Nagpur day 3 -Sehwag to blame
Feb 08 2010 - 15:30:57
Before this test series started we said expect runs galore on dead Indian wickets. On day 1 we said expect runs on a lifeless Indian wicket where fast bowlers only have a hard new ball to make inroads with.
On day 3, so far so right. Morkel, Parnell and Steyn took early wickets today and then India regrouped.
On day 1 Prince and Smith fell quickly and from there South Africa rebuilt. The difference today was Sehwag's stupid shot and Dale Steyn's use of the older ball. What Amla and Kallis did for South Africa looked possible for India when Sehwag was building a partnership with Badrinath. But Sehwag gave it away because he wanted to feast on the wayward Parnell.
At the end of day one, We also said If this test match doesn't turn out to be a draw, then something extraordinary will have to happen. At the end of day 3, we should be eating humble pie. But we argue that even if India lose, nothing extraordinary has taken place.
Dale Steyn's fine exhibition of fast swing bowling proved that even a placid pitch cannot tame well pitched 90 mph inswing and outswing bowling. Steyn bowled the right length but he also swung the bowl both ways. Steyn's 7 for 51 was brilliant but not extraordinary.
What would have been extraordinary? At this stage of the game, for both teams to have completed their first innings on parity- say a score of 400 plus - and scored more than 4 an over on a fast bouncy pitch, going into the last two days with spinners taking control for either side.
An even contest between two sides that goes down to the wire; down to the last hour of the fifth day in India would be truly extra-ordinary. Perhaps this brand of test cricket might tempt the crowds back in Nagpur and elsewhere in India but without wickets that assist a balanced contest between bat and ball, the crowds will stay away- as they did in Nagpur.
Our bold prediction: a draw is still possible.
