while i leave more illustrious blogger friends to review this match and series in particular...i would like to remember this series as the pre-view of things to come...
for the first time team winning with 2-1 is facing more questions than answers...
that their 'best' spinner was almost not required to bowl in fourth innings consistently...
that their 'best' tear away fast bowler was not asked to bowl in perth...
that when hayden did not played in one match they collapsed and could not recover...and lost a match at the venue where they thought win was as assured as FD with the govt. bank...
that almost a second strung bowling attack made them dance in crease their opposition team was supposed to...
that they can also wilt in pressure and look as listless as they looked in field in later part of series...
that they dropped as many dollies in this series as they have not in all these years...
that they now can not take 20 wickets even on their friendly 'perthy' conditions...
more than that they should be scared of had Lee being any sort of bowler he was in not so distant past in terms of bowling and physical fitness...what would have been results...
while this is truly a tribute to Lee...its shuddering thought for CA...
they have so many questions to answer to...
that they lost it completely in the end was shown in their post series presentation ceremony when they did not even deemed it fit enough to call upon guys on whose very names the series was played...the trophy was named...
i do not know the where abouts of border but certain gavaskar was not too far away...
but things have been like this for them...
on other hand india even with 2-1 down in the series looked like team in ascendancy...
that they have finally started to come together as 'team india' rather than bunch of star players...
that their young bowlers were not overawed by aussie team...gave them the taste of their own medicine at their 'own den' augers well for the future of indian team in bowling department...
that they have finally started to get their team combinations right thanks to come back men like sehwag...pathan...
that we are zeroing on good pool of players who can compete at highest level without bothering about reputations...
that they were finally able to bury the tag of 'soft travelers' deep in 'perth'...
that team who don't run well between wickets...don't field well... cant save those 30 runs on field cant convert ones in to twos...twos into threes...is not even as physically fit...can compete with the team which does these things day in day out...then imagine if we start doing just that...
if only we can sustain the momentum...look to keep on working on weaknesses...we can surely give it a shot to being no. 1...
what you say??
reflections of this series...
shared by straight point on Monday, January 28, 2008
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14 comments:
I don't think we can sustain the momentum... time for fresh legs after the SA series.
yo mean to say about batting???
coz we already have some fresh legs in bowling .i.e.
if i were selector i would ask either of Dravid or Gangly (during SA series) to start singing their swan songs...its high time we test tiwaris the badris who are going to take over the mental...
It's always interesting when empires fall. And i think the Aussie one is on the way down (slowly). The question is can India step up?
To be considered number one i think India would need to beat Aus. in India in Oct. this year and then beat the Aussies at home next time. As well as beating at home and at least drawing away with the lesser teams.
Also can we please have a 5 test series against each other next time.
The Australia team seems to have lost its lustre.
Good points, SP. However, I doubt if India can hold up the intensity. They are known for their sky-rocketing ups and in-the-doldrum downs.
welcome brad...
yes this is the challenge...and i think if you wanna be no. 1 then india will have to do exactly what you have said...win matches consistently...
bt one thing is for sure the gap is narrowing...
agree with you OTT...
not only lustre all their energy is getting consumed in showing to world that they are not affected...rather than admitting it and working towards it...
VM
this team appears to be on mission and i do hope for indian cricket sake that we build upon our performances...
Brilliant post SP.
India will have its share of problems...I see spin and middle order in the recent future where India will struggle.
Time to blood Tiwary and Pujara regularly in A teams.
Good post SP. I agree with you 100% that the team winning the series has more questions to answer. Australia was expected to win easily and this series has exposed their ugly competitive side... dont get me wrong I think its good to play hard, but with due respect for your opponents and the sport you play. Also, it will be interesting ot see what happens when Gilchrist departs and Hayden is no longer there.
There are some questions for India to answer as well.. check out the post I made on www.wellpitched.com yesterday :)
sp... what's up... all quiet for a while.
thank you very much SB!!
yo are right...its high time that we include some new comers in batting (i deliberately not used the word young) specially while playing at home to see and gauge their potential...otherwise we will not be able to stand looming retirements...
welcome Obaid and very good point...
i don't know when playing hard acquired the meaning that you have to disrespect very game which provided the very platform you are thriving upon...
also how respecting your opponent make you weak is beyond me...
i will definitely read your post and comment over there...
scorpy...
nothing as such mate!!...just enjoying the frustrations of oz media...and our overzealous media too...
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