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India v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Ahmedabad, 2nd day
'Game's pretty even' - Gary Kirsten
Cricinfo staff
November 17, 2009
Click here to listen to the full press conference
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Related Links
Bulletin : Dilshan ton leads confident Sri Lankan reply
Players/Officials:
Gary Kirsten
Matches:
India v Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad
Series/Tournaments:
Sri Lanka tour of India
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After finishing the first day as much the happier side, day two at Motera was one of hard toil for India. Having lost the last four wickets for 37 runs, the bowling line-up was then slammed to all parts as Tillakaratne Dilshan scored yet another century in his annus mirabilis. It was only impetuous shot selection from Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara that allowed India a route back into the game.
Apart from Zaheer Khan, who bowled a tremendous second spell [5-2-4-2], none of the bowlers looked especially threatening on a surface that remained placid and slow. Gary Kirsten, India's coach, wasn't about to push any panic buttons, though he admitted that a slightly more vigorous wag from the tail would have been handy.
"I think we would have liked a few more runs," he said. "But I think it was a tremendous effort to get from 32 for 4 to 426. The Sri Lankans batted well. For me, the game's pretty even at the moment. It's a good wicket to bat on, we know that, and hopefully it'll start taking more and more turn as the game goes on. Bowling last on that pitch will suit us."
The pick of the bowlers was undoubtedly Zaheer, returning to the squad after a shoulder injury he picked up during the IPL. After his first 10 overs had cost 41, he came back to restrict the scoring and take the wickets that India were so desperate for. And all that without any hint of the prodigious reverse swing that was such a feature of India's series victory over Australia 12 months ago. "It's good to have him back," Kirsten said. "He's a very experienced and very clever bowler. For his first time back, I thought he bowled exceptionally well. Hopefully, he can continue to use his skill throughout this match and into the next ones."
Reverse swing is the biggest of those skills and Kirsten admitted that they were "hoping for a bit more". "In conditions like these, it does help to get the ball to reverse. In the second innings and maybe tomorrow as well, we'll get a bit more. It's not an abrasive surface and the outfield's pretty good. The table around the pitch is pretty green so the ball stays in good condition."
There were encouraging words too for the spinners, though both struggled at times on a pitch where the batsmen had oodles of time to play shots. Zaheer apart, every other specialist bowler in the match has conceded more than 3.5 runs an over, the best indication of how batsmen-friendly the conditions have been. "I thought Harbhajan bowled really well, as good a rhythm as I've seen him bowl for a while," Kirsten said. "He was very happy with his performance today.
"Again, let's bear in mind that it's a good wicket for batting. And Amit [Mishra] hasn't bowled for a while. He hasn't had much game time. He would like his rhythm to have been a little bit better, but that's going to happen. I'm pretty confident that both of them are going to be a real factor in this Test match."
Mishra was part of the squad for the seven-match one-day series against Australia without getting a game, and his position as national reserve also prevented him from turning out for the first two games of the Ranji Trophy season. "It's always difficult," Kirsten said. "You need to have subs. You need to have people around and available if someone does an ankle on the morning of a game. We've released two players [Murali Vijay and Pragyan Ojha] to go play Ranji Trophy, so we've got 13 players here, which is about as little as you can have. Amit didn't play at all in the one-dayers, but we needed him there just in case someone picked up an injury."
With no viable all-round options after Irfan Pathan's fall from grace, and no queue of fast bowlers breathing down the incumbents' necks, this is pretty much the best XI that India can put on the park. On pitches like this, the fifth-bowling option is always a welcome luxury, but Kirsten was pretty content with the status quo. "We've gone in with four bowlers since I've been part of this team," he said. "That's what allows us to have the best balance. We've had a successful run with four bowlers and there's no reason why it should change. The biggest issue is whether we play the extra spinner of the extra seamer.
"In New Zealand, we played the extra seamer. In India, we play the extra spinner. A lot of teams have played successful cricket over many years with four frontline bowlers. We've got Yuvraj that can do a job for us, and Veeru who can."
Unless the second new ball can provide quick breakthroughs on the third morning, both may yet be needed over the coming days, with wickets at a premium on a pitch that's diametrically opposite to the one on which South Africa romped to an innings success 18 months ago.
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Game is still even but if sri lanka can make 150+ lead there is big chance india will loose or draw India doesn't have qualiy test match bolwers
Posted by mysay on (November 18 2009, 03:53 AM GMT)Dear Ilin, I think it's typical people like you who make India a highly overrated team. They are good yes, but unfortunately you don't seem to be making any sense, or either your contradicting yourself. First you say, and I Quote "india can win it quite convincingly" Unquote, now that's sounds a firm statement to me, does it not? Then you go on to say and, I quote "srilanka,if they can make a lead over 120+ on india in their first innings, then the match will be theirs guaranteed" Unquote, all you need to say is what you have said last and I quote"overall its going to be a fantastic match as it seems from here now.goodluck to both skippers" Unquote, this is a more genuine remark instead of all the jargon.
Posted by sanath007 on (November 18 2009, 02:53 AM GMT)Murali bowled on a 1st day wicket without any assistance from the pitch,but we saw when he bowled cuple f overs in day 2 there was turn.he's the greatest bowler ever in the history,like warne he has lost a bit of the sharp spin he get from off break In TV when Sharma comes to Bowl they label as "Right Arm Fast" and he bowls around 130-135 kmph.Dammika Prasad and Thilan Thushara bowls much quicker than that but when they bowl it says "Right Arm Fast Medium"
Posted by wolf777 on (November 18 2009, 02:24 AM GMT)I don't know what kool-aid you have been drinking, Gary. Clearly Sri Lankans are ahead at this stage. Zaheer Khan being the only bowler performing, I don't know where the wickets are going to come from. Reverse swing talks are nice and dandy as long as you have bowlers to exploit the conditions. Once your two fast bowlers get tired what option do you have if conditions assisting reverse swing still prevail? What happens if one of the two fast bowlers picks up an injury? In that case you will be effectively surrendering the test match. Whose bright idea it was to go into a test match with only four bowlers?
Posted by Nampally on (November 18 2009, 02:11 AM GMT)Indian pace attack is not as good as the SL's. Only Zaheer rose to the occasion despite his lack of practice. Ishant was still not up to his usual standard. India need to get SL out early and bat well in the second innings. Gross failure of Sehwag, Gambhir, Sachin and VVS was an inexplicable disaster. It was a total anti climax to all expectations and I hope these 4 play better in the second innings. Thanks to Dravid, Dhoni & Yuvraj, India are still in the game with a fighting chance. But they must get SL out early first. Indian bowling has always been weak this year. We needed a steady bowler like Ojha at one end to keep the runs down. Mishra was poor and leaked away runs. Can Harbhajan raise his level - remains to be seen. It will be an uphill task for India to win unless something super happens on the third day. Good Luck India.
Posted by greathief911 on (November 17 2009, 23:54 PM GMT)man i wish mindia get a great fast bowler like a brett lee , shane bond or even a shoaid akthar... we can be the best only then .... we need a really good bowler with zaheer , we thought ishant can do it... but im thinkin not 420
Posted by desibabu90 on (November 17 2009, 23:47 PM GMT)"no queue of fast bowlers breathing down the incumbents' necks, this is pretty much the best XI that India can put on the park." what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! are u kidding me..Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Balaji and RP Singh are much better than Sreesanth and are very much breathing down on each other's necks and knocking on the door (maybe not Balaji but hes a much better bowler than sreesanth)..Cricinfo please consider your facts when writing such stories.. this is by far not INDIA's best XI - batting wise maybe yes but definitely not bowling wise
Posted by gerardpereira20 on (November 17 2009, 23:27 PM GMT)Indian batsmen just do not know how to read a game of cricket. Its every man for himself. We see this time and again from Shewag, its all wham bam thank you mam no matter what the circumstances are. Even Sachin plays a blinder in Hydrabad and then gives it away playing a stupid shot when the target could have been achived by running singles, How do you explain Dhoni's shot with three overs left when he should have been playing for stumps, or his paddle sweep in Perth when batting with Laxshman, that could have cost India the match. What about Raina's hoick or Harbajan bowling five wides in the last over against England in the T20 world cup which India lost by four runs. dont these guys know what is required of them, batting bowling or fielding.These guys play cricket with their hearts and not their heads.No matter how talanted a player is if he can't read the match situation and play according to the teams needs he should be doing something else
Posted by sanzo5 on (November 17 2009, 23:25 PM GMT)Its not that india does not have more fast bowling options.... bowlers such as goni, munaf patel, R.P.Singh, ranadeep bose, balaji.... and also the expericed ajit agarkar who was dropped just because of one bad series he still bowls at an average of 140kmph nothing has been talked about him... until srikanth is in the selection comittee agarkar can never go into the team... its hard to beleive that a person who just need 12 wickets to reach 300 tally in ODI's has not been given an oppourtunity in ODI or Test....
Posted by ARULBALA on (November 17 2009, 23:05 PM GMT)Being a batting pitch we have seen the first session in both the days favouring bowlers. If our bowling combo keep the basics right and with good line & length, we have good chances of wrapping up the SLs by lunch. That will turn the heat on. Otherwise, as Ilin pointed, if they get a lead of 120+ or even if they play till tea, we might be at risk. Also, as per Kristen the pitch might slow down and might help the side fielding last but provided we don't let them take a big lead. Looking forward for an intersting encounter. May the match go till day 5 sess 3... :)