Against the Aussies, aggression will have to be met with aggression. For India, much hinges on Virender Sehwag. The opener, psychologically, is crucial to India’s plans. If he can dismiss the new ball ruthlessly, the Aussies can be pegged back, writes S. Dinakar.
The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium is a cauldron. Then, Harbhajan Singh makes contact with a Glenn McGrath scorcher. The crowd erupts. A hush turns into a deafening roar as India clinches a humdinger. Sourav Ganguly’s men celebrate a famous series win. For Steve Waugh, the Final Frontier remains unconquered. The year 2001 is etched in the Indian cricketing consciousness.
Another place, another time. The Australians converge in a heap in Nagpur. Skipper Adam Gilchrist and his team had overcome India in a Test series. The surface has pace, bounce and movement, and is far from a sub-continental dust bowl. The Aussies seize the opportunity. The Final Frontier is conquered, finally. The year 2004 is now a part of Aussie cricketing folklore.
Australia’s last two Test series visits have thrown up contrasting tales. Can India reach the lofty heights of 2001?
Against the Aussies, aggression will have to be met with aggression. For the host, much hinges on Virender Sehwag. The Australians are wary of him. And Sehwag likes the sight of the Aussies. The opener, psychologically, is crucial to India’s plans. If he can dismiss the new ball ruthlessly, the Aussies can be pegged back. This might open the path for the other Indian batsmen as well.
Brett Lee versus Sehwag will be one of the key duels in the four-Test series. It will be high on octane.
Sehwag’s left-handed partner Gautam Gambhir is a no mean shot-maker himself although the Aussies are bound to probe the southpaw’s footwork and his judgment in the corridor.
Now, to the more senior batsman, Rahul Dravid. He should walk in at No. 3; he would be under intense scrutiny. Dravid played well during his last Test innings in Sri Lanka but these are days when he has struggled more than succeeded. The trick for Dravid would be to bat with a little more freedom without compromising on solidity.
There are concerns over Sachin Tendulkar’s fitness. If the maestro recovers in time, he would find himself in a pressure-cooker situation. Questions have been raised about his future in international cricket after a barren period in Sri Lanka. While major individual landmarks await Tendulkar, he would be more keen on rediscovering his batting rhythm. There have been too many ‘start-stop-start’ phases in his journey over the last five years.
Much like Sehwag, Tendulkar’s combative instincts are stoked by the presence of the Aussies. Can he turn the clock back? Or have his reflexes dulled?
But then, Dravid and Tendulkar were primarily subdued by the Sri Lankan spin in the emerald islands and Australia arrives here with a limited and largely untested spin attack. Shane Warne was a major factor in the Aussie success of 2004 and the visitors will miss a giant of his stature after the shine wears off.
Will the lack of depth in the Australian spin bowling — variety is a critical element in any attack — take the heat off the senior Indian batsmen?
The wristy V. V. S. Laxman of oriental charm was rather unfairly criticised after a creditable display in Sri Lanka. The Aussies fear this Hyderabadi. Memories, especially the bad ones, die hard.
Sourav Ganguly is unlikely to figure in the first Test and the future of this feisty batsman could depend on the performance of the others. Mohammed Kaif or Subramanium Badrinath could step in for Ganguly.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s batting of varying shades could prove a road block for the Aussies if they make their way through the top and the middle order. Dhoni has the ability to rally with the lower order.
If the Indians plan their innings clinically, then this Australian attack could be stretched. There is no Glenn McGrath of the relentless off-stump line, bounce, change of pace, length and angle. Lee is still fast and has the precious ability to achieve reverse swing as the ball gets older. Can Clark stand up for McGrath in the sub-continental conditions? If the surface offers seam movement or develops cracks, then he could be handy with his cutters. Yet, his lack of pace could hurt him on placid tracks. Left-armer Mitchell Johnson is still a ‘work-in-progress.’
Bowlers win matches and the Indian attack has greater balance. The side has efficient pacemen and then, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. Harbhajan has tormented the Aussies in the past. He bowled well in Sri Lanka, achieved turn and bounce. His duel with the left-handed Matthew Hayden could set the tone for the series.
There is this competitive edge to Harbhajan’s cricket — it sometimes crosses the line — which can get under the skin of the Aussies. If the Aussies, adept at playing on the mind of the opposition, are sucked into controversies themselves, then it could help the Indian cause.
The Tests are bound to be high on tension and gamesmanship. Kumble, likely to be retained skipper for the series, will strive to ensure that ugly incidents are avoided. He is a strong leader but lately, his bowling appears to have lost its cutting edge. The champion leg-spinner will be seeking to regain the sting in his bowling. Bowlers hunt in pairs and pressure will have to be maintained from both ends. Even the Aussies are not immune to stress.
The conditions for the matches could vary. There is likely to be assistance for the pacemen during the first hour in Mohali and New Delhi while there could be more help for the spinners in Bangalore and Nagpur.
The series should be a test of character.
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