A Victory in a Draw

The first Test between india and pakistan has ended in a tame draw. Much was said before the start of the indian innings on how the indian quicks could not be effective on a flat surface while their pakistani counterparts have a superior air-speed and can get to reverse the ball, speculations apart, the surface proved to be a batting paradise and a bowler's nightmare. Lets look at the gains of the teams from this tame draw.

Batting Gains

Pakistan.

The top order and middle order have had some useful hit in the middle barring Inzy that is. While the likes of younis khan, mohammed yousuf, Afridi, Akmal running into the kind of form they have augurs well for the pakistan team, Not much can be read into Inzy's cheap dismissal, he has been in excellent form throughout the english series.

India

Phenomenal is the word for the efforts of sehwag & Dravid in blunting the likes of Akthar, Rana Naved, Sami, Kaneria et al. The Batting efforts augurs well and might have gained them the pscyhological edge over pakistan. That said, its demoralising for any bowling attack to be kept on the field for so long with so less to show for their efforts.

Bowling

Neither side has bowled the other once, so pretty much even stevens as most pakistani wickets were hara-kiri than great bowling save the faster one from kumble to Inzy.

In the end

While the match ended in a draw, India has definetely won the psychological battle.

Men of the match

Curator and groundsmen.