The Hindu : Sport : The smiles are back on the Indians' faces, finally

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Saturday, Nov 06, 2004

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The smiles are back on the Indians' faces, finally

By Sanjay Rajan

DREAM TEAM: The magnificent Australian team with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan

MUMBAI, NOV. 5. As part-time bowler Michael Clarke claimed six wickets for nine runs in an extraordinary spell of 6.2 overs, it became obvious that there was always a possibility of the Indian spinners turning the contest on its head — which they did.

On a third day pitch where the ball turned and jumped, Australia — chasing a target of 107 — was shot out for 93 in 30.5 tense overs in the fourth and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium here on Friday as India won a thriller by 13 runs.

Australia clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 35 years, in the penultimate Test at Nagpur but its objective of a 3-0 verdict came unstuck when its batsmen succumbed to the pressure which is associated with any close contest.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who went without a wicket in the first innings, took five. Left-arm Murali Kartik bagged three for a match-haul of seven, while leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who took five wickets in the first innings, claimed Nathan Hauritz, just when India needed another wicket to put the skids under the visitor. Early on, left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan scalped opener Justin Langer for the second time in the match.

Adam Gilchrist's wicket, caught by Sachin Tendulkar at deep square-leg after the left-hander swept Harbhajan against the spin, was the turning point of the Australian innings. It is certain to haunt the wicketkeeper-batsman for long, considering that his side was looking up to him to show the way while his exit only put his team in deeper trouble at 58 for seven. Thereafter, India began to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Had India lost, Sachin Tendulkar would have found himself in the situation that Gilchrist is in. The Mumbaikar batted magnificently for his 55, after his side — resuming its second innings at five for no loss and still 94 in arrears — was reduced to 14 for two in no time.

Laxman finds form

V.V.S. Laxman being promoted to No. 3 was a masterstroke of sorts, which brought back memories of Kolkata in 2001. Laxman, who was out of touch in the series, made a telling 69. The 91-run stand between Laxman and Tendulkar, who had not got into double figures in his last six innings, enabled the host wipe out the first innings deficit and the first hurdle had been overcome.

With Tendulkar and Laxman having got on top of the three-man medium-pace attack of McGrath, Gillespie and Kasprowicz, Australia sorely missed a spinner with experience. As Warne's replacement, off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, who took two wickets, bowled well for a debutant. But his style is about variations in the air, when, in fact, what Australia needed was someone operating with a lower trajectory, who understood that in these conditions accuracy was primary as the surface would do the rest.

But, Clarke, who was seen as a change bowler on the tour, did just that.

Hauritz dismissed Tendulkar when he swept at a delivery that did not even pitch within the arc of the bat's swing. Clarke, at short fine-leg, ran to his left to take the catch.

Dravid reaches 7000

At 105 for three, which, in effect, meant six for three, India was still in a corner. Laxman and skipper Rahul Dravid added 48 runs for the fourth wicket, a phase when the host was beginning to breathe easy. During this stand, Dravid became only the third Indian after Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar to cross the 7000-run mark in Tests.

Hauritz accounted for Laxman, caught and bowled, after the Hyderabadi had pulled and cover-drove the youngster to the fence of consecutive deliveries. The Queenslander, who has a good future ahead of him, realised that bowling when the opposition is on 67 for six (as was the case in the Indian first innings) is completely different from being called on to bowl when the opposition is 66 for two.

Dravid and Kaif put on 29 runs for the fifth wicket, when left-arm spinner Clarke won a caught behind decision off Dravid. It set off a collapse from which India never recovered.

Zaheer drew first blood while Harbhajan, who shared the new ball with the Baroda pacer, was unstoppable. Replacing Zaheer in the attack in the fifth over was Kartik and the Australians soon found themselves in a web.

Kartik squared Ricky Ponting up with a delivery that turned and jumped. The edge flew to wicketkeeper Dinesh Kaarthick who failed to hold to it but thankfully, the deflection went to Laxman at second slip.

It what was his very first over and Kartik — who was adjudged the Man of the Match — also had Damien Martyn (adjudged Man of Series), leg-before with an arm ball. The Indians were in attack mode and Dravid led wonderfully.

Simon Katich did not last long while Hayden and Clarke fell with the team's score on 48 with Gilchrist soon following.

Gillespie showed staying power, but with the Australians having lost the battle in the mind, it was always going to be difficult.

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