Apr 15, 2004 08:07 AM
1596 Views
(Updated Apr 15, 2004 08:07 AM)
It was just another case where it was proved that actions speak louder than the words!
Almost a month back when the Indian team for the one day series was announced, the coach
of the Pakistan team made a ridiculous comment. He said ''we have an IRFAN PATHAN in every
gully of Pakistan''.
It was actually foolish of Javed Miandad to make such a comment. Only late last year did
Irfan Pathan produce that breathtaking spell where he took 8 wickets in an under 19 match
against Bangladesh.
Today I, as an Indian feel absolutely wonderful that this same IRFAN PATHAN.... Mr.Miandad's
gully boy actually won the decider for us.
Though it was Laxman who helped India put up a decent score on the board, as seen from previous
matches no score in the subcontinent can make the captain of the team bowling second feel a 100% confident. It is actually more the nature of the pitches that cause this.
India also had another problem to face in this match; If pakistan got off to a good start or maybe evena decent start like say 70/2 in 15 overs, it would have been very difficult for the Indian bowlers to contain them as later in the game the dew effect comes into the picture. Once the dew sets in it becomes difficult not only for the bowlers to grip the ball, but also for the fielders to field it. It also makes things easier for the batsemn as the ball starts to come onto the bat more regularly and shot making becomes easy.
So, under these circumstances what we had to do was not contain the batting team but to pick up early wickets and make inroads into the team. Another point to be noted here was that all this had to be done before the dew would set in.
The first spell of Irfan and Balaji was absolutely wonderful. It was a tremendous spectacle of fast bowling, pitching the ball in exactly the right places and inducing the false shot. The ball which got Taufiq Umar bowled behind his legs was a beauty.
Even after the initial spell of wonderful bowling by the Indians, I belive the actualy turn of events took place when the little master took that breathtaking cath on the long on bounday to dismiss Inzamam. Credit here should go to Murali Karthik too.
It does not help your confidence very much when you are continuously picked and dropped fromt he playing eleven. Karthik in the last 2 matches showed us why he is one of the best left arm spinners in the country. The way he got Inzamam out was wonderful. He kept bowling that leg side line which frustrated Inzamam and finally induced him into taking a risk and playing the lofted shot over long on.
Though there werea few anxious moments towards the end, it was never going to be easy for Pakistan to recover from that collapse. A wicket or two and it was all over.
I think India has a lot to take from this tour.
I think in the future, if nurtured properly Irfan Pathan can be a very good all rounder coming in at no. 7 or 8 in both forms of the game.
We do have good finishers in the form of Yuvraj and Kaif.
And yeah as always if in even deep trouble go to the ''WALL'' and he'll do the needful!!
