Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Hyderabad, Nov 7: If `Super Cyclone’ showed all its fury in Orissa last week, it was `Hurricane’ New Zealand that swept India off their feet in the first One-day International at Rajkot.
The Kiwis go into the second match in the Pepsi One-day International series, to be held here tomorrow, with heads high. The home side, especially the bowlers, might be wondering what hit them. Will the Kiwis repeat that act here? Will the Lal Bahadur wicket be batsmen-friendly? Kapil Dev’s hands will be full if the wicket is full of runs again. He is aware the Kiwis are dangerous customers India have been beaten by them in the last two outings, the earlier one coming in the World Cup. His immediate task is to restore his bowlers’ confidence. Himself a past master, the new Indian coach would try to pass on his tricks to check the rampaging Kiwis. He would also tell his bowlers, `Enough is enough’. Bowl to a decent line and stick to the basics.
Having tasted success, New Zealand will try not to loosen their grip. NathanAstle has a lovely one-day record in India. Memories of the Independence Cup, where he scored two centuries, are fresh. When in form, Astle, a utility bowler too, could spell danger to his opponents. The Kiwis, in fact, are an underrated team. They may not have individual champions but are great fighters, capable of upsetting the best teams. Skipper Stephen Fleming and his coach should be happy with his bowlers show. They are in better frame of mind than the Indians. They remained unruffled even when Ajay Jadeja created a scare. The newcomer Scott Styris accounted himself admirably, taking three wickets also.
Fleming, at the same time, is aware the team cannot ride on the Rajkot victory, and the Indians, with a strong batting line-up, can bounce back. On post-Diwali day, the sellout crowd would be hoping that India, who despite chasing a big total at Rajkot could not come out victors, will be firing on all cylinders. Skipper Sachin Tendulkar’s explosive batting could make a lot of difference with SauravGanguly, Rahul Dravid, in-form Ajay Jadeja capable of dominating the show in their own way.
The bowlers got a pasting. Javagal Srinath was the best in Rajkot but Venkatesh Prasad and Nikhil Chopra both went for 70 runs. This may force a change in bowling strategies. Debasis Mohanty could come in so also left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi. The Indian think-tank may have few worries in their minds.
With cricket hardly being played at the venue, the behaviour of the wicket could be uncertain. Preparations for this match began on October 30.
According to curator D Gopal Rao the wicket has been rolled for the last few days. “Hopefull it will behave well.” The match would be a day affair, first time after the floodlights were introduced.
TEAMS (from)
INDIA: Tendulkar (capt), Ganguly, Ramesh, Dravid, Jadeja, Robin Singh, Chopra, MSK Prasad, Bharadwaj, Joshi, Kumble, Srinath, V Prasad, Mohanty.
NEW ZEALAND: Fleming (capt), Horne, Spearman, Astle, Parore, Cairns, Vettori, Drum, O’Connor,Harris, Stead, Styris, Twose. Match starts at 9 am.
SCOREBOARD
Pakistan (1st innings): 367
Australia (1st innings, overnight 233-0)
MJ Slater c Youhana b Mahmood 169
GS Blewett lbw b Mushtaq 89
JL Langer c Razzak b Mushtaq 1
ME Waugh c Akram b Mustaq 100
SR Waugh c Moin b Akhtar 1
RT Ponting lbw b Akhtar 0
A Gilchrist b Akhtar 81
SK Warne batting 34
DW Fleming lbw b Akhtar 0
GD McGrath c Youhana b Akram 1
SA Muller batting 1
Extras: (nb 25, lb 11, b 2) 38
Total: (for 9 wkts, 130.5 overs).. 515
Fall of wickets: 1-269, 2-272, 3-311, 4-328, 5-342, 6-465, 7-485, 8-486, 9-489.
Bowling: Akram 27-5-74-1, Akhtar 29.5-2-138-4, Razzak 17-3-66-0, Mahmood 19-2-52-1, Mushtaq 36-3-164-3, Ijaz 2-0-8-0.
