At Old Trafford, Indian players must feel ashamed to look out
of hotel curtains even – there has been rain, with more predicted in the place
due to apocalyptic cyclone – the Indians made no attempt to even extend for
another session and be saved by the rain is real low point. In a test already stopped by rain, India
contrived to finish on the third day itself with nine wickets falling in heap in under one session. No managing member
appear to be taking control and charging the players – the coach is not be seen
at all nor felt.
Virat Kohli nearly
holed out to long leg sweeping Moeen Ali before he eventually fell to a meek
push outside off. Ajinkya Rahane drove hard at Moeen and offered a simple
return catch. MS Dhoni stepped out and was caught at midwicket. India lost playing bad to a rookie offie Moeen
Ali who is no Muralitharan.... and our lone off-spinner bowled only 14 overs
without a single wicket. Surprisingly
his batting exploits have taken him to top of all-rounder rankings ! – not
trusted by the team to play in the first 3 tests and wicketless in the only
innings he bowled – but replaced Vernon
Philander – skewed !!!
News from the team
playing after a decade - John Nyumbu became the second Zimbabwean to take a
five-for on Test debut .... it is reported that Harare crowd had to resort to
song and dance to amuse themselves for large parts of the day and was grateful
to offspinner John Nyumbu when his five-wicket haul, the second by a Zimbabwean
on debut, ended a decidedly slow South African innings. Good performance
considering his wickets included : Du Plessis, JP Duminy. Elsewhere Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal has
been reported for a suspect bowling action, in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. As
per ICC regulations, Ajmal will have to undergo testing of his action within 21
days, but can continue bowling until the results of the test are known. According
to the ICC, the match officials' report cited concerns over a number of
deliveries that were considered to be suspect and concluded that the bowler's
action needed to be tested. The report has been handed over to Pakistan's team
manager, Moin Khan. The PCB, in a release, said it would wait for the testing
process to be completed before reacting to the matter. This is the second
instance of Ajmal being reported for a suspect action. In April 2009, the
bowler was reported for his action while bowling the doosra, and was cleared
the following month.
In the last couple of
months, Sri Lanka offspinner Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand's Kane
Williamson have been reported and subsequently banned from bowling due to
illegal bowling actions. Others who have been reported include Shillingford; Muttiah Muralitharan, Harbhajan Singh,
Shoaib Malik, Saeed Ajmal and Johan Botha.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
