First Test

I spent a great part of the weekend following the match. India are definitely in a strong and a potentially match-winning position and I really loved the fight, the dedication and the attitude displayed by the team.
Now there is still a chance that SA might make a match of it. Prince and Boucher currently batting with Pollock to follow, there is definitely an opportunity for SA to get the approx 260 runs required to win because the pitch has also eased out and become better for batting and Kumble is not producing anything yet.
Still, the gutsy fight in the first inning and even more so the fight by the batsmen especially Laxman and Zaheer in the second innings would ensure that even if India loses from here, the Indian cricket fan would be pleased by the will to fight shown by the players. Ultimately that is what the fans want to see. The heart to fight.
I loved the way Zaheer batted. It should be a lesson to the top order. Leave EVERYTHING outside off stump. Just leave it. Anything coming close to off-stump, go right behind it and play it down. And then when the bowler gets bored and straightens the line even more, smack him twards the leg-side. Simple. Sensible. And Damn Effective. So many great thing in life are the simple ones.
It ensured that India lasted amost all of the first session on the third day and raised the Target to an unlikely 400 after Dhoni and Kumble departed early playing loose shots.
Of course, Sreeshanth antics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjEYzm-nHrw) were a great booster :-)