When Australia’s bowlers came out, you could tell that the plan wasto bowl a good length, just outside off stump, and allow the ball to do therest. In comparison India stuck to a line just outside off but banged the ball in short a lot more. Nothing wrong with that, except that India didn’thave the pace for it, and were guilty of overdoing things. What’smore, they did not mix up their deliveries.The Australians slipped in short balls every now and then, keeping the batsmen on the back foot. This pattern was usually followed by a delivery that invited the batsmen to drive on the front foot. It worked like a charm – Andy Bichel dismissed the openers, and Sachin Tendulkar, as a result of unsure footwork.
|
Aus bowlers |
Indbowlers |
|
| Goodlength |
159 |
461 |
| Shortof a good length |
84 |
169 |
| Short |
33 |
60 |
| Half-volley |
28 |
166 |
| Yorker |
2 |
7 |
That shifty manAndy Bichel, holding on to his place in the side by a thread, wasknocked around early in India’s innings. Then, he discovered the seam.Getting the ball to shift off the wicket, outside the off stump, he made thebatsmen play, miss, prod, and then get out. Akash Chopra mishit aseaming delivery straight back to Bichel, while legcutters took care ofSehwag and Tendulkar.
|
Overs |
12 |
|
Runs |
55 |
|
Wickets |
3 |
|
Pitchedjust outside off stump |
67 |
|
Ona good length |
41 |
|
Shortballs |
8 |
|
Offcutter |
7 |
|
Legcutter |
6 |
Seven years for a five-forAnil Kumble had cause to celebrate. This was his first overseas fivewicket haul after as many as seven years. The last one came long, longago, in 1996-97, when Tendulkar was captain. After toiling away on the first day, Kumble mixed up his deliveries frequently on the second morning, making it difficult for the batsmen to score off him.
|
2ndday |
1stday |
|
|
Overs |
15 |
28 |
|
Runs |
39 |
115 |
|
Wickets |
4 |
1 |
|
Legbreak |
72 |
146 |
|
Topspinner |
2 |
6 |
|
Googly |
9 |
12 |
|
Flipper |
8 |
4 |
The rusty run machineSachin Tendulkar’s dismissal for 1 brought to light a prolonged lossof Test form. In his last 10 innings, he has reached double figures onlythree times, of which two were half-centuries. The substandard pitchesin New Zealand notwithstanding, it is still a poor showing for a manwho averages a century every six innings.
Opponent
Venue
Tendulkar
Team total
New Zealand – 1stTest
Wellington
8 &51
161 &121
New Zealand – 2ndTest
Hamilton
9 &32
99 &154
New Zealand – 1stTest
Ahmedabad
8 & 7
500-5 &209-6
New Zealand – 2ndTest
Chandigarh
55 &1
424 &136-4
Australia – 1stTest
Brisbane
0
409
