India 6/297 in 84 overs [Dravid 93, SRT 71; Lee 3-64], Day 1 of the 3rd Test @ The WACA

SCORECARD

"77.6 Symonds to Dravid, OUT, now where did that atrocious shot come from? Symonds tosses it up well outside off and in an extraordinary mental block, with a hundred there for the taking, Dravid plays an ugly cross-batted swipe and top-edges to the man at cover" -Jamie Alter(?), Cricinfo Commentator

WHY DRAVID WHY?! 4/278 with just 7 or 8 overs to go and you play a shot like THAT?! How could YOU of all people even THINK of playing a shot like that?! Now we're six down and have lost the initiative to the ruthless Aussies. Oh well, it could've been worse. With all the lip about how fast this WACA pitch was gonna play and the history of Subcontinental teams at this ground, it's a wee surprise we're not even all out yet! All the more reason we should've capitalised on the solid start. Oh well, I suppose beggars can't be choosers. Let's see if messrs Dhoni and Pathan can boost the total tomorrow so that we can give 'em Aussies a fight to the finish. After all, a record is at stake and the last time this record was up for grabs, it was US who stopped 'em! And what a match that was! How sweet would it be, especially given everything that has happened in the last 2 weeks, for us to stop 'em again!

COME ON INDIA, Dikha Do!!!

PS Tsk, tsk Australia for a very bad over-rate! ;-)
PPS How sad SRT couldn't repeat his heroics of 1991/2 with another century at Perth! (esp after Sydney)

This is why we love cricket!

The Australian slip cordon maintain their focus while the shadows lengthen, Australia v India, 3rd Test, 1st day, Perth, January 16, 2008

The ground looks so boooooootiful! Man, it's like they're playing on carpet! Lucky buggers. You Aussies have the most awesome grounds. :)


A wide angle view of the WACA ground in Perth (WACA = Western Australian Cricket Association)

In case you didn't know what a cricket "pitch" looks like. Now you do, so get in already!

The Man Who Sacrificed An Election to Showcase His Vision for Britain

Overrates?

"An excellent day was, however, marred by hopeless over-rates. The Sydney Test was blighted by all sorts of unsavoury incidents but one offence, committed by both teams in the series so far, is the speed at which the bowlers have gone about their job. When India last toured Australia Sourav Ganguly came close to a ban for failing to keep the over-rate up to speed but on this tour the matter hasn't even come on the radar. A 90-over stipulation was put in place to rein in the West Indians, who, it was argued, were gaining an unfair advantage by bowling their battery of fast bowlers leisurely. The decision to play with four quick bowlers in Perth was Australia's and so was the onus to keep it moving. They were found shockingly lacking. They bowled 12 overs in each of the first two hours, 13 in the third, 14 in the fourth, and the second new ball wasn't due until after ten minutes of the scheduled close of play. That is an unacceptable breach of playing conditions. Something ought to be done. Fines have just not worked. Ian Chappell advocates banning the captain but there might be a even better deterrent. Hit them where it hurts the most by docking them for runs." -Sambit Bal [Link]

What's your take? Are they "over-rated"? :)