Saturday 20 August 2011

Can Dravid avoid a whitewash?

For quite some time now, India have never looked like the side to be at the receiving end of a series whitewash but such has been the whiphand of England in the series that what was not even a fleeting thought in anyone's mind before the start of the series looks very likely. But this is still only very likely not an affirmation and with 'The Wall' still standing tall that may well only be a possibility. What is baffling to the mind is Indian batting is indeed not as bad as the series has made it look like. Yes, it is vulnerable to the short-pitched stuff, yes it is awkward in seaming conditions but not that bad to not even make 300 on the same pitches where the opposition has scored over 500.

With two days still to go in this test, much depends on how the batsmen or the tail plays around Dravid. It will be nothing short of a miracle if India manages to avoid the follow on. Doubts about Gambhir persist, but if he does come out and bat it will be a huge relief for India. The first session like always is extremely crucial and  Dravid and MSD (the two highest run-getters for India in the series) are the most capable of batting it out. If India can even stretch it past tea somehow, this test may well be the saving grace (desperately hoping that we put up an improved second-innings show)

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