Australia thrash India
Posted on Dec 29, 2007 by Scorpicity |There you have it… Australia jumped, kicked, stamped, mauled and raped India to a huge win. I woke up at 4 a.m looking forward to a possible contest or a fight. 1 hour was all that made me decide to let me catch some sleep. I wonder if this has to be the worst defeat to them in the recent past.
There were no excuses to be made and was at least glad to know that there were no excuses made by Anil Kumble.
So is it the Australian conditions that did them in? Is it lack of practice matches in Australia that did them in? Hogwash… this pitch apart from Day 1 was nothing more than an Indian pitch… a day 3 pitch like what was in the Pakistan series.
Let’s give credit… the Australian bowling attack led by Brett Lee and Stuart Clarke completely did them in… Even the Sri Lankan’s played better.
If Ganguly earned Steve Waugh’s respect recently, then today by itself is an example why? He looks the part of taking it on doesn’t he? Sachin was positive but when he fell early, it was game over. Laxman did a bit… but it meant a lot more from all to kick it out.
Dravid has problems which are more mental in nature. There seem to be problems ever since he quit his captaincy. What followed was poor form followed by his dropping from the ODI team. In the Pakistan series, he was unnatural to say the least, as he played trying to attack too much as though he wanted to prove a point. In the early to the middle half of the career, he was always bombarded with criticism and it took years and a lot of determination for him to fight all that out and for long after that he was the undisputed leader of the Indian batsmen when it came to test matches, to the point that a win meant that Dravid made a significant part. Today, it looks like he is very much in his earlier part of his career and now that he used to the icing areas of his career for long, he quite doesn’t know how to get back there. In short, Dravid needs help! He has been India’s most self-less cricketer… it’s time somebody bailed him out, take away the additional responsibility of him opening and probably drop him lower down the order to regain his composure and form he has lost. But then knowing the Indian team, there won’t be anyone sticking up for him. They may say it in words but never in action. I had earlier wanted to stick with this combination for the rest of the series… but I feel that the captain who is with Dravid at the dressing room needs to make a call as he is bottled too many things which is all showing in his batting. Dravid’s form is the cornerstone of India’s success in test cricket… I really hope somebody in the team takes his problems seriously. Chances are they might prematurely and cold-heartedly drop him or make him continue this role, which will be of no help.
On a positive note, the extra days rest is welcome to me… the viewer!. This test match’s equation was India played poorly (very poorly) + Australia played normally = Australia wins… win is an understatement. They trashed them as if they were Bangladesh. The only positive was the bowlers, the dark horse, did very well which Ricky Ponting himself acknowledged.
I would have been pleased if India played normally and lost like what happened in the ODi series in India. This was sad… a second string Bangladesh attack could have beaten us today, let alone Australia.
by straight point, on December 29 2007 @ 1:41 pm
i can understand your frustration scorpy…
this pitch was definitely not the pitch where our or for that matter any team (bangladesh included) could not have scored even 200 that too in both innings!!
i pity kumble…he deserved far batter efforts from his batters than this…
by scorpicity, on December 29 2007 @ 2:29 pm
SP, that is the point that I am contradicting on… this pitch was a typical Indian pitch where they should have done better. Excuses that it was Australian conditions etc. is lame!
by straight point, on December 29 2007 @ 2:31 pm
i was very disappointed by your comments on my blog regarding dravid…
if you care to, please again go there and re-read the post, all i have mentioned that he needs support and if i were kumble then i would take him along for one on one talk to make him feel wanted and comfortable…
i guess you just spit all your frustrations on me by half reading the post…
anyway, i take it in my stride as i consider you as friend and one have to take wrath along with warmth of friend…so chill out…
by Soulberry, on December 29 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Well said Scorpicity. India did end up outplaying itself on a Kolkatta or Bangalore-like pitch.
Credit to Australia for believing in themselves from day two onwards.
by Ottayan, on December 29 2007 @ 5:45 pm
Scorpi,
The extra day is indeed welcome. But about the rest I dont know - Niranjan Shah may make a strong come back.:)
by scorpicity, on December 29 2007 @ 6:27 pm
Hey SP… am sorry if I had offended you… but I must clarify that the comments had nothing specifically to the post you had made… was referring to all of our thoughts (the 6 bloggers who regularly post)on this test match over these days… nothing more to it… cheers man… don’t take it hard.
by scorpicity, on December 29 2007 @ 6:28 pm
ho ho Otts… niranjan shah’s comeback eh… good one. Am seriously wondering if the fielding coach is doing anything at all.
by scorpicity, on December 29 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Welcome Soulberry… yup full credit to Australian bowlers for destroying India… no second thoughts about that… even johnson chipped in today.
by Cricket Guru, on December 31 2007 @ 11:53 am
If a report in Indian Express is to be believed, then its not the pitch players were complaining about, but the soft outfield, that made running on it akin to doing laps on a sea beach!
Apparently, the players have even found unexpected support from former Aussie player Damien Martin!
Cannot find a link to this report on web. Will post it as soon as I do.
by straight point, on January 1 2008 @ 1:11 pm
a very happy new year to you and your dear ones…and keep blogging…
by scorpicity, on January 1 2008 @ 1:49 pm
Welcome CG… I read about the report yesterday… but it is not unfamiliar with this team… it is not the first time they are touring and this softness is a problem more for the bowlers rather than the fielders… but none to cause any damage to bowlers… interesting though… cheers
by scorpicity, on January 1 2008 @ 1:49 pm
Hey SP…. wish you and your family a very happy new year dude… cheers and take care.
by Soulberry, on January 1 2008 @ 9:23 pm
A very happy new year to you. What’s up at Sydney?