Two weeks of magnificent test cricket, two teams with amazing cricketing pedigree vying for the top spot and two great run chases. The Aussie winning streak is at a low ebb. Cricket couldn't have been any better.
Proteas Power - “Staying Sharp”
Playing against Australia on their home turf is quite a task. To give the Aussies a stern challenge and beat them on a regular basis by opposition teams is quite an achievement. To be doing it repeatedly is even more remarkable.
After being confronted by the Indians, the Proteas have done just that. Chasing a target of 414 on day 4 and day 5 of a test match at any part of the world is an herculean task.
Batting by both teams in the 1st innings wasn't quite up to the mark. The Proteas seem to lose the sting on both occasions failing to clear the Aussie tail. Bowling in particular by Makhaya Ntini and Mitchell Johnson's was inspiring. Mitchell Johnson was a revelation. Johnson's bowling at a consistent 145 kmph along with his slower cutters was splendid. The Proteas top order was shaken as there was a carnage of wickets on Day2. Fielding by both teams, to say was terrific would be an understatement.
Brad Haddin notched up a well compiled 94 along with a wagging tail that contributed considerably in the 2nd innings. The knock is sure to keep him in good stead and assure him the wicket-keeping slot left void by Adam Gilchrist. The rest of the Aussie batting failed to create much impact. However it was the 2nd innings that saw the proteas bounce back. Two outstanding catches by Ab De Villiers would have made even Peter Schmeichel stand up and applaud. Well, his website's tagline “Stay sharp” just sums it up.
The Aussie's probably underestimated the South African batting line up and were a touch over confident. For, Ricky and his boys would have thought chasing 414 on Day 4 and 5 was improbable.
Greame Smith with an injured elbow played a captain's knock of 108 ably supported by Hashim Amla. The Aussies were at him as they realised it wouldn't be easy to play his drives with a tennis elbow placing fielders disabling him from playing to his strengths. Ian Healy rightly said - “Test cricket is all about finding ways to score when its not comfortable”. It was indeed as Smith stood resilient and nothing could deter him from achieving his goal as he punished the bad balls and rotated the strike.
Ricky Ponting's frustration was evident. Amla on the other hand was seemingly elegant comfortable both on the back and front foot. Amla's return to form as a much improved player is refreshing considering the criticism he's been under for his technique. However the tables really turned on the extended final session of Day 4 when Jacque Kallis surprisingly took an aggressive approach smashing Jason Krejza and Peter Siddle building on a steady partnership with Ab De Villiers.
Their approach on Day 5 was noteworthy as they milked the Aussie bowlers sensibily ensuring they maintained a run rate of close to 3 runs per over. Even as Kallis perished, another partnership between De Villiers and debutant JP Duminy started brewing. Incidentally the best advice De Villiers ever received came from Jonty Rhodes who'd said “Take every innings ball by ball”. His unbeaten knock of 106 was testimony to this. Duminy on debut played like a man with tons of experience behind him scoring a maiden half-century and the winning runs. History had been created in one of the great run chases knocking out the Aussies in their own backyard.
While the once formidable Aussie's grapple to fill the void left behind by Warne and McGrath, the Indians and Proteas are on their way up with bright prospects in their ranks. Test cricket has never been so competitive of late. Incredible sessions marked by individual brilliance that could alter the course of the game. Partnerships that can ensure any target is achievable. That test cricket is the real test of skill has never been in doubt. It would be a shame to lose out the charm of test cricket. Is Test cricket on a decline? Not at all.
England's Gift to India
That Sports can be a binding factor in any adversity proved to be more than just a cliché. Thanks to the England team for they made it possible despite all that transpired after the Mumbai terror attacks. Any amount of praise showered on Kevin Peitersen and his men wouldn't suffice, for the first test between England and India at Chennai was testimony to this.
Amidst all the action and emotions around, the contest on the pitch was exceptional marked by brilliant performances by both teams. A resilient batting by Andrew Strauss with consecutive tons followed by a solid bowling display by Andrew Flintoff, England never really looked short of practice. If only their spearheads had supported Fredie from the other end, the result could have been different.
The cyclone across the Bay of Bengal seemed to have crossed over to the pitch of the Chidambaram Stadium in the form of Virendra Sehwag. While England failed to accelerate during their final session setting a target of 387, Sehwag bludgeoned the bowlers like there was no tomorrow. A knock that had an impact on both the teams psychologically, with India gaining impetus after a rather depleted performance for over 3 days.
While there is no debate on the knock, Sehwag was helped by a toothless performance in the form of Steve Harmison, James Anderson and Monty Panesar. Sehwag is one of the finest players of the cut shot. It was precisely for this reason he was picked at the last moment (courtesy Ian Chappell) for the Australian tour which has fast, bouncy tracks. And to be bowling short and wide on slow Indian wickets is beyond comprehension. The damage had been done.
Day 4 clearly belonged to Sehwag and day 5 had more in store. After the foundation laid by Sehwag, Tendulkar crafted an innings to perfection along with an unlikely star in Yuvraj Singh. In fact Tendulkar had proved a point or two, for his contribution to the team's success in the 2nd innings has eluded him for years. Secondly, it was a satisfying knock that helped his team win a test on the same ground which saw him score a brilliant 136 against Pakistan in vain when India lost by 13 runs.
One of the nation's most revered sons, dedicating the win to the whole nation during troubled times was a nice gesture. India created history but eventually cricket emerged victorious. No second thoughts on that.
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