The Hindu : Sport : Clinical Australia too good for India

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Wednesday, Oct 03, 2007
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Sport

Clinical Australia too good for India

S. Dinakar

Familiar Indian shortcomings on view in second one-dayer

— Photo: V. Ganesan

Man of the Match: Brad Haddin’s unbeaten knock was an innings of exemplary footwork and shot selection on either side.

Kochi: Qualities that make Australia such a formidable force in world cricket were visible at the Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.

The pacing of the innings, setting up dismissals, fielding inside the circle and in the outfield, a varied attack of striking prowess and above all, that precious ability to create pressure, were on view in the second Future Cup ODI.

Tactically, the high point of the contest was how young paceman James Hopes, from over-the-wicket, angled a fuller length ball across the left-handed Yuvraj Singh, who miscued a drive to the strategically placed Matthew Hayden at short cover. The Aussies had not missed the trick about Yuvraj’s early ways — the position of his feet and head — against this particular line.

A mismatch

Australia dismissed India for 222 in the 48th over after rattling up 306 for six. Despite skipper M.S. Dhoni’s determined 88-ball 58, it was a mismatch. The visitors lead the seven-match series 1-0, with the next game to be played in Hyderabad on Friday.

Man of the Match Brad Haddin’s 69-ball unbeaten 87 provided the thrust to the Aussie innings. Then, stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist rung in the changes well as the visitors closed all escape routes.

Tuesday’s contest was also an ill-tempered one and there were indications that the Australians may have indulged in sledging, the ugly side of their cricket. An infuriated Harbhajan Singh refused to walk away after he was stumped and, in a football-like scenario, umpire Steve Bucknor had to separate the angry Indian from the celebrating bunch of Aussies. Later in the evening, Match Referee Chris Broad called both captains for a meeting and told them to manage their teams.

It must be mentioned here that Santhakumaran Sreesanth’s temperamental outbursts in the morning only succeeded in vitiating the atmosphere. The Aussies were ruthless and fired up when they went in to field. When Sreesanth was at the crease, he faced chin music.

X factor

There is something – factor X – that separates a consistently winning team from the rest. A fluent Rahul Dravid (31) appeared to send left-arm Chinaman bowler Brad Hogg over the ropes only to find Mitchell Johnson taking a sensational catch of great composure and judgment on the line. Such moments of inspiration turn matches.

Crucially, in the sub-continental conditions, Hogg and occasional left-arm spinner Clarke operated better than Harbhajan Singh and Ramesh Powar. Hogg mixed his length and spun the ball to scalp three after the pacemen had opened the sluice gates.

However, Harbhajan bowled a middle and leg line when he should have flighted and spun them in from just outside the off-stump. He could not get the ball to grip. Powar had serious problems with his length; the Aussies were also using their feet to convert the length.

The familiar Indian ODI shortcomings were on view. The inability of the bowlers and the fielders to maintain pressure on the opposition after the early breakthroughs, losing the plot in the middle overs, leaking runs at the end, and then succumbing to the stress of the chase against a persistent bunch of bowlers.

Partnerships missing

The Indians could not string together partnerships. Southpaw Gautam Gambhir was done in by a delivery that darted in from the impressive Mitchell Johnson. The left-arm paceman swung and cut the ball at a lively pace. Sachin Tendulkar misread the tall Stuart Clark’s length to slice a drive. Robin Uthappa blitzed a 30-ball 41, including a stunning six over long-on off the pacey but expensive Brett Lee, before moving too far across to a straightforward Clark delivery.

Truth to tell, the Australians had the worst of the conditions after Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss. There was some movement for the pacemen in the morning because of the moisture content. As the sun came out, the surface and the outfield dried out.

The Aussies absorbed the early shocks and then consolidated. The depth in the Australian ranks was once again evident before a full house. Haddin’s effort (8x4, 3x6) was an innings of exemplary footwork and shot selection on either side. There is a rapier-like quality to his stroke-play.

Matthew Hayden’s responsible 75 (89b, 5x4, 3x6) — he was eventually castled by a telling Irfan Pathan yorker — was an effort where he blended caution with aggression. Earlier, the left-handed Gilchirst had nicked one seaming away from Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth found the edge of Brad Hodge’s blade.

Symonds strikes

Clarke was just getting into his stride when he was stumped smartly off Pathan, but Hayden and Andrew Symonds added 94 off 94 balls. Symonds (87, 83b, 9x4, 2x6) rotated the strike and opened his powerful shoulders when the opportunity arose.

Symonds and Haddin then took the game away from India. The last 10 overs fetched Australia 91 runs. Zaheer and Sreesanth were unimpressive at the death. Among the Indian bowlers, only Pathan operated with a measure of control.

That the start was eventually delayed by only 30 minutes was a miracle of sorts. Much credit is due to the groundstaff, unsung but tireless, who toiled through the long night to get the outfield ready.

The Aussies made the most of their hard work.

scoreboard

Australia: A. Gilchrist c Tendulkar bZaheer 0, M. Hayden b Pathan 75, B. Hodge c Dhoni b Sreesanth 3, M. Clarke st. Dhoni b Pathan 27, A. Symonds c & b Sreesanth 87, B. Haddin (not out) 87, J. Hopes c Dravid b Sreesanth 4, B. Lee (not out) 2, Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-15): 21; Total (six wkts., 50 overs): 306.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-8, 3-66, 4-160, 5-268, 6-297.

India bowling: Zaheer 10-1-55-1, Sreesanth 9-0-67-3, Pathan 10-0-47-2, Harbhajan 10-0-57-0, Powar 5-0-30-0, Tendulkar 3-0-22-0, Yuvraj 3-0-22-0.

India: G. Gambhir b Johnson 7, S.Tendulkar c Symonds b Clark 16, R.Uthappa lbw b Clark 41, Yuvraj c Haydenb Hopes 10, R. Dravid c Johnson b Hogg 31, M. Dhoni c Hodge b Hogg 58, I. Pathan (run out) 1, Harbhajan st. Gilchrist b Clarke 4, R. Powar b Clarke 17, Zaheer c Hodge b Hogg 3, S. Sreesanth (not out) 7, Extras (b-4, lb-6, nb-7, w-10): 27; Total (47.3 overs): 222.

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-58, 3-79,4-87, 5-136, 6-139, 7-154, 8-179, 9-190.

Australia bowling: Lee 7-0-44-0, Johnson 9-1-46-1, Clark 6-0-14-2, Hopes 7-0-33-1,

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