The following are a few articles written by our regular visitors. The articles are solely the writer's ideas .

I 've always thought that a new bowler should always be tried in an one-day international. A bowler should play atleast 10-15 one-dayers before playing his first test match. This will improve his control and line very much. That is the reason why Prasad tured out to be a good test bowler. The many one-dayers he played before his first test helped him a lot. He could develop a good slower ball also. Moreover you don't need a bowler. great wicket taking bowler to win one-day matches for you. In one-dayers a Lillie or THomson is as good as a Gavin Larsen. All you 've to do is to maintain good line and length and bowl to your field. A very good example to this theory is the recently concluded Aus-SA series in SA. Aus went into the series fresh from defeat in the C&U Series at home with a set of unknown bowlers in Dale and Bichel. They had sent McGrath -their best bowler back home. Still they could defeat SA- arguably the best one-day side in the world. I think India should 've rested Srinath for the Tri Bank series in SA. They could 've tried a new bowler and also probably they could 've avoided burning out Srinath. Why I mentioned these facts is to appreciate the move by the Indian selectors to drop Prasad and Kumble. After repeated bashing at the hands of Jayasurya and other Lankans their confidence would 've hit rock bottom. In cricket confidence can do wonders. By picking up new untested bowlers, the selectors 've ensured that the team does not go into the match with a defeatist attitude. Results are there to be seen. After a long time bowlers 've won 2 consecutive one-day matches for India.

Moreover by giving a break to a good class player struggling for form, one can actually get them back to their original best. When a class player repeatedly fails to deliver, the pressure to perform mounts up rapidly. This plays on his mind and the player goes into a hole. All you 've to do at that time is to give him a break and bring him back for the next series. It will be surprising to see sucha marked improvement in the person. An example for this thory is Azhar. After the failure in WI, he was dropped for the series in India. The way he played in SL after the comeback was there to be seen.

What one should learn from the first 2 matches is that we should pick more players and try them out in various series. By this way you can build competition for the places in the side as well as discover a new Gavaskar or Kapil! ( too optimistic, amn't I?)

On the hottest day so far of this competition, Pakistan managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory thus relenquishing their hold and handing India the Sahara Cup.

The game began with predictable consequences for India who lost the toss and were asked to bat. On a pitch that had sweated due to the previous day's rain, the moisture played its part by allowing the ball to move around on the pitch. As the pitch dried - inconsistency in bounce became an even worrying factor. Add to this Pakistan's need to win, their bowlers managed to contain the Indians.

Ganguly, Karim ( in a new pinch hitting role ) as well as Tendulkar all went cheaply. Tendulkar getting an excellent ball from wide-ball merchant Akram after facing 10 balls. It seemed at 23-3 India were going to struggle to 120. Dravid managed to play a anchor role assited well, yet again by Azhar. Azhar has been transformed since being dropped in the Independance Cup. He has managed to curb his rashness and thus on low scoring difficult wickets is able to 'graft' to ensure runs are compiled. Dravid being dismissed after sharing a 50 run partnership with Azhar allowed Jadeja to come to the crease. It seems that Dravid of late has lost some touch. His lofted shot of Malik looked a shot of frustration at not being able to score runs quickly. With Jadeja and Azhar a fifth wicket stand looked promising - especially when Jadeja hit one ball out of the ground for six and was never found!. A short ball from Akram to Jadeja which was skyed to Moin Khan ended what would have been India's best chance of taking the score to 200. It was at this point that India could have struggled to get 150 on the board - but Robin's cameo innings of 32 from 29 including 2 sixes made India score of 182 look defendable. Pakistan fielding was tight. Javed was the key. Returning figures of 10-4-17-1 assisted well by Akram and Mahmood, it was the number of extras ( 33 ) that put a slight stain on what would otherwise have been a good fielding performance.

Before Pakistan batted, Raja had asked for a heavier roller to be used on the pitch. This aided in making a much drier pitch lose any of its previous mischief - though this was not to be the case. Pakistan with Anwer and Afridi set a blistering pace. Anwer's session yesterday has allowed him to get his form which seemed to have left him in the first two games. India did not help as the bowlers bowled consistently short of length allowing both Afridi and Anwer to flex their arms. Anwer went as soon as Pakistan's fifty was on the board - a flick of the pads straight to Dravid who took a fine low catch. However, Afridi carried on. More a one day pinch hitter than a class batsman he swayed the bat to good affect. Finally Kuruvilla bowled up to Afridi and this time was given very little room in which to hit over the top and was caught by Sachin. Raja came, played a couple of good strokes before hitting a lazy cover drive off Harvinder straight to Ganguly. At 3 for 87 the Pakistani's still held the upper hand. Malik is the player in form. However the Indians sensed that a couple of more wickets would allow a more competitive game and at this point the bowling became tighter and the fielding sharper. Malik again was taken out by Ganguly trying to play a shot to long on but holing out to Tendulkar. Ganguly is India's 'secret weapon' as Sachin once qouted. Yet again he rescued India with his underestimated bowling. Consistent line and length - variation in swing and seam allowed him to take the game to the Pakistani's. They in turn responded by what I can only term as suicide. Hasan Raza skyed to Jadeja, Ijaz to Kambli and Moin playing a similar shot as Raja but straight to Robin. Kambli deserves a mention. Ijaz - who on so many occaisions has rescued Pakistan was patiently scoring runs - but his skyer to Kambli who had just walked onto the pitch was a scene to savour for any Indian. Ganguly bowled slightly down the leg which Ijaz connected to. He hit the ball towards fine leg and backward point where Kambli judged it well and caught it. It took Ganguly a couple of seconds from the square to the outfield to get to Kambli first!.

It was now that the Indians knew that the game was theirs. They needed to turn the screw.Pakistan still could have scored the required 67 runs for victory when Ijaz left but Moin let Pakistan down. It was left to three youngsters and one senior to save the game. Azzar Mahmood came and played a glorious cover drive - more a push which was timed perfectly. But chasing a ball bowled wide down the leg side was connected to and Karim took the catch giving Mohanty his second. In came Aaqib. Aaqib is a stange man - a 'macho' image is always portrayed. He seems to show very little maturity in thinking as well as following instructions. His bouncers at Sachin as well as Kuruvilla did very little to aid in dismissing players but was aggressive. He adopted the same tactics to his batting. The first two deliveries were 'slogged' to the long off and cover boudaries off Mohanty. However attempts on other were less fruitful. With still a chance of being able to take the game - Saqlain appeared to be upset with Aaqib's recklessness. Advice from the youngster was unheeded and calls for single to give Saqlain the strike were not observed. What a selfish character Aaqib is!

One has to be very impressed with young Saqlain. At 20 he is if not the best off spinner in the game. He has matured leaps and hurdles since he first appeared on the scene and at his age has great committment to himself to learn as well as trying to achive for the team. We are watching a player who will be Pakistan's future captain as well as one of their best ambassador's for their game. Aaqib dismissal was not a question of if but when. It was fitting that Ganguly took the wicket in his last over to achieve a great 5 wicket haul returning figures of 10-3-16-5 - which deservedly gave him the man of the match award.

With Aaqib gone and Akram at the wicket, it was clear that singles would be hard to come by and Saqlain decided for the ariel root. Off Kuruvilla he sliced a skyer to third man and was caught well by Mohanty who took a low running catch. What a game - what a fight back. The India win the third game and take the Sahara Cup. On reflection - the loss of the game is pinpointed to one area - Pakistans middle order. It seems that they are not able to apply themselves to a situation.This is probably a reflection that having played on too many slow wickets, seeming wickets will require further net practice. Although India have won the series - the game ain't over till the fat lady sing's, as they say. India will be hoping to use this win as a platform to secure a 5-0 white wash. The Pakistani's will now play for pride - whatever, the next two games should still be keenly fought.

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