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Posts Tagged ‘stuart broad’
India vs England, 7th ODI, Match Preview
Here we are. The most exciting summer of cricket in a long while is almost over, with one last flourish still left. India and England are going to fight out at Lord’s for the final one-dayer in this long and grueling tour. Just a week ago, India were staring at defeat with the series slipping out. They were 1-3 down and had to win all their matches. So far they have done exactly that with one final hurdle left.
This will, for a few Indians, be the last time they ever play in England. The Big 3 - Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid - have done their country proud over the years. They have helped in laying the foundation for the next generation, they have provided role models for aspiring cricketers. They have gained respect in the eyes of the entire cricket fraternity. This will be their final hurrah in England and nothing better than to win the match and the series will do.
The momentum is surely with India at the moment, however, in the past we have seen how India have failed to carry on the momentum. But this time it ought to be different. These three have had a wonderful summer so far. Sachin and Saurav have smashed the bowling to all parts. Dravid has been having a much better time as a skipper, seeing his team perform to its potential. No coach, no problemo. I have to give credit to the way the Indian team has got the job done without a head coach. A lot of people ask if they need a coach. The answer is simple, a big fat Yes. Sure the team is on the verge of winning an ODI series. Sure they have won the test series. But this can’t keep up for too long. It is too much to ask the captain to strategize everything all by himself. The Indians have handled themselves admirably both on and off the field.
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India vs England, 4th ODI, Match review and highlights
I know, I know, I am really late in writing my review, but I had been extra busy last couple of days and could not even touch my computer. I say better late than never, so here I am.
India lost a tight match, but there really wasn’t a chance of winning after they slumped to a measly 212 in their allocated 50 overs. The match was lost when India were 32-3 with both Dravid and Ganguly back into the pavilion. Tendulkar and Yuvraj took the Indian total to a certain level of respectability, and that depends on what anyone might consider respectable in this day and age. 212 runs in ODIs a decade ago would be a fighting total. These days with the powerplays and Twenty20 culture, even a team from Antarctica would have been able to chase it.
Still, India did well to reduce England to 114-7 at one stage before Ravi Bopara and Stuart Broad held the innings together. Coming in when the Indians were fully charged up, the two youngsters played with immense maturity to guide their team to a series lead of 3-1, from where it looks as India are going to lose yet another ODI series. The past performances of India in the ODIs does beg the question if India are in desperate need of young blood. The fielding is below pathetic, the running between the wicket is shocking - embarrassing would be a high rating for India. The bowling is the only area where the Indians are excelling at the moment - and this is due to the youth.
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England Lions devour Indian meat
India had one of their worst days on the England tour so far and their inability to finish off the tail is frustrating and mind-boggling at the same time. Yet again, a second-strung team caused plenty of trouble for the Indian bowlers. A score of 379-8 in one day does not bode too well for a pace/spin attack of a national side. I reckon even Bangladesh would have done a better job. The only positive for India was Zaheer Khan who seems to roaring back in form.
The biggest disappointment must be Ishant Sharma. One begs to wonder if these so-called youngsters have the mental strength to play at this level. They may be talented but on a cricket field, you need to use your mind to fully utilize your own talent. Sadly, at the moment, both Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose have failed to do that. However, all said and done, they are here for a reason, so I guess another chance may well come their way. At the moment, though, the pace attack seems to be Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth and RP Singh with Anil Kumble as the lone spinner.
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