To Victors, The Respect

[Dhondy]

There's been a cacophony of complaints, some would say whining, from Indian fans, that despite some very respectable performances, india are not getting due credit from the English media. There might be an ounce of truth in this. I followed the build up to this series on print and television in the UK, and the anticipation was very muted. The general feeling was that India might be a better team than the West Indies, but they really didn't have the depth in their side to make England suffer at home. Most pundits felt that they would put up a little fight, like a mongrel against a terrier, but in the end the class of the English terrier would prevail. Since that listless first day of the series, India have competed on equal terms, and often outplayed the hosts. The come-from-behind 8 for 46 was admirable, as was the dogged resistance in the 2nd innings over 96 overs that eventually clinched a draw, albeit with some help from the divine weather man up there., who left the tap running. The deafening noise emanating from the British media was "Bad luck". Bad luck for England, a huge slice of fortune for India. After being comprehensively outplayed over the first three days of this Test, the refrain is now the toss. The loss of the toss by Vaughan has now assumed the proportions of a national tragedy, which the mongrel reincarnates have shamelessly expolited. Ungrateful gits! Is this how you repay the kindness of hosts who house your stars in 8X8 five star broom-cupboards? We Indian fans, still searching desperately for that elusive series victory away from home over substantial opponents that would be a Viagra to our va-va-voom for the national side, could only watch, and rage against the apathy, the lack of respect, the recognition that never came. Our dominance in this Test match will count for absolutely nothing if we fail to close out this Test. Nothing. The English will only doff their hat when they are vanquished. They are masters of the moral victory and will find crumbs of comfort in a drawn test, even if they are comprehensively outclassed, just as they unhesitatingly conferred greatness on their new-found seam attack after a single Test match. A drawn match. If India are to earn the respect that we all crave for, if they are ever to shed the stifling and demeaning tag of lambs away from their home turf, then they must ruthlessly destroy England over the next two days, even if they have to strain every sinew in the process. I reckon that if India are to win, the thrust must come from Sreesanth and Kumble. It is on flat batting wickets that the former excels, and he must find the immaculate seam position that brought him so much success in South Africa, or be counted with the also rans. If India win, the admiration that we pine for will be ours. If not, we must accept that we'll forever be bit players on the world stage. Or mongrels to the refined yelping of the English terriers, if you like.

[MundaPakistani]

There's been a cacophony of complaints, some would say whining, from Indian fans, that despite some very respectable performances, india are not getting due credit from the English media. There might be an ounce of truth in this. I followed the build up to this series on print and television in the UK, and the anticipation was very muted. The general feeling was that India might be a better team than the West Indies, but they really didn't have the depth in their side to make England suffer at home. Most pundits felt that they would put up a little fight, like a mongrel against a terrier, but in the end the class of the English terrier would prevail. Since that listless first day of the series, India have competed on equal terms, and often outplayed the hosts. The come-from-behind 8 for 46 was admirable, as was the dogged resistance in the 2nd innings over 96 overs that eventually clinched a draw, albeit with some help from the divine weather man up there., who left the tap running. The deafening noise emanating from the British media was "Bad luck". Bad luck for England, a huge slice of fortune for India. After being comprehensively outplayed over the first three days of this Test, the refrain is now the toss. The loss of the toss by Vaughan has now assumed the proportions of a national tragedy, which the mongrel reincarnates have shamelessly expolited. Ungrateful gits! Is this how you repay the kindness of hosts who house your stars in 8X8 five star broom-cupboards? We Indian fans, still searching desperately for that elusive series victory away from home over substantial opponents that would be a Viagra to our va-va-voom for the national side, could only watch, and rage against the apathy, the lack of respect, the recognition that never came. Our dominance in this Test match will count for absolutely nothing if we fail to close out this Test. Nothing. ike.

That must have been because of IND's away record in the last 2 decades or so because on paper this IND team looks a lot better than the English team.

[theguyinallblue]

Respect is earned not demanded.... we need to win this test by an innings...to rub salt on the wound.. first session tomorrow will decide how badly will england lose.. BTW..good write up Doc.....we need this test win very very badly..

[Ram]

A very valid point reg the english trying to eek out everything possible even from a hopeless situation. They are weird people. If weather stays away , we will win this match. I expect the english to put some stubborn resistance earlier and then later on crumble. Even if they put one of the best fightbacks , they wont get past 350 i think. The numbers are all stacked in favor of India. India can get away with one even two good session for the english. But , one bad session and the match is over for the english. We are winning this one. And i disagree with Doc when he says Sreesanth and Kumble are the key. I think it is Kumble and Zaheer who hold the key. Sreesanth looks absolutely clueless in this tour. This was my post after the first test. I hope my words come true. "The draw in the first test means HUGE for us. None of us have realized it yet. I say the momentumIndia. That we managed to draw test match despite no 50's from the combo of Sachin+Dravid+Laxman+Ganguly is very significant thing. And but for our ridiculous bowling in the first session , we could have even come very close to winning this match. And all it takes is just one innings when two of the big four make a big score and we will be on our way. Kumble will then show what he is capable of . I dearly hope we win the toss in the second test and bat first. As far as this test series goes from now on , i say - Advantage India. And the best part is , the english know it too will now shift towards ."

[Bumper]

I never had too much for the England batting lineup. I have always maintained that it is our batting that makes a diff to our fortunes in an overseas test. This match is yet another proof of that. We've bowled sides out regularly, recently, but because we failed to show up with the bat, we failed to convert some real opportunities into victories. Our batters have done their job this game & have really set this one up. Probability is with us. I cant remember the last time a team batted for two days to save a test starting from a close to 300 run deficit. It would be a miracle if England saves this one. Sreesanth & Dravid's decline is concerning. Sree doesnt look the part at all. He isnt half the bowler he was in the seaming Saffie conditions. Perhaps these conditions dont suit his strenghts as much ? Krumbler, RPS & Zaky give me hope, tho Kumble is the key man. The first 3 wickets are the hardest to purchase, once we break in, I dont think this English batting lineup has enuff class in it, to save this test match.

[THX_1138]

There's been a cacophony of complaints, some would say whining, from Indian fans, that despite some very respectable performances, india are not getting due credit from the English media. There might be an ounce of truth in this. I followed the build up to this series on print and television in the UK, and the anticipation was very muted. The general feeling was that India might be a better team than the West Indies, but they really didn't have the depth in their side to make England suffer at home. Most pundits felt that they would put up a little fight, like a mongrel against a terrier, but in the end the class of the English terrier would prevail. Since that listless first day of the series, India have competed on equal terms, and often outplayed the hosts. The come-from-behind 8 for 46 was admirable, as was the dogged resistance in the 2nd innings over 96 overs that eventually clinched a draw, albeit with some help from the divine weather man up there., who left the tap running. The deafening noise emanating from the British media was "Bad luck". Bad luck for England, a huge slice of fortune for India. After being comprehensively outplayed over the first three days of this Test, the refrain is now the toss. The loss of the toss by Vaughan has now assumed the proportions of a national tragedy, which the mongrel reincarnates have shamelessly expolited. Ungrateful gits! Is this how you repay the kindness of hosts who house your stars in 8X8 five star broom-cupboards? We Indian fans, still searching desperately for that elusive series victory away from home over substantial opponents that would be a Viagra to our va-va-voom for the national side, could only watch, and rage against the apathy, the lack of respect, the recognition that never came. Our dominance in this Test match will count for absolutely nothing if we fail to close out this Test. Nothing. The English will only doff their hat when they are vanquished. They are masters of the moral victory and will find crumbs of comfort in a drawn test, even if they are comprehensively outclassed, just as they unhesitatingly conferred greatness on their new-found seam attack after a single Test match. A drawn match. If India are to earn the respect that we all crave for, if they are ever to shed the stifling and demeaning tag of lambs away from their home turf, then they must ruthlessly destroy England over the next two days, even if they have to strain every sinew in the process. I reckon that if India are to win, the thrust must come from Sreesanth and Kumble. It is on flat batting wickets that the former excels, and he must find the immaculate seam position that brought him so much success in South Africa, or be counted with the also rans. If India win, the admiration that we pine for will be ours. If not, we must accept that we'll forever be bit players on the world stage. Or mongrels to the refined yelping of the English terriers, if you like.

Indeed!! I recall that in 2002, the first test match that they won inspite of a battle till the last minute from Agarkar and Laxman who fought back with a massive 160 run stand for the 7th wicket and Agarkar joined the league of extraordinary gentlemen by scoring a hundred at Lords were all brushed aside. all one could hear was the majestic english pace attack withering away indian batting. then again in the second match when india batted for over 5 sessions with rahul, sachin, ganguly all scoring 90s and sehwag scoring quite a few too were also deemed as a massive victory for england who were "deprived" by the luck ridding indians from a second test victory. and then expectedly, when india romped home to an innings victory in the third test, the noise suddenly went silent.

[THX_1138]

In parts, the English media is a lot like Pakistani cricket fans. They revel in their own glorry, and are unable to recognize genius outside their borders. For the english the blinders are racial, how dare the dispicable dark skinned lot of uncivilized savages excell at a game invented by the superior caucassions, whereas the blinders for the pakistanis are religion. But lets be fair, this behavior is something every country is guilty of. While some of us were angry at our capitulation in the first innings in the Lord's test followed by miserable bowling in the one session that let Pietersen cut loose, some of us were reveling in glorry of a hard earned draw and Dhoni's rescue job.

[THX_1138]

I never had too much for the England batting lineup. I have always maintained that it is our batting that makes a diff to our fortunes in an overseas test. This match is yet another proof of that. We've bowled sides out regularly, recently, but because we failed to show up with the bat, we failed to convert some real opportunities into victories. Our batters have done their job this game & have really set this one up. Probability is with us. I cant remember the last time a team batted for two days to save a test starting from a close to 300 run deficit. It would be a miracle if England saves this one. Sreesanth & Dravid's decline is concerning. Sree doesnt look the part at all. He isnt half the bowler he was in the seaming Saffie conditions. Perhaps these conditions dont suit his strenghts as much ? Krumbler, RPS & Zaky give me hope, tho Kumble is the key man. The first 3 wickets are the hardest to purchase, once we break in, I dont think this English batting lineup has enuff class in it, to save this test match.

spot on! its classic kumble. he will test you unrelentlessly. a bit like a robber running around the neighborhood checking all doors and windows for one left unlocked, unbarricaded by the absent minded home owner, and that it. the moment he finds a way in, be it a small crawl space, he will rush in. like a plague. you can contain his growth but only for a few hours. once he is past the third wicket, within smelling distance of the lower order, he is like a blood hound that will eventually pounce on the eluding hare.

[ludhianvi]

nice writeup dhondy, I think the crucial session will be tomorrow morning. If England play like today, then we could have a drawn match. England have to bat for 5 out of 6 sessions to make it a drawn match. Bell and Collingwood have not clicked so far this series, and it might just be their turn with the bat. One thing is sure(atleast looks like it) that India cant lose this match. I would give it 60/40 India

[Predator_05]

There's been a cacophony of complaints, some would say whining, from Indian fans, that despite some very respectable performances, india are not getting due credit from the English media. There might be an ounce of truth in this. I followed the build up to this series on print and television in the UK, and the anticipation was very muted. The general feeling was that India might be a better team than the West Indies, but they really didn't have the depth in their side to make England suffer at home. Most pundits felt that they would put up a little fight, like a mongrel against a terrier, but in the end the class of the English terrier would prevail. .

Really ? Did they feel that way once Harmison, Hoggard and Flintoss were ruled out of the series ? I'd say the roles are reversable - India being the terrier and England being the mongrel. India came with their batting galacticos - a full strength squad which had just taken a piece out of the South Africans, whereas England with their depleted bowling resources looked like contenders at best, not overwhelming favorites. This is why an Indian failure should rankle us - England, with debutants and cast-offs comprising what is effectively a second-string bowling attack - are vulnerable and there for the taking. Not to mention the choice of Lords, TB and The Oval as the three venues - none of which have historically posed any problems for Indian batsmen. India couldn't have asked for more.

[The Outsider]

Good one Dhondy. The stage is set for Kumble. He'll need support but in the end it will be his performance which is going to decide the outcome of the match. He cannot afford to fack up like he did at Cape Town and please no more round the wicket stuff from him. As for the English media, I could not care less about them. I want our team to win for many reasons but silencing a bunch of loonies is not one of them.

[The Outsider]

Not to mention the choice of Lords, TB and The Oval as the three venues - none of which have historically posed any problems for Indian batsmen.

We've lost pretty much everything we have played at Lords. What is it something like 10 defeats out of 14-15 games and one win?

[Predator_05]

We've lost pretty much everything we have played at Lords. What is it something like 10 defeats out of 14-15 games and one win?

Indian batsmen, bar Tendulkar, have done okay there In 2002, Jaffer, Sehwag, Laxman, Dravid scored fifties and Agarkar got a hundred.

[Bumper]

a full strength squad which had just taken a piece out of the South Africans,

Which piece ? If you are talking ODIs, i dont think your inference makes sense, as Yuvraj, the cogwheel behind our success, wasnt expected to play. In the most recent test series in SA, the Saffies had us for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Even the test we won, came on the back of a tremendous bowling performance! India's geriatric batting lineup that walked into this series would have had Malcolm Sami licking his lips. So i dont think the role reversal argument makes sense.

[Predator_05]

Which piece ? If you are talking ODI.

They were on a high after that series victory in Ireland, first ever ODI series victory outside the subcontinent in 5 years

[Rajiv]

Who the fck cares of 'init" media We have got 100 news channel to bury their sorry ass