The Hindu : Sport : Rain is a pain

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
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Sport

Sport

Rain is a pain

Vijay Lokapally

THE SMILE IS BACK: Rahul Dravid must be glad to have clinched the one-day series. — Photo: AP

CHITTAGONG : The feared cyclone did not hit this port city but the third and final one-day match of the series was abandoned without a ball being bowled at the Bir Sreshtha Stadium here on Tuesday.

India claimed the honours 2-0 with M.S. Dhoni being declared the `man of the series'.

Overnight rains had left the outfield unplayable and play was called off following two inspections by umpires Asoka de Silva and Enamul Haque Moni.

Poor drainage system

There was little chance of play when the teams arrived at the venue. The expectations of the spectators were misplaced since the ground staff was helpless in the absence of a proper drainage system.

The Indian team was given early indications and it wisely retired to the hotel before returning in the afternoon for the presentation ceremony.

The series ended on a disappointing note for the Bangladesh camp. Skipper Habibul Bashar conceded the Indians were a superior lot but used the stage to drive home the point that Bangladesh too had its moments in the series.

"I thought we played good cricket. We had India under pressure in the first match and should have won,'' Bashar did his best to keep the team's spirits high for the two-match Test series that begins three days from now.

Bashar's counterpart Rahul Dravid was, as always, clinical in his assessment of the team. He gave credit to the opposition but did not miss the chance to highlight his team's achievements.

"We were the better team. It was not a matter of winning 3-0 but playing good cricket and we did that,'' said the India skipper.

A few positives

Reflecting on the series, Dravid observed there were a few positives. "The way we came back in the first one-dayer with five wickets down. The partnership between Dhoni and Karthik was a huge thing for us. In that game especially, from that situation to win the game gave us a lot of confidence going into the second game.''

Dravid rated the bowlers high. "I thought the bowling was good, especially in the second game. Both the fast bowlers and both the spinners bowled well in the second game. Gautam Gambhir got a hundred in the second match. So there were a few positives that we can take from the two games that we played.''

There was praise for the fielders too. "I was not happy with our fielding in the first game. In the second game there was definitely an improvement. I mean there is always going to be improvement and you got to be happy. I don't know at what point you are actually ever going to be satisfied. In this game I think you will never be satisfied. You need to keep improving and keep looking to get better and that is what we keep looking in all departments of the game.'' Dravid was not pleased when someone asked him why were R.P. Singh and Robin Uthappa not given an opportunity.

"You can't always play everybody. It is a game of eleven people. You got to try and play whom you can, what the situation demands. You play what you think is your best eleven. You can't go on a tour and hope to give everybody an opportunity. It doesn't happen like that. You can hope to try and give an opportunity to as many people as you can.'' Bangladesh, in Dravid's opinion, would find it tough in the Test series.

"It is obviously going to be difficult for them in the Test matches simply because they have not played that much of Test cricket. We have a lot of our boys who have played a lot of Test cricket and there is a lot of experience so we expect to do well against them in both the matches.

Dhoni delighted

"Hopefully we can get some good weather and some good wickets and we hope to do really well.'' Dhoni, obviously delighted, did well to share the honours with his mates.

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