Goan pitch too much for Hussain and co

By John Cheeran
India's win against England in Goa was truly magnificent.
But something else make me really happy. It is that the omniscient, formercricketers-turned television commentators had to eat their words as the match entered the final phase in Goa.
Former England skipper Nasser Hussain was apprehensive that pitch will not last the full 100 overs and the batting second will be a difficult task for England.
Hussain, along with Arun Lal, was harping on the point that Indian skipper Rahul Dravid was lucky to win the toss and bat first.
When the Indian innings was in progress, commentators were reminding viewers how difficult the stroke-making is and giving England skipper Andrew Flintoff the moral licence to lose the match.
Is it Flintoff's fault that he lost the vital toss?
How can England batsmen chase any total on a picth that is certainkly going to deteriorate and assist spinners in the afternoon?
The view from the commenatry box must be excellent otherwise the sages such as Hussain, David Gower, Dean Jones, Arun Lal and L Sivaramakrishnan would not have predicted a low score in Goa.
They backed up their predictions with statistics. Viewers were reminded repeatedly that the average total posted by team batting first was only 196. Aha, wonderful and thank you.
But then commentary turned mute the moment Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina stepped up the gas. Runs flowed in the last 10 overs of Indian innings and pitch suddenly turned benign.
India posted their highest score in the series, 294 forsix. That should not be a poor score on a bad pitch!
The pitch, prepared on a football field at the Nehru Stadium, held firm and England was not given any chance to grumble. At least Paul Collingwood, who gave the impetus to England chase, did not have any complaints about the pitch. He made an entertaining 93 to raise visions of a thrilling England victory.
What do they know of cricket who only cricket know?