Just Cricket

It has been a good fortnight of cricket. Scintillating test cricket in the northern hemisphere, display of authority from a top class side in the south. For about three days in what one could call the Valentine's day Test, Pakistan looked like they had the upper hand, courtesy the partnership between Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq. It was very uncharacteristic of Pakistan to show such grit and determination, putting up such a big partnership after having been 33-4 on the first morning. Pakistan further dominated with the ball showing signs of making a strong comeback in the series. South Africa were still a worrisome 174 behind Pakistan when Peterson walked in with just four wickets in hand. But, there is just something about top sides as South Africa are currently, that they are always there or thereabouts even when the opposition is on top, waiting to seize on any opportunity presented and that's what they did, not just in this test in Cape Town, but in Adelaide last year as w...

India have finished their so called revenge series against England today. From the moment the Test series ended in the lifeless fashion that it did in Nagpur, India have won and lost five Limited overs International matches in the space of a month. Even though the numbers don't show much, there have been quite a few positives for India in the month that has gone by. For starters, India have found decent enough pace bowling replacements for Umesh Yadav and Zaheer Khan, Ashwin has been bowling slower through the air, getting more purchase off the pitch. Ishant Sharma too has hit a purple patch getting his consistency in line and length, the only question being whether he can keep it going till the Tests against Australia. The biggest positive of all has been that Ravindra Jadeja has sort of established himself as a decent enough bowler to bowl 10 overs in a One Day International Innings.  The batting however remains a worry with Dhoni and Raina, the only 2 batsmen who have impre...