Arm Ball

The test match got underway in Chennai albeit to scare attendance and zero chances of rain with sunny clear skies. Perhaps heavenly omens for the Test match to happen. Now that it has happened, the wicket played to its true nature off late. Batting beauty with no leeway to the bowlers. England got off to slow start, cautious. 67 runs in 27 overs, with nothing flashy or significant to write about. Bowlers rotated, but no success. Mishra brought in late, something which happens regularly with Dhoni as skipper. Even in Nagpur after the Mohali heroics, the Harayana lad was brought in late. Not much difference though, not that he is a great bowler as of now and would turn it around like Mendis. Has gone for 49 runs in 10 overs. Well that’s not pretty much like AK. AK in his prime until late last year would hold back to runs if not wkts on a flat track. But this lad needs a turner to get a wicket on. That’s why we need a leggie who doesn’t turn the ball much. May be we have been pampered and spoiled for choices after 19 years of Anil Kumble flavors and 619 wkts.

The Test match is shaping like the Lord’s Test 2007 when England got off to flying start only to lose way later in the day and before being Zaked and RP’ed on day 2. Strauss was the man then, as is now. He came from wilderness in the Lord’s and so is now. So is history going to repeat itself ?

Besides what is the use of a flat track ? Its further going to kill the game of cricket in the country. England going strong on 1/138 just half way through the day. The over rate is pretty much decent with 14.x overs per over. Better than what Ponting managed entire month of Nov and Oct or even now.

News of spats between Bret Lee and Ricky Ponting, urgent SOS to happily retired Shane Warne are the 2 of the immediate fallouts of the huge defeat Australia suffered in 17 years to India. That’s what a defeat does to a team. A team which was rarely outplayed and comprehensively beaten by a team which is its bitter rival. Defeat is something which has hardly been noted by this generation of Australian players. Many players came and went by, but were never a part of a series losing team. Adam Gilchrist was part of just 2 teams which lost a series in his entire 96 test career of 9 years (2001-02 in India, 2005 Ashes). If you check for records for max wins, this Australian team and the one which had retired players like Langer, Pidge, Warney and Gilly would always figure on top.

I am not sure if the spats news between Lee and Ponting are true, as they come from ever unreliable media. But something was terribly missing from this Australian team. The killer instinct or the belief that takes them home even in despair (example when Langer and Gilly chased 369 in Hobart Test, 1999 vs. Pakistan) was clearly lacking. Emotions gripped the brutal ruthless Aussies which was evident in the Hayden’s approach to Zaheer in 2^nd innings. Yes he wanted to overcome the daemon of Zaheer, but then in the process he fell to the obnoxious weed Harbhajan Singh. The fire was needed but with caution. Till date 516 runs have never been chased successfully and perhaps might not be in the future. The batsmen made mistakes, India’s bowlers kept the formidable line-up (yes it still is ) in check even without their captain and greatest wicket taker in the match.

The bowling lacked imagination for Australia in the 1^st innings when Tendulkar and Ganguly stole the thunder back from Australia when they were reduced to 4/153. Perhaps after that Australia couldn’t crawl back to the game. A lot has been said on lack of quality spinner in the side and nothing optimistic picture looms on the horizon. Without a quality spinner Australia are always going to struggle in the sub continental conditions. The fast bowling wasn’t up to their reputation with Lee being conspicuously absent from the attack on day 4 morning session. After 201 runs behind, only way for Australia to crawl back was to dismiss India under 150 and have a go at target less than 350.

It’s still not lost for the Aussies. They can still win the next 2 tests and retain the trophy, it would be uphill task. Next they enter to Delhi which is India’s fortress and Kumble ‘s adopted home ground. 8 days break should be enough for them to introspect and ease out the gaps between their actual standard of the game and the one they put up in Mohali. Mohali has shrugged off its batting friendly draw wicket image and India have now beaten England and Australia in Mohali after losing to the Windies in 1994 to level the series.

320 run victory is India’s biggest in terms of runs and it definitely sends up positive signs for the future. MSD is ready for test captaincy as well. Captaincy brings out best in MSD and he sparkles in his batting, not to say his tactics. But only after Kumble retires which could be at the end of the season (NZ tour). He was a difference between the 2 sides. If Ponting was scoffing at Lee and pointing to walk to Sehwag, then MSD was up to the task and was quick to grab the initiative whenever presented. 2^nd day morning session could have been anybody s game until he stepped in and made 92 forging partnerships with Saurav. Innings of 92 and 68 should eliminate doubts regarding Dhoni’s Test capabilities. We often tend to forget in the euphoria that he has quite often played substantial innings in Tests too. A match saving 70s in Lord’s test, a 50 in Delhi test in 2007 vs. Pakistan which won India the match after Shoaib blast, the 37 in Sydney test alongside Kumble and then a quick fire 68 in 3^rd test of Windies which actually set up a target of 300+ for WI. He is not only having the best average amongst Indian wicketkeepers, but also the best strike rates amongst contemporary Test batsmen.

India had lots of positives coming out of the game. The opening partnership looks settled for now and long time to come meaning curtains for Chopra and Jaffer. The middle order isn’t a problem. Sachin Tendulkar is back in love books with the media and the fans alike. Rahul Dravid looked fluent in the 1^st innings before he chopped one onto his stump, his fielding was superb. Ganguly showed he is not yet finished and he forced few people to request him to take back the retirement. How rubbish. Laxman is the one who now needs a go and well Delhi Test could provide that.

Bowling attack looks settled for most part. Mishra’s debut augurs well for us and though he might have to wait for few more games to be a permanent fixture in the side, he is a very good find of the series. Alright, one bad Test doesn’t make AK a bad bowler and then he is the captain. Let’s not forget that. Zaheer and Ishant were awesome. The way Ishant has scored points over Ponting says about his class and belongingness to the highest level. He is for sure the next Indian superstar in bowling unless he doesn’t fade away to success and glory. Very rarely it happens that we encounter fast bowlers outplaying spinners in home series. For sure this is a good sign to come.

This was a team effort with everybody contributing to the cause with the exception of Laxman. The next test is 8 days away and for sure its going to be another gripping affair. Hometown for Sehwag, Gambhir, Sharma, Mishra and Kumble. The same ground where Tendulkar made his debut as Indian captain against the same team and won. The same ground where Tendulkar broke Gavaskar ’s record of most Test hundreds and besides its also the same ground where Anil Kumble took 10 wkts in an innings. India have won last 7 tests played out here and it would be 8 in a row now.

On a parting note for the Mohali Test, Ponting sounds miffed with Indian chatting and banter in the game. Isn’t it double standards ? Didn’t Aussies do the same in Sydney and moreover we won within the spirits of the game unlike Aussies who broke every available courtesy and decency in that eventful Sydney test. If Aussies receive few sledges and banters in return, they appear defensive and naggers, but when they do it then its alright with them. It doesn’t work this way Ponting.

“Bit of chit-chat is something okay with all and it’s only when you overstep the line that the umpires intervene. And umpires intervened a couple of times, like the one involving Zaheer Khan yesterday”.

All in all the better of the 2 teams won and it should be good enough to the obsessive media to highlight the positive part of it and not crib on impending retirement of the senior players. Of course some point of time they would go and we won’t be lucky enough to get superbly and immensely talented players like the Big Five playing together in a Test match, the crux of the players which changed the way country played Test cricket home and away.

Thanks to Soulberry for the cricketnirvaana link . Here is a go at live blogging watching 1st session live on webcast……

• Its great to see quality commentators in the test series with the likes of Sunny Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, easily India’s best , Ian Chappell and Mark Nicholas along with Allan Border. Still pity to see likes of Shivramkrishnan out there in the middle with ever boring Arun Lal.
• Ishant Sharma is a delight to watch, he is superb in run action. Thumps in, the ball zooms inside the batsman and he gotta be careful to make sure that he doesnt get LBW!! Good 2nd over of the day by Sharma….
• Surprisingly its Mishy continuing in place of Zaheer and he is looping the ball well.
• During India s tour of Australia earlier this year, Australia had Symmo at 6 and Gilly at 7. Now they have Watson at 6 and Haddin at 7….Huge quality gap isnt it. Would Australia gamble for Symmo as jacques replacement ? They should.
• Play held up for sight screen problem…..
• We need a wkt now..And who better than Hussey…Ishant Sharma still able to extract bounce out of a 3rd day pitch….
• Zaheer comes back. It would be great if he could do a Hayden to Hussey. You see H…..:)
• NZ are in shambles. Dumped and bumped for 171…..Ridiculous!!
• Harbhajan is missing from overall picture. Hasnt having a great of series though…
• Hussey gets another 50…..Whata player….
• And he is out………..huge wicket………….Hussey c Dhoni b Sharma……..Aussie in troubles!!!
• In comes Haddin and mind you he is not Gilchrist. A max good for 40. Not more than that…A follow-on looms large…..
• Aussies still need 140 to save follow-on. They missing the experience of Symmo and Gilly….Whats more imp ? Personal ego battles or team victory ? So Symmo should be rushed in….
• Wonder what happened to Sreesanth ? Lost to stardom ? He is not even in challengers team

End of first hour….36 runs and 1 wicket with Sharma being the star……

for Zaheer….3 of 3….Is that going to be Hayden’s sommersault ? He wont even be given a VRS scheme…..

Meanwhile Ponting gets a new

in form of Ishant Sharma. 3 out of 5 times in last 3 Tests…..And Ponting back to his usual scoring patterns in India barring Bangalore 1st test…..

Hussey the key man today on 3rd day. If he is nailed earlier, a bright chance for India. And a good debut for Mishra, good signs for Kumble’s replacement (not yet though)…The way he got Pup round the wkt was super….

Hats off to Dhoni, Sachin and of course Saurav for bonderful contributions and apologies to the bloggie buddies if my criticism for critics was a bit too harsh and if they took it to themselves (I know they didnt, but still).

So the selection debate ends with the “incumbent batsmen” keeping up their places and the “next generation” players getting a peep-in into the final 15. I feel so sad for the critics of Saurav Ganguly who had wrote him off and declared him a thing of past. He is back again and I can’t hide my happiness. I don’t care if I am being termed as cynical or whatever, but the fact is I have always liked the fighting qualities of the man and he in a way has inspired me in more ways than one. I cannot help but to back him to max, though it doesn’t matter a heck in the end. It anyways won’t change his fortunes, but would give me a satisfaction. A player who cut through the system out of various charges of quota selection, being duped as a LORD SNOOTY or MAHARAJ or a disturbing effect on the team by Greg Chappell, the man transformed the Indian team from a meek outfit to the current outfit who has conquered all but New Zealand.

He transformed the attitude of the players, rubbed off the north-south divide, backed few players he thought were good and today the world knows them by the names of Sehwag, Bhajji, Zaheer, Dhoni, Yuvraj etc etc. Not to mention that he resurrected the career of Dravid in ODIs and Kumble in Tests once he was termed as past force after the NZ tour of 2003. HE fought an eye to eye with the best and led the team to some memorable triumphs home and away. I am too small an entity to write anything about the great man. But my heartfelt wishes to the man from Kolkata to come good and shut his critics off.

Besides the team is on the expected lines. Selection of Amit Mishra can be debatable though it’s very little chance that he might play. What wrong did Ojha do to be ousted without a game ? That’s what you call selection inconsistency which Nasser Hussein very well summarizes it. Badrinath gets a look-in as well, but again he won’t be playing. I cannot understand a reason why he is being so rated hugely. He was okish in the SL ODI series and doesn’t look to be a very attractive or solid prospect. Yeah making noises can be attributed to him, but then making runs concerned, I won’t bet a penny on this man from TN (is he in cos the Chief selector hails from TN J).

Munaf Patel won’t be playing and so would be RP Singh. RP Singh has drastically fallen apart since the Asia Cup in June this year. Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma look the starters in the XI along with the captain and Harbhajan Singh as spinners.

All in all it’s a fair team selection IMHO, though the critics of the Fab four would be fairly miffed looking that none of the incumbent chickens were rolled off. Alright, the stage is set, the team is in like it or not. Now we all the bloggers got to rally behind this team to support it during this epic series and ensure that we give a tough fight to Aussies once again and we get to see another high voltage series as India – Australia have always been. 8 days to go.