Characterless Indians force draw : Courageous England go home empty hand. -> Itsonlycricket, is only cricket!

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Characterless Indians force draw : Courageous England go home empty hand.

Filed under Eng in Ind 2009 IndvEng Mohali 2008

You are on a roll kid.. enjoy it while it lasts, cause it never does!

These lines from Michael Douglas starer "Wall Street" fit perfectly for India's captain MS Dhoni today, as his team, on a roll with 3 wins straight, played for a draw in this Delhi test match against England, and earned it. Dhoni, a fun loving young man that he is, got rid of wicketkeeping pads and bowled the last over himself to wrap-up a tame draw.

With heavy fog every morning and lightless evenings (plus both captains agreeing not to use flood lights) - Draw had probably won this test match much before England bowled a delivery or Indians played one after winning the toss but cricket could have been much interesting, had Indians not performed so negatively.

India started with an uncharacteristic slow run rate of 2.48 on day 1, continued batting on Day 2 without accelerating & bowled negatively on Day 3 when England boys upped the ante. By now, only an Indian win remained as other option which home team didn't opt and got satisfied with a lackluster draw.

Rahul Dravid is another culprit of this sad draw whose return to form (century after 14 innings) meant India's VERY slow run rate. When Rahul was out for form - other batters from India would play their natural game (to score freely) but his return to form meant overpitched deliveries defended into the pitch and balls wide outside off left well alone.

Just when we thought Test Cricket is showing it's true colour as South Africa chased down 414 against australia and even India's chase of 387 in 4th innings in first test match at Chennai - this colourless performance at Delhi by Indians proves why few fans follow test cricket like they do one day internationals or twenty20 games.

Gautam Gambhir's 179 + 97 = 276 runs in this test match is now most runs by an Indian batsman against England, beating Vinoo Mankand's 256 runs in two innings.. but few will remember this phenomenal achievement by Delhi left hand opening batsman as he played for a record and his team failed to win.