Boxing day. Summer in the southern hemisphere. The occasion can be overwhelming. It is after all being played at the MCG. Few grounds around the world can be counted as a member of the squad. A twelfth man playing a hand in the proceedings. The Eden Gardens with 100,000 electrified Bengalis for instance. Kingsmead, Durban: a cauldron with a green mamba in the middle. And the MCG. Australia vs. India is a contest worthy of the venue. And here's a fantastic piece on the "G". I haven't read a better summation of a cricket ground and what it embodies.
5-216 to 10-530. When the dust settles on this series, one of the crucial differences between the teams would be the contribution of the bowlers. With the bat. In a fast evolving world, the role of the tail end batsman has been recast. No more prodding. No more heaving. No more blind swings. Ever since Gillespie made 201, the tail. is expected to wag. And put a price on wickets 7 trough 10. With some style too. And when an attack as potent as ours with a penchant for giving career lifelines to weak batsmen is in operation, the last four can make merry.What looked like an even first day made way for a very one-sided second with Smith and co. piling on the runs while the Indians looked rather resigned, waiting for things to happen. If bowlers are paid by the hour, our fast men can retire already.
Day 3 would have been a treat to watch for any Indian fan. After a sedate start, Kohli and Rahane ran the Aussie attack ragged. Calling it mere domination wouldn't be accurate. The passage of play when the two of them were toying with Johnson was a pleasure that we are rarely afforded when abroad. We have had individual shows. We have seen dogged partnerships. But the sight of two batsmen in India caps pulling and hooking at will while keeping the score ticking at a fast clip? Delectable.
The bowling gave a slightly better account of themselves in the second innings and was actually able to keep things quiet for an extended period. Although the wickets column doesn't back this up, Ishant was the better bowler in both the innings, managing to hold things up at one end. He is good but the attack as a whole is not good enough.
In the end, it was India's batting show at Adelaide that almost took us home that weighed on Australia's mind in delaying the declaration till the fifth morning. That helped us save this test eventually. Smith admitted to not wanting to give India even a sniff. That was a first that went against the win at all cost attitude we are used to. So was the curious declaration with four overs to go and a scrappy Dhoni and Ashwin at the crease. I suspect whether a Steve Waugh or a Ponting or even Clarke would have shook hands in that situation.
Fact of life: Test cricket is not a slowed down version of T20. Skills being a given, it takes a certain temperament and a mindset to succeed in this format. The ability to read a situation with a long term view and adapt accordingly is something team India will need to focus on.
Quick note on India's new found aggression. Being aggressive is OK. Standing up is great. But being annoying is not. Let the bat do the talking. Let the ball ask the tough questions. They are louder. They are convincing, Sledging, banter and mind games are not required for bringing out the competitive face of any cricketer. "Sledging within limits" - a concept that is being bandied about by both teams - is an idiocy. Where is the line? Who draws it? And why is there a code of conduct then? This team would be better off if they tone down their current flavor of on field aggression which seems to border on the comic.
5-216 to 10-530. When the dust settles on this series, one of the crucial differences between the teams would be the contribution of the bowlers. With the bat. In a fast evolving world, the role of the tail end batsman has been recast. No more prodding. No more heaving. No more blind swings. Ever since Gillespie made 201, the tail. is expected to wag. And put a price on wickets 7 trough 10. With some style too. And when an attack as potent as ours with a penchant for giving career lifelines to weak batsmen is in operation, the last four can make merry.What looked like an even first day made way for a very one-sided second with Smith and co. piling on the runs while the Indians looked rather resigned, waiting for things to happen. If bowlers are paid by the hour, our fast men can retire already.
Day 3 would have been a treat to watch for any Indian fan. After a sedate start, Kohli and Rahane ran the Aussie attack ragged. Calling it mere domination wouldn't be accurate. The passage of play when the two of them were toying with Johnson was a pleasure that we are rarely afforded when abroad. We have had individual shows. We have seen dogged partnerships. But the sight of two batsmen in India caps pulling and hooking at will while keeping the score ticking at a fast clip? Delectable.
The bowling gave a slightly better account of themselves in the second innings and was actually able to keep things quiet for an extended period. Although the wickets column doesn't back this up, Ishant was the better bowler in both the innings, managing to hold things up at one end. He is good but the attack as a whole is not good enough.
In the end, it was India's batting show at Adelaide that almost took us home that weighed on Australia's mind in delaying the declaration till the fifth morning. That helped us save this test eventually. Smith admitted to not wanting to give India even a sniff. That was a first that went against the win at all cost attitude we are used to. So was the curious declaration with four overs to go and a scrappy Dhoni and Ashwin at the crease. I suspect whether a Steve Waugh or a Ponting or even Clarke would have shook hands in that situation.
Fact of life: Test cricket is not a slowed down version of T20. Skills being a given, it takes a certain temperament and a mindset to succeed in this format. The ability to read a situation with a long term view and adapt accordingly is something team India will need to focus on.
Quick note on India's new found aggression. Being aggressive is OK. Standing up is great. But being annoying is not. Let the bat do the talking. Let the ball ask the tough questions. They are louder. They are convincing, Sledging, banter and mind games are not required for bringing out the competitive face of any cricketer. "Sledging within limits" - a concept that is being bandied about by both teams - is an idiocy. Where is the line? Who draws it? And why is there a code of conduct then? This team would be better off if they tone down their current flavor of on field aggression which seems to border on the comic.
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