Australia has equalled their 16 Test matches winning streak and thus ending India’s dream of winning its first Test series down under. Australia beat India by 122 runs in second Test match at SCG to take an unbeatable lead of 2-0 in the series. This loss is attributed to the fact that most of the Indian players don’t know how to finish a job, both in batting and bowling.
Indian Bowling
RP Singh and Harbhajan bowled very well to restrict Aussie batsmen to 134 for 6 before Symmonds took over. RP Singh is improving with each Test match he is playing. In first Test at MCG he looked off color but made amends at this Test match. Ricky Ponting has become Harbhajan’s bunny in Test cricket. Australian batsmen are used to score at a rate of more than 4 runs per over. It gave them more opportunities to produce a result. They got positive results 95 % of the time barring an exception like Adelaide Test during 2003-04. Indian bowlers are taking wickets but they allow them to score more runs at brisk pace. Indian bowlers should aim to take wickets and also restrict their scoring rate. I know it is a difficult thing but they must able to do that.
Indian bowlers should not have allowed Australian tail-enders to wag and whack in the first innings. It is India’s perennial problem and it also contributed to the loss of this Test match. It demonstrates the fact that Indian bowlers don’t have good yorkers. India needs yorker specialists.
Very Very Special Innings & Very Very Stupid Innings
First Innings
Laxman once again came up with a gem of an innings. He has a great liking for an Australian bowling attack. He played positively and scoring rate of India was at brisk pace irrespective of Dravid’s struggle at the other end. One should commend Dravid for his fighting innings. He was not in best of form, not batting at his usual position, low on confidence and still able to forge an important partnership for his team with Laxman.
Second Innings
In the second innings, he undid all his good work in the first innings. After end of day 2, he made a statement that he had done his job. This kind of attitude is undesirable. One’s job is finished only at the end of the match. Remember Dravid scoring unbeaten 70 odd in the second innings to secure a famous win at Adelaide in the last tour after scoring 233 in the first innings. That should be the attitude. But most Indian players have the bad attitude of being complacent after scoring a century or taking 5-wicket haul. They think that they have done their part and rest is in other’s hand.
Masterly Innings & His Vulnerability
First Innings
Sachin produced a knock befitting a genius. After Dravid and Laxman went in quick succession, he steadied the Indian innings along with Ganguly. They also maintained a good scoring rate. Ganguly took the pressure off Sachin with his positive batting. These days Ganguly is playing more positively in Test matches compared to one-dayers. Sachin combined very well with the tail-enders. Most importantly it enabled India to go past huge Australian score.
Second Innings
I was rejoicing at the end of India’s first innings that Sachin has started playing more fruitful innings these days. But his effort in second innings suggested that Sachin still don’t know the art of finishing a job. Chasing 333 in 72 overs is very very difficult. But he could have atleast see through that India did not loose this Test match.
Yuvraj has a long way to go
Yuvraj Singh has a long way to go in establishing as a Test batsman. Peter Roebuck’s comments in THE HINDU are bitterly true to an extent. In Badrinath and Rohit Sharma India have two good young Test batsmen. Rohit Sharma needs a season or two to get into Test fold. It is high time that Badrinath gets a look in.
Wasim Jaffer should be persisted irrespective of his failures. Sehwag or Karthik, depending on their form, should be inducted in place of Yuvi for next match and open the innings. Only very poor display from Australians (not even God) and good umpiring can save India from a 4-0 whitewash.
SCORECARD: India vs Australia, II Test at Sydney, 2007-08
Indian Bowling
RP Singh and Harbhajan bowled very well to restrict Aussie batsmen to 134 for 6 before Symmonds took over. RP Singh is improving with each Test match he is playing. In first Test at MCG he looked off color but made amends at this Test match. Ricky Ponting has become Harbhajan’s bunny in Test cricket. Australian batsmen are used to score at a rate of more than 4 runs per over. It gave them more opportunities to produce a result. They got positive results 95 % of the time barring an exception like Adelaide Test during 2003-04. Indian bowlers are taking wickets but they allow them to score more runs at brisk pace. Indian bowlers should aim to take wickets and also restrict their scoring rate. I know it is a difficult thing but they must able to do that.
Indian bowlers should not have allowed Australian tail-enders to wag and whack in the first innings. It is India’s perennial problem and it also contributed to the loss of this Test match. It demonstrates the fact that Indian bowlers don’t have good yorkers. India needs yorker specialists.
Very Very Special Innings & Very Very Stupid Innings
First Innings
Laxman once again came up with a gem of an innings. He has a great liking for an Australian bowling attack. He played positively and scoring rate of India was at brisk pace irrespective of Dravid’s struggle at the other end. One should commend Dravid for his fighting innings. He was not in best of form, not batting at his usual position, low on confidence and still able to forge an important partnership for his team with Laxman.
Second Innings
In the second innings, he undid all his good work in the first innings. After end of day 2, he made a statement that he had done his job. This kind of attitude is undesirable. One’s job is finished only at the end of the match. Remember Dravid scoring unbeaten 70 odd in the second innings to secure a famous win at Adelaide in the last tour after scoring 233 in the first innings. That should be the attitude. But most Indian players have the bad attitude of being complacent after scoring a century or taking 5-wicket haul. They think that they have done their part and rest is in other’s hand.
Masterly Innings & His Vulnerability
First Innings
Sachin produced a knock befitting a genius. After Dravid and Laxman went in quick succession, he steadied the Indian innings along with Ganguly. They also maintained a good scoring rate. Ganguly took the pressure off Sachin with his positive batting. These days Ganguly is playing more positively in Test matches compared to one-dayers. Sachin combined very well with the tail-enders. Most importantly it enabled India to go past huge Australian score.
Second Innings
I was rejoicing at the end of India’s first innings that Sachin has started playing more fruitful innings these days. But his effort in second innings suggested that Sachin still don’t know the art of finishing a job. Chasing 333 in 72 overs is very very difficult. But he could have atleast see through that India did not loose this Test match.
Yuvraj has a long way to go
Yuvraj Singh has a long way to go in establishing as a Test batsman. Peter Roebuck’s comments in THE HINDU are bitterly true to an extent. In Badrinath and Rohit Sharma India have two good young Test batsmen. Rohit Sharma needs a season or two to get into Test fold. It is high time that Badrinath gets a look in.
Wasim Jaffer should be persisted irrespective of his failures. Sehwag or Karthik, depending on their form, should be inducted in place of Yuvi for next match and open the innings. Only very poor display from Australians (not even God) and good umpiring can save India from a 4-0 whitewash.
SCORECARD: India vs Australia, II Test at Sydney, 2007-08
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