Didn’t get a clue about what the WIndies thinktank’s game plan is, on day 3 of the test 3. Just before lunch, they spent 14 overs scoring a mere 21 runs, where as they did make that many runs in just one over after lunch. Here is the state of the match in the pre-lunch session:
- Drinks: West Indies – 515/5 in 148.0 overs (S Chanderpaul 65, MN Samuels 60)
- Lunch: West Indies – 536/5 in 162.0 overs (S Chanderpaul 76, MN Samuels 69)
Both batsmen scored 60+, 515 runs on the board, and what would you do? Just play for lunch? Do they think the extra 45 runs they got by wasting all the critical time would matter?
Just one session of time wasted on the second day of the first test made India face the agony of coming so close to win, but not win. After all the good performance they have put in, hope WIndies don’t go thru such agony in this test.
Keeping the result aside, here are a couple of thoughts. First: Lara, undoubtedly a great player, is always criticised for being a fan of records, not results. With this strange strategy today, is he going to give more evidences for such criticism? Second: The test match version of cricket is said to be loosing its charm because of its slow pace. If a team that is in command is going to play so defensive as WIndies, probably that loss of charm is being fasttracked. Let us see how many spectators can be spotted in the stands on day 4 and 5.
Coming back to the match, Laxman, the lone player who couldn’t make his mark yet in the series, looked vulnerable, but stayed put. Building partnerships with Dravid is part of his track record, hope he continues with that record. With a WIndies loss practically out of equation, India should be happy just with a draw.