Dein erstes Forum » erne to Finhaut-Emosson was a day wher

Maybe in the last session we can score around 200 runs, we can go for it. May be an interesting game aheadThat was M Vijay after the fourth day in the Rajkot Test. His crystal ball wasnt entirely off. India needed 261 runs in a minimum of 31 overs in its final two hours of play. And some of the shots the batsmen used did not entirely suggest they like scrapping around.It can be pleasing to know that the team you support does not give up despite mounting odds. It can be uplifting, as is the case in India, who have had occasion to envy their opponents showing off such resolve to win matches. And it has been the case more often than not with Virat Kohli at the helm. All thats needed to understand how he has moulded the side in his image is to look at India. Lean, mean and steadfastly avoiding the shaving cream.But a different kind of skill was required at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Ground. The skill of saving a Test match. India havent had to do such a thing at home since 2012.On Sunday, everything they would dish out to the opposition was stacked against them. Gentlemen, well start you off with some stiflingly hot scoreboard pressure, then a rich assortment of spin with a side of all the peppy close-in fielders and, oh, look your goose is cooked.India didnt have too long to survive. A minimum of 49 overs. They were up against a set of spinners who were playing their first Test in this country. Kohli and his men shouldnt have cut it so close.That they did was possibly because they didnt have much experience batting time. It requires good technique and a great trust in it. You have to pick the ball out of the hand, read the length as early as possible, go forward or back with purpose and use your hands to adjust if the bounce is variable. A few boundaries help. And yes, it never quite seems like such a grocery list out in the middle. So the fact that India drew a match with only five batsmen - a match they had chased all five days - was quite commendable and a very important step in their evolution.Of course, it was not without incident. On the final day, even a decent pitch would break up with the batsman and blatantly show off its love for the bowler. Rajkot was particularly fiendish. There was one delivery from left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari that pitched on a good length and reared away past Virat Kohlis head, prompting the Indian captain to insist it be called one bouncer for the over.In such circumstances, you have to either trust your defence or resort to something that you know would be equally effective. Something that has worked for you before. Your natural game. Kohli is a vociferous proponent of it. Only, blindly following it has some risk. Ajinkya Rahane tried to cut Moeen Ali against the turn and was bowled off the pad. India had less than two hours to survive and that wicket meant England were through to the allrounders. R Ashwin, who has grown into the batsman he always threatened to be and who was instrumental in securing the draw, bashed three fours in the over before he spooned a catch to cover - one of few fielders on the off side. Had either batsman been a bit more prudent, the Test would have had a smoother and earlier finish.But that is how India play now. Given the choice, they prefer to be aggressive.When things get heated out there when theres a lot of pressure on the batsman, its very important to have the intent of scoring runs, Kohli said. Because as an opposition you know that the ball is going to go to the boundary as well, you got to take more time to recover it. The bowlers panic, the opposition panics, the captain panics. At the same time, the score keeps ticking as well.So that was the whole idea - to have the intent to score runs also, because that way youre looking forward to playing the ball, youre nicely on top of the ball, your head is on top of the ball. If youre only looking to defend, sometimes your weight can be back and if the ball is turning even a little bit, the close in fielders come into play. So it was very important to keep intent onto the ball to control it better with your hands. That was the whole idea about being a bit positive as well.Kohli was excellent in balancing between attack and defence, and was the prime reason England couldnt upset India. His footwork was precise and his concentration was such that he was often ready for the bowler while he was still walking back to his mark. While there was the odd whip against the turn, it was his ability to keep the good balls out and remain unbeaten that determined Indias eventual position of safety.There seems to be a growing tendency to think that playing defensively is a sign of weakness.Michael Atherton played one of the greatest innings in the history of the game to save a Test for England away from home. Facing spin on a final-day track in India is no more cumbersome than having to make peace with becoming target practice for a frothing Allan Donald armed with the Wanderers bounce for nearly 11 hours. AB de Villiers, this generations most versatile batsman, felt confident about his game only after he perfected the block. The longest innings anyone has ever played in Tests was to draw a game from a hopeless situation, Hanif Mohammed, the man who was responsible for it, was called the Little Master.Their exploits and many more suggest the dead bat isnt a nuisance in cricket. Its the essence of it. 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Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Throughout the Tour de France, Australian professional cyclist Richie Porte will be checking in. Here is his latest entry, as told to ESPN contributor Rupert Guinness:Stage 17: Berne to Finhaut-Emosson, SwitzerlandIt was a move I had to make if Im going to earn a place on the podium of the Tour de France.That move was my attack within the last two kilometres of Wednesdays 17th stage. I know Ive been saying I feel Im in good form, but the value of that finish in the first of four stages in the Alps adds weight to it.Not that I havent ridden as well in the Tour before. I have, but in different circumstances, especially when I used to ride for Chris Froome (Sky).But this year its different, coming to BMC from Sky to race for myself. That opportunity is why I left Sky after all. I wanted to see how I can go in the Tour as a protected team leader.Wednesdays 17th stage from Berne to Finhaut-Emosson was a day where in that role, I showed I could climb with the best, despite having done it many times while helping Froome.My move near the finish of the stage wasnt planned - it was instinctive really. I set off wanting to drop everyone and finish the stage alone. But seeing Froome as the rider who got across to me was not such a surprise. He is the Tours overall leader after all, and yes ... he closed that gap between us quite easily.But I have to give it to Froome. While once he joined me in my move he didnt offer a turn, he didnt come over to me at the end either.ddddddddddddhen I first looked back and saw Froome there on my wheel - and the yellow jersey - he even said, Look mate, we are taking time. He then said: Good job, as encouragement.Looking back, given our past as former teammates - and even currently, as good mates - I can understand why interest in the two of us being off the front. But he is strong. His team is also clearly strong. The race will be interesting from here on in to the finish in Paris.Which all means the next stage is just as important as what Wednesdays stage was.The Tour resumes on Thursday, stage 18 and a time-trial from Sallanches to Megève.Ill get up as usual - at 8.30am. Then it will be breakfast as usual, followed by a final recon of the course, then lunch and some rest - but no napping. I dont nap well.Then it will be time to head back down to the stage start where I will warm-up for another race of truth.We all know a great ride on Thursday will do wonders to help me make best of the final two days in the Alps before the Tour finishes on Sunday with the final and 21st stage into Paris.But likewise, we all know that in a time trial its eventually up to me to produce that ride. ' ' '