DÉJÀ VU AT ADELAIDE



By the time the Fourth Test got underway at Adelaide, every Indian cricket follower must have had a feeling of déjà vu. Thanks to the way the first two days of the test unfolded. At some point, one got a feeling that the events in this series have passed through a photocopier. 

The conditions to start with; were typical of Adelaide. Heat was unrelenting. The pitch was dry. The Indian fielders chased their share of leather in this sweltering heat. And the Australian batsmen went about their way scoring runs at will. 

India cannot take refuge in the fact that the weather and the pitch didn’t suit them. Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting ensured they removed these external conditions out of the equation; as they went on to share a marathon 386 run partnership.

Indian bowlers did manage to get early inroads in the Australian batting, with 3 for 84. But the honeymoon for the visitors ended there. After that, it was the same Indian side that was bruised. A team that knew it was already beaten. 

Very few sides have had the misfortune of being comprehensively beaten by the hosts. No side after Peter May’s England in 1958-59 have been trounced by Australia so badly, after starting off as favourites. The result that summer was 4-0. Richie Benaud and his young side beat an England side that boasted the likes of May, Colin Crowdrey, Fred Trueman and Jim Laker. 

Even then, as is the case now, one thought the visiting side brought their strongest team. This Indian side is definitely better than the one that toured England last summer. With Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma back in the fold, this team certainly looked stronger. At least on paper. 

Batting heavily relied on the Big Three- Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman. With Sehwag and Gambhir expected to revolve around them. Barring Tendulkar, no one really has clicked. ‘The Wall’, Dravid, looked more like the Berlin Wall. The only difference being, the later came down only once. Laxman, who has confounded Australia on occasions more than one, found himself immobile against quality pace attack. Sehwag was back in the pavilion even before the scorers finished their cup of coffee. And form seemed to have betrayed Gambhir until the second innings of the WACA Test. 

But all wasn’t gloomy for India. Youngsters like Umesh Yadav and R Ashwin did impress. Wriddhiman Saha displayed grit and concentration, wicketkeeper called up to replace MS Dhoni. He conceded only three byes throughout the 157 overs; Yadav and R Ashwin showed us glimpses of the sort of bowling needed to restrict the Australian batsmen.  

If the first two days are any indication of what to expect in the remaining three days, the prospects don’t look good for the visitors. But having said that, let’s hope this series gives birth to future cricket heroes a nation of a billion can look up to.


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