India are chasing 499 for victory. We have two days to get there, to rewrite Test history. But one man can write a script totally unexpected – Rahul Dravid.
At stumps on day 3, Dravid was batting on 3 off 30 deliveries, a scoring rate well above that in the previous inning, where he managed to bore everyone (including his own self, possibly) by helping himself to 5 runs off 66 deliveries. At a strike rate of 1 from 12 deliveries, Dravid is probably aiming to bat out the next 180 overs and guide India to an unexpected draw.
But no, this is not about statistics.
India’s scoring rate shows, nay, exposes our lack of confidence in taking on the Aussies. We are giving the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Brad Hogg much more respect than their bowling deserves. On the contrary, the Aussies approach every Test match as if it were a one-day contest. They strive to maintain a run rate of around 4, which requires them to be aggressive. This pushes the opposition on to the back foot, and secondly gives the Aussies fighting totals quick, which lends their bowlers a platform to work with.
Over the past few years, the Australians have used this aggression-submission technique to transform cricket into a different kind of sport. Technique and artistry, once the hallmarks of the “gentleman’s game”, have been replaced by improvisation and brute force. Which also explains why we prefer watching MS Dhoni to VVS Laxman. And as sport is a result-oriented business, winning is everything.
The Indian cricket team might be World Twenty20 champions. But if we are to seriously challenge Australia in the other forms of the sport, submissive cricket is not going to get us anywhere. While blooding the team with youngsters is important, it is more important to infuse in them more aggression and killer instinct that has made the formidable Aussies the team to beat.
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Really Its Shocking By the Dismal Performance Of Team India(Intha Perukku Onnum Korachal Illa Even its a Copy From Cricket Australia.Ennatha Solla.)
To Be Frank Aussie Bowling is Jus’ an Avg.After the departure of Warne,Mcgrath,Gillespie..Only Lee can Show Some Resistance..Barring him all others are Inexperienced and In Consistent.Still We Cant Even Cross 200..My Frenz Already Started Praying For Varuna Bhagavaan..
I am not sure if this is rocket science but isn’t it obvious to anyone with even an iota of intelligence that to beat Australia in test matches
- The opposition HAS to play for a win: if you think draw, you are a dead duck.
- The opposition HAS to play aggressive cricket…A run rate around 4 is a must simply because teams not only have to put a lot of runs on the board but also need to do it in double quick time if they want to take the 20 wickets needed..
Keeping this in mind, purely on paper, the 2 teams most equipped to beat the Aussies have to be India and South Africa… which begs the questions
- How come India have screwed up so badly at Melbourne?
- Considering we are never gonna get more friendly pitches in future series’, what should our team composition be?
Though a lot has been said about the exploits of the famous Indian middle order, much of our success during our last tour down under was based on the solidity of Akash Chopra. Hence we need Jaffer to play anchor. Much as I can’t bring myself to say this, we really should have played Sehwag as the other opener. Wasting Dravid on a 50 mt vigil for 5 runs wont help if the match is anyway wrapped up on the 4th day… Instead a swashbuckling 40 ball 65 could actually set the cat amongst the pigeons in the Aussie camp.
Dravid could come in at 3 followed by the strokemakers Sachin, Ganguly and VVS. Scoring tonnes of runs in Indian conditions against a 2.5 man Pakistani attack does NOT make Yuvraj a run machine. Yes, he is India’s future but his technique against a quality pace attack is very suspect and line&length bowlers like Johnson and Clark were always bound to fancy him for breakfast, lunch or tea depending on when he arrives at the crease.
I’m already thinking of the second test !! God save India !!
‘…that to beat Australia in test matches’
should have read as
‘…that to do well against Australia in test matches’
Sehwag would have definitely shown some aggression. We at least could have gone down fighting.
Annathe Ponting says, ” neenga thaan ulagathileye best batting line up ache, indhanga, rendu naallu fulla aadi 500 score pannugo !!!!!!!!!!!
variyaa ???”
the topic is gettin more coverage than wat is required. indeed it is an important issue . but there hardly somethin news channel can do the competition is so stiff that eyeballs have to be attracted with whatever news thats can be sensationalized