by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu
As another India Australia series is upon the cricket world, here is a look back to two years ago when Australia landed in India for another heady encounter. This was the preview then...
Australia Back at Mount Everest; New Scales to Summit
The Australians felt they conquered Mount Everest the last time they arrived in India; but they have new summits to scale, feels Sreelata S. Yellamrazu.
When the Australians last toured India in 2004-'05, their victory on Indian soil, coming as it did in thirty-five years, made them euphoric over the fact that they had conquered the 'Mount Everest' of challenges. It was a series that saw Adam Gilchrist as the stand-in skipper for an injured Ricky Ponting. During Steve Waugh's reign as skipper of the Australian side, India remained the 'final frontier' – unconquered. Ponting held the trophy aloft the last time round. But this time, he would want to do it after being the star performer in the four Test series.
The Australians have long since replaced Pakistan as India's fiercest rivals on the field. But this seems to be the uncanny scenario for the Australians. Barring four, none in this squad that landed in Mumbai have actually played a Test in India. Ponting missed out on three of the four Tests last time. And given the number of visits that Brett Lee makes to India (also cited as a reason for breaking up his marriage to his podiatrist wife Liz Kemp), one would be surprised to know that Lee has never featured in a Test against India in India. Perhaps the only standout memory for Indian fans of a Test between Australia and India featuring Brett Lee would be his debut at Melbourne when he took five wickets in the match to derail the Indians after Australia put up a monumental innings total.
This Australian team is traveling light on experience. Apart from Ponting, only Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich and Michael Clarke have played Test matches in India. Hayden is also recovering from injury like Ponting and both will be short on match practice. For Michael Clarke, this will be a learning trip as the apparent heir to the captaincy throne will look to pick up cues this time as pointers for the future instead of being just a specialist bowler with a golden arm. Perhaps in that light, the tour is perhaps bigger for Clarke than it is Ponting because the former will essentially inherit the team albeit without the couple of big names remaining in the Australian side.
Simon Katich is in a trickier situation as far as actually featuring in an Australian line up is concerned. Shane Watson is staging a comeback after last seen playing Tests in 2005. That the two gentlemen have evoked such interest is partly due to their own individual performances but also, due to the unfortunate hollow-like situation created in Andrew Symonds' absence.
More fans would have remembered the last edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia for the acrimonious relations between the two teams in the aftermath of the Sydney Test. While tensions were initially brought on by glaring umpire errors in the early part of the Test, matters were exacerbated by the feud between Symonds and the successful thorn-in-the flesh down under, Harbhajan Singh, which the former alleged had taken on racial undertones. But the simmering was present long before when the Australians landed in India last year for the one day series after the inaugural World Twenty20. Smarting from missing another feather in their cap, Australia unleashed a tirade of volleys that claimed they were the 'true champions'. Unfazed by the sour grapes being dished out by the men down under, India continued on their upward march. But the seeds were sown on that tour when Symonds bemoaned 'monkey'-like gestures from a few immature Indian fans. It would turn into a raging bush fire by the time the Indians reached Australia.
This tour then was being widely dubbed as a 'revenge' tour, one where India would seek the opportunity to rectify the injustices done down under. However, even for a revenge match, the scales have been dipping low on both sides. Symonds made perhaps the biggest mistake of his life when he decided to take the time away from a dressing room team meeting to go fishing ahead of the series against Bangladesh at home. The repercussions were devastating to say the least. Symonds was brandished a rebel, paranoid over his treatment amongst his colleagues and over the lack of support over his racial allegations against Harbhajan which were dismissed. But the truth of the matter was that Symonds had taken for granted, once too often, that he would be an integral member of the squad come what may. His past digressions which included turning up drunk in a game against Bangladesh in Cardiff and also, missing the team bus more recently in the Caribbean, were testing the team. But his seemingly lack of regard for all things baggy green did not go down well with the management, a.k.a. leadership group. The decision to send Symonds back with immediate effect made his buddy Michael Clarke (who happened to be the stand-in skipper) a ruthless man for the future and left Australia in an uncompromising mode.
But the costs were heavy. Symonds was given time off to rethink his priorities including wearing the baggy green. But it also meant that Cricket Australia would have to make a decision on Symonds touring India. Unfortunately for cricket aficionados, the burly all-rounder would not join the touring party as per diktats. While Australia lost an essential cog in the wheel, Indian management including coach Gary Kirsten and Virender Sehwag was exalting at the decision not primarily because it would ease tensions between both teams partially but more so, because Symonds has been Australia's outstanding performer with both, bat and ball. In his absence, it leaves the middle order hollow.
Ponting's average of twelve is not likely to inspire anyone. It is quite astonishing that Ponting has failed to counter his impediment against spin on the dust bowls. Arguably one of the world's best contemporary batsmen on the field, Ponting's shortcomings in India will play a crucial factor, especially if Ishant Sharma can have an impact like he did down under when the Australian skipper was his 'bunny' on more than a few occasions. With Watson knocking harder on the door this time, Ponting will, no doubt, be tempted to play India's new blond obsession (after Brett Lee of course) which would mean Katich will have to sit out.
But Ponting's bigger challenges as a skipper lay when it comes to the bowling department. Lee will spearhead the attack but he is an inexperienced in a Test situation in India as Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson. Lee will perform another tireless task in this new role while trying to play the old hand to his fellow fast bowlers. The last tour to India when Australia won the series 2-1 on dubious pitches that involved a green top in Nagpur that practically forced Sourav Ganguly to sit out and on a rank turner in the final Test which Australia lost under Ponting's captaincy, Australia were spoilt for choice with Glen McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz, none of them playing for Australia anymore.
But Australia also had another world class element – Shane Warne. Although Warne went back home with nightmares on a previous tour, he was still crucial for Australia's cause. But Australia have been delivered a double blow. Warne's retirement preceded that of Stuart MacGill in the Caribbean. MacGill has lived largely behind the stage with Warne being the outstanding leg spinner in the team. When the opportunity to play for Australia as a front line bowler came to MacGill so did injury and the age factor. Australia are now gambling by 'shielding' Beau Casson who toured with Australia to the Caribbean and blooding in thirty-six year old uncapped leg spinner Bryce McGain, while including off spinner Jason Krezja in the squad. Australia is depending rather heavily that their bowlers have acclimatized to the situation in India because of their being part of the ongoing Australia A tour to India which includes a Tri Nation A series tournament also featuring India A and Australia A in the final.
Australia may have won the last series in India. But the team that takes the field come October will be almost fresh. The strategies are likely to remain unchanged as has been fairly indicated. But India may still hold the edge, not only because of certain factors like home advantage (if the pitches are prepared in accordance with the team strengths unlike the last time and in the series against South Africa) but also, because this could be the virtual farewell for some members of India's aging five. The second factor could spark a few fireworks and it would be fascinating to see if Australia's inexperience can match the task.
Move over Pakistan, the Australians are here.
Testing Time for India's Fab Five
The series against Australia gives the Indian five greats of contemporary cricket the opportunity to not only play on but also, to prove that they are still very much a part of India's present and near future. But it will not be easy, given the strength of the opposition albeit inexperienced as well as the youngsters who are clamouring to be given a chance.
Against an opposition like Australia, it was expected that the Indian selectors would not take the risk to gamble leaving out some of the group that comprises Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble despite the disastrous tour to Sri Lanka where Ajantha Mendis broke the backbone of the Indians on more than one occasion. But they have still sent the sirens wailing by leaving out Ganguly for the Irani Trophy tie which now assumes greater importance ahead of the four Test match series against Australia.
While singular performances against Sri Lanka have saved Dravid and Laxman similar ignominy, it is hard to imagine that India will move along in the same vein if the same outstanding batsmen begin to stagnate. While it is debatable if the fringe players that include Rohit Sharma, Subramaniam Badrinath and Suresh Raina amongst others are ready for the next giant step, there is little doubt that India will start to languish if performances are not more consistent.
The Sri Lankan tour has set tongues wagging and not spared even veteran leg spinner and skipper of the Indian Test team, Anil Kumble. His lack of wickets on a tour when the spinners were dominant right through will have also put him under some pressure despite his legacy. With Mahendra Singh Dhoni scaling higher like a hit song on a pop chart, how Kumble leads the team against Australia will also perhaps reflect in the results.
For Australia, it could be sweet beginnings. But Indian fans and the 'fab-but-aging-five' would be hoping that there is such as a thing as happy endings.
Previously Published (2008)
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