Cricket Uncut
A group blog run by professional cricket writers from across the world
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Making bad luck
This first appeared on Cricinfo's Plays of the Day. It was written shortly before tea, when Sourav Ganguly was still at the crease.
"Good players make their own luck," the old cliche goes, and Pakistan have relentlessly made their own bad luck in this Test. There they were, having got Virender Sehwag out and restricted India to 55 runs in 28 overs after lunch. Sourav Ganguly decided to hit out. He flayed at an awaygoing ball from Mohammad Sami, edged it, and Younis Khan at slip took a good catch. Then the umpire's arm made its move. No-ball.
The very next ball, Ganguly guided Sami to Taufeeq Umar at gully. This was not a no-ball, but Umar spilt the catch. Sami looked as if he might start crying.
"Good players make their own luck," the old cliche goes, and Pakistan have relentlessly made their own bad luck in this Test. There they were, having got Virender Sehwag out and restricted India to 55 runs in 28 overs after lunch. Sourav Ganguly decided to hit out. He flayed at an awaygoing ball from Mohammad Sami, edged it, and Younis Khan at slip took a good catch. Then the umpire's arm made its move. No-ball.
The very next ball, Ganguly guided Sami to Taufeeq Umar at gully. This was not a no-ball, but Umar spilt the catch. Sami looked as if he might start crying.
