Wednesday, Dec 31, 2003
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Cricket
By Vijay Lokapally
THAT HURTS: Sourav Ganguly walks back to the pavilion after the loss. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan
India 366 & 286
Australia 558 & 97 for 1
The mission was accomplished in style before lunch though Australia lost Justin Langer to a debatable leg-before decision. But then, it hardly mattered as India, taking the field without Zaheer Khan, never looked like making Australia struggle. Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting entertained the 30,000-strong audience that had gathered to witness the victory. The admission was and the response by the crowd did not miss mention in Steve Waugh's post-match remarks. The odd ball stayed low but India just did not have the right target to put any pressure on Australia. "We were in a good position but didn't capitalise on it. We finished the first day at 329 for four but got out for 366. That's where we lost the game a bit. And then Zaheer pulled a muscle and we were left with just three bowlers in a Test. I think these were the areas that cost us,'' said a dejected Sourav Ganguly.
`The tail let India down'
The Indians were let down by the lower half of the batting order. "I thought the tail played well in Brisbane, did hang around in Adelaide. But this in Test they faltered. We'll try to find a way out at Sydney. We have to play well on all five days. When you win it seems the momentum is back. It looks different when we lose. I hope it goes in our favour.'' Reflecting on the move to demote Sachin Tendulkar in the batting order, Ganguly pointed out: "it was not the best time to bat, what with the last four five overs to go. He hadn't got runs in the last few innings. It becomes hard. Sachin is a key player and I don't think there was anything wrong in that. It's not that he suggested. I asked him if he was still keen. He said he would not mind. He deserves it, for the amount of runs he has scored for the team.'' The turning point, in Ganguly's view, was "Steve's partnership with Ponting. It was significant and made the difference.'' He said the team tried to make a match of it on the fourth day. "I came in to bat with a target. We built a partnership but couldn't carry on. We were not trying to save the game but put runs on the board. There was time left in the match. It was fourth day tea time. We had to put runs on the board. If there's a bad ball you need to put it away. That's the way I score all my runs. I tried to put away a loose ball but it didn't work my way.'' Australia skipper Steve Waugh said he was worried when hit on the left elbow. ``At that time I thought I had broken my arm. I have been hit many times before in my career. Although I realised I would get back here at some stage, I wasn't sure if I would be ready for Sydney.'' Waugh continued: "I couldn't hit through offside. I was looking to get some partnership going which we did. Also I was disappointed at the way I got out. I mean leaving the ball. The second day was crucial when we took six for 16 and turned the game around. We had a great day of batting and you could see the momentum turn around. I think Indians realised that a major opportunity had slipped past.'' Ganguly agreed the bowlers had a task against Hayden and Ponting. "They are scoring lot of runs. If we can get them early it will put pressure on the guys coming in the middle. Hayden and Ponting are the key guys. I think we have batted well. It's made the difference. In 1999 we didn't get big runs on the board. You can attack only when you have runs on the board or else you just defend.'' Ganguly said he was hopeful of the team winning the next Test. "I hope Sydney suits us. Australia is a very good side. Just favourable conditions will not help our side to win. We won in India but had to fight hard in conditions that suited us. I know we'll have to work hard in Sydney. Can't say if we'll play two spinners. Will have to see the pitch. Not many dry pitches in Australia. The ball turns on the fifth day so we have to look at the guys who can also play on the first four days and not just the fifth.'' Waugh welcomed the pressure at Sydney. "You want pressure, you want the occasion, best teams and best players lift their standards on the big occasion. You like contest, the last six Test matches against India have all been contests. We could have thought the momentum is going our way barring India. Things are fluctuating in every game against them. India are a good side. They have a great batting line up. Harbhajan (Singh) is a world-class spinner. (Anil) Kumble is a world-class spinner, and you have got three guys who can swing the ball. I'm pretty sure they are a tougher side. One of my main concerns is I don't want to go out as a losing captain.'' Ponting, with two double centuries in this series, swept Kumble for the winning hit, a deserving honour as the half-full MCG exploded. The `man of the match' award was his. SCOREBOARD
Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Langer). India bowling: Agarkar 7-2-25-1, Nehra 6-3-16-0 (w-1), Kumble 6.2-0-43-0 (nb-4), Sehwag 3-0-7-0.
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