India vs West Indies 3rd Test Debate

First topic message reminder :

The 3rd and last test of the current test series between India and the West Indies is starting tomorrow. The match is played at Mumbai's wankhede stadium. It is the first match there since remodeling for the World Cup.
As far as the teams are concerned, India is sure to have at least one change. Yuvraj Singh, who played the first 2 matches, has been dropped, and Rohit Sharma brought in to the squad. Among Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane, it is Kohli who is in with the best chance to make the XI. The other question for India is with regard to young pacer Varun Aaron. Would be interesting if they wan't to have a closer look at him before the Australia series. If they go this unconvensional path, that would mean a rest for Ishant Sharma.
For the West Indies, Ravi Rampaul has regained fitness, and it is likely that Kemar Roach may have to give way for him. At the eve of the match, there are concerns about Shivnarine Chanderpaul's fitness, although the WI camp seems to be hopeful about him playing. A final call be taken only tomorrow.
After being whitewashed by England, its India's chance to do the honors this time. Of course there is the ton of tons, particularly on his home ground to be considered.
Genrally, the Wankhede offers a decent cricket pitch, with a bit for everyone, the batter, the seamer, and the spinner. Weather conditions also look fine.
Will it be a clean sweep for India? Will the WI fight and put one up on the Indians?
Lets debate.

Ashwin gets another 5fer 5-156, 18th wicket in the series thus far. WI 590all out.
How many for India?

Gambhir and Dravid building the Indian innings after Sehwag failed to convert yet another start. Sehwag batted 4 times in the series so far, he got starts every time, and every time he managed to throw it away.
Sammy worked on Sehwag's patience, and Sehwag lost it.

Oh Gambhir dropped by Kirk!. Sammy the unlucky bowler. The West Indies just can't afford to do that on this track. Gambhir, like his opening partner, has managed to throw away all the 3 starts he got in the series so far, and almost did it again. He should now put his head down and make this bit of luck count.

13000 test runs for Rahul Dravid!!!. Legend!!.

50 for Gautam Gambhir. He should know not even half of his work is done.

Gambhir gone, again seems like he didn't edge the bouncer that he went to pull. May be unlucky on the umpire's call, but a totaly unwanted shot at this point, throwing away yet another start.
The other good news for WI is that Devendra Bishoo, who got hit while batting has returned after a scan and he seems fine.

gambhir given out and doesn't look like he hit it

if only there was some sort of system that could be introduced where decisions could be reviewed and overturned if the umpires made a mistake

The pressure Tendulkar must be feeling right now is incredible, he won't get a better chance than this of reaching his 100th 100. The pitch is flat, the bowling toothless, and he's got himself in and past 50.

Tendulka dropped on 58, can he make the most of it.

Lucky boy! C'mon Sachin, get that ton, it's annoying me now!

Being of mean spirit I genuinly hope he gets out in the 90's to a dodgy lbw call.

It would devalue his 100th 100 to get it in this game anyway. Sehwag must feel like a bit of a plum not getting a 50.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Being of mean spirit I genuinly hope he gets out in the 90's to a dodgy lbw call.

It would devalue his 100th 100 to get it in this game anyway. Sehwag must feel like a bit of a plum not getting a 50.

LOL PSW, you have said what i have been thinking

the chances of Sachin being given out to a dodgy LBW decision in the nineties here are about zero, the umpire would be lynched... I do agree in a way if he were to get his 100th here it would be devalued, as it all seems a bit stage-managed to me.

To be fair I thought that they would never dare LBW him in the England series, and they gave him.

He would probably do a WG Grace and say "you can not give me out, do you not know who i am"

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:To be fair I thought that they would never dare LBW him in the England series, and they gave him.

ah but that wasn't in front of his home crowd was it? just think that any 50-50 LBW decision tomorrow will go in Sachin's favour. It would be mildly amusing if he were to receive an absolute howler though...

A dodgy decision giving Sachin out in the 90's might start the Indian public wishing they had use of DRS

its all building up to a climax and u can see sachin getting out on 99 lol.

Not really been watching this matc, but it seems strange that Indian curators like to shoot down their own side. With Khan missing and the impressive Yadav benched, a square turner would've been the logical pitch wanted by the home side. Ashwin and Ojha have been all over the West Indies, and its no secret that the Windies are terrible against spin.

On a side note, nice to see Ashwin and Ojha bowling with flight and guile, as apposed to a certain 'spin' bowler from the Punjab.

Bishoo has been pretty disappointing, after his good series in the Caribbean and Bangladesh, I was expecting a fine showing in India.

Demon Racer

Flat pitch = chance for Tendulkar to get that 100th 100

Didn't want to believe this the first time I came accross the theory, but it does seem likely (the other explanation is that they wanted to ensure a full five days play).

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Demon Racer

Flat pitch = chance for Tendulkar to get that 100th 100

Didn't want to believe this the first time I came accross the theory, but it does seem likely (the other explanation is that they wanted to ensure a full five days play).

I'm not sure I buy that theory M4C. Tendulkar's overall record in Tests played in Mumbai is pretty decent anyway, but he's only ever scored one hundred in Mumbai. The lack of the 100th 100 is more down to Tendulkar getting tense when approaching big milestones, IIRC when he socred his 35th Test hundred, to surpass Gavaskar, it took him some 12-18 months after his 34th Test hundred. Whilst Tendulkar looks pretty clam and composed at the crease, he seems to lack the ice cool mentality that Dravid has.

The Wankhede Stadium sold out for todays play. I wonder why

Laxman out to the 1st ball he faced today, India 287-4

India 301-4 and Sachin into the 80's

A classis cover drive for a boundary. 85no

Sachin in a hurry, 3 fours already.

Next ball, and a sixxxxxxx, into the 90's

Look's like the 1000's still trying to get into the ground are going to miss one of sports historical moments.

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG the crowd are in stunned silence, Tendulka out for 94.

India can not afford to lose another wicket, still some way from the f/o.

Not much reaction from Sachin, just a sigh. But the crowd had their heads in their hands.

Surely now India will play Sachin in the ODI's to try to get that elusive 100 before heading off to Aus.
No 100's for Sachin sincs the January Test against SA.

Dhoni gone, good morning for WI with the new ball 331-6. WI now in a good position.

After the eventful first hour, India are coasting their way to avoiding the f/o. 370-6 and the Test will probably play out to be a painstaking draw.

Ashwin is doing it with the bat now, 25 off 27 balls, 5 fours.. A long way back for Singh now.

skyeman wrote:OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG the crowd are in stunned silence, Tendulka out for 94.

Its noit often Im happy getting ionto work even on a Friday morning but theres a certain little warmth just crept into my day. Yes I know it makes me a bad person, but if you find pleasure from it who can really critisize.
Sachine LOL

Ashwin gets a hundred, well played that man

Boy is this pitch dead or what? Day 4 and absolutely nothing happening for anyone. Gets out next ball, and WI have a lead of 108. If they crack on in their second innings they could leave India with 50 overs to survive or so.

very well played ashwin....

(bad luck sachin, another wait for him)

2 down early for WI ... surely they can't get bowled out cheaply again in the second innings? Not on this deck ...

they cant collaspe surely.......

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Ashwin gets a hundred, well played that man

Yes, certainly well done Ashwin!

103 runs less but a small bit of praise also to the Dodger for sticking around with his colleague long enough for him to get over the century line.

That and a couple of late wickets will be making the Dodger feel much better after two hard days at the office ....

WI pretty well placed at the end of the day, really shouldn't lose the game from here, so need to push on before lunch tomorrow and set India a tricky period to survive.

They need to get 120 before lunch 2marow give India 70 or so overs to survive. Open with bishoo and Edwards . Should be interesting

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote: Its noit often Im happy getting ionto work even on a Friday morning but theres a certain little warmth just crept into my day.

Perhaps it's left over from the night before?

Wickets tumbling. If a team could lose after scoring 590 it would be the WIndies....

after 3 days of absolute nothingness, the test match suddenly sparked into life on the 4th day with an Indian collapse, then a lower order resistance led by Ravichandran Ashwin, a rather shaky start from the WI which then turned into a total collapse.
Virender Sehwag then provided India with a Sehwagian start, and decent contributions from Laxman and Dravid has now put the match pretty much on balance. India need another 67 runs with 5 wickets remaining. They have 19 overs to get there, and have 2 of their very best ODI players out in the middle, in the form of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli. But a wicket at this point, pressure would be right on them. Terrific test match.

fairplay they have somehow managed to turn this game into an interesting one

55 more to win with around 15 overs left.....tight finish..

Dhoni gone!!. Huge, huge! wicket that is , for the West Indies!!. Ravi Rampaul the man!. Ravichandran Ashwin is in, can he do it again? 54 they need. almost 15 overs, WI need 4 more wickets!!. Test cricket, funny old game!!!!.

That's why cricket is the greatest game invented by man I think India is still favourite to win this match.