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Gambhir 'Second Wall' of Indian cricket, dubs Sehwag

Agencies

Posted: Mar 30, 2009 at 1025 hrs IST
      

Napier: Gautam Gambhir's marathon match-saving 137 in the second Test against New Zealand on Monday earned him rich accolades from stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag who likened the pugnacious left-hander to Rahul Dravid and dubbed him the "second wall" of Indian cricket.

Otherwise an aggressive batsman, Gambhir batted for nearly 11 hours over three days to bail India out after the visitors were made to follow on in the match.

Sehwag said Gambhir has proved that he has developed his game and was capable of saving matches like Dravid, who has earned the reputation of being 'The Wall' for his impregnable defence and patience.

"He (Gambhir) is developing his game. He curbed his aggression and is learning with experience. He has become the second wall of Indian cricket," Sehwag, who stood in for injured MS Dhoni in the match, said after India forced a draw.

"We didn't bat well in the first innings but we did well in the second, especially Gautam and (VVS) Laxman. Gautam batted for nearly 11 hours and saved the match," Sehwag added.

Sehwag admitted his bowlers had to toil hard in New Zealand's first innings as the track did not give any assistance to them.

"It was a difficult job for the bowlers. The track was flat and except for some bounce, there was nothing in it. I told them to bowl in right areas and see that the batsmen commit mistakes," said Sehwag.

Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was a "bit disappointed" not to have won the match after "dominating for three days".

"It is hard work for us. You don't expect you will be there for three days in a row but it showed how dominant position we were in. The bowlers bowled so well in the first innings and it gave us hope that we can do the job in the second," he said.

"We batted well in the first innings after being reduced to 22 for three and enforced a follow on against a very good side. Almost all the plans we had before the match came through," Vettori added.

Asked about the track at the McLean Park, Vettori said, "The pitch got easier and easier to bat. You can play another Test match on this if you want to though you expect Test match wicket to be offering assistance to bowlers and a bit of turn to the spinners.

"Whatever conditions we get (in the third Test) the performance here will give us lots of heart," he said.

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  • Comments
     
Gambhir bai
by Afzal Ahmed on 2009-03-31 10:21:04.134335+05:30
YOU ARE THE MAN
Reply | Forword
New Zealand's strategy
by Sridhar on 2009-03-31 03:30:25.369346+05:30
New Zealand's strategy backfired on them. They were scared of Indian bowlers especially, Harbhajan and purposefully prepared flat pitch not aiding the bowlers. They wanted their batsmen to bat-on and therefore, piled 600 runs. However, they didn't realize that India could also beat that resulting in a draw. Let's see what they will do for the 3rd test.
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Very special
by Sridhar on 2009-03-30 22:47:26.638529+05:30
In spite of reckles batting by Viru the Captain Laxman has proved that he is still a VVS and a Solid ROCK next to Dravid.
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Kudos to Indian Team
by Veeraraghavan on 2009-03-30 12:55:12.556573+05:30
Great work by Indian team..coming back in the back from nowhere and very near the defeat and saving the game is really great and that also put the team as a very good contender as a champions in all format of the game...
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biggest loser is Dhoni
by Dan on 2009-03-30 12:45:42.987235+05:30
India salvaged this match without him and next tey will go to win without him
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