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ShareMind you, it certainly is no piece of cake to conduct back-to-back Test matches as well as many one-dayers as they recently staged. But the PCA turned saviour by stepping forward in the hour of crisis to bail the BCCI out.
Well done, Bindra & Co! ngland will be looking forward to squaring the series in Mohali, where the fast bowlers will enjoy sending down longer spells in cooler climes, unlike in Chennai.
Though Flintoff & Co. bowled extremely well in Chennai, the Indian fast bowlers used the older ball better than their counterparts. As such, I feel the result of the match will depend to a large extent on which team uses the old ball more effectively by getting it to reverse swing.
I guess the match referee will also have to keep a stern eye on the over-rate. The fog and poor light may not allow the teams to complete their full quota of 90 overs a day.
Every player worth his salt has a keen desire to perform that little bit extra when playing on home turf. In this respect, local heroes Yuvraj and Harbhajan, I'm sure, will be no different and must be eagerly waiting for the match to begin.
Yuvraj, in particular, must be a relieved man after playing a fantastic knock in the last Test. A batsman who has a great one-day record and possesses terrific talent, Yuvraj must be keen to cement his place in the Test side by dishing out yet another mind-boggling performance.
Harbhajan, on his part, might not be too happy with the way he bowled in the last Test, and must be anxious to make amends in front of his home crowd (doesn't matter really if there's just a sprinkling of spectators in the stands who, I'm sure, would be outnumbered by the police).
Nonetheless, he will have to come around the wicket, more so to the left-handers Strauss and Cook, if he is to be effective. I reckon the drier wicket at Mohali will help his cause.
Srikkanth & Co. have preferred to go in with the winning combo. I guess it suits everybody that matters, for it will be easier to select those for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand who are warming the reserve benches at present, as it would be unfair to leave them out without giving them an opportunity to play. Got it?
