The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Australia completes formalities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 11, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Australia completes formalities

By Sanjay Rajan

BANGALORE, OCT. 10. It possibly had to do with providing Shane Warne an opportunity to regain the record for most number of Test wickets. But Australia did itself no good by introducing spearhead Glenn McGrath as late as in the 13th over on the final day of the first Test for the TVS Cup Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Sunday.

But India had conceded far too much ground in the first innings to try and stage a recovery in the second. Moreover, it was resuming its second essay at 105 for six and needed 352 for victory.

Australia, quite unexpectedly, failed to wrap up the match early, thus allowing the host to gain a few positives. One of it was the batting potential of Irfan Pathan.

Australia won the Test by 217 runs to go up 1-0 in the four-match series like it did in 2001, but India managed to delay the inevitable till 44 minutes after lunch and you could see that the visitor was beginning to get worried.

Pathan, who notched up his maiden Test half-century, and Harbhajan put on 89 for the ninth wicket from 117 deliveries, a record partnership for that wicket against Australia. Pathan, who is just a season old in international cricket, is developing into a fine all-rounder. There is a sense of surety about his defence and firmness in his strokeplay, which only suggests that this lad is naturally talented.

A surprise

It came as a surprise when his overnight partner, Rahul Dravid did not rotate the strike enough in the morning. Pathan did not progress from the seven runs he scored overnight, during the 13.3 overs that the two were together this morning.

Possibly Dravid did not want to expose Pathan to Warne. But, by the end of the innings one was left wondering if Warne would want to be exposed to Pathan at all in future! Such was the comfort with which the Baroda youngster batted that he hammered two sixes, one each off Warne (over long-on) and left-arm spinner Darren Lehmann (over mid-wicket).

Dravid departed, leg-before while playing back to Kasprowicz in the first over of the seamer's second spell. You could be sure the battle would have raged on had the Indian vice-captain been there.

Kasprowicz had opened the bowling with Warne in the morning and the third seamer's first spell had read 5-5-0-0.

Two overs later, Kasprowicz clean-bowled Anil Kumble when the latter played beside the line of the ball. It did seem then that the Indian challenge would crumble which was not to be.

Like Pathan, Habhajan Singh was not one bit perturbed when Warne had three men around the bat. He square drove him to the fence and then pulled him for a six.

The Australians took the second new ball in the 81st over, two overs after lunch, when Pathan had moved to top gear and the Sardar was in good nick.

McGrath bowled a superlative first over to Pathan, but it was Jason Gillespie who dismissed the southpaw, caught behind and it was all over a short while later.

Man of the match

Young Michael Clarke, who scored a century on debut, was declared the man of the match. Speaking later, Australian skipper, Adam Gilchrist said, "We reaped the benefits of the good work that we put in on the first four days. We were made to work hard for the remaining four wickets.

"The victory was convincing, but that doesn't mean there is a huge gap between the two teams. I was aware that we have lost a Test from this stage in the past."

"We expect India to come right back during the series, as it has done in the past. The toss was crucial indeed, but then the toss doesn't win you a Test match. Whatever you do first, you have to do well. We batted well after winning the toss," he added.

About India's rearguard action, the Australian skipper said, "They didn't have much to lose. Pathan played intelligent cricket, the others just rode their luck. They weren't expected to do anything heroic."

About Warne taking a beating, Gilchrist said, "I know Shane took a bit of stick in the end, but I think he bowled really well. He got the most dangerous batsman, V.V.S. Laxman, twice in the match. And if he takes Laxman eight times in the series and no one else, I'll still take that."

Better adjusted

Gilchrist said his team was better adjusted to the conditions this time. "We learnt a lot from the previous experience. I also think we learnt quite a bit from how India applied itself in Australia last season. Adelaide was a rude shock for us."

About the rough umpiring decisions that India suffered, he said, "I understand India's frustrations, but then what goes round comes round."

Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly was confident that India would come right back. "There are three Tests remaining and a lot of cricket is left. Our batsmen didn't convert the starts we got. We need to get our act together as a batting unit. I hope Sachin Tendulkar is fit for the second Test. He is to have a net session in Chennai and we'll take it from there. His batting and bowling are huge assets to the side."

Looking at the positives, Ganguly said, "Harbhajan was terrific. Forty-three wickets in the last four Tests against Australia. Pathan, who batted wonderfully, has a bright future as an all-rounder."

The Indian team's consultant Sunil Gavaskar had to leave on the concluding day because of personal reasons.

Sehwag fined

Meanwhile, Virender Sehwag, who was charged with a level 2 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct on Saturday, was imposed a penalty of 65 per cent of his match fee by match referee Ranjan Madugalle.

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