The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Rain douses Indian hopes

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Tuesday, Oct 19, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Rain douses Indian hopes

By Sanjay Rajan

HASTA MANANA: Umpires David Shepherd (left) and Rudi Koertzen with skippers Adam Gilchrist and Sourav Ganguly after the match was called off. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan

CHENNAI, OCT. 18. With what was expected to be the most exciting day of the match, washed out on Monday, no one will ever quite know how the second Test might have turned out.

Australia could well go into the third Test, beginning at Nagpur on October 26, believing it should have been 2-0 up in the four-match series for the TVS Cup Border-Gavaskar Trophy, such was the confidence it displayed on the penultimate day, while equally, Sourav Ganguly's India, needing 210 runs with all 10 wickets intact, would have believed it had a decent chance of making it 1-1.

But torrential rain overnight left the Chidambaram Stadium in no condition for play, which was called off at 1 p.m. The match ended in a draw. Anil Kumble, who took 13 for 181, was adjudged Man of the Match.

If the rub of the green, including a couple of contentious decisions, went Australia's way in Bangalore, things went India's way here. Of course, unlike the first Test, the umpiring here was less prone to hastiness and error, and this made for a thrilling contest. It possibly helped that three Australians and an Indian walked.

More purposeful side

It is clear that this Australian side, though less hyped than the 2002 Steve Waugh-led outfit, has more purpose and better balance. India would have already understood that Australia's stand-in skipper, Adam Gilchrist, would resort to smart tactics if necessary, like adopting run-saving fields and bowling defensively, unlike the all-out assault tactics employed by Waugh.

There is a certain subtlety to Gilchrist's tactics, which could also be the result of combining two heads — Gilchrist and his deputy, Darren Lehmann.

Surprising the Australian team, which Ganguly & men were able to do last time, will not be an easy proposition this time around, however.

The washed out day left unanswered the question whether India should persist with Yuvraj Singh as an opener. Remember, if Parthiv Patel had batted again and contributed significantly, his glitches behind the stumps would have been glossed over.

If India has dreams of upsetting Australia's applecart, both the positive aspects as well as the negative ones need to be identified and addressed in haste.

Speaking about the Test, Gilchrist said, "The outcome is anybody's guess. Both teams had reasons to be optimistic. India might have been slightly ahead, but certainly, both sides were in the hunt."

The 'keeper-batsman said the main positive to emerge from the contest was the fighting quality that his team displayed in coming back after India took a first innings lead of 141. "I was disappointed when we collapsed for 235 in the first innings after Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer gave us a fine 136-run start."

50-50 chance

Ganguly described it as a 50-50 chance for both teams. "I'd say we were in a position to get it. It would have been hard work no doubt, but a good start would have made it easily achievable."

The Indian skipper agreed that this Australian team has come better prepared. "They have planned well, and we have changed our gameplan accordingly after Bangalore. I'd say that teams visiting the sub-continent these days have become a lot smarter. Take for instance Nasser Hussain's England during their last visit here."

The National selection committee, which met at the TNCA office on Monday, picked the side for the third Test. The only change is Delhi's left-arm medium-pacer Ashish Nehra, who replaces Irfan Pathan. BCCI secretary, S.K. Nair, said that Pathan had sustained a rib injury.

The team for the final Test will be chosen during the third match. Nair said the selectors had picked a 14-man squad for the Nagpur match and depending on his match fitness, Sachin Tendulkar would later join the team.

Parthiv retained

The selectors have decided to give 'keeper Parthiv Patel another opportunity. "They (selectors) looked at his track record both as batsman and gloveman and felt he should be given another chance," said Nair.

The Board secretary said others, whose names were discussed, included wicketkeepers M.S. Dhoni and Dinesh Kaarthick, batsmen S. Ramesh and Dheeraj Jadav and mediumpacer S.S. Paul.

Ganguly was all for Parthiv being retained. "I agree he had a poor game here, but I've seen him keep wicket much, much better. He needs a fair chance and I have faith in his abilities. Anyone can have a bad day; even Gilchrist dropped a few chances. I spoke to both our spinners, and they too felt the same," said the Indian captain.

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