The Hindu : Australia played a hard game

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 31, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Australia played a hard game

MELBOURNE Dec. 30. Australia completed its destruction of India without any particular fuss and is well-placed to recapture the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Summoning the intensity missing in Adelaide, the Australians bowled aggressively, fielded sharply and built their innings on strong foundations. Accordingly Steve Waugh's team was able to survive a rousing effort from Virender Sehwag that took his side to 1/278 on the first evening. Nor did Australia lose its aggression on a hot fourth day upon which stiff resistance was encountered. Having given little away in the quiet periods, the hosts were able to pounce once wickets started to tumble.

India could match their challengers only when their toughest characters were in the thick of the action. In truth India has two distinct teams, the impressive line-up occupying positions 1-6 and a lower order that does a lot more waning than waxing. Sourav Ganguly and his fellow selectors will need to think long and hard about the construction of their side for the showdown in Sydney. At such times the brilliance of those waiting in the wings tends to be over-emphasised. Still, India cannot continue on its current course.

In hindsight Sehwag's dismissal in the first innings was the decisive moment of the match as a wild hit was held on the boundary. Ricky Ponting did not permit himself any such luxury in his mammoth effort. The hardest part in cricket is to force the field back. After that it is merely a matter of acquiring runs as toll-men collect their dues. Sehwag was good enough to push Australia back but not ruthless enough to polish them off. He lost his wicket to a full-toss bowled by a part-timer. He has the courage of a lion and must now undertake the journey completed by Ricky Ponting, from daredevil boy to responsible adult.

Throughout Australia played a hard game. Even on the first day the leather-flingers did not wilt in the face of Sehwag's onslaught. Doubtless they felt that , like all good things, the opener's innings was bound sooner or later to come to an end. Patently the hosts realised that too much had been given away in the previous match. In the nick of time the Australians remembered that grafting cricket also has its part to play. Perhaps John Buchanan's infamous letter to his players was not such a bad idea after all. Whereas soccer and rugby coaches are expected to speak their minds, cricket coaches are supposed to hold their tongues. In these matters the Australians can be surprisingly traditionalist.

Steve Waugh deserves credit for the performance of his team in maintaining its focus when the match and series seemed to be slipping away. Waugh himself dislodged Rahul Dravid with something crafty whereupon the Australian captain threw the ball to Brett Lee with telling effect. Shafts of inspiration of this sort have been few and far between in his captaincy because his mind works along strategic rather than intuitive lines.. Apart from those sitting around the grounds and in press boxes, no-one is perfect. His captaincy should be judged by the way his team plays and its results. The record speaks for itself. Notoriously it is easier to achieve than manitain high standards. Waugh inherited a powerful side and promptly improved it.

Australia's waiting game worked superbly, forcing mistakes from V.V.S. Laxman in both innings and Tendulkar in the second. Both batsman tried to break free from the chains, the course recommended not so long ago by that noted coach Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Both perished in the attempt. Dravid survived the tightening. because he drives in the middle-lane.

It is hard to imagine him ever beeping his horn, a part of the vehicle most Indians regard as second in importance to the accelerator.

Amongst the Australians, Brad Williams caught the eye with a run-out and a spell that brought India's second innings to an abrupt conclusion. Stuart MacGill also bowled well and an improvement could be detected in his fielding (not the hardest of tasks) Nathan Bracken bowled accurately but did not swing the ball much. Brett Lee's contribution was important. His fierce burst on a memorable first morning had a powerful effect upon the Indian tailenders.

Australia deserved to win this match as India deserved its victory in Adelaide. On both occasions fortune favoured the victor. At the MCG India could point towards several appeals for leg before that might have been upheld. In the end, though, India lost because it was the weaker side. No team and not many rickshaws could carry as many passengers as this Indian outfit. It is a tribute to its leaders and senior players that it has remained competitive.

Now for Sydney and a match likely to provoke a certain amount of interest. Thank goodness the series is alive for otherwise the departure of one exceptional player might have overshadowed a contest between the top cricketers of the game's most important nations. It has been a fascinating series. May the denouement be as compelling.

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