Sehwag's field placement, our catching and fielding

[DomainK]

This makes me wonder whats going on within the dressing room. Why isn't the coaching team notifying the slip cordon that its standing too far back? What else is the coach there for? Even during the last game' date= so many catches fell just short and even Dhoni was very inconsistent with the slip cordon field placements. Why hasn't Sehwag been learning from all that (if indeed the team was notified of this)? And why was Harbhajan brought on so late, and why was Munaf taken off when he was bowling well - same with Ishant?

I dont think they were standing too far back today. It was a bouncy pitch that bounced well off length. Almost every LBW appeal from ZAK was turned down due to height.

[diegovegaz]

the bowling was definately below the standards the feilding and catching made things worse yuvi dropped 2 catches it was a difficult one for dravid too we missed msd's skills as well

[fineleg]

4 catches spilt if nz get real big score, hope our batsmen can draw this to maintain 1-0

[Lord]

Wat the hell was Yuvi doing in the slips?we have SRT,Sehwag .even Gambhir is a better slip fielder than yuvraj.we had a fantastic opportunity but blew it away:((

[King]

India showing their true colors. If they lose this test' date=' this will be the session.........................[/quote'] You beauty, why didn't you do this yesterday? :nervous:

[zubinpepsi]

seems like everyone here suffering from finelegitis..

[King]

This makes me wonder whats going on within the dressing room. Why isn't the coaching team notifying the slip cordon that its standing too far back? What else is the coach there for? Even during the last game' date=' so many catches fell just short and even Dhoni was very inconsistent with the slip cordon field placements. Why hasn't Sehwag been learning from all that (if indeed the team was notified of this)? And why was Harbhajan brought on so late, and why was Munaf taken off when he was bowling well - same with Ishant?[/quote'] Perhaps they practiced way less than they should have. The Indian team management thought they were better off staying back in Auckland than head to Napier. The Indian team only ended up in Napier about 18 hours prior to the start of the game. That said the pitch is a belter and India should bat fine as well but there was definitive lack of urge to improve prior to this match. I hope the complacency has not creeped and India has not taken the result for granted. If NZ go on to post over 500/600, India can only draw the game and cannot win. http://content.cricinfo.com/nzvind2009/content/story/396715.html

So when the Hamilton Test finished a day early, the Indian team packed off to Auckland - which is more cosmopolitan and more happening - enjoyed its rest there, practised hard for a day and then made it to Napier about 18 hours before the toss. That would have been scandalous in an earlier era or even with many current teams that are very particular about preparations at the actual venue. Not anymore. Not for this victorious Indian side. Teams anyway don't get to train at the McLean Park, they have to use the adjacent Nelson Park. How different can it be from Eden Park? They could afford to take it easy simply because they have a largely settled team. Ten of them selected themselves going into the series opener and now Munaf Patel has added his name to the list. India had a gruelling session in Auckland and another in Napier. The game and preparation have been broken down to the bare essentials. "The day before the game, we'll practice, one good hard session, and we're ready for the game," Dhoni said. "Whatever suits the team." Dhoni took it a step further. "Mentally we are right there. When it comes to the mind it depends on what you're feeding into the mind. The mind doesn't know if it's Napier or what you're feeding. You come and say 'this is Napier', and it believes it's Napier. If you see, it's an abstract. When people say 'he's in form', nobody has seen form. It's a state of mind where you are confident and you think very positively and everything you think about, you think it's very achievable. It's about how you treat the mind. One day here, one day there doesn't really make a difference. Preparation-wise, we are up to the mark." This will look arrogant to the traditionalists. It also seems a bit strange when the captain comes to discuss a Test match without even taking a look at the pitch. But it is not criminal as long as they win cleanly and with grace.

[fineleg]

^ Hmm...I sense some amount of taking things for granted in the Napier preparation. Hopefully we can atleast draw here. Need quick wickets on day 2

[Anakin]

Karthik drops them because he was born to do it. Dravid has been dropping catches consistently since he became the captain. Yuvi is not good at slip or close positions.

[Sachinism]

Just saw Yuvraj's 2nd drop, what the **** man He has messed up 2 simple chances Ross Taylor which cost us 150 runs and now drops the other centurion Jesse

[cochise]

It's alright...India will score 600+ in their innings.

[Shane]

India showing their true colors. If they lose this test' date=' this will be the session.........................[/quote'] Couldnt u post this 24 hours earlier, where the **** were you yesterday

[Lord]

Just saw Yuvraj's 2nd drop, what the **** man He has messed up 2 simple chances Ross Taylor which cost us 150 runs and now drops the other centurion Jesse

it was Franklin

[sandeep]

Looks like the Indian team expected the Kiwis to fall over when they showed up, especially after getting a couple of early wickets. Lack of Plan B when the wicket offered minimal assistance and the Kiwi bats started batting well. Too many runs leaked - inspite of the good wicket, short square boundaries. That many Catches dropped is bad - Ishant's slower ball deserved taylor's wicket. Days like this separate great teams from the good ones - India didn't show greatness today, to state the obvious. Btw, Its not automatic that our guys will bat big, especially if they concede 450-500 plus. A pessimist would expect the extra bounce to trouble the likes of gambhir. Two steps forward, one step back - that is Indian test cricket for you in this decade.

[Sachinism]

it was Franklin

Oh my bad, I just saw it was a lefty and assumed it was Jesse

[punjabi_khota]

Looks like the Indian team expected the Kiwis to fall over when they showed up, especially after getting a couple of early wickets. Lack of Plan B when the wicket offered minimal assistance and the Kiwi bats started batting well. Too many runs leaked - inspite of the good wicket, short square boundaries. That many Catches dropped is bad - Ishant's slower ball deserved taylor's wicket. Days like this separate great teams from the good ones - India didn't show greatness today, to state the obvious. Btw, Its not automatic that our guys will bat big, especially if they concede 450-500 plus. A pessimist would expect the extra bounce to trouble the likes of gambhir. Two steps forward, one step back - that is Indian test cricket for you in this decade.

One semi-bad day in the field and you started making up theories...lets wait a bit , shall we ?

[coffee_rules]

Definitely, less practice. SRT injured finger, so, we have Yuvraj fielding in the slips for him in the 3rd slip.

[sandeep]

One semi-bad day in the field and you started making up theories...lets wait a bit ' date=' shall we ?[/quote'] bete lal, check the test record for our team in away series in the last 6 years - the pattern speaks for itself.

[cochise]

Not less practice. The boys are at low intensity...if they were playing Oz, you would see a different intensity on the field. Today's complacency will stir them to raise their intensity levels tomorrow.

[Shane]

Not less practice. The boys are at low intensity...if they were playing Oz' date=' you would see a different intensity on the field. Today's complacency will stir them to raise their intensity levels tomorrow.[/quote'] A series win in a country where we havent won since ages, should be enough motivation for the guys, the team at times looked clueless, Muna with his footsal in the outfield was disinterested, Bhaj bowled too short at times, it wasnt one of those ideal days for us Having said that, a few catches going to hand, some of those streaky edges landing to the slippers, we might have had a different card showing for our efforts Due credit should be given to the Black Caps, esp Ryder, special knock, was especially impressed the way he played Bhaj, there was this one over where there were serious questions asked, but ryder was quite adept Looking forward to tommorow, a few good ones from Zak and Ishy early doors, we might be looking at a first innings deficit of around 425, but the first hour tomm is a crucial one