NZ innings, and deserved a 5-fer. Had his opportunity too at
the end bowling a couple of overs to #10 and 11, but seemed too
anxious for that 5th wicket. Hardly made the batsmen play.

By the way (someone brought this up in another thread), when was the
last time both Indian seamers bowled well in tandem? At the start of
the NZ innings on D1, it was Zaheer who was off-color, and today it
was Sreesanth. It always seems to be that way.

Zaheer especially and Harbhajan to a lesser extent did bowl well on D2, but
this tells only half the picture.  India was aided strongly by a limp
batting effort that made the bowling look better than it was, exemplified by
Vettori playing (and failing to connect with) the sweep shot for a second
time in the over.  India's current bowling is serviceable, but rather
pedestrian for a top-ranked side.  I do agree that Zaheer contribution is
more than vital.

On Gambhir, I didn't think he got a lot better through the innings.  You
mentioned a slice of luck, but his innings appeared to be one continuous
slice of luck.  Good on hmi for persevering through to 50, but it didn't
look to me a corner-turning knock.

Taylor incidentally is a top-class slip fieldsman, but I don't think he saw
that ball.  The chance was significantly more difficult than the one Dravid
dropped in the first Test.

On Dravid, I don't have an opinion on whether he should be replaced because
I don't know enough about the potential replacement.  However he no longer
puts the fielding side under pressure.

Tendulkar's dismissal was out of character.  Who knows why he failed to
settle the way he normally does?

Andrew