Australian Batsman Dancing Down on Chennai Pitch

Cowan tripped by Ashwin

Clarke towards his Century By dancing down the pitch

On a reddish Chennai Pitch at about 30 degree Celsius, Australian batsman were dancing down the pitch. And the best was done by Micheal Clark. He scored a brilliant hundred today against India and scoring more than 7000 runs in his test career. Cowan was the first man to go and then Australia lost quick wickets today. Although Harbhajan Singh was playing his 100th test match but the star of the day from Indian side was Ashwin picking up six wickets and giving India there first break through. Australia Captain in reply played a confident innings of 103 and is still on crease. He was given a strong support by MC Henriques who scored a valuable 68 runs. Great effort by a bowler. Fast bowlers were remain wicket less today and were expensive. Australia in the end make the day for them self by scoring 316/7. The most used technique by batsman from Australia was to play spinners on the front foot. Cowan tries to play Ashwin on front foot but was stumped by MS Dhoni. On the other hand Mikey played some sweet shots and make sure spinners to remain unsettled by coming on front foot. He dances down the wicket to get his century. His foot work was really a lesson for other Australian batsman for the remaining series. The first day belongs to Ashwin for his good spin bowling and Michael Clarke for his wonderful footwork and dancing down the pitch.

Harbhajhan Singh Joining 100 test club tomorrow

Punjabi munda who picked his 1st, 50th , 250th and 300th wicket mile-stone against Australia. Harbhajan Singh making another milestone by entering in to 100 club test match and that's also against his luckiest side Australia.

"I don't know if I have a special connection with Australia, but it's nice to see your name alongside with greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunny Gavaskar, and all the greats who have played for India in 100 Test matches," Harbhajan said.

He is joining this elite club with Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Tendulkar, Laxman, Sehwag and some other Indian Players. The last cricketer who achieved this milestone from India was Virender Sehwag who did it against England last year and was the ninth Indian player to do that. Of course, tomorrow Bhajji will be the tenth player to get the membership of 100 test club from India.

It took a quite time for Harbhajan to get this elite membership. As he has the competitor in team like Ashwin and Ojha in the team.

"Playing for India itself is a big motivation. When you're not playing, that's what motivates you...that I should be there playing for India, I should work hard for the team and get there," Harbhajan told.

"It comes to individuals, if you want to work hard at that stage, or you want to just sit back and say I've played...it's fine whether I get picked up for India or not.  But I want to play for India and that's the only thing I wanted," he said.

Apart of Harbhajan Singh, his friend and his national and IPL team mate Sachin Tendulkar who has appeared in the most number of test matches in the world. He may become the first player to open the 200 test club next year. As he has played 194 test matches.

That will be another huge milestone and a cricketing honor by Little master apart from his century of Centuries. And like the record of his 100 centuries his 200 test club will also be remain unaccomplished for a long long time.However, Jacques Kallis has played 162 test matches who knows what may happen?

Pakistan ICC test ranking is in danger

Pakistan had a wonderful cricket season last year in test cricket. They only lost a single test match out of six. This year Pakistan currently lost 2/2 against a top quality side-SA. Now, if they also lose the last one against SA starting tomorrow then Pakistan ICC test ranking may be in danger. They will jump from fourth position to fifth. However no worries for SA if they lose against Pakistan they will remain number one.

Also the worry part for Pakistan team is there position may be effected if India win against Australia. The series will be also starting from tomorrow, and it will be a four test match series. And if suppose Australia win the test match then England's Position might be in danger. So the rivals are indirectly competing against each other for the position in ICC test ranking.

South Africa will earn the prize money of $450,000 for holding and securing top position in ICC test ranking. While the remaining three position depends upon the result of Australia vs India and also the last test match of  Pak Vs SA. The nation that claims second position in ICC test ranking at the cut-off date(April 1, 2013) will pick up $350,000, while the team finishing third will collect $250,000 and fourth takes home $150,000.

South Africa Invincible in Centurion

Congrats to South Africa for winning the test series against Pakistan and more salute for their sixth consecutive test series win. In last series against NZ they white washed them by 2-0.  And considering the form of SA in Centurion they are invincible in the ground so another white wash may be possible. They have won almost all the test matches played here and lost the one against England due to Mr. Cronje. And the 3 were drawn which were against England too.

But slightly a sigh of relief for Pakistani batsman specially for openers that the pitch doesn't react the way it does at the Wanderers. But it could be a tiring test match for bowlers of Pakistan. Below, is the score card of SA 1st inning batting against India in Centurion.

 Though Pakistan bowling attack reacts brilliantly after their batting line up punches a faint total in the second test match. Saeed Ajmal was wonderful to watch picking up 10 wickets in the match. And considering this fresh performance they could show better then the above bowling figures of Indian bowlers. But SA will make sure that there will be nothing for spinners in the third test match. A/c to Misbah they were fifty runs short and if they do so they could beat them too. Unfortunately they lost the chance, which could be brightens if Junaid Khan and Taufeeq Umar were in the team 11. Now, there is nothing to lose for Pakistan in the series except avoiding a white wash. And for that they have to work hard to encrypt the history of Centurion Ground. And by the way Happy Birthday AB De Villiers.... :)

Dhaka Gladiators Looks Favorite For The Finals Of BPL-2

They might win the Semi Finals by just four runs against Sylhet Royals but they are the favorites once again. Gayle,Dilshan, Pollard along with the local hero Shakib-ul-hasan and experience bowler Mashrafe Mortaza and Batter Asharaful making them favorites for BPL-2. They won the BPL-1 thanks to Pakistani T-20 superstars Imran Nazir, Afridi, Azhar Mahmmod and Ajmal. This time it will be the magic of Chris Gayle and Pollard with Srilakan opening Batsman Dilshan. Gayle and Dilshan had also open for RCB in IPL many times and were successful. Chris Gayle has only played one match this season and score a century in the semis against Sylhet Royals.

Well the time will tell that Dhaka Gladiators will win this year also or not. On Paper they look the strongest of all.

Doctor Of Spin: Saeed Ajmal Mesmerized Top Order of South Africa

Well like Wanderers, Cape town has got some thing to offered to the bowlers.But precisely for spin bowlers. Fast bowlers are though causing few problems with the new ball but as the bowl gets older there magic gets diminished. And at the same time the magic of spin starts and more precisely the "Doctor of Spin" Mr. Saeed Ajmal gets lethal to play. South Africa on the first day of second test took full advantage of the new ball but as the ball gets older they were looking ordinary bowlers in front of set batsman Younus and Asad.
Pakistan Fast bowlers disappoint yesterday with out causing any problems with the new ball and it was look like that Pakistan has got only one fast bowler who fits completely in the test match and he is Junaid Khan who is injured. Gul and Tanveer although being economical failed to pick any of the five wickets. Muhammad Irfan didn't pick a wicket.
Then the Doctor of Spin came in to action. The conditions of Cape town supports spinners and that's enough for the doctor to do operation, whole top order got mesmerized by Spin of Ajmal. People use to say that he has doosra which is the most difficult to play. But yesterday his normal spin was as lethal as his doosra.
Yesterday Saeed Ajmal not only confused the batsman of South Africa but also Umpire-Steve Davis. He gave Amla not out which was later on given out by DRS and the one of Kallis which was not out he gave it a caught out. Thanks to DRS for making the decision more justified. Although unjustice happen to Kallis.
Today, SA will resume there innings 139/5. Is there a chance of Ajmal for picking ten wickets? Well he pick the top 5 of the number one side and that's happen very few time in test cricket in South Africa against South Africa and by a Spinner.  

Pakistan Team Can Bounce Back In Second Test Match

After losing the first test match against South Africa, Pakistan team can bounce back in the second test. As Alviro Petersen said."If there is one ground where they can bounce back its Newlands." This means the conditions are not as tough as the Wanderers for Pakistan batting line-up and here you will find a different Pakistan team playing against mighty South Africans. The pitch suppose to support spinners so that will be a sigh of relief for Pakistani team as there weapon is suppose to be the spinners.

But also the important thing comes in front of us is the the wall of South African Batting line-up Jacques Kallis who has scored more than 2000 runs and his team leader Graeme Smith who has put a 1000 runs on this ground. And considering the bowling line up Steyn and Philander will be tough nut to crack on this pitch. So South Africa can't rely on the bowlers, what they need is a sound attack by their batsman.

For South Africans, the worry part will be the spin attack of Pakistan. As the pitch support the spin as mention above and SA will be facing a spinning attack which is currently the best in the world. So it will be a good contest between bat and ball.

 As far as Pakistan team is concern what they need to do is to put a respectable score on the board in the first inning which they were unable to do so in the first match and which was the major cause of their loss. The resistance of Asad Shafiq and Misbah against SA bowlers with the old ball was comprehensive in the first match's second inning. They need to tackle with the spell of fast bowlers of SA with new ball.If they do so they will be giving SA tough time in the test match. The chances of Muhammad Irfan has gone high to be selected after his performance in the practice match. But one more thing they need to understand is Irfan will not be as strange bowler for SA batsman as he was against Indian. His temperament will be the test if he debut against SA in test format.

Abu-Dhabi trick: Well it may sounds a bit gamble or may be a stupid combination in SA cricket ground. But if there is a support for spinners on the pitch then Misbah should go with 2 specialist spinners. Abdul Rehman is not a piece of cake, he can be more tricky then Ajmal for Amla and Kallis. Look how Monty Panesar performed better than Grame Swaan against Indian batting line up. More than that Hafeez can bowl with new ball also Younus Khan so the combination can be opted. A little bravery is required to pick Abdul Rehman.

Mean while the current form of SA is brilliant in all department and the last victory of SA has made the morals of Pakistan team down. But this is a chance for Pakistan team to bounce back in the series.

Sachin Tendulkar crosses 25000 runs mark

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar just few days ago crosses the mark of 25000 runs in domestic cricket. He achieved this mark by scoring a confident knock of 140* against Rest Of India. Although Mumbai lost the match but this was one of the good moment out of the match for Mumbai.

He is not the first batsman to achieve this landmark like what he does in the international arena but still a magnificent achievement of his high profile career. He has scored 81 centuries in domestic cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar was looking out of touch against England series and in the mean time he has announce his retirement from ODI format. He came back to domestic cricket and now he looks phenomenal. His inning against ROI was a superb knock.

His knock is an alarming sign for Aussie bowlers as he hardly gave the chance to bowler to get over him. And in the conditions of India it will be a difficult task for the Aussie bowlers to do the same as they were doing against West Indians in their home ground.    

Well the time will tell how will Tendulkar Perform against Australia?