Monday, 17 December 2012

The Un-Conquered Territory for 28 years


A month ago who would have thought that England the team which  have won just one of their last 18 Tests in Asia, excluding their visits to Bangladesh. In the 2000-01 season, they won back-to-back series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but since then there hasn't been a whole lot of things happening to cherish upon. In six series in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka during this period, they've lost twice to India and Sri Lanka, and once to Pakistan. Their only Test win - against India in Mumbai in 2006 - resulted in a drawn series,will win a test series in India everyone was thinking that it’s time for revenge of the 4-0 white wash in England, and it looked and it looked the most probable result when the English team was crushed in the Ahmadabad test by a margin of innings , but you always have to remember this game of cricket can change
directions very quickly , and that happened things changed a pitch designed pitcure perfect to suit indian bowling but it backfired, Mumbai was the venue and a green top turning wicket was ready for the showdown , Everyone expects indian bowlers to lead the show but something completely opposite and unexpected happened , Monty Panesar justified his selection
he ripped through the strong Indian batting lineup having names like sehwag tendulker gambhir with his 11 wickets for the match and swann accompanyied him with 8 wickets for the match and batting was led by K.P with his classy 186 which he rates as his one of the best knocks of his career along side Cook 122 and every one was just stunned with a 10 wicket English win. This was the first time englans has won a match playing two frontline
Everyone expected a fight back from India in the Kolkata test where India winning record is great but that was also a dream for the Indian fans as Cook struck another century making 190 and India loss the test as England won by 7 wickets. After the Kolkata test Sunday Times coated that “We have been cleaned out and it’s time for clean up” we have nothing to lose.
The momentum shifted to Nagpur as India was in enormous pressure but this test was just dominated by Anderson and the English batting and the match was drawn
After David Gower in 1984/85 Aliastar Cook men have managed a famous English victory on a territory which took them 28  years to conquer Before Alaistar Cook many captains failed Kevin Pieterson,Andrew Flintoff,Nassir Hussain,Graham Gooch (current batting coach of England) but Alaistar Cook did it in his 1st assignment as a Test captain. The innings that tuned up the self belief of English camp was the Ahmadabad 2nd innings century by Aliastar Cook this is what a strong leader can do set an example. Mushtaq Ahmed played a significant role in winning this series as he passed the art of how to play and bowl in sub-continent conditions.
A territory on which the great Australian captain Steve Waugh said this is the  ‘Final Frontier’ to conquer.
India lost a home test series after 8 years which shows how tough they are in there own backyard.   
England has certainly given a good Christmas present to the barmy army .


Round-up of India vs England test series.
Written by: Faisal Paracha
Edited by: Shariq Malik

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