The shower surprise

Sidharth Monga in Wellington
March 6, 2009


Blame it on the rain: The repeated shower interruptions have given the captains plenty to think about

India 188 for 4 (Tendulkar 61, Sehwag 54) v New Zealand
So one-day cricket has become predictable, eh? It's not the same old formulaic stuff when there's rain around. With constant rain intervals, as at the Westpac Stadium tonight, teams have to keep thinking on their feet. Equations and circumstances keep changing with every drop that hits the green.

Take a look at this scenario. Before the rain arrived the first time, India were 130 for 1 and looking at a 300-plus score. After two brief stints and three rain breaks, if the game had started, India would have had to defend 165 in 20 overs. On a pitch that Daniel Vettori said was much better than the one for the Twenty20 last week, with a wet outfield and ten wickets in hand, New Zealand would have fancied a win. So from being the favourites at one stage, India would be forgiven if they thought they escaped tonight. Such are the shenanigans of the Duckworth-Lewis system.

It is always tricky to bat after a rain interval. All of a sudden the overs are reduced, the batsmen have to think of a target that is safe, and they have to change their style. Let's not forget that they have to play themselves in before they can go for the big hits. Not to take the credit away from Vettori and Kyle Mills, but India came out a little distracted after the first rain break, and lost two wickets for 21 runs in five overs before rain struck again.

The strategising for games when rain is forecast - and the forecasts in New Zealand have been fairly good so far - begins at the toss itself. Does a team want the runs on the board? Or does it want to chase a target? It is often tempting to go for the latter, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni looked at the other side of it before he chose to bat.

"If it rains for the amount that you lose eight, 10 or 15 overs, the side which has batted first has a bit of advantage," said Dhoni said, "but in the same way for the side batting, if they are given a target in 20 overs, it becomes very easy. For New Zealand today, if it was a 20-over game, they would have required around 166-odd runs, but if it was a 28-over game they would have needed about 217-odd runs."

Also the side batting first stands to gain in terms of Powerplays from a situation when the game has been reduced. Today India got 15 overs of Powerplays before the rain interval, and with the game reduced to 34 overs, got three more overs of batting Powerplay. Had the rain not intervened, New Zealand would have got only 13 overs of fielding restrictions as opposed to India's 18. It will be one complex system that takes all this into account and then reworks the target. In a similar scenario late last year, India got 18 overs of Powerplays as opposed to England's nine, in the Bangalore ODI that had to be reduced to 22 overs a side.

Generally the shorter the match, the more it favours the fielding side. But like Dhoni said, who can predict how much it will rain? It helps, though, to have a Virender Sehwag at the top of the order to take the pressure that the duo of Duckworth and Lewis put on a batting side.

India knew it would rain in Napier and they knew it would rain in Wellington. Both times they decided to bat, so it seems like a policy decision. "It's like a gamble because you don't know how much it would rain," said Dhoni. "That's a gamble you take more often, and we are a good batting side so we back ourselves on that. If we get a good start we can get a decent score if the amount of overs are reduced by 15 or 20. And definitely, in 30 overs the opposition will get a big target to chase."

Vettori would have batted too if he had won the toss, but for a different reason. "The wicket was a lot better than it was for the Twenty20 game, so we wanted to make sure we could put a score on the board," he said. "And in a way, try and put the pressure back on India because they have done so well with batting at the start."

India's tour of New Zealand so far has been shorn of mind games and quotable quotes, but the rain breaks have added an interesting twist to both off-field planning and on-field implementation, especially when dealing with factors beyond one's control. It is not always fair, but like the batting Powerplays they add a whole new dimension.

Everybody is hoping that the next three matches will go the full distance, but you can be sure contingency plans for rain intervals will be discussed in team meetings.

India 273 for 4 (Dhoni 84*, Sehwag 77, Raina 66) beat New Zealand 162 for 9 (Guptill 64, Harbhajan 3-27) by 53 runs by D/L Method

Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted himself to No.3 and top scored with an unbeaten 84 Virender Sehwag set the tone with a typical fire-starting innings, and fine hands from Suresh Raina and Mahendra Singh Dhoni were also instrumental as India eased to a comfortable 53-run victory [by Duckworth-Lewis] in a match twice interrupted by rain.

India piled up a mammoth 273 for 4 from their 38 overs and then reduced New Zealand to 111 for 4 before further rain left them the near-impossible task of scoring 105 from 43 balls. Harbhajan Singh then picked up three wickets in four balls as the match fizzled out and apart from Martin Guptill's accomplished 64, there was little for New Zealand to take from McLean Park.

After a small mid-innings wobble, Raina and Dhoni added 110 from just 12.2 overs to wrest the initiative. Daniel Vettori had brought about a lull in the proceedings after Ross Taylor's stunning catch to send back Sehwag, but once 40 came from the three overs of the batting Powerplay, there was no holding the Indians back.

New Zealand had reason to rue some poor bowling, with Kyle Mills, returning from injury, especially culpable. Raina was in superb touch, and full tosses from Mills were ruthlessly dealt with, usually with cleaves of the bat that sent the ball soaring over midwicket for six. When the bowlers tried to curb him by bowling wide of the stumps, Raina improvised to squeeze-steer the ball backward of point for fours. With Dhoni rotating the strike cleverly at the other end, New Zealand had no answer.

It wasn't as though Dhoni was only the supporting act though. He pulled powerfully on occasion, paddle-swept cleverly and also played one majestic wristy flick through midwicket off Ian Butler. With the regular bowlers powerless to stop the onslaught, Vettori turned to Grant Elliott. It worked, with Raina miscuing another big hit. But by then, the run-rate was hovering around seven an over, and it went beyond that as Yusuf Pathan (20 from just 10 balls) and Dhoni finished strongly.

Sehwag had started the day with a clutch off fours off the wayward Mills, but the players were back inside the dressing rooms within 20 minutes as the rain came down. By the time the game resumed, 24 overs in total had been lost, and India's sense of urgency was apparent. Sachin Tendulkar pulled Iain O'Brien for four, and then guided Mills through the vacant slip position, while Sehwag cut a six over point.

Things were looking bleak for New Zealand before Ian Butler came on, playing his first ODI in more than four years. It was an inspired move, with Tendulkar getting the thinnest of edges through to Brendon McCullum. That didn't stop Sehwag though. He pulled Jacob Oram for four to get to his half-century from 37 balls and then clipped one through midwicket for four more. Even Butler wasn't spared, with a cut for four and a swat through square-leg as the 100 of the innings came up in just 14 overs.

Vettori brought himself on immediately afterwards, but there was little respite. Dhoni cut one powerfully for four and then lofted one to the sightscreen, before Taylor's dramatic intervention gave New Zealand a sniff of a chance. When Yuvraj, bogged down by accurate bowling, followed soon after - a victim of his own hesitation between the wickets - India could have lost their way, but Dhoni and Raina hadn't forgotten their compasses or their range of strokes.

New Zealand never got the stroke-filled start that they needed. Zaheer Khan commenced with a maiden over, but it was Praveen Kumar who struck the crucial blow early on, having McCullum caught off the top edge at deep fine-leg. Jesse Ryder thumped him down to long-off for a four, but another attempted heave only found Sehwag inside the circle.

Only 23 runs came from the first eight overs of the Powerplay, but Taylor and Guptill then broke free with some attractive strokes. Taylor cut Munaf Patel for four, while Guptill lofted the ball sweetly down to the long-on boundary. With singles and twos being taken cleverly, the Indians were briefly rattled.

Taylor greeted Yusuf with a cut for four behind point, but a miscued slog-sweep only found Sachin Tendulkar at short fine-leg. Guptill continued to work the ball around cleverly, but with the fours drying up, the game began to drift away. And the pressure eventually told when Raina's throw from the deep found Elliott just short of his ground while going for a second run.

The rain then returned, and with 10 overs lopped off the innings, there was only time for New Zealand to go down swinging. Jacob Oram was caught behind off Yuvraj and Neil Broom stumped off Harbhajan. Guptill's resistance then ended with a fine catch by Gautam Gambhir at deep midwicket. Vettori ensured that his team wouldn't be bowled out, but that was little consolation on a day when New Zealand were second-best by a distance.

India amazing victory against England

India 241 (Dhoni 53, Flintoff 3-49) and 387 for 4 (Tendulkar 103*, Yuvraj 85*, Sehwag 83, Gambhir 66) beat England 316 (Strauss 123, Prior 53*, Cook 52) and 311 for 9 dec (Strauss 108, Collingwood 108) by six wickets

After all the turmoil of recent weeks, India couldn't have picked a better moment to create history, completing a famous six-wicket victory in Chennai by chasing down the fourth-highest total in Test cricket. And there could be no better figure than Sachin Tendulkar to mastermind the uplifting success with a century of such serenity that he made the pressure-cooker environment seem like an afternoon in the park. Along with Yuvraj Singh, he added an unbroken 163, sapping the England spirit that had carried them into such a dominant position.
The closing stages were dominated by scenes of a hysteric crowd cheering dot-balls as Yuvraj ensured Tendulkar had time to reach his 41st century. The moment came with perfect symmetry as Tendulkar swept Graeme Swann to fine leg to reach the hundred and complete victory. All the previous times India have come up short in run-chases, and claims that Tendulkar doesn't contribute at crunch times, will be forgotten.

At the end of the third day Gary Kirsten, a man of few words, said he believed this Indian team was capable of anything. Now, after following their victory over Australia with this triumph, the momentum of the side is starting to feel unstoppable. The batting faltered in the first innings, but they never lost confidence in their own ability, highlighted by Virender Sehwag's bombast, Tendulkar's calm and Yuvraj's flair.

England have been through such a range of emotions that it will probably take them a while to dissect what has gone on. They performed above expectations for much of the game, but on the final day wilted against a great batting line-up. Their bowlers couldn't summon up the same consistency that was successful earlier in the match. They failed to break through in clusters, with Andrew Flintoff's third-over removal of an out-of-form Rahul Dravid and James Anderson's curtailing of Gautam Gambhir's stylish 66 proving false dawns. Each time another Indian batsman would bed in on a pitch that never quite developed into the viper it promised to be.

The stand between Tendulkar and Yuvraj was worthy of such a significant occasion - when they came together the match was still in England's favour after Graeme Swann had VVS Laxman taken at short leg shortly after lunch. Yuvraj struck two early boundaries off Swann and made it clear he was going to play his natural game, rather than prod around as in the first innings. England tried everything to unsettle him, but this time he didn't get sucked into any verbals with Flintoff, instead just turning away and giving the silent treatment. Steve Harmison ended up hurling the ball back at him from his follow-through, but Yuvraj calmly patted it away and bit his tongue.

The presence of Tendulkar was vital. He remained entrenched and massively focused after overcoming a testing start against Flintoff, who was the only pace bowler Kevin Pietersen could rely on for control, and ensured Yuvraj focused on his batting. He manoeuvred the spinners with great skill and Pietersen was always a few deliveries late with his field changes. The England captain will learn with time, but his team's tactics had been strangely negative since lunch yesterday, although Sehwag's innings clearly impacted their mindset on the final day.

The closest England came to breaking the decisive stand was when Yuvraj swept at Swann and all the close fielders went up for a gloved catch. It was only the bowler who believed in the lbw shout, and replays showed it was hitting halfway up middle stump. Swann found turn and bounce, reward for giving the ball a tweak, although he had a tendency to drift too straight rather than making the batsmen drive. However, he can hold his head high after a promising debut.

Monty Panesar, on the other hand, was again hugely disappointing and remained wicketless from 27 overs while conceding nearly four an over. For the second time in three Tests, following South Africa's successful chase at Edgbaston, the pressure of a final-innings situation that should have suited him perfectly instead caused him to seize up. He was cut and pulled far too often and even when he tried to build pressure, by bowling over the wicket to Tendulkar, runs still ticked along.

Once the target was below three figures Yuvraj began to express himself by pulling Panesar for six then attacking the new ball. That had been England's last chance, but the batsmen were so well set that it barely made a difference. The belief was surging through India and Yuvraj even brought out one of his one-day specialities, clearing his front leg to launch Anderson over mid-on. This innings could be the making of him.

He offered a half chance on 55, gloving a short ball from Harmison down the leg side, but Matt Prior couldn't take it tumbling to his right, and a more clear-cut opportunity when Prior missed a leg-side stumping late on. However, by then only 20 more were needed and any chance of an England fightback had long since disappeared. This experience will be tough to take, but extenuating circumstances should allow them a greater degree of pride in their performance. Nothing, though, will take the glory away from India, and after a performance like this nothing should.

Sehwag blitzkrieg leaves Test tantalizingly poised

Chennai: One man – who literally held the key to India successfully chasing down the fourth innings target of 387 set by England – treated a Sunday afternoon crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium with a truly special innings.

No team has successfully chased down more than 276 in fourth innings of Tests in India, and that meant the odds were heavily stacked against the hosts. But Virender Sehwag, as is his natural style of batting, came out all guns blazing and took the Chepauk by storm.

He got off the mark by running down the ball to the thirdman fence, and soon added another boundary to his tally when he pounced on a short delivery from James Anderson and hammered it through his favourite area – backward of point.

That second over of the innings, which saw Sehwag scoring nine runs, set the tempo, and from there on, it was all traveling in fifth gear until his eventual dismissal – a good 102 minutes after he came out to bat.

All the English bowlers were treated with the same degree of disdain – Harmison went for 26 runs from 17 balls, Anderson 14 from 8, Panesar went for 21 runs from as many balls, Flintoff 10 from 9 balls and Swann 12 from 13 balls.

The first fifty of the run chase came in 5.3 overs, while the next fifty came in more Test-cricket-like 12.3 overs. Sehwag raced to 50 from 32 balls, narrowly missing out on registering the fastest half-century by an Indian in Test cricket – Kapil Dev had done it in 30 balls against Pakistan.

1st Innings:
ENG 316 (128.4)
R/R: 2.46

2nd Innings:
ENG 311/9 dec (105.5)
R/R: 2.94

1st Innings:
IND 241 (69.4)
R/R: 3.46


2nd Innings:
IND 131/1 (29.0)
R/R: 4.52

India fought back strongly during the afternoon session in Chennai, claiming three early wickets after conceding a lead of 75. Andrew Flintoff and Monty Panesar wrapped up the home side for 241 shortly after lunch, but England's top order found life hard, especially against the spinners, with Yuvraj Singh providing a huge bonus for India by removing Kevin Pietersen with his first ball.

Trailing by 161 overnight, India made strong inroads into the deficit as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh added 75 before the last four wickets fell for 29. However, the equation was evened up when England slipped to 43 for 3 although the advantage of bowling last gives them a little extra breathing space.

Andrew Strauss, who again looked at ease in the middle, and Alastair Cook made comfortable progress during the opening overs. Ishant Sharma struggled with his front foot, sending down seven no-balls in his first spell, but made the first breakthrough when Cook fished at one outside off stump.

As in the first innings spin was introduced in the ninth over and again it was Amit Mishra ahead of Harbhajan, who even had to wait his turn behind Yuvraj. Mishra tossed the ball up, imparting nice side-spin and produced one that bounced more from a length to take Ian Bell's glove to short leg.

Then came the latest Dhoni masterstroke. As soon as Pietersen walked in Yuvraj was brought into the attack. All of England's batsmen have struggled with Yuvraj, both in the one-dayers and this Test, but as much for his sliders as his spin. His first delivery angled in with the arm, trapping Pietersen in front and the England captain knew his fate before the finger went up.

It could have been better for India too, because Dhoni put down a thick edge off Strauss when he had 15. Strauss continued his first-innings form, moving to a compact 30 by tea and Paul Collingwood had enabled some calm to return to the innings.

England's precious lead of 75 grew in importance with each setback although there was a feeling they missed a chance to nail India. They found it hard to replicate the intensity of the second evening when play resumed, with Steve Harmison suffering stiffness behind his knee, although a scan cleared him of serious problems, and Flintoff having been sick overnight.

Flintoff opened the bowling with Panesar, but wasn't as fearsome as he was on the second evening when he rattled Yuvraj, although still had the heart and character to deliver for his captain. He also needed to leave the field to have his ankle re-strapped.

Dhoni played a very mature innings and the more flamboyant shots came from Harbhajan, who has an individual style to his batting. He isn't afraid to use his feet against the fast bowlers and doesn't have much respect for opposition spinners. When Panesar went over the wicket, Harbhajan brought out the reverse sweep which brought a rather bemused smile from the bowler. He was equally confident against the quicks, slashing Harmison over the slips and through the covers during a loose spell.

The closest England came to a breakthrough during the first hour was when an inside edge from Dhoni shot low past Bell at short leg and it was a surprise that Graeme Swann was kept waiting for his chance. However, the first wicket went to Panesar as Bell held on to a more routine offering from Harbhajan to break the stand. It was a confidence-boosting strike for Panesar, who had again seemed at odds with his game.

Pietersen sensed the opening and almost immediately returned to Flintoff. Once again he was rewarded with a first-over breakthrough as Zaheer was trapped on the back foot by one that shaped in. Dhoni largely played within himself and brought up a half-century off 77 balls despite the pain of a twisted ankle which he picked up while running a three. However, with the final two tailenders in, he felt it was down to him to reduce the deficit and attacked Panesar, only to find Pietersen stationed two-thirds of the way back at mid-off. Panesar's trademark smile was returning and his spirit will be vital when England defend their fourth-innings target.

Mishra and Sharma whittled England's advantage down by a further 22 before Flintoff wrapped up the innings with the fourth ball after lunch. Two hours later and an already fascinating contest was turning into a cracker.

India ahead despite Strauss century

This Test looked like it might never go ahead, and some still argue it's too soon to be playing cricket, but in the end the opening day produced a fascinating start to the short series. Despite a fine century from Andrew Strauss, a brace of wickets apiece for Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan reduced England to 229 for 5 at the close although the surface is threatening to break up later in the game.
Against the odds England controlled the first two sessions and were 164 for 1 at tea after an opening stand of 118. However, India hit back strongly, led by another outstanding display of reverse swing from Zaheer. He removed Ian Bell with the second ball after tea and bounced-out a scratchy and skittish Kevin Pietersen. Andrew Flintoff did well to survive his early trial by spin and swing, and faces a huge role on the second day with nightwatchman James Anderson for company.

Strauss's effort was a remarkable show of concentration. Barring three short innings during the Stanford week, this was his first knock since the end of the English season. He brought up his 13th Test century off 191 balls, but his dismissal late in the day, offering a low return catch to Amit Mishra, put India firmly ahead on points. The four sessions splits confirm how India fought back: 63 without loss, 101 for 1 and 65 for 4.

Zaheer's first ball after tea slanted across Bell, then the second arched back in and was heading for middle when he was trapped in front. Dhoni hadn't used Zaheer between lunch and tea, but when called upon played a vital part. Pietersen has had more to deal with in recent days than most, so it was unsurprising that he struggled at the crease. He was tested by Zaheer's swing but also Yuvraj Singh's left-arm sliders. Yuvraj caused as many moments of discomfort as Harbhajan, who was introduced in the ninth over, or Mishra and had a very close lbw shout turned down against Pietersen. Zaheer, though, claimed a deserved second wicket as Pietersen top-edged a pull which the bowler claimed in his follow-through.

Paul Collingwood retained his place in the side ahead of the in-form Owais Shah, and when your spot is being debated it doesn't help to get a rough decision. Billy Bowden thought he'd got a glove to short-leg off Harbhajan, but he missed it by at least six inches. A lot of the players have spoken about how events in Mumbai have given them a greater perspective, but once the contest is resumed in the middle, instincts take over and the disappointment was easy to detect.
England Ist innings Runs Balls Fours Sixes SR FoW
Andrew Strauss c and b Mishra 123 233 15 0 52.79 5-221 ( 83.3 ov. )
Alastair Cook c Zaheer b Harbhajan 52 116 5 0 44.83 1-118 ( 39.6 ov. )
Ian Bell lbw b Zaheer 17 51 1 0 33.33 2-164 ( 57.2 ov. )
Kevin Pietersen (c) c and b Zaheer 4 33 0 0 12.12 3-180 ( 65.4 ov. )
Paul Collingwood c Gambhir b Harbhajan 9 26 1 0 34.62 4-195 ( 72.2 ov. )
Andrew Flintoff not out 18 64 2 0 28.13
James Anderson not out 2 17 0 0 11.76
Matt Prior (wk)
Graeme Swann
Steve Harmison
Monty Panesar
Extras: ( 0 wd, 4 lb, 0 b, 0 nb, 0 p) Total: 229 / 5 in 90.0 overs (Run Rate: 2.54)
Bowler Overs Maidens Runs Wickets NoBall Wide Eco
Zaheer Khan 17.0 7 36 2 0 0 2.12
Ishant Sharma 15.0 2 29 0 0 0 1.93
Harbhajan Singh 26.0 2 67 2 0 0 2.58
Amit Mishra 20.0 4 63 1 0 0 3.15
Yuvraj Singh 11.0 2 22 0 0 0 2.00
Virender Sehwag 1.0 0 8 0 0 0 8.00

"We need to start from scratch" - Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India's captain, has said his team has only been focusing on maintaining the intensity from a successful last couple of months. Dhoni conceded England had a better fast-bowling attack, but countered by saying that India's batting juggernaut and the 5-0 ODI success put the home side in a good position.

"It does not matter which opposition we are playing. You have to be aggressive in international cricket, it has to be controlled," he said in Chennai. "The focus should be on execution of plans, and if we can execute them on the field to our potential we have a good chance of doing well. We have got the plans, and the preparation and execution have been good. We need to focus on that. We need to start from scratch and do the good things that we have done in the one-day series."

While most of India's players went home to visit family or played in domestic cricket, England return for the Tests short of practice. Rain hampered their preparations in Abu Dhabi and the only warm-up game was cancelled for security issues. "They got time off in between and they must have planned a few things," said Dhoni. "They are a better bowling side, and at the same time our batsmen are in good nick and we have been doing the basics right."

Yuvraj Singh has been given one more chance to resurrect his stop-start Test career. He muscled his way back into contention with two successive one-day hundreds against England but Dhoni cautioned him against filling Sourav Ganguly's place at No. 6. "The biggest fault will be if he tries to fill the shoes of Ganguly. He should be himself," said Dhoni. "He is a very different individual. His game plan is different and he plays in a different way. We don't want him to fill in the shoes of someone.

"He is in good nick and he just needs to continue with that. He can be a part-time bowler as well. The SG ball does a bit and if he can put it in the right areas he can have an impact on the game."

The one glaring blot in India's batting line-up is Rahul Dravid, who has only two half-centuries in his previous 17 innings. But like Kris Srikkanth, India's chairman of selectors, Dhoni felt Dravid was "just one innings away from regaining form". "He has been shaping up really well in the net sessions," he said. "We know the amount of talent he has got, and he is also one the most committed cricketers around. He will definitely get scores in the series."

India were undecided on their XI. Dhoni felt the spinners would get assistance from the Chennai pitch. He said it was an opportunity for the youngsters to gain experience, and that those who read the game well would "come out as winners".

While a couple of England players have spoken about a "duty to the game", Dhoni said such talk did not affect India, who just had to concentrate on cricket. "It is up to them to come [back to India]. We have an important series to play. The best thing that I could give to India in this juncture is a good game of cricket. That is what we are here to do as professional cricketers."