The key moment for me in the just won series against India was the instant Sourav Ganguly complained about the "good" pitch in Nagpur. It was then you knew that he knew, all things being equal, India had no chance. Coincidentally, or maaayyybee not, he then "failed" his fitness test.
Due to the results in India in 2001, there's been a broad expectation that Bor-Gav encounters were going to be close run things. Up to now they have, but is that a true indication of where both sides rate? I say no.
Back in 2001 India didn't so much win the series as Australia lost it. Cavallier fifth-day batting in Calcutta meant the Aussies lost a game they should easily have drawn. However, two things went against them Firstly, Australia made India follow-on and history shows that sides doing so almost invariably make a better fist of it second time around. India did. In spades. Well done by them. Secondly, what's often forgotten is that Australia were looking for an extra day off on a tough tour and more significantly, were chasing a 17th consecutive win. Surely something worth pursuing, but it meant Australia were overly attacking in the face of a confident India on a late roll.
However, in losing that test, Australia handed India the momentum which the locals subsequently carried through to win the third test. A test Australia suddenly had to win to win the series. History shows Australia couldn't stem a resurgent India, who then went on to snaffle the series 2-1. Even then, only just.
What happened in the second test confirms my, and, I suspect, Ricky Ponting's ethos, "Never give a sucker and even break."
India were aided in no small part by a startling bowling performance from Turbanator Harby Singh. While I'm on Singh; he (like most offies) undoubtedly chucks his doosra. Surely it's time for an outright ban of this frightful delivery. A ball which is an utter blight on the game and eats at the very fabric of correct bowling technique.
Down off my soapbox, there was also some appalling umpiring in favour of the locals. One dismissal, Gilchrist's in Calcutta, was as bad as it gets. Adjudged El-bee when the ball pitched well outside leg stump and wouldn't have hit the stumps anyway. What's more, he clearly hit the bloody thing. Although it must be said, Australia have had the better of the umpires this time round.
Most importantly, the pitches were typically sub-continental in nature, which meant Australia's fast bowling strength was negated. Steve Waugh didn't help the Aussies cause by setting consistently attacking fields which allowed Laxman, Dravid and co to score freely. A folly starkly exposed by this latest Aussie team who have emphasised line, length and containment. In short, stifling pressure.
Last summer in Australia the home team again played to their own tune and suffered as a result.
India were able to plan accordingly and bowled to Australia's arrogance. The simple fact a bowler of Pura standard (at best) such as Aggy Aggy was able to run through Australia in the second innings in Adelaide and then take more that 15 wickets overall meant Australia weren't playing appropriate attention to detail. They consistently fell into simple Indian traps.
Australia, also without Warne and McGrath, again set attacking fields and without a proper cutting edge on generously tame pitches simply weren't able to contain India's batsmen. Containment is no doubt the main reason Stuart MacGill wasn't selected for the current tour.
The Aussies should have been able to contain India. Dravid is correct but slow, Wee Wee lacks application, but is a confidence player who, if you give up easy runs, will steamroll you. Ganguly is suspect on and about off stump. Chopra merely making up numbers and Verandah Shag, is as I've said before, a rank park tonker. One of the worst high scoring batsmen in test history and surely it's a matter of time before he gets fully found out as a fraud. That leaves Tendulkar as their bona fide gun, but who over the last few years, has lacked his early spark and, what's more, is playing accross his front pad.
And don't get me started on Australia's catching.
Anyway, this time around Australia decided it was time the boot was on the other foot. Sensibly set fields to the likes of Laxman, Dravid, Ganguly and Sehwag meant India being unable to score freely and, as a result, being forced into mistakes. A sweeper and a deep off-side field to Verandah might appear defensive, but it's his main avenue to runs and once cut off, it was only a matter of time before he did something daft. India are a confidence team and if you are able to play on their minds, they will struggle. I wonder if India saw it coming because Ponting did the same thing in Sri Lanka. Incidentally, that was a far more entertaining series.
Australia also allowed Hayden and Langer to have a lash early, but if that didn't pay off, Katich, Clarke and Martyn are all capable and comfortable middle order batsmen capable of soaking up the loss of early wickets, and more importantly were able to play Kumble and Harby with soft hands. Martyn, in particular, curtailed his dubious off-side wafts and instead played late and deftly flicked the ball into the leg-side. A terrific sign of a batsman prepared to learn from his mistakes.
Australia also had the huge advantage of Parti Boy Patel behind the stumps who MUST be a leading candidate for this year's Alan Border Medal. However, Adam Gilchrist, prior to the third test, was poor behind the stumps also.
Nope, for me, once it had become apparent Australia had decided to modify their (Steve Waugh's) attacking, but rigid, game-plan and instead play the pressure game, not giving India any easy breaks, the result hinged upon India successfully using their spinners to run through Australia on accomodating pitches.
I'm tipping that when Sourav saw the Nagpur pitch, he knew the jig was up.
Spoken like a true world-class sore winner with the incredibly rare gift of 2000/2000 hindsight. Now you can start working on why Greg Chappel's team were really far, far superior to Clive Lloyd's boys.
Fine work by the aussie cricketers.
Posted by: SM | 30 October 2004 at 12:49
Not sure about Lloyd versus Chappelli- pretty close run thing ?
The Indians did not like this Nagpur wicket, they wanted less grass and plenty more dust, but Gillespie is now truly world class and exploited it magnificently. McGrath bowled famously in the 'corridor' leaving Tendulkar hesitant with his movement.This win, and the series, has been down to a truly great TEAM performance- with all the batters contributing down the order and wickets being shared out liberally.The next 4 or 5 series i can see no problems really but we have to work on where the next Warnie & Pigeon will emerge from.
To me, the Indians batting was a third as effective as they were last time around in their home country- this time the quicker blokes tested them far more thoroughly and found them out- spin played a far lesser role here.
Roll up, roll up, buy your Partiv Patel action figure here- have countless hours of amusement as it slips, stumbles and fumbles around in your house. If this bloke is an International class Keeper then i am the next president of the U.S.A.
Posted by: Brett Pee | 30 October 2004 at 18:52
When an international captain comes out and publicly asks a curator to prepare a pitch that helps out their side you know something is wrong, and they are not confident of their own ability on a netural pitch. Surely thats against the spirit of the game? That's not to say the Aussies curators don't specifically prepare early seamers that spin later, but its not a universally common feature. If the guy in Nag-poor can prepare a pitch like he did, why can't all the groundsmen?
Maybe I'm just nitpicking. But anyways the final words go to Ricky Ponting (or whoever sung this at the end of the test):
"Beneath the Southern Cross I stand,
a sprig of wattle in my hand,
a native of my native land,
Australia... you f%$#in beauty!!"
Sorry about that.
Posted by: Adsy | 31 October 2004 at 16:23
The lack of runs from the tail is a bit of a worry, Tony. I think there were only three scores in double figures in three tests, one of them from McGrath. If we do get in a hole, you want to be able to dig your way out of it. Although Gillespie did well, hanging around for a while. It annoyed me when they kept referring to him as the nightwatchman, though. It wasn't as if he was batting up the order. Warne needs a bit of work, he was half handy with the bat once.
Posted by: Dirk Thruster | 31 October 2004 at 17:10
Brett and Ads, given the state of the outfield in both the first two tests, I'd be very surprised if they couldn't serve up superb tracks on all test grounds in India.
The track in Nagpur was a beauty, and the Indian batsman need to handle them better at home if they're going to compete better away.
Not overly concerned about the tail, Dirk. If the batsmen do their jobs, then the tail only have to worry about doing theirs. Namely getting wickets.
Posted by: Tony.T | 31 October 2004 at 20:04
The series was won the moment they left you-know-who out of the bowling attack from the start of the tour...
Posted by: Adam 1.0 | 01 November 2004 at 00:53
Until Lee learns to put it on the spot, there's no chance he'll be getting a full-time gig. He and MacGill are the main reasons India scored a zillion last summer.
Posted by: Tony.T | 01 November 2004 at 10:31
Hopefully MaGill has bowled his last in test cricket- cannot rate a bloke who is guaranteed to serve up a juicy Park cricket full bloody toss once an over.Any other twirlers on the horizon- and i don't mean the part timers.
Posted by: Brett Pee | 02 November 2004 at 04:45
Pity about that, he'd be a great bowler if he could keep it together.
Posted by: Tony.T | 02 November 2004 at 10:22