India – Aus Preview 1

Ok go away T20s, Champions Leagues, Pakistans, Butts and of course the Sri Lankans (last opposition to play India).

 

Here is the biggest test series of the modern times coming up at a time when it actually should. Just 2 tests, but they are more than welcome.  Welcome at a point of time when the few stakeholders in cricket took no less interest in damaging the foundation of the game. Few countries by aligning with the bookies, few countries sticking to newspapers for the allegations and then  taking a moral stand to quit the ODI series.  Few so called best talents were tarnished, few tarnished became more tarnished and a so called urbane suave skipper captaining Tests became the ring leader. Not to forget the usual loose stuff from the ICC director of that country.

 

And when there was last Test series India played, it was on flat pancakes of Sri Lanka, we had a lot of moral preachings and daily cribs on unfair FTP.

 

Come now, we wont have anymore of it.

 

The India and Australia rivalry of this decade times back to 1998 when Australian team toured India for first time in 12 years for a full Test series. That was a Sachin Test series, a lot has been written and mentioned for that. Wont add anything more.

 

What followed was the greatest modern day Test series in 2001, a Bucknored series in 2003-04, another classic in 2004, acrimonious 2007-08 and the one sided 2008 series. When Australians steamrolled the other opposition, Indians under Saurav Ganguly got in the thick of Aussie skin preventing them going all over Indians. Not only Indians won but they also punctured the Australian juggernaut.

 

In 2001 when Aussies were looking for 17th win, then again in 2008 when they were looking for 17th win, at Perth Indians punctured the Australian test juggernaut and since then Aussies have failed to attain the same heights. They lost to India in 2008, South Africa at home (first time in 17 yrs) and then to England in 2009.  Hell, even Pakistan won a test against them in 15 years.

 

The main architects of the Indian dream run against Aussies are:

 

1. Saurav Ganguly
2. Sachin Tendulkar
3. VVS Laxman
4. Rahul Dravid
5. Harbhajan Singh
6. Virender Sehwag and
7. unheralded Anil Kumble.

Anil Kumble has taken 114 wickets against them in the modern era, which is the highest anyone has taken against Aussies since their domination began since 1995.

 

Wont go onto the individual contributions of each of the above players. 3 of this players would still be danger for the Aussies — Sehwag, Tendulkar and Laxman.

 

Australia has got little firepower in their bowling.  Though Bollinger, Johnson are top class pacers, they might struggle on pitches offering less bounce to them. Rest of the lot is inexperienced, but then cant be written off. Nathan Hauritz and Steven Smith were demolished by lesser Indian batsmen in the tour game.  The batting firepower has diminished too from 2007 series — Hayden,  Symonds are gone. Ponting does not make runs this days, Hussey is on a decline, Katich and Watson are good exponents at the top. North is going South in batting and there is no Haddin around (is he?). So the only real threat remaining for India is Michael Clarke.  Spinners are lready softened, though India would need to be wary of Michael Clarke (good success against India, 6-9 in 2004 and last 3 wickets in one over in Sydney 2008) and Marcus North (unexpected match winner against Pak, but we are no Pak).

 

India has its own set of worries. Gambhir, Dravid are short of runs and time in the middle. Laxman, Sehwag, Tendulkar are in imperious touch, Raina and Dhoni are good. What worries the fans is the bowling. Zaheer is just fresh from injury and his exploits in CLT20 dont offer much confidence, but then this is Test match. If he could extract reverse swing in both the Tests, the Australians would be a vulnerable lot.  Harbhajan Singh desparately needs wickets else his place would be in real danger, now that Ashvin had a tremendous CLT20 and he is from Tamil Nadu. So Cheeka would leave no stone unturned to push Ash in the team.  If he does and he takes wickets, nothing good like it.

 

Ojha is good for IPL and he was not impressive in Sri Lanka. Ishant Sharma should get a lot of bounce in Mohali and Bangalore is happy hunting ground for him as he made his debut in the city and took a 5-for against the minnows Pakistan in 2007.

 

All in all this should be a good series to watch, a lot depends on how well the 2 teams bat as bowling looks frill for both the teams.

 

PS : India have not lost a Test in Mohali in 16 years since Walsh-Benjamin attack in 1994, Australia have not lost a test in Bangalore in 4 visits (won in 1998, 2004, draw in 2008).