India’s demise spurs Australia on
India’s lackluster performances have made this Test and Series as predictable as in England five months previous. The emergence of Umesh Yadav was lauded as the tentative steps in the right direction, following his Boxing Day Test exploits, but facing a dead pitch on day three at the SCG he folded like the rest.
The no.2 Test team was expected to be more competitive Down Under, a fit Zaheer Khan, and the Little Master in search for his 100th hundred enough to offer a small glimmer of hope for Indian fans. But the side has become an old family pet, age consuming and illness gripping, slowly preventing each extremity from working harmoniously. Michael Clarke choosing to toy with the maimed visitors, before eventually declaring after fellow batsman Mike Hussey reached 150.
Clarke in used the time to score a mammoth 329 not out, becoming only the fourth Australian to score a triple hundred. An innings that might just have won him the public’s admiration he’s craved for so long.
Putting the hosts 468 ahead, the captain gave his bowlers half the day in which to attack India. The pitch groundsman Tom Parker described two days prior to the match as pace-friendly has proved anything but, India toiling in the field for over 79 overs without a single wicket falling. A rejuvenated Ben Hilfenhaus was however, able to demonstrate the reason behind his recall, removing Virender Sehwag four overs into their reply.
Again finding movement, Hilfenhaus continued pressurising, India. Pitching it up, Rahual Dravid’s indecision to go forwards or back cost dearly, his bails knocked off as the ball sailed through an opening between bat and pad.
The conditions favoured any batsman willing to see off the lacquer. Gautam Gambhir struggling to manage that so far, seemed refreshed, as if expectation and the complications that brings had been removed, finishing 68 not out at stumps. Accompanying him was a nervous Sachin Tendulkar, a man that before this Test averaged 221 in Sydney, and will need to reacquaint himself with the patience required to accomplish great scores of yesteryear if he is to prevent India’s demise a little longer.
