Eye on Cricket: And over at Different Strokes

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Jaunty Quicksand said...: But then, Samir, did you really not expect to get steamrolled when you "dared" to question the omnipotence of the Indian batting line-up?

Almost all the gut-wrenching Test losses in the past decade have come about when the "famed middle-order" (the phrase should be copyrighted) has let the team down. For all the bally-hooing about the New India that chased down 387 in Chennai, if Sehwag had not scored at the rate at which he did, India would have played out a draw. I do not, for even a minute, believe the bluster that they would have gone for it even if Sehwag had failed.

This batting line-up is not that different from the one in the 90's - we still rely on one man; then it was Sachin, now it is Sehwag. We go the way he goes.

Having said all this - I disagree with your comment that Laxman is going off the boil. I don't see that, either through visual perception or through stats, and I am willing to argue on both fronts with you!; 2:11 PM