Champions at Chennai

All the people who say that Test match cricket is boring and is doomed for extinction, you should read the synopsis of the just concluded first test match between India and England. What an enthralling game!! We had all the ingredients of a perfect test match. Perfect wicket, perfect weather, tough and gritty performances and magical changes of fortune we had it all. If you ever wanted a script for an advertisement for Test cricket, here is an example. Who would have imagined that India will win this test match after they conceded a first innings lead of 75 runs and failed to bowl out England briskly in the second outing?

Secondly I think whoever doubted Sachin’s contribution in the second innings of a test match to seal a victory for India, should see this innings of his. He was in superb control throughout and he showed why he is still the master. He played a fluent innings full of confidence and I believe he was also influential in guiding Yuvraj through the patchy start. He must be vividly remembering that test match against Pakistan at the same venue in January 1999 when we lost to Pakistan by 12 runs after he got out. This time he shepherded the innings and ensured that he stood there when the winning runs were scored.

In my mind England lost the plot on Day 4 when after having built a substantial lead they failed to speed up the scoring. They did not impose their superiority on the Indians and as the scoring rate dipped to an abysmal low they also lost quick wickets. That allowed the Indians to get their chin up.

And then Sehwag came and played a blinder. When he is in that kind of mood, the opposition can just watch him play and pray that he makes a mistake. On the Sunday afternoon, I was switching between “Gone in 60 Seconds” and the test match. Partly because I am superstitious person as far as cricket is concerned and did not want India to lose wickets and partly because the movie had started before Indian innings. On the cricket channel it was “Gone in 60 minutes”. He clobbered the English attack out of the park and immediately put them on a defensive stance despite having a lead of over 350 runs. Such was the power and speed of his scoring that by the end of day four, the target was well within the reach of Indians and all three results were a possibility.

I think this Indian team is now building a reputation for itself and is certainly championship material. It has a perfectly balanced attack that can routinely take 20 wickets and a good batting line up that can take the gauntlet. The combination of Sehwag and Gambhir at the top of the line up makes all the difference. I would possibly rest Dravid and promote VVS to No. 3 and bring in a fresh new candidate in the next test match. As far as England is concerned I think they would have to think hard for their available options. Strauss, Collingwood with the bat were good but were not fast enough and Flintoff bowled his heart out for his captain. The rest of the bowling was pedestrian and made no impact.