*** West Indies vs India *** 2nd Test Live

First topic message reminder :

Tuesday, June 28, Bridgetown
Start time 1000 (1400 GMT, 1930 IST)

Team news as per cricinfo...
MS Dhoni has hinted that India could go in with three quick bowlers, which means Amit Mishra is likely to be sidelined despite a reasonable show in the first Test. Munaf Patel, who is recovering from his elbow problem, is likely to take Mishra's spot. Though Badrinath and Parthiv Patel are waiting in the wings, India will probably stick with the same batting line-up from Jamaica.

India: (probable) 1 Abhinav Mukund, 2 M Vijay, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 VVS Laxman, 5 Virat Kohli, 6 Suresh Raina, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Munaf Patel

West Indies' problem in the first Test was their batting, something they have tried to address by dropping their misfiring vice-captain Nash. That opens up a place for Samuels in the middle order. Another decision for West Indies is the make-up of their fast bowling, needing to pick two out of Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach and Fidel Edwards.

West Indies (probable) 1 Adrian Barath, 2 Lendl Simmons, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Marlon Samuels, 7 Carlton Baugh (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Ravi Rampaul, 10 Fidel Edwards / Kemar Roach, 11 Devendra Bishoo

Pitch and conditions
The Barbados track is likely to have plenty of bounce, testing the technique of the batsmen. The Kensington Oval has generally been a result-oriented venue over the past decade, though the weather could play spoilsport over the next week, with showers predicted every day.

Preview link....
http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-india-2011/content/current/story/520988.html


Your say .......

scratch that, it's raining again

i feel that india are missing gambhir to be honest, mukund is an awful player

really not convinced by Mukund (poor technique), Vijay (can't seem to decide whether to be Sehwag or Dravid) or Kohli (rabbit in the headlights so far). On the other hand, Raina seems to have worked hard on his problems against the short ball and now looks a good prospect.

Chanderpaul gone just before lunch, Huge strike from young Mithun. Chanders has just given it away.

massive wicket for India! Poor shot from Chanderpaul in the circumstances. Still hanging on a knife-edge so far this one, I said WI wanted Chanderpaul and Samuels to add another 50, and they put on 40 more or less. Facinating afternoon session in prospect.

Chanderpaul has lost his aura I'm afraid.

He was basically bounced out, seems as though age has finally caught up with the great man.

India has to really bowl from here on. Sammy, Baugh Rampaul, have all shown they can get a few quick runs, and Samuels is still out there India only ahead by 60 odd, a few lusty swings can bring it down considerably. First half an hour will decide it I think.

WI 7 down, a wicket at last for Harbhajan, and yet another slip catch for Rahul Dravid.
Bring Ishant back, Sammy shouldn't be given an easier time upfront.

Very important partnership between Samuels and Sammy, WI now has realistic hopes of a lead in the first innings.

Wicket number 100 for Ishant, Sammy gone.

Great bowling by Ishant. Remarkably it took him 31 Tests to get his second 5 wicket haul, after getting 5-118 against Pakistan in his 2nd Test.

20/5...
not rain again...

India 23 without loss, the opening partnership has been at its best in tirms of runs put up. But both Mukund and Vijay looked in a fair bit of trouble against the WI opening bowlers. But then again, Fidel Edwards has been all over the place.
The match is shaping up well, hopes the weather stays good.

So good to Ishant bounce back. 6 wickets were just rewards for him. Hopes this the beginning of his comeback. When he started out, he was one of the great potentials for the future. He lost his way a bit, now he's on the mend.

kohli looks a bit shaky against the pace of edwards in this series.

cricketfan90 wrote:kohli looks a bit shaky against the pace of edwards in this series.

this guy was seen as the new Dravid, but pressure seems to have nullified him in the 3 innings so far.

He's certainly better than Mukund, Vijay, Yuvraj.

mukund is an awful player

cricketfan90 wrote:mukund is an awful player

F/C average of 59 says otherwise, I'd love a club average of 59!!!

club is the word you are looking at....

dosent mean anything at international level

cricketfan90 wrote:club is the word you are looking at....

dosent mean anything at international level

I'm not a fan of Mukund, I would like a guy named Rahane to play for India

Averages nearly 70 in F/C, but he comes from Mumbai and they produce great players.

Mukund showed some fight yesterday. So I think its too early to write him off. besides he's just 21, and has a lot of time at his hand to bring in the required corrections.

West Indies in trouble at 62-3. Ishant continues to cause lots of problem, but Chanderpaul is still there.
Also, India's backup bowling beyond Ishant and Praveen has not been the best. Time for Harbhajan to do the job, 5th day pitch, not the best players of spin. If he can't do it now, then when?

145/5...India still with a chance
If it wasn't for the rain..this test would have been over by now

Bad news..Its beginning to rain.covers are on...
well might as well call it a draw

A fantastic performance by Ishant Sharma, 10 wickets in the match for the first time in Test cricket. It could and should be the first of many it he keeps bowling like this, unplayable.

A wonderful innings Darren Bravo as well.

The match has ended in a draw, mostly credit to the horific weather. But India remained the etter side. the biggest positive for them is the comeback of Ishant Sharma. He hasn't bowled this well after that terific spel to Ricky Ponting. Praveen Kumar bowled well, lots of control and swing, I just wish he could 5 MPH faster. He would have been unplayable!. Mithun has a fair way to go, And batting all-rounder Harbhajan Singh didn't make major contributions with the bat, and as usual, was pretty average with the ball. Wonder if a bit of time out of the test side is the way to go?

VVS Laxman ones again proved he's the best dificult wicket batsman around, and Dravid got runs, thus continuing his come back to form. Abhinav Mukund's 48 will give him a greater sense of belonging, and I hope that will propel him to greater deeds. Murali Vijay has already payed for his inconsistencies, and I won't be surprised if Parthiv Patel gets a chance, or for that matter Badrinath. Kohli did OK in the 2nd innings, and I hope that wis the beginning of a new chapter for him. Raina again showed commitment and fight in testing conditions and has ones aain strengthend his claim for the number 6 position. Dhoni has to get runs. Not that he has been out of form for very long(He got 90 against SA and 98 against NZ in the last 2 series India played, but its very UnDhoni to leave a series without his mark. So I expect the Indian captain to come to the party in the next match.

For West Indies, Samuels and Bravo showed great temprament and commitment with the bat, and Adrian Barath showed he's one for the future. Baugh got crucial runs when it really mattered for him and the team. Chanderpaul and Sarwan haven't really produced their best cricket in recent months, and this test was no exception. Lendl Simmons, who has been the WI's only consistent batsman in ODIs over the last 2 months haven't really brought that form to the test game. Sammy continues to keep better players out of the side. Fidel Edwards has got wickets, bowled with pace and fire, but was typicaly all over the place. Ravi Rampaul and Devendra Bishoo continue to impress.