Absolutely gutted..

[Karan114]

Disappointing loss. I thought the pitch will help our batting line-up to survive. Didn't expect Dravid' date=' Laxman, Dhoni and the tail to lose it this way. Atleast Tendulkar, Zaheer and Gambhir had some excuse. Dhoni and Raina could have batted another 20+ overs, we could have still saved the test. This loss hurts.[/quote'] Yeah, I genuinely thought we could make it through the final day...one of Dravid and Laxman needed to bat for most of the day, having gotten set...so it hurts a lot. Anyway, have to make amends at Trent Bridge now

[SachDan]

And for you to just keeping coming after me whenever I criticize Sachin means either you are in love with him, or me. Which one is it ace? :winky:

I love you lurker FYI somewhere in the internet world, your beloved "paaji' is compared with Abdul Razak of all people and tell you what, Razak is winning it hands down..please go and defend "paaji" :--D btw I'm disappointed you didn't repost this http://www.indiancricketfans.com/showpost.php?p=105590&postcount=12 after Sachin's failure in both the innings, or are you saving it for Trentbridge? :((

[Lurker]

I love you lurker

So you dont love Sachin then? Dude as flattered as I am with your love, and with the new rule passing about gay marriages you may still have a chance with Sachin :winky: , I dont swing that way..so. Yes I know my loss.:((

FYI somewhere in the internet world, your beloved "paaji' is compared with Abdul Razak of all people and tell you what, Razak is winning it hands down..please go and defend "paaji" :--D btw I'm disappointed you didn't repost this http://www.indiancricketfans.com/showpost.php?p=105590&postcount=12 after Sachin's failure in both the innings, or are you saving it for Trentbridge? :((

Somewhere? :haha: Dont worry about Kapil vs Razzak, I have done Razzak vs Imran myself at one time :--D:--D:--D

[SachDan]

So you dont love Sachin then? Dude as flattered as I am with your love' date=' and with the new rule passing about gay marriages you may still have a chance with Sachin :winky: , [b']I dont swing that way..so. Yes I know my loss.:((

My loss is bigger than yours since I openly admitted in a big forum like ICF, I'm heart broken :((

Somewhere? :haha: Dont worry about Kapil vs Razzak, I have done Razzak vs Imran myself at one time :--D:--D:--D

Who emerged as the winner? :--D

[SachDan]

Lurker also please tell us the target you have set for Tendulkar in this series to save his place. TIA :giggle:

[cowboysfan]

I think we should not read too much into this loss.2 of our best players were no shows(zak and sachin),the main thing is we lost critical momentum in this test when we lost zak and never were in a good position in this test again.our best hope in trentbridge is a real juiced up pitch .

[Lurker]

My loss is bigger than yours since I openly admitted in a big forum like ICF, I'm heart broken :((

Well then you are already the winner...you came out of the closet :--D

Who emerged as the winner? :--D

Razzak of course. This was back in the day when Razzak was actually useful and it was surprising how many actually bought the argument :winky:

Lurker also please tell us the target you have set for Tendulkar in this series to save his place

On an average tour it would have been nice to keep his average intact. With a month's practice maybe he can double it..:--D Now go chase Sachin with your amorous advances

[goose]

It's a long series and India do start slowly. However, our two most influential players (Zaheer and Sehwag) will still be missing come the 2nd test. It's hard to stay optimistic.

[anotherhawkeye]

It's a long series and India do start slowly. However' date=' our two most influential players (Zaheer and Sehwag) will still be missing come the 2nd test. It's hard to stay optimistic.[/quote'] With 3 bowlers and without our best bowler, we were one batsmen (prior) away from winning or drawing the test. I think we'll be able to draw the rest of the 3 tests. Winning another test is a little tricky. Not sure how we will take 20 wickets in a test without Zak. We have to hope and pray that 1) Zak comes back in test #3 2) Sreesanth bowls his hearts out in the next test and gets us the wickets that Zak would have gotten.

[Sidhoni]

We are used to perform that way in the first test, but whats more worrying is the fact that we'll be without Zak and Dhoni in the next match too.

[Lord]

we r defintely winning one test in the series,thats wht we have done every series since 2006.n one I think will be a Draw.its who wins the remaining one now.series is on now

[Lord]

We are used to perform that way in the first test' date=' but whats more worrying is the fact that we'll be without Zak and Dhoni in the next match too.[/quote'] Dhoni not playing?thats too bad.his seamers could've handy at Trent Bridge:--D

[NareshK]

We are used to perform that way in the first test' date='[b'] but whats more worrying is the fact that we'll be without Zak and Dhoni in the next match too.

Dhoni is out of the next match ? :hmmm: I dont think that's true.

[Sidhoni]

Dhoni is out of the next match ? :hmmm: I dont think that's true.

Probably a one-match ban coz of the slow over rate.:((

[Sidhoni]

Dhoni not playing?thats too bad.his seamers could've handy at Trent Bridge:--D

Probably a one-match ban coz of the slow over rate, yes he would surely be missed.

[Lord]

Probably a one-match ban coz of the slow over rate' date=' yes he would surely be missed.[/quote'] cant see it anywhere in the news.can u quote a link?

[pinkfreud]

Dhoni is not banned yaar. Stop spreading rumours.

[Karan114]

Probably a one-match ban coz of the slow over rate' date=' yes he would surely be missed.[/quote'] No, he isn't banned for Trent Bridge - this was Dhoni's comment after the game: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110726/jsp/sports/story_14289671.jsp

[Karan114]

With 3 bowlers and without our best bowler' date=' we were one batsmen (prior) away from winning or drawing the test. [b']I think we'll be able to draw the rest of the 3 tests. Winning another test is a little tricky. Not sure how we will take 20 wickets in a test without Zak. We have to hope and pray that 1) Zak comes back in test #3 2) Sreesanth bowls his hearts out in the next test and gets us the wickets that Zak would have gotten.

Trent Bridge is a result wicket - very favorable to the fast bowlers. Oval can be flat though it has produced a result the last three years (after India drew in 2007). I think Edgbaston also tends not have too many draws though not certain about that. But I can't see three draws unless it rains loads. But no question Zak's absence is a huge problem. Sree is capable of producing one brilliant spell in the series but there will also be a lot of rubbish around it. Zak not only takes wickets but his constant pressure means other bowlers can also benefit.

[vamos_rafa]

Former players anguished over India's surrender

A one-liner from Bishan Singh Bedi reflected the anguish over India's surrender at Lord's. “(Matt) Prior is a better wicketkeeper-batsman than (MS) Dhoni but Dhoni is a better wicketkeeper-bowler than Prior.†The hearty laughter that followed was typical Bedi, who did not want to accept the fact that India lost a Test it ought not to have. Even as Dilip Vengsarkar, of three Test centuries at Lord's fame, struck a note of optimism, Kapil Dev and Ajit Wadekar, both winning captains in England, were unsparing, primarily because India as the No. 1 Test team, did not play like one. “We could have saved the match. It was not a bad pitch but the Indian batsmen allowed the bowlers to get on top. In England, you have to score runs. You can't survive by just batting defensively. You have to play your game,†said Kapil, who led India to a famous 2-0 series win in 1986. Bedi rated it as “a good game of cricket†but obviously not from India's point of view. “I am not being wise after the event but how can you bowl first when your strength is batting. I am sure our batsmen would have negotiated the English bowling on the first day but we ended up chasing 400-plus due to some poor planning,†said Bedi, once a very popular and highly-rated bowler on the English county circuit. Not wanting to sound harsh, Kapil maintained India had the capacity to hit back and observed, “I can understand (VVS) Laxman and (Rahul) Dravid batting the way they did. They are used to it but the rest should have played their natural game. You have to show your cricket, assume your responsibilities. There was too much hype about Sachin and his 100th hundred. The focus was lost.†Zaheer factor Losing Zaheer Khan was a blow, according to Vengsarkar. “You can't bowl with three bowlers. Zaheer was the main strike bowler. But I am sure India will improve. It is a good side and has to believe in itself.†Kapil expected seniors such as Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh to guide the bowlers in the first innings. “I did not see them walk up to the bowlers and pep them up, tell them how to bowl better.†As a captain, and many times as the experienced bowler that he was, Kapil would walk from mid-on and share a few things with the struggling bowler. “I have also benefited from such timely tips,†confessed Kapil. Bedi was convinced lack of preparation was a key factor. “You can't always leave things to the coach. The players should have done some reading of their own. You can't just sit on the pedestal of World No. 1 team and expect things to fall in places. I feel sad for Sachin. He got a good ball in the first innings but went into a shell in the second. I am very small to give him a suggestion but he should have played his normal imperial innings. He is not cut out to bat out the day. Neither he nor Viru (Virender Sehwag)! Sachin must dominate.†Bankruptcy On Dhoni bowling in a Test, Bedi was candid. “Oh! It was embarrassing. By doing so he only suggested bankruptcy in the bowling department.†Wadekar, who led India to its first series win in England in 1971, shared Bedi's pain. “What did Dhoni think? Was it a benefit match for a retired player? There was no need for him to bowl. It was ridiculous.†In his characteristic drawl, Wadekar noted, “Basically, the players looked tired, poor body language. Zaheer had no business to play if he was not fit. Sachin's viral fever hurt the team. He just didn't play his natural game and looked a different batsman. I don't think he was tense. He has experienced greater pressure in the past.†Vengsarkar insisted, “It was important that India should have played at least two practice matches. Zaheer and Sachin were woefully short of match-practice. After the World Cup final, both just walked into Lord's for a Test. My only concern is the team does not have an all-rounder.â€

Man, these budhas have nothing left in their lifes to do. They are making fun of the current lot. BTW have they forgotten the days when we used to play 4 spinners in our team and SMG used to open the bowling? Wasn't that embarrasing? Or its just that these budhas have done it so its all justified. Non-sense.