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Aussies bring India crashing to earth

S. Dinakar

Skipper Clarke leads by example in annihilation of the World champion

Melbourne: Fireworks signalled the beginning of the match but it turned out to be a nightmare under the lights for the Indians. The World Champion fizzled out on a grand stage.

An audience of just over 84,000 cheered the Aussies on at the MCG on Friday. However, a section of the crowd that booed Harbhajan Singh presented itself in poor light. For cricket to prevail, the wounds have to heal fast.

No contest

As a contest, the one-off Twenty20 match offered little. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men were blown away for 74 in 17.3 overs and the Australians, powered by the opening pair of Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke, knocked off the runs for the loss of a wicket in just 11.2 overs. This was a rout.

With captain Ricky Ponting pulling out with a back strain, Michael Clarke was at the helm. And the ‘Pup’ is maturing quickly.

He was on the ball as skipper, electric on the field and struck a few thumping blows with the willow while opening the innings.

Clarke swooped on the ball at point and then hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end to catch Virender Sehwag short of the crease and trigger the Indian collapse. He then rung in the changes smartly. Clarke was the Man-of-the-Match.

Dhoni’s decision to bat was debatable considering he could have given his freshly arrived limited-overs batsmen a feel of the conditions by electing to field. In the event, his bold ploy backfired.

Maestro Sachin Tendulkar was rested ahead of what could be a physically and mentally demanding tri-series but the youngsters should have shown greater resolve. The manner in which they reacted to a stressful situation appeared desperate.

Only Irfan Pathan 26 off 30 balls — offered any resistance.

Inexperience shows

The Aussies were spot on with the ball and quick on the field. The inexperience of a young Indian batting line-up showed up on a pitch where there was definite seam movement. The innings lacked momentum and partnerships.

Proper shot selection and footwork are key factors of good batsmanship in any form of the game, even Twenty20 cricket.

Dinesh Karthik displayed the full face of the bat for a crisp push through mid-off but soon swung across a low, swinging full toss from Brett Lee.

Gautam Gambhir betrayed lack of footwork as he scooped a Nathan Bracken delivery outside the off-stump. Robin Uthappa failed to read the change of pace from Bracken and Rohit Sharma’s ill-advised attempted pull off seamer James Hopes saw his stumps in disarray. Dhoni’s pull sweep on a big ground gave debutant David Hussey, sending down off-spin, his first wicket. Gilchrist was smart and alert behind the stumps.

The in-form Brett Lee was fast, full and straight. Bracken’s height, high-arm action and left-armer’s angle posed tough questions for the batsmen. Ashley Noffke was zestful and has possibilities.

Hopes was steady, while left-arm Chinaman bowler Adam Voges picked up a couple of cheap wickets at the end.

Rousing reception

In the final stretch of his international career, Gilchirst received a rousing reception and soon waded into the bowling. Sreesanth whipped up aggression and generated speed but lacked consistency. To be fair to the bowlers, they were defending an indefensible total.

Before holing out in the deep, Gilchrist (25 off 22 balls) revived memories by pulling and dumping Praveen Kumar over the squarish fine-leg ropes.

Clarke (unbeaten 37 off 36) was all flair and timing. That he was reprieved off Ishant Sharma when Harbhajan and Pathan crossed each other’s path while pursuing a skier summed up India’s day.

Little went right for Dhoni and his men.

SCOREBOARD

India: G. Gambhir c Hopes b Bracken 9, V. Sehwag (run out) 0, D. Karthik b Lee 8, R. Uthappa c David Hussey b Bracken 1, Rohit Sharma b Hopes 8, M.S. Dhoni c Lee b David Hussey 9, I. Pathan c Gilchrist b Bracken 26, Praveen Kumar c Voges b Noffke 6, Harbhajan c Clarke b Voges 1, Sreesanth c Hodge b Voges 0, Ishant Sharma (not out) 3; Extras: (w-3) 3; Total: (in 17.3 overs) 74.

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-12, 3-20, 4-20, 5-32, 6-49, 7-60, 8-63, 9-63.

Australia bowling: Lee 3-0-13-1, Bracken 2.3-1-11-3, Noffke 4-0-23-1, Hopes 3-0-10-1, David Hussey 3-0-12-1, Voges 2-0-5-2.

Australia: A. Gilchrist c Gambhir b Praveen 25, M. Clarke (not out) 37, J. Hodge (not out) 10; Extras: (b-1, lb-1, w-1) 3; Total: (one wkt. in 11.2 overs) 75.

Fall of wicket: 1-57.

India bowling: Pathan 3-0-18-0, Sreesanth 3-0-25-0, Praveen 2-0-15-1, Ishant 1.2-0-8-0, Harbhajan 2-0-7-0.

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