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India cricket: Closing out games, a matter of intent, not skill
If you don’t play to win, can you triumph?
The Indian team, in the 3rd Test, accepted a tame draw instead of grasping a victory within reach.
Much has been said and written about the Indian batting line-up’s unwillingness to take up the challenge of scoring 180 runs in 47 overs.
Not much has been made of the Indian bowling’s lack of incisiveness and penetration when they should have gone for the kill. The last five West Indian wickets added 121 runs between them.
The Indian and international press have unflinchingly condemned the No.1 team’s tactics.
What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t: Tony Greig
What he said:
“”There were people like Dennis Lillee, who was a past master at letting people have it, but he was a bit of a fairy when he got hit himself.”
Tony Greig recounting how the Aussies found it disconcerting when they were treated to their own sledging medicine.
What he really meant:
“I believed that what’s good for the goose is equally good for the gander.If you dish it out, you should be able to stand it as well.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Tiptoe around.”
A tale of two Tests: Eng vs Aus, SA vs India
Image via Wikipedia
Two tests began on the 16th of December, 2010. One at Perth, the other at Centurion.
The similarities were striking. Both pitches were expected to have something for the speed demons. And they did.
For Australia, after being shot out for 268 on the first day, it looked like deja vu. The Englishmen were on top and were pressing for an unprecedented third Ashes triumph, in the process, signalling their willingness to end the Punter’s reign at the helm.
Is The Captaincy Running Out On Ponting?
Five series losses.
Two Ashes in England, the loss to South Africa down under and the two series losses to India in India.
Ricky Ponting is the most unsuccessful Australian captain in recent times. And that is saying something or maybe nothing.
Australians love their cricket and their cricketers but most of all they love to see them win.
And in recent times (not so recent), they had grown accustomed to being masters of all they surveyed.
Players like Shane Warne, Glen McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist ensured that they were at the top of the totem pole. This venerable list would have to include the Punter as well.
The ruthlessness exhibited by the formidable Aussies – over the last decade and a half – is best exemplified by the sixteen test victories (a world record) on the trot , not once, but twice.
Interestingly, their sequence of victories was interrupted by the very same opponent – India.
The Ugly Aussie Makes An Appearance!
Just when we thought that the Ugly Aussie was a thing of the past, especially with the two-match series against India passing off without controversies or major incidents – the current Aussie team was probably the best behaved in recent times - the Aussie contingent at the Commonwealth Games decided that they would prove the sceptics right.
The Aussies at the village went on an all-night binge and in the process destroyed a washing machine flinging it to the ground from the eighth floor of their tower.
More thoughts on the Mohali cracker!
To put it succinctly: India won a match they should have lost. Australia lost a game they should have won.
Neither team deserved to lose and it was a great advertisement for Test cricket. That’s what Test cricket is all about. It’s not over until it’s truly over!
The difference was that man VVS Laxman, who reserves his best for the kangaroos.
The Aussies kept digging into their marsupial pockets for ways to counter the Hyderabadi’s merry march to victory but there were just no tricks up their sleeves.
Ricky Ponting, unlike his predecessor, Steve Waugh, seems to ,more often than not, let the game drift and that was to be the case once more when the Aussies, by rights, should have gone in for the kayo.
No discredit to the fighting qualities exhibited by Laxman, Sharma and Ojha but Ponting needs a new thinking cap and soon!
In the end, it was yet another famous victory for the No. 1 Test team and Dhoni must thank his stars that he can call upon players of the calibre of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman to do yeoman service without throwing any starry tantrums.
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Make Time For Sports. 