The first test series after my relocation (A weak West Indies team does not count). Getting a chance to watch live test cricket after a long time. It has been a bust so far, except for:

– Laxman’s and Dravid’s batting the 2nd Day morning at Trent Bridge.

– Amazing swing bowling by Sreesanth during the 1st Day at Trent Bridge.

– Sachin’s batting on a “different” pitch from other batsmen on the final day at Trent Bridge.

– Dravid’s masterful century at Lord’s.

But overall, it has been a pretty dismal team effort. Without a doubt, the fact is that there is just too much cricket. Just as how the ATP players are overworked throughout the year with just 1 month of off-season, here we have Cricket round the clock, with no time or vacations in between. No, 2-3 days do not a vacation make!

Pretty much everyone other than the coach is injured. I personally think that BCCI is nuts to think that there is unlimited stamina and energy with Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar, Laxman and Dravid. And these are older dudes! “Young guns” have been doing more hopping (from the short-pitched chin music) than a frightened rabbit. Ishant Sharma looks promising. Praveen Kumar is a bit too slow to trouble batsmen significantly, except on bowler-friendly tracks. Harbhajan? He is in the team as a bowler?!

I do not think that it is a shame to lose to the 3rd-best Test Team, on their turf, on pitches tailored for them. But the way we folded in the 2nd test was just pathetic. Atleast at Lord’s, we were just 20+ overs from a respectable draw.

Now, at Edgbaston, India will thrash England? I wish!

Adios …