There are times when a game ceases to be a clash between two teams and the ones playing it lift it to a higher level, making it transcend above everything else in life. In those special moments, it makes everything else seem mundane and it is best to sit back and revel in those moments. The encounter between India and Australia in the recently concluded Test series provided plenty of those moments, which proved there was something in the hype before the series. It often made us wonder whether such levels of cricket could be played ever since the mighty Windies stopped ruling the game in the Eighties. Frankly, it was quite heartening to see the sides lock horns and engage in an absorbing duel. Other sports have and are still providing thrilling encounters, take a Federer-Nadal clash for an example and cricket has only faltered because there are too many games being played with too little time in between. A defeat for Australia has only seemed a tougher mountain to climb for the team that plays it. A scoreline of 2-1 can be misleading considering the contest between India and Australia that was witnessed. It was high quality cricket all the time and what was even more fascinating was that the Indians seemed to get better with each duel. Forget the controversies, forget the media hype, why, forget the result for a moment- what stood was the way the teams fought to make it memorable. It also provided a crucial glimpse into the future- every series that will be played between these two sides will assure us that cricket can still be played in a way that no one ever imagined it possible.
Once the Indians battled hard on the first day of the first Test, it became obvious to everyone around that this was going to be one cracker of a contest. Significant in that fight back was Kumble, leading from the front and richly deserving the five-wicket haul. Thereafter, it was downhill for Team India. It was bundled out for less than 200 in both its innings and the mistake it committed was asking Dravid to open the innings. He wasn’t even a shadow of the man who famously scripted a win for the team last time around, more like a penumbra cast by a fading sunlight. He was too cautious and defensive, due to which India lost the plot, managing only 6 in 12-odd overs in the first innings. It was a session wasted by virtue of India’s diffident batting and it was no surprise when the Indians lost the test. Sachin’s 67 was the highlight in an otherwise forgettable innings but it still set the platform to move on to bigger scores in the following Tests. India was further hampered when Zaheer pulled out of the series with an injury.
Moving on to the Sydney Test, oh, if ever a match has to be remembered only for its thrilling finish in the dying minutes of the last day and be forgotten for everything else that came out of it, then its this one. The match turned this way and that, with both sides edging out each other in sessions but the champions had the last laugh. The circumstances under which the team won is a highly debatable topic and there was furore all over the world on the Aussie way of victory-at-all-costs. The Test also had its brighter moments, with a master-class display from Sachin while Symonds could have outstripped any cat on account of his lives on his way to a big score. There were dubious decisions against the Indians and to rub salt into the wounds, Harbhajan was banned from the subsequent Tests for racially abusing Symonds. What followed was an outcry against the umpires and the Aussies, the passion of a cricket-mad nation fuelled by the outrageous decisions and a frenzied media. Bucknor was sacked while the integrity of the Aussies was questioned. And one line from a very dejected and frustrated Indian captain said it all, ’Only one team played it in the spirit of the game.’ It was a telling comment, one that will go down in history as one of the best one-liners to have been made under harsh conditions. (At the time of writing, Harbhajan was found not guilty by a New Zealand High Court judge, Mr. Hansen, following the BCCI appeal).
Nobody gave the visiting team even a slim chance of winning the Perth Test, traditionally the fastest track in the world. Australia unleashed a four-pronged pace attack including Shaun Tait who strived on raw pace. But, astonishingly, as a fitting reply to the previous Test, the Indians regrouped and came back amazingly to script one of the most famous victories on foreign soil. At the end of it all, even Sunil Gavaskar was of the view that this win had to rank as the best for the past 40 years in Indian cricket. What made the win even more special was the fact the Indians believed in themselves and bonded together as a team after all that had happened in Sydney. The team outclassed Australia in all departments and the win was fashioned by the promising trio of Ishant, Irfan and R.P.Singh. In a display of emotion and bonding, Bhajji, who wasn’t playing in the game, ran onto the ground carrying the tricolour after India won. It was a dramatic and a touching end to a glorious victory. One other moment will be etched in any Indian fan’s memory. Ishant, on the fourth day, had Ponting in a daze. Punter swished, got a few on his body, swatted and flailed only to find the bat missing the ball. In short, he did pretty much everything except than middle the ball. It was an hour that encompassed the best of everything that a fast bowler can give to the game. It was a supreme effort by a hard-working 19-year old, supreme because he was bowling to the best batsman in the Australian team. In a typical display of a player sticking for his state-mate, Sehwag pushed Ishant into bowling one more over. One ball later, Ponting was back in the pavilion and the Indians had already started their celebrations. It was a crucial strike-Kumble’s words ‘Ek aur over karega? ‘ to Ishant will be remembered for years to come.
Adelaide had been the place where India had pulled one over Australia the last time it had come Down Under and the visitors were raring to square the series on the back of a morale-boosting win at Perth. Sachin came up with yet another century in the first innings and Sehwag fired in the second. Australia’s tactics were questionable. One can rarely find them crawling along with a run rate of 3 an over or even below that. In cruise mode, they move rapidly at 4 or more and the tactics were no doubt defensive. The Test eventually meandered to a draw and though the Aussies had won the series, much must go the Indians for the way they came back in the last two Tests. They could have easily been crushed to be whitewashed 4-0, as Stuart Clark had predicted, but the Indians showed they had more resolve and nerves of steel.
What stood out in all these Tests, at least barring the first Test, was the fierce contest between the Indian batsmen and the Aussie bowlers. It was enthralling Test cricket, one that richly deserved to be watched by a genuine cricket fan. Brett Lee bowled like a dream, with great verve and swing. He was fast, hit the right line so often that you could place a patch on the pitch and label it as ‘This is where Brett Lee bowled throughout the series.’ He varied his length often, pitching in steep bouncers followed by toe-crushing yorkers or just good-length deliveries that left the batsmen guessing. As a fitting reward for his consistency, he had Tendulkar’s number on quite a few occasions-he even had the Little Master hopping. Stuart Clark bowled those mean deliveries constantly probing the corridor but he was quite unlucky to have not got more scalps to his name. Johnson was fantastic as well, using the angle to perfection but Tait was a disaster in the only Test that he played. Not that the Indian batsmen struggled much. The way they counter-attacked only bears testimony to the fact that this is the best middle-order that any team can have. There were fluent drives, beautifully timed glides, even cheeky boundaries through the slips but you can’t ignore the fact that these batsmen were seasoned veterans, clearly using their experience to adjust to the conditions and unleash their dazzling array of strokes. Yes, Dravid was a bit subdued, except for his brilliant 93 at Perth, and Ganguly did appear a bit uncomfortable against Hogg even when he was playing well but the other two were just outstanding. Laxman was at his magical best, his wrist play proving too much even for Lee’s better deliveries. I guess it has something to do with grounds; when Laxman made his third century in as many Tests at Sydney, it was as if everyone knew it was coming. His on-drives were perfect and you couldn’t have seen more elegant cover-drives than his. His 70-odd at Perth in the second innings was crucial, considering that the Aussies came within 70 runs of the target. And it was a privilege to watch Sachin bat. He was at his aggressive best, not the Sachin that we saw in England but the Sachin we remember, who dismantled bowling attacks with his bold and daring stroke play, instilling terror in the bowlers as only he can. He cut, pulled and drove magnificently-he was downright brilliant and it was a treat to watch him play and smash the bowlers with disdain. He singled out Hogg, sending the ball to all corners of the ground and even clearing the long boundary a few times. Gilchrist must have considered himself extremely lucky to have watched him from close quarters. There was one shot he played that I will never forget. Lee was bowling at his fiery best and he bowled one short, directing it at his head. Sachin leant back, moved away and at the last second, played at it to guide it over the heads of the waiting slip cordon. It went sailing past them and thudded into the boards after one bounce near the fence. Nobody moved for a second. There was a stunned silence as everyone tried to comprehend yet another stroke of genius from the little man. That one second belonged entirely to Sachin. It was pure magic for that one everlasting second. The sportsman that he is, Lee smiled and trudged back to his bowling mark, shaking his head in exasperation. But that one shot showed why Sachin can never be written off- age might have slowed his reflexes but his class will never die down. He keeps redefining the word ‘genius’ and as a fitting tribute, he received a standing ovation everytime he strode into the field to bat or back to return to his pavilion. Well, Sachin and Australia have always shared a special bonding. Ever since the country’s legend, the Don, said that Tendulkar’s batting was similar to his, the genial crowd has flocked to the grounds everytime he bats and sometimes, especially for that. It was no different this time as well. It’s a rare honour and India must be proud of its rare jewel in the crown.
India has never produced quality fast bowlers in the past, barring a few. Probably that’s why it was refreshing to see someone like R.P.Singh or Ishant to don the fast bowler’s mantle and deliver the way they did. Once Zaheer left the squad to tend to his injury, it was upto the young speedsters to take on the famed Australian batting order. And attack they did, with Ishant bowling splendidly and R.P.Singh and Irfan backing him up. It was a top-class performance and the win at Perth was possible only because they had reduced the Aussies to a paltry total of 212 in the first innings that helped the visitors gain a lead of over 100. Ishant, by far, was the pick of the lot he used his height admirably well to generate bounce. R.P.Singh was at his menacing best, showing that he is now ready to do whatever it takes to succeed at the Test level, while Irfan reminded us why there is no substitute for hard work. His sterling performance after a mediocre show last year should cement a hard-earned place in the team. What was important was that these pacemen never tried to bowl at greater speeds; they relied more on length, line and swing while bowling within their limits. Much credit must go to Venkatesh Prasad for making the bowlers strive on accuracy and keeping them focused on the job at hand because bowlers can easily get carried away by the pitches found in those parts of the world. The rise of these young bowlers is a very good sign for India- half a season ago; no one would have imagined that a second-string attack could pose a threat to the Aussies. But they have belied expectations and shown maturity beyond their age. They deserve the accolades heaped on them.
Captaining an Indian side is a tough job, even more so when there is so much pressure to put up a decent show. From my point of view, no one could have done a better job during the series than Kumble. Ganguly might have pulled it off but to do it unassumingly was the best reply that could have been given after all that happened at Sydney. After R.P.Singh castled Tait to notch up the victory in the Perth Test, Kumble didn’t engage himself in frenzied celebrations. He did enjoy the moment and yes, he did celebrate but he smiled just like a mother would after watching her talented son win a prize at school. In fact, that is the man in essence-quiet and dignified in his approach but just as confident and determined to lead his side to a historic win. If ever there has been a role-model for young budding cricketers, it is this man. Work ethics, hard work, perseverance-you name anything that makes up a champion and he has them all. The team was 2-0 down, one of its players had been banned from the subsequent Tests and the rub of the green had simply gone against India. To lift the team morale, make the players bond together in the times of adversity and make them focus only on their cricket to fight back was the need of the hour. That the team did all this and much more to halt the winning run of the Aussies and win the Perth Test was a terrific achievement. Kumble deserves credit for rallying the team around and urge them to challenge the Aussies even more on the field. Commitment has always been on top of his list. He is a legend. I am not calling for meaningless felicitations that would award him with cash or kind- he is a man who has stayed true and served his country more often in times of need- such kind of cricketers are a huge asset to the side. He deserves much more.
It was saddening to see the Sydney Test being marred by so many contentious decisions and though the match lasted until the final minutes to deliver a result, it left a bad taste in the mouth. The three-match ban slapped on Harbhajan was unwarranted and questionable on many counts. Firstly, it was Symonds who had stirred up Harbhajan; if at all Harbhajan was guilty, then Symonds was equally so. Secondly, the match referee who found Harbhajan guilty was not a qualified judge. There was ample evidence that he did not even have the makings of one- he delivered the judgement with the allegations of the three Aussies (Ponting, Hayden and Symonds) as the base while ignoring the defence by Tendulkar, arguing that he could not have been close enough to hear what Harbhajan could have said. Thirdly, the issue should have never gone to the match referee. It should have been resolved then and there on the field. Words may be spoken in the heat of the moment- players will agree with that but at some point, even if it does cross the line, the on-field umpires should have enough power to defuse the situation. Once a third party who is neither a qualified person in the matters of delivering a judgement nor someone who has solid evidence to prove that the player has indeed crossed the line, delivers judgement based only on the words of the players on the field who lodged the complaint, the case loses its way then and there. There is no way, in that situation, anyone can believe that justice will prevail. That Harbhajan was found not guilty later by a qualified judge only shows the hollowness of the hearing that had taken place earlier. It reflects on many things that the ICC is incompetent at.
There is the issue of not having enough umpires at the highest level. If cricket is going to continue having just 8 umpires in the ‘Elite Panel’ (in which one or two like Bucknor are past their prime and still carry on), then I am afraid we might probably see more Tests like the one at Sydney. The right thing to do and at once is to expand the Panel. It’s useless if Simon Taufel keeps bagging the Best Umpire award every year. What about the rest? Even if assessments are being made on the performance of the umpires, there is no proof of it. If the quality of the game is brought down by poor umpiring, then it takes something from the game. One can always argue about the human factor being prevalent in the game but errors of magnitude such as the ones at Sydney need to be looked at. Something needs to be done and done fast. The second thing that the ICC needs to look at is the power of the umpires on the field. I strongly believe that the umpires should be capable of resolving issues on the field, which makes the need for a match referee necessary only for matters such as the over rate and the like. A player’s conduct can be monitored by him but not to the extent of determining whether the player was right or wrong in his behaviour. He has virtually no idea of what is happening on the field- only the umpires do and the responsibility of ensuring that nothing untoward happens against the spirit of the game should solely belong to them. If a player finds the behaviour of his opponent objectionable, he should report it to the umpires first. If they do not have sufficient evidence, only then should a judge be summoned to attend to the case and be asked to deliver the judgement after sifting through the evidence that is available and assessing the nature of the case. Another issue that has been gaining considerable momentum is about the technology in aiding umpiring decisions. It can be used only as long as it is reliable. Certainly, it will lift the pressure off the umpires who need to take decisions in a split-second. If the umpire is still unclear about the decision, then the batsman can be given the benefit of the doubt. Its use can be a decisive step forward but it must be done carefully and slowly only after testing it for a sufficient period. It’s also crucial that the players learn to accept the decisions made based on this- there is no use in complaining about it later.
There are some surprises in life which are so shocking that you wish you never heard it in the first place. So, when Adam Gilchrist recently announced his retirement from all forms of the game, it came as a huge surprise considering that he had surpassed the world record for the most dismissals the day before. I guess the bowlers would have heaved a sigh of relief for he was one of the most destructive batsmen around. Wicketkeepers like him will be hard to find; cricketers like him, even harder. He epitomized the better half of the cricket world; not only due to the fact that he walked even if not given out, Gilchrist was the sort of a person who would applaud on the field when a batsman in the opposition made a century. When Kumble bagged his 600th wicket during the recent Test series, he went over from the non-striker’s end to congratulate the bowler. He was a terrific batsman, someone who could change the match situation in an hour of scintillating batting. I still remember the first Test century that he made, against Pakistan. Australia was already 5 or 6 for 100-odd, chasing a mammoth 369 when Gilchrist joined Langer. What followed was one of the best attacking batting displays ever. Gilly straight-drove for a scorching boundary to bring up his maiden century and he was ecstatic. He gestured to his team-mates, punched the air while repeatedly shouting ‘Yeah! Come on!’. By that time, Australia was within sniffing distance of a victory. What struck everyone around was not the way he batted. More than that, this was a player who had been booed when he walked into the Gabba in the previous test, having replaced Healy. By the end of the second test, he had won the hearts of people all around. This was a true Australian character, complete with a never-say-die attitude. From that time, he has been a vital cog in the Australian team during their golden run in the past decade. Whether it was plucking catches out of thin air or simply turning matches around single-handedly with his batting, he has done them all. On his day, he would tear the bowling apart. His cut and pull shots were ferocious in nature and he was one of the first to use the upper-cut shots over the slips. When he was told that he had missed the record of the fastest Test century by a ball, he replied in trademark style that the record should rightfully belong to Viv Richards alone. We must consider ourselves lucky to have seen this champion grace the game. I think people will miss Gilchrist, the cricketer than Gichrist, the batman. True, he was totally Australian- aggression was his forte but there was this delight on watching him play and conduct himself. Being the emotional man that he is, he might be choked to tears after he has played in his final international match in Sydney but I guess there will be more people who will be shedding silent tears at the end when this legend bids adieu to the cricket world and walks away from the field for one last time. We salute you, Adam!
Selection of an Indian team always throws up interesting results. This time around, it was huge disappointment for Ganguly and Dravid when both were dropped from the ODI squad. The selectors have opted for young blood instead of relying on experience. Getting them prepared for the 2011 World Cup is fine but staring it off with an Australian tour is probably not the right thing to do. These guys are still relatively fresh from the T20 World Cup; I doubt if any of them has played a proper challenging 50-overs game- it will take some time for them to get adjusted to the conditions and learn the ropes. In this case, the selectors should not expect an outright victory everytime they take to the field. For one thing, the Australian tour is one of the toughest around and they will be competing against the hosts and Sri Lanka, a formidable team that has grown into a fantastic outfit. On their day, the Lankans are very much capable of thrashing their opponents. Another issue that might be a little worrying is the experience that the Indian batting possesses. Apart from Sehwag, Sachin, Yuvraj and to an extent, Dhoni the rest are yet to make a mark. True, they are talented and look promising- Uthappa was brilliant in England while Rohit Sharma impressed one and all with his impressive strokeplay and decisive footwork in the T20 WC but I feel the real litmus test awaits them in the CB series. Even if they do fail, there is no need to press the panic button. A little more experience will make them better players. Until then, it’s best to wait and see. There are no problems in the bowling department unless one picks up an injury and returns home. Ishant is having the time of his life while Irfan has looked much better as a bowler. He swung the ball at a lively pace in the Test series and he will look to carry his form into the one-dayers as well. Sreesanth has made a comeback to the squad after an injury forced him out of the Tests but he must be careful in showing his aggression. He does overstep the mark sometimes and its time someone took him aside and asks him to take it easy. All in all, it is promising to be a very good series. All the sides are evenly matched- yes, India and Sri Lanka do have the firepower to put it across Australia. Moreover, it’s the last edition of such a series in Australia and the hosts will be raring to win it for one last time. There will be plenty of good cricket around that might make it too good to miss. Let’s see who emerges the winner. I think it will be cricket once again!
No comments:
Post a Comment