Only bold cricket can counter rampant Aussies | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Only bold cricket can counter rampant Aussies

None | ByRavi Shastri
Oct 11, 2007 11:14 PM IST

It was short but hardly sweet for Indian fans. The batting collapsed miserably in Vadodara and neither the wicket nor an early start had anything to do with it, writes Ravi Shastri.

It was short but hardly sweet for Indian fans. The batting collapsed miserably in Vadodara and neither the wicket nor an early start had anything to do with it. For a team looking to draw level in the series, it was a surprisingly flat performance.

HT Image
HT Image

At the top, Sourav and Sachin have invariably been the reason India are able to post a good total on the board. It didn’t happen today. It can be debated endlessly if Tendulkar was at fault in not responding to Ganguly or whether the latter shouldn’t have gone for a risky run.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

It appeared that Tendulkar would play a special knock in his 400th one-day game. He seemed to have an answer for Australia’s ploy to pack the off-side and make him reach out for his strokes. One of the rare moments when he committed himself led to his downfall.

Mitchell Johnson reaped most rewards but Lee’s two scalps were no less significant. He claimed Dravid first ball and in his second spell sent Tendulkar packing. Both wickets had critical bearing on India’s innings. Australia are not an easy team to overcome. This happened to be one of India’s worst. It allowed two other Australian cricketers to get into the groove. Johnson took a fiver and Gilchrist, too, has now run into form. His six scalps was his sixth-such instance. Incredible!

The selectors have dropped the talk of rotation and chosen to go for the tried and trusted. A 5-1 scoreline, I reckon, would reflect badly on them. Also, they must have struggled to find alternatives.

If the track is flat then India need one of the openers to go for it early. It will need a daring innings at the top to unsettle the rampant Aussies waiting to deliver the knock out punch.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Mukhtar Ansari Death News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On