Pakistan had a horrible time in New Zealand and then in Australia. They dropped Watson and Katich on Day 1 of the series. Then it was Hussey- thrice by keeper Karmal Akmal, in the second match- which was supposedly in their pocket. Then in the dead rubber Ponting was dropped on 0, when he tried to hook Mohammed Asif to fine leg. For Pakistan, it might be a case of lack of match practice.
Recently, Tendulkar made two chancy tons against Bangladesh. He was dropped a few times and I tweeted about how the law of averages will catch up with Tendulkar and he would make a flawless hundred! Well, guess what, it did not and he made yet another hundred being let off in the second innings of the 1st Test against South Africa. Finally, yesterday, the law of averages did catch up with Tendulkar. He made a chance-less hundred!
But I guess it would not have mattered even if he edged a few early on, as South Africa have let themselves down in this much hyped - World Championship - match. Sehwag was dropped on 47 by Duminy in the slips, then A.B de Villiers - the stand in keeper for Boucher- missed an easy stumping off Harris, soon after Sehwag's century. Laxman, was dropped by Kallis in first slip, when he had just walked in after Harris had gotten Tendulkar in a similar manner (bowling round the wicket, and tossed up on off stump). Harris was visibly distraught- getting Laxman at the end of day 2 would have opened the doors for South Africa.
This was not all! On day 3, Mishra scored a few dozen after being dropped a few times! Laxman inside edged Morkel- and a diving de Villiers could not reach it. He was dropped again by Duminy at point. Dhoni was dropped in the slips off Harris...
Will the verdict on Harris as a spinner touring India, account for these missed chances? He got Tendulkar and Dhoni out few times in the series already, and should have had Sehwag, Laxman and Dhoni (again). I guess the scorekeepers and analysts are perhaps just as tired of three months of Test Cricket, in this T20 era. Let's move on to the IPL party next month.
... and, oh yes, you will hear about why Test Cricket will survive in the T20 era, since it is very different and has its own charm. It is ODIs which will be impacted, because they are sort of similar but not as exciting as T20... this is all fine, but I have always doubted how bowlers would bowl all day(s) in Tests, when they are used to bowling 4 overs per T20. But it now seems that even fielders are going to find it tough to concentrate beyond a session. Perhaps, T20 and Tests will just have a different set of players. But then maybe not, as both formats will not make the same money:-)
@saumilzx
Mumbai,
17 Feb 2010
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