Jan 12, 2008 06:07 PM
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The current cricket series between India and Australia now seems to be resembling the script of some Hindi masala potboiler. After all, the two test matches that have been played so far have been enveloped in drama: sadly, hardly ever for cricketing reasons. Now, with the threat of the tour being called off very genuine and string, it is time to write my observations of this series so far.
The Indians landed Down Under sometime in December, with their first Test match on Boxing Day, ie, 26th December. It would be former India CaptainSourav Ganguly's 100th Test appearance. After his infamous sacking in 2005, reaching the 100 Test figure must have been a pretty special feeling for the in-form Bengal Tiger.
However, India lost the Test match pretty comprehensively, being bowled out for under 200 in both innings. Skipper Anil Kumble, leading for the first time outside the sub-continent, rightly placed the blame on the collective shoulders of the top order.Rahul Dravid, India's batting maisntay for the past so many years, looked like a fish out of water in both innings and struggled to negotiate the Australlian attack. His determination was steel like, and he did try to live upto the tag of being The Wall, but failed.
Ganguly, India's man in form, got starts in both innings but the guiles of Brad Hogg did him in both innings. Australia's number one nemesis, the Very Very Special Laxman,failed to deliver to expectations. Yuvraj Singh did not help matters by failing in both the innings and Dhoni needs to understand that simply being ODI captain doesnt mean he should take his place for granted. He should remember that Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthick are pretty much breathing down his neck. Anyway, the first test saw India loose on the fourth day itself. Not a very encouraging sign but this was the Calm Before The Storm in hindsight.
In the Secnd Test at Sydney, as many as 8 unfair decisions went against India in the dourse of the 5 days of play. Yet, India managed to take the game to the last 20 minutes.commmendable! Andrew Symonds, Ponting and Co. received second, third and fourth lives in their stay athe wicket. India seemed to have lost to the Australian XIV, with all three umpires figuring in the Aussie line up. Steve Bucknor, that proverbial thorn in India's shoe for years now, proved once again that he does not like India Shining;) . Mark Benson, called a "junior umpire" by a former cricketer, matched Bucknor wrong decision for wrong decision throughout the game. Injustice had been served. The Indians should have been furious. But the Indian skipper, a veteran leggie and sportsman, condcuted himself amicably and even the other players rallied around him.
But then the Harbhajan incident was just too much. Come on mates, stop all this MONKEYING AROUND. Tongue firmly in cheek, I don't think Symonds should take offence in being called a monkey: his visage and build Do suggest a common ancestry with other primates;) . Gee, I wonder if Mike Proctor will ban me from MS for this.lol.
The tour and many million bucks hang in the balance. India has made its stance clear by ensuring that Bucknor be sacked and demanding the ICC to allow Harbhajan Singh to play. Oh, and amidst all this, India has struggled to dominate the ACT XI team in a three day tpour game. Sigh.Ekta Kapoor, you might want to start a soap called "K"ricket with this script. And do not forget to mention that the story, concept and characters bear no resemblace to anyt persons, living or dead. Please have a flippant, cocky and arrogant gora captain and a man dressed ina monkey suit batting 5 times in 2 innings. I rest my case.
DO RRC. HOPE YOU LIEKD MY TAKE ON THE SERIES. I'M WRITING HERE AFETR QUITE SOME TIME
