Problem of Plenty

Yes, the biggest cricketing event is round the corner and 40 days down the line, teams will battle for supremacy in Indian backyard..It's about time when times are pruning their list of 30 probables to final 15...
For a exuberant India, there's a different problem-THE PLAYING ELEVEN
let's analyze::1,2,3 are secured for Sachin, Sehwag and Gambhir...Yuvraj and Dhoni too select themselves....as per bowling is concerned Zaheer and Bhajji fill two spots down the order....That makes SEVEN secured spots...the fight is therefore for four spots...

Time for some combinations and permutations...Number 4,5 is an open oppurtunity for likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit  Sharma, Suresh Raina and Yousuf Pathan...whoever is in prime form...Not to count out in-form Saurabh Tiwary too having an outside chance!!
The ongoing SA ODi series will be last chance for the contenders to impress...but given the recent form, The Delhi batter Kohli stands a more higher chance than fellow batters.Besides the crowded middle order, same problem awaits India in bowling department. The two spots are up in contention...The recent trends favour Praveen Kumar and Nehra fighting for second seamer spot....while Ashwin and Ojha compete for playing second fiddle to Bhajji. Sreesanth and Ishant might just miss the bus when it comes to final 11.Interestingly, there's Piyush Chawla, Vinay Kumar who could surprise us ....

With such cushion of backup players available, India can breathe easily now. The squad is more tested and composed than the 2007 ' Experienced' squad.......and if the fitness issues allow, 1983 might revisit this year
GO INDIA GO:):)

Cape Town Test

The stage for an exciting third test match of Castle India-SA series was already set when India came from behind to equalize series 1-1 at Durban. The deciding fate was hinging on the third and final match now-men who were in prime form: Tendulkar, Kallis, Amla, Laxman had expectations on shoulders; and those who weren't : Gambhir, Smith,Dravid had a point to prove. The 25000 capacity Newlands stadium in Cape Town was the battleground for the new year encounter between No.1 and 2 ranked teams-the battle of supremacy in a game that is known for separating men from boys, separating wheat from chaff!!

The day arrived. A slight drizzle marked Day 1 morning but went away quickly. India won the toss and decided to field. "It was a good toss to lose, I was undecided about what to do", came the Smith reaction. Minutes later, the match began.Both openers removed within first 15 overs. The Africans were in trouble -with Smith again falling to a Zaheer delievery. Amla and Kallis dug deep and looked ominous to run away until Amla was shown the pavillion by Sreesanth . The score read 106 for 3. DeVillers showed gritty resistance but  he couldn't build upon his gritty 26. Kallis, meanwhile, was in his own league. After the fourth wicket, he and Prince ensured the day ended with no further damage. Day 2 saw Prince departing in 1st session. Boucher followed on the next-Sreesanth was on fire bringing back memories of last SA tour.  Kallis batted with the tail and scored his 39th test century. His was the last wicket to fall when African score read a huge 362 and his own 161.

The Indian batting line-up looked good on paper especially after Durban but the ghosts of first test could have returned. A lot was depending on the openers-will they deliever?Sehwag begin with usual flair but perished to a greedy drive that ended up in Smith's hand.Dravid failed once again and the impending disaster could be whiffed. But the Gambhir-Sachin duo stabled the innings to ensure India didn't lose any more wickets and ended the day at 140 odd for two. Came third day, perhaps the most crucial day for the series.The real match began then....

DAY 3: INCREDIBLE CRICKET
First over by Steyn to Tendulakar . Ball 1 beats Tendulkar, ball 2 shout for keeper catch but denied, Ball 3-a perfect outswinger, ball4-a beauty left Sachin wondering, Ball5-Sachin gets to the pitch of the ball and thrashes the outswinger for four towards extra cover, ball 6-comes in and hits the pads. An exciting start giving signs of things to come...Morkel from other end too bowls good length delieveries ...the first session of play being witness to some quality pace delieveries-leaving off, straightening, teasing batters, some excellent defence shots, some brilliant leaves, and some textbook drives. Gambhir looked at his resistant best-Sachin in his concentration zone-Steyn and Morkel looked ominous with ball. Soon, Harris and Tsotsobe were introduced and till Lunch, Both Gambhir and then Laxman were sent back to reduce India to 236/4. This session was however a great video session for emerging young talents and the Steyn-Tendulkar battle reflected the fact why test cricket is still young and kicking!!

Then came the first over after lunch...
Let Cricinfo illustrate what exactly happened in this over:

Sachin Tendulkar hasn't looked as edgy as he did in that morning session, in a very long time. Gautam Gambhir was not at his most fluent either. Yet, they survived the best fast-bowling pair in the world and South Africa resorted to waiting for the second new ball. And then, Paul Harris bowler a ripper to send Gambhir on his way. And then VVS Laxman was run out in bizarre circumstances. And then, Pujara, who must have been looking forward to a calm lunch, was out there and facing the new ball from Steyn. He survived two overs, Sachin's still there and classic Test action is upon us again.
82.1	Steyn to Pujara, no run, 129.2 kph, Steyn begins with the kind of ball he's bowled umpteen times today. A snake that seems to be going towards the stumps before rearing its head away from Pujara who thinks of playing it and then allows better sense to prevail
82.2	Steyn to Pujara, no run, 130.7 kph, another one seams away at will. More assured leave from Pujara this time
82.3	Steyn to Pujara, no run, 130.0 kph, back of a length this time, again gets that ominous shape away, this time Pujara covers the deviation and defends
82.4	Steyn to Pujara, no run, 137.5 kph, that one kept slightly low. Barely rose from back of a length, but Pujara was good enough to get behind the line and defend to the off side
Kunal: "I feel pujara is most suited at no.3.He has scored triple hundreds at will in domestic cricket, but at no.6 it is too late to score big runs." This is an argument that will crop up several times in the near future, given Dravid's poor form and the glut of Test action ahead of India.
82.5	Steyn to Pujara, no run, 135.0 kph, another one seams away as if it were destined to. Pujara lets it go.
82.6	Steyn to Pujara, OUT, 133.6 kph, That's Shane Warne at 134 kph! That's the end of Pujara. You need a huge dose of luck if you want to survive these. Pujara didn't have it. Steyn gets the away movement going again, this time from leg stump. It landed on a length and opened Pujara up as he desperately tried to cover the line. It defeated his prod and thudded into the back pad in front of middle. What. A. Ball.
	CA Pujara lbw b Steyn 2 (17m 14b 0x4 0x6) SR: 14.28

After this beautiful over, India managed to reach 364 thanks to  SAchin's century...South Africa's Kallis yet again scored hundred in second innings to take the game away from India. A gritty half-century from Gambhir on final day ensured the test match ended in a draw...an optimal result for an even match and series!!!
Long Live Test Cricket:):)