Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003
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Cricket
By Vijay Lokapally
WE'VE DONE IT: Two of India's heroes in the second Test — Ajit Agarkar and Rahul Dravid — hug each other after the team's historic win on Tuesday. For more pictures, log on to: our Photo Gallery.
Australia 556 & 196 India 523 & 233 for six
In completing a four-wicket victory over Australia, India underlined the fact that it played better cricket against an opposition that was not at its best. This was India's first Test win on Australian soil in more than two decades. Sourav Ganguly and his men pulled off a victory few would have dared dream of when the team arrived here to take on Steve Waugh's highly-rated side. But this was not the Australian team that had come to be dreaded in the international arena. Again, this was also not the Indian team that knew nothing about how to win away from home. Giving finishing touches to the remarkable Indian comeback was the champion of the willow — Rahul Dravid — and V. V. S. Laxman, an artist whose timing was divine, as usual. Dravid, with knocks of 233 and 72 not out, will treasure the `man of the match' trophy that he deserved for his batting here, reconfirming his status as India's most trusted batsman overseas. This match will be remembered for his colossal contribution — 305 runs and two outstanding catches. Australia will always be haunted by the memories of Eden Gardens, now the Adelaide Oval, and, of course, Dravid and Laxman. When the moment of reckoning came, they maintained a high degree of commitment and balance to ensure that the situation did not turn hopeless for India. The flurry of boundaries from the elegant Laxman and the selfless devotion of Dravid marked a glorious chapter in Indian cricket. Even if it was against a depleted Australian team, the win helped set the series up nicely as India is ahead 1-0. Dravid was guided by his pride and unflinching loyalty to the team cause. With his exceptional reading of the game he could gauge the value of his presence in the middle amidst all the stroke-players. The pitch, demanding though not diabolic, would have been an unlikely villain had India messed up the chase. But Dravid stood rock-solid and confident. Intense battle The fight was intense on the fifth afternoon. Bichel and Williams were bowling tight while MacGill explored the `rough.' Batting was a challenge. When Ganguly perished to his favourite off-side shot, there was an element of intrigue in the game. Will India make the grade or allow Australia to rise from the grave? Everything depended on the partnership between Dravid and Laxman again. Three exquisite boundaries on either side of the wicket in one over soon after his arrival showed the mood Laxman was in and he remained in the same vein, dismissing the erratic MacGill from the firing line. India had now sighted victory and Dravid brought up his half-century with a sensational pull. The pair kept its focus and Australia just surrendered. It was a pity that Laxman departed when close to the target. After Parthiv Patel's ugly sweep sent him packing, it was poetic justice that brought Ajit Agarkar to the middle. How could Australia's destroyer with the ball miss the action in the middle when the mission was being accomplished? He watched in admiration as Dravid gloriously cover drove to signal a famous win for India. The heat suited the Indians. It brought the best out of them as fatigue and desperation gripped the Australians who lost the services of Jason Gillespie in the 24th over of the day. The Indians were still 138 runs adrift at this point. It was a blow to Australia and the Indian batsmen knew their task was just to hang in and wait for the right time to strike. It is a lesson that ought to be drilled into Virender Sehwag for the reckless manner in which he threw his wicket away. It will not be a consolation to say that this is the way Sehwag bats. He got into a tangle while trying to swipe like a novice and was stumped. The onus was on Australia but Waugh suffered from lack of ammunition. The absence of Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee had considerably weakened the attack in the two Tests and the forlorn sight of Gillespie retiring from the battlefield left the home team weakened further. To put things in perspective, India too missed Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh but its batting was unaffected by injuries. Costly miss There was a concerted attempt by MacGill and a brave Williams but the Indians stood firm. In one torrid over, Williams tested the mental strength of Dravid. It was one of the most fascinating phases of the match with Williams bowling at a scorching pace and having Dravid stranded. The ball kissed the edge of the bat and was heading towards the safe hands of Adam Gilchrist. In a flash, the contest landed in, and, out of Australia's grasp as the wicketkeeper erred. The Australians knew their best chance had gone as Dravid, unconvincing in the initial stages, was on nine in a total of 73. Australia has not appeared so weak in its bowling department for a long time. Andy Bichel was a shadow of the bowler known to adopt a stifling line and length. Gillespie was unfit. Williams was good in patches and MacGill not in his best form to produce magic with the ball. The only comfort for the leg-spinner was when Sachin Tendulkar mis-read his predictable line. Once again, the distinguished Tendulkar had failed to finish the job and his option to use the pad instead of the bat was poor. He looked in utter comfort until that terrible moment; not a good sign for the master at all. Gillespie had produced a wicked delivery to snare Akash Chopra, who once again lost out on a chance to cement his place. The blow had come early enough for the Australians to raise their level on the field, but Sehwag and Dravid batted sensibly. No doubt, Sehwag was influenced by the presence of the disciplined Dravid who had a sobering effect on his adventurous partner until that senseless shot. To expect this Australian attack to pull off a miracle would have been naïve. The Australians, dejected and depleted, lacked the character to dictate terms to the opposition on this warm afternoon as the Indians ran hot.
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