Year 2007: India play on despite the turmoil

The chaotic world of Indian cricket hit a new low in 2007 with reluctant captains, invisible coaches, warring officials and rebel games hogging the spotlight.
The real test start over the next two months when India take on world champions Australia in four Test matches Down Under followed by a tri-series also featuring Sri Lanka.

"Australia is the benchmark every team sets for itself," former Test batsman and television commentator Sanjay Manjrekar told AFP. "But some good individual performances gives me hope we will do well." Sourav Ganguly, 35, sacked as captain and player by the then coach Greg Chappell, ended the debate over the future of ageing stars by hammering 1,023 runs from nine Tests with three centuries.
Sachin Tendulkar, 34, the world's leading century-maker with 37 Test and 41 one-day hundreds, was dismissed in the 90s seven times this year but remained in top form with 699 Test and 1,425 one-day runs.

Rahul Dravid, 34, had a lean year by his lofty standards - 585 runs in nine Tests - and was dropped from the one-day team, but remains India's most dependable batsman overseas. The younger Yuvraj Singh, 26, inspired India's Twenty20 triumph with six sixes in one over from England's Stuart Broad and marked his overdue return to Test cricket with a century against Pakistan in Bangalore.

Gary Kirsten will offically take over as the Indian Cricket Coach only from March 1.

India poised to end long wait - Day 5

Misbah-ul-Haq relished India's attack with a second successive century to boost Pakistan's hopes of forcing a draw in the third and final Test here on Tuesday. The middle-order batsman followed his second-Test 161 with a brilliant 133 not out as Pakistan warded off a threat of follow-on to post 537 in their first innings in reply to India's 626.

India were strongly placed to clinch their first Test series against Pakistan at home since 1980 after reaching 131-2 in their second innings at stumps on the penultimate day for an overall lead of 220. The hosts lead 1-0 in the series, with the final Test heading for a draw. India lost openers Gautam Gambhir (three) and Wasim Jaffer (18) before former captains Sourav Ganguly (63 not out) and Rahul Dravid (35 not out) steadied the innings with an unfinished 105-run stand for the third wicket.

Ganguly, who smashed a maiden Test double-hundred in the first innings, raced to his half-century off 57 balls with a six off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and nine fours. The hosts needed a couple of early wickets in the morning to raise victory hopes after Pakistan had resumed at 369-5, but had to wait for two sessions to wrap up the innings on a track where the ball sometimes kept low. India also earned a dubious distinction of conceding a record 76 extras in a Test innings, surpassing the previous highest of 71 by the West Indies against Pakistan at Georgetown in 1988.

2nd Test match - Day 1 Advantage India

India's run-riot with Jaffer on unbeaten 192:

Wasim Jaffer gave a superb exhibition of strokeplay to near his second double-century as India exposed Pakistan's bowling limitations to reach a healthy 352-3 on the opening day of the second Test here on Friday. India won the toss and elected to bat on a flat track at the Eden Gardens.

The 29-year-old Jaffer added 136 for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid (50) and 175 for the next with Sachin Tendulkar (82) to put his team on course for a big total . Dinesh karthik was out early scoring one run in the very secong over of the day.

Sourav Ganguly was batting on 17 when bad light stopped play. Pakistan, grappling with injuries and illness to key players on Thursday, went into the match with four specialist bowlers but their gamble with semi-fit fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar backfired. He bowled four overs in the morning, two in the afternoon and three in the evening without taking a wicket.

Pacemen Mohammad Sami and Sohail Tanvir, and Kaneria were unable to maintain pressure on Jaffer, Tendulkar and Dravid on a first-day pitch having neither pace nor turn. Worse still for Pakistan, they failed to cash in on a chance that came their way when wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal dropped Tendulkar on 28 off Sami in the first over after the tea-break. With the Pakistani attack lacking penetration, Tanvir was asked to bowl left-arm spin in the last session but Jaffer and Tendulkar continued to gather runs with ease.

India's batting was entertaining throughout the day, with Jaffer, Tendulkar and Dravid all making merry. Runs came thick and fast as the hosts scored more than 100 in each session. Dravid shook his head in disbelief when adjudged caught behind off Kaneria by West Indies umpire Billy Doctrove.

Younis Khan is leading the side in place of Shoaib Malik, who failed to recover from an ankle injury sustained while playing football after the first Test in New Delhi on Monday. Malik was replaced with Faisal Iqbal. India lead 1-0 in the three-Test series following their six-wicket victory in the opening match.