Sussex 131/7

as I type this. Which was not altogether surprising. For two reasons -

1. The bowling team , rather the batsmen from the fielding side, would not have expected to be put in to bat at the fag end of the game. Any realistic possibility of a declaration would have come at around tea time or if Sussex had bundled out the Indians. To bat out 40 overs on Day 4 does not generally figure in the game plan.

2. Chasing 273 in 40 overs in a 4 day game is an unrealistic target. Given that, the thinking is to play for time rather than play for runs. And that mindset is akin to handing over the initiative to the bowlers on a platter.Which is what Sussex did. And what the Indians capitalized on.

India has got what it wanted out of this game.. Batsmen had a hit, bowlers stretched their legs, fielders had their time in the sun.

We also gained valuable insight on the team composition for the first test.

The declaration and the resultant score card sends a message to the Poms. Of intent. Of the fact that India is ready to create and seize initiatives ( not quite like the Aussies, but better than anything the Poms fronted upto this summer).

The worst thing the Indians could do with 5 overs remaining in the game will be to over try in getting the remaining three wickets. Because those wickets do not matter. 140/7 is a much better card to read than 152/8.

Because that would indicate that the Sussex tailenders creamed 21 runs in 5 overs off the Indian bowling for the loss of only 1 wicket. And that India could not quite close the deal despite trying hard. And that in turn will be a huge dampener in the dressing room.

Rather , settle for 140/7 and a draw with all the brownie points in the bag. And the confidence that India can push itself if it wants to. And the fact that India had Sussex under the cosh despite losing the better part of two sessions on Day 3.

And a favorable press is not a bad thing either.

PS:- Okay, now I am confused. The scorecard reads 152/7 at the end of the 41st over and there are 14 more overs to play after this. Are they making up for time lost yesterday or did I misread the CricInfo scoresheet?

PPS:- Bowling Ranadeb Bose for one over - bad idea. There are less cruel ways of killing a bowlers confidence than removing him after one over because the last ball of his over was slogged by a tailender.