Hyderabad and Nagpur - are they going to be flat pitches too?

[rabinjackman]

Hopefully another flat pitch awaits us. will be nice to see a few batting records

[fineleg]

Hopefully another flat pitch awaits us. will be nice to see a few batting records

[Ramzz]

While Chris Martin bowled good' date=' still 15-5 or 65-6 is an unbelievable collapse by the Indian top order. This was almost like we are facing a raging Malcolm Marshall at Barbados!!! I think the 15-5 is neither the pitch nor Martin becoming Andy Roberts or Marshall. It had a lot to do with the complacent and laidback attitude of the Indian batsmen (and yes, credit to Martin for being accurate and giving his heart and soul). The NZ were humiliated by their 0-4 drubbing and they were hungry like hell to prove themselves. There were "post series reviews" conducted, Mark Greatbatch insulted their players, they were raging and hungry. Our batsmen were complacent and maybe thought NZ cannot do anything, and got PWNED! by C. Martin. So, yes Martin bowled well, but it was mainly crappy batting by the Indians. So, you can say the Indian batsmen took the "pitch out of the equation". Wake up call for the complacency shown by Indian team, but I still hope we get a good pitch that can assist bowlers in Hyderabad and Nagpur. We do need to win the next 2 Tests and win the series!

It was a combination of complacency, good bowling and fielding by the Kiwis that led to us being 15-5. GG: Worst form of his life probably. Viru: Unlucky RD: Getting out in the same manner for the past several innings. Which is surprising as he prepares before each innings so hard. He is focused, yet he is committing the same shot selection error innings after innings. Just don't get it. SRT: Went for an audacious shot, the length and swing did him in. Martin was just keeping it out of reach of SRT who was looking to be positive. Raina: Tried to be attacking from the start, at least get your eye in! I remember Chris Martin troubling us in NZ last year with the same line and length. Against our batsmen, bowlers who maintain a consistent line and length will be rewarded as our batters look to play audacious shots from time to time. Whereas, bowlers who are attacking our batters stumps will not be rewarded as much as they don't make us play away from our body. Regarding our bowling, we need to learn from Martin and Mcgrath...keep it simple and keep it consistent and be patient on our tracks. The batter will make a mistake!

[pensionplan]

Getting back to discussing Hyderabad track, if one looks at the FC games played at the Uppal stadium there will be something in it for the seam bowlers through out. Given the recent spate of rain and the conditions to add to that a prudent selection would be 3+1 meaning three pacers and one spinner. For NZ that is not a problem since they can bench Patel and pick a seamer in his place. The issue lies with Indian team. HS cannot be picked ahead of Ojha if India wants to go with one spinner based on bowling alone. So me thinks both Ojha and HS will play. Then NZ can have the edge if they can bat anywhere close to the way they batted in Ahmedabad. Ideally for India since they will not bench HS the bowler it will not be a bad idea to play him as a sort of an allrounder in place of Raina and go with ZK, SS, IS, Ojha plus HS to support them and also contribute with the bat the best he can. To me this is a 300 track with seamers playing a role throughout. If there are no rain delays I expect a result in 4 days or worst case scenario early on 5th day. Let us hope we get the selection right.

[pensionplan]

Just got off the phone with folks that were at the ground today. Play will start on time and it looks very promising as of now after there was a lot of rain in the last month or so in Hyderabad and things kind of looked a little iffy couple of days back. On another note all the players and close friends were at VVS's place for dinner tonight. Wish I was there.

[OriginalCopy]

The hallmark of a great team is not how they perform when things are going well, but how they perform, bounce back from difficult situations such as this. Honestly, they have done it so many times in the last 2 - 3 years, I wouldn't put saving this test match, possibly even winning it, beyond this team. What I don't understand is why are we expecting miracles from one player, why can't the result be of a team effort on the last day ?

Because team comprises of individuals. On any given day, it will be individual effort that serves the team much more often than not. Ofcourse, that same one player doing this day in and day out is another matter. Players should take efforts to be selfish on different days. Infact, in my opinion, if the players are selfish and play for themselves, it gives a chance to win more matches. It is because, it is normal human nature to first look ofter oneself, and then the charity begins. If each of the batters 'selfshly' aims for a batting average of 60 and each of the bowlers 'selfishly' wants to take more wickets than the other bowler, do you think we'll be served well? I do.

[Shakthi]

The curator of Hyderabad Cricket Association Y L Chandreshekhar has assured that the 22-yard strip at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here would be a "result oriented one" and would last five days during the upcoming second Test between India and New Zealand, starting from Friday. The pitch has been prepared with a mixture of red and black soil - a combination which is in vogue in Andhra Pradesh but rare in other parts of India. "We are hoping and are also pretty confident that it would turn out to be a result-oriented one and the wicket is also expected to last five days. We have been working very hard to prepare a good Test match wicket for a long time," Chandreshekhar told PTI today, even as the India players went through the paces during their training session. Asked about the mixture used for preparing the pitch, Chandreshekhar said, "The combination (of red and black soil) is widely used in Andhra Pradesh but, as far as how the pitch will behave over the five days, a lot will depend on how the batsmen apply themselves." A lot of former players from Hyderabad were involved during the pitch-preparation process and Chandreshekhar felt that should be a plus. "Former players like Venkatapathy Raju, Shivlal Yadav (vice-president, Hyderabad Cricket Association and Indian Cricket Board) and Arshad Yadav were involved in the process, not directly, but they were part of it," Chandreshekhar said. The curator, however, refused to comment on whether the balance would be tilted in the batsmen or bowlers' favour. "A lot of ODIs, T20s and Ranji matches have been played on this wicket and you know how it acts," Chandreshekhar said while indicating that the willow-wielders would be holding the upper hand. Traditionally, this has been a batsmen-friendly track and the last time it hosted an ODI, in November 2009, Sachin Tendulkar cracked an astonishing 175 to almost single-handedly guide India to an improbable victory against Ricky Ponting's Australia. That match, which India lost narrowly, produced nearly 700 runs. New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor had earlier said that the wicket will not be as flat as the one in Ahmedabad. "I don't think the wicket will be as flat as it was in Ahmedabad, so we can take a lot of confidence from that. We know the Indian batsmen and have also seen their bowlers. Hopefully we can attack them more and put them under pressure," Taylor said http://cricketnext.in.com/news/we-have-prepared-a-sporting-pitch-curator/51680-13.html

[fineleg]

Chance of Rain in Hyderabad - next several days Match pwned! If the rain threat is real, then Indian team can give a chance to A.Mishra, Pujara and M.Vijay. Rest Bhajji (or Ojha), Sehwag and Dravid. At least the bench will get a warmup if rain draw.

[Feed]

"Hyderabad pitch is result oriented" The curator has assured that the pitch for the second Test between India and New Zealand at Hyderabad is result oriented. More... Thursday 11th November 2010 "Hyderabad pitch is result oriented" The curator has assured that the pitch for the second Test between India and New Zealand at Hyderabad is result oriented. The pitch has been prepared with a mixture of red and black soil - a combination which is in vogue in Andhra Pradesh but rare in other parts of India. "We are hoping and are also pretty confident that it would turn out to be a result-oriented one and the wicket is also expected to last five days. We have been working very hard to prepare a good Test match wicket for a long time," Chandreshekhar told PTI, even as the India players went through the paces during their training session. Asked about the mixture used for preparing the pitch, Chandreshekhar said, "The combination (of red and black soil) is widely used in Andhra Pradesh but, as far as how the pitch will behave over the five days, a lot will depend on how the batsmen apply themselves." A lot of former players from Hyderabad were involved during the pitch-preparation process and Chandreshekhar felt that should be a plus. "Former players like Venkatapathy Raju, Shivlal Yadav (vice-president, Hyderabad Cricket Association and Indian Cricket Board) and Arshad Yadav were involved in the process, not directly, but they were part of it," Chandreshekhar said. The curator, however, refused to comment on whether the balance would be tilted in the batsmen or bowlers' favour. "A lot of ODIs, T20s and Ranji matches have been played on this wicket and you know how it acts," Chandreshekhar said while indicating that the willow-wielders would be holding the upper hand. Traditionally, this has been a batsmen-friendly track and the last time it hosted an ODI, in November 2009, Sachin Tendulkar cracked an astonishing 175 to almost single-handedly guide India to an improbable victory against Ricky Ponting's Australia. That match, which India lost narrowly, produced nearly 700 runs. New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor had earlier said that the wicket will not be as flat as the one in Ahmedabad. "I don't think the wicket will be as flat as it was in Ahmedabad, so we can take a lot of confidence from that. We know the Indian batsmen and have also seen their bowlers. Hopefully we can attack them more and put them under pressure," Taylor said.

[fineleg]

It had rained on each of the 7 days preceding the arrival of the two teams and damp outfield prevented NZ from a fielding session yesterday.

[gaurav92]

:((

[gaurav92]

But whats the use ? Weather is awful, Rains predicted :((

[b555]

its been raining for past week

[King Tendulkar]

So whats the pitch for Nagpur going to be like? Another flat pancake designed for a draw?

[gaurav92]

We need a sporting track to win.These NZ have the resources to bat out on a flat deck and they are more than happy with a draw as they have nothing to lose.A drawn series is as good as victory for them.Its a shame we didn't learn from A'bad, now I do hope we learn from this match, and prepare a good track which has something for everyone to keep them intrested

[asterix]

We need a sporting track to win.These NZ have the resources to bat out on a flat deck and they are more than happy with a draw as they have nothing to lose.A drawn series is as good as victory for them.Its a shame we didn't learn from A'bad' date=' now I do hope we learn from this match, and prepare a good track which has something for everyone to keep them intrested[/quote'] I'll prefer a dull draw of series. No need to take any undue risks, especially when Gauti, Sach, Drawid, Dhoni, Raina etc are struggling in batting and the likes of Bhajan and Santh saving the day(s) for India in batting, but in turn can't be bothered to take wickets..It's too late in the series to go all out for a win. India doesn't has a good record in Nagpur.. So time to give credit to NZ and settle for a drawn series..But you never know..Bhajan can't save every match for India by making 100s..

[Shakthi]

Last three matches in Nagpur were India lossess i m hoping that will change with India,s win.

[Desi Cartman]

Nagpur :mad: 2004 :whine:

[gaurav92]

This is the new ground and its been very lucky for India. We won the Test against Aussies here in 08 We won the ODI against Aussies here in 09 But we lost the Test against SAF :(( Steyn pwn us

[Deleted_User_1]

This will be a drawn test too. Anal raping awaits in SA.