The final match….all eyes on the indian team
Posted by Rajesh on November 27, 2005
It is frustrating to see Pathan to bowl on the off side to Smith all the time. It is evident that the ball is not swinging by the end of 5th over. But still, Pathan bowls on his off side expecting him to miss the ball and hand a catch to the wicket keeper. But everytime the ball pitches on the offside it goes to a four. Smith played a good innings. I cannot call it great because the runs to score for a win is just 188 and the ball was not swinging at all. All smith had to do was to wait for the easy delivery and hit it. And thats what he did.
I am not really worried about the loss. What worries me is the attitude. From the very first over pathan was not bowling in the right places. SA was is the same situation in the banglore match. Look at the bowling figures of Pollock (6 – 3 – 10 – 1). That says alot. Banglore pitch had the same amount of due. But Pollock bowled at the right places. I agree that there were no wickets, it is because of the due factor. But he followed the right line and length. Where as Pathan and Agarkar always tried to beat the batsmen.
I hope they will look at the replays again and again. They should look at every 4 that Smith hit in the calcutta match. You bowl short, he hit onto his left side. You bowl slightly on the offside, he used to push it towards the offside and the power he uses, pushes it to a 4.
