Saturday, Dec 13, 2003
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Cricket
By Vijay Lokapally
Ricky Ponting cuts Irfan Pathan on the opening day of the second Test against India on Friday. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan For more pictures, log on to: www.hinduonnet.com
Australia 400 for five
The buzz in the stands kept reminding us that the Australians were firmly in control. It was not a beautiful day of cricket for India. The ordeal may have just begun for a team that has its cricket in a total state of confusion. The team's stock and morale took an alarming dip as Australia finished the opening day of the second Test at 400 for five, with India staring at the prospect of having to bat very well to save the match. India's bowling came under scrutiny on a placid track. In the absence of Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, the attack lacked the basic quality of adopting a decent line and length. The leather hunt intensified with every hour and the agony only highlighted India's woeful inadequacies when the conditions do not favour the bowlers. The toss went Australia's way and all the luck for the day, too. Virender Sehwag let off Ponting on 18 at third slip off debutant Irfan Pathan. The same batsman survived a leg-before shout against Anil Kumble. It certainly would not have been prudent to expect Ponting to make a third error and lose out on a batting feast. Sourav Ganguly did not have one bowler to fall back upon in such testing circumstances when the emphasis was on containment. The field appeared small as the ball hit the pickets with such intensity, giving the India skipper a harrowing time in the middle. The sweet sound of the bat hitting the ball kept the spectators warm on a cold day. There would have been a calamity had Australia not capitalised on such good batting conditions. Each batsman stepped out with bright prospects of playing a big innings but the honour went to the one who chose not to allow indiscretion dictate his stroke-play. Ponting was a joy to watch as he has always been. A compulsive stroke-player who believes in demonstrating aggressive instincts whatever the state of the pitch, he simply revelled in destroying the confidence of the bowlers with shots that took one's breath away. The bowlers had little hopes on this track but then there was no merit in pitching the ball short and conceding runs in all directions. At one point, Ganguly appeared to have given up — hands on hips and the glare a chilling sight for the errant bowler and the fielder. Ponting enjoyed himself all the while, steadily increasing the pace of scoring, his domination complete towards the end of the day when he and Simon Katich made a mockery of the attack. India's bowling degenerated in the face of some clinical batting. Pathan was making discoveries the hard way — hit through the line and across with utter disdain. But encouragement came from Ponting who described Pathan as a bowler to watch in the future, especially when conditions supported movement. For Ashish Nehra, it was a cruel reminder of the fact that his lay off from the game after the World Cup has not worked in his favour at all. It was a hard day for Kumble too, clobbered all over the park and it was no different for Ajit Agarkar. The Indian mindset of caution did not work against the bold Australian approach. The batsmen were unwilling to compromise with the scoring rate at any cost and this outstanding aspect of Australia's strong self-belief never allowed the bowlers to settle down. The worry was always on exploring ploys to curb the batsmen and the wickets that came India's way happened because of the Aussie desire to pummel the attack into submission. Ponting knows nothing better than attacking the bowlers. The reprieves propelled his ambitions this day and India could do little other than just watch and admire a batsman who carved his 19th Test century in 73 matches. The jolly Tasmanian had smashed the Indian attack at the same venue four years ago before a run-out came to the bowlers' rescue. There was no such mercy from Ponting on Friday and his bat just grew broader with each session. There was early success for India when Matthew Hayden played away from the body to give Pathan's swinging delivery a decent result. That Hayden spent a long time in the `nets' should indicate the batsman's frustration at denying himself a long stint at the crease. Justin Langer and Damien Martyn batted as one would have expected them to. Langer was severe on Kumble, clouting him for two sixes and two fours in an over, before succumbing to the same bowler, deceived by the fuller length of the delivery. The gifted Martyn promised again only to play a self-destructive shot, a timid end indeed. The arrival of Steve Waugh evoked a thunderous response, as did his departure, after a fine innings cut short by his indecisive footwork. Nehra did India a wonderful turn by accounting for these two wickets. Simon Katich, a left-hander of immense potential from New South Wales, then joined Ponting. And he showed why he is rated high, losing little time in exposing the Indian attack. He showed no discomfort at any stage and belted the bowlers in the inspiring company of Ponting. "The Indians obviously missed Zaheer. He has been their best bowler. They would have liked to bowl better no doubt but it would be hard for them today. It was a very, very good wicket to bat on. We had decided to just go there and play the ball as it comes,'' said Ponting, putting things in perspective. PTI reports: Meanwhile, the `mishandling' of the issue of Harbhajan Singh's injury came to fore on Friday with conflicting versions being given on whether he would undergo an operation on his finger or not. Captain Sourav Ganguly said Harbhajan could be operated upon in Melbourne on December 17, while physio Andrew Leipus said it was still not 100 per cent certain. Team manager Shivlal Yadav also did not seem to know whether an operation was imminent. SCOREBOARD
India bowling: Ajit Agarkar 16-1-82-1, Irfan Pathan 21-3-96-1, Ashish Nehra 20-3-80-2 (nb-3, w-1), Anil Kumble 28-1-115-1, Virender Sehwag 5-0-21-0.
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