Well, here we are again. The first Test between India and Pakistan is still poised, it could still go either way and again so much depends on Misbah-ul-Haq, who’s one of the not out batsmen.
Man of the match awards hardly ever take account of context. You’ve got one batsman who hit a blinding 110 when the match was in the balance and you’ve got another batsman who coasted to 160 when his team were already miles ahead – it goes to the guy who got 160.
In this match, the man of the match is likely to be a bowler, due to the low scores. While Anil Kumble’s a fantastic candidate with 4-38 and 3-55 so far in the second innings, surely any batsman who scores runs in a low-scoring game is playing as big a part? But when was the last time someone was man of the match for a pair of fifties? Batsmen have to score hundreds to get the award, but we’ll see.
Pakistan lead by 167 with five wickets in hand. Test cricket’s bloody brilliant, isn’t it? It’s been three days now and we’ve still no clue as to who’s going to win. It’s gone one way and then the other in a manner fundamentally impossible in the shorter formats.
At times like this, you can stick those shorter formats. Test cricket is THE BALLS.
You know, the formatting of the same picture the second time around was rubbish. What’s happened? You lost The Touch?
He’s only gone and done it again!!
Trying to smash Ganguly out of the ground, and he’s f*cked it…
The man is a winner at losing!
Our heart wasn’t in it the second time around.