In an earlier article I stated where 20/20 cricket was killing test cricket, because test cricket was dull and boring. However, the series against South African/Australia and West Indies/India has found me to be a liar.
I will start with the series between South Africa and the once mighty Australia. This series saw the Australians being bowled out for an embarrassing 47 in their second innings and subsequently losing the match. However, this was just another twist in what was an exciting match.
In the first innings the Australians scored an imposing 284 and they bowled the South Africans out for a meager 96.Well, 284 is not exactly imposing but in those circumstances it was more than adequate. Especially since the pitch favoured paced bowling and both sides had enough pace bowlers in their armor. But in the end South Africa achieved the victory with relative ease scoring 234 and only losing two wickets.
The series between India and West Indies was not as dramatic, but it definitely had a lot of high drama. I will start by congratulating Shivnarine Chanderpaul from Guyana for achieving yet another century in his highly decorated career and propelling the West Indies to score a competitive 304. (Check out and LIKE our cool Guyana Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Love-Guyana/114797851906603)
The region’s bowlers have often been ridiculed as being no good and worthless. However, these same set of bowlers bowled out a highly decorated Indian team for 209 runs. Yes, I am talking about the strongest batting line up in world cricket; Gambhir, Sehwag, Dravid Laxman, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni.
I won’t even mention Sanchin Tendulkar because he is in a class of his own. He is aiming to be the first batsman to score one hundred century in world cricket. Indeed, this will be an immense achievement. However, in dismissing Tendulkar for 76 the West Indies bowlers have frustrated one of the greatest batsmen in contemporary cricket.
And for that I say well done, we want to see Tendulkar achieve this landmark but not against our team!
Although they lost the match they put on a good performance and they should be given the thumbs up for that. But it is the West Indies; today they are hot and tomorrow they are cold. I mean the fans are not expecting the West Indies to be constantly winning, but we do ask for constant performance.
