India 7/613d (161ov; Gambhir 206, Laxman 200*) v Australia 0/50 (15ov), Day 2 of 3rd Test @ Delhi

[mcgillianaire]

VVS Laxman celebrates another double-century against the Aussies | Close but no cigar, Gambhir edges closer to his 1st double-century
[SCORECARD]
It's the first time India have had two double-centurions in the same innings and the first time Australia have conceded two double-centuries in the same innings. In the course of his second double-century (both have come against the Aussies), Laxman passed a number of milestones, including overtaking Gundappa Vishwanath's 6080 Test runs and becoming only the second Indian (after SRT) to score more than 2000 Test runs against the Aussies. The latter is an incredible achievement, almost Terry Aldermanesque in its proportion of runs against Australia to his total number of runs. If memory serves me right, half of Alderman's 180-odd Test wickets were against England and they came in only two Ashes series, separated by nearly a decade or something funny like that. Laxman's record against Australia is somewhat similar. Nearly a third of all his Test runs have come against the greatest team of his era, an astonishing record. Interestingly, this was only his second century against the Aussies at home and 6th overall. The first one was obviously that unforgettable 281 at Kolkata in 2001. Speaking of which, it will take the Aussies a similar herculean effort to come anywhere close to leveling the series. India are in an impregnable position and should reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy by the end of the weekend. Oh and before I forget, a special mention to Gautham Gambhir for becoming the first Delhiite to score a century at home since Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi in Feb 1964. Incidentally, Pataudi also scored a double century then. Gambhir has now scored back-to-back centuries against the Aussies and has cemented his place in the team. It remains to be seen how he will fare on non-Subcontinental pitches but if recent Indian performances abroad are to be taken into account, the confidence gained from this series should serve him well on our next such tour. COME ON YOU INDIANS!! JAI HIND!!

Comments

[pappubahry.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if Kasprowicz is still playing
If he's playing, it's in ICL. He's retired from first-class cricket, after what I think were injury troubles last season - he only played 5 games for Queensland.

The most likely reason for Lee's poor performance is his marriage breakup. Though apparently he's got his pace back up in this Test, not that it's helped him any.

Stuart Clark had an elbow problem in the first Test, and has done well in this Test but the runs have leaked from the other end.

Mitchell Johnson scrambles the seam, which is very annoying. He and Lee are the best equipped to match Zaheer and Ishant's reverse swing, but Lee's out of sorts and Johnson can't point the seam towards first slip.

[mcgillianaire.livejournal.com]

Yeh I remember reading about his injury troubles. I still think if he was fit he'd do a good job in India this series! He was the first Aussie bowler of the class of the 90s who cracked the subcontinental and Sharjah code. Gillespie also had a decent record in India and I remember how he alone carried the bowling attack in 2001. Long spells of accurate bowling that even McGrath would've been proud of. And to toil alone on some of the worst pitches for fast bowlers was especially admirable.

Interesting about Lee's poor performances. I also think he bowled too short in the first two Tests. Then when he compensated in length he bowled too full on middle and leg and the batsmen were able to flick and milk him around. Ponting's fields were less defensive than they were in 2004 which resulted in Lee leaking a lotta runs while Clark, Watson and Johnson were pegging away at the other end and doing a decent job.

Oh, I've now realised you've said pretty much the same thing in the next line. :)

Why do you find the scrambled seam annoying?