Yorked!!! – By Chetan Narula.

Done And Dusted…….

Australia have won back the coveted Ashes series with a whopping 206 runs win over England in the third test at Perth. The fact that they achieved it when for the first time England looked like posing a threat to them, just underlines their dominance not only their traditional rivals but also their dominance in world cricket.

Finally, the team selection was spot on for England as they included Monty Panesar in place of the ineffective Ashley Giles. And it actually proved to be a master stroke as the kangaroos were bowled out for 244. Monty achieved something which even the world’s best spinner (arguably), Shane Warne, hasn’t achieved at Perth. Yes shane warne has never taken a five wicket haul at Perth. And the “English Turbanator” was ably supported by Stephen Harmison who finds form as unpredictably as he loses it.

But since the English have only done one right thing per test in this series, the script could not be changed. From here on things only got worse. First they were bowled out for 214 and must have realized then, that to put the Aussies under pressure, they have to be consistent in all aspects of the game. Because they are strong in every department. As Mcgrath and co. collectively ran through the English line up, the initiative was again wrested back from them and with more than three days to go, this could be anybody’s game.

What happened after that has already gone down in the history books. England were simply put, blown away. And the blowing wasn’t done until a certain Adam Gilchrist arrived at the crease. Much before that however, the Aussie batsmen were fortifying the advantage provided by the bowlers. Hayden found his lost touch while Ponting continued his fine form, both scoring fine half centuries. Hussey and Clarke continued as if they were still in Adelaide, striking well deserved tons.

After tea on the third day, Australia were 365/5. Strong position you would say, but needed that last flourish. Enter Gilchrist. And the rest as mentioned is history. The English attack was taken to the cleaners as Gilly smashed a 57 ball century, missing the fastest test ton milestone of Sir Vivian Richards by two balls.

Lightning as they say can strike twice at the same place sometimes. Remember the century in a session against Zimbabwe at the same ground when hayden scored 380? Only two people in the cricketing world are possible of such a feat. One is retired, the smiling assassin, Vivian Richards and the other is Adam Gilchrist. He must be a very satisfied man now, having left his mark on this series.

Is it absolutely necessary to mention the English response? Guess so. For the record, Alistair cook scored a defiant century, with Ian Bell supporting him. In the end there was a slight flourish from Flintoff, something that is quite rare nowadays. Except that, the rest were bundled out quite easily to close their innings at 350.

The urn is back where it belongs. The English can only hope its not another two decades before they can lay their hands on it again.

Yorked!!! – By Chetan Narula.

Surprise!!! Surprise!!!

Much to the chagrin of the South African captain Graeme Smith (and of the South African cricket fans alike), India won the first test at Johannesbourg by a big margin of 123 runs. Yes the same Indian team which was traumatized 4-0 in the ODIs.

Same team, yes, save a few minor changes. Like the return of the old guard under Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman to the batting order giving it that look of invincibility again. Atleast on paper. Another change was in the form of self belief which was lacking in the one day series. A young fast bowler from Kerala broke the shackles of that mauling and taught the South Africans a less or two in their own teachings.

It all began with India winning the toss for the first time on this tour. Bright omens you would say. Brave decision I say. For again the openers were back in no time. Sehwag especially needs to find a new excuse now. Then Tendulkar and Dravid strung up a partnership for the third wicket which I would say was going to prove very crucial for India’s fortunes in the match. Sachin for once was batting again like the prodigy we knew him to be. Getting behind the ball and playing some delightful strokes off both the front and the back foot

But the real grit and determination was displayed by none other than our own “Dada”. It is not the runs he scored but the manner in which he scored them is what would identify this as Sourav Ganguly’s third coming. India ended at 249, a somewhat respectful score after the ODIs debacle. The stage was then set for a stylish south Indian bowler.

No other words can describe what transpired. South Africa were skittled out for 84 as Sresaanth mesmerized them with swing and pace on a lively wicket. How could the Indians score so much when the home side faltered. Simple answer is sticking to the basics of line and length. Sreesanth did more. He pitched the ball up rather than bowling short most of the time which Pollock and co. were guilty of.

The second Indian essay was again effective thanks mainly to the efforts of Laxman who showed how to bat on the two paced Wanderers wicket. He was ably supported by Zaheer who struck some lusty blows near the end. Zaheer has really enjoyed his time on this tour. India set South Africa 402 to chase down. In doing so they set up the first Indian test win on the Proteas soil.

And when finally they did get it, there was more joy than relief. For they had been playing quite well up to this tour, it was just the results which were not coming. This win will go a long way in resurrecting the belief which was completely lost by this team.

The match however, belonged to only one individual in spite of the team effort visible. S. Sreeanth has now indeed come a long way although he has not played even 10 tests. Bowling well in the Caribbean and then being dropped for the Champions trophy was a bitter blow. But the way he has shaped up on recall can only give heart to the likes of Zaheer and Ganguly, both playing superbly well on their respective comebacks. But it was Sreesanth’s match and nobody can take it from him. That audacious six of Andre Nel and the ensuing (by now) famous jig have further ensured that.

Rest assured the Proteas will come back very hard at the Indians in Durban and Cape Town. There is no other option. Otherwise Graeme Smith and co. will find no place to hide. Atleast not in South Africa.

Yorked!!! – By Chetan Narula.

Hara-kiri Redefined…….

I could never understand how Australia scored 500 plus runs in the first innings of the test at Adelaide against India in the 2001 series and lost the match. That is something that doesn’t happen too often in cricket. But lightning can sometimes strike twice at the same place. Only this time the Aussies were not at the receiving end.

The theory of matting the opposition and them squishing them on the same mat applies to all teams. The English however did little in this match that one would call prudence or even gave a hint that they wanted to win the match, forget about saving the prized urn. And that is why if England lose this series, which they eventually will, I wont be surprised to see the heads of Duncan Fletcher and Andrew Flintoff (as captain) roll. For they have failed both in the team selection or the motivation.

Ponting’s decision to not enforce the follow on in the first test seemed to have rubbed off on them as Collingwood and Pieterson first piled on the runs on the first day and then, misery on the kangaroos the second day. However as mentioned earlier that was about all they did right. For what on earth are u thinking if you declare at a score of 551/6 with three days still left?

Cricketing logic right? Bat yourself into a safe position and then give your bowlers a decent chance. But then I ask you, what is a safe score against this Aussie side, boasting of Hayden, Langer, Ponting and the fearsome Gilchrist and that too against a half decent bowling attack. Well 551 is not and that is exactly what they proved. They chased down the English total but finished up at 513 themselves, with quite an innings from Michael Clarke.

India beat Australia here in 2001 because they shot them out in the second innings for a paltry score. And that is exactly what they themselves did. I can’t remember when Warne and co. failed twice in a match. And so the Poms were bowled out for a miserable 129, a total lead of 165 runs. The Australians were required to chase them down in ODI fashion in a minimum of 36 overs. Again what is impossible for these Aussies, you might ask. Exactly, as Hussey played a blinder worth 61 and guided them home. And that’s 2-0 up in the series.

What went wrong after scoring 551? Simply put questionable team selection. Why oh, why is Monty Panesar not in the team? If they won’t play two spinners here, then what are they waiting for, Perth? Only Adelaide and Sydney give you the comfort of playing two spinners in Australia. This was their chance as Monty has been touted as the weapon in the English arsenal this season. And he has lived up to that billing so far. Plus the reason given that Giles could add those extra runs was cancelled out by the foolish declaration. And that’s why a visit to employment exchange has been predicted for the coach and the captain. Flintoff by the way is a shadow of the “Botham Re-incarnation” we saw last year and needs to fire badly for the English to have a semblance of a chance in the next three matches.

The urn is almost back in Aussie hands. They have tasted blood, there is no stopping them now.

Yorked!!! – By Chetan Narula.

Ponting’s Blunder.....

The first ashes test at the Gabba, Brisbane finished after it followed a script that I would say almost every cricket follower expected. It has set the tone for the rest of the series which in all probability will end up in an Australian win. But then strange things have happened in cricket and England’s ashes win last year was one of them.

If you for one second think that I am implying that England do have a chance in this series, then your thinking as of that particular one second is right. Why, why you may cry out, have I gone mad? Of course cricketing logic says that England are going home empty handed, after a seemingly possible 5-0 rout. But then I argue, that cricketing logic says that when you have the opposition on the mat you go after them. You squish them on the same mat and then bury them under it. Ricky Ponting did every thing except that.

Many Australian ex-cricketers have called Ponting a very friendly captain, somebody who has not been able to keep up the “Aussie captains’ legacy”. The list includes Steve Waugh and Allan border, themselves ex-captains and of course the ones opponent teams “feared” the most. Fear here doesn’t mean that you shiver and wet your pants, but here in cricketing terms it implies that these were the ferocious Australian captains who would use their near invincible teams to just maul the opposition. Session after session, the Australians would go after the opponent teams and yes, when they would have them on the mat, they would squish them and bury them under it.

Let us take a look at what exactly went wrong for Australia in a test match they won by more than 200 runs. First day of the test and Ponting’s bat did the talking again. Unless the bat of one Sachin Tendulkar starts talking soon too, we are looking at the player who may end up scoring the highest number of test centuries. Second day and the position is further fortified by Ponting and Hussey ,and later by Mcgrath’s fiery spell which had England reeling at 53/3 in reply to a huge total of 600 runs.

Day three and Mcgrath continues to terrorize the Poms and ends up with six wickets. England are shot out for a meager 157 and the Aussies are on top. But what happens after that is what you call a shoddy strategy. A decision that might have greater after effects than ever felt from any other such decision. Ponting elects to bat again and pile on the runs. Motive is to pressurize the English under a mountain of runs and give them two days to bat out. Near impossible you would say. Almost happened I say.

The reason why I say that England can save this series is because of that decision. Not following on gave them the time to regroup their batting and approach the second innings total with relaxation. It gave them time to spend at the crease and that has now gotten both Collingwood and Pieterson into form, who ground out fine 90 plus scores. Other batsmen got that important time in the middle but most importantly they were able to battle on and take the match into the last day. If you have not forgotten, this battling approach is what stung the Aussies last time around.

Why I join the those who call Ponting soft? Simply put was he afraid that England might do what India did in Calcutta. That match is fresh beyond belief in the Aussie memory. Or was he simply resting the bowlers. Whatever the reason may be, it is something previous captains might not have done. Questions have been raised of that decision and if the English batsmen now stick it up to the Australian bowlers from now on, one knows where to put the blame.

Ponting unknowingly may have woken a dormant volcano, one whose lava has already burnt him once last year.