Australia beat India by 217 runs at Bangalore. A few points to ponder...

BCCI or the venue committee or whoever decides the venues should be given the stick for alloting the first Test against Australia at Bangalore. None of the Indian batsman who played in this Test has a century here and infact only Tendulkar from this squad has a ton here. Also, India hasn't managed to win any of the last 4 Tests here and I am sure that India is the only host which doesn't think when it comes to venue allocation as well. Ideally, We should have played a Test in Kolkata against Australia who are still haunted by that Test, where as we would be playing South Africa, who have won their only Test there very convincingly. You call this stupid planning or the typical "atithi devo bhava" syndrome?

On September 24, 2004, I had thought that we would surely lose the first Test because of the umpires allocation. Time and again, we have seen lots & lots of bad decisions for India from Steve 'Blind' Bucknor. When some teams can keep an umpire away from its matches, why not India ? Added to Bucky, unfortunately Billy also played his part this time favouring his trans-Tasmanian neighbours and to add insult injury, Sehwag was fined 65% of his match fee. Instead of dwelling on whether to use more technology or not, it is time for the ICC to start penalising umpires for bad decisions. I agree that players should be fined for showing dissents, but also at the same enquiry, if its proved that the umpire was wrong - he SHOULD also be punished. Why not take away 65% of his match fee also ? When the ICC talks about using more technology to get a maximum number of decisions right, they can also squeeze the neck of these men in black & white to be more responsible and accountable. Read views from Amit Varma & Harsha Bhogle on these issues..

Of course, Indian batsmen let their team down with a lacklustre show and they have to take most of the blame for the loss. But, its certainly not the end of the road as we all can see. Warne, I don't think, is a potent force in India as Australia claim him to be - he looks the same Warne who got thrashed left, right & centre during his last couple of tours. Didn't what Pathan & Harbhajan do yesterday look like a prelude of things to come ?

With all credit for achieving the land mark of 400 Test wickets, Kumble has to bowl well more consistently if India has to bounce back. Harbhajan seems to be bowling as well as the last time, but this time he would need a good support from the other end as Australia seem to be more prepared this time. C'mon Anil! Live up to what you surely can!

Labels: aus v ind 2004