Commonwealth Bank Series - Game 1 - India vs Australia
February 5th 2008 03:45
I watched the Indian innings till about 98 for 6 with Dhoni and Uthappa at the crease. After that I had to start and go to play my own little cricket match
On an aside, it was the finals of the CSCA tournament yesterday and we won a humdinger of a contest with the last pair at the crease (though it need never have been a humdinger at the first place). Yours truly was also declared the man of the series.
This news was sweeter when it came out that the match between India and Australia had been called off. I had not known about Sreesanth's and Ishant's bowling heroics but even after I caught the highlights package I still think Australia was the team in the driver's seat - simply because they knew the exact equation - how many runs to get in how many balls and conserve wickets or attack as necessary. Rain, I believe, saved the day for India. However, a special mention must be made of Sreesanth's verve and effectiveness on his international comeback. Ishant's continual domination and aggression against Australia has left me breathless. The limits that this fast bowling attack can achieve are truly astounding. This is certainly a strength that we would love to have in our away tours. We will not be the only ones facing perfume balls anymore!!!
As for this particular match - it was a rank bad decision by the Indian captain to bat first. He should have known the weather forecast, that it was going to be cloudy throughout with interim interruptions and must have chosen to field first. What is the point in picking three seamers only to not let them have a go under overcast conditions? I am surprised none of the 'experts' pointed this out.
Batting under overcast conditions against a truly rampaging Lee on a juicy, if slightly spongy Gabba was always going to be challenging. Tendulkar and Sehwag started off pretty well, but quite soon, Sehwag's penchant for cutting even the incoming deliveries took its toll. This is not the first time he has been out under edging the bouncing and incoming ball into the stumps. He needs to make a note of this and not let this happen.
Tendulkar's dismissal was as curious as it was shocking. Sachin disturbed the stumps with his right heel while trying to guide a just above knee high length ball towards the leg side and take off for a single. I thought there was some terrible commentary from Gavaskar regarding this. Gavaskar was actually questioning as to why Sachin was not standing out of the crease and was going on about the merits of standing out of the crease. What he must have lost sight of is the fact that here was an express fast bowler and in playing a fast bowler, every bit of extra time and every centimetre of crease space is useful. Also the Gabba was at its juiciest and till then, Tendulkar had played exceedingly well. There was an assuredness in his batting blended with the right amount of aggression - as he showed with that short arm pull to a perfectly legitimate length ball on off stump from Bracken.
Gautam Gambhir played some very good strokes square off the wicket - the square cut and the square drive off a very hapless looking Ashley Noffke were wonderful to watch. Guys, I want to again draw your attention to an earlier statement I made about the lack of depth in the Australian bowling machine. Lee has been magnificent and has strived to make sure that this lack of depth is not exposed, but it will only be a matter of time before this is out for the world to see.
But Gautam gave his hard earned start all away when trying to nonchalantly flick a straight delivery from Bracken towards the leg side. This was the first of the rushes of blood that we were to see from the Indian batsmen yesterday.
Rohit Sharma walked in with the team in some strife. He actually played with Gambhir after Sachin's dismissal and this was the best phase of the match as far as batting is concerned for India. But he shone resplendently through with his flair and cool headed striking. Here is a youth who is worth experimenting on. He is certainly uncut but at the same time he is also certainly a diamond. But he does need to be worked on. Flaws in technique can perhaps be etched out easier than lacunae in temperament. And it is in his temperament that he gave ground to the Australians. He was playing them well, very well. And Lee, who was in his 7th over, would probably have gone off if Rohit had chosen to see him off. This is where some senior player (if present at the other end) would have walked over and told him to cut away all the frills and just play if you have to - no matter about scoring runs. This over, we could afford to give to the Australians. But no, we lacked that steadying hand and Rohit gave it all away with one stroke too many. From there on, India went from bad to worse.
Tiwary's stay at the crease was a nightmare and Dhoni and Uthappa were struggling to make ends meet when I left to play my own match. It appears that Harbhajan and Pathan worked hard to get India to some measure of respectability. At the end, the paltry total in the 190s was never going to be enough.
But try telling that to young fast bowlers, full of adrenalin and testosterone fresh with the scent of the shining red cherry in hand. Combine this with overcast conditions. Any captain would have had to yoke his fast bowlers to a laden cart to not see them enthusiastic.
Sreesanth and Ishant made life as hard as can be for Australia. We should also make note of a stop gap move on the part of the Australians. Clarke, who was opening the innings for some time in India, had given way to Justin Hopes. Hopes is a honest and hard working cricketer but Ishant's rocket, which needs to be defined as a wood-seeking missile, evaded the stretching bat and the squeezing pad and rested only after it had crashed into the middle stump. Win or lose, our fast bowlers were going to give it their all.
Sreesanth once more reminded his detractors that while he may talk too much for the average Indian, he certainly is far more talented and pacy than the average Indian fast bowler too. I, for one, believe that this lad is destined for great heights if he can keep himself injury free.
With Australia down at 30 odd runs for 3 wickets, out walked Symonds. Sreesanth bowled the perfect ball - pitched outside off stump, full and drive length. Symonds, lured out by this ball, sent his bat out with only his left hand. But there was no edge unfortunately. A small piece of luck and Australia could have been 4 down and it would have meant a whole lot for India. Sreesanth then followed this up with a rip roaring snorter which whooshed over not just Symonds but also Dhoni's outstretched hands for 4 byes. The lad has serious pace but he also needs some experience in honing that pace for the best use of the team. The next ball, not unsurpringly was banished to the cover boundary by Symonds. And Sreesanth's follow through which till then had extended right upto the nose of the batsman, curtailed itself to the barest minimum.
Shortly after that, rain put an end proceedings. With only 90 odd runs to get in about 18 overs with 7 wickets in hand, Australia would have fancied their chances. India were bowling very well but it has to be said that 3 or 4 quick boundaries from anybody would have sealed the fate in Australia's favour.
India's all-youth strategy does have holes but it also has its own share of gems. It is up to the discerning people in the team management to use the seniors to plug the holes and encourage the youngsters thereby adding lustre to those gems.
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Comment by Harry
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Comment by Balachandhran S
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Would you say that the CB Series scheduling has not been done at the best possible time of the season? Is this normally the rainy season over there at Brisbane? Or are we seeing unseasonal action there?
2 continuous matches washed off - does not make for the good of anybody involved.