27th Jan 2012
The venue of each test match keeps changing alas the result remains the same. India are heading towards another mauling at the hands of the Aussies this time Adelaide. If you are an eternal optimist you will turn around and say that it is still not over the wicket is flat and apparently according to “experts” India has the best batting line-up in the world so we can save the match. However, going by what has happened with the Indian batting in the last seven test matches overseas you will have to be a brave man to put your money on India to save the match.
The Script in Adelaide unfolded is much similar manner to that of earlier test matches. Australia chose to bat first and India reduced them quickly to 84-3 at lunch. Virender Sehwag who is captaining India in the absence of MS Dhoni was enterprising in the first session; he bought on the spinner as early as in the fourth over of the innings and the move paid rich dividends as Ashwin was rewarded with two wickets in the session.
After that initial hurray it was all downhill for India from then onwards as the pair of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke put on 384 for the fourth wicket. Both Ponting (221) and Clarke (210) registered double centuries in the process. Finally after batting for best part of two days Australia declared at 604 for seven. If anybody thought that Indian batsmen will feel at home on an abrasive and slow surface at Adelaide you were wrong. India began their second innings and in no time lost important wickets of Sehwag and Dravid before close of play. Next day was nothing better as the Indian top order crumbled under pressure created by the disciplined Australian bowlers.
For India the only positive was the performance of young Virat Kohli who scored his maiden hundred to help India post a decent score. Kohli who batted with great flair in Perth but missed a ton because wickets fell regularly at the other end this time made of for his miss by scoring a hundred. Kohli’s innings was a reminder to rest of the batsmen that Australian bowling not the pitches are so dangerous that batsmen cannot score runs. Even Kohli’s superlative effort is a classic case of too little too late.
Even though India picked up a few early wickets Australia made 167 for 5 declare in their second innings to set India a mammoth target of 500 to win the test match. Nothing is impossible in cricket but it does seem improbable that India would be able to get these runs. It would be a great confidence booster for India even if they manage to get close to this score. One of the things they can try to do is promote Kohli to number 3 in case they get off to a good start. He is the man in form and it makes more sense to give him more time at the crease as often we have seen that he has invariably run out of partners.
Halla Bol!