(Article dated December 23, 2007)Lots have been said and written about the ‘fabulous five’ – Captain Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman – touring down under for one last battle. The importance of ending their career on a high conquering the mighty Aussies, the last Indian tour where India tasted relatively huge success by leveling the test series 1-1, the question mark over the possibility of grabbing 20 wickets with not so experienced pace attack.
But for me, this Indian tour, a score line in favor of India is imperative for more than the reasons mentioned above. What will Anil Kumble and his exuberant Indian team will carry with them is the battle for rest of the world against the all conquering Australian team in their own land. I say this because this Indian team is the only team to challenge Australia consistently well and have managed to put them on mat more than a few occasions.
The last three test series between the two teams have resulted in some intriguing combat. The epic series in 2001 saw India stop the Aussie juggernaut of record 16 consecutive wins by winning the Kolkatta test match by 171 runs after being bowled out for the same number of runs in the first innings and facing follow-on. The match saw some Godly batting display by VVS Laxman, an aficionado of Australian attack. India rapped the series in Chennai with some deadly bowling from Harbajhan Singh., the Australians where blown out and lost the battle of minds as well as the skills.
The next series was in 2003-04 down under where one expected the visitors to lose 4-0. But that saw a fighting captain in Sourav Ganguly displaying a tiger like attitude to rattle the Aussie bowling on the way to his brilliant century enabling India to hold draw in that crucial first test at Brisbane. His innings certainly inspired his team to put on fearless show there on lead by Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Shewag. The middle order batsmen fired consistently after solid opening partnerships match after match.
The third series was back in India where Australia conquered a test series on Indian soil after 35 years. This too was a closely fought encounter and could have well been 2-2 had the last day of Chennai test match not rained out.
The formula for India will be very much the same this time too. The first test on Boxing Day will be crucial as in case of any test series. Melbourne has never been a happy hunting ground for any visiting team and a draw here will be the key for a competitive series. India can snatch the initiative in Sydney by employing two spinners, enhancing their chances of taking 20 wickets. The third test will be very crucial once gain. Last time after a win at Adelaide they lost in Melbourne, this time the third test will be played at Perth. Honestly there are only two results possible – an Australian victory or a miraculous draw. If India can sneak through a draw then they have a realistic chance of an easy draw or even a win in one of their favorite ground in Adelaide Oval. Especially this Indian team will have happier memories of this ground having won here last time.
Anil Kumble will feel at ease with the situation that he is in, having seven of his batters in form. Sourav is at his life time best and his contribution and responsibility in the middle order will be decisive. Laxman has always been at his best against Aussies and the whole nation will hope he will continue his good showing this time as well.
There has been a lot of debate over the opening slot and I strongly believe opening with Rahul Dravid is a huge gamble. If the indications of India’s tour match is anything to go by then I will be keeping my fingers tightly crossed. He has always been the mainstay of Indian batting overseas and it will be no different this time. Losing him early will be a huge moral disaster for the players inside the dressing room. His loss will play in the minds of the batsmen to come thereafter and can affect their batting as well. Dravid’s sheer presence in the middle is more than enough to keep the opposition thinking and I strongly recommend not to open with him. Though he has been out of the team for almost a year now, Viru will be my choice as he can play mind games with Brett Lee and Co.
As kumble said, it’s vital that India should post totals of 400 plus in their first innings every time to give its bowlers a fair chance. Talking about the Indian bowling, my money will be on RP Singh. He has knack to surprise the batsmen with his pace and bounce. He is relatively new to Australian batsmen and the alien conditions will only help him his cause. Even Ishant Sharma and Pankaj Singh can actually be a surprise package as their height being their advantage. However, India will be missing the accurate seam bowling of Sreesanth for sure.
This series will be watched closely by rest of cricket fraternity. India has nothing to lose and have to showcase some fearless display of attitude and skill. An Indian win can certainly restore the hopes of other cricket playing nations of defeating Australia and bring the game of cricket alive which has been now dominated by Aussies for a long time.
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