A haunting thought that would linger in the minds of the Aussies for a long time, the underdogs scripted one of the finest win in the history of world and Australian cricket for over a decade.
India has this unique tradition of spoiling all Aussies record dreams, it was in 2001 when they put an end to Steve Waugh’s dream run and now to that of Ponting. The venue could be no better, the WACA at Perth, named the dooms day for any visiting team, Aussies have never lost a match here since the memorable match with the Windies.
After having been let down by several dubious decisions in the Sydney test the fate of the ongoing series was ever hanging in the balance. Kumble made an explicit mention of this in the post match conference, the two options left with him were none too easy to make and he had the mammoth task of holding the team together and getting them to stay on.
Was it the beach that did the trick or was it the respect he commands from his team mates, the truth behind the decision to carry on with the tour will not come out in the immediate future, at least not till he resigns. Nevertheless the script could not have been better for him for India came up with the improbable result of a victory.
If one has to dissect the grueling four days game session after session, but for two or three at max, the remaining sessions belong to the Indians and hence could be termed as a well deserved victory. The few sessions that went the Aussie way was the partnership between Symonds and Gilchrist in their first innings, loss of two quick wickets in India’s second innings towards the end of the day and late burst from Johnson and Clark with the bat.
While India has many positives from this game besides the victory by itself, the first would go to the bowling department. When Zaheer was sent back to India with injury and Munaf along with Sreesanth not part of the touring party, RP was to be the spearhead attack bowler. He was to be supported by rookie Ishant and resurgent Pathan. All odds were stocked against the bowling trio and the lively pitch in WACA would have created enough butterflies in Indian batsmen.
RP ripped apart the Aussie team in the first innings with good support from Pathan and Ishant. In the second essay it was a concentrated effort by all the pacers, joining the party was the unassuming spin of Sehwag that upset the applecart for the opponents further. Removing Gilchrist was very important as he is one batsman capable of scripting things his way – he is not called the “demolition man” for nothing.
Not to take away any credit from Dravid & Tendulkar for their stupendous knock in the first innings, I assume that the readers would agree with me that it was any way expected from them. Laxman holding the end up to set up a daunting total eventually turning out to be the second largest total since 1948 for a side to win was equally commendable.
Call it a vengeance match or equalizer for the ill luck at Sydney I hope everyone would agree with me that this victory in WACA is sweeter than the draw that could have happened in Sydney.
I am awaiting the match at Adelaide, here again India has already won once in 2002 and hence the chance of drawing the series is very likely.
Well done TEAM INDIA and all the very best for the ensuing decider.
© Praggya., all rights reserved.
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