Missed Opportunities .....

The first day of the second test match between India and Australia swung from one extreme to the other and at the end of the day Australia was well and truly on top of India.After being 134/6 ,Australians dominated the Indian bowling in a way that defied normal cricketing logic.Of course ,they were helped by Steve Bucknor's poorest decision (all his bad decisions inavraibly go against India only)when he gave Symonds not out off Ishant Sharma's bowling.To add insult to injury ,even the third umpire gave a reprieve to Symonds on a stumping off Kumble despite the TV replays clearly showing his
foot was in the air when Dhoni dislodged the bails.It would be a matter of conjecture that what Australia's score would have been if India had just a bit of luck.On the other hand though ,Indians did get Ricky Ponting out LBW ,when he had got a thick inside edge.
Actually ,the problem with Indian team ,and this has been the case for a long time now ,is the inability to deliver the knockout punch when they have got the opposition on the mat.There is no way that Australia would have allowed India to make so many runs and that too so quickly after losing six frontline batsmen.Herein lies the difference between the two sides and the gulf is widening with each passing day of this tour.Now the onus is on the strong on paper Indian batting lineup to walk the talk.No point in being the best batting lineup if you cannot score runs when needed.