23rd March 2006
Hello Friends,

The test series between India and England has ended with the series squared, thanks to some dreadful decisions. I bring to you the detailed reports of the match and the players, an ode to Kumble, who entered the 500- test wicket takers' club during the second test match at Mohali. Also, upgrade your knowledge by checking out Did you Know and don't forget to answer the poll.

Andrew FlintoffFor lunch, Indians eat their bats Here goes the typical Indian trait again!! Faltering at the last moment, to be more precise, after lunch on the last day. After winning the second test at Mohali handsomely, the Indians managed to square the series at Wankhede Stadium, losing the match by a whopping 212-run margin. Going for lunch, England had 4 Indian wickets in their kitty with 75 on board, in the next hour and a quarter, it was all over in a nightmarish hemorrhage of wickets. For the record, India were bowled out for exactly 100 - the last seven wickets falling for 25 runs and 15.2 overs. Andrew Flintoff walked away with a well deserving Man of the Match and Man of the Series trophy.

Rahul Dravid, playing his 100th match, was left resenting about his goof-ups before the match began . And the saga didn't end there, it continued well into the second innings when, required 313 to win the match, there was a major shuffling in the batting line-up. Some unintelligent assessment by the management and the spectators witness Pathan opening with Jaffer and then, mother of all surprises, Anil Kumble coming in to bat at No. 3 ! Sachin Tendulkar who now has the highest number of Test appearances by an Indian (132), showed some resistance. The reshuffling apparently didn't help and the Indian line up crumbled like a pie. Hungry for more?? Click here...
:: More News
Dravid will remain captain till WC '07
Scribes manhandled by police
Mumbai cricket, from the cradle to the grave
Cairns praises Pathan, Sachin
Time to encourage all types of bowlers in ODIs
Jadeja to lead in warm-up one-dayer
:: An Ode to Kumble
Anil Kumble If the early days of Bangalore cricket threw up a stylist with the bat like Gundappa Viswanath, probably the country's finest ever batsman, and incomparable artists with the ball like Prasanna and Chandrasekhar , an evolving city well on the road to modernisation gives us a laidback hero like Kumble , the third great spinner to emerge from Karnataka. Kumble is the person who best exemplifies the charms of melding the old world attitude to meeting the demands of the modern, professional era. The very epitome of humility, Kumble is the type who would acknowledge a special feat with the kind of practicality men may speak about but don't always attain when in the spotlight. While every pace bowler must be thought of as a hard working soul baked under the harsh sun, it is rare for a spinner to get most of his accolades for eternally trying. Nicknamed 'Jumbo' for his sheer attitude by wicket-keepers, who were always a shade more nervous or hyper-alert when keeping to him, Kumble has a heart of oak. Friendly to the point of being disarmingly charming, the Bangalorean is without doubt Indian cricket's finest ambassador. He has proved his mettle time and again. And during the second test at Mohali, he made the Indians proud by entering into the exclusive arena of players who have taken 500 test wickets in their career. Jumbo's 500th was being witnessed by a gallery of greats. The British press wasn't behind when it came to showering accolades on this cricketing great. Want to read their reviews? Come with me...
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:: ScoreZone
England in India
ENG v IND (3rd Test), 18-22 March
Pakistan in Sri Lanka
PAK v SRL (3rd ODI)
:: BattleNext
England in India
ENG v IND, (1st ODI), Delhi, March 28
ENG v IND, (2nd ODI), Faridabad, March 31
ENG v IND, (3rd ODI), Goa, April 3
ENG v IND, (4th ODI), Cochin, April 6
Pakistan in Sri Lanka
PAK v SRL, (1st Test), Colombo, Mar 26-30
PAK v SRL, (2nd Test), ) Kandy, Apr 3-7
West Indies in New Zealand
NZ v WI , (3rd Test), Napier, Mar 25-29
Australia in South Africa
Aus v SA , (2nd Test), Durban , Mar 24-28
:: Did you know?
India holds the dubious world record of maximum ducks in two innings (7) and yet winning a Test match (vs. WI April 2002).
:: Cricket Poll
Do you think Sachin will be able to continue playing till the 2007 World Cup ?
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Lets look forward to the ODI series starting from 28th March in the capital and be positive about the outcomes. May the best team win! Do not forget to send in your comments and suggestions! I need them to improve myself! Mail me at nik@corp.123india.com. Find the newsletter interesting enough to refer it to your friends as well! Then use the Refer a Friend option at the bottom of the page. Cya around in a couple of weeks again.
With Warm Regards,
Nik - Editor, 123India.com Cricket
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