The Hindu : Sport : Aussies will not suffer from `Dead Rubber Syndrome'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 03, 2004

Sport

Sport

Aussies will not suffer from `Dead Rubber Syndrome'

The history of Test cricket is littered with examples of teams that, having already won the series, lose the last Test of the rubber because of the `Dead Rubber Syndrome.' While there are `syndromes' being blamed for all types of ailments these days this is one affliction that I believe this Australian team members will avoid. Their pride, and Ricky Ponting, will demand it of them.

Having just won one of the most demanding series in the Test calendar, and having overcome the 35-year drought of victories by Australian teams in India, Ricky Ponting and his team will not want to sour the sweet taste of success by leaving Mumbai on a losing note. Ponting especially won't want it to happen on his `watch' having stood back and watched his deputy Adam Gilchrist lead the team to such a fabulous and famous victory.

The gall of Gilchrist! Hardly in the job for more than a minute or two, and on loan at that, and he was able to achieve what Kim Hughes, Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh had been unable to manage before him. Gilchrist now hands the reins back to Ponting and says `there you go Punter, it's all yours, and by the way, top that!'

Ponting won't be able to top that because the chance is gone forever, but he will want the group to keep up the habit of success.

An air of confidence

This Australian team prides itself on continuing to raise the bar for itself and others to follow. Just watching the players in practice gives you an idea that they aren't going to become lackadaisical and let their own high standards slip. They go about everything they do with an air of confidence and commitment that says to all who are interested that we have not finished the job yet.

Conversely, the Indians are a demoralised group. New faces will help with some youthful enthusiasm but there is a look and feel of desperation about the group. Even the captain does not want to stay around and watch. No doubt he has more important things on his mind but it looks bad.

No one, not even the infamous Fleet Street tabloids, give the home team a harder time than does the Indian media. The Indian fans can also be ruthless if they sense something is not right. You don't have to be Einstein to see that something is amiss in Indian cricket at the moment. The captain is hurt but he appears unsettled as well.

The Australians have made much of the planning that has gone into this tour but it has been extremely important to their success. Not least of it all is that they have bowled a bit fuller and much straighter to the top order batsman with more protection on the leg side.

I felt that the plan of bowling short of a length and wide of off stump at players such as Dravid and Laxman had played into the Indian batsman's hands in Australia, especially with the ultra-defensive off-side fields employed at the time. What this meant was that the Australians could not expect to get the Indian batsmen out bowled or LBW and if they did stray onto the stumps it was like meat and drink to the patient Dravid and the talented Laxman.

Once you stop trying to get batsman out you have given over control of the situation. Australia has wrested back control in this series and have reaped the rewards. The number of dismissals either bowled or LBW has risen sharply and Gillespie, in particular, has become even more lethal than before.

There have been times in the past when Gillespie has bowled beautifully without getting what appeared to be his just reward, but it suggested at the time, and has now been confirmed, that he wasn't bowling the right length, or the right line, to get his just deserts. We may see him reach even greater heights in his bowling now that he has learnt that lesson. That is not a prospect that will fill the hearts of Indian batsmen with joy. (CaféCricket)

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