RCB VS MI

 ITS THE CLASH OF THE TITANS...ITS SACHIN VS DRAVID...HOPE THAT RCB WINS 2DAY AND THEIR WINNING STREAK CONTINUES...GO RCB GO!!!!MAR DRAVID PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN 2DAY'S MATCH....

 

Critics can say  whatever, but class is class

  Tuesday’s game showed us one thing: It doesn’t matter where you’re from, or what form of the game it is, when good players are challenged, or criticised by people who don’t have anything else to say, they tend to show the world why they’re considered good, or great.

That’s what Jacques Kallis did on Tuesday and that’s what Rahul Dravid has done for us more than a few times. Players like Kallis and Dravid are pure quality.
They look to take control of the situation and generally thrive in pressure-cooker situations.
Even in T20 cricket, their strike rates are comparable to those of many big-hitters, and their innings are perhaps more valuable because you know these are the men you can depend on. They’ll invariably bail you out when the more flamboyant men fail.
The thing is, because of the way they bat, with calm authority, and because we’re not used to seeing them bat like this, we’re conditioned to think this format isn’t their cup of tea. What we tend to overlook is that they adapt, and adapt beautifully. Experience is a priceless asset and we’re fortunate to have people like them.
But things got a bit hairy for a bit on Tuesday. On such a wicket, where the runs keep coming, it’s very difficult. As a captain and a bowler, you start chasing the ball; as in, you start putting a fielder wherever the ball goes. We bowled well during the restrictions, but we gave away too many later and missed a couple of chances. The wicket was a batter’s feast and they took whatever was on offer.
We thought we gave away 25-30 too many, but told ourselves to stick to our goal, which is
to chase down totals in 19 overs.
That 19-over mark is important, because it keeps us wired. Otherwise, a couple of good overs often get batters complacent and we can’t afford that in this format.
Which is why it was fantastic, the way Jacques controlled the game, how Manish Pandey helped give us that all-important start and then, how Robin Uthappa played — he was exceptional. I remember telling Mark Boucher and someone else that we needed one game-changing innings, someone to get a fifty in 20 balls. Robin gave us that.
We’ll be looking forward to doing it again against Rajasthan. They’re hit by injuries but we’ll be looking to keep our momentum going, play to our strengths.
On a personal note, my injury seems okay. I’m all set to play. And have my team win.

Kevin Pietersen aided by Rahul Dravid advice

Pietersen was out bowled for 99 but it was a welcome return to form

Kevin Pietersen paid tribute to India batsman Rahul Dravid after returning to form with a knock of 99 on day one of England's first Test in Bangladesh.

The batsman has only one century since 2008 and has struggled in South Africa and the warm-up games in Bangladesh.
But he said a phone call with Dravid this week has helped turn his form around as England ended play on 374-3.
"I spoke with Rahul and his advice was spectacular. I'd have taken a 99 before play, so today was special," he said.
"I have worked so hard, especially this week, and I have genuinely absolutely loved it.
"I suppose I felt under pressure in terms of the way I play left-arm spin because it's troubled me the last few weeks. I knew I had to work it out - the top three bowlers in the world are left-armers and with umpires happy to give you out lbw on the front foot now I've had to adjust things.

"I've had plenty of time to speak to (England team director) Andy Flower - a great player of spin - in the nets and he's helped. And speaking to Rahul, another amazing player of spin, was a huge help.
"I've played with Rahul for (IPL outfit) Bangalore, I've played a lot of Test match cricket against him and in two weeks I'll be spending a month with him (at the IPL).
"It's great to spend time speaking to people like that and he's helped a heck of a lot. Little things like where my hands were, where I put my feet, what areas I wanted to hit into. He gave me a couple of tips he uses and it really worked out great.
"I've made a slight adjustment, put hours in in the nets and sweated more than I've sweated through my entire career and that's paid off.
"Sometimes you have to work on your game harder than at other times and that hard work paid off today - 99 is better than nought," he added on BBC Radio 5 live.
    
While his innings was a welcome return to something like his best for Pietersen, it was overshadowed by opener Alastair Cook's imperious 158 not out on his debut as England Test captain.
The left-hander struck 14 fours and two sixes in his 244-ball innings as he batted through the day to become the fifth Englishman to reach three figures in his first Test outing as captain, with Pietersen the fourth.
"Getting a hundred on your first day as Test captain is something dreams are made of," he said.
"To have batted all day was fantastic. It's always the thing on these surfaces - maintain concentration, try to maintain your tempo, and dig in.
"I've certainly got my sights set on a big innings, yes. If I can get back in on the second morning and keep doing the things I did today, hopefully I can go on to a really big one."
England were certainly helped by a below-par performance from the home bowlers, while opposing captain Shakib Al Hasan's decision to field first at the toss in no little way handed Cook's side the initiative.
        
"I was surprised at the toss and yes I would have batted," admitted Cook. "It looks a good pitch, but then maybe they know something we don't."
And Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons conceded the decision to field first was "in hindsight, a bad decision".
"We thought we knew a bit about the Chittagong wicket," he said. "We thought that it would spin on day one and get flatter and flatter like it has in the past, but for some unknown reason it didn't turn.
"We've probably put ourselves out of the game. I don't think two teams can win the game from here.
"We are pretty much out of the game, unless we bowl terrifically in the morning and even then we have to bat the house down."

      POEM ON RAHUL DRAVID!!!!!

'oh Rahul,star of our dreams,
u r dashing nd ur eyes gleam,
u make loads of runs,
most of ur innings consists of tonns,
Each stroke u play has a class in it,
which maddens bret,murali ,warne to say "ohhhh shit!!!",

poor-poor murali,glenn The older boyz,
think tht they can take ur wickets like toys,

but they have to suffer nd have to cry,
till the umpire pities tem nd bid u good-bye,

Adams,pontings,maliks ' gangs,
are very sad bcoz more r ur fans,,

u r better then saurav sachin and gavaskar nd all the BIG names tht one can remember,,

oH!! cricketer of the century,,you r really very cute,
As sweet as the music of FLUTE