4 of our top order are sick but inexperienced... hopefully they'll start batting to their true potential more often like they did today.
You guys also need to bowl as well as you can for as long as possible when you and Chris Martin are on a roll you're as good as any... Just keep plugging away and don't give them anything, even if they get on top for a session or two... thats how weve won tests recently but it must be harder than it sounds. Good luck tomorrow keep up the good work this could be your test! 5-for ;)

Nice blog mate....i really enjoy reading ur blogs

I was eagerly looking for your column. Good. Tomorrow you will score 50 and then NZ fold up for 475.
Good luck Ian.

Congrats for nearing the 1 million mark...

Have a nice rest Ian, becz you are gonna be in the field for the rest of the test match.

G'day Iain, Nice blog.
Such is life, nice one day and not so nice the next. Doesn't take long for the tables to turn does it?
Good to see the Kiwis batting well.
Hope India bat well too - though I wouldn't wanna see a draw.
Cheers
V from Canberra

Well played by new zealand. A score of 500 looks a reality. But beware ! The pitch is a belter. Final result will be a draw.

Well played by new zealand. A score of 500 looks a reality. But beware ! The pitch is a belter. Final result will be a draw.

Nice end to the day for the Kiwis, considering the start, Ross played well, though had some real tough times at the start. Jesse Ryder..well i think he is just having a time of his life, indians just cant find a way to get him out. To be really honest watching you guys bat, i am felling really sorry for you Ian, i think you are in for atleast a 2 day thrashing from the indian batsmen. Enjoy the coffe and the corsswords while they last, considering the pitch i think you will have a lot of leather to chase in the coming days. Gratz on the 1 million mark of views, well considering india was touring its no suprise we comment about cricket where ever whenever on whatever whom so ever it might be. By the way india is looking for its 100th test victory just for your info.

Gr8 Fight Back. A very interesting test is on the cards forthe next 4 days. Looking forward to your bowling.

My intuition says u gonna get a five-for in the second innings!Good luck!

Great update Iain, Love your blog its really insightful on what happens inside the shed. Keep up the great work (bowling and batting :D)

Hey Iain, may you score 100 tomoroow and may India win!

Really enjoy your blog, Iain! Hope the pitch breaks up a bit so you can have some fun bowling on day 2!

keep going young mann...be aware of hw indians are going to blast u all the park on sch a flat track...kidding...best of luck!!!!!get gng........

A great partnership of 271 between Jesse and Rossco.. They have taken Newzealand out of danger. Its good to see Taylor back in form as he was struggling in earlier matches and Ryder is in great form. Indian team still not able to find his weakness to get him out. Overall day 1 belongs to Newzealand however still a long way to go... You never know what is gonna happen because one good sessions can change the game.. So well done for today and all the best for tomorrow.. cya....

Hi Ian, I am a regular reader of your blog and it was a bit disappointing to see that today no body commented on the blog. So, here's my first ever comment on a blog.
Well, enjoy your coffee and crosswords as much as you can today, for tomorrow, you may have to toil hard in the field as the pitch seems to be batsman friendly and once the Indians come out to bat, things will probably get equally uncomfortable.

fggggd

while i was going through your article i thought i am reading a commentary of a Match, I would like to see New Zealand play batter cricket over the 5 days game, keep them coming but try to put some spice in them,

Kudos, you guys made a match worth watching now, nobody likes onsided game. It will be very intresting how India will respond tomorrow, what struck me most was the influence Dhoni has had on this team, it did show in thier bodylanguage. One the other side it also showed why Yuvi is still not eligible to play Test. I'm scared to seek KDK behind the stumps, the nightmare from lanka keeps popping up when he just let go plumb chances. I wish Kiwis good luck, you really have made India think a lot tonight at dinner table. I will not miss tomorrow's action.

great going Ian....Nice to hear dressing room stuff...keep it up....

I went to bed at 30/3 over here (London) so pleasantly surprised to see the scorecard this morning! Go the boys.
Congratulations on your 1,000,000th read Iain, I love the blog and look forward to it so I can see why it's so popular. Keep it coming!

Hi Iain...

Ya it was really nice to see the partnership between Jesse and Rossco....hopefully you guys would go past at least 500 from hereon, and then hope it would not continue to be flat track when you come out to bowl.

You have had the greatest 1st day, one could dream to have in a test match, and hope you could pull up a win for all your hard efforts....

Hi Ian,
Glad to hear you reached 1,000,000 views in this blog. I love reading your blogs. It is simple and so truthful that I get a feeling that I am sitting with you guys in the dressing rooom. Keep up the good work. Never stop writing!!!
Cheers.

Well done Ian. When I first saw you on television against SouthAfrica in SA(You had a Moustache then), I just thought you are one of those typical Nonchalant Kiwi Fast bowler. I honestly thought you would'nt play more than one test match.

Its funny that I have become a very huge fan of your blogs. Nowadays, I could'nt miss any of your blogs.

Its always nice to know what a cricketer goes through both mentally as well as on day-to-day routines before an International Match. We never had an oppurtunity to know these things before.

Its very interesting to know how a fast bowler feels about, after delivering first few overs about his Action & Followthrough. Its pretty much a rythm thing isnt it.

Who said cricket is a game of Batsman. Keep going Ian. (Iam also a bowler in my club you know)

So, well done sir. Keep writing.

that was a rollicking partnership...well done..
hope to hit back on day two.. :)
keep writing

I've been trying to read ur blog as and when it comes. have a point to make, that in test match bowling we don't the kind of variety we see in 50-50 or 20-20. Sometimes test match bowling becomes very predicatable, may be because you have long spells to bowl. Like today, indian bowlers lacked imagination while bowling, and gave away too many soft deliveries. No yorkers, slow ball, variations inpace were to be seen.

Hope when ur time comes to bowl we are not disappointed.

Let's just hope you don't have to bat :) Not that you wouldn't do well of course......

Good Blog, Yea thats a lot of clicks(1000,000) on your blog . Keep it up. Batting looks easy out there, so it will be intresting to see how the pitch behaves for the rest of the game.

It would be good to see NZ bowling improved..still don't have that front line fire power wicket taking bowler like bond. mills fears bowling as everybody is targeting him and you are just ok. however, top order have worked a lot in batting, ryder specially has emerged like mr. dependable so far.
NZ must improve bowling otherwise it won't seem a fightback whatever score the batters get. But having said that, 1st day definitely boosted all nz fans. all the best

What I like about his blog is his sense of humor. immensely readable.

Wow what a way to make the Indian team get into the think tank..This was expected and the four days to follow will surely test both the teams patience and confidence. A result is for sure on this dead rubber. My best wishes to both the teams and the umpires. Cherish the days to come.

Hey man,

I am not going to write down the stereotypical reply of "your blogs rock", "I am a fan of your blog".
To, be honest, your blogs are good and nothing extraordinary or special. Just like a blog written by the guy next door, but that actually makes it special. After reading all those blogs with strong and big words, your blogs are a breathe of fresh air.

Leaving your blogs alone, I am actually keen to watch you bowl. I am pretty impressed with your bounce, that is the key to your success, but you are more of a rhythm bowler and the only one in kiwi side who looks like earning a wicket. I wish you all the best to give us a good contest.

Hope you are completely recovered. All the best.

Ajith

that was a rollicking partnership...well done..
hope to hit back on day two.. :)
keep writing

I am not sure if its a problem of my machine, I cant see any comments. Is it that all fanatic Indian supporters dont have anything to say about todays game. Well done Jesse, I am turning into your fan. Thanks NZ for today. Hope this series will be good hereafter.

hey there iain
Today was an awesome day of test cricket! I was good to see the two boys from Wairarapa Bush doing the job. Good luck for the rest of the test.

Hi LOB,

I hope you will get your chance to bat tomorrow.

Go for it Iain, keep those blogs coming. so u see, Indians are not that bad at all, at least they are trying their level best to bring some interest back in the series, otherwise it was looking hopelessly one sided. All the best with the ball this time around, although things do not look so good for bowlers in this pitch.

Go for it Iain, keep those blogs coming. so u see, Indians are not that bad at all, at least they are trying their level best to bring some interest back in the series, otherwise it was looking hopelessly one sided. All the best with the ball this time around, although things do not look so good for bowlers in this pitch.

Hi Ian there was some intial movement in the pitch that too vanished very soon and think this test is going to be a batting paradise for both the teams and probably test may end in draw so take rest and get prepared for the next match....

It's so awesome that you find time and enthusiasm to post on your blog after every day of international cricket involving New Zealand. It is interesting to look at the match from a player's perspective. I started reading your blog after the India series started (I support Indian team!!!), but I am sure I will be following your blog henceforth. Keep the words flowing...Cheers

Dear Sir Iain
It is a great honour for me to speak to you over your blogging post.
But how will you cope when sehwag gets tight up in your grill strait out of compton

Love ur blog..
Honest Comments made!!
Can give a little insight on the opposition as well..

Great blog Iain, I have read it religiously from the first post. Jesse looked so good today, I'm convinced he could become one of the best players in the world. Such a simple effective technique - watch and play the ball very late, get right forward or right back in defence, and transfer the weight through the shot. He really looks a class act.

Good luck with the rest of the game, you boys deserve a good win.

Hi IOB:

Day One to you fellas..Good wicket to bat on. Maybe you guys can post 600, giving you enough time on your crosswords. Got so used to seeing Dhoni marshalling the troops, it took a while to realise he was missing (Got up late, you see)A couple of sitters dropped..you guys must be praying that yuvraj continues in the slip cordon!! I have never seen him there before..
If you guys get 600, we won't be far behind..
Cheers!! Enjouyed your blog..as usual..keep it coming.

Great blog Iain, I have read it religiously from the first post. Jesse looked so good today, I'm convinced he could become one of the best players in the world. Such a simple effective technique - watch and play the ball very late, get right forward or right back in defence, and transfer the weight through the shot. He really looks a class act.

Good luck with the rest of the game, you boys deserve a good win.

Ian, I promise if I ever go to a stadium and see you playing..I will hold up a placard with your blog link on it. Good to read your blog again... you guys handled India very well today, esp Jesse and Ross. Jesse is an amazing find for NZ....few years from now, you guys will be one of the top test sides for sure. If you get a chance tomorrow to bowl, bowl well...looking forward to see you on the field...this test might go down to the wire. Sunny from texas, usa.

good joke about the reason for why dhoni isnt playing!

gud one mate!!!
i was up at 5am and NZ were 3 down and i thought it would be another one sided game but hats off to both ross and ryder for the way they held both ends together.the first session tom will be crucial and if ind can knock off a few and restrict nz to less than 450 then we have a game on our hands(and off course you will get to ball soon rather than helping out a crossword and enjoying coffee) have a great day tom...cheers!!!

Good fight from Ryder an Taylor.
India really missed Dhoni...........

dis iz my first comment.today nz game was amazing and luck was wid team.unlucky yuvraj missfield today nd gave easy chances.taylor was in flow and i will praise ryder.he is in best form,no,i will say he iz working hard on his batting.he is NEXT STAR of cricketer,he should see sachin batting ,surely it will help him.
I m indian so i hope india will do better tomorrow and nz also try to score.atlast dis match iz ging to be challanging match.

Hi Brien, this is Akhil from India. We guys here are great fan of your blog and keep discussing it in our coffee breaks. Would like to know more about your views on eack player from both the sides. That will be good read. Keep up the good work. Regards.

Hi, O'brein..
I like to read your text always.. i love your body language in the field and also your hair style.Nice..Hope to see you with bagfull of indian top order wickets. Take care.Have Gud time ... See you in the field soon..

Hi Iain
Wishing you all the best for your turn in the middle .
so far the pitch is looking absolute belter , a heaven for batting , but one should not forget , on this same pitch one can turn the game around on his own sholuder's by keep asking the batsmen to play more and more. with a good decent first inning score , have 4 slips 2 gullies , just have a go at indian batsmen ,pitch the ball up ask them to drive , tempt them and they will fall i am damn sure., dn't forget , they are not good when opposition piles up big first inning scores , moreover MSD is not in the playing 11, luck might favour you guyz.
all the best .

Nice one Iain. I really look forward to your blog.Today you guys maintained a good scoring rate as well as only 4 wickets lost.But hard times await you when you guys field at this pitch,though selecting Jeetan is a good option I think. Wishing good luck to you in the remainder of the test,

Nice to read a blog that's just informative and not downright opinionated.
Good luck in the series against India. It won't be easy but I'm sure you're all up to it.
Now, what's my prize for being the millionth reader?

Hi there!
was a pretty 'batty' day...
hope this gets a bit exciting later on!

i really don't like draws, not i NZ for sure..

Hope to see Indians bat 2moro and a big one this time from Sehwag/
Dissapointing not to see MS..

HAve a great time with ball dude!
with this pitch, you do need well wishes.. :P

Jesse and Taily played awesome...some beautiful strokes specially from Taily..
But, those half chances shud hv been taken by indians who seemed sloppy today..

Nevertheless, hope the bowlers strike back tomorrow(hoping harbhajan gets tuned too)//

keep posting dude!

When you get to bowl Ian, Keep it really full, with a big total it's OK to go for a few, but then mix it up with sharp bouncers... Bounce is the only thing this wicket has.. Good luck mate

What are the Predictions Iain.. Do you think that you guys can bowl out India Twice in this Wicket ;-) Look forward to your batting tomm;-)

hey mr. o'brien,why u always write when you've palyed well,or won the match?why u not write when your opponents win or when they're in better position?
come on mate,show some sportsman spirit.
here's a suggestion from me-BEWARE OF SEHWAG.
u still have to pick 20 wickets to win.u played good cricket,but dont be overconfident.

i can tell this is going to be a draw so you better make some run eh lain

You sure rest yourself mate as much as you can...you gonna have long days ahead....toiling and bowling endless..ATB..nice blogs keep up the good work...hope you guys dont get bundled in the 2nd innings(very likely if india bats 2 days off)!! Good luck on your 1 million hit!! Keep walking!!

Newzealand are in good position at the moment.Be fresh and bowl well tomorrow so that we can enjoy a good contest atleast in this match. Good luck mate

Newzealand are in good position at the moment.Be fresh and bowl well tomorrow so that we can enjoy a good contest atleast in this match. Good luck mate

Ian , nice blog , hope the 1000,000th visitor read this ,,, having read all your blogs , can i suggest that you tend to concentrate more on what happened in the match in the start of the blog, but for few of the nicknames you use like Guppy, Mac , it is pretty much commentary , which we get enough of , can you write more on what is hapenning off the field , with the players waiting to bat next and things like that...

all in all , very enojoyable blog

Cheers

Kudos to Taylor and Ryder. As they say, make hay while the sun shines and also grease up for when India come in to bat on this placid wicket.

Nice one again Iain. Guess India needed to convert those half chances on this belter of a track.

The one on Craig McMillan was awesome. I really have no clue why is ICL being punished for being the ones to originate the idea of a high-profile domestic T20 competition.

Cheers for the post Ian,

Today sure was a great day of cricket, I was pulling my hair out after Guptill departed, but gee what a great knock by Jessie and Rosco.

Please give Franky my support, I really want him to do well tommorow. I know he has it in him, but by god he looked awful in that last session.

I look forward to you knocking the top off the Indians tommorow and levelling this series.

Best of luck!

Luck had a big part to play in NZ's batting display today...all said and done Jesse Ryder is a treat to watch...he kind of reminds me of trescothick..donno why...i think ian that you will get an opportunity to bat sometime soon tmrw....hope its not bhajji ur facing up to

Huh !! again so quick with your story. Will wait and see if you guys can get India out for a cheap score

Nice blog.
Where's the link for the auction?

Great day for the kiwis..Atlast batsman stand up n deliver..I guess shud look to bat on till tea n get around 550-600 n thn get thm in for a session n get a few wud be gr8..Hoping for another kiwi day tomm n you gettin a few wickets..Cheerzz!!!

Great day for the kiwis..Atlast batsman stand up n deliver..I guess shud look to bat on till tea n get around 550-600 n thn get thm in for a session n get a few wud be gr8..Hoping for another kiwi day tomm n you gettin a few wickets..Cheerzz!!!

Great day for the kiwis..Hoping for another kiwi day tomm n u getti sum wickets after u guyz get abt 550...Shud get thm in after tea..Cheerzz

Great day for the kiwis..Atlast batsman stand up n deliver..I guess shud look to bat on till tea n get around 550-600 n thn get thm in for a session n get a few wud be gr8..Hoping for another kiwi day tomm n you gettin a few wickets..Cheerzz!!!

Hi Brian. Good luck to you and your team for the rest of the match! Its good to see the New zealand batting lineup giving some tough time to the indian bowlers. I guess its going to be batsman game at least for the first 3 days. Be ready for a tough time in the field when its your turn..

I guess you could make this section more interesting by throwing some light on what goes on in the pavilion and dressing room while the match is on. I liked the Macmillan - MS joke :-)

Excellant day for New Zealand and helped by poor catching by Indians.I on behalf of cricket fans thank you for excellant writing and we get the insides of the players through you who are playing.I am becoming your fan for your writing

hey ian!great innings 4m ross n jesse!jesse was simply great..he has just turned into an awesome batsman to watch hope u guys win this one!all d best dude!

Hi Ian,

Very well written, I personally hope for India's sake that you don't get to rest tommorow and your back on the field early enough with India batting :-). India hasn't had such a day in a long time I think, ryder and taylor played exceptionally well and didn't look like getting out all day, ryder looks set for a big one. Unless India do something special tommorrow this match is running away (bhajji are you listening?). Hope your injury from the last match has healed and you're back to a 100% to have a crack at the indians.

good luck!
-Kapil

Well Iain!!!
I think India is gonna win this match no matter what!!!because they are the best and will remain the best!!
But u write nice blogs!!

hey mate, nice blog here.... must say u guys did really well to get back from 23/3. Great batting by Taylor and Ryder. Hopefully tmw we get to see u show ur stuff with the ball. It would be great to see you do well on this pitch, but it is gonna be hard to get the Indians out. Watch out for Sehwag again mate!
Cheers!

New Zealand are totaaly rubbish. Ross Taylor doesn't have a clue where he's trying to hit the ball most of the time and Ryder is just going through a decent patch at the moment.

India will out score New Zealand, then The Black Caps will fall apart in their second dig. Mark my words.

One final note, New Zealand are enjoying this road for the time being, Kiwis' should remember that India will also run riot on this pitch.

hey...mate just wanna say u hav a natural flair n class in ur cricket writings......a very successful journalism career beckons in the future...:-)...as for the cricket, Ryder n Taylor batted superbly....hopefully ull do great once ur turn to bowl comes.....however, u will not get a better chance then this test match to turn the tables on a mighty Indian side...hopefully u guys wont mess it up! looking forward to an exciting match.....gud luck.

Mate, you certainly wear your heart on the sleeves. I am glad that you have been honest in your comments. Looking at the pitch, I think it has nothing for the bowlers.Whatever it was, probably the first hour or so. I am sure the Black Caps will be enjoying their dinner since they have much to cheer about in the series. But, if you guys pile a mount of runs in the 1st Innings, do note that you need 20 wickets. Mate, time and pitch will be the crucial factor here. Once again,well-written article. We look forward to see you in India sometimes.

Hehe Iain, you should probably ask one of these Indian companies to donate a dollar for your favorite charities everytime your blog gets a hit ! That way you would be one happy 'millionaire'

The 2nd test started off well, hope this one goes to the wire, don't care much about who wins :)

Well Ian, no mention of the topic of the day in my opinion, that is "slip fielders".
This is certainly an IDEOLOGY where India is lagging far behind Australia. In case one has a look at the place at which the Indian Captain, of past or present fields, one would clearly see that the Indian Captain is not doing any justice to his teams’ cause. This has been happening for quite some time now.
In case one gets back to the days before Sachin was in reins, he used to be the best Indian fielder in slips. When he replaced Azhar in 1999, Sachin put himself out of slips and would generally field at mid-on or mid-off. WHY? When even he knew that he was best fielder of his side at 1st slip position, then why all this?
During the period of Sachin’s captaincy, Ganguly developed to be a very good fielder in slips. But what was to follow was the same story. When Ganguly was made to lead the team in 2000, he took himself out of slips the very same way Sachin had done previously.

...cont....
Now then in case we talk about the good slips fielders at present in Indian side, it is combination of Sachin, Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag. But does any one have a reply as to what was Yuvraj, who has hardly ever been in slips before, doing there today whereas Sehwag would have been a better choice. Yuvraj clearly showed today that he lacks the technique you require to be a slip fielder. He let off Ross Taylor when he was just on 4 who later on went on to add 150 runs to his tally. At the fag end of day when India was badly searching for wickets, Ishant got Franklin to edge one behind to Karthik, but alas umpire did not pick up the nick. Ok, Sehwag could not have done anything about it. But the very next over, Zaheer got Franklin to edge one to 3rd slip where Yuvraj seemed to be totally not ready for the catch. What looked more silly afterwards was that Yuvraj got positioned at 1st slip.

...cont...
Mr Indian Captains, one really needs to know about your theories of putting yourselves out of the positions where you would better serve your team. Not only the Indian captains are making a fun of, I do not know whom, but even the Close In fielders for spin bowlers are usually the newer guys of the team. Who ever new comes in the team is straight away put at Short Leg or Silly Point irrespective of his catching abilities at that position.
One needs to have a look at the Aussies in this regard. Mark Taylor used to be 1st slip what ever the case may be. David Boon used to be at Short – Leg till the very end of his career when his team needed some one to be there.

ha ha:) Do not jump so fast mate, it is just the first day and Indians are still to bat and you still have to bat...remember the pitch :)

...cont...
After all the Indian captain needs to understand that the fielding positions from 1st slip till Point and the close in ones against spinners are specialist ones and it is not that any one could be there or not at all, just because he is new in the team or he is the captain and hence make a mess of things.
With Sachin’s finger having taken a bit of batter in the previous test, it should be Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag in slips in that order with Yuvraj at backward point or point, but alas the thinking of Indian Captain(s) might cost India dearly in this match and in that case the Series as well.
Thankfully the permanent captain of India, MSD does not have any such choice otherwise we already could have seen him at Mid-On or Mid-Off.

Nice write up there Lain. your reviews about the days are so unbiased. it has definitely become one of my fav's and makes me keep waiting for one after end of days play.
Hopefully india bounces back tomoro.

Cheers,
Sathya

Wish you to get your first 5 wicket haul.

Nice blog...the pitch looks very good to bat on.expect sehwag to blast the bowlng attack.cheers!

Great batting from Ryder & Taylor, especially after those frenetic 3 overs bringing back the horrors of the first day of the first test. NZ should get to ~500, which would really test the Indians ... The NZ score would also bring back the India horror ... losing the next match after gaining an advantage

Iain, still can't figure out why Franklin bats ahead of McCullum. Prehaps you would care to elaborate. Thanks.

You sure have lots of people following your blog. I can't afford a miss. I like the way you give words to your thoughts.

Blog on Iain! you're a superstar!
best of luck for the test mate!

First?

Basically I want to say hooray that I woke up for once and caught the last 2 hours of the game and we were in a good position. Being an NZ cricket fan, I was saying to my friend last night, is one of the most underwhelming things in the world. I had just read an interview on here with Dion Nash and in it, they relived some of the 'almost wons' of NZ cricket history. It really seems like there were a lot. With us doing quite well in other sports over the past 15 or so years since Hadlee and co retired, it's been quite a long haul. I would love it if we could post 500+ and actually have a chance for you to exert some pressure on the Indians!

Also I would like to make a quick comment to anyone who has 'dissed' you for your blogs in the past. This is his blog, about him and his team. If you think it's 1-sided or whatever, then don't read it. There is absolutely no point in getting riled up and saying he's biased or whatever. Write your own blog and see how many people read it!

Tough time ahead. You may feel the heat from the Indian Batters in this pitch. But this pitch will suit you than anyone (NZ) because it has good bounce..... Hope you surprise our batsmens..... It going to be great to see that you and Jeetan operating in the other end.. it will be a good combination... Use slower ones... it will give you wickets as well....

Good day for NZ, glad to see some runs being scored but do hope this is not a draw. Good luck on the 2nd day, also looking fwd to seeing Jeetan Patel bowl and disappointed for Amit Mishra.

Cheers

Hiya Iain, Well done Team NZ on the 1'st day. You guys have come back & how!I am sure it will be an interesting contest this time. I love your blog as it gives a feeling that you are actually there!Keep up the good work mate & all the best for rest of the series...Cheers!

hi dude, ur hope will be fulfilled by morning break 2mrw, cuz indians are gonna comeback with guns blazing !!! watch out

Hey Ian,
Good one!!Hw do u plan to bowl to sehwag in this test?We have seen him punishing ur deliveries!!Any specific strategy! and mark my words!! Don't let Jeetan bowl to Sehwag! Seriously he can dent the bowler's confidence!! Hopin 4 an exciting day ahead!! Cheers!!

Hey Ian,
Good one!!Hw do u plan to bowl to sehwag in this test?We have seen him punishing ur deliveries!!Any specific strategy! and mark my words!! Don't let Jeetan bowl to Sehwag! Seriously he can dent the bowler's confidence!! Hopin 4 an exciting day ahead!! Cheers!!

Hi,

Its good to read your blog. I do follow your blogs and your views, but only on the days the matches are done. Dont worry about your 69th Blog if it is not a lucky number to you it might be for someone else. Hence no day is bad nor no number is bad.

Cheers
Ravi Krishna.

Great day for NZ,well done to the two heroes of the day. These type of batting displays are few and far between unfortunately, but today was great.
Hopefully you bowlers can keep it tight and force some Indian mistakes late tomorow after NZ batters push on a bit.

Ideally India all out for 200, with another century to sachin. (We kiwis can dream)

Mr. Ian, this match has just begun. Please wait for the Indians to pile a mammoth total & take a big lead to ensure a series win. Just wait & watch!

Dropped catches going to hurt India in this test match. NZ has a good chance to square this series, since India is not good while doing the catch up game. Ian, I hope you will recover and play 3rd test.

Well played NZ, especially Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder. I look forward to day 2, with hopefully some better catching from the Indians.

Always enjoy reading your blogs Iain, do disclose the secret of your spelling some day, is it due to numerology or is it a way as is spelled down under

I really love reading your blogs. Keep your self rested you will need the rest for your days on the field. Who knows how long India will decide to bat?

Yes .... u were right , nothing can a man do but just eat sandwiches and drink coffee when ur men are keeping things fine out there in the middle , there must be more satisfaction in the team when things got ur way after that 1st test .... i would want u to hit at least an half century ... all the very best!!!!!!!

Seems that pitch is too flat and easy for the batsman to handle the bowlers.Only first half was interesting just coz there was tough competition between bat and bowl.ny how still long way to go,although well beginning is half done for u guys but still it gonna be tough match surely

Hi Lain O'Brien
That's indeed a good blog. What you think about wicket, Sehwag said there was nothing for fast bowlers to do, it was a flat wicket and good for batting. whether u r feeling little bit nervous (Scared...:)) about Indian batting on such wicket or you and your co. will prevent them to explode.

Hi Iain,

Love reading your blog for the simplicity or rather lack of any "show". Congratulations for for getting 1,000,000 visitors and wish for many many more.

Was searching for your comments on pitch. Somehow managed to get up at 3am this morning. After the pitch report and the way days play went, few things came to my mind as below:

1) It looks like the pitch where SA chased 434.
2) Pack this pitch and send to England for T20 final.
3) NZ need to score 700 at least and then hope Indian's wilt under pressure.
4) Lastly - if NZ can't get Sehwag early, Lara's 400 may just be under threat.

Whats your view ? Would love to hear.

Regards

Umesh - Mumbai - India

Yes Iain, it was a great day for the Kiwis. The counter-attack was brilliant. I think India missed MSD's innovativeness though the catching (or not) did not help. Look forward to a great test and congratulations(in advance or otherwise) for the 1Mth view!!

highest fourth-wicket partnership versus all teams....... WOW

man Iain your team did a real turn around
all the best for rest of the days

well for sure a day that belongs to NZ.....but the wicket is so good for batting that if later india gets going we still might have an interesting finish to the game.....but before that hopefully india can wrap up the NZ innings at about 450 or so.....lots to look forward to....hope Sehwag can score a blistering ton too on this...wouldnt wanna miss out:)

nice bloggin......wish one of the indian players do the same....whatever......great to read them, we feel as if we were living in ur place!!!!!!!

Was waiting to hear from you - Nice job! Yeah you guys finally had a good day on the filed, not without a few hiccups though. Great to see taylor back in form, Jesse as usual was rock solid. Hopefully you guys go on to get 550 or so and we will have a fight in our hands. IF comentators are to be believed, the wicket is super easy to bat on, that means hard work for your bowlers against our batting line up. Here's to a nail biting/head tearing test match, FINALLY ! Cheers.

Hello, Iain. I am an American lady working in Kuwait that has fallen in love w cricket. In particular, I am an India fan because I work w so many Indians; they introduced me to the game. I am impressed w the spirit and sportsmanship in New Zealand. Previously, I only knew of Daniel Vettori from last year's IPL, now I really enjoy watching you all play against India. Your blog is cool and it shows a very personable side to a cricket player that we do not normally get to see. After reading your blogs, then watching you bowl, I feel as if I know you and what you are probably thinking at that moment. I hope that you are really enjoying the NZ vs India experience, it is even more awesome in India w their crowds. Keep up the good writing and keep up the good bowling.

I like your blogs, they are very simple and honest :) and feels like as if you having conversation with yourself.

Iain, it was good effort by Taylor & Ryder. Both of them played one of their best knocks. Enjoyed watching these two guys batting. I hope we will be able to get quick wickets tomorrow morning & restrict NZ around 450. Good luck for you while batting & please don't trouble our bowlers & fielders much.

Hey Iain your blog is so refreshing, but lets hope that i will be india's day tmrow, ok.

Thank u Iain.

Good Work with the bat. Wait for Men in Blue to Bat... and if sehwag has his day on this ground.... 300 from his blade in one test day is a possibility..... hoping for my dream to come true.....

This is the only Day of cricket on this Indian Tour of NZ that belongs entirely to NZ. Indians without MS don't look the same. Tough work lying ahead tomorrow.....

The credit goes to you guys, you are all real fighters... good luck to you for the rest of the game.

Hi Ian,
your blog is always special.The 1 Million hits a testimony to that.
well done and keep going.

hi ian you are doing a great job... i m enjoying all of it...thank you for your litle litle information about dressing room... i want to say one thimg please change your hair style...do the m.s.dhoni style... i think look good on you...

hey iain. i dont know whether my view will be the magic number or not,but today rossco n jesse were magical.taylor was a treat to watch while jesse is riding high,hope to see some more good cricket from both sides but remember indian batsman will not leave you also.

Hi there! i'm frm Hungary. Nice to see NZ get a good total. But, do you have plans for Sehwag?

Great batting by Ryder and Taylor today. However, hope India can get some quick wickets tomorrow :)

Cheers,
Adi

am i the 1,000,000th ?

I respect you a lot for taking time to write for the public! Keep up the good work!

Finally good day for NZ and I am sure you were enjoying the shade. Although I should admit there was room for pacing the score on the first day. Do you perceive this test going as draw? If the track stays good for another 4 days, the chances of draw maximizes. You know how the Indian batting line up is, don't you?

I respect you (Iain O'Brien) a lot for taking time to write for the cricket fans! Keep up the good work and I hope it'll be an amazing match!

Good blog Iain...gives us good insight on what happens behind the scenes in a dressing room...all the best for the next 4 days of the test....

Hi Ian,i have made it a habit now to read your blog almost on day to day basis since this series started.After reading your blogs i am looking at your bowling efforts very seriously and finding it very interesting too.i like your blog also because i get sneak peak of your dressing room mood too.great work keep it up.bye

A great day for NZ. A score of 500 or more will place pressure on Dhoni-less India. Good luck and looking forward to a competitive match. Congrats on the 1,000,000 and keep up the good work providing us an insider's insight on the game.

Am I the first to comment? Not that it matters, but you are doing a tremendous job with this blog. A simple, humble, and hard-working attitude towards your bowling (ok, batting too), and same towards this blog is a very refreshing change in the world of big cricketing egos and millions of $'s. Keep up the good work, and while I wish you take buckets of wickets, I hope that Indians score more than you guys :)

One request, and I know this is stretching too far - if you could respond to "some" (not all) posts by the readers, it'll give an even larger boost to your blog!

Here is the thing, if you ball good length there is more chance for you to be successful in New Zealand pitches. I watched entire test match from Day 1 ball number 1 to last ball of the day and also Day 4 till the end. What I saw was lack of focus in bowling attack from New Zealand. Good luck bro!

Here is the thing, if you ball good length there is more chance for you to be successful in New Zealand pitches. I watched entire test match from Day 1 ball number 1 to last ball of the day and also Day 4 till the end. What I saw was lack of focus in bowling attack from New Zealand. Good luck bro!

Iain O'Brien , you know what the day i first read your blog after the first 2020 match i was very much impressed with the way you described the match and your feelings, after i read your blog i felt like i have watched the match very closley from the dressing room even though i wansnt there.Great job keep up this work and would like to see many more blogs from you.
The first thing i do when i open cricinfo is to read your blog and then look at the scorecard and the match description.

I wish you and your team all the best for this test and the last test and looking forward to watching some great contest between the bat and bowl.

A joy to read as ever - as was the Jesse'n'Rossco show. Just another couple of hundred runs and then you can get on to bowl!

Ian, I like your blog and read it daily because it gives an insight into a players mind. Let the best team win.

Tests are very interesting to see when both the teams play with the same passion and energy level. India did dominate in the first test and now it was New Zealand's turn to change the things around. This makes test cricket interesting to watch for the spectators and the people who are seeing it on television. Good work Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder. Hopefully this result goes in favor of Kiwis and making the last test as interesting as possible.

hi mate,

i like ur blogs...it sounds like coming fm a true cricketer n thats what we indians find u kiwis to be..never in ur blog do i find a biased text though it is quite obvious that u state the kiwis side of the situation...keep writing mate n we ll keep reading.....cheers n wish u a gud outing....i hope no Indian wickets though....

Hey! I,ve been hooked to your blog...for the sake of first hand insights that you share of the days play...keep pushing that keyboard! Cheers & good luck for tomorrow :)

1,000,000 th visit..... great mate. You write honestly and this ought to happen. Great going...

Still 4 more days left. India can bounce back easily with a strong batting line up.

hmmm, looks like i am the first to comment on your blog iian...
well india did the thing - which ultimately happens.. a bad day in the field and mr. jessie and mr rossy simply took off... any more than 300 in a day is good batting; 350 plus from nz is simply awsum... wonder what wud happen today (tonight for me in london/amsy)... do we see a score of 500 plus by NZ and a short stint in the wicket by india? or NZ folds early after india get their heads straight....... shd be interesting...
hmmm, so does dhoni have a magic touch? whenever he is there, something alwys happens to india's advantage? or is it just sehwag building up for a blitzkrieg? hmmm, time shall tell....
anyhow, congrats for the 1000000 views mate!
till, tomorrow....
sibs

Hey Iain,

Well suprising to see no comments till now :O. I follow your blog regularily and it is quite intresting. Blogging is a gud way to increase as fan following as now we cheer for your performance as well along with supporting team India.

Well, the match would have been different had Yuvraj would have caught Ross in the first hour only. Though later the batting display by both Ryder and Taylor was exhibition of what New Zeland's cricket are famous for 'Fighters'. Looking at pitch and first day performance the possible result could be 'Draw' which is a moral win for New Zeland. All d best.

HI Ian obrien it was a great day 4 newzealand as they made 350 for the loss of only 4 wickets i was so impressed with jesse ryder the way he paced his innings i think by far he is the best player of black caps after stephen fleming i hope newzealand will be on attack tommorow and post sumthing around 600 to put india backwards..keep it up!

hey Iain.... It was truly an amazing innings by Jesse today... taylor was a bit edgy and even though he settled on to play a long one , It was pretty clear that jesse was going to last longer.... Mate... I hope u guys take care of that fellow properly... He s a real special talent.... hope he gets 250 tomorrow...

Wow!...I get to be the first one to comment!..that's always a good feeling...u guys batted real well and I'm sure that Mac must be feeling bad...that he missed out..keep up ur good blogging Iain...I enjoy reading them..

Fan

Godwin

Congrats Iain.. for this well written and entertaining blog. (1,000,000th view - awesome).

Hi NZ, tremendous work & great partnership. Let us see tomorrow’s work.

Hi IOB,
I am posting a comment for the first time and luckily I am the first one to post comment on your blog.
It was a real big task for NZ to stand up tall and show that they are not easily beatable. Ryder is an asset for cricket and I am sure he will break records of the great allrounders. If he concentrates on leg cutters, he will be lethal in bowling deptt too.
IOB, can you someday write up about yourself as how you got into cricket and what were the challenges faced by you or some interesting moments in your career, some moments which changed your life etc, it will be great to read that. A mini autobiography :-) India lost many catches today and that's where they got hurt. Hopefully tomorrow we will see another good display of batting.
All the best!!! Keep writing.

A very sporting blog! Did not think fast bowlers can be such good sports! All the best Ian!!

ooohh!! you are turning into a writer now....gave me couple of laughs today......all the best for the next four days......i hope you will win it and make things exciting for the final one....

hey ian nice blog..i hope u saw the way ur batsmen behaved on this wicket(jesse and rossco)..now i hope wat u expect from our batsmen..this(pitch) is a belter and i doubt right from day one that this match will end in a draw..good luck by the way for rest 4 days..have fun..

Hey Ian,
Appreciate your frank opinions about your own game and others' too. The one about Craig Mcmillan was good. As an Indian, I miss seeing Shane Bond pla international cricket. I would like to convey to you that most Indians are ashamed of the actions of our cricket board. However, at the same time, it would be nice if NZC also stood up for themselves, especially as they are losing the services of quality players.
Keep going with your blog - I am sure you will reach 10 million hits in a jiffy :) Also keep playing, the game needs honest and hardworking characters like you to act as role models.

Hey Iain, it was nice reading your blog. I've always wanted to get a feel of what people do in the dressing rooms when they're not batting. I couldn't find the link to your auction. Can you get a signed autograph from Sachin and auction it? I'll be willing to pay a lot of money for that, :)

Great Blog with honest views...cricket is a great leveller and it is so true that sessions are important either..well good day for NZ...but any thoughts of how the great indian batting prevais on such a track...shame that pitch is not up to the mark... i feel it is going to be a dull draw...the difference between win or loose for NZ is S & S err. i mean sehwag and sachin ...if they cut loose 600 + will also be a timid score on this track.....best wishes for the blog but with the ball this time i doubt it will not matter seeing the indians bowl....sorry mate...

India did not capitalize after three early wickets. Ross Taylor looked shaky and was left off the hook. It would be easy to criticize Sehwag’s captaincy but I think he did a fair job. Overall the pitch looked good and it will be good to see how Dan and Patel would attack the Indian batsmen. India will have to bat well in the first innings and the onus will be on you to get Sehwag, Gambhir and Dravid early.

Mate, congrats on your team's good batting performance today. As I said earlier, Jesse Ryder is a batsman to watch out for. By the time he hangs his boots, he would be one of New Zealand's highest scorers in both forms of the game. Taylor also played very well. It is good to see your team put up a very good score on a first day. Going from the way the pitch is behaving, I hope it is full of runs even when the Indians bat on. As of now, I just pray that our bowlers bundle you guys out for less than 450.

The Indians' fielding was plain awful today ! Had they held on to their catches things might have been quite different . I felt Ishant and Zaheer bowled really well despite the pitch being a belter. Ian lets see how you bowl on this track and hopefully we would get to see you on the field tomorrow

Ian, I always read your blog....it gives me a perspective from the other side (I'm an Indian; currently in the USA)...Keep up the good work!

Iain, nice blog. more cricketers should start blogging so we get your POV.

As for Jesse and Taylor, really good attacking test cricket. I am not totally convinced about Taylor's temperament yet on wickets that do a bit, but Jesse, woww! I think I am going to enjoy watching him for years to come...

This is going to end up a tame draw...but try your best :)

Good blog Iain! Dunno if mine is the 1,000,000th view, but it most certainly is the first comment :) For India's sake, I hope you guys fold up in the next 100 runs and let the Master Blasters do the talking.

Excellent Post. Wish you a good 2nd day as well for tomorrow.

Good blog Iain! Dunno if mine is the 1,000,000th view, but it most certainly is the first comment :) For India's sake, I hope you guys fold up in the next 100 runs and let the Master Blasters do the talking.

A good day today for NZ!!!

Its great reading your post, its a nice view into the mind of a player

I thoroughly enjoy ur blog mate. keep up the great work...hey good luck for your bowling. i would like you to get gamvir,yuvraj and kartik as they are not in my fantasy cricket team!

Iain, you've got something nice to write home, at last!. What a player Jesse Ryder is! It is a pity that IPL isnt happening in India; we will miss Ryder, Taylor and co for sure.

NZ looks set for 500+, and India will have to bat well to get away with a draw. The series has come alive.

And keep up the blogging Iain.
Your blog is now as keenly awaited as the cricket itself.
A lot of us dont even like to think of our failures, let alone describe it vividly on a blog. Given that not many days in the series have gone in favour of NZ, your blogs still end on an optimistic note.
You are a good man and I wish you all the best.
Your bowling action reminds me of Javagal Srinath, that genial and loose-limbed fastie.

its so funny that not even on person commented on ur blog today... i hope its not 'coz NZ is on top. Well played Ross and jesse... of course taylor was shaky at the beginning but as time went by he applied himself and they got through the day with flying colors. Today belongs to NZ. Hopefully india will come back strong tomorrow and we will see a good match.... i dont want this match to end up as drawn.. but looking at the pitch i cant think otherwise.. hey Brien watch out... you have to come bowl .. its going to be very tough on a flatbed like this one with likes of sehwag, laxman, gambhir, tendulkar who love the ball coming on their bats...

Good day for you guys.Perfect start of this match 4 u to compete with this indian side.Hope that this will not be a 1 sided match like the previous one.

Good luck!!

Who was the 1 Millionth reader ? Long time due for Ross and just in time, he was starting ti lose his stature in the team after his initial days in the team, really happy for him..Likewise for Jesse...He is the Kiwi Haydos for India. Day 2 is crucial...if Kiwis can post 550 then only 2 results are possible..hope they do !!

Hey Iain:

Just wanted to let you know that I totally love reading your blog. Please keep it coming.

Best Wishes
Manu Anand

Nice work Iain! How about a PB tomorrow? Hope you guys get to 500 and even up the series - bowl like a man possessed!

Cheers pal,
Juror (JHB)

That was an awesome day for you guys Lain. It again started as usual but then Jesse and Rosco capitalized to take you guys to a comfortable position from where you guys can think of winning this game. Dont let it cut loose Lain....we need some competitive cricket.
All the best guys !!

Hey Ian,
I would like to know your views on the IPL (and if possible may be the ICL as well, if diplomacy permits)

N is for Neville who died of ennui.

why do i feel this is headed for a draw?

Another gr8 one Iain.I've just been a fan of your writting.lets see who win this time.as a supporter i'll always wish 4 india bt i like u guys so must,mostly cos of ur nice behavior

Poor Franklin, it's as if he was trying to get out, I presume Vettori would have been night watchman then?

Ian, Do you ever read these comments ?

Hi Iain, hope you bowl well tomorrow. But there's one thing I wish to see tomorrow - actually two - that is a fast and furious century by India's stand-in captain - Virender Sehwag - and not to forget, at least a 5 wicket haul by you.

At last you started enjoying.. Hope NZ will continue tomorrow as well - Expecting some big innings from Shewag - Lets see

Dhoni wasn’t playing because Craig McMillan (ICL) was in the commentary box.

Hahaha!! That was a good joke.

This turned out to be a good batting track already. I guess you guys will find it hard bowling at Sehwag & Co; tomorrow!! Good Luck Iain.

Sehwag all set for another 300 mark!!!

Hi..it's Rajenda here. I hope you get a 5 wicket haul at least. Plus, please allow Sehwag to get a triple century? please?

Hi..it's Rajenda here. I hope you get a 5 wicket haul at least. Plus, please allow Sehwag to get a triple century? please?

Hi Ian. I love this blog because we get to know what happens in the dressing room. It nice to hear from a player who is part of team. Some of your honest appreciation of Indian players is nice to see.... Hats off.......Ravi

hi iain

what i feel is that NZ is definitely missing the services of bond.he is one of the best bowlers i have seen.as far as batting goes taylor is awesome but he is not a prolific run getter as u expect from a test batsmen...
u are also good but still i feel there is a long way to go foe you if i consider all tym greats like akram etc

nw for this test match ur team is in a good position but plz remember pitch is batsmen friendly and sehwag is in sublime touch so check it out

Sehwag will be cleaned up either his first ball or Iain's first ball. Don't expect him to get a ton that's for sure, his captaining is questionable and he'll be scared. By then it will after tea or day 3 anyway so hopefully a draw at the very least for NZ. Let's at leadt get into that elusive 5th day.

Hey.. My small suggestion.. Don't do the mistakes we did.. While you bowl, make the keeper and the slips stand up a little closer to the stumps.. So you can't complain that most of the nicks didn't carry!! :) good luck

Good blog mate, though it was shorter than your earlier ones, tomorrow , i have a feeling NZ will be wrapped up soon , & then Indians r goin to bat 2 whole days to get a big lead....just a feeling...hope it turns out that way ...Ryder's really becomin a pain in the a** now, reminds me of Misbah-ul-Haq (Pak player who screwed up the 20-20 WC at the end) He's tormented the Indian bowlers a lot too, although he's done it on the flat tracks of Pak.

Yeah you always have to wonder if Napier isn't too much of a road to bat on... Either way I've got this sneaking suspicion that unless someone produces something spectacular with the ball this one could be heading for a draw... 5 wicket bag anyone?

I have a sneaking suspicion that this match will end in a draw. India will respond with their own long batting, unless they collapse for some reason. Then NZ will pull it into the fifth day, and India will draw it.

Classic old test strategy, mate.

Hi Brian.. I like reading your blog.. but i doubt if you'll have time writing one at the end of the third day.. as you'll have to toil an entire day to just see the ball flying all over the place due to the Indian batting line-up.. Hope you are ready for the Challenge.. All the best !!

Go get em mate!
Jesse and Ross put us into gear and now when we declare (because we will), go get some wickets mate! Were countin on ya! Good luck from all of NZ

if nz get 600 i reckon we will win, 2 good spinners with runs in the bank, no M.S. watch this space...!

i would love to see newzealand winning the test match and making the series interesting.

Fentastic blog Iain! Its nice to see views from a player. Thanks for finding time to write the blog. I always waiting for the update on ur blog everyday..

good on ya iain mate, its clear you enjoy your cricket, thats good and how it should be!!
it must be great to watch rossco and jesse clock up those scores and boost the sides confidence a bit.
i like reading your blogs mate, really good stuff.
all the best in the field iain, go get yourself a 10WM. Cheers, Nick

nice post. We are expecting a draw here. The pitch looks a belter and unless NZ bowlers do a really really good job, it will be very difficult to remove the likes of Sehwag, Gambhir and Sachin- who is in a really great form. Too bad for MSD and hope he is all set for the next game. He has some time to plan for the next game! :) Good luck to NZ!

baz nervous lol goodluck for today hope you do well and get a 5 wicket haul so goodluck
trac xx

Great to see the Taylor-Ryder partnership, these two look likely to be in our middle order for many years to come. Taylor rode his luck extensively, he could have been out any number of times, but will get a lot of run over the years. I am so very excited about Ryder. Here is a guy who, unusually for a kiwi batsman, has has a range of good shots, composure at the crease, and the ability to build large partnerships. He appears to have matured significantly off the field in a short time too, so I'm hoping he can avoid any further off-field incidents and become a world class performer. I agree with an earlier comment that watching Tendulkar (perhaps more for attitude and the way he holds himself on and off the field, than anything else) provides Ryder with an ideal guide as to what it takes to make the most of your talents.

I can see this being a draw as it is too good a batting deck for us to be able to dismiss the Indian lineup twice. Still, hope springs eternal!

1,000,000 views - does that make this a MegaBlog?

Iain my main man, great blog.

Cant wait to see bowl on this pitch after you dominated the Windies late last year. Keep writing these blogs, I enjoy reading them. Keep going O'Brilliant!

From your biggest fan Jason

Nice work today kiwis!

NZL is going down.

brilliant days play stayed up alnite just to watch it welldone and keep up the good work
trac xx

Hi! Nice blog!But please don't get Rahul Dravid out tommorrow, as he is my favourite player, and India's only chance. He is a legend who practices in all his free-time but has hit upon a horrible patch in the last couple of years.
Just when he was coming into his own last test, you came along...get a 5-for if you must but let RD get a century!!! lol

I really thought that we were going down until that partnership between Ross & Jesse yesterday.
Finished watching day 2 now & looks like this is all going to be very interesting tomorrow. India are 3 down so lets hope you & the rest of the team can keep up this good work! Still I think it's going to be close...

Your blog has become a habit. Not finding a post yesterday was, well... felt like something was amiss.

Cheers!

Have to say a lot of the Indian comments are spot on NZ will have to be in the field for a long time, of course it's because India are following on, but still they are technicaly correct. Maybe our bowlers will be given some credit or was it all the Indian players getting themselves out?

Nice job on Day 3, Iain. I get up at 1:00am here in Kuwait to watch these tests in NZ, it is rough on my sleep. I am obviously sad that India is not playing well this match, but I sure give credit where credit is due. I really like Jesse Ryder too. My impression of this follow-on is that it is not all bad for India if they play it right, but Sehwag certainly did not go into it w the right attitude. I will be up early tomorrow to see if they can blast off. Congrats on your tireless efforts and enthusiasm, it is very refreshing to see. The body language of the players is worth so much. Take care.

Thanks for listening to my pleas and letting "The Wall" get 83!!! Tommorrow, he will score his sixth double-century and as usual will save face with a gritty match-saving innings! Kudos to your hard work as well!

This blog is really nice, I look forward to reading it every day.Good luck with the test, and do really well!