Monday, January 21st, 2008
This win was so different from most other matches won by India. Especially against the Aussies or any other big teams of a time Indian wins used to give a feeling that we got them while playing on Indian wickets and through good spin bowling that they weren’t able to figure out. But this one is at Perth. Although Perth isn’t what it used to be before it is still the bounciest wicket even in Australia. On such a track it’s Indian pace bowlers who got them out twice and that’s remarkable.
I think India not only overcame all the happenings before this test and also the image created by the media about the pitch, but at every point in the match where previously we had given up we did something different this time. See this:
First, after winning the toss a defensive team would choose to bowl first at Perth. Kumble chose to bat (similar to Ganguly’s decision to bat at Leeds in 2002, also a game similar to this in the sense that India beat the opponent in their fortress and an unlikeliest venue for an Indian win).
“Pick a fast bowler, if possible left-arm, let him loose on Indians, sit back and watch” was the approach many earlier captains had taken against India. Steve Waugh used Brett Lee in 1999 and bowlers like Bruce Reid, Mike Whitney etc were used similarly and were very successful. Not this time. Shaun Tait, who was supposed to send bullets and break the speed record and more, went wicketless in the entire match.
“India all out on the first day, Aussies win in three” was the prediction when India chose to bat. Instead the Aussies got old masters Dravid and Tendulkar making a big partnership that had a tremendous effect on the game.
Since the Indian bowlers get a bouncy pitch only once or twice in their career, they usually give it away in their quest to bowl fast and bounce it. They typically bowl short balls and for players brought up on Aussie wickets it’s just as bad as full-tosses. Again, not this time. Even these young and inexperienced bowlers bowled to a plan and used the swing effectively. “Mr Cricket” Hussey got his first duck of his career. Chris Rogers, the new opener, got out cheaply both the times. Usually a new batsman playing at home in Australia against teams like India are guaranteed for a debut century. Phil Jaques against Sri Lanka is the latest example.
It’s not enough to get the Aussies to 5/62. Ask Ganguly how Hayden and Gilchrist took it away in Mumbai in 2001 or ask Dravid how Clarke and Gilchrist did the same at Bangalore in 2004. This time Symonds and who else-Gilchrist almost did it before Kumble got Symonds and then later R P Singh got Gilchrist. You still would have given another 80-100 runs to the tail but Indians wrapped even them cheaply.
With a lead of 118, the first five get out quickly. (Surprisingly the night-watchman looks the most comfortable). Give the Aussies an opening and they will inch back. India five down with overall lead just about 200. Match over, right? This time the remaining five add another 200 nearly shutting Australia out of the game.
There were many such crucial wins that contributed to India’s victory. But the biggest satisfaction of this win is it was achieved by team India playing better than team Australia and by winning most individual sessions of play. Surely this will concern Australia the most.
In recent past all the teams who either claimed to be no 2 or were given that label were thrashed by Australians (England in 2006 and South Africa before that) in pretty much one-sided series. India is already past that possibility. Adelaide should be fun to watch.
Posted in cricket, Australia, India, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, England, BCCI, Ponting, Kumble | 4 Comments »
Monday, January 7th, 2008
The ban on Harbhajan may all be just a trick to divert Indian team and board’s attention away from the horrible and biased umpiring in the second test at Sydney. I hope they don’t fall for that trick and keep their foot down for both the demands BCCI has made - that the ban should be off and Steve Bucknor must not officiate in the third test at Perth. In fact I think the BCCI should go further to ask that:
The Sydney test should not be considered an official ICC test
Both Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson should be out of this series
Kumble should say that what he decided with Ponting before the series about taking the fielder’s word about a catch is off now
Sachin should make a public statement about what he saw and heard during the Harbhajan incident as he was right next to him on the field, now that the match referee hasn’t considered it when he said it to him. Since Symonds has already made his views public, Sachin doing it shouldn’t matter ICC-rule-wise
The ban and the allegation on Harbhajan should be off
I hope the BCCI does not try to negotiate this thing out so save some television/sponsor money. It has enough to pay both the parties, and save the national image this time. From the news it seems players are still in Sydney, wanting BCCI to make some firm decision. I think it will be a big mistake if BCCI tries to negotiate here - it may end up reducing the ban but may have to compromise on the umpiring as typical negotiations go. So in that way the ban might have been made here to distract everybody from the umpiring.
Posted in cricket, Australia, India, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, ICC, BCCI, Ponting, Gavaskar, Kumble | No Comments »
Monday, January 7th, 2008
Here is what happened in the Sydney test and some reactions.
Here is the “catch” where Ponting claimed he never grounded the ball!
See the picture in this piece from Prem Panicker. Here is the video of it.
Here are some videos from YouTube that demonstrate the horrendous umpiring.
Gavaskar’s comments about Ganguly’s “wicket”
Horrible umpiring all over the match.
One Indian journalist asked Ponting about all this in the post-match press conference, here are his comments in his blog
It seems even Australian public supports India in this matter. Peter Roebuck has a strong comment on Ponting and senior players in Sydney Morning Heard.
Posted in cricket, Australia, India, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, ICC, BCCI, Ponting, Gavaskar, Kumble | No Comments »