Pak vs Ind, Test 3 in Karachi, Day 2 - Lacking the Killer Instinct

How do you assess hard work that results in an innings of 50 odd runs in a test match? Could certainly be looked at as decent contribution resulting from hard fought runs gathered in a low scoring match. When assessing Ganguly and Farhat’s innings on the day though, the judgement is of opportunities lost. Both Ganguly and Farhat should consider themselves lucky to have been provided the opportunity to compete in this match, one for being included due to unclear reasons in place of fresher, brighter talent and the second for even more bizarre reasons, injury absence of Inzi notwithstanding. Ganguly had fared the initial blow from Pakistan, easily ducking wayward bouncers from Shoaib and surviving the nagging line from Asif, with signs of gloom setting across the faces of the Pakistani fielders evident to all. That was so, until a flash of madness prompted Ganguly to hook a rising one from Razzaq to be easily caught on the leg side. After sweetly cutting most short deliveries outside the off, Farhat fell in a similar fashion at a crucial stage in the match. He may get another chance as age is on his side. Ganguly, however, may have made an error that can prove to be fatal to his test future.

Much has been written about the closers, the ones who finish the job, the ones that turn on the killer instinct upon seeing the slightest chance. From all on display here, neither of the two teams qualify to join the group, just yet. Presented with one opportunity after another to close the Indian innings 50-70 runs short of their own effort, a lead not overwhelming in normal circumstances but certainly so in this low scoring encounter, Pakistan let go. Kamran could be spared for dropping a difficult chance well down the leg side, especially considering the diving and jumping he had to do earlier in the day. The catches from Younis and Asif were much more straightforward, and the fielding errors that caused yet more runs to be had by the Indians totally inexcusable. This on the heels of the Indian tactics, who may have gone on the defensive too quickly after pegging Pakistan back to 39 for 6 in the first hour of the match. One is tempted to make a generalization about the defensive mindset of the Sub-continent folks. Defense can be the best offense... occasionally.

The game progressed along rapidly through the course of the day, however. You know a great test match is on hand when every session is crucial, and every afternoon at stumps the chatter and longing for the first session of the next morning begins. So it is in this match, with Pakistan placed with a sizeable lead currently, but one that may seem to be deceptively larger than it is, given that the wicket is easing out as play progresses and shows no signs of cracking or uneven bounce. Both teams have all to play for, with Pakistan hoping to carry on for as long as they can and India looking to chase a total for which they don’t have to bat well into the last day of the match, statistically the best time for Kaneria to have a go.