Harsh Thakor Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 Today at Adelaide more than Australia winning or India losing test test cricket won a moral victory.It proved that test cricket is the ultimate form of the game with more fluctuating change of fortunes than any form of cricket. Today chasing a stiff target of 363 runs India made one of test cricket's bravest attempts or most spited challenges reminding you of a brave military batallion coming to the doorsteps of victory against all the odds.Infact at one stage with Murli Vijay on 99 India seemed to be coasting home to a famous win and again when Jayanta Saha struck some big blows to take India within 64 runs of the target.I would rank the Murli Vijay-Virat Kohli stan as one of the best ever in a 4th innings runchase if you evaluate the composure of the batsmen and strokeplay.Virat Kohli's knock may rank amongst the best ever in a4th innings run chase and arguably amongst the top 5 ever in a run chase in a losing cause.I will never forget the range of strokes Virat executed all around the wicket which included some of the most audacious drives.It was one of the best batting exhibitions against the turning ball.Above all I give all the credit to Virat for playing for a victory throughout the day and never playing for a draw.Although India lost Kohli's approach won a victory for the game of test cricket.Today we witnessed the twists and turns of a Hollywood classic with a most unexpected climax .At one stage at tea only 2 results seemed possible-an Indian win or a draw.A sudden flurry of wickets brought Australia back but it was only after Kohli's dismissal that the Aussies come back well and truly in the game.What brought the reversal of fortunes for the Aussies who were almost dead and buried was their fighting mental never say die attitude.India truly missed Dhoni who would almost certainly have taken India to victory.Kohli simply ran out of partners with no batsmen apart from Muli Vijay playing a supporting role.Even with Ashwin batting India could have crossed the line.To me it was one of India's top 5 performances of all in a losing cause.Full credit to India for coming back so spectacularly after a disastrous tour of England against a team that is arguably the best in the world on fast,bouncy,tracks.It vanquished England last summer and beat South Africa 2-1 on their soil earlier this year.True,the conditions were conducive to India where there was turn and hardly sufficient pace and bounce for seamers.The spirit of Indian cricket ressurected itself in this game.If any team deserved to win it was India. Today I got memories of India's famous run chase of 493 runs on the very same ground in 1977-78 when by coincidence India again lost by a margin of 48 runs.It was the highest losing 4th innings total ever which stands as a record till today.At one stahe at 415-6 India looked like pulling off the impossible.At the Oval in 1979 India seemed coasting home to achieve a record 4th innings winning total of 438 runs before blunderous umpiring decisions cost India a famous victory.Had India won today it would have been one of India's greatest overseas wins ever if you ***** the conditions.9 out of 10 teams would not have achieved the victory target today and in the 1970's ,80's or 90's I doubt any team would have played for anything but a draw.The game today proved the evolution of test cricket. I will remember this game for the brilliant exhibition of spin bowling by Nathon Lyon and the batting of Warner and Kohli.However above all it ressurected the spirit of the game after the tragic death of Phillip Hughes which took the morale of the cricket world to the rock-bottom.The mental approcah of both India and Australia won the day for the game.
rkt.india Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 They deserved if they had chased. They didn't, so they dont.
Stuge Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 NO this is why they lost the match by throwing wickets in cluster
Raghav_12 Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 They deserved if they had chased. They didn't' date=' so they dont.[/quote'] Yes. They couldn't chase so they lost.
beetle Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 No....we couldn't get them out twice.They gave us a chance...we didn't. We could have drawn it though.
amiret Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 Of course we deserved to Win . India just choked in the last 20 overs.
kubrickian Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 The partnership between Vijay and Kohli was a masterclass. Especially their defense and attacking batting against Lyon who was consistently getting turn and bounce from the rough was great to watch. Just needed one more 50 run partnership to reach the target but didnt get much contribution from other batsmen. Our bowling effort was also nothing home to write about. So we probably didnt deserve to win as much as Australia who had Lyon who made the difference.
Kalia_Test Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 No...the fact that we even had a chance was due to Aus declaring TWICE... Deserved to draw? maybe as it would have meant Aus failed to take our 20 wickets but deserved to win? No way
sweetaskandy Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 No. How can you deserve to win if the other side beats you fair and square? Also, India failed to take 20 wkts. Aus bossed the game for all but 2 sessions of day 5 and a session or so in India's 1st innings. They declared twice - and had to allow for lost time. They won pretty handsomely in the end - 48 runs is a fair margin.
bulbul Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 I think at the end of day if you win deserve doesn't matter Rain is what actually gave India a chance, if not OZ should have scored 650 and draw was the most realistic option for us.
kubrickian Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 I think at the end of day if you win deserve doesn't matter Rain is what actually gave India a chance, if not OZ should have scored 650 and draw was the most realistic option for us. I think Clarke declared because they didnt expect India(more specially the two Vs) to bat as well as they did on the last day. I dont think any team in test history has chased 360 on final day and won.
bulbul Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 I think Clarke declared because they didnt expect India(more specially the two Vs) to bat as well as they did on the last day. I dont think any team in test history has chased 360 on final day and won. Clarke have history of early declarations, actually he became more predictable.
Marut Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 Australia 807/12 - runs per wicket 67.25 India 759/20 - runs per wicket 37.95 India were completely outplayed, in spite of the fact that India had some chances to win this game . A team that cannot take 20 wickets never deserves to win a test match, it would have to be extremely lucky to win one without getting 20 wickets.
kubrickian Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 Clarke have history of early declarations' date=' actually he became more predictable.[/quote'] This is not really an early declaration. Quite a safe one and you comfortably expect a draw or win for the bowling side.
zep1706 Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 If they had chased down that target on a 5th day pitch, they would have deserved it for that alone. It would have been one of the most amazing run chases in the history of the game. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
bulbul Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 This is not really an early declaration. Quite a safe one and you comfortably expect a draw or win for the bowling side. No. There are many matches recently drawn or won by batting last team on 5th day pitch. Few years back bowling in 4th day or 5th day was sure shot win. Not anymore.
kubrickian Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 No. There are many matches recently drawn or won by batting last team on 5th day pitch. Few years back bowling in 4th day or 5th day was sure shot win. Not anymore. There have only been 7 instances in test history when team batting last has chased more than 360 (that too its not in one day) and last time was in 2008. Where did you get this idea of "many matches drawn or won by batting team" on fifth day pitch ?
Marut Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 No. There are many matches recently drawn or won by batting last team on 5th day pitch. Few years back bowling in 4th day or 5th day was sure shot win. Not anymore. Not a single instance of any team successfully chasing 350+ over the last five years. Two instances of any team successfully chasing 300+ over the last five years. Two instances of any team successfully chasing 350+ over the last ten years. Six instances of any team successfully chasing 300+ over the last ten years. 300 remains a nearly unassailable 4th innings target. 350 is in the realm of improbables.
Gollum Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 Any test team which has an arrogant, lazy, talentless,impatient,inept hack like Rohit Sharma doesn't deserve to win anything.
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