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[procricket]

India could still make something of this, if they bowled NZ for a 100 odd.

On a side note, I think one of the reasons questions are not raised over India's generally woeful performances overseas is that people don't expect much - if they win its a bonus. As long as they remain champs at home.

I do think its a crap way to go about things though, if you really aim to be a proper number one, you have to win everywhere. India don't really have an excuse either, 1.2 billion people, where cricket is by far the most popular sport (for example in other countries cricket has to compete for talent with plenty of other sports eg football/soccer in England), and still can't create a world beating team despite all of those demographics being so much in favour and all the money involved. I could go on and on about this topic, so I'll leave it at that.

NZ are looking very good, the best I have seen in a long time. Could do very well in the upcoming T-20 world cup.

I gather you don't like India much I thought it was 11 v 11 .

Anyway back to cricket.

There a man tailor made to do this for then no point me mentioning him my theory is for India to win he has to bat all day tomorrow because some of the shot selection at best in the first innings was very poor .

Set up to be a great test I think New Zealand are shading it though lets see if India have much fight .

Agree with Gerry India got no bowling to be a real top side.

[cleanbowled]

I gather you don't like India much I thought it was 11 v 11 .

Anyway back to cricket.

There a man tailor made to do this for then no point me mentioning him my theory is for India to win he has to bat all day tomorrow because some of the shot selection at best in the first innings was very poor .

Set up to be a great test I think New Zealand are shading it though lets see if India have much fight .

Agree with Gerry India got no bowling to be a real top side.

India are my team - I am Indian, they have always been poor overseas historically with a few exceptions here and there - it has gotten worse in the last 2-3 years.

Anyways back to the cricket like you said - I think India have played very well in the second innings, didn't let the lower order get away either. At 87 for 1 I think they have a great chance if they bat well. NZ will be ruing the way they have let India back in here from a seemingly unassailable position. They have let India get a sniff here.

Either way should be a great match, with a result one way or the other (unless weather intervenes).

[procricket]

Pujara the man to take this home I think he needs to bat for a day though

[cleanbowled]

How Kohli goes will also be critical, him and Pujara are the two world class bats India have. Rohit Sharma finally played a good innings overseas, so hopefully that adds to his confidence and he can play well in the second innings.

[smilley792]

I didn't expect to wake upto that score!


Game on now

[swamidude]

Hopefully (for us) Dhawan bats through the morning because he can score the big hundreds on his day. Basically we can't afford to lose more than 2 wickets in the first 2 sessions tomorrow, and one of Kohli or Pujara has to be there. If we could win this it would be on par with that great win against Australia following on, but it looks more than uphill from here.

Must mention just how good New Zealand have been throughout this tour, they've just seemed the hungrier side always wanting the win that much more than us Indians. Some of our players don't deserve to be there and I'm sure there are more than enough young players back home who deserve a chance with the ball. We keep sticking with Ishant and Zaheer and it comes off once in 10 innings or so and everyone forgets how s*** they really are.

[thedon]

I think nz getting slapped about by India nw!

[csnew]

Chase looks on now. These 2 probably will need to score the bulk of the runs.
New ball will be key. Southee looks the most dangerous

[Gerry SA]

Interesting session of play.

Southee and Wagner where magnificent. Made it hard for Dhawan, Pujara and Kohli to score.

Southee got Pujara with a great delivery. A rare poor match got India's run machine.

Kohli looked like a punch drunk boxer of the first 30mins of his innings, but has rode the storm. Gotta admit I thought Kohli was pretty overrated, but he's looking the real deal.

More impressively Dhawan seems to have grown a brain and learnt how to build an innings rather than just blast everything.

Boult's been very poor thus far in this innings.

[13th Man]

It's about. 40 degrees here in Melbourne.  Cricket cancelled this W/E - too hot.

I am going to flick this on the TV starting in 30 minutes and watch what could be a cracker game!

[Gerry SA]

Dhawan takes Ish Sodhi apart to bring up his second Test hundred.

A very important innings for a very important member of India's batting unit.

Dhawan, the penny's finally dropped, get in then play your shots.

[cesare_in]

Amazing turnaround by India - old adage holds that drop catches and you gotta pay! Was it McCullum who dropped Dhavan earlier in the innings?

[Gerry SA]

Amazing turnaround by India - old adage holds that drop catches and you gotta pay! Was it McCullum who dropped Dhavan earlier in the innings?

Yes mate, McCullum dropped Dhawan on 0

[Cedrictoad]

With India on 230/3 chasing 407 you would have to have your money on India.

Especially considering time is not a factor at all!

[csnew]

Does sharma ever look comfortable starting off an innings.
Always playing and missing.

Feel sorry for the leggy getting torn apart earlier