Deja vu all over again

It seems so surreal and there's so much deja vu around the last few days.

Blatantly obvious decisions going against the touring team (Sehwag today, a couple at Bangalore, Ganguly in the first innings at Mohali). Batsmen almost definitely out, but the ball was a no-ball (Sehwag today). Home team piling on the runs regardless. Opposing captain invokes 'spirit of cricket' by saying that the batsman should have walked when he had obviously nicked it (Sehwag today).

Touring team's players injured (Jaques, McGain & Clark) while the others who filled in (or those who would have otherwise potentially been replaced) aren't quite doing a good job (Hayden, White, Krejza). Touring captain is at his wits' end.

Of course, this could all be extremely premature. Australia could still get away from Mohali 0-0 (or even better 1-0) and go on to win the series.

But it does feel good when the boot is on the other foot!

Talking of boots, I guess no situation better typifies the familiar adage 'when you've got Australia by the unmentionables, you hold on'.

At stumps yesterday, Australia were 300 behind and India still having 10 wickets in hand. Now, Australia needs 516 to win over more than 4 sessions (135+ overs). The most runs ever made in the fourth innings of a test is 654, followed by New Zealand's 451 featuring Astle's blitz a few years ago.

Labels: aus v ind 2008, australia, australia by the balls cliche, deja vu, india, spirit of cricket

Thus spake Jagadish @ 1:14 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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West Indies v Australia first test

The first test between West Indies and Australia at Jamaica has been wonderful to watch/follow/catch the highlights package. A tantalizing final day's play is hopefully in store.

Australia started poorly, but recovered as Ponting made 150 while Hodge, Hussey and Symonds chipped in to help Australia get to 431. In reply, West Indies were rescued only because of Chanderpaul's super century, with some help from Morton and Bravo. Don't forget the immense contribution from Stuart MacGill (2nd best leggie in the world, and all that): 2/100 in 22 overs.

Then Edwards, Powell and Bravo ripped through Australia's top order, only to come up against Symonds again. In the company of Hodge and Haddin, Symonds probably turned the game decisively Australia's way, from 18/5 & 70/6 to 167. To use a favourite slogan: "When you've got Australia by the balls, you hold on. You don't let go".

Imagine if Australia had been bowled out for something like 100! That'd have made West Indies' task so much easier. They'd have been chasing 230-odd, not the 287 that they need to make to beat Australia in a 'live' test for the first time in nine years. Remember the way that Trinidadian bugger enthralled everyone during THAT series? Statistical oddity: West Indies made 431 in their first innings in that game, the same total that Australia managed this time around.

That said, I think Australia will win this one with around 50 runs to spare. Despite winning away, against South Africa & at home, against Sri Lanka in the last 5 months, I don't think this West Indies team knows how to nail down the advantage, especially against Australia.

In the unlikely event that West Indies win the game, they will join India (Calcutta & Chennai in 2001, Adelaide 2003 and Perth 2008) and England (Edgbaston & Trent Bridge in 2005) as the only teams to have defeated Australia in a 'live' test match this decade.

Labels: australia, australia by the balls cliche, macgill, statistic, west indies

Thus spake Jagadish @ 6:36 pm | Sledge/Read 1 sledge(s)
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What not to do when playing Australia

I wrote this in November 2006 after England's ICC Champions Trophy game against Australia.

Risque as it may sound, the one lesson that each and every team which played against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy needs to learn is "When you've got Australia by the b@lls, you hold on!"

Australia give so few opportunities to teams to get into a position of advantage. Opponents really cannot afford to let those chances go by.

'The Great B*st@#ds' will try and get through every single situation they come up against, such as getting vital partnership-breakers at the end of the day at Sydney & at Perth in India's first innings, clawing their way out of a 61/5 mess and attacking with so much unbelievable abandon and getting through the top order despite conceding a 118 run lead and possibly preventing India from running away with the game today.

Labels: australia, australia by the balls cliche, ind v aus 2008, india, perth 2008

Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:23 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Missed opportunities

Risque as it may sound, the one lesson that each and every team which played against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy needs to learn is

When you've got Australia by the b@lls, you hold on!

England were 83/0 in 18 overs and I'm fairly sure Ponting was thinking about where a breakthrough was going to pop up from. Then Bell charged Watson and was caught at cover. India, after losing Tendulkar cheaply, were 120/2 in 27-odd overs. They should have got 275 at least. New Zealand had Australia at 4/2 in the 3rd over, and couldn't finish the job.

Yesterday, Ponting was probably on the verge of throwing in the towel when Gayle and Chanderpaul put on nearly 50 in 5 overs. Then, Chanderpaul got out. Sarwan then followed as did Gayle and finally Lara. In a matter of 7-8 overs, the game turned.

Does anyone have a clue about why Shane Watson (2/11 - Samuels & Baugh and 57 chasing 116) got the 'Player of the Match' award and not Nathan Bracken (3/22 - Chanderpaul, Gayle and Sarwan)? I realize Gayle was one of the stars of the tournament, but I think Damien Martyn, much as I dislike him [while Ganesh is an admirer], should have been the 'Player of the Series'. He played a significant, if understated, part in Australia's wins.

Labels: 2006 champions trophy, australia by the balls cliche, champions trophy, prediction

Thus spake Jagadish @ 10:38 am | Sledge/Read 4 sledge(s)
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