Today was a special day not only in the history of Indian Cricket but also in the history of World Cricket as Australia was dominated at home, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, by a visiting team even as their Prime Minister was watching. India did something that no other team has done to Australia for the last 2 years (when they lost the Ashes) and what other teams have not been able to do in Australia for quite some time now. Leading the rampage was Sachin Tendulkar scoring his 38th century, remaining unbeaten at the end with a mind-boggling average of 328, ably assisted by the tail. Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Ishant Sharma all played in a manner that must have made Dhoni and Yuvaraj wonder whether they had batted on the same surface against the same team as so ill at ease were they. But back to the script, India is 56 ahead at the close of day three and there are just two days left. If Australia is to win its 16th test match in a row, it has to do all the running, throw in the uncertain weather and we could be in for some tension as well. Well I am not a betting man but I think India is ahead at this point in time and yet in the same breath we do know that Australia does not give up easily and our fourth innings is rarely our best.
Where are Warne and McGrath?
Today I think for the first time since their retirement, Australia must have been yearning for its past greats as India too scored at close to four runs an over and made over 500 and Australia bled runs very much like we did yesterday. Alarm bells must be ringing in the Aussie camp, as Brett Lee seems to be carrying too much on his broad shoulders. He has risen to the occasion both at Melbourne and at Sydney and even earlier against Sri Lanka at Brisbane and Hobart but Australia for large parts of the day were wondering where their next wicket was going to come from and Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark were found wanting. As for the rest of the world, India has shown the way and in a sense this is a landmark day not only for India but for the rest of the cricket playing and cricket watching world and one just hopes that other teams will take heart and challenge Australia in the weeks and months ahead.
What about the match?
For once we have a test match in Australia where no one knows where the match is going at the end of day three. Till now all the debate has been whether the match would go on to the fifth day. While we are ahead by over 50 runs still, we must bat last and Hogg still seems to surprise some of our batsman at least. I do hope that India is positive and tries to win, as Sydney is our best chance. Too often we are satisfied with draws but remember we are already one down and the reputation of Perth, if not the actual pitch, may get to our batsmen. So as my friend Ramsubramani would say, set that alarm for 5 am tomorrow and cheer our team every inch of the way.
Where are Warne and McGrath?
Today I think for the first time since their retirement, Australia must have been yearning for its past greats as India too scored at close to four runs an over and made over 500 and Australia bled runs very much like we did yesterday. Alarm bells must be ringing in the Aussie camp, as Brett Lee seems to be carrying too much on his broad shoulders. He has risen to the occasion both at Melbourne and at Sydney and even earlier against Sri Lanka at Brisbane and Hobart but Australia for large parts of the day were wondering where their next wicket was going to come from and Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark were found wanting. As for the rest of the world, India has shown the way and in a sense this is a landmark day not only for India but for the rest of the cricket playing and cricket watching world and one just hopes that other teams will take heart and challenge Australia in the weeks and months ahead.
What about the match?
For once we have a test match in Australia where no one knows where the match is going at the end of day three. Till now all the debate has been whether the match would go on to the fifth day. While we are ahead by over 50 runs still, we must bat last and Hogg still seems to surprise some of our batsman at least. I do hope that India is positive and tries to win, as Sydney is our best chance. Too often we are satisfied with draws but remember we are already one down and the reputation of Perth, if not the actual pitch, may get to our batsmen. So as my friend Ramsubramani would say, set that alarm for 5 am tomorrow and cheer our team every inch of the way.
(Ramanujam Sridhar is the CEO of brand-comm and the author of One Land, One Billion Minds).
10 comments:
Sachin's average is actually 326 at the SCG. I'm worried that if they give us 70 oers to bat, we might struggle. also, i think Ponting underbowled clark and overbowled Johnson. Tait looks a better bet!
The pun in your headline is very apt. And it applies to both the innings. Now what remains is a fairy tale ending to this script. And it is very possible weather permitting. If India can get 3 wickets before the deficit is cleared we might end up chasing less than 150 and by law of averages yuvi or dhoni might just see us through in the fourth innings. I think both our spinners will be a handful on this wicket. This is the Indian in me speaking. The mind is saying something else and I wish to ignore it. The moment of truth is just around the corner. Hold your breath.
Many of the things that you and I had hoped for did not happen,but we sure had lots of controversies, what a bizarre end to what might have been such a wonderful game!
Yes - today was a special day and I am still incredulous. How come Bhajji & Ishant could bat when Dhoni & Yuvraj failed even without trying. Of course, I shall not even try praising Sachin & VVS - they played superbly crafted innings in their contrasting styles.
Yes both Lakshman and Sachin played brilliantly to put it mildly.
Sadly Yuvaraj is struggling to come to terms with test cricket and Dhoni has still not come to terms with Australian wickets.
"Commit all your crimes when Sachin is batting. They will go unnoticed because even the Lord is watching."
A placard at the SCG when Sachin Tendulkar was on his way to a magnificent century
Yes he does bat like a dream , or certainly did at Sydney.
Absolutely. I agree with you that Indians did play well and it was an astounding day’s play.
While I did not see the start, I did see Tendulkar hit the century. It was evident that he was chasing the evasive 100. I also liked Bajji’s cameo.
Cheers to India
Yes Bhajji was really unbelievable.He has the ability, wish he would do it more often.I guess the fact that he does not makes him Bhajji.
Yes.It was a really bizarre ending the way three wickets fell in the penultimate over. But I firmly believe you only lose gold, you don’t win silver. India got a lead in the first inngs inspite of the umpiring blunders. But in the second inngs the only big umpiring blunder to me was that of dravid. If India cant bat through half a day it is really pathetic and once again sachin failed in the fourth inngs. Technology has to come into cricket very soon. Anyways one of your don’t dos ( of not declaring even if you are 900) in an earlier column has come true. How do you explain a team losing after scoring 500 plus. Chokers. If you choke even lady luck will let you down. Jo jeeta woh hi sikander. I happened to be at the wankede the last time they won 16 in a row. This time they will do one better at the least.
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