India and the Finals. Review on VB Cricket Series 2003-2004

Originally published in my name in 'Letters to The Editor', Deccan Herald. It was disappointing to see India go down meekly to the Aussies in both the finals. While this is a big let down for all the Indian fans, it seems India didn't lose much but gained a lot from this series and the tour as a whole. Let me summarise some of the plusses of this series:

1. India could have won at least 3 matches out of the four league matches they played against Australia. One was lost due to Brett Lee's clean swing in the last over and the other was lost due to some inexplicable batting by Indians when they were riding high at 257 for 3 in the first ODI. Of course the Perth match was a real morale shatterer for India.

I guess Aussies had set it up nicely towards the end. Perth is the only pitch in Australia that can be really described as genuinely quick and bouncy. It helped that Indians didn't play at Perth in the Test Series. But Brett Lee's pace and Perth's bounce combined to give India a horrid time in the last league one day match against Australia. That was really the beginnning of the end for India. They went into the finals, reluctant to even play, let alone win.

1. India lost the edge midway through the series when Rahul Dravid was accused of ball tampering. This had a shattering effect on the Wall. If you observe, he was the backbone of Indian batting throughout this Australian summer. He was playing really well, till that ill-fated day, when he was booked for something that none of his fans couldn't even imagine in their nightmares.

A self-respecting player like Dravid must have been really grounded after this. He was having a free flow till that match and even in that match against Zimbabwe he scored 84, yet denied the man-of-the-match award. After that, he didn't play even a single innings of any significance. That made all the difference between India winning and losing. They could never go beyond the 250-mark after that, except once when Laxman hit a hundred.

1. India had a great test series because of Anil Kumble. However, a combination of injury and Ganguly's reluctance to play him went against India in the one day series. His full fitness and match confidence could have helped India put up a good fight. Finally, Ganguly proved that he was both inefficient a captain as well as a player in this series. He lacked imagination in captaincy and the courage to stand up against fast bowlers as a batsman. His 142 in Brisbane test was no doubt dare devilry, but faster pitches exposed him thoroughly.

Just intensity in the eyes doesn't help win matches. The captain should lead from the front, which he didn't do after the first test in Brisbane. It is time to replace him with Dravid at the helm of the affairs. t was disappointing to see India go down meekly to the Aussies in both the finals. While this is a big let down for all the Indian fans, it seems India didn't lose much but gained a lot from this series and the tour as a whole.

Let me summarise some of the plusses of this series: 1. India could have won at least 3 matches out of the four league matches they played against Australia. One was lost due to Brett Lee's clean swing in the last over and the other was lost due to some inexplicable batting by Indians when they were riding high at 257 for 3 in the first ODI. Of course the Perth match was a real morale shatterer for India. I guess Aussies had set it up nicely towards the end.

Perth is the only pitch in Australia that can be really described as genuinely quick and bouncy. It helped that Indians didn't play at Perth in the Test Series. But Brett Lee's pace and Perth's bounce combined to give India a horrid time in the last league one day match against Australia. That was really the beginnning of the end for India.

They went into the finals, reluctant to even play, let alone win. 2. India lost the edge midway through the series when Rahul Dravid was accused of ball tampering. This had a shattering effect on the Wall. If you observe, he was the backbone of Indian batting throughout this Australian summer. He was playing really well, till that ill-fated day, when he was booked for something that none of his fans couldn't even imagine in their nightmares. A self-respecting player like Dravid must have been really grounded after this. He was having a free flow till that match and even in that match against Zimbabwe he scored 84, yet denied the man-of-the-match award.

After that, he didn't play even a single innings of any significance. That made all the difference between India winning and losing. They could never go beyond the 250-mark after that, except once when Laxman hit a hundred. 3. India had a great test series because of Anil Kumble.

However, a combination of injury and Ganguly's reluctance to play him went against India in the one day series. His full fitness and match confidence could have helped India put up a good fight. Finally, Ganguly proved that he was as inefficient a captain as he is a player. He lacked imagination in captaincy and the courage to stand up against fast bowlers as a batsman. His 142 in Brisbane test was no doubt dare devilry, but faster pitches exposed him thoroughly.

Just intensity in the eyes doesn't help win matches. The captain should lead from the front, which he didn't do after the first test in Brisbane. It is time to replace him with Dravid at the helm of the affairs. In the overall analysis I think India should be happy at the way things have gone for them on this tour. They have miles to go before even thinking of beating Aussises. But it was a great series for India, nevertheless.