Old guy Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 2. Katrina might give him some tips on how to bowl over 'maidens' overseas. And once he can bowl over maidens' date=' the batsmen will get suffocated and throw away their wickets.[/quote'] :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:
chainsmoker1985 Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 he is better then kumar B-> He is actually better than Vinnie Bimaar at this age. Watch this.. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb1o3tCbjY0]Funny Cricket Bowling by Vinay Kumar in IPL 2011 - YouTube[/ame]
Old guy Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 He is actually better than Vinnie Bimaar at this age. Watch this.. Funny Cricket Bowling by Vinay Kumar in IPL 2011 - YouTube :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:
jonas10 Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 Wasim Akram....best choice for Indians. Knows the players, respected by the players, invented and perfected several aspects of the game. Played a big role developing Zaheer and Irfan among others. Best option by far for India.
chainsmoker1985 Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 Yes i remember your thread where you said he will be different bowler with his new action and going ga ga over it ,I had also said that time without the inswing he will not be successful. Regarding pace he was always 130-140 even in southafrica so your facts are wrong you can check it on youtube,Ishant himself said he tried to copy zaheer so i do not see prasad faults and more ever prasad was not there after 2009 t20 world cup. Prasad was sacked because of many reasons including the downfall of Ishant Sharma. One of the reasons was team players were not happy with his attitude. The other reason was there was not a settled bowling combination and injuries to bowlers. As a result, I always noticed later on that Dhoni and our Eric Simmons always concentrated on building up a settled bowling combination. And we got settled into Zaheer, Munaf, Praveen and Nehra bowling combination which was best suited for sub-continent World Cup. BCCI and players must be knowing the exact reason behind Prasad's sacking. Obviously Prasad was not satisfied with the reasons given 2 him behind his sacking so he said later in the media that I was sacked without any proper reasons
Old guy Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 Prasad as sacked because of many reasons including the downfall of Ishant Sharma. One of the reasons was tea players were not happy with his attitude. The other reason was there was not a settled bowling combination and injuries to bowlers. As a result, I always noticed later on that Dhoni and our Eric Simmons always concentrated on building up a settled bowling combination. And we got settled into Zaheer, Munaf, Praveen and Nehra bowling combination which was best suited for sub-continent World Cup. BCCI and players must be knowing the exact reason behind Prasad's sacking. Obviously Prasad was not satisfied with the reasons given 2 him behind his sacking so he said later in the media that I was sacked without any proper reasons he should never be allowed to even speak these words coaching atleast with eric.. people are not turning into tundlers
chainsmoker1985 Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 Wasim Akram is actually the best option given his knowledge and commitment towards fast bowling and passing on the knowledge to the youngsters. He has extreme knowledge. If you r working with him, then it all depends on you how to get the best out of Wasim and how you r using the Wasim's knowledge. The only problem with Wasim will be how he will deal with sarcasm from former Pakistan player who would not like him being India's coach. That will be a test of his professionalism.
chainsmoker1985 Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 he should never be allowed to even speak these words coaching atleast with eric.. people are not turning into tundlers Yes, in that regard I am happy with Eric Simons as he concentrated on building a match winning combination 4 the World Cup. And bcoz he was the bowling coach of Delhi Daredevils as well, he was very helpful in the up bringing of Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav and even Ashok Dinda as well. Coz Dinda is also doing extremely well after IPL 2011. He didn't let any of them fall away and lose their track and lose their pace
VRV Singh Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 It seems to me like Simons has helped polish turds in ODIs with strategies and plans to get the most out of a limited bunch of bowlers. Maybe in the longer forms and longer term he is not up to the mark. But this is obviously speculating...I'm still not sure what Venky's crime really was. Purely looking at output here, the series' he was at the helm for, the bowling was good. Maybe with Ishant it did not work out, but he is one bowler.
Old guy Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 ya most bowlers have improved under eric simmons and even after sydney bowlers showed fight so atleast mentally they are strong i dont want to see yadav turning into tundler prasad should never even be considered again
CG Posted January 17, 2012 Posted January 17, 2012 in south africa he was bowling in 130's lower 130's :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: Did you even watch?These are speeds from 1st test. 1.1 Sharma to Smith, no run, 134.6 kph, loud appeal for lbw but that pitched outside leg before seaming across Smith and striking him in between the pads 1.2 Sharma to Smith, no run, 139.0 kph, beaten, full ball angling across the left-hander's off stump, Smith pokes and misses 1.3 Sharma to Smith, no run, 140.3 kph, full again but the line is too wide, Smith shoulders arms 1.4 Sharma to Smith, 1 run, 141.2 kph, that's too straight from the bowler and Smith tucks the ball off his pads through square leg 1.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 140.5 kph, short of a length outside off stump, Petersen lets it go 1.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.2 kph, fuller length just outside off, Petersen strides forward to cover the off-stump line and shoulders arms South Africa 7/0 I Sharma 1-0-1-0 3.1 Sharma to Smith, no run, 140.8 kph, 137 kmh on a good length around off stump, Smith defends on the front foot 3.2 Sharma to Smith, no run, 139.9 kph, oh good ball, and nice carry through to Dhoni at chest height. Smith played it well too, choosing to leave it as it whizzed close to off stump 3.3 Sharma to Smith, no run, 140.2 kph, short of a length around off stump, Smith lets it go again 3.4 Sharma to Smith, no run, 139.2 kph, fuller length on leg and middle, Smith gets behind the line and defends with a straight bat 3.5 Sharma to Smith, no run, 140.3 kph, confident shout from Dhoni but a late one from Ishant as Smith attempts to defend and gets beaten by one that slants across him after pitching middle. Large gap between bat and ball, the sound was bat hitting pad 3.6 Sharma to Smith, no run, 140.7 kph, Smith gets a thick outside edge that is fielded at gully by Sehwag who has to dive to his left to make the save South Africa 8/0 I Sharma 2-1-1-0 5.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 138.7 kph, left alone outside off stump 5.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.3 kph, wide outside of stump again, Petersen needn't play. Not good enough from India's new-ball attack. Morkel was making the Indian batsmen run for cover. 5.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.5 kph, Ishant appeals for lbw after Petersen doesn't offer a shot and was hit on the pad. It was too high. The ball goes to the slip cordon and someone throws the stumps down at the batsman's end. There's a referral to the third umpire but Petersen was never in danger. 5.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 141.1 kph, defended on the front foot towards the bowler 5.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.3 kph, a bit wider outside off stump and Petersen lets it go again 5.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.2 kph, dot ball, but an ineffective dot ball, Petersen can let it go outside off with ease. Best time of the day to bowl and the Indians are not making South Africa's openers play enough. South Africa 9/0 I Sharma 3-2-1-0 7.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.9 kph, short of a length and wide outside off stump, Petersen attempts to cut but mis-times it 7.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.2 kph, closer to the body this time and Petersen's attempt to play the ball straight results in an inside edge on to the thigh 7.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 136.4 kph, Ishant pitches it fuller and slants the ball into the right-hander. Petersen stays in his crease and defends on the leg side 7.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.4 kph, played towards cover on the front foot 7.5 Sharma to Petersen, FOUR, 134.9 kph, short ball, a long hop really and Petersen swivels and pulls with power to the square-leg boundary 7.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 141.6 kph, on a good length just outside off stump, Petersen thrusts his pad forward and lets the ball go South Africa 17/0 I Sharma 4-2-5-0 9.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 141.7 kph, Petersen loses a bit of footing as he tries to cut Ishant's short of a length delivery, he might have tried to hit it too hard 9.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.6 kph, too wide outside off again, not horribly wide, but wide enough for Petersen to shoulder arms without thinking twice 9.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 140.1 kph, fuller and straighter from Ishant, Petersen drives from his crease towards the bowler 9.4 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 141.0 kph, Petersen collects a single towards fine leg 9.5 Sharma to Smith, 1 run, 138.1 kph, length delivery on the pads, Smith slaps a healthy helping of butter on his bread and plays through square leg 9.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.1 kph, defended on the back foot towards the bowler South Africa 19/0 I Sharma 5-2-7-0 11.1 Sharma to Smith, no run, 137.4 kph, left alone outside off by Smith 11.2 Sharma to Smith, 1 run, 137.4 kph, there's that on-the-hip line again and Smith jumps across his crease to glance towards fine leg 11.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 138.4 kph, Petersen tries to play the back-foot drive through cover but the ball moves into him a touch and he gets an inside edge on to the body 11.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.6 kph, right, that ball sped off the pitch and jagged back into Petersen, cutting him in half. The ball clips the back pad and falls in front of Dhoni 11.5 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 135.8 kph, played off the pads towards square leg 11.6 Sharma to Smith, FOUR, 138.3 kph, shot, too full outside off stump and Smith moves forward to play a fluent drive through extra cover South Africa 30/0 I Sharma 6-2-13-0 23.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 134.9 kph, starts with a short and wide ball. Petersen cuts off the back foot but hits it into the ground 23.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.3 kph, good length just outside off stump, Petersen defends with bat and pad close together 23.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.2 kph, defended on the front foot 23.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 138.9 kph, Petersen tried to close the face of the bat but got an edge to one that was fuller on off stump 23.5 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 134.7 kph, nudged off the hips behind square and that single brings up the second century stand between Petersen and Smith 23.6 Sharma to Smith, no run, 138.7 kph, short of a length outside off, Smith gets behind the line and blocks South Africa 100/0 I Sharma 7-2-14-0 25.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 133.8 kph, short of a length outside off stump, Petersen plays off the back foot towards point 25.2 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 136.0 kph, fuller length on off and middle, Petersen uses the angle into him to lean forward and flick through square 25.3 Sharma to Smith, no run, 136.9 kph, Ishant bowls the bouncer but it's too short, which means Smith can duck under it easily. When Morkel and Steyn bounced India's batsmen, they were letting rip from a length that was fuller than this 25.4 Sharma to Smith, 1 run, 136.2 kph, way too short and Smith pulls with rock-solid confidence towards the deep midwicket boundary, where Dhoni has placed a fielder 25.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 121.9 kph, played off the pads towards midwicket 25.6 Sharma to Petersen, FOUR, 137.2 kph, short ball and Petersen moves forward before rocking back to pull, not through square, or midwicket but through wide mid-on. He hit that with some power South Africa 111/0 I Sharma 8-2-20-0 27.1 Sharma to Petersen, FOUR, 136.4 kph, short, wide, and dealt with appropriately, smashed in front of point for a boundary 27.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 138.0 kph, better from Ishant, length delivery outside off, he stays in the crease and plays it out to cover 27.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 135.6 kph, more wide stuff from Ishant, bit more bounce though, he rides it and cuts it to backward point 27.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 138.9 kph, takes a step to the pitch of the length delivery and drives it to mid off 27.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 135.4 kph, homes in on off stump with the angle, he reaches out and turns it to midwicket 27.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.1 kph, two feet outside off stump, bit of inward seam movement, but hardly enough to make the batsman play, as he shoulders arms South Africa 115/1 I Sharma 9-2-24-0 29.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 141.4 kph, steady stuff in the corridor outside off from Ishant, defended off the back foot 29.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 140.8 kph, stays in the crease to a back of a length ball and punches it to cover 29.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 140.1 kph, bowls it fuller this time, closer to off too, Alviro is behind the line early and defends 29.4 Sharma to Petersen, FOUR, 140.9 kph, take that! overpitched delivery outside off stump, and sent on its way through covers for a boundary, just leaned into the drive there 29.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 140.3 kph, doesn't give him the width this time, he gets forward and drives it to mid off 29.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.8 kph, a touch shorter now outside off, he leaves it alone South Africa 125/1 I Sharma 8-2-28-0 31.1 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 137.2 kph, short, wide, too much room outside off, and he cuts it away to the man on the sweeper boundary 31.2 Sharma to Amla, no run, 136.3 kph, better stuff from Ishant, straightens from off stump line, he remains on the crease, and plays it out to gully 31.3 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 136.7 kph, strays on the pads, and is picked for a single through square leg 31.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.1 kph, comes in a shade from outside off, but starting too wide of the stumps, and is easily left alone 31.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 142.4 kph, gets across outside off stump, and plays it down in front of mid off 31.6 Sharma to Petersen, FOUR, 138.8 kph, lovely drive from Alviro, right to the pitch of this fullish delivery, and pings the gap between extra cover and mid off, from where Sree chases in vain South Africa 131/1 I Sharma 9-2-34-0 33.1 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 133.2 kph, short on the middle and leg line, he gets across to work it behind square 33.2 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 133.8 kph, shortish again on the stumps, Amla tucks it in front of square leg now, and South Africa have gone past India's total 33.3 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 132.3 kph, stays on the back foot, and pushes it towards square leg, the single is on 33.4 Sharma to Amla, no run, 141.4 kph, bowls it a foot outside off stump, and is calmly left alone, this is looking ominous, for India that is 33.5 Sharma to Amla, no run, 136.9 kph, good delivery out of nowhere, angled in on the stumps, forcing Amla to bring down his bat hurriedly, and he pushes it to mid on 33.6 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 137.8 kph, reverts to short again, and is pulled away on one leg to deep midwicket South Africa 139/1 I Sharma 10-2-38-0 35.1 Sharma to Amla, no run, 132.1 kph, Ishant digs it in short, but it doesn't bounce that much around off stump, Amla weaves out of the line 35.2 Sharma to Amla, no run, 129.9 kph, another short delivery bounces high wide of off stump, he goes for the pull, but it was too high and misses 35.3 Sharma to Amla, no run, 133.6 kph, comes back in off the seam, ending on middle, he arrests the front foot movement, and turns it towards square leg 35.4 Sharma to Amla, no run, 132.5 kph, another one bounces slowly off the pitch, Amla is early on the pull shot, and misses 35.5 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 136.6 kph, this time he connects with the pull, but there is a man on the deep midwicket boundary, so all the time Amla was targeting the single, or was he? 35.6 Sharma to Petersen, 2 runs, 130.5 kph, wayward short ball down the leg side, helped fine on its way, Bhajji runs hard to his right and keeps them down to a couple South Africa 151/1 I Sharma 11-2-41-0 69.1 Sharma to Amla, no run, 134.5 kph, that seemed to hold its line after coming in with the angle, Amla opens the face and stabs it to the off side. Hmm. 69.2 Sharma to Amla, no run, 132.3 kph, breaks the 130 kph barrier - 130.2 kph to be precise - but there is no movement. Amla is on the front foot and looks to drive, but can't make good connection 69.3 Sharma to Amla, 2 runs, 133.0 kph, Amla drives straight to cover and they take a tight single. India rarely hit the stumps, but Sreesanth did this time. And conceded an overthrow. That kind of day. 69.4 Sharma to Amla, no run, 137.2 kph, the fastest ball I've seen this session - 134.6 kph - and gets some extra bounce as well. Just outside off and Amla feels for it from the crease. Very close to the outside edge, but not close enough to hit it 69.5 Sharma to Amla, no run, 134.6 kph, stays on the back foot and looks to cut, but the timing is awry 69.6 Sharma to Amla, no run, 133.7 kph, full ball, looking to attack the stumps, but Amla comes down on it and drives it punchily down to mid-on South Africa 289/2 I Sharma 12-2-43-0 71.1 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 136.8 kph, strays on to middle and leg, Kallis gets inside the line and works it for a single through square leg 71.2 Sharma to Amla, no run, 135.1 kph, a touch outside off, Amla stays back and works it square. Not timed too well 71.3 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 137.0 kph, Ishant looks for the lbw again, full and attacking the stumps, but can't get it past the first line of defence. Worked off the pads towards square leg for one 71.4 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 136.7 kph, over-pitched outside off and Kallis leans into a nice cover drive. Raina puts in a dive to stop that from running away. 71.5 Sharma to Amla, no run, 136.2 kph, presses the front foot across and works it around the pad towards midwicket 71.6 Sharma to Amla, no run, 136.6 kph, length ball on off stump to finish off, Amla gets nicely behind it and defends down the track to the off side of the pitch South Africa 295/2 I Sharma 13-2-46-0 73.1 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 136.7 kph, full ball on off stump, Kallis presses forward confidently and defends to the off side 73.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 135.4 kph, 132 kph on a length outside off, Kallis stays in the crease and opens the face to play it to the off side 73.3 Sharma to Kallis, FOUR, 135.4 kph, meat, drink and dessert. Ishant strays down the pads and Kallis helps it along with a neat little glance for four. Money for nothing. 73.4 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 137.8 kph, shifts back of off stump and Kallis punches it towards mid-off 73.5 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 137.3 kph, full on off stump and driven solidly towards mid off 73.6 Sharma to Kallis, FOUR, 134.1 kph, destructive stuff and now some delicate stuff. Kallis unfurls the latest of late cuts, from a shade outside off stump and picks up four through third man. Elegance writ all over it. South Africa 304/2 I Sharma 14-2-54-0 80.1 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 133.2 kph, begins with a short ball outside off, Kallis looks to cut, but can't place it past point. 80.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 129.6 kph, hmm, another loose shot to a ball short and wide outside off. 138 kph and some extra bounce, Kallis took up the challenge and looked to cut it on the rise, but could not make good contact. 80.3 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 130.4 kph, and again. Kallis needs to settle down here. Looks to cut towards the vacant third man region again, but Ishant's extra bounce means he's failed to connect with this one. Dhoni jumps and collects 80.4 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 134.1 kph, fuller delivery as the follow-up, but Kallis is ready for it. Gets across and works it off the pads towards midwicket for one 80.5 Sharma to Amla, 2 runs, 133.8 kph, supreme timing. Back of a length outside off and Amla unfurls a square drive on the up that requires Gambhir at deep point to put in some quick yards to save the boundary 80.6 Sharma to Amla, FOUR, 132.2 kph, no one's going to stop this one. Back of a length again, at 129 kph, Amla doesn't bother about getting to the pitch and just leans into a cover drive on the up and sends it whizzing through the covers. The hand-eye coordination from Amla is immense South Africa 343/2 I Sharma 15-2-61-0 82.1 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 134.1 kph, drops short outside off and Amla easily cuts it square for a single 82.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 130.7 kph, blocks down the track off the back foot. Good length from Ishant, enough to deny Kallis the drive 82.3 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 122.3 kph, ooh, extra bounce, and it has Kallis in some trouble as he looks to nudge off the back foot. He ended up yanking the bottom hand away to guide it behind square on the off side 82.4 Sharma to Amla, FOUR, 132.6 kph, Amla is not to be left behind. He brings up Test ton No. 12 and fittingly it comes with the pull shot. He's played it well, all day, spotting them early and timing them well, but not always finding the gap. This time he does. All the way to the deep midwicket boundary and a century for Amla. He loves the Indian attack. 82.5 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 127.7 kph, gets a century gift on the pads and neatly clips it square for a single 82.6 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 128.2 kph, Ishant gets extra bounce again, this time outside off, and Kallis is close to being squared up as he looks to guide if off the back foot. The bottom hand comes off as he drops it just short of the cordon South Africa 352/2 I Sharma 16-2-68-0 88.1 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 133.4 kph, short of a length outside off, Kallis is tempted to go for the cut, misses, just bounced a little more than he would have liked 88.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 134.5 kph, short of a good length but a touch too wide, left alone to the keeper 88.3 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 134.8 kph, full on the pads and it's flicked away, poor delivery but there is cover in the deep, single to deep square leg 88.4 Sharma to Amla, no run, 135.0 kph, a hint of movement into the batsman, landed on a length outside off, wide enough for him to leave it be 88.5 Sharma to Amla, no run, 132.1 kph, moving back in again and Amla chips that, uppishly, but it's safe in the end, rolls down to mid-on 88.6 Sharma to Amla, FOUR, 134.8 kph, lovely shot, driven on the up and he's finding the boundary even though there is protection in the deep, there is a deep point in place but he cracks this wide of him in the deep cover region, the agony continues for India South Africa 376/2 I Sharma 16-2-73-0 90.1 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 135.5 kph, short of a good length and getting it to move back in, Kallis rocks back and taps it gently into the off side for a single 90.2 Sharma to Amla, no run, 135.2 kph, superbly driven again but finds a sharp Raina, off the middle and on the up, full of confidence is Amla 90.3 Sharma to Amla, FOUR, 134.8 kph, terrible delivery and he gives it some deserved treatment, short and wide and he slaps it to the deep-cover boundary 90.4 Sharma to Amla, no run, 134.6 kph, on the pads this time, fullish, drives it through the line to mid-on 90.5 Sharma to Amla, no run, 134.4 kph, too wide from the man, Amla doesn't bother chasing it 90.6 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 133.7 kph, angling in from wide of the crease, trying to drive it straight, gets a thick inside edge past midwicket for a single South Africa 385/2 I Sharma 17-2-79-0 92.1 Sharma to Amla, no run, 133.3 kph, angling in towards middle and leg, pushed towards midwicket 92.2 Sharma to Amla, 2 runs, 132.2 kph, well fielded by Sreesanth at fine leg, nipped back in and Amla closed the face on it, two more, Sreesanth stretched to his right and dragged it back in 92.3 Sharma to Amla, OUT, 132.4 kph, that's out! Lucky man is Ishant, full and way down the leg side, Amla looked to flick it fine, got a touch but not wide enough to evade Dhoni, caught down the leg side, the opening India needed on the third day HM Amla c «¥honi b Sharma 140 (296m 202b 14x4 1x6) SR: 69.30 92.4 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 130.4 kph, getting it to move in, AB gets a stride forward and defends it into the leg side, catches him on the glove there 92.5 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 132.3 kph, pushed slightly uppishly towards midwicket, good length on middle 92.6 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 132.9 kph, fullish on middle and leg, flicked away towards deep square leg for a single South Africa 397/3 I Sharma 18-2-82-1 94.1 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 132.4 kph, on the pads at 131 kph, Kallis tucks it square for a single to the man in the deep 94.2 Sharma to de Villiers, FOUR, 126.7 kph, AB is away with a gorgeous punch down the ground. Ishant lands it on a length on off stump, he's looking for an early lbw, but there is no sideways movement. AB presses forward and shows him the maker's name. It buzzes to the straight boundary 94.3 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 130.8 kph, holds it back a touch, and gets a hint of away cut. AB spots it and adjusts well to defend to the off side 94.4 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 130.7 kph, too straight, Ishant gets away with it. AB clips it crisply but straight to mid on 94.5 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 129.4 kph, better line, Ishant gets his natural slant into the right hander from outside off. AB stays on the crease and defends with the full face 94.6 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 131.0 kph, the straight drive again as Ishant over-pitches on middle and leg. This time he plays it to the on side and mid-on manages to stop it South Africa 402/3 I Sharma 19-2-87-1 96.1 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 130.7 kph, Ishant trundles on, coming in from outside off with the angle, easily defended off the front foot 96.2 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 129.6 kph, bangs it in shorter, gets a touch of extra bounce, no where near causing AB any trouble. He steers it confidently off the back foot into the covers 96.3 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 128.1 kph, Ishant continues to look for the pads, full and straight, but Kallis has the line covered. Drives it solidly to mid-on 96.4 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 134.4 kph, strays a touch too far onto the pads and Kallis clips him square for a single 96.5 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 133.2 kph, AB taps a length ball outside off into the covers for an easy single. No one standing close at square to cut the ones 96.6 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 131.0 kph, finishes with a good length delivery on off stump, Kallis gets behind the line and defends down the track South Africa 411/3 I Sharma 20-2-90-1 98.1 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 133.9 kph, short on middle, pulled away to deep square leg 98.2 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 131.0 kph, short of a good length on the off, drops it in front of cover and eases through for a single 98.3 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 131.9 kph, angling in on middle, worked away off the front foot through square leg for a single 98.4 Sharma to de Villiers, FOUR, 133.0 kph, shot! Short outside off and begging to be hit, AB obliges, smacking it in front of cover for four more 98.5 Sharma to de Villiers, FOUR, 128.3 kph, this one's even better, good length and he reaches forward to just ease it past mid-off, lovely timing and it races away 98.6 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 131.6 kph, goodish length on the off, keeps strike with a tap in front of point South Africa 429/3 I Sharma 21-2-102-1 124.1 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 131.0 kph, back of a length from Ishant, on a length outside off and Kallis drives compactly but straight to cover 124.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 130.1 kph, similar ball, similar shot. Looks very good, high elbow and straight bat, but finds the cover fielder 124.3 Sharma to Kallis, FOUR, 130.5 kph, and this time it doesn't. Kallis is too good a player to pat three similar balls to the same fielder. This time he opens the face into the cover drive and the adjustment takes it to the left of cover. It scurries into a battered boundary board there. 124.4 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 130.0 kph, same line. Ishant is bowling to a plan, belatedly. Kallis again drives into the covers 124.5 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 133.6 kph, attacks the stumps, comes in with the angle from wide of the crease and Kallis punches it towards mid off 124.6 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 135.8 kph, over-pitched on off and Kallis drills is back straight. Raina moves across swiftly from mid-off to prevent four South Africa 599/3 I Sharma 22-2-106-1 126.1 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 132.7 kph, SA have reached 600. Kallis pushes it out to cover for yet another single. Harbhajan limps as he fields. 126.2 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 132.4 kph, length ball on off, steady stuff this, if these were the middle overs of an ODI. Not in a Test match. AB taps to the off side for another single 126.3 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 136.1 kph, Drum roll! Kallis has reached 190 for the 1st time in his career. Ten runs away from removing that irritating monkey on his shoulder now. Single to mid-on and a huge applause from the crowd 126.4 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 135.1 kph, full ball on off stump and AB defends off the front foot 126.5 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 136.4 kph, drives strongly this time, but can't find a way past mid-off 126.6 Sharma to de Villiers, FOUR, 131.4 kph, AB's had enough of the pottering around since lunch and laces one through the covers. Ishant helps the cause by serving a delicious half-volley on off stump. AB took time selecting his gap and then went in between cover and point. Four more to the total. South Africa 606/3 I Sharma 23-2-113-1 128.1 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 130.7 kph, another one on the driving length, AB looks to drill it through the covers again, and drills it through Harbhajan at cover. Misfield allows a single 128.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 133.2 kph, that one keeps a touch low on off stump. Kallis clamps down quickly on it. He seems to be in some distress. Cramps, possibly? 128.3 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 135.3 kph, Ishant keeps this back of a length on off stump, Kallis looks to force it square on the off side, but can't beat point 128.4 Sharma to Kallis, 2 runs, 136.9 kph, Two more to the 200 for Kallis cause. Ishant strays on the pads and Kallis tucks it through midwicket for a couple 128.5 Sharma to Kallis, FOUR, 132.1 kph, 197! Short and two feet wide outside off, enough room for Kallis to flex those muscles and send it crashing through point 128.6 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 137.3 kph, straighter ball to finish, on off stump and Kallis defends solidly off the front foot South Africa 615/3 I Sharma 24-2-120-1 130.1 Sharma to de Villiers, OUT, 139.3 kph, AB is gone. Smith has declared. All the boxes have been ticked. India face a mountain. Make that two. How he got out is purely academic. For the record - it was a back of length ball on off. Not the kind of ball you can hit for six. Given his form, AB believed he could. He ended up playing a nothing-swipe. The outside edge landed in Dhoni's gloves. No one celebrated. Smith called them in. Sehwag and Gambhir have a nervy ten minutes ahead of them, as a prelude to the nervy two-and-a-half days ahead of the world's No. 1 team.
CG Posted January 17, 2012 Posted January 17, 2012 Ishant is still getting reasoanable movement. He is failing because he is bowling very bad and inconsistent lines. He is not bowling in the channel of uncertainty. Lots of wide deliveries outside off and some down the leg side. He is not making the batsman play and giving too much width. With such inaccuracy he will not get wickets no matter what his speed or movement because the batsman does not have to play him at all. I don't think I have seen anybody bowl such wrong lines ever. It is not as if he is spraying the ball all over the place. he is deliberately bowling wide... god knows why ? Siddle and Pattinson are not getting large movements either like Hilfy is getting ; but getting reasonable movement like Ishant. They are still getting wickets because they have bowled a wonderful line and length at pace. No he is not getting the swing in the air , i have compared the swing he got in 2008 to 2011 and there is a lot of difference, He got massive inswing which was deadly as the ball then seamed off the pitch. wI2ivgV2z6s But now he has lost it,at international level you need movement.
the_indian_fan Posted January 17, 2012 Posted January 17, 2012 Yes Zak is about to retire so he shud be duly trusted with bowling Coach n player duty now and with in next 12 months he will only remain a bowling coach from a Player.... I bet nobody is as good as ZAk..even akram or Kapil well said. zaheer khan is the best option we have for bowling coach and till zaheer retires, he can be a player+bowling coach
chainsmoker1985 Posted January 17, 2012 Posted January 17, 2012 2. Katrina might give him some tips on how to bowl over 'maidens' overseas. And once he can bowl over maidens' date=' the batsmen will get suffocated and throw away their wickets.[/quote'] :giggle: :hysterical::hysterical:
rkt.india Posted January 17, 2012 Author Posted January 17, 2012 Yes i remember your thread where you said he will be different bowler with his new action and going ga ga over it ,I had also said that time without the inswing he will not be successful. Regarding pace he was always 130-140 even in southafrica so your facts are wrong you can check it on youtube,Ishant himself said he tried to copy zaheer so i do not see prasad faults and more ever prasad was not there after 2009 t20 world cup. He had that inswing during IPL but problem was he lost his seam position and without good seam position no bowler can swing the ball in or out. His action is not a problem but I will only suggest he can come a bit more closer to the stumps and I just said that he has got his pace back and he did take wickets in WI due to that pace but without seam position he could not sustain that wicket taking ability and also he is lacking consistency. He is still bowling good bowls, beating bat, but is not able to bowl on that line and length consistently. It means he lacked the methodical practice you need to better you consistency and this is the fault of the bowling coach who has not drawn a plan to do a methodical practice with fast bowlers.
CG Posted January 17, 2012 Posted January 17, 2012 He had that inswing during IPL but problem was he lost his seam position and without good seam position no bowler can swing the ball in or out. His action is not a problem but I will only suggest he can come a bit more closer to the stumps and I just said that he has got his pace back and he did take wickets in WI due to that pace but without seam position he could not sustain that wicket taking ability and also he is lacking consistency. He is still bowling good bowls' date=' beating bat, but is not able to bowl on that line and length consistently. It means he lacked the methodical practice you need to better you consistency and this is the fault of the bowling coach who has not drawn a plan to do a methodical practice with fast bowlers.[/quote'] yup,we need a new coach badly.
rkt.india Posted January 17, 2012 Author Posted January 17, 2012 No he is not getting the swing in the air , i have compared the swing he got in 2008 to 2011 and there is a lot of difference, He got massive inswing which was deadly as the ball then seamed off the pitch. wI2ivgV2z6s But now he has lost it,at international level you need movement. his action then and now has a changed a lot. He i snot that wide of the crease now that he was then that also helped him get that inswing that is why I will tell him to get that out swing going and bowl a bit more closer to the stumps and a good coach can really help him in this regard now which is far better wicket taking option look at Yadav who was also used to bowlwide of the crease and most in swing but Banrjee helped him come close to the stumps and now he bowls outswing as well which is helping him getting wickets and he bowls straight attacking the stumps most often which is not the case with Ishant. He bowled well in Aus last time got in swing but that in swing did not bring him many wickets. it is out swing deliveries which are hard to face for any batsman.
CG Posted January 17, 2012 Posted January 17, 2012 his action then and now has a changed a lot. He i snot that wide of the crease now that he was then that also helped him get that inswing that is why I will tell him to get that out swing going and bowl a bit more closer to the stumps and a good coach can really help him in this regard now which is far better wicket taking option look at Yadav who was also used to bowlwide of the crease and most in swing but Banrjee helped him come close to the stumps and now he bowls outswing as well which is helping him getting wickets and he bowls straight attacking the stumps most often which is not the case with Ishant. He bowled well in Aus last time got in swing but that in swing did not bring him many wickets. it is out swing deliveries which are hard to face for any batsman. He is different from yadav and It will confuse him even more if tries to change his natural action ,His natural swing was inswing ,he has to concentrate on that,and trying to bowl the outswing was one of the reasons he lost his action,Who says he was not suceessful with inswing he was good during 08-10 and even won a mos in india, If he gets insiwnger going the ball that holds the line will be deadly like the outswing and when he gets it right you have seen best of the batsamn like kallis,ponting,mahela struggle even on subcontinent pitches as you never know which one is going to straighten,he should look at ambrose.
rkt.india Posted January 17, 2012 Author Posted January 17, 2012 He is different from yadav and It will confuse him even more if tries to change his natural action ,His natural swing was inswing ,he has to concentrate on that,and trying to bowl the outswing was one of the reasons he lost his action,Who says he was not suceessful with inswing he was good during 08-10 and even won a mos in india, If he gets insiwnger going the ball that holds the line will be deadly like the outswing and when he gets it right you have seen best of the batsamn like kallis,ponting,mahela struggle even on subcontinent pitches as you never know which one is going to straighten,he should look at ambrose. Yadav had pretty similar approach one year ago before he changed his action. I am just asking him to come a bit closer to the stumps though it is not easy and will take time and he has all the time to work on that as we are not playing tests for 6 months now, but if he does not want to make that change then only thing he can do is work on his seam position and consistency with his personal coach in the nets. To gain accuracy, he will need to derive a methodical practice plan. Seam position is the most important part for a fast bowler to get movement in the air or off the pitch. He has pace but if he sorts our that seam he will get more movement both ways.
Old guy Posted January 17, 2012 Posted January 17, 2012 :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: Did you even watch?These are speeds from 1st test. 1.1 Sharma to Smith, no run, 134.6 kph, loud appeal for lbw but that pitched outside leg before seaming across Smith and striking him in between the pads 1.2 Sharma to Smith, no run, 139.0 kph, beaten, full ball angling across the left-hander's off stump, Smith pokes and misses 1.3 Sharma to Smith, no run, 140.3 kph, full again but the line is too wide, Smith shoulders arms 1.4 Sharma to Smith, 1 run, 141.2 kph, that's too straight from the bowler and Smith tucks the ball off his pads through square leg 1.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 140.5 kph, short of a length outside off stump, Petersen lets it go 1.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.2 kph, fuller length just outside off, Petersen strides forward to cover the off-stump line and shoulders arms South Africa 7/0 I Sharma 1-0-1-0 3.1 Sharma to Smith, no run, 140.8 kph, 137 kmh on a good length around off stump, Smith defends on the front foot 3.2 Sharma to Smith, no run, 139.9 kph, oh good ball, and nice carry through to Dhoni at chest height. Smith played it well too, choosing to leave it as it whizzed close to off stump 3.3 Sharma to Smith, no run, 140.2 kph, short of a length around off stump, Smith lets it go again 3.4 Sharma to Smith, no run, 139.2 kph, fuller length on leg and middle, Smith gets behind the line and defends with a straight bat 3.5 Sharma to Smith, no run, 140.3 kph, confident shout from Dhoni but a late one from Ishant as Smith attempts to defend and gets beaten by one that slants across him after pitching middle. Large gap between bat and ball, the sound was bat hitting pad 3.6 Sharma to Smith, no run, 140.7 kph, Smith gets a thick outside edge that is fielded at gully by Sehwag who has to dive to his left to make the save South Africa 8/0 I Sharma 2-1-1-0 5.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 138.7 kph, left alone outside off stump 5.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.3 kph, wide outside of stump again, Petersen needn't play. Not good enough from India's new-ball attack. Morkel was making the Indian batsmen run for cover. 5.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.5 kph, Ishant appeals for lbw after Petersen doesn't offer a shot and was hit on the pad. It was too high. The ball goes to the slip cordon and someone throws the stumps down at the batsman's end. There's a referral to the third umpire but Petersen was never in danger. 5.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 141.1 kph, defended on the front foot towards the bowler 5.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.3 kph, a bit wider outside off stump and Petersen lets it go again 5.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.2 kph, dot ball, but an ineffective dot ball, Petersen can let it go outside off with ease. Best time of the day to bowl and the Indians are not making South Africa's openers play enough. South Africa 9/0 I Sharma 3-2-1-0 7.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.9 kph, short of a length and wide outside off stump, Petersen attempts to cut but mis-times it 7.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.2 kph, closer to the body this time and Petersen's attempt to play the ball straight results in an inside edge on to the thigh 7.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 136.4 kph, Ishant pitches it fuller and slants the ball into the right-hander. Petersen stays in his crease and defends on the leg side 7.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.4 kph, played towards cover on the front foot 7.5 Sharma to Petersen, FOUR, 134.9 kph, short ball, a long hop really and Petersen swivels and pulls with power to the square-leg boundary 7.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 141.6 kph, on a good length just outside off stump, Petersen thrusts his pad forward and lets the ball go South Africa 17/0 I Sharma 4-2-5-0 9.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 141.7 kph, Petersen loses a bit of footing as he tries to cut Ishant's short of a length delivery, he might have tried to hit it too hard 9.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.6 kph, too wide outside off again, not horribly wide, but wide enough for Petersen to shoulder arms without thinking twice 9.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 140.1 kph, fuller and straighter from Ishant, Petersen drives from his crease towards the bowler 9.4 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 141.0 kph, Petersen collects a single towards fine leg 9.5 Sharma to Smith, 1 run, 138.1 kph, length delivery on the pads, Smith slaps a healthy helping of butter on his bread and plays through square leg 9.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.1 kph, defended on the back foot towards the bowler South Africa 19/0 I Sharma 5-2-7-0 11.1 Sharma to Smith, no run, 137.4 kph, left alone outside off by Smith 11.2 Sharma to Smith, 1 run, 137.4 kph, there's that on-the-hip line again and Smith jumps across his crease to glance towards fine leg 11.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 138.4 kph, Petersen tries to play the back-foot drive through cover but the ball moves into him a touch and he gets an inside edge on to the body 11.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.6 kph, right, that ball sped off the pitch and jagged back into Petersen, cutting him in half. The ball clips the back pad and falls in front of Dhoni 11.5 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 135.8 kph, played off the pads towards square leg 11.6 Sharma to Smith, FOUR, 138.3 kph, shot, too full outside off stump and Smith moves forward to play a fluent drive through extra cover South Africa 30/0 I Sharma 6-2-13-0 23.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 134.9 kph, starts with a short and wide ball. Petersen cuts off the back foot but hits it into the ground 23.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.3 kph, good length just outside off stump, Petersen defends with bat and pad close together 23.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.2 kph, defended on the front foot 23.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 138.9 kph, Petersen tried to close the face of the bat but got an edge to one that was fuller on off stump 23.5 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 134.7 kph, nudged off the hips behind square and that single brings up the second century stand between Petersen and Smith 23.6 Sharma to Smith, no run, 138.7 kph, short of a length outside off, Smith gets behind the line and blocks South Africa 100/0 I Sharma 7-2-14-0 25.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 133.8 kph, short of a length outside off stump, Petersen plays off the back foot towards point 25.2 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 136.0 kph, fuller length on off and middle, Petersen uses the angle into him to lean forward and flick through square 25.3 Sharma to Smith, no run, 136.9 kph, Ishant bowls the bouncer but it's too short, which means Smith can duck under it easily. When Morkel and Steyn bounced India's batsmen, they were letting rip from a length that was fuller than this 25.4 Sharma to Smith, 1 run, 136.2 kph, way too short and Smith pulls with rock-solid confidence towards the deep midwicket boundary, where Dhoni has placed a fielder 25.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 121.9 kph, played off the pads towards midwicket 25.6 Sharma to Petersen, FOUR, 137.2 kph, short ball and Petersen moves forward before rocking back to pull, not through square, or midwicket but through wide mid-on. He hit that with some power South Africa 111/0 I Sharma 8-2-20-0 27.1 Sharma to Petersen, FOUR, 136.4 kph, short, wide, and dealt with appropriately, smashed in front of point for a boundary 27.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 138.0 kph, better from Ishant, length delivery outside off, he stays in the crease and plays it out to cover 27.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 135.6 kph, more wide stuff from Ishant, bit more bounce though, he rides it and cuts it to backward point 27.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 138.9 kph, takes a step to the pitch of the length delivery and drives it to mid off 27.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 135.4 kph, homes in on off stump with the angle, he reaches out and turns it to midwicket 27.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.1 kph, two feet outside off stump, bit of inward seam movement, but hardly enough to make the batsman play, as he shoulders arms South Africa 115/1 I Sharma 9-2-24-0 29.1 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 141.4 kph, steady stuff in the corridor outside off from Ishant, defended off the back foot 29.2 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 140.8 kph, stays in the crease to a back of a length ball and punches it to cover 29.3 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 140.1 kph, bowls it fuller this time, closer to off too, Alviro is behind the line early and defends 29.4 Sharma to Petersen, FOUR, 140.9 kph, take that! overpitched delivery outside off stump, and sent on its way through covers for a boundary, just leaned into the drive there 29.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 140.3 kph, doesn't give him the width this time, he gets forward and drives it to mid off 29.6 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 139.8 kph, a touch shorter now outside off, he leaves it alone South Africa 125/1 I Sharma 8-2-28-0 31.1 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 137.2 kph, short, wide, too much room outside off, and he cuts it away to the man on the sweeper boundary 31.2 Sharma to Amla, no run, 136.3 kph, better stuff from Ishant, straightens from off stump line, he remains on the crease, and plays it out to gully 31.3 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 136.7 kph, strays on the pads, and is picked for a single through square leg 31.4 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 137.1 kph, comes in a shade from outside off, but starting too wide of the stumps, and is easily left alone 31.5 Sharma to Petersen, no run, 142.4 kph, gets across outside off stump, and plays it down in front of mid off 31.6 Sharma to Petersen, FOUR, 138.8 kph, lovely drive from Alviro, right to the pitch of this fullish delivery, and pings the gap between extra cover and mid off, from where Sree chases in vain South Africa 131/1 I Sharma 9-2-34-0 33.1 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 133.2 kph, short on the middle and leg line, he gets across to work it behind square 33.2 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 133.8 kph, shortish again on the stumps, Amla tucks it in front of square leg now, and South Africa have gone past India's total 33.3 Sharma to Petersen, 1 run, 132.3 kph, stays on the back foot, and pushes it towards square leg, the single is on 33.4 Sharma to Amla, no run, 141.4 kph, bowls it a foot outside off stump, and is calmly left alone, this is looking ominous, for India that is 33.5 Sharma to Amla, no run, 136.9 kph, good delivery out of nowhere, angled in on the stumps, forcing Amla to bring down his bat hurriedly, and he pushes it to mid on 33.6 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 137.8 kph, reverts to short again, and is pulled away on one leg to deep midwicket South Africa 139/1 I Sharma 10-2-38-0 35.1 Sharma to Amla, no run, 132.1 kph, Ishant digs it in short, but it doesn't bounce that much around off stump, Amla weaves out of the line 35.2 Sharma to Amla, no run, 129.9 kph, another short delivery bounces high wide of off stump, he goes for the pull, but it was too high and misses 35.3 Sharma to Amla, no run, 133.6 kph, comes back in off the seam, ending on middle, he arrests the front foot movement, and turns it towards square leg 35.4 Sharma to Amla, no run, 132.5 kph, another one bounces slowly off the pitch, Amla is early on the pull shot, and misses 35.5 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 136.6 kph, this time he connects with the pull, but there is a man on the deep midwicket boundary, so all the time Amla was targeting the single, or was he? 35.6 Sharma to Petersen, 2 runs, 130.5 kph, wayward short ball down the leg side, helped fine on its way, Bhajji runs hard to his right and keeps them down to a couple South Africa 151/1 I Sharma 11-2-41-0 69.1 Sharma to Amla, no run, 134.5 kph, that seemed to hold its line after coming in with the angle, Amla opens the face and stabs it to the off side. Hmm. 69.2 Sharma to Amla, no run, 132.3 kph, breaks the 130 kph barrier - 130.2 kph to be precise - but there is no movement. Amla is on the front foot and looks to drive, but can't make good connection 69.3 Sharma to Amla, 2 runs, 133.0 kph, Amla drives straight to cover and they take a tight single. India rarely hit the stumps, but Sreesanth did this time. And conceded an overthrow. That kind of day. 69.4 Sharma to Amla, no run, 137.2 kph, the fastest ball I've seen this session - 134.6 kph - and gets some extra bounce as well. Just outside off and Amla feels for it from the crease. Very close to the outside edge, but not close enough to hit it 69.5 Sharma to Amla, no run, 134.6 kph, stays on the back foot and looks to cut, but the timing is awry 69.6 Sharma to Amla, no run, 133.7 kph, full ball, looking to attack the stumps, but Amla comes down on it and drives it punchily down to mid-on South Africa 289/2 I Sharma 12-2-43-0 71.1 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 136.8 kph, strays on to middle and leg, Kallis gets inside the line and works it for a single through square leg 71.2 Sharma to Amla, no run, 135.1 kph, a touch outside off, Amla stays back and works it square. Not timed too well 71.3 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 137.0 kph, Ishant looks for the lbw again, full and attacking the stumps, but can't get it past the first line of defence. Worked off the pads towards square leg for one 71.4 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 136.7 kph, over-pitched outside off and Kallis leans into a nice cover drive. Raina puts in a dive to stop that from running away. 71.5 Sharma to Amla, no run, 136.2 kph, presses the front foot across and works it around the pad towards midwicket 71.6 Sharma to Amla, no run, 136.6 kph, length ball on off stump to finish off, Amla gets nicely behind it and defends down the track to the off side of the pitch South Africa 295/2 I Sharma 13-2-46-0 73.1 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 136.7 kph, full ball on off stump, Kallis presses forward confidently and defends to the off side 73.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 135.4 kph, 132 kph on a length outside off, Kallis stays in the crease and opens the face to play it to the off side 73.3 Sharma to Kallis, FOUR, 135.4 kph, meat, drink and dessert. Ishant strays down the pads and Kallis helps it along with a neat little glance for four. Money for nothing. 73.4 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 137.8 kph, shifts back of off stump and Kallis punches it towards mid-off 73.5 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 137.3 kph, full on off stump and driven solidly towards mid off 73.6 Sharma to Kallis, FOUR, 134.1 kph, destructive stuff and now some delicate stuff. Kallis unfurls the latest of late cuts, from a shade outside off stump and picks up four through third man. Elegance writ all over it. South Africa 304/2 I Sharma 14-2-54-0 80.1 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 133.2 kph, begins with a short ball outside off, Kallis looks to cut, but can't place it past point. 80.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 129.6 kph, hmm, another loose shot to a ball short and wide outside off. 138 kph and some extra bounce, Kallis took up the challenge and looked to cut it on the rise, but could not make good contact. 80.3 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 130.4 kph, and again. Kallis needs to settle down here. Looks to cut towards the vacant third man region again, but Ishant's extra bounce means he's failed to connect with this one. Dhoni jumps and collects 80.4 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 134.1 kph, fuller delivery as the follow-up, but Kallis is ready for it. Gets across and works it off the pads towards midwicket for one 80.5 Sharma to Amla, 2 runs, 133.8 kph, supreme timing. Back of a length outside off and Amla unfurls a square drive on the up that requires Gambhir at deep point to put in some quick yards to save the boundary 80.6 Sharma to Amla, FOUR, 132.2 kph, no one's going to stop this one. Back of a length again, at 129 kph, Amla doesn't bother about getting to the pitch and just leans into a cover drive on the up and sends it whizzing through the covers. The hand-eye coordination from Amla is immense South Africa 343/2 I Sharma 15-2-61-0 82.1 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 134.1 kph, drops short outside off and Amla easily cuts it square for a single 82.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 130.7 kph, blocks down the track off the back foot. Good length from Ishant, enough to deny Kallis the drive 82.3 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 122.3 kph, ooh, extra bounce, and it has Kallis in some trouble as he looks to nudge off the back foot. He ended up yanking the bottom hand away to guide it behind square on the off side 82.4 Sharma to Amla, FOUR, 132.6 kph, Amla is not to be left behind. He brings up Test ton No. 12 and fittingly it comes with the pull shot. He's played it well, all day, spotting them early and timing them well, but not always finding the gap. This time he does. All the way to the deep midwicket boundary and a century for Amla. He loves the Indian attack. 82.5 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 127.7 kph, gets a century gift on the pads and neatly clips it square for a single 82.6 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 128.2 kph, Ishant gets extra bounce again, this time outside off, and Kallis is close to being squared up as he looks to guide if off the back foot. The bottom hand comes off as he drops it just short of the cordon South Africa 352/2 I Sharma 16-2-68-0 88.1 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 133.4 kph, short of a length outside off, Kallis is tempted to go for the cut, misses, just bounced a little more than he would have liked 88.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 134.5 kph, short of a good length but a touch too wide, left alone to the keeper 88.3 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 134.8 kph, full on the pads and it's flicked away, poor delivery but there is cover in the deep, single to deep square leg 88.4 Sharma to Amla, no run, 135.0 kph, a hint of movement into the batsman, landed on a length outside off, wide enough for him to leave it be 88.5 Sharma to Amla, no run, 132.1 kph, moving back in again and Amla chips that, uppishly, but it's safe in the end, rolls down to mid-on 88.6 Sharma to Amla, FOUR, 134.8 kph, lovely shot, driven on the up and he's finding the boundary even though there is protection in the deep, there is a deep point in place but he cracks this wide of him in the deep cover region, the agony continues for India South Africa 376/2 I Sharma 16-2-73-0 90.1 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 135.5 kph, short of a good length and getting it to move back in, Kallis rocks back and taps it gently into the off side for a single 90.2 Sharma to Amla, no run, 135.2 kph, superbly driven again but finds a sharp Raina, off the middle and on the up, full of confidence is Amla 90.3 Sharma to Amla, FOUR, 134.8 kph, terrible delivery and he gives it some deserved treatment, short and wide and he slaps it to the deep-cover boundary 90.4 Sharma to Amla, no run, 134.6 kph, on the pads this time, fullish, drives it through the line to mid-on 90.5 Sharma to Amla, no run, 134.4 kph, too wide from the man, Amla doesn't bother chasing it 90.6 Sharma to Amla, 1 run, 133.7 kph, angling in from wide of the crease, trying to drive it straight, gets a thick inside edge past midwicket for a single South Africa 385/2 I Sharma 17-2-79-0 92.1 Sharma to Amla, no run, 133.3 kph, angling in towards middle and leg, pushed towards midwicket 92.2 Sharma to Amla, 2 runs, 132.2 kph, well fielded by Sreesanth at fine leg, nipped back in and Amla closed the face on it, two more, Sreesanth stretched to his right and dragged it back in 92.3 Sharma to Amla, OUT, 132.4 kph, that's out! Lucky man is Ishant, full and way down the leg side, Amla looked to flick it fine, got a touch but not wide enough to evade Dhoni, caught down the leg side, the opening India needed on the third day HM Amla c «¥honi b Sharma 140 (296m 202b 14x4 1x6) SR: 69.30 92.4 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 130.4 kph, getting it to move in, AB gets a stride forward and defends it into the leg side, catches him on the glove there 92.5 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 132.3 kph, pushed slightly uppishly towards midwicket, good length on middle 92.6 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 132.9 kph, fullish on middle and leg, flicked away towards deep square leg for a single South Africa 397/3 I Sharma 18-2-82-1 94.1 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 132.4 kph, on the pads at 131 kph, Kallis tucks it square for a single to the man in the deep 94.2 Sharma to de Villiers, FOUR, 126.7 kph, AB is away with a gorgeous punch down the ground. Ishant lands it on a length on off stump, he's looking for an early lbw, but there is no sideways movement. AB presses forward and shows him the maker's name. It buzzes to the straight boundary 94.3 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 130.8 kph, holds it back a touch, and gets a hint of away cut. AB spots it and adjusts well to defend to the off side 94.4 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 130.7 kph, too straight, Ishant gets away with it. AB clips it crisply but straight to mid on 94.5 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 129.4 kph, better line, Ishant gets his natural slant into the right hander from outside off. AB stays on the crease and defends with the full face 94.6 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 131.0 kph, the straight drive again as Ishant over-pitches on middle and leg. This time he plays it to the on side and mid-on manages to stop it South Africa 402/3 I Sharma 19-2-87-1 96.1 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 130.7 kph, Ishant trundles on, coming in from outside off with the angle, easily defended off the front foot 96.2 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 129.6 kph, bangs it in shorter, gets a touch of extra bounce, no where near causing AB any trouble. He steers it confidently off the back foot into the covers 96.3 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 128.1 kph, Ishant continues to look for the pads, full and straight, but Kallis has the line covered. Drives it solidly to mid-on 96.4 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 134.4 kph, strays a touch too far onto the pads and Kallis clips him square for a single 96.5 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 133.2 kph, AB taps a length ball outside off into the covers for an easy single. No one standing close at square to cut the ones 96.6 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 131.0 kph, finishes with a good length delivery on off stump, Kallis gets behind the line and defends down the track South Africa 411/3 I Sharma 20-2-90-1 98.1 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 133.9 kph, short on middle, pulled away to deep square leg 98.2 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 131.0 kph, short of a good length on the off, drops it in front of cover and eases through for a single 98.3 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 131.9 kph, angling in on middle, worked away off the front foot through square leg for a single 98.4 Sharma to de Villiers, FOUR, 133.0 kph, shot! Short outside off and begging to be hit, AB obliges, smacking it in front of cover for four more 98.5 Sharma to de Villiers, FOUR, 128.3 kph, this one's even better, good length and he reaches forward to just ease it past mid-off, lovely timing and it races away 98.6 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 131.6 kph, goodish length on the off, keeps strike with a tap in front of point South Africa 429/3 I Sharma 21-2-102-1 124.1 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 131.0 kph, back of a length from Ishant, on a length outside off and Kallis drives compactly but straight to cover 124.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 130.1 kph, similar ball, similar shot. Looks very good, high elbow and straight bat, but finds the cover fielder 124.3 Sharma to Kallis, FOUR, 130.5 kph, and this time it doesn't. Kallis is too good a player to pat three similar balls to the same fielder. This time he opens the face into the cover drive and the adjustment takes it to the left of cover. It scurries into a battered boundary board there. 124.4 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 130.0 kph, same line. Ishant is bowling to a plan, belatedly. Kallis again drives into the covers 124.5 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 133.6 kph, attacks the stumps, comes in with the angle from wide of the crease and Kallis punches it towards mid off 124.6 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 135.8 kph, over-pitched on off and Kallis drills is back straight. Raina moves across swiftly from mid-off to prevent four South Africa 599/3 I Sharma 22-2-106-1 126.1 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 132.7 kph, SA have reached 600. Kallis pushes it out to cover for yet another single. Harbhajan limps as he fields. 126.2 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 132.4 kph, length ball on off, steady stuff this, if these were the middle overs of an ODI. Not in a Test match. AB taps to the off side for another single 126.3 Sharma to Kallis, 1 run, 136.1 kph, Drum roll! Kallis has reached 190 for the 1st time in his career. Ten runs away from removing that irritating monkey on his shoulder now. Single to mid-on and a huge applause from the crowd 126.4 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 135.1 kph, full ball on off stump and AB defends off the front foot 126.5 Sharma to de Villiers, no run, 136.4 kph, drives strongly this time, but can't find a way past mid-off 126.6 Sharma to de Villiers, FOUR, 131.4 kph, AB's had enough of the pottering around since lunch and laces one through the covers. Ishant helps the cause by serving a delicious half-volley on off stump. AB took time selecting his gap and then went in between cover and point. Four more to the total. South Africa 606/3 I Sharma 23-2-113-1 128.1 Sharma to de Villiers, 1 run, 130.7 kph, another one on the driving length, AB looks to drill it through the covers again, and drills it through Harbhajan at cover. Misfield allows a single 128.2 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 133.2 kph, that one keeps a touch low on off stump. Kallis clamps down quickly on it. He seems to be in some distress. Cramps, possibly? 128.3 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 135.3 kph, Ishant keeps this back of a length on off stump, Kallis looks to force it square on the off side, but can't beat point 128.4 Sharma to Kallis, 2 runs, 136.9 kph, Two more to the 200 for Kallis cause. Ishant strays on the pads and Kallis tucks it through midwicket for a couple 128.5 Sharma to Kallis, FOUR, 132.1 kph, 197! Short and two feet wide outside off, enough room for Kallis to flex those muscles and send it crashing through point 128.6 Sharma to Kallis, no run, 137.3 kph, straighter ball to finish, on off stump and Kallis defends solidly off the front foot South Africa 615/3 I Sharma 24-2-120-1 130.1 Sharma to de Villiers, OUT, 139.3 kph, AB is gone. Smith has declared. All the boxes have been ticked. India face a mountain. Make that two. How he got out is purely academic. For the record - it was a back of length ball on off. Not the kind of ball you can hit for six. Given his form, AB believed he could. He ended up playing a nothing-swipe. The outside edge landed in Dhoni's gloves. No one celebrated. Smith called them in. Sehwag and Gambhir have a nervy ten minutes ahead of them, as a prelude to the nervy two-and-a-half days ahead of the world's No. 1 team. bro check the deliveries after first 1-2 spells he hardly hit 140!
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