Even Steven

[kabira]

Losing the Toss again, we did not allow them to score at rapid pace. The wicket of centurian Mcintosh sets up day 2 nicely. Wicket has something for new ball bowlers. I expect SS and Zaheer to come out tomororw and get couple of wickets in first hour. After that spinners can come to party. There was some bounce for bhajji (he has been complaining about it and he got it here). lets restrict them below 400.

[jusarrived]

we could still bowl them out for under 350 , the pitch has nothing in it ...the bounce hardly threatning & is more batsmen friendly than bowlers , cos you dont have to worry about variable bounce like in a typical indian wicket here

[saneindian]

Th lack of reverse swing has hampered our pacers here and in the last test. The spinners bowled well today but without much luck. Zak was superb , bowled with complete control. Some of the bowling from Sree was top class. Was unlucky not to have picked up a few more wickets. Hopefully tomorrow will be a different day. Dhoni could have been a little more attacking. He said a few times to VVS in slips "aisi field mein lagta hai 6 balls par 6 singles chale jaayenge" but never changed the field. Some of the field settings were quite bizaare throughout the day , especially having a long on and long off slightly deep and giving easy singles. Hopefully we will come out with better ideas tomorrow.

[vvvslaxman]

It is not like they want to score at rapid pace. A draw is a win for them. on that count it was New zealand's day. They played out 90 overs.

[Sid]

When you will push you fielders to deep point,deep mid wicket,long on and long off,just after a boundary has been hit there and start giving easy singles,then run rate will come down and wickets will never fall We are no.1 ,we have to do the front running but we are just playing the waiting game and hoping and waiting for things to happen NZ have come here to draw the series,thats good enbough for them and its looking like we are not bothered about winning ,which is pretty disappointing

[zen]

Tomm, if the 1st session goes well for Ind then we could have NZ bundled out for less then 325. On the other hand, if there is a partnership then they could go past 400. We will need to get the likes of Vettori and Ryder out quickly I didn't watch the game but appears as if Ind is losing out on the 3rd seamer to make the morning and evening sessions count. It's no fun to see a spinner coming in to bowl in the 16th over of the first day :((

[asterix]

It is not like they want to score at rapid pace. A draw is a win for them. on that count it was New zealand's day. They played out 90 overs.

I agree..NZ will be happy to get a draw here. Their batting in this series is a concern for Indian bowling attack. I hate to say but I think we are missing Ishant Sharma. Santh is just filling the space.

[Laaloo]

Tomm, if the 1st session goes well for Ind then we could have NZ bundled out for less then 325. On the other hand, if there is a partnership then they could go past 400. We will need to get the likes of Vettori and Ryder out quickly I didn't watch the game but appears as if Ind is losing out on the 3rd seamer to make the morning and evening sessions count. It's no fun to see a spinner coming in to bowl in the 16th over of the first day :((

You mean the 11th over

[putrevus]

Bhajji has been awful he has not looked threatening at all , his bowling has gone from bad to worse in last 18 months. Unless he improves I don't see India winning this match as Zaheer is not getting much reverse swing.

[kabira]

Drop catch by Dhoni proved really costly. We need to hold our catches. Sreesanth was superb in his first spell, Any other day he could have few more. There will be help for seamer early morning, its going to be overcast. Thats our opportunity to get 2-3 wickets quickly..If seamers don't take wickets, we will be chasing leather all day.

[ZodiaC]

When you will push you fielders to deep point,deep mid wicket,long on and long off,just after a boundary has been hit there and start giving easy singles,then run rate will come down and wickets will never fall We are no.1 ,we have to do the front running but we are just playing the waiting game and hoping and waiting for things to happen NZ have come here to draw the series,thats good enbough for them and its looking like we are not bothered about winning ,which is pretty disappointing

Agreed, NZ would take it even if we won this 1-0 after the drubbing in BD.

[fineleg]

I dont think day 1 was even-steven. Elementary mistakes by a top ranked Intl team have allowed NZ to get back in the Test. We could have had them reeling at the end of day1. NZ is playing for a Draw (a win is a huge bonus for them), and so the Day-1 belonged to the NZ team. India really needs to do well to make this Test-2 into a win situation for us. Else, NZ will meander to a 500 score and just draw the Test (or entertain hopes of outside chance of a win in case we bat like on day4 of prev Test) Time for MSD and Team India to seriously up the game. Bhajji also needs to put his hand up and get wickets (even though one chance that MSD let through). 27 overs and not a single wicket for Bhajji (ok, I can say one wicket given that MSD grassed it). Perhaps this is Day-1, but really our spinners need to do a better job in line, length, variations.

[fineleg]

Just happened to see the Cricinfo day summary now:

New Zealand's day. Two things would have pleased them: McIntosh scoring a hundred (becoming the first New Zealand opener in six years to score a ton outside their country) and Martin Guptill's fine 85.

[dial_100]

I dont think day 1 was even-steven. Elementary mistakes by a top ranked Intl team have allowed NZ to get back in the Test. We could have had them reeling at the end of day1. NZ is playing for a Draw (a win is a huge bonus for them), and so the Day-1 belonged to the NZ team. India really needs to do well to make this Test-2 into a win situation for us. Else, NZ will meander to a 500 score and just draw the Test (or entertain hopes of outside chance of a win in case we bat like on day4 of prev Test) Time for MSD and Team India to seriously up the game. Bhajji also needs to put his hand up and get wickets (even though one chance that MSD let through). 27 overs and not a single wicket for Bhajji (ok, I can say one wicket given that MSD grassed it). Perhaps this is Day-1, but really our spinners need to do a better job in line, length, variations.

wow... you never sleep, never fail. do you?? What kind of cricket fan expect spinners getting wkt on day 1?????

[kabira]

I was right on the money.. Wasn't I? Perfect session for India