That’s what has seems to have happened all the three cricket matches from glance at the scorecards. Inzamam and Afridi ensured Pakistan went over 4 runs an over for the day. Even 10 years ago that would have been unthinlable in most scenarios. I am very happy with India playing five bowlers. It is not some thing which is unusual. India has played Prabhakar as the 5th bowler in the 90’s for example. The first necessity to win a test match is to take twenty wicket. India look more likely to that with a 5 man attack.

Bengal, surprisingly as far as I am concerned, have a first inning lead over Baroda. The unlikely hero has been Subhomoy Das. Subhomoy Das who? The same guy who averages a mere 35.84 in First Class matches. He is also the guy who’s 83, along with Jhunjhuwala’s 139 were instrumental in taking Bengal to the semis. Kudos to Shib Pal for putting Bengal in a position to take a first inning lead. But the batting collapses in the past have been all too familiar. In that regard the efforts of the young guns like Das and Jhunjhwala (even though he has made a duck in this match) and of course Rohan Gavaskar have to be commended.

Uttar Pradesh has taken their first inning lead versus Mumbai after bundling them for 199. Kaif, Raina and Rizwan Shamshad have been instrumental in that.

Now the question is - can India, Baroda or Mumbai script a resurgence.

The semi finals kick off today at the Wankhede and Eden Gardens.

Mumbai vs Uttar Pradesh

Mumbai felt the absence of in-form Jaffer in the loss against Maharasthra. They face a strong U.P. side with players like Md. Kaif, Suresh Raina, Jyoti Yadav and Piyush Chawla.

Mumbai has the in-form Amol Muzumdar, rookie opener Sahil Kukreja (who has been doing well) and Ramesh Powar. They are low on confidence and look weaker against U.P. strangely despite having home advantage.

Bengal vs Baroda

Bengal too look to be the weaker of the two sides despite having home advantage versus Baroda. Baroda has a solid attack with the return of Rakesh Patel and Rajesh Powar. Yusuf Pathan is already there. Bengal would be riding on Rohan Gavaskar (who has fever ominously) and rookie Avishek Jhunjhunwala. If there is any where Bengal’s Sourashish Lahiri and S.S.Paul can hope to be effective, it would be at home at Eden.

A little more than 50 years later, the opening world record looks set to be broken. An article by Partab Ramchand written 6 years earlier relives memories of that partnership.

I pondered about how much the BCCI can restrict. Now they are going to have their own broadcast with commentators handpicked. Also, they are making their own calendars - scrapping their own Champions Trophy after the next edition and playing Australia more often reports Rahul Bhatia.

The member countries ARE the ICC. If a majority number of member countries get a lot of financial reward playing tours with India more often, they are unlikely to object to it as in the case of Australia here.

Another aspect, even if the ICC shows some balls and bans countries x,y,z for a period - it wouldnt matter as the countries would go onto play their cricket any way.

The unofficial RSA-India test after the Mike Denness issue showed it can easily be done.

Increased demand for the sport in India has lead to power in terms of money generation capabilities in India. This shouldn’t be the reason for a hackneyed calendar without any structure though thats exactly what is happening.

I had spoken about the restriction on speaking with the media the BCCI imposed on players recently. Apparently they are now objecting to what is being telecast on TV as well.

Also, Sehwag will have to stop his column as well. Will the BCCI compensate him for the income he has been denied as a result of this?

There was nothing ‘great’ in the batting effort of India or Pakistan in this test match. People were going gaga when Afridi and Akmal were making runs and some fans from India would be feeling the same currently. Memories of Chris Gayle’s knock and that India-Sri Lanka test match comes to mind.

In chess, when the opponents decide, a draw can be agreed upon. I think the same should hold good for test cricket. It is an option in the last hour of play. But why not in any period during the test match. Why have a dead rubber too after a series has been completed.

The Indian board was not able to accomodate a twenty20 charity match for Pakistan earthquake victims and proceeds of a limited overs match will go to them.

A twenty20 match or one dayer for charity would be much more interesting than cricket which has been played till now and that which will be played tomorrow.

Sehwag can break Gavaskar’s record of the fastest test 100 by an Indian. Yes, you heard it right, Gavaskar holds the record of the fastest test hundred by an Indian as of now.

Meanwhile John Wright has refuted Dungarpur’s earlier claims. This hasn’t really been a good tour for Mr. Dungarpur.

There is so much excitement in the air - and its unrelated to any irrelevant media hype which has known to follow Indian cricket.

It’s a good time to be a test cricket fan. The Ashes, RSA in Australia have ended. Australia will tour South Africa next while England will battle it out in India.

We can forget all that for the next few weeks while we enjoy India versus Pakistan in a cricket contest. In the past 15 years or so of cricket watching, I have seen quite a few contests and memorable incidents in matches between the two countries.

Whether it was the jumping of Miandad in frustration at the antics of Kiran More in 1992, the catch of Rashid Latif and Jadeja going wild in Bangalore in 1996, Shoaib Akhtar in all his glory yorking Tendulkar, the mastery of Saqlain taking consecutive 5 wicket hawls, the anguish of Tendulkar at Chennai despite his mastery, the wonderful Sahara Cup low scoring contests or the whole India’s tour to Pakistan in 2003 which brought the two nations together like no cricket tour in the past probably did, we have all watched in amazement.

I can’t wait any longer!

Sunil Gavaskar has said that India sould play 3 openers versus Pakistan.

That would mean Yuvraj Singh and Ganguly both missing out from the test side. It is winter and the conditions are bound to be testing. So in that context Gavaskar has a point.

Both type of players have their utility in a team. So just because player X scores faster than player Y, it wouldnt put him ahead in a test match.

Its a 5 day match and a team game and to build a score, a sheet anchor, anattacking player - all are useful.

A common arguement which people give to rate Ponting ahead of Dravid - in a scenario where quick runs are needed Ponting will be more useful - he is a far more attacking batsman with a higher strike rate.

1) Even in that scenario a Dravid at an end could be useful for the attacking players to pile the runs from the other end having the assurance of one player keeping an end safe.

2) There are scenrios where you have to play a defensive role (when encountering difficult weather conditions for instance where there is excessive swing, unfavourable conditions to pile the runs) and Dravid would be more useful there. Playing a defensive role in an inning or 2 sessions can contribute as much to a winning cause as an attacking inning.

It is too close to call but I would have Dravid because he adds solidity.