PERTH: AUSSIES DOWN TO EARTH

Ponting once famously said: “Aggression is not about body posture but its about the way one play.” Well, ponting definitely had a taste of his own medicine there. It was relentless aggression from Indian bowlers and batsmen and the aussies just caved in and surrendered.

The chief contributors for this victory are the bowlers and slip catchers. The pontings, husseys, symonds’ and gilchrists were gobbled up so cheaply twice in a perth test when Indian team had only posted just about 300 score in both innings. Its quite an astounding and brilliant effort. The ultimate tribute came from Ian chapel when Ishant sharma had ponting caught behind in second innings. He said something like this: “That’s fantastic spell by young man. He could have easily had ponting out atleast a half a dozen times.” On a fast and bouncy perth wicket, the edges off the batsmen would fly fast and at uncomfortable heights. The slip fielders were quite amazing; they caught everything that came on their way.

The Indian batsmen scored some vital points against aussie bowlers. Dravid’s 50, sachin’s 50 and laxman’s 50 were all innings that shouts the message: “the aussie bowlers can be tamed.” But shewag’s batting in both innings was attempts to conquer the morale of aussie bowlers. His cameo in both innings brought about run a ball 50 partnership in both innings which put pressure on aussie bowlers and made it easy for batsmen coming in. Shewag’s strategy is to take the team from literally a scratch to a safe score quickly. We know he plays outrageous shots, sends thunderbolts to the fence even before team reaches a safe score; say 50/0 or 100/1. His innings can be a make or break as he can sometimes succumb to pressure to take his team to safe score quickly. But what when he comes in at No3 or No4 say at 100/1 or 150/2. God save the bowlers!

Theres no doubt the aussies were completely outplayed and humbled. But there were some blemishes for Team India too. Captains, be it kumble or ganguly or dravid or azhar, have always spread the field once opponents lose say 7 wickets. This strange and stupid strategy was at its worst when Johnson and stuart clark were batting in 2nd innings. 4 fielders were standing on the ropes in the leg side with thirdman, cover point and midoff in the fence as well with aussies reeling at 260/8. A comment from Ravi shastri is worth mentioning here: “Looking at the field placings, you might think ricky ponting is playing at 180 not out but here its mitchell Johnson and stuart clark who are batting.” The sooner the Indian team drops this tradition and thoughts, the better the team would come off.

Let me sum this up. The aussies were outplayed and humbled. The Indians have not only shown that the aussies are beatable but that they are easily beatable. Kumble and his team have shown great character and promise. His bowlers have scored many kills and are on top. If Indian team is not going to build on this promise and advantage and if the Indian bowlers are not going to make further dents in aussie famous batting line up and if these bowlers are going to be carted around the ground the next test match, then the perth test is a fluke.

The Indian team would have managed to score so many kills with just 4 bowlers in perth, but it would require more than these four to score more kills against aussie batsman who would want blood in Adelaide. Kumble, do you have the courage and conviction to build on the promise and advantage that perth brought about? Or you would field 4 bowlers in Adelaide, squander the advantage, have your bowlers carted around the Adelaide ground, the fielders chasing the ball for most part of the match, still you sit on the laurels of perth achievement and keep saying for ever; “Look, we are the team that stopped aussies consequetive test wins.”