The Hindu : Sport : India faces a true test of character

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Saturday, Dec 29, 2007
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India faces a true test of character

S. Ram Mahesh

Australia sets the Indian batsmen a daunting target of 499

Melbourne: Friday would have won few converts at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, featuring as it did a brand of cricket that, like olives, caviar and pipe tobacco, is an acquired taste.

There is often very little by way of entertainment in watching a side scrupulously and clinically press its advantage. When the razor-edge of an even contest has blunted, the day can’t advance quickly enough; particularly for the team trying to limit damage.

But, India, to its great credit, didn’t give up the ghost on day three of the first Test. Sure, the ground fielding borrowed liberally from tragicomedy. The bowling, at times, appeared devoid of teeth. Even the body language — the reading of which is the worst of the pseudo-sciences — looked ‘flat’ to an expert.

But, even as the Australian batsmen set about putting the match beyond reach, India refused to stop trying. Harbhajan Singh, in the first session, was feisty and skilful, slowing his pace through the air for the wickets of Matthew Hayden (47) and Ricky Ponting.

Zaheer Khan, in the hour after lunch, summoned the spirits of reverse swing (as did R.P. Singh) and challenged Michael Clarke (73) and Andrew Symonds (44).

Still slow and low

Ironically, the strip here at the MCG both helped and hindered India. Still slow and low, it gave up runs reluctantly. Australia, as a result, didn’t pull away with the speed it has grown accustomed to in agenda-setting second innings, until later in the day.

The track was also tough to blast batsmen out on. Starting an innings wasn’t easy; staying in, however, was considerably less difficult, for edges didn’t always carry and the batsmen had time against the spinners to readjust even when beaten in air. This, and Australia’s strength of position, allowed the batsmen to collect runs without greatly fearing the safety of their tenure.

As the lead increased, Anil Kumble, who had bravely commissioned several catching men when he sensed his bowlers had a sniff, diffused the field. Masters of the hard-run ones, twos and threes, Australia’s batsmen hastened the pace of accumulation.

Tricky period

Ricky Ponting finally called a halt, setting a target of 499 and leaving India a tricky period of eight overs. Rahul Dravid, who took strike, and Wasim Jaffer saw India through to close. Several tests of character remain; as do two whole days.

The Indian batsmen have glittering career records — and richly deserved ones at that — but if they pull off this heist, they will have overachieved.

The numbers aren’t encouraging. The highest-ever successful chase in Test cricket remains the West Indies’ 418 for seven against Australia at Antigua in 2003.

India once held the record with 406 for four in the famous win at Port of Spain in 1975-76. And the best here at the MCG happened more than 75 years back, when England made 332 for seven.

Outstanding effort

India’s batsmen need look no further than Clarke’s 113-ball 73 for instruction. The innings was emblematic of Australia’s approach on Friday. Andrew Symonds opened his powerful shoulders to twice clear the vast playing space at the ’G (as surprisingly did Brad Hogg), but it was Clarke’s application that stood out.

Phil Jaques (51) might have matched him in craft, tucking industriously to leg. Clarke, however, brings to his game a touch of improvisation that sets him apart. Like several very good batsmen, Clarke is swift of hand and foot. Nowhere was this better illustrated than against Kumble. Few batsmen have skipped down the track to Kumble; that accomplished, fewer still have managed the hand-speed to drive him 90 yards. Clarke did both with a litheness of touch that was most becoming.

Only the full, swinging ball troubled him, asking questions of his bottom-handed grip. And it required the great Kumble to sneak a wrong ’un through bat and pad to end his stay. Clarke struck just five fours in his innings — it was illustrative of how the track played. Michael Hussey, for instance, went to 36 without a boundary.

India’s bowlers had their moments. Hayden, who was just beginning to dominate with his menacing forward press, was done in by a wonderful bit of flight. Harbhajan directed his first over at middle-stump, for there were just three on the off-side. Kumble cottoned on and reinforced the off-side, drawing from Harbhajan a ball outside off that dipped on the giant.

A dozen no-balls

Then, from wide on the crease, Harbhajan coated a delivery to Ponting with overspin, getting it to bounce on the Australian captain and travel to slip. More than two hours later, Zaheer bowled Symonds (on seven then) with a ball that swung in and skidded on. But, it was one of 12 times he over-stepped on Friday. The left-armer finally trapped his man with a viciously curving ball from around the wicket.

scoreboard

Australia — 1st innings: 343.

India — 1st innings: 196.

Australia — 2nd innings: P. Jaques c & b Kumble 51, M. Hayden c Ganguly b Harbhajan 47, R. Ponting c Dravid b Harbhajan 3, M. Hussey c Tendulkar b R.P. Singh 36, M. Clarke st. Dhoni b Kumble 73, A. Symonds lbw b Zaheer 44, A. Gilchrist c R.P. Singh b Harbhajan 35, B. Hogg (not out) 35, B. Lee (not out) 11; Extras (lb-3, nb-13): 16; Total (for seven wkts. decl. in 88 overs): 351.

Fall of wickets: 1-83 (Hayden), 2-89 (Ponting), 3-139 (Jaques), 4-161 (Hussey), 5-243 (Symonds), 6-288 (Clarke), 7-316 (Gilchrist).

India bowling: Zaheer 20-2-93-1, R.P. Singh 16-1-50-1, Kumble 25-2-102-2, Harbhajan 26-0-101-3, Tendulkar 1-0-2-0.

India — 2nd innings: R. Dravid (batting) 3, W. Jaffer (batting) 2; Extras (nb-1): 1; Total (for no loss in eight overs): 6.

Australia bowling: Lee 3-1-4-0, Johnson 2-1-2-0, Clark 2-2-0-0, Hogg 1-1-0-0.

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