Mysorean

Most of the times when you have to eat your words you are embarrassed. But not in this case. I was apprehensive of India being able to handle the bounce of the Perth pitch here. And also suggested that Ishaant Sharma be dropped! Obviously I would make the worst cricket analyst! And if that helps India win then I am ready to take on any such tag.

I also have to admit that at every point during the test match when India dominated thoroughly I was waiting for that familiar session of play where we would gift the game to the opposition on a silver platter. Though I was showing optimisim throughout the match that India would win (despite my predictions to the opposite) I had this thought somewhere at the corner of my mind that we would give it away when it mattered. But the best part of this match was that, the session that ‘mattered’ never came. India dominated the Australians completely.

Winning at Perth is special. It is the Australians’ Eden Gardens. To beat them in their own den while battling the demons of Sydney and playing the pace quartet, India came out tops on all fronts. And it was a complete team performance. Sehwag’s positive approach opened up the match. Dravid and Tendulkar showed the way with their invaluable knocks. Then came RP Singh’s four for that is worth watching a million times and am sure Star Cricket won’t let any opportunity of showing this spell or the test match to us repeatedly. Pathan got both the openers in both the innings. I don’t know how many times that has occured in Test cricket before. VVS Laxman showed us again why he has not got his due yet. Second innings seem to bring out the best in him. Pathan, Sehwag and Dhoni made contributions that were worth noting. But it was RP Singh who again impressed with his big-hitting skills at the end of the order.

Then came the ultimate exhibition of fast bowling in the form of a 19-year old - Ishaant Sharma. His spell against Ricky Ponting is stuff that should be distributed on DVDs to youngsters to learn about fast bowling. The way Ricky Ponting, considered to be a demolisher of pace attacks, struggled against Ishaant Sharma tells us that Indian pace attack is in safe hands. Sehwag’s artwork with offspin made for stuff that is often seen in the greatest of test matches.

Overall, I am convinced that this Indian team is capable of squaring the series now. Again with that faint feeling somewhere that they might again capitulate in the Adelaide test though History suggests otherwise! I am sorry that I feel that way, but years of watching Indian cricket has made that feeling a permanent one. I am ready to eat my words again though! ;)