By Jaidev Iyer
So finally we prevented OZ mates from getting their 17th consecutive Test win. This match again being very memorable where Indians were always shade better than the Australians in every department of the game.
The last time India prevented Australia with 17th win was the most famous 281 by Laxman, 170+ from Rahul, six wickets from Bhajji, three wickets from Tendulkar etc. A match which every Oz will want to forget and we as Indians will sing laurels for many decades and use it as wicked ACE to discount Australians. While Australia is clearly a better team, but I guess if anyone can give dinkum contest to Kangaroos it would be us, followed by SL and RSA.
Clearly this match may not be as memorable as the one @ Eden Garden (from a turnaround point of view), but I guess the action off the field post second infamous win of Australia, this match too got all the eyeballs of cricketing fans and ambassadors of cricket.
Also may be a deep introspection for the world champions not to get overboard in winning the matches.
While Australia got a lot of slaps from some local people, I think it is unfair to tarnish their skills OR question their sheer dominance OR belittle their wins OR even attributing those wins to sledging. Not fair mates!!!
While there were many heroes in the match, Irfan's role as a batsmen, RP Swing (his new name), Veeru's cameo with the ball in the second innings, Ishan's wickets, Laxman's 79 etc.
Batsmen doing a bit of bowling and bowlers chipping in with batting would also a good differentiator in this match. Clearly Gilchrist's wicket in second innings was crucial as he has scored a 159 knock against Pakistan in 2001 to snatch victory from Pakistan when they were five down and chasing 225 runs odd.
But for me the clear champion of this game was Anil Kumble. To come from two humiliating defeats, the latter causing lot of controversy and media coaxing the Indian team to come home, it must have been a daunting task for him to work with the team and gain their support to do what they do best and then come back in style.
His interview post the second defeat clearly showed how furious he was and rightly so, but he managed to keep the composure intact in spite of choosing an act of being a rebel. I am sure being a rebel also would have caused a lot of media attention and Kumble could also have joined 'elite' Ranatunga, Gavaskar etc who have walked out of the match rebelling against umpires.
But he clearly did not take the quick way out.
His Gandhigiri act of withdrawing Hogg's complain, offering to sit with punter, resolving the issues is also worth applauding. What is most important is the way Indians dominated this game against all odds. Losing two games, bad umpiring decisions, fighting @ Perth, away from home, in home town of Australia which is paradise for Australians and then doing all it takes to win the game by sheer performance, grit, cricketing intelligence is all what make a champion and therefore leading from the front.
What is more important for us to do is to level the series, we do have the habit of allowing a great win and sail on cloud nine and the media just makes demi-gods of all performers and we clearly become vulnerable to those wild delirium only to loose the next match with some abysmal performance. So Indian team please enjoy the next couple of days only to come back better.
One cannot discount Australia @ any point in time, being 61 for 5 in first innings and then scoring a run a ball for 100 runs is something which only Australians can do. Loosing eight wickets in second innings and Mitchell Johnson fighting the battle with an extreme grit in an vain attempt win the game is also only Australians can do. I am sure if any other team was given a target of 400+ in last innings they are likely to crumble in less than 200 given the discomforting batting conditions of 4th innings.
so all in all the match provided some high drama @ the end too. With Kumble bowling out Mitchel Johnson on a no ball, a high skier dropped by Sehwag etc and fortune favouring the brave Australians to make an inevitable win for India a bit enjoyable for a good game of cricket. The ball certainly was finding many cavities amongst the 11th strong teeth on the field. This again should be a learning for Indians who tend to be complacent seeing the doors of victory opened @ eight wickets down, Indians talking, chirping encouraging bowlers stopped and Australian dressing room was moving around. Its not over till its over, it could be 1 wicket more to go and 199 runs to go but you never know what Australian mates can pull off. Again a fear which only Australia can instil in the fourth day and match so exciting with people still had people glued to websites and TV sets and then RP swing doing a clean bowled to finish them all. 70K audience @ PERTH had their best value for money.
ALL in all GREAT WIN INDIA and excellent team effort, but phullllease give us one more of these wins .... C'MON INDIA DIKHO DO AGAIN !!!
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