India tour of SL, Aug 6 - Sept 1

[The Waugh Twins]

Now that's how test cricket is meant to be played.

[The Waugh Twins]

Maybe from a Sri Lankan point of view Mark.

[backfootpunch]

This could be a tricky chase for India, especially if kohli goes cheaply

i called it, unfortunately it seems that sony channel is not showing todays highlights, they showed highlights of every day apart from the one that is worth watching

[Arthur Crabtree]

It's called the cricbuzz cup. Info for that gives today's highlights.

[Aidan11]

This could be a tricky chase for India, especially if kohli goes cheaply

i called it, unfortunately it seems that sony channel is not showing todays highlights, they showed highlights of every day apart from the one that is worth watching

Didn't seem to show them yesterday either. They were taken out of my Sky Planner.

[meninblue]

Already we were struggling to fill FAB 4 (Viru,Rahul,Sachin,VVS) and 2 quality batters like Gauti and Saurav. So far the replacements are not showing they are in same category as FAB4 in test format. Now Dhoni as a batsman / keeper is being missed as we are playing Saha at 6.

[Arthur Crabtree]

It's called the cricbuzz cup. Info for that gives today's highlights.

Yes, this was the last day highlights. Watching them now.

[Dr Cricket]

Remember the days when most people wanted Dhoni dropped from the test team and replaced by Saha.

Saha not exactly kept well or batted well so far in his career.

Dhoni was really underrated in Test, mostly because he was so good at limited overs and the controversy surrounding IPL and of course being captain.

Saha probably the best keeper from the lot but his batting looks awful and his keeping not really impressive either.
Ojha probably the best batsman from the keepers but haven't seen his keeping so can't comment on it.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Some very good catching from SL.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Already we were struggling to fill FAB 4 (Viru,Rahul,Sachin,VVS) and 2 quality batters like Gauti and Saurav. So far the replacements are not showing they are in same category as FAB4 in test format. Now Dhoni as a batsman / keeper is being missed as we are playing Saha at 6.

Might as well regret the unavailability of Sunil Gavaskar. Those were great players that had to be moved on as they entered their twilight. India have to pick their best players now, and those who will develop in the next few years. Dravid/etc were part of an all time best India team. It might be a while before India find players as (nearly) good.

[Dr Cricket]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v ... 10217.html
Hope BCCI Doesn't change anything.

The Spinners would take more wickets and Bowl more overs if they were so much better.
The current pitches in India for domestic cricket are the most perfect they can be decent pace, decent movement, batsman can score runs and Quality spinners can take wickets.
Plus it rewards good wicket and bad cricket doesn't prosper, Bad spinner/bad fast bowlers won't take wickets and bad batsman don't score runs.

[Dr Cricket]

Shikhar Dhawan out of the Sri lanka series.
Murali Vijay to replace him in the team.
No announcement on his replacement although Binny is flying out to Sri Lanka.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v ... 10365.html

[meninblue]

Already we were struggling to fill FAB 4 (Viru,Rahul,Sachin,VVS) and 2 quality batters like Gauti and Saurav. So far the replacements are not showing they are in same category as FAB4 in test format. Now Dhoni as a batsman / keeper is being missed as we are playing Saha at 6.

Might as well regret the unavailability of Sunil Gavaskar. Those were great players that had to be moved on as they entered their twilight. India have to pick their best players now, and those who will develop in the next few years. Dravid/etc were part of an all time best India team. It might be a while before India find players as (nearly) good.

I agree that player/s of Sunny's class was/were not found until the FAB 4 proved and i also agree it took more than 5 years to find some players of his class. However, the time taken by us during that decade should not be used as time taken to find another FAB4. Cricket has progressed in India dramatically in terms of grassroot cricket, domestic cricket, international cricket considering the simultaneous improvement in infrastructure , training, cricket expense, facilities etc. So i wish we should be finding another FAB 4 in test format in reasonable time. Only Viru was the risky cricketer in the FAB 4 and lacked technique, but when we see at the current test players each and every player has a significant technical flaw in some aspect or other. Also they are not as temperamentally strong as Sachin, Rahul and VVS. The attributes that those players showed are missing in the current players. That is a major difference and probably a reason that we may actually find it more tough to expect one of the current test players end up in the class of Sunny,Sachin,Viru,Rahul,VVS. It will disappoint me if we take as many or more years to find very top quality test players as much as we did when Sunny retired and FAB4 emerged to get in that class. We might not even end up with FAB2 in few years.New test FAB4 playing together looks a dream.

As far as ODI goes, Virat has showed that he holds more promise than even Sachin in ODI format in just few years of cricket he has played. I am glad we have a player who is comparable to Sachin in ODI format and will be better than him in couple of years. Same promise and talent is not seen in the current test cricketers who ahve represented India in recent times.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bit of a pasting for Chameera on his return. And a zero for Vijay. Good partnership developing for India between the skipper and Rahul. Rahane at three this time fails.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Second test ton coming up for Rahul. Well done to him.