There has been acrimony and there has been angst. Much hand wringing and posturing.
In this age of increased cynicism the fans will not be fooled any longer. It is time for the cricketers to let the game speak for itself.
It is time for administrators to look beyond their noses and show leadership. To expect statesmanship would be asking too much.
Chandigarh is famous for its rose Garden and Harbhajan Singh is the thorniest and most prickly specimen the Aussies will encounter in this whistle-stop tour.
Harbhajan lifts against Australia. He has a career bowling average in the low thirties but against Australia this drops to 28. His strike-rate against Australia is also better than his career SR. Four of Harbhajan’s seven fifties were against Australia.
Zaheer Khan is the other villain of the piece. Normally a friendly soul he becomes a snarling and vengeful protagonist when confronted by the Aussies. The Australians probable relish this argy bargy and in their own way are not averse to fueling the animosity.
How both sides bottle and channel their “agro” will go a long way in determining the outcome of this series. In Watson, Katich and Johnson Australia have three players not backward when it comes to the verbal fisticuffs.
Watson versus Gambhir and Harbhajan against Ponting are the little sub plots that will keep viewers engrossed.
Ponting has always been a scrapper and is not about to don the velvet glove.
Dhoni is ultra combative and will meet Ponting head on. Not for Dhoni the mind games of Ganguly. He will probably be waiting at he centre wicket for Ponting.
The toss will be important and both will want to bat first because it is the batting of the two sides that will lay the platform for the bowlers. They say bowlers win matches but in India, with the benign pitches, it is the batsmen that hold the key.
Neither side has a settled bowling attack. Both attacks are threatening only in patches. Ishant Sharma is struggling. Sreesanth can be moody just like Johnson. Harbhajan is not the world beater that the Australians have made him out to be in India. He is a confidence bowler and prone to waywardness if attacked. He may well be India’s weak link.
Hilfenhaus is bowling with control and pace and looks most likely to cause the early break through. How the other bowlers support him becomes crucial. Johnson I believe has to perform or be dropped. George is in the reckoning to replace Bollinger and this could be a masterstroke.
The final battle will be won by the team that controls its aggression. The ability to switch off between deliveries, whether batting or bowling. The fine balance between organized attack and foolhardy bluster.
I suppose this series will also determine the relative “smarts” of the two teams.
I have a feeling the stars will be unsung heroes like Hilfenhaus and Dravid. The quiet practioners who have no time for the facepaint.
This Test is also an opportunity for cricket to cleanse itself. To show the world that it has some virtues. To reaffirm the contest between honest combatants.
Inderjit Singh Bindra is the President of the Punjab Cricket Association, the hosts for this first Test. He is also the principal advisor to the President of the ICC.
The ICC is espousing the eminence of Test cricket and is seeking to bring to reality the Test Championship.
Will Mohali be an empty arena of dreams or will it be bustling with the vitality of the faithful. This is as much an examination of India’s credentials as it is of the strengths of the two teams.
This Test can show the kids that dream that there is place for heroes. Cricket must not abuse the goodwill of its core constituents. The viewing public is not going to tolerate average and suspicious fare. It has to look good and, more importantly, smell clean.
Bayman
Guest
Will, My comment re Ponting and North has nothing to do with mateship per se. It is to do with the fact that Ponting keeps commentating on selection when clearly that is not his job. While I admit that Ponting is probably responding to a journo's question the smart thing to do is say nothing. A former Australian captain was once asked who he thought would be 12th man. He gave an answer which was "Either A or B". As it turned out, he was right (It was B). However, it didn't stop him getting a phone call from Bradman suggesting that in future he left questions regarding selection alone and said nothing. Has Ponting ever had that phone call? I'd suggest not. I'd also question your assertion that North is a "capable, test quality" batsman. I don't think he is. I think he's a handy first class batsman who can bowl a bit, occasionally. In fact, if North didn't bowl at all I doubt he ever would have been picked. For some time now the Aussie selectors have been trying to find a way to squeeze in eight batsmen and six or seven bowlers. Consequently, they've been picking guys who are ok at both but not great at any one skill. Basically, all-rounders are guys who are capable of getting picked for either discipline, batting or bowling. North is not one of those - despite his bag in England this year (Border once took 11 against the Windies but you wouldn't pick him for his bowling). As for Hussey and North playing for their careers, you're right. However, you're not right if you think that is an excuse. If they now feel intimidated by their situation then it's time the selectors dropped them and went for some fearless youth. We can't go on picking them until they have a good day. By then, countless Tests and series will have been lost while we do the "right thing" by these two. Sorry, but that's not an option. The art of selection may be knowing when to pick a player but it's also knowing when his time is up. The trick then is to drop him just before it becomes obvious to everyone he's lost it - not to wait until he's proved a dozen times he's lost it. If that's the case it's time to change the selectors.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Lolly,Tendulkar showed how to sway out of a bouncer and drop your hands and watch the ball all the way. Raina was at sea. Dravid took his eye off one but had the presence of mind to drop his hands and take it on the body while still watching the ball. They don't call him the Wall for nothing. Loose shot to get out in both innings. Hilfenhaus cut his length back and pounded it just short of a length. Now it is upto Hauritz to keep one end tight while Johnson and co go to work at the other end. Australia should win from here.
Lolly
Guest
Clarke looked like he wanted to be anywhere but out there. Really, really poor stuff from him. We were lucky to get 10 out of North, i expected another duck in the circumstances ie - a lot of pressure and a collapse on.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Will, Clarke,Hussey and North failed under the pressure. I was surprised at Michael Clarke taking his eyes off the ball and getting hit. Hussey was unluck but he was struggling before he was given out. North is out of his depth. Ponting's captaincy was pretty spot on and I think they are a big chance of winning tomorrow.
Will
Guest
Australia worked hard on day 3; if ever there was a day when the fielding team kept running in and trying on a unresponsive surface then this was it. Now, all of a sudden, both teams would fancy their chances at securing a win. I feel very strongly that Australia has to go for this chance, they might not succeed, but we need to try. The plan is simple. Get 330 in front as quickly as possible, declare, and then go to work trying to get 10 wickets. This game has the shapings of a classic.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Lolly,Johnson is an enigma but maybe India will be the making of him. One of these two teams has to decide if it wants to win or just play for a draw. I would like to see Australia be aggressive and score 300 tomorrow and set India around 330 to get in 75 overs. India after all is a bowler short with ishant bowling snail pace and a batsman in doubt with VVS and his back spasms. Amazing that India lost 5 for 23. If they were Pakistan people would be asking questions.
Lolly
Guest
The will-o-the-wisp that is Johnson turns up. What a weirdo he is. Doesn't 'do' friendly conditions, but gets a five for in India.
Lolly
Guest
I think he is a shoo-in. It barely matters what Paine does in that regard, it is just seat-warming and he knows it. It ain't seat-warming to me though, I agree, he is far more nimble behind the stumps, he gets across and down quicker to the rubbish balls.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Lolly,Haddin is no shoo in to come straight back for the ashes. Paine's footwork makes him a better keeper and his batting is mature.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Will,I rate Hilfenhaus but he failed this examination from Sehwag and Gambhir. Test cricket is a thorough inquisition and Hilfenhaus failed to adjust his length. I know he was pitching up and searching for swing. But it was obvious there was none. Conventional swing in Chandigarh is there only,if at all, in the first fifteen to twenty minutes at the start of the day. Not at 3 in the afternoon. And Dravid showed that a class batsman will put away the rubbish. Sorry,Will,but both Hilfenhaus and Bollinger were rubbish. Hauritz needs to bowl a little quicker through the air and have two around the bat. He can bowl but needs to back himself against Tendulkar,Dravid and Raina. Also,his body language needs to be more aggresive. For me,he holds the key. The amount of pressure he can exert will determine how successful the attack will be as a whole. Bowlers need to keep it tight at both ends. I back Australia to bowl India out for under 300 if they can build pressure and cut off the flow of boundaries.
Lolly
Guest
Zaheer Khan got a bit of movement with the new ball and I think Hilfy was searching for the same, but Veru was just hitting through the line as there wasn't much there for HIlfy or Bolly.
Lolly
Guest
Johnson has so much talent, it's maddening that he can't play like this more often when we all know he can. He still bowled a fair few crap deliveries but he mostly was pretty good with the ball by his standards. In fact, he was the only one that did look threatening out of the quicks or make Veru uncomfortable at all. He was excellent with the bat. Nice still head and watching the ball on to the bat. Shame he just hung it out to dry on the first ball after the break. Very impressed with Paine. He looks like a proper batsman and like he has a calm head.
Will
Guest
I disagree about your assessment of both Hilfenhaus and Bollinger. I thought Hilfenhaus looked alright - he bowled a fuller wicket taking length. I thought Bollinger also got some good bounce out of the track. Still, Sehwag was on fire - smoking balls to the fence that deserved to be defended. His wicket was a body flow for India. You'd think if Australia wants to win this test match then they have to strike decisively tomorrow.
Will
Guest
Today was a much better day for Australia, mainly because they seemed to have intent in whatever they were doing. Being cautious at the start of the day was appropiate, and then upping the ante as batsmen got sent and bowlers tired. Still, one has to be critical, the wicket is a 500 wicket and 428, although good, was under par. With the ball the Australians appeared to have plans for each batsmen and, overall, I think they did relatively well in front of a brutual barrage from Sehwag. Johnson was easily the pick of the bowlers although both Bollinger and Hilfenhaus bowled decent lines and bent their backs. We need to get this ball reversing as soon as possible. Should be an interesting day 3. GO AUSTRALIA!!!
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Lolly,I have been scathing of Johnson's inability to get it right but today he was controlled in both his batting and bowling. He changed the tone and pattern of the Australian innings. His partnership with Paine was the impetus Australia was crying out for. He is a tremendous timer of the ball and reminds me slightly of Gilchrist. His targetting of the left arm spinner ,Ohja,was judicious as he was then hitting with spin. He played Harbhajan with patience and did not try to hit against the turn. An indication of a very mature cricketer. When bowling he was prepared to experiment around the wicket but soon abondoned this. His dismissal of Sehwag was well thought out and showed he can think on his feet. I was disappointed with Hilfenhaus as he bowled too full.Again he is a bit like Massie who struggled when thewre was nothing in the atmosphere or the pitch. Bollinger,I have said before,is not suited to Test cricket and it showed. Admirable he may be with his enthusiasm but it is no substitute for ability. Hauritz will have his test tomorrow. Dhoni was disintrested and lethargic and I wonder if his Twenty20 commitments are taking a toll. He did not go for a catch off Zaheer and it should have been regulation. His delaying in taking the new ball cost India at least 70 runs. Australia has a chance to take a stranglehold in this test on the third day and this is largely due to Johnson.
Lolly
Guest
Doesn't look good does it? However, I have a caveat. Perhaps considering their real problems with collapsing over the past 2 years, they have decided to play really cautiously to at least break that pattern. In some ways it makes sense, these days it is horrible shot selection as much as anything that gets people out. Watson is a compulsive driver, so to put that shot pretty much away yesterday for the last two session was probably good practise for him.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Lolly,the first hour today may well define the next four months for Australia. Australia's success over the last decade has been built on scoring big and quick runs and then giving their bowlers enough time to take twenty wickets.Ideally Australia need to bat for another 50 overs and score 170 runs just on 3.5 runs an over. Lots of quick singles and the four every second or third over. Nothing frenetic,just controlled and positive cricket. They have to be looking to score runs. It is all in the mind because the bowling is not life threatening.
Lolly
Guest
We cannot afford to drop catches and we have to score a bit faster. Hopefully the tail won't bother with this blocking nonsense as they won't last 2 mins, and will try and slog some quick runs. They are doing their best to draw already. Perhaps they think is the best they can get out of the series. Tomorrow could be vile as Paine has already proved to be a real wannabe Boycott in terms of scoring rate.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Midfielder,cricket's crown sits askew and the robes are certainly tattered.
Midfielder
Guest
Vinay Every misfield, every dropped catch , every foolish run out, every bad no ball, every slash at a ball that gets you out ... seems to be fair game for the mob to question.... without seeing it myself I could never have imagined this kind of reaction... As an example ... in the last session when Australia only scored a few runs and lost the two wickets ... a small group at one table commented ... the bookie phoned em to keep the score down.... this comment was met with howls of laughter ... it was so sad.... Maybe it will die down and maybe this club was the exception or we had dinner at a bad time and saw the worst bit only ...But from what I saw cricket has a lot to do to re imagine itself ...