Whitewash!
India defends its prowess as the best Test team in current cricketing, RITAM MITRA reports.
Wow! It would have been hard to ask for more from a two-match series between the Number One ODI team and the Number One Test team. Both matches went into the final day with all 4 results possible, and both of them went into the final session. A mingling of youth and experience within the sides allowed true legends of the game to exemplify their class, while giving rise to future champions.
The first test was in itself a saga, one that will go down in the annals of cricketing history. If you watched that match, chances are you’ll be reminiscing about it in another twenty years. Before the Bangalore match, fans from both sides were somewhat apprehensive – how could this second match, with India already having retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy, possibly live up to the timeless script of Mohali?
Five days of breathless test cricket later, we know the answer to that question. The second test was, if not as dramatic as the first, certainly as closely-fought an affair; after the 4th day, Australia would have still entertained thoughts of a series-levelling victory on a crumbling 5th day pitch. They were met by a determined Indian top-order, with Cheteshwar Pujara recording a maiden Test fifty, and Tendulkar recording his umpteenth.
It is hard to avoid waxing lyrical about Tendulkar’s exploits in this test. But it is equally hard to do so – superlatives are not descriptive enough; words are not numerous enough. 2010 has been such a prolific year for Tendulkar, it is without a doubt that he has caused many of us to miss work, and many more to skip school, just in anticipation of catching a glimpse of one more back-foot punch through the covers, or just one more deft late cut through the gully.
When he was dismissed for 38 in the first test, it was simply an aberration – Tendulkar now has 1270 runs this year, which includes six centuries and two double-hundreds, all at the Bradman-esque average of 97.69. Tendulkar also becomes the contemporary batsman with the highest average, his figure reaching 56.96 and crossing the legendary Sir Jack Hobbs’ mark of 56.94. With five more tests left to play for the Little Master this year, Mohammad Yousuf’s 2006 records regarding most test centuries (9) and runs scored (1788) in a calendar year, are also under serious threat.
So when Tendulkar strode to the crease in the first innings at Bangalore, with the team in a bit of trouble at 37/2 in reply to Australia’s mammoth 478, the stage was set for a Sachin special. Together with Murali Vijay, he led India to their fourth 300+ stand against Australia, and only the second 300+ stand for the second wicket against Australia by any team.
Vijay himself was superb – it is tough to come in as a replacement for Gautam Gambhir who has, along with Sehwag, already forged one of India’s most successful opening pairs in history. Vijay, however, sent a strong message to the selectors and is definitely breathing down Gambhir’s neck – this kind of competition between players is part of the reason India is becoming a stronger side. Vijay’s temperament was perhaps the most impressive part of his game – repeatedly the Australian bowlers targeted him with bouncers, and time and time again he battled through those periods, defending when necessary and attacking the bad balls. It must have been a hair-raising experience for him to reach his century with Tendulkar at the other end – Raina shared a similar privilege when recording his maiden Test ton.
Tendulkar reached his double-ton with his captain at the other end; for the record, Dhoni was also with Tendulkar when he reached the first ODI double-hundred. It was met with the same gesture we’ve been seeing Tendulkar exhibit in the last few golden years – arms held aloft, head to the sky – his expression one of serenity and absolute calm. His celebration itself somewhat exemplifies his temperament and demeanour – modest, classy and respectful.
The second innings brought to the fore the gulf between the Australian tweaker Hauritz and the Indian duo of Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha. While Shane Warne complains on Twitter about Ponting’s “terrible” field settings for Hauritz, it is clear that the Indian batsmen do not respect or fear his bowling regardless of the field – a serious problem for any spinner.
Ojha quickly broke through with two wickets after another positive start from Watson and Katich, and then Harbhajan joined in to begin a pair of mesmerising spells of off-spin and left arm orthodox. The collapse was swift, and while Ponting threatened to spark a typically Australian recovery, it was a case of too little too late, as the seamers Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan cleaned up the Australian tail on a surprisingly one-sided day 5, with a fabulous display of reverse-swing bowling.
The Indians, for the third consecutive Test, successfully chased a 200+ total in the fourth innings. Of course, Dhoni must take most of the credit for this – he has now lost 9 tosses in a row perhaps on purpose, just to dispel those notions of him being India’s “luckiest-ever” captain. The chase was without incident, although hearts must have been in mouths when Tendulkar survived yet another close “shoulder-before-wicket” appeal, raising memories of Adelaide in 1999. Pujara set the ground alight with some blazing strokes, and his treatment of Nathan Hauritz was especially brilliant. He is definitely a player to look out for in the future.
The match was truly a team effort, and through it India extended their lead atop the Test rankings table. They also caused Australia to drop down to an unprecedented fifth-place, their worst losing-streak in 22 years, dealing a severe blow to their confidence heading into a huge home Ashes series. But if this series is anything to go by, Australia will be fighting tooth and nail for the small and mighty urn. India, meanwhile, look ahead to New Zealand and South Africa, and one man will be eyeing perhaps one of only a few records he is yet to conquer. Watch out for Sachin Tendulkar; not the 37-year old veteran, but the exciting youngster assaulting bowling attacks like it is 1992 once again.
