Boxing Day Test at MCG : A see-saw battle

For the second year in a row my plans of seeing a boxing day game with friends did not materialize. I missed the Ashes game last year and this year it was the tour opener. But after seeing the pictures on TV on day 1, I thought it was a blessing in disguise. The stadium was full of blue T-shirts and I suspect that the Aussie spectators were outnumbered.

India started with a full strength squad and that was a good beginning. The bowling attack looked solid with Zak, Ishant and Umesh Yadav being supported by Ashwin. Kohli got selected ahead of Rohit Sharma and that too was based on the recent form. After losing the toss, Indians immediately put the Aussies on the back foot with two quick strikes. Then came a recovery of sorts with Ponting and Cowan putting up a good partnership. I thought the Indian bowling in the second session was a bit short and lacked the penetration. More importantly, that session allowed Ponting to play himself in and gain some confidence. After tea again, India struck quick blows with Zaheer Khan claiming two in an over. That one over by Zak was proof enough that he is back to his peak fitness and raring to go. Hussey and Cowan later were unlucky to fall to some poor umpiring. Aussies media obviously cried foul with DRS not being in use in this series. After having Aussies reeling at 214-6, I thought Indians gave away 50 runs too many in the final total of 333.

The response from the Indians was good. Although Gambhir got out early, Sehwag, Dravid and Sachin showed their class and at one stage India looked set to get a big first innings lead. But against the run of play, Sachin got out in the last over of the day on 73, yet again missing an opportunity to get that elusive ton-of-tons. He was playing freely and scored briskly at the start of his innings. Dravid was his usual self. India were 214-3 at the end of Day 2. With Dravid still batting and VVS, Kohli and Dhoni still in the hut, Indians must have been planning for a lead of at least 150 runs. But Day 3 turned out to be bowlers’ day. Indian innings collapsed for 282, with the last 7 wickets falling for 68 runs. Poor batting and some good bowling by the Aussie rookies. India ended up conceding a lead of 51 runs as opposed to taking the lead.

Australian second innings started with a lot of action. Their top 4 wickets were gobbled up for a paltry 24 runs and the prospect of a collapse seen in SA looked on the cards. However, the two players who have the noose tightening around their necks stabilized the innings and brought it to a respectable score. Then again in quick succession Ponting and Haddin departed with score at 6/148. From then on, the tail wagged again and took the score to 240 thus setting a target of 292 to win for the Indians.

Sehwag had said in the press conference that anything under 300 was gettable, but that turned out to be untrue. The famous batting line up collapsed for 169 handing a win to the Aussies with a comfortable margin of 122 runs. Their young bowling attack stuck to their task and bowled intelligently. Indians I thought did not plan their innings at all. We had plenty of time on our hands and a partnership or two would have frustrated the Aussies. So yet again we lose the opening test match of a tour and have our backs to the wall.

For the second game at Sydney, I see Rohit Sharma coming in for Kohli. The choice of a second spinner would depend on the wicket on offer. If it is a green top, then I think we will go with the same combination. Let us hope that the team comes back with some solid plans to counter the Aussie attack.

Ind-Aus 2012: A curtain raiser

I ndia has a better than good chance of winning the series in Australia this time around. I am not saying that because I am a diehard India supporter, but because the balance is heavily tilted in India’s favour.

First of all, the Indian batting squad is at full strength and even the folks on the bench are in good nick. The second line of batters in Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rahane are all in good form and have a solid technique to back the form. With the firm of Viru and Gauti back at the opening slot, we can expect this line up to deliver scores in excess of 350 every time. The bowling is where we have a few concerns with the injuries. If the entire squad is fit, then the team of Zaheer, Ishant, Umesh Yadav and Ashwin will be quite formidable. But if we lose key bowlers to injuries, then suddenly the attack looks very raw and young.

The Australians have had a few problems of their own in recent times. The senior folks have not scored runs lately and the young guns have failed to find their rhythm. They have folded up to some very low scores recently and that failure will weigh very heavily on their minds. The likes of Ponting and Hussey have the press asking for their heads and they have survived only because the replacements have failed. Their bowling is also not the peak and they have struggled to get 20 wickets consistently. The only chance they have is if Ponting and Hussey strike form and some of the bowlers recover from their injuries rapidly. But in my mind, the pressure of the recent defeats will bear on their minds very heavily.

The Aussies have enlisted the services of Greg Chapell as an expert and that to me is a sure recipe for disaster. Greg Chapell was a good player in his times but his methods as a coach have been very counterproductive. I hope that trend continues and we come back with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy this time.