India v. Australia: Two Is Not Enough
By Gaurang
September 27 2010
In just a few days India will play Australia in two Test matches and three ODIs. While this is infinitely preferable to the previously scheduled 7 ODIs, it still seems to not take into account the fact that the Border-Gavaskar trophy is un-arguably the most gripping Test match-up in the World today. What a pity that the BCCI babus couldn’t make this a Three Test series instead.
With India the undisputed No. 1 Test team in the world, and Australia despite their lowly No. 4 ranking, surely the strongest challenger to India currently, the series is a mouth-watering prospect for any serious cricket fan. With the recent stench of further scandal, this time related to ball tampering, rather than match fixing, wafting around the world from the England versus Pakistan matches, and the general feeling that cricket needs something wholesome and fresh to rejuvinate itself, much hope rests on this short but crucial series. And if the last series played by India against South Africa at home, another two-Test affair, is any indication, this series could also be a humdinger.
Of course unlike that series, the Title of the Best Test team in the world is not officially at stake, but if Australia were to win the series, it would be a serious dent to the credibility of India's position as the No. 1 Test team in the world. This is something Dhoni and his team is well aware of. Australia too realize that this is their best chance to catch India napping and take back the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
With both teams having very experienced batting line-ups the Indian side has the slight advantage of having two very experienced bowlers in Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh. However the form and fitness of both these bowlers has been iffy and that evens things out considerably. India will be looking for Sehwag and Gambhir to fire at the top and the middle order to then take full advantage to give its bowlers sufficient runs to put Australia under pressure. Australia meanwhile will be hoping that its pace bowling unit can make up for the glaring inadequacy of its spin department. Though to be fair, India have made it a habit of crumbling to unheralded spinners in the past. Jason Krezja and Shaun Udall come almost immediately to mind.
All said and done, the series will hopefully show that for the true cricket fan the razzmatazz of Twenty20 cricket and its not quite so "cheap" thrills can never replace the deeply soul stiring drama of Test cricket when it is played by two well matched and talented teams battling for supremacy.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:10:23:00:07:11 by Birbal.
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
That being said, I don't think this losing this series would "seriously dent" India's No.1 ranking, as you claim. It's only two games.
Also, I wouldn't really describe Australia's batting line up as particularly experienced. Certainly, not in comparison with recent Australian side or the current Indian one.
And Zaheer Khan's and Harby's experience is a plus!?! Zaheer has an atrocious record against Australia, how is that positive? And Harby, since his last 5 wicket haul, which was over 7 years ago, averages over 40 with the ball against Australia
And though Bhajji as you correctly point out hasn't taken a 5 for against Aus since 2004...he did manage to take 15 wickets for 28 each in the last series against the Aussies
Quote:Birbal
when Aussies under Waugh were No. 1..they had YET to beat India in India...
That's really, really not true. Or are you ignoring all games pre 1998?
But you've a good point about Harbhajan. He's done well enough, in India, against Australia. Also, I was being a bit harsh and you shouldn't expect off-spinners to bowl well on all pitches. But, after how well he began his career, think it's fair to look closely at his more recent figures. He neither seems to bowl tightly nor take big hauls of wickets anymore. Outside of India, his record's not that good
I think Steve Waugh was 4 years old back then...
Anyway, the point is India are the clear No. 1 and their performance in Mohali shows why...
Quote:Anil
As it turned out, 2 was enough! The third match would have been meaningless.
Still a 3-0 brownwash of the Aussies would have been special
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!