It was very heartening to see the World No.1 Indian test side bouncing back from the bottom and squaring the ongoing series against hosts South Africa. After the humiliating innings loss at Centurion in the first test, where the only positive was perhaps Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th Test century (Yes, I really doubt if people are aware that Rahul Dravid becoming only the third player in Test History to cross the milestone of 12000 runs in the same match); after India lost the toss in Kingsmead Durban; with injuries grappling the team at the critical moments, it was very easy to write the Indians off.
But that was not to be the case. In what I had suspected and what could have very well been the shortest test match played ever, Indians emerged victorious by 87 runs. Being bowled out for a little above 200 in the first innings, and bowling to a strong South African batting line up which had amassed 600 plus runs in the first match losing only 4 wickets, it was easy to give up. But that was not to be. Hardly did anyone believe that the same batting line up will crumple for 131 runs in the first innings. Disciplined bowling aided by apt support from the fielders helped Indians restrict the mighty South Africans.
The second innings was studded with one and only one diamond and that was VVS Laxman. What a man, what an innings. I am just curious to know how many matches this man has won for India and how many matches he has saved for India. It would be really great if someone can compile and compare what percentage of his total Test runs have come in innings which have been of some consequence to the Indian team (either winning the match or helping salvage a draw from the jaws of defeat) vis-à-vis that for other “great” batsmen India has seen.
The bowlers delivered the final punch and it was heartening to see the quickies make good use of the conditions. The best dismissal of the day according to me was of Kallis unable to read a quicker short ball, something which has traditionally been our weakness. Zaheer setting up Steyn’s dismissal was also heartening to see. Of course, there were some umpiring errors too which fortunately favored us, but let us not take the credit away from the bowlers and their disciplined effort. Whatever it is, a test match is always won by bowlers. You need to get 20 wickets in order to emerge victorious.
Over the years, it has been great to see this Indian team evolve as a thinking unit. A great part of this transformation should go to captain Dhoni and coach Kirsten. I can vividly remember Dhoni demonstrating similar tactics during the finals of IPL 3 last May to get rid of Kieron Pollard which had locked the doors for Mumbai Indians.
In another venue Melbourne, on the same Boxing Day however, the much hyped Australian team took on the in-form England. Again, on a test match battled over just three and a half days, it was England written all over the match right from the word go. What was missing, from the once invincible Australian team perhaps, was the commitment and the will power. After being bowled out for 98 in the first innings and after failing to take any English wicket on the first day, it seemed as if they just gave up. This is in stark contrast to the reaction that the Indian team gave in much a similar situation.
It is indeed great for the Indians to finish the year with a bang. Let us hope that they take the momentum forward into the World Cup and into the coming year where as a friend pointed out, much stronger challenges like the tours of England and Australia lie ahead.