|
Looking
Ahead : The Whites are back, So are the Tests ! |
A
Preview to the 1st Test Match by Venkat
After
the highly entertaining, dramatic, first leg of
the India-Pakistan series i.e. the ODI series,
all eyes will shift focus to the second leg i.e.
longer version of the game, which commences at
Multan from the 28th March. It will be an
absorbing test series for the connoisseurs of
cricket in its purest form and will hopefully
live up to the expectations of the kind of
enthralling cricket played so far between these
two teams. Cricketfundas.com gives its readers
an exclusive analytical preview ahead of the 1st
Test at Multan.
Pitch :-
There has been much ongoing speculation about
the pitch conditions for the Test Matches
becoming more bowler friendly, but the truth of
the matter is yet to be seen. According to
reports, we are expecting a true hard surface
something like the one in Chennai, good for the
batsmen with something in for the bowlers in the
morning. It seems like a typical sub-continental
wicket and the team batting fourth will have to
watch out !
Team
Analysis
Pakistan
:-
This is the 3rd test match involving Pakistan in
Multan, with the previous two played against
Bangladesh, both resulting in Pakistani wins. So
to an extent, they do have a liking for this
test venue. And more so does the Pakistani
skipper, not only because it is his home ground,
but also the fact that he has scored 2 centuries
in both the games played here. Pakistan have a
settled Test Opening pair with Taufeeq Umar and
Yasir Hameed, who have put on some useful runs
against Bangladesh and South Africa in 2003 at
the top of the order. Inzamam would be looking
forward to carry over his ODI form to the test
match and score in plenty. Left-hander Asim
Kamal and Misbah ul-Haq will probably make up
the middle order along with Yousuf Youhana, who
looked out of sorts after the Karachi one dayer.
Moin Khan, who looked in no touch whatsoever in
the beginning of the ODI series, notched up a
resolute 72, which would have done his form and
confidence a world of good.
Pakistan's bowling,
which was thought to be its strength before the
tour began will be put to its real test by a
quality Indian batting order. The Pakistani team
management is for sure in a selection dilemma
over the extra seamer or the second spinner, but
keeping in mind that this ground has been a
brilliant one for leg-spinners, especially
Danish Kaneria, it seems likely that Shabbir
Ahmed will sit out. One aspect of their bowling,
that saw a comparatively better performance in
the last ODI was the extras column, and the
longer variety demands discipline. If the
bowling lacks discipline yet again, its almost
half the game lost for the Pakistanis. If
Pakistan play with the same intensity and form
that they played South Africa in 2003, they
could be a dangerous test side and will need
India to play well to beat them.
India :-
India have taken away all the
"feel-good" from the One Day series,
following their win at Lahore. The Indians will
be all charged up and raring to go all out
against their opponents. With India's test
record always on the improve, with at least one
match won wherever they went (except New
Zealand), Pakistan shouldn't be much of an alien
territory to the visitors. Akash Chopra and
Virender Sehwag, showed what it takes to be
openers in Test Cricket, as they bravely took
charge of the Australian bowling line up. Dravid
is most likely India's no.3 with Tendulkar and
Laxman at 4 and 5 respectively. With Saurav
Ganguly in the sidelines, Yuvraj Singh will get
to play in his 2nd Test in the middle order at
no. 6. Parthiv Patel is a cause for concern for
the Indians, as he has not played a single game
in the tour so far, and I feel it will be tough
for the wicketkeeper to get into the groove and
the form straight away.
India's bowling, which was considered as its
weak link before the tour, has suddenly risen in
stature with every One Dayer played. Ajit
Agarkar and Anil Kumble return to the team after
recovering from their respective injuries. Irfan
Pathan, who won more than a million hearts after
his stellar performance in the last ODI, looks
almost certain to play. The Indian Team
management will also be in a state of confusion
on the extra seamer or second spinner issue.
Murali Kartik, who has somewhat regained his
form with the ball and Ramesh Powar, the
debutant will battle it out for the second
spinner's spot, as the second spinner is
virtually a compulsion on sub continental
wickets. Zaheer Khan and Laxmipathy Balaji will
unfortunately have to sit out with skipper
Ganguly, even though they impressed many in the
ODI series.
With India not enjoying a single test success in
Pakistan, this team under Saurav Ganguly has
performed consistently well overseas and there
is a general hope and view that this is the only
team thus far, which can put it across to
Pakistan in Pakistan. This test series promises
to be an intriguing, gruelling and absorbing
series. It seems too early to predict the
scoreline of this series, but considering the
performances of this team, we are in a great
position to win at least a test match in
Pakistan.
Archive: India's
tour of Pakistan
Top of the Page |
