1st Test - India Vs WI - Kotla Update - Will India win ??

On day 2 at Ferozshah Kotla, 17 wickets tumbled  as Indians  buckled giving a huge 95 run lead to the total of 304 made by West Indies.  Windies lost 2 quick wickets when the attack was opened by Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha.   The highest fourth-innings target successfully achieved in Delhi is 276 by West Indies against India in 1987. England are second, with a successful chase of 207 against India in 1972. India's best chase is 203 against Pakistan in 2007.  Statistics are nothing but indicators of past happenings from which present can be somewhat determined.  Ojha’s 6 for 72 backed up by Ashwin’s 3 ensured containing WI to 304 but the famed Indian batting line us failed yet another time in recent years.  Chanderpaul has been a thorn in Indian flesh and made a good 118.

The Indian openers Sehwag and Gambhir provided a flier of a start but good team work, captaincy of Darren Sammy and good work of Carlton Baugh ensured Indians folding cheaply.  

There is news that  Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to slash ticket prices for the third Test between India and West Indies to try and draw larger crowds to the Wankhede Stadium. The decision comes after the low attendances during the recent India-England ODI series - 13,000 tickets were sold at the Wankhede Stadium, which seats 33,000.  Daily tickets for the Test will be priced as low as Rs 50 and season tickets for vantage viewing points like the premium Vithal Divecha Pavilion will be on offer for Rs 600/-.   Remember that the ticket were going up and for IPL they were exorbitantly priced.  large a crowd as possible through smart ticket pricing. And that is actually not so easy.

More than the prices, it is the mistakes of administration / distribution that always hurt the fans.  Crowds would gather in huge numbers before every match at Chepauk, the infrastructure would be poor.. only a few tickets would be sold and then there would be a board that ticket sales are over… how and what rates the rest are sold is anybody’s guess… in some ways it is this wrong administration which is driving away the spectators from the game.  

The jump of glee – Darren Sammy (photo from cricinfo.com)

In Delhi at lunch, the Test was interestingly poised, WI have extended their overall lead to more than 200, a position which loomed distinctly far at one stage, this morning.   Chanderpaul and Sammy are at the crease with 7 wickets down for 109.   They were 63/6 when Samuels left and 84-7 when Baugh fell.  Ashwin has 3 for 21 whilst Umesh Yadav, the other debutant took 2 for 31.  An eternally optimistic Indian fan, hopes of another Indian win whilst a score of 250+ could be treacherous on this Kotla wicket.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.